Title: Anne
Author: Liam
Posted: 04-14-2002
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own Angel and it’s characters.
Notes: This story takes place largely in the past. It’s sort of an Angel/Other friendship with maybe a touch of romance later. Don’t worry, I’m sure there will be plenty of A/C moments. I’m sorry if the events of the story don’t coincide with Angel’s history. Just try to enjoy it at face value.
Summary: While cleaning the basement, Angel discovers something that brings back memories of the past.
Part One
“Aaaa-chooo!”
“Bless you.”
“Thanks.”
Cordelia wiped her nose along the sleeve of her faded sweater in an undignified fashion. “What?” she asked. Angel was grinning at her with a goofy look on his face. “If you’d dust this place every once in a while this wouldn’t be a problem.”
Angel just shook his head at his Seer’s ramblings. In the basement of the Hyperion, Angel had recruited Cordelia to sort through his possessions. Wesley needed some demon book, and it seemed to Angel that he actually had a copy of it. It was just a matter of finding the trunk that it was in.
“You actually wore this?” Cordelia asked. Turning, he found Cordy holding up a white silk shirt.
“Sure,” Angel said. “I got that in Paris around 1830. Flared cuffs were in style back then.”
“You mean you were actually in style once?” Cordy teased.
“Ha ha,” Angel said. “I was a bad-ass vampire. It was only the best for my lady and me. The finest clothes, the finest wines, the finest seats at the opera house.” Angel mused for a moment. “Of course, we had to eat people to get most of that.” Cordelia gave him a strange look. “What? Didn’t I mention I was a vampire?”
“That would explain your affliction to sunlight,” she said. “I forgot, why am I helping you with this again?”
“Because I promised to give you money to buy Connor that sailor outfit if you did.”
“That’s right,” she said excited. Angel smiled at his Seer. If there was one thing she loved more than getting clothes, it was getting clothes for his kid. She was going to spoil Connor rotten. And Angel loved her for that.
Deciding the book wasn’t in this trunk, Angel pushed it aside and reached for the next. Popping it open, Angel took an unneeded breath at what laid on top. Angel gently took the record and blew the dust of the cover.
Cordelia stopped sorting through some dresses that once belonged to Darla to look at her friend. “Angel,” she said gently. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” he answered. His eyes never left the cover.
“What’s that?” Cordelia asked. Taking a seat next to the vampire, she tried to see what had captured his attention.
“It’s a phonograph record. It’s what we listened to before 8-tracks.” Angel grinned when Cordelia rolled her eyes. “It’s the Nocturne Concertos,” he told Cordy. “They’re by a Irish composer named John Field.” Looking at the record in awe, he said, “I haven’t listened to this in over 80 years.”
“Play me some,” Cordelia said.
Angel looked around the basement and found what he needed. Getting up, he crossed the room. Pulling away an old bed sheet, he revealed an old phonograph player. Blowing away a bit of dust, he set the record down. Cranking the machine, he then dropped the needle at the beginning.
Cordelia smiled as Angel began to drift slowly to the sound of the piano. The vampire smiled as memories of decades past came rushing back. “There’s a great story behind this record,” he told Cordelia.
Cordelia brushed away a piece of stray hair and sat down on an antique chair. “So tell it to me.”
Angel continued to drift in time to the music. “It’s about a girl,” he said, “as most great stories usually are. It’s also about a man. It’s about two lost people finding a sense of purpose, if only for a time.”
Briar Meadow, Ireland
May 1918
“C’mon, darling,” the drunken man demanded. “Dance with me.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “I’d appreciate it if you removed your hands from me. I’m supposed to be serving drinks.”
“Well then how about you serve me?” he said suggestively. He ran his hands up and down the woman’s waist. His friends cheered him on as he grabbed the woman and pulled her near. “How ‘bout we get a room upstairs and you can serve me up there?”
“How about you do as the lady asks and remove your hands?”
The man and his friends turned to face the voice. “Who are you?” the man demanded. “Not that it matters when we kick your bloody arse.”
“The name is Liam,” the intruder said in a soft Irish accent. “And I wouldn’t suggest taking me on.”
The crowd in the bar slowly began to back away as a fight seemed imminent. The drunken man and his friends became furious at this intruder’s gall.
“Get him!” the man cried. Liam backed away from the gang and leapt up on a pool table. Kicking up a stick, he twirled it in his hands like a staff. Eight men approached cautiously. Even the lead drunk seemed wary now.
“You might want to duck,” Liam said. Kicking the 1-ball savagely, one of the drunks fell in a heap to the floor. He screamed in pain as blood gushed from his shattered nose.
The men stared in shock for a moment before rallying behind their wounded friend. Screaming, they charged at Liam. The first few received sharps blows to the head for their trouble. Tossing the stick aside, Liam jumped up and grabbed a rafter. Pulling himself up, he crouched on the wooden plank.
He then dropped back down, tackling three of the men. Jumping up, he brutally kicked another attacker. It was then just he and the drunkard.
“If you apologize to her, I might not hurt you,” Liam said.
Seeing the carnage around him, the drunkard was quick to agree. “S-s-sorry milady,” he said. “You have my apologizes.” Stumbling as he backed away, he continued to mutter apologies in hopes of not being hurt.
The woman that he’d been groping quickly followed him out the door. The bar owner called out after her, yelling that it wasn’t time for her to leave. Liam tossed a few pounds on the counter and apologized for damages. He ran out of the bar, and checking to make sure no one was looking, used a burst of vampire speed to catch the woman.
“Miss? Are you okay?”
The woman turned to face him. She was quite lovely. Her long dark hair was tied up in a haphazard bun at the top of her head. Striking hazel eyes peered at him in a mixture of exhaustion, curiosity, and relief. Her skin tone was darker than the usual Irish paleness. Liam was sure she was one of the most beautiful women he’d seen in a long time.
“I’m fine,” she said. Angel was surprised. Her accent wasn’t Irish. Although he hadn’t heard it much, she sounded distinctly…American.
“I don’t want you to think me impolite, it’s just…” She sighed in frustration. “That same man has been harassing me for the past week.”
“I’m sorry,” Liam said honestly.
The woman smiled at him. “Thank you for saving me back there. Like a Guardian Angel.”
Liam shifted uncomfortably at that. “I wouldn’t say that,” he laughed nervously. Glancing around, he noticed a few of the drunkards stumbling from the bar. “Would you allow me to escort you home?” he said. “I’m not sure if it’s safe to be walking about by yourself so late at night.”
“I’d appreciate that, sir. By the way, my name is Anne McGregor.”
“Liam Brennan, my lady. Now, I think we should be moving. It seems that my new friends are resuscitating.”
