Parenthood

by bjames238

Willow shows up in Angel's room instead of Darla at the end of season 2. A month and a half later . . . The last chapter will be coming soon.

2. Newborn

Parenthood

Summary: Willow shows up in Angel's room instead of Darla. A month and a half later . . . The next chapter should be coming soon.

Chapter 2: The Newborn

? "Aahhhh!" Willow screamed. "Angel, it hurts. It hurts so much!"
"I know sweetie, I know." Angel said. Willow was about ready to slap him upside the
head.
"Getting this freaking thing out of me!" Willow screamed. She clutched the sides of the
table so hard her fingers turned purple.
"You're only two centimeters along." Cordelia said. She had latex gloves on that were
now covered in Willow's blood.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Willow said through clenched teeth.
"I wish I were." Cordelia said.
"This has been going on for over ten hours. Isn't there something we can do to make this
go faster?" Angel said. Willow squeezed his hand as hard as she could, hoping it would get rid
of the pain. Cordelia shook her head. "She's in pain, Cordy."
"I know. I can hear her swearing." Cordelia said. "I'm right here."
"How much longer?" Willow pleaded.
"I don't know. But I think we need to get you to a hospital. You're bleeding a lot more
than you should be. And I can't see anything." Oh God, Willow thought, that can't be good.
"Right." Angel said. "Gunn, go get the van. Dawn, Anya, Fred, get some blankets and
pillows. Giles, Xander, get the bags. Wes, Buffy, get some weapons just in case Glory shows
up. I'll carry Willow. Spike, you stay here. Cordy, grab some medical supplies for the drive
there. Oh, and someone needs to drive." Angel picked Willow up. Everyone but Willow,
Cordelia, Angel, and Spike left the hotel. The contraction ended, and the pain was gone.
"Angel, I can walk now. Put me down." Willow said.
"No. The last time I let you walk around you went into labor." Angel said. "And besides,
you're still bleeding out."
"Fine." Willow pouted. But he was right, she was bleeding quite a bit.
"Well, well." An unfamiliar voice said. "Angelus, we meet again."
"Who is that?" Cordelia said. She looked at Angel curiously.
"Don't know. But why's he here? And why did he call Angel Angelus?" Spike said.
Willow looked up at Angel. His face was shock white.
"Holtz?" Angel said. Willow started at the man Angel called Holtz.
"Who's Holtz?" Willow breathed.
"My, my Angelus. You haven't changed a bit, have you? Still enjoying human pain I
see. If you're here then Darla can't be too far." Holtz said. Willow shivered when she heard him
speak.
"You're wrong. I have changed. And Darla's not here." Angel said.
"Put the girl down." Holtz said.
"I can't. She's bleeding too much." Angel said.
"What do yo want?" Willow said through gritted teeth. She really didn't like this guy.
"I want for this vile creature to be sent to hell to pay for what he's taken from me." Holtz
said.
"What? Why do you want him dead?" Willow said, concerned for her boyfriend's safety.
"This doesn't concern you, girl. Now--" Willow cut him off."This does so concern me! He's my— Aaahh!" Another contraction. More blood. She
screamed.
"What is wrong with her?" Holtz said. Willow panted, trying to catch her breath.
"Angel, we really need to get her to a hospital." Cordelia said. Willow couldn't agree
more. She
wanted an epidural. Now. She screamed again. Angel kissed her forehead.
"I know." Angel said. He put Willow in Spike's arms. "I know we hate each other, but just get
her to the hospital. It's important . . . to me." The contraction ended and Willow sighed in relief.
"You got it. I'll get Red there." Spike said. "Besides. We're family, grandsire."
"Yes. By all means. Take the girl so I can send this evil creature to the fire it belongs too."
Willow looked fearfully at Angel. "Then, I'll come for her too."
"Go!" Angel commanded. Spike rushed out the door with Willow in his arms. Cordelia was
right behind them. Willow saw the big black ban they used out front. The door was open, and the rest of the
gang was already in, with Xander in the driver's seat. Cordelia climbed in. Spike put Willow on the floor
in the middle of the van.
"Where's Angel?" Fred said.
"Got a little held up. Man of some sorts said he wants Angel dead then he's comin' back for Red.
I'm goin' back to lend a hand." Spike said. Buffy was about to get out. "Stay. Just get Red fixed up by
Doctor Whosit." With that, he shut the door and disappeared from Willow's view.
"Drive!" Buffy shouted. The Slayer knelt beside Willow and rubbed her shoulder. It eased some
of the pain. With her other hand, she held Willow's hand. Willow squeezed the Slayer's hand.
"Buffy, we're not gonna make it. He's coming really fast now. I can--" She grunted as a really
big contraction hit. "—feel it. And I'm so . . . tired." She closed her eyes but Buffy shook Willow's head.
"No, stay awake. You're gonna make it. I know you can Willow. Just breathe." Buffy said.
Willow screamed as the urge to push became really strong. "Xander! How far away?"
"Fifteen, twenty minutes." Xander said.
"Buffy, that's not enough time. He's--" she panted to catch her breath. "He's gonna be here any
second." Buffy looked at Cordelia.
"We need a safe place for Willow to have this baby. We need to get there now." Buffy said.
Willow looked at Cordelia. The ex-cheerleader had a helpless expression on her face. Then she smiled
after a few minutes.
"Xander! Turn left at the next light!" Cordelia said.
"Where are we going?" Dawn said.
"There's this place, Caritas. The Host has a sanctuary spell on it. No demon violence." Cordy
said.
"Sounds good to me. Just GO!" Willow shouted. She was sweaty and her red hair was sticking to
her face. She was bleeding all over the van and getting weak because of it.
Within minutes, they arrived at a blue building with a pink neon sign that said 'Caritas.'
"Willow, can you walk?" Cordelia said.
"N-no. He's . . . he's . . . AAHHH!"
"Wil, what's wrong?" Xander said. Everyone got out. Except for Willow, who was still lying on
the floor of the van.
"Another contraction?" Fred said.
"N-no. It's something . . . something else. The pain . . . it's . . . different." Willow said. She
couldn't explain it. She felt pain, but it wasn't the kind she had been getting. It was . . . sharper. More
painful. She couldn't move.Gunn picked her up and they went to the door of the building. Buffy kicked down the door.
"Hey!" A voice said. They went down the stairs and a green demon with red horns appeared.
"What do you think you're doing?" Cordelia went up to the demon.
"Lorne, these are our friends. We need a safe place for Willow here to have her baby." Cordelia
said. "There's this guy, he's after Angel and Willow."
"Huh?"
"Don't ask. Just . . . we need a place. She's just about ready to pop, if ya know what I mean."
"Yeah, sure. How about my room?" Lorne said. He led them there and Gunn set Willow down on
the bed. Everyone but Cordelia, Buffy, and Xander left the room. Willow gasped as the 'something else'
came back.
Cordelia parted Willow's legs. "Oh God!" Cordy shrieked.
"What!?" Willow rasped.
"All I see is blood. And not the normal kind either. It's really . . ." Cordelia said.
"Dark." Buffy said. Cordelia nodded.
"What does that mean?" Xander said.
"I'm not sure, but I don't think it's good." Cordelia said.
"What are we gonna do?" Buffy said.
"I don't know. But I do know that we need to get this kid out. Now." Cordelia said.
"What are you thinking?" Xander said. "C-section?"
"None of us here know how to do that." Buffy said.
"You can't . . . anyway." Willow panted. "I-I cast a spell. The only way he'll come out is the
natural way. It was to protect . . . him."
"Oh." Xander said.
Willow was starting to feel really lightheaded and fatigued. She was having problems breathing
too.
"Wil, are you okay?" Buffy said.
"No. I-I don't think I can stay . . . awake . . . much longer." Willow said. She was fading. Fast.
"No Willow. Stay awake." Buffy said. "We need you to stay awake. Your baby needs you to stay
awake."
"I c-can't." Willow whispered, her eyelids slowly closing. Then she felt someone shake her and her
eyes opened wide. Angel. "Don't leave me." She pleaded. Just like she had pleaded with Oz on Halloween
night in that haunted house.
"I'll never leave you." Angel said.
"Angel, we've got a problem." Gunn said as he came in the room. Everyone else followed.
"That guy, Holtz, he's back. We have to get out of here, quick." Dawn said.
"Yes. He's thrown a barrel and a grenade into the club. The whole place is on fire." Giles said.
"Lorne, is there another way out?" Angel said.
"Just one. Behind the bed." Lorne said.
"Buffy, Cordelia, keep her awake." Angel said. The whole bed shook underneath Willow as Angel
pulled it away from the wall. Willow heard a couple of bangs and three or four cracks. The walls began to
smoke and flame. Willow coughed as she inhaled smoke.
"Let's go." Angel said. Everyone started going out. But Fred hadn't gone yet. Angel came over
to Willow and picked her up. They went through the hole in the wall. They were hit with falling rain.
Fred was right behind them. Willow screamed. She was convinced her baby was ready to come out."Angel!" She whispered. He set her on the ground.
"What, honey?" Angel said.
"He's here. He's coming out now!" Willow screamed again. She pushed as hard as she could.
"Angel, Holtz is right behind us." Fred said. She knelt down and set Willow's head on her knees.
The rain stopped dropping on Willow's face. She looked up. Fred was holding her jacket over.
"Fred, go to the van." Angel said.
"No. I'm staying here." Fred said.
"Willow, honey. I need you to push really hard. We need to get him out now so we can get out of
here." Willow did just as he said. She pushed hard and longer than she ever thought she could.
She heard a cry that wasn't her own. Her son was finally out. And he sounded healthy and
normal. Angel took off his duster and wrapped the newborn up. Willow watched with pride, joy, and relief
as Angel held him up. The newborn baby was the most beautiful infant she had ever seen. Tears of
happiness fell down Willow's cheeks.
"Angel, we really need to go." Fred said. "Holtz is right there."
Fred pointed behind Angel. Willow looked over Angel's shoulder. Holtz was pointing a loaded
crossbow at them. She gasped and the world went dark.

