OEDIPUS WRECKED

Author D. M. Evans

Feedback –  geekgirzrus@yahoo.com

Website – www.geekgirlz-r.us

Spoilers – Up to Angel Season 4  Slouching Towards Bethlehem and Buffy season 7 up to Same Time Same Place, goes AU after that

Rating – R

Disclaimer – All characters within are the property of Joss Whedon. I'm just happen for a chance to play with them.

Summary – You NEED to read Jocasta Revisited for this to make sense. This is a dependent sequel to that story. After Cordelia has a brief affair with Connor, she heads back to Sunnydale to try and find herself. Meanwhile, something wicked this way comes for both L.A. and Sunnydale.

Chapter Three

Buffy skulked through one of Sunnydale's cemeteries, her mind nowhere near her job. The bright moon cast shadows to mirror the ones in her mind. She hadn't found Spike in the school basement so she wondered where the half mad vampire might be. But that wasn't all that important just now.

Nothing was in her mind beyond Cordy's revelation. Was this baby Angel's? No, that made no sense. Vampires were dead. They only reproduced via their bite and blood. It didn't matter if Cordy loved Angel. Love couldn't create life where there was none.

Cordy was in no shape to talk right now. She had gone home crying too hard to make sense. Buffy could understand Cordelia needing time even if it left her to angst over what might have been between herself and Angel. What might still be between him and Cordy. Willow had been quick to point out that they didn't even know if Cordy and Angel had been lovers. Buffy decided to think of the baby as Groo's, someone she only knew from Cordy's wild ramble as her memories returned. A warrior from another realm who called Cordy 'princess' and for whom they had expended effort to find a 'psychic condom' for was exactly the type Buffy could see Cordy having a kid with. It couldn't be Angel's. If it was, she'd find a way to deal with it but until then it just simply wasn't possible.

That terrible talk she had had with Xander and Willow about killing Anya after her murderous vengeance spree proved she still had strong feelings for Angel. Buffy wanted to deny it but she couldn't. Riley should have proven that to her. She tried to love him but there were barricades in her heart all bearing Angel's name. She had no idea what she had with Spike. What made her do it? To reinforce feeling bad about herself? Maybe. Because she needed someone? Possible. Why she had never killed him was still a mystery even to herself. She should have taken Spike out the moment he was neutered but she hadn't. Maybe it was because he was Angel's 'grandson', a link to someone who had broken into her soul and she couldn't bear to part with even one reminder.

She had Willow email Giles about Cordy's pregnancy along with their questions. She knew it was overstepping her boundaries but there was a concern she and Willow had talked about in whispers. If the baby was Angel's or some otherworldly warrior's, what would the infant be born as? A human? A demon? As the Slayer, she needed to know. A demon child couldn't be allowed to live.

Sounds of a fight tore her away from her misery. Buffy loped along, almost grateful for a chance at something to kill. It didn't take long to find the battle and as a bonus Spike was dead center of it. He wore a gleeful look as he whirled, almost as if in a ballet. Buffy wasn't even sure he was intending to kill the vampires surrounding him. The knife's edge grin on his face suggested he was having too much fun just toying with them.

Buffy stabbed one of the vampires with such force her arm jarred all the way to the shoulder but it felt good. It was doing something more than walking around thinking about all the 'might have been's'. She spun through the dust and staked another one without much effort. Spike saw her and beamed.

"Join the fray, Sunshine girl."

Buffy had quit trying to puzzle out half of what Spike said since he regained his soul. He was nearly as nutty as Dru any more. She wondered if Angel had become like this when he was first given back his soul. From what he'd said, he hadn't done much living in the real world until he met her and now his grandchilde was looking to her the same way.

Hearing a cry behind her and that weird noise that accompanied a vampire dusting, Buffy twisted to see whom other than her or Spike had entered the fight. She nearly dropped her stake when she came face to face with Angel.

"Hey Peaches, nice of you to show up," Spike called cheerfully as he snapped another vampire's neck.

"What are you doing here?" Buffy asked as a young African-American man darted out from the shadows and polished off the last vamp with a weird axe. "And not that I'm complaining about the help, but who's that?"

