Next in Blood

:Synchronicity bites. I wrote this story back in May, 2001. When I first read the episode guides for "Offspring", "Lulaby" and "Dad", I was flabbergasted... I did miss on the mother’s identity, but I even got the baby’s name right six months in advance. I haven’t seen these episodes yet --- Season 3 has barely started showing here in Brazil --- but now I’m anxious to see the baby and check if he also corresponds to my idea of him.

Cordelia kept staring, still not believing who was there. Right before her eyes, she could see... Kate! After a whole year, there she was! But she hadn’t spotted Cordy yet. She was distracted checking something on her side of the counter. So Cordelia called to her.

"Kate! Hey, Kate! Is that really you? Gee, it’s been a year!"

"Cordelia..." Kate seemed stunned to find her there. "So it is you! What are you doing here? Are you back or just visiting?" Cordelia tried to shake the impression that Kate wasn’t all that glad to see her. "Err... Well, I’m back. You see..."

"Back? That’s great! Angel will be thrilled! So... when did you arrive?" Feeling Kate was trying to keep something from her only made Cordelia want even more to pump some information from her.

"It’s been... a while." She tried to keep it vague. "A while? Really? And why didn’t you call us? Maybe we could have helped you move, you know..." Cordelia was smirking, making deliberate fun of Kate’s embarrassment.

"I’ve been busy. Really busy." Kate was blunt as she moved away, seeing Cordelia was about to give her a hard time.

"Busy? What... New job?" Cordelia was fast to follow her. "Wow, new job indeed!"

Much to her amazement, Cordelia could now see Kate had a baby with her. A young baby.

"Is he... It’s a he, right? Is he yours?"

Kate nodded in agreement.

"Aw, he’s so cute! What’s his name?" She played with the baby, suddenly all coochy-coo.

"Connor."

"Connor? That’s a beautiful name. Connor..." Her voice had assumed that sing-song tone people use for baby-talk. "And how old are you, little Connor?" "Three months. Look, Cordelia, it’s been really good to meet you, but I’ve got to go. Connor is tired and he needs a nap."

"Sure, you take good care of this little angel!" Cordelia had a broad smile on her face and didn’t seem to notice Kate’s reaction to her farewell words. Only after Kate was out of sight did she notice she hadn’t got Kate’s new address or phone number.

"I bet you’ll never guess who I met today at the grocery store." Cordelia was dying to spill the news.

"Who?" The guys faked some interest just to please her.

"Kate! She’s back in town!"

"Kate? When-when did she arrive? How is she? Where’s she living?" Angel wasn’t faking anymore.

"Whoa, Nelly! That’s a lot of questions! But I don’t really know the answers... She didn’t feel like sharing. Typical Kate behavior, isn’t it? She goes away for a whole year, comes back, tells no one and then, when she’s caught, she just says she’s been busy and flees. I would expect her to be more open now. But maybe she was afraid I would ask about the father..." "Her father? He’s been dead for two years. Why would you ask about him?" Angel was puzzled at the mention.

"Not her father, dummy! The father of her baby!", she snapped. "Her... baby? What do you mean ‘baby’? Kate has a baby?" His face was beyond description with surprise, fear, confusion...

"Yes, yes. Kate has a baby. And a really cute one! Although he doesn’t look the least bit like her. His eyes and hair are dark and the shape of his face is completely different from hers." Cordelia sounded condescending as she kept the gossip going. "His name is Connor and she said he’s three months old. So, I guess she had a really good time in Miami, huh?" She kept going on while Angel let himself fall on the couch, not listening anymore.

Kate’s back. And she has a baby. A three months old baby, to cry out loud! How could she? It can’t be! No! It can’t be! Vampires can’t breed. But then, if someone else is the father... No! Maybe... Maybe this soul thing makes a difference. Maybe...

Angel rushed out of the hotel. He had to see Lorne. Maybe he’d have some kind of answer. Angel had never needed guidance so badly.

