CHAPTER 4

Historical Note: This Trilogy takes place in the fifth season of Buffy, and the third season of Angel.

Author's Note: By now in the show, Dawn has joined the Summers' family, but the arrival of Glory will be postponed due to my stories perspective; which is about Buffy, Angel, and Connor.

Also, you'll notice that some of the plots from both of the shows later episodes are happening sooner since I've altered a lot of both shows story lines.

Author's Note II: I hope this doesn't suck too much! I know it's a little….BLAH! With Buffy back in Sunnydale and Angel in L.A. in the show, Angel went a little….mad, literally when Connor was taken. He's not like that in here, instead imagine him burying his grief and sadness in his work; in finding Connor. Hope that's an ok substitute! Just to let you guys in on a little secret… when I wrote a lot of this; the stuff with baby Connor; I hadn't actually seen any of the episodes! Lol. I wrote what I wrote using only episode guides! - This may explain a few things! Lol But now, where I live, they're re-running Angel on TNT and they're showing the episodes with baby Connor, so I'm catchin' up!!

Nightfall came by to fast for Buffy. Before she knew it, it was dark out, and she had to get ready for patrol. Not that she minded; she was sad, and felt the need to hit something. She didn't want to be in a sad mood when Angel showed up later on.

She walked through the graveyard talking to herself when a vampire jumped out from the shadows.

"I was waiting for one of you to jump out," she said happily as she ran towards it and kicked the vampire in the stomach.

"Have I told any of you lately how much I hate your kind?" Buffy asked as she blocked a punch from the vampire.

"And yet your in love with one," The vampire told her as he punched her in the face.

"Yeah, well, he's different. He's not like you," she told the vampire. He then smiled.

"Yes, but is your child?" he asked. Buffy stumbled back at the vampire's comment.

"What do you know about my son?" she asked. The vampire sneered.

"He's coming, and you won't be able to stop him from his destiny," he told her. Buffy all of a sudden felt weak.

"He, he's coming back?" she asked as she lowered her stake hoping to learn more. The vampire knew he had distracted Buffy; he then kicked her in her stomach, knocking her on the ground. Before Buffy was able to get back up, the vampire jumped onto her.

"Too bad you won't be alive long enough to see him again," The vampire said as he lowered his head to her neck. At that moment, Buffy gave up. She didn't try to fight back because a part of her wanted to be put out of her misery. Then all of a sudden, she heard a familiar growl, then the vampire on top of her exploded.

"Buffy, are you alright?" Angel asked as he extended his hand to help her up.

"I'm ok. I'm, I'm..." Buffy began. Then she burst into tears. Angel quickly knelt down beside her.

"Angel, he said that Connor was coming back; that we couldn't stop him from his destiny," Buffy told him. Angel put his arms around her, and pulled her into a hug.

"It's ok. Buffy, don't believe him," Angel told her.

"I can't do this anymore Angel. I want him back so much," she told him.

"I know. I do too," he admitted as he lifted her up. Buffy wiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath.

"How'd you know I'd be here?" she asked.

"Well, I stopped by you house first, and your mother told me you were patrolling tonight," he explained. "She also told me she was concerned about you. Buffy, you have to eat something," he told her. "I mean look at you; you've lost wait since I've last seen you," he noted.

He then noticed the black circles under her eyes. "And you look like you haven't slept in weeks," he added.

"I'm fine. I-" She lied.

"No you're not. Look Buffy, I miss him just as much as you do, but you can't do this to yourself," he told her as they began to walk.

"I need you Buffy. I can't do this without you," he said truthfully as they continued to walk.

* * *

The two of them arrived back at Buffy's house a half an hour later. By then, Buffy knew Joyce and Dawn would already in bed. They quietly entered the house and shot the door, trying to stay as quiet as possible.

"Do you want anything?" Buffy asked as she gestured towards the kitchen. Angel shook his head.

"I'm alright. Why don't you get something," he suggested.

"No. I'm good," she told him. Angel gave her a look.

"I promise I'll eat something tomorrow," she said. She smiled at Angel.

"I will," she assured him. Angel smiled back at her.

"Fine," he said as he reached for her hand.

"I'm tired; let's go to bed," she suggested. She then climbed up the stairs; still holding Angel's hand. She opened the door, and switched on the light. She then remembered she hadn't had a chance to pick up her room before she left.

"Sorry 'bout the mess," she apologized as she shut the door. Angel walked further into the room as she took his jacket off.

"It's fine," he told her as he placed his jacket on a wicker chair she had in her room.

"So, what's been going on in L.A.?" Buffy asked as she pulled out a pair of her pajamas and set them on her bed.

"Nothing really. You know, the usual," he explained. Buffy nodded.

"How is everyone doing?" she asked.

"Good. Cordy's the same ol' Cordy. Gunn and Wesley are waiting on Fred hand and foot making sure she's comfortable," Angel explained.

"Fred?" she asked confused.

"The girl we saved in Pylea. Her name is Winifred, but she likes to be called Fred," he explained. "She's come down with the flu." Buffy nodded.

"Oh."

"Oh, and Lorne sends his love, and also this," Angel told her as he walked over to the bed and sat down. He then leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.

Buffy looked up at him and smiled. Angel then leaned closer to her again, and kissed her on the lips.

"Wow. I never realized just how much Lorne liked me," Buffy said in a hushed tone. Angel smiled.

"The first one was from him, that one was from me," he explained.

"We probably shouldn't. I'm really needy right now," she warned.

"Let me decide that," he told her as he leaned in for another kiss. Then all of a sudden the hunger and lust between them grew, and Angel pulled away slowly and looked at her, taking in an un-needed breath.

"See. I told you I was needy," she reminded him. She then looked down at her pajamas that were folded on her bed.

"I'd better get changed," she said as she got up and grabbed her pajamas from the end of her bed.

"I'll turn around," he told her as he turned to face the other way. He had to force himself from keeping his gaze to the other side of the room as soon as he heard buttons and zippers.

"Ok. You can um, turn around now," she told him as she stood there. Angel slowly turned around and smiled.

"You still look pretty when you go to sleep," he told her referring to the first time he had spent the night at her house. In the beginning of their relationship, when things hadn't gotten so complicated. In fact, she didn't even know he was a vampire then. Buffy smiled at him.

"Thanks," she said as she climbed onto the bed and sat with her back resting on her metal headboard. Angel leaned back beside her.

"I've missed you," she told him as she rested her head on his shoulder. Angel wrapped his arm around her to pull her closer.

"I missed you too," he told her as he kissed her on her forehead. He noticed Buffy was tired, and was fighting to stay awake.

"Why don't you get some rest; It's late," he told her. Buffy sighed.

"Alright," she whispered in a sleepy voice. Angel could tell she'd been through a lot since their son's disappearance. He carefully pulled a strand of hair from Buffy's face, noticing it was bothering her.

"I love you," he whispered to her as he sensed her breathing has slowed down, and she was drifting off to sleep. Buffy mumbled something; Angel thought her say 'I love you.'

He felt bad knowing what Buffy was going through alone. He himself had spent his nights hoping his son would return to them, then Buffy would come back home and they'd be a family once more. He missed those days when he and Buffy fought side by side in L.A., and came back home together to their son.

Angel sighed as he carefully leaned over and shut off her bedside lamp, then returned to holding Buffy; who had curled herself onto a ball next to him while he held her.