Memories Of A Lost Paradise

By DM Evans

Chapter Four

Buffy hesitantly went into Angel's suite. She hadn't seen him all day and she was getting worried. Yes, it was day light but that didn't mean much. Angel could come out in his light-proof house and he wasn't much of a sleeper. All she could think was his sudden turn around had been a convincing fake. She tried to put her paranoia out of mind and get some much needed relaxation.

Wes, Willow and Cordy had taken Sorcha to the beach, giving her a chance to unwind. Spike had corralled Connor, taking him to Lorne's new demon Kareoke bar that was necro-glassed as well. She left strict instructions with Spike not to give Connor any alcohol because it didn't go with his medicine. Buffy took advantage of her aloneness to take a two hour bath in Wes' claw-footed tub that could easily fit two people. She took one of Willow's books with her, reasoning it would be more interesting than anything on Wes' bookshelf. Who knew Willow was into British detectives? She made it a good way into Abbot's Touching Evil before she could no longer justify floating around in a warm, watery paradise.

Her leisurely bath over, her toes like raisins and her skin smelling or rose oil, she went looking for company but the house was still empty. Worry set in. What if Angel had reneged on his promise and took off on them? She had to find him just to put her mind at rest.

His austere living room was dark and empty, making fear kick up her heart rate. She padded softly into his bedroom and sighed. He was curled up on his side, hand press to his mouth like he might have been sucking his thumb in his sleep. It wouldn't surprise her. Vampires were all about the sucking.

She studied his muscled body in the dark. His large form had it all over Spike's wiry one and Buffy tromped on those comparison thoughts before they got off to a roller coaster of estrogen highs. She couldn't see Angel's strange tattoo at this angle and was suddenly overcome by the desire to join him in that bed and just study the blue ink chastely, reverently. That kiss over Caleb's fallen body nearly four years ago had proved one thing, she still had a torch for Angel; screw torches, it was a freaking bonfire.

That's what had scared her so much. Buffy knew she could get lost in Angel and never find herself again. She couldn't allow that to happen. She turned to go and heard him moving on the bed.

"Buffy?" His voice was dazed and thick with sleep.

"Sorry, Angel. I didn't mean to wake you. It's nearly four in the afternoon and I hadn't seen you."

"So you came to make sure I didn't take off," he said without rancor.

Her lips twisted into a wry smile. "Yeah."

"I promised I'd stay." He brushed at his hair, still sleepy. "You gave me the kick in the ass I needed last night."

"No kicking today," she promised and an image of what she'd like to do to that ass blipped into her mind. Given most of the ass she had seen in the last few years consisted mostly of Connor's skinny one, Giles' old one and Xander's slowly widening one - all thankfully clothed views, with a few exceptions made for Connor - she figured she was currently butt-obsessed because she was plain, old-fashioned horny. It had been three years since the last time she had sex. He had been a young Watcher in Italy, his Latin words of lust slipping into her ears, making the romantic setting that much more enticing.

Since then it was slaying by night, official Watcher-type stuff and training new Slayers in the day. The rest of her time was crowded with diapers, baby bottles, colic, fights over nap and bath time and then there was the distance-learning degree she was working on just because Joyce had been so proud of her being in college that she wanted to earn that degree to honor her mom's memory. She was spread too thin. There just wasn't time for a boyfriend or even meaningless sex.

"I can't believe it's that late." Angel flopped onto his back. "It was like I hadn't sleep in years."

"You probably haven't, at least not well," Buffy said, sympathetically. "Trust me, I know. You probably needed it. I shouldn't have woken you up."

"It's fine. You're only here for a few days and I'm sleeping it away." He scrubbed his face with a big hand, trying to wake up.

"You didn't miss much, just me taking a long, long bath," she said and he smirked. "Okay, so maybe you would have liked to see that." Her cheeks pinked up.

The smirk grew. "I wouldn't have said no."

"Men." She grinned, flattered.

He tilted his head back into the pillow, drinking in the air. "Nice bath oils, rose and a hint of sandalwood."

"I guess this time it's okay to be sniffing me." She tried to wipe the grin off her face. "Sorcha is at the beach which meant you couldn't go anyhow. Spike took Connor to Lorne's club."

Angel sat up straight. "You let my son go somewhere with Spike?"

"I promised to break Spike if Connor didn't come back whole."

"You do know Connor's of the mind the only good vampire is a dusted one," Angel said, bunching the sheet around his waist as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed.

"He won't hurt, Spike. Sorcha likes him too much," Buffy said, heading for the door. "I'll let you do what you have to." She gestured at the bathroom with a hint of a blush on her cheeks. "I'll be in the living room."

Buffy didn't go to the living room. Instead she went into the tiny kitchen and took out some pig's blood. She microwaved it in a mug for him. It was ready when he joined her, fully dressed. "I thought you might be hungry but I wasn't sure if you wanted a straw or not. I don't see any."

"No straw." He took the mug from her. "Thanks, Buffy."

"Everyone should be back soon." Buffy sat on the broken down couch.

He didn't join her, keeping his back to her, shyly drinking. "Angel, I don't mind if you eat in front of me. You eat in front of the rest of your friends."

He looked over his shoulder at her. "I always feel self-conscious."

"Come, sit. I don't care." She patted a wide, orange flower in the hideous couch pattern.

"You probably saw Spike eat. He's not shy about it." Angel grumped, sitting down.

"He can be down right gross about it, when he has a mind to be." She wrinkled her nose.

"You don't have to tell me. I've had to put up with Spike since the 1800's, Buffy. The nicest part of being off on my own for most of the twentieth century, it was Spike-Free." Angel grinned broadly.

She elbowed him lightly. "Spike's not so bad."

Angel gave her the hairy eyeball. "Last month, he put that hot pepper arthritis stuff in my hair gel. Luckily I could smell it but not until after I got it on my hands."

Buffy pursed her lips. "Do I want to know why?"

"I'd be lying if I said I knew." Angel shrugged. "Probably his idea of a joke. He always did love pulling the tiger's tail." He took a long drink. "Is Sorcha liking it here?"

"She's having fun. She's still a little sleepy with all the time changes and I think we lost a day." Buffy's brow creased. "Or did we gain one? Anyhow, she's been playing with all her new toys. She loves the doodling thing you got her."

"Good." Angel sighed in relief then a hint of panic touched his eyes as he struggled to find a safe topic. Buffy could see he was walking on eggshells with her. "And now Sorcha's at the beach you said."

Buffy relaxed, knowing they were both feeling the same tension and was glad to remain in calm waters. "Yep. She likes the beach. She likes going on nature walks more. Connor's into it, surprisingly enough, which usually leaves him with Giles who I guess used to hike and kayak and all that jazz which I just can't see it but... Giles is sort of a slow hiker with his busted up leg but so's Sorcha so it works out."

Angel took another sip of blood. "Connor probably feels at home out there. It's doubtful Quor-Toth had cities. Maybe you or Faith should go out with Connor someday, get in a good hike."

"Do I look like a country girl?" Buffy rolled her eyes.

Angel eyed her. "There's got to be one Slayer who likes to hike."

"I'll check into it." Buffy sighed. "I suppose one hike with him won't kill me."

Angel set the mug aside. "Thanks, Buffy for all you've done for Connor. I can't pay you back for you being there to help him."

"You don't have to pay me back, Angel. Your son needed help. He is family now." She brushed her hair out of her eyes. It had gotten long. She had grown it Dawn-length without even realizing it. Even in a pony tail it was becoming a liability on patrol. She'd have to get it cut. "Not sure I was ready for a brother, mind you, but he's not so bad." She smiled softly.

"I should have..." Angel trailed off.

Buffy scooted closer to him on the couch, resting a hand on his knee. "Maybe but you didn't and now you have to let that go because you can't change it."

"Easier said than done but I'm trying." His face was mobile with the effort needed to hold his emotions in.

Buffy leaned in to kiss him but Angel slipped a hand up, stopping her. She gave him a hurt look.

"I taste like blood," he told her. If vampires could blush, she was sure he would be.

"I don't care."

She moved his hand aside and kissed him. His lips did have a metallic, salty taste and she didn't mind. She had meant the kiss to just be comforting but that gave way to ravenous hunger. Her arms slid around his neck, her tongue plunging into his blood-warmed mouth. Angel's grip tightened around her, pulling her into his lap. It was like it was 1998 and they were two innocent lovers, lost in each other to the exclusion of all else. The smell of him over powered her senses, leaving the core of her hot and dewy. She could feel his interest pressing against her hip, which was a change since high school days. He used to be in better control of himself but she didn't care. She wanted it, no needed it and he couldn't give it to her.

She broke the kiss, laying her cheek on his shoulder. "I think we're getting into the danger zone."

His fingers trailed up her neck, lingering over the scar he put there once. "Not really. It's not the sex, it's the happiness. I don't think I'm in danger of being happy any time in the near future. Just knowing the risks is enough to spoil true happiness...at least I think so."

