They walked side by side until they reached her house.
"Home, sweet, home" The blonde woman said, until then Connor had his mind on the past, on the things he had learned from Holtz, he was soon noticing that all his "father's" babble had been a lie or something close to it. There was simply no way Buffy could be bad.
"I really appreciate what you're doing for me." Buffy smile gracefully to him as he entered her house.
"Buffy is that you?" said a voice he didn't knew yet.
"Yup is me, and" She started saying while Connor took a look on his surroundings, "this cute guy here is Connor".
"This is a very interesting cage, how did you manage doing it?" Buffy looked at him surprised, her sister couldn't believe on what he had just asked.
"Honeybee, this is not a cage" He looked dumbfounded at her, lifting his eyebrows "It's a house, a home, you know" Said Dawn.
"Forgive me miss, but I've never seen something like these, is remarkable. In Quor-Toth there was nothing alike" He said touching he walls. It was too much for him.
"Quor-Toth? I've never heard of such a place."Replied Buffy. "But that really does not matter, why you don't go with Dawn she will show you the bathroom, I'll get some clothes for you I must have something from ex-boyfriends in my closet.
Dawn smiled at him and he followed her upstairs, Buffy closed the door and thought with herself where she had seem the small smirk he had gave to Dawn, it wasn't only that's was troubling her, she had this felling off familiarity with him, and his eyes told so many histories, and not good ones, she had seem troubled eyes before, and these boy were so alike him that scared her, she could fell the fear of begin loved and cared right on his surface, if she didn't looked closed enough she would lose him fast, right after his shower and the girls asleep, well he need help, and she wasn't gonna deny it.
"Buffy?" Asked Dawn "Where did you found him? He looks so much like.." She trailed off.
"I know.. there's something about him Dawnie and I'm going to figure out what it is" She went to her sister gave her a hug and a kiss on the top of her head "Get some sleep darling, I'll keep an eye on him."
"Love you." Said Dawn after kissing her sister on the check and disappearing to her room. "Owo, Buff he's in your bathroom." She said before closing the door, Buffy went to her own room and looked on her bottom drawer, she knew that there should have a pair of Angel or Riley, nowadays even Spike or Xander for sleepovers. She got Angel's it was a white t-shirt and cotton trousers, and some socks, tomorrow she could buy him some things. She opened the bathroom door and found the boy looking at his reflection, like he had never seen before.
"Here you go, some clothes and a toil, do you need anything else? Like an explanation?" She asked tentatively for him, he left a single tear fall from his eyes, he couldn't understand, why she was being so nice, like a friend or a mother.. something he never had.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" She said looking at him, when he didn't say anything she pushed him for a hug and for the first time in his life he felt his walls starting to coming down, he left himself fell something else than hate towards everything. And suddenly he started crying and as a mother would do for its son, Buffy sat down onto the floor and lend him to cry holding on her knees.
He ended up crying himself to sleep, Buffy stood there caressing his dirty and tangled hair, and for some god knows reason it didn't bother her, she woke up on her bed, and she could her talking downstairs, she took a quick shower and went down to found a very interesting vision, her sister was sitting reading a paper while Connor now completely showered and more lighter apparently was pouring coffee.
"Well it's supposed to be so horrible?" He asked almost spitting the coffee out. Dawn looked at him and smirked, he looked at her waiting for a descent answer but it came from Buffy "Depends, perhaps you're more a chocolate kinda guy; or you can always put some sugar on it, hardly someone takes it black, that's just me."
"Hum" He simply said.
"Guess what?" Again he simply looked at both sisters. "We are going shopping!" dawn was suddenly up and going look for her bag and Buffy was expecting any sort of answer of the boy, although he simply seemed lost. "Gosh Connie, you're no fun at all!" She said playfully to him dragging him with her. After some minutes they were around Sunnydale city, searching for clothes suitable for him and a haircut, he was indeed enjoying their company. He had throw out the idea of leaving after they sleep the moment he woke up. Buffy was still there with him, keeping him safe and guarded, like someone who loves another would; Holtz was wrong and he had proved that himself.
