Adult-FanFiction.org : Buffy

Common Ground	By : QueenC Category: AtS/BtVS Crossovers > Het - Male/Female > Connor/Dawn Views: 3633 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS) or Angel, the Series (AtS); nor any of the characters from them. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
Disclaimer: Still don't own. For other info, see chapter one.

Part 4

Sunnydale

"Well, if you do see her, will you *please* tell her to call me? Ok, thanks." Buffy sighed as she hung up the phone, blinking back tears. She turned around, shaking her head at Spike and Xander. "Janice hasn't seen her since school let out. And, from the sound of things, she isn't planning to talk to her for a while. Something about Dawn leaving her at lunch."
The blonde Slayer sighed, looking at the clock. 6:15. "I can't take this anymore. I'm going to go try to find her. She could be in trouble, or--" she trailed off, unable to even *think* about Dawn being dead, much less *say* it. Quickly, she walked through the house, pausing at the door to grab her jacket.
"I'll go with you, luv." Spike said, going to the door. He looked at Xander, waiting for the young man's objections. However, they never came.
"Good idea. You two go look for her. I'll stay here in case she comes home." Xander agreed, sighing. Forcing a light tone, he added, "I'm sure she's fine, Buffy. She probably just went out with some friends and lost track of time."
Buffy nodded absently, placing a few stakes in her pockets. "You're probably right, Xander. And, if that *is* the case, then I'm going to hurt her. Badly." She looked at Spike, the worry evident in her face. "Ok, let's go."
Spike placed his hand on the doorknob, nodding at her. However, before he could turn it, the door opened and Dawn walked in, a bright smile on her face.
The trio froze, each of them staring at her in shock. Humming, Dawn walked past them and headed to the kitchen, oblivious to the stares she was receiving. Finally, Buffy seemed to snap out of it, and rushed after her.
"Dawn Summers, where in the *hell* have you been? It's almost seven at night! School let out four hours ago. *Four* hours! You had better have a *damn* good explanation!" she practically screamed, spinning the girl around to face her.
Dawn blinked; momentarily snapping out of her hormone induced euphoria. "Sorry, Buffy. I lost track of the time. It won't happen again," she answered. Then her gaze went to the people standing behind her sister. "Spike! Xander! Hey! Isn't it a *great* night?"
Spike and Xander exchanged confused glances, both nodding numbly at the girl. However, Buffy wasn't so easily swayed. The fear she had been feeling moments before still fresh in her mind, she crossed her arms over her chest and gave Dawn a look that would have sent Satan himself cowering in a corner.
"You lost track of the *time*?" she growled. "That isn't good enough, Dawn. *Where* were you. Who were you with?"
Dawn sighed, half-tempted to lie and say she'd been with Janice. However, she knew that Buffy had more than likely already talked to *her*, so she decided to tell the truth. "I was in the park with Steven." When she said the young man's name, her eyes lit up and her voice became soft.
Immediately, Spike began growling softly, the thought of some *boy* being alone with his Nibblet enough to make his demon begin screaming for blood. To his surprise, his soul was in full agreement.
Buffy blinked, pointedly ignoring the vampire behind her. "Steven who?" she asked her sister, trying to remember ever meeting the boy. Of course, from the look on the younger Summers face, she doubted she ever had. Dawn looked as if she were on cloud nine, and *that* look only came after she'd first met some cute guy.
Dawn sighed dreamily. "He's *so* great, Buffy! He's tall, with these *gorgeous* brown eyes, and the cutest little smile! And, he's so polite!" Still going on about the wonders of Steven, she grabbed a water out of the refrigerator. Taking a drink, she giggled, facing her sister again. "Oh! And he kisses so--" she suddenly froze, water bottle halfway to her mouth, as she realized what she'd just said. Eyes widening, she drew in a shaky breath, preparing herself for the attack she knew was coming.
The Slayer shook her head, not sure she'd heard correctly. However, when Spike's growls immediately grew into virtual snarls, and even Xander whispered a "Oh boy", she knew.
"You *kissed* him?!" she shrieked. "Dawn, didn't you learn from Halloween the dangers of kissing guys you'd just met, not to mention going off with them without telling anyone?"
The girl rolled her eyes, placing the water on the counter and her hands on her hips. "Yes, I kissed him! I didn't mean to, it just happened! And, we are *so* not having this conversation right now! It's bad enough that I have to talk to *you* about this! I'm not *about* to discuss this in front of Xander and Spike! And, just so you know, he *isn't* a vampire! Hello?! I met him at *school*, right in the sunlight, and we watched the sun set *together* in the park!" Snatching up her water bottle, she stalked towards the stairs, her good mood all but forgotten.
