Becoming I

The next few months passed quickly for Xander and Angel. Every three weeks Xander would take Holly to his parents, while he and Angel would spend the entire day in bed. Slow, sensual months of nothing but pleasure as Angel took him to heights of ecstasy time and time again.

Not to say that real life didn't rear it's ugly head a time or two with him, Spike and Willow having to go out on an assignment or two. But at least this time Angel fully knew about it and there was no sneaking around anymore. They even got to spend some time together. Of course when Spike insisted on going if Peaches was going, even though he wasn't assigned to this case. With a sigh, Xander felt he might as well give in and make it a 'family' vacation.

So bundling up Holly, he shifted them all to his and Willow's next assignment, making sure that Spike, Angel and Holly were comfortable.

It was a really beautiful place he thought as he ducked under a knife wielding demon, slamming a Power enhanced fist into its unprotected side, following up with a roundhouse kick to the other demon sending it flying into the wall. Gorgeous scenery, beautiful mountain view he mused as he sliced open his second demon before turning to attack the third demon with a swinging middle Power enhanced punch to the demon's torso. What could possibly go wrong? Goddamn those fucking Oracles!

"Doing okay, there Wills," he yelled, hearing her grunt of pain. He couldn't take his eyes off his opponent though to make sure she was okay.

"You just worry, ugh, about your demons," Willow shouted back as her demon slammed her into the wall. She pushed back and did a full spin against the wall and finishing with a backhand punch to the demon's face. She did a high kicllowllowed by a right Power enhanced punch to the third demon, slamming him back. She jumped into a high roundhouse kick and a front snap kick back to her first demon, spinning around as he fell, slamming her blade down into his unprotected neck.

Spinning around and she narrowly escaped a savage sword strike at her unprotected back. Tumbling forward, she gave a Power enhanced kick at the sword carrying demon, sending him flying across the floor.

They had to hurry before the high priest completed his spell or this world was going to be kneedeep in Fior demons.

Landing back on her feet, she raced to finish her demon off, slamming her blade into the demon's chest, hearing it's death shriek.

She whirled around to see if Xander needed any help and pain blossomed in her ribs as the fifth demon took this opportunity to slam a ham-size fist into her side, sending her crashing again into the wall. She fell into a crouch, her blade still gripped tightly in her hand and looked up. With a growl eerily reminiscent of Spike, she charged at the demon with Power enhancement speed, knocking it down.

It got back to its feet in a rush of speed, wrenching a sword from its fallen companion and grinning wickedly at her with sharp, jagged teeth.

She could vaguely hear Xander fighting and the High Priest chanting over the dying scream of one of Xander's opponents as she face off with her demon.

She thrust at it with her sword, but it parried her blow and swung around with a thrust of its own that she parried. They clashed blades several times and she ducked under a wide arcing swing from it. They faced off again and traded blows, one thrust and parry after another; it tried another arcing swing from above, but she easily sidestepped out of its range, punching her fist into its side.
Growling, it aimed a savage, brutal stroke at her again and she blocked its attempt again with her blade, feeling the power behind that blow in her trembling arm. Again they trade several swinging blows and it tried a wide swing again, this time managing to cut her superficially on the arm. It tried to take advantage of her distraction and came at her with its' sword held high, intending to swing from above. She dropped to the floor, rolled towards it and arching up, thrust her sword through its' unprotected chest.
"Xander the priest," she screamed, spinning around to see the priest just about to finish its' chant.

"Kinda busy here, Wills," Xander said hoarsely, "You know, with the fighting and trying to save my life and all," he added as he traded a couple of blows with the last remaining demon.

He and the demon faced off in front of the High Priest. And from the corner of his eye he could see a small tear beginning to appear in the space in front of the High Priest, as he blocked another swing from the demon, ducking under it and escaping to the side. He jumped up on a low table to gain the advantage of height and swung at the demon again. Dammit, don't these things know when to fuckin' lay down and die, he thought angrily as the demon parried his blow and swung at his legs. He jumped up and over the demon's blade, landing on the floor, kicking the demon's legs out from under it in a sweeping scissors kick and scrambling back up.

