Angel was still crashed out on the couch as Gunn and fred had woken up. They walked down the stairs only to smile at his still body. They walked right to the kitchen and started making a big pot of coffee. A few minutes later Xander strolled into the kitchen. He walked in on Gunn and Fred having a mini make-out session by the coffee pot. The slowly broke apart upon hearing Xander enter.
Fred smiled, "Sorry, we didn't hear anyone else up."
Xander smiled and wave dit off, "No worries. I'm more used to seeing two girls in my kitchen but this is L.A." Gunn and Fred weren't exactly sure what to say so Xander continued, "You guys can continue to stare at me like a crazy person but I would like to know where the bathroom is. There's too many rooms and I have walked into like eight. No luck on each and every one."
Fred smiled and walked out of Gunn's embrace, "I'll show you."
Xander nodded still not fully awake. Gunn smiled as his girlfriend lead him away. As they were leaving Cordy walked in. After a short good morning to Fred and Xander she walked into the kitchen and smiled at Gunn, "Coffee ready yet?"
Gunn smiled, "Not yet but good morning to you too."
Cordelia smiled, "I didn't sleep too well so cranky me today."
Gunn smiled and went back to watching the coffee maker make coffee. After about 5 minutes Angel had finally woken up just in time to see Xander, Fred and Wesley walk back to the kitchen. When he walked into the kitchen he saw everyone but Dawn, Conner and Buffy.
Cordelia smiled upon his enterence, "Good morning."
Angel smiled back, "Hey guys."
Xander waved sarcastically, "I'd come up with some sarcastic comment but my brain won't function until buffy get's here with my breakfast."
Angel looked a little confused, "Buffy's not here?"
Xander shook his head, "Of course not." At everyone's confused expressions he sighed before explaining, "Every morning Buffy has a bad dream or just doesn't sleep well which seems to be every night this summer she goes for a run and get's Dawnie and me breakfast. Seeing as she wasn't next to me when I woke up and my wallet is missing it's safe to say she went out for a run." Angel nodded and something finally clicked in Xander's head, "Why were you sleeping on the couch man?"
Angel thought this would be the best time to tell everyone where Conner actually was. He cleared his throat before speaking, "That's actually something I wanted to talk to you all about. Last night when Buffy and I were talking Conner sort of came by."
Gasps and sighs spread throughout the room. Cordelia was the one who expressed her opinion though, "You let him sleep here? With all of us sleeping you let him sleep here?"
Angel sighed and continued, "He actually apologized to me and I know it sounds crazy to all of you but I believe him."
Wesley expected this because he knew about Buffy and him talking and Xander knew because Buffy told him the night before. Xander was the one who spoke though, "So what? Are you asking everyone to play nice or just informing us all because I actually knew."
Angel sighed but answered him, "Play nice."
Cordy shook her head, "No way. How could you especially ask that of us?"
Wesley smiled and sipped some of his tea. "I'm more worried about how he'll treat me."
Cordy shook her head, "Well you deserve every bit of it."
Wesley nodded, "Yes but I'm here aren't I?"
"What is that suppossed to mean?" Cordy glared at Wesley
Xander banged his head on the table, "He means if he can sit in the middle of a room with all of you people then Conner should be able to. Sure what the boy did was wrong but you have all made major mistakes too. Somebody had to forgive you all. I mean Angel went evil and started killing people, Wesley stole his kid, Cordy has always been evil, I defenitely had my moments way back when and you all can still be in a room with each other. Hell if I can be in a room with Angel and not stake him i think you all can at least avoid yelling at the boy for a few minutes."
Angel sighed, "Xander actually made a little bit of sense." He avoided Xander's smirk and continued, "Wheather you guys like it or not he's my son. He was going to come back sooner or later and it just happened sooner then I thought."
Xander smiled, "All hail buffy then."
Wesley realized buffy had said something about talking to Conner to Xander and knew she didn't want it to leak to Angel. Cordy of course didn't so she spoke in her usual bitchy tone, "What the hell does buffy have to do with this?"
Wesley of course covered, "Well if buffy is here it probably means Conner coming back was meant to happen. So wheather we like it or not he's going to be a part of it."
Angel nodded, "So no insults and avoid glaring if you can."
After a short silence fred finally spoke, "When do those teenagers wake up?"
