A.N. First of all, Aredhel, Kat, Cristal. Cocoakitty (love the new name) and Best of Buffy, cheers for the reviews I love 'em. Please send more.

Secondly, Rhapsody child of the sky - As soon as they start selling psychic spell checks, I'm first in line. Until then, I can't touch type so I don't look at the screen when I'm typing. If it's still a word so the spell check doesn't pick it up. shit happens.

Thirdly, Chaos Jen - Unfinished fics are a major pet hate of mine. Don't worry. I have the out line of the whole story written down, and I promise I'll finish it. That's the good news. The bad news is it's gonna take me ages. When I started it was just going to be one, not particularly long fic. It's turned into a four part story, involving Stargate SG1 and Highlander as well as BtVS and Ats, this being the first part. I'm sorry but it kept growing in my head til I was happy with it, and I'm having to fit in writing around life, which keeps getting in the way. I hate having to wait for the next part too. Sorry!!!

I know I said to a few people that Connor was going to get his arse kicked, and that really was the plan.it just didn't quite turn out like that. I have a feeling I'm writing Connor totally out of character, but like I said before, he was an annoying brat in the series anyway.

Two questions for any Highlander TS fans out there to help with later chapters: 1) What was the name of the demon Duncan was fighting when he accidentally took Ritchie's head? 2) Was it ever mentioned which of the Four Horsemen Cronus was? Methos was Death, but I don't know if we ever found out which the other three where. Please email me if you know the answers.

As usual, anything in italics is thought.

Please keep up with the reviews. I love getting them.

Story time.

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Faith and Connor froze. Neither of them was willing to drop their guard, but Cordelia's command, that they both STOP, had been impossible to resist.

Angel raised an eyebrow at Cordelia. Remembering that she could read minds, he simply thought his question. Why did you bring Connor here?

The answer formed in his head, almost like a thought, but not his own. He knows the truth now. He wants to try. Cordelia looked at him, and then tilted her head impatiently. What are you waiting for, a written invitation?

Angel took a deep breath Weird; I'd forgotten what it was like to do that for anything other than show. Squaring his shoulders, he called out to his son. 'Connor.this is my friend, Faith. Faith, meet my son, Connor.'

'But she attacked you. When we arrived, I saw.'

'Faith can be a little over enthusiastic at times, but she was really just trying to say hello.'

Connor was confused, how could a small woman knock my father down? It's because he doesn't trust me! He won't tell me who his enemies are.

Sensing the direction of his thoughts, Cordelia interrupted them. 'Faith is special; she has super powers, speed and strength. She's just a little.over enthusiastic. at times.'

Relaxing from her ready stance, Faith held out her hand to Connor. 'Pleased to meet you kid. I've heard a lot about you from your old man. That was some tackle back there. Maybe we could.work out together some time?'

Connor shrugged, still unsure of the woman in front of him, but he met her handshake, and then indulged himself in a strength contest by gripping her hand far harder than necessary. He was somewhat surprised when she grinned at him and tightened her own grip until he thought his knuckles were about to crack. She tossed him a wink, and then stepped back.

Silence rained. Gunn and Fred stared at Connor. Obviously something had happened to change his feelings towards Angel since the last time they had seen him. They still didn't have the full story on Faith, Angel appeared to be alive, and Cordy was glowing. Angel wanted to know why Connor was protecting him again, and whether Faiths reappearance from prison was legal, or if her appeal had come in the form of her fist in somebody else's face. Faith wanted to know what the deal was with Cordelia beaming in and acting like a light bulb. They hadn't exactly parted on the best of terms. Thanks to being able to read all the other beings in the room, Cordelia had a pretty good handle on what was going on, but wanted to hide from all the emotions flying about.

