Dawnie now back to being a ball of energy 'cos she's just a ball of annoyance!
Sort of based on a look a 'Look Who's Talking' format for part of this chapter!
Chapter Two
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Where'd He Go?
Cordelia was up before everyone else. They had all been tired out from Caritas: Fred had to be carried back to their apartment by Gunn, who wasn't the happiest bunny in the field. Buffy and Co had retired to various rooms that were gradually being restored, Buffy as close to Angel as she could get…5 doors away. Cordelia had been finishing off an essay on Japanese history. It was perfect according to Angel but still she wanted it 'uber perfect'! Angel had found her asleep with her head in her arms on the table. She had awakened to find herself, still dressed, in Angel's bed, with Angel sleeping peacefully beside her. She had a room in the hotel but it just held clothes for when they came back from battles and she didn't want to go back home. 9 times out of 10 these days she stayed in Angels room. It was comforting to have Conner and Angel in the same room she knew they were safe.
Conner had been her alarm clock that morning. Waking up bang on 6:30. She didn't mind. He sat in his playpen, the Mickey Mouse covered ball keeping his attention long enough for her to shower in his nursery attached to Angel's bedroom and get dressed. She closed the door and dressed him, all without waking Angel up. Cordelia was glad…Angel was grumpy in the mornings.
She was down stairs feeding Conner, well trying to get at least half his breakfast in his mouth and not on his bib. She heard padding footsteps behind her.
"Hey Buffy." Cordelia said, not turning around.
"How did you know it was me?" Buffy asked sitting down beside Conner and tickling his tummy.
"Don't know. Seventh sense. It works on Angel too. Buffy, can you not tickle him, he won't eat." Buffy withdrew her hand and looked at the floor. "So what are you doing today?"
"Don't know. Thought I would look up some friends." Cordelia nodded, concentrating on Conner. "I thought since you're going to collage, I would take Conner. Saves him being stuck in a stuffy nursery all day."
"I don't know Buffy. He's kinda weird with new people. He needs to be protected at all times as well. He's kind of unique and everybody wants a piece."
"Well what's better protection than a Slayer? I had a sister Cordelia; I can cope with a baby for a couple of hours. And you don't need to haul his stuff on public transport. I know it can be hell."
"I take Angels car. Listen I have a class at 9am and finish at 1pm. So be back here by 1:30ish so I can take him to the doctors. Tell Angel where you are going. He is very protective of his family. Keep a cell phone and don't give him anything but the food I give you. He's allergic to nuts and sensitive to sunlight, that's his daddy's fault isn't it." She was now talking to Conner.
"OK Jeez Cordelia, you sound as if you are organizing a small army, not taking a baby out for a few hours."
Cordelia laughed. "Hah, wait until you have to look after one yourself, then you'll know what it's like. You have to be prepared for anything." She looked at her watch. "Oh goodness, 8:30, I gotta run. Tell Angel where you are going and tell him I took the car."
"What he doesn't know?" Buffy exclaimed, as a bottle was trust into her hands.
She laughed again picking up her books. "'Course not. It's his pride and joy. One day he will learn to hide the keys!"
She fled though the main doors and the car roared away leaving Buffy holding the baby and the diaper bag.
She picked Conner out of his high chair and he started to cry. Buffy panicked. He wasn't crying before. "Conner, come on. Please don't cry. Mommy will be back soon and them you can go to the doctors." He didn't stop. "Listen, I'll do a deal. I'll give you $10 and you stop crying." She flashed a $10 dollar bill in front of him and he stopped crying. "You just like your mommy…anything for money."
Conner took the bill from her hands and started to play with it. The fun was over though when the bill tore into little pieces and he began to fuss. Buffy was not happy. Babies were meant to be all smiles and cute things. 'Conner whines like his mom' Buffy thought.
"Tell you what Conner." Buffy said as she slipped on his shoes and then hers. "We'll go to the mall and we can go to the toy shop. If your any more like your mommy, you'll love it. Undercover so you don't get burnt and mommy packed food so we can eat in a café. Oh your daddy will see how good a mother I can be and he'll come running back to me. Yes he will." Conner chose this moment to burp, loudly, and Buffy's smile dropped.
At The Mall:
The mall was packed solid with people. Conner sat happily in his three-wheeler buggy, looking at all the people around him. Life from knee level was very exciting, all these giants and strange clothes. He hoped that the strange woman would let him out soon and let him walk around. Mommy knew he didn't like being him in the three-wheel car, too much energy she said. The strange woman kept talking to him like he was silly. Opps.
"Stinky, Stinky, Stinky." He shouted at the top of his voice.
The yellow haired woman stuck her head in front of Conner again. "What's stinky huh?" She sniffed then her face crinkled just like daddy's, without yellow eyes. "You smell. Oh Conner."
The buggy did a u-turn and into the mother and baby changing rooms. She put Conner down on the waterproof mat. Didn't she know you were meant to put paper down, it's cold you know. Conner giggled as she tried to figure out which way the diaper went on, holding all baby wipes as if they would kill her. The diaper went on backwards and then fell off, there was way too much cream and Conner's diaper kept slipping. The lady with yellow hair kept growling like daddy does to mommy whines.
Buffy had finally got the diaper on properly and it was staying on… an improvement at least. She pushed the buggy outside the baby room to find a queue of mothers and fathers waiting to use it. She pushed him down the long corridor but heard a scream behind her. Without thinking, she left the pram and ran off in the direction of the scream.
10 Minute Later:
Who would of thought you would find a Vampire in a shopping mall. Anyway he was dust on the linoleum floor. She headed back to where she had left the buggy to find it gone!
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Buffy lost Conner…I love being a writer!! Way to impress Angel huh!