Chapter 2

Angel and Connor sat in the coffee shop, not a very manly hang out, but a place that was dark and crowded enough for the two of them to talk.

The topic of conversation was the demon battle the two of them had last week with Spike.

"I don't know. We didn't get them all," said Connor worried if the demons were going to come back. "They said that it wasn't over."

"I know," Angel replied "And there is no telling if they will come back but for now we are just going to have to assume that they are going to stay away; from us and anyone that might lead them in our direction."

"If you say so," Connor sighed "You have been at this a lot longer than I have."

"Yeah," Angel chuckled as he and Connor fell into another one of their awkward silences. "How about we get out of here and go for a ride?"

"That would be cool," said Connor relieved that his father didn't feel like having one of those vampire father to son talks. The night sky was as clear as it ever could be in LA as Connor and Angel drove around town.

"Anywhere special you want to go to tonight," asked Angel looking over at Connor. His mind seemed to be somewhere other than in the car and Angel wondered what he possibly could be thinking about.

"Oh," replied Connor still not totally in this world "No, not really."

"You're not still thinking about those demons are you?" asked Angel.

"No, no."

"Well, what is it then." Angel was worried about Connor he had never seen him act this way before. "It's as if you're in another dimension. Tell me what's on your mind."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you," sighed Connor.

"I...I'm not worr..."

"It's just that," Connor interrupted Angel "I saw this... no never mind."

"What? What is it? What did you see? Now you really have me worried," Angel replied. "Connor, man, what's going on?"

"I met this girl today." Connor smiled at the thought of her.

Angel laughed. "Oh, I thought it was something... well...you know."

Connor laughed as well realizing he accidentally scared Angel into thinking something was wrong. They reached the Angel's apartment and went inside.

"So," coaxed Angel "Tell me about this girl. Where did you meet her?"

"I met her today. Just on the street. It was the strangest thing. I heard a scream and ran towards it thinking someone was being attacked and that they were in trouble. But when I finally reached her there was no trouble to be found. She said she was okay and that it was very nice of me to come to her rescue. However, she had taken care of it herself and she was sorry that she scared me."

"Huh," replied Angel. "Well at least no one was hurt. Was that all?"

"Yeah, that was basically it. She gave me a big smile and told me she had to go meet her sister. Man she was pretty though. She wasn't glamorous or super model perfect like most girls in LA. She was fresh and beautiful. Her hair was like gold under the sunlight and she..."

Angel interrupted "Wow, slow down Connor. You only met this girl today and you sound like you're already in love with her." Angel soon realized that he was once like Connor and felt the exact same way about a certain Slayer. "Like father like son," he mumbled to himself.

"The worst part is though that I probably will never see her again. I mean LA is a huge city and I don't know if she even lives here."

"Well," Angel said "Do you really want to see this girl again?"

Connor nodded and sighed.

"Where exactly did you see her? Do you remember the street name or anything in the surrounding area?" asked Angel.

Connor thought about the street where he had seen her for awhile. "Actually as a matter of fact I do. It was right by the Millennium Biltmore Hotel."

"Start there. See if she's staying there, if she's a guest or she knows someone there, anything."

"Right," thought Connor "I think I'll try that. In the meantime I'm going to go home. I'm sure you're tired."

"Yeah," Angel nodded. As he stood up to let Connor out the door Angel gave Connor a sly smirk "Good luck."

"Thanks," Connor smiled.

"Wow Buffy this is the best hotel I've ever seen," gasped Dawn as she stepped into the main lobby.

"Yeah, it's pretty spiffy," agreed Buffy. "What took you so long?"

"I'm sorry," Dawn apologized "I was outside taking a look around and there was this awful looking demon guy that came up and..."

"Oh my god, Dawn are you okay?" Buffy interrupted.

"Well, if you let me finish my story," retorted Dawn. Buffy calmed down and backed off. "Thank you, so just when I thought he was going to attack me, he asked me out." Buffy gave Dawn a look of astonishment. She considered that maybe demons were just naturally attracted to the Summers sisters. Poor Dawn was doomed.

Dawn finished her story. "So I screamed and told him to get lost. He walked away kind of like a rejected puppy. A hideous wart faced rejected homeless..."

"Yeah, Dawn I get the picture," Buffy quickly put Dawn's rambling to a stop. It wasn't exactly something you wanted to picture in your head, especially a something that was trying to ask your sister out on a date. "That's kind of weird that a demon just came out in broad daylight and well you know."

