Dawn woke the next day around noon and quickly went to work reading the information Giles had sent. While most of the Council's books had been destroyed, Giles still had most of Wesley's collection which Angel had shipped over. Most of what was in the files Catherine had already told them, but a few things caught her eye. Walked over to the table where the phone sat and looked for Catherine's club. Dawn figured she'd be unlisted and wouldn't appreciate the young Watcher to investigate her. Dawn picked up the phone a dialed the club's number and pushed the number for the extension to Catherine's office. Dawn was about to leave a message when Catherine picked.
"Um, I'm sorry Ms. Sloane, um Catherine, but I was wondering if I could come by earlier today? I just received some information and I didn't want to disturb Angel. I think he got in pretty late last night," Dawn stammered. Catherine smiled on the other end and gave Dawn directions and said she'd have a taxi sent to her hotel to come get her in an hour. Hanging up, Dawn began to get dressed when Illyria sat up off the bed.
"Do you feel it wise to leave without informing Angel?" Illyria asked.
"Well the stuff I wanna talk about might make him twitchy, so I think I should go by myself. If I'm not back before the wake up, could you give them the papers on the table? It'll explain why I went to see Catherine. I'm sure I'll be fine."
"Very well," Illyria said and lay back down. Dawn smiled at the warrior and finished getting ready. An hour later Dawn was in a taxi headed towards Catherine's apartment. Once she stepped off the elevator, Dawn began to get nervous. She clutched her computer note bag to her and knocked on the door at the end of the hall and was greeted by CJ.
"Hey, little Dawn. Cat had to go down to the club and sign for a shipment, she'll be back up in a few minutes. Come on in."
Dawn stepped into the impressive apartment. A small wow escaped her lips as she took her surroundings in.
"Feel free to look around. Can I get you some water or soda?" CJ asked heading for the fridge.
"Um, water's fine for me, thanks'" Dawn said heading towards the fireplace. On the mantel and shelves around the fireplace were dozens of pictures of Catherine in various places and decades. One depicted Catherine with several hippies at Woodstock and someone who looked like Jimi Hendrix. Anther was a very faded one set in the Forties, another in a roller rink, and another at an opera house. Catherine was laughing and surrounded by friends in all of them. Two photos intrigued Dawn the most.
"This one, who are the women with Catherine?" Dawn asked pointing to a photo taken what looked to be the 1920's. She was very pretty in her sequined dress. Catherine was sitting at a table with three other beautiful women. CJ walked over and handed Dawn a glass of water and looked at the photo.
"Oh, that's Catherine with Bridgett, Monique, and Veronica. I think she said they're witches. All I know is Cat once helped them out of a bind and then they returned the favor. They've been friends for years, except those girls look a little different now."
Dawn moved on to the next one that sat in the middle of the mantel. In it was Catherine and a stunning looking young lady with dark hair and eyes, and a very young looking CJ.
"Is this you?" Dawn asked giggling. CJ looked and started laughing.
"Oh yeah, that's me. That's when I first met Cat. I was 17 and such the outcast. I DJ'ed at her little brother's party," CJ said pointing to the girl in the middle, "And she made Cat come down and listen. That night they hired me to DJ their new club that opened in week."
"I thought Catherine owned the club?"
"Cat owns it now, but originally she was just co-owner with this chica, Charlie. Charlie's the one who named it 'Gypsy's' and when she died, she left it the club to Cat." CJ's voice held a note of sadness. Dawn decided not to push for more on the woman named Charlie. Instead she looked up to the exquisite portrait that hung on the wall above the fireplace. In it sat an elegant woman with dark red hair and fair skin. Her light eyes seemed to sparkle in the painting and a faint smile graced her lips. Behind the woman stood a handsome man with black hair. He seemed tall and very solid. And lastly, sitting on the ground in front of the woman was a young girl who looked to be about fifteen. She looked exactly like the woman in the picture, only younger, except for one thing. The girl's eyes were such a vibrant blue, that there was no mistaking that she was Catherine.
"Isn't it marvelous? Catherine had an artist re-create it. That's her with her parents. Cat said that they had one, but it was lost when her mother died. Veronica put the mental picture into the painter's head so that he would get it exactly right."
Dawn so taken with the portrait. It was hard to remember that once upon a time Catherine had parents, or even that she had lived as long as she did.
"I was wondering about something she said about having demon connections?" Dawn asked, returning to Watcher mode.
"Cat's such the sweetie. Always taken in the strays. She has a soft spot for the peaceful demons. The ones trying to adapt to this world or atone. I think it's her way of honoring Angel all these years. I can't complain, she took me in when no one else would."
"So, you're a demon?"
"According to the Christian Coalition I am." Dawn gave him a confused look, so CJ explained. "I'm gay, honey. Yep, I'm the preverbal Will to Cat's Grace. Except, I'm not all over the top with tiaras and feather boas like most people think."
"Nope, just with the Britney Spears albums," a voice chimed in from behind. Dawn and CJ turned around and were greeted by a warm smile and shimmering blue eyes.
"You better not be telling her a bunch of stories Christopher Jacobs, or I'll put a spell on you that will make you have horrible back hair."
"And she could do it to," CJ said laughing with Dawn at the comment. Catherine waked over and gave them both welcoming hugs. Catherine walked over to the couches and motioned fro Dawn to sit down on the couch next to her. CJ stretched himself out on the loveseat across from them.
"So, Dawn. What brings you here?"
"Well, I did a little history homework. I hope you don't think I was trying to pry into your past, but I was wondering if you had been mentioned in any of Talbot's diaries or anything more on the Fomhoire."
Catherine listened intently and nodded her head, encouraging Dawn to continue.
"Well, I just had a few questions, about your engagement to Liam? I noticed the cladagh ring on your hand last night. Buffy has one like it."
Catherine lowered her gaze to the silver ring on her right hand. She twisted it absently around her finger, before she returned her gaze to Dawn and answered.
"Um, our engagement was more arranged than anything. The only love Angel ever felt towards me I'm sure was brotherly," CJ let out a snort from where he was lounging, causing Catherine to give him a look before she continued, "As for the ring, it was my mother's. Angel never gave me a ring or anything like that. But I'm sure the one he got for you sister was shipped form Ireland. He would never give her anything second rate."
Dawn shook her head with understanding and noted that Catherine was holding something back about what she thought of Angel. Dawn dismissed the feeling and asked her next question.
"I don't know if you ever read Talbot's diaries, but you were mentioned. Mostly in past tense, I guess that was to continue to let everyone still think you were dead. I was just wondering if you had more information about the prophecy about you."
Catherine's eyes widened in surprise. CJ choked on his drink and sat up quickly. It became evident to Dawn that Talbot had never mentioned this prophecy to Catherine and now she was going to have to explain it to her. Dawn took a deep breath, not knowing where to begin.
Back at the hotel, Illyria answered the knocking at her room's door. Connor stood on the other side.
"Dawn has left. She placed manuscripts on the table to await your reading."
Connor blinked and made his way over to the table to retrieve the papers. On top of the stack, was a little note explaining where she had gone. Connor turned and walked back to his and Angel's room glancing through the texts.
"What are you reading?" Angel asked.
"Um, papers Dawn left. She went to go see Catherine. They're mostly about the legends of the Tuatha and a few excerpts from Catherine's Watcher." Connor continued to glance over the pages until something caught his eye. "Hey dad, maybe you should take a look at this."