Running on Faith, Season Two: 2.21: Regroup
by filmtheory
Connor was weeping uncontrollably. The more he did, the more ashamed he became for showing weakness in front of his father. That only made him cry more, feeding into a vicious cycle.

“She still loves you, Connor,” Angel said as he set his son down in the backseat. “Dawn. She loves you very much and she’s been worried sick about you.”

Connor wiped his tears away and looked at Angel. “You’re just saying that.”

“I’m too angry with you to try to massage your feelings.”

“Why are you angry?” Connor barked, suddenly angry himself.

“Running off like that was stupid, Connor. Even if Dawn had broken up with you, which she didn’t, there are other people who care about you. And you have responsibilities. More than you know.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m not the one who should tell you. Dawn will tell you when we reach the base.”

*

“You ass hole!” Dawn yelled, slapping Connor as he came through the door. She began frantically beating his chest.

“You said she still loved me,” Connor whined to Angel, throwing his hands up to block Dawn’s hits.

“Of course I still love you, you shit head,” Dawn shouted as she continued pummeling him. “You think I’d be this pissed if I didn’t?!”

“Stop hitting me!” Connor said, grabbing her flailing arms.

“We should probably leave them alone for a little bit,” Angel said to Faith and the others.

“Forget it,” Faith said. “This is more entertaining than that show ‘Cheaters.’ Besides, I want to be here when she tells him.”

“Tell me what?” Connor asked.

At that moment, the baby started crying. Connor turned, the color draining from his face. “Wha . . . who . . . a . . . what?”

Dawn quickly ran into the room and picked the crying child up. Despite being held, the baby continued crying. Connor followed her in cautiously, as if expecting a trap. “I . . . who is . . . whose is-”

“Connor, this is Anna,” Dawn said as she gently rocked the child. “I wanted to wait for you to name her, but you were gone for weeks after she was born.”

“So, she’s . . . she’s ours,” Connor said nervously. He looked at the baby like it was about to explode.

“Yes,” Dawn answered.

“Is she . . . is she normal?”

“Well, she was born in less than half the time it takes a normal baby. She’s stronger than an infant three times her age. And at times, her favorite stuffed animal has managed to float into her crib. So I wouldn’t cal her normal. But if you’re asking if she has a soul, the answer’s yes. Lorne confirmed it.”

Connor smiled and gave a hysterical laugh of relief. He stepped nervously toward Dawn and took the baby in his arms. “Anna?”

“Yeah,” Dawn answered, smiling at Connor holding their child. “It was my grandmother’s name.”

Connor rocked the girl gently. Anna quieted and closed her eyes.

“It means graceful,” Connor said. “The name Anna.”

“Yeah. You should see how gracefully she pukes on her mommy’s shirts.”

“She looks graceful now,” he said, gently rocking the child.

Watching Connor gently hold their child caused Dawn a feeling of euphoria she couldn’t describe.

Connor followed Dawn back into the foyer. “Faith,” Dawn said quietly. “Do you think you can watch Anna for a little bit? I need to take Connor upstairs and have sex with him for like an hour.”

Connor looked up in shock, his eye brows rising.

“An hour?” Faith said.

Dawn looked back at Connor. “Actually, better make that two.”

“I thought you were angry with him?” Faith said.

“I am. But he looks so hot holding our baby.”

“Jesus Christ,” Faith said irritably as she took the docile infant from Connor’s arms. “Make sure you use a condom so you don’t wind up making another one of these things.”

Dawn grabbed Connor and pulled him toward the stairs.

“Wood lasted like ten minutes with me,” Faith said. “And little Dawn is getting an hour or two out of Angel junior. I can’t tell you how depressed and ashamed I am right now.”

“Faith,” Richard said disappointedly. “Is that anyway for a lady to speak?”

“I don’t know. If I find one, I’ll ask her. In the meantime, I think I have to change Anna’s diaper.”

“I can help,” Kevin said as he went with her.

*

Connor lay on his side, stroking Dawn’s hair. “When did you guys come to South America?”

“As soon as Angel called and said he’d found you. We were wiped out up north. We figured down here was as good a place to regroup as any. Besides, Spike says people are high tailing it out of Brasilia like a Hellmouth is opening.”

“She’s really beautiful,” Connor said, changing the subject. “She takes after her mom.”

“Oh please,” Dawn laughed. “You’re much prettier than I am.”

He smiled and kissed her.

“You look worried,” she said.

“I have to go back.”

“What?! You find out you have a daughter and your response is to go and try to get yourself killed?!”

“Illyria is the one who tried to have all the slayers killed.”

“Oh my god!” Dawn said, sitting up and pulling the sheets over her front. “We have to tell Giles. Right now he’s in California trying to put the pieces together.”

“But I think Lorne knew about this already,” Connor said.

“What?” Dawn stood and pulled the covers with her. “I am going to cut that green asshole’s head off.”

“Dawn!” Connor said, scandalized.

“Oh, who cares,” she said. “You’d just go to Pylea and sew his head back on anyway.”

