AN: I apologize for the long wait on the next chapter of A Second Chance
Again. I've had a long series of difficulties both technical and creative.
I was stumped with writer's block for a while there, then when I finally
was able to write with any degree of success, I managed to write myself
into a corner. It took me awhile to figure out that it was going to take
completely rewriting the chapter to get the story moving again. Right
about the time I figured that out my entire computer went down. It took me
awhile to get the computer fixed and up and running again. Now I'm
completely back online and I have this cool new Via Voice thing. It types
whatever I say making my life much easier. Hopefully this will help me get
chapters out a lot faster. This version of Via Voice is a lot more
complicated than my former version of ViaVoice however works a lot better.
With any luck it shouldn't be long before the next chapter is out. Until
then thank you for your patience.
AN2: The question has been raised as to who Kristine is. Kristine is the name Buffy went by in Krim. Buffy is a unique name and would have stood out too much, hence the change. It isn't anything really important to the story; it was just an idea that I had that wouldn't go away.
AN3: If you would like me to e-mail you when I have updates to this story, please say so in a review.
Part Six
And We Meet Again / Welcome Back to Krim My Dears
Connor jerked awake just as the bus was pulling into the station. He sat in his seat for a moment to gather his bearings before he stood to get his things out of the upper storage compartment. Conner was at a loss as to what to think about this newest dream. It was different than any of the dreams he had before, and much more enlightening.
He knew, although he wasn't sure how, that the demon he saw was called Mac. He was one of the two major people, demons, whatever, that had chased his mother and him. He still wasn't sure why they were after them but he had a feeling that was something only their pursuers and his mother knew for sure.
Connor stepped off the bus and looked around. The city seemed to be a lot smaller than he had thought it would be, clearly much smaller than L.A. He could make out no high-rise buildings in the distance.
This was good news however; he still didn't have any idea about where to begin to look though. He supposed he could look around and ask every person he saw if they knew of a Buffy and where she lived. However he doubted that would be very effective.
Maybe if he just used some of his senses to track he would be able to locate her. He knew her scent by memory and he remembered his mother was not all she seemed, certainly not a demon but definitely different. He hefted his bag over his shoulder and started to wonder around hoping to catch her scent. "Man, this is going to take a while," muttered Connor.
*****
Buffy was feeling depressed, and that was putting things mildly. She had tried to sleep earlier but couldn't make her mind calm, her thoughts were consumed with the past, so she had decided to patrol. However the demons of Sunnydale were not cooperating, so mostly Buffy wondered and thought.
Most of the time she was able to not think about her Angel, or Angels would probably be a more accurate term. However it just didn't seem possible right now. Stranger still she had this feeling in her gut that Angel was nearby. Perhaps wishful thinking on her part, Angel was in L.A. and she was in sunnyhell. That's the way things were and she doubted they would change anytime soon.
Furthermore, as of late she just couldn't stop thinking about her son. That wasn't to say he wasn't always on her mind in some form or another but now she was having dreams about the time they spent in Krim, vivid dreams. It wasn't that she ever wanted to forget her boy; it was just easier to live with what she had done if she didn't have to remember every second.
Not for the first time she wished that there was someone to talk to about what had really happened that summer. Possibly even tell Angel. Buffy scoffed and dismissed that thought almost before she finished it. First he probably wouldn't even believe her and second it wasn't like it would do any good at this point. No, she blew her chance to tell him the truth when he left.
When she thought about it, it was stupid really; it wasn't that she had been trying to punish him by not telling him about their child. It was just it took her so long to figure out how to tell him and work up the nerve to do it, then days before her big speech he broke up with her she didn't know how to begin to tell him under those circumstances. What if he had decided to stay? She hadn't known if she could live with that, the knowledge that he it stayed for any other reason than because he loved her. Now of course she knew she wouldn't have cared why he stayed just as long as he did.
Angel had always said that she was his strength. What he never knew was she needed him more than he really needed her. It wasn't that she couldn't take care of herself or she couldn't be strong on her own, it was that she didn't want to. She was the slayer, with the exception of Faith, who wasn't really in a position to help anyone; Buffy was on her own in her fight against the darkness. She had to do so much alone; she didn't want to live what little life she had alone to. And if that made her weak or bad slayer she quite frankly didn't care.