"That's Gunn." Angel flipped a hand over his shoulder at a woman with a crossbow that seemed to have more heft and width to it than she did. "And that's Fred. They're both part of Angel Investigations. We thought we'd better see if your skinned victims were mirrors to ours. Probably should have warned you." Angel gave her a grin.

Buffy relaxed, her face brighter than it had been in a long time. "No, it's okay. I'm glad you're here. I was somehow half expecting you."

"It's a homecoming and no one baked Granddaddy a cake," Spike said, brushing dust off his jacket.

Angel canted his eyes at Buffy. "What's up with Spike? Drunk again?"

"It's a very long story." Buffy grimaced. What if Spike started babbling about their former relationship? Angel might need to know about it but she wanted to be the one to tell him. Alone.

Spike flung a thin arm around Angel's broad shoulders. "Sorry, old man, about everything. I never understood. Now I do."

"What are you talking about?" Angel said, edging out of Spike's grasp. Spike frowned and Angel gave him a warning look he'd been using on the smaller vampire for more than a century.

"Hush. I know, I know." Spike spoke to something over his shoulder that only he saw. "Have to get back underground. Been out too long." Spike darted off.

"Is he always that weird?" Gunn asked, pointing after Spike with his axe.

"No, Spike's usually down to earth," Angel said, staring off after Spike. "He's not really old enough to get soft in the head like some vampires do when they get too old."

"Vampire? Any reason we didn't dust him?" Gunn snarled, turning to Angel. "Seriously, do we even do that any more?"

"Just dusted a few," Fred said placatingly, patting his arm.

"Spike tends to get special consideration though for the most part I'm not sure why," Buffy said. "By the way, I'm Buffy."

"Oh! You're her! I never thought I'd meet you. Angel's talked so much about you but I never…" Fred trailed off, looking flustered. She was trying so hard not to babble on any more. Gunn put a hand on her arm.

Somehow knowing he still talked about her made Buffy feel better.

"Want a lift back to… wherever you guys use as your headquarters these days?" Angel finished lamely.

"My house. That's about the only thing that hasn't changed since you've been gone." Buffy winced. Why had she said that? It sounded so critical.

Angel didn't seem upset. He just waved a hand to show the way. "My car's that way."

Buffy followed him back to the big black convertible. A nervous flutter tickled her stomach as Gunn and Fred took the backseat leaving her sitting next to Angel. She didn't know why she should be so edgy. This was Angel. She knew him better than anyone. Of course how he spent the last four years was a mystery to her and vice versa. Was it because she knew Cordy loved him and wondered if he felt the same? Then there was the whole Spike thing, not to mention a baby on the way. Buffy sighed. Why couldn't her life ever been simple?

"So you're the Slayer?" Gunn leaned over the back of the seat. Buffy nodded. "Cool. And you really just let that blond vampire roam around."

"You work for a vampire," Buffy pointed out.

"No, he works for us. Sorta." Gunn scowled.

"Angel's different," Fred said protectively. "He's got a soul but you know that. Sorry."

Buffy smiled gently. "That's okay. It's sort of the same reason we aren't killing Spike these days."

Angel nearly drove up on the sidewalk. "What?"

"Like I said, it's a long story. He came back to Sunnydale three years ago and got neutered by the chip implant but I've told you that part…a few weeks ago he came back again. This time with a soul and it's driven him…well, nuts." Buffy shrugged. "You saw."

"Another vampire with a soul? What does that mean? It has to mean something, right?" Fred asked, looking between Angel and Buffy.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Angel whispered, gazing at Buffy, blowing past a red light.

"I wanted to but…I was afraid." Buffy stared out the side window so she wouldn't have to look at him. "Afraid I might have to kill him if he was too insane to control, afraid that I couldn't kill him because I felt guilty about this because he did it for me." Buffy could feel Angel's eyes on her but she couldn't bring herself to look at him. Not yet. Not until she could explain everything. "And I'll tell you all about that when we have time…when we're alone."

"Fair enough," Angel grunted, stomping on the gas.

Buffy knew he wasn't happy but it would have to do. She glanced over her shoulder at Gunn. "How many bodies have turned up in L.A.?"

"Four that we know of," he replied. "How about here?"

"Just two, but it was odd enough that a little info trading seemed like a good idea," Buffy said as Angel pulled up to the curb.