Anne turned and saw the drunkards stumbling from the bar. “I must agree. Follow me.” Liam allowed her to lead him down the dusty streets to a surprisingly elegant home. “Thank you,” she said again. She seemed to consider something for a moment before asking. “Do you have someplace to stay?”
Liam was surprised at the question. “Not really ma’am. I’m a traveler passing through. I thought I’d just get a room at the local inn.”
Liam was enchanted by her laugh. “Liam, sir, that establishment we just came from was the only inn this town has.” She laughed again as Liam moaned in embarrassment. “I invite you to stay here for as long as you’re in town.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” he said. Smiling slightly, he followed her inside.
“I also must insist you just call me Anne.”
“Certainly…Anne.” Angel followed obediently as she led him upstairs to a spare room.
“I hope you find it to your liking.”
Angel looked around the small but cozy room. It was certainly better than most of the places he had been staying. “It’s very nice, Anne.”
“Good,” she smiled. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m feeling tired. Goodnight Mister Brennan.”
“Liam, please.” He managed to return her smile with a small one of his own. Damn, he thought, twice in one night he’d done that. “Goodnight.” As Anne closed the door, he wondered how he ended up where he was. Sighing, he decided to enjoy it while he could. It wasn’t often he got a furnished room with a beautiful hostess. Removing his jacket and tossing it aside, he climbed into bed. He was asleep in minutes.
*******
“So you saved the damsel in distress like you always do,” Cordelia said proudly.
“Something like that,” Angel grinned. “But the story is just beginning.”
Part Two
“So you saved the day and had a pretty girl invited you into her home. Not a bad days work,” Cordelia said.
“I suppose so,” Angel agreed. “But like I said, that’s just the beginning of the story. Because I had no idea who those men at the bar were.”
“They were bad news?” Cordy asked.
“Something like that,” Angel said. Leaning back in an 18th century rocking chair, Angel continued the story. “What I didn’t know, was I had gotten myself into a mess that would nearly get me killed.” Angel smiled as he gazed off into space. “But in hindsight, it was still worth it. But I’ll get to that in a moment.
“It surprised me how comfortable I became in Miss McGregor’s home. I tried to explain why I couldn’t stay long, but she always found a way to make me stay. I think she was lonely for company. And honestly, so was I.
“I believe she knew something wasn’t normal about me. She knew I didn’t go out during the day. But she never questioned it, she just appreciated that I took care of her house while she was away.” Angel laughed at the memory. “I think she was shocked to find a man that could do housework.
“But at night, I would follow her to the bar. I would sit in the corner, but I made damn sure everyone could see me, especially those drunk bastards from that night. But as I said earlier, they weren’t just any drunken bastards.
“Briar Meadow was essentially controlled by a conglomerate. Sheriff Robert McCrary and his brother Charles owned the town. It was with that knowledge that the adventure really began.”
*************
Liam had to admit that he liked this. Anne’s arm was wrapped around his own as they walked in comfortable silence along the streets of Briar Meadow. The electric streetlamps provided but a soft glow, but Liam didn’t need them to see.
The pair turned onto Main Street. It was the business part of town, but at two o’clock in the morning, all the stores were silent. It reminded Liam of something he wanted to ask Anne.
“Anne? May I ask you something?”
“I suppose,” she replied. She held onto his arm a little tighter. Anne wished they’d make the streetlamps brighter.
“Tonight I heard some of the men at the bar speak of Christopher. They also mentioned some business. What were they talking about?”
A look of sadness covered her face, and Liam instantly regretted bringing the subject up. She was too beautiful to wear an expression like that.
“That was probably Charlie McCrary shooting his mouth off. Did he have black curly hair, a beard, one eyebrow?” Liam laughed and nodded the affirmative. “It was Charlie then,” Anne said. “He owns both distribution companies in town. McCrary General and Hudson River Distribution.”
“Hudson River? Strange name,” Liam observed.
“My husband, Christopher, named it for me. I was born near it. When I first moved here with him, I missed the water, so he named it Hudson River.” Anne rested her head against Liam’s shoulder. “Chris was killed in early March. He was shot in the back. The sheriff said it must have been a drifter.”
Liam detected the derision in her voice. He thought for a moment when a thought struck him. “What a minute. Isn’t the sheriff’s name McCrary?”
“That would be Charlie’s older brother Robert. He was the one that reached the conclusion,” Anne informed him. “A few days later, with the help of a few legal loopholes, control of the business was taken from me and given to Charlie McCrary. I hadn’t even buried Christopher yet before it happened.”
Liam was stunned. In the span of a few days, this beautiful woman beside him lost everything. Liam wanted to comfort her, but he didn’t know how. Even after twenty years, he still hadn’t learned to deal with his own emotions, much less the emotions of others.
But maybe there was something he could do. Her husband’s death was certainly under suspicious circumstance. Maybe Liam could take back part of what she lost. She could certainly use it, especially since…
“It isn’t very fair,” Liam said. “Especially since you are also pregnant.”
Anne stopped and stared at him. “How did you know?” she asked. “Are you a doctor?”
“No,” Liam said. “I’m just observant. Queasiness in the mornings. Slight weight gain. An unnaturally large consumption of pickles.” Anne actually laughed at that.
“Yes, well, another little tidbit I discovered not long after Chris died. The doctor says I’m due in early November.”
“Which means you became pregnant only a few weeks before he died,” Liam calculated.
The pair walked in silence until they finally reached home. Funny how Liam had began to think of the place as home. He escorted Anne to the door before explaining he had to disappear for a bit. When a panicked look crossed her face, Liam assured her he’d be back in a few hours.
Truth was he was hungry. He figured he should avoid the Boyle farm. People were starting to question why his chickens were dying. As Liam made sure Anne locked the door, he set out upon the town. Maybe he’d find a stray dog or something.
*********
The sounds of a struggle sent Liam rushing towards an alley off Second Street. He found three large men surrounding a small red haired girl.
“Please,” the girl begged. “Don’t hurt me.”
“We won’t hurt ya sweetheart,” the lead man assured. Liam was disgusted by the smell of sweat coming off the fat man. “We just wanna play with ya fer a bit.” The girl shrank back against a wall as the man stroked her face.
“Why don’t you play with me?”
The men turned and glared at the intruder. “Mind yer own fucking business, stranger!” the fat man shouted.
“I’d really love to,” Liam said honestly. “Sometimes a conscience is more trouble than it’s worth.”
The men didn’t hesitate to rush at Liam. But the men went down quickly against the vampire. “It’s so hard to find a good fight these days,” Liam muttered as he surveyed the injured men. “Are you okay madam?” he asked.
“Yes, thank you,” she said. Liam was shocked when he received a hug from the woman. He didn’t often receive thanks. In 150 years he hadn’t received any. This was twice in the two weeks since arriving in town.
“Hold it right there!”
