Title: A Mother's Love
Author: Anne
Disclaimers: I wish but no ATS does not belong to me
Dedication: To all the wonderful authors that have been posting on this board- you all amaze me and make be smile (well some of you angsters make me cry- but I'm still having fun)
Spoilers: Daddy- and a borrowing heavily from all the specualation of posters as to what will happen to the 'baby'. Some of you may know that I'm not a big fan of the baby on ATS, but I will tell you- there are NO major character deaths in this- and to me until Joss makes it otherwise- Connor is a major one -
Comments: This story is pretty much complete so the weirdness of RL permitting posts will come fairly frequently- Oh, it's VERY long. So, those of you that don't like long fics and I understand- be warned or just don't read. as always feedback is appreciated.Chapter 1
Finally, the pain in her head was receding into a dull throbbing, but the pain in her heart was just beginning. Cordelia tried to calm her breathing, to get her bearings and figure out what to do.
“Cordy, what is it? The vision?” Wesley and Gunn crouched on the floor trying to ease her up.
“I’ll go get Angel.” Fred jumped up.
“No, Fred wait.” Cordelia struggled, pushing away Wesley and Gunn. “He’s feeding Connor, let him be. I don’t need him.” Telling the biggest lie of her life. But she couldn’t see Angel not yet, not until she figured out what to do.
Angel stood silent at the foot of the steps. Cordelia’s words hurt him and made him feel guilty. This was the first time in as long as he could remember that he had been unable to be there for Cordelia during a vision, the first time that his friends reached her before him. Angel had heard her scream, but couldn’t leave his son, not in the middle of his bottle. And it made him feel guiltier that Cordelia understood.
“Cordy are you all right?” Wesley and Gunn moved giving Angel room to kneel down beside the young woman.
“Fine.” Taking his hand to help her up. “Is Connor asleep?”
Angel nodded. He knew she was lying. She was always lying now after a vision. Cordelia would let them help her up, say she was fine, then go into the bathroom and suffer alone. Angel hated it. But she wouldn’t let him in. And honestly, he hadn’t been hovering outside the bathroom door as much because he also needed to be with Connor. The guilt came back stronger. He didn’t want to choose. He wanted both of them. If she would just let in him a little, then maybe he could have it all. Angel sighed. He was wishing for the impossible again. Cordelia did let him in as much as was realistically possible. She gave him so much, just as much as she gave Connor, but she wouldn’t give him her pain. She wouldn’t share that with him, unless the situation was so dire that she no longer had a choice. Which usually meant she was close to dying or being tortured by some freak minion of Wolfram & Hart. Angel stared; she wasn’t leaving to go hide in the bathroom. Cordelia was looking at him her lips moving. What had she asked?
“Angel, is Connor sleeping?”
Angel slowly nodded and blinked at her smile. She wasn’t going to the bathroom, but she was still hurting. Was she letting him in? He had to know, but he also had to ask her about the vision. He didn’t want to. He wanted to know why she wasn’t running from his gaze. He wanted to know why she was allowing him to see how her body was still trembling and how her hand unconsciously was rubbing at her neck. He wanted to take her in his arms and have her let him ease the pain away. He wanted to lead her back up to the suite and watch as she held Connor. He wanted it all. But Angel had to ask about the vision.
“False alarm, weird, uh.” Shaking off Angel’s hand.
“Cordy?” Everyone looked at her. She never had false alarms; the visions always meant something, always.
“Cordy, may be you just didn’t understand it? Describe it.” Wesley said.
“Nothing to describe.” Nothing that she wanted to describe or know, the vision showed nothing but the death of Connor, of all of them. Cordelia knew she should tell Angel, but how was she supposed to tell him that a powerful evil was breaking through one of the many hell dimensions, coming to kill his son and that it would succeed, no matter their plans or determinations. Connor would die and so would they all, unless Connor was taken to a place where the Powers could protect him. A dimension that he could never return from, one that Angel couldn’t go to. How could Cordelia tell the vampire that the only way the miracle of Connor would be safe to grow up was to leave Angel forever?
“Probably just a test to see if it still works, it’s been awhile.” Cordelia forced herself to smile.
“Cordy that doesn’t make sense.” Angel studied his seer. She had a vision. She was in pain. That didn’t happen for no reason.
Cordelia shrugged at Angel. “Since when have the Powers made sense? Lets go watch your son.”
Angel watched as Cordelia headed for the stairs, her hand reaching for the banister. That’s what he had wanted, but it didn’t seem right. She was hiding from him again. But why would she lie to him? Cordelia was nothing but ever honest with him, except about her pain. Why was she upping the lie?
Chapter 2
Cordelia traced a gentle path along Connor’s cheek. “It’s amazing how soft he is. Women, men too, would pay good money to have that skin.” Leaning down to place a kiss on his forehead. “He really does have your brow. Lets just hope he doesn’t have the broodiness that goes with it.”
“I haven’t brooded in….”
“In an almost a month. And he’s to thank for that.” Cordelia smiled. She let out a deep sigh. “Well, I’ll leave you two alone.” Turning for the door.
“Wait. Where are you going? I thought you wanted to watch him with me.” The initial concerns that Angel had flared back up. Cordelia actually had seemed better. She seemed to take comfort from Connor. Things had started to be what he wanted. But now she was leaving.
“You boys don’t need me here.”
Angel pulled at her arm. “We do. I do. I’ll always need you, you know that.”
“That’s sweet,” patting his hand and gently removing it from her arm. “Now, do that male father and son thingy.”
“Cordy.”
“Angel, I need to lie down, that false alarm had all the regular kick of a live freak show.”
“You can lie down here.” Angel stared she just admitted that she was still hurting. But if she was letting him in, why was she leaving? She needed to stay where he could watch over both her and Connor.
“No. Dennis will have my bath ready. I want to go home.”
“Cordy, you’re not upset because I wasn’t there when you had the vision, are you? I just…”
“Were where you were supposed to be with your son.” Kissing him lightly on the cheek. “I’ll call later to check on the little guy.”
Angel watched her as she left the room. Something was not right. And it was much more than that he was disappointed.
He glanced again making sure that Connor was still asleep then went downstairs.
She really had left.
“Wesley.”
“Everything alright with Connor?"
“Yes, but Cordy, she doesn’t have fake visions. And she was still hurting and she left Connor and me. Something’s not right.”
Wesley took off his glasses and rubbed his face. Wesley wondered which concerned Angel more the false vision, that Cordelia was still hurting or that she left. Looking at the vampire’s expression he guessed it was the last. When Connor first arrived Angel had refused to let anyone hold the baby, even Cordelia. But that soon changed. Angel did let the others hold Connor every once in awhile now, but it was rare. But it wasn’t rare to see Cordelia bouncing or carrying the baby around. Wesley wasn’t sure but it seemed that Angel was beginning to receive more joy at seeing Cordelia with the baby, than holding Connor himself. Wesley couldn’t be sure but it was a close call.
“Angel, I’m sure that Cordelia just needs to rest.”
“She can do that here, why does she have to go to her apartment? Something’s not right.”
“Angel, here she’s constantly with you and/or Connor. At home she can get some rest.”
“She loves being around Connor, she said so.”
“And that’s true, but she also needs to rest. Especially, if she’s still hurting from the vision or whatever it was."
“That’s why she should be here.”
“Angel, Cordy loves Connor, but she’s not the child’s mother, she has her own life for what it’s worth. It’s not healthy for her to ignore it. And you can’t expect her to, just because you want her to be here with you and Connor. If she needs this time alone, then let her be. Don’t worry, she’ll be back when she is feeling better.
Angel glared stopping the protest that was threatening. Wesley was right. Cordelia wasn’t Connor’s mother no matter how much Angel was beginning to believe that she should be. He went back up the stairs. Still, something wasn’t right.
Chapter 3
Cordelia hugged her knees rocking back and forth, small tears escaping from her eyes. Cordelia knew what had to be done. She just didn’t think she could do it. And even if she could, she knew Angel wouldn’t listen. So, that left her with only one choice, she wouldn’t tell him until it was done and then she’d face Angel’s wrath and pray that he would eventually forgive her. And maybe just maybe together they could find a way to make the Powers retract the permanency of Connor’s going.
*************************
“Cordy, what’s wrong?” Wesley jumped up looking at her tearstained face.
“I had another vision.” The statement was a lie, but the tears weren’t.
“Cordy?” Angel rushed to her. Like the tears, the weakness and pain in her body was real as she felt the coolness of Angel’s strong hands brush her face.
“I was wrong, it wasn’t a false alarm. I just didn’t understand it. So, they sent me a more vivid update.”
“You should have called,” half pulling, half carrying the young woman to the round couch. She should’ve never left.
“Everyone is going to be needed, except obviously me. And someone needs to stay with Connor. A band of Gorgon demons are going to kill a busload of children if you don’t hurry- the parking garage on Maple. Hurry.”
“Cordy?”
“Go, Angel. I’m okay enough to watch Connor. I wouldn’t otherwise. You know that.”
“Of course, I know that, but you look…”
“Horrible, awful, pasty, gross…gee thanks. Go.” Putting on a smile.
“Guys.” Wesley, Gunn and Fred already had their weapons in hand.
“I’ll call Lorne.”
“Angel, I can watch Connor.”
“I know, but someone needs to watch you.”
“No, I’m okay just go.”
Cordelia stayed seated until the front door slammed. She gave a silent prayer of forgiveness, knowing that she was doing the right thing.
Cordelia took out the ring and key that opened the portal to the prison dimension. She grimaced those objects were a symbol of some of her worse guilt. And now it looked like they would be again, only this guilt would be greater.
She pulled out a piece of paper and with the keys to the hell dimension went to Connor.
Chapter 4
Cordelia paused outside the suite. Connor was not her child, not her responsibility. Angel should be told. He should be the one to do this. Cordelia slumped down on the floor, her back pressed against the wall, burying her head in her hands. She thought she had made a decision. If she did this without Angel’s knowledge he would hate her. If she didn’t do it Connor would die. But maybe not. Maybe, if she told Angel… Cordelia brushed away her tears and finished her thought realistically. If she told Angel, he would deny that giving up his son was the only way to protect him. Angel would fight the Powers and the demon to keep Connor with him. Over time, Cordelia may have been able to convince Angel that this was the only way, but they didn’t have the time. She either did it now, or waited and watched as her vision came true.
With a deep breath, she pushed herself back to her feet. Cordelia would do it. She would deal with Angel’s anger later.
**************************
“Who the hell are you?” Cordelia glanced around for a weapon, any weapon. But of course there weren’t any. They had removed anything remotely dangerous to the baby out weeks ago. She hadn’t even thought about bringing her sword with her. Cordelia was about yell and start kicking when she took another look at the demon standing over Connor’s bassinet. “I know you.”
“Well, we haven’t had the pleasure. But I know you too. You’re the girl.”
“What girl?”
“The one that caused Angel to break out my prisoner.”
“You’re Skip? I didn’t know that. I guess I should. Angel said you were big and green. Actually, you more of bronze teal. Why are you here? Billy’s dead.” Cordelia squirmed at the big demon’s gaze. It was sympathetic, kind even, but also unwavering and determined.
“You know why.”
“Not really. The vision didn’t show anything about you taking Connor just that you would protect him when he got there. I didn’t know you were ‘The’ Skip.”
“Well, that was the plan, but you don’t seem to want to follow the plan.”
“I was taking him.” Holding up the ring and key.
“Angel was supposed to take him. Not you, it isn’t your choice.”
“Well, it shouldn’t be his. He shouldn’t have to decide that. And….”
“You weren’t positive that he would choose correctly.”
“How sure are you that this is the right thing to do?”
“How sure are you?”
Cordelia closed her eyes. “Angel won’t accept it. He will fight…and lose, everything.”
“It’s his choice.”
“No. I’m apart of this too. Maybe I just don’t want to die.”
“Or maybe you just don’t want him to suffer the knowledge that it all could be prevented if he had listened.”
“It would kill him.”
“Again, his choice.”
Cordelia scrunched up her face. “If it’s so much about him making the decision why are you here? Were you planning to tell him about the demon or were you just going to take Connor? ”
“Because you’re right. The Tro-Clan doesn’t have the time to wait around for Angel to make the correct decision and that’s assuming that he ever would. His past choices give rise to certain doubts as to his ability to act in any way contrary to his self-interest. And you can’t do it. You are needed here with Angel. The little tyke can’t die. So, I’m here to take the decision out of both of your hands. This way, you will remain to do what is required.
“And that would be…” Arching her brows.
“Take care of the warrior, he’s going to need you. And of course continue as his seer.”
Cordelia shook her head. “That may be a tad difficult- he’s going to blame me and rightly so. I don’t think he’d actually kill me- I mean he’s let that evil bitch- Lilah live, but we’re talking about Connor. Angel’s loves that little boy. The Powers might just have a dead seer on their hands.”
“You really think he’d kill you? The girl he released the evil guy for. I don’t think so. But he will be angry with you and the Powers, not a good combination for reaching his redemption. You thought the beige period was unhealthy.”
“You know an awful lot about us.”
“Had to. After that little fiasco with Billy, the Powers kind of assigned me to you. They said it was a promotion, but I have my doubts. This little assignment is already taking too long. Time is not something we have here. So, I’m going and I advise you not to mention the exact details of when you got your vision or what you were planning to do. Just tell Angel that I came and you couldn’t stop me.”
“When you say 'you' do you mean me or do you mean Angel and the rest of us.”
“Either, or- you’ve both become sort of a package deal. Time’s wasting, young lady. Say your goodbye to the little tyke, so we can be on our way.”
“I can’t lie to Angel.”
“You have to. Telling him your part in this won’t do anyone any good, you, him or the Powers. If you do, Angel WILL lose everything, not only the tyke but also his trust in you, possibly even his love and with that his hope. That’s really all the poor boy will have.”
