Authors notes: This story takes place some time after the last Buffy episode. It presupposes that Connor has regained his memory after the events in the episode "Home" and has rejoined Angel and company. One of these days we may get around to writing a story about that. Who knows? See our story "Like Father, Like Son" to see how Connor first dealt with his vampire heritage.



Merry Christmas Angel



Chapter One



I

Angel stepped back to admire the Christmas tree in his study in the Wolfman and Hart building. The great pine nearly reached to the top of the darkened room's high ceiling. An assortment of delicate multi-colored ornaments glittered in the tiny bright lights scattered in its thick branches. Christmas carols were playing on the stereo in the background. The drapes were drawn back to show the city lights scattered below them like millions of stars. One of the perks of having a suite on the top floor of the Wolfman and Hart building, he reflected.

"Looks pretty," Fred said softly. Her fingers were absently playing with Connor's fine hair as he sat in front of her on the floor wrapped up to his chin in a thick, soft afghan. Connor's deep blue eyes were half shut in contentment.

"Thanks," Angel said as he sat on the couch next to Fred. He lifted a steaming mug of hot cocoa from the end table and took a large swallow. Enjoying the unusual feeling of peace he rested his head against the back of the couch.

"How cozy," Spike commented cynically from where he stood leaning up against the wall near the door. "All this balderdash is making me feel nauseous," he added as he roughly wiped a spot of moisture from the corner of his eye.

"Shut up, Spike," Gunn growled, smacking the blond vampire upside his head as he came into the room.

"Well if it isn't old velvet head," Spike growled. "So what glad tidings do you bear us?" he asked.

"Nothin'" Gunn answered as he went to pour himself a mug of hot cocoa from the sidebar where Lorne was humming to the song on the stereo. "Everything's right with the world," Gunn added. He passed Connor and noogied the young man's hair as he passed. "How you doin' Peter Pan?"

"Hunh?" Connor said, barely rousing from a dreamy half sleep.

"Never mind, kid," Gunn said as he collapsed on the other couch in the room.

"I can't believe how wonderful everything has turned out," Cordy said from the chair where she was curled up in an afghan that matched the one that covered Connor. "If it hadn't been for Connor, I'd have never woken up from that coma." She sighed. "I would've missed all of this."

"Yes, indeed," Wesley commented in his precise English accent, from the other chair where he was trying to read a leather bound book in the dim light coming in from a candle next to him. "If Connor had not discovered the lost scroll of Raratu and recovered his memory, the world would have surely ended."

"Whatever," Spike groaned, "We've heard the story millions of times before. The kid's a hero. So am I, so's Angel. So's everybody in this bloody room."

"Well," Fred began then paused, distracted from sound of loud purring. "Huh?" she said, looking down at Connor who was making the odd sound.

"Oh, yeah," Angel answering Fred's unspoken question, "Vampire's purr when they're contented."

"I've never purred," Spike said grumpily.

"You probably never were contented," Cordy commented archly.

"Oh, that's sweet," Fred said, then added uncertainly, "I think . . . "

Suddenly the phone rang, breaking the peaceful atmosphere of the room. Connor exploded to a crouching stance, ready to do battle.

"Relax, Tiger," Lorne said, "It's just the phone."

"Oh," Connor said. "I knew that," he added, trying to hide his embarrassment as he sat back down in front of Fred.

Lorne picked up the phone, listened for a few moments, then he said, holding the phone out, "It's for you, Angel face."

Angel pulled himself reluctantly from the couch. "It's okay, son" he said to Connor, mussing his hair as he passed "It startled me, too."

"Why does everyone keep on messing with my hair?" Connor muttered under his breath as he tried to finger comb it smooth.

"Because we love it," Fred answered, messing it up again.

With a growl, Connor shot her a dirty look and tried to straighten his hair again. "I swear I'll kill the next person who touches my hair."

"Awww," Fred replied, running her fingers through his hair even more vigorously.

"That does it!" Connor shouted, leaping at Fred. "How does it feel, Big Sis?" he said as he attacked her long curls. Fred dissolved into squeals of laughter and giggling.

"Quiet!" Angel shouted above the noise, "I'm trying to talk on the phone!"

"Shhh," Fred said to Connor, trying unsuccessfully to stop her uncontrolled giggling as she shoved him off. Connor rolled onto the couch, grinning from ear to ear.

Cordy rolled her eyes at their antics and whispered to Lorne, "Who is it?"

"Willow," Lorne mouthed as he sat next to Gunn.

"That's all right, Willow," Angel said on the phone, "What was that again?"

"Well, uh, remember when you said that we could come over to your place any time?" Willow asked gingerly.

"Sure," Angel said, "Anytime."

"Like tonight?"

"Tonight?" Angel echoed, shooting the others in the room a surprised look.

"Uh, yeah," Willow answered, "You know after Sunnydale kind of, you know, uh, imploded, we've been kind of on the road. And since you once said that we could come over to your place. Well, we . . . " her voice died off into uncertainty.

"That's okay," Angel said quickly, "We'd love to have you over. We have a plenty of room here."

"Is Buffy with them?" Spike asked, trying not to sound too interested.

Connor looked at Spike with a lopsided grin, "Oooooooo, Spikey's got a girlfriend," he taunted.

"Shut your hole, Kid, I'm just curious," Spike said defensively as he shrugged more deeply into his black leather coat.

"Guys," Angel hissed at Connor and Spike. "Sorry, Will," he said returning to Willow. "How far are you from here?"