Even her friends could only understand so much. They complained that she cut herself off from everyone without realizing that that is what slayers are supposed to do, what slayers need to do if they hope to stay sane. Angel made it so much easier because she could talk to him without feeling judged. At least in that setting anyway, he would never lie to her and always told her exactly what he thought. She never had to be cut off with Angel around because she had a way to vent.
Buffy kicked herself every day for not having the courage to explain that to Angel when she had the chance. Maybe then he would have understood how important he had been and still was.
Buffy decided she had had enough of this pity party and was about to turn and leave when she had that familiar feeling in the pit of her stomach. Angel was in Sunnydale; he was close and getting closer. Like magic, before she really had time to process what she was feeling, he, Wesley, 2 people she didn't recognize and a green demon with red horns and a loud suit walked out of one of the wooded areas that lined this particular cemetery.
At first Buffy thought she was hallucinating. 'It just doesn't make sense but what really does anymore,' thought Buffy. "Angel what a surprise."
"Where is he, have you seen him?" asked Angel in a panic. On the way to Sunnydale he had worked himself into a panic thinking of all the things that could hurt or even kill Connor in Sunnydale. Being a father he really didn't give much consideration to the fact that his son grew up in a place far worse then Sunnydale and would more then likely cause more damage to the demon population then they could cause him. Still the hellmouth was the last place he wanted his son to be, ever, under any circumstances.
Raising her eyebrows at Angel's tone Buffy replied carefully, "and he would be?" Angel's concerned and panicked demeanor was freaking her out and confusing her. She was so used to seeing Angel all together. Okay, that wasn't entirely true. Furthermore, after not seeing him for so long and then having him just appear was throwing her for a loop.
Angel's worry was not lost on any of his companions. Before Angel could take out that worry on Buffy and potentially say something he would regret later, Lorne jumped in, "what he means sugar pie, is we've misplaced a teenage boy about eighteen and we think he might be here in good 'ld Sunnydale. We were wondering if you've seen him."
Angel was a little taken aback by Lorne's eagerness to jump into the fray. Throughout the duration of the entire trip to Sunnydale Angel had anxiously tried to pump Lorne for information. Despite the fact that Lorne wanted to explain what was going on he knew it would be better coming from Buffy. So he had remained silent much to the annoyance of Angel.
Buffy was a bit taken back as well by the green demon cutting Angel off. From the expression on Angel's face, she knew he hadn't been pleased with her answer and would more than likely have said something not nice. She looked from Angel to Lorne and back again suspiciously.
"No." she drawled out. "Angel what is going on? What are you doing here?"
"My son, he's gone and all we found was a picture of you on his floor."
The bottom of Buffy's world plummeted from under her. She couldn't breathe or think. Angel had a son, more than likely her son. Her baby was alive and well with his father. Wait did he say gone, "Wait," cutting off Angel's tirade, which she had barely heard anyway, "what do you mean he's gone. Where would he go?"
"How the hell would I know, haven't you been listening?" Angel felt all the worry and dread from his son's disappearing act surge to the surface. He really didn't like being kept in the dark about the happenings around him. "He came here after you but as far as I knew you two didn't even know of each others existence, care to explain that to me?" Angel said lashing out in his anxiety.
Buffy froze at a loss as to what to say. What was she supposed to tell him? The truth? 'Yeah that will work, he'll be just thrilled with that' she thought sarcastically, 'I'm sure that'll go over real well.' However Buffy was spared when thankfully or maybe not so thankfully Spike chose that moment to make an entrance.
"Why is the poufter in Sunnyhell?"
"Go to hell Spike. I do not have time for you," snapped Angel clearly not interested in Spike's taunts.
"Well some one has his knickers in a bunch," said Spike in a sarcastic tone.
"So help me Spike?"
"Hey," yelled Buffy. "Lost baby here. Why don't you two save the pissing contest until the boy is found."
Angel looked at Buffy suspiciously. He was about to say something when over her shoulder he saw Connor walk out from behind a mausoleum, seemingly tracking something.
"Connor."
Buffy spun around to see what had caught Angel's attention but she already knew. She didn't have to see her boy to know that he was standing behind her. When she actually did see him she was in shock. He was all grown up; in the back of her mind it occurred to her that he was to old. However, she was too scared he would vanish in a seconds notice that she didn't pay much attention to such thoughts. She became dimly aware that Angel was looking between the two of them.