“I’ll…” Cordelia stared at the big demon holding Connor. She had planned on taking the key, dropping off Connor and coming back to face Angel to convince him what she did was the only right thing, give him hope that he would see Connor again. But she remembered her vision, not of the death, but of Connor’s sanctuary. It was so alone. Connor wasn’t her son, but he was a baby, a helpless baby, one that she cared very deeply for, maybe even loved. God. She hadn’t thought this through at all. Cordelia crumbled the note she had in her hand. She would be causing Angel pain, but he was a big boy, old in fact, but Connor…could she cause him the pain of loneliness?
Cordelia thought about what Skip was offering. Listen to him and she wouldn’t have to take responsibility for her lies, just let him leave with Connor. Cordelia was positive that she could avoid blame. Angel trusted her. She could make something up about the wild Gorgon chase she sent him on. She could always blame it on Wolfram & Hart. Angel would believe that. And then, Cordelia could just tell them that Skip appeared and that she tried to stop him, but she failed. It could be done. That way Cordelia wouldn’t have to face Angel’s feelings of anger and betrayal, he would never know. Cordelia looked again at the small bundle in Skip’s arms. That kid could sleep through anything except when she wanted to rest. Cordelia smiled. He looked so much like Angel. Okay, Connor was small, smooth and bald, while Angel was big, chiseled and full of brown-gelled hair, but Connor did. And if he were anything else like his dad, Connor would need love. Cordelia would just have to trust that Wesley, Gunn and Fred would give Angel the love and friendship he would need.
Skip studied her. “Good, you see the benefits of my advice.”
Cordelia said nothing, merely nodded. “Wait. You can’t take him without his bear.” Cordelia hurried over to the dresser. Please, let there be paper and pen, the first note was no longer right. She sighed in relief.
“He won’t need it.”
“Yes, he will.” Cordelia hurriedly scribbled on the piece of paper.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m seeing if there is anything else he needs. You pay attention to Connor, I thought I heard him cry.”
“What?” Skip looked down at the sleeping baby. “He didn’t.”
“Oh, I thought he did.” Cordelia brought the bear from the dresser to the demon. “Here.”
“He doesn’t need it. Now do you understand what needs to be done?”
Skip took her glare as acquiescence. “The tyke will be safe.” He threw his own key on the floor.
Skip watched the light swirl and vibrate around the object opening the dimensions. He failed to notice the sheet of paper that Cordelia placed on the pillow of the empty crib or her move up behind him. He didn’t notice her presence at all until all three of them, Skip, Connor and Cordelia landed in the dark dungeon of the other dimension.
“Young lady, what are you doing here? I thought I made it clear that you were to stay out of this.”
Cordelia arched her brows as she wiped the dirt from her pants.
“The warrior will need you.” Skip tried again.
Cordelia stared then took the baby out of the demon’s arms. “Connor will need me more. Like I trust the Powers child rearing skills.” Looking around at the dark dank walls. “Hmmph. This child will not live here. The Powers just better have better place in mind.”
“The Tro-Clan will be provided for.”
“Not here. This is just dank, dreary and gross.”
“Hey, I didn’t complain about the dust and mess of your work place did I? Look, the tyke is to be the Kham-pah, the powers will protect him and keep him until he’s ready.”
“And love? Who’s going to love him, you?”
“I’ll have you know that I have two little ones of my own. I’m quite loving.”
Cordelia rolled her eyes. “Connor is going to need a home, a yard and toys. He’s going to need a new bear. You left his.” She glared. “Mr. Boogles was his favorite. This dimension does have baby and toy stores, doesn’t it? It better.”
“Mr. Boogles? Yard? Toy stores?”
“And you claim to be a father."
“I am. But, the tyke is the prophesized warrior, the Tro-Clan. He’s…”
“He’s a baby.” Cordelia rolled her eyes. “His name is Connor, not Tro-Clan or whatever and no matter what the future holds for him, he still needs to play and to be loved. That’s why I’m here to make sure that the Power’s new pawn as has much of a life as he possibly can before they send him off to fight their endless battles.“
“You don’t have much regard for the Power’s do you?”
“I have enough, but not enough to trust them with Connor.”
“You need to go back. You won’t become a Princess in this dimension.”
Cordelia glowered. “I’m not going.”
“I’ve reconfigured the lock. Once the light dims you will no longer have a choice.”
“I’ve made my choice. So, the old key won’t work.”
“Can’t have Angel following now, can I?”
“Oh. Well, here I guess these are useless now, uh.” Handing the disc and key that she had taken from the hotel.
“Trying to keep an escape route handy. It’s not too late you can still go back.”
Cordelia nuzzled the sleeping baby in her arms. “You can sleep through anything can’t you, honey.”
“Come on, I’ll call Gertie and tell her to add another plate for dinner.”
“Who’s Gertie?”
“My wife. Thank the Powers she’s understanding.” Skip shook his head. The big demon could just see another ‘so-called’ promotion in his very near future. Nanny to both the Tro-Clan and the seer.
Chapter 5
Angel rushed into the hotel. They had waited for almost an hour for the demons to show. But nothing, no demons, no school bus full of helpless children appeared. Cordelia had seemed so sure of the vision. First, the so-called false alarm and now one of non-existent danger, something was not right. Was someone or something messing with Cordelia’s visions again? Angel would kill Lilah this time, if he found out Wolfram & Hart was involved.
“Cordelia, Cordy….” Angel stopped. The hotel was empty. He went into game face trying to sense the two most important heartbeats in his life. Nothing. Silence. Angel tried to remain calm. Cordy just took Connor out in the garden. Empty.
“Angel?” Wesley watched as the vampire stormed from the garden almost flying up the stairs. He shot looks at Fred and Gunn as he began to run after Angel.
Wesley, Gunn and Fred piled into the doorway, halting in their urgent questions as they saw Angel standing completely still in the middle of the room. In one hand he held the baby’s bear and the other a piece of paper. ‘Angel’ was scrawled on the paper, clearly in Cordy’s manuscript.
“Angel.” Wesley pushed back Gunn and Fred. “I’m sure she took him out. You know how Cordy like’s to take Connor out. That’s all.”
“Leave.” Angel growled still not moving. Part of him wanted to believe Wesley but there was something about the emptiness of the room that had once held so much life that told him differently. “Go.”
Wesley looked again at the vampire and the empty bassinet then at the friends huddled in the doorway. He nodded. “We’ll be downstairs.”
Wesley nodded again motioning Gunn and Fred away. He followed after giving one more glance at the vampire. Wesley wanted to believe what he had said, but he knew deep in his heart Cordelia would not just take the baby leaving a note in his stead, not unless something was wrong.
Angel clutched the bear tighter as he turned the paper in his hands. He needed to know what Cordelia had written. Obviously, she had a reason to take Connor out of the hotel. He had to know so he could protect them, yet reading the letter scared him.
Angel,
No time. Sorry. Connor is safe. Vision real. Danger to him. The Powers sent Skip to take him. I….I’m sorry….I’ll be with Connor. I won’t leave him alone, ever.
Love, C
The Powers took his son and Cordelia. Angel felt the world close in around him. He couldn’t move. Angel tried to think. But there were too many questions. Skip would have the answers, the demon would tell him where Connor and Cordy were or the demon would die. Angel moved then stopped as he heard the crackle of paper under his boot.
Angel was about to kick the crumbled wad away when he noticed the writing. Another note from Cordelia but longer and lessed rushed.
Angel,
I’m writing this is in case I don’t get back before you realize that I lied about the Gorgon’s. I want to explain in person and I will, but I don’t want you to think that Connor was kidnapped- or at least not by one of your enemies. So, don’t go on a vamp rage on the innocent- or at least an innocent in this. Angel, I took Connor to a safe place. The first vision was real. It in Connor’s dies. We, you couldn’t protect him, not from this evil. I couldn’t tell you because you wouldn’t believe that only way for Connor to be safe was to leave. You would’ve had Wesley try to research it, but Connor didn’t have the time. You would try to fight it, but you would lose and Connor would die. This was the only way. The Powers have shown me where he will be safe. So, I took him there. You have to believe me it was the only way. I’ll tell you more when I see you. I know you’re angry, but please listen. Also, I’ll be coming back alone. The Powers want Connor with them. They can protect him from the evil that is to come. You can’t. I’m sorry.
Love,
CordyThe vampire slumped to the ground clutching the bear and paper to his chest. He felt nothing.
*************************
“I don’t like this.” Gunn kept glancing up at the stairs.
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” Wesley grabbed at his glasses and rubbed furiously.
“Guys.” Fred said quietly nodding her head to the stairs.
The men’s heads twisted, they started to move but stilled. It was as if an invisible barrier stalled their movements.
Wesley wanted to got to the vampire, but it was obvious that Angel didn’t want to be approached it was evident in his still body, moving yet not. Angel stopped in front of Wesley holding out a piece of paper. “They’re gone. Where’s the key?”
“Key?”
“The key to the hell dimension, where is it?”
Fred didn’t understand why Angel wanted it, but Angel’s tone called for immediate obedience. She went to the locked chest and rifled through it. “It’s gone. It was here. I know it was.” She turned back to Angel.
"Angel?” Wesley grabbed at the piece of paper. It didn’t make any sense. Cordelia wouldn’t just take Connor. Sure she’d take him to Baby Gap or the park, but she wouldn’t just take him. And why would Angel need the key to the prison dimension?
“Angel?” Wesley begged for some information that he could understand.
“She took it and him. Find another key.”
“Angel, stop.” Wesley was still confused but he was no longer motionless. He reached out and grabbed at the vampire.
“Wesley.”
Wesley gulped. He never heard the vampire’s voice so cold and enraged. But he couldn’t let that prevent him from speaking.
“Cordelia would never put Connor in harm. You know that. Now let me see her note.” Wesley read the crumbled paper quickly. “Angel, obviously she thought it was necessary. But, she’ll be back and explain it more….Why do you think that she took the key?” Angel held up another note. “Skip?”
“Billy’s guard.”
“Oh.” Wesley studied the two pieces of paper. “I don’t understand. Why would she write two, one that says Skip came and that she was going with them and one that says that she took Connor and would be back. Is she coming back or not?”
“I want the key to find Connor. Cordelia can stay where ever she is.”
“Angel.” Wesley was now getting angry. “We’ll find a key and we’ll find both of them. But you will not blame Cordelia. Obviously she had a vision that scared her scared her so much that she acted rashly. But I’m sure she will explain when we find them.”
“I don’t care about her. Find my son.”
“No.”
Angel’s hand shot up grabbing Wesley by the throat.
Gunn jerked out of his stupor and yanked the vampire back, punching Angel in the gut with all of his might. “Whoa, calm down.” He said as he moved the vampire just enough for Wesley to break away.
Wesley clutched at his knees gasping. He slowly pushed himself up. “Angel. You want to find your son. Go for it…” Wesley waved his hands at all the books scattered around the hotel’s lobby. “If you want to find Cordelia and Connor then I will help you. I appreciate the miracle of your son. I love Connor. But, I will not let you forget who Cordelia is. She did what she thought she had to for YOUR son, she left her life to go to some dimension that she knows nothing about for YOUR son, not hers, for his safety. How much do you expect from her? What more do you want? We can’t even tell from these if she is coming back or will be able to.”
“She…”
“Cordelia was wrong not to tell you, but her attentions were for your son. She went blindly into another dimension with no thought other than his safety.”
Gunn watched Angel closely, when it seemed that the vampire wouldn’t lunge at Wesley’s throat again, he grabbed the pieces of paper from the ex- watcher.
“Shit.” Slumping on the stool, handing the papers towards Fred’s out stretched hand.
“Oh.” Fred read the notes again. “We have to find them. Cordy shouldn’t be alone.”
“Cordelia?”
Fred winced at Angel’s tone but returned his stare. “Connor is safe, Cordy will make sure of that, just like she’ll make sure that he isn’t scared, but who’s going to make sure that she’s not.”
“I don’t care.” Angel forced the words out of his mouth. But it was hard. Wesley and Fred’s words were cutting through the rage that had brought his body to numbness.
“Okay, you don’t, though I thought you loved her. But we do love her, just as we love Connor. We’ll help you. But if you threaten Cordy in anyway when we do find them, I’ll….I’ll …be really mad.” Fred huffed and glared.
It was Fred’s nonsensical threat that finally got through to him. Angel stared at Wesley, Gunn and Fred. They would help him, but not at the expense of Cordelia.
“She took my son.”
“And can you think of anyone that you would trust more with him.” Wesley said quietly.
Angel closed his eyes. He couldn’t. “She took my son and left me. She didn’t trust that I could save him.”
Wesley shrugged wiping again at his face. “Then what she saw in her vision must have been horrific otherwise she would have stayed. Because the only time she has ever doubted you -is when you created those doubts.” Wesley said pointedly referring to Angel’s beige period.
***************************
“Owww.”
“Mommy.” The little boy ran to Cordelia.
“Shh. Honey, I’m fine. Really.”
“Mommy,” the boy cried wrapping his small arms around her chest as she winced again on the floor.
“Hey, little guy. Mommy is just having a little hurt. Sort of like when you fell off the swings. Why don’t you go and get her some of those cookies that made you feel better.”
“Mommy, I’ll get you cookies.”
“Thank you, darling.” Cordelia forced a smile at the four year old. “I’m absolutely sure that they will make me feel better.”
The little boy flashed a bright smile and ran.
“What’s going on?’ Cordelia glared up at Skip. “I haven’t had a vision in four years. Why now?”
“Well, actually it’s only been about three weeks LA time. Time runs differently here, no one mentioned it, uh. You’re still the seer.”
“Three weeks, Connor is four years old.”
The big demon shrugged. “You never asked.”
“I didn’t know to. Damn’t.” She squinted her eyes closed trying to will the pain away.
She slowly opened them as a small hand reached into hers. “I have the cookies.”
“Yummy.” Cordelia took a small bite. “Mmm, I feel better all ready. Connor, would you mind getting me some milk to go with them, pretty please.”
The little boy smiled again and took off running.