*

“Are you quite sure?” Giles asked.

“Well . . .,” Dawn said. “Not quite sure. But, I mean, I’m pretty sure.”

Giles scratched his head. “Unfortunately, my investigation here has hit a dead end. Your lead may be our best.”

“Good news from Willow,” Faith said as she came into the room. “Buffy and the European slayers kicked vampire ass. We have a plane load of pissed off, super strong bitches coming our way.”

Dawn headed into the bedroom filled with foreboding. Connor would have to go back into battle. Dawn knew that she, Angel, and Buffy would probably be there. If they were wiped out, what would become of Anna?

Dawn planned on writing a note to her daughter to tell the child about her family. She entered the bedroom and gave a slight gasp. Connor was asleep on the bed. Anna wasn’t in her crib, but sleeping on her father’s chest. As peaceful as the tableau was, Dawn’ couldn’t help but fear Anna would fall from Connor’s chest and crack her tiny skull.

Sensing her mother in the room, Anna stirred. Her tiny blue eyes looked at Dawn and the infant began to move toward her.

As if unconsciously, Connor’s arm came up from his side and clamped down on the infant, pinning her to his chest. “Shhhh,” he whispered to the baby girl.

Anna gave a baby laugh and her stuffed bunny floated toward her. Connor opened his eyes to see Anna roll the bunny like a pillow and put her head on it.

“It’s freaky how she can do that,” Connor smiled.

“No,” Dawn said. “Her strength and speed are freaky. Floating her stuffed animal is quirky and cute.”

“Her mom is quirky and cute. Floating toys is just . . . unnatural.”

“Like the son of two vampires?” Dawn prodded him.

“Nah. More like a mystical energy force. But a cute mystical energy force.”

Connor scooped Anna into his arms and sat up with her. She squeaked nervously at the change of position, then settled calmly as she realized her father was holding her. “I spoke to the Mayor.”

“He’s evil. I know you know that, but I like to say it as much as possible. I don’t know what his end game is, but whatever he said to you could only be to manipulate you.”

“He said something I thought was . . . right.”

“Probably to get your trust so he could manipulate you.”

Connor stood and set Anna in her crib. She began to cry, but Connor caressed her head and whispered to her. “I just need to do some things for us, Anna. It’ll only be a minute.”

Dawn watched suspiciously as Connor walked toward her. He was shivering. He was terrified. Dawn didn’t know what to expect. “I . . . I don’t know how the whole ritual works.”

“The Mayor wants you to do a ritual?” Dawn said, petrified of what it might be. Connor was susceptible to being manipulated by evil people who preyed upon his need for a family. The Mayor was particularly adept at preying upon morally confused young people with just that weakness.

Connor dropped down onto both of his knees. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the case. Dawn’s heart jumped from the pit of her stomach to the top of her throat and she could only squeak. Connor opened the box. Dawn began weeping from the sentiment alone. The beauty of the ring only made her more emotional.

“I want to marry you,” Connor said. “I want us to be a mom and dad to Anna. And . . . and maybe other children if you want them. I-”

Dawn couldn’t take it anymore. Tears in her eyes, she dropped to her knees in front of Connor and began kissing him passionately. “I want to marry you, too, Connor,” she said between kisses and hysterical whimpers of joy. “I want to be yours forever.”

“Let me guess,” Faith said as she walked into the room. “You need me to watch the baby for a while.” She scooped Anna into her arms and headed for the door. “Don’t take too long. I came up here to tell you Buffy and her girls land in two hours and we’re having a planning session.”

*

“Is the Immortal coming?” Xander asked as Buffy entered the house. Xander didn’t much care for the morally ambiguous demon who served as Buffy’s on again off again boyfriend. But he knew they needed all the help they could get. Besides, he also knew it would annoy Angel and Spike. Still, with the on again, off again nature of Buffy’s relationship with him, Xander wasn’t sure what his current status was. For all he knew, Buffy was fresh off of an I need space speech.

“He had some personal matters to attend to in Rome,” Buffy answered.

“Personal matters when the world is in mortal peril,” Spike laughed. “Real stand up bloke you got yourself there.”

“Please don’t start,” Buffy said.

“Guy’s not right often,” Angel pitched in. “But when he is, he is.”

“Magical reinforcements are here,” Willow said as she and Giles walked into the room. Andrew followed and tried to pretend the comment referred to him as well.

“And physical reinforcements,” came a weak voice. Kennedy entered the room behind Willow.

“No offense,” Spike said, “but you’re not looking like you’re ready for active duty.”

Dr. Tam raised a hand. “I’d like to reiterate the other gentleman’s comment about Spike not being right often, but when he is, he is.”

“How many apocalypses have you stopped?” Faith asked.

“Um . . .none so far,” Kevin answered.

“That puts her one up on you,” Faith said. “If she wants to fight, she fights.”

Dawn looked across the room to Buffy, longing to share her joy. But she knew it could only serve to distract Buffy in the battle. Afterwards, Dawn would tell her. Unless, of course, they all died.

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