Chapter 11: The brainy and the witch
Title: A new beginning.
Author: Nikka
Author notes: Hi everyone, If you need to know about summary, rate and all the rest it's all in chapter 1 I'll just remind you that **English is not my native tongue** I want to thank Sarah for all the great works she's done, and to welcome aboard Kelly who from now on will be reproofing my fic. As it is you may still find some spelling & grammar mistakes. You're more than welcome to let me know about them but remember you may find them while you read the story. Have fun.
A special thank you to Kelly for reproofing my story. As of that the upload of the chapters may take longer.
Feedback: I love love love reviews and I'll be sure to mention it at the end of every chapter.
***
"Giles?" Xander asked surprised.
"Yeah, why are you so shocked?" Gunn asked. "I thought this Giles dude was suppose to be this expert at these things?"
"He is." Dawn replied. "But he's also kind of busy at the moment."
"What? with your friend re-hab thing? She can wait, Cordy can't." Gunn said firmly.
"Well I'm glad you made that wonderful yet stupid assessment after knowing us for a day and a half." Xander was getting angry. He hated Gunn's attitude, acting as if the world and everyone in it owes him something.
"You guys, come on." Fred tried to reason with them.
"Cordy's life is on the line and you're calling me stupid?" Gunn raised his voice.
"Well if the shoe fits..." Xander mocked him.
"At least I know how to be someone's friend. Remind me again why your friend is in re-hab?" Gunn said with a grin.
"That's it." Xander slammed the book on the desk and approached Gunn. Gunn was already waiting.
"What are you crazy?" Dawn whispered to Xander. "Look at him!" She said pointing to Gunn. "He'll snap you in two."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." He said in reply.
"Okay that's enough." Angel who stayed quite till now steeped in and stood between the two. "You're acting like children and we really don't have the time for this."
"No we don't. Not after you'll hear what Connor has to say." They all turned to see Cordy standing in the entrance with Connor by her side.
"Connor." Angel said with a spark in his eyes.
"You just keep popping in on the must unusual coincidence." Lorne remarked.
"Lorne!" Cordy gave him a firm stare. And he eased back and quieted down.
Connor told them about the sacrificial ceremonies and the daemons attempt to protect themselves by killing Cordy. The bad news turned into to worse. Suddenly Wesley's little discovery seemed meaningless.
"Its just gets worse and worse by the minute." Xander sighed in despair.
"What is?" Buffy who emerged from the basement followed by Spike asked. Angel looked at her trying to make eye contact, but she looked away. He did see Spike smiling in delight.
"We had a breakthrough and now were reaching meltdown." Dawn summed it up.
"Ha?" Buffy asked confused.
"We'll explain later." Cordy said. "First thing we need to reach Willow."
"Willow?" Buffy asked surprised. "Why do you need Willow?"
"Cause I think we need a powerful witch on our side right about now." Cordelia explained.
"And we need Giles." Fred added.
"Giles I can understand, but as for Willow..." Buffy hesitated. She wasn't sure Willow was strong enough. True it's been over 4 months since Warren, but still.
"I know what you're thinking Buffy." Cordy said. "But I wouldn't ask if I didn't think it was necessary."
Buffy steeped aside form the others, taking a moment to think about it. Xander joined her. "Buffy you're not seriously considering brining her over here. We have no idea in what condition she's in..."
"I know that Xander." Buffy cut him off. "Don't you think I know that, But what are the alternatives?"
"We can wait, see if we can do this without her." Xander suggested.
"I'm not even sure if we'll be able to do what ever it is we're suppose to do with her, so the chances of us succeeding without her... Well... you know."
"Yeah I do." Xander sympathized. "But it doesn't change the fact that about 4 months ago Willow killed a man, not just killed, flayed him." he paused taking a big breath. "Buffy they don't know, maybe if we tell them they'll..."
"No Xander, we can't. It's not our story to tell." Buffy insisted.
"Buffy?" Xander tried reasoning with her.
"No!" She said firmly. "We'll call Giles and ask how's she's doing before telling him where we are and what's going on. If he'll say she's fine, or getting there, then we tell him, Okay?" Xander nodded in agreement. Although he didn't think brining Willow here was the best idea ever, he accepted Buffy's offer as a compromise. Buffy turned and faced Cordy. "Okay, we'll call her, but no promises."