"But you don't know." Buffy leaned into his touch, sounding miserable.

"It's kinda worked in the past," he admitted reluctantly.

He shifted under her and Buffy saw the embarrassment in his eyes. "Darla," she said for him.

"I was thinking of someone else but yes, Darla."

"Wait." Her eyes narrowed. "Someone else?"

"I don't want to talk about it. It wasn't my idea. It was a spell." He looked at her curiously. "Spike didn't tell you? I thought for sure it would be the first thing he did, since he's the one who caught us."

"No, he never told me a word. Well, he let slip about him and Harmony once and thought I'd be mad. I told him I didn't care. You're both grown men. I've never expected either of you to sit on the shelf waiting for me," she lied. She had expected it, at least of Angel.

He turned his head away, crossing his arms protectively. "Like I said, I don't want to talk about it. Working with her was bad enough. Lorne's spell forcing us to sleep together was humiliating and made me want to clean my skin with fire."

Buffy cupped his chin, making him look at her. Lust had dissipated and she wasn't sure if she was relieved or upset. "You wouldn't be this upset over Cordy, Fred or Harmony. I guess there're hundred of women working at Wolfram and Hart." Her blood iced. "Was it Eve?"

His chin slipped out of her grip. "It was a spell. I'd sooner kill her than touch her. And don't think it didn't occur to me. Angelus is inside me rattling his cage begging for just one kill and I was thinking, 'who'd know'?"

"I'd have forgiven you that kill," Buffy said, cold, almost approving of the idea. "And what happened wasn't your fault. I don't blame you."

"Thanks. Just don't tell Connor." Angel touched her cheek. "He might not be so rational."

"I won't tell him. Believe me, Angel. I thought coming here now was too soon for him but he seems to be doing okay." Buffy shifted on Angel's lap. "Did we show you the pills you have to give him if he has a wig out?"

"No, and you'd better. If he freaks out, it's just me you and Spike who can handle him." Angel rubbed her shoulders.

"I know. Sorcha has his strength." Buffy leaned into his hands. "It makes me nervous leaving her in the Watchers' day care but since all the other girls there are tiny Slayers, I guess it's okay."

"It looks like you're doing a wonderful job with her, Buffy." Angel kissed her neck.

Buffy purred her thank you as her mouth hunted his down. They had almost returned to the crest of their lust when Angel pulled away. "What?" She nipped his adam's apple.

"Spike and Connor are back."

"You can hear them?" she asked, disappointed.

"Not what they're saying but I can hear their voices." He looked at her with a little pout. "And that means they can hear us."

"What? They couldn't stay at the bar a little longer," she whined, getting off his lap.

"Lorne's with them?" Angel cocked his head, getting a better listen.

"That's not a problem, is it?"

"No, we're still friends with Gunn and Lorne. We just have differing agendas now." Angel got up.

Buffy slipped her hand into his and they headed into the main part of the house. Spike, lolling on the couch, took one look and said, "Oh great. Is he evil again?"

Angel flipped him off. "If I were, you'd be the first to know."

Connor sniffed the air. "Maybe you better check and make sure he isn't, Lorne."

Buffy let Angel's hand go. "Okay, ground rules. It applies to all of you, no sniffing me. The next person who sniffs like a dog gets to do his next bout of sniffing with a broken nose." She wagged a fist for emphasis.

"Pushy," Spike said.

"I don't mind," Connor said, grinning.

"Faith's right, you do like us to crack the whip on you, don't you?" Buffy rolled her eyes.

"That's probably why Angel's staking out his territory again. Probably worried what you and the kid are up to, what with you living together raising a baby and all." Spike grinned wickedly.

"Spike!" Buffy growled.

"See?" Angel pointed at the blond vampire. "You're always emailing me and telling me not to be mean to Spike when I complain about him. He starts it. Tell him to stop being mean to me."

"Ooo, look, you can get angry and whiney." Spike's eyes danced. "I was beginning to wonder and let me tell you, it's a bloody sight better than you wandering around here like an empty shell of yourself. I was ready to just put you out of your misery. I'll take anger any day."

"I see. You irritate me out of love and concern for my feelings," Angel said then cuffed Spike on the back of the head like an errant child.

Spike rubbed the back of his head, looking at Connor. "Does he treat you like this, too?"

Connor shook his head then smiled one of those huge manic smiles of his that always made Buffy worried. "I get slammed into walls. I'm the threat. You're just the bad grandson, not really something to worry about it."

"You think?" Spike growled.

"I know. Just ask Dad. I'm Oedipus and he's Laius," Connor said.

Buffy saw Angel grimace and she tried to remember if she had actually bothered to read Oedipus in high school or had she cheated and bluffed her way through. It was the latter she decided since all she could remember was Oedipus married his mom and she didn't see how it applied.

"I guess you get Angelus' jibes now," Angel said with all the air of a man ready to self-flagellate.

"A classical education was one of the bonus' of Wolfram and Hart's tampering," Connor said. "Don't worry, I'm not ready to run out and blind myself. I'll settle with showing Spike which of us is the alpha male."

"That would be me," Angel said, with a wide goofy grin.

Spike snorted. "Sonny boy and me would be happy to prove you wrong."

"That's right, boys, get it all out of your systems now before Sorcha gets home." Buffy gave them all the evil eye. "And Lorne, it's nice to see you again."

"Thanks, Honey-cakes. It's nice to see you, too. Hope you don't mind me just inviting myself over but I couldn't wait to see the little tyke," Lorne said, giving Buffy a hug.

"It's fine but she's still at the beach with the others. They should be back any minute." Buffy glanced at the clock.

"I hear the Suvie in the drive now," Spike said.

"Angel, Gunn wanted to come tomorrow to dinner and see the little one," Lorne said. "Think that'll be all right?"

"I don't know what Buffy and Connor have planned for her, but if that's okay with them, sure." Angel looked to his son and Buffy for an answer.

"No plans," Connor said, getting up off the couch to meet his daughter as she ran in, all oily, sandy and tanned.

"Daddy," she screeched as he lifted her up in a hug. "Down, Daddy."

At her insistence, he let her go and she raced over to greet Buffy, then bounced on Spike's lap, finally attaching herself to Angel's leg. She looked up at Lorne then at her grandfather, her little fingers tightening on the cotton of his pants. "Good demon?"

"Good demon." Angel scooped her up and took her closer to the green-skinned demon. "Sorcha, this is Lorne."

"Hi Sugar-Kitten, aren't you the sweetest thing?" Lorne smiled at her.

Sorcha reached out and pulled Lorne's horns.

"Sorcha, don't be pushy," Buffy scolded but her niece gleefully ignored her as her little fingers kept a death grip on the red spikes.

"It's okay," Lorne said, patting Sorcha's arms. "That's a type of greeting among my people."

Sorcha let go and shifted so she could put her arms around Angel's neck. "Horsie back ride," she insisted.

"Not just now, young lady," Buffy said, plucking Sorcha away. "You need a bath first. You're still covered in sun tan lotion."

"We did our best to wipe her off but that stuff just doesn't want to come off. It's the water-proof stuff," Willow said, her nose still white from the zinc she put on it. She looked exhausted. Wes even more so. Cordelia was as coifed as usual.

"How'd you get roped into this, Wes?" Angel asked. "You're not really a day at the beach kinda guy."

"I'm the only one with a car big enough for everyone and a baby seat," the Watcher said, slumping into a chair, wilting like he had heat stroke. "And I can be the beach kind of guy."

Cordy and Willow tried not to snicker at that.

"You're lobster red," Angel said, biting his bottom lip so not to smile.

"Yes, I think I miscalculated the SPF required," Wes said, woefully.

"Should have borrowed Willow's. She makes Spike look dark" Cordy said and Willow looked offended. "And speaking of that, Spike, don't forget you have that appointment with the tanning salon. You are not taking me to Harmony's wedding looking like that."

A horrified look crossed Spike's face, "Bloody hell woman, we've talked about this."

"You can tan?" Connor raised an eyebrow.

"Airbrush tanning," Cordy said and Angel burst out laughing. Buffy looked at the elder vampire, surprised. Had she ever heard Angel laugh so openly and full heartedly?

"Thanks, luv," Spike said, taking out his cigarettes. He headed out the door.

"Did you train him not to smoke in the house?" Buffy asked, around her own giggles at the idea of an airbrushed Spike. "How'd you do that?"

"Superior hen pecking techniques," Wesley put in, ignoring Cordelia's glare.

"Dare I ask who Harmony is marrying?" Buffy asked.

"David Nabbit. You don't know him. We helped him out a few times. Xander and he had all the geeky stuff in common," Angel replied.

"I can't see Harmony going for that type," Buffy said.

"Well, David has like millions and millions of dollars," Cordy said.

"And he likes demon women," Angel added and Buffy's eyes widened at the idea.

