Part 8<\/b><\/p>\n
Faith sat on the serving counter in the front section of the Magic Shop, watching the by-play between Buffy and Xander. One heavily booted foot was planted squarely on the surface of the counter with her forearm draped lazily across her thigh. Her brown eyes moved back and forth, keeping in time with the dialogue.<\/p>\n
Scrubbing his face with his hands, Xander returned his green eyes to the blonde slayer. An unreadable expression pulled his face taut as his brain went over and over the sight of Cordelia Chase exiting the shop with a child in her arms. All this time he’d thought the brunette was dead or worse and she’d been fine.<\/p>\n
Buffy paced much like she had done the night before, her blonde hair swishing around her shoulders as she too replayed the scene. Blue eyes showed the distaste she felt towards Giles for not telling her the brunette was back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can’t believe this, I can’t believe her\u201d Xander’s voice rose in volume and sarcasm dripped from his tongue.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can’t?\u201d Buffy asked as her eyebrows rose high, \u201cAs far as I’m concerned, this is typical Cordelia Chase behaviour.\u201d A disgusted expression quickly appeared on her impish face before disappearing just as quickly. \u201cShe probably didn’t want anyone to find out she was pregnant\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you blame her?\u201d Faith piped up, \u201cIf the way you’re acting is anything to go on, I don’t blame her for skipping town.\u201d They were talking like having a kid at seventeen was something to be ashamed of.<\/p>\n
Buffy paused her pacing long enough to give the other slayer a glare that told her to back off and butt out. \u201cThis has nothing to do with you Faith, you don’t know anything about it\u201d<\/p>\n
Faith bit back a knowing smirk, thanks to her boy Spike she knew a hell of a lot more than they did put together. \u201cHey, I’m just saying\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell don’t ‘just say’ anything\u201d Buffy resumed her pacing before stopping. \u201cWhat does she want? Does she think she had something to come back for?\u201d her words made it perfectly clear she thought Cordelia had nothing in Sunnydale.<\/p>\n
\u201cCordelia has a kid Buff, maybe she came to see the dad\u201d Xander went with the only reason he could think of.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf she knows who it is\u201d<\/p>\n
Faith once again bit back a smirk, the other slayer certainly wasn’t as people oriented as she made out to be. \u201cDoesn’t sound to me like this chick would sleep about.\u201d If this Cordelia girl had been as selfish and snobby as they made her out to be, then she wouldn’t have been the school slut. Those types of girls kept their knees firmly locked until a guy they deemed good enough came along.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat would you know?\u201d Buffy turned a cold gaze on the brunette lazing around on the service counter. \u201cHave you ever met Cordelia Chase?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot that I can recall\u201d Faith replied easily, not giving into the urge to rise to the challenge deeply set in the blue orbs. She couldn’t be bothered for a fight after last night, the only thing better than slaying a vampire was screwing him until he begged for mercy. A wicked grin flashed across her red lips at the memory of breaking Spike.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo again I ask what would you know?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know people B\u201d the brunette shrugged as she straightened her body, swinging her strong legs down until she was fully facing the other girl. \u201cI know girls like her. They don’t screw their way from one end of town to the other. It takes a platinum card and a BMW to get into their good books never mind their panties\u201d<\/p>\n
Not hearing the truth behind the words, Buffy twisted them around. \u201cAs the saying goes, it takes one to know one.\u201d The insult meant to get the other slayer to leave didn’t have the desired effect as Faith merely grinned back at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou were just like her before you got your calling\u201d the brunette had learned a lot about her fellow slayer from Spike, he’d divulged every detail he’d learned during the course of plotting to kill her. \u201cPerky blonde cheerleader with a penchant for football players. How many did you bag?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBuffy isn’t the one in question here\u201d Xander stopped the catfight before his best friend had a chance to retaliate. \u201cCordelia and her kid is\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd here I thought it was about how she felt about the big return\u201d Faith commented dryly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs there a reason you’re here?\u201d the young man demanded hotly when he’d had enough of her smart ass remarks.<\/p>\n