"Okay." Cordelia agreed. "If she can, we'd be more than happy to see her here."
"Yeah right, that's exactly what we want." Dawn said quietly so only Buffy heard her. She gave her a firm stare and she quieted down.
"I'll go give Giles a call." She said.
"That won't be necessary."
***
**That voice? ** Buffy stopped half way trough, She quickly turned to see Giles standing in the doorway.
"Giles!" She called out as she ran towards him and gave him a hug. Dawn wasn't far behind, neither was Xander.
"So that's Giles." Fred said as she examined him. "He looks younger than I imagined."
"He looks like Wesley, just an older version." Gunn knew Wesley heard that last remark, but didn't care.
"Giles!" Cordy said in a joyful tune. They both walked towards each other.
"Cordelia." he bowed slightly, as returning the gesture. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. It wasn't just the look that made him stare at her; it was something about her, about her behavior that seemed fascinating. She's looked so different than the Cordelia Chase he once knew.
"I knew it." You have a crystal ball?" Xander jested?"
"I beg your pardon?" Giles asked confused.
"I was just about to call you, and then you showed up." Buffy explained. "How did you know?" Buffy asked curiously.
I didn't." he replied.
"Then how....?"
"I told him." Buffy turned back to see Willow standing in the doorway holding a suitcase. "Hi." She said smiling a bashful smile.
"Hi." Buffy replied, not sure what to do next. Her instincts told her to run over there and give her a hug, but her common sense told her to wait. Xander apparently skipped the hesitation part.
"Will!" He cried out and ran towards her giving her a big loving hug. When Buffy saw that, she thought **Screw logic** and ran towards Willow as well, Only Dawn, who still had nightmares about evil-Willow, stayed behind.
"So I guess we have a lot of catching up to do." Willow put her luggage down and inspected the group standing before her.
"I guess we do." Cordelia replied as she held her belly.
***
Willow and Giles sat on the rounded couch while Fred and Gunn them beverages. The others gathered around them on the floor and near the desk.
"Thank you." Willow smiled as Fred handed her a glass of water.
"So how did you know?" Buffy asked Willow the question everyone was dying to know.
"I felt something, a disturbance." Willow replied.
"Like the one Obi Wan felt in the force?" Xander laughed, while the rest just gave him a funny stare.
"In a way." Willow smiled. "At first I thought it was just me, but then the others from the covenant said they felt it as well." Willow began to explain. "So we preformed a cleansing ritual in which we combined forces to find where the disturbance was coming from. We wanted to know what changed the balance."
"Balance?" Fred asked intrigued.
"It requires a more thoroughly explanation..." Giles said.
"But in the short version." Willow cut him off. "Every living thing, every energy, every force, magic existences, is contacted to nature, After all they all have energy of some sort. Usually they all co-exist while maintaining the balance." Fred had a confused expression on her face so Willow elaborated. "Like a balance between good and evil, for example." Fred nodded her head.
"And that balance was broken?" Gunn asked.
"Not broken. Disturbed." Giles replied.
"So anyway." Willow continued where she left off. "We did the ritual and found out from where the disturbance came.
"Which was here, obviously." Cordy said.
"Yeah." Willow nodded. "So the covenant decided that Giles and I come here, to L.A, ASAP."
"But we called you this morning and they said you were in some ceremony." Xander asked confused.
"The fewest who knew about this the better. They told you what they knew, what they still know." Willow explained.
"You must be tired." Cordy said all of the sudden. "You had a long flight and we all had a busy day."
"As much as we appreciate your concern Cordelia, we do have pressing matters at hand. I think we should address them before we call in a night." Giles said and willow agreed.
"Fine." Cordy said. There was a glimpse of disappointment in her tone. She knew where this conversation was heading and she really didn't feel like going over it again. So She decided she won't. "Well I'm tired, so why won't the others fill you in, I'm going to bed." And with that she turned and walked up the stairs.
"Is she alright?" Willow asked concerned.
"Gunn." Angel turned to him. "Why don't you and Fred fill them in?" He smiled and turned towards the staircase.
"And where are you going?" Gunn asked.
"I'll be right back." Angel replied and ran up the stairs.
