Disclaimer: All characters and things from ANGEL and BUFFY belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. If they aren't on the show they belong to me.
Summary: A different turn of events after Season 1 Episode 12 "Expecting" A/C pairing
CHAPTER 61
Cordelia entered the living room with Erin in her arms to find Jess and Angel sitting on the floor, both half awake, watching a movie. She smiled at the picture of her husband and oldest daughter, they both looked so tired, and yet so cute snuggled next to each other. Cordelia looked down at Erin who was waving her own arm in the direction of Cordelia's necklace.
Erin was the cause of everyone in the Angel household practically falling on their faces. She was now a little over two and a half weeks old and had calmed down a little at night with the screaming, but she was still up a lot more then Angel or Jess would have liked. Cordelia didn't mind it, however, she knew what was in store for her the minute Erin was born. She knew sleep would be a privilege until Erin was much older and she accepted that. Angel, on the other hand, had no idea. Sure, he had been around when Jessica was a baby, but he was not there with Cordelia every night Jessica woke up, or every time Jessica grew fussy. Not that it was his fault; it was just how things had been when Jessica was a baby.
Cordelia moved Erin in her arms, causing the child to stir and let out a small cry. Angel and Jess immediately jumped at the sound, both relaxing when they saw Cordelia standing there.
"Hey." Angel smiled, standing, and making his way over to Cordelia and Erin, kissing Cordelia and grabbing Erin's small fist with a smile.
Erin looked up at her father and gave him the biggest smile she could. She loved her daddy.
"Good morning you two sleepy heads." Cordelia said to Angel and Jess as she took a seat on the couch and Angel sat down next to her.
"It's two in the afternoon." Jess mumbled. "Not morning."
"And we weren't sleeping." Angel said quickly. "Just resting our eyes."
"Right." Cordelia smiled over at Angel as she watched him run his hand through Erin's straight, dark hair.
"So, Dad said you had a vision like last week?" Jess asked her mother, stretching her arms out. "When is it happening?"
"Tomorrow night." Cordelia told her daughter. "You're not going though."
"What?" Jess scrunched up her nose. "Why not?"
"Grounded, remember?" Cordelia asked.
"That ended yesterday." Jess told her mother. "I'm free to do what I want now."
Cordelia thought about it for a moment, and realized Jessica was right, she wasn't grounded anymore. Cordelia had just become so used to Jessica's help that she forgot her daughter's punishment was up. "Oh yeah."
"But…" Jessica's devilish grin broke across her face. "You need my help with Erin at night, right?"
"Just getting her ready, and then watching her while I take a shower and get ready for bed and stuff…" Cordelia looked up at Jess.
"I'm sure dad can handle the vision without me then." Jess told her mother. She wouldn't admit it, but she enjoyed watching Erin. At first, she had hated all the time she was forced to spend with the newborn and her mother, but now she kind of liked it. Erin was blood to Jessica, a sibling. Erin reminded Jess of Connor, and in a way that stung, but in another way it helped Jess to cope with Connor's loss. She could never replace her brother, but Erin was also Jessica's sibling. Erin was Jessica's second chance. She wouldn't let her sister down like she had let Connor down.
"I'll be fine." Angel rested a hand on Jessica's shoulder, giving her a small squeeze to thank her for helping out Cordelia when he couldn't be around.
Angel made his way down the hallway of Wolfram and Hart, only to bump into a familiar blonde woman. She turned to face him, a grin on her face.
"Nina!" Angel smiled at the werewolf. "What are you doing here? The full moons not for another two weeks."
"Looking for you, actually." Nina told him.
"Really?" Angel raised an eyebrow. "What's up?"
"Well, actually, my nephew." Nina said.
"You have a nephew?" Angel asked. He remembered hearing about a niece, but no nephew.
"Yeah, my oldest brother's son. We don't see them a whole lot, well we didn't. They just moved back to L.A. from New York." Nina explained.
"Well, that's a big move." Angel commented.
Nina nodded. "Anyway, my nephew is a smart kid. I guess he ran into his fair share of vampire's back in New York."
"What makes you say that?"
"He knows all about them. He and I went out for ice cream the other night, and one attacked us. He knew what to do."
"He staked it?" Angel asked.
"Well, no." Nina said. "He had a cross necklace on. He held it up until the vampire went away."
"Whatever works." Angel said.
