"Uh… Hi. I think I'm supposed to be here," Connor told Buffy when she opened the door. "Yeah, you're training Dawn, but you know I could probably do that. I'm not really that busy and…" Buffy was interrupted by Dawn. "Buffy! Don't you have to meet Wesley today? He called you and said he had a lead," she said breathlessly, in an effort to allow Connor to come in. Buffy looked at Dawn with irritation and said, "Oh yeah… Gee, Dawn… Thanks for reminding me. Connor, why don't you come in?" Buffy ushered him in mock kindness. Connor stepped in and Buffy quickly rushed up the stairs once he was seated. She knocked on Willow's door and when she opened it, Buffy told her, "Keep an eye on them. I don't want Darla's son to corrupt Dawn." Willow sighed and told her to come in her room. "Buffy, don't you think that you are taking this a bit too far? He is Angel's son too," Willow admonished. Buffy narrowed her eyes and Willow continued, "That's it, isn't it? He's Angel's son. You can't bear the fact that Angel slept with Darla. But what's done is done, Buffy. He can't turn his back on his son now that he's here." Buffy sighed and said, "I know I'm probably biased against him and it's probably because he's Angel's son but I can't forget the fact that he was conceived by Darla. He probably has more evil in his heart than anyone else because of that," Buffy ranted, "Besides, I don't care if Angel slept with half the world because we have nothing to do with each other!" Willow looked into Buffy's eyes. "That's right, Buff. You have nothing to do with Angel, but what about Spike?" Willow asked. "What about Spike?" Buffy repeated. "I know it's not possible that you wouldn't have felt anything when you saw him. You are thoroughly an emotional person, Buffy, even though you won't admit it. Spike endured physical pain for you, in an effort to get you to love him. Sure, that was sheer stupidity but you've got to hand it to him. He really does love you, Buff!" Willow persisted. "I don't know, Willow. It's all so confusing and I have to face them everyday. The both of them! I don't know how to react when I see them now," Buffy said, tears welling up in her eyes.
Just then, blue orbs filled the room and Chris materialized. When he spotted Buffy, he said, "Oh, I'm sorry. I had no idea you were here." Buffy waved away his apology and said, "I should probably get going too. Wes called just now. Apparently, I'm needed over." Willow smiled and said, "And Buffy, I wouldn't worry about Connor. I'm focusing on the thought that he's Angel's son. I know that he won't harm Dawn." Buffy smiled back and shut the door. Turning to Chris, she said, "What's the matter, Chris? You look worried." Chris shook his head. "I'm worried about you. I just found out that you used to deal with black magic," he scolded. Willow looked guilty and said softly, "That was in the past." Chris pulled up a chair and sat in front of her. "Practicing black magic has residual side-effects. As your whitelighter, I want you to know I hope that never happens again and as your… friend, I want to you know that if it does, I'll be there for you," he comforted. Willow looked into his eyes and muttered a heart-felt thank you. 'Damn, it's those eyes. They do me in every time!' Chris thought. As Chris stared back at her, Willow started to feel self-conscious. She had this insane urge to tuck back a wisp of loose hair. She barely knew Chris for a day and yet he was able to make her feel this way. After Tara… she thought that she could never feel for anyone again. She knew it was his expression that pulled her to him. His face seemed to have a fixation of pain etched permanently and she wanted to do her best to comfort him until he became happy again. It was insane, she knew but she couldn't stop herself from thinking about him. She broke the stare and commented on the weather. Chris replied her question politely and stood up. "I think I should go now. The Charmed Ones are calling for me," Chris said, with an apologetic smile. "Yeah, I'll see you around," Willow replied, still not able to bring herself to look at his charming face. With that, Chris orbed out and Willow released a sigh of relief.
When Buffy came down to the hallway, she found Connor and Dawn discussing the best fighting tactics and smiled. 'I don't have anything to worry about,' she thought to herself. She hollered a good-bye and left the house.
"The best line of defense against a single vamp attack would be a direct approach, but of course if there's a nest of vamps then you'd better run, unless of course I'm with you," Connor said and winked at Dawn. Dawn blushed and said, "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself." Connor eyed her and smiled. "Confident and beautiful. I like that," Connor flirted. "Do you have any place we can go to practice?" Connor asked abruptly. "Yeah, the basement. That's where Buffy trains too," Dawn replied. "Well, why don't we start training? I need to leave by 10," Connor said. Dawn looked disappointed that they couldn't talk any longer and would have to go through with the rigorous training. 'This is going to be a boring evening,' she thought glumly. Boy, was she wrong, very wrong indeed.
