Disclaimer:
I do not own Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or any characters associated with the Buffyverse, which are the creations of Joss Whedon and belong to Mutant Enemy Productions. Similarly, I do not own Harry Potter or any related characters, settings, or concepts, which are the intellectual property of J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros. This fanfiction is purely for entertainment purposes and not for profit. All recognizable characters and worlds belong to their respective creators, and no copyright infringement is intended.
There wasn't one thing Angel liked about the Christmas season. It made people crazy. The shopping, the music, the decorations. But most of all, it made him miss his son. He'd never gotten to spend a single Christmas with him. When Connor was born, Angel had imagined holidays filled with family, laughter, and moments he never thought he could have. But those dreams were destroyed the night Holtz took Connor into Quor'toth.
The boy that came back was an angry teenager who didn't just want to kill him, no, he wanted to make Angel suffer. Torture him. But that was almost twenty years ago. Seventeen years since Angel had gone to work for Wolfram and Hart to give Connor a new life, a normal life. The last time he saw him, Connor had been eating dinner with his new family while Angel watched from the outside, separated from the life he could never have. A far cry from the broken boy who was begging Angel to kill him, or he would blow up a shopping mall and everyone inside, Cordy included.
Wolfram and Hart had come and gone. They lost Fred but gained Illyria, and then the Blackthorne who ran the firm pulled out of L.A., leaving Angel and the gang adrift again. They returned to the Hyperion. Wesley, Spike, Gunn, Cordelia, and Illyria. Cordy had been healed by Illyria, a power the God-King didn't even know she still had until the moment she did it.
Since then, they'd gone back to work, taking cases as they came, fighting the good fight. Every once in a while, Buffy or one of the Scoobies would show up for a day or two, but they never stayed long. Even Giles was still around. Buffy had been with her boyfriend for the last ten years. It was strange, though, none of them had children, except him, and that was...complicated.
The front doors of the Hyperion creaked open, pulling Angel from his thoughts. A group of children walked in, and at first glance, they looked like any other family that had mistaken the hotel for a working hotel.
"Sorry, kids," Angel started, stepping forward. "This isn't a real hotel. We're a private investigations business."
"We know," said a girl of about sixteen. "We're looking for Angel. This is his business, right?"
"That's right. Well, it's really a joint operation, but it's easier not to change the name," Angel said, rambling.
The girl nodded, her expression unreadable, but something about her seemed familiar. She was accompanied by three others: two identical boys around fourteen and a little girl no older than four, clinging to the older girl's leg.
"Wow, you don't look anything like Dad," one of the boys said, his shirt boldly sporting the word "fuk" across the front.
Angel raised an eyebrow. "Why would I look like your dad?"
"Because you're our grandfather," the older girl said.
Angel blinked, the words sticking in his ?Connor was still a kid in his head, angry and full of fire. And now...now, he had kids of his own? Grandchildren? He hadn't even been there for his own son, and now there were grandchildren he never knew existed?
Before Angel could really process what the girl just said, Illyria and Wesley came in from the outside. Wesley was holding a sword dripping with blood, looking worn out, while Illyria looked as unruffled as ever.
"I've told you to clean the blood off the weapons before dripping them all over my floor," Cordy screeched from the top of the stairs.
It had taken years, but somehow, they'd found their way back to each other. When Cordy woke up, it was nothing short of a miracle. Willow had made Angel's soul permanent so he could finally be with Cordy without the fear of losing control. They'd picked up where they left off, but the memories of Jasmine still haunted both of them. Angel no longer blamed Cordy for what happened, Jasmine's possession wasn't her fault. But with Connor...it was different.
Connor had been young, but he hadn't been under a spell like Cordy. Angel knew that. He tried not to dwell on it. It was just Christmastime that made him feel like some horrible person.
Illyria's voice cut through his thoughts. "There are intruders in the lobby," she stated in her usual flat tone, eyeing the group of children. The children didn't look shocked at her unearthly appearance, so they weren't new to their world. Making their claim believable.
"Not intruders," Angel corrected, glancing at the girl who had claimed to be his granddaughter. "Just...unexpected guests."
"Aren't you going to say anything about what I just said? You're our grandfather," the girl said.
Angel blinked, still stunned. "Sorry, I'm still processing. Are you sure? I mean, maybe you got confused—"
"With some other brooding vampire with a hero complex? Yeah, right," the boy with the "fuk" shirt interrupted, arms crossed and an exasperated expression on his face. "You think we strolled into a random vampire's place, hoping to hit the genetic lottery?"
Angel stared at the boy, taken aback by the sharpness in his 's just like Connor, just more talkative,Angel of attitude.
The other boy in a plain blue polo and jeans stayed quiet, watching everything carefully, while the little girl in overalls clung to her sister, saying nothing. The older girl, polite and composed, looked back at Angel with hope.
"Liam, stop," she admonished him, though her tone was calm.
