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"How's he doing?" Fred asked
"How do you think?" Cordelia asked, "How do you think I'm doing? I come back from my holiday to find out that my best friend kidnapped my son and now he's lost in some hell dimension"
Just then, Angel came downstairs, Ashleigh in his arms as he sat on the couch
"Angel, next time you do a spell, make sure that the pentagram isn't permanent," Cordelia said, standing up, "Okay, we're gonna get a rug. A big one"
"So really, how are you guys holding up?" Fred asked gently
"Painfully, but slowly getting there," Angel replied, not looking up from Ashleigh
"He's been really protective of Ash lately," Fred whispered to Cordelia, "He hasn't let her out of his sight ever since, well, you know"
"I can hear you and don't you think I have a good reason?"
"Angel, I understand," Cordelia said, sitting next to him, "Here, let me take her"
Without taking his eyes off his daughter, Angel handed her to Cordelia and she got up, pacing in the lobby, cooing to her baby, as Gunn came into the hotel
"Hey, babe, feel like going out?" he asked
"Sure…I mean, if that's alright with you guys," Fred said
"Yeah, go, take the day off. Not much is happening anyway," Angel said
Gunn took Fred by the hand and they left the hotel, as Angel sighed
"I tried, Cordy. I tried to get him back. But I couldn't. I lost our son"
"Angel, it's not your fault. You did all the best you could"
"But I failed. Our son is…gone forever. And nothing can bring him back"
"Don't go beating yourself up about it. At least we still have Ashleigh"
Cordelia kissed Angel on the cheek and he pulled her into a hug
"I know. At least we still have our baby girl"
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Wesley sat at the bar, staring into space, a glass of whiskey before him and an angry scar running across his neck, a constant reminder of that night
"Mind if I join?" asked a voice
Wesley looked up at Lilah and sighed
"Of course I do"
Lilah ignored him and sat next to him, her finger tracing the edge of her glass
"So, how does it feel? The scar I mean. What did it feel like when she cut you?"
Wesley's hand shot out and grabbed Lilah by the throat. She didn't even have time to blink, he was that fast
"You seem so interested in finding out. Wanna have a taste?"
"No, thanks, I'll be fine"
Wesley removed his hand and downed his whiskey, largely ignoring Lilah
"So, you kidnap the kid in order to protect him from his prone-to-turn-evil father, but you get your throat slit, the kid gets lost in a hell dimension and you get cast out from the group, despite your good and noble intentions. Tell me, is that fair?"
"What would you know of fair?" Wesley asked, "You work for Wolfram and Hart"
"Speaking of them, they're interested in you, Wesley. I mean, you've got the brains, the skill and the coldness in you. You're perfect for us"
"Sorry, but I'm not interested in what you do, Lilah"
Wesley finished his whiskey and left the table, leaving Lilah behind
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"Well, aren't you just the cutest baby girl in the whole world?" Cordelia cooed
Ashleigh smiled at her mother, as Angel came downstairs, carrying the burnt bed and tossing it outside, along with the rest of the burnt junk from the room. He went back upstairs, this time going to Connor's room and packing up his belongings. However, he made it a slow task, wanting to take time as he continued to mourn, but knew he had to move on. Connor was gone and there was no bringing him back
"Do you want any help?" Cordelia asked from the doorway
"No. I'll be fine"
"Angel, he's my son as well. I want to help you. You can't undertake this burden alone. We're his parents. I should be helping you shoulder the grief"
"He was in my care while you were gone and I lost him, lost him forever"
"Oh, so because of that, you're gonna shut me out of your life now? Hello, we also have a daughter that you need to take care of"
"Cordy, please, just…let me do this one alone?"
Cordelia was about to say more when Fred suddenly appeared, tears streaming down her face, as Angel and Cordelia instantly went to her side
"What's wrong?" Cordelia asked
"It's Charles. He…broke up with…me," Fred sobbed, "But…there's something…wrong. He doesn't…act like this…he's trying to protect me"
"Don't worry, Fred, we'll get to the bottom of this," Angel promised
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A few hours later…
Gunn strode into the casino, reluctant determination upon his face
"Alright, let's do this," he said to the soul-sucker Jenoff
"Ah, coming good on your deal?" Jenoff asked, "Excellent. Let's do this"
Two demons grabbed Gunn by the arms, as Jenoff raised his fingers to Gunn's eyes. Just as he was about to put them through his eyes, Angel, Fred and Cordelia burst into the casino. A demon moved forth, but Angel booted him in the gut, before punching another demon in the face. Fred had Ashleigh by her side, as Cordelia struck a demon across the jaw, as another demon went to punch her, but Angel caught the demon by the arm and tossed him through the air, crashing against a game table. Before he could do any more damage, Angel found himself surrounded by demons
"Ah, you must be Angel," Jenoff said, "The vampire with a soul"
"And you must be Jenoff," Angel said, "The soul-sucker"
"You've come to beg for Gunn's soul?"
"Well, see, we need him at work and I don't think he'll be entirely useful without a soul. So I offer you a challenge: you win, you get Gunn's soul along with mine, but I win, you let Gunn go"
"Very well then. What game shall we play? Blackjack? Texas Hold 'Em?"
"About a simple cut of the deck? Highest number wins"
"Very well. Let's begin"
"Angel, are you sure about this?" Cordelia asked, "You know what will happen if Jenoff wins? Angelus comes back"
"Don't worry, I've won many card games," Angel said, "Besides, I can count on you"
Angel and Jenoff took their seats, as a deck of cards were placed before them. Jenoff shuffled them and Angel made a cut in the deck
"Three of hearts," Jenoff smiled, before making his cut, revealing a nine of spades, "Sorry, Angel, but you lose"
Cordelia raised a stake behind Angel, but stabbed it into Jenoff's hand, as Angel decapitated him, sending his head flying, while Fred moved towards Gunn
"There, all done"
"If it were that easy, I would have done it myself," Gunn said
Angel looked back at Jenoff and saw another head starting to grow
"Doesn't anyone else owe this guy?"
Demons and humans all piled upon Jenoff's regenerating form, as the Fang Gang left the casino. Angel, Cordelia and Ashleigh took off in the Plymouth, as Fred and Gunn hopped up into his truck
"I'm sorry for what I did and said to you," Gunn said, "I was trying to protect you"
"I get that, but you're not completely off the hook," Fred said, "There's still a lot of grovelling and begging to be done"
"I'm prepared to do that. I love you, Fred and I can't imagine life without you"
Fred smiled and leaned in, kissing Gunn on the lips
"I love you too, Charles. Now let's get out of here"
"Agree with you there. But first, what did you sell your soul for?"
Gunn started up the engine with a small smile and looked at Fred
"This baby. She has helped me save a lot of lives over the years"
Fred smiled and kissed Gunn again, as he reversed and took off towards the hotel
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