Chapter 7
"Are you sure we should be taking Conner to LA this soon? It's only been a week since we brought him home." Buffy said, cradling her son. "I mean there is that whole smog thing going on down there and it could make Conner sick."
"Buffy, he's OUR son. He's strong for a baby. If the smog never got to us, then it shouldn't get to him."
"He's only a week and a half old! We're not supposed to take him out until after the first month or two."
"Baby, I love you, but you're getting way too overprotective of him."
"Well, he almost didn't make into this world. Technically, he's not even supposed to be here. His dad is an ensouled vampire and his mom is a vampire slayer, who were both supposed to be infertile. He's our miracle baby and if anything was to happen to him."
"Nothing will happen to him. I promise."
"You're not very good at keeping promises."
"Would you come on Buffy? Cordy and the rest of the gang want to see him."
"They can wait a few weeks."
"Buffy."
"Don't Buffy me! It's LA for Christ's sake! Land of the big smoggy pollution."
"Buffy."
"Stop that. You're giving me that look."
"Buuffyy."
"No."
He gave her that tortured puppy dog look.
"No Angel."
More look.
"Stop it."
Look.
"All right! Fine, but if he gets sick or worse, then it's your fault."
"Agreed. Now come on, the car is already loaded and ready to go."
"What about a crib and a changing station?"
"Gunn and Fred went and bought them two nights ago."
"Boy, you people think of everything and don't even tell mommy till the night before!"
Angel laughed. "I love you."
"Not gonna get you off the hook buddy."
Angel made that face again and Buffy melted like ice cream in the summer. She walked up to him and kissed him, making sure that Conner was off to the side. Dawn walked downstairs with her overnight bag in hand and groaned something like "Get a room." She flounced out the door and Buffy heard the car door shut.
"Let's hit the road." Angel said.
They walked out, Angel locking the door, and got in the car. Buffy strapped Conner into the car seat that Xander had gotten for them and then strapped herself in up front.
"Dawn, touch him and you die. He's finally asleep and I want him to stay that way all the way to LA. Got me?" Buffy said.
"Whatever. When do I get to hold him?"
"Never."
Angel started the car and backed out of the driveway.
"What?"
"Maybe someday when you're older, more mature, and have kids of your very own."
"Buffy!"
"What?"
"He'll be too big to hold by then."
"Exactly. You can hold your own kids."
"Whatever Buffy. Overprotective much?"
"Yes."
They reached the on ramp to the freeway and Angel sped up.
"Angel, don't go too fast!" Buffy said looking back at Conner.
"Buffy, we'll be fine."
"That's what they all say."
They drove the speed limit the whole way to LA at Buffy's insistence. The whole time, people drove by and honked because they were obeying the law. After all, they were speeding in the slow traffic lane, which translates to the speed limit slow pokes lane. Buffy had driven on this freeway once. Her dad had let her drive one summer and she had nearly killed everyone in the car. Buffy plus cars equals big trouble, large wrecks.
She started to drift off to sleep, but it wasn't long before Angel was touching her shoulder to wake her up. She felt like she had only been asleep for a few minutes, but when she asked Angel how long it had really been, he said she had been out of it for about an hour.
They arrived at the Hyperion and parked in the back under the small parking garage. Buffy got out and unstrapped Conner. Angel and Dawn were loaded down with small things of luggage and baby stuff. Buffy waited for them to catch up before she entered the Hyperion. Dawn complained that Buffy wasn't carrying anything and Buffy retorted that she was carrying the most valued thing out of the whole car. Angel just smiled and took the baby bag from Dawn. Buffy threw open one of the front doors and walked in. The first person to spot her was Gunn.
"Hey there Buff! Is that little Conner?"
"Yup."
"Guys! Buffy, Conner, Angel, and Dawn are here!" Gunn yelled from behind the counter before he walked over to Buffy. "Hey there little guy! How are you?" Gunn gently took Conner's hand and slapped it against his. "Baby five! All right!"
Buffy laughed as the rest of the group came in from the kitchen. Cordy walked up and hugged Buffy then rubbed Conner's hair.