Buffy glanced up at the dark upstairs windows. Dawn had called and asked permission to stay overnight at Kit's. Buffy had gratefully said yes since she didn't want Dawn overhearing her and Willow talking about skinned bodies and pregnant former cheerleaders because she knew her sister would have input and she wasn't up for Dawn's oft-time cynicism. Buffy opened the door and ushered them in.

"Buffy!" Willow called from the kitchen. "Giles is on his way here. Between the skinned bodies, the thing from below  that devours and Cordy being pregnant, he thought we might need him." The young witch bounced into the living room and stopped dead seeing they had company. "Oh, Angel. I wasn't expecting to see you. How are you?"

"A little off-kilter," the vampire said, honestly looking it. "I didn't just hear…"

"Did you say Cordy's pregnant? That can't be…can it?" Fred asked, her brown eyes huge and wide.

"Preg…holy shit," Gunn muttered.

Willow grimaced. "I guess I shouldn't have said anything. She's going to be so mad. But you guys are her friends so I suppose you would have found out sooner or later."

"It's true?" Angel whispered, automatically taking a lap around the living room, pacing off the influx of nervous energy.

"Son of a bitch," Gunn growled, not even sure why he was angry or if he even was.

"Where is she?" Fred asked.

"At her parents place but she's not in any shape to talk to anyone. She won't pick up the phone or answer the door," Buffy said. "Sit down. Can I get you guys something?"

Fred shook her head frantically and sagged onto the couch. Gunn sat beside her.

"I would have thought Cordy was smarter than this," Gunn said, finally deciding what he could be angry about.

"She seemed pretty shocked," Willow said, curling up on a chair.

Buffy stopped Angel in front of the fireplace. "Are you sure you're okay?" Buffy watched his face but saw only pain there. He didn't answer her.  She leaned close and whispered, "Is the child yours?"

Angel startled as if slapped. He broke away from her. "No. It's my son's."

"Your what?" Buffy knew her mouth was dangling open but she didn't care.

"It's a long story…like Spike. I need…I can't be here just now," Angel said, heading for the door.

Buffy followed him. "Willow, catch everyone up and vice versa."

She shut the door behind her and jogged after Angel. He was already half way up the sidewalk, totally ignoring his car. They walked in silence until they got to one of the parks. Angel sat down hard on one of the swings, leaning against the chain. Buffy sat next to him.

They sat speechless for a minute or so before Buffy spoke. "So…you have a son?"

"His name is Connor. He's eighteen, give or take a few years," Angel said simply.

"How is that possible?" Buffy studied his face in the dim moonlight. "That would make him just a few years younger than me. You've never mentioned a son and you've been a vampire for centuries. You can't have children."

He leaned back on the swing a bit. "Then why did you ask me if Cordy's baby was mine?"

Buffy scuffed a toe in the soft dirt. "Because when she got her memories back, we overheard some of them, including that she loved you. Sounds like she loved a guy name Groo at the same time so at least she's still as fickle as ever." When Angel said nothing Buffy winced. "Sorry. That was petty." She reached out and brushed his hand. "Do you love her?"

Angel shrugged. "I don't know. I keep thinking it's impossible. I loved you and look where that got us. I shouldn't be looking to love anyone ever again, not until I find a way around my curse. But our friends…they kept telling us we were in love but we just couldn't see it. I know I care about her but is it love? I have no idea and no matter what it was, it's dead now."

Buffy leaned her head against the swing's thick chain. "Because of this baby?"

Angel shook his head. "Before that." He got up and wandered around the swing set. Buffy could read the anger written into the rigidity of his muscles. "I can't help thinking she took advantage of Connor. He doesn't know…well, he doesn't know a lot. He was raised in a hell dimension."

"That would explain why I never heard about him."

"There's more to it than that." Angel sat again. "A few months ago he was just a baby, mine and Darla's. Don't ask. Just leave it as she was brought back from the dead, made a vampire again and is dust once more." Angel tightened his hands around the swing's chains. "I wanted to tell you about him but you were…adjusting to being alive again."

 "That's a word for it." Buffy snorted harshly.  "Dying on the inside is a better term."