"Uhh," Willow began, "It sounds like you have your hands full there. You sure you really want us to come over?"

"Sure," Angel said quickly. "By the way," he said, sounding casual, "Who's with you. Not that we don't have plenty of room, but I'll need to let my staff know how many to expect."

"Your staff?" Willow repeated with a slight laugh, "I can't imagine you having a staff. It's like you've so, uh, come up in the world since you left Sunnydale."

"Considering that I now own the LA branch of Wolfman and Hart, I guess you could say I have come up in the world. So who's with you?" Angel asked again.

"Well," Willow answered, "We've sent the Slayerettes to be trained by the Watcher's council so there's now only Giles, Xander, Faith . . . "

Great, Angel thought, all the people I really don't want to see, but said only, "Good . . . " in an encouraging tone.

"And Dawn," Willow continued. "And," she added in a gentle voice, "Buffy."

"Buffy," Angel said, "How is she?"

"Oh, she's doing fine," Willow answered too brightly, "We're doing all fine. How about you?"

"Good, good," Angel answered.

"Good," Willow said, then paused. "Uh, so how do we find your place?"

"Right," Angel said quickly, "We're in the Wolfman and Hart building on the corner of Sunset and La Brea. You can't miss it. It's the tallest building around, all glass, the typical LA skyscraper. Oh yeah, and it reeks of evil."

"Evil?" Willow echoed uncomfortably.

"Oh, but we have it under control," Angel assured her.

"Yeah, right, whatever," Connor added.

Angel glared at him, then went back to the phone, "So how long do you think it'll take you to get here?"

"Uh, Sunset and La Brea?" Willow said.

"Yeah."

"Big, tall building, all glass?"

"Yeah."

"Reeks of evil?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, should be five minutes."



Five minutes later, Harmony walked into Angel's office. "Boss? Why are Buffy and her gang here?" she asked fearfully.

"They're going to be spending Christmas with us," Angel answered.

"Oh, good," she said, "Uh, could you tell them not to kill me? Please? You know she doesn't really like me."

"Nobody does," Connor interjected.

"Nobody asked you," Harmony sneered at him.

"Connor, Harmony . . . " Angel said firmly. "It's not the time . . . " Shaking his head, he said to Harmony, "Where are they now?"

"Who?" Harmony said blankly.

"Buffy and her friends . . . "

"Oh, yeah, them. They're downstairs. I had security hold them. I was afraid they were going to stake me."

"Just send them up," Angel said.

Harmony smiled sweetly, "Sure, Boss, anything you say." She went through the door, then came quickly back in. "Uh, you did say that you would make sure they wouldn't stake me?"

"Yes, Harmony, I'll make sure you don't get staked," Angel answered, barely restraining his temper.

"Goody," Harmony said before flouncing out the door again.

"I swear one of these days," Gunn said, "I'm going to stake her."

"Ditto," Connor agreed.



A few minutes later Harmony returned. "They're here," she said.

"Bring them in," Angel said, starting to get annoyed.

"Oh, right, yeah," Harmony answered, then closed the door behind her.

"Was she always that flaky or only after she became a vampire?" Gunn asked.

"She was that flaky when I knew her in High School," Cordy answered. She frowned for a moment, "Was I that flaky?"

"Nah," Angel answered.

"Probably more," Connor remarked.

"Connor . . . " Cordy protested.

"Hi," Buffy said coming through the door.

"Buffy!" Angel said in surprise.

With a forced smile Buffy regarded everyone in the room. "Oh, Spike," she said, "I didn't expect to see you here. I thought you had died."

"I did," Spike answered, carefully watching Buffy's reaction while he feigned elaborate disinterest.

"Oh," Buffy said, not knowing how to get through the uncomfortable moment. Then her eyes fell on Connor, "Oh, you must be Connor. How are you?" she said while thrusting her hand out to him. "So nice to meet you."

"Oh, is this the slayer you told me about?" Connor asked Angel. "Didn't she kill my mother?"

Buffy's smile started to fade. "No," Angel said, correcting his son, "I killed her." He shrugged uncomfortably. "I had to. She was evil then. That was before you were born."

"Oh," Connor said as if that made a lot of difference. He critically looked at Buffy who was several inches shorter than he was, "You're short," he said, taking her still outstretched hand.

Shaking his hand, Buffy replied lightly, "So I've been told."

Xander followed Willow into the room. "Nice digs, Deadboy," he commented to Angel. "Oh, and this must be Deadboy, junior," he added as he spotted Connor, presenting his hand to the young man, "You don't look like him at all," he said to Connor.

"Thanks. I think," Connor replied. "Are you sure these are your friends?" Connor asked Angel.

"Some of them more than others," Angel replied as he gave Willow a hug, "Glad to see you again," he said to her.

"So am I," Willow breathed. She went the rounds giving everyone a hug.

Cordy, stepping back after hugging Willow, regarded her critically for a moment. "So what happened to that Kennedy girl I heard you were going out with?"

Willow shrugged, "We kind of broke up. She decided that she preferred boys."

"Oh!" Cordy said, with a forced smile. "What about Oz? Ever thought about going back to him?"

"Well," Willow blushed, "Sometimes, but you know, I'm gay . . . "

"But can't that be fixed or something?" Cordy asked. "I'm sure Oz would take you back if you asked him real nice."

"Sorry," Gunn interrupted, pushing himself in front of Cordelia, "Cordy, doesn't know what she is saying. It must be the egg nog."

"Yeah. I understand," Willow said even though she noticed that everybody was drinking hot cocoa.