"Well, he and I got talking, and I told him all about me. He accepts the werewolf." Nina smiled. "I'm totally relieved that I could tell someone else in my family about it."
Angel nodded, understanding. "That's a good feeling."
"Anyway, since he really doesn't know a lot of people here his age and he's cool with the vampire and werewolf and demon thing, I thought maybe your daughter could show him around here. He was interested in this place, when I told him about it. I thought maybe he and your daughter would hit it off. They both seem like they could use a friend." Nina told the vampire.
"How old is your nephew?" Angel asked.
"Seventeen, almost eighteen." Nina said. "How old is Jess?"
"Not sure." Angel said truthfully. "She doesn't age like normal people. But, I would say like seventeen, she's older then that I think, but the way she grows, she is about seventeen. That's what she tells people anyway."
"See, perfect." Nina smiled. "You think Jess would mind showing him around?"
"Uh, no, probably not." Angel said, unsure if he liked the idea of a teenage boy hanging around his daughter all day. "Where is he?"
"Kyle!" Nina called out to a teenage boy sitting on a bench in the lobby.
The boy stood and made his way over to Nina. He was about as tall as Angel with dark brown hair, standing up exactly like Angel's, and big blue eyes. His skin was a bronze color that contrasted against his pearly white teeth when he smiled. The young man was wearing a plain blue zip up sweatshirt and a white tee-shirt under it with jeans.
"Kyle, this is Angel." Nina introduced the two men.
"Nice to meet you, sir." Kyle shook Angel's hand in a firm grip. "I've never met a vampire before, not a good one anyway. This is kind of cool."
Angel smiled. He liked Nina's nephew. The boy seemed genuine. "Nice to meet you too. So, why don't you and your aunt come upstairs with me to get my daughter?"
Kyle nodded as he and Nina followed Angel.
Spike strolled his way into Gunn's office only to find the young lawyer sitting at his desk, reading a stack of papers. Spike shook his head, clearing his throat to make his presence known.
Gunn looked up at Spike for a moment, then back down at the papers in front of him. "Spike, didn't hear you come in."
"I noticed." Spike said.
"Haven't seen you in a while. We all figured you had headed back to Europe with Buffy." Gunn said, looking up with a smile on his face.
"Didn't Jess tell you I was still around? I stopped in to let her known a few weeks ago." Spike was taken back a little by the fact that Gunn had no idea Spike was still in the law firm.
Gunn shook his head. "None of us have seen much of Jess the past few weeks. She was grounded, helping Cordy out a lot with Erin."
"Oh." Spike said, realizing that what Gunn said had made sense. No wonder Jess hadn't told anyone Spike had decided to stay in L.A.
"Not that it's any of my business." Gunn stood. "But what is going on with you and Jess?"
"What?" Spike raised an eyebrow.
"You and Jess." Gunn repeated himself, a little more sternly. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about, dead boy."
"I don't know what you're bloody talking about!" Spike snapped. The vampire didn't know why but he was starting to feel defensive.
"Oh, so you mean nothing was going on with you and her, and you didn't lead Jess on until Buffy showed back up." Gunn was standing now face to face with Spike.
"Hey!" Spike went to defend himself. "Don't put bloody words in my mouth."
"Don't touch Jessica." Gunn shot back. "She's like a niece to me. I don't want to see her get hurt, especially not by someone like you."
Before Spike could get another word in, Gunn had pushed past the vampire and had made his way out into the hall. Spike sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Maybe he should have gone to Europe.
Cordelia was in her bedroom feeding Erin when she heard a knock on the front door of the penthouse. She sighed, looking down at Erin who was still busy nursing, and then looking out her bedroom door and down the hall. She knew there was no way she could answer the door right now.
"Jess?" Cordelia called out.
"I got it." Jess yelled down the hall to her mother as she made her way to the front door. She opened it quickly to find Angel standing there with Nina and a young man she didn't recognize. Jess studied the teenage boy Angel had brought up for a moment. He was tan, dark hair, beautiful eyes, muscular. Yep, Jess thought he was cute.
"Jess?" Angel raised an eyebrow at his daughter, causing her to snap back into reality.
"Why didn't you just use your key?" Jess found herself asking her father, although her eyes did no leave the cute boy who had come in with her dad.
Angel shrugged. "Wasn't thinking."