Cordelia looked a little dreamy at the idea of marrying money. "She's getting married in the park here on Watcher's grounds next weekend. David wanted a Renaissance styled wedding. You should see my bridesmaid gown."

"Vampires marry?" Connor looked dubious.

"Not usually but this is Harmony we're talking about," Angel said.

"I almost wish I could see that," Buffy said.

"It's being put on DVD. They're sending us a copy," Willow said brightly, "Here, I'll go take Sorcha for her bath."

"After you're done, Red," Spike called in from his spot under the living room window where he wouldn't miss a word. "Go look up that re-souling spell. You're gonna need it."

"I told you we should plant something with thorns under that window, Wes," Angel growled.

"Ewww, not you two again," Cordelia said, eyeing Buffy.

"We foolishly left them alone in the house," Spike jeered.

"I have an orb of Thesula, should you need it Willow." Wes smiled.

"You do?" Angel asked. Buffy heard the slightly crushed tone in his voice. "Where?"

"I'm not telling you that." Wes shot Angel a look that said, 'Don't be stupid.' "If you know, then Angelus will know. Just know that I do have one hidden out."

"Don't let them tease you." Willow held out her arms for Sorcha. "And I'll be ready."

"You're a help, Will." Buffy rolled her eyes again, turning over her niece.

"Don't wanna bath." Sorcha squirmed.

"Sure you do. And when you're done, we'll put in the Tweenies and you can sing the Hokey Pokey with them." Willow kissed the girl's cheek.

"Hokey Cokey," Sorcha corrected her for the Tweenies version of the song then sang a few licks of it loudly and off key.

Buffy saw Lorne's eyes narrowing as Willow carried the girl upstairs. Connor slithered off the couch and she knew he had seen it, too. Angel was already at Lorne's side.

"You saw something," Angel said.

Lorne shook his head. "No."

"Liar," Connor growled.

Lorne bristled, moving so Angel was between him and Connor. "Look, kid, it's not that accurate with children. They have such unformed minds, it's hard to read them. She's happy being here, though."

"And the bad part, tell us Lorne. We'd rather know than not," Angel insisted.

The green demon shook his head. "I don't know if it's bad or not. I just see this big nothing around her. Like there's something I should be seeing but can't."

Connor's lips skinned back in a ferocious predatory manner. "I don't like that."

"Neither do I, kiddo, but that's all I got." Lorne tried to look supportive. "There's enough fire power in this house to keep anyone safe," Lorne said.

"We'd better hope so," Angel said.

Buffy suddenly wanted to pack them all up and head back to London, put Sorcha in the dungeon of the Watchers' complex and guard her until she was old enough to fend for herself. Instead, she went upstairs to check on her niece. She heard Connor mumbling something but she ignored it. She couldn't ignore that Angel was right behind her.

"I know she'll be okay, Angel. I just have to check," she said without looking.

"I'm not arguing. Connor went into the kitchen to get a pill bottle." Angel sighed heavily. "I guess he knows which ones he's supposed to take."

"He knows. He's gonna get sleepy, Angel, just so you know. Those pills wipe him out." Buffy went into Sorcha's room. She indicated for Angel to wait in the bedroom area while she went into the bathroom. She whispered a warning to Willow so not to alarm her niece then went back out to Angel. "Willow knows. Believe me, an angry Willow is a scary thing. Sorcha will be fine."

Angel looked up from Doodles, which he had in hand. Buffy realized he was drinking in his grandchild's scent from the toy. "Good. This is kinda cute."

"You sent it to her," Buffy said, knowing he hadn't. He gave her a puzzled look. "Spike sent it and forged your name."

Angel hugged the stuffed animal, burying his face in it. "I'm sorry, Buffy. I've been a terrible man to you since it all happened."

"I haven't been very good to you myself." She took his arm, leading him out of the room. "Someone should have made sure you were getting help and we didn't. We left you alone in your darkness, Wes, too."

"We wouldn't have let you take us out of our darkness," he assured her, pulling her to him.

Buffy snuggled in. "All I wanted tonight was some time alone with you, or at least get in some patrolling. I think Faith's right. If I don't get out there, I get all this energy with nowhere to put it."

"We could still go. Willow's magic is better protection than you or I could be. Connor might not be up to par on his fighting skills after being in the hospital for so long but I know how he'll fight for his family. Cordy, Spike, Wes, any of them, Lorne and Gunn, too. Sorcha will be safe here. There's a sanctuary spell on the house. It works a little like Spike's chip did. No violence can happen inside these walls," Angel assured her.

Buffy kissed him. "Once she's in bed, we'll go patrol."

"She's escaped!" Willow cried. "Heading your way, Buffy."

Buffy turned and saw a wet, naked toddler dashing down the stairs. Angel scooped her up and Sorcha giggled. Angel head back up the steps.

"You need clothes, young lady, we've been over this." Buffy looked at Angel. "She's big on streaking. I think she inherits that from her daddy."

Angel's eyes widened as he smiled. "Uh-huh."

"No, really. There were times when he wouldn't wear clothes in the hospital." Buffy shuddered. "Usually when he was in his 'turning his room into a barricaded maze' phase. Sometimes it spilled out into the wooden hospital grounds. He liked living like Tarzan. I never told you since he was safe out there. They have a spell on the place that works like an invisible dog fence."

"Oh." Angel's face fell. "Sorry you had to see that."

"No sorrier than me." She shrugged. "I look at Sorcha and realize she's gonna grow up a skinny little weed. I mean, Connor and Dawn together barely weighed a hundred pounds."

"My son weights more than a hundred pounds." Angel shifted his slippery grandchild on his hip. "He does, doesn't he? I know he looks like a ninety pound weakling. Here you go, Willow." Angel surrendered Sorcha into the towel Willow held.

"You're a naughty girl," Willow chided, standing Sorcha on the bed toweling her off. Sorcha giggled and danced.

"Wills, I might go out on patrol tonight," Buffy said. "Can you keep an eye on Sorcha?"

"You bet. Cordy and I were gonna have a girls night and look at all the stuff she's done for Harmony's wedding."

"Oh, gee that sounds..." Buffy trailed off, looking to Angel for help.

"Dull, but she's excited about it so I figured why not?" Willow shrugged.

They all returned to the living room. Connor was draped over the love seat. Buffy could see the drug already kicking in, the young man's eyes glazed. She felt Angel stiffen beside her at the sight of Connor's vacant expression and she gave his hand an encouraging squeeze.

"We ordered pizza," Cordy said. "No one felt like going out."

"Works for me," Buffy said.

Sorcha grabbed Angel's hand and dragged him over to the kaleidoscope thing Wes had bought her. "You play."

Buffy smiled as Angel sat and obeyed. Sorcha rounded up Spike and planted him next to Angel. "You play, too."

"Oh boy, I get to play with Angel, a dream come true." Spike hugged Angel.

"We will be alone again some day, Spike. You wouldn't want to rue that day, now would you?" Angel's voice was light but Buffy saw the fire in his eyes. Spike just laughed, letting him go.

Sorcha ran over to the couch then stopped short, looking at her father's eyes. "Daddy's sick."

"I'm fine." He stroked her hair, struggling to get up. "Just sleepy. I can play, too though."

She pushed him back. "Sleep, Daddy."

Connor settled back down. "Thanks, sweetie."

"Aunt Buffy, put on the Tweenies," she demanded then after a few beats remembered the magic word. "Please."

"Don't you want to play with Granddad and Uncle Spike?" Buffy asked.

"They play. I watch," Sorcha said.

"Okay."

"Dad, Spike, a word of warning, do not look directly at the tv," Connor said with exaggerated solemnness

"He's not kidding. It will give you brain damage." Willow tried to look stern and authoritative but she couldn't stop the little grin pricking at her lips.

Buffy sat back, once the DVD was going and Sorcha plopped down, and watched the two vampires trying to out build each other with plastic gears.

Wes leaned over and said, "I'm going to have to go out and buy those two the big Lego set."

Buffy laughed and wagged a finger as both vampires snapped upright, death in their eyes. "Spike, you say something that I have to work hours to remove from Sorcha's brain, I'll beat you."

"Once wouldn't hurt," Spike said.

Connor snorted. "Did she tell you the daycare pageant story?"

Angel set aside a blue gear, looking up curiously. "No."

"Me and Connor are at the parent's night pageant thing they had for the kids. The teacher was doing the A is for Apple, kind of thing trying to show how much the students know. We get to B and Sorcha pipes up with 'B is for boobies'." Buffy felt her face burn as she remembered the incident.

"Buffy beat on Faith for about an hour for teaching her that one." Willow grinned.

"Hey, at least she knew B is for boobies. That's pretty smart," Angel said.

"That's what your son said...must be a guy thing to be proud of that." Buffy glowered at him. "I was so embarrassed. Everyone was looking at me like I was a bad mother. Connor was too busy laughing his fool head off."