Liam turned to find eight men gathering around the alleyway. All had pistols aimed at him. He shifted his body so that the woman was behind him. His demon vision allowed him to clearly see the badges adorning their jackets.
“You’re under arrest,” the lead man said. “For assaulting these men and for an incident at the Last Call Tavern two weeks ago.”
“No, sheriff,” the woman began, “this man saved me. They tried to attack me.”
The sheriff shot the woman a glare to be quiet. Liam fixed the man with a stare of his own.
“You’re Sheriff Robert McCrary,” Liam said.
“That I am,” the man answered. He looked remarkably like his brother, only with two eyebrows. “You’ve been causing trouble in my town. I don’t like troublemakers. I’ll be keeping my eye on you.”
“So will I,” Liam answered. The two men stared each other down. McCrary was the first to back down. He holstered his weapon and led the posse away. Liam watched after the man for a few moments before turning back to the woman.
“Are you okay?” he asked. The woman shook slightly but nodded in the affirmative. “Let me walk you home.” Liam held out his hand for the woman to take. He escorted the woman home, but along the way, he kept noticing that one of the sheriff’s men was following him.
“Life is never easy,” he muttered.
*************
“And here I thought you had trouble making friends,” Cordelia teased.
“I don’t know why. I was always Mister Popular. I actually had a social life until I met you people.” Cordelia snorted in an undignified fashion, letting him know she didn’t believe that bullshit.
“So Liam Brennan was the hero once more,” Cordelia stated.
“Well, I am a Champion. But you’re interrupting the story. Sit back and listen, because the story starts to get good.”
Part Three
The Briar Meadow Hall of Records wasn’t a very impressive building. In fact, it was the back part of a building featuring a pharmacist’s office and a shoe store. Nevertheless, it was a place Liam needed to be.
In the side alley, Liam jingled the door of the back entrance. No luck. “I’m not going to have to destruct property, am I?” he muttered. Stepping back, he thought the situation over. Glancing up, he saw an open window on the second floor. Checking the street, he found that no one was near. With an easy jump, Liam had grabbed onto the ledge twenty feet above.
Liam quickly pulled himself through. Glancing back out, he decided no one saw him enter. Turning back to the room, he set about to accomplish his mission. His demon vision allowed him to quickly adjust to the darkness.
Along the wall and to the right of the door stood six file cabinets. In moments he was rooting through the drawers trying to find anything that could help him. Liam quickly pulled the file on Christopher McGregor. It was small, giving only the bare bones amount of information. Liam was by no means a detective, but even he knew there should be more material here.
It took far more time to find the file pertaining to the Hudson River Distribution Company. Liam flipped through the pages, but found he couldn’t understand most of it. On top of not being a detective, Liam also wasn’t a lawyer. But one piece of information did pop out at him. Thomas Kelly was the lawyer who signed off on the papers.
“Mister Kelly, looks like I’ll be paying you a visit.” Liam tucked both files into his jacket. Liam was about to shut the drawer when another file caught his attention. It was marked McCrary/McGregor. Liam took the file and scanned its contents. The vampire actually allowed small smile to grace his lips. He found a motive.
The sound of scuffling in the hallway stopped short his readings. Liam quickly shut the drawer and rushed over to the window. He dropped to the ground below just as a night watchman opened the door to do his nightly sweep.
************
Anne’s face lit up as Liam entered the Last Call Tavern. She ignored the annoyed shout of a patron wanting a beer, and went to greet him. Liam never got used to the fact that she actually seemed to like seeing him. He hesitantly returned the hug she offered.
“Where have you been?” Anne wondered.
“Just walking around,” Liam answered vaguely. “Just needed to get out of the house. I thought I’d come by and pay you a visit.”
“I’m glad you did,” Anne smiled. “I get off in half an hour, you can escort me home.”
“That would be my honor, madam,” Liam answered as he bowed slightly.
“Come on, let me get you a table and something to drink. Whiskey?”
“That would be fine.” Liam followed the enchanting woman to his customary corner table. Anne quickly learned that was Liam’s favorite spot. A warm feeling surrounded Anne as she realized it was so he could watch out for her.
“I’ll be right back,” Anne promised. Anne really didn’t know what the hell she was doing. Only a couple weeks ago, this man had swept into her life. Ever since, he had been her Guardian Angel, watching over her to protect against harm. And God help her, Anne might be falling for him.
She wondered what kind of woman that made her. It was only a couple months ago that Christopher had been killed. She was carrying her husband’s child, and here she was, falling for someone new.
But then again, nothing would come of it. Anne doubted that any man would find a woman attractive that was carrying another’s baby.
Liam’s eyes never left Anne’s form. She was a very beautiful woman, he realized. She was beginning to show the pregnancy. The idea that she was carrying a life inside her made Anne even more desirable.
Liam’s thoughts drifted once more. He had been thinking lately of all the things he would be missing as a vampire. He would never be able to have a child. He wouldn’t be able to raise a son to be a better man than he was. He would never be able to spoil a daughter, to have a “Daddy’s Little Girl”.
But there was one thing that he could do. Liam could do everything in his power to make sure Anne’s child was born happy and healthy into this world. It wouldn’t make up for all the souls he butchered in the past, but it was something good. And being around Anne made him want to do something good.
“Here you are, Liam.” Liam snapped from his thoughts to see Anne place a bottle and shot glass in front of him. He returned Anne’s bright smile with a small one of his own. “I have to go serve the other customers. Behave yourself.” Anne waved a finger at him in mock threat. He couldn’t help but chuckle.
“I’ll try,” he promised. As he followed Anne’s movement toward a far off table, he noticed the men at a nearby table watching him. In fact, a small group of men from several nearby tables were staring. Including Robert and Charles McCrary.
The brothers slowly rose from their seats. Each carrying a shot glass, they sauntered over to Liam’s table and took a seat. “You don’t mind if we sit down, do you?” Robert asked.
Both brothers and already made themselves comfortable in their seats. Charlie was helping himself to Liam’s whiskey. “Not at all,” Liam said, sipping from his own glass.
“Where you from?” Robert demanded.
“Galway,” Liam responded calmly.
“That’s up north of here, isn’t it?” Liam nodded. “Your accent isn’t very strong if you’re from Galway.”
“I’ve been traveling for a few years.”
Robert snatched the whiskey bottle from his brother after Charlie started to pour his third shot. “Where you been?”
“The Orient, Russia, Romania, Prague,” Liam listed.
Robert took a sip from his glass. He stared at Liam, trying to intimidate him. He was put off when it didn’t work. “I hear you’ve been staying with Anne McGregor.” Liam nodded again. “Sad what happened to her husband.” Robert didn’t seem saddened at all.
“I heard that a drifter put a bullet in his back.”
“That’s a fact,” Robert said.
