"For God's sake, Angel. You never reported Connor missing. How could he have known?" Wes, as usual, was trying to be the voice of reason.

Lindsey gasped for breath as Kate leaned over him, loosening his tie."Let me help."

Kate looked to see the source of the gentle voice. It was Anne. She placed her hands on both sides of his neck and they began to glow. A glow also emanated from the necklace she wore. The bruises on Lindsey's neck began to disappear and his breathing became regular. He smiled at Gunn's lovely young wife, whom he had known when Wolfram & Hart had been"helping" her teen shelter."Thank you. It doesn't hurt any more." He looked at Angel."I had no idea you had a son. It's not as if you sent me a birth announcement!" Then a puzzled look crossed his face."Wait a minute! You're a vampire. You can't have kids."

"We can't explain how it happened, but it was predicted by a scroll we found." Cordelia said."I mean, of course we know HOW it happened, the biology of it was never explained."

"Who's the mother?" Kate asked.

"Doesn't he look like anyone you know, Lindsey?" That was Wes again.

"Every now and then I thought he looked a little bit like Kate because of his coloring, but I guess Buffy is blonde, too."

"He looks just like his mother, but Buffy's not the mother." Angel looked sadly at the picture he held."He looks like Darla."

"Darla! That's impossible. I would imagine at least one of you would have to be alive." Lindsey was aghast."It was that night, wasn't it? The night of the Review?"

Angel nodded."She left town. Then she came back, hugely pregnant. She had tried everything to lose the baby, but something was protecting it. When the time came, she couldn't give birth, and we couldn't perform a Caesarean to cut it out."

"What happened?" Kate was dumbfounded.

"Darla, who had come to love the child because it had a soul inside of her, staked herself. That saved the baby."

Lindsey shook his head sadly."Poor Darla." He made the sign of the cross and bowed his head briefly. When he looked up, there were tears in his eyes."I thought we were wrong to bring her back, but at least some good came of it."

Gunn spoke for the first time."Okay, so Evil Lawyer Guy—oops, I guess I mean Reformed Evil Lawyer Guy—has been raising Angel's kid and, from what I can tell, took good care of him. And we've agreed that he didn't know who he was. But now the question is, what do we do?"

"Why do you think they took him, Lindsey?" Wes was taking the lead in the discussion.

"I know they were particularly interested in his medical reports and his activities. I had to have all of his medical records sent to them, as well as any comments from nursery school, tee-ball, etc. Now that I know who he was, I think they were trying to discover whether he'd be a vampire like his parents. Obviously, he wasn't. Maybe they want to discover if he has any other powers."

Angel's voice was thick."Tell me what kind of a boy he is, Lindsey."

"He is extremely intelligent. He started talking very early and was beginning to read at two. Also he seems to be stronger and faster than other children his age. He is extremely gifted athletically as well. He took to soccer and tee ball right away. He's also sweet, helpful, loving, cheerful, obedient, curious. . ." Lindsey paused for a second. Then he added,"And extremely intuitive, remarkable for a child his age."

"Which raises a question," Fred began."Will they try to see if he has any powers worth developing?"

Nobody said a word. Wes knew what Fred was thinking, but he refused to voice the thought.

"I think Patty needs to go to bed," Kate said."We'd better try to find a place to stay."

"But this is a hotel with many rooms. Even though all of us have moved in here, there are bedrooms for all." Groosalug gestured to the elevator."May I escort you and your lovely child to one?"

"I think several children are tired, Groo, and the babies need to be fed. I'll take Kate and Patty upstairs." Cordelia retrieved her children from her husband's arms and nodded at the luggage."Would you please bring their suitcases up, Groo?"

Kate, carrying Patty, followed Cordelia and Groo upstairs.

When the little girl was out of earshot, Angel asked,"Lindsey, you used to work for Evil Central. What do you think they'll do to Connor?"

"Fred is probably right. They'll try to see if he has any talent worth developing." He hesitated again.

"Or they may decide to try to see how he came to be. That's what we're all thinking." Wes looked down to hide the worried look on his face."We have to decide what to do."

"Do you think they'll do anything yet? I want to be in on this, but I'd like to get Anne to bed. Healing takes a lot out of her, especially now that she's so far along." Gunn gave his wife a concerned look.

"That was pretty amazing," Lindsey said. Then he looked at her necklace."Where did you get this?" The necklace bore the symbol of a staff with a snake entwined around it."This is the staff of Aescalapius, god of healing."

Wes nodded."The two-snake staff used to symbolize the medical profession, the Cadaeceus, is not really the correct one. This is."

Fred punched her husband lightly on the arm."Angel almost killed Lindsey and you two go pedantic on the rest of us! You and Lindsey are two of a kind."