"It was funny." Connor protested. "Not as funny as the tea party story but funny."

"Don't you dare," Buffy threatened then the door bell rang. "Saved by pizza." She raced for the door, pausing only to grab the wad of twenties Cordelia passed her to pay for it. Willow shut off the Tweenies and all the noise that was associated with it and set Sorcha back at the coffee table. Wes helped Buffy with the pizza boxes. "I'm just setting it in the kitchen. Everyone for themselves."

Buffy got a slice of plain cheese for Sorcha. Her niece actually liked pepperoni but tended to gorge and give herself a bellyache so she was restricted to cheese alone. Sorcha settled, Buffy got the double meat, double cheese for herself after making sure Connor actually took enough food to live on. He had a tendency to ration it, a hold over from his hard life in hell. When she got into the living room Sorcha was trying to make Angel eat a bite of pizza. "Sorcha, Granddad doesn't like pizza. You eat that piece."

The girl pushed her lower lip out. "Why?"

"He just doesn't like it," Buffy said then added in a whisper "And for future reference, Angel, never eat something she hands you. Palm it. God knows where it was before she decided you need it."

"Which brings us back to the tea party," Connor said, brightly.

"Shut up, Mr. Big Ears," Buffy warned.

"Tell me," Angel insisted, leaning forward in anticipation.

"Buffy, Willow and Faith were having a tea party with Sorcha," Connor said.

"This is funny already," Spike interrupted.

"I know." Connor beamed. "Anyhow, they were letting Sorcha serve. They're all there in their little bonnets, not sure where they got them. Xander had to sneak in to take pictures for blackmail purposes, thank God. That's when he learned Sorcha was filling the tea pot and pouring them drinks from the toilet bowl." Connor's grin threatened to split his face in two. Cordy nearly choked on her pizza. Spike, Angel and Wes laughed until fat tears were running down their faces.

Buffy got up and slapped Connor on the chest. It echoed dully. "Thanks for nothing."

"Aunt Buffy! We don't hit," Sorcha said, parroting Buffy's oft-used reprimand.

"Yeah, we don't hit," Connor said, rubbing his chest, wincing.

"I'll get you back for this." Buffy grabbed his shoulders shaking him but Connor just smiled.

"Yeah, she and Angel will be...friendly where you can hear them." Spike said and Buffy hit him, too. Sorcha grunted angrily at her aunt.

"Ewww, how am I supposed to eat now?" Connor moaned.

"Just eat and I promise you that I don't want to be anywhere you'll overhear me,"Angel said

"That's the nicest thing you've done for me ever," Connor assured him and Angel's brow lowered.

"Spike, I'm going to stop telling Angel to be nice to you, but not until I ask a favor," Buffy said.

Spike didn't look concerned. "Ask away."

"Angel and I are going patrolling tonight."

"So that's what we're calling it," Spike said, a smarmy expression on his face. Cordy just rolled her eyes, executing the hair flip she perfected in high school.

Buffy shook a fist at him. "Would you stay here for a while tonight? Cordy and Willow are going to be watching Sorcha."

"Just until the wedding talk drives me nuts and I have to run away with Lorne and Wes," Spike said.

"Spike." She eyed him.

He waved her down. "Of course I'll stay."

"I don't mean for all night. Just until everyone's ready for bed. Connor looks ready right about now," Buffy said.

"Stupid medicine," he said. "I'll take the room with Sorcha tonight. I think both of us will be ready to go to sleep soon."

Buffy nodded, thinking Sorcha had far more energy than her dad at the moment. She finished her pizza, insisted on horseback rides from Spike and Angel, dragged every toy they had brought with them out to show to Angel, Spike and Lorne and finally when Buffy insisted it was bed time, she wanted Uncle Spike to read her bedtime story. Buffy took that opportunity to snag Angel and run.

He barely had time to get the keys to his 'new' car, a 1970 blue Super Bee. "Where should we start?"

"Just drive." Buffy slammed the door and didn't look back.

They put distance between them and the Watchers' complex where Angel lived. They wound up at the beach. It was cool and the sounds of the waves were calming. Angel got out and helped Buffy from of the car. They walked down to the surf.

"Not much demon activity here to patrol," she said, thankful for it.

He nodded. "Probably the closest thing was the time Connor jumped me and sealed me in that metal coffin."

Buffy canted her eyes up at him. "This is where it happened?"

He waved a hand at the beach. "More or less."

Buffy wondered at what would make him bring her to such a place. "Why'd you bring me here?"

"You looked like you needed to just get away and unwind, Buffy. We both know we aren't going to do any patrolling tonight." He smiled gently in the moonlight. "Besides, it's nice here in spite of my bad memories."

She took his hand and started up the beach slowly. "I know."

They didn't walk far before falling into their old routine of kissing and exploring each others bodies all the while keeping an eye out for danger. It felt normal and right to them. Finally, Buffy pulled her lips away from his, pressing her body against his chest.

"Were you serious earlier about the loophole for the curse?" She hated the need in her voice but she couldn't help it.

"I was but I wasn't telling you that because...I know you want to go and find yourself, Buffy. I didn't mean to put on any...," he floundered.

"Oh, hush, Angel. I know why you told me." She pressed her fingers to his lips. "I've found myself. I'm a Slayer and an aunt to a precocious three year old Slayer and a friend to the oddest assortment of people ever to be found and that's enough. I might not be done baking but it's close enough. I need you. Spike told us once we'd never just be friends and he was right. I want you. I'm tired of waiting. I need you. It has been so long...."

Angel kissed the top of her head. "I feel the same."

"Only I don't...not here. I've never been a fan of sand on bare skin." She looked at him sheepishly.

He snorted. "The Hyperion is all fixed up now, better than the last time you saw it. Gunn gave me the penthouse for my own use since I more or less own the building. I never use it but we'll be out of ear shot of anyone...and there's the cage in the basement if things somehow go wrong."

"They won't," she said quickly. "You just keep worrying about the curse. That'll keep it from being perfect."

"You deserve perfect," he whispered.

"Yeah well, I'm happy with almost." She pulled him toward the car, feeling desperate now. She needed a release. Fingers and double A batteries only went so far. It took care of the physical but not the soul. She needed his love more than she needed his body.

Angel showed off the Super Bee's big engine, roaring through town to the Hyperion. It was mostly deserted as they went to the penthouse. Here, there were signs Angel lived a little. The artwork Buffy remembered him liking, the Asian flavor. Most of it went past her in a blur on the way to the bed. It smelled musty from disuse but she didn't care.

She knocked him down onto it, tearing her shirt off over her head. Angel didn't have to be told of the urgency. He was already naked by the time she climbed on top on him. Their coupling was fast, furious and raw. Buffy held him afterwards, holding her breath, fearing the worse but nothing happened other than his tender administrations slowly initiating round two.

They were both exhausted, having drowsed some when she shook him awake. "We should get back. It'll be dawn soon," she said, not wanting to leave the bed but not knowing if this room was safe for him.

"We have time," he said, pulling her on top of him. There were no signs of Angelus she was happy to note.

She showed him again that she had learned a lot of things about pleasing a man since their first time together then insisted they dress and go home. She fully planned on napping the morning away at his side, and to hell with any teasing she might have to hear about it later.

The sky was a purplish grey when they pulled into the drive. Cordy's mini-Cooper was gone so Buffy assumed it was just Wes, Willow and Connor inside.

"Think we can check on her without waking her up?" Angel said as they went inside.

"She'll be up soon enough but sure."

They crept upstairs. The room was cool, the window wide open. Buffy noticed the screen was gone before she realized Sorcha wasn't in the hump of bedding. A soft moan dragged her attention upwards. Connor was fastening to the ceiling in a webbing that glowed with magic, his mouth sealed shut by it. It put Buffy in mind of something she had seen Willow use once.

"Oh, Angel, Sorcha's..." Buffy felt her legs go weak.

"Willow!" Angel bellowed. "Wes, Willow!"

Angel ran into the room, jumping on Connor's bed, trying to grab his son down off the ceiling. He wasn't able to budge him. Willow came in, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Wes stumbled out of his room.

"What is it?" Willow asked then followed Buffy's pointing arm. "Oh Goddess! Teasairg!"

At the unbinding spell's utterance, Connor fell, Angel barely able to control his descent. They crashed on the bed. Connor spat, colorful glowing bits trailing out of his mouth. "They took her!" he moaned.

"Who took her?" Buffy crowded on the bed with them, grabbing Connor by his bare shoulders. "Who did this?"

"Magic hid them." Connor trembled violently. "Used it against me before I could move. Don't know the man. Eve was with him."

Buffy's perfect night turned upside down. "I'll kill her."


Chapter Five

"How did it happen?" Spike asked after dashing into the house under the cover of a blanket. He had ridden to Angel's home cramped in the back of his lover's mini-Cooper. Cordelia beat out the licks of smoke from sunlight that managed to filter through the wool.

