~*-*~

"Where the hell have you been?"

"Where the hell have *I* been? Where the hell have *you* been?!"

Spike and Connor were late. Fred and Gunn were late. Wesley had been waiting for over an hour. Spike and Gunn went head to head again. Wesley was too tired to protect their egos. Truth was, they'd both failed on a chronological scale.

"Stop it you lot. You're both late, and I've been waiting here forever. I have a rather large vat full of blood over here and I'm not really in the mood for arguments. Did you get the boat?"

"Fred is bringing it in. See the light out to the east there?"

"Excuse me mate, I think you'll find that's north..."

"Shut up!"

"Hey, since when did your girl know how to operate a boat anyways?"

"Since manufacturers made them idiot proof. They work like cars."

"Except on water, and without wheels, and much much larger..."

"Shut up."

"Whatever you say Charlie boy..."

"*Don't* call me that, unless you want a rather wooden object in your chest."

Wesley did not have any time for this and was growing further impatient with Spike and Gunn's testosterone fuelled display.

"Stop it you two. I see the boat, it's getting closer. Good. Spike, did you get the blowtorches and other things?"

"I've got most of it, Connor's getting the last bits out of the car now."

Spike gestured behind him, and that's when they saw Connor. Wesley's eyes grew wider and Gunn's mouth was actually agape. Spike smirked as he got the reaction that he was hoping for. There was Connor moving towards them carrying some cables in his hands. But that wasn't the shocking part. Connor was dressed in black jeans with and a half buttoned blue shirt, opened at the top. He'd clearly acquired some new silver jewellery too. This would all be fine, since Connor's fashion sense had been loosening up over the summer. Maybe not this much, but it wouldn't be completely off. The piece that set it all off was the leather jacket, no wait - this was a coat, that hung off him and settled around his knees. Connor continued to move towards the men, when the ocean wind picked up speed. As he walked along the beach his coat billowed behind him and all Spike could do was laugh.

"You took him shopping didn't you?"

"Indeed I did Gunn, indeed I did. I see no harm in treating my nephew. I've got the cash."

"Nephew? I figure he's your uncle, since Angel's your grandsire..."

"One, I was born in the 19th century. He was born in the 21st. I'm not calling him uncle. Secondly, Darla was his mother, and if Drusilla is now both my sire and Darla's, that makes him my nephew. So there. I'm inclined to stick my tongue out at you, but I won't bother."

"For the record, your vampire family confuses the hell out of me. Fred's here. Let's get aboard."

Spike took the cables out of Connor's hands and picked up a gas canister, as Gunn did the same.

"So Spike, what happened in Argentina 1930?"

"You don't wanna know..."

They climbed aboard the boat greeting Fred, Gunn's greeting being much friendlier than Spike's of course, leaving Wesley and Connor on the beach.

"What just happened?"

"What do you mean? They're just loading up to go that's all."

Wesley smiled to himself because he just couldn't get over Connor's look. He glanced away from him to pick up the container full of blood and to avoid Connor seeing him laugh, but he failed.

"No, when you all saw me, it was like I did something wrong and it was funny. Is there something wrong with my hair?"

Well, it's not sticking straight up...

"Your hair's fine Connor. It's your outfit. When you dress like that you look like, you *are*, your father. It's nice. All you need now is to retire to a wall, lean on it and brood. If he saw you now he'd be so happy."

Connor was smiling. For the first time he felt proud of his father. Granted, he wasn't proud of himself cause he'd tossed him to the bottom of the Pacific, but he was willing to let that slide. And if Spike was right, he'd be forgiven for it anyway. But time was running short. They had to get Angel and get him indoors before sun up.

"Let me help you with that."

So Connor and Wesley picked up the cooler and headed towards the boat, before it headed out.

~*-*~


Author's Note: I am *soo* sorry this took so long! I didn't have access to my computer so I was kinda stuck... but I have it all in my brain! It just has to be typed up. I will finish this story before I go back to school, I swear it. Short chapter I know, but I've been writing a few chapters ahead and something good is coming up, I even made myself laugh. I can see you waiting with baited breath... Oh and Madi baby? Can't wait for the party tonight!

The most important point is this: it's August 20th and you know what that means... PARTÉ!!! does the dance of JM appreciation. Nummy...