He picked her up and lied her down onto her bed and for the first time he showered, lending the water to wash his worries, his fears, his sorrows, his cuts and bruises, he now wanted a new life, he didn't what to run for his past, he need to know them and discover who his father really was; he was absolutely sure Buffy could lead him to the true. It was hours before they went lunch, now with a new haircut, though with the same length and some various type of things a guy could need they sat down, Connor observed their faces and was still trying to understand why the girls had him so easily around.
"So, how it was work yesterday?" Asked Dawn "Any bad guys?" Connor paid attention to the conversation aside and saw Buffy eyes flash a felling he hadn't see yet, it was fear.
"Buffy?" Alarmed Dawn called her. "What happened?"
"One thing is fighting demons, vampires and apocalypses Dawnie, another completely different is to see human beings able to do hurt…" Dawn and Buffy were a bit surprised when Connor put an arm around her trying to comfort her.
"Thanks dear." Buffy said resting her head into his shoulder, she closed her eyes for a moment and it was like Angel was surrounding her. She opened her eyes and got up, smiled to both of them; Walking in front leaving the two younger teenagers behind.
"Okay, that was incredible. Have no idea of what you did, but she.. is difficult to get her so calm and relax around someone, well except for Angel." Dawn babbled.
"Angel?" Connor inquired surprised that Dawn knew him.
"He was Buffy's first lover. It was epic. Whenever you have the time I can give you my mind about it, unless you don't like stories." The girl said waiting for his comments.
"Are you kidding me? I love stories. I'd like to know why she seems so sad." He said looking
"Sad?" Dawn frown "You think?" She spoke worried.
"Her eyes, she tries to hide it, but you have to be a very good reader. She's very good on hiding; she masks it with her smiles and charms. But I saw a glimpse of this woman yesterday the first moment she looked at me. I didn't know if I got her hand to help me up or if I hugged her from all the dangers around the world, your sister looked so broken." Connor said, giving his piece of mind about the blonde slayer.
"You looked like him, like Angel. She saw that, believe it's quite impossible not to see that." Said Dawn.
"Will you tell me their story?" He asked almost reaching the car, Buffy had already loaded.
"Yes." They both smiled at each other and got in.
"We have to check something with Giles and later I have to go to the Station and patrol, wanna come Conn?" She asked.
"Yeah, is not like I'm doing anything." He said excited.
"Well, welcome to the Scooby Gang than. I work mostly with the books and the witches." Dawn said proudly.
"Witches?" He said almost scared.
"Don't worry Connor their on our side." Buffy pulled the car on their garage and they got out, Connor wasn't sure what to do now with clothes and shoes. He was about to ask them when Buffy said:
"We got a surprise for you, considering we didn't know how long you were going to stay we built a new room, Willow and Tara actually they came earlier today…" She was saying when he questioned:
"You got me a room?"
"Well sure silly" said a voice he didn't new yet. "What else should we do, let you keep the leaving room? A redheaded asked him with a bright smile on her face.
"Connor this is Willow, Will this is Connor." Buffy introduced them. "Well, look at this, how handsome you are!" He actually blushed searching Buffy with his eyes.
"Hi." Said another girl, as charming as the redheaded, now Will for him. "I'm Tara, Willow girlfriend."
"Hi." Connor answered felling comfortable around them.
"See how scaring our witches can be?" Dawn mocked. Connor laughed following the four women inside.
In less than two weeks he was already part of the Scooby Gang, a great pupil for Giles, he simply love to read and help with ancient languages, a great older brother for Dawn whenever she had a problem there he was to back her up, an interesting subject for the two loving witches, a second Bit for Spike and his Britishness, Xander best pal and Anya's torment, since he had figure out she was terrified of bunnies he wouldn't lose a joke about. As for Buffy she was pretty much used to have him around, it was like he had always been there.
It amused Dawn as well, although sometimes he looked distance, though Connor was way lighter than the first day she had seen him, bit by bit, as would put Spike, he was letting them know about himself.
Though he was not prepared yet for dealing with Spike discover. It was the first time he saw the boy, lucky Buffy was not around. He told him right away that he knew he was his sire son, although he didn't bought the fact of the boy being Darla's son as well, he didn't smell like her, his blood called simply for two people he knew well, the slayer and the big of a Poof he had of a sire, the boy was stronger than he knew.
By know he had heard pieces of stories, never from Buffy's mouth, he unconsciously would call her Ma, a Gaelic word for mother, because that what she had became in his eyes.