"Through the window," Connor said in a dead voice that chilled Angel to the bone. "They hit me with the magic from outside, cut the screen and came in and were gone quickly. They're shielded. I heard him tell Eve that."

"Eve?" Spike snarled. "Can we-"

"Eat her? Yes, if you want something that nasty stuck in your teeth," Angel said, meaning it. No one gainsayed him. Angel knew no one would stop him if he punished Eve for this.

"Why did they leave any witnesses alive?" Willow glanced at Connor. "No offense."

"They heard Wes coming up the stairs and panicked." Connor paced the living room.

"There's a Sanctuary spell on the house. They couldn't have killed Connor," Wes put in. "Not that they knew that."

"They took my baby." Connor's body shook.

Angel caught up to Connor, putting his hands on his son's shoulders, pulling him to a stop. "I know. We'll get her back." Angel couldn't help flashing back to when his son was a baby. He prayed that Connor would be able to keep it together. He could almost feel Connor's tenuous hold on reality fraying and he didn't know if his son could have more medication or not. He didn't want to just ask Buffy like Connor wasn't standing there.

"Why would anyone do this?" Cordelia gave Connor a hug.

Angel wanted to push her away from his son. He didn't know if she was helping or making it worse. He had no idea if Connor still had feelings for her or if he hated her at this point for how things had turned out with Jasmine. Angel was so out of touch he was practically useless.

"To hurt me," Buffy said. "Or Angel or maybe just to have someone with that much power. Sorcha's a child. She can be molded and when she grows up, she'll be dangerous."

"That could very well be why Eve wanted her. The Senior Partners have pulled out of the L.A. branch of Wolfram and Hart but they're in Seattle and Las Vegas in the west and there's a dozen more branches in this country alone. I never knew they were that big when I took over. They could want her for any number of reasons for themselves or for someone else," Angel said.

Buffy tore her gaze away from father and son to face her friends. "Willow, do you have what you need to do the finding spell?"

"Wes and I are almost ready," Willow said. "But if Connor's right about them being shielded, this won't work."

"We're going to try it any how," Buffy said then looked up at Angel as he touched her elbow.

He led her aside. "There was something in the room, Buffy, a familiar scent but I can't place it. Did Connor see Ethan in England?"

She shook her head, her golden curls falling over her shoulders. "No, he didn't, none of us actually saw him. You think Ethan was the man with Eve?"

"It's possible. We know they've worked together in the past. It would explained the vaguely familiar scent. Can you have Giles send a picture of Ethan so Connor can see it?" Angel asked.

"I'll call him immediately. See if you can get Connor to lie down." Buffy shifted nervously. "I don't like that look in his eye. He seems crazed and he's topped out on his meds. The only other one we can give him is Haldol and that'll zone him for hours."

"I'll try but he won't do it, trust me. Are you sure about that expression? I know he has to be barely hanging on but that's his normal look, at least the one he always used on me," Angel replied ruefully.

Disbelief gleamed in Buffy's eyes. "Just try." She went to make her call.

Angel put his hand on Connor's shoulder. "Son, you might want to take a break."

"No." Connor's jaw set. "You know I can't."

"What I know is you can't handle too much stress." Angel's fingers tightened, feeling his son's shoulder bones too close to the skin. "You told me that yourself."

"Did you stop for a break when I was taken?" Connor shrugged out of his father's grip.

"That was different," Angel said, thinking he hadn't been insane but maybe at that point when he realized where Holtz had taken Connor, he had been.

"No, it's not and you can't help me. Neither can Spike." Connor gestured at the window. "It's daylight out there. I'm the only one who can track Sorcha before the scent gets too faint. It can't wait until dark."

"You can actually do that?" Willow seemed curious as she poured an aromatic oil in a bowl.

"I can."

"We're ready for the finding spell," Wes said, plunging a pendulum into the oil.

Willow chanted. The oil heated, bubbling furiously then the pendulum stone exploded. Wes jumped back a bit. Willow pouted.

"I'm taking that as they are shielded and it just ate your magic," Angel said.

Willow bobbed her head. "Sorry. We'll try something else. Connor and Buffy could get on out there now while the rest of us do the book thing."

"I'm ready," Connor said.

Buffy set the phone down. "Willow, Giles will be emailing you a picture shortly. Come on, Connor, let's do this."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buffy felt guiltier than she could remember being in a long time. Not since she had been sneaking around with Spike had remorse hit her so hard. If she and Angel hadn't been at the Hyperion, this wouldn't have happened. Now there was little more she could do other than watch Connor's nostrils flaring as he followed the scent. "You really can do this."

"Father made sure I was good at it," he said and by the formality of it Buffy knew he meant Holtz and not Angel. He jogged to the end of the drive. "They got in a car here."

"Then that's it." Buffy couldn't keep her disappointment out of her voice. This was useless. She knew they had to have driven away.

"Not yet. Get the car," Connor said.

Buffy ran back inside and took Angel's keys. She saw the consternation in his eyes and his wish she could take Wes' SUV but they might need the extra room while she and Connor needed the speed. Of course, she was a lousy driver and had no idea how to handle a stick shift. Cordy ran out and tossed her the keys to her Cooper after hearing the engine in the Super Bee protesting.

"Problems?" Connor asked as he slid inside the tiny car.

"Couldn't drive your dad's car."

"Take a right," he said, rolling down his window.

He hung his head out like a dog. Buffy just hoped he didn't have a break down. If he could track his daughter like he said he could, he might be the only chance they had. If he wigged out, Buffy didn't know what she'd do. "How do you train to be good at this?" Buffy asked, not really wanting to know but if she let silence fill the car, Sorcha's disappearance would overwhelm her, take away the strength she needed.

"Take a left." Connor took a deep breath in. "Father would tie me up and leave me to free myself and find him. It was a good game."

"He did this in the middle of hell?" Buffy truly regretted asking. It wasn't the answer she had been expecting. She couldn't even imagine a parent doing something like that to his child. Worse, Connor seemed to think it was all right. "Weren't you scared?"

"Needed to be strong. Go straight."

"How old were you?"

"Just a few years older than Sorcha. It was scary at first. Hang a right. But later it was one of my favorite games. Not as good as trophy gathering to prove my kills but close." Connor scowled as she stopped for a red light.

"You know, Connor, that wasn't right to do." She had images of him tying Sorcha to a tree and running off.

"Why not? You're training Sorcha to fight," Connor said, shoving his nose back into the breeze.

"I wouldn't abandoned her in hell," Buffy replied, wondering what Connor would do once they had Sorcha back. Buffy didn't let herself even consider that they might not get her back.

"Didn't have any place else to train me," Connor replied, still obviously missing the point. "Left."

Buffy let it drop. The last thing she needed was to be arguing with him. She would only end up exciting him too much and then they'd be lost. Connor never seemed in doubt as he led her through the city and in the end, Buffy didn't doubt his ability either. He led the way to the airport, right up to the ticket counter to Northwest. Given all the restrictions and fears surrounding flying, Buffy didn't expect to be able to get any information about someone traveling with a little girl. She tried to ask, was summarily told that it was against policy and knew from the look in the agent's eye security would be called, no questions asked. They couldn't even get to a gate because they didn't have a ticket. Buffy didn't doubt that Connor could have taken them right to the gate. The best they could do to follow them now would be to have Cordy and Willow do a computer search on all flights on Northwest between the time of the kidnaping and when she and Connor got to the airport. On the way home she made Connor call and tell Willow that.

"I'm sorry, Connor," Buffy said.

"We did our best," he replied, flatly. The tone frightened her.

"I didn't mean about this. I meant, I should have been home. Angel and I shouldn't have been..." She trailed off. She knew Connor would know exactly what they had been doing. He could smell it.

He shook his head. "Not your fault. If you had been home, it still would have happened. The spell didn't hurt me. It wasn't stopped by the Sanctuary spell. They could have captured us all like that. They would probably have a use for a Slayer. Better you weren't there. We're all together, working. We'll find her. If we all had been here, she might not have anyone in the position to rescue her."

"I know you're right, Connor but still I can't help feel it's my fault."

"If it's anyone's fault it's mine. I was in the damn room with her and they still surprised me. Fucking pills, they make me sleep too hard," he moaned.

Buffy took one hand off the wheel and rubbed his arm. "It's not your fault, Connor. You don't have any magic. Neither do I. They could have caught either of us with that spell, especially casting it from outside, not even confronting you. We're going to get her back."

"I know. I can be a very determined man." His eyes were so intense Buffy felt them burning her.

She knew he wasn't lying. He had been determined enough once to punch his way through dimensions. Nothing would stop him from finding his daughter. "It'll be all right," she said as much for herself as for him.

"I know and Buffy, I'm not mad at you for not being home last night. You needed to be where you were. You love him. I might not understand why, but you do and that's important, too."

