Over the next four weeks Angel's burns healed. The only thing that didn't heal as quickly was his strength. He was still very weak so Spike and the slayers were still in LA helping out, much to Angel's dislike. He was spending his days doing strength building exercises but he couldn't beat none of his crew in a fight, and if couldn't beat them he had no chance with a demon or vampire. He hated it. He was a man who could always count on his strength and now he couldn't even count on that and he hated it. He hated how tired he was. He hated to face the facts that because he was so damn weak he felt like less of a man, and father. The only good thing about his healing and weakness was now that his buns had healed he was able to finally hold Cordy in his arms at night again and that didn't take up any of his much needed strength. He was pulled out of sleep by a hit on his face. Cordy's arm was now lying across his face. He grinned as he moved her arm and gently kissed her. He knew no matter how old he got, he would never tire of kissing her beautiful lips, her neck, or any part of her beautiful body. He wanted to do so much more then just kiss her, but he was going to wait until his strength returned so they could have a proper reunion.

"Hmmm." She said kissing him back.

"Good morning gorgeous." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her lips. She pressed her lips to his eagerly. He responded immediately and her tongue begged for entrance into his mouth, which he quickly allowed. They both moaned with delight at the familiarity if having each other's tongues in their mouths. They continued to kiss until they were interrupted by their daughter's voice.

"Mommy. Daddy. Up." Catherine called from her room.

"I've missed this." She whispered in his ear as she held him tightly.

"Oh God baby, you have no idea." He said as he closed his lips over hers again and the kiss lasted all of thirty seconds.

"Mommy. Daddy. UP."

Angel groaned and pulled himself off of Cordy. "The joys of parenthood." He said grinning. "I'll get her up and get her breakfast. You can get a shower."

Angel opened her bedroom door and Catherine's eyes lit up. "Daddy" She yelled as she threw herself into his arms.

"Good morning chipmunk." He kissed her head and hugged her tightly. He missed holding and kissing her. He missed her little arms wrapped around his neck and her slobbery kisses on his face. "Did you sleep good honey?"

"Sleep good."

"Are you hungry." She nodded. "Ok chipmunk, let's get you fed."

When Cordy came out of the shower thirty minutes later ready for the day. She stood back for a minute watching the father and daughter. They were taking turns feeding each other her cereal. She quickly grabbed her camera and shot a quick picture of this precious moment. The flash caught Angel and Catherine's eyes. It was as if the same set of eyes turned to look at her and the widened with happiness when they saw her.

"Mommy me and daddy eating breakfast."

"I see that."

"Want bite?" Catherine held up a dripping spoonful of cereal.

"No thanks baby."

"Bite mommy." Catherine said insistently and Cordy finally relented and went over and took a bite of the soggy mess. She almost gagged as she swallowed it.

"That is disgusting. How can you eat this?" She whispered to Angel.

"Vampire, I don't taste the food." He said with a grin.

"Lucky asshole. Come one baby, let's get you dressed."

"Cordy, I think that I can dress myself."

"I know that, I was talking to your daughter."

"I knew that." He said sheepishly.

"I love you." Cordy said as he walked into the bathroom for his shower and he mouthed the same words to her before shutting the door behind him.

"Good morning." Cordy said to Fred and Wes as they all walked into the lobby, As usual Fred and Wes were the first to arrive at the office.

"Did you get the report from last night?" Angel asked Wes. Angel was really glad to be back at work

"Yes I did. It would seem that the vampire activity has significantly dropped over the past few weeks."

"Good. The slayers have been doing their jobs and the smarter vamps have left town." Angel said as he rummaged through the fridge in his office. "Did someone move my blood?" Angel and Cordy had decided not to keep the blood in the fridge in their room because Catherine could easily get to it,

"Not to my knowledge. Why would they?"

Angel slammed the door shut and rubbed the back of his neck. He then noticed the empty bottle that contained his blood in the trashcan. "God Dammit. Spike." He growled and stormed out of his office.

Spike was happily coming down the stairs oblivious to a very angry Angel charging after him. Before he knew what was going on, he was flying across the room due to a punch in the face.

"What climbed up your ass you dumb wanker?" Spike muttered as he pulled himself off of the floor.

"You did."

"What's got you so pissy this beautiful morning?"

"You drank all of my blood."