"Do you even *know* his last name, Dawn?" Buffy called after her, regretting the question the moment she'd asked it.
Dawn froze, her foot on the first step. Looking over her shoulder, she practically spat out her answer. "Yes! Holtz. His *name* is *Steven Holtz*! Unlike *you*, Buffy, I *know* the full names of guys I kiss!"
Buffy narrowed her eyes. "What is *that* supposed to mean?" she asked quietly, pretty sure she already knew.
The girl smiled almost evilly, shrugging slightly. "Not much. Just, you didn't know Angel's full *first* name when you kissed *him*, much less his *last* name, which I'm guessing he doesn't have, but that's beside the point. *You're* the Slayer and you didn't even know he was a vampire! In fact, you didn't know very much at *all* about him, did you?" Then, she turned and ran up the stairs, slamming her bedroom door shut behind her.
The Slayer watched her go, tears filling her green eyes. She faintly heard Xander inhale a sharp breath, and felt Spike's arms go around her after a second. Slowly, she turned to the vampire, peering up into his face.
"I'm sure she didn't mean it, luv. Bit was just embarrassed, is all. She'll be apologizing before you know it," he said gently, his thumb moving to her face and wiping away the tears she wasn't aware she'd even let fall.
"Junior's right, Buffy. Dawn was just being Defensive Girl." Xander offered. "Just give her some time then talk to her." He didn't mention how he felt the same way, that Buffy *had* been being pretty hypocritical. Shaking his head, he allowed a small smile to cross his face as he took in the scene before him. Spike was holding his best friend closely, drying her tears and whispering soothing words of comfort.
Buffy shook her head, slowly stepping out of Spike's embrace. "No, she's right. I shouldn't have said those things to her. As much as I hate it, 's p's practically grown up now. She's going to start dating, and staying out later, and everything else that normal teenage girls do." She frowned slightly, looking at both men. "I don't suppose either of you *know* what I normal girl does, do you?"
Xander laughed softly, shaking his head. "Sorry. And, I think I'm going to let you be the one to figure it out. I'm heading home. Bye!" He headed for the door, stopping when he got to it. Turning to face them, a goofy smile on his face, he said, "I *do* know one thing, though. When she starts going around saying things like Dawn Holtz, or doodling Mrs. Steven Holtz on paper, all bets are off."
Buffy groaned softly, smiling at her friend. "Thanks, Xan. See you tomorrow." Once he was gone, she turned to Spike, frowning when she saw how tense he suddenly was. Rolling her eyes, she walked up to him, touching him on the arm.
"Relax, Spike. She's not going to be getting married for a *long* time," she teased lightly. "She still has to finish high school, plus there's college, and hopefully more college. We have at *least* another ten years before we have to deal with Mrs. Dawn *anything*."
However, Spike wasn't really listening. He blinked when he heard Buffy say his name, noticing the concerned look on her face. "What was that, pet?" he asked.
The Slayer stared at him, worry filling her face. "I asked what was wrong. You suddenly went all 'grr' and started mumbling something about feared killers and no possible way," she said.
Spike blinked. He hadn't even realized that his face had changed. Focusing, he forced his human mask back, smiling. "It's nothing, Buffy. Just used to know a Holtz, is all. Thought maybe there was a relation. It's nothing to worry about." However, he couldn't seem to shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right with the whole situation. "So, I think I'm going to head out, take care of some things. Why don't you go upstairs and talk to your sis, mend fences and all that rot. See you later for patrol."
Buffy nodded, watching as he left without so much as a good-bye. As she took a deep breath and headed upstairs for a heart-to-heart with Dawn, she made a mental note to ask Giles about this Holtz guy the next time she spoke to him. 
******
LA
Angelus struggled against his restraints once more, growling deep in his chest in sheer frustration when they refused to budge. Although he was loathe to admit it, he wasn't doing much better than that pathetic soul.
The demon growled louder, wishing there were some way that he could separate himself from his counterpart and stake him. He shot back, unable to resist a smirk, as the soul grew silent.
Suddenly, the tomb that encased them began rocking violently, threatening to tip on its side. Angelus' eyes widened and he vamped out, trying to see through the darkness of the water.
He practically cackled with glee as he watched the enormous shrimp net scoop beneath him, lifting the cage up. Moments later, he felt himself being pulled towards the surface, the strain on his body becoming almost painful as the water pressure beat on him. However, Angelus wasn't all too concerned with that. He was far too ecstatic with the fact that he was nearly free. In addition, he felt none of the discomfort normally associated with the daytime hours.
After nearly ten minutes, the net finally broke the surface, bringing with it hundreds of fish, shrimp, plant life, and one emaciated vampire in a box. The instant that his head was above water, Angelus took a deep breath. Logically, he knew that it was unnecessary. However, it felt wonderful just to be able to *do* it.