"Thanks." She meant that. She didn't expect understanding from him. She knew how he felt about Angel. She was used to her friends, Xander especially, getting down on her for being with Angel. She expected Connor to be furious, as angry as she was at herself. Hearing his words took some of the burden off of her.

When they returned home, Willow greeted them, smelling of sulphur. "We kinda crapped out on the locator spells but we did narrow their destinations down to Seattle, Juneau or Denver."

"Provided they didn't get on another plane," Cordelia added.

Buffy frowned. The last thing she needed was someone dampening her hope.

"Son, here. Giles sent this," Angel said, handing Connor a print out from the computer.

Connor rattled the paper. "This is the guy. He was with Eve last night."

"Ethan?" Buffy asked.

"Ethan," Angel replied grimly.

Connor stared at them in horror. "The one who killed Dawn?"

Buffy nodded. "That's him. I'm going to talk to Giles, get the low down on all Ethan's weaknesses."

"Already done, Slayer," Spike said, holding up a few sheaves of paper.

"We also talked to Gunn. He has a plane at our disposal. It's necro-tempered so Spike and I can go with you. We're trying to figure out how to narrow down the possibilities, trying to see if there's a money trail we can follow," Angel said.

"Only we don't know what names they're using," Cordelia said. "But Juneau is probably too expensive at the last minute. Eve's cheap and Ethan's cheaper."

"In the mean time, Buffy, you and Connor need to sit down and eat even if you don't feel like it," Wes said. "You won't have the reserves otherwise."

Buffy nodded. "I know. But there has to be something more I can do."

"Eat," Angel said.

"We even have the police looking for Eve and Sorcha," Willow said. "We should call them with Ethan's description. They already have an Amber alert in effect."

"Thanks," Buffy mumbled shocked at how much they had accomplished and how little had come of it.

Someone knocked at the front door. The friends looked at each other, trying to figure out who it could be. Wes went to answer it, pausing to pick up a hefty knife. The man at the door didn't even flinch at the weapon, sidling past it. His hair was mussed and his clothing looked slept in. Buffy didn't know him but from the way Angel flew across the room and pinned the small stranger to the wall, she figured he did.

"Get off me, Angel." The man shoved at the vampire ineffectually.

"You have a lot of nerve coming here after last time," Angel snarled, going to vamp face.

"Well, this time, I'm here to help," the man said.

"Angel, let him go." Buffy laid a hand on Angel's tense arm.

Angel knocked the man into the wall once more but stepped back. "Help with what, Lindsey?"

"I have an idea what Eve did and I might know where she's heading."


Chapter Six

Justine couldn't stop the trembling in her hands. When she had agreed to work with Eve to get revenge on Angel, she hadn't imagined this was what Eve had in mind. She would never have said yes. Justine had no doubts that Angel would kill over this.

She had no stomach for taking another child. The last time had cost her Daniel and her soul. Now Eve had presented her with Connor's child. If Angel didn't snap her neck, Justine knew Connor would. She wanted a cigarette and a drink. Justine wanted Eve and Ethan gone from her home.

When Wes had set her free, Justine had taken his advice. She got out of the life. First she had run to Utah but thought Connor would know to look for her there so she moved just in case Angel beat it out of the boy. She went someplace small, some where she could hide from it all. She ended up tending bar in Yogi's Den in Hot Springs South Dakota.

It wasn't too bad. Karaoke nights without green demons. Yogi's had darts teams, softballs teams and was haunted by the smells of buffalo burgers, jalapeno poppers and beer. No vampires. The worst she had to contend with were the some times heart breaking alcoholics from the veterans hospital and domiciliary at the top of the hill and the few Lakota imprisoned by genetics and despair.

Sitting back, being normal had been pretty good, a little dull but there was always that nagging fear Angel would find her and pay her back for welding him in that coffin. Eve had offered her a preemptive strike, destroy Angel once and for all. Justine jumped at the chance. If he was gone, she could finally rest easy. Maybe she wouldn't wake up, coated in sweat, shaking from the nightmares, inside her odd little two story home with its sloping floors and ill-fitting walls.

When she picked up Eve and Ethan from the airport, she should have just drove on through without stopping. She should never have brought the tiny terror into her home. Angel's grandchild, she still couldn't wrap her mind around it. She wished she had backed out like her supposed partner in this had done. Lindsey McDonald was supposed to be helping. Justine didn't know him and she wasn't clear on what Eve and Ethan thought they were going to do. Raise the kid in a way that made these agents of evil happy? Justine had no illusions about Eve and Ethan being evil. She knew Eve worked for Wolfram and Hart and knew what they represented.

Justine had dragged herself back from the pit of darkness she had been in, trying to make a life for herself but the lure of hurting Angel had been too great. Now she was smothered in her own maleficence just wishing the child would stop howling. Ethan had cast a spell on Sorcha for traveling, to make her quiet so no one would stop and question them but he refused to do it to make her compliant now. He said it would send out a beacon.

Justine wanted nothing to do with beacons. Angel couldn't find her. She would never survive it. He couldn't get into her home, except she had his kin and didn't doubt the girl would just invite him in if she could. "Sorcha, please, quit crying," she said, exasperated, handing the girl a stuffed white buffalo, hoping to mollify her.

Sorcha shrieked and winged the toy at her. Justine already knew to duck. No one had told her that the child had her daddy's strength. Of course, they never told her that the plan was to kidnap a child and piss Angel off. There were three holes in her living room's walls and blood on the child's torn knuckles from the tantrums she had thrown. Justine didn't know how she was expected to control Sorcha.

She picked up the toy and tossed it back on the couch with Sorcha. "Look, I didn't take you away from your family. I'm trying to be nice to you." She didn't know a damn thing about kids. Did they understand that kind of reasoning? She doubted it.

Sorcha stopped wailing, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Her eyes looked just like her father's, cold and dangerous. Justine had already taken all the knives out of the kitchen and locked them in the trunk of her car just in case.

"Juice time," Ethan said, breezing into the room.

"Don't want it." Sorcha beat her heels against the couch and Justine heard the wood frame protesting the battery.

"Of course you do. You drink up and I'll let you play on the computer. Maybe you can send a note to daddy." Ethan put the juice on the end table and cautiously backed away.

"You hurt Daddy." Justine watched the little girl's lips twist into a good approximation of Connor's usual sneer.

"Daddy's not hurt, sweetie. He just took a time out...on the ceiling." Ethan smirked. "Drink up and you can play with the Tweenies online."

Sorcha took the orange juice and drank some. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.

"You drugged her!" Justine reached over and felt for a pulse, just to make sure they hadn't killed the poor girl. She didn't want a child to get hurt.

"People have been giving alcohol to their kids for centuries to shut them up." He shrugged a slim shoulder then beaconed her to follow. "I just enhanced the process."

Ethan led her outside to where Howl was tied up. Her border collie was her early warning system. She worked for regular intruders just fine and Justine was counting on her to bark at vampires should any turn up. Eve was lounging on the patio furniture, staring at the red earthen hill behind Justine's house.

"It's ugly here," she said.

"I like it. It's rugged," Justine replied. "And I want you two gone. I had no idea this is what you had in mind. What am I going to do with a little girl? I liked Connor. I never wanted to hurt him."

Eve got up. One of her eyes had ballooned shut, a horrible shade of purple from where Sorcha had punched her. It was Justine's first indication they didn't have a normal child on their hands. "It's a little late now, Justine. You wanted to get back at Angel, well you're getting your chance."

"This deal is already tanked," Justine argued. "The guy you thought was helping me is nowhere to be seen."

"Lindsey losing his nerve was a set back," Eve conceded.

"What do you think I'm going to do with this girl?" Justine stabbed a hand toward the house. "Someone in town is bound to notice I suddenly have a kid."

"You won't be here long. Part of the deal is, you play mommy to her and we set you up somewhere nice, safe and comfy. You can fight. You did a damn good job against vampires even though you aren't a Slayer. You can train this little warrior for us," Eve said and Justine got goose flesh in spite of there being no apparent threat in Eve's words.

"I never said I wanted to be in on a deal that takes years, Eve."

"You never asked, Justine," Eve snapped. "You heard 'screw over Angel' and you signed on without details."

Justine fumed. She knew Eve was right about that. "I can't do this."

"Yeah, we're getting that," Ethan said wryly. "I say you talk to your bosses, Eve, and go with plan B."

Eve shot Ethan a filthy look. "Justine, just be ready to move. We'll have you at the new complex in a few days. You'll love it there. It's practically vampire proof. You have nothing to worry about. The brat's just three years old. They forget their parents pretty quickly at that age. You'll be able to handle her."