"Angel? Is that you?" Cordelia called out as she entered the living room with Erin in her arms. She was in black pants and a brown shirt, and had seemed to lose some weight since she had given birth to Erin, although she was nowhere near the shape she had been in before she had gotten pregnant.
"Yep, it's me." Angel smiled at his wife.
Cordelia, however, stopped short when she saw Nina and the young man in the doorway. She was still rather upset that Nina had kissed Angel a month ago and she was not going to let that go.
Angel and Jess sensed the tension coming from Cordelia, and apparently Erin did to, because the young child began squirming in her mother's grasp.
"I've got her." Angel said, taking Erin from Cordelia's arms. He then quickly turned to Nina. "Cordy, Jess, you remember Nina, right?"
"Of course." Cordelia put on a fake smile.
"Yeah." Jess nodded.
"Well, she just stopped in. Thought Jess here could show her nephew around this place." Angel nodded toward the young man at the door. "He knows all about vampires and demons and werewolves so it shouldn't be a problem."
"Oh, I don't know. She has been helping me around here a lot." Cordelia said, wanting Nina to get away from Angel and out of her house. She shouldn't have been jealous of Nina, after all, Angel had been the one to tell Cordelia the werewolf had kissed him, and that it meant nothing. But for some reason, as Cordelia stood there, fixing her shirt, and starring at Nina with her perfect hair, and perfect smile, and perfect body, Cordelia couldn't help but feel a little insecure.
"No. I'm free." Jess turned to the young boy, noticing he was starring at her intensely, but his eyes immediately darted to the floor the minute he realized she had noticed him. "I'm Jessica." She smiled at him.
"Kyle." He smiled back at her.
"Well, Kyle, why don't we get out of here?" Jess asked, moving towards the door.
Kyle nodded, as he followed Jessica into the hallway.
Cordelia, Angel, and Nina stood there in awkward silence for a moment after Jess and Kyle left. Then Cordelia turned to Angel.
"So…why don't I make us something to eat?" Cordelia asked, taking Erin from Angel's arms and shooting him a glance that he knew meant he would get a serious talking to later.
Eve took a seat next to Lindsey cuddling up to him on his big couch. He smiled, kissing her head gently.
"Tomorrow night, right?" He asked.
Eve nodded. "Tomorrow night we take out Angel's son."
"I cannot wait to walk into Wolfram and Hart the day after that." Lindsey smiled at the thought. "That place will be a catastrophe."
"That it will be." Eve agreed. "I wish I could be there when they all get their memories back."
Lindsey smiled down at her again, kissing her gently. He could not wait for tomorrow night.
Jess made her way down to her office with Kyle following close behind. Jess could sense the young boys nervousness, and for some reason it was rubbing off on her. She was shy all of the sudden, and Jessica Lynn Angel was never shy.
"So, this is my office." Jess told Kyle.
Kyle nodded. "It's nice…" He looked toward the weapon cabinet and pointed at the weapons. "What do you use those for?"
"For…cases…" Jess said quickly. "Only when I have to."
Kyle nodded. "Cool." He then looked back around the room and smiled. "This place is awesome."
Jess shrugged, slumping into her chair. "It's alright I guess."
"Well, you get to work with all of these demons and stuff." Kyle said, warming up to Jessica. "That part's got to be cool."
"Oh yeah, right." Jess rolled her eyes, but smiled gently as she watched Kyle grin.
"So, your dad's a vampire, and your mom…?" Kyle raised an eyebrow, taking a seat right across from Jessica.
"Part demon." Jess said simply.
"So, what does that make you?" Kyle asked.
"Well, I was born before my mom was made part demon, so I'm half vampire, half human." Jess explained.
"That's kind of cool." Kyle nodded his head, his deep blue eyes connecting with Jessica's dark ones. Kyle's eyes reminded Jessica of Connor, they were the same color eyes her brother had.
Jessica quickly looked away from Kyle, the overwhelming feeling of missing Connor hitting her hard. "It's okay."
"Do you have like superpowers and stuff?" Kyle asked.
Jess laughed. "I guess you could say that."
"Really?" Kyle asked, getting comfortable in his seat. "Tell me all about it."
Spike sighed, looking down at the dozen roses he held in his hand as he made his way to Jessica's office. Maybe roses weren't the best idea. He wanted to apologize to Jessica for the way he had acted, but what would she think when he handed her a dozen red roses? Roses were for people in love. And Spike and Jess were anything but that. Plus, Jessica didn't seem like the kind of girl who would keep any type of flowers alive for more then a day.
