CHAPTER 10
Historical Note: By now, the story takes place in the end of the fifth season of Buffy, and the fourth season of Angel.
Author's Note: Ok, for those of you who replied saying you wanted more interaction between Buffy and Connor, well… here it is. There is some in this chapter! Hope you all enjoy!! Oh, and as you can tell by how fast chapters are being posted, I'm becoming less busy which is a huge relief! Thanks for stickin' around tho and waiting for me to get my butt into gear!
Author's Note/Historical Note: This part takes place three months after where the second one left off. Angel is still missing, leaving Buffy to deal with the Hyperion Hotel, and to raise Connor. Cordelia has also gone missing, and the crew is searching for her as well. Also, Joyce gets terminally ill, forcing Buffy to go back to Sunnydale and take care of things for awhile not knowing she'd end up doing it permanently.
A few hours later, Gunn and Buffy arrived back to the hotel feeling more relaxed after killing some demons.
"I for one feel a lot better," she said happily.
"Good, I'm glad," Gunn said. While the two of them were talking about fighting techniques, Dawn started down the stairs. Buffy noticed her sister's presence and instantly picked up on Dawn's worried expression.
"Dawn, what is it? What's wrong?" she asked as Dawn walked over to them.
"It's Angel," she said.
"What's wrong? Is everything ok?" she asked.
"Well, after Angel did that spell-thingy to try and find Cordy, he's been in his office," she said. "I think he's more broody than usual; if that's possible," she said.
"How do you mean brooding? And why were you down here when you were supposed to be in your room?" she asked quickly.
"I came down to get something to eat," she answered quickly.
"Wow. Angel? Brooding? Who would've thought," Gunn said sarcastically. Just then his office door opened.
"Ok, I can hear everything from my office," Angel said as he walked out of his office. As he walked over to them, Buffy noticed the scrapes and cuts he wore on his face.
"Are you all right; what happened?" she asked as she walked over to him and put her hand up to his face.
"I'm fine," he said quickly. Although he had been banged up pretty badly when he went into the other dimension to find out where Cordelia was. He was lucky to get out of the dimension alive- sort of speak, but he wasn't about to tell Buffy that.
"Did you find Cordy?" Fred asked as she walked over to Gunn. She and Gunn had slowly become a couple over the past year.
"Yeah, I did," Angel said.
"And?" Gunn asked.
"And Wesley was right. She's in another dimension; as a divine being," he explained.
"Wow, Cordy, a divine being?" Buffy asked sounding amazed.
"Yeah. She was full of light, and she was surrounded by joy," he told them, vividly remembering what he had seen in the dimension. "Cordy's doing a whole lot of good in that dimension," he said.
"Yeah, but she was doing good here too," Gunn pointed out.
"She's home, where she belongs," he told them. "And that's where she's staying," he told the group before disappearing into his office. Buffy looked over at Gunn worriedly.
"I'd better go talk to him," she said as she headed for Angel's office. Gunn looked over at Dawn as soon as Buffy disappeared into Angel's office.
"Ok, I think it's time for you to go to bed," he said. Dawn looked up at him and rolled her eyes.
"Fine," she said before heading back up the stairs just as Wesley walked into the lobby.
"It seems I missed something. What's wrong with Dawn? And where's Angel and Buffy?" he asked.
"You were right about your lead on Cordy," Fred began. "Angel and Buffy are in his office, and Dawn's going to bed," she explained all at once, answering Wesley's questions. Wesley nodded.
"It's gettin' late. Why don't we get goin,' huh?" he suggested. Fred and Gunn lived outside of the hotel. Fred had a little apartment, and since she and Gunn were a couple, he stayed there most of the time.
Fred nodded. "Alright, come on,"
"I'll see you guys tomorrow," Wesley said before the couple left. Wesley secretly liked Fred, but he knew he'd be asking for trouble if he let anyone know. Besides, he was secretly sleeping with Lilah, the Wolfram & Hart lawyer.
He was about to head back to his apartment when Dawn snuck back down to the lobby. Wesley smiled.