He whirled to face it while it was on its' knees and swung at it three times in rapid succession, all of which it parried. The demon got to its feet and swung at him, this time he knockee swe sword into the table with his parry and pinned it there. Yea me, he thought triumphantly.

And the demon backhanded him in the face and he spun away, almost losing his sword. He remembered all the lessons he had been taught, 'No matter what, never let go of your weapon' and took a tighter grip.

It pulled its' sword from the table and swung it hard at him. He blocked the sword and Power kicked it in the gut, making it grunt and double over. He jumped over it into the clear and raised his sword to continue the fight as it straighten up. He swung at it brutally and it parried hisoke.oke. He kicked at its sword arm and it stumbles back a step, just before the High Priest.

"Xander, get down," Willow shouted, raising her hands in the air a fireball blossoming between her hands.

Xander didn't even think, he just hit the dirt as the fireball whooshed over his head. He didn't dare breath, feeling the heat of the flame passing over his back. He heard the shrieks at the demon and High Priest were caught up in the intense flame and turning his head cautiously, seeing the two figures gyrating and shrieking, covered in flames
.
Damn, when Willow cuts loose, the girl is dangerous, was his fond and painful thought. He could feel his back blistering from the heat.

Finally the flames and demons were gone. He carefully got up with Willow's help, he knew by the squeak of alarm that his back must be pretty awful and he heard her quick muttering before blessed coolness washed over his back, soothing the burning.

"Okay, next thing on our list to do is practice your control," Xander said sternly to the sheepish Willow.

"Well, I said get down," Willow muttered, kicking at the dirt.

Xander merely raised a brow, "How much further down do you think I could have gone?" He regarded her and then smile, "But you did good. We just need to finish stopping the portal from opening."

They turned and regarded the tear that was slowly getting bigger. Xander and Willow turned and regarded each other, "Well, go on. It's your turn to close a portal," Willow pushed Xander in the direction of the tear.

"Give me a minute willya," Xander protested. He really hated closing dimensional openings, they had a nasty tendency to try to suck him in.

Cautiously the pair crawled up the to pedestal where the High Priest was standing, and peeked over the low wall into the portal, quickly ducking back down.

"This is so not good," Xander remarked to Willow with pretended calm, "I might even go as far to say it's very Bad."

"I knew I should've stayed home this time," Willow muttered, shaking in reaction to what they had seen in the portal. All those creatures poised and ready to invade this world.

"Do you think they saw us," Xander asked anxiously. Man, those were some evil looking things!

"Please God, no," Willow whimpered. Who knew Fior demons could look so...so....nasty?

"Okay, here's what we do," Xander said in a rush, his heart racing from the...things on the other side. "I grab the book, give it to you and shield you when you run. You find a way to reverse the spell and I'll keep it from opening any further, deal."

"You realized just how dangerous that is, right, and that Angel will probably kill me if I came back without you," Willow said shakily, her breath coming in fear induced pants.

"Hey, we're Heros and danger is our middle name, that and Panic," Xander said with a crooked smile, "Besides, if you find that spell quick enough, there won't be any Angel killing you."

Willow looked at him, "Good point."

They heard the voices muttering becoming louder and knew that they had to move fast.

"On my mark," Xander whispered, reaching up a hand, just grasping the book and erecting a shield around Willow.

At the increased loud muttering, he shouted 'Go!' and snatched the book, handing it book to Willow who streaked off with the book, just making it to the corner when she was hit in the back with a power bolt of lightening, staggering her before she made it around the corner.

Xander gathered his will and power, erecting a much thicker shield around himself before standing up. Holding his hands the width of the tear, he began to push his hands together as lightening play off of his shield, slightly staggering him. Sweat glisten then poured down his face as he concentrated on narrowing the tear, making sure that none of the creatures could step through.