"So... What do you think?" Angel’s voice was shaking. Which, of course, didn’t help his performance to be any better than usual... "I think it’s time you take some singing lessons." The Host had a painful expression on his face.

"Come on, be serious! This is important, don’t you see?" "And when hasn’t it been, my little world-saving hero? Of course, this is not about the world... At least, not right now."

"Enough with the riddles, ok? Tell me, do you think I can be the father of Kate’s baby?" Angel’s anxiety was growing fast. "You did the deed, didn’t you?"

"Well, yes... But, I’m a vampire and vampires can’t..."

"Haven’t you learnt you’re special, darling?"

It took a while to track her down, but he did it. Now that he was before her door, he hesitated...

Do it, Angel. Just do it. You must know for sure!

He rang the bell and waited.

"Who..." Kate stopped in mid-sentence. "Angel." They looked at each other for what seemed like eternity. Both of them were clearly uncomfortable. As Angel finally found his voice, a cry from inside was heard. Kate ran for the baby, taking him into her arms. When she looked back towards the door, she realized Angel was by her side. "How... how did you do this? I never invited you in. Is there some kind of problem with me that allows you to get into my house at will?" Angel was every bit as surprised as her. He had heard the baby and rushed, afraid something might be wrong.

"Well, I..." He looked into Connor’s eyes and stopped. He looked again, but it was gone. But... It was his reflection there, for a moment! Angel realized what that meant.

"He did it. He invited me in. It’s his house, too."

Kate looked at him, in complete disbelief.

"You mean to tell me Connor invited you in? Come on, Angel! He’s three months old!"

"He’s also my son." It was not a question.

She looked away, but didn’t deny it.

"Why? Why didn’t you tell me, Kate?"

"I wasn’t even here when I found out I was pregnant..." She couldn’t face him.

"You could have called. I had a right to know."

"Call you? You must be kidding me." She turned to glare at him. Angel understood what she meant. He had told her not to worry. No condoms needed...

He looked at the baby... His son!

"May I?"

Kate reluctantly let him take Connor in his arms, showing him how to handle the baby. It was all very awkward... She had imagined this scene a million times, at least. Yet, it seemed she had never imagined it like this. Angel didn’t seem to have a single doubt about being the father. She always thought he’d ask her questions, try to deny it, claim that it couldn’t possibly be... It had only been one night and he was so sure pregnancy was not to be considered. While she gazed at them, father and son making acquaintance, Kate recollected that one night...

Angel came into his room and threw his jacket over the armchair.

Suddenly, something on the balcony caught his eye. It was her.

He walked towards her as he softly called her name.

"Kate..."

She turned around to meet him. She was visibly sad.

"Angel! I didn’t think I’d see you again!"

"Oh, it’s okay! We’ve got her and it’s all fine now!" He tried to calm her down.

"I’m glad you’re here..."

Angel noticed she had some paper in her hands.

"What’s that?", he asked with a smile.

Kate silently handed him the paper. It was a letter. From her to him.

Angel read it for a while. Then he asked:

"You’re leaving L.A.? But... Why?"

"You read it. I say it in the letter. I’ve got a good job offer in Miami.", she said meekly.

"But... Why Miami? Why don’t you find a job here?" "I can’t. Look, this city may be big and all, but when it comes to certain things it’s a really small town. Everyone here knows about it, Angel. Everyone thinks I’m crazy!"

"Won’t they think the same in Miami?" He wanted to swallow back the words as soon as they left his mouth, but it was too late. Kate smirked.

"No. You see, there’s nothing about it on the papers. They wouldn’t put it down or I’d have grounds to fight it in court. To have them prove it, you know." "So... You’re really leaving? When?" Angel was shattered. "In the morning. That’s why I was leaving you a letter. I actually didn’t expect to see you anymore!", she said as excusing herself. Angel stood there, not knowing what to say or do.