A few minutes later, the net was raised completely from the water and deposited on the deck of the boat, a white haired man walking towards it to take inventory of his latest catch. However, he was totally unprepared for what he saw.
"What in the hell?" the man muttered, warily making his way to the large crate-looking object that had come from the depths of the ocean.
Angelus twisted his head, trying to see who was coming. However, it was useless. Opening his mouth, he tried to speak, only to wince at the pain in his throat.
So, bracing himself for the burning sensation he was certain to feel at his too long dormant muscles, he managed to croak out, "Help me."
Brad Johnson had seen many strange things in his twenty-five year career as a fisherman. He had survived two shark attacks, three hurricanes, and God only knew how many thunderstorms, none of which truly had phased him. However, what he saw now had him literally shaking in his boots.
Once he was standing in front of the box, that was all he could think. However, as his mind began to fully comprehend what he was seeing, he knew that it was no joke. There was a man, trapped in a crate, who looked as if he were starved half to death. Finally, as the second plea for help reached him, he shook his head, snapping himself into action.
"Just a second, mister. Let me get something to get you outta' there," he said, dashing across his deck. A few seconds later, he returned, carrying a toolbox, ax, and crowbar. Unable to bring himself to look in the guy's eyes, he set about opening the welded metal, the entire time attempting to make small talk.
"How did this happen? How long have you been down there?" he questioned, prying the top lid open.
Angelus rolled his eyes, resisting the urge to berate the moron who was, to his chagrin, about to become his savior. "What's the date?" the vampire asked, his internal clock having long since stopped working. Finally, the human looked up at him, his face a picture of pure shock.
"It's the tenth of September," Brad answered slowly, unable to believe what was being implied. However, he never got the chance to get his question answered. Smiling brightly, he finally managed to pry the final restraint away.
Angelus watched as the man offered him a hand. Without hesitation, he took it, pulling himself to his feet. He forced his human mask to remain in place as the sound of pumping blood reached his ears. "Thanks, buddy. I appreciate it," he laughed, shaking his head. "I tell you, kids today have no respect, huh? I mean, take my son for example. He comes back after being away from me for most of his life, tries to kill my friends, calls me a monster, and traps my in that *thing* to spend the rest of eternity in a watery grave. Now, how is that for thanks for giving him life? But, I'm not too worried about it. As soon as I'm rested up, I intend on finding him and showing him *exactly* what it means to torture someone." That being said, Angelus raised his hands above his head and stretched, a large grin breaking over his handsome features. "Can I just say how *good* it is to be back?"
Brad nodded; taking a step away from the man he was now convinced was certifiably insane. "T-That's nice. Say, can I get you something, Mr.--you never told me your name," he stammered, idly wondering how hard he would have to strike the guy over the head to knock him unconscious.
The Scourge of Europe turned to him, his trademark smirk on his face. "The name's Angelus. No Mr. Just Angelus." Then, moving faster than could be seen with human eyes, he grabbed the man before him, and sank his fangs into his neck. Once he had drained his savior of every drop of blood, he allowed the corpse to fall to the floor. "And, thanks, but I think I'm already feeling much better." Laughing, he began looking around the boat, trying to find the control room, and ignoring the cries of pain and anguish coming from his trapped soul.
"Hey! I said I wouldn't torture the fish. I never said *anything* about the fishermen! Now, stop your bitching already. We're free, aren't we? Now all we have to do is get to shore. Then, the *real* fun can begin."
******
Sunnydale
Justine was worried. In fact, the young woman could never remember being as concerned as she was at this moment. Glancing at the clock on the wall, she sighed deeply, running her fingers through her hair.
She shook her head, knowing damn well there was nothing she could do to punish him for disobeying her.
However, that knowledge did little to appease her frazzled nerves. Sighing, the vampire hunter had finally had enough. She grabbed her jacket, yanking it on as she stalked through their small apartment. She was still amazed at how cheap she had gotten the place, and with virtually no credit, either.
Making sure she had enough stakes and other vampire-fighting accessories, she opened the door, stopping suddenly when she saw Connor standing on the other side, his key in his hand.
"You're going out?" he questioned, calmly walking past her. She sighed, closing the door and turning to face him.
"I was going to find *you*!" she exclaimed, slipping back out of her leather coat. "I thought you were coming home after school. When you didn't show, I decided to go looking." For some reason, she couldn't bring herself to admit that she was worried about him.
Connor shrugged, placing his books on the table. "I was *going* to come here. Something came up," he said simply, walking into the kitchen.