"How are you doing, Old Man?" Giles said to Angel as he brought in Faith, Robin and Dawn. "I don't believe you've met Principal Robin Wood, have you?" he asked.

"Former Principal," Robin said, taking Angel's hand, "I don't have much of a school anymore. Hell, I don't even have a town anymore," he added wryly. He glanced over to Spike, "I see you're doing well for a dead man. Remember you owe me that coat."

Spike growled, but didn't say a word.

"Hello," Wesley said, finally coming out of the book he had read, "The name's Wesley Windom Price. Pleased to meet you."

"Name's Lorne," Lorne said, offering his hand.

His eyes widening at Lorne's green skin and red horns, Robin merely said, "Nice to meet you, too."

"Lorne is from Pilea," Fred explained, "But he's really nice. Not like most of the other people in his dimension. You have got to hear him sing. But maybe you can sing for him . . . "

"Hunh?" Robin said, "I'm not much of a singer."

"That's all right," Fred said, "Lorne's a telepathic clairvoyant. He reads your aura while you are singing and then tells you your future from that."

"I don't know . . . " Robin said doubtfully.

"Never mind, cupcake," Lorne said interrupting Fred, "He doesn't have to sing."

"Thanks," Robin said, "I think."

Giles looked up from cleaning his glasses and spotted Connor who was leaning his hip on Angel's desk, "My word, you must be Angel's son. The last time I heard you were mere infant."

"Yeah," Faith said, as she sidled up to Connor, smacking him on the butt, "He has grown up quick. Don't you think?"

"Hey!" Connor protested, "What's the big idea?"

"You got a nice ass," she commented with a large grin, meaningfully looking him up and down with approval. "Been working out since I last saw you?"

Looking at Faith defiantly, Connor crossed his arms across his chest, "Maybe. Who wants to know?" Suddenly his eyes widened.

"Hi," Dawn said appearing from behind Giles. "My name's Dawn."

Connor reddened under her gaze, "Hi," he said, striding quickly over to her. He took her hand and kissed it. "I'm very glad to meet you."

"Cool," Dawn said, "Thanks. That is sooo cool. Did you learn that from your Dad?"

"Nah, I learned it from TV," Connor replied more casually than he felt.

"Gee, Willow," Dawn said in surprise, "He's not androgynous at all."

"That's what I keep on telling people," Connor remarked. "Hey, I got some real cool weapons in my room. You want to see them?"

"Cool. I'd love too. Do you have any video games too?"

"'Course. I got them all," Connor enthused as he led Dawn out of the room.

"Play nice," Buffy reminded them.

"Buffy, shut up . . . " Dawn shot back to her sister.

"Whatever," Buffy said with a sigh.

"Not the way we did it in my day," Angel remarked, coming up beside Buffy.

"Why do I suddenly feel so old?" Buffy commented as she took the hot cocoa he offered her.

"Must be something to with the responsibility," Angel said sympathetically.

"I could be chaperone," Spike interjected raising his hand.

"Butt out, Spike," Both Angel and Buffy said.

"Humph, only trying to help out here," Spike responded. "You never know what those two lovebirds might do."

"Lovebirds?" Buffy and Angel echoed.

"They just met," Buffy said.

"Yeah," Angel said.

"Can't see what's right in front of your faces, can you?" Spike retorted. "Even I could see the sparks fly when those two saw each other."

"No . . . " Buffy said, "Angel . . . She's my sister . . . "

"Relax . . . " Angel began, then thought it over. "Well, maybe it might not be a good idea to leave them alone too long."

"Right." Buffy agreed, heading for the door.





Connor escorted Dawn into his room. Dark blue drapes were drawn across a sliding glass window that stretched all the way across one side of the room. The walls were painted a deep red and covered with highly polished bladed weapons. Over the king size bed was a large yin/yang symbol.

"Did you do the decorating yourself?" Dawn remarked.

"Sure did," Connor said proudly.

"Nice . . . " Dawn remarked in approval. She walked over to one of the weapons displayed on the wall and reached for it.

"Wait . . . " Connor said catching up with her, "Be careful, you might cut yourself . . . "

Dawn lifted the weapon, a slender jewel-encrusted dagger, and swept it around skillfully before flipping it handle first to Connor. "Nice balance."

Connor caught the dagger in mid air, "Thanks," he said, putting it back onto the wall. "It was my Mom's. My Dad gave to her in the 18th Century for their second anniversary together."

"Nice. Did she use it a lot?"

"Nah," Connor, said, "Only on my Dad when he was bad."

"Oh?"

Connor smiled, "Just kidding. It's only a decorative dagger. You wouldn't want to mess it up with blood and stuff, you know. Hey," he said, "You want to play with my PS2?"

"Sure!"

"Great!" Connor said jumping on his bed and flipping on his TV.

Dawn crawled onto the bed next to him. "It's so cool having money."

"Yeah, I like it too. You should've seen the place I had to live in Quor'toth. It sucked big time."

"I sure wish I had a room of my own again," Dawn said wistfully, "We've been on the road ever since Sunnydale became a big hole. I always have to share a motel room with Faith, Buffy and Willow. You have no idea how much it sucks when four girls share the same room."

"That's too bad," Connor said, leaning toward Dawn, "I'll ask my Dad to give you a room of your own."

"Thanks," Dawn said. "Hey. What's that around your neck?" she said noticing a locket that had fallen out of Connor's shirt.

"Oh, that. It's a locket my Dad gave my Mom," He said, opening the locket, "See, that's him and her."