Surprisingly, it was Connor who spoke first. 'Father.' He walked over to Angel, until he stood directly in front of him. 'Father. Cordelia has shown me.what happened. What you were, what you have become. Your soul. the truth about Holtz. I am truly sorry for everything I have done. I apologise to you here, now, in front of your friends as I accused you in front of them not long ago.' He glanced at Cordelia for reassurance, and then continued. 'Cordelia told me that you bear me no ill will, that you still love me as your son. If this is true then.' he had to fight down the blockage in his throat before he could continue 'then I hope we can get to know each other, as a son and his father should.'

Angel stared at his son, disbelieving his own ears. If this had happened a couple of hours ago, Angelus would be back in a big way! Cordelia snorted at the irreverent thought that crossed Angel's mind before he seemed to unfreeze from the position he had been in since Connor addressed him. Grabbing his son by the arms, he pulled him into a fierce embrace. They were both crying openly now. Love, happiness, unbelieving joy, and a hint of trepidation rolled off both of them. They stumbled backwards onto the red couches in the centre of the lobby, where Angel gathered Connor up into is arms, and allowed his son to weep for all that had been, all that could have been and all that would be.

Awed and not a little uncomfortable around such a powerful and naked display of emotion, Faith crept backwards, away from the embracing father and son. She stopped when she bumped into something solid, and winced when she realised it was Cordelia. What do I say now? "Hey, sorry I knocked you out and tortured your friend last time I saw you" Possibly the lamest apology ever.

Cordelia tried not to smirk as she listened in. I was a bitch a lot longer than I've be an HB!!

Faith forced herself to look Cordelia in the eye. 'Look. there's no way I can apologise for the stuff I've done, but I'm gonna try and make up for it, okay? I'm gonna try and like.atone? Okay?' She met her gaze head on, willing her to believe, knowing there was no reason she should, not knowing that Cordy was currently reading her every thought and emotion.

'Damn!'

Faith blinked, confused. 'What?'

'You mean it.' Faith's bemused expression didn't alter. 'You really are sorry. You really do want to make amends. I can't even be mad about the two auditions I missed because of that oh so attractive black eye you gave me!' Faith winced. 'I mean, I think Higher Being ranks just above international superstar, don't you?' She glanced from Faith to Fred and Gunn, and then over to Angel with an inquisitive raise of the eyebrow.

'Cordy?' Gunn finally spoke. 'What happened? I mean, yesterday seemed like a fairly normal day. for us. Now Angel's alive, you're glowing, Connor's being nice to Angel and we've got an ex-con Slayer wanting to join the team.?'

'You think this is confusing?' Cordelia smirked 'wait til you meet the Scooby gang.'

'What!?' Faith suddenly looked panicked. Facing Cordelia and Angel is one thing, I can't face the Scoobies yet.B'll just give me that look and my mouth'll disconnect from my brain!

Cordy's expression changed as she listened to Faith's thoughts. Although her human personality wanted Faith to suffer for what she had done, with her expanded senses, Cord understood the depth of her remorse, and her fear at facing the judgement of the Scoobies, particularly Buffy. 'Yep. We're all off to the hellmouth.' She held up her hand to forestall Faiths argument. 'You know there's something big coming Faith. You've been sensing it for weeks, months now. All of this.' she mad a vague, all encompassing gesture, including all those in the Hyperion lobby as well as the sky outside '.is part of the build up.'

That's great Cordy, but what do you mean exactly? All.' Gunn imitated her gesture '.this'

'Right. From the beginning. The PTB made me a Higher Being. Don't think so amazed!' She shot Faith a sly grin 'I can read minds now, emotions and thoughts too.' Faith gulped audibly. 'That's why you're still here girlfriend. Anyway, just so we're all on the same page.Cliff notes version. Connor thought Angel killed Holtz so he locked Angel in a metal coffin and dropped him in the ocean with the help of Justine, who actually killed Holtz, on Holtzes orders. I got Angel out, brought him here and made him human.' She steamed right passed the mental shrieks of amazement. 'Then I went and got Connor, showed him the truth and brought him here too. That's pretty much it. Oh - 'she flashed Faith another grin '- and I got to see the aftermath of Willow nearly ending the world. Compared to what she's been doing, you're a cupcake sweetie.'