"Sorry mate. I didn't know that it was yours." Angel grabbed Spike by the neck and shoved him against the wall.

"Who the hell else drinks blood besides me?" He pulled his arm back to hit him but Cordy stopped him before he could.

"Angel, enough. Catherine is standing right here." Angel looked over and saw his daughter's eyes staring at him.

"But Cordy, he drank all of my blood."

"For God's sake, its just blood."

"You would do the same thing if he ate the last doughnut Cordy." She couldn't argue with him because he was right. She would take someone's head off if they had eaten her last doughnut.

"I've called Connor to stop at the butcher shop on his way over here and get you some more. OK?" Angel sighed and released Spike who walked past Angel brushing off invisible dirt from his jacket. Angel tried to go after him but Cordy held him back.

Surprising everyone in the room except for Spike Catherine ran over to him and threw her arms around his legs. "Uncle Spikey." Cordy's eyes widened in surprise and Angel saw red. Fred and Wes mouthed "Uncle Spikey" To each other.

"Hello Princess. Don't you look pretty today?"

"Fly me, Uncle Spikey."

"Whatever you want princess." He picked her up, one hand on her belly and the other holding her two little hands in his other hand and spun her around in the air. She squealed in delight and Cordy's heart dropped into her stomach. She was convinced that Spike was going to drop her.

"Ok Spike, that's enough. I don't want her to fall." Cordy said.

"Ok, princess mommy said no more. She is such a party pooper." Spike said as he set Catherine back on the ground.

"Party pooper." Catherine said to Cordy and Spike howled with laughter. "Fly Uncle Spikey, fly."

Angel came over and picked Catherine up. "He is not your Uncle Catherine." He said sternly and tears filled her eyes.

"I think she likes me, she really likes me." Spike said

"Stay away from my daughter." Angel growled

"All I want is to be her friend. Can't I be her friend?"

"Shut up Spike." He growled.

"A great idea just occurred to me." Wesley said interrupting the death glare contest. Neither vampire answered him so he continued. "Angel, I think that today you should train with Spike. Connor probably needs a break."

"A pissing contest with Angel. Now that's my idea of a great time."

"Bring it on Blondie."

"Just don't kill each other." Cordy said as she collected Catherine from Angel.

"Come on Cordy. Let me kill him. Please." Spike begged.

"You can't kill me Spike. Let's go."

"Be careful, don't push yourself too hard and relapse." She whispered in his ears.

"I won't." He said as he kissed her lips.

"Liar. I'll be watching you."

"I'm counting on it." He kissed her again.

The remainder of the day Spike and Angel tried numerous times to kill each other while Cordy and Fred attempted to referee.

"Is that all you got wussy man?" Spike said as he picked himself off of the ground.

"I'm just getting warmed up you little piss ant." Angel ducked as Spike tried to kick him in the face. Angel retaliated with his own kick to Spike's face.

"I'm a piss ant?" Spike shouted as he threw Angel against the wall. "My piss is to good for you."

"At least my hair looks good, unlike your freaky blond radioactive hair color." Angel hit Spike upside the head with an ax.

"Talk about hair issues. I don't know what makes you think that you have cute hair. You have no reflection dumbass. You can't see how stupid it looks."

"My God, two guys arguing about hair. This is classic." Fred giggled

"Especially since neither of them can actually see their own heads." Cordy said.

"Cordy thinks it's cute." Spike got kicked in the gut.

"Don't bring me into this." Cordy shouted.

"See mate, she even thinks it's hideous. She only told you it's cute so she can get some." Angel received a kick to the back of his knees that brought him down.

"You're just jealous that I have a beautiful woman who loves me. Something that you will never have." His fist sent Spike flying into the wall.

"Ohh talking about how beautiful I am, this I can listen to all day." Cordy giggled.

"Hello nim-rod! Have you forgotten that I tapped Buffy numerous times?" Now they were just swinging at each other, not really connecting with each other but it was a great practice on dodging blows.

"Hello, don't give a shit who you've tapped or how many tomes you've tapped someone. Numbers don't matter. All that matters is that you will never have an amazing woman who loves you and who you love back with everything that you have."

"Coming from the bloke who can't get any without going all Angelus Crankypants."

"But which one of us have two children?"

