part 20
Interior: Hyperion The door opens to reveal Buffy, Connor and Angel entering first. Fred, Wes and Gunn follow just behind and are shadowed by Willow, Dawn and Spike.
Lorne is the last to enter just after Cordy and Xander. He closes the door behind them and surveys the scene.
Connor: Where are we now? Is this home?
Buffy: Yes Connor. This is your home.
Connor: And you live here?
Buffy and Angel exchange a meaningful glance.
Buffy: No sweetie. (bends in front of Connor) I'm only meant to bring you here Connor. I will leave soon. I have to get back to my own home.
Connor: You're leaving me? (looks at Angel) With him?
Buffy: (nods) Yes. You belong with Angel honey. He will love you and protect you like no one else could.
Like only a father could.
Connor: I don't want to be like him.
Angel flinches under the honesty of Connor's words and wonders how such a small child could know Angel's dark side without ever seeing it.
Buffy: You are only what you choose to be Connor.
Always remember that. You're strength comes from Angel and regardless of what else you might feel or sense inside (taps his chest gently) You can make your own destiny. Okay? Do you believe me?
Connor nods unconvincingly.
Angel: (bends as well) I will do what ever I can to make sure you stay exactly who you want to be son. I will never let my mistakes haunt you. Okay?
Connor glances at Buffy before nodding in agreement.
Cordy: I hate to interrupt this hallmark moment, but Buffy what was it that you had to come back here for?
Buffy: (standing to face Cordy) I know you're hurting right now, but don't push me. I am not leaving until I know that we're all safe. (enunciates) All of us.
Xander: And when we will be safe? What else is there?
You set out to find the kid. Here he is. The PTB sent creepies after us, we battles we won. What is left?
Buffy looks to Wes and he shakes his head slightly.
Buffy: I need to talk to Angel for a minute. In private.
Cordy: (throws her hands up and rolls her eyes)Oh Great!
Buffy: You know Cordy, I'm really...
She doesn't finish because Cordy throws a hand up in her face to shut her up.
Buffy: (looks at Angel) What is her malfunction? Is she always like this? Or is it just my being here that's turning her into Bitch Supreme?
Angel: Buffy! (looks at Connor to see if he heard the language) Buffy: Sorry.
Xander: Cordelia?
He notices she's staring into space.
Gunn: (stepping forward) I think it's vision time.
Buffy: Huh?
Angel: Cordy? What is it?
Cordy finally refocuses her attention on Buffy.
Cordy: Nice to see you still think the entire world revolves around you. Talk about malfunction.
Xander: Okay, that's enough! Geez! What is it with you two?
Buffy: I'm not the one lashing out. Ask your girl here.
Angel: Buffy please. (looks at Cordy) What did you see?
Cordelia: Something's coming.
Gunn: Specifics would be nice.
Cordelia: (points to the terrace doors) Through there.
Everyone in the room turns to look at the closed doors.
Cordy: (taking charge) Fred, take Connor upstairs.
Angel, weapons cabinet. Gunn, you too. The rest of you might want to get back unless you're up for a fight.
Spike: That's the magic word.
He steps forward as Angel and Gunn retrieve a weapon each from the cabinet. Angel sees him waiting and grabs a small throwing axe to toss his way.
Spike: How come I get the small one?
Willow: I'm thinking ungrateful not a good idea right now Spike.
Dawn: What's happening? How do we know this is for real?
Lorne: Cause that's what our Cordelia does. She gets the heads up so we can ready for the incoming.
Courtesy of the PTB. Now what's say I show you ladies a secure hiding place?
Dawn: I'm not going without Buffy. I'm tired of never knowing what's going on. I can help.
Buffy: You can help get yourself killed! Dawn, this isn't a democracy. You take Willow and you go with...
Lorne: It's Lorne.
Buffy: (recognizing the name) Right. Go with Lorne and Willow. Stay with Fred and Connor. The more people with him, the better.
Fred takes Connor's hand and allows Lorne to lead the way upstairs. Dawn and Willow hesitate briefly before Buffy sends Willow a look that spurs her into action.
She takes Dawn's hand and begins to pull her just as something crashes through the doors.
Dawn screams and runs up the stairs after Lorne, Fred and Connor.
Buffy sees Spike get the first attack from their latest interruption. Just as she moves to help, something knocks her down and she hears a voice.
Voice: (VO) It is coming! You must be ready.
Buffy doesn't bother responding and struggles to stand up. An invisible force holds her down and she's forced to watch.
Angel rushes to help Spike with Gunn. Xander stays back with Wes observing the maylay. Cordy seems transfixed at the sight of the three men working together so effortlessly.
When Angel is charged from behind Buffy strains against whatever is keeping her from helping.
Voice: (VO) You must see the way! Your interference will only delay your path. Look at them!
Cordy has been watching just as Buffy and when Angel goes down, instinct takes over.
Cordy: Angel! (She sprints across the distance separating them and pounces) No!
Xander is in shock at seeing Cordelia so protective and strong for the second time in the same night. It isn't the same girl he once knew.
Gunn assists Spike in disposing of their aggressor.
Their is only one left. Cordy is connecting with hit after hit to the beasts face and body.
Angel stands and sees that it's not for him that she's fighting. She's striking out at the one thing that represents that which took Groo. He watches for another minute as Gunn and Spike fall back to allow her space.
Buffy suddenly is able to stand and rises slowly watching her former lover attempt to calm Cordelia.
Angel: (reaches out to stop Cordy form delivering another blow) Cordy. He's done.
