"So...do they always fight like that?" Connor hadn't spoken for the longest time causing Dawn to jump slightly when he finally did speak.

"You mean Buffy and Angel? Oh yea...it's their trade mark. That and pain."

"I don't get it," Connor said, confusion lacing his tone. Dawn sighed.

"Me either. Near as I can tell, they are both completely in love with each other, but kept apart forever by the curse on Angel's soul. It's sort of a Romeo and Juliette type deal, but instead of the two of them killing themselves, they just moved away from each other. She still loves him though. Sometimes...sometimes I catch her looking at pictures of him, or reading old diary entries when she thinks that nobody is in the house. From the looks of what just happened there, I'm guessing that he still loves her as well."

"I didn't think he was capable of feeling," Connor said contemptuously. "Does everyone forget that he's a vampire but me?"

"He does have a soul Connor." Dawn said quietly. "I know you don't think it's possible, but it is. Angel has been on our side for a long time now, regardless of what you were told."

"I was raised to hate him by the only person who ever loved me...Holtz...my true father. How can I betray him like that?"

"You think that by giving Angel a chance you're betraying him?" Dawn questioned. Connor shrugged and looked away, clearly more confused than ever. For a long while he was silent.

"My dad....Holtz, hated my father. He killed his children and his wife. How can I forgive someone like that? I was raised to believe in goodness, not evil."

"Angel isn't evil." Dawn replied gently. "What he did was terrible, but it wasn't him that did it. It was Angelus. You were raised in a dimension where there was only black and white...good and evil. That doesn't exist here Connor. You've left that world behind and alienated the one person who could have helped you."

"You're only defending him because your sister is in love with him." Even after the words left Connor's mouth however, he felt unsure of them.

"That's part of it." Dawn admitted, "but I've also seen the good Angel has done. I've seen him save my sister. I've seen him save my friends. I have seen both sides of him and I know that one is truly a good person. I just thought I would tell you that."

"We're here." Connor stated, as if he hadn't heard a word Dawn had said. She looked up to realize that they were indeed at her and Buffy's hotel. She smiled at Connor wishing more and more by the moment that she could help him reconcile with Angel. They were so much alike. Both incredibly handsome, both noble, both so stubborn.

"Thanks for the escort." She said with a nod. "I don't think after tonight Buffy is going to want you to follow us anymore."

"I don't think so either." Connor acknowledged. "She doesn't really need it though, does she?"

"No," Dawn replied with a shake of her head. "Buffy is more than capable of taking care of herself. Angel was just being over protective." She wanted to add Like you, but felt it wouldn't be received very well in his present state. Connor shifted uncomfortably.

"I really would like to see you again Dawn." He finally said.

"I would like that." She told him. "But I think it would be a cold day in hell before Buffy would let me start hanging out with friends on top of everything that's been going on."

"I don't think she likes me." Connor stated, remembering the look that she had given him and not liking it one little bit.

"I'll talk to her." Dawn promised. "Maybe I can convince her that we could use all the help we could get."

"You really think she's in trouble?" Connor wondered. Dawn nodded.

"I think we're all in deeper than we realize."