***
She walked into her room turning on the lights. "Oh god." She cried out. "Connor!" She saw him sitting on her bed. "I'm not even gonna ask how you came up here so soon."
"I didn't." He said quietly. "You just didn't notice I was gone with all the commotion down stairs." She felt bad as he said that. They were so preoccupied with their own thing they didn't even notice him. Not just this once, but generally.
"I'm sorry." She said and sat beside him. "It's just crazy times right now."
"It's always crazy around here." He said and she smiled knowing he was right.
Angel walked down the corridor and towards her room. He stopped outside of it when he heard voices. He recognized Connor's voice.
"So should I ask why you're hiding in my room? Again?" she looked at him as he stared at the floor. "Connor?" She reached her hand and tilted his head so he faced her. "What's wrong?"
"Why are you here when they're all down there?" He avoided her question and she decided not to pressure him.
"I didn't feel like telling the same by-now-not-so-shocking-news, for the thousand time."
"About the baby, you mean?" he asked while staring at her belly.
"Yeah, and all that follows." She said as she stood up and walked to her night dresser. She sat on the chair staring at her image in the mirror. "I look so old."
"No you don't." Connor said and then she realized she actually said it out loud. "You look sad not old." He continued. She turned her chair to face him.
"Why do you say that?" She asked.
"Cause you do. Your eyes, they always twinkle." He replied.
"Twinkle, I don't follow."
"From the tears." He explained. "You're always sad, even when no one else notices."
"You notice a lot others don't." she said to him.
"I guess." He brushed it off.
"So do you have a theory on why I'm so sad?" She asked knowing he must have one.
"Cause of him. My father." He said to her surprise.
"You are blunt. Aren't you?"
"What's blunt?" He asked. And she remembered there were still things Connor didn't understand.
"Someone who says what he thinks and feels, without holding back." She explained.
"Why would people hold back? Don't they want to say the truth?" His innocent charmed her.
"Not always. Sometimes it's better to keep things inside." She tried to explain, but he didn't seem to understand. "For example, if you care for someone, but you're not sure he or she feels the same way. You'd keep your feelings to your self till you're sure the other person feels the same way."
"Why?" He asked.
"So you won't get hurt." She looked at him. He was finally starting to understand.
"Like you and him." Connor gave an example that made her a bit uncomfortable. Angel was tuning in from the other side of the door.
"Not exactly, but you get the idea." She replied.
"But it is the same." Connor insisted. "You love him but you don't tell him that you do."
"Connor? How do you know all of this?" She asked surprised.
"You said I notice things others don't." He said with a smile.
"Yeah you do." She replied back. "But even if it was true, and I'm not saying it is. It's more complicated than that."
"Cause of the slayer?" Connor knew exactly what was going on. Even Angel was surprised by his knowledge and observant.
"Cause of lots of things, and yes, her as well." She got up and walked towards him. "Now I think it's time you go home, wherever home is."
"Not here." He said and got up.
"It could be you know, if you give it a chance. Give us a chance."
"I don't think so." He said and turned towards the door. Angel who heard his footsteps quickly hid behind the door.
"Connor, before you go." He stopped near the doorway. "Just know you can always come to me, no matter what. Okay?"
"Okay." He said and walked out.
***
Angel waited a couple of minutes before knocking on her door. "Yeah?" She called out.
"Can I come in?" He asked.
"Sure." She said and sat on the bed. He walked in leaving the door opened. He looked at her trying to sense in which mode she was. Was she angry? Was she just tired? Her mode swings were so often now, he couldn't tell the difference.
"Hi." He said with a bashful smile, waiting to see her reaction.
"Hi." She smiled back, which gave him hope and confidence.
"What you doing?" He asked.
"Talking to you." She said pointing out in her reply how unnecessary his question was.
"Right, right." He put his hands in his pockets and turned around his back facing her. He had what-in-hell-is-she-thinking face on.
"So what's up?" She asked after he didn't say anything.
He turned around. "Oh nothing much..." He stared at the ceiling.
"Angel?" He could hear crankiness in her voice.
"It's just... the way you left it downstairs..." He paused for a moment selecting his words. "I was worried. Am worried." He looked at her waiting for the yelling to start, but instead she smiled, the smile he loved so. A smile of understating, a smile he hasn't seen in awhile. "Cor." He walked towards her and sat beside her, facing her her. "I know we started on the wrong foot here, but I really want us to get back on track."
