Guardian Angel

Chapter 5

Part 1

Angel awoke mid-morning the day following Connor's rescue by his guardian angel. He put his hand on his chest and a broad grin came automatically to his face; his heart was beating. He looked at the clock on his bedside table; it was past 10 a.m. and Connor should be awake by now. He rushed into his son's room only to find an empty crib.

'Lorne must have him downstairs,' he thought as he quickly threw on black sweat pants and a white T-shirt and headed downstairs. He became highly concerned when he could hear no sounds within the hotel. He rushed down the stairs to find the lounge area, kitchen and dining room empty.

Angel started to panic. "Lorne," he yelled. "Gunn."

Just then he heard a sound coming from the flower garden. He grabbed a weapon and rushed out the door only to find Lorne, Gunn and Fred surrounding Connor, who looked happily content lying on a blanket in the midst of them. Fred was the first one to notice him.

"Angel, the sun…" she yelled and the others turned to see what had Fred so excited. Angel was standing before them in bright sunlight with a sword in his hand ... and panting.

"He's breathing. Angel, what happened?" Gunn asked.

"Connor's guardian angel asked the Powers to restore my humanity and they did. I was made human overnight." Angel spoke as though he was telling them something as insignificant as the time of day. "I came downstairs and didn't see my son and I got worried." He put the sword inside the door and joined them on the blanket.

"Since we hadn't seen you at your usual time this morning, I went upstairs to check on the two of you. You were still sleeping, but Connor was awake, so I got him up, gave him a bath and his breakfast, and we decided to come out here in the garden so he could get some sun while you slept," Lorne told Angel.

"Who is Connor's guardian angel?" Gunn wanted to know.

"You'll love this," Angel said smiling; "it's Buffy."

"Buffy? The slayer is Connor's guardian angel? You are just full of good news today."

"Yeah. We talked last night after she saved Connor from Holtz and trapped Holtz inside what looked like a hell dimension."

"Serves him right. I hope he never gets out."

"Amen to that," Lorne replied as they heard someone enter the hotel; "two wonderful events in the last twenty-four hours. I don't know how much more good news I can handle."

Angel picked up Connor and followed his friends into the hotel just as he heard Fred squeal, "Cordy, you're back."

"What's this I hear about good newsss…Angel, what're you doing outside … in the sun? Okay, somebody start talking, now."

"Hey, Cordy," Angel said as he approached Cordelia to give her a hug.

"You're warm … wha…"

"I'm human, Cordy."

"What?" She hugged him again. "I'm so happy for you. When did this happen? How did this happen?"

"We were just getting the details when we heard you come in," Lorne told her.

Just as the group gathered in the lounge to hear Angel's story, Groo came through the door loaded down with bags and packages. "Princess, where do you want these?"

"Oh, Groo," Cordy said, embarrassed; she had forgotten about Groo. "Just put them down anywhere and come join us; next to my desk will be fine." She laughed nervously; "Angel has some news."

Angel proceeded to tell his friends everything that had happened regarding him and Connor, Wesley and Holtz, Sahjahn and Lilah.

He ended his story with "Before any of you say anything, I know that you all agree with Buffy; I should forgive Wes because he was doing what he thought he had to do to save my son." He hesitated. "And you would all be right; I agree with her too. When Wes is better and out of the hospital, I think we should all have a group session and talk about friendship and family, trust and loyalty; but not now, later."

Everyone agreed.

Fred couldn't stand it any longer so she turned to Cordelia and asked, "Cordy, I can't take it any longer; is that what I think it is on your left ring finger?"

"YES," Cordelia answered unable to control her excitement, "finally I get to tell my news: Groo and I are engaged; we're getting married at the end of the month."

There were more hugs and congratulations as Cordy and Groo explained their plans for the future. After the wedding they would be returning to Pylea where Groo would claim his position as ruler and bring new order to his home dimension with Cordelia by his side. Angel, Gunn, Fred and Lorne received this news with mixed emotions; they were happy that Cordy was happy and was getting married, but they were sad to be losing their friend.

"You're not losing me," she told them, "you can always come for visits. Just think, you'll be guests of royalty."

Part 2

In Sunnydale later that night Willow and the rest of the Scoobies prepared to perform a resurrection spell that they hoped would bring Buffy back. Unknown to them, Buffy was not in a hell dimension but in the higher realms where plans were already in place for her return to earth.

The spell was interrupted as demons approached the Scoobies and Buffy found herself outside the cemetery where she was formerly buried. She heard a commotion from within the cemetery and rushed in to see what was going on; there she found her friends being attacked by motorcycle riding demons. With her help they were able to defeat the demons and eventually return to Buffy's house on Revello Drive.

A/N: I know this is not what happened on the show, but I just could not bring myself to describe the resurrection scene.

Buffy did not seem to be as traumatized as her friends expected her to be; in fact she seemed very accepting of the fact that she "had been in a hell dimension" and was only safe at home now because of them.

It had been her intentions to allow them to continue thinking that, until she heard one of them complain that she should be at least a little grateful for what they had done for her. At that she asked all of them to come into the living room and sit down because she had something to say to them.

Just as she started to speak, Giles walked in and after greetings and hugs and tears she proceeded to explain everything. She stood before her friends; what she was about to say needed to be said, but she knew that it would be difficult for her to say and difficult for her friends to hear. They needed to know where she had been, how she was back and what her new purpose in life would be.

She started out by telling them how grateful she was for the friendship and support she had received from them since she arrived in Sunnydale and to have friends that were so concerned about her being in a hell dimension that they were willing to risk such powerful and dangerous magic to rescue her, but the fact is, she wasn't in a hell dimension.

She then proceeded to tell them where she had been and the people with whom she spent her time and why she was sent back. She was now the chosen guardian for one of earth's future champions and her responsibility was to him.

"When Faith is formally released from prison, she will assume her responsibility as the slayer on the hellmouth and I hope that you will give her the same level of support that you have always given me.

"I will be only two hours away by car and mere seconds by phone and we can get together often in LA. I say in LA because I must remain near Connor at all times. There are very powerful people who would do him harm, and as the Powers future champion, he must be protected at all costs."

She received varying reactions to what she told them. They were all glad that she had not been in a hell dimension; Willow and Xander were both happy to have their friend back however, Xander could not miss the opportunity to take a dig at Angel because as far as he could see the only reason she came back was so she could be with "deadboy". Anya was glad that the whole thing was over; Giles, Spike and Tara were just happy that she was back.

Part 3

Buffy moved her personal belongings from her house in Sunnydale to a small suite that Angel had prepared for her in the Hyperion Hotel. One of her first orders of business was to visit Wesley in the hospital. He was very surprised, but happy, to see her. After their conversation, he was relieved that Angel had forgiven him, but he felt it would be better if he did not return to the hotel.

After he was released from the hospital and was recovering nicely, the AI team members all crammed together in Wesley's small living room for a group session to talk about friendship and family, trust and loyalty as they had discussed the day that Angel became human. When the meeting was over, each one felt relieved and lighthearted; they were not able to convince Wesley to return to his position at Angel Investigations, but they were all friends again.

Angel had left Connor with Buffy at the Hyperion but promised Wesley he would bring the baby by for a visit very soon.

Regrettably, Wesley was not recovered enough to attend Cordelia's wedding, but via telephone he assured her that he would accompany the group when they paid their first visit to "Pylean royalty".

End of chapter 5