Leaning more closely, Dawn looked at the pictures. "Your Mom was very beautiful. But your Dad, uh, I think I like him better with short hair."

Connor smiled, leaning so close to Dawn that her long hair brushed his face. He liked the way it smelled, like strawberries and cinnamon. "I like your hair," he said.

Dawn shyly brushed her hair away. "Thanks," she said very softly, gazing into his eyes. "I love the color of your eyes."

Their eyes met. Connor leaned closer as he slipped a hand around her slender waist. For a moment their lips brushed.

"Hey!" Buffy said bursting into the room with Angel behind her, "Anybody feel like dinner?"

With her eyes widened in feigned innocence, she asked, "What you doing?"

"Nothing," Dawn said, quickly rolling off the bed and getting to her feet. "We were just playing a game."

"Looks to me like it's a game I'd like to play," Spike commented, looking over Buffy's shoulder.

Buffy rammed an elbow into his stomach, making him double over gasping for breath. "Spike!" she hissed at him, "She's my sister!"

"Looks like Little Bit there is growing up, Buffy," he said after regaining his breath.

Connor sat on his bed, stunned, looking like a deer caught in the headlights.

"What do you have to say for yourself, Son?" Angel asked.

Connor blinked for a few times. "Uh, I need a lock?"

"Angel, do something!" Buffy demanded.

"I think I'll make some reservations," he said escaping out of the room.

Connor quickly followed his father out, ducking sheepishly under Buffy's gaze as he tried to pass her. Buffy didn't move an inch out of his way. She stood in the open doorway, arms across her chest, glaring at him, forcing him to sidle tightly against doorjamb.

"Good show, Old Man," Spike said, giving a thumb's up to the young man. Connor slammed a fist into Spike's stomach, doubling him over.

Angel regarded Spike critically, "That's what you get for opening your fat trap."



II



Many hours later everyone was at the Chez Pierre dressed in their holiday finest. All of the men were in tuxedos including Connor, who fitfully pulled at the too tight collar. Cordelia, smacked the back of his head, "Leave it alone," she hissed under her breath. "Everyone's looking."

"I don't care," Connor hissed back at her, "It's too freakin' tight. I think I'm going to pass out."

"Oh, Connor," Dawn said coming from behind him, "You look so," her eyes traveled up and down, "So handsome."

"Uh, thanks," Connor responded with a pleased grin even though his fair complexion had turned a bright shade of pink. He self-consciously straightened his tie. "You look beautiful tonight."

Dawn blushed at his compliment, shyly twirling around, making the sheer white skirts of her princess cut dress sweep outward. The blue sequined bodice of her dress was held up by matching spaghetti straps that tied behind her neck leaving her smooth back exposed down to her waist. Her dark brown hair was piled high up in falling waves of curls. "Thanks," she said, "We all went shopping with Cordelia and a Wolfman and Hart credit card. It was a blast."

"Spike!" they heard Cordelia say. "You are not wearing that nasty coat in here."

"Look, Luv," Spike said, "My coat goes wherever I go," he protested.

"I'll help you with that coat, Spike," Robin said, offering to help him take it off.

Spike glared at him, but allowed the tall black man to take it, "I want it back afterwards, mate," he said firmly as Robin handed it to the coat check girl.

"I'll buy you a new one," Robin said to him.

"Can't afford it," Spike replied, "Besides it's too small for you."

"Guys, guys," Fred interrupted, "It's the holidays. Let's save the fighting for later."

"Yeah, Peace on Earth and all that bloody rot," Spike grumbled as Fred took his arm and led him into the dining room.

Faith grabbed Robin's arm. "You boys can duke it out later," she said.

Robin's eyes lit up, admiring the way the Slayer looked. Usually preferring tight black leather pants, she was dressed in a shimmery black dress that showed every curve of her athletic figure. "Enjoy the sight, Big Boy. This is going to be the last time you see it. I can't wait to get out of it."

"I can't wait to help you out of it," Robin replied.

Faith's eyes meaningfully checked Robin out, "Yeah. Me too," she said with a flip of her shoulder length hair.





Connor pulled a chair out for Dawn and bowed as she slid gracefully into it. He happily sat in the chair next to her and helped her put the napkin on her lap.

"Angel," Buffy hissed into Angel's ear from behind as she grasped his shoulder in an iron grip.

"Ouch," Angel grimaced, grabbing his shoulder, "That hurts, Buff! You know that's going to leave a bruise!"

"Do something. Now! Or you're going wind up with a lot more than a bruise!"

"Gunn," he said who was sitting next to Dawn, "Do you mind swapping seats with Dawn?"

"Uh . . . " Gunn started in protest, "Fred and I . . . "

Buffy glared at him. "Okay," Gunn said quickly, "Whatever you say."

Connor glared at his father, "Dad . . . "

"She's the Slayer, and she's Dawn's big sister. I don't want to mess with her. Neither do you."

"But . . . "

"Connor . . . "

"Man, you're whipped."

"You haven't been whipped until it's been done by a Slayer. Believe me. Don't mess with her."

"Who? Dawn or Buffy?" Connor shot back, being obstinately dense.

"Both."

"Whatever."

Buffy settled into her seat next to Angel, "Now isn't this nice?" she asked.

"Buffy . . . " Dawn protested. "You're embarrassing me . . . "

"Good," Buffy said as she reached for the menu that the waiter was handing her. "Now, let's all have a nice time, shall we?" she said, elaborately pleasant.