Liam?Angel's heart skipped a beat. Connor had named his son after him? But how? The spell had broken ages ago when some idiot killed Vale. When Connor didn't show up afterward, Angel had left it alone. His son knew where he was if he wanted him. Faith and Willow had been furious when they found out their memories had been altered, but Angel had stayed quiet. He didn't go I should have...
Cordy appeared at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. "Your grandchildren?" she asked, glancing between Angel and the children.
"That's what they say," Angel said, still trying to wrap his head around the idea.
Spike and Gunn emerged from the basement where they'd been sparring.
"Did I hear right? Peter Pan had kids?" Gunn asked, eyebrows raised in disbelief.
Spike smirked. "Well, ain't this a kick in the teeth. Guess the brooding never stops, eh, Grandpa?"
Angel shot them both a look, but the distraction gave him a moment to gather himself. He glanced back at the older girl. "So... your father is Connor?"
The girl nodded. "Yeah, and he's missing. He told us that if he ever didn't come home, to come and find you. He gave us the address, and I knew where he kept emergency money. He's been gone for a week. He's never been gone this long before."
Angel's stomach was gone. Again?The last time his son disappeared...well, it hadn't ended well for either of them. Now, his son's children, his grandchildren, were standing here, looking at him with desperate hope. He wasn't sure he could handle this. But what choice did he have?
"Where's your mother?" Angel asked.
"Whose mother?" the girl replied flatly. "My mother is probably shooting up in some crack den right now if she isn't dead. Liam and Ronan's mother is pretending like she never had them and living the good life as a good little Senator's wife. Aoife's mother, she's..." The older girl looked down at the little girl clinging to her leg. "She's just not around anymore. All we have is Dad...and now you, I hope."
"I'm sorry," Angel said, glancing at the rest of the team, noticing they were listening quietly. His chest felt heavy; their lives had been hard, and now they were in his hands. He wasn't sure if he could manage this.
"I'm hungry," the little girl, Aoife, said, tugging on her sister's arm.
"I-I'll find a way to get some money, then you'll eat the biggest meal there is," the older girl said, her face flushed with embarrassment when she looked back at him. "I used all our money on bus fare. It wasn't cheap bringing the four of us from Georgia. I'm Siobhan by the way. This is Aoife, these two are Liam and Ronan."
Georgia?That's where his son had been…far away, living a life Angel had no part in. "It's nice to meet you."
"We have plenty of food. Why don't you come in and take a seat, maybe we'll even order something. What's your favorite food?" Cordy asked, ever the caretaker these days.
"Pizza," Liam said immediately.
"Chicken nuggets," Aoife added.
"I'm not picky," Ronan muttered, barely audible.
Angel watched as the Siobhan looked nervously between her siblings. "We don't want to put you out," she started, but Liam interrupted.
"Just quit it, Siobhan, you haven't eaten in days. Don't think we haven't noticed."
Angel's heart clenched at that. Siobhan, who had taken on so much responsibility, had been starving herself to keep them long had they been fending for themselves?
"We'll order pizza, chicken nuggets... and what else?" Cordy asked.
Angel glanced around and noticed Spike, Wesley, Illyria, and Gunn had quietly left, giving them space. Spike must have been holding his tongue for the most part, which was strange, but Angel figured he'd make up for it later once he processed the news.
"When Dad was around, he would order from the Indian restaurant near us. I really liked it. But if there isn't a place around, that's fine," Siobhan said quietly, her voice almost too polite, too careful.
"This is L.A., everything is around," Cordy said, already scrolling through her phone. "And you?" she asked the other twin, Ronan.
"If it's not too much trouble...,could I just have a salad, no meat?" Ronan's voice was soft, almost as if he expected to be turned down.
"He's a vegan, but he likes Indian," Liam cut in again. "Just order some vegan options. He needs more than a salad."
Angel frowned slightly, noting how much Liam had to speak up for Ronan. The boy was so quiet and passive, it was hard to imagine him as Connor's son. Angel couldn't help but wonder how Connor had handled it. If he'd been patient, understanding, or if this new version of Connor had distanced himself from his own children, the way Angel had once distanced himself from him.
It was the second time Liam spoke up for his siblings. He may be loud and brash, but he was protective, Angel could tell.
Cordy and Angel had taken the kids up to two of the rooms that were already made for company. The beds were comfortable, and the ensuites clean. The kids had bags with them, so Angel knew they had clothes. He could see how tired they were, how eager they were to shower and wash away the grime of their long journey. Bus rides could be long and hot, even in the winter.
"So, are you ready to tell me what you're thinking?" Cordy asked as they descended the stairs.
Angel sighed, glancing back up the stairs where the kids were. "Where's Connor? Is he hurt? Why would he leave his children? Why did he give them a plan if he didn't come back? What was he doing that might've gotten him hurt or worse?"
Cordy raised an eyebrow. "That's a lot of things you're thinking about. But when the kids are dressed and eating, we'll ask questions. I'm sure they can answer some of those."