It had only three weeks since she left with Connor. Cordelia had given up hope. The Oracles had stopped seeing her. Skip had been obstinate about giving her any information on how to go from one dimension to another. She had begun to believe that after four years that it was too late for her and Connor to find away back to Angel. She needed to think. She needed to get rid of the vision that was clouding her mind. It was a normal, gross, vivid LA vision.
“Skip, “ Cordelia whispered hurriedly. “I’m still having visions. I can’t give Angel the information from here. But he needs it- tell me how. “
“You aren’t going."
“Fine. But the vision needs to go. Or what is the point. If the Powers haven’t given him a new seer, how do they expect him to fight, without my visions?”
“Good point. I’ll be back.’”
Cordelia glared as the demon shimmered out of the room.
“Here mommy,”
“Ooh that looks wonderful.”
“You didn’t eat the cookies.”
“That’s because I want to save them just in case. I want to feel good for a long time. But, maybe I’ll give you one. Do you want one?”
Cordelia laughed, her son’s smile overwhelmed the pain in her head. “Did I tell you how much you look like your daddy?”
“Mommy.” Rolling his eyes.
“Well you do. All big and handsome.”
“Mommy.”
Cordelia laughed as he scooted away from her hand fumbling his hair.
“Stop.” Connor patted downs his hair.
Cordelia laughed harder the pain made bearable by the small boy in front of her. “Gimme a hug.”
“Are you going to mess with my hair?”
“Come here, you little dork.”
The boy happily ran into his mother’s arms. “Mommy, tell me story about Daddy.”
“Which one?”
“The one where he rescues the princess and beats the bad guys.”
“Honey, you’re going to have to be more specific, your daddy was always rescuing damsels and beating the bad guys up.”
“The real princess.”
“Oh. That one. Okay.” Cordelia pulled the little boy tighter in her arms and told how his father fought the dragon named Groosalugg to save the Princess from the evil castle. Cordelia had stopped feeling guilty about making Groo the bad guy a long time ago.
******************
“Uncle Skip,” Connor cried as the demon shimmered back into the room.
“Hey tyke, I heard Bob talking about his new train set, he was wondering if you wanted to see it.”
“Mommy?”
“Okay.” Cordelia got up and held her hand out.
“Mommy, I’m a big boy, I can walk next door by myself.”
“Give an old nervous mommy a break and pouting doesn’t work with me, or that puppy dog face.”
“Hmmph.”
“Where did you learn that? How about if Skip shimmers you? That way, you’ll have fun and I’ll feel better.”
“I get to shimmer.” Looking expectantly at Skip.
“It’s not a toy. Sure, come on kid.” He said at Cordelia’s glare.
******************
“It took you long enough.”
“Look Princess, I don’t shimmer my own kids, so you didn’t think I would get away with doing it with yours without having to take a few rounds around the block. Bob would have pouted for days. And by the way, thank you very much for teaching him that little trick.”
“Please. I didn’t teach him anything.”
“No, just how to pout, glare and Hmmph. And Cecilia, what a mouth on the little lady. Your fault and ten years old is too young for make up. And demons don’t wear make up.”
“Hmmph,”
Skip shook his head.
“Well.”
“Compromise, the visions can leave you can’t.”
“How?”
Skip held out a shiny globe. “When you have a vision will it into here, then will it to Angel, he will get the vision. Done.”
“Angel will receive the vision- as in the pain?”
“Well,” Skip shrugged.
“That will be helpful, how is he supposed to fight the evil in the vision if he on the floor screaming in pain.”
“He’s a vampire he doesn’t scream in pain. Anyway, it’s easier on demons.”
“Lorne.”
“The singer?”
“The demon empath. If anyone can handle it, he can. So, I just will it? Like in go bad icky vibes go to Lorne.”
Again Spike shrugged.
“Big help. Okay, go.”
“You don’t want me to stay.”
“Not unless you can give me more helpful information.”
“Oh, well there’s this,” Skip held out a small crystal.
“What is it?”
“A key.”
“You’re letting me have a key?”
“No. Well, yes but it only opens a sliver, you can’t get through but the globe can come and go.”
“Oh. So you meant literally will it to Lorne. Okay. Go.”
“I think I should stay.”
“I think you should go a watch Connor.”
Skip scrunched his forehead. “All right.”
Cordelia held the globe in her hands. A Sliver? A letter. Cordelia quickly scribbled on a piece of paper.
Cordelia brought the flashes of the vision back to the forefront of her thoughts. She gasped as the dull ache flared into a raging fire in her brain. She held the globe up picturing the imagines leaving her head and flowing into the crystal ball, the pain leaving immediately. “Whoa. Like they couldn’t have given me one of these before.” She folded the note around the ball and tossed the small stone. Again she used her imagination to picture Lorne, through the break in the air, she saw him sitting at a table, writing something. “Sorry.” She said as she tossed the ball and paper into the opening.
Chapter 6
“Okay, Okay, What the hell is going on?” Lorne came storming in to the hotel for once oblivious to the swirling emotions permeating the hotel.
“Lorne?’ Wesley got up, from the books he had been reading. It had been three weeks and no luck with finding a key that would open the portal to Skip’s dimension. They actually had found several keys, but all opened up into other strange dimensions. Wesley hadn't known that they’re so many, some horrible and some quite lovely.
“Yeah, Lorne, the owner of a re-work in progress Karaoke bar, reader of singing auras. That’s it kiddies, that’s all I am -so why in the hell am I getting the Princess’s visions and notes from her. Has she not heard of phones? And damn’t, I didn’t get comshucked or kissed, why am I getting the parade of everlasting evil?”
“What, you have a note from Cordy?’ Wesley hurried over to the demon.
“Give it to me.” Angel appeared suddenly clutching at the green demon.
“Boys, boys, I’ve got visions. Who cares about a note?” Lorne brushed at Angel’s arms. “Where’s the Princess, I’ve got a headache to complain about.”
“Did you read it? What does it say? Does it say where she and Connor are?”
“No. I didn’t read it, I was too busy getting off the floor, after screaming like a deflated balloon, pain, visions…. the princess is gone with the little cutie pie? Since when? Okay, I’ve been a little preoccupied with the club’s renovations, but still that is big flash news that some one could have picked up a phone for. Can some please tell me what’s going on?”
“The note.”
“Here.” Lorne slammed the folded paper into Angel’s hand.
Angel grabbed the note and walked to the corner.
“Okay, okay, seems I’ve missed quite a bit.”
“Cordy had a vision of some evil demon killing Connor so she took him to another dimension, she left a note, but didn’t say where or for how long. Angel is……”
“About to burst a gut or rather rip someone's gut out. Up to speed.”
***********************
Angel,
First thing, Connor is safe, well and beautiful. I could go on forever, but this is going to have to be quick, I’m not sure how long I have to give the vision to Lorne before it’s too late to save the helpless and I have a very strong feeling that Skip will take the key back so I won’t be able to do this later. Don’t have time to explain. Also, I don’t have time to say I’m sorry, but I am.
Thing is time is different here. I just found out that’s it been only three weeks since I left. Wow. Connor is walking and talking, he’s so smart. Tell Wesley that he can pick out all of the evil demons and good demons by glancing at their pictures. Skip says it’s because he’s the Tro-Clan, I say it’s just cuz he’s a genius. Though, I think that 4yrs old is way too young for him to be looking at evil demons, but Skip wouldn’t back down. But, I did manage to get Connor a new jungle gym and a trip off dimension to go to the beach. He loved it; though I was leery there is something about red sand and purple water that’s weird. Not to mention three suns. But, Connor didn’t mind but then he’s never seen a LA beach, then again no trash, just occasional dead bodies, it’s seems some demons find the purple water toxic, and obviously can’t read the warning signs, but the body patrol was pretty good. He built sand castles…again red sand is odd. And he gets along wonderfully with Skip’s children.
I’m not trying to make you madder, I just wanted you to know that he’s good and safe, strong and…. I could go on.
The point that I’m trying to make is that the Oracles won’t talk to me anymore. I pissed them off somehow, they say I talk too much and am a bad influence on the children. Pooh. It was like a church here, before Connor and I came and livened things up. They gave me a Target to shut me up, really you should’ve seen what the beings were wearing here, or the ones that have clothes. I tried for a Baby Gap, but no go. Something about inter-dimension trading stuff. I’m rambling aren’t I, I just had started to believe that after four years I wouldn’t be able to get a message to you. But then wham a vision, never been so happy to get one let me tell you. Anyway, the oracles don’t like me, but they love Connor. They’re all bowy and scrappy. Something about the Tro-clan. Bullshit. He’s just adorable. Thing is, he’s got Zelda, (I made that up. You can’t talk to blue and gold people with out giving them names- and she hates it.) wrapped around his pinky. He’s so got your puppy dogface. And all he does is talk about you. Asking questions, telling stories. Fritz gets annoyed, I don’t think he likes you either, but Zelda on the other hand does -she wasn’t one of your chippys, was she? She blonde, but blue. Oh well, she’s cracking. I think by next week, that’s when they have their teatime with Connor, basically, what have you learned at school etc. He’s four for godsake, the way they go on, you’d think they expected him to go into battle tomorrow- over my dead body. Anyway, I’ve got an idea that just may work. I can’t try to bring Connor back, it’s still too dangerous, but I do have a plan for you to be able to see him. I probably shouldn’t tell you- but I know you, you’re already trying to figure out how to jump through every portal in the universe. Or have Wes find a new key, but that’s just it they changed the locks. So, just wait a week, there it will probably only be minute, who knows if we’re lucky, you’ll have the answer to my plan, by the time you read this. You are reading this, aren’t you? You better not have tossed it down in disgust just because you’re mad at me. Oh, tell Wesley that the demon in Lorne’s vision can be killed by a dose of sage arsenic potion, no violence necessary. I had to read it to Connor last week. Really, why they make a four-year know this stuff is beyond me. At least Skip said that weapons training wouldn’t start until after his seventh b-day. Kind of them, uh. I knew they would be horrible with children. I tell you…….”
“That woman cannot be trusted.” Skip suddenly appeared grabbing at the letter. “Incorrigible. She has my children questioning everything; little Cecilia wants to be a model or a physicist. Then there’s the shopping mall. A Target, Toys -R- Us, and word just came through we're getting a Gap, baby, kid, adults the whole shambag. A Slothug demon wearing khaki is just not right. And then the PTA, Connor doesn’t even go to regular school, he’s got tutors, but no, she wants him to go to school with the regular kids. So, what does she do she twists the principal around her finger and he’s petitioning the powers to let Conner in. And do you know how many demons I have to beat away from her door, have you ever seen a love sick Fragornis demon, it’s pathetic. She’s a menace, a natural disaster, and a disruption of the normal order. I tried to make her leave, I even threatened her with the fire cell, but what did she do -she laughed and when I put her in it, nothing but a raised regal brow. She thinks that her ‘Princess’ status follows through every dimension. Well, it doesn’t. So you want her back?”
Angel finally found his voice. “You put Cordelia in a fire cell?” The growl came involuntarily from his throat. He had suddenly forgotten his anger at his seer from only ten minutes ago.
“Stop your whining. You’re as bad as she is. How you two could be responsible for the Tro-Clan is beyond me. Like the fire cell would work on her. She’s a pure soul, that’s why the Oracles put up with her, she.. she’s Cordy. But they aren’t going to like this, no, no, no…” He waved the letter around.
Angel grabbed the letter back. “Skip, where’s my son?”
“Right now?” Skip scrunched his face.
“Was that or was that not Cordy’s expression” Gunn whispered.
“Yeah, but it looks funny on him.” Fred shrugged. “She told the little demon girl to be a physicist, I’m a physicist.” Smiling.
“Why am I not surprised that she orchestrated a shopping mall in a hell dimension.” Wesley pinched the bridge of his nose.
“In three weeks, that’s good even for her.”
“Shh, Skip is about to tell Angel where Connor is.” Fred said.
“Your son is at this moment sitting on his mother’s lap listening to another story of how his daddy saved the Princess from the dragon named Groo. It’s his favorite. He especially likes it how his daddy fought off a legion of dark knights to get to the dragon that was guarding the castle to get to the Princess. His second favorite is how his daddy, stole the prize in the fiery pit right from under the nose of the big dumb demon guarding it. He of course stole the prize for the princess. I personally hate that one.” Skip just stared down at the gapping vampire.
“She’s not his mother.” It was the only thing that Angel could think to say.
Skip rolled his eyes. “He knows that -she told him about his other mother the one that died so he could live. Which considering the Princess’ history with that particular vampire, I think it was pretty generous of her. But, Connor would just rather call the woman that loves him, feeds him, teaches him, sings to him, takes him to the beach, the park, makes fun of the blue and gold teachers that make him nervous and tells him stories about his hero father, mommy. Honestly, I was very put out when she tagged along when I came to get the tyke, but she wouldn’t leave, now she can’t…”
“Cordelia left a note, she said she took him…what do you mean she tagged along, that she can’t leave?”
“She left a note, when? The bear… that’s what she was doing. You can’t trust her. A natural disruption, I tell you. I don’t know what she wrote, but I came to take the Tro-Clan on the Power’s orders, she saw me and jumped after me. And she wouldn’t leave, said she wouldn’t have Connor growing up in a dungeon. I told he would be fine, but she wouldn’t leave.”
“She said…”
“I guess she figured that if you thought she took him you would just go beige and not declare full fledge war on the Powers. And they humored her. And they’re doing it again; primarily I imagine because of Connor, the boy loves her. And they even realize that he’s gotten certain benefits with her there.”
“What?”
“Do you want to see your son or not? But, I warn you there are certain conditions and rules that must be adhered to before you agree to go.”
“Conditions?”