Dawn pouted for a moment, picked up her menu, then quickly stuck her tongue out at her older sister before retreating behind it.



The meal went quickly after all the arguments were done. Dawn was fascinated by Fred's tales of Pilea which Cordelia ignored in favor of fussing over Xander.

"How did you lose your eye?" she asked.

"It was during the last battle for Sunnydale, this nasty character called Caleb squeezed it out."

"Eeeew," Cordelia commented, regarding the plate in front of her. "I'm glad dinner's almost over," she said, pushing it away, "Suddenly I don't feel hungry any more."

"That's all right," Fred remarked from across the table, "We can fix you up with a new one tomorrow."

"You can?" Xander said hopefully.

"Sure. It's a very easy process. A few simple spells, a little bit of electronics and you'll be as good as new."

"Spells?" Willow said with interest, "What kind of spells? Can I help?"

"Sure, of course. It's always better when we use a real witch. I think it has something to do with innate magic powers. It seems to be more effective than an ordinary person just reading out of a book."



Soft music began filling the air. "Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure, The Orchid Trio. We invite you to share a dance with your special someone on our dance floor."

Connor's eyes lit up. He slowly shoved his chair back with a sly glance at Angel. "Would you like to dance?" he politely asked Dawn.

Buffy frowned at her sister, but didn't say a word. Angel's hand held her hand in a white knuckled grasp. "Let them have a good time, Buff," he said to her.

"But . . . "

"No buts, Buffy."

Buffy sighed, "Go ahead, Dawn." She shot a glare at Connor, "Be good to my sister. Or else."

Connor shot her wide grin as he led Dawn to the dance floor.



"This is so romantic," Dawn breathed as they glided on the dance floor. "Where did you learn to dance?"

"My Dad," Connor answered, "You know it's not that much different from fighting. Just a matter of balance," he added, dipping Dawn gracefully.

"Wow, I'm impressed," Dawn whispered into his ear, giving it a little nibble.

Connor purred deep in his throat. "That turns me on."

"What?" Dawn asked playfully.

"I like it. Being bitten."

"So are you human or vampire?" Dawn asked.

"A little of both . . . " Connor replied, gently nibbling her neck.

"Mmm, that does feel good . . . "

"Maybe later when we get rid of the others . . . "

"Your place or mine?"

"Your choice," Connor whispered, nibbling her neck a little more, traveling up to her lips. Dawn's eyes were half closed in anticipation.

"Don't mind if I crash your little party?" Demanded a drawling voice above the crashing of glass. A man dressed in the black suit and white collar of a priest waded through the devastation and screaming people like he was taking a Sunday walk through the park. Around his neck was a golden pendent of an odd dog-like creature that was heavily inlaid with lapis lazuli, jet and coral.

"Oh my God! It can't be!" Dawn exclaimed.

"Who is that?" Connor exclaimed, protectively shoving Dawn behind him.

"It's Caleb!"

"Who's Caleb?" Connor asked. All around them people were screaming and running.

"A bad ass who should've stayed dead if he had known what was good for him," Buffy said coming from behind them. "Spike," she ordered, "Get Connor and Dawn the hell out of here. Now!"

"No!" Connor protested, "I can fight."

"Move it!" Buffy snapped.

"Get Dawn out of here!" Angel said, joining Buffy.

"But . . . "

"You heard me," Angel growled at him, his face going into vamp mode.

"Spike, move," Angel snapped, "Get them out of danger."

"All right, Kiddies, you heard Daddy, let's get the bloody hell out of here."

"Well, well, Ain't it nice to see everybody again," Caleb said confidently, as Robin and Faith joined Buffy and Angel, "And we got us some new faces, too," he added, noticing Cordelia, Wesley, Fred and Gunn. "What happened to those sweet little Slayerettes you all were keepin'?"

"They're in a safe place, ass hole," Faith snapped at him, "Where you can't reach them."

"Well, now, I ain't interested in them right now anyway. No, right now I'm only interested in one little ol' gal," he said, pointing a finger at Dawn. The pendent around his neck started to glow hotly.

"No!" Connor yelled suddenly as Dawn began to float in the air toward Caleb. Connor grabbed her around the waist, but found himself floating toward the evil priest along with the frightened girl.

"Well, ain't that sweet," Caleb remarked, "Ain't young love just grand? But I need only the girl right now. You, boy, I'll take care of later," he said, the force of his power tearing Connor away from Dawn.

"You're going to have to take care of me now!" Connor yelled at him, grabbing a carving knife from a nearby table, "To get her, you're going to have to go through me first!"

"With pleasure," Caleb grinned. With a wave of his hand, steak knives spun up from the floor. Caleb nodded and they zoomed at Connor. Connor dove for the ground, pulling an upended table in front of him barely in time. The flying knives buried themselves into the table instead of Connor.

"My turn," Connor growled, his eyes a feral gold. He rocketed the carving knife at Caleb. The knife found its mark, Caleb's heart, and slid cleanly through him.

Caleb grinned, seeing the knife quivering in a pillar behind him, "Well ain't that just nice. Ain't I lucky mah lord loves me?"

Caleb gestured and the table shielding Connor rose into the air. Connor rolled out of the way moments before it came crashing back to the ground. "Boy, I have just about had enough of you." Caleb gestured and sent Connor flying backwards into Angel. Angel and Connor fell heavily in a scramble of arms and legs. Angel was the first to get to his feet. He reached out a hand to help his son to his feet.