"How are you?" Cordy asked Buffy.
"Tired! This little guy keeps mommy and daddy on their toes 24/7."
"Hey Gru, when are we gonna make a couple of these?"
"Whenever you like princess." Gru answered. Then to Conner he said, "Hey there warrior!"
"Gru, I think you mean champ." Lorne said coming up to Buffy. "You look like sunshine and roses Blondie!"
"I don't feel it!" Buffy said.
"My, look at the rest of the family! You guys need some help?" Wesley cut in.
"Yes!" Dawn said hastily. Gunn, Gru, and Wesley came up and took a few bags from Angel and Dawn.
"Thank you. Now I can go and see my son." Angel said. He walked to Buffy and she handed Conner over to him. "Hey there. Daddy's gotcha ya now." Angel started to bounce Conner, but quickly stopped when he saw Buffy's face that told him, "If Conner cries or throws up, you're gonna get it."
"So, should we take this stuff up to the room?" Gunn asked.
"Sure. Lead the way." Buffy stated.
Gunn led everyone up the stairs to Angel's room. When he opened the door, Buffy and Angel let out a collective gasp at what they saw there. Angel's bed had been moved to the larger room and the French doors to the bedroom were opened. The little room had been painted blue. The crib in the middle of the room was big and white with a little mobile of animals hung above the crib. In one corner a little changing station was set up, in another, shelves had been built and stuffed animals and sports stuff had been set up.
"Go open it." Gunn said.
Buffy walked over and pulled on one of the shelves. It opened to reveal a little closet with stakes, holy water, garlic, a sword, and a crossbow Buffy had given to Angel a long time ago.
"Wow. This is neat." Buffy said in amazement.
"Why did you guys put this here?" Angel asked stepping up behind Buffy.
"Well, we figured if you two were here and trouble arose, then you could get to a well stocked weapons cabinet easily." Wesley said.
"That was my idea." Gunn put in with a proud grin.
"Thank you guys. All of you." Buffy said.
"We're not through. Dawn follow us." Cordy said. She led them out of the room and to the door on the left of Angel's room. "We took this room and did it up just for Dawn." Cordy opened the door and flipped the light switch. Inside was a room that was all purple. It was Dawn's favorite color. The bed had purple sheets and a brand new journal laying on it. Dawn ran over to the bed and hopped up onto it. She picked up the journal and opened it. She read the inscription out loud.
"'To one of the most brightest Summers women I have ever known. Love Cordy.' Awe, thank you Cordy!" Dawn said running up to her and throwing her arms around the older girl's neck.
"You're totally welcome!" Cordy answered.
"Hey! I can be smart. Maybe not in the school area like Dawn, but in other areas." Buffy protested.
"I know." Cordy said.
"You guys can go now. I wanna sit in my new room and write in my new journal." Dawn said.
"Dawn Summers! What do you say to everyone?" Buffy scolded.
"Oh, thanks you guys this is really cool."
"You're welcome." They answered.
They walked out and went to Buffy and Angel's room again. Angel took Conner to his crib and laid him down. When he came back in the first thing that they discussed was work.
"Any visions Cordy?" Angel asked.
"Yeah, but the guys here have handled it." Cordy answered.
"Ah, Angel. There is a matter that I need to discuss with you and Buffy. It's about the prophecy." Wesley said.
"Go ahead."
"There was more to it that it took me a little while to translate, and there is still more that I'm stuck on, but the basis of it is simply this: your child is going to bring darkness into this world."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Buffy asked.
"Well, even though the prophecy stated that the parents are the two warriors of the light, there is darkness in both of you. Angel, you're a vampire. That alone is darkness ridden. But Buffy, you died and Willow brought you back. Even if you are still human, you brought darkness with you when you came back."
"I killed that thing!"
"Yes, but that's not the case here. Willow and Tara said it themselves. Those spells never work out completely right. I talked to Willow and Tara and they both said that the spell went off without a hitch. But the spell itself was some of the blackest magicks known to man. A slayer has darkness in her, even though it is scarce, it is still there. When they brought you back, it magnified that darkness."