Faith stared at Cordelia shocked, not sure if she'd just been insulted, but not really surprised. She remembered her dreams of Willow falling into darkness.

'Willow? That little red head that came to tell us about Buffy dieing?' Gunn snorted 'What was her evil plan? Was she gonna scrabble the world to death? I only met her once, but she didn't seem to be the big bad type.'

'Willow is now the most powerful Wiccan in the world, quite possibly the most powerful Wiccan ever.' Cordelia informed him. 'She eviscerated the guy who murdered her girlfriend with a thought.' Gunn gulped at this revelation. 'Anyway, that situation is under control right now. We have another problem to deal with. Before we can hook up with the Scoobies, we've got to work out how to get Angel and Wes talking again.'

'Oh hey, no problem!' Fred stared at Cordy with a look that said have you gone insane!? 'Angel only tried to kill him while he was lying in a hospital bed, and swore he'd succeed next time. It'll be a piece o'cake, if you believe in miracles.'

'I made Angel into a living, breathing human being today.'

'Oh.'

'So', Gunn took over the conversation as Fred was looking somewhat dazed by Cordelia's comment. She hadn't quite processed all the revelations that she had heard that morning. 'How are we actually going to do this? One of us is going to have to bring this up with Angel, and I don't think his reply is going to have anything to do with bygones.' His breath hitched as a thought struck him. 'When you say you made Angel human - '

Cordy grinned. 'He still has his strength, all his vampire abilities, except he can't vamp. He doesn't need to drink blood anymore and sunlight, crosses and holy water aren't a problem. Decapitation and a steak thought the heart will still kill him, but that goes for everyone.' She looked at the three people in front of her, feeling their joy for Angel radiating from them. 'He still needs to be able to fight though, we learned that last time.'

They visibly stiffened at her last comment 'What do you mean, last time?!'

Oops! 'That's for Angel to tell you if he wants to. Anyway, we're getting off the subject. Who is going to talk to Angel about Wes? One of us has to.'

'Or you could stand over there and discuss it til you're old and grey!' Angel called across the lobby from where he had been sitting, talking quietly to Connor. He smirked at the shocked expressions on three of theirs faces, Cordelia just looked mildly annoyed. She'd been paying to much attention to Faith, Fred and Gunn she'd tuned out Angel. 'Vampire hearing my friends. Anyway, it wouldn't matter which of you came to me, the answer would be the same. We don't need Wesley. He betrayed all of us. He stole my son and he didn't trust the rest of you. Besides, if we're going to the Hellmouth we'll have Giles, so we won't need Wes.

Cordy walked over to Angel, to stand in front of him 'I know Giles will be there, and he's great, but we need Wes too. I don't know why yet, but we do. Angel - ' She paused, collecting her thoughts, and placing a reassuring hand on his forearm '- I understand your feelings of betrayal, we all do, but think of it from his point of view for a minute. Yeah, he should have trusted us, but he was caught in his own private hell. You would never have hurt baby Connor,' she squeezed his arm gently, 'but Angelus would have loved too! It's not really that far fetched Angel! He was trying to spare us the pain he was going through. Sah Jean had thousands of years to set this up. Wes is only human! Is it really that surprising that he fell for it?'

Angel put his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him squarely. 'I hear what you're saying Cordelia, I do.but he stole my son. No matter how good his intentions were. I missed out on seeing his fist step, his first word, his first tooth.and I can never get those things back. How do I get passed that? How do I forgive that?'

Cordy stared at him while he was talking, but she focused on the turmoil in Faith's head. Recognising it as an opportunity to get Angel to change his mind, she gave Faith a subconscious nudge. 'What about me then Angel?'

'Huh?'

Faith slowly walked towards him, her face carefully blank. 'What about me? I mean, I know that Wes did a terrible thing to you, but when you compare it to what I did to him, to what I did to so many people. You understand the darkness, fear, pain, trying your best but screwing up anyway. If you can't forgive Wesley, then what chance do I have?'

