Angel found Connor pacing back and forth in his office, clenching his hands over and over again. He had never known the boy to look nervous and yet here was his son watching him enter with an almost quiet terror.

"You're walking pretty well." He remarked. Angel nodded and noticed that Connor wasn't looking at him, but rather fixing his attention on an obviously more calming aspect beyond his office-Dawn.

"I heal pretty fast." Angel said with a nonchalant shrug. "Wesley also gave me some herbs that helped a bit. I'll be back to normal in about a week or so."

"He's really been a big help." Connor acknowledged quietly. "Why do you all treat him so badly?"

Angel was floored by that comment, not having realized that his son had noticed or even understood the tension between Wesley, himself and the others. Although Angel had officially apologized to Wesley for his actions after Connor was taken once Wesley saved him from the bottom of the ocean, the rift was far from healed. Angel regretted the way that he had treated Wesley, and knew even after the feeble attempt that a mere apology could not even come close to restoring what had been lost. Angel wanted to restore that friendship, but wasn't sure how, as it was obvious that Wesley had politely accepted his apology and then promptly proceeded to isolate himself further and further, only coming to their aid when it was specifically requested of him.

Connor of all people had noticed this and Angel could see that he sympathized with Wesley, even identified with him to some extent. The two of them were outsiders, Connor because he had spent the bulk of his life in a harsh and cruel environment only to be deprived of his only companion and protector the moment he got to safety and Wesley for finally learning to trust, and to rely on a team and to be an effective leader, only to have the leadership decision he had made go so incredibly wrong that everyone he loved turned their backs on him and left him for dead.

"I don't know if you know this Connor, but it was Wesley who took you from this hotel when you were an infant. He read a bogus prophecy saying I would kill you, and in an effort to prevent that from happening, he stole you. He intended to run away with you and to never return. Instead Holtz got a hold of you, then Sahjahn showed up, then Wolfram and Hart and then there was the portal and....well, you ended up in Quartoth bottom line. I needed someone to blame afterwards and Holtz, the man who was really responsible was in that place with you. I attacked Wesley, I threatened him, I very nearly killed him. He hasn't been welcome here ever since."

"That's unfair." Connor said, jaw clenched in anger. "What happened wasn't his fault, if you are telling the truth."

"I know." Angel said with a sigh. "And I've apologized, but it's going to take time to build his trust again and it's going to take time for the others to come around. Maybe someday...."

"You don't think that maybe he will never want to come back to you guys?"
Connor asked in surprise. "You think he'll always want your friendship?"

"We're family." Angel corrected stubbornly.

"Look who you're talking to," Connor retorted. "Not the greatest argument."

"I want you friendship too Connor," Angel told his son softly. "I want us to be...."

"Family?" Connor finished, his voice wavering and unsure. Angel nodded.

"Is that impossible for us?" He wondered, not sure he wanted an answer but at the same time needing it. Connor shook his head.

"I don't know." He admitted. "Look I'll admit, when Buffy told us you were in that place, I....I freaked. I didn't want to contemplate the idea of being completely alone. I need that family tie, I need to know that there is someone that I am a part of...even if it is you."

"So that's all I am?" Angel asked sadly. "A symbol?"

"No," Connor admitted. "I didn't want you to be any more, but the longer you were in that place, the more I.....the more I worried for you. I don't think I like you. But I know that you're my father, and I believe Dawn and what she says about you. I know it's not every day you get a second chance either."

"You mean...."

"I mean I still have a lot of anger towards you." Connor cautioned. "I'm going to behave badly. I'm going to be unpleasant to be around. I'm going to be more difficult than enjoyable, but I am also going to be someone you're proud of."

"Connor I am already...."

"You can't possibly be proud of me," he said, effectively cutting Angel off. "You don't even know me. You don't know what I went through or what I saw. But you will. I will show you. But I don't think I can be your son just yet."

Angel swallowed the disappointment burning in his chest as he heard Connor speak those words and nodded.

"Then what can you be?" He asked. Connor smiled the first warm and genuine smile he had ever seen.

"Your friend." He said simply. "That's how we have to start. It's the only place to start. Deal?"

Angel nodded, smiling equally as warmly back at his son.

"Deal."