Chapter Six

It had been two days since Connor's telephone call and Angel hadn't slept since Wesley had told him about it. He couldn't keep still long enough to help with the research and he wasn't up to his usual level when he went out at night with Gunn and Wesley. He couldn't concentrate on anything because he didn't know if his son was safe, he didn't know where he was or what he was doing or who he was with. He would have preferred to know if he was dead or if he was never coming back but to know absolutely nothing was torture; the worst torture he had ever endured and that was saying something.

"Will you please drink something?" asked Cordelia, handing Angel a mug of microwaved pig's blood. Angel took the mug and placed it down on the kitchen table in front of him; Cordelia sat down opposite him and reached across the table, taking his hand. "He's fine, Angel. Stop worrying about him,"

"Easier said than done, Cordy,"

"I know," she laughed. "I thought if I said it again then it might actually work,"

"I just wish he'd call or something, just so I know that he's okay. Right now, I couldn't care less if he was staying away for another month or whatever; I just want to know that he's alive,"

"We all do. Will you come join the gang? They're getting worried about you," asked Cordelia, standing up and offering Angel her hand. He sighed and accepted it, bringing his mug with him. Cordelia and Angel walked out from the kitchen into the reception where Gunn, Fred, Wesley and Lorne were all sitting around chatting and laughing.

"I thought we were supposed to be researching the Apocalypse, how is that funny?" smiled Angel, everyone turned around to face him.

"We thought we'd have a day off," grinned Fred.

"Yeah, all that death and disaster; it's enough to turn a guy green," smiled Lorne, Fred laughed at his bad joke while the others smiled. "But seriously Cream Puff, we've been busy with the Beast for weeks now and we haven't talked to each other in so long. We just thought it would be nice,"

"I suppose the world can survive for one day without us," shrugged Angel, draining his mug and joining the gang. Cordelia sat on the coffee table next to Lorne while Angel joined Wesley on the couch. They talked and laughed the way they used to before the sky turned black and the world became nothing but demons and danger but Angel couldn't get into it as much as everyone else. He was still worried about Connor, he couldn't laugh and joke while his son was out there alone.

"We should get back to work," said Wesley. "We've been yapping for quite a while,"

"I suppose so," sighed Fred, standing up and grabbing another huge tome from the pile of books on the counter.

Everyone was just standing and beginning to move around the room to get on with their individual tasks when the double doors of the hotel swung open and Connor walked in with his bag on his back and a pale, blonde girl on his arm. The entire room stopped what they were doing and looked up in shock at Connor and his friend, Wesley sighed with relief at the sight of him while Angel and Cordelia both stepped forward into the centre of the room. Fred and Gunn huddled closer together; both smiling at Connor's return but it was Lorne who was the first to step forward.

"Well, Sea Breezes for everyone," he grinned, looking up at Connor. "It's good to have you back, bunny,"

"Thanks," said Connor quietly, he walked down the steps towards his father, ignoring Cordelia for the time being. There were more important things that needed to be said and none of them were for her.

"Connor," said Angel, Connor looked up at him. "It's good to see you, son,"

"You too, Dad," smiled Connor and allowed Angel to hug him, everyone was shocked at the lack of struggle in their embrace. Angel looked embarrassed when he finally let him go but Connor just straightened his clothes out and looked over at Cordelia quickly before moving back to his father.

"Are you going to introduce your friend or are you just gonna leave her standing there?" asked Angel, Connor smiled and turned around to face Allie. He gestured her to join him with his hand and eventually, she walked down the stairs and stood in front of Angel.

"Dad, this is Allie. She wants to help us out," said Connor, placing a hand casually around her hips. Allie shook Angel's hand and smiled shyly before looking around the room. "She needs some basic fight training but she could be useful round here,"

"I'd be willing to learn anything. When Connor told me about you guys, I just knew that I'd been wasting away in the back waters. I really want to help out," she smiled. Angel nodded in agreement as Wesley moved forward to meet Allie; there was something about her that was familiar.

"I'm Wesley Wyndham-Price, pleased to meet you," he said, holding his hand out. She took it and shook it warmly, smiling up at him. Wesley had almost passed off his feeling as déjà vu when he looked into her eyes; her bright shining deep green eyes. "You're one of the daughters of Machor, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am," she said, dropping her head a little with embarrassment at the association with her past. A past she was happy to leave long behind her.

"Well, you said that once one sister was dead then that was it so I only killed one," explained Connor, Wesley nodded and smiled down at Allie before returning to the reception. Connor turned back to Angel, "Dad, there's one more thing, I would really like to move back in. Both of us would,"

"Of course you can," smiled Angel. Nothing would make him happier than having his son living under his roof again, this was where he belonged, this was where all of them belonged.

"That's great. Look, can you keep Allie company? I need to talk to Cordy," whispered Connor, Angel glanced at Cordelia who was obviously trying her hardest to stay back from the excitement and nodded. Connor smiled and walked over to Cordelia, whispering something into her ear before disappearing into the kitchen. Everyone watched as Cordelia followed but Angel wasn't worried, he knew that it was all over but he also knew that Connor wouldn't want to discuss that in a room full of people, especially his new friend.

"So, Allie," smiled Gunn, throwing an axe through the air which she caught with both hands. "Can you use that?" Allie grinned; she was definitely going to like it here.

"So," said Cordelia, jumping up onto the kitchen table. "Is Allie your new girlfriend?"

"Not exactly. Why, are you jealous?"

"Not really, what did you want to talk to me about? Are you still mad at me?"

"No," said Connor, moving across the room and standing in front of her. "I did a lot of thinking while I was away and I realised how much this place means to me. I know how I don't act that way but I didn't get it before,"

"What do you mean?"

"Angel, you, Fred, Wes, you're all my family. I never really understood that before but I do now. I want to come back but I need to know that things aren't going to be weird between us,"

"Connor, things could never be weird between us. You're very special to me, never forget that," smiled Cordelia, stroking Connor's cheek.

"I know, you're special to me too. Did he say anything while I was away?"

"He forgave us both if that's what you mean," grinned Cordelia. "So, you gonna tell me what's really going on with you and Allie?"

"Cordy, Cordy, Cordy… still the gossip queen," he laughed and ran out of the kitchen and into the main reception where Allie was in full battle mode with Gunn while everyone sat around and watched as he shouted out instructions. He had only been back five minutes and it was already back to normal, it felt as if he had never been away. He guessed that was what it meant to be 'home'.

THE END