Angel turned around and saw Holtz with the crossbow. He stood up. Still holding his son in his
arms. He just stared at his enemy. Holtz didn't shout. He just started, his face almost sympathetic.
"What are you doing?" A demon said to Holtz. "Kill him! Now!" Holtz dropped the crossbow to
the ground.
Angel ignored both Holtz and the demon. He handed his son over to Fred. Fred ran toward the
van. Angel picked up Willow, who was unconscious now. He ran after Fred and got into the van. When
Buffy saw Willow, her eyes went wide.
"What's wrong with her?" Buffy said anxiously.
"She passed out." Fred said. "Probably from blood loss."
"Is she still breathing?" Xander asked. Giles was driving now.
"Yes. She's just, weak." Angel said.
"What about that guy, Holtz?" Anya said. "Is he still going to kill you?"
"I don't know. But we need to get back to the hotel. We'll be safe there. For now." Angel said.
When they got to the hotel, Angel carried Willow up to the door in his arms. She had awakened
just before they hand pulled up to the curb. But even though she was awake, she wasn't fully . . . aware of
her surroundings. Everyone was behind him, including his son who was still in Fred's arms.
Angel pushed over the front door with his feet. He stopped. The lobby of the hotel was a complete
wreck. He heard Willow gag. There were blood and entrails all over the place. Plaster, dry wall, and
wood debris covered the floor. There were bodies strewn about in every direction.
The rest of the gang bumped into him.
"What the he--" Anya said. "Holy moly!"
Dawn pointed at a body in black trapped underneath a column. "Spike!" Dawn said. The girl ran
over to him and tried to pushed it off, but couldn't. Gunn helped her and the column was pushed off.
Spike was unconscious. He'd be fine.
"Where did all these bodies come from." Buffy asked. Angel set Willow down on the couch. She
was sleeping again. He glanced at a body and saw the letters W&W on the collar. He looked at Wesley.
"Wolfram & Hart." Wesley said. Angel nodded.
"What do you think they want?" Giles said. Fred walked over to two steel boxes of some kind."Well. Whatever was in those cages could still be in here." Buffy said. Everyone looked wearily
around the room. Fred pointed to the labels on the cages. They said 'mother' and 'baby.'
"To study them." Wesley said.
"That's disgusting and perverted." Buffy swallowed. Her nose scrunched up and she stuck her
tongue out in distaste.
"I couldn't agree more." Cordelia shivered.
"Okay, gang. Let's get this place cleaned up and spotless, pronto." Xander said.