Spike took a deep, unneeded breath as he turned the corner to Jessica's office. "One way to find out…" He said to himself.
Suddenly, he stopped short, as he peered into Jessica's office through the glass window. He watched as a young teenage boy sat in the seat across from Jessica. The teenager and Jessica were laughing hysterical, and talking. Jess had a huge smile on her face, and it was the first time Spike had seen the girl laugh or smile in a long time.
Maybe the flowers weren't such a good idea, Spike decided as he threw them into a nearby trashcan. Maybe he should just let the young girl move on and forget about him. Spike then quickly turned and made his way down the hall, missing the glance that Jessica shot at the glass window. She could have sworn she had seen someone watching her.
Cordelia set some sandwiches on the table in front of Angel and Nina, smiling at them both as she juggled Erin in one arm.
Angel could feel the tension between Nina and Cordelia and he sighed. Maybe he should have thought through inviting Nina upstairs. Cordelia was still clearly upset about the kiss he and Nina had shared a month ago.
"So…Nina." Cordelia sat down in the chair next to Angel, cradling Erin close to her. "How's everything going?"
"Better now." Nina told her. "I'm getting used to the werewolf thing."
"That's good." Cordelia smiled at her, but Angel could tell it was a forced smile. Cordelia's true smile could brighten up the entire room, and the smile she was wearing now could barely brighten up a light bulb.
Nina nodded, awkwardly, looking at Erin. "The baby is adorable. And you look great, Cordelia."
Cordelia blushed for a second, looking down at herself. "Thanks."
Nina stood. "Well, I should head home. Thanks for the sandwiches, tell Kyle to take a cab back to my place when he's done around here."
Angel nodded. "Will do."
"Thanks for letting Jess show him around here. I know it made his day." Nina told the vampire.
"Not a problem." Angel smiled at her as he watched her exit his penthouse. Once she was gone, he immediately felt Cordelia's hand connect with his arm.
"I can't believe you invited her here!" Cordelia snapped at Angel, rocking Erin in her arms. "Of all the people…"
"She just showed up. She caught me off guard." Angel rubbed his arm in the spot Cordelia had hit him. "That hurt."
"Demon strength, buddy." Cordelia said sharply. "And don't change the subject."
"Sorry." Angel mumbled, pulling Cordelia into his lap, and wrapping his arms around her and Erin. "I shouldn't have just let her up here." He kissed her gently on the neck.
"That's right…" Cordelia said, trying to stay mad at him, but it was impossible, as she turned and kissed him square on the lips.
When they broke apart, they both looked down at Erin who was half asleep and then back up at each other.
"I should go put Erin to bed." Cordelia said as Angel kissed her again.
Angel nodded. "Sounds good." He kissed her yet again. "Jess won't be back up here for another few hours…"
Cordelia got a mischievous smile on her face as Angel said these words. "I'll put Erin down and meet you in our room."
Angel nodded back, grinning widely. He couldn't wait to feel Cordelia close to him again. He had waited for so long between her pregnancy and Jess constantly in the house, and Erin being awake at all hours. He needed Cordelia. "I'll meet you in there." He kissed her once more, and then watched as she hurried down the hall to put Erin in her crib.
Jess walked Kyle to the front door. She had an amazing evening with him. They had talked about so much, and had a lot in common. Jess guessed it was because they were the same age. Neither of them had realized the time, until Harmony had come into Jessica's office to let her know she was leaving for the night.
"Well, this was fun." Kyle stopped short at the door, smiling at Jessica. "We should hang out again soon."
Jess nodded. "Maybe next time, not in an office building?"
Kyle laughed, nodding in agreement. "Maybe dinner?" He seemed to ask.
"Maybe sometime soon?" Jess smiled at him.
"Sounds good." Kyle said. "My aunt has your number, I'll call you. If that's okay..."
Jess blushed. "That'd be fine."
"Good." Kyle smiled nervously, and then leaned in, giving Jess a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you soon." And with that he was out the door and down the steps.
Jess smiled to herself as she watched Kyle get into the cab. Kyle was nice, he was new. She needed new after what had gone on with Spike. But she wondered if she could ever get close to Kyle. He reminded her so much of Connor, and she wasn't sure if she could handle that. Connor would always be a soft spot for Jessica and she wasn't sure if she could ever get close to someone who reminded her of him. She sighed, making her way up to the penthouse.