"One night at the shelter a young man came, later than I admit people, but he looked so sad and bedraggled that I bent my rule and took him in. I made him a sandwich and some hot chocolate and found a bed for him. In the morning he had disappeared, but I found this necklace and a book of Greek myths open to the story of Baucis & Philemon. It's about gods visiting a couple incognito and rewarding them for their hospitality. I didn't know what the necklace did until a girl cut herself on a knife while washing dishes at the shelter. I went to clean the wound, I started to glow, and it healed." Anne smiled."They keep me around so I can take care of their wounds after one of their battles."

"That's not why I keep you around, Anne." Gunn put his arm around her."How about a nice dish of ice cream and then off to bed. Get your sleep while you can."

"That's a good idea. You too, Fred. You look tired." Wes got up and went into the kitchen, coming back with a gallon of ice cream, bowls, and spoons.

"Could I get some to take up to Kate? I want to get as much milk into her as I can while she's pregnant and then nursing."

Wes scooped up a large bowl of chocolate cookie dough fudge and handed it to him."Come back down as soon as you can. We have to plan, unless you're too tired."

"Don't forget, Wes, there's a three hour time difference between Tampa and here. He may have jet lag."

"I'll be down in a few minutes, Fred. Rescuing Angel's son is our primary consideration." He started up the stairs.

Angel picked up a disc and inserted it into the player. There was Kate, playing soccer with Patty and Connor/Mikey while Lindsey, behind the camera, was shouting encouragement at them. Kate was quite good and so were both kids. Then Kate took the camera while Lindsey played with them. He was athletic, but soccer wasn't his sport as it was Kate's. Nevertheless, both of them were very positive and gentle as they coached the children.

Then the scene changed to a beach where they played in the sand. Lindsey took both children by the hand and walked into the water with them, letting the waves wash over them up to their waists. Then, holding Patty on his shoulder and Connor with his legs wrapped around Lindsey's waist, he took them in a little deeper. Then the kids played in the sand again while Kate read.

There was a scene of what appeared to be a nursery school pageant. Connor was the sun and Patty was a flower. She said,"Please, Mr. Sun, shine on me so I can grow and be warm."

"My light will help you see and my heat with help you grow, little flower." Patty moved gently from side to side like a flower swaying in the breeze as Connor crossed the stage and"set" on the other side.

When Lindsey entered the room to which Groo had carried their luggage , Patty was asleep. He kissed her forehead and, handing the ice cream to Kate, straightened her blanket over her. Kate was frowning."What is it, darling?"

"The look on your face when Angel told you about Darla. Are you still in love with her?"

Lindsey was shocked."I loved her once upon a time. When Wolfram & Hart raised her and brought her back, she was frightened, disoriented. I was assigned to take care of her. I was also frightened, disoriented, and very angry. Angel had just cut off my right hand. At that time there was still constant pain, and, of course, a very real sense of loss. So many things that had been so easy for me before were difficult or even impossible. I had to learn to write, to tie my shoes, to wash my hair, to cut my meat, to use the computer, to drive, everything. Not to mention that everything in the condo and the office were set up for a right-handed person! And I was angry with the firm. I learned from my research that the technology was there to reattach my hand if they had done it quickly. They chose not to. I guessed there were three reasons. First of all, they were punishing me for my rebellion when I had helped Angel save the three seer kids and defeat Vanessa Brewer. Second, they wanted to remind me that I still answered to them and they had absolute power over me. And, of course, they wanted me to hate Angel so I'd keep working for his downfall. I don't know if I was drawn to Darla's vulnerability or if I just wanted to take something that had been Angel's, at first. Then the loneliness got to me. But it was always Angel. Even when I had saved her after Angel had set her on fire, she turned back to him. I had hidden her in my apartment and smuggled blood to her. Would you believe I wouldn't even call her on the phone because I didn't want her to have to get up to answer it? Then that very evening she showed up at the 75 year review, wearing a sexy red dress, a wig, and a gauntlet of power, beating up on the security guards. Then she ran to Angel. The next day, after I had gone out to defend her honor—her honor!--, she robbed me blind and ran off. No, I don't love her. In fact, I had never slept with her. She let me kiss her once, and then she bit me. Fortunately she was human at the time, but it still hurt."

"I didn't know, Lindsey. But then why did you cry for her?"

"Because she did something I would never have dreamed her capable of. She knew that she couldn't deliver Mikey, so she staked herself so he would live. Thanks to Darla, we had our little boy."

Eating her ice cream, Kate considered that."You never ask me about Paul. Don't you ever wonder about him?"

Lindsey shook his head and moved close to his wife."We got together because of him. He gave us Patty. That's all that matters. You told me you love me, and you're a very honest woman. Why would I think about Paul at all? You and I have something very special, Kate. We have Patty, and Beth on the way, and for five years we've had Mike. And, most of all, we have a beautiful shining friendship and love. And, of course, you're fantastic in bed!" Taking the now empty bowl out of her hands, he kissed her very heartily. Her tongue entered his mouth and her hands caressed his buttocks.

"Do you want to go to bed now?"

He smiled."Very much. But, as soon as I can hide the evidence of my desire to go to bed with you, I have to go downstairs and help plan Mike's rescue. You should go to bed now."