\u201cWaiting on my guy\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don’t you go and wait on your ‘vamp’ somewhere else?\u201d Buffy snapped when Faith’s voice got too much for her to handle. She was so sick and tired of the other slayer always being there, always challenging everything she said and did. A slayer and a vampire, she thought with a cringe, not thinking about the similarities with Angel and herself.<\/p>\n
Angel was different, he had a soul and that made him more human than vampire.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo can do B, Billy Boy will be here in a few short minutes\u201d Faith offered the blonde a mock apologetic grimace. She didn’t care what they thought of Spike and her, her private business was just that. Her private business.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen go wait away from us\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKinda comfy here but cheers for the suggestion\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy swallowed back the lump of annoyance she felt at the way Faith blatantly ignored her statement to leave Xander and her alone to deal with the situation. After counting backward from ten, the blonde took a leaf out of the brunette’s book and ignored her in return. \u201cGiles and especially Willow should have the decency to tell us\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander gave her a look that was full of sarcasm \u201cYa think?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn’t my fault Xander\u201d the blonde defended against the acidic tone he was using on her. \u201cI thought she was dead along with the rest of you\u201d<\/p>\n
Taking a deep, none-calming breath the young man once again rubbed his face before threading his fingers through his dark, floppy hair. Glancing at his friend apologetically, Xander offered a reconciling smile. \u201cSorry, it’s just a shock. I don’t mean to take it out on you\u201d<\/p>\n
Buffy nodded, \u201cI know, we’re all shocked. She was the last person on Earth I expected to walk out of here last night\u201d apart from Angel that is she silently added. After the first couple of hours of his not coming back, she’d gone to the mansion where he’d set up home.<\/p>\n
Not bothering to knock, Buffy had walked straight inside expecting him to be there and filled with anger at the brunette he’d thought he’d killed. Not seeing any signs of Angel in the large foyer, she had explored upstairs and then out in the overgrown court yard. He wasn’t anywhere inside and so she had left, wondering where he’d gone to.<\/p>\n
She had so many things to say to Cordelia Chase, so many home truths she wanted to tell the brunette and she was going to start those home truths with how Buffy had figured Angelus had killed her. When Angel had quietly said he might have murdered the other girl, she hadn’t disregarded the possibility only pushed the thought away.<\/p>\n
Angel had remembered all of his actions as Angelus apart from the murdering of Cordelia, therefore still not giving them closure on her fate. At the thought of the soulless vampire, Buffy shuddered and once again remembered why she couldn’t be with Angel.<\/p>\n
She couldn’t even bring herself to kiss him after he’d come back from hell fully soulled. What if she caused him another moment of perfect happiness? Her worst nightmare was having to kill him again.<\/p>\n
Breaking out of the grim thoughts, Buffy remembered this wasn’t about her relationship with the dark haired vampire, it was about Cordelia Chase and the reason she had to come back. \u201cLook\u201d the blonde stated in a final tone, \u201cThe only we’re going to find out what and why she’s back is if we ask her\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYa think?\u201d Xander sarcastically asked then sent another apologetic smile in her direction. \u201cAccording to Willow, she’s working for Giles\u201d<\/p>\n
Faith quietly coughed back her laughter as Buffy’s expression went into cool shock before turning thunderous. \u201cGiles offered her a job\u201d was quiet, disbelieving statement, \u201cWhy am I not surprised she’s using the kid as a sympathy vote? That seems exactly like something she would do\u201d<\/p>\n