Closer, tighter he pushed with all his might, seeing the fury in creature on the other side as it fought as hard as it could to prevent him. He lost himself in his struggle, feeling his heart racing with the effort of just holding on. He ignored the fire blazing around him, the ground shaking under his foot, the bolts of power cascading over his shield....

He had to hold on!

Trembling, shaking he held on....

Abruptly, the godawful pressure was gone and he fell to his knees, gasping. He looked up in a daze to the sight of Willow's anxious eyes bending over him. Her face as tired and as strained as his.

"It's okay, I found the spell and closed it," she murmured in exhaustion, wearily helping to get him to his feet, looping his arm over her t sho shoulders as they staggered out to the temple.

"You know, Angel's really gonna kick your ass when we get back, right," Willow said as they stumbled their way back to the hut they were all sharing.

"Well, he can wait until after I kick those goddamn Oracles asses!" Xander said exhaustedly, "Easy job my ass! No wonder Angel can't stand to work with them. Man, as soon as I find who's in charge, I'm gonna send a Stern Note of Protest to their bosses! I want to see some reprimands in their files about the way they treat people," Xander finished with a firm nod, catching himself from falling over.

"Dear Mystical Bosses of the Oracles, Your people stink!" Willow snickered and Xander joined in, both of them making up imaginary letters to the Mystical Bosses of the Oracles. Relief and stress making them giddy as they stagger back to their family.

But he couldn't help but shivered remembering the fury in the eyes of the other before the rift close.


Angel slowly lifted his head and looked over at Cordy working at her desk. Okay, now is the time to tell her about Xander and me. Yep, I'm just going to get up and walk over there and tell her. I'm gonna say 'Cordy, there's something that I've been meaning to tell you for the past 4 ½ years, Angelus raped Xander' oh yeah, she'll stake me faster than a heat beat. Lost in his inner musing he was barely aware of the conversation going on around him.

//Just do it already, it's not like she'll really kill you// Xander said.

//Oh really, and how would you know, Nostrodomos// Angel said sarcastically.

"That he would be like a normal man?" Fred was excited, maybe Angel would want to marry Cordy and have beautiful babies, they were spending a lot of time training downstairs. She kinda thought that maybe Cordy and Angel were sweet on each other.

Wesley raised a brow, wondering about the look on Fred's face, "Er, yes."

"Wow. What would we do if that happened," she asked, turning to Cordy.

Cordy remarked from her desk, "I'd buy him some plaid shirts and take him to the beach. The boy needs some color."

Fred lowered her eyes, disappointed, and goes back to typing on the laptop. That was not all romantic like. She mutters to herself in disjointed sentences, 'There. That came out better. - Oh. No it didn't. It's still very preliminary, but - if these calculations are correct, this bad thing should already be here. Well, I-I guess not right here, but - here in LA."

Angel walked into the reception area and sat down, taking an unneeded breath. Okay, here I go. Wait maybe I need to do this in private. Yeah, that way when she stakes me, nobody'll stop her? Oh boy, think of a better plan you idiot.

//Stop being such a baby and tell her already. Remember YOU were the one that insisted that she know right now, I wanted to wait and gently break the news to her I wanted to wait for reinforcements but OH NO, not Mr. Big Bad Vampire who's not afraid of a freakin' mortal.// He could feel the smirk in Xander's voice.

//Hey, I did not say freakin'// Angel protested.

"Hey," Cordy gives him a faint smile wondering about the nervousness of the man.

Angel felt like really dying, or better yet putting a stake to his heart, "Hey."

Cordy gives him a narrowed eyed look, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Ah, no reason," Angel sighed, chickening out. I'm supposed to be the Scourge of Europe and I'm letting a her scare the hell out of me.

After a moment Cordy got up and walked past Angel to pour a cup of coffee. Watching him with a sidelong glance, as he kept watching her, "Okay. It's getting creepy now."

