Author's note: I would like to take this chance to make a shout out. This story was inspired by Ruth Quist's 'Warped Reflection' and more specifically her O.C. Winston. I'm not saying the stories are similar though – way different. It's a great story and I recommend checking it out. Don't forget to review; I know it will be appreciated.

The story so far: Wesley packs his things to move into the Hyperion. Chris is not far behind.

Chapter 4: Days Of Innocence

"Christopher, come here." His mother said. "Meet your little brother."

The sun was shining brightly that day and it glared into the eyes of little Chris through the large window as he squinted to see the figure of his mother sitting on her bed. He sauntered into his parents' bedroom towards his mother who looked weak and tired, a reminiscence of her earlier ordeal. Usually he would not be allowed inside the room but this was a special occasion; and besides, his father wasn't home. She held in her arms a bundled object and as he came closer, she tipped it slightly to reveal a healthy baby boy.

"He's beautiful, isn't he?" She asked. Chris looked at it, entranced by the tiny life she held dearly in her arms. He lightly touched its soft cheek and the baby gurgled a bit before it smiled innocently at him.

"He's mine." Chris stated.

"Yes, he's your brother." She said, oblivious to how usually that Chris' bold statement would be considered strange. Chris looked up at his mother momentarily before giving her a smile and returning his gaze back to the baby who was still smiling and staring at him like as if he was its world.

Yes, Chris thought, Mine.

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Cordelia burst into the room and said, "Wesley, are you-"

Wesley jumped at the sudden sound and glared at her behind his lopsided glasses, "Cordelia! There is such a thing as knocking! What if I was changing!"

She put up her hands. "Geez, sorry. That would've been traumatic for the both of us." Wesley scowled at her for that comment but she ignored him and continued, "Anyway, I was just going to say that I'm going home now, in case anyone wants me."

Wesley immediately turned concerned. "Are you sure that's a good idea? Maybe you should stay here for a while; I'm sure Angel wouldn't mind."

"I promised Dennis I'll try out that Risk game with him today. You know, this is all you guys' fault for playing it there all the time. He hasn't stopped pestering me about it until I agreed."

Wesley look apologetic before saying, "Well, at least get Gunn to send you."

"Alright, sheesh." But it was said with no malice. When it seemed his concerned frown wouldn't disappear, she sighed. "I'll be fine. I'll get Gunn to walk me to the door like a good chaperone and Dennis will be there all night." Checking her watch, she said, "Ok, it's getting late and I don't want to be getting home to a sulky ghost. Sometimes it's as bad as Angel's brooding. Bye, Wes." With that, she turned around and left, leaving the door wide open behind her.

Wesley sighed and walked up to the door, closing it with an empty 'click'.

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Gunn and Cordelia arrived at her apartment half an hour later. She unlocked her door and turned around. "Thanks, Gunn."

Gunn peered into the apartment over her shoulder before saying, "You sure you don't want me to do a sweep?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'm not falling for that one again, buddy. You still owe me a new bag of Cheetos."

"I was doing you a favour – liberating you from the lures of processed junk food. You needed the help."

Cordelia scowled and put her hands on her hips. "Are you saying I'm fat!"

"Night, Cord." Gunn said hastily, jogging away before he could face Cordy's wrath. She grumbled and entered her apartment, closing the door firmly behind her.

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Gunn whistled on his way to his truck, throwing his keys up in the air before catching them and doing it again. He got into his car and was about to drive off when he noticed an earring on the passenger seat beside him. He picked it up and peered at it, thinking that Cordelia must've dropped it from her bag. Leaving the engine running, Gunn decided that he might as well return it now since he was here.

Getting out of the car, Gunn only managed a couple of paces before his truck suddenly blew up behind him, throwing him up into the air before landing several feet away on the street, his body unmoving.

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Wesley took out the last of his research books and put them with the rest of the pile on the floor lined up against the wall. He didn't put his clothes in the closet because that would make it seem too permanent. It was then he wondered where Angel did his laundry.

Suddenly, he heard a tapping sound coming from the bedroom area. Going into the next room, the tapping instantly stopped as if it knew someone was there watching. Wesley looked around and found nothing out of the ordinary. Shrugging it off later as nothing, he went to the toilet to freshen up before he would go to bed. Re-entering the bedroom, Wesley looked out the window to see night-time L.A., the city of angels. He still found the phrase ironic whenever he thought about it.

Yawning, Wesley decided it was finally time to retire for the night. As he was closing the shades however, his eyes fell upon an item sitting on the tiny ledge on the other side of the glass, around it tiny pieces of stone. Frowning, he opened the window and picked it up.

It was a scrunched up piece of paper.

Slowly, Wesley freed it from the rock it was tied to and smoothed it out before turning it around to see what was written. He instantly recognized the handwriting.

Chris.

Wesley's heart was beating rapidly as he realised what he held – It was his second letter:

Beautiful Wesley,

Miss me? I do. Miss you, that is. But as they say, it is only a matter of time, and I am a patient man. You never visited, and I always wondered why. Never mind. We can always talk about old times later.

Wesley, Wesley… why do you keep playing this game? Hiding from me; making me chase you. You know I'm the only one who had ever really loved you. They don't deserve you, only I do. Don't go back on your word now. Alas, until we meet again.

Chris

P.S. I said I'd take care of your new friends. I never go back on my word. Let's see… he's tall, black, has a name that starts with a C… and it's not Cordelia. Three guesses who.

At that moment, Angel burst into his room and Wesley came out to meet him. There was an urgency in his eyes and Wesley already knew what had happened.

"It's Gunn."

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"He'll be fine. Your friend was lucky – he escaped the worst of the blast. You can visit him now if you like."

"Thank you, doctor." Cordelia said. The three of them were in the waiting room, relieved that Gunn was alright with only a few scrapes and bruises. Cordelia and Angel started to move but Angel turned around when it seemed that Wesley wasn't about to come with them.

"Wes?" Angel said to the figure still sitting on the uncomfortable hospital chair with his head in his hands.

"I should – I should leave." Wesley said.

"Wes, it wasn't your fault. We-"

Wesley stood up. "No! You don't understand. He wants me, only me. As long as you're all around me, you're in danger from him."

"We can get through this together." Angel said.

"Can't you see? He wants me back and he's not afraid to use whatever means necessary. What if Gunn hadn't got out? I couldn't live with myself if one of his exploits actually succeeded."

Angel waited for Wesley to calm down before he spoke. "Wes, no matter what this guy says, we're your family, and we won't let you go through this alone. He's just one guy. We can beat him."

Wesley still looked like he didn't believe Angel, but it may be that he gave up trying or was too tired to argue for now, as finally he sighed and joined them to see Gunn.