Kate spoke then:

She gazed at him, waiting for some reaction. There was none. So, she turned to leave. But then, before going, she gathered all her courage and kissed him. Angel was startled and, before he could do anything, she let go of him. She rushed out, but he cut her way. Acting on impulse alone, he grabbed her by an arm and kissed her.

The kissing became deeper and they exchanged a look that said it all. Taking her to his bed, Angel hoped to somehow make her change her mind. It wasn’t all that clear in his head, of course. But it was there, anyhow. Kate took the time to ask him to put on a condom as she wasn’t on the pill or anything. But he told her there was no risk... for pregnancy or disease. And she didn’t say anything else.

In fact, none of them said another word that night. They were both afraid of what the other might say and not only restrained from talking, but also kept the other from doing it.

When Angel woke up, she was gone. She didn’t know what to do and decided to take the easy way out. So she wasn’t there to see how heart-broken he felt on the following months as he waited for news that would never come...

Angel kept staring at the baby, fascinated. He was so adorable! A son! His son! He thought that was out of question... He thought there was no way... Yet, there he was, with a baby boy in his arms.

A tear escaped his eye.

And then it all changed...

Kate tucked Connor in and closed the door to his room.

As she turned around, she bumped into Angel.

"I thought you were in the living room.", she said unsure. "Why would I stay there when it’s so much better here, close to you?" There was a strange gleam in eyes.

"Look, Angel, we’ve got to talk about this..."

She tried to get rid of him, but he wouldn’t let go. He held her and kissed her.

His kiss was different. But then, it had been a year... It didn’t take long before he was all over her. He dragged her to her bedroom and started ripping off her clothes. That scared her as she realized something was very wrong.

"Angel, what are you doing?"

"Angelus, baby! What? Didn’t anyone tell you? A single moment of sheer happiness - that’s all it takes... Now I’m free of that nasty little soul!", he said with a grin.

"What? I... don’t get it!"

"Yes, I don’t get it either. I’d have thought after all that happened that night that stupid soul would..." He gestured dramatically. "Fly out the window!" "Let go of me! Now! I’m telling you, let go!" She started to fight him with all her might.

"Shhh! We don’t want to disturb the baby, do we?"

In three months, Connor had never slept so long in a single stretch. Kate had been dreaming of that, but now she had to interrupt his sleep. They had to take their chances and make it to the light of day before Angelus woke up. She got dressed on the first clothes she could find. They were all wrinkled and smelled of milk, but she didn’t care. She knew she wouldn’t look good anyway. She was wasted after hours of sex with Angelus. He didn’t hurt her as she thought he would. In fact, he was quite careful as to please her too. There was some roughness and he had forced her to do things she had never done before, but all in all it wasn’t bad. No loving, just sex. But he was good at it, she had to admit...

She tried to take Connor out of the crib without him crying and somehow she managed it. She picked her purse and the diaper bag and tried to make it to the door.

It wasn’t easy. Her head was swirling. Angelus had drunk her as part of the love-making and she felt dizzy.

Kate opened the door slowly... When she was beginning to feel safe, she heard him.

"Going somewhere, Katie?"

She turned around and saw him smiling.

"The baby... He needs to sun-bathe every morning. Doctor’s orders."

"The son of a vampire doesn’t need any sun.", he sneered.

"He’s not a vampire. He’s human. And a baby.", she retorted, dryly. "I’ll tell you what... You do one little thing for me and I’ll let you take the baby out. How does that sound?"

"What can you possibly want from me still?"

Angelus approached her and took Connor from her. She wasn’t willing to handle her son to that monster, but she knew resisting would only hurt the baby. He put Connor back on his crib and returned to the living room.

"Here. I’ll show you what I want from you still..." He had a knife in his hands and that really frightened her. But she gulped and held still.

Angelus came very close to her, to the point of feeling her breath on his skin... Then he cut through it. Right there where her breath touched him he cut deep, letting the blood flow.