"And Ronan...he's so timid. It's like he's expecting to be beaten if he says the wrong thing. Is that the kind of father my son is? Did he get it from me?" Angel's voice was low, almost a growl. He had fought Connor more times than he could count, but it had always been necessary. His son had been like a caged animal, the gentle touch didn't work with him, at least that's what Angel had believed at the time.
"I don't think so," Cordy said softly. "Did you see their eyes? They love him. They want him back. I don't think they'd be here, desperate to find him, if he'd been abusing them. Let's ask them about their life, about Connor, and maybe we'll get some answers."
Angel shifted uncomfortably, his thoughts spiraling. "And how do you feel about finding him?" he asked, his voice tentative.
Cordy looked down at her hands and then back up. "It was a long time ago, Angel. That wasn't me. But...am I ready to see him? Probably not. But this isn't about me. It's about those four kids upstairs. They need their father back. And we need to know if it's even possible."
"Don't say that," Angel said, his tone suddenly harsh. "He's alive. He has to be. Connor's strong. Too strong to be taken down by...whatever has him away from his family."
Cordy gave him a long look, her face softening slightly. "We'll find him, Angel."
Thirty minutes later, they were all gathered in the lobby. Gunn and Wesley had set up a table and chairs for the kids to sit and eat. Angel decided not to drink his glass of blood in front of them though Spike, as expected, made no such promises. Spike was currently gulping down a glass of blood, while the kids watched with a mixture of fascination and horror.
"It's only animal blood," Angel said, trying to sound casual.
"Not a sweet little animal," Siobhan said, her voice hesitant but starting to open up a little more now that they were seated.
"Would you rather it be from a person?" Spike asked, his usual smirk in place.
"Spike," Angel warned, shooting him a look. He didn't want to scare the kids more than they already were.
Spike made a noise but didn't say anything more. Angel was sitting on the other side of the table from Ronan, who was still picking at his Aloo gobi without much enthusiasm.
"Ronan, what do you do for fun?" Angel asked, trying to break the ice.
"Oh, I don't know," Ronan muttered, pushing his food around on his plate.
"Do you not like the food?" Angel asked, watching the boy closely.
"It's fine...I'm just not really hungry. But don't worry, I'll eat it all," Ronan said quickly, as if he was afraid of causing trouble.
"Don't eat if you're not hungry," Wesley chimed in gently. "You're not obligated to finish it."
"He's not a big eater on the best of days," Siobhan said, a touch of protectiveness in her voice. "He's fine."
"He doesn't like eating at other people's houses. It takes a little time for him to adjust," Liam added, speaking around a mouthful of pizza.
"It's an anxiety thing," Ronan said with a shrug. "I'll do better, I promise."
Angel's chest tightened. There it was again, that hesitance, that need to promise compliance. It reminded him too much of his own history with Connor, the fights, the battles for control. It was time to find out what kind of father Connor had become.
"We'll talk more about finding your dad after dinner," Angel said, his voice calm. "But for now, can you tell me a little bit about your life with him?"
Angel could feel the rest of the group watching the children closely, all of them eager to hear what they had to say about Connor. None of them had good memories of his son, but perhaps these kids had seen a different side of him, a side Angel had never been able to reach.
"Dad? He's the best," Siobhan began, her eyes brightening slightly. "He really wasn't expecting to have us, we just sort of...snuck up on him. His freshman year at Stanford, he met my mom at a party, and they hooked up. A few months later, she found him and told him about me. She said she didn't want a kid and was going to give me up. She's Catholic or was at the time. Dad didn't want his kid to grow up not knowing who they were, so he asked if he could keep me. Seven months later, I was born."
Angel felt a pang of sadness. Connor had done what he hadn't, fought to stay in his child's life from the start.
"I've seen my birth mother a few times," Siobhan continued, "but the last time, she was high. She smacked me for asking why she looked sick. Dad said she was never allowed to come back after that."
Angel's stomach turned. He would've done the same, no one would hurt his child. Except... he had hurt Connor. More times than he wanted to remember. But Connor hadn't been an innocent child then. He had been a trained killer, a weapon forged by Holtz. Still, the guilt was there, lurking.
"Dad had to support me and go to college," Siobhan said, her voice softening. "His parents...the Reillys, disowned him when he refused to give me up. To make money, he...ah..."
"High-priced rent boy," Liam interrupted bluntly, earning a sharp look from Siobhan.
Angel's chest tightened again. His son had sold himself to survive, just like Darla had, just like others Angel had known. The thought sickened him, and yet...it only made him more determined to find Connor.
"He met our mother through that," Liam added, ignoring the tension. "She's about twenty years older than him. She liked to watch her husband with another man. Things got complicated when she joined in, if you get me, and she got pregnant with us. Her husband, the Senator, was sterile, so he wasn't our father. But because of his re-election campaign, she couldn't terminate the pregnancy in case someone found out. So, she gave birth to us and handed us over to Dad. He had to sign a shitload of paperwork swearing he wouldn't tell anyone who she was. But we didn't sign shit," Liam finished with a shrug.