Erin's cries filled the penthouse, and Cordelia sighed, not wanting to leave her bed and the feeling of Angel's cool skin pressed up against her own. She looked over at the clock and realized it was time to feed Erin, though, so against her will, she stood, slipping on a pair of sweatpants and a tee-shirt, before looking back at Angel. He looked so peaceful.
Angel stirred the minute Cordelia had left his side. The lack of her body heat caused a sudden chill to fly up his bareback. He opened his eyes slowly to see Cordelia standing at the foot of the bed, fully dressed, and smiling at him.
"Dressed so soon?" He asked half asleep.
"Erin's awake. I need to go feed her." Cordelia said in a soft voice. "Go back to sleep."
"Erin's not awake." Angel's voice was muffled by his pillow.
Cordelia listened for a moment; Erin's cries had stopped. "That's funny…" She said to no one in particular since Angel was already asleep again.
Cordelia moved out of her bedroom and down the hall to Erin's room. She entered the room and felt her stomach drop at the sight of Erin's empty crib. Panic and fear swarmed her body.
"Relax. I can feel the panic pouring out of you." Jessica's voice came from the corner of the room.
Cordelia turned swiftly to see her oldest daughter sitting in the rocking chair in the corner, holding Erin. "Jess?"
"I heard her crying. I just got in here." Jess explained. "I thought I'd try and let you and Dad sleep if you weren't up already."
Cordelia smiled warmly at her daughter. "Thanks, but it's okay. It's her feeding time anyway." Cordelia explained as she stretched out her arms to take a hold of Erin.
Jess handed Erin to her mother and got out of the rocking chair, allowing Cordelia to sit and feed Erin.
"So, how was Nina's nephew? Kyle right?" Cordelia asked as she watched Jess take a seat on the floor.
"Yup." Jessica nodded. "He's cute." Jessica grinned up at her mother. "And nice."
"And your age." Cordelia added.
"And not dead." Jess finished, realizing she had been comparing Kyle to Spike all night long. "I like him."
"I'm sure he is a nice boy." Cordelia told her daughter. The truth was that Cordelia would think any boy was nice for Jess at this point. All she knew is she did not want her oldest daughter around Spike.
"He was." Jess sighed.
"Maybe he'll come around again?" Cordelia raised the question.
Jess nodded, yawning, and stretching out on her little sister's floor. "Maybe."
Angel made his way down to his office, humming to himself. He was in a great mood, after the night he and Cordelia had and the fact that Erin had let the whole Angel household sleep in a few extra hours that morning and nothing was going to bother him. He entered his office to find Harmony placing his mug of blood down on his desk. She turned and smiled at him.
"Thought I'd bring you a fresh cup of blood this lovely afternoon." Harmony giggled.
"Thanks." Angel said, moving to his desk.
"So, how are Cordy and the baby?" Harmony asked.
Angel turned to Harmony. "Off limits, if you are intending on kidnapping this one."
"Not me." Harmony put her hands up in defense. "It's just…me and Cordy used to be friends, you know?"
Angel nodded. "I remember."
"Well, tell her I asked about her." Harmony said, making her way to the door.
"Oh, Harmony, call Gunn, Wesley, Fred, and Lorne in here when you get a chance." Angel said.
"Will do, boss." Harmony smiled as she left the room.
A few minutes later, Gunn and Lorne shuffled in Angel's office, followed by Fred and Wesley who entered hand in hand.
"What's up?" Gunn asked, slumping into the chair across from Angel.
"Cordelia's vision. The one I told you guys about from last week, well, it's happening tonight." Angel told them. "I thought we could take care of it like we used to. You know, a team effort."
"Sounds like fun." Lorne said sarcastically. "Only we are down two players. Jess has been helping Cordelia, and our seer is now the little momma who won't be able to come out with us because of the baby."
"So?" Angel asked. "We used to handle things all the time when Jess was a baby and Cordelia couldn't come to help, remember?"
"Was that before or after you fired us?" Gunn asked, realizing he shouldn't have said that the minute he saw the look Angel shot him. "Hey, I'm just asking."
"So, you don't want to all go out and do this tonight?" Angel asked.
"Well, I've got no plans." Fred offered.
"Neither do I." Wesley said.
"I could stay with Cordy and Erin so Jess could come with you guys." Fred said to Angel.
