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Gift

Chapter Ten

Messages

            Liberty sunk into her couch and flipped on the television.  It was time for some mindless entertainment.  She'd been running her conversation with Connor in her head over and over again, the relief of having finally told Connor the truth flooding her emotions with the added anxiety that he could change his mind and hate who she was, had left her emotionally drained.  She didn't think she could concentrate on Connor's problem if she tried.  She knew now was not the time to get unfocused.  She and Wesley were the only ones who knew what was happening on Connor's case and they needed to stick together and buckle down on finding out the rest.  They needed to know whether they could trust Angel or not.  The doorbell rang loudly, breaking her from her thoughts, but she didn't want to get up.  She was too tired to get up.  Luckily her mom was home.

"Libby, sweetheart, you have a friend here."

"A friend?"  Liberty leaned forward, trying to see who was in the entryway.  Who would come to her house?  She didn't have any friends at school that would just show up.

"Yes.  With blue hair."  Her mother's distaste was clear in her voice which only made Liberty want to laugh.  If her mom only knew.

"Illyria?  Come on in here."

Illyria appeared in the living room, curious of her surroundings.  Liberty supposed Illyria had never really been in a house before.  Wesley had kept her at his apartment for a while, but his bachelor pad was quite different to Liberty's homey place.

"I have come for Wesley.  He has sent a message.  I do not enjoy delivering messages, but I did tell him I would give him aid."

"That's very nice of you to bring the message to me."
"Do not call me nice.  I do not wish to have those character traits lower beings label each other with forced upon me."

Liberty hid a smile and lowered her eyes.  "I'm sorry, Illyria.  I wasn't trying to anger you."

"There was a time when I would have your head squashed like a bug's for displeasing me."

"Well, I'm glad we're not in that time any longer.  I kind of like my head."

Illyria tilted her head and stared at Liberty with her blue eyes.  She seemed to be judging her, debating whether she liked Liberty or not.  Liberty remained still and allowed Illyria to make her judgments, figuring it was easier to let Illyria do as she wished than to ask her to stop staring.  Illyria finally seemed satisfied with what she as finding and continued.

"Wesley has said that it is no longer safe to discuss the Connor matter at the wolf, the ram and the hart.  You are to meet him at his small room tomorrow instead of returning to the large building.  He will wait for you."

"Okay.  Did he give you an address for his apartment?"

"He gave me a paper with written instructions."

Illyria produced the sheet of paper and handed to Liberty. 

"He also suggested you bring the boy.  He believes that the boy will be able to assist your research as well I."

"You're helping us, Illyria?"
"I have grown bored since I cannot kill or torture."

"That's great!"

"Wesley also said that it is no longer safe to discuss the Connor matter with others.  Keep silent except with those of us he trusts."

"All right."

Illyria nodded, feeling almost productive.  She had been able to help Wesley and she had been able to examine the living arrangements of families.  She turned without bidding Liberty good bye.  That would have been a little too human for Illyria.  She did not wish to become friends with the mortal. 

"Thank you, Illyria."

"Do not thank me.  I did nothing to deserve gratitude.  It is meaningless anyway."

Liberty's smile turned impish as she hurried to Illyria's side.

"Meaningless unless it's from Wesley, right?"
Illyria's eyes flashed interestingly.  Liberty giggled, a sound Illyria was not used to.  She had heard human laughter and enjoyment, but never a giggle. 

"I do not know what you are saying."

"You like Wesley."

"I do not.  I like no mortal being.  You are all below me."

"Except Wesley."  Liberty's smile widened as her eyes glittered in amusement.  Illyria went for the door immediately.
"I must get back to the wolf, the ram, and the hart before someone notices the blue-haired one.  It is to be dangerous for me, since I cannot kill."

Liberty watched as Illyria left the house quickly, her head down, her hair blowing in the wind.  She had touched a nerve.  Illyria liked Wesley.

            Spike propped himself up against the wall, waiting for Angel to notice his presence.  Angel was brooding, as usual, but he seemed more lost in thought than the usual I-was-such-a-horrible-mean-vampire brood.  Angel finally saw Spike in the shadows.
"I hope you don't plan on watching me all night, Spike."
"That'd get a mite boring, Peaches.  I just came to tell you I had dinner with Liberty tonight."
"I don't need to know about your eating habits."
"She doesn't trust you, mate.  Not really.  Book Boy has turned her against you, I wager."
"Liberty doesn't seem like the type to be easily swayed."
"And she might not be easily swayed.  She just doesn't trust you much.  She knows more than she'll admit.  More than what I even overheard.  There's something big going on under your nose."

"Well, if she didn't tell you what, she doesn't trust you, either."

