couldn't think of anymore chapter titles so i'll change the titles so far to numbers - just incase you wanted to know. Sorry about the wait if anyones still reading.

Chapter Five

Connor was dreaming.

The first thing he saw was his family. It was the meal he'd had before leaving for college. His father was praising him for getting into one of the best schools.

Then something caught his eye by the window, and he caught a glimpse of a face he should have known but didn't. Then it faded into the shadows.

Then everything seemed to freeze, and the scene faded around him. He was now in a dark room. A girl was crying on the floor. Pleading for his help. "You're the one good thing that ever happened to me Connor. The only good thing". That was Darla. His mother.

No, not his mother. It couldn't be. The scene then changed again, and he was standing in front of the woman he remembered growing up with. "What ever you do with your life Connor, we'll always be there for you. You'll always have our support. Mine and your fathers".

Then it changed again. He was standing on a boat looking out at the ocean. It was night. He was looking down at a metal box with someone trapped in it. "His a liar," said a woman standing by his side. Justine.

"Remember that I'm your father and I love you. Never forget that," said the man. His father. Angel.

Images from both lives kept playing back at him. Fred. Gunn. Lorne. Kids he thought of as his best friends since he'd been a kid, Cordelia…and then, just before he woke up, a new face. A girl with long chestnut brown hair and brown eyes. Someone important. Dawn. "Hi…I'm Dawn".

Her laughter echoed all around him.

"Dawn," he sat up suddenly.

"It's ok, I'm here," she said quietly. "It was just a nightmare".

"No. It was more then that. Memories of who I really was. I remember everything".

"So, you know who you are?" she whispered.

"Yes," he looked away from her. "My name is Connor".

"I like it," she told him.

"My father…." his voice faltered. "My real father sent me away. I remember I was angry at him. Because of who he was. And I was mad at him for not saving me, for not finding me when I was stolen from him. So he altered reality. Gave me a future where I would be happy".

"Connor…just who is your father?" asked Dawn suspiciously.

"Angel," he said finally. "I know that now. I had no reason to be like I was. Mad, sure, but not suicidal. But I know that he did all he could at the time. I'm not angry at him because I know he thought he had no other choice. And, I realise he did all he could back then as well. Holtze, Justine, that was all a lie. And I believed it".

"I'm confused," said Dawn, but she continued to let him talk…he looked like he needed to.

"I should have listened to him. And now I might not get the chance to tell him I'm sorry".

"Yes you will," said Dawn. "If Angel's still the same guy I knew, once he realises you've gone missing, he won't stop until his found you. And you say he gave you away, but his probably been checking up on you".

Connor met her gaze and actually smiled.

She looked around. "This place is driving me crazy. How long have we been here again?"

"Seems like forever," he answered her.

"You know, I like this new you," she said with a laugh. "It's good to be able to have an actual conversation".

"Well, it's hard to talk when you don't know who you are," he said. "You know, I'm starved!"

Food suddenly appeared on the table.

Connor looked at it sceptically. "I also remember thinking magic was bad".

"Not all magic," said Dawn. "And it depends who uses it. It can be really useful. Besides, I'm sure it's not poisoned. Whoever's kidnapped us could have killed us when we first got here. And besides, I'm not about to starve!"

"Valid point," he replied.

There was silence for a moment while they ate.

"Tell me about you," said Connor. "Since you know all about me, it's only fair".

She smiled. "Well, you're not the only one who's not supposed to be here. I'm not even real. At least you were borne into this world, I was made".

"Say that again?" asked Connor.

She then began to explain to him all about her life. She didn't care that he was a complete stranger. She already felt like she'd known him forever anyway. It felt comfortable, talking to him. She felt like she could say anything, and he wouldn't laugh. He was suitably shocked when she told him about being the key and the whole fight with Glory, equally sympathetic when learning about her mother dying, and awed when she told him about the collapse of the hell mouth.

"And I thought I had it bad," he said with a laugh.

At least his talking now, she thought. The past couple of days she'd been here, he had barely spoken a word. He'd been so dark and almost creepy that she had begun to fear the worst for him. And for her. But she guessed with Angel as his father, now everything made sense!

"I wonder why you suddenly remembered though?" she asked after a while. "Why now, and not when we first arrived".

"Because, it takes a few days for the spell to wear off. Dark magics are not easily broken - I should know. It's taken a lot to get you both here. Dawn, your sisters done her job when it comes to being your guardian. You've been protected better then I'd imagined. And Connor's father has done well also. Then you were in Quor-toth, and then protected by none other then Wolfram and hart - someone else I'd rather not cross paths with," said a new voice in the room. "At least not yet".