Justine followed him, waiting until he'd gotten himself a glass of water and had taken a drink before continuing their conversation. "What was it?" she asked, sitting at the kitchen table.
The young man stared at her, trying to decide what, if anything, he should tell her. Finally, he just opted to go with the truth. So, he slowly sat across from the woman who had cared for his father almost as much as he had, looked her in the eye, and stated, "I met someone. A girl. Her name is Dawn. We went to the park when school let out and talked."
To say that she was shocked would be a severe understatement. "A girl?" she exclaimed, unable to keep the shock and anger from her voice. "You were *talking* in the park with a *girl* while I was sitting her, go crazy from worry? Steven Holtz, what is the *matter* with you?"
Connor blinked, frowning. "Wrong with me?" he repeated, confused. "You told me I should meet people my own age, that I deserved to have a 'normal' life. That's what I was doing!"
Justine opened her mouth, ready to verbally tear this boy in front of her to shreds. However, as his words hit her, she sighed, realizing he was right. Slowly, she stood, deciding to gather her thoughts while she re-heated their dinner.
"I made some soup. I'll get you some," she said quietly, turning on the stove. Glancing over her shoulder, she smiled sadly at the scene before her. He was sitting at the table, staring at his hands, which were clasped tightly together in his lap, and looking for the world like he was about to be attacked for his mistake.
"Steven, please look at me," she whispered. Once he'd raised his head, she walked to him, kneeling in front of him. Hesitantly, she placed her hand on his thigh, locking eyes with him. "I don't know how to do this," she admitted. "I've never really been responsible for anyone before, besides myself, that is. I'm not used to worrying for people and I'm certainly not accustomed to the responsibility that comes with being a parent. So, I'm going to make mistakes. What just happened, me reacting as I did, was one of them. I was so worried when you didn't come home, that I forgot that this is all new to you. All that matters right now is that you learn all of the positive things that this world has to offer. And, what you did today, talking and hanging around someone your own age, is a good place to start," she laughed softly, standing back up. "Just next time, call me, ok?"
Connor nodded, smiling. "I will." He watched as she went back to the stove, pouring some of the soup into bowls. As she handed him one, he softly said, "Thank you." Realizing she thought he was talking about the soup, he added, "For bringing me here. I think I'm going to like it."
They ate in silence; each lost in their own thoughts. Once they were done, and the dishes were washed and put away, Justine headed to the door, pulling on her jacket. "I'm going out for a little while. See what this town has to offer. You going to be ok for a while?" To her own amazement, she was more than willing to stay in if he wanted her to. In fact, part of her wished that he would at least *ask* for her assistance once and awhile.
As if reading her mind, Connor nodded, then hesitantly asked, "Before you go, will you help me with something?"
The woman grinned, her eyes lighting up. "Sure! What do you need?" she questioned.
Taking a deep breath, he motioned towards the telephone hanging on the wall. "I wish to learn to use *that*." Blushing slightly, he softly added, "And how to speak like a normal teenager would."
Justine raised an eyebrow, unable to resist picking on him, if only a little. "This is about that Dawn girl, isn't it?" she wondered, laughing softly when he blushed even more and averted his eyes. "I knew it. Alright, let's see how *normal* we can get you to act." As she walked back to him, she couldn't help but shake her head at how quickly he had changed his mind about which direction his life should go. 
******
Dawn stared at her phone, willing it to ring. When it didn't, she groaned softly, tossing her pen down on her math book.
"How am I supposed to concentrate on equations when my stomach's in knots?" she moaned softly, dropping her head into her hands. Taking a deep breath, she raised her head once more, determination filling her blue eyes. "Get it together, Summers. You're acting like you've never talked to a guy before!" she scolded herself.
"Well, I'm thinking that you've probably never talked to a guy with *great* brown eyes who can kiss really well before," a voice said from her doorway.
Dawn rolled her eyes, turning her head to stare at her sister. Although they had already made up from their previous fight, she was still upset with her. "Jeez, knock much?" she asked curtly, turning back to her book.
Buffy sighed, walking into the room. "Sorry. It was open, which is different. But, in a good way!" she replied, perching on the edge of the bed.
The brunette sighed loudly, scribbling down the answer to another Algebra problem. Not looking up, she muttered, "*Sure* you can come in! Thanks for asking!"
The Slayer bit her tongue, resisting the urge to get into yet another argument. "Sorry, again. Didn't know I needed an invite." She paused for a moment, waiting to see if Dawn was at least *willing* to talk to her. When it became abundantly clear that she wasn't going to even acknowledge her presence, the blonde decided to explain her reason for visiting in the first place.