"And which track would that be Angel? The friend's track? the lover's track? And lets not forget the co-workers track, which is my personal favorite." She said sarcastically.
"What ever you feel comfortable with." He replied trying to maintaining his cool, not to lose it, no matter what she says.
"But it's not about what I want, is it? It's about you. So tell me Angel which of the tracks mentioned would you like to get back to?"
**Oh shit** that's the only thing that came to mind right now. What was he suppose to say, considering he just recently, like an hour and a half ago had the same conversation with Buffy. And we all remember how well that conversation went.
"Well I guess..." He was staling and she knew it.
"You guess what? She cut him off. "You haven't decided yet!" She was stating a fact, n asking a question.
"Cordy can't we just be friends, at least till this all thing is over." He begged her, wanting his friend back.
She was about to say a snappy comeback when she stopped for a moment and looked into his eyes. She saw confusion and hurt. She saw his need of a friend, his need for her. Realizing, no matter what they said to one another, no matter whom he kissed, right now he needed her and more importantly she needed him. She smiled softly as she took his hand into hers. "Yes we can." As she said the words he longed to hear, a huge smile spared across his face. "I gather you're pleased."
"Yeap." He said. He felt like a child in a candy store.
"Well that's nice to know, but there's something else we need to talk about." She said in a serious tone.
***
"Don't worry, now that Giles and Willow are onboard, I'm sure we'll be able to..."
"That's not what I'm talking about." She cut him off.
"You're not?" Angel asked surprised.
"Well duh, of course I am." She rolled her eyes. But I know there's nothing I can do about it right now. So instead of mopping around the hotel I decided it's better to deal with some other issues."
"You mean Connor, right?" She looked at him with the how-did-you-know stare. "I saw him leaving your room just before I came in." He decided it would be best at this stage, where she's no longer pissed, to leave the part about him eavesdropping out.
"I think you should talk to him, convince him to stay here in the hotel, with you." She replied. Angel got up and walked towards the balcony doors, which were closed.
"I don't think that's a good idea." He shifted the curtain and looked out to the night sky. "It's such a beautiful night, why would you want to keep it out." And with a swing of the hand he opened the curtain wide.
"I bet you won't say that in the morning." She chuckled. "Angel? She got up and walked towards him. "He made mistakes, we all did. He's not perfect no one is... But he's your son. The only one you'll ever have."
"Never say never." He smiled, thinking a comic relief would help ease the situation. "He's a big boy, he knows where I live."
"But he doesn't know, or think, he's welcome here." Cordy kept on.
"Cause he's not, Cor." Angel turned to face her. Their faces only inches from one another. As he looked at her face, with the moonlight shining on, he felt the urge, the need to kiss her. Not wanting to complicate things even further he turned around and walked a few steps away from her
"How can you say that? He's your son." She turned around to face him.
"Who drowned me in the ocean and left me there to rot." He raised his voice.
"Like I said, no ones perfect, he was wrong, but if you'll just..."
"They hate him." He cut her off, raising his voice. "Fred, Gunn and Lorne." He continued. "I can try to forgive the betrayal, he's my son. But what he did to them... letting them search for me for months, knowing exactly where I was. Playing the part of the loving son..." he stopped his voice cracked. "They can't stand been in the same room with him for more than five minutes, and even then, they don't talk to him or even look at him. So how do you expect him to live here with them?"
"I don't expect anything." She replied. "That way you never get disappointed." She walked to the bed and sat on it. "All I know is, that given time everything and everyone can be forgiven. You were, why can't he?"
"I better let you be." He said and walked towards the door.
"Angel?" As she called his name he stopped and turned around.
"Can you stay with me for awhile, just till I fall asleep?" A bashful smile appeared on her face.
"Sure." He replied with a smile, as he closed the door behind him.
***
TBC
Hi ppl,
First thing, thank you for supporting this fic and for been so patient, I'm Sorry for the long wait, but I had to finish my other fic "Reunion time", so for all of you who read that fic and haven't read the last chapter ever- go check it out, ad let me know what you think.
As for this chapter, as you read there are developments and more are coming soon, so stay tuned and let me know what you think of it, which basically means: Reviews please...