"Who wants rugrats anyway? All they do is eat, piss, shit and cry." Spike said as Angel pummeled his face.

"You" Punch "Have." Punch "No." Punch "Idea." Punch "About" Punch "The" Punch "Joy""Of" Punch "Fatherhood" Angel screamed and Cordy and Fred decided that it was time to end the training session. They ran over to Angel and pulled him off of Spike.

"OK big guy. You have had enough practice for today."

"Nice job, Beefcake. but just so you know, I could of taken you times many times today but I decided to give you a break seeing how you were recently turned into a piece of bacon."

"Bullshit Spike."

"All right boys, that's enough. Good workout." Fred said as she led Spike out of the room.

"How long have we been down here?" Angel asked as he mopped the sweat off of his face.

"Hours baby. It's late afternoon." He grinned at her.

"Really? I've been down here that long?" She nodded. "Be honest babe, did I hold my own with Spike or did he go easy on me?"

"Honestly?"

"Did I not just say that?"

"You kicked his ass Angel. He did not go easy on you at all. In fact, I think that he gave you all that he had and you won." He leaned in to kiss her but she put her hand in front of his face. "No way am I kissing that sweat and blood filled mug of yours."

"You kissed my sweaty face before."

"Different circumstances buster. Shower first then kiss." She swatted his ass and walked away leaving him ogling her ass.

--

Angel came back down to the lobby feeling refreshed after a shower and nap. He felt like a new man for having walked away from fighting with Spike for hours. He heard laughter coming from the kitchen so he headed towards the sound. When he arrived in the kitchen, he stopped dead in his tracks and stared straight ahead at the scene before him. Spike was taking over his life and family.

At the end of every day if they weren't dealing with demons or vamps everyone tried to sit down together for dinner, except tonight it was very different. Instead on Angel sitting at the table, Spike was in his seat next to Catherine. He had everyone laughing at some stupid joke and he was cutting Catherine's food for her, something that he always did for her. It seemed to him that no one was missing his presence. Cordy was allowing "Uncle Spikey" to help Catherine eat. Even Connor who has been training with Spike since he arrived was enjoying Spike being there instead of him.

Furious, Angel stormed away from the dining room and onto the patio slamming the door behind him. He was furious. Spike was taking his family away from him, the family that he worked so hard for and the family that he loved more than anything. He wanted to kill Spike. He wanted to rip his body apart, piece-by-piece, and limb-by-limb. He was in the middle of formulating a plan of how to make Spike scream in pain when he felt a soft hand on his shoulder. He didn't even have to turn around to know that it was Cordy.

"You have showered, how about that kiss now?" She whispered. He turned around and pulled her into his arms and kissed her gently. "What's eating you baby?" She asked him when they pulled apart.

"Nothing." He mumbled and she raised her eyebrows. "OK fine, Spike."

"So that's nothing new. What is so different tonight?"

"He is taking my family away from me."

"That's not possible. He can't take your family away from you."

"I saw you all having dinner tonight and it was like no one even missed me. He was cutting Catherine's food. I do that. Connor has been training with him. He is supposed to train with me." Cordy cupped his face with her hand and forced him to look at her.

"Angel, they are your children, they will always love you but right now he is the new thing exciting thing in their lives. I think that he may remind them of you in a way. You have been healing for a while and you haven't been available to them and since you have gotten better, you have been spending all of your free time regaining your strength, which don't get me wrong you needed to do."

"So what can I do?"

"You need to spend some quality alone time with them."

"Well it's kind of difficult since I'm a vampire and I can't do anything at night."

"What a lame excuse. You go out during the day all of time. There are ways around it Angel. Take Connor and Ciara to a ball game. You guys had so much fun the first time and I know that there is a night game tomorrow night and you could take Catherine to the Children's museum. I could drop you two off in the shade and there are no windows inside the museum so it will be perfect. I think that she will love it."

"That is a great idea. Why don't you come with us?'

"No. I have been around for the past seven weeks. You haven't. They need to spend some time with just me."

"Thank you for bringing me back down to earth."

"That's what I'm here for."

"So do we need some alone time?"

"I think that we do."

"Any ideas?"

"You know what I like. I will let you come up with plan all on your own." She said seductively.

"Believe me gorgeous, I've got ideas." He said grinning and he leaned down and kissed her passionately.