"I'm on doctor duty." Cordelia said. She took the baby from Fred and went over to the couch
where Willow was sleeping. She knelt down.
"I'm gonna help you that." Anya said. The ex-demon followed the ex-cheerleader over to the
couch. Cordelia handed Anya the baby so she could looked Willow over.
"Thanks." Cordelia said.
"You can't have him back, he's mine." Anya said. Cordelia turned to look at her in disbelief.
"What?"
"Xander. He's mine now." Anya said again.
"I don't want Xander. What makes you think I want him?" Cordelia said.
"Well, you've been nice to him." Anya said.
"Yeah, it's a think we humans do. Be nice to people." Cordelia said sarcastically. Anya just
seemed to ignore her.
"How are we going to stop this bleeding?" Anya said. "There's too much of it. It's disgusting."
"Well, it's slowing down. It's almost stopped. She should be fine." Cordelia said. She took the
baby back from Anya and held him over her shoulder. He cooed and gurgled.
"How's the baby?" Cordelia heard Angel say.
"Haven't gotten that far." Cordelia said. "Doing that right now." She moved the newborn and held
him out in front of her. He was so adorable. He had chubby cheeks and a pudgy nose. His head was full
of reddish-brown curly hair. He had bright green eyes and thin eyebrows. Yep, he definitely was his
parents' son. He even had his mother's geeky grin and his father's broody stare.
She checked him over and he seemed fine. Healthy as a horse. And he was smiling.
"Ya know, he looks just like his father." Cordelia heard Willow say. She jerked her head up ans
saw Willow smiling.
"You're awake!" Cordelia said.
"Yes, I am." Willow said. "And I feel much better."

Willow held out her arms and Cordelia placed the newborn in his mother's arms. Willow smiled
and squealed. "Isn't he just the cutest little thing." Willow tickled his chin and he giggled. "He's perfect."
"Except for a name. He needs a name." Cordelia said. Willow hadn't thought about that. But she
had the perfect name for her son.
"Connor." Willow said. Angel looked up at them.
"Why Connor? Why not Steven? I hear that's a good respectable name." Anya said.
"Connor." Angel said. He smiled. "How'd you know?" He came over and knelt beside Willow.
"You told me, remember. You said that Connor was your best friend's name when you were alive.
You said that the two of you were so close you were almost brothers."
"Oh, yeah. I forgot." Angel said. "Connor's a perfect name, sweetie"
"What about a last name?" Dawn said. she came over by the group surrounding Willow and
Connor."We'll use Rosenberg." Angel said.
"What about a middle name?" Fred said. Willow looked at Connor.
"Hmm. Connor Rosenberg, what should be your middle name?" Connor gurgled and giggled. He
reminder her of Xander. That's perfect, she thought.
"I have the perfect middle name. Connor Alexander Rosenberg." Willow said. Xander stared at
her. "What?"
"You would name your's and Dead Boy's miracle kid after me?" Xander said. "I'm honored."
"Xander, it's just a middle name." Willow said.
"But still, I'm honored." Xander said.
"I was going to use James, after my favorite cousin. But Connor reminds me so much of you,
believe it or not." Willow said.
"Really? Well, it could be that we've known each other since we were babies." Xander said.
"Could be." Willow agreed.
"Well, the lobby's as clear as we can get it right now." Gunn said. Willow looked up. He wiped
his forehead with the back of his hand.
"Yes. I quite agree." Giles said.
"What are we gonna do now?" Dawn said.
"Shopping!" Cordelia said. Xander rolled his eyes. "What? We're going to need stuff. Baby stuff.
Like, I don't know. What do babies need?" Everyone looked around the room helplessly.
Anya looked at Buffy. "You have a little sister. You know what to do."
"But I was like, six, when Dawn was born. I don't remember anything." Buffy said.
"Does anyone here know anything about babies?" Anya said.
Fred shook her head. As did Dawn, Angel, Xander, Giles, Willow, Wesley, Lorne, Gunn, and
Cordelia.
"Uh oh." Dawn said.
"'Uh oh' is right." Gunn said. "Here we have this new baby and no one, not even the parents, know
what to do. Yep. We're in trouble."
"We'll just have to get baby books or something. Who's comin' with me?" Cordelia said.
"Me!" Dawn said.
"I'll stay here." Buffy said
"Yeah, us three too." Angel said pointing to Willow and Connor.
"I'd rather not." Giles said. "I'd like to research this Holtz further, as well as Glory."
"I think I'll join Giles." Wesley said. Everyone else said they were going.