Angel stared at Faith, then over towards Connor and back to Faith again. He took a deep breath, smiling slowly as he blew it out. Finally, he looked at Cordelia. 'Can you go get him?' She nodded, smiling. 'Good.' He paused. 'I'm not promising anything, not right away, but Faith's right. However twisted around he got, he was trying to do the right thing. I guess I'll have to remember that, and try and go from there.'

Cordelia stepped back from Angel, and then smiled around at the group assembled in the hotel lobby. 'Back in a few' she said, before glowing brighter and then disappearing.

Finally, Gunn broke the silence she left behind. 'That's gonna take some getting used to.'



Probably just appearing in his room after not speaking to him for a few months, not the best idea. I think I'll knock. After checking there were no unsuspecting bystanders in the corridor outside Wesley's apartment, Cordelia glowed into being outside his door. Extending her senses into the apartment, she felt two beings. One of them was Wesley, although the darkness, pain and anger in him surprised her. It felt similar to the emotions Angel had been giving of before she had changed him. Although his underlying goodness was still there, it was becoming tainted somehow. She realised then that the reason the PTB needed Wes to rejoin the team was that if he didn't, he may well join the other side. Angel regaining his humanity and Connor returning to him, along with Faith joining the team could well be enough to tip him over the edge into darkness. She didn't know who the other person in the flat was, but the blackness of the soul, and the way that it was reaching out, trying to wrap itself around Wes was easy to see. The fact that the other person was also about to wrap itself around Wesley, and he was making no effort to stop her, made Cordy realise she needed to act right now. I'm not losing you Wesley. She knocked sharply on the door three times, and waited for it to be opened. Nothing happened. She knocked again. A voice called from inside 'Sod off! We're busy.'

'Wesley? It's Cordelia. I need to speak to you.'

'Why? You managed well enough up to now. Besides, I doubt very much that Angel would approve of you speaking with the enemy.'

'You're not our enemy Wes. Now open this door or I'll come through it anyway.'

'Hmm, she's feisty. Are you scared lover?' Cordelia heard a feminine voice drawl inside the flat 'Want me to have someone remove the problem?'

Lilah. 'Wesley, open the door.'

'Or what Cordelia? I don't think a few souped up cheerleading moves are going to be enough to get you through that door.' He then jumped back in amazement as the door nearly came off its hinges, such was the force of her kick. 'I stand corrected. Cordelia, what do you want?'

The anger, the defiance, was easy to read on his face, as was Lilah's delight at the confrontation she thought she was about to witness. Deciding that getting rid of her was necessary if she was going to be able to have a proper conversation with Wesley, Cordelia turned first to Lilah 'I'm sorry, this conversation is for the good guys only' Her smile was full of saccharine insincerity. 'Being the super smart lawyer that you are, I'm sure you realise this doesn't include you.'

Hello Cordelia. Hmm, isn't this Wesley's apartment? Because you know, I think that in his apartment, he gets to say who stays and who goes.'

'Yeah, but you also think that making Angel lose his soul is a good idea, so, being good guys, we've decided not to listen to what you think.' With that, Cordelia grabbed Lilahs' arm and propelled her through the doorway to the flat. Then she straightened the door on its hinges, and slammed it in her face.

Glancing around her self, not quite sure how she had gone from being inside the flat to outside it in such a short space of time, and also how the door, which had had a massive dent where Cordelia had kicked, but was now in perfect shape, had been fixed, Lilah pulled out her cell phone and called a number in the memory. 'This is Lilah Morgan. Put me through to Research and Development.' She waited while she was transferred, then 'Something's going on with Angel and his friends. I want a full check done on Cordelia Chase, and while you're at it, run all his other little friends. I want to know what's happening.' Without a goodbye, she snapped the phone off. With a final, curious glance at the door, she strode down the corridor and stabbed the call button for the lift, possibilities flying around in her head as to what was happening at Angel Investigations, and how she could turn it to her advantage.