Justine knew a dismissal when she heard one. She wanted to know more about plan B but she knew they wouldn't talk to her about it. She went back inside and scooped up the child and the white buffalo toy. She carried Sorcha up the narrow steps to the spare bedroom. The room was obviously designed for a child. The ceiling sloped down on one side of the room so no adult could possible walk upright in it. She put Sorcha in the bed with the toy then proceeded to put a heavy duty collar on her with a strong metal lock. She brushed the girl's curls off her face. "Sorry, baby. You don't deserve this."

Justine crawled into the narrow part of the room where the window was and slowly opened it. She could hear Eve and Ethan talking which was what she was counting on.

"This plan is going to shit, Eve," Ethan said.

"I told the Senior Partners it wouldn't work."

"You could have told them no," Ethan said.

Eve laughed bitterly. "That's not an option for me. I'll see if I can convince them plan B is the only way to do this. Justine's a no-starter. No way am I raising that child for them. They could sell her to any number of agents for a lot of money. They're already getting bids in."

"And the loose ends?" Ethan lit up a cigarette, making Justine's mouth water for one.

"They get tied." Eve smiled, the motion making her swollen eye look worse.

Justine swallowed hard. She had no doubts what that meant. She slid her hand between the mattress and box spring and retrieved the small thin cell phone she had hidden there. Eve had made her turn over all phones but the one in the living room which Justine figured was watched. Eve made Ethan search her every time she tried to take a few steps out of her own house, as if they didn't trust her not to betray them to Angel the moment she had a chance.

She reached down her pants and shoved the phone into her panties, as much as she hated to do it. It was awkward walking back down the stairs with it riding there. Justine was afraid Ethan still might find it because he enjoyed the search process far too much. She stopped and looked at the couple. "I have to get to work."

"My head hurts too much. I'll stay here with the brat," Eve said.

"Fine, whatever." Justine got into her car with Ethan. She knew they would follow her to the bar. They hadn't wanted her to go in to work but she assured them in a town this small, everyone knew her business. It would be suspicious if she suddenly stopped showing up.

She went behind the bar and stuffed a few zip lock baggies they used in the grill to keep the veggies crisp into her pockets. She went to the bathroom, triple bagged the cell phone and dumped it into the back of the toilet tank. She wouldn't have time to call immediately, not without raising suspicions. She went back out. Ethan watched her like a hawk, bitching all the time about the lack of a decent British beer. Finally she took a bathroom break, while he was busy playing darts with a cowboy. She fished the cell phone out of the tank and called the number she had been given. "Hello, Lindsey? We need to talk."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Who is the guy?" Connor asked as Lindsey walked past him and sat in a chair.

Angel was impressed with Lindsey's ability to remain unflappable in a room full of people ready to kill him. "He's Lindsey McDonald. He used to be a Wolfram and Hart lawyer."

"Great, the last thing we need," Connor grumbled, flexing his fingers.

"I quit more or less. Thanks, in part I guess, to your mother," Lindsey said. "I should have just stayed out of it...would have been better all around."

"You knew Mom?" Connor's eyes slotted. Angel didn't like the curiosity he heard in his son's voice. He didn't want him learning anything from Lindsey.

"She lived with me briefly, when she was human again, for a little while after she became a vampire for the second time," Lindsey said then saw the confusion in Connor's eyes. "Long story, and not the reason I'm here."

"You said you could help," Buffy put in.

"What do you know about this, Lindsey?" Angel stared at him as everyone else gathered around. If Lindsey had any hope of changing his mind and running, it wasn't going to happen. After what he had done to Spike last time, Angel would be surprised if the blond vampire would think twice about killing him. He was entertaining thoughts of that himself.

"Eve approached me with another chance to get back at you, Angel," Lindsey said. "I told her I wasn't interested. I was done with it. After the last time..." Lindsey glared up at Angel. "I let my hatred of you run my life for too long. I should have been happy with getting free of Wolfram and Hart." Lindsey tapped his chest. "But I wasn't. Now, I'm done with letting you live in my head. I turned Eve down. She tried a lot of persuasion but finally I thought she had given up."

"What did she want you to do to me?" Angel stood in front of Lindsey but was disappointed the lawyer seemed less than intimidated.

"She wouldn't say. That alone was enough to make me nervous. I wasn't signing on the dotted line when I didn't even know what I was signing up for. Lindsey drummed his fingers on his thigh. "She told me all I needed to know was that I had to work with this woman and that we'd start off in the mid-west where you weren't likely to look for us and then they'd move us someplace special to complete the mission."

"That's it?" Buffy's face seemed to melt. Willow put a supportive hand on her shoulder.

"She said if I knew more, there was a risk of it getting back to Angel. I told her, if she didn't trust me with the details then I was obviously not the guy to help her. I didn't see what she needed me for or the woman I was supposed to work with. She had that Rayne fellow working with her. The firm had files on him. He's a fairly powerful mage, more powerful than me." Lindsey brushed back his long hair. "She called me last night, gave me one more chance to join up, telling me how much they needed me. She still wouldn't tell me what was going on."

"Then you have nothing that will actually help," Spike growled.

"Not true. When I heard through my contacts that Angel's grandchild had been kidnapped, I knew what Eve had planned. Why she thought I'd be willing to help her and some strangers kidnap a child, I have no idea." Disgust curled Lindsey's lip.

"So you came here out of the goodness of your heart," Angel jeered.

Lindsey's blue eyes flashed cold fire at him. "I don't like people who hurt kids. I helped you, didn't I, to save those blind kids Wolfram and Hart was trying to assassinate? Holland had a co-worker murdered in front of me as an example of what would happen if I continued to help you. If I was willing to risk my life for children I didn't even know, do you really think I'd sit back and do nothing when Darla's grandchild is at risk? Think what you like, I cared about Darla and the things I have to offer are the name of the person Eve wanted me to work with, where she lives and how to get a hold of her."

"You couldn't tell us that first?" Connor snapped, taking a menacing step forward. Buffy stopped him.

Lindsey ignored him. "Justine Cooper. Do you know why this woman wants to get back at you, Angel?"

Angel felt the fire inside him roaring. "Her sister was murdered by vampires. She blames us all."

"She did this to me." Wes stroked the scar on his neck.

"She helped Connor to weld me in a coffin and dump me in the ocean. She's dangerous," Angel said.

"You welded him in a coffin?" Lindsey looked at Connor. "Wish I thought of that. I only ran him over with a truck."

"I didn't know how to drive or I would have done that just to bring him down," Connor said and Angel stared at him, stunned. His son wasn't the least bit apologetic about thinking that. "But Justine was my friend. She wouldn't do this to me."

"She's not your friend, Connor," Angel said. "She has to be the one who killed Holtz."

"Justine old me you did," Connor grumbled, stubbornly.

"I know and I didn't. So if it wasn't me, it was her and he probably asked her to just to mess with your head. She would do this to hurt us, believe me," Angel said, not wanting to waste time arguing with his son.

"I'm not sure she had a clue as to what Eve planned either. I spoke to Justine once, just to see if she knew more than I did," Lindsey said. "She didn't. I still have her number and I know she lives in South Dakota."

"That is the mid-west and we wouldn't have thought to look there," Willow said.

"I didn't think so. I'm not sure if they'll take the girl there but it's a good bet." Lindsey said.

"It's a starting place," Buffy said. "Should you try calling Justine, maybe pretend you've changed your mind and are on board with this now?"

Lindsey nodded. "I had thought about it."

"I'll call Gunn," Wes said. "Tell him we'll need the pilot to arrange a flight plan to South Dakota...um, where in South Dakota."

"Hot Springs. Rapid City would probably be the closest airport then it's not quite a ninety mile drive there." Lindsey saw them all giving him quizzical looks. "I looked it up."

"I'll relay that to Gunn," Wes said, heading for the phone.

"Do you think Eve will hurt my daughter?" Connor's voice was soft and it broke Angel's heart. He knew this fear. He had lived through a kidnapping once already. Buffy's concern for Connor and Sorcha was obvious.

"Yes, I do," Lindsey said bluntly. "If it was necessary, or if it was what the Senior Partners wanted, I think she would. I heard whispers, the Partners wanted your daughter but I have no idea why, other than a powerful being like her would be an asset. Don't think they aren't scheming up ways to get a hold of some of the younger new Slayers." Lindsey paused as Buffy and Willow both looked startled at the idea. "But I also heard talk that they are getting a lot of offers to buy the child."

"What? Why? Who else wants her?" Buffy hauled Lindsey up out of the chair. Angel wished he had dared to do that but he wasn't sure he could stop himself from killing the man.

"Well, the supplicants to the Great Potentate Ul-Thar for one," Lindsey said, still managing to remain cool, even in the face of being shredded at the hands of a Slayer.

"Not them again," Angel groaned.

"Who are they?" Willow gave him a curious look/

"They knew about the prophecy of Connor's birth. They think he's some kind of vampire Messiah or so damn thing. They wanted to rip him out of Darla's belly so they could worship him." Angel saw the horror writing itself onto his son's face.

"I'm what?" Connor's voice cut like a razor.