Connor's reaction was similar to Buffy's. He really wasn't sure what he was supposed to do now. He found her but he really hadn't given much thought to what would happen beyond that. He gradually became aware that Angel and some of the A.I. team were there.
Spike chose that exact moment to butt in startling Buffy out of the surprised trance she'd fallen into. "Well I'll be damned that's."
"SPIKE." Looking over everyone Buffy realized she was going to get what she wanted. She was going to have to tell them everything that happened, her real history. The phrase "be careful what you wish for" came to mind. "Okay, um well I guess you guys are here for answers. Why don't we go to my place and we'll see if I can give you some," said Buffy.
She turned around ready to lead them to her house when she heard the voice that had haunted her dreams sounded through the suddenly way to cold night. "How I would love to be a fly on the wall for that conversation," said Mac.
"Indeed. I wouldn't mind hearing some of those answers for myself. After all you never were really that forthcoming," sounded the arrival of yet another of Buffy's nightmares.
"Valone, it's been years." Taking a large gulp of air making a show like they were all just long lost friends. Right. "Well isn't this a little reunion. And look even Kristine has come to join us or Buffy as the case may be."
Angel up until that point had been quite but the arrival of a mini giant and a pack of medieval knights was just way more than he could take. "What the HELL is going on here."
"Yes, Buffy why don't you fill this," Valone looked as Angel and sneered, "creature in."
"I must admit I am surprised. All this time you have been under our noses and we knew nothing. We suspected you were helping our lost Kristine. Ingenious really, as damned and determined as you were to never part company with the boy we never thought to look for a woman without him. It never occurred to us you were Kristine," commented Mac in the same conversational tone.
Through out the exchange Connor remained silent. Lost in his own private sea of emotions, he wasn't sure what to do. He racked his brain trying to remember if his mother had even been in this situation before, nothing was forthcoming. His mother had opted for a run today live to fight tomorrow approach. She hadn't ever been cornered like this, and for good reason. This was a highly dangerous standoff. If it came down to in no faction in this miniature war would come out unscathed, there would be casualties on all sides.
The question was who would fire the first shot, a question that was soon answered for all those present.
"Now that we found you there is no more running, no more hiding. Knowing the father of the boy makes it even more apparent why he must die. Don't you see if he lives it could be the ruin of us all? The carnage would never stop. Do what is right and destroy him now or let me do it."
Practically growling, "You will not touch him," said Buffy taking an angry step forward.
At that moment the ground began to quake as though the earth itself was agreeing with Buffy, intent on protecting the boy. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. The reason for it was unimportant at the moment. The quake was huge knocking over tombstones, birds went flying, and barking could be heard in the distance. A near by car alarm started shrieking loudly, all accompanied by the sound of rumbling earth.
All at once a giant crack formed in the ground beneath them. The rumbling and shaking continued while everyone tried to find something to hang onto. Just as suddenly as it begun, the earthquake stopped. For a moment all was silent.
"Is everyone all right," said Angel.
"Yeah, I think..." started Buffy. Before she could finish a bolt of lightning struck the ground just between Connor and Buffy. Buffy, Angel, Spike, and the AI team were thrown backwards by the force of the blast.
The ground beneath Connor, Mac, and Valone split open revealing a large swirling portal. Mac, Valone and Valone's knights were sucked instantly into the portal, while Connor managed to grab hold of the ledge.
Buffy immediately shook off the shock of being thrown, got up, and raced to grab hold of Connor's hands before he could fall in as well.
"Ahhhh, help."
"Hold on baby I got you, just hold on," said Buffy after she grabbed hold of Connor's hands. The suction of the portal was strong and it became obvious very quickly that Buffy wasn't going be to able to hold on. By that time Angel was beside her grabbing hold of Connor's other hand.
Thinking quickly Buffy said, "Go to Pristine Mountain," just as Connor's hand slipped from her own. Buffy stood up throwing a quick glance behind her and told Spike to watch the others before jumping into the portal herself. Angel quickly followed before the others could stop him.
Gunn glanced at Fred, Wesley, and Lorne, sighed and said, "damn I hate these things," before he jumped in followed by the others. No sooner had they cleared the portal than it snapped shut with an audible pop.