Ten minutes later, Dawn, Cordelia, Fred, Gunn, Xander, and Anya were gone. Lorne was upstairs
in a room sleeping.
Angel sat in an arm chair across from Willow watching her sleep. Connor was happily gurgling in
his arms. Willow was smiling, so Angel figured that she must be having a good dream. She looked so
beautiful. And she was the bravest person Angel had ever met.
She didn't have to fight evil with Buffy. She could have gone to college anywhere she wanted.
She didn't have to stay. But she did. And she lost so much because of it. Oz. Tara.
That was part of why Angel loved her so much. Because she was smart, unselfish, brave, and just
so loveable.
He looked back down at Connor. This beautiful baby boy looked so much like his mother it was
frightening. But he was also amazing, a miracle. And Angel was proud of his son. He was also proud of
Willow. And he intended on loving her for eternity. In fact, he was going to marry her. By doing that, he
would be openly showing how much he loved her and making it permanent and legal. But he would wait
until she woke up and felt better. Then he would propose to the love of his life.
Someone clapped in front of his face and he blinked to attention. He looked up and saw Buffy
standing in front of him.
"Didn't you hear me? I've been shouted at you and punching your shoulder for like five minutes."
Buffy sat down on an arm chair next to Angel.
"I must not have been paying attention." Angel switched Connor over to his other arm.
"You totally spaced out. You were in, like la-la land or something." Buffy said, laughing.
"Sshh. You'll wake her up." Angel whispered. He pointed at Willow.
"Sorry." Buffy said guiltily. "'Cause a cranky new mom is an unbearable new mom, I know."
Angel looked at her in confusion.
"Something my mom used to say. She said that just after I was born, Dad would accidently wake
her up, then she was cranky for the rest of the day. And considering the couple of temper tantrums I've
seen Willow have, that rule definitely applies."
"You're probably right." Angel agreed.
"So, how's it feel to be a Dad, Dad?" Buffy asked.
"Strange, but great." Angel answered. He lightly brushed his finger on Connor's cheek. "I mean,
this is life, that I helped create. He's my son. In the two centuries I've been a vampire I never thought I'd
become a father. Yet, here I am, in love and with a child. I'm excited but terrified at the same time."
Angel told her.
"You two are gonna be great parents." Buffy said.
"I know Willow will be, but it's me I'm worried about."
"You shouldn't be. I watched you for almost five minutes. Connor never cried, not once. It's
because he know you're his father. And he knows you love him."
"I do. And I love his mother too." Angel took hold of Willow's hand.
"Angel, you never told us what that Holtz goy wants." Buffy said.
"He wants Darla and me dead." Angel said.
"Why?" Buffy said. Angel looked over at Willow, then down at Connor."
"Because we killed his family. His wife, baby, and . . ." he gulped. "I turned his daughter into a
vampire."
"Oh." Buffy said quietly.
"It's one of the many things I wish I hadn't done. But most of them are what I've done to you."
"That's in the past." Buffy said. "You're with Willow now, and that won't happen."
"I hope so. Because I couldn't bear to hurt her."
"You better not. Or I'll stake your vampire behind." Buffy said. Angel glared at her. "I'm joking.
But you still better not do it."
"I won't, I promise." Angel said.
"Good." Buffy said. "Now hand that baby over. It's Aunt Buffy's turn."
Angel laughed. Buffy held out her arms and Angel placed his son in the Slayer's arms. Connor
giggled and Buffy laughed.
"I think he likes you." Angel said.
"Well, I sure hope so." Buffy said. "Because I plan to spoil this kid so much you'll wanna stake
yourself!"

"We need help!" Cordelia whined. She picked up the bags of diapers and held them up. Once saidaloe-lined and the other said plastic.
"Strangely, I think Cordelia's right." Xander said. Cordelia rolled her eyes.
"What are these?" Dawn held up something Cordelia didn't recognize.
"Uh, I think they're teething rings." Fred said.
"Do we need them?" Anya asked. Cordelia shrugged.
"My sister had one of those. So we probably do." Gunn said. "I think."
"Why don't we ask someone?" Anya suggested.
"Good idea." Dawn said.