Xander resisted the urge to say ‘Ya think?’ again, figuring it would only serve to annoy her more than she already was and annoying the slayer wasn’t something he wanted to do. His legs were useful. \u201cI say we wait for Cordelia to show up here then we pounce\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if she brings her kid?\u201d Faith asked, she understood their need for answers from the chick but that didn’t mean they had to cause a riot around the boy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that have to do with anything?\u201d Xander stared at the slayer who’d taken his virginity four years ago and cringed. God knows what had possessed him, but then again thinking back on it now he hadn’t really been given a choice.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo\u201d Buffy had to agree with Faith’s point, \u201cI hate to say this but I agree with Faith. It’s Cordelia we’re angry at not the kid\u201d the more she thought about the young mother the more she pitied the kid. \u201cShe’d get defensive and not tell us what we want to know\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWow\u201d Xander stated with an impressed nod of his head, \u201cWhat d’ya know? Faith hasn’t screwed all her brains out after all\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNaw, that was you\u201d Faith let his insult flow over head easily. She was the first one to admit she was promiscuous, well she had been before hooking up with Spike. That guy could hold his own, definitely a keeper for a little while anyway. Besides, she got a kick out of being with the vampire who’d bagged two of her predecessors.<\/p>\n
As the subject of the little boy got brought to the forefront of the conversation, their thought simultaneously adjusted to the change in topic. No matter how hard she tried, Buffy just couldn’t see Cordelia as a mother. The brunette had probably hired help to do the dirty work while she sat back and watched.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wonder who got her pregnant\u201d Xander mused loudly, \u201cIt sure as hell wasn’t me\u201d that was one question he wanted the answer to. It wasn’t him, that was for sure, Oz wouldn’t have cheated on Willow, that left the rest of the male population at Sunnydale high.<\/p>\n
Before Buffy had a chance to say anything, the front door was energetically booted open allowing Spike to rush out of the harmful sunshine and into the safety of being indoors. The blonde vampire hurled the steaming blanket off of his head, dusted down his denim jacket and immediately set his gaze on the brunette slayer still perched on the surface of the counter.<\/p>\n
His sapphire blue gaze sparkled with mirth when Faith glanced towards Buffy and Xander, silently communicating with Spike on the topic of conversation that his arrival had just interrupted. \u201cNo little bit today yet?\u201d the vampire asked, inwardly telling himself he wasn’t taken with the Son of Peaches.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot yet Billy\u201d Faith sent a wink his way, \u201cDaylight\u201d Cordelia and Connor wouldn’t be arriving until the sun had gone down. From what Spike told her, the kid was photosensitive and couldn’t be in any form of direct light. Not that it mattered if the kid was happy and well looked after.<\/p>\n
Even though she personally couldn’t wait until she saw Angel’s kid and the girl who had been talked about nonstop all day, it was highly doubtful Buffy and Xander would be thrilled<\/p>\n
Spike nodded, remembering the little boy’s inability to be in any amount of light. \u201cPeaches still M.I.A? Didn’t think he had it in him myself\u201d It didn’t take a genius to figure out where his grandsire had disappeared off to last night and, using his knowledge to his advantage, the blonde vampire made the comment about the missing vampire.<\/p>\n
Buffy may not be a genius but she wasn’t a total idiot either, she knew when Spike had information she didn’t. The blonde’s cool blue gaze landed on the vampire, searching his eyes for what it was he meant by the question regarding Angel. \u201cSpike\u201d<\/p>\n
The blonde vampire didn’t miss the underlying warning in Buffy’s tone as she glared at him, demanding why he mentioned Angel. \u201cWhat?\u201d Innocence coated his tongue as he sidled over to Faith and slung his arm around her shoulders much to the disgust of both Xander and the other slayer.<\/p>\n
\u201cProblem?\u201d Faith asked with a slightly raised eyebrow, shifting herself along the bench until she was firmly against Spike.<\/p>\n
Xander simply shot her a look which said it all before he returned his full attention to Buffy who was simultaneously glaring at the blonde vampire and pretending not to see the affectionate embrace between the two. \u201cDo you know where Angel is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot a clue\u201d Spike answered with a shrug, exchanging a smirk with Faith when she elbowed him in the stomach. Hard. \u201cI love it when you get rough\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you two just ‘not’ do that?\u201d Buffy snapped when the other slayer all too quickly began to respond towards the vampire’s sexual advances. \u201cIf you want to continue in your\u2026 Whatever it is you have, then go do it somewhere else\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat she said\u201d Xander pointed to the blonde slayer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat’s your deal?\u201d Most of the time, Faith let their opinions on her being with Spike wash over head, but on the odd occasion their constant judging got on her nerves. Like now, the disgust written on both Buffy and Xander’s face grated on her nerves.<\/p>\n
