Disclaimer- I own nothing except maybe things you don't recognize. Willow and Xander belong to Joss, Booth and Brennan belong to Hart Hanson and Fox. Just playing, nothing is permanent, right?
Breakfast the next morning was interesting. Booth came into the kitchen where Angel stood by the stove in a muscle shirt and a pair of sweatpants. Natalie was at a counter near the refrigerator, slicing up fruit. Booth nodded to both, trying to wipe the sleep from his eyes. He smelled coffee, but his eyes weren't working enough to catch sight of the pot yet. Finally he saw it in an alcove near the entrance to the kitchen. Two industrial sized pots of the blessed substance, with mugs stacked right by.
"Bless you guys, bless you." He grinned before grabbing for a mug and filling it, taking a gulp which nearly seared his tongue to the roof of his mouth.
"So for breakfast today we've got your choice of pancakes, French toast or fresh fruit. Of course if you don't like those, there's always the old standby of cold cereal or oatmeal." Natalie stood by Seeley as she sipped out of a mug.
"You guys put on quite a spread." Seeley looked over to Angel who was pouring pancake batter into artful swirls…which just ended up being some cartoon characters head.
"We are warriors, Seeley. Gotta feed an army to keep 'em going like an army." Natalie pointed out. She smiled to Angel as he flipped the pancake onto a plate, just as Spike came through carrying Fox on his hip, Spike being shirtless and wearing a pair of sweatpants like Angel. The poor boy clutched at Spike as if he would fall off any second, half asleep and trying to be wholly asleep. Spike put Fox in a chair at the table, taking the plate from Natalie and setting it in front of Fox, but about a foot in front of him.
"I'll have a short stack of pancakes then, if you don't mind." Seeley looked toward Fox. There was syrup right on the table, but none on his pancakes yet. Seeley reached out to grab the syrup to pour some on the pancakes, but Spike's hand shot out and stopped him. He nodded to the boy, whose head all of a sudden fell to the table, half way in his plate.
"He'll put the syrup on when he gets the smell of the hotcakes and wakes up." Spike told Booth as he released him. He stood, going towards Natalie, grabbing her in a hug and kissing her. "I didn't do that when ye wakes up, I'll do it now then." Spike grinned and released her, rummaging through the refrigerator. Natalie took her plate to the table. Pancakes with fresh fruit filled her plate. She smiled to Seeley a moment before bowing her head and saying a quick prayer, and then rubbed a hand along Fox's back.
"C'mon love. Time to wake up, your pancakes are getting chilled." Natalie crooned to the boy. His head groggily lifted, staring at her with sleepy eyes. He blinked as if trying to focus, and then a bright grin spread over his face.
"You make me pampakes?" Fox crowed and stood on his chair to grab for the syrup, pouring a healthy amount over top. He dug in with his fork, all the while grunting and groaning. Finally he shoved his plate towards Natalie, who only smiled and cut the pancakes into cubes. It was a morning ritual, after all.
And then the rest of the inhabitants of the hotel really started trickling in. First Bones came in, looking fresh and dressed for the day. She got herself a cup of coffee, and then started towards the fruit and toast. Seeley's breakfast appeared at his elbow a moment later.
"Eat up then. We've decided you and Temperance are to be headed to the airport with Natalie there to pick up the ankle gnawers." Angel sat across from Seeley at the table, his own mug clutched in his hands. From the look in his eyes, Booth decided he didn't want to question what it was.
"Ankle biters? More children are going to be running around here then?" Seeley asked as Willow and Xander came in. Xander headed for the fridge while Willow took a seat next to Brennan. Brennan eyed the girl who wore an oversized tee shirt as a nightgown, and the boy who wore boxers and a tee shirt. They were obviously at home here, a fact reinforced when Angel got up to make their breakfast.
"Teens, actually." Natalie pointed out as she got out a mug, filling it with water and then adding a handmade tea bag. She popped it into the microwave. Xander sat with a bowl of cereal, shoving spoonful after spoonful into his mouth as he and Fox made faces at each other. "You see, for some reason the age of man has entered an age of magic. Witches being born now days have natural abilities off the scale. We're also not very…accepted into local magic circles, which is why I'm the oldest in the US at the time. We don't get invites to the Ancient Places. Willow's a couple years younger, and Amanda is… what, sixteen now?" Natalie looked to Willow as she took the tea out of the microwave. Willow looked up from the plate Angel had put in front of her moments before, and nodded. Willow looked down to the tall stack of pancakes, watching as Xander tugged it between them and started in on those too. Occasionally she'd push his fork away and get some, but Xander had always done this, and she was used to it. Natalie placed the tea in front of Willow, then looked to the clock over the stove.