Connor and Dawn both stood up, moving closer together instinctively. "Who are you?" asked Connor,

The man standing before them smiled evilly and pointed at Dawn.

"She knows who I am".

………………………………...

Cordelia had suggested they spend a couple of days resting and laying low before they started searching. She'd said it in a pissed off way, but had agreed that there wasn't much of a choice.

"You made the right choice," Angel said to her some time later. "I know we're kind of in a hurry, but there's no use in us running off and getting caught by the bad guys before we'v even begun.

"I'm just worried," she'd replied.

Angel glanced around. "Its quiet in here," he said suspiciously. "Why aren't I hearing the bickering of Buffy and…"

"I was hoping you wouldn't notice," said Cordy. "They'v gone outside to have The Talk".

"The talk?" Angel asked her.

"Yep. You know, the…last time I saw you, you were dead and now I find out you'v been alive for months and you didn't tell me so now I don't know if I can forgive you talk".

"Oh, right," Angel rolled his eyes. "His in trouble isn't he?"

"Spike? Big time trouble".

"Did they love each other? Forgive me for being closed minded, but its Buffy and Spike we're talking about".

Cordelia laughed. "I know. Not exactly a match made in heaven, right? But then, I guess you could say the same about ….never mind," she cut herself off abruptly, but Angel knew who she meant. And just like her, he wasn't ready to talk about it yet. "But anyway, I think they did. Spike certainly. I mean, he died for her, that's not something everyone can say. And, I think in her own way, she feels for him".

"So, I wonder how long world war three is gonna last?" he asked, looking up at the door leading to the back of the shelter.

"From what I'v heard about those two, you can never tell," she said.

………………………………...

"So," said Buffy quietly.

"So," said Spike, looking anywhere but at her.

It was raining lightly, and they were both standing under the shelter above the back door. Stupid weather, she thought bitterly.

"You could at least look at me," she continued.

He didn't say anything to that, but continued to smoke his cigarette. Finally he spoke. "Look, I know I should have told you what happened. But I ….it's hard to explain".

"So start," she snapped. "We'v got all night".

He sighed in frustration. "I didn't know how you'd react. I mean, I died saving the world. If your gonna go, you might as well leave with a bang, right? Then it turns out it was all for nothing, coz here I am. And you only said what you said because it was the end. You didn't mean it".

"Who says so?" Buffy retorted. "And you didn't want to loose face so you lied to me? How lame is that? Did it ever occur to your tiny brain that I might have been happy to see you? That it would have made things better?"

"I didn't want to interrupt your life!" he told her. "And you know how I feel about rejection slayer".

"Who said I would have rejected you?"

They lapsed back into silence.

"Maybe this isn't the best time to talk about this," she said. "So much is going on. All I can say is, if you'd just come and told me, I would have been shocked but….I'd have gotten over it. Now…you lied to me. And you know how I feel about that".

Spike watched with a heavy heart as she went back into the building.

………………………………...

The next day, they all crowded into an office that was separate from the main shelter. Although the shelter was impressively big compared to others Anne had used, it wasn't nearly big enough for all the heroes.

"So, I think the first thing we should do is try to get back to the watchers council," said Buffy. "It has all the information and resources and contacts we could ever need. It's the best place to start looking for Dawn and Connor".

"I agree," said Cordelia, who was in her usual seat by Angel, something Buffy hadn't failed to notice. "But if even the powers don't know where they are yet, we'll have a hard job ahead of us! We should probably leave in groups though, it'll be easier to avoid enemies".

"I want to help," Anne spoke up, unexpectedly. They all turned to look at her.

"I know its lame, but I feel like a part of…whatever this is. I can do research or whatever, but it's a good cause your fighting for and I want in. besides I owe you guys so much for stuff you've done in the past…lets call it a thank you".

"It's a very dangerous thank you," said Wesley, doubtfully.

She shrugged casually. "You remember when those zombies attacked my other shelter? I handled myself then right? If I can handle that I can handle anything".

"Right answer," said Gunn with a smile.

"What about this place," asked Xander, who sounded surprisingly on edge.

She hesitated a moment, then continued. "It's ok. I actually have assistants now. They can handle it".

"Ok Anne," said Angel. "You're in!".