"So that's why."
"Why what?"
"Nothing. Just. felt like saying that's why."
"Anyways, there is still more to this prophecy that I have yet to translate, but as soon as I do, I'll let you know."
"Thanks Wes. I know you'll get right on it." Angel said slipping his arm around Buffy's waist. He was sitting in the chair and she sat on the arm next to him. "All right, any clients of late?"
"Nope, but Wesley had a suggestion to helping us out with that." Fred said.
"Well?"
"I was thinking, maybe we could advertise. Maybe put out flyers, put our number in the phone book, maybe even make a commercial." Wesley said.
"We tried that one already." Cordy said.
"We never aired it." Angel said.
"I know, but we still made one."
"Anyway, I don't think that TV would be the best thing for us. Granted, we do have an actress in our midst, I don't think we should go that public. The flyers and the phone book thing sounds good though. Besides Wes, you're the boss."
"Right then. We'll get right on that." Wesley said. "Cordelia, you get."
Wesley was cut off by a minor explosion from the other room. Buffy and Angel jumped to their feet and flew through the French doors. The room was in shambles and Conner's crib had toppled over. Buffy heard muffled screams coming from the covers and she ran to the crib, using all her strength, and tossed it against the wall. She went through the covers frantically until she found her son. Conner was screaming and Buffy picked him up and started to rock him. Angel was at Buffy's side in a heartbeat and holding on to Buffy and Conner. Buffy was about to ask what the hell was going on, but another explosion rocketed from downstairs. They ran out of the room and caught up with Dawn in the hallway then ran downstairs. The lobby was ripped apart from the explosion and debris was everywhere. The back door that led to the garden was now a gaping hole in the wall and the figure of a man stood in the doorway that was being rushed by vampires and humans alike. The man looked over at Angel, Buffy, and Conner, then back to Angel.
"Angelus."
Angel got a look of recognition on his face and then it quickly turned to pure horror and astonishment. Then he muttered one word.
"Holtz."
"Are you sure we should be taking Conner to LA this soon? It's only been a week since we brought him home." Buffy said, cradling her son. "I mean there is that whole smog thing going on down there and it could make Conner sick."
"Buffy, he's OUR son. He's strong for a baby. If the smog never got to us, then it shouldn't get to him."
"He's only a week and a half old! We're not supposed to take him out until after the first month or two."
"Baby, I love you, but you're getting way too overprotective of him."
"Well, he almost didn't make into this world. Technically, he's not even supposed to be here. His dad is an ensouled vampire and his mom is a vampire slayer, who were both supposed to be infertile. He's our miracle baby and if anything was to happen to him."
"Nothing will happen to him. I promise."
"You're not very good at keeping promises."
"Would you come on Buffy? Cordy and the rest of the gang want to see him."
"They can wait a few weeks."
"Buffy."
"Don't Buffy me! It's LA for Christ's sake! Land of the big smoggy pollution."
"Buffy."
"Stop that. You're giving me that look."
"Buuffyy."
"No."
He gave her that tortured puppy dog look.
"No Angel."
More look.
"Stop it."
Look.
"All right! Fine, but if he gets sick or worse, then it's your fault."
"Agreed. Now come on, the car is already loaded and ready to go."
"What about a crib and a changing station?"
"Gunn and Fred went and bought them two nights ago."
"Boy, you people think of everything and don't even tell mommy till the night before!"
Angel laughed. "I love you."
"Not gonna get you off the hook buddy."
Angel made that face again and Buffy melted like ice cream in the summer. She walked up to him and kissed him, making sure that Conner was off to the side. Dawn walked downstairs with her overnight bag in hand and groaned something like "Get a room." She flounced out the door and Buffy heard the car door shut.
"Let's hit the road." Angel said.
They walked out, Angel locking the door, and got in the car. Buffy strapped Conner into the car seat that Xander had gotten for them and then strapped herself in up front.
"Dawn, touch him and you die. He's finally asleep and I want him to stay that way all the way to LA. Got me?" Buffy said.