“Conditions- 1) once you enter Mythos, you will still be a demon, but you will lose all of your demon attributes, well no extra strength anyway- can’t have you trying to fight your way past me again. 2) you will not attempt to see the oracles, they don’t want to see you- they’re only doing this so the Princess will stop badgering them - 3) it will only be for a limited time, you will be sent back as soon as the Powers think its been long enough. They can’t have you absent from the fight for too long. And last and most important if the lack of ‘grr’ power doesn’t deter you and you do try to take Connor away, Cordy will die.”
“What? The Powers would kill her? You said it. She has a pure soul.” Wesley said stepping up beside the speechless vampire. “What kind of Powers are they?”
“Ones that think the Tro-Clan’s safety is more important than either Angel or the Princess.” Skip turned to the vampire. “If she dies because of you, I will hunt you down and skin you alive then stake you. My children and my wife are very fond of the Princess.” Skip paused. “So, you ready? “
“Excuse me,” Lorne said raising his hand.
“Yes.”
“Visions?”
“I suggested just sending them straight to Angel, but Cordy thought that would hinder his fighting.” Skip’s expression showed how wimpy he thought that excuse was. “She chose you, she figured that with the powers you already have you would be best suited to handle them. Don’t worry visions are harmless to demons. Cordelia is the only one that will die because of them.”
“What?” This time everyone shouted.
Skip jumped back. “Wow. That first seer of yours really did screw up didn’t he? So, you all didn’t know. Yep, human seer’s die, quickly and horribly. Amazingly, the Princess has lasted longer than most.” Skip shrugged. “She probably nagged the specter of death away. So you ready now?”
“What do you mean? Is Cordelia dying or not?”
”Everyone dies at some point, some sooner than others. Hers…well she should have died by age 21. But this new wrinkle on things has postponed it somewhat.”
The humans blinked and choked. Even Angel stepped back. “Postponed?’ Wesley ventured forth.
Skip shrugged. “Time is different in Mythos. The vision that Song king experienced was her first in four years. So….the longer between visions, longer the life span. Angel, really are you ready yet? Because I’m not waiting here forever. “
Angel straightened. “If Cordelia is already going to die, then what type of threat is it for the Powers to kill her?”
“Angel?” The humans shouted.
Skip shrugged. “There are many ways to die, some more unpleasant than others. And if the Princess dies in any such a manner, I will hunt you down a flay you, rip you dead heart out and then stake you. Because, you see, my wife and kids really like the Princess.” Skip’s eyes hardened, then softened almost as quickly. “What you fail to understand Angel, is that you are getting this chance because of the Princess and that she also knows all the conditions placed on you ALL of them….and she still wants it. But also, realize this- Cordelia is still the seer- but she is no longer yours- she may have been willing to die for you at one time, but not now. Just as she knows that she will die if you succeeded in any attempt to take Connor, she knows and is willing to kill you to prevent it because Connor’s safety is now what is vital to her, not you. We’re wasting time are you coming?”
Angel still stunned slowly nodded.
*******************
“I’m beginning really to not like the Powers.” Gunn leaned over the counter.
“There’s got to be something we can do.” Fred flopped down on the couch.
“I suggest the first thing we do- is Lorne, the vision?”
“Right, right.”
Chapter 7
“Is Daddy really coming?”
“Yes, honey, Uncle Skip is bringing him.” Kneeling down rubbing her hands through his hair.
”Mommy,” pushing away her hand.
“Little Dork.”
“I bet you never called Daddy a dork.”
“All the time, honey. Now, remember I want you to be on your best behavior, no pouting or whining. Daddy doesn’t like it. It gets him ‘grry’.”
“I don’t pout.”
“I know, but just remember, please. Daddy can’t stay for long.”
“Because he has hero stuff to do, right. He’s going to save the Princess again.”
“Yes. The princess is an idiot, she keeps getting herself in trouble.”
“Uncle Skip calls you a princess sometimes, do you need saving? You won’t leave me.”
“Never. And Skip is also an idiot. I’m not a princess that needs saving. Your daddy only saves real princess’ not boring mothers of dorks. You’re stuck with me kid.”
“Darn.” Giggling.
“Dork.” Hugging Connor tightly. She pulled back and lifted her hand. “May I, pretty please.”
“Okay.” He smiled as she ruffled his hair. “Now, it’s just going to be you and your daddy, I will be at Skip’s. So you boys can have fun all alone. Do boy stuff.”
“Mommy.”
“No whining, Connor Angel.”
“Hmmph. I wasn’t whining. I just don’t want you to go.”
“Hmmph, yourself. I really wished I knew which of your friends taught you that.”
“Mommy,” Rolling his eyes.
Skip looked over at Angel. The vampire hadn’t moved since he saw Cordelia and Connor. His son. His son was no longer a baby but a small boy hugging Cordelia, giggling with her calling her mommy. Angel couldn’t move or take his eyes away from the scene.
“Angel.” Cordelia stood up turning to face the vampire. “Honey, this is your daddy.”
Connor stared his brown eyes widening as his body scooted behind Cordelia’s legs. “Hi.”
“Hi.” Angel looked down at the young boy.
“Connor, what is it?” She turned kneeling down once again in front of the little boy.
“He’s scary looking, he doesn’t smile. I don’t want to go with him.”
“Honey, he’s just amazed to see you all grown, the last time he saw you, you were a poopy mess.”
“I was not.”
“Yes, you were a little poopy mess.”
“Mommy.”
“Poopy pants.”
“I don’t wear diapers anymore, I have big boy pants.” Connor raised his brows at Angel, puffing up his little body.
“That’s a because you’re a big boy.” Angel smiled.
“See, I told you he could smile.” Cordelia dropped a kiss on Connor’s head.
“Mommy.”
“Honey, you go with Skip a minute, I just want to talk to your daddy alone- just for a minute, then I’m sure he’ll want you all to himself.”
Connor scrunched up his face. “But.”
“But, nothing. Scoot. It’ll be just a minute, okay.”
“Promise.”
“Cross my heart.” Bringing her fingers in a x motion across her chest.
Once they were alone, Cordelia faced Angel. “So, how melodramatic was Skip when explaining the rules.”
“I guess it depends on your definition of the word. He said that if I try to take Connor, you would die, but first you would kill me, then if I still managed to live, he would hunt me down and flay me alive, then stake me.”
“Over the top melodrama. Angel, no one’s going to die and no one’s going kill anyone.”
“Skip…”
“Skip was making a point, obviously badly. The Powers won’t let Connor leave. They just won’t. It’s not a matter of you trying and failing. You just can’t. All avenues of escape have been sealed in this dimension and will remain so, until it’s time for you to leave, no one can come or go. The key that Skip used to go to you is now useless. Another one will be made when its time for you to leave. Those relics that we found, not relics, they’re made by the dozen in a factory on the other side of Mythos, highly protected and rationed, but otherwise a dime a dozen. So, if you try to take Connor, you will be running in this dimension, without your vampire skills. You would be caught in a day, possibly less. And yes, I would be in on the search party, the whole damn dimension would be. And yes, I would fight you if necessary. But you need to realize you would also be fighting Connor. Right now this is the only home that he knows. It’s the truth Angel. I had planned on leaving you two alone, but now I don’t think it’s such a good idea.”
“Because you don’t trust me.”
“That you won’t try to find a way to take him. You will try. But not right now. You will wander, you will study realize that you can’t do it alone. So you will go back to Wesley and try to find a way. That’s to be expected, that’s who you are. No. What I meant was I didn’t think this through. I pictured Connor running into your arms wanting to spend time alone with you. He does love you, but he doesn’t know you. All he knows is that you are a hero. So, at least for the next couple of days, I’m going to have to be there. I won’t intrude, but he needs to know that I’m there. And Angel, I don’t know what you are planning to tell him about …anything. But, it’s okay to tell him about Darla, to a point.”
“She was his mother.”
Cordelia blinked. “Yes, and he knows that. He knows also that she was a vampire that died to give him life; he knows that you had a relationship with her beyond his conception, that you loved each other. That she was a good vampire, like you.”
“What?”
“Angel, he’s too young. Right now he believes that his father is a hero and his mother, his real mother was also one. That’s all he needs to know. He doesn’t need to now the gory details of Angelus and Darla or how Darla tried to abort him before she saw the light. None of it.”
“I wouldn’t…”
“I just wanted to make sure.”
“Why?”
“Why? Oh, why did I tell him that you were a hero and Darla was a hero? You are a hero. As for Darla, she did die for him, she deserves something for that. It doesn’t hurt anything for him to love her. He didn’t know her or have to trust her. “
“He calls you Mommy.”
“I’m the other one. He couldn’t pronounce Cordelia or Cordy. So mama, then mommy stuck. I don’t know why the Powers chose you and Darla to conceive the ‘Tro-Clan’, but they did, if they want to tell him the truth about his mother than they can do it and knowing them they probably will right before they tell him his life was nothing more than a prophecy. And that he’s nothing but a pawn in their stupid game. Before they tell him to die for them.”
“You know what they think he is.”
“I know what they know he is. He's the Tro-Clan the bringer of purification and ruination...
"To mankind?"
"No, to any and all threats to mankind, well to everything good, not just mankind. Wesley missed a word. Connor's the Kham-pah, the ultimate champion- whatever, I don't care. What I care about is that he is a child who deserves more and needs more than to be another one of their disposable warriors.”
“If you believe that why won’t you help me take him away?”
“Because of what I know. Angel, I saw the evil that was to be sent to kill him. You couldn’t have won. You weren’t strong enough- together we weren’t strong enough. At some point you probably would have taken him to Sunnydale ask Buffy for help. Her, the scoobies, you, Wesley, me, Fred and Gunn weren’t strong enough."
“Buffy is….”
“Is the ‘chosen one’ the vampire slayer, she like you are a warrior on our dimension, neither of you could have fought and won against the Mortnublis. Skip was generous enough to name the evil that I saw.” Cordelia shook her head. “ And before you bring up Plyea, or Buffy’s battle with Glory. Plyea wasn’t a hell dimension; it was just a song-less pain in ass place. And do I need to remind you Buffy may have saved the world, but she died. I couldn’t count on Willow still being alive after the battle that would have occurred to do the same magic for Connor. I imagine in Skip’s misguided attempt to be helpful, he told you that he was the one that took Connor. He was but only because he got there before I could have done it. I was sent the vision to give to you, for you to make the decision whether to send him here or to keep him with you. I made that decision for you. Not Skip. Angel, the only champion that could’ve defeated that evil was a month old. And that is just too young. The evil still exists. It is still a danger to Connor; it will be until he is old enough to fight it. Now, once you get that stunned look off your face and decide whether you want to growl, hit or yell at me, do it now, because such behavior will not be tolerated in front of Connor. He thinks you’re a hero and he thinks we’re friends. Don’t make him choose between his father the hero and the only mother he has ever known.”
“I don’t know you. This letter. It wasn’t written by the woman standing before me.”
Cordelia stepped forward and took her most recent letter. “God, I did babble didn’t I?” Smiling. “Connor wasn’t the only one that got lost in your ‘hero’ guise. It had been so long since I’d seen you that I just remembered the good stuff. But seeing you, I do remember the other stuff. You’re stubbornness, your inability to think clearly when pushed to the corner when someone you 1. care about 2. obsess about or 3. love is in what you perceived to be danger. You will ignore the Powers to do what you want. You did it with Darla and you did it with me. You would do the same for Connor. And while I was pissed when you did it for Darla and grateful when you did it for me, I will kill you if you try to do it with Connor. And I need you to understand that. You’re right I didn’t give birth to him, there is nothing in his features that isn’t you and Darla. But he is my child and I will do whatever I have to protect him.”
“So will I.”
“Then there shouldn’t be a problem. Is this it? Because, I mean it Angel if you go off on me in front of Connor, I will end this visit.”
“You….”
“Don’t have the power? Yes. I do. So.”
“I thought I loved you.”
“Funny, I knew I loved you. Still do."
Cordelia turned and walked away from Angel. "Honey, mommy and daddy are done."
Like a bullet out of nowhere the boy came barreling into Cordelia. She scooped him up easily rubbing her face in his hair.
“Mommy.” The little boy jerked back.
“God, so like your father, always about his hair. Silly.” Swinging the boy to her hip. “Where’s Skip?”
“Uncle Skip said he would meet us in the outer chamber. He had to go check on something.”
Cordelia scrunched up her brow. “Hmmph.” She looked at Angel. “Coming?”
Angel slowly nodded and followed.
“Connor, Daddy and I talked and we thought it would be fun if I stayed at home for a few days.”
“Thank you, mommy.”
“Your welcome, darling.”
Chapter 8
Connor’s initial shyness at Angel’s presence seemed to disappear as soon as Cordelia had told him that she would be staying. Angel wasn’t sure how that made him feel. Angel wasn’t sure how he felt about anything. Three weeks ago he had been basking in the joy of watching his son, holding his son. He had been happy in his realization of his love for Cordelia. He had been beginning to believe that they were a real family, mother, father and son. Everything was perfect, except that he hadn’t actually ever told Cordelia his dream and there was the never- ending fear that somehow it would all be taken away. But right or wrong those fears diminished as the days past and Cordelia became more a part of Connor’s daily life. That was until one hour in one day Angel's world; his dream came to a crashing end. An end caused by the woman he loved. The knowledge that Cordelia had taken Connor and left because of a real fear she had for the baby’s safety did not cure his anger. She had in a single moment placed the two most important people in his life out of arm’s reach and for that he didn’t know if he could forgive her.
Now three weeks later, his infant son had gone from a small bundle to a walking, talking little person. The woman he had loved had become someone he didn’t even know. This woman was someone that he could be angry at. She was a stranger. There was no doubt that this Cordelia was still beautiful, possibly even more so. The silk of her hair was darker and longer. Looking more like it had when he first had met her. The body was the same, still moving with the same grace, still traffic stopping, but it was stronger. He could see that in her stance the way she easily swung up Connor. The face. God that face was the same beautiful face. But the smile that was uniquely Cordy’s, the one that had always amazed Angel, captivated him really, was no longer there. Her eyes that had somehow managed to convey her every emotion were now guarded. Cordelia had gazed at him unwaveringly and told him that she was no longer on his side. He hadn’t recognized her. Angel didn’t know her. But his son did and his son obliviously loved her.
