A/N Ok, I really want to wrap this story up soon. So, I've skipped from Connor at age three to Connor at age eighteen. This is the beginning of the End of Days story arc. Connor has grown up in a semi-normal household and he lives in Lisle, Illinois (it's a suburb of Chicago) with his parents. They moved from New York when they thought it was a good time so people wouldn't get suspicious (no ageing, remember?) Connor knows that his dad is a vampire with a soul and he knows that his mother is a Slayer. He knows about everything. Just like his parents, he doesn't want anything to do with the supernatural other than his family, the thing he can't exactly help. Things are about to change when a visit from a long dead character and a phone call from Sunnydale prophesize the appending End of Days apocalypse.

2024

"Mom! Dad! I'm home! Anybody here?" Connor called, throwing his backpack on the floor next to the stairs.

"In here Connor!" Angel called.

Connor walked into his father's library. "What're you up to?"

"Reading. How was school?"

"I'm a high school senior who's graduating in two days. Things are great. Where's mom?"

"She's still at work."

"Why does she work? We're richer than Bill Gates, Hugh Hefner, and Donald Trump's whole families put together."

"Your mother likes to keep busy. It's just who she is."

"Was she always this eccentric before I was born?"

"Oh yeah. Definitely."

"Connor? Angel? Are you guys home?" Buffy called from the living room.

"Speak of the devil."

"I heard that." Buffy walked into the library. "What are you guys doing in here?"

"Talking. I just got home." Connor said.

"School go ok for you?"

"As well as school can be for a senior who's graduating in two days."

"Don't be so excited. It's not all it's cracked up to be."

"You're just saying that because your graduation sucked."

"Not really. I got to blow up the school. How many kids get to say that?"

"Not many." Angel answered.

"Hey, are you guys still going out tonight?" Connor asked.

"Why?" Buffy asked.

"Just asking."

"Yes, we're going out. I don't care if you're eighteen going on nineteen in less than three weeks, no friends or girls over."

"Didn't plan on it. I was going to stay in and watch that basketball game that's on tonight."

"You and basketball."

"I did get a scholarship for it to Northwestern."

"You also got one for history."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Don't yeah, yeah me buddy. It's a big thing to get a history scholarship."

"Mom, I'm not going to be a history teacher or a Watcher or a crummy museum curator. I want to play basketball. I want to be the next Michael Jordon!"

"I know you do. But sweetie, what if you don't make it? At least you'll have something else to fall back on, right?"

"Dad, would you tell her to lay off?"

"Sorry son, I'm with her on this." Angel said. "If basketball doesn't work out for you, at least you'll have a history minor to fall back on."

"I'm the best player on the team!"

"There are a lot of great high school and college basketball players that didn't make the NBA." Buffy said.

"Coach says that the scouts have been looking at me for a while. The Chicago Bulls have been watching me since I took the team to the championships!"

"Connor, sweetie, you're still in high school. They're waiting to see how you do in college. I want you to be able to do what you love. At least you'll get that chance."

"You've always used that excuse on me."

"It's true. Becoming a Slayer took away my chances of a normal life."

"You've been living one for 21 years."

"No, not really. I gave up college and any hopes of a career when I became the Slayer. You have the shot Angel and I never had."

"I hate it when you do that."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize mom. I understand completely. I'm grateful to you for raising me in a semi-normal household." Connor folded his mother in a hug. "I'm grateful that you and dad have done everything in your power to support anything I do."

"I'm grateful to have a son like you." Buffy stood on tiptoe and kissed Connor's forehead. "Now, your father and I have to go get ready. You be good."

"I promise."
Connor sat in the living room watching the fourth quarter of the Bulls game. The Bulls were ahead by four and it was a close game. The game had had Connor on the edge of his seat the whole time. Suddenly, the power went out.

"Oh come on!" Connor called into the darkness. He got up and felt his way towards the kitchen. As soon as he had found the flashlight and headed back into the living room, a light was already shining in there. "What the.." In the middle of the light sat a girl about 15 or 16 years old with long brown hair and she was wearing a long white gown that flowed gracefully to the floor. She vaguely resembled Connor's mother and grandfather and she had an air of familiarity to her.

"Hello Connor." The girl said.

It hit him who she was. "You're Dawn, my aunt."

"Wow, can't put anything past you. Definitely Buffy's kid." Dawn said.

"I thought.. You're dead."

"Yeah, technically. Have been for 21 years."

"A vampire killed you."

"Now you're starting to be Captain Obvious."

"Are you a ghost?"

"Finally, we're getting to the good stuff. No, I'm not a ghost. Higher being actually."

"Higher being?"

"I've been training for a while now. My death came too soon. I was supposed to die when I was 25, but Wolfram and Hart cut my life short."

"Why were you supposed to die?"