Buffy’s expression said it all as she gave a sound of disapproval before glancing away. Spike was a vampire, a killer, a monster; she didn’t know how Faith could be with someone they were meant to kill. Once again ignoring the similarities between Faith and herself.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike you’ve never done the deed with a vamp B, why is it okay for you and not me?\u201d Faith questioned as her face expressed the deep annoyance she felt.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel and I are nobody’s business but mine and his\u201d Buffy’s cool voice matched the iciness in the blue gaze as she glared at the brunette.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is when he goes psycho\u201d Xander muttered, remembering that time of his life all to well. The murder of Jenny Calendar, Acathla and the possible killing of Cordelia, all of that only fuelled his hatred for the dark haired vampire. As far as he was concerned, those acts were unforgivable.<\/p>\n
\u201cAngel and I are not the subject here\u201d the blonde snapped, outright refusing to acknowledge the fact Faith had a point. It was different, Angel was different. Turning back towards Spike, Buffy pinned him with another glare. \u201cDo you know where Angel is?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m not his bloody keeper Slayer\u201d the vampire retorted, it would give much more amusement when Angel told her himself about where he’d been and why he was there. Shrugging his shoulders, he flickered his eyes to meet the brunette’s and winked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wasn’t at the mansion last night\u201d the blonde slayer told nobody in particular. She hadn’t bothered with knocking and just gone straight in just like many other times before. After searching the whole of the ground floor with no success in finding Angel, she’d gone upstairs and still got no success.<\/p>\n
Xander shrugged unconcerned with the fact Angel seemed to be missing, \u201cMaybe he decided to take off for parts unknown\u201d he could hope. There were no words to say how happy he would be if the vampire had left Sunnydale, he wished for it to happen every night since meeting him.<\/p>\n
Buffy graced him with an unimpressed expression before shaking her head, sending strands of blonde hair flying. \u201cNo\u201d she denied, \u201cAngel wouldn’t leave\u201d he wouldn’t leave me. He loves me.<\/i> Now wasn’t the time to be getting paranoid over her relationship, now was the time for the discussion of more important things.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnyway\u201d she looked towards Xander, \u201cAngel and I isn’t the subject, Cordelia is\u201d<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Angel peered down at the tiny gloved hand curled in his, a small smile flickered across his lips when Connor glanced up at him and treated him to one of his cheeky grins. When he had said to Cordelia that last night had been the best night of his existence, he’d lied.<\/p>\n
Tonight was.<\/p>\n
Connor was staying with him at the mansion tonight, Cordelia was letting the little boy spend the night and he couldn’t wait. As much as Angel was looking forward to having his son stay with him, he was scared to death. He didn’t know anything about being a father or how to keep a child five years old occupied.<\/p>\n
He’d never been so nervous in his entire life.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you sure you don’t mind?\u201d Angel wanted to be sure that Cordelia was sure.<\/p>\n
Smiling warmly at the vampire and then her son, the brunette nodded sending the curls playfully bouncing around her shoulders and face, making Angel want to toy with the silky soft strands. \u201cI’m sure\u201d she told him firmly, \u201cIt’s just, well, this is the first time I won’t be with him.\u201d It was horrible, though she knew Connor wasn’t being left with a stranger, it did nothing to relieve the ache building up in her chest.<\/p>\n
The vampire trailed a finger over the lower lip forming into a sad pout, \u201cThen you’re overdue for some time to yourself. If you can call work time to yourself.\u201d He quickly came to realise that this was the equivalent of parents taking their child to the their very first school day.<\/p>\n
Angel had to smile at that thought and placed his hand on her shoulder comfortingly. Cordelia knew her son would be safer with him than anywhere else but still, she wasn’t going to be there to see for herself. The vampire once again felt proud of the mother Connor had.<\/p>\n
Sending a sly glance down to her son, Cordelia grinned at him \u201cIt would be good to get away from the thorn in my side for a while\u201d<\/p>\n