Angel watched as the small boy ran around Cordelia and darted forward and back along the dark hallway, stopping every once in awhile to stare at him. Awe, love and uncertainty were in the child’s eyes. Cordelia had said that there was no part of her in Connor, but it was her gaze- the one that Angel had learned to trust and need that stared through the boy’s eyes- frank, honest and full expression, the one he no longer saw in her.
Connor ran up again and stopped scrunching up his brow, another facet of Cordelia appearing on the little boy. Suddenly after seeming to make a great decision, Connor spoke. “How big was the dragon? Mommy just says it was really big, but how big is really big?“
Angel stopped momentarily confused until he remembered Skip telling them about Connor’s favorite story.
“How big was it?“ Repeating demanding an answer.
Angel couldn’t help but notice Cordelia smile. For the first time, Angel saw it directed towards him. He wasn’t sure if the amusement was at his expense. Was she starting to giggle because Angel had been completely clueless?
“Groo wasn’t really all that big, strong or smart.” Smirking at Cordelia. Cordelia shook her head at his action, her smile replaced with a frown.
“Oh.”
Angel looked down at Connor, the disappointment apparent on his small face. The young boy had expected Angel to beat something huge and terrifying and Angel failed him, instead Angel had wanted to cut Cordelia’s once hero down. Both Cordelia and Connor were disappointed in him.
“But, Groo could breath fire, hot raging fire. He used to as a terrible weapon, since he wasn’t exactly huge.”
Angel felt relief as the boy’s eyes widened in excitement. Angel looked up at Cordelia. Her smile was back.
“Mommy, you didn’t tell me about the fire, you didn’t.”
“I didn’t? Ooh, how could I’ve forgotten that? But you have to remember I wasn’t there. Uncle Wesley told me the story.”
Angel’s eyes shot up questioningly. Cordelia gave a small shake of her head at the vampire.
“I want to meet Uncle Wesley. Mommy says he’s real smart but funny. He’s says words in a funny way. Mommy, do Wesley.”
“Honey, your father knows Wesley, they work together.”
“Mommy says Uncle Wesley is a hero too. And so are Uncle Gunn and Aunt Fred. Fred’s a boy’s name, but mommy says she is a girl and really smart, just like Wesley. Mommy says you rescued her from a fate worse than death. What’s worse than death?”
“I told you.”
“Hmmph,” rolling his eyes and turning to Angel. “Mommy says that a fate worse than death was wearing bad clothes and having no shampoo or lotion. She’s teasing me, isn’t she?”
“To Cordelia, I imagine that would be a fate worse than death.”
“You’re teasing me too. Hmmph, grown ups.” Connor took off running down the hallway, completely missing the sarcasm. Cordelia didn’t but ignored it. Her gaze followed the small boy.
“Connor, don’t go too far.”
“Okay, mommy.”
“Cordelia?” Angel wanted to ask her why she had told Connor that she wasn’t the Princess that he had saved. For an inexplicable reason it made him angry. Had she turned their whole life together into a lie? “Why….” A loud repeating siren cut off his question.
“Connor, come back here now.” Cordelia ran. She didn’t have to go far before Connor came barreling into her. Large iron doors came slamming down cutting off the hallway, just barely missing separating the boy from Cordelia and Angel.
“Connor,” kneeling down in front of the boy. “I want you to stay with your father- do not leave his side, no matter what. Understand.”
“Where…”
“Connor, your daddy needs you to stay by him. So, he doesn’t get scared. Go hold his hand and don’t let go.”
“He’s a hero.”
“Even heroes get scared.”
Angel didn’t know what was going on but he knew he wasn’t scared, startled but not scared. But Cordelia was and she wanted Connor to stay at his side. “I get scared.” Holding out his hand.
The boy hesitated. “Mommy, don’t go.”
That’s when Angel started to get really worried, especially when he saw the sword that Cordelia had taken out of her jacket. “Connor, I will be right back. Just don’t let go of your father’s hand and if he tells you to do something, do it. No argument, no whining, no pouting. Understood.”
“I want to go with you.”
“Connor.”
“Yes, mam.” Obediently grabbing at Angel’s hand.
“Thank you, honey. Now, I’m just going to go to the communication disc. I’ll be right back, I promise.”
“Promise.”
“Cross my heart.”
Angel didn’t like this at all. Connor was supposed to be in a safe dimension. This didn’t seem safe to him, not if Cordelia was scared and carrying a sword.
“Cordelia?” Angel wanted to grab the young woman and shake some answers out of her. But Connor was clutching his hand tightly keeping him in place.
“Once I open the door, it will immediately shut behind me. No one can get through,” striding quickly to the iron door and pushing at a panel. Another small-lighted panel appeared. Quickly she pushed at some buttons. The iron door creaked and moved slowly upwards. Cordelia rolled under as soon as there was enough space. Within seconds the door slammed down again.
Angel knelt down. “Connor, what’s the alarm for?”
“Break outs. Mommy will be okay, right?”
“Break outs?”
“One of the prisoners must have broken out of the lower cells. Mommy will be back, right?”
“Connor, I want you to stay right here.”
Connor shook his head. “Mommy said to hold your hand and not let go. She used her important voice. She’ll be mad if I let go.”
Angel couldn’t help but smile. He had recognized the tone as well. “Okay, let’s just walk over to the door.”
Connor nodded. Angel studied the panel.
“It’s secret. Mommy said she would tell me when I was tall enough.”
***********************
“Skip.” Cordelia concentrated on the swirling patch of air that formed over a circular disc. It was up against the wall by a large wooden door.
“Princess, hey.”
“What the hell’s going on?”
“Lower level…. Ajax demon on the loose- it had just been brought in. The fire cell wasn’t complete, some how he managed to kill the guard.”
“Who?”
“Brad.”
“Damn.” Cordelia shook her head. “Has it been tracked?”
“It’s still on the lower levels, but it’s moving fast.”
“Angel and Connor are in the next chamber.” Pointing behind her. “Get them out.”
“Can’t. No keys to shimmer. This is going to be an old fashion hunt. Get back with them. The doors will keep it out. I’ll send an escort.”
“No shimmering? How were we supposed to have gotten out?”
“Corridor.”
“What? When were you planning to tell me that? Why didn’t you tell me that? I would have left Connor at home.”
“I thought you understood no keys, meant no keys.”
“For inter- dimension jumping, but not to go home. Damn.”
“Connor’s been through the Corridor before he’ll be fine.”
“Not when an Ajax demon was on the loose.”
“It won’t get that far.”
“It better not.”
“Just stay in the chamber.”
Cordelia studied the wooden door and looked back to the iron door. “Send the Escort to the Corridor.”
“Gotcha. Are you coming for dinner? Gertie has…”
“Goodbye, Skip.”
She looked at the door again. Cordelia hoped that she made the right decision. But she hated to just wait and Angel would hate it too. And she wanted out of this prison.
**************
Cordelia stood on the other side of the open door. “Come on. Hurry.”
“Mommy.” Letting go of Angel’s hand and running to Cordelia.
“Hey, I told you I’d be back.”
“Cordelia?”
She looked up from the body hugging her legs. “Ajax demon got loose on the lower level. About four floors down. Skip and the rest of the guards are tracking it. We can either go back and lock ourselves in or leave,” Pointing to the wooden door.
Connor scooted back. “The Corridor. We’re going. Cool.”
“You are one strange boy you know that don’t you.” Ruffling his hair.
“Mommy.” Knocking her hand away.
“Sorry, can’t help myself your such a cute weirdo.”
“Mommy is scared of the Corridor.” Connor loudly whispered to Angel. “Don’t worry Mommy, I’ll hold your hand.” Turning back to Cordelia. “I always hold her hand when she’s scared.” Connor explained.
“And it always makes me feel better. Just like it will make your Daddy feel better if you hold his hand also while we’re in the Corridor.”
Connor scrunched up his face towards Angel. “You sure get scared a lot for a hero.”
Angel had no clue how to answer that, so he just shrugged and held out his hand.
“Not yet, geez.”
“Connor be nice, Daddy’s never been in the Corridor so he doesn’t know. That’s why I want you to keep hold of him tightly, okay. We don’t want him falling into the slime pit, do we?”
“No.”
Cordelia smiled. “Do you remember how to get the icky suits?”
“Uhuh.”
“You do that while I tell your daddy about the Corridor.”
Connor ran to a large stonewall several feet from the door. On his toes he reached up and pushed a brick. As a door appeared, still on his toes he started to push at the bright buttons.
“Angel, the Corridor is a ring around the prison. It was designed…”
“Uncle Skip designed it.”
“That’s right.” Nodding at Connor. “Skip has one scary imagination.” She whispered to Angel. “The Corridor has three sections that we have to get through. One the ….”
“Storm tunnel, it’s fun.”
“A barrel of laughs.” She whispered again. Then louder to Connor, “Honey just get the stuff and let me tell daddy.”
“Okay.” His small body disappeared in a cabinet that had appeared after he pushed the buttons.
“The storm tunnel is pretty much like it sounds. High winds, pelting rain, lightning, but it does have an ‘eye’ of the storm so to speak, you just have to know where it is. Once you clear it, you get to the slime pit. The pit- is a grosser version of quick sand. The only way through it is by jumping from rock to rock. The problem is the rocks move and the slime is stocked with razorbacks. They eat flesh. Once you get past that you have to go through the forest.”
“Don’t tell me the trees move too.” Angel did not like the sound of this.
“Just the limbs and roots, but they're fairly easy to avoid. The forest is also stocked with banshees and terra beasts.”
“And you want to take Connor through this?”
“No. But neither do I want to wait in a chamber for an Ajax demon to show up and we’ve done it before.”
Angel thought about it. Ajax demons were very strong; it was possible that it could break through the iron doors if it made it that far. And while they were dumb they were quick and deadly. As a vampire, Angel could beat one. As a vampire without speed or strength, the odds were in the Ajax’s favor.
“This is a sanctuary for my son?”
“No this is a prison for evil beings. The sanctuary is beyond the Corridor. Unfortunately, the quickest way in and out of this dimension is through the prison. It needs to be to deposit the prisoners. Normally, Skip has a key that can transport from the prison to past the Corridor. That’s how we got here. But, the Oracles took it when you arrived. Why I don’t know, because it can only take you from A to B. But, yes, I should have realized that they would have gone into major paranoia mode when they brought you here and should’ve left Connor at home. But he’s been through the Corridor before and he thinks it cool. Don’t ask he’s your son.”
“Here, mommy.”
Cordelia handed a plastic full body suit to Angel. “Put it on.”
Angel wanted to yell. But the small boy looking up at him waiting for him to do what his mommy said stopped him. Angel shrugged and tugged the suit on.
Cordelia handed Angel a thin rope, the sides of her plastic suit flapped open. . “Attach here.” Pointing to ring fixed to the suit. She nodded as Angel did what she said. “Connor, come on.”
“Mommy, I’m old….”
“Connor, now.”
“Yes, mam.” Connor let himself be lifted up and tucked around her body. Cordelia zipped the suit up, securing his much smaller body to hers. She took the end of the robe that was attached Angel and affixed to her own suit. “Goggles, Connor.”
“Whoops.”
“Angel,” she pointed to the cabinet. “And close it, please.”
“Sorry, mommy.”
“You did fine, honey.”
Angel took out three goggles, handing one to Cordelia and placing the other over Connor’s small face. Angel stepped back. It was a bizarre picture. Cordelia was zipped up looking like she had a weird growth coming from her chest. Only Connor’s too large goggles could be seen resting in the crook of her neck.
“Pull it.” Cordelia yanked at another ring fastened to the suit. A green glow radiated about the suit as soon as metal was removed.
“Ready?” She looked back at Angel, his suit now glowing.
Angel nodded feeling decidedly weird and unsure.
Cordelia tapped at the door, another panel came forward. After pushing more buttons the door slowly opened. The sound was deafening. Wind gushing, large pelts of rain hitting the ground. Cordelia moved into the storm. Angel was very grateful for the green glow, otherwise he would have lost sight of Cordelia immediately. He concentrated on following the greenish light. He hunched over as the rain and wind threatened to blow him over. He looked worriedly at Cordelia. Even with Connor’s added weight, they were much lighter than him. But the green glow remained steady. Finally, after what felt like forever it stopped, pausing only for a couple seconds then turning and disappearing. Angel would’ve panicked accept he could feel the tugging on the line attached to his suit. He followed and suddenly he was in clear sky. Cordelia had already begun to unzip her suit. Connor happily untangled himself from her body. Cordelia placed him on the ground as she stepped out of the suit.
Angel copied her actions. It was amazing he was completely dry. The sound of the wind was only a whisper.
“Here.” Cordelia held her hand out for his suit. She took it and hers and tossed them into a pit that suddenly appeared. “Can’t have them being recycled by escapees.”
“It happens a lot?” Angel was no longer unsure. He was sure that he didn’t like any of this.
“No.” She shrugged. “Connor.”
The little boy quickly grabbed the hand that she held out.
“Daddy.”
Angel took a hold of his son’s out stretched other hand.
“Mommy, how can you be scared of this part? This is easy.”
“I’m a girl.”
Uh. That’s the only thought Angel could think. Since when did Cordy say something as asinine as that?
“Pooh. You told me that girl’s were just as brave as boys. You said Aunt Fred was brave, she’s a girl.”
Angel felt a little better. That sounded a bit more like Cordy.
“You’re right. But, I’m not just a girl, I’m a boring old mom, we types get scared a lot.”
Angel watched in amazement as his son raised a brow, clearly showing his doubts, but willingness to humor Cordelia. His son had every one of Cordelia’s expressions down pat.
“What about Daddy? He’s not a girl or a boring old mom. He’s not scared.” Connor pulled at Angel’s hand, tugging to be released. Angel didn’t let go.