Willow woke up to the sound of a crying baby. Any other day it would have annoyed her. But
today, right now, it was the sweetest sound in the world. She opened her eyes to find she was in her and
Angel's room. The curtains were drawn, as usual. Her whole body screamed at her from pain, but
somehow she was calmer and more at peace that she had ever been in her life. She was happy and satisfied
with the way her life was going.
She looked over by the window and saw a white bassinet. It hadn't been there before. That meant
that Cordelia and the rest of the gang were back from their baby shopping trip. She wondered how long
she had been sleeping. But it couldn't have been for more than a couple of hours.
Carefully she got up and went over to the bassinet. She hadn't had the chance to hold her son yet.
Even though she had been awake when she named him, she couldn't really remember what he looked like.
She leaned over the bassinet. Connor was still crying, so Willow rubbed his temple to calm him
down. His skin was soft and warm against her fingers. His face had a pinkish tinge that assured Willow
he was normal and healthy. She hummed a lullaby her mother had sung to her when she was little. Connor
stopped crying. He smiled, which made Willow's heart skip a beat. A few gurgles and Connor was asleep.
He was perfect. There was nothing about him that Willow didn't adore. She just wanted to hold him for
the rest of his life. But she knew that he would grow up. And though she hated to admit it, she probably
wouldn't be able to hold on to him for more than five minutes before she passed out from exhaustion. But
she really wanted to hold him. But she'd just have to wait for Angel or someone else. Then they could
supervise so Connor wouldn't get hurt.
"We've been wondering when you would wake up. I was just coming to check on the two of you."
Willow jumped and turned around. Dawn was standing in the doorway. Willow sighed. "Oops. Sorry I
scared you."
"That's okay." Willow said. Her voice was scratchy and raspy.
"How are you feeling?" Dawn said. She walked over to the bassinet.
"I'm not sure yet. My throat hurts, but other than that I'm just achy. Shouldn't I be in more pain?
I mean I just had a baby."
"Lorne know a shaman that specializes in post-birth healing or something."
"Very cool. How long have I been sleeping?"
"Almost three days."
"What?!"
"Yeah. That's how you were healing. You're throat hurts because you were screaming in your
sleep. Dementia, Lorne called it. Said that happens when someone's body goes through as much trauma
as yours has. We were starting to worry you'd never wake up.""Connor woke me up." Willow said.
"He did? He's never woken you up before." Dawn said. Willow shrugged.
"Where is everyone?" Willow asked.
"Downstairs. Researching Glory and Holtz." Dawn said. "I've been put on babysit duty.
Apparently I'm 'not old enough for research.'"
"Who said that?" Willow asked.
"Who else?" Dawn scoffed.
"Buffy, I'm guessing." Willow said.
"You got that right. Little Miss Slayer who thinks she's in charge of everyone."
"Well, Dawnie, when it comes to you, she is in charge. She's all you have left."
"Yeah, yeah. I've heard that speech already." Dawn said. "'She gave up so much for you' you
said."
"Well, she did. Not just for you. For everyone." Willow said. "She may not show it all the time,
but she loves you. You're her blood, Summer's blood. You're her family."
"Just like you, Angel, and Connor are a family?" Dawn said. Willow nodded.
"But more than that, we're all a family. You, me, Buffy, Angel, Xander, Anya, Lorne, Cordy,
Fred, Gunn, Spike, Wesley, Giles, and Connor." Willow felt a tear drop off her nose.
"And Tara." Dawn said. "And Mom." Willow nodded and hugged Dawn. The teenager was and
would always be like a sister to Willow.
"So," Willow said, wiping the tears out of her eyes, "what else had changed while I was sleeping?"
"Fred and Gunn are dating. Xander and Anya are engaged." Dawn said. "Oh, and Buffy and
Spike are dating too."
"Really? Good for them. What about everyone else?" Willow said.
"Cordelia and I have been taking turns checking on you and Connor. Buffy, Spike, and Gunn have
been keeping the hotel on constant watch. Giles went back to London to help the Council find out more
information on Glory and Holtz. Wesley's been researching here. Angel's a total wreck. Since we got
back from the store, he hasn't let anyone but him hold Connor. He's really protective, of both of you. In
fact, I'm surprised he's not up here. He usually is." Dawn said. "He probably just went to get a glass of
blood or something."
Willow suddenly felt dizzy and grabbed onto the bassinet for support. "Whoa!" She said.
"Are you okay?" Dawn said. Willow shook her head. Dawn helped her over to the bed. "The
shaman said you'd be a little dizzy when you woke up."
"Oh." Willow said. "How's Fred though? Is she still . . ."
"Crazy?" Dawn said.
"I was going to say unstable, but I guess crazy works. Is she?"
"No. Believe it or not, this whole crisis has made her really bold."
"Really. You know, I know it wouldn't be long before she got out of that." Willow said.
"Do ya wanna go down and get something to eat?" Dawn asked.
"Sure." Willow said. "I'm starving."
"We just have to bring Connor with us." Dawn said. "Angel orders, not mine."
"You better carry him. I don't think I'm up to that just yet." Willow said.
"Okay." Dawn said.

Dawn led the way don't the stairs, Connor sleeping in her arms, and Willow behind her. She was
really nervous about carrying the baby. She had never been able to hold him before. Someone else hadalways been around to carry him for her. But now, she was the only one who could carry the newborn.
Willow was too weak. If Dawn put Connor in his mother's arms, the red-haired sorceress would most
definitely drop him.
She stepped off the last step and walked into the lobby. Fred, Xander, and Anya were sitting on
the various couches and chairs reading big musty books. Everyone else was no where in sight.
"Hey!" Xander said. "Look who finally decided to join the ranks of the living."
"Yep. I found her standing next to Connor's bassinet." Dawn said. She went over to the playpen
and set Connor down. He cooed and went back to sleep.
"How are you feeling?" Fred said.
"Fine. Just a little dizzy." Willow said. "Where's Angel?"
Anya rolled her eyes. "Where else would he be besides your bedroom? The nursery." Xander said.
"What nursery?" Willow said. Dawn glared at him.
"Xander!" Anya said. "You weren't supposed to say that!"
"Oops." Xander said.
"It's just like last year's Thanksgiving." Dawn said. "You were the one who told Buffy that Angel
had been in Sunnydale. You the reason we came to 'visit our dad' and Buffy got all weird after that."
"What nursery!?" Willow said again.
"Surprise?" Xander said.
"Where is it?" Willow said.
"Where's what?" Buffy said. She came in from outside.
"Xander told Willow about the 'surprise.'" Fred said.
"Xander!" Buffy said.
"What?!" Xander said.
"Uh-oh. Angel's gonna be angry." Fred said.
"Hel-lo!" Willow put her hands up to signal a time-out. "What nursery?"
"The one Angel was putting together as a surprise for when you woke up." Dawn said. "Well, he
actually finished it yesterday. He's just been sitting in there lately. Brooding, as usual."
"Oh. So, where is this 'surprise' nursery?" Willow said.
Dawn looked at her older sister with an expression that said 'Should we?' Buffy nodded.
"I'll take you up. We can bring Connor with too." Buffy said. Willow nodded. The Slayer
grabbed Connor and the three of them headed up the stairs.