Angel jumped, "Uhm I was just thinking about things. - People. You know. How they relate. Take you and me for instance. We're very different. *Very* different. Obviously, you are a human while I am a vampire. Vampire. Woman. Man."

"Has someone been putting vodka in your blood," Cordy looked at him suspiciously.

Angel forced a laugh out, "See? You're funny! And I, well I get off a good one every once in a while, but you..."

"Angel, are you trying to say you love me," Cordy asked with raised brows, sipping at her coffee.

Angel blinked, "What?"

"I love you too," Cordy responded with a quick smile.

"Uhm you do? When did this...," Angel stammered, what was she talking about? He just wanted to make sure she didn't stake him when he told her about him, Xander and Holly.

Cordy yelled towards Wes open office door, "Angel loves me. I love him....."

"Oh, my god!" Angel jumped up in panic, what the hell...

"You guys love us and we love you," Cordy yelled to the rest of the group.

And he could hear Fred, Wes and Gunn chorused, "We love you Angel."

"They were all saying it earlier. Just in case this prophecy comes true and we all die.....you're not gonna wanna hug, are you," Cordy remarked with a worried smile.

Angel cleared his throat and sat back shaking his head, "No," no worries on that.

Cordy went back to her desk, "God knows we've been through a lot together."

"That's really all I was trying to say, that we've been through so much together, you and me, as *friends.* You've seen the - good, - and the not so good," Angel said quickly trying to get back on track.

Cordy glance over at him, "Just like you have in me. And for the record: the good I've seen far outweighs the bad."

Angel blinked, "Thanks. You, too," he struggled to make his confession before something else went wrong.

"Hey, what are friends for," Cordy gave him a wide smile.

"If you ask me, they're for knocking you up and leaving you high and dry," he looked up at that voice to see a very pregnant Darla standing on the top landing leading down into the lobby from outside.

I am soooo fucking dead, he thought in horror looking at her stomach.

//Angel, what's going on? Angel, what's happening?// Xander said anxiously.

//Not now Xander, wait till I get home and I'll tell you later. Please trust me. I love you, never forget that please// Angel thought back desperately.

//Angel, please don't bullshit a bullshitter. I'll be waiting when you get home// Xander replied and faded out.

"Hello, lover. Long time no see," Darla said lazily.

Angel looked at her flatly, "Darla."

Cordy looked up, "Darla?" Wondering if she should go for her crossbow under her desk.

"Darla!" Wesley jumps up.

Fred looked around puzzled at the motionless figures, "Who's Darla?"

Gunn said in an aside, "Angel's old flame from way back. She's a vampire."

"Y'all have a chart or something?" Fred whispered and gave an interested look at the frozen figures, she could feel the tension vibrating in the air.

"In the files. I'll get it for you later," Gunn whispered back.

"Well, when did this happen," Angel asked, gesturing at her stomach. Please don't say it's mine, please, he begged.

"You know *exactly* when it happened," Darla sauntered down the steps, her nostril flaring.

Angel's eyes narrowed at that gesture but he remained silent.

"Angel...did...you and Darla...?" Cordy was stunned, being to get a little pissed off. He lied!

"Uh..." Angel tries to think of something to say, something that won't get him staked by Cordy.

Cordy turns to look at him reading the truth in his face.

"This is impossible, there's no magic involved," Angel trying to figure this out. Xander is definitely going to kill me if Cordy doesn't.

"Tell me about it - daddy!" Darla snarled, she could help wonder about the delicious scent of humanity wafting from him. It smelled familiar, maybe....

"You slept with her?" Cordy asked quietly, seething rage bubbling in her. Oh he was one dead vampire.

Angel said quickly, "Vampires can't have children, at least not without a great deal of magic involved, right Wesley?"

"Ah, no, he's right. It's not possible," Wesley took a careful step back from the furious Cordy.