"Whatever. When do I get to hold him?"
"Never."
Angel started the car and backed out of the driveway.
"What?"
"Maybe someday when you're older, more mature, and have kids of your very own."
"Buffy!"
"What?"
"He'll be too big to hold by then."
"Exactly. You can hold your own kids."
"Whatever Buffy. Overprotective much?"
"Yes."
They reached the on ramp to the freeway and Angel sped up.
"Angel, don't go too fast!" Buffy said looking back at Conner.
"Buffy, we'll be fine."
"That's what they all say."
They drove the speed limit the whole way to LA at Buffy's insistence. The whole time, people drove by and honked because they were obeying the law. After all, they were speeding in the slow traffic lane, which translates to the speed limit slow pokes lane. Buffy had driven on this freeway once. Her dad had let her drive one summer and she had nearly killed everyone in the car. Buffy plus cars equals big trouble, large wrecks.
She started to drift off to sleep, but it wasn't long before Angel was touching her shoulder to wake her up. She felt like she had only been asleep for a few minutes, but when she asked Angel how long it had really been, he said she had been out of it for about an hour.
They arrived at the Hyperion and parked in the back under the small parking garage. Buffy got out and unstrapped Conner. Angel and Dawn were loaded down with small things of luggage and baby stuff. Buffy waited for them to catch up before she entered the Hyperion. Dawn complained that Buffy wasn't carrying anything and Buffy retorted that she was carrying the most valued thing out of the whole car. Angel just smiled and took the baby bag from Dawn. Buffy threw open one of the front doors and walked in. The first person to spot her was Gunn.
"Hey there Buff! Is that little Conner?"
"Yup."
"Guys! Buffy, Conner, Angel, and Dawn are here!" Gunn yelled from behind the counter before he walked over to Buffy. "Hey there little guy! How are you?" Gunn gently took Conner's hand and slapped it against his. "Baby five! All right!"
Buffy laughed as the rest of the group came in from the kitchen. Cordy walked up and hugged Buffy then rubbed Conner's hair.
"How are you?" Cordy asked Buffy.
"Tired! This little guy keeps mommy and daddy on their toes 24/7."
"Hey Gru, when are we gonna make a couple of these?"
"Whenever you like princess." Gru answered. Then to Conner he said, "Hey there warrior!"
"Gru, I think you mean champ." Lorne said coming up to Buffy. "You look like sunshine and roses Blondie!"
"I don't feel it!" Buffy said.
"My, look at the rest of the family! You guys need some help?" Wesley cut in.
"Yes!" Dawn said hastily. Gunn, Gru, and Wesley came up and took a few bags from Angel and Dawn.
"Thank you. Now I can go and see my son." Angel said. He walked to Buffy and she handed Conner over to him. "Hey there. Daddy's gotcha ya now." Angel started to bounce Conner, but quickly stopped when he saw Buffy's face that told him, "If Conner cries or throws up, you're gonna get it."
"So, should we take this stuff up to the room?" Gunn asked.
"Sure. Lead the way." Buffy stated.
Gunn led everyone up the stairs to Angel's room. When he opened the door, Buffy and Angel let out a collective gasp at what they saw there. Angel's bed had been moved to the larger room and the French doors to the bedroom were opened. The little room had been painted blue. The crib in the middle of the room was big and white with a little mobile of animals hung above the crib. In one corner a little changing station was set up, in another, shelves had been built and stuffed animals and sports stuff had been set up.
"Go open it." Gunn said.
Buffy walked over and pulled on one of the shelves. It opened to reveal a little closet with stakes, holy water, garlic, a sword, and a crossbow Buffy had given to Angel a long time ago.
"Wow. This is neat." Buffy said in amazement.
"Why did you guys put this here?" Angel asked stepping up behind Buffy.
"Well, we figured if you two were here and trouble arose, then you could get to a well stocked weapons cabinet easily." Wesley said.
"That was my idea." Gunn put in with a proud grin.
"Thank you guys. All of you." Buffy said.