"No!" Connor screamed, seeing a sharpened table leg heading for Angel's unprotected back. Connor shoved his father out of the way at the last moment, taking the wooden missile in his side.

"Ooh, ouch," Caleb grimaced, "Ah, bet that hurt."

"You're going to be the one hurting after we're done with you!" Buffy shouted at Caleb. Behind her stood the rest of the gang.

"Now, this just ain't fair," Caleb protested seeing the Scoobies and Angel's people charging toward him, "Ten against one, just ain't fair, don't you think? Ah, but," he said as the Bringers, strange silent creatures whose eyes and mouths were crudely sown shut, appeared around him, "That's what I call evening up the odds. Wouldn't you say?" One of the Bringers grabbed an escaping patron and snapped his neck. "Unfortunately they ain't too particular who they kill."

A fierce battle followed. The Scoobies and Angel's people fought valiantly against the Bringers. For a moment even Xander and Cordelia forgot their differences, covering each other's backs under the onslaught of the Bringers. Angel was torn between protecting Connor who had collapsed and joining the others in the battle.

Buffy tried to get close to Caleb, trying to get Dawn away from him. "Damn," she cursed, hampered by the confining skirt of her dress. Grabbing a knife, she cut the skirt short around her knees.

"Buffy!" Cordelia protested seeing her do it, "That's a Vera Wang! Do you have any idea how much that dress costs?"

"Have Wolfman and Hart put it on my bill," Buffy shot back at her.

Buffy flew into the Bringers surrounding Caleb. Even though their eyes were sown shut, the Bringers unerringly met her blow for blow. Faith joined her and the two girls began plowing through the creatures, but for each one they put out of commission, another two appeared to take its place.

Caleb sighed as if much put upon, "People, people, I do declare that I am beginning to get terribly bored. It's time to call it night."

"Only when I'm done with you," Buffy snapped at him.

"Girl," Caleb countered, "I am done with you." He gestured and Buffy found herself suspended in midair. Suddenly it seemed like the world had slipped out from beneath her and she found herself falling down into a field of shattered tables and chairs. At the last moment she was able to twist herself into a tight ball, but she fell heavily, an arm snapping audibly as she landed on a table top.

Barely conscious, Buffy looked around her. Angel was huddled over Connor who was far too pale and still, as if all of his vitality had been drained out of him. Xander and Cordelia were barely standing, but Xander had lost his eyepatch in the battle so that the ugly gap where his eye was once was now exposed. Faith was supporting Robin who was covered with cuts and bruises. Giles, Wesley and Spike still fought on, but the odds were becoming insurmountable. It's happening all over again, Buffy thought as her own consciousness faded in and out.

One by one the Bringers started forming a double column in front of Caleb. Dawn stood silently beside him as though lost in a waking nightmare. Buffy didn't have the strength to stop him as he and Dawn walked between the ranks of the bizarre honor guard. No one could make a move. They could only stand and watch in horror.

A black Cadillac limousine appeared at the restaurant's front door. Caleb, parodying Continental manners, bowed exaggeratedly to Dawn as he opened the back door, "Shall we, Mademoiselle?" he said even though she lacked the will to say yea or nay.

Police sirens began to fill the air as the limousine pulled away from the curb. In a flash of an eye it was gone as if it had never existed.

Giles knelt next to Angel who was holding Connor in his arms, "How is he?" he asked.

"He's hurt," Angel answered, for a moment he could barely get out his words, "He saved my life."



III

Angel slammed the door to Connor's room open with a powerful kick. Connor was limply cradled in his arms. The ride back to the Wolfman and Hart building had been a nightmare. Half of the time it seemed like Connor had finally lost the battle for life. He had lost a lot of blood, maybe too much, but he still stubbornly hung on to life.

Angel gently laid Connor down on his bed. Wesley leaned over and checked Connor's pulse. "He's slipping. He has to get some blood now."

"We should have brought him to a hospital," Giles said as he reached for the phone next to the bed.

Wesley grasped Giles' hand, "They wouldn't know what to do with him."

"But . . . " Giles began, not understanding.

"It's too risky. Besides it's not a transfusion that he needs." He glanced over to Harmony who stood in the doorway wringing her hands. "Get me some bandages and antiseptics," he told her.

"How can you say he doesn't need a transfusion?" Giles asked.

"Connor is the son of two vampires," Wesley explained, "Genetically he is human, but he is in the process of becoming a vampire."

"Impossible . . . " Giles said.

"So is two Vampires making a child in the first place." Wesley accepted the bandages from Harmony.

"Do you want me to get some pig's blood?" she volunteered. "Personally, I don't care for the stuff. Even though Angel has some stuff that pretty decent, it's not the same. Human's much better," she commented helpfully.

"Human blood," Giles began to sputter, "How could you possibly think . . . "

"Unfortunately she's right," Wesley said as he cut away Connor's clothes. He hissed in dismay then continued as unemotionally as he could. "It's far deeper than I had thought," he commented. "Get some hot water and towels," he said to Harmony who quickly did as she was told.

"What do you mean about the human blood?"

"It's quite simple, really," Wesley said, "Connor, you might say, is like a diabetic. He's on the knife edge of control. If he goes too long without drinking blood, he gets very ill. If he gets too much, especially human, he could lose his hold on his humanity. He might even become worse than Angelus was . . . "

"Dear Lord . . . " Giles, said, hiding his dismay in the business of removing his glasses and cleaning them.

"Dear Lord, indeed," Wesley said, "Unfortunately, due to his injuries, the pig's blood will not do. He needs to feed on human blood. It has the necessary factors that will restore him."

