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Two blocks away from the spot where Ivory and her father were meeting, Chase was leaning against the corner of a building, deep in contemplation. His face was buried in his hands as he wondered how his feelings towards Ivory had gotten so complicated so fast. Shaking his head, Chase murmured, "I can't believe I kissed her. And then just taking off without warning afterwards... God, she must hate me right now."
It took a moment for Chase to realize what he was saying, leaving him to wonder why it mattered what she thought of him. But yet, it did, leaving only one viable answer to what he was feeling. He had to be attracted to her.
"This is insane," Chase said to himself, trying to convince himself of that. "And it's not right... I only promised to watch over her and keep her safe, not to fall in love with her..."
Chase paused, then shook off the thought, realizing in that same instant what he could do to put his jumbled emotions to rest. Closing his eyes, he quickly relaxed, clearing his mind of everything. That accomplished, he reached out with his senses, gathering a mental picture in his head of any person (human or otherwise) within the vicinity of the area.
Absolutely nothing escaped his attention; he didn't allow it to. There was the young mortal couple driving home from a relative's house, their car turning the corner he stood on. There was the faint chitters of a mouse weaving its way through a dark alley yards away in search of food. And then, there was the even fainter scuffling sound behind him...
Chase waited for the right moment, then turned, grabbing the girl behind him and slamming her against the side of a building. Simultaneously, he began to reach for the stake tucked in the waistline of his jeans, then stopped when he saw who his 'attacker' was.
Chase dropped both arms to his side, trying to calm his shaken nerves. "Jesus, Cinnamon!" he said to his old 'acquaintance'. "What the hell are you doing here?!? You're supposed to be waiting for me back in Arizona!"
Cinnamon shrugged, tossing her red hair over her shoulder with a swift shake of her head. "I got impatient," she replied, her tone and her lips pouty. "And I missed you. It's just been three weeks too long since I last saw you, Chase."
He sighed, doing a good job of hiding his contempt. "Is that really it, or were you just sent to get a progress report?" Without letting her answer, he added, "I still haven't found our resident Slayer, Cinn. But I will. I just need time!" He sighed again, softening a little. Reaching out to trace one finger along her jawline, he whispered, quite sensually, "And then, we'll be together, with no more distractions and no more leavetaking. That's what you want, isn't it?"
She reached for his hand, directing it to her mouth. "Every minute," she agreed. "After all, no one can even compare to the way you make me feel... Together for eternity, Chase. That's what we are."
Chase watched her with a semi-amused look, slightly worried that he didn't feel the same attraction to Cinnamon as he had when he'd left Arizona. Why now, when just days before, he'd thought that no one could hold a candle to her?
He realized the answer in an instant. *Damn!* Chase thought angrily. *What is it that Ivory Summers has that Cinnamon doesn't?! This can't be happening! And... And it will stop once I find the Slayer and convince her to come to Arizona with me. Then, Ivory will be of the past, and I won't have to see her again.* With that thought in mind, Chase smiled at the girl before him, quickly extending an invitation to her to the place he was staying.
So it was, arm in arm, Chase and Cinnamon made their way to his apartment, both of them focused on the intimate night that lay ahead...
Ivory, as well, was somewhat focused on a peaceful night. She felt as if she was floating on a cloud, cloaked in warmth and light, with hardly a care in the world. But somewhere, deep in her mind, she was aware that this couldn't be right.
Ivory furrowed her brow in her sleep, trying to recall the events earlier this evening. She had been attacked -- nearly killed -- by a stray vampire, and someone had come to her rescue... Much as she tried to focus on it, Ivory couldn't organize her muddled thoughts enough to do so. And was distracted further when something cold and wet struck her lips.
Ivory instinctively licked her lips, picking up the droplets of water on them, and swallowing, the liquid bringing relief to her dry mouth. After a moment, she moved her head with a moan, opening her eyes ever so slightly. And was startled when she discovered she was lying in her bed at home, two or three people silhouetted before her.
Ivory groaned again, opening her eyes wider. She looked to the man sitting on the matress to her left, instantly feeling the evening's events come back to her. "Dad!" she blurted out, scooting up into a sitting position. Putting one hand to the mattress to steady herself, she added, "What happened?"
Angel stared straight into her eyes, marveling for a moment over how closely his daughter resembled Buffy. "You fainted. I brought you home," he answered simply. Reaching over to touch her face, he added, "I'm glad I got there when I did... Nick is one that never went down easy, at least not in the time that I knew him."
Ivory gave a short hysterical laugh. "Gee, and I thought I was all set when it came to slaying demons. At least, Willow made it sound that way."