"We're not through. Dawn follow us." Cordy said. She led them out of the room and to the door on the left of Angel's room. "We took this room and did it up just for Dawn." Cordy opened the door and flipped the light switch. Inside was a room that was all purple. It was Dawn's favorite color. The bed had purple sheets and a brand new journal laying on it. Dawn ran over to the bed and hopped up onto it. She picked up the journal and opened it. She read the inscription out loud.
"'To one of the most brightest Summers women I have ever known. Love Cordy.' Awe, thank you Cordy!" Dawn said running up to her and throwing her arms around the older girl's neck.
"You're totally welcome!" Cordy answered.
"Hey! I can be smart. Maybe not in the school area like Dawn, but in other areas." Buffy protested.
"I know." Cordy said.
"You guys can go now. I wanna sit in my new room and write in my new journal." Dawn said.
"Dawn Summers! What do you say to everyone?" Buffy scolded.
"Oh, thanks you guys this is really cool."
"You're welcome." They answered.
They walked out and went to Buffy and Angel's room again. Angel took Conner to his crib and laid him down. When he came back in the first thing that they discussed was work.
"Any visions Cordy?" Angel asked.
"Yeah, but the guys here have handled it." Cordy answered.
"Ah, Angel. There is a matter that I need to discuss with you and Buffy. It's about the prophecy." Wesley said.
"Go ahead."
"There was more to it that it took me a little while to translate, and there is still more that I'm stuck on, but the basis of it is simply this: your child is going to bring darkness into this world."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Buffy asked.
"Well, even though the prophecy stated that the parents are the two warriors of the light, there is darkness in both of you. Angel, you're a vampire. That alone is darkness ridden. But Buffy, you died and Willow brought you back. Even if you are still human, you brought darkness with you when you came back."
"I killed that thing!"
"Yes, but that's not the case here. Willow and Tara said it themselves. Those spells never work out completely right. I talked to Willow and Tara and they both said that the spell went off without a hitch. But the spell itself was some of the blackest magicks known to man. A slayer has darkness in her, even though it is scarce, it is still there. When they brought you back, it magnified that darkness."
"So that's why."
"Why what?"
"Nothing. Just. felt like saying that's why."
"Anyways, there is still more to this prophecy that I have yet to translate, but as soon as I do, I'll let you know."
"Thanks Wes. I know you'll get right on it." Angel said slipping his arm around Buffy's waist. He was sitting in the chair and she sat on the arm next to him. "All right, any clients of late?"
"Nope, but Wesley had a suggestion to helping us out with that." Fred said.
"Well?"
"I was thinking, maybe we could advertise. Maybe put out flyers, put our number in the phone book, maybe even make a commercial." Wesley said.
"We tried that one already." Cordy said.
"We never aired it." Angel said.
"I know, but we still made one."
"Anyway, I don't think that TV would be the best thing for us. Granted, we do have an actress in our midst, I don't think we should go that public. The flyers and the phone book thing sounds good though. Besides Wes, you're the boss."
"Right then. We'll get right on that." Wesley said. "Cordelia, you get."
Wesley was cut off by a minor explosion from the other room. Buffy and Angel jumped to their feet and flew through the French doors. The room was in shambles and Conner's crib had toppled over. Buffy heard muffled screams coming from the covers and she ran to the crib, using all her strength, and tossed it against the wall. She went through the covers frantically until she found her son. Conner was screaming and Buffy picked him up and started to rock him. Angel was at Buffy's side in a heartbeat and holding on to Buffy and Conner. Buffy was about to ask what the hell was going on, but another explosion rocketed from downstairs. They ran out of the room and caught up with Dawn in the hallway then ran downstairs. The lobby was ripped apart from the explosion and debris was everywhere. The back door that led to the garden was now a gaping hole in the wall and the figure of a man stood in the doorway that was being rushed by vampires and humans alike. The man looked over at Angel, Buffy, and Conner, then back to Angel.
"Angelus."
Angel got a look of recognition on his face and then it quickly turned to pure horror and astonishment. Then he muttered one word.
"Holtz."