"So, I'm going to patrol. And, I know that you have homework to finish, and that I'm *probably* going to get the worst guardian of the year award for this, but, want to come with? Help stake a few vamps, keep Sunnydale safe for the blissfully ignorant for another night?"
Dawn gasped, her head snapping up to stare at her sister. "Really?" she squealed. "You *want* me to go *patrol* with you?"
Buffy nodded, smiling herself. 
"Oh my God, this is *so* cool!" the teenager exclaimed, dropping her book on the floor as she jumped to her feet. Ignoring the mess that she'd made, she began scrambling to find her shoes, a grin plastered on her face. "Thank you, Buffy! I *swear* I'll stick right beside you, and I'll do *whatever* you say!"
Buffy laughed, caught up in her sister's enthusiasm. "Ok. Well, Spike is going to be there, too. So, that makes keeping up with *one* of us easier." A frown crossed her face when Dawn suddenly froze, shaking her head.
"I can't go. Sorry. Maybe another night," the girl said softly, slowly sitting back down. 
"Do what now? I'm sorry, I must have just been sucked into bizarro world there for a second. Did you just say *no*?" Buffy asked incredulously. Seeing her nod, the older woman quickly added, "Look, if it's because of Spike, I'm *sure* that he would be more than happy..."
Dawn cut her off, rolling her eyes. "You think I’m not going because of *Spike*? Buffy, I'm *not* Xander, ok? I *like* Spike."
"Then why aren't you going?"
The former Key sighed, a dreamy smile filling her face. "Because Steven is supposed to call. I *have* to be here when he does."
Before Buffy could comment on *that*, the phone rang. She watched as Dawn's eyes lit up and sighed, remembering when she used to get that excited over talking to someone.
 Standing, she waved to her sister, who was in the process of answering the phone.
"Hello? Hi Steven! No, you aren't bothering me! I was just doing my homework. Um, could you hold on a second?" Dawn lowered the phone, waving at her sister. "Bye. Be careful, ok?" Once Buffy was gone, she put the receiver back to her ear, twirling the cord around her finger. "Ok, back. Sorry, my sister was going out and I needed to tell her bye." She giggled as the young man on the other end said something. "Yeah, she pretty much wigged. But, it's all good now." Lying back on her bed, she asked, "So, how'd your mom take the whole you coming home way late?"
Across town, Connor waved good-bye to Justine, smiling into the phone. "Um, she handled it alright, actually." He took a breath, trying to collect his thoughts. Finally, he just jumped right into the question he wanted to ask. "Dawn, do you want to go to the movies this weekend? Or, maybe get some food? Or, we could do both? Or, whatever you want?"
Part 5
LA
"You sure you want to do this?"
Fred glanced at her boyfriend, a sad smile on her face. "Yeah. This place just isn't the same without Angel, or Cordelia, or..." Seeing the sharp look he gave her at the thought of mentioning Wesley's name, she quickly covered. "Or Connor. It's so quiet. And, I don't like the quiet. Not like I used to," she said softly, her slight Texan accent deeper due to the emotion in her voice.
Charles Gunn nodded, picking up her suitcase. "I know what you mean, girl. Since everyone's gone missing there's not much point in keeping the doors open," he replied, moving across the lobby.
"I just wish we knew what happened to them," the tiny physicist stated, following him. Once they'd reached the front door, she paused, turning to glance at the hotel that she had just begun to call home. Normally filled with sounds of laughter and conversations among friends, the Hyperion Hotel was now silent, and had been ever since Angel, Cordelia, and Connor had disappeared a few weeks before. Taking a deep breath, she faced Gunn again, tears filing her brown eyes. "I know that we did all we could, which wasn't much, but I still feel like we're letting them all down. *They* would never have given up on *us*."
The streetwise black man exhaled slowly, trying to steady his voice before speaking. "We ain't abandoning them, Fred. We're going to get help. With Wolfram and Heart knowing that Angel is MIA, we need as much backup as we can get," he reminded her.
"But, why don't we just *call* for help? Wouldn't it make more sense? That way we can stay here and keep..."
Gunn cut her off, the stress of the last few weeks getting the better of him. "Keep *what*? Keep running around in circles, checking the same places over and over?" he snapped, regretting the words as soon as he'd said them. Seeing her visibly pale and draw back from him, he sighed, frowning. "Sorry. I know that it seems like we're running. But, we aren't. We're just regrouping. We *will* be back. Now, let's go, ok? We've got a couple hour drive ahead of us."
Nodding, Fred cast one last look around, then wordlessly followed him outside, turning off the lights and locking the doors behind them. A few moments later, his truck revved to life and the two remaining members of the AI crew drove away, leaving behind only memories of a better time and a dark, silent hotel.