Angel sat in a rocking chair in the nursery he had made for Willow. And Connor, of course. He
rolled the red velvet box in his hands, thinking about what he was going to say. He didn't wanna be to
sappy. Yet he didn't wanna be so insensitive about it either. He just really hoped she woke up soon.
He heard a knock on the door and jumped in surprise.
"Angel?" It was Buffy. She opened the door. Angel thought he saw someone else, but then Buffy
was alone, except for Connor in her arms. "Guess who's awake."
"Connor?" Angel said. Buffy walked up to him and he quickly put the ring box back in his pocket.
He took his son from the Slayer and she went back toward the door.
"No. Well, yeah. But who else can you think of who's been sleeping for like, forever?' Buffy
said.
"Willow?" Angel said hopefully.
"Well duh! Now hurry up and get ready to show your girlfriend this beautiful nursery!" Buffy
said.
Angel put Connor in his crib and pulled the box out of his pocket.
Willow waited outside the door while Buffy took Connor in the nursery. To be honest, she was a
little nervous. A nursery decorated by a 200-and-some year old vampire who wore black all the time was
just a little hard to picture.
But she didn't have time to wait, because Buffy came back through the door saying Angel was
ready for her.
"Close your eyes." Buffy whispered. She felt Buffy put a blindfold around her eyes. Willow
closed her eyes and took Buffy's hand. The Slayer led her into the room. Willow walked, trying to
understand the room by feeling it. The floor felt soft and cushy beneath her bare feet. That feeling was
new to her. Usually, the carpets in the hotel were hard and prickly. They walked for a while.
"Whoa!" Willow heard Buffy cry out.
"What? What's wrong?" Willow said frantically.
"Nothing. You're just about to run into something." Buffy said.
"Oh." Willow said. "Don't scare me like that. Angel?" She felt in the air for him.
"I'm right here sweetie." She heard Angel say. A hand grabbed hers. Buffy let go of Willow's
hand. Willow giggled as she felt Angel grab her by the hips.
"I'm, ah, gonna go downstairs, give you two lovebirds some alone time." Buffy said. A few
seconds later, Willow heard the door open and close.
"Angel what- Mmmm." Willow was cut off by Angel's lips on hers. She smiled through the kiss.
"Good morning baby." Angels aid. He kissed her nose. She opened her eyes, but all she saw was
the blindfold. She tried to pull it off, but she felt Angel's hands on hers. "Not yet." He kissed her again.
She put her arms around his neck.
After a few minutes, she pulled away to catch her breath. "So, are you gonna show me this room or
not?" She said.
"Oh, yeah. I guess I just got caught up in your lips." Angel said. She giggled. "Let me get you in
the perfect spot."

Angel led her over to the left back corner. He put her in front of him facing the room.
"Now?" She said.
"Not yet." Angel pulled the red velvet box out of his pocket. He knelt down and held up the box.
"Okay. Now." He said.

Willow pulled off the blindfold and looked around the room. The entire room was a baby blue
color. There were cribs and blankets and rocking chairs. Everything they would possible need plus a few
extras.
"Oh, Angel, it's perfect." She whispered. The crib was blue with blue bedding. The rocking chair
was blue. Everything in that room was that same baby blue color. The walls were sky blue with wispy
white clouds.. She turned to look at Angel. "I love it Ang-" She stopped, mid-sentence. "Oh my god."
Angel was on one knee and was holding a box of some sort.
"Willow Rosenberg, love of my undead life, mother of our son, will you marry me?" Angel said.
Willow didn't hesitate to answer. "Yes. Yes Angel, I will."
Someone clapped. Willow jerked her head. Glorificus the hell goddess stood about two feet away
from them. Willow gasped.
"Honey, take the baby and get out of here." Angel said. "NOW!"
Willow nodded.
Angel kept his eyes on Glory as his fiancé and his son left the room. When Willow and Connor
were gone, he morphed into his vampire visage.
"How dare you come into my son's nursery." Angel growled.
"Yep. I do." Glory said. She picked up a teddy bear. "Cute." The hell goddess ripped the bear
apart like it was a thin piece of paper. "Lucky for you, I'm just here to talk."
"Yeah. Well I really don't." He lunged at her, but she just pushed him aside.
"Like I said. Just wanna talk. If I wanted to fight, you'd be dust." Glory said.
"Fine." Angel said.
"So. You want me to leave your girlfriend alone?" Glory said.
"My son too." Angel snarled.
"Whatever." Glory said. "If you bring me the Key, I'll leave all of you alone."
"No." Angel said. "Talking's done. I want you gone. Dawn is not going anywhere."
"Fine. That's the way ya wanna play it." Glory said.
There was a bang and the door blew off of its hinges. Buffy stepped through the door, Spike
behind her.
"Angel!" Buffy cried. Angel ignored her and kept his eyes on Glory.
"I . . . want. . . you . . . gone!" Angel demanded. "Now."
"Nah. I'm just a little restless. No worries though. A little violence should clear that up just
fine." Glory said.
"Are you two gonna stop talking?" Buffy said. "Or can we start the fighting?"
"Gladly." Glory said. The fight began.

