February 5, 2002
Dawn answered the door, "Hey Angel." She said then turned towards the baby. "He's cute, Can I hold him?"
"Uh...Sure," Angel said handing Connor to her.
"Hi Angel," Buffy said going to Angel to hug him.
They held on to each other awkwardly but then they both relaxed. They remembered their last meeting with each other. It had been uncomfortable and almost painful how unconnected they felt. They both hoped this time would be different.
"Hi," Willow said, taking her turn to hug Angel and then Wesley.
"So is the kid some sort of golden child we have to protect?" Xander asked gesturing to the baby in Dawn's arms..
"He's my son," Angel said his eyes focused on Buffy.
"Son?" Buffy repeated.
"Did you like adopt him?" Dawn asked.
"No," Angel said. "He's mine."
"How?" Xander asked.
"Vampires can't have children," Willow said.
"It's complicated," Angel replied. "Darla's his mother."
"Darla's dead," Buffy said. They way she just stood there looking at him but not seeming to see him disturbed Angel.
"This law firm brought her back as a way to hurt me," Angel said. "She died giving birth to him."
"I can't handle this right now," Buffy said walking towards the kitchen so she could escape through the back door. Xander followed behind her.
Angel didn't go after her. There was no time for long explanations. What needed to be said had to wait until after Angel had saved Cordy.
"What about the curse?" Willow asked frowning.
That's when Lorne coughed.
"This is Lorne," Wesley introduced. "And that's Anna."
"So you're not Cordy?" Anya said. "That's good cause I don't want Cordy near my fiancee."
"Look, I need you and the others to protect Connor while Wes and I go back to get Cordy," Angel said taking his son from Dawn.
"Anna and I are going to help you look after junior Angel Cakes," Lorne said.
"We need to get going," Wesley said walking out the door.
"I'll be back, son," Angel whispered to Connor. "And I'm bringing your mother with me."
Handing the baby to Lorne, "Take care of him."
"That goes without saying," Lorne said.
"Good Luck," Anna said nervously.
Angel looked at Anna and said, "We'll save you both."
Angel walked out the door without waiting for a response from Anna. Anna relaxed slightly choosing to believe Angel and Wesley would succeed. She had to trust that Angel would not just abandon her to her father once Cordy was safe.
--
Fred and Gunn sat side by side on the Lobby counter in the Hyperion watching Groo practice his sword fighting. Fred checked her watch.
"They should be there by now," Fred said.
"It'll be okay," Gunn said worrying over whether he should have gone with them but someone had to stay in LA and keep an eye on Holtz. And Gunn realized he didn't want to leave Fred behind.
The phone rang and Gunn answered, "Angel Investigations. We help the helpless."
"Hey Gunn, it's Ann."
"Hey, what's up?" Gunn replied.
"There are rumors of a vampire nest near the shelter," Ann said.
"We'll check it out," Gunn said. "See you soon."
"Are we going on a quest now?" Groo asked Gunn.
"Yeah," Gunn replied turning to Fred. "Ann who ran that shelter we told you about needs some help. I'll take He-Man with me."
Fred smiled at the He-man remark, "I'll hold down the fort."
"Are you going to be okay on your own?" Gunn asked. Fred really never was alone in the hotel. One or all of the others were usually around.
"I'm fine," Fred said. "I'll probably watch a movie or something. You can head home after seeing Ann if you want."
"I'm staying here until the others come home," Gunn said and then smiled at Fred. "We can watch a movie together when I get back? Don't eat all the popcorn."
"I can't make any promises," Fred said watching Gunn and Groo leave.
It suddenly struck her that she and Gunn watching a movie together alone in the hotel might be a date. Her smile brightened and then clouded.
"Oh my God it might be a date," Fred said suddenly nervous.
--
Angel and Wesley sat in Angel's car in front of the Sunnydale cemetery.
"The hotspot should be straight ahead," Wesley said.
Angel began to read the spell and the portal opened.
"I should warn you that Fred's calculations and this spell could be wrong. We could end up years earlier or later than we should," Wesley said. "I just had to say that."
Angel nodded and said, "You don't have to come."
"Drive," Wesley said.
And they drove through the portal.
--
February 5, 1999
Cordelia pulled up in front of Sunnydale High in her car. Cordy had been sitting beside her in the front seat and Angel sat in the back. In spite of himself, Angel had enjoyed his afternoon spent with both the Cordelias. They exasperated him but amused him at the same time. But he was relieved they would be joining the others, and he would no longer be a focus of their attention. They got out of the car and started walking towards the school doors. Angel started walking in the opposite direction.
"Angel?" Cordelia said.
"I'm going to check something out," Angel said. "I'll be there in a few minutes."
Angel wanted to check around the school and make sure things were safe. He didn't want Jacob to make another surprise attack.
Cordy looked at him with concern, "Do me a favor? If you see Jacob, just run. You can't play hero this time around."
He and Cordy shared a look before he walked away. Cordy continued to watch him go until Cordelia patted her arm.
"He'll be okay," Cordelia said. "Let's join the research party."
Cordy made no reply and just walked into the school with Cordelia.
"So you and Angel are close in the future?" Cordelia asked. After spending an afternoon with her, Cordelia realized that Cordy knew Angel pretty well. She even knew how Angel liked his blood. "How exactly does that happen?"
"No details about the future, remember," Cordy said.
"You're being no fun at all," Cordelia complained.
"I'm not the only one who's going to wonder," Cordelia warned Cordy.
Cordy assumed she was referring to Angel and Buffy. Cordy already knew that Angel had a dozen questions he was refusing to ask her which she was grateful for. She wasn't certain of Buffy or the other Scoobies.
Cordy sighed, "I wish I was home."
"We'll get you there," Cordelia said pausing at the door. "I've never really had a home. There's the house where I live, but you know that's not home. It's nice to know that in the future I'll find a home."
Cordy wanted to tell her everything then. That life didn't turn out at all as she expected it would but that it was better than she imagined. Cordelia Chase would grow up, find a mission, and a family to share it with.
Cordy gave Cordelia a quick hug and said, "Let's go meet with the others."
They walked into the library and joined The rest of the scoobies.
"Where's Angel?" Buffy asked.
"Checking the perimeter," Cordy replied going to sit by Willow at the table.
--
Jacob punched a hole in his wall. His efforts to track Anna had failed. Something was hiding her from his sight. He'd never thought she would ever escape him. But now she had help.
Jacob smiled realizing Anna's new strength didn't matter now that he knew her weakness. He'd go after her new friends. They were where she was most vulnerable.
--
He burst through the library doors with purpose. His eyes rested on Cordy who immediately got out of her seat and ran in to his arms.
"Cordy?" Angel said holding her tighter.
"Yeah, it's me," she said relaxing in to his arms.
Wesley who walked in with Angel just stood on the sidelines and watched smiling. The Scoobies all watched in shock. Angel and Cordy were hugging and both of them were smiling.
"What's going on?" Buffy asked.
And then another Angel walked through the library doors and stopped when he saw himself holding Cordy.
"Well Broody Boy," Cordy said turning to the surprised Angel standing in the doorway. "Come and meet your future."