Two hours later, that is exactly how Angelus found his home: dark, desolate, and deafeningly quiet. As he stalked up the walkway to the front door, he instantly knew that no one was there. Realizing he didn't have his key, that it was probably at the bottom of the Pacific, he merely kicked the door open and marched inside.
"Well, well, well. Looks like the rats abandoned ship," he exclaimed, only slightly disappointed that he wasn't going to get the chance to play with the do-gooders that his soul had begun to consider family. "What a shame. Playing with family is *always* fun."
As he felt the soul begin to rattle the cage it was encased in, he rolled his eyes, heading up the winding stairs to his bedroom. "Relax, Soulboy. I told you I wouldn't hurt them, and I won't. I just wanted to have a little fun. And, before you go into one of your patented 'It's wrong' speeches, just remember: I know what you think, what you feel. There are times you've wanted to make them all squirm as well." As an afterthought, he smirked, adding, "Funny. You weren't complaining too much when I fed *five* times on the way back here. Love how you're so choosy with which of these pathetic humans I can kill, and which one's I can't." Granted, the guys he'd killed had been attempting to rape a teenage girl, but he didn't feel the need to remind his counterpart of that little fact.
Satisfied that the soul would leave him be as it gnawed on *that* bit of information, Angelus set about getting himself cleaned up.
Nearly an hour later, he came back downstairs, his mood considerably lifted. Humming softly, he walked into his office, deciding to see what, if anything, had happened while he was on hiatus.
"Let's see," he exclaimed, rifling through the papers that were cluttering the desk. "Nest of vamps on Sixth Street," he laughed, crumpling up that note and tossing it over his shoulder. "Not going to be doing too much about that, what with the me not caring." Suddenly, he froze, his eyes landing on a document that had fallen on the floor.
Bending , he, he picked it up, quickly skimming through its contents. Slowly, a frown formed on his face, confusion filling him. "A missing person's report? Why would Gunn tell the police about Soulboy? Even *he* isn't *that* idiotic," he muttered. Then, he read *who* the missing person was and a growl erupted from deep within his chest. "Cordelia? Cordelia's missing?" he roared, his true demon face coming to the surface. Immediately, he thought of Connor, remembered the boy's hatred of all things demon. "I'll kill him! If he hurt *one* hair on her head, I'll rip him limb from limb!"
To his utter amazement, he found that his soul was in complete agreement. Flashes of the Miracle Child, covered in blood and begging for mercy, swept through him. However, as quickly as those thoughts occurred to him, images of his beloved Seer facing the same fate came to mind. Snarling, he crumpled to piece of paper, throwing it across the room. Then, lost in the rage that he was feeling, the vampire proceeded to destroy everything in site.
"Yeah, break stuff. *That's* going to help," a voice said from the doorway.
Quickly, Angelus spun around, prepared to kill whoever had dared to interrupt his tirade. However, when he saw who it was, he froze, his jaw dropping open.
Cordelia stood before him, her hands on her hips and her eyebrow raised. Slowly, a smile filled her face, and she laughed, her voice sounding melodic as she spoke. "What's the matter, Angelus? You're acting like you've seen a ghost!" she teased.
He blinked, taking a step towards her, not entirely certain he could believe his eyes.
The ascended Seer shook her head, chuckling. "Sorry, but, it's me. In the flesh." After a moment, she added, "Well, more or less."
Angelus gasped, his eyes widening. "Since when can you read thoughts?" Then, what she'd said hit him. "You called me Angelus," he practically accused, still eyeing her warily.
Cordelia rolled her eyes, taking a step towards him. To her amusement, he quickly backed away from her. "Oh, please. You're a Master Vampire! The Scourge of Europe! Since when does *anything* scare you?" Seeing that he wasn't going to answer her, she sighed. "Ok. Here's the deal. That night that I was supposed to meet Angel, I got a little visit from Skip. Turns out that those powers I was experiencing were all a test by the PTB's. They gave me all this *stuff*, and, when I wasn’t corrupted by it, they decided that I was supposed to ascend to a higher level." Her face softened, and her voice lost some of its usual crassness. "Connor didn't have anything to do with my disappearance. He's as much of a victim as everyone else is."
Angelus laughed harshly. "Really? Gee, that's funny. He doesn't *feel* like much of a victim. *He* wasn't the one trapped in a coffin at the bottom of the ocean!" he growled.
The former cheerleader sighed. "No," she said slowly, "*He* was raised to hate *Angel* because of what *you* did. *He* was lied to by Justine about Holtz's death. *He* is just a scared little boy who doesn't know how to do *anything* besides be angry and hurt things!" By the time she had finished, her voice was raised and her cheeks were flushed. Taking a deep, calming breath, she collected herself. "Look. I know that you aren't one for the whole touchy-feely scene. But, I *also* know that even *you* care for your son. So, for once in your life, or unlife, or whatever, do the right thing!"
