Rating: PG-13 (I have my reasons for putting up the rating.)
Summary: Takes place a five months after Darla stakes herself.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters… It all belongs to Joss Whedon and co.
A/N: Please review and tell me what you think!
Chapter 22- Bad Luck
Gunn sat down next to Wesley. "This is gonna be harder than we thought."
Wesley nodded glumly. "We'd better find out what they're doing soon."
"Well you'll have no luck with Riley then." Buffy sauntered down the stairs.
"Hm… the question is, whether or not we should let him go."
"Wesley, if we let him go, then he'll just warn his other buddies."
"What have I missed?" Gunn looked around, bewildered.
"I'll second that." Fred piped up.
"Well…" Wesley began.
"Where's Angel?" Buffy interrupted.
"Er… in the kitchen feeding Connor."
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"He's definitely like you." Darla crossed her arms over her chest.
"How come?" Angel looked up for a moment.
"He's got your smile."
Angel's grin became even wider at that. "You think so?"
Darla nodded. "I just wish you would have named him something else."
"Why? Connor's a good Irish name." Angel protested.
Darla rolled her eyes.
Angel was about to argue when Buffy walked in.
"How'd it go?"
"He's keeping his mouth shut."
"Right." Angel bounced Connor in his arms.
"Do you need any help?" Buffy asked.
"No, it's OK." Angel smiled. "You probably need a hangover cure."
Buffy nodded and felt her head. "I think I just need to sit down."
Angel nodded watched as Buffy threw a deathly glare at Darla before leaving.
"Nice girl." Darla picked up Connor's bottle and handed it to Angel.
"She's under a lot of stress."
"So when should we get him started on solids?"
Angel looked at Darla with surprise. "Since when did you start reading up about babies?"
"I didn't. I was just thinking about it." Darla said casually.
"So… having a baby really does change things don't they?"
"Yeah, I guess."
Angel took the bottle from Connor. "You liked that didn't you?"
Connor laughed and hiccuped.
"I'll burp him." Angel threw Connor over his shoulder and patted his back.
Connor burped very loudly and wetly.
"There we go." Angel smiled. Then he felt something wet against his back. "Oh no."
Darla laughed. "Go change. I'll look after him."
Angel nodded and put Connor in Darla's arms.
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"What the hell happened to you?" Faith yelled, eyeing the long white trail on Angel's shirt.
"Thanks for noticing." Angel said sarcastically.
"Never underestimate the power of the baby." Fred giggled.
"I'm glad you find it funny." Angel muttered grumpily. "Not that I mind getting… milk all over my favourite shirt but… it's a rewarding job nonetheless." Angel added.
"Nothing like having a baby huh?" Faith didn't bother to hide her huge grin.
"Yeah." Angel attempted to look over his shoulder. "How bad is it exactly?"
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Dr Stone tapped his fingers against the table restlessly. He had paged Finn several times. None of them had been answered.
"Dr?" Annie opened the door.
"Is he here?"
"No sir."
"I was thinking whether or not I should send someone to look for him."
"I don't think that's a good idea, sir. One of the others saw him leave a kareoke bar with the Slayer."
"Well, let's hope he's doing his job."
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"So… we've hit a dead end then?" Gunn mused.
"Seems like it." Faith stretched out her legs in front of her.
"Great."
"I suppose we could always drive around and see if our luck changes."
"Wes, give it a rest OK?"
"It wouldn't hurt trying. But it does seem that bad luck hangs around a lot when we have an important case."
"I don't think it's down to bad luck, English."
"Does anyone know any good hang-over cures?"
All heads turned to look at Buffy standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
"You don't drink much do you B?"
"Anyone?" Buffy looked around hopefully.
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Darla smiled to herself as she washed out Connor's bottle. Connor gurgled happily and bounced up and down on his chair.
"Come on you." Darla murmured as she picked Connor up from his chair. She locked eyes with Buffy as she left the kitchen. Silly girl.
Darla tossed her hair behind her as she made her way to Angel's room.
Inside, she found Angel still grumbling over the milk on his shirt. Surprisingly, he didn't bother to put on another shirt. Darla licked her lips. Was it just her or did he look particularly… edible?
Angel looked up from his grumbling. "Put him in his cot and let him sleep."
"I don't think he wants to sleep." Darla looked down.
Connor giggled and tried to wriggle out of Darla's grip.
"I think he wants to play."
"OK. Give him here." Angel stretched out his arms.
Darla smiled slowly and stepped towards him…
To Be Continued…
A/N: You likes?