"Aren't you supposed to be going to bed?" he asked. Dawn shrugged.
"Buffy never said I had to," she said.
"Just like Buffy; never do things the simple way," he said under his breath, but enough for Dawn to hear his comment.
"I'm not that bad," Dawn protested. She was about to continue when Buffy walked out of Angel's office.
"Busted," Wesley said.
"Dawn, what are you still doing up?" she asked.
"You never told me to go to bed." Buffy looked at Wesley and rolled her eyes.
"Well, I'm telling you now. Go," she said.
"Alright, I'm going," she said as she walked towards the stairs. Buffy focused her attention back to Wesley.
"So, how have you been Wes?" Buffy asked.
"I've been better," he said simply.
"I hear ya," she agreed. Wesley tilted his head.
"How are you holding up?" he asked. He hadn't been around at the time, but he had found out from Giles that Joyce had died a few months ago. He hadn't actually met the mother of the slayer, but he had been told good things about her, and felt bad when he was told the news.
Buffy just gave him a weak smile.
* * *
A Week or so Later...
"Buffy, I had so much fun with Willow and Tara!" Dawn said excitedly. "I saw Xander, Anya, and Giles," she added.
"How is the gang?" Buffy asked.
"They're great. Even though Xander's still with Anya," she said. Buffy smiled. She knew that her little sister secretly had a crush on Xander.
"So what's been going on here?" she asked curiously. Buffy shrugged.
"Oh, you know, same old stuff," she explained.
"Have you seen Connor?" Dawn asked. She had been hoping that the big mess with Connor would be sorted out, and she'd be able to hang out with him sometime.
"Angel saw him a few weeks ago," she said. A few minutes later, Angel walked out into the room.
"Hey kiddo. I'm glad you're back," Angel said as he walked over to Dawn and hugged her.
"I am too," she agreed. Buffy looked down at her watch.
"Oh crap, I've gotta go," she said as she got up from the couch.
"Where are you headed?" he asked.
"Oh you know, here and there," she said quickly as she tugged on her jacket and opened the door.
"I'll be back later," she said quickly before leaving.
"That's weird. I wonder where she's going," Dawn said as she plopped down on the couch.
"Yeah, so do I," Angel said as he continued to focus on the front door.
* * *
Buffy took a deep breath before knocking on the door in front of her. She and Angel had found out a while ago from the street where Connor was staying, but they hadn't actually gone there yet. A few seconds later, he door slowly opened, revealing Connor on the other side.
"Well, look whose here," he said. What do you want?" Connor asked as he stood on the other side of the door. He held the door open only half way.
Buffy held up a bag of fast food. "I um, brought you something to eat," she said. Connor looked at her for a second before moving away from the door, back into the room.
As Buffy walked into the building, she noticed it was fairly small, but it seemed to be ok for Connor. She smiled when she noticed Connor had decorated it and added touches to the old building's interior. Buffy walked over to Connor; who was sitting on his bed; and handed him the bag.
"I thought you might be hungry," she explained as Connor opened the bag and pulled out a hamburger.
"You just wanted to see where I was," Connor said, knowing what Buffy was doing. Buffy smiled.
"Yeah, that too," she admitted.
"So where's Angel?" he asked after he swallowed a bite of his food. Buffy sat down beside Connor.
"He's back at the hotel," she explained.
"Why aren't you there?" he asked.
"Connor, your my son. I worry about you," she told him. Connor chuckled bitterly as he stood up.
"Yeah, I'm sure you do," he said. He hated not being as close to her as he was before Angel came back. He felt as if he could really trust Buffy; but some of that trust had disappeared when they had kicked him out.
"Ok, I'd better be leaving," she said as she got up and headed for the door. She knew she wasn't getting anywhere with him. She'd just have to try again soon.
"Don't stay on my account," Connor said.
"Please be careful," she said before she left.
"I will Mom," Connor whispered, even though Buffy had already walked out the door. Connor looked at the door after Buffy left and felt lonely once more.