At this, Ivory's Watcher stepped forward, catching the young girl's attention. "Ivory, I'm sorry. I should have known better than to give you that idea... It takes time, not to mention a training period, to prepare any Slayer for this. But, then again, you are more talented than most, so the preparation time should go by very quickly."
Ivory bit her lip, taking her time to absorb that little bit of knowledge. "Okay, that's catalogued along with everything else," she assured her father, Watcher, and foster mom. "Now, if it's not too much trouble, can I talk to my Dad alone?"
Both Stefanie and Willow nodded, silently marching from the room and shutting the door behind them. Angel, on the other hand, steeled himself for the coming talk, prepared for any harsh words on her part to be flung at him.
Ivory almost wasn't sure where to start, then settled on, "How long have you been back in town?"
Angel let out a breath slowly. "For about four months," he answered truthfully. "Been hiding out in an old warehouse most of the time... When I wasn't, I would be here watching you, Stefanie, and Risa through the windows." He paused, holding back tears. "I wouldn't have cared if I put myself in danger by being out in the open like that. It was so worth it to see you. The way you smiled... You must have been very happy here for the last fifteen years."
Ivory shook her head. "Somehow, I don't think the happiness with a foster family can compare to the happiness of being with your own father," she answered haltingly, watching as her words worked to erase the faint smile from his lips. "You may have seen the occasional smile, but did you even bother to read my thoughts?! Do you have any idea how many times I silently wished for something more?! That I could have known you!? You didn't have to take that away from me!"
Angel paused a moment, slightly hurt. "I thought Willow had explained this, why I couldn't," he said quietly. "I didn't have a choice, Ivory..."
"You had a choice!" she interrupted sharply. "We could have disappeared together! You could have spent the last few years training me yourself, when I got old enough! I would not have minded being isolated from this life I've led, as long as I could have had you!" Ivory was shouting now, her voice shaking with barely pent-up anger.
Angel's face flushed. "Do you think it was that simple?" he said angrily, a tinge of yellow appearing in his brown eyes. "You didn't want to live in my world, Ivory. Sure, it may seem like the isolation wouldn't be a problem! But I've existed long enough to see what too much alone time can do to someone. I even know from experience!" He paused, taking a breath to calm himself. "I was just trying to do what I thought was best for you."
"What was best for me?" Ivory asked ironically. "I was barely two years old! I'd just lost my Mom a few weeks earlier, and my father abruptly decides it would be for the best if he disappears as well! Does that sound like a fair deal to you?!"
"Under the circumstances, yes," Angel persisted. "How long do you think you would have lived if a vampire gang had come for me, and you were there as fair game? I couldn't have protected both of us, Ivory. I don't have that kind of strength!"
"Or maybe you were too much of a coward to even try," she said bitterly, angering him beyond belief.
Angel growled, lunging forward and wrapping one hand around the back of her neck. With a cry, Ivory looked up into his eyes, noting that his face had reverted to a demon-like visage. "Stop," he told her roughly. "You don't know what you're talking about! Would you rather have wound up having your blood drained completely, or even worse, being raped or mutilated beyond recognition by one of these monsters?! You have no idea what they're capable of at their worst!"
Ivory paused, then said quietly, "You have no idea what it's like to have longed for years for some hint of who my father is or was." Her words quickly took all the anger out of his tirade, and Angel quickly assumed human form once more. "You took those years away from me when you left, and you can't give them back!" she added in a harsher tone, raising one arm to knock his away forcibly.
For a long while, Angel remained silent, then said, "I know I can't replace those years lost to us, but I can try to make up for them... You are my world now, Ivory, with your mother gone. If I don't have you, I'd have nothing left to exist for..."
Ivory held up her hand, silencing him once more. "You need to give me time... I know we don't have your ideal father\daughter relationship, and it will take some getting used to... But maybe, we could start with making up for lost time." She paused. "At least, after we deal with Slayer issues for the evening."
Angel eyed her with a slightly amused look. "You have no idea how much you remind me of Buffy," he said offhandedly, then grew serious. "So, what did you have in mind?"
"This guy, Nick," Ivory replied, her face assuming an equally serious mask. "I want to know everything about him, starting with what brings him to Sunnydale. In fact... maybe I can have Willow try to trace him on the computer, starting with all businesses run under his name..." During her speech, Ivory stood from the bed and walked towards the open door without missing a beat.
Angel watched her go without a word, slightly surprised by her zeal over this subject. He chuckled under his breath, his eyes darting heavenward. "You'd be so proud of her, Buffy. I wish you were here to see her in action," he whispered. Then, he too rose from the bed, following his daughter from the room to provide aid in this quest of hers...