"Well bloody hell."
*****
Angel, Buffy, Fred, Lorne, Wesley, and Gunn landed in a field and at night.
"Oh, wow did that smart. Let's not do it again okay," said a groaning Lorne.
"I second that," said Fred as she got to her feet.
Buffy slowly climbed to her feet and checked for injuries. Finding none she brushed herself off and started looking around. She was clearly not pleased with what she saw, "I never thought I'd be back here again," muttered Buffy.
"Back where again, just what the hell is going on here," said Angel in an agitated tone.
"I'll explain later at the moment we are not safe here. We need to get out of here and find some cover," said Buffy hoping that would be the end of it but knowing it wouldn't be.
"No not later, now what the hell is going on here," replied Angel.
"Angel we don't have any time for this," said Buffy in a beseeching tone before turning away from him.
Angel grabbed hold of Buffy's arm and spun her around to face him, "no damnit, Buffy I want some answers now. Three hours ago I found out my son was missing and on his way to see you. Naturally I found this very interesting because to my knowledge you two had never met. So I follow him, and the next thing I know I'm in a standoff with people I don't know or know anything about. People who seem to know more about what's going on than I do?"
"Angel, take a look around. We are standing in the open in a place where we will not be well liked. We need to get to a safe place as soon as we can."
"Buffy, there is no one within miles. I need to know what's going on and where my son is."
"He's fine I'm sure. He probably fell out of the portal in a different area."
Before Angel could respond to that remark, Wesley said, "Buffy, do you know where we?"
"It's called Krim now can we please go. It's just really not safe here," said Buffy taking a nervous glance around.
"And you know this because..." said Angel in a sarcastic voice.
Taking a deep breath Buffy said, "because this is a place where I really spent that summer after I sent you to hell."
Angel is taken completely off guard by this statement, "Excuse me?"
Sighing loudly, "I needed a place of relative safety to go."
Angel eyed Buffy suspiciously for a couple of seconds, trying to decide if he really wanted to ask his next question. "Why," he asked slowly.
"I needed someplace safe... because I was pregnant."
A.N. This is a highly condensed version of two chapters. Buffy as Buffy had some run ins with spies and the like from both Valone and Mac. However she wasn't recognized because they were men that she never met before. With no baby they assumed that she was an accomplice not the same person. There has been some confusion about "Kristine." Buffy went by that in Krim and such because no one knew who she really was and took the name Kristine. When she returned as Buffy, obviously Kristine vanished. The gist is Valone and Mac have been chasing their own tails for years.
AN2: The question has been raised as to who Kristine is. Kristine is the name Buffy went by in Krim. Buffy is a unique name and would have stood out too much, hence the change. It isn't anything really important to the story; it was just an idea that I had that wouldn't go away.
AN3: If you would like me to e-mail you when I have updates to this story, please say so in a review.
Part Six
And We Meet Again / Welcome Back to Krim My Dears
Connor jerked awake just as the bus was pulling into the station. He sat in his seat for a moment to gather his bearings before he stood to get his things out of the upper storage compartment. Conner was at a loss as to what to think about this newest dream. It was different than any of the dreams he had before, and much more enlightening.
He knew, although he wasn't sure how, that the demon he saw was called Mac. He was one of the two major people, demons, whatever, that had chased his mother and him. He still wasn't sure why they were after them but he had a feeling that was something only their pursuers and his mother knew for sure.
Connor stepped off the bus and looked around. The city seemed to be a lot smaller than he had thought it would be, clearly much smaller than L.A. He could make out no high-rise buildings in the distance.
This was good news however; he still didn't have any idea about where to begin to look though. He supposed he could look around and ask every person he saw if they knew of a Buffy and where she lived. However he doubted that would be very effective.
Maybe if he just used some of his senses to track he would be able to locate her. He knew her scent by memory and he remembered his mother was not all she seemed, certainly not a demon but definitely different. He hefted his bag over his shoulder and started to wonder around hoping to catch her scent. "Man, this is going to take a while," muttered Connor.
*****
Buffy was feeling depressed, and that was putting things mildly. She had tried to sleep earlier but couldn't make her mind calm, her thoughts were consumed with the past, so she had decided to patrol. However the demons of Sunnydale were not cooperating, so mostly Buffy wondered and thought.