Angel was surprised how honest Connor had been with his children. Angel had tried to keep things from Connor. Maybe if he were more honest than his child would look at him like Connor's did just when they were thinking of their father.
Angel felt a surge of nausea. The thought of Connor enduring that kind of life, just to provide for his children, made him feel like he had failed his son in more ways than one. He had given Connor a new life, a new family, but he hadn't been there when it really mattered.
"What about Aoife?" Wesley asked gently, looking over at the smallest child, who had fallen asleep after eating her nuggets and was now resting her head on Gunn's shoulder.
"Her mother was Missy," Siobhan explained, her voice quieter now. "She was a great stepmom to us three and when she had Aoife it was like we were a real family. She was amazing. Loved us like we were her own. But..."
Siobhan hesitated, her eyes filled with pain.
Angel leaned forward slightly. "What happened to her?" he asked softly.
"She was killed by a demon. A demon that had been out for our dad for a while, but he didn't think he was that dangerous," Siobhan said, her voice trembling. "Dad wasn't home. He was picking Aoife up from daycare. The demon was waiting for her when she got home. We were the first ones back, and...there was almost nothing left of her."
Angel's heart broke as he watched Siobhan struggle to hold back tears. Connor had lost Missy, the children had lost their mother, and now they were on the verge of losing their father too.
"We'll find him," Angel promised, though he wasn't sure whom he was trying to reassure more the children, or himself.
"I'm going to go and take her to bed," Ronan said, standing up. He walked over to Gunn and gently took Aoife from him. "I'll see you in the morning."
After he was gone, Siobhan cleared her throat. "He doesn't like talking about it. He was the first one through the door. The boys would always race to the door, see who won. He slipped on her blood. He's been different since then. He used to be loud and funny, always cracking a joke. He barely talks now."
Angel felt a deep pang of sympathy. The quiet, anxious boy made so much more sense awfulfor Ronan, for all of them, really. Connor had tried to keep that dark side of life away from his children, but it had come crashing in, leaving a scar on all of them. Something Angel knew all too well.
"Where did your father go?" Angel asked, needing to focus on the immediate issue at hand. "You said he's never been gone this long before. How long has he been gone? Where does he go?"
"Dad is a hired assassin," Liam said bluntly, without the slightest hesitation.
"That's not true, he's a bodyguard, that's all," Siobhan said, clearly trying to defend her father.
"He kills people for a living," Liam insisted, crossing his arms defiantly.
"Bad people," Siobhan added, her voice firm but quieter now, as if she was trying to convince herself as much as Angel.
Angel's chest ...killing people for a living?He couldn't wrap his mind around it. This wasn't what he'd wanted for his son. He had fought so hard to give Connor a new life, a life without bloodshed, without violence. And yet...here they were.
He couldn't believe it. No,wouldn'tbelieve it. Connor wouldn't kill humans, it was against his nature…unless he was breaking again. "Let's...put that on the back burner for now," Angel said, forcing himself to focus. "Where did he go?"
"Here...actually," Liam said. "He said he needed your help and was coming here to ask for it. But that was the last we heard from him. We stalked this place for a day or so, so we knew he wasn't here."
Angel's mind raced. Connor had come to him for help. What kind of trouble was he in? Why hadn't he made it to the Hyperion?
"We'll find him," Angel promised. "But I need to know everything. Did he mention what kind of help he needed?"
"No," Siobhan said softly. "He just said he needed to talk to you. That you were the only one who could help."
Angel clenched his jaw. The last time Connor had needed his help, it had nearly broken him. Now, his son was in danger again, and Angel wouldn't let him down. Not this time. Not when so many lives were at stake. His grandchildren's, and maybe even Connor's.
"We'll start looking for him," Cordy said, squeezing Angel's shoulder. Her voice was calm, but Angel could see the concern in her eyes. "He's out there somewhere, and we're going to find him."
Angel nodded. "We'll start first thing tomorrow. We'll check the usual sources, see if any of the demons in town have heard anything about him."
Liam snorted, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, because demons arereal helpfulwhen you're trying to save someone."
Angel shot him a sharp look, but the boy just raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. He was so much like Connor, it hurt to look at him sometimes. The sarcasm, the attitude, the fire—they were all there. But so was the fear. Angel could see it, buried beneath the bravado, the way Liam's hands clenched into fists under the table.
"Get some rest," Angel said quietly, looking at the children. "We'll figure this out."
Siobhan nodded, her expression still tight with worry. Liam just shrugged, as if he wasn't concerned, but Angel could see right through it. These kids were scared. And Angel wasn't going to fail them the way he felt he'd failed Connor.
As the kids were led upstairs, Angel lingered in the lobby, staring at the door. His mind buzzed with thoughts. Where was Connor? What kind of danger had he gotten himself into? And more importantly, what was he going to do about it?
Cordy's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Angel."
He turned to see her standing there, her arms crossed, looking at him with concern. "We'll find him," she said gently.