"I'm sorry, Buffy. I'm sorry I couldn't help you, that I wasn't there when…that I wasn't there period." Angel brushed her cheek with his long fingers. "I've told you where I was, not that it matters."

"You still could have told me you had a baby," Buffy said softly, staring at her shoes.

Angel got back up, pacing in front of the swings. "There wasn't time. I was being stalked by someone who's family I destroyed nearly two hundred years ago. He managed to get brought into this time and I knew he wanted me dead or better yet, suffering. Connor was the way to do it. Besides him there were Wolfram and Hart trying to steal my son. I was doing everything I could just to keep him safe. It didn't work. Connor was kidnapped by Holtz, the man stalking me, and they ended up in a hell dimension."

"Where time moves faster, sort of like when I…" Buffy trailed off, giving him a pitying look.

Angel rested his hand on her slim shoulders. "Yes, like that. A week or so passed here and I could think of nothing but getting him back. And then I did, as a teen. He's still so new to this world. It was wrong of Cordelia to…seduce him. I think she realized that and that's why she's here. Connor doesn't see it that way."

"Where is he now?" Buffy craned her head up to look at him, her hair brushing his chest.

"In L.A.. He lives with Wesley." Angel scowled, returning to his seat, the nearness of Buffy, the familiarity of their long talks making him feel weak-kneed. "Wesley and the rest of us had a falling out."

"So why would Connor live with him?"

"Holtz raised Connor to hate me. He sees me as Angelus, the killer of his father's family since that's what Holtz told him. He knows I'm really his father and he couldn't hate me more for it. I didn't have the time to tell you about Connor once we got him back since he betrayed me, sealed me in a metal coffin and threw me into the ocean. Wesley eventually rescued me three months later."

Buffy squeezed his cold hand. "I'm so sorry, Angel."

"Some would say I got what I deserved for what I did to Holtz. Connor certainly does. Maybe he's right. Regardless, he has as little to do with me as he can." Angel squeezed her hand back. "I just wish I knew what to do about this baby."

"I don't think that's for you to say. It's up to Cordy," Buffy pointed out.

"I'm not sure Connor would understand. He's certainly not ready for something like this."

"And you all will find a way to deal with it. We always do, right?" Buffy sighed. "I wasn't ready to help raise my sister but there wasn't a choice. And I think maybe we're doing okay."

"I'm glad of that." Angel disentangled his hand from Buffy's. "Spike really has his soul?"

Buffy pursed her lips and hesitated for a few moments. "He does."

"I remember…hearing the voices of those I killed when I first got mine back. It was more horrible than you could possibly know. I think I talked to them too like he was doing tonight. I know that's what he was doing. It makes perfect sense now. But he did it for you?"

She tilted her head up to look at the stars then met Angel's eyes. "He thinks he loves me."

"Oh." Angel stared at her. Neither of them moved but both suddenly felt imprisoned in something cold and ugly.  "Do you love him?"

"No. I feel something for him, Angel. I have no idea what it is, only that it's wrong. He thought with a soul I could love him like I loved you," Buffy said, wanting to look away but she couldn't.

Angel closed his eyes for a moment then asked, "Why?"

Buffy turned away then, the chains twisting above her head. "Because we were…lovers isn't the right word. The right word is vulgar and I think you know exactly what I mean."

"I do." That came out as a low growl.

Buffy flinched just a hair expecting more, thinking she might deserve the wave of anger she sensed building. "I'm not asking you to understand. Hell, I don't understand."

"Buffy," he interrupted. "You don't owe me any explanations. It's your life, your choices. I can't interfere with that."

"Sometimes I wish someone would." Buffy sighed, letting her head fall back again so she could pretend to study the stars. It was easier than meeting Angel's eyes.

"You don't really want that. I could…I want to…" Angel sputtered.

"Tell me exactly what you think of me and Spike," she finished for him.

"I hate it." Those simple words frosted the park around them. "And we can leave it at that. I don't want to fight with you, Buffy. This night has been horrible enough as it is. If we continue, we're just going to fight and I don't want that."

She nodded, knowing it was true.  "We ought to head back. We have something skinning people all over the place."

Angel stood and gave her a hand up. "On the way home, tell me what you mean by 'from below it devours'."