Liam snorted and took a sip from his whiskey. “Only a coward shoots a man in the back.” Liam saw the momentary anger flair in Robert’s eyes.
“I’m only going to say this once: I want you out of my town.”
Liam turned his coldest glare on the brothers. He was pleased to see them both squirm. “Sorry,” he said. “I think I may stick around for a while. This is a nice little town. The people are friendly. Besides, Madam McGregor wishes me to stay. Who am I to deny a lady?”
Robert tried once more to intimidate Liam with a glare. Once again, Liam ignored him. “You know, rumor has it that since Anne lost the business, she might have to move out of her home. Wouldn’t that be a shame? A young, single mother out on the streets?”
Liam set down his glass. Looking directly into Robert McCrary’s eyes, he spoke in his lowest and most intimidating voice. “What would be a shame,” he said, “is if anyone tried to kick her out of her home. Know this: I am Anne McGregor’s protector. If anyone, and I mean anyone tries to bring her harm, then that threat will be reciprocated ten-fold.”
Liam had so missed the adrenaline high that accompanied the fear he instilled in humans. Right now, he felt like an addict tasting opium for the first time in weeks. Liam grabbed his glass and downed the last bit of the whiskey. “If you’ll excuse me, Anne’s shift is over. I promised I would walk her home.”
Liam stood, and without a second glance at the brothers, went off to find Anne. Robert watched as the two left the bar. Charlie on the other hand was focused on the bottle that Liam had left behind.
“He could be a real problem,” Robert told his brother.
“Nah,” Charlie denied. The younger McCrary drained his shot. “We can have him taken care of.”
Robert looked at his brother in annoyance. “We will not ‘take care of’ him unless there is no other option. Not everyone in town believed that a drifter shot Christopher. We’ll try to drive him out of town first,” Robert decided. “If that doesn’t work, then we kill him.”
************
Cordelia was on the edge of her seat. When Angel’s thoughts began to drift, Cordy quickly brought him back to focus.
“What did you find?” Cordy demanded.
For a moment Angel was confused. “Find?”
Cordy huffed in annoyance at her friend’s mental lapse. “At the records office? You said you found motive. What was it?”
Angel smiled down at his lovely Seer. She was hopping bobbing up and down in excitement from her crouched position. She was like a kindergartener wanting her teaching to finish a Dr. Seuss story. Angel rocked back and forth in his chair. Just when Cordy was about to burst out again, he resumed the story.
“Like I said, McGregor and McCrary both own distribution companies. Farmers and merchants would bring their products to them to ship to neighboring towns. The McCrary family had been in business in Briar Meadow for over forty years. Christopher McGregor started his when he returned from the war after being wounded in 1915.
“But even though McCrary was well established, the Hudson River Company began to surpass them in business. Finally, the McCrary family tried to buy out the company. They offered to keep Christopher on as manager of the Hudson Company. He refused.”
“So they couldn’t buy the company, so the McCrary’s had him killed?”
“Cordy, if I just answered that question it would ruin the story.” He smiled at her groan. He was torturing her, and he knew it. “But after speaking with Robert that night at the Last Call, I was certain that they were involved. They may not have killed Christopher themselves, but they may have ordered it. I just had to prove it.”
“So what did you do?”
“I decided to play the only lead I had. I would visit the lawyer Thomas Kelly. But before I could do so, something happened. Something that could have changed everything. It did change things, of course, but not the way I thought it would. It happened the very next night…”
Part Four
The Next Night
The butcher kept giving Liam strange looks until it was explained that blood was good for catching flies. Liam explained that he didn’t like the little buggers, and this was the easiest way to get rid of them.
Liam didn’t know why he felt he had to justify himself. Because you’re a vampire, he reminded himself. “Good day sir, perchance do you have some pig’s blood? I’ve got a hankering for some swine sangre.”
Yeah, Liam could imagine that line working. He’d have a lynch mob on him in no time. And Liam imagined some of the people in these parts liked a good lynching as much as a pint of whisky.
But at any rate, buying blood from a butcher was safer than sneaking on some poor farmer’s land and swiping a chicken. Not quite as fun, but safer. Liam tucked the burlap blood containing his blood jars inside his coat as he approached the house.
Opening the door to the house, his eyes first came across the grandfather clock against the wall. In about half an hour he’d go to the Last Call and escort Anne home. Until then, he was a mite hungry.
Heading into the kitchen, Liam popped a few logs into the stove. In minutes he had a nice fire going. He set the bags on the kitchen table before running upstairs to grab his pot. He really didn’t think he should use one of Anne’s. Blood could be a bitch to clean if it set.
Liam was back down quickly. Taking one of the jars, he poured about two cups worth into the pot. Adjusting the knobs, he put it on a lower setting. Liam took a seat at the table to wait for his blood to warm.
As Liam flipped through a newspaper, he shook his head in disbelief. People thought vampires could be brutal. The Great War was over, but the aftereffects were still being felt. Economies sagging, countries physically and financially ruined, the world had gone to hell.
Twenty years ago such as thought might amuse Liam. But not now.
The smell of warm blood aroused Liam from his morose thoughts. But then again, feeding on blood for all eternity was morose in and of itself. But Liam wasn’t into semantics, not when he was hungry.
Liam poured some of the thick red liquid into one of his mugs. He then turned the stove down to just keep the rest from congealing. “The price of immortality,” Liam muttered. Taking a long sip, Liam had to admit it was a pretty good pig. “I like Chinese better.”
So consumed in his thoughts was Liam, that he didn’t hear the light footsteps behind him. “What the hell are you?” Anne was home early.
Startled, Liam dropped the mug. When it shattered, blood splattered all across the tiled floor. While Anne stared at the red fluid seeping across her floor, all Liam could do was stare in shock at her.
Her beautiful hazel eyes were opened wider than he’d ever seen. The horror and confusion was evident in her face. Liam’s heart nearly broke as the first tears began to roll down her cheek.
“I asked, what the hell are you?”
“Please, Anne, I’m not…”
“You’re a vampire,” Anne stated flatly. The lack of emotion in her voice terrified Liam more than he cared to admit. “You’re drinking blood. You’re a vampire.” Anne turned to run away. Using a burst of speed, Liam was able to catch her easily. Anne shrieked in terror when Liam’s hands wrapped around her arms.
“Please, Anne, don’t be afraid of me,” Liam begged. “I wouldn’t hurt you. I’m not a bad person, please believe me.”
Anne’s focus was on a small spot of blood at the corner of Liam’s mouth. Slowly she reached up, and using her thumb, gently wiped away the spot of blood. Liam watched in amazement as the fear slowly melted from her eyes. Instead, it was replaced by something that looked like curiosity.
“I-I thought that vampires had teeth,” she said.