Angel nodded, but the weight in his chest didn't lift. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was very, very wrong. Connor had come to him for help—for a reason—and Angel had to find out why. Before it was too late.
Cordy watched Aoife play in the lobby. Last night, she had been quiet as a church mouse; today, she was laughing and playing like any other four-year-old. It was strange how resilient kids could be, bouncing back even when their world was falling apart. The rest of the gang was out looking for leads on Connor. Liam had wanted to spar with Spike, he said that Connor had been teaching him to fight. Angel went downstairs to the basement to make sure he wasn't hurt. Siobhan went to watch. Cordy wasn't sure where Ronan was, but he was probably drawing. He'd asked for a pencil and paper earlier, and Angel had given him some supplies after finding out that his grandson was an artist.
That left Cordy babysitting Aoife.
It was strange watching the little girl after everything that had happened with Connor. The memories of those dark days still lingered, vivid and unsettling. She could remember it all, but she hadn't been in control. It was like being locked in a cage, watching herself from a distance, doing things she couldn't stop. A small part of her, buried deep where she didn't like to look, sometimes wished it had been a real baby she'd been pregnant with. The thought was twisted, and she knew it, but it crept up on her sometimes, though she always pushed it away as quickly as it came.
Being with Angel meant giving up the idea of children. A life with a vampire didn't come with the option of family. And yet...what would it have been like to be a mother? Sometimes, the thought made her stomach twist. She had wanted to be like a mother to Connor when he was born, not be the mother of his child when he was eighteen. She kept reminding herself Connor had been eighteen. At least by their estimating. Quor'toth time was different. Connor had no idea how old he really was or the significance of age when he came back to their world. It was best not to think about how old or young he really was at the time.
Cordy sighed, looking over at Aoife, who was now playing with a stuffed bear that Gunn had gone out and bought for her before he left. It was hard to reconcile that this innocent, happy child was connected to all that pain and chaos.
Aoife ran up to her, holding out the small bear. "Look, Cordy! It's my new friend!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Cordy smiled and took the bear for a moment, examining it as if it were a prized possession. "He's very cute. But don't let Spike see him. He's got a bad habit of stealing stuffed animals."
Aoife giggled, hugging the bear to her chest. "I won't let him!"
Cordy watched her run off again, her laughter echoing through the are amazing,she thought, a bittersweet feeling settling over her. Despite everything, children had this incredible ability to find joy. Aoife's innocence was a reminder of what could have been, and what never would be for Cordy.
She wondered what kind of father Connor had become. She hoped he had been better than either of them thought they could be. She hoped, for the sake of these kids, that he hadn't repeated the same mistakes she and Angel had made.
As she sighed, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind her. Liam appeared from the basement, looking sweaty and a little worn out. Spike followed behind, a smug grin on his face, clearly having enjoyed their sparring session.
"Didn't break any bones, did you?" Cordy asked, raising an eyebrow at Liam.
"Spike cheats," Liam grumbled, wiping his face with a towel.
"Cheats?" Spike scoffed. "You just weren't quick enough. Keep up, and maybe one day you'll land a punch. Not likely but maybe."
Liam shot him a look but didn't argue. Cordy smirked, watching the exchange. It was strange seeing Connor's son here, the spitting image of his father in attitude and defiance.
"Where's Angel?" Cordy asked.
"Downstairs," Liam said. "He's keeping an eye on Siobhan. They're talking."
Cordy nodded. "And Ronan?"
"Still drawing, I think," Liam shrugged, seemingly uninterested.
Cordy watched him for a moment, noticing how much of a front he put up, as if sparring and banter were shields against the fear bothering him. They were all afraid. Afraid of what had happened to Connor, afraid of what they might find, afraid of what life without him might look like.
She knew all too well that sometimes, people didn't come back.
"I'm going to go find Gunn," Liam muttered after a moment, throwing his towel over his shoulder. He walked out of the lobby, leaving Cordy standing there, her thoughts returning to Aoife, who had now settled down in the corner of the room, humming quietly to herself.
Cordy sighed again, her gaze softening as she looked at the little has no idea,Cordy idea what kind of world she was born into.
But maybe that was a blessing.
Down in the basement, Siobhan watched her grandfather move. Angel looked so young, but so did her dad. People often thought he was her older brother, not her father. Sometimes she wondered if her aging would slow down too, like her father's. Maybe one day, they'd all look the same age.
Her voice broke the silence. "What if Dad is never found? What will happen to us?"
Angel paused, glancing over at her. "Then you'll stay here. You'll live here with us. But we just started looking, Siobhan. I know you see your father as...well, just a dad. But let me tell you, he's one of the toughest people in the world. It'd take a lot to take him down, and something that big would've gotten back to us by now. Demons gossip more than a church phone tree."
Siobhan blinked. "You know what a church phone tree is?"
Angel gave a small, sheepish smile. "Not really. Cordy just says it a lot."
She laughed. "I like Cordy. Did my dad know her? She's like his stepmom, right?"