-Hyperion - Lobby - About 10 minutes Later-
Dawn was finally exiting her room and walking down the stairs when she heard a door shut behind her. She stopped on the steps hoping it was Angel but she realized when Conner walked onto the steps that she got someone better then Angel.
Dawn smiled at the boy, "You must be Conner."
Conner nodded and smiled to be polite, "Yeah. Who are you?"
Dawn smiled, "Dawn Summers."
Conner nodded, "So you must be Buffy's sister."
Dawn nodded, "Who told you about me?"
"Angel."
Dawn smiled, "Cool."
They started to walk down the stairs together when Conner finally stopped smiling, "With the way you're acting nobody told you everything about me."
Dawn shrugged, "Born from two vampires, stolen, raised in hell to hate Angel, Trapping Angel at the bottom of the ocean...I got it all."
Conner couldn't believe it, "Then how come you're being so nice to me?"
Dawn smiled, "The way I see it everything worked out. Angel let you stay here so things must be a little better. I don't hold grudges unless you hurt me directly or Buffy directly."
Conner nodded as they walked off the last step, "I'll make sure not to hurt you two then."
Dawn smiled and stopped at the enterence to the kitchen. She turned towards Conner, "Are you ready for this?"
Conner smiled, "It's a little easier then before you came along."
Dawn blushed a little, "I'll be there."
Conner nodded and took the first steps towards the kitchen.
-Hyperion - Kitchen-
When the teenagers enter the kitchen it surprised everyone, especially Angel, "Conner, I see you've met Dawn."
Conner half smiled, "Yeah. Friendly."
Dawn nodded and looked around finally realizing everyones looks focused on Conner. Conner stood facing down avoiding the glaring eyes. Angel couldn't help but feel bad for him as he watch everyones judgemental faces. Dawn shook her head, "So guys. Anything else to stare at, like your coffee's?"
Everyone was surprised at Dawn's outburst but Xander seeing as he would of said it if he wasn't so tired. Everyone's eyes instantly started staring other places. Conner smiled over at Dawn as Angel spoke, "Like sister, like sister."
Dawn smiled, "You live with her long enough you start to act like her."
Xander shook his head, "That is not true. I don't act like Buffy."
Dawn smiled, "You're a guy Xander. I'd be scared if you started to act like Buffy."
Xander smiled and finally looked at the clock, "Where is she? She's usually back by now."
Dawn shook her head, "No worries. This is L.A. the coffee place is probably a little further then the one in Sunnydale if I know which one she went to."
Xander nodded. "Ah. I forgot you Summer's girls used to live here."
Dawn smiled, "We should go see my dad while we're here. You know if the world doesn't end."
Xander shook his head, "Yeah right. Like your sister would go see your dad. You know as well as I do Dawnie that the only way Buffy would go see your dad would be if he died and she could dance on his grave."
Angel instantly felt a pain of betrayl as he finally proved buffy had lied to him. Now a question remained, the question being where Buffy was last night for an hour. Angel was torn out of his thoughts by the sound of the front door opening. Xander stopped everyone, "I'll bring her here. It's easier."
Everyone nodded and Xander ran towards the sound. Almost 20 seconds after he left Xander was back and grabbing Dawn's hand, "Don't be frightened."
Dawn was already frightened as she ran after Xander. instinctively everyone took off after Xander and Dawn. They bumped into the Summer's people as they stopped just before entering the lobby. When they looked towards the door everyone realized why Xander was scared. At the door stood Buffy talking to a guy.
The only one not afraid was Dawn who recognized the guy. She shouted his name and started running towards them, "SHANE!"
The second she connected with the guy who was apparently Shane he grabbed her in a giant hug, "Oh darling. I haven't seen you in years. You're so grown up."
Dawn finally let go of Shane and looked him up and down, "So are you."
Buffy avoided everyone else's looks as they started to slowly walk into the lobby. Instead she focussed on the man and sister in front of her, "Dawnie."
Dawn smiled, "Okay I'll stop."
Shane smiled at buffy, "I see you have plans."
Buffy could of melted in his italian accent. She smiled and nodded though, "I do. I liked this morning though. I'm so glad I ran into you."
Shane winked at her, "Don't hesitate to call me. I missed you."
Buffy smiled and blushed a little, "You know I'll call you."
Dawn nodded, "If she doesn't call you, I will."
Shane smiled at Dawn, "Oh I missed you too darling."
Dawn giggled and Buffy sighed as she stared at Shane, "It was nice of you to walk me."