"Okay, Morning Briefing guys." Angel turned off the stove and moved to where everyone could see him. "Remember, cell phones on at all times, even if it's on silent. Let's be safe out there. Willow, when Natalie's group gets back from the airport, introduce Temperance to the library. You'll take Amanda, Chris and Temperance down and try to find anything you can. Seeley, I'll take you with me and we'll go see if… anyone has any information they'd be willing to donate. Remember guys, Natalie's going grocery shopping today. If anyone has any preferences, please tell her." Angel looked around.
"Yeah. I pretty much never say no to this kind of stuff. Anyways, anything you guys can do around the hotel would be appreciated." Natalie added.
"Okay guys, let's get going." Angel nodded and went out. Brennan looked to Natalie, who shrugged slightly.
"You do most of the domestic chores around here?" Brennan asked. Natalie shook her head.
"Not really. The only thing that's structured around here is meals, and even then we trade off. Laundry gets tossed down chutes in the hotel, someone separates it when they're down there and shoves a load in." Natalie shrugged. "But we found that to avoid arguments about the meals, we write them down in advance when we have company. That way if anyone has any problems, they just… talk about it." Natalie showed Brennan the list of meals on the fridge. Next to it there was a wish list for the grocery list.
"You guys have done this before." Seeley smiled at Natalie, whose eyes slid downward, sadly.
"Couple times," she agreed. Willow reached out and patted her hand slightly. After a moment, Natalie looked to Xander. "Hey ole buddy, ole pal." She began. Xander looked up at her.
"Yes, oh pretty manipulator?" Xander answered as he drank the last of the milk from his bowl.
"Would you watch the Foxie?" she asked. Xander looked down to the kid, then back up at her and nodded once. "Yay! So you don't have to do much, just keep an ear out. He knows where he's supposed to play and where he's not allowed to play." Natalie said before standing. She looked at the clock once more.
"What time do Chris and Amanda get off the plane?" Seeley asked.
"Half hour. You should get dressed quickly, and then we'll go. I'll get the car, meet you out front." Natalie said, and then left.
Soon enough they were back, and the hotel filled with chattering voices from top to bottom. Quiet areas became few and far between as Chris and Xander went through, chasing one another with wicked looking swords, occasionally even… striking at each other. As Brennan and Booth went through trying to find the library, they were interrupted when Angel and Spike came running through, shouting at the top of their voice for Natalie. Natalie appeared from a side doorway, looking at Booth, who pointed down the hallway. Her head tilted for a moment and then Natalie, Willow and Amanda took off at a full run after Spike and Angel. And then there was Fox, who was doing something they had never seen before. He was sitting in a chair, staring at them calmly, almost like that Damien kid. The creepy triple six kid from that one movie.
"Is it always like this?" Booth looked to Fox, not really expecting an answer. Fox stared at him as if he was crazy.
"Uh, yep! Where ya goin'?" Fox jumped off the chair to peer down the hallway.
"Trying to find the library, kiddo. But I think that's pointless as Mommy and Daddy just ran down there," Booth said as he looked down the hallway as well. Brennan put a hand on his arm, and then nodded to the open doorway where a small face, much like Fox's face, watched them. Booth turned towards the door, intending to push it open when Angel shouted from the stairs.
"Don't open it Seeley!" Angel shouted as he ran up, slamming the door tightly and moving to herd them back.
"What? Who is that?" Booth strained to see who it was.
"Shapeshifter. Take Fox downstairs." Angel ordered as Chris and Xander trotted up, swords at the ready.
"Angel, we should see this." Brennan looked to Angel even as he held them back while Xander slipped in, Chris covering his back.
"Not the time, I'm afraid. When we wage the all out battle, which is coming, we will need both of you. But for now, Spike and Natalie will be training you in the uses of stakes and swords. Guns alone cannot win this battle, I'm afraid." Angel explained as Chris came out holding a beheaded… gnome thing.
"You gotta be shittin' me. I thought you guys were hiding another kid in there, and that's what it was?" Booth demanded as he leaned in for a closer look. The shapeshifter's body came alive, wrapping it's hands around his throat, intending to strangle him. Angel and Chris sprang into action, prying the hands away with little effort. Chris nodded to Angel and then disappeared, going down the stairs. Booth rubbed his throat.
"That's why you need training. Demons and creatures react differently to different weapons. Time for a crash course." Angel promised and began to herd them downstairs.
"Now that's what I call a crash course, Bones." Booth said as he flopped down in a chair in the kitchen. He and Brennan were in workout clothes, drenched with sweat. Natalie and Spike had barely broken a sweat, and when Brennan blamed it all on their nature's, Spike had called Willow and Xander to go through the same workout. Neither of the humans had broken into a sweat either. Natalie came into the kitchen and rummaged through the refrigerator for a soda.