Things were awkward at first. Connor decided that she should firstly learn hand-to-hand combat. He started with the basics. He taught her how to fend off attacks by blocking them with her arm. "The blows are probably going to be quite hard so your arms will sustain some measure of bruising. That's why it's important to add strength to your hands. This will help in the attack and defense during a fight," he lamented. Dawn was yawning internally but decided that she had better listen in case he asked her to repeat what he had just said. "The main point of your strength comes from the abdomen so it's important that you develop that area," Connor continued. Dawn noted that she had no six packs like Buffy and cursed herself, 'Now he's gonna think I'm such a weakling!' she thought.. "I'll teach you a method you can use to develop your abdomen," Connor offered. Dawn nodded and Connor nudged for her to lie flat against the floor mat. "When you attempt this exercise, you must focus on the central point. Since it's your first time, I will direct you to your central point," he said. He placed his right hand on her abdomen, covering her belly in an effort to help her find her focal point. Immediately, Dawn went into shock and her stomach muscles contracted. No guy had ever touched her before. "Relax, relax Dawn. I know it can be a little weird at first but we need to find your focus point," Connor soothed. Dawn relaxed a little but was acutely aware of the conflicting emotions building up within her. She willed herself to focus and followed the consecutive steps of the exercise.
When Connor first saw Dawn that evening, he was absolutely blown away. It helped that she was attracted to him too. His super-hearing had enabled him to hear the quickening of her heart when she saw him. He smiled to himself and gave himself a mental praise. When they were going through different forms of combat in the living room, he realized that his eyes were more on her than on the manuals. When they had started training, he noticed that she lacked stamina and strength but she had definite potential. He could train her within months. He knew he needed her to open the core of her internal strength, an exercise he had learnt in Quor-toth. Growing up in a hell dimension, he had learnt that his fury could be quelled by focusing on his inner strength. He wanted Dawn to learn this exercise to help her remain calm during battle. He placed his hand over her belly so as to help find her centermost point. He was surprised at Dawn's reaction. Her abdomen had immediately tightened and she gasped. He concluded that Dawn probably had very little experience with guys. He tried to calm her down by encouraging her to relax. After that, he was very careful not to touch her unless it was necessary. She probably wasn't used to another person handling her in that way. He showed her a few more ways she could use to dodge an attack. He wanted to concentrate on defense first and start with attack later. He called it quits after he showed her how to dart away while elbowing her attacker when it came from behind. He could tell that she was exhausted and commented, "It's the first time you are exposed to such strenuous exercise, I believe." When she nodded, he continued, "Well, don't worry Dawn, it gets better," and he gave her a flirtatious wink. Dawn smiled back and said, "I'll fix some dinner before you leave." Connor shook his head. "It's okay. I'm supposed to have dinner with Da… with Angel," he explained. Dawn noted his slip-up but left it at that. She nodded and asked, 'When's the next training session?" Connor stared at her as if she had gone mad before replying, "My dear Dawn, trainings will be everyday from today! We have to build up your stamina and strength and that can't be done once in a week." Dawn blushed and nodded. "Well then, I better get going," Connor said, not wanting to leave. Dawn walked towards the door and Connor followed behind reluctantly. Before he stepped out of the door, he turned to Dawn and said, "I'm sorry, Dawn for not realizing what touching you must have meant. I swear if I had known, I wouldn't have…." Before he could continue, Dawn interrupted, "It's okay. I was just a little shocked. I wasn't offended or anything. You can touch me whenever you want." Connor raised an eyebrow at that and Dawn corrected herself. "I mean when it's necessary," she blushed. Connor gave her his brightest smiles and left. Dawn leaned against the closed door and smiled to herself. "What's that big, goofy smile for?" Willow questioned as she descended the stairs. Looking up, Dawn replied, "Nothing. Just thinking how life would be like if I had known Connor earlier in Sunnydale." Willow looked at her questioningly. "You're not falling for him, are you?" she questioned. "I think Willow that's not possible because I am already in love with him!" Dawn exclaimed. Willow opened her eyes wide at Dawn's revelation and gave her a toothy grin. "Do you think he reciprocates?" she asked. "I don't know. He flirts with me but I don't know if he's likes me," Dawn answered. "I'm sure he does. It's in the genes. Angel couldn't resist Buffy Summers so obviously his son wouldn't be able to resist Dawn Summers!" Willow assured. "Oh and Willow, please don't tell Buffy about this. She'd freak out!" Dawn pleaded. "She would, wouldn't she?" Willow said rhetorically. "Well, your secret's safe with me, Dawnie," Willow assured.