Liam debated with himself. If he did this, then there was a hell of a chance she could run off screaming into the night. Liam didn’t want that to happen. But he also wanted her to trust him, to see what he was.
“I’m going to show you something. Please, don’t be afraid. I would never hurt you.” When he saw that Anne had calmed herself, he decided it was time. He relaxed his human features and brought forth the demon.
For several moments, Liam didn’t open his eyes. He kept waiting for Anne’s horrified scream. He waited for the sound of footsteps running away. But when he opened his eyes, he found the most remarkable things. Anne stared up at him. In her eyes wasn’t any trace of fear. Only a clear sense of wonderment was present.
Her hand slowly came up to his face. She traced her fingers along the bumps and ridges that marked the demon visage. Liam lightly leaned into the touch, enjoying the feeling of warm hands touching him. It had been so long since anyone touched him, not since Darla. And her cool, clammy hands were nothing compared to this.
Liam’s sigh of contentment came out sounding like a low growl. Anne’s first instinct upon hearing it had been to run, but somehow, her mind understood the sound to be something else. Her entire emotional state at the moment was full of contradiction. Her logical mind was saying that this was a vampire; she needed to run very far away. But her soul said differently. Looking into his yellow eyes, she saw the same guilt and compassion that she saw when they were brown.
“Who are you?” she finally asked.
“Nobody,” Liam answered sadly.
“That’s not true,” Anne denied. “I think you’re somebody.”
***********
“So, she didn’t take off for the hills,” Cordelia said. “Tough broad.”
“Yes,” Angel agreed. “She was a remarkable woman. Reminds me of another woman I know.”
Cordy blushed at the comment. “Flattery gets you nowhere, bub.”
“You don’t think Fred appreciates flattery?” Angel teased. “Wait! Don’t throw that! That’s a first edition Cervantes! It’s worth more than both our lives!”
Cordy put the book back down, greatly amused at Angel’s protective nature over his books. “So, we were talking about how remarkable Anne was.”
Angel settled back in his rocker. “She was incredible. Anne was the first person that knew what I was, but yet accepted me for it. She saw the demon, but never lost sight of the human. She treated me as equal, not as a monster. It would be a long time before I found that kind of acceptance again.”
“Buffy,” Cordelia stated the obvious.
But Angel looked at her in confusion. “What about her?” He shook his head and continued. “But anyway, she actually wanted to know what I was. We talked till past sunrise. I told her about everything. My family, my human life, my death. She listened as I recounted 150 years of pestilence and death I inflicted upon humanity.” Angel chuckled softly in amazement. “She didn’t judge me. She accepted me as a friend. Like another woman that I know.”
“Fred?” Cordy teased.
“No. You.” It wasn’t often that Angel was able to surprise Cordelia Chase, but when he did, it was priceless. The blush once again crept along her cheeks. Angel thought she looked beautiful just then. “You two would have gotten along well. I wish you could have met her.”
“So do I,” Cordy said honestly. She would have liked to meet the woman that made such an impact on her friend’s life. Clearing her throat, and hiding the redness, she diverted Angel’s attention back to the topic.
“You said earlier that there was a lawyer you wanted to talk to. Thomas Kelly,” she reminded.
“I haven’t forgotten my train of thought,” Angel admonished playfully. “But you’re right, I was wanting to see Thomas Kelly. Because like I said, he was my best lead to unravel the mystery of Christopher McGregor’s death.”
Part Five
“I’m sure you can imagine the difficulty I experienced in finding a convenient time to visit Thomas Kelly,” Angel said to his Seer. “Lawyers didn’t really keep night hours back then, and it might have presented some trouble to get invited into his home, especially with the reputation I was developing in town.”
“So what did you do?”
“I actually lucked out for once,” Angel said. “Two days later, a thunderstorm came through town. The cloud cover allowed me to move about during the day.” The vampire laughed as he remembered. “Anne just about had a fit when I told her I was going out. She was afraid I’d turn into a muddle of muck if sunlight hit me.”
“Silly woman. Didn’t she know vampires turn to dust bunnies?”
Angel gave Cordelia a long look before shaking his head in amusement. The pair had ascended the stairs in search of food, the search for Wesley’s book long forgotten. Angel took a sip of blood before removing bacon from the frying pan for Cordy’s BLT.
“Evidently not,” Angel said dryly. “One more interruption, and I’m going to put mayo on this sandwich.”
Cordy shrank back in mock fear. “Sorry. Please don’t taint my sandwich with that stuff. But then I wouldn’t have to interrupt if a certain vampire would tell the story quicker.”
“Fine,” Angel huffed, transferring the bacon to the sandwich. “For that you’ll have to eat this without any milk. And to continue the story, that day I set off early to visit Mister Kelly. Wouldn’t you know it, but it was almost as if he was happy to see me.”
***********
The office of Thomas Kelly, Attorney at Law, wasn’t a very large one. It was located on the second floor of Doyle’s Bakery on Abernathy Street. Even though it was only ten in the morning, the secretary had a sign on her desk declaring ‘Out for Lunch’. Liam quickly gathered the impression not many people in Briar Meadow required the services of a lawyer.
Liam saw that Mister Kelly’s door was cracked open, and he could here the distinct sound of muttering coming from inside. Something about horses? Liam knocked politely. Kelly called him inside.
Liam was glad he didn’t have much of a sense of humor, or Thomas Kelly’s appearance would strike him as funny. Liam still had to stifle a small smile as he realized Kelly fit almost exactly to how he imagined Ichabod Crane looked.
He was thin and lanky, with thin dark brown hair slicked back. Spectacles slid down to the tip of his too large nose. As he stood to great Liam, the vampire noticed his movements didn’t seem all that graceful.
As Kelly was about to offer his hand, he pulled it back, staring at this new man in recognition. “You’re that Brennan fellow that’s staying with Anne McGregor, aren’t you?”
“I am,” Liam admitted.
“Then you’re here to talk about those files you stole a week or so ago.”
Liam’s face remained blank. There was a reason he was great at poker. “Files?”
“The files on Christopher’s death, and the attempted McCrary takeover of the Hudson River Company.” When Liam still didn’t speak, Kelly continued. “It’s quite alright. I noticed they were gone while filing a few days ago. You’re here to ask whether or not the McCrary’s are responsible for Christopher’s death. You also wonder what my part in it was.”
While Liam’s face remained passive, internally, he was impressed with Mister Kelly. Behind those beady eyes was a very keen intelligence. “So, are you going to tell me all that?”
“It depends. Do you plan on making the party or parties responsible for his death pay for the crime?”
“Yes.”
“Then take a seat, because I no longer want this on my conscience.”
***********
“Mnn, tht wuz prty ezzy.”
“I’m sorry,” Angel said. “I couldn’t understand you. The lettuce must be blocking your vocal cords.”