"Does any type of fighting break you guys into a sweat anymore?" Brennan asked as she wiped moisture from the back of her neck.
"The longer the battle, the more we sweat. The more magic used, the more movements… it all has a factor." Natalie explained as she consulted the menu. Willow wandered in and consulted the menu as well. They turned to one another, identical looks of dislike on their face.
"I say we order Chinese." Natalie said. Willow shrugged.
"Hell, I'm up for that." Spike poked his head into the kitchen before continuing on.
"Like Spike said, it sounds good." Willow grabbed a pen and paper and shouted for orders to be taken. Brennan and Booth put their orders in, while shouts came from the rest of the hotel.
"Has anyone seen Fox?" Natalie listened to the various sounds throughout the hotel. It was oddly silent, not even the sound of quiet breathing.
"Oh, yeah. Angel took him to check out some leads." Amanda dropped into a chair near Booth.
"So where is Angel?" Natalie asked as she once more sent herself searching through the house.
"Oh, he's right here." Angel said from the doorway. He had a fussing Fox in his arms, and a scowl on his face.
"I tell you time and time again, a toddler is NOT a suitable interrogation partner." Natalie scolded and took Fox from him.
"Got me the needed bits, so I'll take a chance and say it worked." Angel argued. Amanda looked to Booth and grinned.
"So, nice ta see ya again Seeley. And how's our girl Anden?" Amanda relaxed back into her seat and looked at her friend.
"Anden's doing great. Did that one movie that comes out this Friday. The clothes were inspired, I have to say. I don't know where she got them." Booth grinned to Amanda, winking to her gently. The drawings on Amanda's walls had inspired the clothes for the latest movie, and Anden never let Amanda forget it.
"I don't get it Booth. How do you know all the people here?" Brennan nudged her partner.
"I don't know em all Bones, I just know…most of em. Amanda is related to both Natalie and Anden," Booth patted Brennan on the shoulder.
"Speaking of movie. Amanda, you and I have to go to that party tonight. Michaela's party, she's sent a message to my phone telling me she's gotten some information. We'll have to dress, of course. Do you think Willow will want to go?" Natalie added as an afterthought.
"It's a Hollywood party Nat. Of course Willow'll wanna go, it's Michaela, her favorite actress." Amanda said as if it was so obvious.
"So Mic has information?" Angel said as he closed his phone from ordering food.
"S'what she says, Ang." Natalie confirmed. Angel grinned slightly.
"Take Seeley instead of me. Let's try a swap-eroo. How many invitations did we get?" Angel asked.
"Mic's invitations are always open ended. We could all go if we wanted to." Natalie grinned to her brother.
"Then again, your oaf of a husband would insult her again." Chris popped into the kitchen, closely followed by Xander once more.
"And you and Xander would hit on every available female… or unavailable, as the case may be." Natalie grinned to Chris, then nodded slightly.
"It'll be a fight soon. Might as well have some fun right? We'll meet downstairs at eight for… a look over." Natalie nodded to the assembled group.
"So we have to dress up?" Brennan looked to Angel. Angel nodded.
"You didn't pack anything, did you?" He smiled softly.
"I was coming here for work, not for… I guess I'll have to go shopping." At Brennan's sullen pout, Natalie and Amanda nodded. Shopping was fun, don't get the wrong idea, but there were more important things to do, and they understood completely.
"We go to these things all the time. You're about Anden's height, and I know she's stashed some of her things here before." Amanda looked upwards, as if to the rooms Anden and Seeley shared the last time they were here. Brennan looked at her partner, eyes wide.
"You've been here before?" She demanded. "And you still had to ask directions?" She tried not to laugh.
"It's a big place Bones. A big place," Seeley defended himself.
The party had been a success as far as finding information had gone. As for the behavior part, well… Let's just count it a good point that only one person had been tossed out.
Natalie sat back as Spike drove back to the hotel, Booth driving the second car behind them. Spike was still steaming about being tossed out, but he would get over it. Natalie patted his knee as he drove, her gaze drifting to the mirror. She sat up suddenly, both hands going to the window as she angled towards it.
"Oh my holy Christ." Natalie whimpered. Spike's gaze flicked over. She had rarely ever used that tone; he liked to call it the apocalypse tone.
"What, pet? What is it?" Spike asked as he slowed the car. Natalie shook her head and sat back, shaking slightly.
"Never mind… I think I just saw my dad." She whispered. Amanda leaned up from the back seat, resting a hand on her shoulder.
"Really? But David would never come out here… would he?" Amanda tilted to look out the window as well.