"That was the only way for me to become a higher being. See, I was supposed to train when I was alive, but since I died too soon, the Powers decided to go ahead and train me anyways. I've been watching over you and Buffy and Angel for a while now."

"How long is a while?"

"In your time? 20 years. One year as a higher being is like 15 years here in your dimension."

"It took you fifteen years to learn how to be a higher being?"

"Yup. Now listen, I really need to hear me out here, ok? This is a matter of life and death for the whole world." She paused and stared at him. "You have Buffy's hair. And will you sit down? You're making me nervous."

"Sorry." Connor sat on his dad's big recliner.

"It's ok."

"Can I ask you a quick question?"

"Sure, but really.. Make it quick."

"Why haven't you ever come to visit before this?"

"This is a one time deal here. Buffy and Angel were supposed to go back to Sunnydale a long time ago, but they were never the ones to take orders. That's why you're here. Did Buffy ever tell you why you were born?"

"She said that the Powers wanted her and dad to go back to being warriors so they sent me as a gift. I never got that and neither of them would elaborate."

"Figures. That's so typical of them! Yeah, ok. Have you ever wondered why you're so good at basketball and every other sport you've ever tried? Have you ever wondered why you're stronger than everyone else?"

"Sometimes."

"Well, it's because you were meant for more just like me, just like Buffy and Angel. Connor, you're a warrior for the Powers. Their biggest ally. You were built to fight the forces of darkness. I know it's not fair, but life isn't fair. Fate planned out your family's future long before you ever had a chance to live. And now something big is coming. Something that's bigger than all of us and the world's gonna need you. The world needs you, Buffy, and Angel to go to Sunnydale and thwart the End of Days."

"What's the End of Days?"

"Exactly as it sounds. It's the big apocalypse. The one that's going to destroy all of mankind and allow demons to take over the Earth. Armageddon if you will. All the apocalypses Buffy and company have ever faced were just Hell's way of warming up its vocal chords for the big show. It's already started. There's been an increase in earthquakes and unexplained occurrences all over the globe. Sunnydale is the beginning of a war zone. Willow, Gunn, the new Slayers, and the rest of them can't hold off Hell for much longer without your family's help."

"My parents will never go back."

"They have to."

"They won't. I know them. Both of them despise what they are and they will never agree to going back to it."

"Then give them a reason to go back."

"You mean run away to Sunnydale?" Dawn nodded. "Do you know what my parents would do to me if I did that?"

"They would come rushing to save you. I know them."

"How do you know?"

"Buffy's my sister. Trust me, I know a lot more about her than you'd ever like to know. But Connor, the world needs you to do this. You're the only one who can get them to go back to Sunnydale and fight again. Willow's going to call after they get back. She's going to tell them everything that's going on and they're still not going to go."

"You can see the future?"

"Of course."

"But what does that prove?"

"It proves that not even their best friend can get them to return to Sunnydale."

"I'm graduating in two days!"

"I know. That's why the Powers are giving you three days to get ready."

"Three days?!"

"Here." Dawn held out her hand and a manila folder appeared. "This is everything you'll need: a plane ticket, a note in your handwriting, and a list of weapons that have already been bought at a store in Sunnydale. The people at the store are waiting for you. There's also a bunch of research papers in there that explain the Hellmouth and its purpose, a variety of demons you might fight and ways to kill them, another list of the weapons with their names and uses on them, and a spell that will give you all the fighting skills you could possibly ever hope to learn in ten lifetimes."

"Why couldn't I just get a spell to give me all the knowledge of the demons?"

"Oh. Didn't think of that. Here." A piece of paper appeared on top of the folder. "There ya go."

"I don't know whether to thank you or hate you for this."

"You don't have to do either one."

Connor pulled out the note in his handwriting and read it aloud. "Dear Mom and Dad, I'm sorry I had to do this, but it's important to everyone. I'll be in Sunnydale by the time you read this. I'll explain everything to you when you get here to 'save me', but the gist of it is: Dawn came to visit me. She explained what was going on and gave me everything I'll need to help you stop the End of Days. Sorry this came so soon for you, but you knew it would one day. There are two plane tickets in there for you guys. I love you and I'll see you when you get here. Love, Connor. PS Dawn says hi and that she loves you and misses you guys very much."

"I had to add my own little message in there." Dawn said with a smile.

"Before you go, can I ask one more question?"

"Sure."

"Do you really think this will work?"

"I have faith in Buffy and Angel. They'll do what's right. For the right person and the right reasons, they'll do what's right."

"Are you going to be in Sunnydale?"

"That's two questions." Dawn smiled. "Yeah, I'll be there. It's sort of my job. I'm going to be helping in the fight as best as I can."

"Mom'll want to see you."

"I hope I get to see her too."

"Connor? Why are the lights out?" Angel called.

Connor looked over to where Dawn had been, but she was gone. Angel and Buffy walked into the living room and tossed their coats on the back of the couch. He shrugged. "The power went out."