Thanks Nikka.
Title: A new beginning.
Author: Nikka
Author notes: Hi everyone, If you need to know about summary, rate and all the rest it's all in chapter 1 I'll just remind you that **English is not my native tongue** I want to thank Sarah for all the great works she's done, and to welcome aboard Kelly who from now on will be reproofing my fic. As it is you may still find some spelling & grammar mistakes. You're more than welcome to let me know about them but remember you may find them while you read the story. Have fun.
A special thank you to Kelly for reproofing my story. As of that the upload of the chapters may take longer.
Feedback: I love love love reviews and I'll be sure to mention it at the end of every chapter.
***
"Giles?" Xander asked surprised.
"Yeah, why are you so shocked?" Gunn asked. "I thought this Giles dude was suppose to be this expert at these things?"
"He is." Dawn replied. "But he's also kind of busy at the moment."
"What? with your friend re-hab thing? She can wait, Cordy can't." Gunn said firmly.
"Well I'm glad you made that wonderful yet stupid assessment after knowing us for a day and a half." Xander was getting angry. He hated Gunn's attitude, acting as if the world and everyone in it owes him something.
"You guys, come on." Fred tried to reason with them.
"Cordy's life is on the line and you're calling me stupid?" Gunn raised his voice.
"Well if the shoe fits..." Xander mocked him.
"At least I know how to be someone's friend. Remind me again why your friend is in re-hab?" Gunn said with a grin.
"That's it." Xander slammed the book on the desk and approached Gunn. Gunn was already waiting.
"What are you crazy?" Dawn whispered to Xander. "Look at him!" She said pointing to Gunn. "He'll snap you in two."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." He said in reply.
"Okay that's enough." Angel who stayed quite till now steeped in and stood between the two. "You're acting like children and we really don't have the time for this."
"No we don't. Not after you'll hear what Connor has to say." They all turned to see Cordy standing in the entrance with Connor by her side.
"Connor." Angel said with a spark in his eyes.
"You just keep popping in on the must unusual coincidence." Lorne remarked.
"Lorne!" Cordy gave him a firm stare. And he eased back and quieted down.
Connor told them about the sacrificial ceremonies and the daemons attempt to protect themselves by killing Cordy. The bad news turned into to worse. Suddenly Wesley's little discovery seemed meaningless.
"Its just gets worse and worse by the minute." Xander sighed in despair.
"What is?" Buffy who emerged from the basement followed by Spike asked. Angel looked at her trying to make eye contact, but she looked away. He did see Spike smiling in delight.
"We had a breakthrough and now were reaching meltdown." Dawn summed it up.
"Ha?" Buffy asked confused.
"We'll explain later." Cordy said. "First thing we need to reach Willow."
"Willow?" Buffy asked surprised. "Why do you need Willow?"
"Cause I think we need a powerful witch on our side right about now." Cordelia explained.
"And we need Giles." Fred added.
"Giles I can understand, but as for Willow..." Buffy hesitated. She wasn't sure Willow was strong enough. True it's been over 4 months since Warren, but still.
"I know what you're thinking Buffy." Cordy said. "But I wouldn't ask if I didn't think it was necessary."
Buffy steeped aside form the others, taking a moment to think about it. Xander joined her. "Buffy you're not seriously considering brining her over here. We have no idea in what condition she's in..."
"I know that Xander." Buffy cut him off. "Don't you think I know that, But what are the alternatives?"
"We can wait, see if we can do this without her." Xander suggested.
"I'm not even sure if we'll be able to do what ever it is we're suppose to do with her, so the chances of us succeeding without her... Well... you know."
"Yeah I do." Xander sympathized. "But it doesn't change the fact that about 4 months ago Willow killed a man, not just killed, flayed him." he paused taking a big breath. "Buffy they don't know, maybe if we tell them they'll..."
"No Xander, we can't. It's not our story to tell." Buffy insisted.
"Buffy?" Xander tried reasoning with her.
"No!" She said firmly. "We'll call Giles and ask how's she's doing before telling him where we are and what's going on. If he'll say she's fine, or getting there, then we tell him, Okay?" Xander nodded in agreement. Although he didn't think brining Willow here was the best idea ever, he accepted Buffy's offer as a compromise. Buffy turned and faced Cordy. "Okay, we'll call her, but no promises."