Cordelia gave him her best ‘dumbass’ glare and swallowed her bite of sandwich. “I said Man, that was pretty easy. And we wouldn’t have this problem if you didn’t make such a damn fine sandwich.”
“Only the best for my Seer,” Angel said. “Or so she tells me.” The smack he received upside his head resounded through the Hyperion’s quiet halls. Angel made his eyes flash yellow, but Cordelia just ignored him. He didn’t intimidate the damn woman anymore. That blew.
“But as you so observantly noted, no beating was required to retrieve the information I wanted. Now, if you’ll hush up, I tell you the rest.”
***********
“Two gentlemen came into my office inquiring about the possibility of the McCrary’s gaining control of the Hudson River Company,” Kelly said. “I informed them the only way that control of the company could be changed is if Christopher signed it over, or if he were to die, but then it would go to his wife.”
“So the McCrary’s had him killed?” Liam inquired.
“I don’t know,” Kelly said. Off Liam’s disbelieving look, he continued. “I speak the truth. My involvement in this matter rests solely with the fact that I altered the Hudson River contract to state upon Christopher McGregor’s death, the company would go up for auction.”
“Two questions,” Liam said. “First, what happened of these two men that you spoke to?”
“I don’t know. I saw neither of them again. It’s possible that they were contacts from elsewhere brought in to negotiate.”
“Why did you agree to tamper the documents?”
“I was paid to do so,” Kelly smiled slightly. “They also said they could have me disbarred. I wasn’t willing to bet against that.”
“Is there anyone in this town beyond their grasp?”
“Not hardly. Even the mayor is a stockholder in the company.”
“Then who is there?”
“Marcus Fitzgerald is the county constable. He’s a good man, an honest man.”
“Then I’ll ask him to come down here.”
“And then what?”
“Then you tell him what you told me. He’ll investigate and he’ll discover that the McCrary brothers were involved in the murder of Christopher McGregor.”
“Sir, you’re delusional,” Kelly said. “The only thing that will happen is that I will go to jail for falsifying legal documents. Whether one of the McCrary brothers killed McGregor or hired a lackey to do so, the fact remains that they are well insulated from any harm. They have patsies for the patsies. A few people may go to jail, but the trail will stop before either brother can be implicated. From where I stand, there is no way you can make either man pay for the crime.”
“There is one way they could be implicated,” Liam said decisively.
“How?”
“If one of them were to confess.”
“I have news for you sir: they are not going to confess.”
Liam leaned back in his chair and smiled at the lawyer. “Where there is a will, there is a way.”
***********
“Sheriff McCrary, sir, I think you should know, Brennan talked to the lawyer,” the exhausted lackey said to his boss. He had just run eight blocks to the Last Call to tell the sheriff the news. “I saw him leaving Mister Kelly’s office only a few minutes ago.”
“Did he?” Robert asked. Turning to his brother he said, “Well, I guess you got your wish. We may have to deal with Mister Brennan after all. That goes for Kelly, too.”
Charlie grinned at his brother of his mug of beer. “That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day.” The younger McCrary spoke to the rest of the gang. “Well, boys, looks like tonight there will be a party.”
***********
That Night
Liam smelled the smoke long before he saw the first traces of flame. Jolting upright from bed, he leapt the few feet to the bedroom window. Smoke was rising from the ground floor. Standing in the streets stood men in hoods, torches and rifles in hand.
Liam rushed from his bedroom and into Anne’s. He shook her awake. “Liam?” Anne asked groggily. “What’s wrong?”
“Come on, Lass, we need to get out now. The house is on fire.”
“What?” Anne shouted, instantly awake. “How? Why?”
“Lynch mob, fan club, whatever! Grab a coat and come on woman!” Liam helped Anne climb out of bed and put on a long overcoat. Grabbing her hand, the vampire led her down the stairs. Smoke was billowing all around. A flaming rafter had fallen, blocking the front door. They ran to the back of the house, only to find the flames blocking the back door as well.
“What do we do?” a very frightened Anne yelled.
“Make our own way out,” Liam said. He led Anne back into the smoky living room. Letting go of her hand, Liam hoisted a heavy oak coffee table. “You don’t mind if I break your window, right?” Without waiting for an answer, Liam threw the table through the living room window. “Come here,” he commanded.
Anne obeyed without question. Liam scooped her into his arms. “Hold on tight,” he said. Anne clutched to his shirt like a lifeline. With a running start, Liam leapt through the shattered panes of glass, taking them both to safety. Liam ran a few houses down and climbed onto the porch of the Fisher’s.
The elderly couple that lived there had been watching the events transpiring, but now they knelt beside the frightened woman. “Take care of her for a second,” he said to Peter and Agnes.
“Liam! Don’t go, please,” Anne begged.
“Ssh,” Liam whispered. “I won’t go far.” Liam untangled himself from Anne’s clutches and stormed back onto the street. The gang had started to gather round, very angry that the pair had escaped.
“I know who you are!” Liam screamed. “You can curse me, attack me, or beat me all you like, but you will not harm Anne!”
One of the men in front raised his shotgun. “That’s fine by us,” he said. He emptied his barrel into Liam’s chest. The dozen or so men behind him followed suit and unloaded their rifles at Liam. The bullets ripped through his torso.
“LIAM!” Anne screamed.
The first shooter sauntered to the fallen body of Liam. The bullets left his body a bloody wreck. “He’s very dead,” the man declared. The party left the body where it was. Without fear of punishment, the group slowly vacated the area.
“Liam!” Anne screamed again. She tried to force herself away from the couple, but Peter wouldn’t let go.
“No child,” he said. “I don’t think you want to go to him.” Peter then turned to his wife. “Agnes, take care of her. I’m going to go get Doctor Smith.” His wife nodded and took hold of Anne.
“Liam,” Anne whispered.
On the other side of town, Mary Kelly wept as she clutched the wounded form of her husband to her chest.
Part Six
It had been 150 years since Liam had to crawl from a coffin buried six feet underground. It was still traumatic as hell.
Dirty, smelly, and hungry, Liam fought his way out of the rain soaked earth back to the surface. His vampire sense kicked into high gear as he bolted away from the grave. At the head of his grave was a simple wooden cross.
He needed to find Anne.
When he went by the McGregor house, he was surprised and relieved to see the home in fairly good condition. Scorch marks were plainly evident, but as the newly re-arisen vampire noted when he went inside, the interior seemed to be largely saved.
It would take a considerable amount of whitewash to fix the walls, and several pieces of furniture would need to be replaced, but the place looked remarkably well. Briar Meadow must have a half decent fire department.
But that didn't help him find Anne. His nose was telling him that she wasn't staying here anymore. Her scent was faint.
