Disclaimer: I own nothing.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Ch.8: Finally Understanding~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It had been three days since Buffy had dropped in on the gang in California. The Powers That Be only allowed her to stay long enough to tell Emma how to deal with growing powers. She had also told Emma that learning how to deal with her growing power on her own, was part of becoming who she would become. Emma wasn't trilled at the idea but she understood that she herself had to learn her own limitations and so forth. So at the end of the day Emma reluctantly said goodbye to her mother one more time in her short life time.

Spike on the other hand wouldn't say goodbye to her.

Spike: There is never going to be a goodbye for us Slayer. One way or another I will see you again.

And with that the two shared their first kiss in 16 years.

Darla hadn't showed up since that day, and no one was sure if that was good or bad, but Buffy said she would keep a look out and send them warnings if needed. But The Powers That Be decided that Cordellia wasn't finished there on earth, especially now that Connor was back in the picture. But mostly because he was in love with a key player in their prophecy, and they weren't exactly sure how to react to that. Not that they thought he was a bad guy or anything, after all he was 1/3 of their prophecy, but he is Angel's son. And they had to many memories of what Angel had put Buffy through and they didn't want that to happen to Emma. She was to valuable to them.

Angel and Spike were, of course, back to their old hating and competing sessions. Gun worked on cases. While the two vamps did too, they were of no help with all the competing, trying to better the other. Fred continued to look for serum formulas. Dawn and Wes researched the fated ones every waking moment, since Wesley thought that there might be more to the prophecy than The Powers were leading them to believe. Thus giving the 2 teenagers a chance to train and work a lot of issues out.

In away this depressed Emma cuz' she really wanted to get to know her dad. But her and Connor had to work a lot of stuff out if they were going to be able to beat the evil that was headed their way.

Emma and Connor are sitting in Spikes apartment on the couch. Connor is leaning up against the left arm, of the couch, while Emma is sitting in between his legs with her back against his chest.

Connor: So how come you can love and accept your dad and I can't? (annoyed)

Emma: Baby you can't compare our situations. Who knows maybe you have every right to treat your dad the way you do, but me, I don't. See my dad loved my mom with everything he was and had. And my mom loved my dad to the point she was going to marry him someday. But he died in the hell mouth before she got the chance to do that.

Connor: My dad did it with Darla and had an epiphany, at least you were conceived through love. (sad)

Emma: See baby, that's why you can't compare our situations, their to different.

Connor wraps his arms around her waist and holds her tight.

Connor: Tell me stories about your dad.

Emma's gaze glazes over, knowing that there is only one story that needs to be told.

Emma: The hell mouth was going to destroy the world, so mom and dad were getting ready to fight what ever evil came of it, and close it in the process. Your dad showed up with the amulet to save the world. The slayer, my mom, was to choose her champion and give the amulet to him. My mom mistakenly kissed Angel, and dad saw. Mom chose dad to be her champion and dad died believing mom didn't love him.--- (crying) For 6 years of my life, I fell asleep to the sound of my mothers tears, because she missed dad so much. And I would wake up to her calling his name over and over again and saying how sorry she was for kissing Angel, how much she missed him. Loved him. And needed him. And then I had no one. Not a single memory of my dad and all these memories of my mom grieving over my dad. It was almost like, in those 6 years, she had loved him so much that it was almost like he was there all the time loving both of us right back. There was never a day that went by that I didn't miss or tell my dad that I loved him, he just never heard me. (sobbing)

Connor squeezed his girlfriend close. He held her until she stopped crying. While doing this, he though of all she had said. He finally realized that maybe it wasn't Angels fault that the had an estranged relationship. Maybe in a round about way it was his. Another one of Holtz's domino effect from kid napping him when he was just a baby. Emma had finally cried herself to sleep. Connor knew she needed time with her dad, him and Emma could figure out their problems later. She needed her dad right now. So he carefully climbed off the couch and went to look for Spike. He found him in his dad's office with the others. Spike didn't even look up when he walked into the room.

Angel: Connor, is anything wrong? (concerned)

Connor didn't answer or even look at his dad, he just stared at Spike. After a few moments, Spike got annoyed and looked up.