Most of the time she was able to not think about her Angel, or Angels would probably be a more accurate term. However it just didn't seem possible right now. Stranger still she had this feeling in her gut that Angel was nearby. Perhaps wishful thinking on her part, Angel was in L.A. and she was in sunnyhell. That's the way things were and she doubted they would change anytime soon.
Furthermore, as of late she just couldn't stop thinking about her son. That wasn't to say he wasn't always on her mind in some form or another but now she was having dreams about the time they spent in Krim, vivid dreams. It wasn't that she ever wanted to forget her boy; it was just easier to live with what she had done if she didn't have to remember every second.
Not for the first time she wished that there was someone to talk to about what had really happened that summer. Possibly even tell Angel. Buffy scoffed and dismissed that thought almost before she finished it. First he probably wouldn't even believe her and second it wasn't like it would do any good at this point. No, she blew her chance to tell him the truth when he left.
When she thought about it, it was stupid really; it wasn't that she had been trying to punish him by not telling him about their child. It was just it took her so long to figure out how to tell him and work up the nerve to do it, then days before her big speech he broke up with her she didn't know how to begin to tell him under those circumstances. What if he had decided to stay? She hadn't known if she could live with that, the knowledge that he it stayed for any other reason than because he loved her. Now of course she knew she wouldn't have cared why he stayed just as long as he did.
Angel had always said that she was his strength. What he never knew was she needed him more than he really needed her. It wasn't that she couldn't take care of herself or she couldn't be strong on her own, it was that she didn't want to. She was the slayer, with the exception of Faith, who wasn't really in a position to help anyone; Buffy was on her own in her fight against the darkness. She had to do so much alone; she didn't want to live what little life she had alone to. And if that made her weak or bad slayer she quite frankly didn't care.
Even her friends could only understand so much. They complained that she cut herself off from everyone without realizing that that is what slayers are supposed to do, what slayers need to do if they hope to stay sane. Angel made it so much easier because she could talk to him without feeling judged. At least in that setting anyway, he would never lie to her and always told her exactly what he thought. She never had to be cut off with Angel around because she had a way to vent.
Buffy kicked herself every day for not having the courage to explain that to Angel when she had the chance. Maybe then he would have understood how important he had been and still was.
Buffy decided she had had enough of this pity party and was about to turn and leave when she had that familiar feeling in the pit of her stomach. Angel was in Sunnydale; he was close and getting closer. Like magic, before she really had time to process what she was feeling, he, Wesley, 2 people she didn't recognize and a green demon with red horns and a loud suit walked out of one of the wooded areas that lined this particular cemetery.
At first Buffy thought she was hallucinating. 'It just doesn't make sense but what really does anymore,' thought Buffy. "Angel what a surprise."
"Where is he, have you seen him?" asked Angel in a panic. On the way to Sunnydale he had worked himself into a panic thinking of all the things that could hurt or even kill Connor in Sunnydale. Being a father he really didn't give much consideration to the fact that his son grew up in a place far worse then Sunnydale and would more then likely cause more damage to the demon population then they could cause him. Still the hellmouth was the last place he wanted his son to be, ever, under any circumstances.
Raising her eyebrows at Angel's tone Buffy replied carefully, "and he would be?" Angel's concerned and panicked demeanor was freaking her out and confusing her. She was so used to seeing Angel all together. Okay, that wasn't entirely true. Furthermore, after not seeing him for so long and then having him just appear was throwing her for a loop.
Angel's worry was not lost on any of his companions. Before Angel could take out that worry on Buffy and potentially say something he would regret later, Lorne jumped in, "what he means sugar pie, is we've misplaced a teenage boy about eighteen and we think he might be here in good 'ld Sunnydale. We were wondering if you've seen him."
Angel was a little taken aback by Lorne's eagerness to jump into the fray. Throughout the duration of the entire trip to Sunnydale Angel had anxiously tried to pump Lorne for information. Despite the fact that Lorne wanted to explain what was going on he knew it would be better coming from Buffy. So he had remained silent much to the annoyance of Angel.
Buffy was a bit taken back as well by the green demon cutting Angel off. From the expression on Angel's face, she knew he hadn't been pleased with her answer and would more than likely have said something not nice. She looked from Angel to Lorne and back again suspiciously.