As she closed the connecting door between their room and Patty's, she moved her hands to his belt buckle and he suddenly felt his pants fall to the floor."They can wait a few minutes. I'll make it worth your while."

"Well, just a few. M-m-m-m! That's so good, Kate. Yes! YES!"

When Lindsey finally made it downstairs, fastening his belt as he came, Angel was watching a birthday party. Children were playing a game while a stack of presents sat on a coffee table and the dining room table was gaily decorated. Wesley and Gunn were sitting beside him on the sofa and Lorne sat in an armchair. Evidently Anne and Fred had gone upstairs. I hope they didn't hear anything, he thought.

"Whose party is that, Lindsey?" Wes asked.

"Let's see. Pink streamers, Disney Princess tablecloth. It's Mike's!" He laughed.

Angel turned off the DVD player."I have to admit, Lindsey, that it looks as if you and Kate took good care of him and gave him a good life."

"We did our best for both children. We love both of them. This new baby, Kate's and mine biologically, would, we hoped, tie the family together."

Angel looked down at the floor for a minute. Then he said,"Where do you think they've taken him?"

"It's been six years, Angel. I've been out of the loop that long, possibly even before I left. I'm not really sure where they'd take him. I hadn't known about the"travel agency" where they kept the bodies to harvest parts from. We could check out the clinic where I had my hand surgery. I would imagine there would be some kind of lab."

"Is there anyone you've kept in contact with in the firm? A friend, perhaps?"

"You don't have ‘friends' in Wolfram & Hart, Angel. However, there was someone I had something of a rapport with, but I don't think he's really in the loop. I believe you met him once, Brett Mogler?"

"I remember. He was the hyper Gruber meeting guy. Do you think he'd know anything?"

"Maybe. He & Lilah were lovers once, as I recall. I'll try to get in touch with him." He pulled out his cell phone and dialed 411."Los Angeles, California. Brett Mogler." After a short pause,"Thank you." He turned to Angel."No one by that name. I assume he's either unlisted, and I don't know where he lives, or dead."

Gunn, of course, gave the most direct suggestion."Why not just kidnap Lilah or that guy Linwood? Or maybe the little weasel Gavin? Force them to tell us where he is."

Lindsey, Angel, and Wes all shook their heads."They won't tell. Anything we would do to them would be nothing compared to what the Senior Partners would do. Nobody's safe. Not even Linwood."

"Does Lilah still live at the same place?" They had almost forgotten Lorne was there.

“Someone could follow her. She probably wouldn't recognize Wes' motorcycle or Gunn's truck."

"Or even Anne's Saturn. Not a bad idea, Lorne." Gunn smiled."We could set up a three-way tail using our cell phones."

"Once we know where she is, we could plan how to get in and grab Connor," Angel said."I think time is probably of the essence, but I don't think there's anything to do until morning."

"We should have someone ready to go as soon as possible. Here's how we'll set it up." Gunn, as it turned out, was an excellent tactician. His plan for the surveillance and tail was excellent."Then Fred will log into the computer and pull up the plans for the building so we can figure how to get in, grab him, and get out."

"I think we should try to get a good night's sleep now. We'll want to get an early start. I'd guess Lilah will be moving on this early." Wes rose."Six a.m. we'll all be in our places."

"Six a.m. it is. I'm sure you're tired, Lindsey."

"I am, Angel. I'll be ready to go, though. Remember six your time is nine in Tampa, and my brain is still functioning on Tampa time."

Everyone but Angel and Lorne rose and went upstairs to their wives. Angel popped another DVD into the player and watched his son, about two years old at the time, playing with a toddling Patty. He was a lovely, gentle boy.

"You'll get him back, Angelcakes. I'm sure of it."

"I've missed so much, Lorne. At least I know he was happy and well cared for. I only hope we'll be able to get him out of there in time."

"Don't forget the prophecy. He will live and grow up. You'll get him." Patting Angel on the shoulder, Lorne went up to bed.

Angel watched all of the DVD's. Christmases filled with joy and lots of presents. Hunting eggs at Easter. Kate's turkey dinner at Thanksgiving. Off to nursery school. Birthday after birthday, both Connor's and Patty's. Lorne was right; Connor had been a happy child. Kate and Lindsey were good parents. It could have been so much worse.

Very early the next morning Fred sat up in bed, shaking. She had had the dream again. She had never had it before she became pregnant, but, as her pregnancy advanced, it became more and more frequent and more and more detailed until she was convinced that it wasn't a dream but a memory. She was so frightened. Dear God, please don't let this happen to me. She gently slid out from under Wes' protective arm and got up, wrapping her robe around herself. Maybe some ice cream would help. It wouldn't make the picture of the woman screaming in pain as she struggled to give birth go away, but it would make her feel better. She had to be brave for Wes' sake because this baby meant so much to him. Their daughter meant as much to her, of course. But she was scared. So scared. She tiptoed down the stairs to the kitchen.