Cordelia stopped and leaned down close to Connor. “You’re right. He’s pretending because he knows it makes me feel safer to have all of us hold hands. That’s what hero’s do. They make the scared feel safe.”
Connor thought about it a minute then turned to Angel. “You want mommy to feel safe, too?”
“Yes. I always have.” Angel couldn’t help but search for Cordelia’s gaze. That’s what he had wanted ever since she came into his life, taking it over. Even before he wanted her love. Even now when he didn’t know what exactly he felt about her.
“Me, too. I’m her protector, right Mommy.”
Cordelia nodded turning quickly around, but not before Angel saw the tears that threatened to escape. His anger was still present but losing hold quickly. Cordelia never cried, even when she was in terrible pain. At most some tears would fill her eyes, as she would angrily brush them away. Angry that she had shown any vulnerability. And the few times that she had really cried, actually allowed her sorrow or pain show it was because something or someone had hurt her so badly that she couldn't hide her tears. The sight of her eyes filling with angry and silent tears had always made Angel both rage and ache. And now, anger or not- that reaction was still present. Angel needed to talk to Cordelia.
The low hum of the wind disappeared and they stepped on to a rocky bank. Oozing black slime surrounded them. Every once in awhile, Angel saw bubbles emerging. The razorbacks, he presumed. Angel looked out over what seemed to be endless sea of black goo.
“It’s an illusion, it’s a lot smaller.” Cordelia said at his glance. “Okay, Connor. You’re daddy may not be scared, but he doesn’t know how to jump the rocks, so let his hand go and we both will tell him when to jump.”
“Okay. It’s easy.” Connor assured Angel.
Cordelia rolled her eyes. “Angel, it will be better if you go first. Just jump when I say. And then stay still and be ready to catch Connor.”
“I’m not big enough yet to do it myself.” Connor explained. “But Uncle Skip says maybe next year.”
“Over my dead body.” Cordelia said under her breath.
Angel couldn’t help but smile, he may not have his vampire strength but he did still have his hearing. And the Cordelia that was emerging in this Corridor was the Cordelia he recognized.
He still had the hearing. “Cordelia.” He scanned the goo again, he began to see the pattern of the rocks, and he heard the slime separate and a distinct pop before the rock emerged. “I see the pattern and hear it.”
Cordelia scrunched up her face, her fingers rising in the air quoting. “Grr.”
Angel nodded. “Strength seems to be the only thing that has actually left.”
“Then ‘grr’ guy, I’ll go first and you tell me when to jump, I’ve fallen in before.”
“Mommy did, it was gross.”
“The razorbacks?”
“Uncle Skip got her out in time.” Connor smiled. “Right, mommy. You weren’t hurt or anything.”
“Yep, safe and sound.”
Angel stared at Cordelia. She shrugged. Angel closed his eyes. She was lying. And she knew that he knew she was lying. He was going to have to have a long talk with Cordelia. This was unacceptable, all of it.
Angel studied the goo and the rocks again. Damn the powers. If they had allowed him to keep his strength, he could have carried them both across.
“Cordy.”
“I’m ready, just tell me when- at the pop.”
“Before the pop. That’s why you fell in.”
“Before the pop, then.”
“Daddy.”
“Connor, be quiet, please.”
“Yes, sir.”
Angel glanced down at his small son then at Cordelia.
“It’s not the important voice, it’s the parent voice.” She barely whispered, sure that Angel would hear.
Cordelia looked down and flicked at the dirt on her shirt. Angel’s smile was too much to see. “Ready whenever you are ‘grr’ guy.” Finally satisfied that she got all of the imaginary dirt off her shirt.
Angel nodded. “Now.”
Cordelia jumped. Angel knew that if his heart had been beating it would’ve stopped as soon as her feet left the air only to resume again when she landed.
“Cool.”
“Yes it was, wasn’t it?” Cordelia smiled safely from the rock. “Ready.” Holding out her hands.
Angel picked up Connor and thrust him towards Cordelia. Connor’s small arms reached for Cordelia.
Angel studied the goo again.
“Angel?” Angel shook his head as Cordy pointed to a stone that was emerging. “Too Far.” Cordelia nodded and stayed quiet letting Angel pick the time.
“To your left.”
Cordelia turned her eyes going from Angel to the clear blackness. “Watch your daddy.” Whispering into Connor’s ear.
Angel landed just as the rock began to emerge, when it was settled he held out his arms. Cordelia passed Connor. “Not bad for vamplite.”
“Mommy, be nice, it was cool.”
“When we get home, I going to teach you another word.”
“She taught me that word.” Connor giggled into Angel’s ear.
“I heard that young man.”
Connor laughed out loud burying his face in Angel’s shoulder. “She’s got mom ears. She says at night the grow and grow and can hear everything.”
Angel laughed, holding his son tighter. He rubbed his face in Connor’s hair trying to recognize his scent. And he did. It was different but the same as the small bundle that only three weeks ago lay in a crib.
Connor jerked up. “My hair.”
Cordelia’s laugher echoed in the quiet.
“Cordy.” Angel called out reaching.
“I’m okay.” Trying to stop her laugher and regain her balance at the same time. Finally she settled. “Just say when,” she giggled again at she looked at Angel and Conner.
“Not until you stop laughing.”
“Pooh.”
“Now.”
Cordelia jumped. She smiled as she stood up and reached for Connor.
“You’re silly, mommy.”
“She’s very silly.” Angel agreed over the muck.
Cordelia stuck her tongue out at the vampire.
“Mommy, you said never to do that.”
“Whoops, you can ground me when we get home.”
Connor giggled into her shirt. Like he could ground her. His mom was silly.
“Angel, I can see the bank. One more and you should too.”
Angel jumped, Connor placed safely in his arms.
“Safe and sound.” Cordelia called from the bank. Angel soon followed after handing Connor to Cordy.
Cordy placed Connor on the ground and walked over to a large tree.
“Mommy, can I please?”
Cordelia bowed waving her arm. Connor ran to the tree jumping as high as he could, but missing the branch. He stomped his foot and pouted to his mother. “It’s too high.”
“That’s because little boys shouldn’t be playing with weapons.”
“Uncle Skip says I should already have a sword.”
“Uncle Skip is a dead demon.” She said under her breath.
Angel was going to have to find out what else Uncle Skip was telling his child. Otherwise, he would have to agree with Cordelia. And that didn’t somehow seem right if he was supposed to be angry with her.
Cordelia pulled at the branch, opening a large hole in the trunk. “Angel,” she handed him a sword as she pulled out hers.
“Mommy.”
Cordelia sighed and leaned back into the opening and handed Connor a tube.
“Mom.” Connor grumbled whirling the metal around.
“Mom?” Cordelia stared and stood still the sword hanging limply at her side.
“Cordy?” Angel rushed to her side as he saw her tears forming.
“Mom.” She blinked at Angel.
“Cordy?”
“I’m mommy, I get to be mommy until at least 6 or 7. That’s when mom starts, that’s what Gertie said. Mother, god forbid, 17 or 18. I don’t want to be mom.”
“Cordy.” Angel cupped her face. “It’s okay.” He hated it when she cried, even though he had no idea what was causing her to cry.
“Sure,” knocking his hands away. “You’re still daddy. You just wait.” Stomping off, the tears completely gone.
“What’s wrong with Mommy? Did you make her mad.”
Angel stepped back from the small boy’s glare. “No.” Angel called after Cordelia. “Cordy, he called you mommy.” Finally, Angel realized what made her cry even though he didn’t understand her reaction or Connor’s glare.
He looked down. “Mommy is fine. Lets go find her.”
Connor scrunched up his brow and studied Angel. “I don't like it when mommy's upset."
Angel just stared. He had no idea how to react to the small boy's statement. It sounded very close to a threat.
Connor watched him for a moment and then shook his head. "Grown ups are weird.” Connor raised a brow at the vampire.
“Come on, let’s go follow MOMMY.” Angel yelled after Cordelia, grateful that his son no longer looked like he wanted to kill him.
“Weird.” Connor dragged the tube on the ground and glancing at Angel’s sword. “Bob has a sword.”
“Bob?”
“He’s five. And he’s not even a whole year older. So, why can’t I have a sword?” Angel couldn’t even begin to count the reasons why a four or five year should NOT have a sword.
“Because it will scare your mommy.” Angel wasn't postive, but Connor seemed to be willing to do anything not to scare Cordelia.
Connor scrunched up his face and let out a loud sigh. He didn’t like the answer, but he accepted it.
“What’s that?” Angel held his sword away from the small boy and pointing to cylinder in Connor’s hand.
“It’s a light. Banshee’s hate light in their eyes.” Connor swung the tube around displaying the beam of light as it bounced against the trees.
“Angel” Cordelia’s cry came through the trees.
Without thinking, Angel took off running, his sword ready. He paused momentarily as he took in the picture of Cordelia being strangled by tree limbs as she tried to get her sword up to the branches. He started swinging. Branches and limbs fell quickly to the ground. He gently pulled Cordelia away from the trunk of the tree. “Are you…”?
“Angel, where’s Connor, you didn’t leave him.” Slapping him on the chest.
“I’m here, mommy.”
Cordelia pushed past Angel. “Are you okay, honey?”
Connor nodded his eyes wide as Cordelia crushed him to her chest. ‘He said mommy’ she mouthed to Angel.
“Uhuh.” Angel guessed that was more important than him saving her from being strangled.
“Mommy, I thought you said you weren’t a Princess.”
Cordelia pulled back accusingly at Angel. Angel shrugged. He still didn’t have a clue.
“Yes.” She said warily.
Angel really did want to know why Cordelia hadn’t told Connor that she was the princess in everyone of her stories.
“Oh. Well, daddy just saved you. You got yourself into stupid trouble, the trees are easy but Daddy had to save you. Isn’t that what you said all princesses do, get them…”
“Enough, child. You know I’m not your real mother and you’re a dork.”
Angel stepped forward that didn’t sound right. “Cor..” He stopped as Connor broke into a fit of major giggles. “And you’re a Princess.” He pointed to Cordelia.
Cordelia held up her hand. “You win.” Connor giggled and slapped her hand in the air.
Still smiling Cordelia went to pick up her sword that she had dropped.
“I always win.” Connor said to a still perplexed Angel.
“Connor, banshee.” The smile was out of Cordelia’s raised voice.
Connor jerked up the tube and started waving it around. A loud wail sounded as his light hit home. “Got it.”
“Hands.” Cordelia called.
“Come on.” Connor whacked at Angel’s knees. “Mommy’s scared.”
“No, she’s scary.”
“I heard that.”
“Mom’s ears.” Angel smiled as his son echoed the same words.
“Are you two finished?” Cordelia held out her hand for Connor. Connor slapped his hand in hers as he grabbed for Angel’s hand.
“Yes, mommy.” Connor kicked Angel in the shin. “Important voice.”
“Yes.” Angel paused as Cordelia glared. “Mommy.”
Cordelia’s eyes dropped; again not quick enough to prevent Angel from seeing them glisten again.
The three walked in the middle of the path. Angel knew he saw several sets of glowing red eyes along the way. But they didn’t move just watched. So he said nothing.
“Terra beasts actually are timid. They only attack when they sense fear or desperation. Guess none here, uh.”
Angel blinked at the wild happy smile that Cordelia flashed him. God, he missed that smile.
Angel suddenly tensed as he saw a group of demons circled around them.
“Mommy.” Connor pulled at their hands.
Cordy released hers. “Angel, its okay. Let him go.” Angel stared at Cordelia’s nod. He slowly let go of the tugging boy.
“Connor”
“Yes.”
“If you see Uncle Skip could you ask him to step back here? Your daddy and I want a word with him.”
Connor hesitated, started then stopped again. Important mommy voice. “Yes, mam.”
Cordelia sat on a near by stump, patting the space beside her. “Actually, there are about two more meters of ‘forest’ left, but those,” she waved at the demons that Connor was running up to. “Are Skip’s guardsman. I only see half of them so that means the other half is hidden somewhere.”
Angel looked around.
“Don’t bother going ‘grr’. They’re here and Connor’s safe. Now we can go home. I need a bath. But…Angel, I want you to back me up on this. Connor is too young too have a sword. I don’t care what Skip and the Oracles say. And he will not even attempt the Corridor on his own until he’s …he’s twenty…no thirty. We’ve got to put our foot…feet…whatever down.”
Angel was back to where he started he didn’t know what he felt. He stared at the rambling woman. That was Cordelia. He looked at his son jumping and playing with hardened demon warriors. He turned to the ordeals they just went through together. He looked back to Cordy, still mumbling, now about drawing and quartering Skip. Angel was still angry, but also he loved her, she had done what he had wanted of her, she had treated his son, his son by a woman she hated, as her own, she had loved him, raised him and Connor obviously loved her. She had done what he wanted except that she had taken his dream away and for that he was still angry. And remembering her words in the dungeon she wouldn’t give it back.
“We need to talk.”
Cordy stopped her muttering. Her eyes went from confusion, to sadness, to blank resolve in less than a second. She nodded and got up.
“Connor, it’s time to go. Find your uncle.”
“I’m here.”
“Wonderful. Take Connor to your house, he’ll stay the night. Angel and I have to talk and I don’t want Connor around for it.” She didn’t even look at the vampire as she gave her order.
Angel said nothing. He agreed.
Cordelia looked up at his silence. Her face scrunched at his nod.
“Right.” Biting her lip. She turned back to Skip. “And WE need to talk.”
Skip winced. “The tyke told you about the sword.”
“We’ll talk.”
“He’s a warrior, you know. The Tro-Clan.”
“He’s four, you know.” Cordelia shot back over her shoulder. Angel took another look back at Skip. The great demon was kicking at the dirt muttering. Angel didn’t know whether to be grateful or jealous that he wasn’t the only demon that Cordelia could reduce to a blithering idiot with a tone and expression.
“Connor, Uncle Skip wants to know if you would have dinner with them, he said something about horsy rides and a sleep over. What do you think?”