Watching the Last Call, he finally spotted her. Lurking in the alley shadows, he discovered that she was staying in a second floor boarding room. When he was certain that she returned to her room after her shift, he made the leap up to the windowsill.
"Anne," he whispered into the room.
"AHH!" Anne screamed when she saw the dirty face clutching the windowsill. It only took a few moments to realize who it was. "Liam! Is that you?"
"Yes," Liam groaned. "Can you invite me in?"
"Yes! Come in!" Anne grabbed onto Liam's mud caked hands and helped pull him in. Liam landed in an ungraceful heap to the floor. Nevertheless, Anne soon engulfed him in a massive hug, completely uncaring that her clothes were being ruined.
"I thought you were really dead," she exclaimed.
"Not hardly. Bullets can't kill vampires. They hurt like hell, but they don't kill."
"But the mortician buried you. You didn't have a pulse or anything."
"I don't have a pulse anyway." Liam groaned in pain. "God, I need blood. Otherwise these wounds will have trouble healing."
Anne gasped in shock as she helped him remove his soiled shirt. Dozens of bullet wounds lined in chest and stomach. "Oh my God," she murmured.
"It's okay," Liam told her. "I'll heal. It's one of the perks of being immortal."
Anne merely nodded, her eyes not leaving his scarred chest. "Go sit in the bathtub and clean up. I'll go out and try to find you some blood."
"Just go to the butcher," Liam said as Anne moved to grab her coat. "Get a couple jars of pig's blood." When Anne just continued to stare at his chest, he said, "It's okay. You can't kill what's already dead."
***********
For a few days, Liam stayed in the boarding room with Anne, using the time to recover his strength. Anne informed him that the McCrary gang was well aware of the empty hole located in Eternal Peace Cemetery. Besides being spooked senseless, they were also on high alert.
Liam explained that it didn't matter. The McCrary's wouldn't be able to hurt him again, nor would they hurt anyone else. He explained the plan that he had. She didn't like the part about him leaving for a few days, but she accepted that he would do it anyway.
"I'll be back," he promised Anne. "I think I've proven that I don't stay away for long. Anne, IÖ" he couldn't finish the sentence he so desperately wanted to say. "I need to do this. For you. For the baby. For Christopher. I need to know that these men will never be able to hurt anyone the way they hurt your family."
She should have known better than to ever doubt the man that had become so important to her in such a short time. He would return in only a few days. It would all be worth the wait.
***********
"Hello Charlie," Liam smirked.
Charlie McCrary gasped in shock as the blindfold was removed from his eyes. Before him was the man that he and his men had killed a week ago.
"What's the matter Charlie?" Liam asked. "Cat got your tongue?" In a low growl he added, "Or maybe you're just not used to having the people you kill raise from the grave. Like Christopher McGregor."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Charlie huffed.
"Sure you do, Charlie. But, it's not like it really matters. It looks like you'll be going to jail anyway."
Charlie McCrary eyed him suspiciously. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Liam feigned surprise. "You didn't hear? Your brother is turning you in to Constable Marcus Fitzgerald. Evidently it would cost less to have him around than it would you. Either way, your brother is apparently a greedy bastard." Liam clucked his tongue in mock disappointment. "Wouldn't expect a brother to do that to his own blood."
"You're lying," Charlie said with more certainty that he felt. "Robert wouldn't do that to me. Besides, why would Fitzgerald believe him? We're both fine, upstanding citizens."
"Because Robert will have someone to corroborate his story. Me." Liam shrugged his shoulders at Charlie's stunned silence. "I'm only getting a small percentage of the profits, but hey, it's steady money."
"B-but, I didn't kill Christopher!" Charlie exclaimed.
"I believe you, Charlie." His tone spoke to the contrary. "I tell you what, I'll make a deal with you. You tell me what happened, and I'll deny your brother's story. I'll say that he tried to frame you for the murder of Christopher McGregor. But of course, there is a price involved."
"Anything!" Charlie shouted. "Name it, it's yours!"
"Twenty percent interest in both companies and any other endeavors that you may be involved in. I'll keep quiet in anything that you might have done."
"Fine!" Charlie agreed. "When we couldn't buy the Hudson River Company, we hired a pair of men to convince Thomas Kelly to change the contract on McGregor's lease. We ordered him to be killed, that way the company would go up for auction to the highest bidder. We bought it easily."
"Did you have Thomas Kelly killed? Were you afraid he'd talk?"
Charlie stared at Liam defiantly for a few moments, but his resolve quickly broke. He didn't want to be put in jail. "We did," Charlie admitted. "We didn't know if we could trust him to be silent."
Liam knelt beside Charlie as the younger McCrary cowered in the corner of the hotel room. "So you decided that money was worth more than the lives of these two men. Men that had families. Thomas Kelly had a wife and two children. Anne McGregor is carrying a child that will never get to know its father. All so you and your brother could make money."
Liam stood and went to the door. Opening it, Anne McGregor walked in, followed by a man leading a handcuffed and gagged Robert McCrary. "Charlie McCrary, I assume that you know Marcus Fitzgerald." Turning to the County Constable, Liam asked, "Did you catch all that, Constable?"
"I did indeed Mister Brennan. Charles McCrary, you are under arrest for the murders of Christopher McGregor and Thomas Kelly."
"You Son of a Bitch!" Charlie exclaimed as he bolted to his feet. "I'll kill you!" Charlie lunged at Liam, but the vampire easily dodged Charlie's attack. Sticking out his foot, he tripped the younger McCrary.
Several county deputies entered the room and took the McCrary brothers out in chains. Fitzgerald stayed behind for a moment to congratulate Liam. "That was brilliant, Mister Brennan. I suspected that those two weren't the most honest individuals."
"What will happen to them?" Anne asked quietly.
"They'll be held at the county jail until trail. With the confessions and documents we found at their homes, they should be in jail for a long time."
"Thank you sir," Liam said as he shook Fitzgerald's hand.
The Constable smiled and left the two alone. "Damn that guy had cold hands," he muttered.
"Are you okay?" Liam asked gently. Anne nodded, but Liam could tell the strain she was under. "Please try to relax," Liam said, "it's not good for the baby if you're so anxious."
"I know," Anne said. "But I just can't believe it's over." Anne stepped towards the vampire, seeking some kind of physical comfort. Liam wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head.
"You realize that even though they are going to jail, it still doesn't bring Christopher back." He heard Anne start to cry as she nodded the affirmative. "It will be hard, but I promise you one thing: for as long as you want me around, I'll be here for you. Even if some day you decide to move on with someone new, I'll always watch over you."
"Like a guardian Angel," Anne smiled softly.
