It was one of those turbulent days where Angel wished he was never born. He was ancient and capable, he had seen so much destruction and life; but none of that helped him save his dear baby son from Holtz's reverie.

Now, the son was locked up in some cursed dimension with that lunatic as his only companion. His darling Connor. His unbeating heart ached and his soul felt as empty as when I lost my soulmate.

There were so many mixed feelings. Hopeless, fear, self hatred, he was not particular sure if it was possible to feel any worse. He couldn't even call Buffy. Merciful God, what would he tell her?

"Buffy, grá, I have a son now." It would crush her. Lately, Cordy was the one who gave him news about her. According to Cordy, she was having a rough time adjusting home, work and slaying since her resurrection; though Cordy said Buffy was dealing well with her new found darkness - as if that gave him any rest - he was thankful for their shared dreams.

Through them and their bound he knew how tired she really was. It felt good to be able to communicate with her. By now she must know, already felt it, and he was relieved that at least he had the opportunity to spend his nights safe and sound in her arms, even if they were miles apart.

Angel closed his eyes sheltering himself from the world. He needed her, and he would find her in his sleep, his tears were long gone by now, countless tears. He breathe deeply, even though it's an useless act, in his hand the last piece he had from his boy, his teddy bear. As he breathed in his child scent, the memory of his baby face lulled him to sleep and that's where Buffy found him.

Angel was laying down, in a fetus position holding his son's teddy bear while the tears still fell from his eyes.

"Angel." Buffy whispered, kneeling down at his side. He felt her pull him towards her body, crowding him to her chest, gently she started to caress his hair. Angel hugged her, needing her touch more then never.

"It's alright, Angel. I'm here. Tell me about him." He rose his eyes to meet hers. As usual Buffy looked at him with nothing but love and compassion. He frowned at her, but relaxed knowingly.

"Yes, your baby boy. What's his name? How is him?" He felt his throat constrict, whatever shadow that passed through his eyes Buffy saw it. She felt it, in that moment she knew she would never, ever meet his soulmate's baby son. His beloved hadn't even had a chance to steal a small glimpse of his child.

"Angel," Buffy murmured kissing his forehead, resting her chin over his head she said, "I'm so sorry." He felt her arms clutching him closer and stronger. He returned the hug, this time pulling her small frame towards his.

He heard her say in a quiet voice "We'll find him. Together, you, me and the gang. Just wait and see." Angel left his tears fell as her words sooth him from his internal pain, something his quite positive it won't have an end.

Buffy kissed his lips and kept murmuring comfort words. He felt himself being pulled out from his slumber.

As he woke covered in sweat and tears Angel recalled he never told Buffy his child's name. But their encounter had calmed him somehow, Buffy had again given him some hope.

Holtz fell on the floor, Connor steered asleep on his arms. The old hunter felt lost on the demon dimension, he was alone and to make matters worse he had a baby on his arms. Hopefully it wouldn't take too long for him to discover a way out.

He wished he was strong enough to end the baby's life. Oh, but the idea of envenoming against his own father was far to greater.

Holtz would teach him, alright. Starting with his name, he would be called Steven from now on, there was no way he would let that demon keep any part of this child.

Buffy had found solace in their bound and their shared dreams, his presence had always calmed her. Although, it got a drastic change when she dreamt of a perfect baby boy and a desperate Angel, that was way out of her league.

Buffy kissed Dawn on her right cheek as she left the house in a hurry, accepting from her sister a small cartoon package, smiling at her Dawn said, "Have fun at work today!"

She had been working as a PI for a couple of weeks, to her relief it had been one of best ideas the gang ever had. Buffy loved her job, sure paper work was boring and she was so much better on the streets, but this way she could do both jobs, and the best outcome was that the slayer was actually being paid for doing her job.

Tara, Willow and Spike had been living with Dawn when she had returned and Buffy got used to their presence. Weirdly the peroxide vampire had decided to work in a local bar at night, his excuse for it was that he could drink, spot vamps and court chicks. It was good to have him around, a big pain in the ass, but otherwise a good friend. The slayer admitted though a little reluctant that his presence had been essential in the first months of her return, she had gone through a tough depression, all she ever wanted was to die.