"They seem to think that his daughter is just as worthy of worship," Lindsey said.

"I should have known I hadn't killed them all," Angel groaned. "Sorry, son. I just thought it would just add to your...confusion if you knew that little detail."

"Gee, why would you think knowing I'm a damn Vampire Jesus would mess me up further?" Angel could see Connor's rage looking for an outlet. He clamped a hand on the young man's shoulder. Connor tried to shrug him off. "What will they do to her?"

"I don't know." Angel let him go, patting his back.

"Whatever it is, it'll be better than some of the other demons making offers. Apparently a few of them think they'll gain some form of power by eating her," Lindsey said and Connor whimpered.

"Maybe your research didn't turn up the fact Connor isn't entirely stable, Lindsey. It's in your best interests not to push him over the edge," Angel warned. "I think it's time to make that call."

Lindsey pulled out his phone then dropped it as it rang suddenly. He scooped it off the floor. "Hello? Oh, slow down I can barely hear you. The reception sucks...well, get out of the ladies room and see if the reception picks up...they're watching you? Okay, okay, I'll shut up and listen," Lindsey said and did just that, grunting a few uh-huh's into the phone as the person on the other line spoke. "Okay, tell them this, tell them I'm reconsidering. Tell Eve I'm on my way to help out. I'll be there in a few hours...yeah, I get that. I'm not without back up...just play it as cool as you can. If it gets too hot, take the kid and run. You have my cell number...what? hang on," Lindsey said as Buffy shoved a piece of paper with two numbers. "Justine, here's two more numbers you can call if you can't get me...I know you're in the ladies room, write it on some damn toilet paper with lipstick or something." Lindsey gave her the numbers twice and hung up.

"They're going to kill her," Angel guessed.

"You heard that?" Lindsey's eyes widened.

"She doesn't want to do this either," Connor said, sounding almost relieved to have his faith in Justine vindicated. Angel would have to have a long talk with him once Sorcha was safe. "They're gonna kill her if she doesn't help."

"We'll be there in a few hours, Connor. We know where they're at now. Ethan can't cast a teleportation spell alone...I don't think." Willow's brow furrowed. "I'm pretty sure not. The best they would do is get another plane out or start driving but they don't know we're on the way."

"Unless they think Justine is lying about Lindsey. She's already told them she wants out," Connor said.

"We're going to think positively about this," Angel said. "Once we get there, even if they're gone, we can track them. As long as Justine is alive, Lindsey can keep in touch with her, string them along until we can find them." He patted his son's shoulder. "At least they aren't in another dimension this time. This is doable. Spike, you help Buffy get the weapons ready. Willow, you and Wes get any magical supplies you might need. Cordy, see if you can get stun guns or tranqs from Gunn, anything we can use from a distance. I don't want to be shooting with anything lethal if Sorcha can be hit."

"Ethan is definitely the type to hide behind a child," Buffy said.

"I'm on it. How about Connor's meds? Could we use any of them?" Cordy asked.

Connor shook his head. "Even the Haldol takes about twenty minutes to really kick in."

"Okay, that's no good. Connor, you make sure Lindsey doesn't go anywhere while I help Spike and Buffy," Angel said. He didn't wait to see if his son would obey. He had to trust Connor was together enough mentally not to do anything stupid. He helped load up a trunk with weapons, wondering how they were going to get it past airport security. Willow put that fear to rest with a spell to make it look like a trunk full of wedding clothes. Their cover story was born. Angel could only hope that the worst case scenario didn't manifest, but this was him and his friend's. Worst case scenarios were written into their genetic code.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Angel had reluctantly gone back to his bedroom, knowing sleep was impossible but he needed it. There was nothing else they could do for the moment. They were still waiting on the plane and it was day light now. They wanted to try and aim to land close to darkness and make the most of their team. That meant Eve and Ethan would have a whole day to kill Justine if they felt like it, or woo her back to them, or just pick up and leave. They couldn't get going any faster. It would take that long for flight plans to be filed and for Gunn to get a plane ready. The non-vampire team members might have gotten there faster but the tickets were over a thousand dollars a piece. It would take them longer to find that much money since no one had credit cards that could handle that much load.

Angel was surprised when Buffy came into the room. Her eyes held the weariness of a hundred years of battle, her limbs trembling slightly from fatigue. He flipped the covers back and she crawled in, cuddling up to him. He let his fingers play over her back. "We'll be on our way soon."

"I know," she mumbled. "I know there's nothing else I can be doing right now."

"That's what I keep telling myself."

Her arms slid around him. "How are you holding up? You've been through this before. You shouldn't have to deal with this much pain again."

"I'm all right, Buffy, as all right as I can be. Like I told Connor, at least she's here, in this dimension. That makes it easier. I never got Connor back. He came back but never to me, until now. I promise you, I'm not letting it happen again," he said, wanting to take all the pain out of her and bury it in himself.

"They're both going to be sorry for this and if Lindsey or Justine are working to double cross us." Buffy's eyes were like flint.

Angel kissed her gently. "You leave that to me, Buffy. I'm the killer and I promise you, I won't hesitate if they give me cause." He kept the "even if they don't" to himself. "Where's Connor?"

"In bed. Willow put him to sleep with a spell. He wouldn't rest. He can't handle this kind of strain, I don't care what he says. He'll be fine by the time we get ready to go," she mumbled, sounding nearly asleep herself.

Angel just let her drift off and followed her through the gates of ivory and horn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Buffy stared into the swirl of red and lightning. It wormed into her, sickening her worse than standing atop Glory's tower, looking into her realm. This place had a slicker, unhealthier feel. Across the vortex, Angel stared into the abyss, even more horrified than she felt.

She watched as Lindsey tumbled into the sea of red. Feeling acid-washed, she stared at the woman who fell in with him. She looked tired, as worn out as Buffy felt, her lank reddish hair flying behind her. Between them, holding their hands, was Sorcha. Buffy screamed, trying to jump in after them but her feet were rooted. Seeing Angel's struggles, she knew he was likewise stuck.

She saw the demons waiting for them under the garnet sky. The vortex closed like a pupil in bright light. Three heart beats and it opened again, vomiting out Lindsey and the woman with him. They were aged. A scar seamed Lindsey's once handsome face from his hair line, down over his nose, and across his lips pulling them into a permanent scowl on one side. The woman was missing an eye and three fingers on one hand. She held a boy, who was twisted and ugly like he had been given birth to only half done. Behind them a young woman strode out of the redness, haughty and beautiful in the rough leathers she wore. Her body was lean and trim, boyish in form and a proud smile rode on her wide lips. Her long hair was bound up, a warm sun-kissed brown. Her eyes were hard and blue as sapphires.

"Sorcha," Buffy whispered at the same time as Angel.

Buffy sat bolt upright, the sheets sticking to her sweaty body. Tears flowed down her face. She reached over hearing Angel panting beside her. His eyes rolled. "Angel, I had the most horrible dream. Lindsey and Sorcha and a woman I don't know were sucked into this horrible place."

"Quor-Toth," Angel said. "It was Quor-Toth and the woman was Justine."

Buffy pressed a fist to her lips, not wanting him to know what was happening. That meant one thing. "A prophetic dream," she whispered. "A Slayer dream."

"And you brought me into it," Angel said.

It wasn't the first time. Any other time Buffy would rejoice at being so close to him again that they dreamt the same thing but now she felt cold inside. "No wonder they wouldn't tell Justine or Lindsey the plan."

"Wolfram and Hart has found a way back across. It would only take days of our time, Buffy, and Sorcha would be full grown, a warrior for them. They need a strong, dark warrior for their End of Days plans. Neither me nor Connor complied."

"So they're going to make one for themselves." Buffy rolled out of bed. "We should tell the others."

"It's almost time to go anyhow."

They paused to use the restroom, splash water on their faces and Buffy was the one to tell them all the dream. She watched the shock and betrayal registering in Lindsey's eyes and the unadulterated fury in Connor's.

"They can't take my daughter there," Connor said. "Lindsey's here. He isn't going to help them."

"Damn straight. No way am I signing up to go to hell." Lindsey shock his head frantically. "Well...more so than I already have. I, at least, want to be dead first."

"But we are taking Lindsey with us," Willow said. "Your dream didn't show him being a willing participant. What if we lose him in South Dakota?"

"Maybe you should stay here Lindsey," Buffy suggested.

"I'm your only contact. You'll lose too much time if you have to wait for me to act as a go between from here," Lindsey said.

"But why you?" Cordy asked. "What would they want with you?"

"I know some magic. Justine knows how to fight vampires. The Senior Partners probably reasoned Holtz survived it with less going for him. It's a calculated risk," Lindsey said. "And I'll take another by staying with you guys. I'm better protected that way."

Buffy nodded. "Wes, is the plane ready?"

"Within the hour. We could head there now," he replied.

"Let's do it."

Continue