"Well I guess LA is just a different..." Dawn strained to think of something clever and witty to say but ended up with "place."

"I guess so," replied Buffy leaving Dawn to carry up the last of the suitcases.

"But wait Buffy that's not all," started Dawn quickly as she struggled to carry the bags into the elevator. Effortlessly Buffy picked up the two heaviest ones and carried them in. "There was this cute guy who came to rescue me."

"Really?" Buffy lifted an eyebrow. "What type of cute?"

"Well he wasn't Jude Law cute but he was most definitely cute enough. It was strange, he had the most familiar eyes," thought Dawn. "I'll probably never see him again."

"LA is a big city, gigantic even," Dawn gave Buffy a look of sarcastic gratitude. "But you n-never know," finished Buffy quickly.

The hotel room was big and luxurious with two fluffy white queen sized beds, a decent sized living room, and a bathroom with a shower and bathtub so big that any girl could drown all of her sorrows.

"Wow, Buffy" said Dawn excitedly. "I could get used to this."

"And don't forget room service," hollered Buffy as Dawn headed for the balcony "Lots and lots of room service."

The telephone rang and Buffy knew it was Xander.

"Hey Buff, nice choice in luxurious expensive splendor," said Xander over the phone.

"Why, thank you," replied Buffy.

"Anyway, since your shacked up in such nice digs, Will, Giles, and I decided that we would meet you there and have dinner in that nice little restaurant on the corner."

"Sounds great," Buffy was starving but she didn't want to ruin the meal for everyone else.

"Great, so we'll meet you in the hotel lobby at around 6:30. Make it an early dinner. Will and Giles are starving."

"Perfect," said Buffy. I'll see you then." Buffy hung up the phone and went to find Dawn.

"Dawn, that was Xander," called Buffy. "I'm going to meet them tonight in the hotel lobby at... O sorry," cried Buffy as she ran into Dawn. "As I was saying hotel lobby 6:30."

"Okay," said Dawn recovering "I guess I am supposed to stay here?"

"Yes, please. Tonight it's just going to be the four of us, but you know you can order room service, go down to the hotel lobby, anything you want," answered Buffy.

"Fine with me," said Dawn. "Now go and get ready. You have two hours."

Buffy hurried off to the bathroom to take a shower. In the meantime all Dawn could think about was the boy she had met the other day.

At dinner that night Buffy shared all her wild adventures in Rome with the gang. She told them about the Immortal and living with Andrew and how she has moved on from all that is hellmouthy; well almost. Willow and Giles talked about England and how well Willow was doing with controlling and perfecting her magic. Xander, of course, talked about his fiancé. She sounded wonderful and perfect for Xander. After desert Buffy asked Xander who was coming to the wedding.

"Just close friends and family," replied Xander "You guys are basically it for my side of the ceremony. We wanted it to be very intimate and after my last...wedding I really didn't want to invite my fam-damn-ily."

"Totally understandable," snorted Buffy.

"Well," broke in Giles "I am awfully tired and I think I could stand to retire for the night."

"Good idea," yawned Buffy "I think we could all use some rest. Goodnight. I missed you guys so much."

"You know moving on doesn't necessarily mean moving away from the ones you love," said Willow. "Thank you Xander, you brought us back together again."

"Any day," laughed Xander "I'd be happy to get married all the time so we can get together again."

On that note they said goodnight.

Buffy entered the hotel lobby exhausted but still aware of her surroundings. Dawn wasn't in the lobby so Buffy decided that she must have stayed in the room. Walking towards the elevator Buffy felt it. He was there. She could feel him all around her. What was he doing here? She looked around frantically trying to find him but he was nowhere in sight.

He better not be hiding from me.

Heading towards the elevator, she swept her eyes over the lobby once more and decided to call it a night

Fine. If he doesn't want to be seen I don't want to see him.

Angel entered the hotel from the roof. Although he could probably walk through the lobby he found it somewhat more covert entering from atop. He was definitely less likely to be seen. As he stepped on to the hotel elevator he took a sharp breath in. She was there and he could feel it. He pressed the main lobby key on the elevator wondering where in the hotel she could be.

Impatiently Buffy waited.

Angel waited silently as the elevator slowly descended to the lobby.

Finally.

Ding.