"No." she drawled out. "Angel what is going on? What are you doing here?"
"My son, he's gone and all we found was a picture of you on his floor."
The bottom of Buffy's world plummeted from under her. She couldn't breathe or think. Angel had a son, more than likely her son. Her baby was alive and well with his father. Wait did he say gone, "Wait," cutting off Angel's tirade, which she had barely heard anyway, "what do you mean he's gone. Where would he go?"
"How the hell would I know, haven't you been listening?" Angel felt all the worry and dread from his son's disappearing act surge to the surface. He really didn't like being kept in the dark about the happenings around him. "He came here after you but as far as I knew you two didn't even know of each others existence, care to explain that to me?" Angel said lashing out in his anxiety.
Buffy froze at a loss as to what to say. What was she supposed to tell him? The truth? 'Yeah that will work, he'll be just thrilled with that' she thought sarcastically, 'I'm sure that'll go over real well.' However Buffy was spared when thankfully or maybe not so thankfully Spike chose that moment to make an entrance.
"Why is the poufter in Sunnyhell?"
"Go to hell Spike. I do not have time for you," snapped Angel clearly not interested in Spike's taunts.
"Well some one has his knickers in a bunch," said Spike in a sarcastic tone.
"So help me Spike?"
"Hey," yelled Buffy. "Lost baby here. Why don't you two save the pissing contest until the boy is found."
Angel looked at Buffy suspiciously. He was about to say something when over her shoulder he saw Connor walk out from behind a mausoleum, seemingly tracking something.
"Connor."
Buffy spun around to see what had caught Angel's attention but she already knew. She didn't have to see her boy to know that he was standing behind her. When she actually did see him she was in shock. He was all grown up; in the back of her mind it occurred to her that he was to old. However, she was too scared he would vanish in a seconds notice that she didn't pay much attention to such thoughts. She became dimly aware that Angel was looking between the two of them.
Connor's reaction was similar to Buffy's. He really wasn't sure what he was supposed to do now. He found her but he really hadn't given much thought to what would happen beyond that. He gradually became aware that Angel and some of the A.I. team were there.
Spike chose that exact moment to butt in startling Buffy out of the surprised trance she'd fallen into. "Well I'll be damned that's."
"SPIKE." Looking over everyone Buffy realized she was going to get what she wanted. She was going to have to tell them everything that happened, her real history. The phrase "be careful what you wish for" came to mind. "Okay, um well I guess you guys are here for answers. Why don't we go to my place and we'll see if I can give you some," said Buffy.
She turned around ready to lead them to her house when she heard the voice that had haunted her dreams sounded through the suddenly way to cold night. "How I would love to be a fly on the wall for that conversation," said Mac.
"Indeed. I wouldn't mind hearing some of those answers for myself. After all you never were really that forthcoming," sounded the arrival of yet another of Buffy's nightmares.
"Valone, it's been years." Taking a large gulp of air making a show like they were all just long lost friends. Right. "Well isn't this a little reunion. And look even Kristine has come to join us or Buffy as the case may be."
Angel up until that point had been quite but the arrival of a mini giant and a pack of medieval knights was just way more than he could take. "What the HELL is going on here."
"Yes, Buffy why don't you fill this," Valone looked as Angel and sneered, "creature in."
"I must admit I am surprised. All this time you have been under our noses and we knew nothing. We suspected you were helping our lost Kristine. Ingenious really, as damned and determined as you were to never part company with the boy we never thought to look for a woman without him. It never occurred to us you were Kristine," commented Mac in the same conversational tone.
Through out the exchange Connor remained silent. Lost in his own private sea of emotions, he wasn't sure what to do. He racked his brain trying to remember if his mother had even been in this situation before, nothing was forthcoming. His mother had opted for a run today live to fight tomorrow approach. She hadn't ever been cornered like this, and for good reason. This was a highly dangerous standoff. If it came down to in no faction in this miniature war would come out unscathed, there would be casualties on all sides.
The question was who would fire the first shot, a question that was soon answered for all those present.
"Now that we found you there is no more running, no more hiding. Knowing the father of the boy makes it even more apparent why he must die. Don't you see if he lives it could be the ruin of us all? The carnage would never stop. Do what is right and destroy him now or let me do it."
Practically growling, "You will not touch him," said Buffy taking an angry step forward.