Giles looked up at Angel who had remained standing, grimly watching Wesley work on his son. "Do you have any human blood in stock?" he asked.

Wesley interrupted him. "Unfortunately human blood that has been stored will not be adequate. It must still be warm." He paused, at a loss for the right words. He sighed, there was no good way to say it. "It must come from directly from the vein."

"You mean that he must feed directly from someone?" Giles said in horror.

"Yes," Wesley said reluctantly, "He must, but if he drinks too much, not only will the person die, but Connor could very possibly lose his soul."

"I'll do it," Buffy said from the doorway.

Wesley regarded her thoughtfully. Her arm was in a cast and a bandage was wrapped around her forehead. She was nearly as pale as her bandages. "I'm sorry but not this time," he said.

"Any of us will be glad to," Cordelia said.

"Unfortunately," Wesley said, "Buffy is quite correct. It must be the blood of a Slayer. Only a Slayer can give enough blood without losing her life in the process."

"I'm good," Faith said, removing the coat that Robin had given her during their escape from the restaurant. She bared her arm, "Do whatever you need to do."

Wesley regarded her arm. "So sorry, Faith, he must drink from your neck."

"My neck?" Faith said, raising a hand to her throat.

"No way," Robin retorted, getting in front of Faith, "He could kill her."

"Feeding from the jugular vein is the only way Connor can get all the blood he needs."

"Not from Faith," Robin said, refusing to look Angel in the eye.

"Who do you think you are?" Faith snapped at him, "Connor might die. I'm not going to stand by and let that happen."

"But . . . " Robin began.

"You might be my boy toy, but you're not the boss of me." Faith said as she moved to sit next to Wesley. She looked up at Robin and grinned lopsidedly. "I love you."

She pulled her hair back, "What next?" she asked Wesley.

Wesley looked helplessly around. "Uh, could everybody leave?" he asked.

"I'm staying," Angel said firmly.

"Of course, but . . . " Wesley looked at the others standing in the open doorway.

"We're going," Buffy said. She gently grabbed Robin's arm, "Let's go."

"I'm staying," he said, stubbornly crossing his arms across his chest, determined not to move out of the room.

Buffy looked at Wesley who shook his head. "She'll be okay." she said encouragingly, pulling on Robin's arm.

"Go on," Faith said, "I'll be fine. Just keep the covers warm," she added.

Buffy pulled again and Robin reluctantly followed.

Spike remained in the door for a moment regarding Angel, Faith, Wesley and Giles. "I'll stay outside in case you need me," he offered.

Wesley regarded Angel for a moment, then replied to Spike, "Very well."

Spike gave a small salute with the tips of two fingers to his forehead, then slouched out of the door, closing it behind him.



Wesley looked at Angel and said, "You need to help him feed."

Angel nodded, then climbed onto the bed next to Connor. He eased Connor up into a sitting position against the head of his bed. "Son," he said in a gentle voice. "Can you hear me?" he asked.

Connor's eyes opened slightly, "Yeah," he said weakly.

"We're going to make you better, but to do that we're going to need you to feed."

Connor asked, "On what?"

Angel licked his lips uncertainly. "You need to have human blood."

"I can't . . . " Connor protested. "It's wrong. You told me so."

"I know I did, but if you don't you might die."

"But . . . "

"No buts, son. You have to do this."

"C'mon tiger," Faith said, "You're not going to hurt my feelings, are you?"

"I don't want to hurt you," Connor protested, "You're my friend."

"Then let me be your friend," Faith said, clasping Connor's hands, "Don't deny me the opportunity to save your life. After all what's a little blood between friends?"

Connor threw himself out of Angel's arms. "I'd rather die," he said, "I'll never drink human blood. I'm not going to be a monster."

"If you don't, Dawn might die," Giles said unexpectedly.

Connor looked at him. "Dawn . . . "

Giles nodded, "We couldn't stop Caleb from taking her. We have no idea where he took her. We need you. Dawn needs you."

"I don't understand . . . "

Giles looked up at Angel. "I don't either, but I have a feeling that the two of you are linked. If we lose you, we may very well lose Dawn as well."

"Okay," Connor reluctantly said, sitting up against his pillows with Angel's help.

Wesley moved aside, allowing Faith to sit next to Connor on the edge of the bed. She craned her neck, offering it to the young man. "Ready whenever you are, C.B."

Connor's blue eyes deepened into gold as his teeth lengthened into vampiric fangs. He leaned in close to Faith, close enough to sense the blood coursing through her neck. Suddenly he roughly pushed her away. Crying, he buried his head in his pillows. "I'll kill you," he said to Faith, "It's hopeless."

Faith roughly pulled him around, "Look at me," she said grimly, "I'm not going to allow you to wimp out on me. Do it, damn it!" She ran a fingernail down her neck, leaving a thin trail of blood. "For Dawn," she said quietly.

Connor turned his head away, unbidden tears silently flowed down his cheeks. He looked at Angel who grimly nodded.

"We don't have all day," Faith remarked.

Connor roughly grabbed her, burying his teeth into her neck. Faith gasped, smiled, then suddenly gasped again. There was pain, but also pleasure, almost a sexual pleasure in the letting go to another. She felt an unusual peace descend on her. Above the rush of her own blood in her ears she could hear shouting.

"He's taking too much!" Giles shouted.

Wesley said, "Just a bit longer. Connor's getting stronger."

"He's killing her," Giles argued. "Pull him off now! Angel. Now!"