"That's not what I asked," Cordy snarled at them. Men! Always trying to help each other.

"You know we can't. I know we can't. ..we..we did," Darla could help but twist the knife a little more in Angel, watching him squirm gave her pleasure for what he put her through for the 8 ½ months.

"I wonder if this might not be that bad thing we were expecting," Fred said to the room.

Darla snarled, "What did you do to me?" Punching Angel across the face and watching him stumble back into the cabinet.

"Stop that!" Cordy jumped between the soon to be embattled duo.

Angel said quickly, getting up from the weapons cabinet, "It's okay. It's alright. I'm okay." His eyes widening at her next words....

"You'll hurt her! Haven't you done enough?" She turned to Darla, "Here, sit down. You should get off your feet."

Cordy led Darla over to the round settee, then looked back at the others.

"Can we get her some water," Cordy asked impatiently.

Fred turns to go get it.

"Uhm, Cordy that's *Darla.* Maybe you don't want to..." Angel began to say.

Cordy pointed a finger at him, "Did you or did you not look me in the eye and say that you would *never* do a thing like this with her?"

"Oh, he lied? What a surprise," Darla sneered at him.

Fred carried a glass of water to Darla, "Hi. I'm Fred. Is water okay, or did you want some blood?"

Darla blinks at the strange girl as she takes the water.

Wes gently pulled Fred back away from Darla.

"Cordy. I'm sorry I lied. It was just....it was a very dark time." Angel tried to explain.

Cordy sneered, "Oh! You used her to make *you* feel better during *your* dark time. Well, that makes it *all* heroic."

"It wasn't like that. It just.... happened. It wasn't like I went *evil* or anything, I just..." he gave up seeing that she wasn't going to listen to anything he said.

Cordy sniffed, "You just went male." She turned to Darla, "Have you been to a doctor?"

Darla gave her blank look: "No. But I have been to every shaman and seer in the Western Hemisphere." She gave Angel an arch look, "Perhaps, Angel knows of a good doctor to recommend me too." Loving how he squirmed, she had a very interesting conversation with Drucilla after the daft girl turned her.

Wes looked up, interested, "And what did they say?" This was simply fascinating! A vampire, giving birth. Absolutely marvelous.

Darla gave him cool look, "They don't know what it is. They don't know what it means. Nothing like this has ever happened, between two vampires. 'Course I've heard tales of a vampire and a mortal giving birth," she stared meaningfully at Angel and watched him squirm some more. Bastard! She wanted to scream at him.

"Maybe it's an hysterical pregnancy," Angel said hopefully. Oh Xander definitely was going to kill him over this, he thought morosely.

"You wanna feel it kick," she said, yeah you just come over here and I'll kick you!

Cordy watched her, "Does it kick a lot?"

"Like crazy," Darla looked around, she really didn't want to be around these creatures any longer.

Angel said hesitantly, "Well, now wouldn't that be the first sign of hysteria?" If he had been human, he would have flushed at the look Cordy gave him. He gave up the battle, this was his child.

"What can we do for you," Angel asked quietly.

Darla snarled, "Well, you can get you little gang of supernatural detectives to find out what the hell is happening to me and how to stop it."

Cordy looked at Darla, "Are you gonna take some responsibility here? Angel?"

"Of course I am....Wes, lets get on this right now," Angel said trying to remain calm, fighting off hysteria. This gotta be in the record books....two kids. I'm going to be a father for the second time.

"What do you suggest," Wes looked at him interestedly, what the bloody hell did Angel expect him to do? This was a first for him as well.

"I suggest you use your books and find out what's going on. What, do I have to think of everything," Angel asked impatiently.

Wes picked up a book from the counter and opened it, "Oh, here it is."

Both Darla and Angel perk up, and Angel walksr tor to Wes.

Wes gave them a angry look, "It says 'I have absolutely no idea what's going on.'" He slams the book close, "We should talk to the host."