Meanwhile in Angel Investigations
Angel had been doing what he could to find his baby boy, but nothing, no clues left.
His dreams were driving him crazy, all of them include Buffy the forgotten day and "their" baby son, because everytime he would turn the day back in the dream something different happened, once the baby was created and Buffy was able to keep him without any memories of the day, and she had left knowing absolutely nothing, and a another case cenario his baby was born and Buffy died, yet another was where Angel receive his baby after some months, and the worst was when they were both dead.
Cordelia watched him with pity. Her boss would fed properly and would sleep either it was time to get reinforcement.
"Wesley, I'm done with it! I'm calling her." The older watcher looked surprised, but the rest of the Fang Gang agreed with her comment.
"We are calling hurricane Buffy." Lorne smiled, he was dying to meet this small woman that had captured the vampire's heart and apparently would be the only one to wake him up.
Fred picked up the phone and started dialing and the other line it was heard:
"Hi, you called to the Summers..." – Before the message could continue someone answered.
"Hello."
"Hi, may I speak with Buffy Summers?
"Buffy? Phone for you!"
"Hey Tara, who is it?"
"I don't know." Tara said shaking her head.
"Hello."
"Buffy?"
"Cordy?"
"I know I shouldn't probably be calling you, because you have your own problems and so, but I'm really worried about him Buffy, he won't eat right or sleep, he just works and broods, he's dying and I'm scared." Buffy heard Cordelia speak and breathe heavily.
"I'll be there in some hours, just have to check everything with Dawnie and Connie, and I'll be there."
"Thanks" And they both hung up.
Sunnydale Connor's Room
Dawn had just got in and found Connor lying down on his chest reading a book. She lied on his side and watched him for some minutes before saying:
"Are you ready to hear the tale?" Connor closed his book rapidly and looked to his now formal sister, after all Willow had the splendid idea of creating an ID, passport card, birth certificate and all other documents he could possible need, after also putting Buffy as his adoptive mother and with no better ideas she put Angel as a father, knowing that if anything happened with her Dawn and Connor would be on her ex-lovers responsibility.
"Sure sis." He was abusing on the Irishness he had founded so easily to use, and that also connected him with his real father, according to Giles he was almost a master in old languages. Dawn was about to say something when there was a knock on the door.
"Hey guys, sorry about interrupting your little reunion here, but I'm need in LA." Buffy said.
"Ma, what happened?" Connor asked like he had been doing for the last couple of weeks, it was weird to think that about a month ago he would never even dare calling her otherwise than Buffy; but now it was like breathing completely natural.
Buffy smiled and went to them gave them a hug, a kiss and said a simply word:
"Angel." Going out she smiled and winked.
"It's this about my father?" He asked surprised.
Dawn laughed before saying "You took seriously the whole fake ID, hum?" She stopped and put a hand on his "Yes it is."
Angel's Room
"Angelcakes, everyone is worried about you. Come on big man, we need you well, how are we supposed to find Connor without you?" Lorne asked in his usual happy mood.
"Leave me alone Lorne, please I'm begging." He said.
"Well be aware that someone is coming to take you out of that misery".
"What you mean with that?"
"I would at least shower." Said Lorne leaving him. He sure needed a shower, deciding to listen to his friend comment he got into the shower and lost himself in thoughts. He got out dressed and fall into the bed, he was so tired. Far away he thought he listen to a very angry Buffy saying:
"Where is he?"
Hotel Hyperion Hall
A small woman, blonde long hair, jeans, boots, t-shirt and a jacket stormed through the door.
"Where is he?"
"That was fast." Comment Cordy.
"I told you all I need to do was talk to Dawn and Connor, and the trip takes at least two hours, the traffic was light so I made it faster."
"Did you just say Connor?" Everyone asked her.
"Yes, I did, he's like a.. hum.. an adoptive son." She said uncomfortable with their stare.
"How does he look like, his age?" Asked Wesley.
"I'm not here to talk about my son and sister, I came because you needed me, so where the heck is Angel?" She cut them waiting for someone to tell her about her long lost lover.
"Better be prepared, a couple months he lost his son." Informed Gunn, who she had recognized and so had him, so he smiled, and said:
"Come on Anne, I'll take you there." The woman smirked and followed him.