"Okay." Cordelia agreed. "If she can, we'd be more than happy to see her here."
"Yeah right, that's exactly what we want." Dawn said quietly so only Buffy heard her. She gave her a firm stare and she quieted down.
"I'll go give Giles a call." She said.
"That won't be necessary."
***
**That voice? ** Buffy stopped half way trough, She quickly turned to see Giles standing in the doorway.
"Giles!" She called out as she ran towards him and gave him a hug. Dawn wasn't far behind, neither was Xander.
"So that's Giles." Fred said as she examined him. "He looks younger than I imagined."
"He looks like Wesley, just an older version." Gunn knew Wesley heard that last remark, but didn't care.
"Giles!" Cordy said in a joyful tune. They both walked towards each other.
"Cordelia." he bowed slightly, as returning the gesture. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. It wasn't just the look that made him stare at her; it was something about her, about her behavior that seemed fascinating. She's looked so different than the Cordelia Chase he once knew.
"I knew it." You have a crystal ball?" Xander jested?"
"I beg your pardon?" Giles asked confused.
"I was just about to call you, and then you showed up." Buffy explained. "How did you know?" Buffy asked curiously.
I didn't." he replied.
"Then how....?"
"I told him." Buffy turned back to see Willow standing in the doorway holding a suitcase. "Hi." She said smiling a bashful smile.
"Hi." Buffy replied, not sure what to do next. Her instincts told her to run over there and give her a hug, but her common sense told her to wait. Xander apparently skipped the hesitation part.
"Will!" He cried out and ran towards her giving her a big loving hug. When Buffy saw that, she thought **Screw logic** and ran towards Willow as well, Only Dawn, who still had nightmares about evil-Willow, stayed behind.
"So I guess we have a lot of catching up to do." Willow put her luggage down and inspected the group standing before her.
"I guess we do." Cordelia replied as she held her belly.
***
Willow and Giles sat on the rounded couch while Fred and Gunn them beverages. The others gathered around them on the floor and near the desk.
"Thank you." Willow smiled as Fred handed her a glass of water.
"So how did you know?" Buffy asked Willow the question everyone was dying to know.
"I felt something, a disturbance." Willow replied.
"Like the one Obi Wan felt in the force?" Xander laughed, while the rest just gave him a funny stare.
"In a way." Willow smiled. "At first I thought it was just me, but then the others from the covenant said they felt it as well." Willow began to explain. "So we preformed a cleansing ritual in which we combined forces to find where the disturbance was coming from. We wanted to know what changed the balance."
"Balance?" Fred asked intrigued.
"It requires a more thoroughly explanation..." Giles said.
"But in the short version." Willow cut him off. "Every living thing, every energy, every force, magic existences, is contacted to nature, After all they all have energy of some sort. Usually they all co-exist while maintaining the balance." Fred had a confused expression on her face so Willow elaborated. "Like a balance between good and evil, for example." Fred nodded her head.
"And that balance was broken?" Gunn asked.
"Not broken. Disturbed." Giles replied.
"So anyway." Willow continued where she left off. "We did the ritual and found out from where the disturbance came.
"Which was here, obviously." Cordy said.
"Yeah." Willow nodded. "So the covenant decided that Giles and I come here, to L.A, ASAP."
"But we called you this morning and they said you were in some ceremony." Xander asked confused.
"The fewest who knew about this the better. They told you what they knew, what they still know." Willow explained.
"You must be tired." Cordy said all of the sudden. "You had a long flight and we all had a busy day."
"As much as we appreciate your concern Cordelia, we do have pressing matters at hand. I think we should address them before we call in a night." Giles said and willow agreed.
"Fine." Cordy said. There was a glimpse of disappointment in her tone. She knew where this conversation was heading and she really didn't feel like going over it again. So She decided she won't. "Well I'm tired, so why won't the others fill you in, I'm going to bed." And with that she turned and walked up the stairs.
"Is she alright?" Willow asked concerned.
"Gunn." Angel turned to him. "Why don't you and Fred fill them in?" He smiled and turned towards the staircase.
"And where are you going?" Gunn asked.
"I'll be right back." Angel replied and ran up the stairs.