It took him a long time to find Darla before he tracked her to the amusement park. And even longer to convince her to return back to the hotel with him, that and the fact that she was earnestly trying to kill him.


With a quiet sigh, he helped Darla lay back down on the bed back at the hotel and hands her a mug to blood to drink.

Darla takes a gulp and makes face, "Pig's blood?" she looked at him incredulously.

"You need to keep yourself nourished. You'll get used..." Angel began to say when Darla threw the mug against the wall, shattering it and splashing the wall with blood.

Angel gritted his teeth and tried for patience, "You're not alone in this anymore. We'll deal with this together."

"Gosh. I'm the luckiest vampire girl in the whole world. Get away from me and go home to your other child!" She laughed harshly at his flinch, "Oh, did you think I didn't know? I heard about the rape, I know about the little magic spell that Dru cast, I even know about your precious little boytoy," she hissed at him spitefully.

"Try and get some sleep," Angel requested quietly, remembering how temperamental Xander was during his pregnacy.

"How's Xander? Maybe he wants come and visit. Why don't you bring the little kid," she laughed bitterly. Fucking little bastard! I should have killed that dumbass boy years ago.

Angel gave her a cool look before leaving the room. Angel walked up to Gunn, standing outside the room holding a loaded crossbow.

"She goes near Cordy, or Fred...," Angel said quietly.

Gunn simply lifted his bow, "I know."

Angel shook his head, "Don't underestimate her. The woman is stronger than all of us right now." He hesitated for a moment, "I need to go out, I'll be back before sunrise, okay?"

Gunn looked at him in concern, "You okay man."

"Yeah, I....I....just have to go see someone," Angel said quietly, turning away.


Standing outside the apartment door, Angel took several unneeded breaths. He knew that he was going to lose Xander over this.

He quietly let himself inside, immediately noting the absence of Spike, Willow and Holly. His stomach tightened ominously. Putting his keys on the countertop, he made his way into their bedroom, stopping at the sight of Xander sitting in the chair waiting for him. And for the first time, he wasn't able to read anything on Xander's face.

"So, are you ready to tell me what's going on," Xander said quietly, his stomach churning in fear. He was practically drowning in the waves of sorrow, regret, fear and anger coming from Angel.

Angel nodded his head and sat down on the bed, "Darla's back," he said quietly, hearing the quick indrawn breath from Xander. "And she's pregnant."

Xander took a deep shaky breath, "Is it yours," watching as Angel nodded his head somberly. He watched as Angel kept clenching and unclenching his hands, finally understand the emotions that Angel was projecting.

Angel didn't know if he could handle the silence any longer, just when things were going so well between us Darla has to come and fuck things up. He sighed, knowing that he lied. It wasn't Darla fault it was his, for being such a dumb stupid asshole.

He was startled as the bed sank nest to him and he glanced sideways, seeing Xander's legs next to his. He didn't want to look up and see the disgust in Xander's eyes.

Xander bumped his shoulder gently against Angel's, "Hey, what did you think I was going to do, kick you out of your own home? Angel, we've been through some really nasty shit to get where we are now. I...I...really don't want to throw it all away," he said quietly, looking down and plucking at a loose thread.

Angel couldn't believe it! "Xander, you...you....still want me around?" He looke in in disbelief, watching Xander's head come up and that beautiful smile cross his face.

"Yeah, I kinda got use to you being around and stuff," Xander smiled before pressing a brief kiss to Angel's surprised lips.

"You don't mind about Darla and the baby," Angel stammered.

"Angel, I would be more worried and upset if you didn't take responsibility for your child," Xander said softly. "We weren't together when you and Darla did the nasty. I'll admit that this would not have been exactly what I wanted to hear but Darla's pregnant and there's no going back from that. What's more important is what are you going to do about Darla and the baby?"