"Drink."

She looked directly into his eyes, her disbelief patent.

"You can’t be serious! There’s no way I’ll agree to be turned!"

"You won’t be turned. I didn’t drink that much." She tried to figure a way out of that situation, but her head was still spinning.

"Drink!" With that, he grabbed her by the neck and brought her mouth to his chest.

And so she did. She let her mind go blank while she did it...

"Now, can I go?", she asked with blood still on her lips.

"I’ll think about it."

"You said...", she began to protest.

"I know what I said. And I never said when."

Connor’s bawling prevented their little argument from going any further.

For days, it went on the same. Whenever she wasn’t taking care of Connor, she’d be tending to Angelus. They both sucked her and demanded constant attention. It became a game to him. He wouldn’t interfere at all with any of the baby-related stuff. But then, he wouldn’t give her any time to rest when she was done. Kate felt she should be exhausted. Yet she was feeling quite well.

She was still being made to drink from him every day as well being drunk from.

And he wanted sex whenever possible. But she felt strangely invigorated. And then, at last, he let her take Connor to the park. She thought, at first, that he was joking. But he was serious. So she took everything and left... to the park.

When she got there, she started fighting with herself over the idea of not coming back. Oddly enough, she found she had doubts about it. Cordelia’s voice brought her back to reality.

"Kate! Kate? Aren’t you listening? What’s the matter with you?"

"I’m listening! Sorry, I was kept awake all night." She actually wasn’t lying. "Ok. Kate, have you seen Angel? He’s been missing for days... We’ve searched everywhere, to no avail."

"Angel? No. No Angel, sorry." She still wasn’t lying. "Well, if you see him, give us a call. You were my last hope.", she said as she left.

"Cordelia?"

"Yes?"

"How did you find me?"

"I figured the baby would need sun and this is the only park next to that grocery store, so..."

"You’re becoming quite a detective.", she complimented her. But it sounded flat.

Kate returned to her apartment.

She stared at the door for a long time before reaching a decision. Then she entered.

There was no way she could put into words what she was feeling, why she had kept the truth from Cordelia. She hadn’t lied, but she hadn’t said the truth, either. Why?, she kept asking herself.

As the days went by, it all started to feel as an almost pleasant routine. Kate realized she had been missing Angel terribly. She still did in a way, as Angelus was quite different from him. Yet, she had his body and his face to make her company and that was better than she ever had before. She kept remembering all they had been through and she knew she had loved him from the start, in spite of herself.

That one night was her treasure. The one she would always keep in her memory... She weighed Angelus words about that night. She wished she knew what was the problem there. Why hadn’t it been perfect? She knew what was missing on her side, but... was he missing the same?

Anyway, it was her son who made him lose his soul. He was that happy about it. And now, she couldn’t turn away from him. She was afraid he would be killed and she’d lose the very shreds of hope she still had... She was assaulted by a very scary thought, though. Was she the only one he was feeding on? Because he didn’t drink that much each night. And there were times he could go out unnoticed.

That possibility made her tremble, which is not a good idea when we’re clipping a baby’s nails. She saw a trickle of blood on the tiny finger. Angelus seemed to smell it. In the lapse of a moment, he was there, sucking at the baby’s finger.

The scene arose Kate’s instincts and she pushed him away really hard. She grabbed Connor and started screaming as Angelus raised and came towards them.

She wasn’t afraid, just furious. So furious it took her a while to notice something was different.

"Kate... What’s happened?" Angel was staring at her, bemused.

"Angel?", she asked tentatively.

"Kate... Oh, my God! I’m so sorry! The baby! Connor! I lost it!" Despair showed in his voice.

"Yes, you really lost it. But, now... you’ve got it back?" Kate was confused too.

"His blood... There’s something to it. I can’t tell what, but..." They both looked at Connor who, with perfect baby timing, started giggling out loud.