Spike had none of it, he told Buffy he had lost her once, and it was more than enough. His sire had been a wreck, Buffy had frown upon the revelation, but Spike shrugged and said, "Just like you, I'm still connected to Angelus, I mean Angel. I felt your death as much as he did."

Who would have thought that among all of her friends, her previous nemesis would be the one coaching her about the beauty of life? But here he was, Spike had an ability of making Buffy see the best of each situation, the vampire said that heaven was simply a state of mind, and that you could find heaven on earth too. In her sister's laughter, in her best friends banter, while saving lives, even cooking; anything that gave her some sort of normalcy. He had been right, of course.

As the days passed, Holtz started to notice that Steven had grown from a baby to a rugrat, an as the weeks rolled the boy started walking, talking and eventually buying all the lies about his birth father Angelus, his mother Darla, his father adoptive family. Holtz made sure he was also aware of his father's mate, the slayer, Buffy and her extended family as well.

To Daniel's delight, the child had taken the inclination of calling him father.

"But father, I do not understand. Why would they attack you and your family?" Inquired the teenager.

Daniel gave him a simple hatred look, before telling the story again. When Steven completed fourteen years old he had became a rebellion young man, he wanted and felt the need to end his birth's father life, the family he cared so much about and the slayers. Holtz had put in Steven's head that the slayers were precious creatures with pure power, it was hideous to have such a warrior in love with a dead corpse.

Almost two weeks later, when Steven had completed his sixteen birthday the portal opened itself and the boy and the ancient hunter fell into an unknown place.

"Father? Daniel?" Steven called as he rose from the ground, he looked around confused for a second. This place was different from everything he knew, but it appeared to be one of the places his father had told him about.

A noise called his attention, following the sound he saw a woman battling against vampires. He noticed she was good, perfect even he dare say, in less then ten minutes they were dusted. Distracted he fail to feel the vampire creeping on him, Steven was pushed to the ground, but with a quick movement he pulled out his own stake and killed the vampire getting covered by dust in the process, coughing a little he maneuvered to get up but a shadow blocked his vision.

"Hi there. Are you okay?" Steven looked at her troubled, she tilted her head at him making the moon shine over her features. The woman was short, blonde, with kind eyes and a welcoming smile, she extended her hand looking at him expectantly.

"So, you didn't say anything.."

"I'm sorry. Could you please tell me exactly where am I?" He asked her as she helped him up, he than measured the woman from head to toe, apart from the fact that he had seen her kill vampires, she looked otherwise harmless.

"Welcome to Sunnydale, this is just one of the many cemeteries we have on the city. I'm Buffy."

No. His mind told him. Please don't be her. Steven refused to believe that the beautiful girl before him was a slayer, but also a vampire lover? That didn't make any sense. Daniel had to be wrong, wrong about everything, thirsty for revenge.

"You look like you need some help." Buffy said, her voice low, chanting, inviting. "What's your name?"

Steven decided he was going to pay whatever price might be to learn the truth. He searched in his memories for his name, his real name, the one the vampire, the monster had given him.

"I'm Connor."

"Nice meeting you, kiddo. Do you have a place to stay?" Connor felt her eyes analyzing him, but as if talking herself out of it, she shook her hear and smiled sweetly at him.

"I could use one, considering I've lost my father and just came out from… this might sound crazy, but I promise you I'm not lying or playing a sick joke here, but I just came out of a hell dimension."

"Well, it looks like your luck is changing boy. You just bumped into the right girl. I know all about the dangers of the night." Buffy seemed to joke with it, but he could sense that there was so much more under the calming appearance she shows. Connor was again taken by surprise when she took her jacket and gently laid over his shoulders, sheltering from the cold night.

"Thank you." He murmured, a knot forming on his throat. Connor's mind was restless, to many thoughts stumbling over each other. What if all the things he held as fact, were all distorted by Daniel's hatred and grieve?

"It's my job. It's what I do. I'll help you find your father." Connor searched for her eyes they were again clouded by the night, but her lips carried a small smile and he felt safe, safer than he had ever felt when he lived with Holtz.