"That sounds like a plan, because I have a big case I need to look through tonight." Gunn stood.
"And I've got a dinner with a screenwriter." Lorne said. "Not that I'm much help in a fight."
"I don't know if Jess will come. She told Cordy she would help her out, and I think it's good for her to spend this time with Cordelia." Angel explained.
"What about Spike?" Gunn asked.
"Spike?" Angel narrowed his eyes again at the lawyer.
"I thought he left." Wesley said.
"No." Angel sighed. "He's still around. Haven't seen much of him though."
"None of us have." Gunn said. "But he could probably help you out tonight."
Angel nodded. "That's true. I should go find him."
The group agreed and this disbursed into different directions, each person with their own agenda for the day.
Spike was sitting at a table in the cafeteria, a cup of blood in his hand, when Angel found him. Angel took a deep breath, not really ready for what he had to do. He straightened out his black button up shirt and then made his way over to Spike.
"What do you want?" Spike asked as he watched Angel sit down. Spike had been in deep thought about what he had seen the night before in Jessica's office. He didn't know why, but he felt a surge of jealousy deep within him as he thought about that teenage boy who had Jessica laughing the night before.
"To ask you a question." Angel said quickly.
Spike nodded. "Go on, ask."
"Your help." Angel seemed to choke on his words. "I need it."
Spike practically spit the blood right out of his mouth. "You need my what?"
"Your help." Angel repeated through a clenched jaw. "I need it tonight. Last week, Cordy had a vision something was going to happen and Wesley and me are going to take care of it. I don't know if Jess will be able to come, so I need your help."
Spike nodded. "Sure. I'll do what I can. What time do I need to be ready by?"
"Seven." Angel yelled over his shoulder, as he exited the cafeteria, not even bothering to look back at Spike.
Cordelia sat on the couch with a squirming Erin in one arm, and Jessica fast asleep next to her, her head resting on Cordelia's shoulder. It had been a long day for the immortal seer, and her oldest daughter. It seemed Erin had decided today would be a good day to scream about every little thing. Jess and Cordelia had taken a beating from the cries of the young child and both looked it as the door to the penthouse opened and Fred and Wesley entered followed by Lorne and Gunn.
"Hey." Cordelia said quietly, trying not to wake up Jess.
"Hey, Cordy." Fred whispered back with a big smile on her face as she looked down at Erin. "Wow, she got so big."
Cordelia looked down at Erin who was gazing up at Fred as the young Texan ran her hand through Erin's dark hair.
"She's even cuter today then she was yesterday." Lorne told Cordelia. "She must get that from her mother."
Cordelia blushed as she felt Jess stir next to her and slowly sit up.
"What's going on in here?" Jess asked, rubbing her eyes.
"Looking for your dad. He and Wes are going out on your mom's vision tonight, and Fred is going to hang up here." Gunn said.
"If that's okay." Fred added.
"Totally fine." Cordelia told her. "Jess and I could use the help. Erin is one tough kid to keep happy."
Jess nodded in agreement, turning back to Gunn. "What are you and Lorne going to do?"
"Working." Gunn told her. "We both have cases and clients to meet with."
Jessica nodded, understanding. "Sounds good."
"So, where is Angel?" Wesley asked.
"He hasn't come up yet." Cordelia said, bouncing Erin in her arms.
"Well, he better get up here soon." Gunn said, checking his watch. "He's supposed to meet Spike in ten minutes."
"Spike's going?" Jess raised an eyebrow.
"Only incase we have to throw someone to the demons as a sacrifice." Wesley assured Jess. Wesley felt like everyone else around Wolfram and Hart did when it came to Spike. He disliked the vampire very much; especially after the games he had played with Jessica. Jessica was like a niece to Wesley and he never wanted to see anyone hurt her. And that's exactly what Spike had done.
"Wesley, be nice…" Fred warned.
"Yeah, Wes-Wes." Angel joked, as he entered the penthouse. He moved swiftly and kissed Cordelia on the lips and then Jess and Erin on the heads. Afterward, he turned back to Wesley. "We should get moving."
Wesley nodded in agreement. "Yes."
"Be careful." Cordelia warned Angel.
"I always am." Angel smiled back at her. "Take care of my girls for me." He motioned to Erin and Jessica.
"Come on, we'll walk down with you." Gunn offered as he, Wesley, Angel, and Lorne exited the penthouse, leaving Jessica, Cordelia, Erin, and Fred behind.