"I've just been sent word that Glorificus is ready for us. Let's go over the plan once more." Holtz
said to his allies. His right-hand woman, Justine, stood next to him. "We are only there to collect the child.
But you may harm the others. But don't kill them. They must live. Understood?"
The people in front of him nodded. "All right. You all know what to do. Let's go."

Angel wiped blood out of his eyes. He, Spike, and Buffy had been fight Glory for over and hour.
Angel's patience was wearing thin. He wanted this fight to be over and Glory dead so he could spend time
with Willow and Connor.
He looked over at Buffy. Or, rather down, seeing as the Slayer was unconscious on the floor.
Spike was still fighting in the corner.
The nursery was a mess. The crib was turned on its side. The blankets were torn up. The
furniture was ruined and the lamps were broken.
"Are you gonna do this forever, or are you actually gonna die?" Glory said
"Oh shut it you bloody bint." Spike said. Glory punched him in the nose. "Bloody hell. Would
you lay off the nose already?" All of a sudden started holding her head and shaking it from side to side.
"No, no, no." Glory said. "This really isn't a good time, Ben." Glory hit her head with the palm of
her hand over and over again. Glory morphed into Ben.
"Who are you?" Ben said. Spike punched him.
"That's for MY nose." Spike said.
"What are you talking about?" Ben said. Angel had had enough of this. He walked up to Glory's
alter ego and took the man's head in his own hands. With a flick of his wrists, and the snap of a spinal
cord, Ben and Glory died, instantly. He dropped the body and stared at it for a minute.He heard Buffy stir and went over to her only to find that Spike was already there, holding the
Slayer in his arms.
He instantly thought of Willow and Connor and raced downstairs to the lobby. What he found was
that the lobby was a mess, just like the nursery. Plaster and debris lay everywhere. He searched frantically
for his fiancé and son. The first person he saw was Cordelia. She was being crushed by a large piece of
plaster which was on her stomach and legs. She was unconscious. Angel knelt beside her and shook her
shoulders.
"Cordelia!" Angel shouted.
"Angel?" Cordy said hoarsely, her eyes still closed. "Is that you?"
"Yes. I want you to lie still while I get this off of your legs. Okay?" Angel said.
"Yes, please." Angel stood up and pushed the plaster off her. Angel looked up and saw that she
was unconscious again. But she was breathing. Which was a good thing.
He moved on to keep looking for Willow and Connor. Instead, he found Dawn next. She didn't
appear to be hurt too bad. She just got knocked out. Although, her arm was a mangled mess. He gently
shook her shoulders. Her eyes opened wide.
"Dawn, are you okay?" Angel asked.
"I think so. But my arm, it hurts." Dawn said.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Angel asked.
"Ah," Dawn coughed. "That guy, Holtz. He was after Connor. We tried to stop them, but there
were too many of them."
"Where's Connor?" Angel urgently asked.
"I - I . . . I don't know." Dawn stuttered.
"Angel!" A faint cry came from somewhere in the lobby. Angel recognized the voice. It was
Willow. "M-My head . . ."
He followed the sound to behind the counter. Willow was lying on the ground, her beautiful red
hair covering her face. She was on her side, with her arms down on the floor beside her.
"I'm here." He whispered and took her hand in his own.
"He's gone! They took him!" Willow wailed. "Angel, Connor's gone!"
"We're gonna find him. I swear we will." Angel said. He started to get up to go find the others.
"Angel, don't leave me!" Willow begged.
"I have to find the others." Angel said. He looked over the counter where Dawn was sitting up on
the floor, holding her arm. She was awake and alert. "Dawn!" He called. "Dawn! Can you come here?
"Ah, yeah." Dawn said. The teenager's voice was shaky.
"I need you to come over and stay with Willow while I find the others." Angel said. The teenager
nodded and crawled her way over.
Angel kissed Willow on the forehead before getting up to find the others. He found Fred under the
desk in the office. Gunn was witch Xander and Anya on the far side, helping Xander put pressure on one
of Anya's many cuts. Wesley was now awake and was attending to Cordelia. A few minutes later, Spike
came down with Buffy in his arms. For a minute, Angel though the Slayer was dead, but he heard her
heartbeat.
"How is she?" Angel asked Spike.
"She'll be okay. She was just havin' some trouble walkin', so I offered to carry her." Spike looked
around the room. "What happened here?"
We were attacked." Dawn said. "it was Holtz and is guys. They attacked us. And they took
Connor."

"Okay." Holtz said to the vampire and the witch's spawn. "I will be you father." He pointed atJustine. "And this woman will be your mother." The baby gurgled. "And your name is Stephen."

