Disclaimer: see chapter 1

"Hit!" the girl umpiring said. "Connor wins."

Connor took off his helmet and saluted his opponent. "Good fight," he said.

"Short fight," the other boy returned, saluting Connor back and wiping his face. "You're good, you know that?"

"Well ." Connor began, and the umpire laughed.

"Course he knows. Glad to have you with us, Connor. Coming for a drink?"

Connor took off his padded breastplate and stuffed it into his bag. "All right."

It was the end of his first week at college, and he was exhausted. He had enrolled on all his courses, and been to classes each morning; two days earlier had been karate and now he was trying out the fencing club. The other fencers seemed to be friendly enough, and they had welcomed him warmly.

Bags in hand, they trooped out of the sports hall and along paths to the campus bar, where the others quizzed Connor about San Diego and where he had learnt to fence, before the conversation moved on to more trivial matters. They sat and drank and talked until people started glancing at watches. It transpired that Connor's opponent in the last fight, a young man named Josh, had parked his car near the dormitories, and the two of them started to walk back there together.

The night was quiet and few people were around. Josh asked Connor about girlfriends and Connor gave him a potted history of his relationships, finishing with his burgeoning friendship with Kirsty-from-across-the- corridor. In return, Josh started to fill Connor in on campus gossip, and they were laughing hard at the story of a practical joke when Connor's bag was pulled off his back.

"Hey!" Connor said, turning round and grabbing the strap of the bag before it left his shoulder. He looked up at the thief, and let go of the bag.

The vampire glared at him from behind yellow eyes, and growled, "Miracle boy."

Connor frowned, puzzled, and then reacted, pushing Josh backwards and grabbing for the stake in his pocket. The vampire moved in, trying to grab Connor's shoulders and baring fangs as yellow as its eyes. Instinctively, Connor kicked upwards, launching the vampire backwards on to the sidewalk. It stood up again instantly, and he ran forward to kick it again. It went down and there was a thud as its head hit the ground, and Connor darted forwards and plunged the stake in its heart. A moment passed, and then the thing exploded into dust.

Coughing, Connor turned to Josh who was standing frozen close by. "You all right?" he asked.

"Did . was that . it exploded!" Josh stammered. Connor nodded, remembering the first time he had seen the true death of a vampire.

"It's all right - it's gone now," he said, hoping he sounded reassuring. He picked up his bag. "Come on, let's get to your car quick."

They hurried along the last few hundred yards, Connor glancing around every few steps. At Josh's car, he almost pushed the other into the vehicle and watched as his new friend drove off before hurrying inside his building and up to his room.

It took Angel only half an hour to get to him, and Connor explained what had happened and what the vampire had said before dying. His father sat with his elbows resting on his knees, frowning.

"I don't like this at all."

"You're telling me that?" Connor said. "I didn't like it either."

"I think you should go home," Angel said. "Go back to San Diego. You never saw a vampire there?"

"Only when you visited," Connor replied. His father winced. "Sorry."

"Well, then it's safe."

"We don't know that," Connor argued. "At least here you're here too. I don't want anything attacking Mum and Dad."

"Have you called them?" Angel asked.

"Too late now. I'll do it in the morning." Connor leant forwards. "What do we do, Dad? That vampire knew who I was."

"We find out who, or what, sent it," his father said. "I'll go round our informants tomorrow. A visit to Wolfram and Hart may be in order." He looked grim and determined. "And I think you should move into the hotel. I don't want you here alone."

Connor opened his mouth to protest, and then saw his father's eyes, full of worry, and he closed his mouth.

"Gunn or Cordy can bring you here when you have classes, I'll pick you up after dark. We'll manage."

Connor nodded. "I guess. Though I was quite enjoying being here."

"I'm sorry," Angel said. "It's not your fault - it's mine. It should only be for a while, until we find who's spreading the word about you." His eyes narrowed. "And then they'll find out that coming at me or mine is a really bad idea."

Standing up, Connor found a bag and started to pack a few things in it. "But why?" he asked, folding t-shirts. "Okay, so I'm your son, but I'm human. Nothing much special about me, really."

Angel passed him his alarm clock. "You know that's not true, Connor. And even if it were, you're special to me. You matter, to me."

Connor paused in tucking underwear into the bag, and smiled at his father. "Thanks."

As they were leaving, the door opposite Connor's opened and Kirsty stuck her head out. "Hey, Connor."

"Hi."

"Are you going somewhere?" she asked, noticing the bag by Connor's feet.

"I'm going to stay with my . uncle, downtown," Connor replied, glancing at Angel. "Just for a bit. I'll be here during the day. Lunch tomorrow?"

"At the café. Okay." Kirsty smiled at Connor, and then dimpled another one at Angel.

"Oh," said Connor. "Erm . Kirsty, my uncle. Kirsty."

"Angel," said Angel, nodding at Kirsty. "A pleasure to meet you."

"You too," Kirsty said, blushing. "I'll see you, Connor."

"Twelve thirty," Connor said, following Angel down the corridor.

They were in the car and driving towards the city when Angel spoke again. "Uncle?"

"Nobody's going to believe you're my dad," Connor said, "not any more. You can be the younger brother of my dad for a few more years. At some point I'll probably have to say you're my older brother."

"And at some point, I'll have to say you're my father," Angel said softly. "I'm not looking forward to that."

"Years, yet," Connor said lightly. "Ages."

"I hope so," his father said. "I hope so."