The vampire crossed his arms over his chest, eyeing the woman before him. "And just *what* would the right thing be?" he asked, partially amused and partially insulted that Cordelia Chase, of all people, was lecturing *him*, the most feared vampire in history.
Cordelia raised an eyebrow, her hazel eyes flashing. "Oh, would you get over yourself for *two* seconds?!" she snapped. "I've spent the last few weeks, which, by the way, felt like a *hell* of a lot longer where *I* was, watching everything that was going on down here and being unable to do a *damn* thing to help. Now, I *finally* convinced the PTBs to let me at least *guide* you, and all you can do is some mopey inner monologue about the unfairness of the world. Well, guess what, Angelus. This isn't about you! The *only* reason you're still in charge is that you're going to be needed later. If that weren't the case, I would have put your soul back in command the *instant* I got here!"
Growling loudly, Angelus marched to her. He reached for her, fully intending on picking her up by her throat and shaking some sense into her. However, he never touched her. Instead, his hand went through the area where she *should* be, and a warm sensation crept up his arm. Yelping slightly, he quickly backed away, staring at her with wide eyes.
"What in the *hell* is going on?" he finally asked, shaking his arm to try to rid himself of the strange sensation.
Cordelia laughed, shaking her head. "I already told you. I'm just here to *guide* you. I'm not really here. My body disappeared upon my ascension, so, I had nothing to come back here in."
Angelus' face was a mask of confusion. "Then, *how* are you here. And, more importantly, how are you supposed to help?"
"Ahh! * Now you're asking the right questions!" she smiled. "Ok. I'm here kinda like a ghost. Phantom Cordelia, if you will. And, as to how I'm going to help? Pack your bags. We're going to take a little trip."
"Trip? Where are we going?" he wondered, not moving from his position.
She rolled her eyes again, sighing. "If you *must* know, we're going to the one place where *everything* is going to come together." Seeing his blank look, she sighed once more. "We're going to Sunnydale, ok? Now hurry up. We don't have a lot of time and we need to make a few stops on the way."
******
Sunnydale
"Bloody hell!"
Spike growled at the demon standing before him, a scowl on his face. Pure rage washed over him, his blue eyes flashing to yellow and back again as he glanced at his beloved leather duster, his hand going through the tear in the side of it that the Roterth before him had caused. He winced at the searing pain from the gash below his ribcage, knowing just from smell alone that he was bleeding profusely. However, he didn't care.
The demon laughed, slime spurting from his lips. "Looks like I win, vampire," he slurred, temporarily forgetting the fact that all seven of his comrades were scattered around him in pieces, courtesy of the bleached blonde warrior before him.
Spike rolled his eyes, blocking out the pain he was in and allowing the smell of his own blood to send a surge of adrenaline through him. "That so, mate?" he asked, getting into a defensive position, legs slightly spread, arms in front of his torso. Tilting his head to one side, he stated, "Well then, if you think you stand a better chance than your pals did, by all means, be my guest."
The demon stared at him for a moment, weighing his options. If he left now, he still stood a chance of getting back to his lair and continuing with the plan his clan had decided upon. Or, he could stay and fight, and very likely die a painful, pointless death.
The newly souled vampire sighed, standing up straight, dropping his arms to his side. "So, are you going to actually fight, or just stand there and stare me to dust?" he snapped. Blinking, he watched as the demon suddenly turned and began darting around the tombstones, fleeing as fast as it's slime-covered legs would allow.
"Right then. Guess that would be a no," Spike muttered, slowly picking up the ax that he'd dropped just moments before. Raising it over his arm, he aimed and let it fly. The weapon sliced through the air, turning end over end, before finally hitting its target.
With a strangled cry, the one remaining member of the Roterth clan fell to the ground dead, the ax that was embedded within his back gleaming in the moonlight.
The former Key sighed, rolling her eyes. "Steven, it's ok," she said softly, squeezing his hand for emphasis. "Just be yourself, everything will be fine." Sighing, she turned towards her house, then looked back at him. "I need to get in there. I'm *sure* I'll have some horrible chores to do, or something, before I can get ready." As quickly as her smile had faded it returned and she barely resisted the urge to jump up and down. "I'll see you later tonight, though!"
He grinned, pulling her to him and kissing her lightly on the lips. "Of course. *Nothing* could keep me away." Releasing her, he took a step back. "Now go. I, too, have things to do before tonight."
Dawn pouted slightly, every fiber of her being screaming to be close to him again. But, she knew he was right. If she *didn't* get inside, then she might not be allowed out for later, and *that* wasn't an option. "Ok. See you later. Bye!" She waved at him, then turned and quickly walked to the front door.