He was smiling at her, but it looked more pained now. What had she said?
"Yeah," he said softly. "She's important to all of us."
"Is there a way to give the boys their own rooms? They need their privacy."
Angel looked at her confused. "They don't get along?"
"They're fine," Siobhan said quickly. "They're just... boys."
Angel smiled and nodded. "Of course. I'll take care of it. What about you? Do you want your own room?"
Siobhan shook her head. "No. Aoife would be scared if she wasn't with me. I don't like her out of my sight for too long anyway. This is the longest she's been away from me since Dad left."
"That's a lot of responsibility for a sixteen-year-old."
He looked a little sick. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'll go sort out the boys rooms now."
"That was weird," she said to the empty basement after he left.
Angel headed upstairs to his room for a while, a sudden wave of nausea hitting him. His mind flashed back to Buffy, how young she had been when they had first fallen in love. The thought now made him feel like a creep. He shook the thought away quickly, guilt and disgust creeping over him.
A few hours later, the sun started to set, and he left his and Cordy's room, ready for his own search. There was only so much the gang could do without him. He would be able to tell if Connor had been in the city, at least he hoped.
"Spike's already gone," Cordy said as he came down the stairs.
"Good. Where are the kids?"
"Gunn took Liam out to get some shoes, his were falling apart. They're picking up food for everyone else. Siobhan is making a list of things for her and Aoife's room. Wesley is teaching Aoife some reading."
"What about Ronan?"
"His room. Thanks for telling me the boys needed their own rooms by the way," she said sarcastically. "I think he's missing his dad."
"I'll go talk to him."
"Be gentle, I think he's more fragile than the others, even Aoife."
"Yeah."
He headed back upstairs and followed Ronan's scent to his new room, the one across from his brother's. Angel tapped on the door.
"Ronan?"
"What?" a muffled voice said from within.
"Can I come in? I would like to talk to you for a moment."
"Okay."
Angel opened the door and found Ronan sitting on his bed, looking dejected. "What's wrong?" Angel asked him.
"I just wish Dad was here. I miss him. He's not exactly what you would call…demonstrative but he's a great dad. He may not hug us or say he loves us, but he shows it every day." Angel wondered how much of the fake life Connor stayed with him. If it faded, his real memories of being raised by Holtz would be front and center. Angel didn't know anything about Connor's life in Quor'toth but knew he didn't get a lot of comfort or hugs from Holtz. So, it would reason that Connor would have trouble with that with his own children.
"Your dad...he wasn't raised in a normal way," Angel said carefully, trying to find the right word "He grew up in a place where showing love wasn't exactly... easy."
Ronan looked up at him steadily. "You mean Quor'toth, right? Dad doesn't like to talk about it but sometimes he has nightmares. He locks his door, we're not allowed to come in he says in case he's so far in the nightmare we feel like a danger to him."
Angel sighed, leaning back against the headboard. "Yes, Quor'toth. That's good for you to follow his directions like that. I know he would never forgive himself if he hurt any of you. He was raised by a man named Holtz, who was more like a soldier than a father. He didn't show Connor much affection, if any. That's probably why your dad has trouble showing it now. But it doesn't mean he doesn't care. He cares a lot."
Ronan was silent for a moment, processing the information. "I know he loves us," he finally said, his voice soft. "He just...he doesn't know how to show it, does he?"
Angel shook his head slowly. "No, I don't think he does. But that doesn't mean he isn't trying."
"He's always been there for us," Ronan added. "Whenever we needed something, he made sure we had it. When things got bad after Aoife's mom...he stepped up. He was falling apart inside, we know, but he didn't let us down."
Angel felt a wave of guilt wash over stepped up for his kids the way I couldn't for had given Connor away, tried to give him a better life by erasing his memories, but had it really worked? Connor had become the kind of father Angel had wanted to be but had failed to become.
"I'm proud of him," Angel said quietly. "He turned out to be a good man, despite everything."
Ronan looked at him with sadness in his eyes. "I just wish he was here now. I don't know what we'll do if something happened to him."
Angel reached out, placing a hand on Ronan's shoulder. "We're going to find him, Ronan. Your dad's tough. He's survived worse than this. And we'll bring him home."
Ronan gave a small nod, but Angel could see the uncertainty in his eyes. "It's just...sometimes, it feels like he's carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Like he's trying to protect us from everything, but...who's protecting him?"
Angel swallowed 's protecting him?The question cut deep. He had tried to protect Connor once, but it had ended in disaster. Now, Connor was out there somewhere, alone, and Angel felt powerless to help.
"I should have been there for him more," Angel admitted, his voice thick with regret. "I thought giving him a new life would fix everything, but it didn't. It only made things more complicated."
Ronan looked at him curiously. "Why did you do it? Why did you erase his memories?"
Angel exhaled. "I thought it was the only way to give him a chance at a normal life. After everything that had happened between us...I thought I was doing the right thing. But I've realized...maybe I should've let him decide for himself." He decided not to talk about Jasmine. If Connor didn't tell them he wasn't about to do that.