Connor stuck his tongue at her, \u201cYou love me really\u201d his mom couldn’t fool him like that. She gave him sweets and kept his pictures on her bedroom walls and made him cookies every Sunday so she must love him.<\/p>\n
Angel never ceased to be amazed at how much of Cordelia was in his son, even the habit of having the last word. Shaking his head at their little dialogue the vampire stored it away as a nice memory. Cupping her face in his large palm, smoothing the roughened skin of his thumb over the apple of her cheek. \u201cWe’ll be fine, Connor will be fine\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know. I know\u201d Cordelia blew out a puff of air, \u201cIt’s just this the only time\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’ve been without your son\u201d Angel finished with an understanding smile, \u201cYou’ll miss him\u201d will you miss me?<\/em> \u201cDon’t worry, I’ll take good care of him\u201d<\/p>\n The young mother raised her eyebrows as a look of trepidation swept across her face, a slow smirk lifted the corners of her glossy mouth \u201cDon’t you mean Connor will take good care of you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably\u201d the vampire dryly responded, \u201cNow go or you’ll be late for your first day\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t want to go\u201d Cordelia twirled her fingers together, this would be the first time she had left her son since he’d been born. It was an awful feeling, like she was abandoning him or something and she didn’t like it.<\/p>\n Connor’s face curled up sadly when he realised his mom was about to leave him, he had thought he would be going with her. \u201cMom, you don’t have to go to work\u201d he stated, his lower lip could be seen wobbling under the safety of his mask. \u201cYou always tell me that I don’t have to do what people tell me to do. You don’t either, does she dad?\u201d<\/p>\n Both Cordelia and Angel inwardly groaned at the sound of tears in the little boy’s voice. Kneeling down to be eye level with her son, the brunette threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s only for a few hours baby and then I’m coming home\u201d she told him thickly. She didn’t want to go, she wanted to be with Angel and Connor some more. \u201cYou and your dad will have lots of fun and you won’t even miss me\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s not true\u201d Angel mumbled loud enough for her to hear, \u201cI will.\u201d At the brightly beaming hazel that was suddenly turned his way, he knew he’d said the right thing for once in his life.<\/p>\n Releasing Connor from the death grip she had him, the brunette stood to look seriously at the vampire. \u201cNo direct light, not even candle light\u201d Cordelia went through everything for the fourth time that day. \u201cDon’t give in to him, he will walk all over you and don’t let him see or play with any sharp, pointy things\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn’t\u2026\u201d Angel went to deny he would allow his five year old son to play with any swords or weapons he had in the mansion. Deciding it would be better for both Cordelia’s and his sanity if he were to cut her words off, the vampire turned his attention to Connor. \u201cWhy don’t you get your toys out of the car?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay\u201d a saddened Connor mumbled with a pout, he didn’t want his mom to go. She should be staying with dad and him. The little boy opened the back door and pulled out a bag carrying toys, his ball, colouring books and crayons. Peering inside, the little boy glanced up at his mother with a frown. \u201cWhen am I allowed pens?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you realize walls are not to be drawn on\u201d Cordelia replied immediately as a look of horror crossed her face. All she had done was take a ten minute bath, if that, and went downstairs to find matchstick men and women on the skirting boards with trees and houses on the hallway walls.<\/p>\n Off Angel’s quizzical expression, she answered \u201cDon’t ask please\u201d<\/p>\n Shuffling his feet on the floor, Connor shrugged \u201cKelly said she did it all the time and she didn’t get told off\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat was Kelly, not you\u201d the brunette could see where this was going straight away. \u201cAnd don’t think I haven’t forgotten about that other little trick you and Kelly pulled either\u201d<\/p>\n Once again, Angel felt left out. Cordelia had all these memories of things his son had gotten up to and, though she made it sound like it hadn’t been fun, he knew she treasured those memories. At the mortification that was slowly replacing the sadness on her face, the vampire began to rethink the fun part. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n Hiding her face in her hands, Cordelia groaned loudly and Connor defended himself to the very best of his five year old ability. \u201cIt was Kelly’s fault, she made do it\u201d his big brown eyes glanced up at his father, begging to be believed. \u201cReally dad, I swear it wasn’t my fault\u201d<\/p>\n Looking from his son to the brunette, Angel raised his eyebrows \u201cLet me guess, don’t ask?