At promptly seven forty-five, a knock sounded at the Summers door. Dawn glanced at the clock on her nightstand, horror filling her face. "He's early! I'm not ready!" Panicked, she looked at her sister. "What am I going to do? My make-up's not on, my hair isn't finished!"
Buffy smiled, heading to the hallway. "Relax, Dawn. Finish getting ready. I'll show Steven in." She laughed, shaking her head. "Don't you pay attention to the movies?" she teased. "The female is *never* ready on time! She always comes down the stairs once the guy is in the house. It's called making an entrance." Her voice trailed off as she made her way down the stairs.
Still grinning from ear to ear as she heard Dawn breath a sigh of relief, the Slayer opened the front door. "Hey! I'm Buffy, Dawn's sister. You must be..." her voice trailed off and her smile faded as she stared at the person on the other side of the door. Dumbly, she whispered, "You aren't Dawn's date."
Angelus smirked at Buffy, shaking his head. "Sorry, lover. Can't say I am. Although, I bet she's getting to be a pretty good looker by now, huh?"
Buffy gasped, tears filling her eyes. "Angel..." she whimpered, taking a step back. "You're soul...how...?"
"Actually, the soul's still here, Buff. It's just letting me take the driver's seat for a while," he answered. Still staring at the young woman that had sent him to Hell years before, he asked, "Isn't that, right, Delia?"
Suddenly, Cordelia came into Buffy's view. The Slayer gasped, her eyes widening. There was such a feeling of purity coming from the former May Queen. Instantly, she thought about the time that she'd spent in Heaven. "Cordelia?" she questioned.
Cordelia nodded, smiling. "It's true, Buffy. And, he isn't here to hurt anyone, either. Actually, he's here because he needs your help."
Buffy shook her head, unaware of Dawn, who was coming down the stairs behind her. Then, she heard her sister speak.
Fred, unable to see anyone in pain, quickly rushed to the Slayer's side, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "Hey. I-It's ok. Whatever it is, I'm sure we can help you fix it," she offered, giving her a small smile.
The blonde shook her head, forcing back her tears. "No, you can't. There's nothing to fix," sighing, she looked the girl in the eye.
"Look, if this is a bad time, we could come back," Gunn offered. "It's just," he sighed, looking to his girlfriend for help. However, she was busy trying to fight tears herself. So, taking a deep breath, he plowed ahead. "Angel went missing a couple of weeks ago. So did Cordelia, and Connor. We've looked everywhere for them, and haven't had any luck. We were wondering if maybe you had some contacts, or something. Anything to help find them."
"Let's go sit down, and I'll tell you what happened," Buffy said softly, making her way to the front porch. She paused at the bottom of the stairs, staring at the spot where Angel had been staked. Clearing her throat, she eased herself onto a step, looking at them. "Is it true? Is Connor Angel's son?" she asked, already knowing the answer. As clouded as her judgement had been when she had met the young man, she had still been able to sense something from him. Something familiar.
They nodded, eyes widening in surprise. "Y-You've seen him?" Fred questioned hesitantly, afraid of getting her hopes up, only to have them crushed again.
The Slayer laughed harshly, wrapping her arms around herself. "Yeah, you could say that. Or, you could say that we fought. He won." Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to look at them. "Um, I *really* don't know how to tell you this. I can hardly believe it myself. So, I'm just going to say it. Angel is dead. Connor staked him."
******
Dawn had followed Connor halfway across town before the silence became too much for her. Glancing sideways at him, she softly asked, "Where are we going?"
Staring straight ahead, not even bothering to *look* at her, he replied, "My house."
"But, won't your mom freak?" she questioned.
This time, he didn't even answer her, just shook his head. Growing irritated, she suddenly stopped walking, crossed her arms over her chest, and waited for him to notice that she was no longer beside him.
To his credit, Connor paused almost immediately. He turned around, leveling her with a curious gaze. "We must keep going, Dawn," he said calmly. "It isn't safe out here at night."
Dawn rolled her eyes, sighing. "Ok, can we say 'duh'?" she snapped. "I mean, hello?! Sister of the Slayer here! I've been around vampires and stuff most of my life! And, just so you know, I'm *not* going *anywhere* until you tell me what's going on." She pointedly ignored the small ache in her chest as the memory of Angel turning to dust came to her.
Connor stared at her, not understanding the question. "We are going to my house. We will stay there tonight and leave in the morning. What part of that aren't you understanding?" he asked.
The former Key glared at him, raising an eyebrow. "What part don't I understand? Well, let's see. How about the part where you *lied* to me about your father?
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