Back in the flat, Wes glared at Cordelia. 'Well, that's my mornings' entertainment out the.door. Are you planning on indulging me instead? Or did you come to offer me another litany of reasons why I deserve everything I get and I should be happy Angel hasn't killed me yet!'

'Neither. Wes. What happened to you?'

'I had my throat slit and my friends abandoned me.' Cordelia stared at him. She was disturbed by just how much anger and resentment Wes harboured for those who had been his colleagues, his family. She could see though, underscoring it and fuelling it all was a well of guilt and remorse so deep she feared it would drown him. Coddling people wasn't her way though.

'Are you really that surprised?' She met his bitter gaze head on. 'Come on Wes, I know you. You thought through every possible out come before you did what you did. Did you really expect Angel to say "Hey, you did what you thought was best, never mind, let's go for a drink." You didn't trust us Wesley! After all we've been through. I know what it's like to fear Angelus, believe me, I was there for the full show, but even if you couldn't tell Angel, even if I wasn't there, what about Fred and Gunn! We were a family Wes, and you ripped that apart. I know you wanted to do what was best, but you stole his son Wes, his only son! The only chance at family he thought he was going to get, and now you're all pissed off because he didn't just get over it? You get over it! You fucked up Wesley. Now deal with it like a man instead of sulking in the darkness!

'Sulking in the - It must be wonderful being the all knowing Cordelia Chase, because you never fucked up did you? You weren't the high Queen C bimbo bitch of Sunnydale High! Patron Saint of a thousand wet dreams and ten thousand murder fantasies. I was there, I forgave Angel just like you did, helped him come back after Darla. We didn't welcome him back with open arms, but we didn't turn him away either! All I have done since I joined you is help. I'm the one with the knowledge, the brain against the demons. You got a snog off some random half demon, and suddenly you're connected to the Powers. Fantastic! Self confessed 'Ditzy Bitch' is our connection to the powers. That made you grow up, didn't Cordelia. Well some of us had to grow up a lot sooner than that!!' Wes was pacing back and forth, screaming in Cordy's face and then turning away, to mutter to himself. Cordelia stayed quiet as the bile continued to spew out of him. 'Angel. Angel! With a name like that, and they called me the sissy boy. What is he? He's muscle and fangs and brooding mystery. It gets the girls wet but he's not much use without someone there to tell him what to do!! For years it was Buffy giving the orders, letting him wallow in his misery, then Doyle, then you! He's like a wind up toy. Set him, in the right direction and off he goes; "I'll kill the baddies and protect the innocent. Never fear, Angel is here!" That great, self indulgent wanker!!' Wes was facing Cordelia again. 'He was supposed to understand! I knew it would hurt him, but I had to protect the baby. How could none of you see that!!' His voice rose to somewhere between a scream and a sob, but when Cordelia went to him, he stepped away. She heard the click in his mind. 'You said thought.'

Cordelia looked at him wearily, whilst he continued. 'You said "the only chance he thought he had at a family", past tense. What's going on Cordelia? Why are you here?'

'I'm here for you Wes. I'm here because you're part of my family, and I love you, even if you did screw up in an unbelievable way. I'm here because things are changing, and you need to be part of it.' She stood, arms loosely by her sides, leaning on the desk in the hallway as she spoke. Her body language was open, non-threatening as she listened to the anger, then hope, the confusion screaming inside his head.

'Does Angel know you're here?' His tone was derisive, he was expecting her to say no, that she'd come in secret.

'Yes' He blinked, his only visible reaction to her answer. 'He told me to bring you back, that he doesn't think things will get back to normal straight away, but he wants to try.'

It's a trick! Why would she trick me? I don't understand.Why would Angel change his mind now? 'Why?'