"The clocks aren't blinking." Buffy said.

"Don't ask me. There are a lot of strange things in this world."

"What's gotten into you?"

"Nothing. Did you have a nice time?"

"Of course. We brought you home a Monte Cristo." Buffy handed him a Styrofoam box.

"Thanks."

"Have you eaten?" Angel asked.

"Only popcorn."

"What's this?" Buffy asked, picking up the manila folder.

Connor grabbed it before his mother could open it. "A final project for graduation. It's a surprise."

"Oh. Well, I can't wait to see it."

"Neither can I."

"Who won the game?" Angel asked.

"I don't know. The power went off before the game ended."

"Well, that's what ESPN is for right?"

The phone rang. "I'll get it." Buffy said. "Hello? Hi Willow! We're fine. Are you coming to Connor's graduation? No? Why the hell not? What? I told you know. I don't care." Buffy gave Angel a desperate look and he went to the kitchen to grab the other portable phone.

"It's the beginning of the end, Buffy." Willow said.

"I can't. I won't."

"You have to."

"It's time to come back Buffy. You can't fight who you are any longer. You or Angel or Connor."

"Connor will have nothing to do with this." Angel said.

"Angel?"

"Yeah. I'm here."

"How can you guys ignore this? Are you going to let us drop like flies? How many friends is it going to take before you decide to stop being selfish and remember who you really are? I'm 44 years old. My body can't hold out much longer. The magicks are too strong. Not even Tara and I put together is making it better."

"Our son is graduating in two days. I'm not going to miss it." Buffy said.

"I never thought I would see the day that Buffy Summers the Vampire Slayer would be so selfish."

"I sacrificed myself once for the world, but it was in vain because I was brought back and the person I died for to save is dead herself. Tell me how that's fair!"

"Life isn't fair Buffy! You know that as well as I do!"

"Don't grow a pair now Willow Rosenberg. You knew a long time ago that when this day came, Angel and I would turn our backs on it with the rest of the world. Let the end come. I'm tired of being immortal." Buffy slammed the phone down and walked out to the backyard.

Connor started to go after her, but Angel held out his arm to stop him. "Let her go, Connor. She just needs time to cool off. I'll talk to her."

"Hey dad?" Connor asked.

"Yeah?"

"Why does she want the world to end?"

"She doesn't. But a part of her wants to grow old again. She was really pissed when she found out she wasn't aging ever again."

"Why?"

"Well, it's like being a vampire with a soul. You never age and because of that, you watch the people you've known and loved for years grow old and die, but you're still there." Angel looked out the kitchen window and saw Buffy staring up at the stars. "I understand what she's going through because I've gone through it for 270 years. 125 of those years I cared." Before Connor could answer, Angel was out the door and standing behind Buffy. "You ok?"

"Not really." Buffy said.

"You wanna talk?"

"Not really."

"Ok, I'll just sit on the swing and wait."

Buffy flopped down next to him and laid her head on his chest. He wrapped his arm around her and waited. "It's not that I don't want the world to end. I just don't want to go back and see my friends."

"Because you're still 24 and they've all aged to their mid-forties."

"Not to mention Giles is 64 now. He's too old for all of the fighting."

"That's why he's in England."

"How do you do it, Angel? How do you go on like you do watching everyone you care for grow old and wither away to nothingness?"

"I don't know. I've never had many people I've ever cared about before. I wish I could give you all the answers you're looking for, but I can't. Sit up." Angel scooted Buffy into a sitting position so she was facing him. "You're going to be able to do whatever comes your way Buffy. You're a survivor. You've survived more than I could ever take. Your friends don't care about how much younger you are than them. They care about Buffy. They care about their friend. They all know how much you don't want to fight. They know that your family here is more important than anything. They also know that if we don't face our destinies, we'll be stuck like this forever. Even after the End of Days. We'll have to watch our friends be killed off and our son.. Then eventually us." He wiped away Buffy's tears. "I think we both know what we have to do."

"But Connor's graduation. I'm not missing that."

"We won't have to. It's only two days away. Then once we make sure Connor heads off to college, we'll go save the world again."

"What if it ends before that?"

"It won't. Willow and the others have it handled. Connor's leaving for Northwestern a week after he graduates."

Buffy nodded. She had a feeling things were about to turn in a different direction. As Angel wrapped his arms around her neck, she closed her eyes and said a prayer for her family. Things were going to get bad.

Two days later, they did. Buffy plucked the envelope off the door and read the note inside it. She turned to Angel and handed him the note. As she pulled the plane tickets out, she said, "Connor's gone to Sunnydale."

"What?" Angel asked, reading the note. "Dawn? How did Dawn.."

"I don't know. I do know that my son is somewhere where he shouldn't be. Come on, we're going to Sunnydale." Angel followed Buffy into the house and they packed quickly. Within four hours, they were driving down what was left of the streets of Sunnydale, California.