"By the way, Connor looks alike Angel." Buffy said, climbing the stairs.
"Is good to see you again, girl! Thought you're dead, gladly you're not. Do you really think your Connor, might be ours..?
"I know. I can feel it. I just couldn't send him back the way he was Charles, the boy was a wreck, so scared, afraid to let people in. And he felt hatred about vampires, it took him weeks to start talking with Spike and accept him, once he did, I knew I could work on sending him back to LA." Gunn felt like she was about to cry.
"Except the fact that you love him as yours, hum? Not so easy to let go." He hugged his friend and gave her a pick on the face wishing a good luck.
Buffy saw Gunn disappearing through the corridors and stairs, she knocked but no one answered, so she gently opened the door to find a broken Angel sleeping curly up in a ball, whispering Connor name and hers, he starting moving a little like he was trying to reach someone, Buffy caught his hand and lied down on his side holding him. He clutched into her crying, Buffy just held him back, doing soothing noises, using some words she had learn with Connor in Gaelic to calm him down.
"Grá, you're speaking Gaelic" He said in a whimper holding her closed to him, breathing her essence. He couldn't understand how she could possibly smell like his soon, not a babies smell any longer but still his son essence.
"He's save Angel, Connor has been save for about four months and baby I really need you to eat something, you're image is scaring. He'll be home as soon as I get you to eat properly and…"
"He has being all this time with you? Is he ok? Is he happy? Healthy?" He asked in a worried tone, frowning.
Buffy kisses the adorable frown he had made, scared to death about his baby boy.
"He's fine, I'm going to grab something for you to eat, more like a lot of something you need to drink and hum.. asked something for me and the gang. I'll be right back, ok?" She said touching his face and leaving the room.
"Is the stubborn vampire going to eat, before he scares all of us to dead? Cordelia asked.
"Yes, and well, looks like I'll be soon sending Connor home." She said in a small voice.
"So, the Connor you have is our Connor right? What a relieve! He's save and loved right?" Asked Fred biting her lip.
"Very much loved as far as I'm concerned. I need his supplies."
"On the fridge."
"Thanks" She walked there pick up some and went back.
"Aren't she gonna warm it up?" Said Wesley worried about his boss habits.
"He has a microwave upstairs as well." Buffy answered almost on the top of the stairs.
When she got in his room he was looking outside the window, thoughtful.
"Hey Ionúin" Buffy smiled. "Should I warm it up for you?" He extended his hand to her in an invitation; she simply gave him the blood and sat in front of him. He was going to turn when she just smiled and said:
"Go on, I see Spike doing it all the time, no big deal." He seemed hurt for a moment, Buffy laughed and said "Stop being such a big baby and drink it, or do you prefer me?
"Don't play with that Buff." She smiled and waited for him to start drinking from the blood bag.
Her cell phone rang and she answered, Angel sends a look on her and she simply sit by his side before answering.
"Hello?"
"Má! Are you alright? Is he alright?"
"Buffy is Angel alright?"
"One at a time." She said and heard them both breathing and saying together:
"Buff.. Má" Buffy could even see them both staring one another puffing at the same time.
"You know.." Buffy started with a laugh "If I didn't know your both weren't siblings I would say that you are.." Not only she but also Angel heard them laughing.
"You go than, he's you father after all.." Dawn said. "Yes I know, but you know him more than I do.." Connor replied.
"Are they gonna keep on bragging about who is gonna talk first or what?" Angel asked in a small voice to Buffy.
"He's fine!" Buffy said. "How bad does he look?" Dawn asked.
"I don't look bad, do I Buffy?" Angel asked her, lifting an eyebrow.
"He'll be better in a couple days." She said, hearing them both babble about some other things before they hung up.
"He sounds happy, carefree." A tear fell making a trail in his face and Buffy went to him, hugging him. "You didn't answer me about the whole Gaelic thing." She spoke only one word:
"Connor."
"He calls you Mom." Angel stated. "I know, it's that okay?" She asked her face still buried in his chest. "It's more than ok. It's perfect."
They lied down side by side talking about everything and everyone until Angel felt tired, he turned to Buffy lying his head on her shoulder, while she played with his hair. In the first moments of the morning Buffy was already up, and left Angel's room kissing his face.