Connor looked up at Angel, his little teeth biting at his bottom lip. He was clearly torn.
Angel smiled. “Horsy rides?”
“Uncle Skip gives the best rides, you hold on to his horns and he goes running all around.”
“Sounds like fun. How about, you go to Skip’s tonight. And then we’ll have the rest of the time together.”
Connor looked to Cordelia for his answer. “Honey, daddy will be here in the morning. He’s not leaving…” Cordelia paused. “He’s not leaving for awhile. And, he’s had a long trip and just went through the Corridor. I bet he’s tired. What fun would that be?”
“Mommy, what about you? Are you still scared? Cuz I’ll stay.”
“If I get scared….”
“I’ll hold her hand.”
Connor studied Angel. “Promise.”
“Cross my heart.” Angel mimicked Cordelia’s and Connors earlier actions.
Connor gave a bright smile. “Okay. LOVE YOU MOMMY.” Running towards Skip. The demon had left the forest and stood waiting. Connor stopped and ran back. “Love you too, Daddy, “ he smiled and took off running again.
Chapter 9
“The transport is this way.” Cordelia started walking.
Angel followed. He noticed that the eerie atmosphere of the forest disappeared as they walked. He saw flicks of sunshine on the grass.
“Cordelia.”
Cordy stopped and looked around for why they had stopped. She shook her head as she saw the patch of light that Angel pointed to.
“Fake. This dimension as one sun far- away, and when it deems to grace it’s presence it cloaked with mist and clouds. The lights are an attempt at sunlight. You’re safe. Really, Angel like I would forget that.”
Angel looked around. It was light, but not bright. The air was thick in moisture. The sky was purple with swirling blue clouds; the grass had become darker more rich. He looked to the innocent trees, their leaves purple. Angel looked around some more. The colors were all dark, but not bleak or depressing. It was rich and touchable, even.
“It fools you. You see the colors and you thing velvet, satin, but after while it’s just dark.” Cordelia pointed to a hovering vehicle. “Cool, uh, no wheels or gas here. Just magic and thought. Well too a certain extent, magic is very regulated, no Wild Willows allowed.”
“You don’t like it here.”
“Connor’s here.”
Cordelia said nothing more as she jumped in the vehicle and thought her way home. Just once, just once she wished her thoughts had taken Connor and her back to their real home.
Angel glanced at the residences that they pasted. He didn’t know what he expected but this wasn’t it. It was suburbia.
Finally, the vehicle slowed. Angel stared at the house. “It’s beautiful.”
Cordelia shrugged. “I had it built two years ago. Until then we had been staying at Skip’s.” She pointed across the wide lawn covered with swings and jungle gyms to a house directly opposite.
Angel just stood and stared. The house was two, no three stories if you count the small window at the top. A large porch wrapped around the side of the house. There was a porch swing and toys, toys everywhere scattered the porch. Suddenly lights came on. The front yard lit up displaying flowers and bushes and a really big beast growling under a rose bush.
“Angelus, down,” Cordelia called as the large creature crouched and crawled forward. “Sorry.” Cordelia shot a look to Angel,” it just came to me.”
Angel’s first and only reaction was to kill the creature. But Cordelia was hugging and petting the huge cat-like beast. Angel couldn’t tell what is was- part lion, part…Angel looked closer….part saber tooth.
She yanked at the beast, whose growls had turned into whimpers at Cordy’s scratches. “Angelus, this is Angel, Connor’s father. He’s safe.” Cordy grabbed at Angel’s hand and brought it to the creature’s nose. The beast sniffed, considered and sniffed again, looked at Cordy who nodded. The large cat lowered his head and nudged at Angel.
‘Behind the ears.’ Cordy mouthed to Angel. Angel placed his hand on the creature’s skull and moved to the pointed ears and scratched. The cat suddenly fell to the lawn purring madly. Angel lifted his hand only to find the great head back under it, rubbing and purring. This purring beast reminded Cordelia of Angelus. Angel had to know how.
“Angelus enough, you big baby.” Okay, Angel now knew without a doubt that not only was he in another dimension, but one that should be hosted by Rod Sterling. Never had he heard Angelus described as ‘big baby.’ Angelus turned to Cordy’s voice rushing up against her, his weight almost knocking her down. “Go back to sleep.” She nuzzled her face on his head. With a happy pant the big creature settled back under the rose bush.
Cordelia blew the animal a kiss and walked up the stairs. That thing was around his son, that thing that reminded Cordy of Angelus. “Cordy.” Angel took the steps two at a time. She stopped before opening the door, her brows raised in question.
Angel thought first before he spoke. “When ‘Angelus’ purrs all over Connor doesn’t it smother him.”
“Angelus doesn’t do that with Connor. He never stands to his full height around Connor nor does he ever move close to him. Connor on the other hand jumps on him and rides him. And.” Cordelia sighed. “There was a little trouble a while back, nothing apocalyptic or anything just a. …demon, well Angelus kind of”
“A demon was after Connor, here?”
“Umm. No.”
“Then?” Suddenly Angel remembered Skip saying that he had to beat demons away for Cordy’s door. “You?”
“He’s a dumb demon. Anyway, Angelus took care of him.”
“You mean what exactly?”
”Angelus bit him on his ass. I understand it left scars. Didn’t even wake us up.”
Angel really needed to talk to Cordelia. He was still angry, but certain issues needed to be taken care of first. “How many demons come here not looking for Connor?”
“What do you mean? Oh me. No one wants to kill me, well except the librarian. I keep ordering new books and she hates that we have a Border’s now.”
“So, that demon that Angelus bit on the ass was the only demon that bothered you.”
“Bothered me? Well, he was the only one that actually tried to get in the house.”
“So, there were others.”
Cordelia shrugged. “Maybe, I don’t know as soon as anyone gets annoying Skip shows up. And Poof, no more annoyance. He’s better than you at scaring away potential dates.”
Angel didn’t know whether to be relived or not. “Skip comes to the rescue a lot.” Angel suddenly knew how he felt. Cordelia had been in this dimension for four years; one year longer than she and Angel had been together. She talked about Skip a lot, and the demon was close to Connor. He protected them both. He drove off annoying dates. The demon was under Cordy’s thumb. Angel saw that in the way Skip had threatened him, the way Skip had kicked at the dirt when she raised a brow at him. Skip had completely supplanted Angel’s role with Cordelia. And Angel didn’t like it.
“Cordelia about Skip?”
“He’s a pain in the ass but he’s great and his wife and kids are amazing. They took us in right away. Connor loves them. Skip can’t decide if he’s an Oracle’s flunky or a family man. But, actually it doesn’t really matter to me. He’ll protect Connor with his life because the Oracles tell him to and because Gertie would be really pissed if he didn’t. Either way I win.”
“He seemed upset that you were mad at him earlier.”
Cordelia shrugged. “He’s use to it. He hates it though because when I yell at him, my next stop is the Oracles and then they yell at him for letting me yell in the first place.”
Angel wasn’t sure. It sounded to him like she was defending Skip.
“So, you’re going to yell about Connor getting a sword?”
“Damn straight. He’s four. But, I’ll wait until you leave. I don’t want them to blame you. And he actually hasn’t gotten one yet.”
“You said we had to put our foot…feet down, together.”
“Yeah, but I wasn’t thinking it through. You can’t. They have to like you or at least tolerate you if they’re going to let you come back. Are you hungry?” opening the door and entering.
Angel stood at the doorway wondering what to do next. He really needed to get his anger out, but he really wanted to touch Cordelia, he needed to feel her, to confirm that she was his Cordelia.
“Can I come in?” Angel was at a loss on how to control all the emotions that were bombarding him since he entered this dimension.
“I don’t know. Try it.”
“Cordy?”
“Angel, lets see if the invite thingy was lifted when you entered this dimension. Strength okay. But the smelly and vamp hearing are still there. And you still get ‘grry’.
“What?”
“You’re doing it now. Why? I don’t know. That’s your issue.”
Angel’s hand shot up to his face. He was grry. Quickly he forced it down. And stepped through the door.
“Hey, cool. I didn’t need to invite you.”
Angel closed his eyes. “Would you have?”
“What? Invite you in? Like I would’ve allowed you to sleep on the lawn with Connor. Anyway, it probably wasn’t a real test. Even though you haven’t actually lived here, we do- so, this is as much your home as ours.”
Angel stared at her shrug and matter of fact statement. He didn’t know how to respond.
Angel glanced around in the foyer, he had a sudden urge to see everything, to see what his family cherished and placed in his home without him. That same urge reminded him of his anger.
“Fun time, over, uh.”
“Cordelia.”
“Come on, if you are going to be mad then I want you to be somewhere that you will feel the most anger at me. I want this to happen only once. If we can’t get over it, then so be it, but it’s only going to happen once.” Grabbing his hand and tugging him up the stairs. Angel’s anger wavered at her determination.
The anger sprang back up as she shoved him in what was obviously Connor’s room. Toys, books, drawings, clothes were everywhere, all evidence of the four years that he hadn’t had with his son. Angel stumbled to the twin bed with the colorful space invader comforter, snatching up a pillow.
Cordelia went to the closet and pulled out a cardboard box. “Connor doesn’t know that I found this. Here. When you’re done I’ll be in the other room. Take your time, look at everything, feel everything.”
Angel barely noticed that she had gone. His hands softly caressed the box that so obviously held Connor’s secrets. He lifted the lid. And pulled out a rock. It was a strange rock a color that Angel had never seen. What memory did it evoke? Why wasn’t Angel a part of it? Angel picked up a broken part of a doll. Why was this doll important enough to be in Connor’s treasure chest? Angel didn’t know and it killed him. His hands fumbled in further. He pulled out paper. It was a ribbon, for best science prize. Angel pushed the box away he wanted to go and tear Cordelia apart for taking this from him, but he calmed and remembered her words, look at everything, feel everything, then go to her.
He looked at the Polaroid. He wished he could cry. It was of Wesley, Gunn and Fred, Angel couldn’t even remember when it had been taken, but it was here which meant Cordy brought it here. What? He pulled out a song sheet of Mandy. Then he reached in a pulled out a tip of something metal, Angel studied it- it was the tip of a weapon. Why? Angel wanted to fling the box aside as he pulled out the next picture; it was a sticker really- of a cartoon Count Dracula. Angel had to breathe, for no other reason than just to calm his thoughts. Tissue. He pulled out a buddle of tissue obliviously unwrapped and wrapped countless times. He opened it, wondering what did Connor need to protect and see so badly. No. Angel tossed the box and picture aside. He was going to kill her. Angel reached the door before he calmed and went back to his son’s treasures, shuffling through the items on the floor and finding Connor’s most prized. Angel stared. He knew exactly when that had been taken. So long ago. Cordelia with her hair long and a wide smile on her face, no evidence at all that she had just been released from 48 hours of hell, strapped to a hospital bed, her body still her eyes and mind full of pain. Wesley had taken the picture; he had bullied and pushed Angel to sit beside her. He said that they needed to remember the moment that Angel found out that he would be human some day. Angel remembered awkwardly sitting beside Cordelia. Her hands and smile making him move closer. She nudged him and whispered a threat. ‘Smile or I’m putting red pepper in your blood forever.’
Angel had smiled not because of the threat, but because in that the threat Cordelia had promised to be with him forever. She had given him hope for the future. It had been the beginning of his dream.
Angel stood. He stumbled knowing instantly what room she was in. He walked in without even knocking. “Why?”
Cordelia looked up the tears evident on her face. She hadn’t moved from her spot at the edge of the bed, her hands clasped tight in front of her. “There are so many answers to that, which one to you want?” Cordelia’s tone was meek, her tears rasping her throat. This time Angel didn’t allow her tears to affect his anger.
“This one.” Angel threw the picture at her.
Cordelia bent down fingering the picture as she brought it up. Her eyes closed as she tried to force the tears back. “I did mean it. I did. I couldn’t imagine anything that would make me break that promise. And I didn’t not even when you fired me, shut me out, I still believed that somehow I would keep my promise to be with you until you shansued. I would’ve. I would’ve.” She glared, and then looked down. “But I hadn’t counted on Connor.” Cordelia choked.
Angel stood at the door struggling. Memories, flashes of small moments in time of Cordelia yelling at him, defending him, encouraging him, placing plastic flowers around the basement. How could he hate her when the only person she put before him was his own son?
“Why?” He dropped down his hands cradling Cordelia’s legs. “How could you not trust that I would protect you both? How could you destroy my dream when you gave it to me?”
Cordelia pushed away, brushing at her eyes. “Your dreams? What about mine? Do you think it was my dream to end up in some dimension that I hate, no sun - taking care of another woman’s child, a child conceived under the guise of bad day or prophesies. Is it my dream to look at the child daily and see his father in him, a man- a manpire or whatever you call yourself, a man who never once said he loved me. Can you tell me how in the hell you can bitch about your dreams being destroyed when I never got a glimpse of mine?” Cordelia shot up, pushing harder at Angel. “I do have one dream left. And I will get it- MY son, not Darla’s not yours- MY son will live, I will see him grow and be strong and I will love him. Connor is MINE. You can go to hell.” Cordelia jerked back throwing herself on the bed, burying herself in the pillow.
Angel picked himself up from where Cordelia had pushed him; he moved against the wall and stared at the sobbing body on the bed. He wanted so much just to take Connor and Cordelia home. But, was his dream even real. He had known as he watched her hold his baby, that it could end, either by Cordelia realizing that she did have a life outside of Angel’s or by some evil that threatened his child.
What would Angel have done, had he known about the vision? He knew what his first reaction would’ve been but would that have been the right one. Angel moved towards the bed, slowly so as not to startle the crying woman. His hands reached out and drew Cordelia to his chest. He stilled her struggles by encircling her closer. “Cordy, tell me what you saw.”
Cory shook her head burying even further into the mattress. “Cordy, Please.” Angel’s voice soft and beckoning.
“No.” Cordelia tried to pull away.