Cordelia paused for a second, wondering how humans ever managed to get anything done when so much was left unsaid. 'As was recently pointed out to him, if Angel can't understand doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, and offering forgiveness because someone needs it, then we're all in trouble.' Wes simply raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. 'Things are changing. There's a battle coming, a big one. If we don't settle our own disputes before we go to meet it, it could be the last battle.'

'It all becomes clear.' He drawled sardonically. 'Another nasty's on the way and you need me to read the rules to you-'

'No.' Wes smirked at her, not believing her denial. 'We're hooking up with the Scoobies. If all we needed was a translator, we have Giles, no problem. We want you to come back Wes. You're part of us, and we want you to come home.'

He looked uncertain. He'd lost much of his smug bravado when Cordy told him that Giles was going to be part of the fight. Any skills he had, Giles had too, and more besides. Giles had succeeded in his role as Watcher to the Slayer. Still, having lost so much, he wasn't quite ready to trust yet. 'Why now though?'

Cordelia took a deep breath. He was being swayed back to the light side she knew, but he wasn't there yet. A lot depended on how he took the next few pieces of information she had for him. 'Things happen Wes. A lot of things have happened in the last 24 hours. Angel and Connor have reconciled.'

'So that's why he's decided to forgive me, because a teenager has decided to get on with his father. Wonderful. I can expect to be doing the hokey kokey in and out of the group then, depending on Connors mood of the day. Thanks awfully but I'll stay put. So good of you to drop by.' He held out an arm to show her to the door, but she stayed put.

'That's not all Wes. Connor knows the truth now, about Holtz and Angel, he understands. Holtz is dead and won't be able to cause any more trouble between them.' She paused there is just no way this is going to go down well. 'Faith's free.'

He stared at her in stunned disbelief. 'She escaped!?'

'No. She appealed and was released. The Watchers Council paid her legal fees. I guess they don't know Buffy's back. She really wants to atone Wes, to try and make up for what she did. She was the one who convinced Angel to forgive you.'

'Oh fantastic. I've got a psychotic super woman who once tortured me going to bat against my vampiric ex boss for me. My life is complete. Good bye Cordelia.' Taking her arm, he started dragging her towards the door, at least, he tried. The arm he had been holding slid through his hand. For a second his brain didn't register what had happened, he tried to grab her again. This time he saw his hand pass through her, as if she was a ghost. Looking her over, he realised she was glowing. What the.?

'I wasn't finished with my list of things that have happened'

'Obviously.' He stared at her, trying to find an explanation for what he'd just seen. It didn't have to be logical, or even possible. After all the things he had seen, he understood that they weren't the limiting factors most people thought they were. The answer he was coming up with wasn't one he wanted to consider, but. 'You're dead?'

'That's always the first reaction. You'd think I went round looking for trouble or something! Don't answer that. No Wesley. I'm not dead. The Powers That Be made me a Higher Being. I'm here to help the Warriors of the Light. That includes you.'

He stared at her, completely shocked. Silence echoed in his head, such was his amazement at Cordelias announcement. Finally, he started to laugh. And laugh, and laugh. Doubled over, with tears of mirth creasing his cheeks, he clutched his mid section until he had himself under some sort of control. 'You can read my thoughts can't you? my intentions, my emotions. Bloody hell. It's all gone completely pear shaped, and Cordelia Chase comes up smelling of Roses.' He continued to stare at her, bemused.

The battle he was fighting internally was incredible to watch, anger and resentment against pride and love. 'Come back to us Wes, please. None of us are perfect, but we always did our best for each other. Our family is changing, I think the world is changing, but we want you to be with us for it.' She held her arms out to him, knowing that if she could only touch him she could draw the pain away. But he knew that she could do that too. Of all of them, Wes understood more about what she could do as an HB than any of them, probably herself included, she thought wryly. It had to be his choice.

'Even if I do come back with you, there's no guarantee that it'll work, that I'll stay. In fact, between myself, Angel and Faith you've got the ingredients for some rather impressive pyrotechnics.' He stayed where he was, just out of her reach, waiting for her reply.