***********
Cordelia clutched her cup of tea closer. Her eyes started to become moist as she realized the truth of the situation. "But the Watcher Diaries say that you came to America about 80 years ago," she said sadly
Angel took a slow sip of blood before answering. "That's right," he said. "But your jumping ahead of the story. It actually got happy after the arrest of the McCrary brothers." Cordelia could tell that Angel was near tears.
"So tell me the happy part."
Part Seven
Liam didn't know what he did to be this happy. After all his crimes, he didn't deserve any of this. But he had a home, and he had a family. For a moment, it almost felt like redemption.
It hadn't taken long for control of the Hudson River Company to be given back to its rightful owner: Anne McGregor. The added bonus was that McCrary Distribution was now under her control as well.
The money from the businesses was more than enough to refurbish the fire scorched home. The house was returned to the pre-fire glory. And then in early November, a miracle happened.
"Liam!" Anne called. Liam turned and smiled as the dark haired beauty walked down the steps carrying her son. "Can you hold Connor for me a minute? I need to check to see if the turkey is done."
Liam gladly took the precious bundle into his arms. He didn't know the first thing about what he was doing, but holding Connor Christopher McGregor felt damn good. "I can do that," Liam said. He began to coo and make nonsense noises at the baby.
Liam marveled at the child. He was so tiny and fragile. Liam thought that he could break at any moment. But he was so beautiful. Just like his momma.
"Enjoy this, Little One. It's your first Christmas. It's a fun time of year, or so it's said. You're going to get tons of presents."
"Speaking of presents," Anne said. She grinned as Liam started in surprise.
"Don't do that!" Liam admonished. "I'll drop Connor."
"No you won't," Anne smiled.
Liam couldn't help but smile back. "You're right. I won't. And you said something about presents?"
"I did." Anne handed him a square, flat present wrapped in a red bow.
"Can I open it?" Liam asked excitedly. He hadn't opened a Christmas present in over 150 years.
"Of course." Anne gently took the small child into her arms. Liam quickly unwrapped the first Christmas present he'd received in decades.
Liam smiled as he looked at it. "John Field. The Nocturne Concertos. Field, a good Irish composer. Thank you," he said as he kissed her cheek. "You have no idea what this means to me."
"I'm glad you like it," Anne said. "Now go put it on the player. There's dancing to be done."
Liam actually laughed as he obeyed the first woman he'd actually loved. "Yes, milady. Your wish is my command." Anne gently set the small child in his crib as Liam set the needle down on the record. "May I have this dance?" Liam offered his hand in the gentleman's fashion.
"Indeed sir," Anne replied. She took the proffered hand gladly. The sounds of piano invaded the room as the two moved slowly to the music. Liam breathed in the soft scent of the woman surrounding him. Resting her head against Liam's chest, Anne closed her eyes and swayed to the sounds of the notes, taking comfort in the cool body next to her.
As she glanced into Liam's eyes, she noticed something on the ceiling above. Smiling softly, she nodded her head upwards. Liam looked above him and saw what captured her attention. Mistletoe.
"You know what that means, right?"
"I do," Liam said. Leaning down, he gently captured Anne's lips with his own. For several long minutes they stayed there, the music floating around them as they reveled in the contact.
"I love you," Anne said softly.
"I love you," Liam answered. After such a short time of knowing this woman, he couldn't believe the feeling he had for her. It was love, it had to be. Because he'd never felt this before.
***********
"KILL THE DEMON!"
"LIAM!" came Anne's frightened scream.
"I LOVE YOU, NEVER FORGET THAT!" Liam called in return. Liam's heart shattered as he realized he would never see his family again. He would never again know Anne's soft kisses. He would never again feel Connor's heartbeat as he held the child to his chest. Never again.
***********
Cordelia couldn't stop the tears from flowing. Wrapping her arms around Angel's neck, she glanced over his shoulder to watch as he held his son. On the couch in the lobby they sat, both in tears at the story that the vampire just recounted. Cordelia rested her chin on his left shoulder and whispered into his ear.
"They found out what you were," she said sadly.
"The found me fighting another vampire," Angel cried. "I was trying to save a woman from being attacked."
"They saw your vampire face," Cordelia realized. "They chased you out of town."
"It was less than a month after Christmas," he told her. Cordelia gently wiped away his tears with her finger. "I lost everything that night," Angel said. "They found out I was a monster." Angel shrugged his shoulders. "I guess God finally realized I didn't deserve any of it."
"No!" Cordelia denied. She turned Angel's head so he was looking at her. "Do not say that. After all you've been through, you deserve whatever you can get." Cordelia smiled slightly as she gently traced a finger along Connor's cheek. "Maybe this is God's way of saying sorry."
"Maybe," Angel admitted, a small smile forming at the thought. "I was able to make my way to Anne before the lynch mob formed. I was able to gather a few things. That record was one of them. I kissed Anne and Connor goodbye, stole a horse, and got the hell out of town."
"Do you know what happened to them?"
"Not exactly, no," Angel said. "But I know that they both lived long and happy lives."
"How do you know that?" Cordelia asked curiously.
"I don't know," Angel admitted. "I just do."
Angel stood, intending to head to the kitchen to fetch Connor a bottle. "Angel?" Cordelia asked.
The vampire turned to face his Seer. "Yeah?" He was surprised when she gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.
"You're not a monster," Cordelia told him. "You're a good man."
Angel's reply was cut off by the sounds of four invading the lobby.
"I hope we're not interrupting anything," Fred grinned when she saw how close Cordy was to Angel. She loved kye-rumption.
"No, not really," Angel said. Both Champion and Seer wiped away the last remnants of tears. "It took you guys long enough to get lunch."
"Very funny, bro," Gunn laughed. "You try getting some food with three other people with bad tastes in cuisine."
"Excuse us if we'd rather not have Wendy's every day for all eternity," Lorne added.
"And like we want to eat that crap you were wanting?"
"You mean Chinese?" Lorne supplied.
"Whatever dude."
"Why couldn't we get tacos?"
Wesley ignored the others as they began arguing the merits of burgers, Chinese, and Mexican. "Angel? Did you find that book in your collection?"
"Book?" Angel asked, momentarily confused. "Shit! The book! I completely forgot about it."
"So did I," Cordelia groaned.
"Then what have you two been doing all afternoon?"
Angel and Cordy shared a small smile. If only they knew. "Nothing special," Angel answered finally.
"Fred, can you take Connor for a while?" Cordelia asked.
"Sure!" she said excitedly. Fred took the child from Angel and immediately began making goofy noises. Cordy and Angel walked side by side towards the basement door.
"Where are you two going?" Wesley asked.
"Downstairs to find your book," Angel told him.
"And maybe see what else we can dig up," Cordelia supplied. Everyone saw the knowing smile that passed between the two.
Fred sighed in contentment as she watched the two head down the stairs. "I love Kye-rumption."
End.