"Uh, there's a slight problem," said Fred. "Isn't the council in England or something? What about Angel and Spike?"

Buffy was trying to ignore the blonde vampire as much as she could, unable to face the problems between them. But now she looked at him, taking a deep breath, gathering her strength to meet his cold eyes. "There must be a spell or something that Willow can find. Teleporting or something".

"That's fine by me," Spike muttered.

" I'll get started on that," said Willow.

"Do you need any help? Supplies or something?" asked Anne. "There's an occultshop like, five minutes away from here".

Willow hesitated. "Maybe. But I don't think anyone should go out on their own. Not yet. Dangerous times and everything. Xander can go, or maybe Angel…"

"It's only a ten minute walk right?" said Xander. "I was in Africa for months Will, I can handle this".

Willow winced, she knew how touchy Xander could be these days. I guess loosing an eye and an ex girlfriend in the same week can do that to a person, she thought sadly. She nodded finally. "Sorry, no offence!"

"Take this," said Wesley, handing him a gun. "It's filled with wooden stakes instead of bullets," he explained at Anne's startled look. "Just in case".

Anne nodded. "Ok. And I have my mobile just to be safe. We'll be fine!"

"So, I heard about what happened to Sunnydale," Anne said as they walked outside- and immediately regretted it.

"If you don't mind, I don't want to talk about it," Xander snapped.

"Sure, I understand. Must have been horrible," she answered him.

"Doesn't begin to describe it," he muttered. Then he sighed. "Look - I'm sorry, alright? I'm not usually a bad guy. A lot of stuff happened. I know it was a year ago but I still miss….the people I lost. Not just in the explosion. Everything about that place is just…"

"It's ok," she nodded in understanding.

"And besides, I hardly know you. No offence Anne, but last time we met, you were kind of…"

"Kinda crazy?" she finished for him. "I know I was. But thanks to you guys i've turned my life around".

"So i've noticed," he said with a rare smile.

"This it?" he asked suddenly, pointing ahead of them.

"Yep. I'm glad it's still open. It's getting late".

"See, no problem," she said after they were finished. After they left the lights in the shop turned off suddenly.

"Yeah," murmured Xander, looking around the shadows. "I don't know what they were all so…"

"What was that?" she interrupted him, grabbing his arm as the sound of footsteps echoed around them.

"You heard it too huh? Oh, I guess it could be the usual. You know, Homeless people, the police, crazies…"

"How about vamps, demons or zombies?" she asked.

"Get your phone Anne, now," he ordered.

The area was deserted as usual in this area of LA at night. Anne dialled the number of the shelter, her hands shaking as she did. "Hello?" came Cordelia's concerned voice on the other end. "Anne? That you?"

"Oh, god," Anne screamed, and dropped the phone as the vampires rushed towards them. Xander instinctively stepped in front and held the gun in front of him, but someone else was in his way.

Lindsey fought the vamps with all his strength and he put up a good fight, using all the training wolfram and hart had given him over the years.

But while he was distracted, one of the creatures grabbed Anne. She screamed. "Let her go!" shouted Xander, unable to watch anyone else die, knowing that his shouting was useless.

For a moment, no one moved. Lindsey…who had staked a few already, froze when he heard the girl scream.

Anne mentally counted to ten, trying not to panic. Then she bit into the vamps hand, and hit it in the stomach when it accidentally did what Xander said. Xander fired the gun and Anne quickly ducked to the ground, the vamp exploding into dust around her.

"Are you ok?" asked Xander, helping her up.

She nodded shakily, coughing, and blinking away tears. "I'm so stupid," she finally got out. "This was all my idea… we could have been…and it would've been all my fault!"

"No - you did good. Trust me, as king of bad ideas…this was nothing," Xander tried to reassure her.

"You guys shouldn't be out this late. Bad things can happen…" started Lindsey, then he hesitated when he saw the gun. "But I guess you know that".

"Hey…It's you!" said Anne suddenly.

"Me?" asked Lindsey, surprised at her question. How did she know him?

"Yeah. Lindsey something. You tried to con my shelter out of loads of money".

"Oh, right, about that," he said lightly. " My job, it was…"

"Look out," said Xander. Lindsey turned but it was too late and he was knocked to the ground, and a demon they hadn't even noticed appeared from the shadows and stood in his place. Lindsey felt a wave of dizziness sweep over him and tried desperately not to pass out.

"I thought it was over," whispered Anne in horror.

Xander shook his head grimly. "It's never over".

TBC