Spike: What? (annoyed)

Connor: I never understood until today. Everyday we would go to school and if someone ever said anything bad about you, she would give them a one way ticket to the emergency room. She never knew you or even met you until she was 16 years old and she would walk every night to your grave to talk to you, even though you weren't buried there. She bought the house you grew up in and restored it to the way it would have looked in the 1800's. she took your old room as her own. She has pictures, old belongings, and every watchers diary that mentions you. We would constantly get into fights because I couldn't understand how she could love a man as much as you, who had reeked so much havoc. I couldn't understand how she could cry herself to sleep at night and call out for 'daddy.' But I get it now.--- She told me how she would wake up and fall asleep to her mother crying over you. She can love you to the extent she does because that's all she knows and feels for you. You could go evil again and go on a killing spree, and she would still love you as much as she does now. She would still be daddy's little girl. She was taught to love the demon and the man at a very young age. She didn't even know you, yet she spoke of you everyday, as if you lived together. How you would have handled a situation differently than I or someone else had. What you might have thought about a certain piece of literature.--- She loves you because she is you in so many ways. She loves being in tight situations. She loves literature and poetry. She loves everything she finds out about herself, that is the same in you or about you. She loves being told how much she looks, acts, and fights like you. She didn't know who the hell you were and she still became a daddy's girl.--- I guess that's why I love her so much. It could be the reason I'm so jealous of her too. (chuckling softly) I love that no matter how you are, you're her dad and she'll be on your side. And I'm jealous of her because I've always wanted what she has with you. Even if you two never really knew about each other.--- Her and I have a lot to work out with our relationship, but she was right. This is her time to get to know you, so I'm backing off to give her that. You two get to know each other and have those father-daughter bonding things.--- And don't worry if angel needs backup muscle on a case, I'll go. She needs her dad right now…not her boyfriend.

Connor finished his long speech rather sadly, with the thought that she need him. He could see the tears coming to Dawn's eyes.

Spike stared at the young man in front of him. He could feel the love for his daughter radiating off of him. He may not like the fact that his daughter is dating the poofsters son, but all in all the kid wasn't that bad. Spike knew that if he ever needed someone to take care of his little girl, this would be the first person he choose to do so. He could see the love for his daughter in his eyes, and he could also she something that looked like acceptance, of the fact that Spike was his girlfriends father.

Spike: Thanx.--- When I first found out Emma was dating you, I wasn't happy to say the least. But Buffy, Cordellia, Dawn, my parents, and my sister have told me everything you have done for her; how much you've been there for her. I just wanted to thank you for that. Knowing that someone was there to love and take care of her eases my mind a bit.--- You're a good guy Connor, I'm glad my daughter found a guy like you. --- But if you ever hurt her, I'll make life hell for you.

Connor: (smirking) I wouldn't have it any other way. Hell if I hurt her, I'll let you do what ever you want to me. Kill me, tourtcher me, whatever.

With that Spike and Connor come to a silent understanding. Connor walked up to Spike and held out his hand.

Connor: You're a good guy, and a great dad.--- And I'm glad Emma has you for her dad. She deserves it.

Spike looks at Connors hand for a second before taking it in his own.

Spike: Thanx. You're a good guy and a good boyfriend. I'm glad my daughter found love, even if you are peaches son.--- Maybe you and I could talk some time and you can fill me in on something about my baby girl. (smirking)

Connor: Thanx.-- I'd like that. Maybe you could help me learn how to deal with him and maybe even how to come to terms with what I am.

Spike: Sounds good. I guess I'll talk to you later. I have to go talk to my baby girl.

Connor nods and watches Spike walkout of the office, and toward the girl he loved more than anything. Next thing he knew Dawn was enveloping him in a hug.

Dawn: Thank you Connor. (happily Crying)

Connor pulls her into a hug.

Connor: Don't worry about it. He's really not a bad guy when you think about it. And I would do anything for Emma, you know that.

Mean while Angel is sitting there listening to everything everyone has to say. He is having a hard time dealing with the fact that Spike, his worst enemy, can get his son to talk and he can't. He got angrier by the moment as he saw his son and Spike become friends right before his eyes. And all of the sudden he felt something he hadn't felt in a while…. Cordellia's hand tightening on his shoulder.

Cordellia: You mess with that alliance Angel and your going to regret it. Leave it be and be happy that your son is happy and has people who love. Get to know him and have a relationship with him Angel, before you get ready to destroy the last piece of happiness he has. (soothingly)

A/N: Well here it is the next chapter. I hope you like it and please review if you want more, it would be greatly appreciated. And if I don't get lets say at least 5- 10 reviews I'm probably just going to slow down on the updating to work on my other stories, so please if you want me to keep updating at a somewhat regular pace, review and let me know. Thanx again to all my readers and reviewers. Hopefully I'll be updating soon. (**Hint**Hint**) J

JenaMariano