Faith felt herself falling. The world around her was starting to turn grey. She could feel her life flowing into Connor. The trickle had become a torrent. Suddenly her instincts for survival took over. She began beating at Connor's back in panic. Wide eyed, she watched Angel as he struggled with the young man.

"I can't pull him off!" Angel shouted helplessly. "He's too strong. I could wind up with her throat being torn out if I pull too hard!"

Connor was holding her as if he would never let go. At least not until he had drained every drop of her life's blood. She beat at him, but it was no use. She was getting too weak. "Connor . . . " she pleaded in a voice gone paper thin, "Please stop."

"No more!" Connor said, pulling himself away in a violent shudder.

Angel gathered his son into his arms. "It's all right, son, it's all right," he said quietly as the young man cried against his chest. After while Connor calmed and fell asleep, still in Angel's arms.

Wesley came over to Angel and checked Connor, "He's going to be all right. All he needs now is rest."

Angel nodded, then glanced over to where Giles was holding Faith, "How is she?" he asked.

"Five by five," Faith said as she confidently gave a thumbs up gesture before collapsing against Giles.

Giles pressed his glasses up against his nose. "I believe she will be fine. If someone will help me take her to her room."

"Glad to help, mate," Spike said, putting out his cigarette before dropping it into his pocket.



Robin stalked after Spike and Giles as they helped Faith back to their room. She gave Robin a weak grin as he helped her into the bed.

"Faith . . . " he began.

"Sorry," she said, "I'm afraid there's going to be no whoopee tonight. I'm feeling a little peaked."

"That's not it, Faith," Robin said firmly. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

"Lighten up, Lover," Faith said as she slid deeper under the bedcovers. "I'm feeling a little drained."

"Drained? My God, he could have killed you,"

"He didn't," Faith retorted.

"I am ordering you to never try that kind of thing again."

"Order? Who the Hell do you think you are? I'm a freakin' Slayer. I can do whatever the hell I want. When I want. I don't have to get permission from anybody. Especially you."

"But. You don't understand . . . "

"No, it's you who don't understand. Angel's my friend. He helped me out when I was going through some really heavy stuff. The least I could do was help his son."

"But you could have died . . . "

"No, he could have died."

Robin turned away from Faith. "I don't want to lose you," he said very softly. "I worry when you put yourself in danger."

"I'm a Slayer. That's my job. You know that. Your mother was a Slayer."

"And because of that she died," Robin responded in a harsh broken voice.

"I know," Faith said gently. "I can't help being what I am. If you can't accept that . . . "

Robin turned to face her, "What if I can't?"

"Your decision, baby." Faith threw the covers over her head. "Now if you don't mind, I'm getting some sleep."

Sighing, Robin walked over to Faith. He placed a hand gently on her blanket-covered shoulder. "I love you," he said. Then he shut off the light and walked to the door.

Faith's muffled voice floated out from the covers. "I love you, too."



Robin quietly pressed the door closed behind him. His face turned grim. Even if he couldn't get through to Faith, maybe he could give Angel a piece of his mind.

Robin met Buffy as she was coming out of Connor's room. "Is Angel still in there?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said. "Connor's asleep right now. Angel told me that he's going to be okay."

"Good," Robin said, "I have something to say to Angel."

Buffy frowned, not liking the tone of his voice. "I don't think now's a good time."

"I don't care."

"I do."

"I'm going in there, whether you like it or not."

Buffy's face settled into a stubborn scowl. "I could stop you," she said, "But I don't want to create a scene right now." Pressing the door open for Robin to pass, she said bitterly, "I hope you get what you want."

Buffy didn't even give Robin the satisfaction of slamming the door behind him. It closed with only a slight click. All the lights in the room were dimmed. Angel sat on the bed with Connor in his arms, stroking his son's soft hair. Angel was humming barely above a whisper what Robin recognized as an old Irish lullaby. Ashamed, Robin saw that the vampire's face was damp with tears.

Angel looked at him in question. "Need something?" he asked.

Robin shook his head, "No. Uh, how's Connor?"

"He's resting now," Angel said, pulling the covers up higher over his son, "It was the hardest thing I have ever asked him to do. He said he would have rather died . . . "

"Oh," Robin said uneasily.

Angel blinked a few times as if trying to organize enough thoughts to say something, finally he said into the uncomfortable silence, "How's Faith?"

"She's going to be fine," Robin shrugged, trying to make things lighter, "You know how Slayers are."

Angel nodded, "I know what you mean." A slight wry smile glimmered for a moment. "I don't envy you."

"Uh, well, I can see you some time alone with your son. Goodnight," Robin said, as he opened the door.

Angel said in reply, "Thanks for understanding."







Arms crossed against her chest, Buffy greeted Robin just outside the door. "So, how did your talk go?"

Robin sighed, "Have you ever wanted to kick yourself?"

"That well, huh."

"Yeah, that well."

"I heard that you were arguing with Faith . . . "

"How'd you hear about that?"

"Spike."

"Figures."

"You're going to have to learn that you can never win a fight with Faith. It only makes her madder."

"I noticed."

Buffy gave Robin a smile that brightened the darkened hallway, and gave him a small peck on the cheek. "Sweet dreams."

Robin shuffled back to the room he was sharing with Faith. He spotted Spike leaning against the wall. He was nearly invisible in the dark except for the light of his cigarette. "Thanks for the help, Spike," Robin growled.

"Anytime, mate," Spike responded, giving him a thumbs up and a big grin.