\u201d the corners of his mouth quirked up in an amused smirk. He was beginning to get a good idea of just what his son was capable of doing.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease don’t\u201d Cordelia mock begged, knowing she would tell him later about poor Snowy the white terrier who had miraculously turned the same shade as Kelly’s pink Barbie hair dye. Washing her hands of the mortifying event, she glanced at her watch and sighed \u201cTime to go\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo mom!\u201d Connor latched onto her arm, tugging on the sleeve of her jacket. \u201cDad wants you to stay, don’t you?\u201d he turned big brown eyes towards the vampire.<\/p>\n Kneeling down to look her son in the eyes again, Cordelia cupped his covered face in her hands, speaking gently. \u201cBaby, I won’t be gone long I promise\u201d she soothed the upset five year old, \u201cI bet if you were real good for your father, he might bring you to see me soon.\u201d<\/p>\n Her warm smile and softly spoken words seemed to pacify Connor for now. Nodding at his mother, the little boy once again took hold of his father’s hand and glanced up at him with the biggest brown eyes he had ever seen. \u201cCan we go see mom at work? I promise to be real good and do what I’m told and everything\u201d<\/p>\n Angel now knew what was meant by the kicked puppy look, caving under the highly effective brown eyes, the vampire decided Connor was right. He didn’t want her to go but he also wanted to spend a few hours alone with Connor. That was before he surprised Cordelia by stopping by the Magic Shop later.<\/p>\n \u201cI was planning on it anyway\u201d Angel confessed, knowing he’d said the right thing again when the brunette’s smile became contagious and he found himself smiling back at her. It was a good feeling.<\/p>\n \u201cPromise we can go see mom?\u201d the five year old pleaded as he tugged on the sleeve of Angel’s leather jacket. \u201cPromise?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCross my heart\u201d the vampire indulged.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright! I can see the eyeballs in the jar again\u201d Connor stated excitedly while his mother shuddered. \u201cHave you seen the eyeballs in the jar dad? Are they really for witches and wizards and warlocks? Or has mom been telling porkies again?\u201d<\/p>\n Smiling at the childish excitement of his son, Angel shook his head \u201cI think your mom has been telling porkies\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI knew there was no such thing as wizards and witches and warlocks\u201d he glared his mother disapprovingly and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI get off at 10 pm I think Giles said on the phone, so if you stop by around 9?\u201d Cordelia suggested. She could live with being away from her son, and Angel, for a few hours; it wasn’t another five years.<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t even think it\u201d Angel’s voice was gruff as though he knew what she was thinking. \u201cYou’re not leaving again, you have no reason to run\u201d I’d find you this time.<\/i> Irrational panic began to bubble up as he thought she could so easily disappear just like last time. Suddenly, letting her go to work didn’t seem like such a good idea. \u201cGiles would understand if something came up\u201d<\/p>\n She shook her head, denying that she would run off again. \u201cI wouldn’t, couldn’t\u201d she stressed \u201cLeave you.\u201d Cordelia forced her wobbling lips into a thin, tight line and blinked back tears glazing her eyes. \u201cI better get going\u201d she bit her tongue, \u201cYou have everything? The Magic Shop phone number?\u201d<\/p>\n Angel nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cMy cell phone?\u201d<\/p>\n Again, he nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThe hospital?\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cFire department?\u201d<\/p>\n His expression went blank.<\/p>\n Kneeling down in front of her too quiet son, Cordelia forced him not to move away from the big smooch she placed on his covered cheek. \u201cAw mom, quit it\u201d Connor grouched as he ducked and tried to hide behind Angel in an effort to get away from the kisses.<\/p>\n When she stood again, Angel ignored the sound his son made as he brushed his lips over Cordelia’s, taking a second to flick his tongue out for a quick taste. \u201cVanilla\u201d he breathlessly murmured against her hot mouth. That little teasing taste would have to last until Connor was asleep before he got more. \u201cGo\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay\u201d sending a firm, parental glare down at the little boy scowling up at his dad, Cordelia waited until she got his attention. \u201cYou better be good for your father Connor, or else there will be no park time after work. You\u201d she directed at Angel. \u201cDo not give in to him and if he does something you told him not to do then\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Leaning forward to whisper in the vampire’s ear so Connor didn’t hear. \u201cDon’t talk to him for at least an hour, make him think he hurt your feelings.