Ronan stared at his sketchbook for a moment before speaking. "Dad never talks about his past. He says it doesn't matter anymore. But...I think it does."
"It does matter," Angel agreed. "It's part of who he is. And he's stronger because of it. But he's also been through a lot of pain."
"Do you think...he's in pain now?" Ronan asked, his voice small.
Angel hesitated, not wanting to lie. "I don't know. But I do know that he's going to fight to come back to you. No matter what."
Ronan nodded, his grip tightening on the sketchbook in his lap. "I just hope we find him before it's too late."
"We will," Angel said firmly. "I promise."
"Lorne, you've got to know something," Angel insisted, leaning over the bar at Lorne's club, his voice tinged with desperation.
Lorne, ever calm in the face of Angel's intensity, sighed and polished a glass. "Angelcakes, if I had even the faintest whisper of Connor passing through, I would've come straight to you. But I haven't heard a thing. If he's in L.A., he's keeping a low profile. Very low."
Angel frowned, his frustration mounting. "Which means he's not hunting. If he was, people would notice. Demons would be disappearing right and left."
Lorne nodded thoughtfully. "And demons don't go missing quietly. Trust me, the underworld gossip train runs faster than light. But...nada, zip. No one's mentioned your boy."
Angel clenched his fists. "He's here. I can feel it. I don't know how, but I know he's in the city."
Lorne gave him a sympathetic smile. "Father's intuition or father's denial?"
"Both," Angel muttered, eyes darting around the club. "But if you hear anything, Lorne, anything at all—"
"You'll be the first to know. Just take care of yourself. You can't help anyone if you run yourself ragged."
Angel mumbled a quick thanks and made his way out into the cool night air. The streets of L.A. were quieter than usual, the neon lights flickering over empty sidewalks. He hated being away from the kids for too long. They were safe at the Hyperion, but that didn't stop the old fears from creeping in. Fear that someone would take them the way Connor had been taken.
He was crossing the street when a woman's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Hey, sexy, looking for a good time?" A demon woman stood on the corner, leaning casually against a lamppost. She looked almost human, save for the small horns curling from her forehead.
Angel ignored her at first, his mind too preoccupied with thoughts of Connor. But then he hesitated. Maybe she'd seen something. Demons were often in tune with the underworld's secrets, especially those working the streets. He turned back toward her.
"Actually, I'm looking for someone," Angel said, stepping closer.
"Aren't we all, sugar," she replied, smiling lazily. "Who's the lucky fella?"
"My son," Angel said, pulling out the picture Siobhan had given him, the one of Connor sitting at the small kitchen table, his tired smile aimed at the camera.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A vampire with a kid? I thought you guys didn't do the whole parenting thing. Isn't your family usually your first snack?"
Angel ground his teeth but kept his voice steady. "He was born after I turned."
"I always thought that was a myth, child of vampires." The demon took the picture, studying it for a moment. "Huh, well, isn't that something. But sorry, haven't seen him around." She handed the photo back, her smirk fading.
Angel sighed, feeling the weight of disappointment settling in. "Thanks anyway," he said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out some money, offering it to her. "For your time."
She eyed the money briefly before shaking her head and pushing it back toward him. "Keep it. Give it to his kids."
Angel froze, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her more closely. She hadn't seen the kids in the photo. "How do you know he has kids?" he asked, suspicion creeping into his voice.
The woman hesitated, her casual demeanor faltering for a split second. "I, uh... I can just tell," she said, but Angel wasn't convinced.
He stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers. "What did you say?" he pressed, his tone more intense now.
She sighed, realizing she couldn't dodge the question. "Alright, alright. I'm an empath, okay? I can sense things. It's...useful in my line of work."
Angel's suspicion deepened. "So, youfeltthe kids, didn't you?"
She nodded slowly, glancing around as if she didn't want to attract any more attention. "Yeah. I can sense the bond he has with them. Strong connection. That's why I knew." She tilted her head, studying Angel for a moment. "But your son...he's harder to read. Usually, pictures are almost as easy to read as if the person is in front of me. But not him. Blurry. Which is weird, given how human he looks."
Angel frowned. "What do you mean?"
The demon tapped her fingers against the photo again, as if trying to pull more information from it. "He's not just human, is he? There's more going on with him. His demon side... it's stronger than I think you know."
Angel's heart sank. "Stronger how?"
She glanced at him, her voice softening. "He's got a powerful demon core. Stronger than most demons I've encountered. Full blooded demons. That makes him harder to track, harder to sense. Whatever he's going through, it's not normal."
Angel swallowed hard. Connor had always been different, but now...Was his demonic nature taking over? Was that why he'd disappeared?
"Do you know where he is?" Angel asked, his voice quieter now, almost pleading.
The demon shook her head. "Like I said, he's hard to read. I can sense the kids, but him? He's like a ghost. Something's hiding him, something strong."