Cordy wrenches free of his grasp and looks down at the bleeding unconscious thing at her feet. She hesitates for a second before kicking forward with all her strength.
The thing flies almost ten feet across the floor as Cordelia begins to cry again. Angel touches her shoulder and she spins to bury her face in his chest.
Xander: Why do I not like this visual?
Wes: A lot has changed.
Xander: Not helping Wesley.
Buffy: She's just upset.
Spike: It takes more than just wanting to comfort to hold someone like that Love.
Gunn: Maybe we should give them some space.
Xander: Maybe we should not.
Wes: Not the time.
Buffy: Stop it!
She speaks louder than intended and Angel and Cordy hear her. They break apart to look at her.
Angel: Buffy?
Buffy: I need to speak to Cordelia...alone.
Cordy: (wiping her eyes) What?
Angel: Buffy I can explain.
Buffy: No. (the two stare at one another as only they could before Buffy continues speaking to Cordelia) A minute please?
Spike: Is this really necessary?
Xander: I hate to admit it but Spike's got a point Buff.
Cordy: It doesn't matter who has what point. I have nothing to say to you Buffy.
Buffy: Good. That will make it easier for you to listen.
With that she steps over and takes Cordy by the arm.
Cordy: Ouch! What is your deal? You can't just...
Buffy: (ignores Cordy and looks to Wes) Your office?
Wes nods and the two women exit the room leaving the group of men staring after them uncomfortably.
Cut to upstairs Willow: (looking at Connor) I can't believe he's really Angel's son. All this time, all this pain to give Buffy a normal life. And now he proves that he could have been with her all along. This could have been their son.
Dawn: Ewww.
Fred: I don't think that would be a good thing. Not now.
Willow: Why? What does that mean?
Lorne: Nothing! (speaks up hurriedly) It just means that so much has happened to both of them. Connor might never have happened if Angel hadn't come to LA.
Who's to say that if he had stayed with Buffy that he would have ever earned this miracle.
Dawn: That's what you believe? That Angel earned a child? What about where he came from? Aren't you worried that he might have inherited his daddy's...appetite?
Connor seems to understand what Dawn is implying and begins to whimper against Fred's leg.
Fred: Connor?
Willow: How could he...?
Lorne: Something tells me that our young friend here knows a lot more than even he realizes. He can feel it.
Fred: Like the same way Angel felt his heartbeat before he was born?
Lorne: Perhaps.
Willow: So he has vamp senses?
Connor: I'm not like him!
Dawn: Well at least the kid knows what he's got to be afraid of.
Willow: Dawn!
Fred: Angel's not evil! You all should know that better than anyone. He will do everything he can to teach Connor right from wrong.
Willow: We know that Fred. Dawn didn't mean anything.
Lorne: Listen, I think the action is over downstairs.
Let's say we head back down and finish what we started.
Fred: Okay. (looks down to find that Connor is missing) Where's Connor?
Lorne: What? He was just there.
Willow and Dawn look around the room and see no sign of the boy.
Willow: This can't be good.
Cut to Lobby Angel: What just happened?
Spike: I'd say you're doing everything you can to start a catfight over you.
Angel: Are you serious?
Xander: What is going on between the two of you Angel?
Angel: Who?
Xander: Don't give me your innocent undead act buddy!
You were so going beyond friendship with your grip on Cordelia!
Angel: I don't think it's any of your business regardless!
Xander: And I suppose you think Cordelia's your business now? What? You got tired of the Slayer/Vamp ride, so you bailed and found yourself a new plaything? Over my dead...
Angel: (rushes to grab him by the collar) Do you really want to threaten me with your dead body? Keep your nose out of my life.
Spike: (chuckling) Now why can't you be so obvious when Buffy's in the room? I'm sure she'd love to see you defending your affair.
Angel: (releases Xander and spins to face Spike) There is no affair. You are still the raving idiot you always were I see.
Wes: Guys please...
Spike: It's not me you have to convince mate. I think there are two ladies in the other room who might be much more interested in your explanation.
Angel: I'm warning you Spike. Stay out of it.
Wes: Really gentleman, I think...
He's cut off by the sound of hollering from upstairs.
Angel hears it as well and races to check on Connor.
Cut to Wes Office Buffy and Cordelia are studying one another in silence.
Cordy: So are you going to talk or what?
Buffy: Yeah. Are you okay?
Cordy: And now you're concerned about my emotional well being?
Buffy: What is going on? I know we weren't ever best friends, but we had made progress before you left Sunnydale.
Cordy: I'm sorry if my attitude isn't to your liking.
In the last few weeks, I've been reunited with who I thought was my soul mate, left town on vacation only to have a vision of my best friend's world collapsing around him. I get back here to find out that once again Buffy is involved in everything and everyone automatically bows to your infinite wisdom and power.
Including Groo echo is now dead out of some twisted sense of duty to a person he never met. He didn't think twice about leaving me to save you. Just like Angel wouldn't either.
Buffy: You think Angel would abandon you for me?
Cordy: Wouldn't he?
They pause to let her question sink in.
Buffy: It doesn't matter what either of us thinks or believes. I need your help.
Cordy: Please tell me you're kidding.
Buffy: Cordelia, have I ever kidded with you?
Cordy: Good point. So what's the big? And how can lowly old me be of any help to the Slayer?
Buffy: You can help me bring forth Angelus.
Cordy's jaw drops as soon as the words escape and her eyes narrow at the thought of what Buffy has up her sleeve.