"She doesn't trust anyone besides Wesley, I think.  He's told her not to tell.  She wants to tell, though, I could sense it.  I suppose I could keep workin' her over, see if she'll give anything up.  I hate doing that to the bit.  She's such a sweet girl."

"It's better that no one knows about Connor, Spike.  You know that.  The repercussions of what I did will hit this place full force.  It'll hit the side of good if we suddenly divide.  Wesley would never forgive me for messing with his mind, neither would Gunn."

"That's what you get for playing God."

"I had to do it, Spike."

"Didja?  Or didja just get off on messing with everyone's heads?"

Angel turned away from Spike and pushed the heavy brocade curtains back.  He stared at the moonlight shining down on him, wishing he could go back and change everything.  He wished that a lot.  Maybe he would start back in the 1700's and never drink from Darla.  Angel hated it when he started having his dark thoughts.  They just made him more miserable than he already was.

"What were you thinking about when I came in?"

"Why do you want to know?"
"You looked like the next apocalypse was coming.  What were you thinking about, then, your boy?"

"Yes.  I was thinking about Connor.  He was such a perfect baby.  Didn't cry a whole lot, liked to cuddle.  He even liked my vamp face; it made him laugh.  I was happy for once, Connor seemed to absolve all my sins, you know?  He was this innocent byproduct of Darla and I that would wipe away the stain Darla and I left on this world.

"But Connor was caught in the cross-fire before he could fix the problems Darla and I had left behind.  He was taken away to that demon dimension and grew up before I could find him.  And he hated me.  Oh, he hated me so much."
"As much as I hate you, Peaches?"
"Probably more.  Then, he fell for Cordelia-"

"The Oedipus Rex syndrome."
"And suddenly I was the enemy even more than I was before.  Because I loved Cordelia too.  Connor just went off the deep end.  He completely lost it.  He was ready to kill a store full of people, himself, and Cordelia just to end his pain.  I could see it in his eyes.  He wasn't bluffing.  He really wanted to kill himself.  So I made the deal with Wolfram and Hart. 

"I want to blame everyone else for Connor's problems, but I can't.  It was all my fault.  I didn't try to protect Connor enough and I practically banished him from the hotel.  His heartbreak was partly my doing, so I tried to fix it.  But I don't think I did.  I think I've just screwed things up more."

Spike didn't speak, a surprise to both of them.  Angel was ready for Spike to jump at the chance to mock Angel for his idiocy, but Spike didn't.  He seemed to realize now wasn't the time.

"Well, it isn't worth much, but you probably did the right thing.  That boy seems happy, now, though a bit sullen.  Brooding must be hereditary and no matter how much you try to change who's child he is, he didn't lose that."

Angel rolled his eyes and crossed his arms as the curtains fell back into place.  He shifted uncomfortably, not used to confiding in anyone, much less Spike.  Spike seemed uncomfortable to, not wanting to know about Angel's burdens and issues.

"I'll keep my ear out for what Liberty's been finding out.  I'll keep you updated."
"Do that."

Spike exited the room quickly to avoid anymore of that emotional stuff.  Before he knew it, they would have been hugging.

            Illyria shut the door quietly, but it still startled Wesley.  He looked up from his books and smiled wanly at the goddess.

"No one saw you, I gather."
"Liberty did.  And her mother.  She did not approve of my hair color."

Wesley chuckled lightly as he removed his glasses.  He rubbed the bridge of his nose and waited for Illyria to report Liberty's response.
"The girl said she found working at your small room acceptable and would bring the boy along with her."
"Good."

"She also seemed shocked that I am aiding you in the search for the boy's origins.  I told her I was bored."
"Is that why you're helping, Illyria?"

"Yes.  I do not usually bother myself with the lower being's problems, but since you won't let me kill the half-breed or anything else, I have nothing else to entertain myself with.  The box with moving pictures is not fun.  I do not understand why people laugh at such pathetic attempts at amusement."

Wesley handed Illyria a large book with a raised eyebrow.  "Television can be quite entertaining if you know what to watch.  But I do appreciate your help."
"She said I enjoyed your gratitude as well."
"And do you?" Wesley watched her intrigued.
"I do not know.  Perhaps.  Or it may be the remnants of the shell's desires.  She enjoyed helping you and liked your appreciation."
"Yes, she did.  Fred loved to help people."

"I am not helping people.  I am helping you."

"I am a person, Illyria, despite popular belief."

"I know you are human.  I am painfully aware of this.  I only help you, though.  No others."
"All right.  You don't help people.  I did not mean to upset you."
"I am not upset.  I grow irritated at the lack of amusement I face."

"Read, then."

"Read?"

"The book I handed you has stories in it.  Read it."
Illyria sighed loudly and sat down perplexed in a chair.  She opened the book carefully and stared at the words.  Perhaps this reading would entertain her.