***
She walked into her room turning on the lights. "Oh god." She cried out. "Connor!" She saw him sitting on her bed. "I'm not even gonna ask how you came up here so soon."
"I didn't." He said quietly. "You just didn't notice I was gone with all the commotion down stairs." She felt bad as he said that. They were so preoccupied with their own thing they didn't even notice him. Not just this once, but generally.
"I'm sorry." She said and sat beside him. "It's just crazy times right now."
"It's always crazy around here." He said and she smiled knowing he was right.
Angel walked down the corridor and towards her room. He stopped outside of it when he heard voices. He recognized Connor's voice.
"So should I ask why you're hiding in my room? Again?" she looked at him as he stared at the floor. "Connor?" She reached her hand and tilted his head so he faced her. "What's wrong?"
"Why are you here when they're all down there?" He avoided her question and she decided not to pressure him.
"I didn't feel like telling the same by-now-not-so-shocking-news, for the thousand time."
"About the baby, you mean?" he asked while staring at her belly.
"Yeah, and all that follows." She said as she stood up and walked to her night dresser. She sat on the chair staring at her image in the mirror. "I look so old."
"No you don't." Connor said and then she realized she actually said it out loud. "You look sad not old." He continued. She turned her chair to face him.
"Why do you say that?" She asked.
"Cause you do. Your eyes, they always twinkle." He replied.
"Twinkle, I don't follow."
"From the tears." He explained. "You're always sad, even when no one else notices."
"You notice a lot others don't." she said to him.
"I guess." He brushed it off.
"So do you have a theory on why I'm so sad?" She asked knowing he must have one.
"Cause of him. My father." He said to her surprise.
"You are blunt. Aren't you?"
"What's blunt?" He asked. And she remembered there were still things Connor didn't understand.
"Someone who says what he thinks and feels, without holding back." She explained.
"Why would people hold back? Don't they want to say the truth?" His innocent charmed her.
"Not always. Sometimes it's better to keep things inside." She tried to explain, but he didn't seem to understand. "For example, if you care for someone, but you're not sure he or she feels the same way. You'd keep your feelings to your self till you're sure the other person feels the same way."
"Why?" He asked.
"So you won't get hurt." She looked at him. He was finally starting to understand.
"Like you and him." Connor gave an example that made her a bit uncomfortable. Angel was tuning in from the other side of the door.
"Not exactly, but you get the idea." She replied.
"But it is the same." Connor insisted. "You love him but you don't tell him that you do."
"Connor? How do you know all of this?" She asked surprised.
"You said I notice things others don't." He said with a smile.
"Yeah you do." She replied back. "But even if it was true, and I'm not saying it is. It's more complicated than that."
"Cause of the slayer?" Connor knew exactly what was going on. Even Angel was surprised by his knowledge and observant.
"Cause of lots of things, and yes, her as well." She got up and walked towards him. "Now I think it's time you go home, wherever home is."
"Not here." He said and got up.
"It could be you know, if you give it a chance. Give us a chance."
"I don't think so." He said and turned towards the door. Angel who heard his footsteps quickly hid behind the door.
"Connor, before you go." He stopped near the doorway. "Just know you can always come to me, no matter what. Okay?"
"Okay." He said and walked out.
***
Angel waited a couple of minutes before knocking on her door. "Yeah?" She called out.
"Can I come in?" He asked.
"Sure." She said and sat on the bed. He walked in leaving the door opened. He looked at her trying to sense in which mode she was. Was she angry? Was she just tired? Her mode swings were so often now, he couldn't tell the difference.
"Hi." He said with a bashful smile, waiting to see her reaction.
"Hi." She smiled back, which gave him hope and confidence.
"What you doing?" He asked.
"Talking to you." She said pointing out in her reply how unnecessary his question was.
"Right, right." He put his hands in his pockets and turned around his back facing her. He had what-in-hell-is-she-thinking face on.
"So what's up?" She asked after he didn't say anything.
He turned around. "Oh nothing much..." He stared at the ceiling.
"Angel?" He could hear crankiness in her voice.
"It's just... the way you left it downstairs..." He paused for a moment selecting his words. "I was worried. Am worried." He looked at her waiting for the yelling to start, but instead she smiled, the smile he loved so. A smile of understating, a smile he hasn't seen in awhile. "Cor." He walked towards her and sat beside her, facing her her. "I know we started on the wrong foot here, but I really want us to get back on track."