Angel just pulled her tighter. “Please.”
“It hurts, it still hurts. I…” Cordelia gulped and scooted away, Angel was about to reach for her again when she started speaking. “It was darkness, a cloud, it came from a place that was nothing but pain. I was there, I…It saw me, my vision of it made it see me….It grew in shape and size, never taking on a real form. It was hate, evil, despair, all of it. It was like some nuclear cesspit of all the bad stuff come to life, it pushed against the dimensions, but it couldn’t make it. It couldn’t. But why was I having hellish vision of something that couldn’t touch us or anyone so I looked at it and it saw me- suddenly it was there, traveling the halls of the hotel. I couldn’t stop it. No one could. Wesley, Gunn, Fred were all there, they couldn’t stop it. You couldn’t, it had no form we had no time to figure it out. We couldn’t because the dimension that it came from was unknown. It just killed everything in its path. It lowered over Connor, encasing him with darkness, sucking the life out of him, until nothing was left except little fragile bones. We all were dead, except for you. You wandered around the hotel, not living not dying just walking and fading. And you weren’t going to die because you’re an immortal vampire, so you just walked around and around in pain because you didn’t stop what had happened.”
Angel ignored the fear of what had been described. “Cordy. Wesley can research it. The immediate danger is gone. We will find a way.”
“No.” Cordelia shook her head. “NOOo.” Cordelia’s body jerked wildly, writhing on the bed. Angel winced at the high-pitched tone of her scream. He reached for her trying to calm her struggles. Cordelia’s tears were wild, her moans loud.
Angel tried to encircle her but she struck out with amazing strength, her breath deep and raspy, then suddenly nothing, no sound. Angel crawled back to Cordelia. His fingers gently touching the small drops of blood that spotted her upper lip under her nose, hoping that they weren’t real. But the smell of the copper tang confirmed it. “Cordy.” Angel whispered. Nothing. Angel thought. No phone. No car. But Skip was just across the yard; if there were a hospital in this damn place he would know. Angel got up; he was almost to the door when a cough stalled him.
Angel was back at Cordelia’s side holding her body rubbing her back trying to make the cough go way, urging her voice to return.
Cordelia stopped coughing only to moan, and then she shot up on the bed. She barely looked at Angel as she swirled off the bed, landing on her feet. She jabbed at the wall frantically.
“Princess. It’s a little late and the tyke is fine. What happened to you?” Skip’s voice raised in concern at the sight of the blood. “Did you have another vision? It wasn’t the vampire was it?” Skip moved aggressively towards the screen.
Cordelia wiped at her face. “Mortnublis is coming, it must have hooked in with Angel. First me, now Angel. It’s coming. I want Connor here NOW.” Ignoring Skip’s concern.
Angel watched moving closer to the edge of the bed. The demon on the other side of the air had suddenly gone from aggressive to hurried. He started pushing at something that couldn’t be seen.
“Princess, that’s the last place Conner needs to be. You and Angel need to go. You both need to get as far away from Connor as you can. He’ll be protected, here. Cordelia you know this. It was you that brought it into the hotel, just like it was Angel that brought it here. It knows your scents, there maybe still a chance that it doesn’t know Connor’s. Take it and go. And use the globe, it will take the pain of the vision away and wash your face.” Cordelia stood back as a key fell on the floor.
“Son of a bitch. I’m getting Connor.”
Angel shot out his arm. “Wait. Cordy answer me. Will Connor be safe with Skip?”
“What? I’m going to get him.”
Angel pushed down her hand taking the key. “Call Skip, or whatever it is you do. Now, please.”
Angel winced, if Cordelia had a stake he had no doubt she would have killed him. “Please.”
Cordelia took a deep breath and pushed at her bedside table.
“Princess. I told you…”
“Skip, what is the threat?” Angel moved in front of the screen.
“Duh, evil.
“That is pretty generic, any other clues.”
“7th dimension, Mortnublis. Reads emotions, scents and souls. Finds one it wants targets it, and doesn’t stop until it’s got it. You both need to go, now.”
“Corporeal? In Cordy’s vision it wasn’t.”
Skip gave a frustrated grunt. “Both, depends. In the vision it targeted Connor, his soul is more than that of the human innocent babe. It’s pure; it’s a warrior’s soul. His birth triggered Mortnublis, which was expected. What was not expected was that the Princess was a red light beacon to the babe. Her presence sped up the projected timetable. Her soul is almost as pure as the babe’s, trained correctly you could’ve been one helluva a warrior. Still don’t know you slipped through the process. …
“If you don’t shut up and tell Angel what he needs to do, I’ll shove my pure soul up your ass and rip your heart out.”
“Okay, the hostility may have clouded the soul thing. Do? Nothing. There’s nothing he can do that’s why Connor was taken here. “
“You said depends.” Angel interrupted as he held Cordelia from jumping through the air at the screen.
“It didn’t need to get Corporeal in the vision, because there was no warrior strong enough to make him. Connor is the only one that has the ability, but he’s to young but he may…”
“If you even thing about completing that sentence I will so kill you.” Angel had to pull Cordy back again.
“Keep Connor safe. And Cordy’s right. If you even think about using him in this battle, all deals are off.”
“What he said.” Cordy pulled Angel aside. “What deals? Did you make deals?”
“No, just the warrior, seer thing.”
“Weak. Is there more to your plan cuz I really want to go get Connor.”
“So you trust me now.”
Angel’s head jerked back as Cordelia punched him. “Our issues will be taken up later. Now we will save our son.”
Angel rubbed his jaw and nodded to Cordelia. “First.” He gently pulled Cordelia into the bathroom and wetting a towel to wipe the blood from Cordelia’s face.
“And what globe was Skip talking about?”
Chapter 10
“Angel…Cordelia?”
“Hi, sorry I didn’t write more. Now find out what exactly a Mortnublis is.” Wesley pulled back as Cordy lunged at him.
“Cordy,” Angel picked her up and moved her away from Wesley.
“Let me go.”
“Are you going to attack Wesley again?”
Cordelia pushed against Angel. “I wouldn’t attack Wesley.”
“That’s good to know.” Wesley adjusted his glasses staring at Angel and Cordelia the questions clear on his expression.
Gunn and Fred moved closer their expressions just as perplexed. “Angel, you haven’t been gone that long.” Fred said. “I like your hair, Cordy.”
“Just long enough for me to get a splitting headache.” Lorne had remained sitting, the glass of scotch resting on his forehead. “Thanks, Princess. Next time at least kiss first.”
“Hi, Sorry.”
“Sorry, the most overused word. Does your presence mean I can give up the flashing pictures of pain and mayhem?”
“For now, I guess.”
“You guess.” Lorne rolled his red eyes and took a swallow of liquor.
“Angel, what’s going on? Where’s Connor?”
“Still in Mythos. Cordy had another vision of the evil that had threatened Connor before.”
“So you left him?”
“Yes,” Cordelia stomped her foot. “He’ll be safe for now, won’t he Angel? Angel, why did we have to leave? He’ll be scared if I’m not there.”
“Hand.” Cordelia considered then sighed and gasped Angel’s outstretched hand.
Angel smiled then turned to Wesley. “The demon is from the 7th Dimension- Whatever that is. Called Mortnublis. It’s very bad, very strong. It targets souls.”
“It’s after Connor.”
Angel squeezed at Cordelia’s hand. Angel was somewhat surprised at his own reaction. He felt calm. The frantic worry for Connor was still present, but he was able to compartmentalized it and concentrate on finding how to save him. Maybe it was because Cordelia was so close to losing it and they both couldn’t afford to act in panic or maybe it was simply the fact that this time she had automatically trusted him to save Connor. And he would.
“It is. But Skip says that it may not have actually targeted Connor this time. It seems to have caught the scent of Cordelia when she first had the vision, the prison dimension blocked her scent so Connor was safe or maybe it just couldn’t get into that dimension, access very limited. But when I transported to Mythos, it seemed to pick up mine and gain entrance. It is using us to find Connor and it’s our presence that seems to allow it to exit the 7th dimension.”
“The demon was there?”
“It was coming.” Cordelia said.
“So, you came here to create a diversion. The 7th Dimension? What else do you know about the demon?” Wesley reached for some books. He was in complete research mode. “Fred…”
Fred nodded and didn’t wait for him to finish. She was already searching the computer for the 7th Dimension and a demon called Mortnublis.
“So the big bad will come here.” Gunn said automatically studying the windows and doors of the hotel figuring the best way to block all entrances and exits.
“We hope.”
“Wonderful.” Lorne took another swallow.
Chapter 11
“Cordy?”
“I’m okay. Go fill in Wesley about the demon. I’m…I’m just going to go take a shower. Okay?”
Angel nodded, worried as he watched her go up the stairs. Cordelia was no longer frantic, but seemingly calm. But Angel wasn’t convinced that her change in demeanor was real. And she was running to the bathroom again. She was in pain. And she was hiding it from him.
“Angel?”
The vampire turned his attention back to Wesley.
*******************
Angel looked around. Fred was busy at the computer, Wesley buried in his books. The name of the demon hadn’t helped. There was nothing that they could find that referenced it. So, they concentrated on its known characteristics and the dimension that it came from. Every once in awhile Wesley would lean up and give Fred a new search command. Lorne was even helping, reading. The scotch was gone. Gunn and Angel had placed all the weapons that they had in easy accessible locations.
“Wes, man?” Gunn didn’t even nowhere to start helping. Fred had said it. He was just the muscle.
Without even looking Wesley handed a book up.
Gunn took it. “I’m searching for?”
“Anything that can drain life, crushing its victim.”
“Life sucking demon hoovers with vice grips coming up.” Gunn started reading.
Wesley and Fred were concentrating on finding what the 7th Dimension was. Lorne and Gunn were listing every demon that had the characteristics that was described by Cordy’s vision and the information Skip had given Angel.
Wesley’s thought was if they couldn’t find the exact demon, maybe with the information they gleamed about the dimension it came from, and the weakness of the demons Lorne and Gunn discovered they could devise a plan to defeat it.
It had been over an hour; Angel tried not to let the time bother him. They would find the answer. Angel had confidence in Wesley and the rest. He glanced back up the stairs. Cordelia hadn’t come down yet.
Chapter 12
The door to his suite was closed. Angel glanced at the empty sitting room, stopping only briefly at the unoccupied bassinet.
He walked to the bathroom door. He could hear the shower to running.
“Cordy?” Knocking.
“Cordy? Knocking again when he got no answer. She was definitely in there. Angel opened the door.
Cordelia was huddled on the floor of the shower, the water now cold running over her a small teddy bear clutched in her arms. The streams of water couldn’t hide her silent tears.
Angel quickly turned off the water and wrapped a towel around Cordelia. She didn’t resist has he bundled her in his arms. Her only resistance came when he tried to take the soggy stuffed animal away.
“Cordy, please.” He placed the bear she slowly released on the sink. Angel grabbed another towel, rubbing it roughly over her shivering body, trying to bring warmth back to her cold skin as he took her into the bedroom. He sat on the bed, never stopping the movements of his hands.
The action seemed to bring some movement back to Cordelia’s limp form. She blinked bringing her wide eyes briefly to Angel’s. Angel wondered how he ever thought her eyes could be guarded. They were filled with raw emotion- fear, sadness, and guilt - all were vividly apparent, just as the tears were.
Cordelia blinked again and hid her face in his shoulder. Her body now racked with unvoiced sobs.
“Cordy, Connor will be safe. I’ll make sure of it, we all will.”
Cordelia buried herself further in his arms at his words, the sobs becoming soft whimpers against his chest.
Angel strained to hear the choking words that she had started to mumble.
“Cordy?”
Cordelia moved her head slightly, the words becoming clearer. “I should have left. I brought the demon to the hotel. If I had just gone, Connor would still be with you -safe.”
As much as Angel wished that Connor had stayed with him, he couldn’t agree with her strangled words, not with what he knew now.
“Cordy, the demon woke at Connor’s birth. The danger would have still been present whether you stayed or left. It was Connor that it was after.”
“I gave it access.”
“Probably, but so did I. It would have found a way.”
“You don’t know that.” The raw emotions were still filling her eyes, but Angel was just grateful that her voice was stronger.
“You don’t know that it wouldn’t have.”
“Maybe you could….”
“Have defeated it? Maybe, but the outcome you saw would have killed me, if I had failed.”
Cordelia closed her eyes at the memory of Angel wandering the halls, broken and alone. “You will now.” Angel wasn’t sure if it was a statement or an order that he would win, but it wasn’t a question.
“Yes.” Angel felt stronger than he ever had and he knew that feeling was caused by the expression in Cordelia’s eyes. The fear was still there, but there was also determination and confidence. “We’re in a much better position than we were than when you first had the vision. Connor is safe, so we can concentrate on the battle. We have an idea of what the demon is and is capable of. Wesley will discover what we need to know to defeat it.”
Cordelia blinked the sadness and guilt was back. “I’m sorry.”
Lorne was right ‘sorry’ was over used. Angel had used it many times over the years, never so much than to the woman that was pleading at him to believe her.
“You did the right thing.”
Cordelia shook her head. “I’m sorry that I hurt you so much.” The tears were back.
Angel hugged Cordelia tightly. “And I’m sorry for every hurt I caused you. Why is true that you hurt the ones that you love?”
“Because you can, I guess.” Cordelia settled in his arms. “I lied you know.”
Angel pulled back a little to look at her, his brows raised. Her confession in no way frightened him. The love in her eyes and the small smile reassured him.
“I got more than a glimpse of my dream here with you and Connor.”
Angel smiled, his hands brushing away the tangled hair that had fallen over her face. “Then we both had the same dream.”
“I want it back, Angel.” Her voice no longer soft, but demanding and angry.
“We will get our son back. I promise. Cross my heart.”
A genuine wide smile overtook Cordelia’s face. “I love you, Angel.”
Angel wasn't sure how it was possible based all that had happened and was going to happen, he felt that his dream was once again in his grasp.
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