She continued to hold her arms out to him, glowing brighter all the time, giving off waves of peace and calm. 'There never are any guarantees Wesley. You know that.'

'I know that.' And he stepped into her arms, letting himself cry for the first time since he had been separated from his friends.

When he finally lifted his head, he felt calmer, more centred than he had in a long time. He retuned Cordelias' beautiful smile tentatively, as if it was something he hadn't done in a long time, and he was trying to remember how to do it properly. 'It's not going to be easy,' Cordy told him 'The anger you bare towards Faith is perfectly reasonable, but you have to deal with it. She's as much a part of the group as you are, and we can't defeat whatever is coming if we are fighting amongst ourselves. The same goes for you and Angel, although I think he'll get over it pretty quickly if we get a little help from Connor. Oh!'

'What?'

'One other thing that's happened in the last twenty four hours, which should help Angel get over it. He's human.'

'WHAT? How?'

'Me. I just kinda glowed and then there he was. Human but vampire strong.' Feeling his shock, she continued 'it was time Wes. Hell, it was time a long time ago. He deserved it.'

'Wow. He must be really happy. I suppose when you're greatest wishes have been granted, and I'm assuming that being alive negates the true happiness clause, as well as reconciling with his son, he can afford to throw a little bon hommie to an ex friend who only ruined his life for him.' The bitterness was tangible in his words and his stance.

'Hey, Angel worked damn hard, and suffered a lot to get where he is, suffered a lot more than you have Mister. He deserves a little happiness, and he's going to continue to fight.' She paused, took his hand. 'You've come a long way from the one who screamed like a woman' he growled at her, but didn't try to pull free of her hand, which she took as a good sign 'don't lose it now. Be happy for Angel, and try and find your own happiness. Hate only breeds hate Wes, you know that.'

'You're right. But God Cordelia, I'm. scared. I'm scared that he won't forgive me, that I won't get a chance, but I'm even more bloody scared that he will give me a chance, and I'll screw it up, and I'll lose you all over again, because I don't think I could bear that.'

'I know Wes, but the only way you will lose us all, and for good, is not to come with me now. We have to get back to the hotel so you guys can start to sort things out, then we all have to go to Sunnydale, to begin preparations for whatever it is that's coming. The biggest of big bads.'

'Oh God. I'll handle the Hyperion, seeing Angel and even Faith, but I'm not sure I can deal with the all powerful Scooby Gang right now. I think Buffy's scorn and Xander's derision might just tip me over the edge into full fledged insanity.'

Cordelia smiled minutely. 'I wouldn't worry about it Wes.' She mused 'I always thought I was the only one who thought of us as the Scooby rejects. Ya'know, we couldn't make it in Sunnydale, so we came here instead. Well, it turns out the Scoobies aren't in perfect shape either, and compared to what Willow's been up to for the last few days, you, Faith and even Angelus were kids at a tea party. She tried to end the world, and nearly succeeded, so I wouldn't be too intimidated by them. They're human too, it turns out. But we're all going to need to work together on this, so I guess it's time we all got over high school. Are you ready to go?'

He stared at her, still trying to get his head around this last bombshell. 'Sure, just let me lock up, and I'll be ready, I assume you'll be handling the transportation?'

'You assume right' She smiled while she watched him grab his jacket and check the locks, put a couple of pots in the sink and generally do a quick run round to get the place in order. Finally, when he could think of no other means of prevarication short of starting a full spring clean, he walked over to her, pulling his jacket on as he came. He straightened in front of her, seeming to brace himself, then held out his hand to her. 'Ready now?' she asked. He nodded stiffly in reply. Realising he was too nervous to speak, she took his proffered hand, and transported the two of them to the Hyperion lobby.