Lilah Morgan walked into her office at Wolfram & Hart. She had just been at a meeting. She
thought she felt someone behind her.
She looked across the room into the mirror. No one was there. She continued walking and sat
down in her desk. She turned around and saw . . . Angel.
"What do you want?" She said coldly.
"Hello Lilah, I was having a good day, a great day actually. Until a certain hell goddess shows up
and ruins it. That was only minor. She's dead. No. The worst part of the day was when I came
downstairs to find that my lobby's a mess. Then, to top it off, I found out that my son's been kidnaped.
Now you wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
"Haven't the slightest idea." Lilah said.
"Somehow, I'm just having the hardest believing that." Angel said.
"Oh. I wanted too. I wanted to snatch that little brat of yours and find out what makes him tick.
But, unfortunately, the Senior Partners have other ideas." Lilah sneered.
"Then how do you explain the absence of my son?" Angel snarled.
"That I don't know. But I do know that we had nothing to do with it." Lilah said. Yet, she thought.

Angel raced down the street, following his son's scent. He was so angry. His son was missing.
His fiancé was in the hospital. Again. As were Buffy, Cordelia, Dawn, and Anya. Everyone else was fine.
He sniffed the air and turned left.
He finally arrived in the place he thought Connor was. It was an empty dirt field. Holtz stood next
to a silver SUV with a woman Angel didn't know. But . . .
A few feet away from Holtz was Lilah, with her Wolfram & Hart operatives in tow. Angel
stopped the car and jumped out. Angel marched right toward Holtz. He watched Lilah the whole time.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Holtz said. Angel snapped his attention to Holtz. Holtz had
both of his hands at the ready to snap Connor's neck.
A low guttural growl erupted from Angel's throat. He got ready to lunge at Holtz.
"I suggest that you don't do that. Or I will snap his neck before you even reach me." Holtz said.
"Angel!" Lilah shouted. "Give Connor to us. Unless you want us to riddle him with bullets."
Angel looked back and forth, trying to decide what to do.
"If you left me keep him, he'll live. I'll raise him as my own." Holtz said. Angel struggled with
this for many, many minutes.
"So. What will it be?" Holtz said. Angel looked back and forth, from Lilah to Holtz. Holtz, with
is hands still around Connor's neck. And Lilah's operatives. with their guns and stakes.
"T-take him." Angel pleaded. "J-just don't hurt him. He's only a baby."
"NO!" Lilah shouted.
A demon in long brown robes appeared a few feet from Holtz"
"Did I miss the show?" The demon said. It looked around. "Huh. Guess not. Cool. Let's get
down to business." The demon began to chant in a language Angel recognized as ancient French. Behind
the demon, a white light in the shape of a line appeared. It grew out larger and larger until it was wider
than Angel's field of view.
"If that kid doesn't die in the next few seconds, this rift will swallow the entire planet." The demon
said.
In the next few seconds, everything happened faster than Angel could remember or comprehendthem. Holtz ran after the rift. Lilah's gunmen fired, missing Holtz by a mile. Holtz ran through the rift,
disappearing, with Connor with him.
"No!" The demon shouted. "He wasn't supposed to do that!"
"Let's get out of here." Lilah said.
Angel fell to his knees, staring at where the rift had been in disbelief.

Willow awoke to find that her throat hurt. She opened her eyes and saw that something was
coming out of her mouth. She couldn't remember what it was. She knew she should, but she couldn't.
And thinking made her head hurt. She tried to lift her arm, but found she was too weak. The arm felt as
though it was a lead weight. The same with her legs. She tried crying out, but the thing inside her mouth
prevented her from doing so.
So after awhile of trying to talk or move without success, she started to cry. The tears ran off of
her face and down into the bed. She cried because she didn't know where she was or why. Or who she
should be with and where. All she knew was her name.
A sound of a door opening filled the place she was in. She heard someone walking. Then there
was a face right above her own. A woman. With light brown hair and blue eyes. Her skin was tan, as if
she'd just gotten home from the beach.
But Willow didn't know who this woman was, or why she was there, so she started flailing and
freaking out.
"It's okay." The woman said gently. "My name is Lily. I'm going to take the tube out of your
mouth now, okay?" Willow stopped flailing and nodded cautiously. "I want you to take a deep breath for
me. On the could of three." Lily said. "1. 2. 3. Deep breath." Willow inhaled as the tube was taken out.
She coughed and gagged. "Wh-"
"Ssshh." Lily. "Let your voice rest before you try speaking." Willow nodded. "When you're feeling
better, there's someone who's been waiting for you to wake up."
"Pen." Willow mouthed. She couldn't life her arms, but she could move her fingers. So she set up
her fingers like she was holding a pen.
"Pen?" Lily repeated. Willow nodded. Lily pulled a pen out of her shirt pocket and flipped opened
to an empty page on the chart. She gave them to Willow.
Willow took the pen and wrote the word 'now' on the pad. Lily looked at her.
"Are you sure you wanna see him now?"
Willow nodded.
"Okay." Lily said. "I'll be right outside if you need me." Lily left the room. Willow tried
desperately to think of a "him" that would come visit her, but all she came up with was blanks. All of a
sudden she just started to cry. She couldn't explain it. She didn't want to. It's almost as if something in
her had been triggered.
"Willow, please don't cry." She turned her head toward the door. A handsome man with almost
black spiked-hair and a black duster walked in. Willow couldn't remember who he was. And she started
to cry even more. "Please don't cry."
The man came up to her and sat on the bed. He took her hand, but she shrugged him away.
Her voice came back , just a little, and she rasped, "Who are you?"
Then he took her in his arms and she instantly remembered. This man, her man, was Angel. Justby his touch, she remembered everything. Then one word, one name, flashed in her brain. CONNOR . . .
"Willow, there's, ah, something I need to tell you." Angel said. Before Willow had a chance to say
anything, Angel cut her off. "It's about Connor. He's ah, uh. The thing is, our son, he's . . . gone.
Forever."
To Be Continued . . . . Again . . . .