At that moment the ground began to quake as though the earth itself was agreeing with Buffy, intent on protecting the boy. Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't. The reason for it was unimportant at the moment. The quake was huge knocking over tombstones, birds went flying, and barking could be heard in the distance. A near by car alarm started shrieking loudly, all accompanied by the sound of rumbling earth.
All at once a giant crack formed in the ground beneath them. The rumbling and shaking continued while everyone tried to find something to hang onto. Just as suddenly as it begun, the earthquake stopped. For a moment all was silent.
"Is everyone all right," said Angel.
"Yeah, I think..." started Buffy. Before she could finish a bolt of lightning struck the ground just between Connor and Buffy. Buffy, Angel, Spike, and the AI team were thrown backwards by the force of the blast.
The ground beneath Connor, Mac, and Valone split open revealing a large swirling portal. Mac, Valone and Valone's knights were sucked instantly into the portal, while Connor managed to grab hold of the ledge.
Buffy immediately shook off the shock of being thrown, got up, and raced to grab hold of Connor's hands before he could fall in as well.
"Ahhhh, help."
"Hold on baby I got you, just hold on," said Buffy after she grabbed hold of Connor's hands. The suction of the portal was strong and it became obvious very quickly that Buffy wasn't going be to able to hold on. By that time Angel was beside her grabbing hold of Connor's other hand.
Thinking quickly Buffy said, "Go to Pristine Mountain," just as Connor's hand slipped from her own. Buffy stood up throwing a quick glance behind her and told Spike to watch the others before jumping into the portal herself. Angel quickly followed before the others could stop him.
Gunn glanced at Fred, Wesley, and Lorne, sighed and said, "damn I hate these things," before he jumped in followed by the others. No sooner had they cleared the portal than it snapped shut with an audible pop.
"Well bloody hell."
*****
Angel, Buffy, Fred, Lorne, Wesley, and Gunn landed in a field and at night.
"Oh, wow did that smart. Let's not do it again okay," said a groaning Lorne.
"I second that," said Fred as she got to her feet.
Buffy slowly climbed to her feet and checked for injuries. Finding none she brushed herself off and started looking around. She was clearly not pleased with what she saw, "I never thought I'd be back here again," muttered Buffy.
"Back where again, just what the hell is going on here," said Angel in an agitated tone.
"I'll explain later at the moment we are not safe here. We need to get out of here and find some cover," said Buffy hoping that would be the end of it but knowing it wouldn't be.
"No not later, now what the hell is going on here," replied Angel.
"Angel we don't have any time for this," said Buffy in a beseeching tone before turning away from him.
Angel grabbed hold of Buffy's arm and spun her around to face him, "no damnit, Buffy I want some answers now. Three hours ago I found out my son was missing and on his way to see you. Naturally I found this very interesting because to my knowledge you two had never met. So I follow him, and the next thing I know I'm in a standoff with people I don't know or know anything about. People who seem to know more about what's going on than I do?"
"Angel, take a look around. We are standing in the open in a place where we will not be well liked. We need to get to a safe place as soon as we can."
"Buffy, there is no one within miles. I need to know what's going on and where my son is."
"He's fine I'm sure. He probably fell out of the portal in a different area."
Before Angel could respond to that remark, Wesley said, "Buffy, do you know where we?"
"It's called Krim now can we please go. It's just really not safe here," said Buffy taking a nervous glance around.
"And you know this because..." said Angel in a sarcastic voice.
Taking a deep breath Buffy said, "because this is a place where I really spent that summer after I sent you to hell."
Angel is taken completely off guard by this statement, "Excuse me?"
Sighing loudly, "I needed a place of relative safety to go."
Angel eyed Buffy suspiciously for a couple of seconds, trying to decide if he really wanted to ask his next question. "Why," he asked slowly.
"I needed someplace safe... because I was pregnant."
A.N. This is a highly condensed version of two chapters. Buffy as Buffy had some run ins with spies and the like from both Valone and Mac. However she wasn't recognized because they were men that she never met before. With no baby they assumed that she was an accomplice not the same person. There has been some confusion about "Kristine." Buffy went by that in Krim and such because no one knew who she really was and took the name Kristine. When she returned as Buffy, obviously Kristine vanished. The gist is Valone and Mac have been chasing their own tails for years.