Angel looked away from Xander's probing eyes, "I want to take care of both of them," he admitted hesitantly. "I especially want to take care of my child if Darla let's me. Right now, she's lashing out because of the baby has a soul that it's sharing with her. It's making her....difficult to get along with and she's already attacked Cordy. I just want to do the right thing," he whispered.

"And what do you want me to do," Xander said calmly, despite his racing heart, I will not cry, crying is for girls, he sternly told himself.

Angel looked startled, "Will you stay....stay with me until this is over," he half-whispered, "I know that it'll be difficult, but it won't be for very long, Darla's about ready to have the baby already!"

Xander smiled, seeing Angel's normally composed face naked with emotion gave him a true indication of just how shaken Angel really was, "Did you really think it would be that easy to get rid of me," he whispered to Angel before he attacked his mouth.

Angel slowly smiled under the teasing biting kisses. "Mo ionuin, fan liom go deo," he whispered feeling the answer whisper in his mind //Don't worry Angel, I'm not going anywhere//

He managed to kept Darla alive and relatively safe no matter how much, Gun, Cordy, Fred and Wes tested his patience. They were even making him jumpy with the crossbows, stakes and crosses.

And Darla, with her constant threats to tell them of his other child almost had him wishing that someone would 'accidentally on purpose' fire a crossbow into her fuckin' heart.

His only comfort was his almost hourly talks with Xander, letting the boy provided him with the strength not to literally snap all of their necks, including Darla's.

If it wasn't Gun with the loaded crossbow, which he thoroughly approved of, it was Wesley prattling on about the Nyazian Scroll prophecy he was about to lose his mind! Right now all he really cared about was making sure that Darla delivered the baby. Everything else was just gravy.

It wasn't until Wes mentioned that his child was mentioned in the prophecy that fear clutched at him dead heart. His first thought was My God, Holly?! He almost felt a sense of relief knowing that the prophecy was about Darla and the unborn child. And he felt ashamed of that feeling and began to pay closer attention then, trying to figure out what horrible things was coming after them now, to protect both children.

Tuning back into the conversation when Wes threatened to chop the baby's head off as soon as it came out and Gun's comment about using a flamethrower.

"Are you all freakin' nuts?" he almost yelled in disbelief looking around at their guilty faces. What was wrong with these people?

"There will be no chopping of heads and there will be no throwing of flames. Nobody's gonna do anything until we know exactly what's going on. Now, if anybody has a problem with that they should leave - now," he stated firmly and pulled Darla back into the room.

"You stay here!"


It took some doing to convince everyone to just stop with the arguing, the chopping and he thought he had them convinced until Cordy felt the need to add to the confusion by punching Darla in the nose.

And the next thing they all knew, Darla was in labor!

With all Darla's constant moaning even he was getting twitching, this was nothing like when Xander went into labor.

"Guys, we got to figure out what's inside of her now, before it skitters out," and he clapped his hand to his forehead in shock at hearing those words pop out.

//I can't believe you fuckin' said that// Xander exclaimed sounding stunned.

//I can't believe I said it, either// Angel groaned.

//You gotta take her to the doctor, Angel// Xander said anxiously.

//Which one? Or have you forgotten that the demon clinic burned down about six months ago because some stupid human saw something going in an torched the place? There are NO demon doctors in L.A.// Angel said savagely then apologizing. He knew Xander was only trying to help.

//Sorry, I forgot// Xander said in chagrin.

//Not your fault and I'm sorry I snapped at you// Angel said as he tuned back into the conversation. Perking his ears up at what Gunn was saying, thinking quickly.

"We should get a demony doctor in here. You know, someone who understands how her vampire girl parts work. You know what I'm saying, girl," Gunn said irritably at Cordy's withering look

Cordy looked thoughtful, "Well, didn't she already try that whole shaman, voodoo, witch doctor thing?"

"I don't suppose she ever went to like a normal doctor or a hospital," Fred asked hesitantly.

Cordy looked impatient, "Hey, there's an idea: hospital. Oh, wait, they don't admit vampires."