Angel pocketed the photo. "Thanks," he muttered, turning to leave.
As he took a few steps away, her voice stopped him once more. "Hey, vampire," she called, her tone surprisingly gentle.
He glanced back at her.
"Don't give up on him," she said, meeting his gaze. "Just because he's different doesn't mean he's lost."
Angel stood there for a moment, her words hanging in the air between them. Finally, he gave a small nod and continued walking, her words echoing in his mind. She was right, Connor wasn't lost. Not yet, just missing right now.
But the truth was, the more Angel searched, the more he feared just how much of his son was left to find.
"We got the tree!" Gunn's voice echoed through the hotel lobby as he and Wesley maneuvered a massive evergreen through the doors.
"YAY!" Aoife cheered, leaping off the circular couch, her tiny feet skidding slightly as she raced over to them.
It was five days until Christmas, and Angel could sense how much the kids were missing their father. He hoped that decorating the hotel would help lift their spirits, if only for a little while. Last night, he and Cordy had snuck out to buy gifts for each of the children, as well as small tokens for the rest of the team. He couldn't replace Connor, but he could at least try to make their first Christmas without him a little brighter.
As Gunn and Wesley carefully maneuvered the tree into place, Wesley nodded toward the entrance. "Look who we found hanging outside."
Faith strolled in, her trademark confidence on full display, despite her age. At forty, she was still a force to be reckoned with.
"What brings you to L.A.?" Angel asked, his surprise barely concealed.
Faith shrugged nonchalantly. "We got word about a portal. A big one. Strong enough for our witches to pick it up all the way from Cleveland. I came to check it out. make sure no big bads are planning mass murder."
Angel frowned. "I haven't heard anything about a portal opening here."
"That's what's worrying. Something this big shouldn't be flying under the radar, but it is. And according to our witches, the energy feels...magical but different." Faith's tone was casual, but her eyes betrayed concern.
"Magical?" Angel echoed, the word striking an uneasy chord. His mind immediately jumped to Connor. Connor wasn't a wizard, in fact his son hated magic with a passion, but he'd always been at the center of things like this. It couldn't be connected, could it?
Aoife's tiny voice broke the tension as she tugged on Gunn's pant leg, pointing eagerly at the towering tree. "Can we decorate it now?"
Gunn smiled down at her. "Almost, kiddo. First, we gotta make sure it doesn't fall over."
As Wesley and Gunn worked on securing the tree, Angel pulled Faith aside. "Anything else you've picked up? Any leads?"
Faith sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Not yet. Just rumors, dead ends. But this feels different, Angel. Something's off. It's like everyone knows something, but no one's talking. That's bad news in my book."
The creak of the front door distracted him, and he looked up to see Gunn returning from the street with a broad smile, he hadn't even noticed he went back outside. "Looks like we're good to go," he said holding up a star for the tree.
Aoife squealed with excitement, jumping up and down. "Yay! Christmas tree time!"
Far from the warmth and joy of the Hyperion, deep underground in a damp, cold cell, Ron Weasley stared at the stone walls surrounding him. He had lost track of time, days blurring into an endless, dark routine. His mind wandered to Hermione, hoping desperately that she had managed to get away.
He never should have come to L.A. with her. Something bad had been brewing from the moment they arrived. He had sensed it. But he'd let his guard down, and now...now he was stuck here, held captive by people who thought they could force him to open some kind of portal.
"The last wizard didn't make it," one of his captors had taunted him earlier. "He tried, but he wasn't strong enough to hold the portal open, it blew him up."
Ron shuddered at the memory of finding out about the last wizard. It wasn't like he was even that talented. He was fine, years as a Auror had made him better. But what they were asking, it just wasn't uncommon it was unheard of.
Even if he could he would never do it. He would rather die than do something evil…or bring evil.
Hermione Granger-Weasley couldn't believe how everything went so wrong. One minute she and Ron were celebrating her getting a promotion at the Ministry, they decided to travel some before she started her new job. They chose North America because she wanted to visit Salem, Mass. The place was drenched in magical history. Not the poor people who were murdered, the real witches had been able to survive anything like that. She had read about a famous one in school that had actually enjoyed being burned at the stake.
After Salem, they apparated to L.A. so they could see the Pacific Ocean. Ron would burn from the sun, but he was willing for her.
It all happened so fast, they were leaving their hotel when huge, cloaked figures came out of nowhere. She had a horrible memory of Death Eaters, but they weren't Death Eaters. They grabbed Ron and as she pulled out her wand, she was hit in the head. When she woke up, she was in the hospital. Someone found her and called for help. But now Ron was missing, and she had no idea where he was. She had gone back looking for her wand and found it, luckily intact. Ron had his on him and she just hoped that he still had it with him.
Percy, George, Bill and Harry were on their way to help her find him. Ginny wanted to come but she just got signed onto the Harpies. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley said that if he isn't found in a week they would be coming over. They would just be in the way. She hoped her brothers-in-law would be able to help her find him.