Title: Friendly Reflection


Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. Never will. I do make claims to Lexia whom I thought up all by myself. No help from nobody. Ok! Yes I made her up as a like, "fellow-demon-child-type" to relate to Connor, but that's all mine. Yep....anyways....


Summary: Set before Rain of Fire, as if Cordy had never left the hotel and ran back to Connor's place. Connor's coping with living alone when he meets someone who has something in common with him.


Raiting: Pg-13




Chapter 6:



Connor hesitated on the front step of the Hyperion. He really didn't want to see his dad. But it didn't look like he had much choice. Something was going on. And it seemed to always be happening around him. If Connor was causing something. . . he could end up hurting Lexia. He didn't want that to happen. Connor wouldn't let that happen.


"You ok?" Lexia asked when he stopped.


"Yeah. I just. . . really don't wanna go in there."


"Well, maybe your dad knows what's going on. Or maybe he doesn't and we could help?"


"I know. It's just. . ." Connor sighed and looked at Lexia. She looked slightly scared, and worried, but most of all beautiful. She chewed her lip as she looked up at him. Connor couldn't take it anymore.


Stepping toward her, Connor slipped an arm around her waste. With is his other hand he lifted her chin and kissed her softly. One soft, sweet, chaste kiss to keep his ranging emotions down. (Coz he had lots of them at them moment.)


When they broke apart he looked down at her. Lexia smiled at him. It amazed him how someone so strong could look so sweet.


"Better?" she asked.


"A little. But after this is over, screw the going out crap. We're going to have an "in" date," Connor told her seriously.


"Sounds good to me," Lexia said chuckling.


Finally Connor turned and headed up the steps holding Lexia's hand. It was still twilight so he was sure Angel hadn't left yet if he was going to. He opened the door, and held it for Lexia. He followed and they stood on the top step. Lorne was on the phone busily putting people on hold, and he saw Gunn and Wesley researching. They looked up when they heard the door open.


"Where's Angel?" Connor asked.



"Connor, hi kido," Lorne said sarcastically. "No hello's for the rest of us? Or even introducing your friend?"


"Hi. This is Lexia. Where's Angel?"


"Right here," Angel said walking down the stairs. "Connor."


"Do you know what's been going on?" Connor asked turning toward his father.


"I don't know what you're talking about. Now if you don't mind I have to get back to work," Angel said going past him and glancing at Lexia.


"Dad," Connor said to get his attention.


Angel stopped. He turned and looked at his son. Then he motioned for Connor to follow him.


Connor walked down the steps, Lexia trailing. He stopped at the counter and pulled Lexia aside.


"Wait here for a minute. These guys won't bother you," Connor told her and then noticed all three of them staring curiously. "Too bad."


"Why is that not reassuring?" Lexia asked.


Connor squeezed her hand, and turned to follow Angel into his office. He closed the door behind him. Angel sat at his desk and Connor stood.


"So? Do you know something?"


"No, but have they're been a lot of weird occurrences around town?"


"Lots. Why?"


"Good," Connor said sighing. "I thought it was just me."


Angel just raised an eyebrow at his son.


"Well the last two nights things have been happening. At the movies-,"


"Movies?" Angel asked.


"We crashed into a pillar and cockroaches just swarmed out of it. Then at the beach today hundreds of snakes just came out of the sand."


"Movies and the beach?" Angel asked leaning forward. "Was she with you?"


They both looked out the window at Lexia. She was leaning against the counter and tugging at the gold stands of her hair idly. Angel looked back at Connor with a smile.


"She's cute."


"Yeah. But you can just stay away from her," Connor told Angel crossing his arms over his chest.


"Connor- never mind. But yes there have been lots of occurrences lately. And Cordelia had a vision earlier."


"Of what? Is she ok?"


"Yes she's fine. We don't know exactly what though. She only saw a demon rising out of the earth. She doesn't know where."


"And you think it may have something to do with these occurrences around town?"


"Maybe. I'm going to find out now," Angel told him and stood grabbing his coat.


"Do you need help?" Connor asked.


"No, but you could check on Cordy. She was really rattled by it." Angel told him a bit reluctantly.


"Ok."


With that they both exited the office.


+ + +



Lexia looked up as the door to Angel's office opened. Angel and Connor both came out with the same look of determination on their faces. It was kinda creepy. Angel passed Lexia but stopped suddenly and looked at her intently. Lexia wondered why he was staring but suddenly got a strong sense of vampire. A vampire that was sensing her as well.


Connor stopped beside Lexia and looked at Angel. "You ever hear its not polite to stare?" he told him.


Angel flinched and looked at Connor. "Right. Sorry." With that he hurried out of the building.


Lexia breathed a sigh of relief. But she knew still that Angel knew what she was. He would tell Connor.


"Lexia," Connor said getting her attention.


"I'm going to check on a friend. She's upstairs. Are you ok?"


"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired," Lexia assured him.


"Ok," Connor said not looking quite sure.


Then he too left heading up the stairs. With him gone she turned to look at the group again. The two men had abandoned what they were doing and were behind the counter with the green demon just looking at her. Lexia raised an eyebrow. Freaky.


"So, what's your story Peaches?" the demon asked her.



+ + +

Connor opened Cordelia's door only to find her pacing back and forth in her room . Then she turned to leave only to find Connor.

"Must be genetic," she commented

"What?" Connor asked confused.


"Sneaking up on people. Your dad's an expert."


"I was just coming to check on you. Where ya going?"


"Been inside all day. Thought I'd take a walk, clear the cobwebs, recharge the chargeables," she stops when she notices Connor's look. "OK, stop with the look. I'm getting a stronger feeling."


"About the vision."


"Yeah. Flashes, images, tugging at me, pulling."

"Where?"


"I don't know. Maybe where this thing's gonna jack-in-the-box?" Cordelia guessed grabbing her coat.


"So you were gonna go face it by yourself," Connor asked crossing his arm over his chest.


"'S all right. I was a higher being,"she told him informatively and started to walk past him.


"Was," Connor comments getting Cordelia to stop. "You're not anymore."


"No, I'm not. I remember wanting to come back home, to be able to touch, to feel, to be human again," she sat on the bed.


"You are."


"But I can't remember how. Am I on vacation? Did I go cosmic AWOL? Did I do something to piss off the Powers That Be and get kicked out? Why am I here?"


"Because you're important."


"Oh, yeah. The world's really stopped turning without me," she replied sarcastically.


"Well... you're important to me," he told her honestly.


"Guess the sneaky's not the only thing you got from Angel. Getting pretty good with saying the right words, too."


"Complete sentences. I've been working on it," Connor said with a bashful smile.


"Maybe you're right. Maybe I was sent back because I'm important or needed—for this, to stop whatever's about to happen. I have to find out if that's why I'm here."

Cordelia moved from the bed and headed for the door. Connor grabbed her arm to stop her.


"And I have to go with you."


"No, it's dangerous."


"That's why I'm coming. Besides, Angel's got the whole gang watching you. You need me to get down the side of the building."

Cordelia looked at the open window Connor was heading to. She smiled.

"I hope you know you're my hero," she told him as they moved to the window.

"I know."


(Thanx to for the transcript expert. I changed some of it to fit the story.)