"Who says we have to admit her?" Angel said slowly, his words dropping like stones in the silence.

Wes smiled slowly, "Of course. We don't need the right doctor, we just need the right equipment."

//It's was a boy!// he yelled to Xander and he could practically feel Xander's smile through their link.

//Congratulations, Daddy of two// Xander smirked.


Though they had to fight off that crazy cult of vampires, trying to steal the baby, it still didn't diminish his joy. A father for the second time, he ought to go down in the record books.

Of course, escaping with their lives sorta added to his joy, that and seeing that look on Darla's face when those loony vampires told her, now how did the vampire put it...oh yeah 'Then we will nourish you, slice you open, wear your entrails as a belt and consume your eyeballs before we worship the miracle child'.

She got up real quick then, ready to fight. He could still hear Xander laughing his ass off over that.

Fred surprised him though with her quick thinking, since the loonytune vampires worshipped the unborn child, threatening to kill the baby would certainly make them back off. He was almost sure she was bluffing, but just in case, he was going to kept his eye on her.

Both Xander and Cordy said simultaneously, "It's always the quiet ones."

It was only when he ran back to the hotel to get the Nyazian Scroll, seeing the bodies that littered the floor that he finally understood where the danger was coming from.

It wasn't a demon it was....

"Holtz. - My god," he whispered, feeling Xander trying to hwhatwhat was going on. And helplessly, he tried to lock Xander out, not wanting him to see the memories flashing through his mind.

Holtz looked enraged for a brief second, "You have no god, demon."

Angel said quietly, "The Tro-clon - the prophecy - raised up from darkness to bring darkness. That's you. Holtz, whatever brought you here..."

Hardly aware as some of Holtz' gGapplar demons grabbed him and chained his wrists and neck in some metal clamps on the ends of long sticks, holding him fast.

As dark memories cascaded through his mind...

....remembering being Angelus and going to Holtz's house with Darla;

....the sweet coppery taste of the wife's blood sliding down his throat;

....the sight of Darla biting into the little girl's throat, Turning her as a mocking warning to Holtz;

....and the sound of an infant's crying and Darla returning from the room, wiping her mouth;.

He was barely aware of his conversation with Holtz, operating solely on autopilot. All he knew was that he had to get the hell out of the hotel, praying that no one knew about Xander and Holly.

//Calm down, Angel and focus// he could hear Xander softly repeating in his mind as he finally began to focus.

//Didn't I tell you that I wasn't going anywhere?// he heard Xander say softly and felt something...love, strength, devotion flow through their link.

And somehow, he managed to get free and escape.


Despite everything....Holtz making his life miserable, Darla dying to give birth to Connor, they made it. They held on tightly to each other, giving each other the strength needed when one would falter.

Finally, Angel brought the baby over to the apartment and it felt like they were family. Holly immediately wanted to hold her little brother and they sat her on the couch and carefully put Connor into her arms.

Listening to her whisper to Connor all the things that she intended to teach him, she was gonna be the bestest big sista in the whole wide world.

Spike just gave the baby a disgusted look, telling them to call him when the lil'l bloke's a bit older. Willow enjoyed playing with the baby almost as much as Holly.

Angel watched as Holly and Willow played with Connor, feeding him, holding him and rocking him anytime he cried. This was going to be one spoiled little boy, he thought fondly.

He walked over to Xander and wrapped his arms around Xander's waist, pressing a kiss on the side of his face.

"Happy," he asked softly.

Xander held his hands tightly over Angel's, watching their family, "Very," before twisting up and stealing a quick kiss from Angel before stepping away and picking up Connor from the girls.

Ignoring their protesting cries, he merely said, "I haven't got the chance to hold him yet," firmly disregarding their pouting and sulking faces.

Hey, us men got to stick together, he thought to the little boy.


They had a fun filled day before Angel finally had to take Connor back to the hotel, with Xander's words ringing in his ears....'I want another baby'.