Inside the Hyperion, Fred and Gunn were in the office with Faith, showing her some of their old case files, to give her a feel of what she might be facing. Connor and Angel were still in the lobby, trying to reach a deeper level of understanding. As they were both terrified of saying the wrong thing and offending the other, it was slow going. Having circled, squared and triangled around the point he wanted to make, Connor finally got to the heart of the issue. 'Although I know that you love me, and that you aren't the monster Holtz taught me about, I had those lessons drummed into me for as long as I can remember. I can't just scrape them out of my head and.' He stared at Angel, not sure how to continue.

Angel smiled, nodding. 'Even when you know it's wrong, habits can be hard to break. I understand that. Connor, you're my son, and I love you, but it's going to take time for us to build a relationship. We need to give each other time and space, and talk and listen to each other.sound like a plan?' He gave Connor a smile he hoped was reassuring, and not as scared or patronizing as he felt. Before Connor could answer, the air started to glow, and quickly reformed into Cordelia, and Wesley.

'We're back' Cordelia singsonged, a la Poltergeist.

'No kidding.' Gunn spoke from the doorway to the office. 'Wes.'

'Gunn.' He took a breath before turning to face Angel. 'Angel. I-'

'Wesley.' Connor's interruption surprised everyone. He was nervous, Cordelia could sense he was afraid he might upset his father with what he was about to say, but he felt it necessary. He walked over to Wesley, standing next to him so they were both facing his father. 'I want to thank you, for what you did for me.for what you sacrificed for me. You didn't know then that Sah jean had set it all up, and you were willing to risk everything, your friends, your family, to save my life. I know what it's like to lose your family so thank you.' He held out his hand to Wes.

Wes stared at him, unable to speak around the lump in his throat. Finally, he took Connors hand and pulled him towards him, hugging him tight for a second before stepping back. 'Thank you' he rasped.

Angel watched in silence, unsure of his feelings. Finally, one thought surfaced What wouldn't I do to keep Connor safe? Nothing. Getting slowly to his feet, Angel was aware of every eye in the room on him. 'You did the wrong thing.but for the right reasons. I can understand that. You didn't trust us though, and so you broke our trust in you. That's going to take time and effort to earn back. You up for that?' His expression was unsmiling, challenging. He wasn't ready to welcome Wes back to the fold with open arms, but, after what Faith and Connor had said, he was willing to open the door.

Wes nodded, just as sombre. Better than being smothered by a pillow. 'Yes, I'm ready for that.'

Turning slightly he saw Faith hovering in the doorway behind Gunn. 'Faith, so good to see you again. I believe we were up to cold?' She winced visibly, and Cordelia elbowed him in the side, hard. He looked down, took a breath and then looked up again, trying to meet her gaze but finding it impossible as she was staring fixedly at the floor. 'Faith.' He walked towards her. 'I won't say I'm sorry for that, because I'm not. I'm not sure I'll ever forgive you for what did.but Cordelia tells me that you really are sorry, that you want to make amends for what you did. I wouldn't want to get in the way of that, so I only say this. Good luck, and I'll be watching you. Step wrong, even once, and I'll see it, and I'll stop you, because I've changed too Faith. I wasn't capable of stopping you before, I am now. Do you believe me?'

Still looking at her feet, she mumbled 'Yeah' Slowly, she brought her head up, and met his eyes. 'Yes. I believe you.' They stood facing each other, eyes locked until Faith finally lowered her gaze, back to the floor.

'Good.' Cordelia clapped her hands once, making everybody jump. 'Now that that's over, do you think you guys could try and coexist peacefully for the next twenty four hours, because that's how long you've got 'til we're off to hell central.'

They all glanced around the room, some peacefully, some uneasily, some hopefully. Cordelia rolled her eyes. 'You don't have to stay together! Get some sleep, some food, - go and get some sun, because now that you're not dead Angel, you really need to stop looking the part. Do whatever you want, but keep the peace, and be back here and ready to travel tomorrow morning. You guys have more bridge building and fence mending to do, and you know how I feel about manual labour!' With that she disappeared, leaving the fang gang staring at space and wondering how to occupy themselves until the next day, and what they would find when the next day came.

TBC