Shane nodded, "I don't live too far from here anyway. Plus I liked talking to you."
Buffy nodded and put a piece of hair behind her ear, "Ditto."
Shane smiled a half smile and sighed, "I should be going. You're not the only one with a life."
Buffy nodded and Dawn sighed, "We'll see you soon."
Shane giggled a little bit and hugged Dawn, "Of course."
Buffy hugged him next and kissed him once on each cheek before finally stepping back away from him, "I'll see you."
Shane winked at her and walked away. The second Buffy shut the door Dawn kicked her in the leg, "You couldn't of invited him in. I mean seriously buffy. We haven't see him in like or 8 years."
Buffy sighed, "One, OW. Two, we have better things to do today and three, he actually has plans."
Dawn nodded and then tried to look innocent, "Sorry." Buffy nodded and Dawn got excited again, "Did you hear him talk? He still calls me darling like it's my name."
Buffy shook her head, "Lose the fantasy Dawnie."
Xander finally spoke, "So is the coffee and doughnuts in your hand a fantasy or did you really remember to buy me breakfast."
Buffy smiled and walked over to Xander. Xander looked like a kid in a candy store as he walked to the couch and sat down, obviously enjoying his food. As buffy looked around to everyone else she sighed and avoided Angel's eyes, "Long story short. That was Shane, I met him in Italy where we dated but when he moved to L.A. and I came back we broke up. Dawn's in love with him and I'm not. I ran into him buying breakfast. Discussion over."
Angel couldn't believe that was all she was giving him. Dawn wasn't done yet though, "What do you mean over buffy? You can't bring Shane into a conversation and just say over. You didn't even talk about why you guys broke up or about who he dated after you."
Buffy sighed and with an angry face she handed Dawn her apple cinnamon tea and pointed to the doughnuts, "Go and eat your breakfast Dawn. This conversation is over."
Dawn sighed and walked over to sit with Xander. Wesley was the first to speak out of the group, "What a way to start the morning. Awkward silences already."
Buffy smiled, "I didn't even have my coffee yet."
Cordy glared at buffy, "Looks like you had one hell of a wake-up though."
Buffy shook her head, "Shut your mouth Cordy before I shut it for you."
Everyone was surprised. Buffy and Cordy were usually mean to each other but buffy sounded a little more cranky then usual. Angel sighed, "You okay this morning?"
Buffy shrugged, "Didn't sleep long."
Xander smiled, "Yeah I know. A little after you got carried away AND BEET ME you didn't sleep again no matter how much you would like me to think you did."
Buffy smiled, "I already apologized for that like six times. Plus it got me a lead."
It was suddenly all business as soon as she spoke those words. Everyone spread out on the furniture or leaning on the furniture. Angel finally was the one to ask her, "What do you got?"
Buffy smiled at Wesley, "I know why you're so important."
Wesley looked a little frightened, "I'm not evil am I because you're looking at me like you might stake me."
Buffy shook her head, "It's time for you to be my watcher again."
Confused faces went throughout the room as Buffy stood with her head held high looking the most confident she had since she arrived in L.A.
-England -
Willow continued to listen to Giles under the tree they were both standing under. "Do you want to be punished?"
Willow looked even a little desperate as she replied, "I wanna be Willow."
Giles smiled and grabbed her hands, "You are. In the end, we all are who we are, no matter how much we may appear to have changed."
Willow didn't have time to react as she fell to the ground shrieking in pain. Giles tried to comfort her and hold her as he went to his knees also. He listened to though, he listened to Willow scream, "Oh, God."
Giles continued to try calm her, "Just breathe."
Willow shook her head almost crying, "I can't. God!"
Giles repeated himself, "Just breathe Willow."
Willow calmed down a little bit and stared in Giles' eyes, "What happened?"
Giles looked confused as he stared back, "What do you remember?"
Willow propped herself up with her hands on the ground, "We were talking and I felt..." With a sudden movement she takes her hands away from the ground obviously frightened again, "I felt the earth. It's all connected. It is, but it's not all good and pure and rootsy. There's deep, deep black. There's... I saw, I saw the earth , Giles. I saw it's teeth."
A look of revelation crossed Giles' face, "The hell mouth."
Willow nodded still frightened, "It's gonna open. It's gonna swallow us all."
Giles was left in complete dismay as he tried to calm one of the closest people he had to a daughter and tried to figure out what to do.