"And which track would that be Angel? The friend's track? the lover's track? And lets not forget the co-workers track, which is my personal favorite." She said sarcastically.
"What ever you feel comfortable with." He replied trying to maintaining his cool, not to lose it, no matter what she says.
"But it's not about what I want, is it? It's about you. So tell me Angel which of the tracks mentioned would you like to get back to?"
**Oh shit** that's the only thing that came to mind right now. What was he suppose to say, considering he just recently, like an hour and a half ago had the same conversation with Buffy. And we all remember how well that conversation went.
"Well I guess..." He was staling and she knew it.
"You guess what? She cut him off. "You haven't decided yet!" She was stating a fact, n asking a question.
"Cordy can't we just be friends, at least till this all thing is over." He begged her, wanting his friend back.
She was about to say a snappy comeback when she stopped for a moment and looked into his eyes. She saw confusion and hurt. She saw his need of a friend, his need for her. Realizing, no matter what they said to one another, no matter whom he kissed, right now he needed her and more importantly she needed him. She smiled softly as she took his hand into hers. "Yes we can." As she said the words he longed to hear, a huge smile spared across his face. "I gather you're pleased."
"Yeap." He said. He felt like a child in a candy store.
"Well that's nice to know, but there's something else we need to talk about." She said in a serious tone.
***
"Don't worry, now that Giles and Willow are onboard, I'm sure we'll be able to..."
"That's not what I'm talking about." She cut him off.
"You're not?" Angel asked surprised.
"Well duh, of course I am." She rolled her eyes. But I know there's nothing I can do about it right now. So instead of mopping around the hotel I decided it's better to deal with some other issues."
"You mean Connor, right?" She looked at him with the how-did-you-know stare. "I saw him leaving your room just before I came in." He decided it would be best at this stage, where she's no longer pissed, to leave the part about him eavesdropping out.
"I think you should talk to him, convince him to stay here in the hotel, with you." She replied. Angel got up and walked towards the balcony doors, which were closed.
"I don't think that's a good idea." He shifted the curtain and looked out to the night sky. "It's such a beautiful night, why would you want to keep it out." And with a swing of the hand he opened the curtain wide.
"I bet you won't say that in the morning." She chuckled. "Angel? She got up and walked towards him. "He made mistakes, we all did. He's not perfect no one is... But he's your son. The only one you'll ever have."
"Never say never." He smiled, thinking a comic relief would help ease the situation. "He's a big boy, he knows where I live."
"But he doesn't know, or think, he's welcome here." Cordy kept on.
"Cause he's not, Cor." Angel turned to face her. Their faces only inches from one another. As he looked at her face, with the moonlight shining on, he felt the urge, the need to kiss her. Not wanting to complicate things even further he turned around and walked a few steps away from her
"How can you say that? He's your son." She turned around to face him.
"Who drowned me in the ocean and left me there to rot." He raised his voice.
"Like I said, no ones perfect, he was wrong, but if you'll just..."
"They hate him." He cut her off, raising his voice. "Fred, Gunn and Lorne." He continued. "I can try to forgive the betrayal, he's my son. But what he did to them... letting them search for me for months, knowing exactly where I was. Playing the part of the loving son..." he stopped his voice cracked. "They can't stand been in the same room with him for more than five minutes, and even then, they don't talk to him or even look at him. So how do you expect him to live here with them?"
"I don't expect anything." She replied. "That way you never get disappointed." She walked to the bed and sat on it. "All I know is, that given time everything and everyone can be forgiven. You were, why can't he?"
"I better let you be." He said and walked towards the door.
"Angel?" As she called his name he stopped and turned around.
"Can you stay with me for awhile, just till I fall asleep?" A bashful smile appeared on her face.
"Sure." He replied with a smile, as he closed the door behind him.
***
TBC
Hi ppl,
First thing, thank you for supporting this fic and for been so patient, I'm Sorry for the long wait, but I had to finish my other fic "Reunion time", so for all of you who read that fic and haven't read the last chapter ever- go check it out, ad let me know what you think.
As for this chapter, as you read there are developments and more are coming soon, so stay tuned and let me know what you think of it, which basically means: Reviews please...
Thanks Nikka.