\u201d Being ignored was the one punishment that seemed to truly work on the little boy, he hated it if he thought he’d made his mom cry.<\/p>\n \u201cGot it\u201d Angel knew better than to question the advice, \u201cI’ll stop by at 9, you want anything bringing? Coffee or something to eat?\u201d He was stalling and they both knew it.<\/p>\n \u201cAngel, stop it\u201d Cordelia shook her head, \u201cI’ll see you two at 9, until then be good\u201d<\/p>\n Connor was treated to one last hug before she got in the car and, after a few tries, drove away leaving him alone with his dad. Shuffling his trainers against the small loose stones on the ground, the little boy suddenly was for once in his life lost for words.<\/p>\n Peering down at the five year old, Angel felt a little uncomfortable with this. Cordelia was literally trusting him with her life and her son, after everything she knew he’d done she still openly trusted him. He wouldn’t let her down.<\/p>\n Picking up the large overnight bag packed with things his son would need, Angel slung it easily over his shoulder and held out his hand for Connor to take. \u201cYou ready son?\u201d he wanted to say that word over and over again.<\/p>\n Glancing precariously around the darkened street, he finally noticed there were no other houses around like there were in his street. \u201cWhere’s your house?\u201d he asked curiously as he took the vampire’s hand.<\/p>\n Angel smirked and grimaced at the thought of the mansion, he knew the little boy would love everything about it; from the mythological gargoyle statue on the high tower to the large dark courtyard. \u201cIt’s way, way over here\u201d he replied cryptically, enhancing the childish curiosity.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat’s it like? Is it like my house?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u201d Angel stole a glance at the frustration on his son’s face when he gave nothing away about where he lived.<\/p>\n Connor scowled up at his dad, \u201cAre you really special like mom says? You don’t look very special but mom says you’re real strong and can do anything you want too.\u201d The little boy wondered if he should say what else his mom told him about his father.<\/p>\n \u201cShe says that when you get real mad at bad people you go\u2026 Grrr\u201d his face and free hand scrunched up, implicating a vampire.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy don’t we go inside and you can tell exactly what your mom told you about me\u201d Angel stated, feeling humoured by the way Cordelia had explained the fact he was a vampire. In a way he glad she had but in a way he didn’t want his boy to have any knowledge or part of that side of him.<\/p>\n Connor soon became distracted as the large structure of the mansion was revealed to him; his eyes went huge and were instantly drawn to the gargoyle statue on the tower way above the entrance. No way did his dad live here, it was even better than the castle in Labyrinth, his favourite movie; there was even a goblin.<\/p>\n \u201cCool\u201d he breathed as he stared in wide-eyed awe at the building his dad was taking him too, \u201cThis your house?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou like it?\u201d Angel questioned, most adults were intimidated by it’s large size and the area where it was. Yet here was a five year old who seemed to think it was the best thing he’d seen in a long time.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah I do! This is better than the castle beyond the goblin city\u201d Connor told him, nodding frantically. \u201cIf it’s okay with mom and I’m real good tonight, can I come back tomorrow please dad? Please?\u201d<\/p>\n For the first time in a long while, the vampire actually laughed out loud at his son’s open begging. \u201cYou can come here whenever you want son, this is your home now too\u201d then a thought occurred to him and he frowned. \u201cConnor, I don’t have a TV or a video\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s okay I guess\u201d the five year old contemplated a night without his bedtime movie. \u201cWe can just have extra playtime before we go see mom. Can you play soccer? She can’t kick very good and sometimes she skids on the grass\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think I can play soccer\u201d Angel told him with a warm smile, \u201cC’mon son, let’s get inside where you can take your cloak off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAlright!\u201d<\/p>\n