"Okay, I believe that I deserve an explanation," Leo said, pointing at Piper's bulging belly. "Well, isn't it obvious? I'm pregnant!" Piper retorted. "I can see that, Piper… But how…" Leo asked. "I think you are old enough to know how it happened," Piper said sarcastically. "Piper, I know we've had our differences these past few months, but don't you think that you should have at least told me that you're pregnant?" Leo scolded. "You're not my nanny!" Piper insisted. "I'm your husband! And right now, I'm the father of your child!" Leo exclaimed. Piper grew silent and turned back to cooking the afternoon meal. "I wanted to, you know. I deluded myself into thinking that it was for the best but I badly wanted to tell you. I guess I was afraid that I would not be able to stand another rejection," Piper said quietly. Leo held her by the shoulders and turned her around to face him. "You know Piper, I still love you. I always have. There was not a day when I was up there that I did not think of you or Wyatt. Nothing can ever stop me from loving you, Piper. Not even the Elders," Leo confessed. Piper sniffed and Leo was surprised to see tears in her eyes. Piper looked embarrassed and wiped them away saying. "It's the hormones. They are going into overdrive." With that, Leo pulled her closer until he enveloped her in a bear hug. "Hey Piper, what's…." Chris said as he entered the kitchen. He saw the two of them and trailed off, his words completely forgotten. Piper jumped back consciously from Leo's arms. "I came at the wrong time. I'm sorry," Chris apologized. Before Piper could stop him, he orbed out. "You guys still keeping him around?" Leo asked. "I mean after what happened before doesn't affect the three of you anymore?" Leo questioned. Piper looked annoyed and she replied, "Chris is not just some random toy that we use and discard, Leo. He came from the future to save Wyatt, our son!" she defended. "Since when did you start defending Chris?" Leo asked suspiciously. Piper sighed. "I think that there's something you should know about Chris. I just don't know how to say it," Piper said. "He didn't father your child, did he!" Leo asked stupidly. Piper gave him a look that made him wish he could die a second time again. "I mean he didn't miss the father of your child, did he," Leo asked sheepishly. Piper studied Leo as if she was looking at a child and said, "Leo, what I'm going to tell you might come as a shock to you so I want you to listen to me very carefully." Leo understood her serious tone and nodded. "Chris is…. Well, Chris… is your son. He came from the future to stop Wyatt from turning evil," Piper said in one breath. She tried to gauge Leo's reaction but he remained stoic. "You're joking, right?" he finally said. Piper crossed her arms in anger and said, "He's your son, Leo, our son! The child I'm carrying is Chris!" Her expression was so serious that Leo knew she was not joking. "I… I… don't know what to say." Leo finally said. "All this time, the way I treated him… He must hate me… Does he? Does he, Piper?" Leo asked warily. "I don't know, but I do know this, Leo. Chris is your son. It would only be your goodness which fills his heart," Piper said encouragingly. Leo sighed and sat down. "How am I ever… going to face him?" Leo said and looked up at Piper. "I left you, Wyatt and him. He's not even born yet and I left him!" Leo said, enraged. "It's not your fault, Leo. He knows that," Piper comforted. "I can only hope so, Piper. I can only hope so," Leo said dejectedly.
It was difficult to look at her and yet it was excruciating not to. He hadn't seen her since Joyce died and everything was different now. He worked for Wolfram & Hart and she lost all her potentials. Angel sighed. Wesley was babbling about how this was all pre-destined. He had heard that many a time before. It was pre-destined that he got a soul. It was pre-destined that two vampires could have a baby. It was pre-destined that Jasmine would wreak havoc in the world and take his son away from him. Destiny sucks, he concluded. He might just as well grab a stake and put it through his heart and end Destiny right here, right now. Angel scolded himself for having such thoughts. 'I'm a Champion first, all other things are second', he thought. But looking at Connor, Angel knew that was untrue. 'I'm a father first', he realized. Connor looked up and met his stare. Connor smiled, breaking the tension that was between them for the past few months. Angel smiled back and returned his attention to Wesley's chart. 'I'll do it for Connor… and Buffy and for all the other people on this Earth. I'll take on the apocalypse!' he thought with confidence. 'If only she was here,' he thought. 'If only Cordy was still here…' he thought, with regret in his heart. He was about to say something when a vision flashed in front of him. Angel stood ramrod still as the vision passed. "Woman attacked, gotta go now!" he said suddenly, interrupting Wesley. "Wait, how do you know…" Buffy started but Angel cut her off. "I just do. Let's go," he said as he grabbed weapons. Connor was right beside him. Buffy followed after, wanting a piece of the action. "Well now, ain't that sweet… One big happy family…" Spike said sarcastically. He rolled his eyes and grabbed an axe.
I must be the biggest idiot in the world, well either that or the busiest. Third year sucks. Hi CharmedMilliE, what's up? Anyway, about that projects thing. I live in Singapore so no Summer holidays for us. Just an annual monthly break which occurs in December. Gosh, it has been a year since I last updated and what infuriates me is that I had already completed chapter 4 last year! My exams end next week and after that I will have all the time in the world to write more, I hope. :D So anyway, I hope that I will still be able to remember the original story that I had planned. Anyway, enjoy. :) Oh yeah, I was kinda thinking about making it a spuffy pairing originally but now I don't know anymore. Well, let's just see where my inspiration (if I have any left) leads me.