Foreword: All characters belong to Joss Whedon and/or David Greenwalt. Also, I think I've gone crazy, because this is not something that I normally write. Anyway. This takes place in Buffy's seventh season, and Angel's fourth, up through both's third episode, (except for where Cordelia comes back and Angel's in love with her, because I don't like her) which is as far as I've seen. Old characters will be returning. The pairing situation is complicated, so I'll leave it a surprise. Enjoy. Shouldn't be too many spoilers, if any at all. Also, events from the Buffy books do factor in.

The Darkest Hour before Dawn

One

Connor wrapped his blanket a little closer around him and looked up at the sky. He wondered what it would be like when winter rolled around and it got cold. Colder than it was already, at any rate. He sighed.

A surge of anger for the man who claimed to be his father rushed over him. The man who had killed Holtz, his father. He was suddenly itching for a fight, for anything that would attack him.

He stood up and started walking, tucking the blanket and his tiny pillow into a backpack he'd stolen. As he walked away from the other homeless crowded around the bridge, thunder rumbled. He tipped his head up. The sky was still as clear as before. Connor shook his head and kept walking.

A slimy hand wrapped around the back of his neck, and he spun around, ducking out of the thing's grip. He raised his fists.

The slimeball morphed and took the form of his supposed father—Angel.

"Connor," he said. Connor flew at the thing, his foot connecting with solid, hard flesh.

It was finally his chance to get back at his so-called father.

~`~

"Should we come to Sunnydale?" Angel asked into the phone, monitoring Fred as she washed the cuts on Lindsey's face. He wondered briefly how the ex-lawyer had managed to get a flight looking the way he did, his face scratched and his clothes mis-matched.

"I doubt that you can make any more of a difference here than you can there," Buffy said.

"Well," Angel said. "If I can persuade Wes to work with us, we've got a pretty tough crew here. If you need us."

"I'll make sure to give you a call," Buffy said.

"All right," Angel told her.

The doors swung open again, and Connor came in, dragging something along with him. He pulled the body to the middle of the floor and dropped it. It was the perfect likeness of Angel.

It was dead.

"Nice try, Dad," he sneered.

"You aren't supposed to be here," Angel said. Fred became intensely busy with Lindsey's lacerations.

"Of course not," Connor said. "I just thought I might return your shape shifting goo demon."

"Goo demon?" Angel asked.

"What is it?" Buffy asked over the phone.

"Yes, a goo demon. Big smelly greenish thing. Attacked me. You sent it." Connor said.

"Buffy, we've got a dead one here. Are you sure you don't want us to come to Sunnydale?" Angel asked her.

"If you've got one, I think it might be a good idea to examine it." Buffy said. "And I certainly don't want to be there when you do."

There was a pause. "Buffy?" Angel asked.

"Yeah?" the girl replied.

"What did you say the goo demon that you saw looked like when it shifted?" Angel asked.

"I didn't say," Buffy said. There was a nervous note in her voice. "But… Angel?"

"Yes?"

"It looked like you."

"Funny thing," Angel said. "The one that appeared to Lindsey took on Darla's form. It knew his name, even. The one Connor has here looks like me."

"The one that I saw knew my name," Buffy told Angel.

"You sent this thing, Dad," Connor snapped. He said 'dad' like it was the worst swear that could ever pass his lips. "Of course it knew my name."

"I don't want you dead," Angel said.

"What's going on over there?" Buffy asked.

"A little personal problem. It'll get worked out." Angel replied.

"No it won't," Connor said, and turned to leave.

"You. Sit." Angel said, pointing at his son. Connor glared at him a moment, then walked over and sat down next to Lindsey and Fred to sulk. Fred scooted away, keeping Lindsey between herself and Connor.

"Angel, is this a bad time?" Buffy asked.

"Not at all. Call us if you need us to return to the Hellmouth." Angel said.

"Of course," Buffy said. "If you find any information, let me know."

"I will," Angel said. "Bye."

"Bye."

The line disconnected and Angel hung up the phone. Gunn came in the doors.

"Whoa. What did I miss," Gunn said. "Why is evil lawyer boy here? Why is my girlfriend tending to him? Why did you let the brat back in?" He paused. "Why does Angel have two bodies? Am I losing my mind?"

"He's not evil lawyer boy anymore, because she knows how, he's my son, the me on the floor is a goo demon that shapeshifts, and no, it's been gone a while already," Angel answered.

Gunn stared at him. "Did you just make a joke?" he asked. "I could swear that you just made a joke. I must be going crazy."

"We've got a situation," Fred said.

"Like what?" Gunn asked.

"Goo demons. Dallas, Sunnydale, and now here, apparently." Angel said. He quickly related all the facts.

"So what are we going to do?" Gunn asked.

"Well," Angel said. "We call Wes, see if he'll help out. Then we relocate to the Hellmouth."

"Wait a minute." Gunn said. "The Hellmouth?"

"Sunnydale."