"So, it looks like it's a girl's night!" Fred smiled widely as she watched Erin wave her fist in the air at the sudden excitement that filled the room every time Fred spoke.
Jess laughed at Fred's childish attitude. "I'll go order some pizza."
Lindsey smiled as Eve took a seat across from him at his dinner table. She had just gotten off the phone with the demon's she had hired to do away with Angel's son.
"So?" Lindsey asked.
"They're on their way over to the house right now." Eve grinned. "They'll call us when the job is done."
"Sounds good." Lindsey leaned over, kissing Eve. "Less then twenty-four hours until Wolfram and Hart will be ours."
Angel pulled up across the street from the address Cordelia had given them. The house they were watching seemed to be nice, in a comfortable neighborhood, with nice streetlights and sidewalks.
Wesley looked at the house and then back to Angel. "What exactly are we waiting for?"
"Cordy said someone is going to get hit." Angel explained. "Which would mean they would have to come outside."
"Like him." Spike pointed from the backseat to a young man coming out of the front door while throwing car keys up in the air.
The young man had light brown hair, cut somewhere between long and short, and a big smile across his face. He didn't look strong, but he didn't look weak either. Angel wasn't really sure what to think of the boy, but he knew who he was. "That's the guy from Cordy's vision. Stay here until I signal for you." Angel explained, getting out of the car.
"What is he bloody going to do?" Spike asked as he and Wesley watched Angel cross the street.
Wesley shrugged. "Who knows?"
Angel crossed the street and made his way up to the young man who was moving to the car parked in the driveway.
"Can I help you?" The young man asked.
"Well, one of us is going to be helping the other." Angel sighed.
"Excuse me?" The young man scrunched up his nose and Angel could have sworn he had seen that expression before. He thought for a moment and realized it was the same expression Darla used to use when she did not agree with what Angel had said.
"Weird." Angel said to himself.
"What?" The young man asked.
Just then a huge van came screeching out of control down the street.
"No time!" Angel explained, signaling for Wesley and Spike and then pushing the boy back up onto the steps of his house just as the van came crashing into the car the young man and Angel had been standing by.
"What the hell!" The young man screamed. "That's my new car!"
Suddenly, Angel was at the van helping Spike and Wesley pull out four demons, killing three of them with a few quick kicks, but allowing one to escape, who ran directly at the young man. However, the young man quickly managed to pin the demon down with strength Angel had never seen any normal human have.
"A little help?" The young man looked up at Angel, Wesley, and Spike as he wrestled the demon to the ground.
"Yeah." Angel moved quickly, taking the demon and throwing him into the house while Spike and Wesley shot it with crossbows.
When the demons were all dead, Angel turned back to the young man to see he was now joined by his two very shocked parents.
"What the hell is going on out here?" The young man's father asked.
Angel stood their, his mouth opened for a moment, trying to think of what to say, but nothing came to mind. Luckily, Spike jumped in.
"Your son was just attacked by a local crime organization." Spike said. "We'd suggest you bring him into our offices as soon as possible. This particular organization could be targeting your whole family."
Angel nodded, realizing Spike was right. There was definitely not something right about this young man. Angel was almost positive the boy wasn't completely human. They needed to find out what he was and why he was attacked and fast. They needed the boy to come into Wolfram and Hart.
"Here's a card." Wesley handed a business card to Angel who handed it to the young man's father.
"Call us as soon as possible." Angel urged.
"We will." The young man's father seemed shocked at what Spike had told him.
"I'm Angel, by the way." Angel said, extending his hand to the young man he had saved.
"I'm Connor." The young man shook Angel's hand, his eyes connecting with the vampire's.
Angel stood there for a moment, studying Connor's eyes. Angel could have sworn he had seen those big blue eyes somewhere before. They were shaped so much like Darla's. In fact, as Angel looked the young man over, he realized that Connor resembled Darla quite a lot.
"Weird." Angel mumbled extremely quietly to himself.
"Why do you keep saying that?" Connor asked.
Angel looked up shocked. How had Connor heard him? He had spoken so softly that no human should have been able to hear him, but Connor definitely didn't seem human. "Stop by the offices as soon as you can."
"We'll be there tomorrow morning." Connor's mother said quickly. "Thank you, Mr. Angel."
Angel nodded, leading Wesley and Spike back to his car.