"It must not be him. He wouldn't come out here for me." Natalie shook her head once more and took a deep breath.
Meanwhile, Xander was leaned over between the driver's and passenger's seat and Booth was sure he was going to kill the boy.
"No, I will not let you touch my gun. For the last time, no I will not let you touch my gun, and infinity no." Booth growled as he pulled into a parking space at the garage.
"Awww, you're such a fun sucker." Xander grumped and hopped out of the car, adjusting the tee shirt with the imprint of the tux shirt he was wearing.
"Yeah that's me. Mr. Fun Sucker." Booth agreed grimly as he scanned the surroundings before sliding out of the car. Something wasn't right, but he couldn't place his fingers on it. Car door's slammed in the parking garage, and his ears rung from it all slightly. Most of the group moved as if they were uneasy as well, he noticed. Natalie had a small dagger out, expertly palming it and passing it back into its hiding place as she moved. Suddenly, Willow shuddered, her head dropping back. Her mouth formed a perfect "o" as her eyes rolled into the back of her head. The lights blinked out, the garage suddenly plunged into perfect darkness. After a moment, beams of light came from her empty eyes, her open mouth. She rose into the air a foot or so, floating as if she were in space, or underwater.
"They are here." Her mouth moved, but the voice was not hers. It was otherworldly, deep and bass. It shook the walls slightly, and in the very dim light he could see Natalie, Amanda and Spike move into a formation, moving between the rest of the group. After a moment, Chris and Xander stopped blinking and produced their large swords, each moving into a flanking position at the edge of the day walking vampires. They dropped into a defensive position, eyes searching for things that Booth couldn't see. He took his gun out of the holster, pointed it towards the entrance to the garage even as he felt Brennan pulling her own pistol. Willow dropped back down, ending in a one kneed kneel as she blinked away the odd feelings left with her. Booth tilted his head at her, she nodded and stood. She stepped into a fighting stance, even as Spike's head tilted. A shadow stepped from the darkness, wrapping a heavy forearm around Spike's throat. Immediately the group stepped into action. Spike shook off the creature, moving with Chris and Xander to temporarily combat the creatures, even as the three women joined hands, chanting in some language Booth didn't recognize. Chris looked to the girls, then dropped to a kneel, his hands covering his head. After a moment, every one in the garage did the same, all but the girls who kept on chanting. Just as soon as Booth and Brennan dropped, the garage was filled with a bright, white light that ripped out from the girls, disrupting sound waves. It was so bright, you could hear it.
After a moment, Booth could hear the roar in his ears slow, then fade out completely. A gentle touch on his shoulder, and then he finally heard Willows voice. Amanda and she strolled along, touching each person on their shoulder to give the all clear. Natalie touched a corner of her mouth, her fingers coming away slightly red. She shrugged and rolled her shoulders.
"Shadows. The Phoenician has shadows now?" Natalie grumped as she waved her hands. "Let's get inside. I mean heck, what do these people got? 1-800- Demonic Henchmen? Planning an apocalypse help wanted dot com?" Natalie continued the rant as they trooped into the elevator. They had quite a bit of information now, and now it seemed that they were target numero uno. As fricken usual.
It was late, and Brennan couldn't sleep. She wandered down to the kitchen, finding Natalie sitting at the table licking chocolate off a spoon.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I could go, if you like." Brennan offered. Natalie shook her head, waved the spoon at the direction of the refrigerator.
"I made pudding. Help yourself, its chocolate." Brennan smiled at Natalie's offer and went to find a bowl. Sitting down across from the girl, she studied her intently.
"You look bothered by something." Brennan lifted her spoon to her mouth, intending to slip the spoon in, to savor the taste. Instead the spluttered, coughing. "Jesus, what did you put in here?"
"Forgot. Made People's Pudding. Full of vodka, that is." Natalie mumbled as she dug around in her bowl, looking for more pudding.
"What's wrong, Nat?" Brennan looked at the girl intently. Natalie just shrugged for a moment.
"I saw my father tonight." Natalie looked down at her empty bowl and heaved a heavy sigh. "And… every time I see the bastard, I deal with these feelings. Demon child, devil worshipper, that's what he called my brother and me. My other brother… the one that died four years ago." Natalie shook her head as she stood and paced. Brennan watched, oddly reminded of Booth.
"As far as I can see, you're none of those things." Brennan put in helpfully.
"I just wanted him to see me." Natalie whispered before shaking her head. "Oh well. He's a right bastard, and that's all I'll say." Natalie pushed up and put her bowl in the sink. "I've got a good life here. The guy shouldn't have that much of an impact on me anymore."
"Every girl wants to be Daddy's Little Girl, Nat. I know I did." Brennan stood to, rinsing out her bowl before moving next to the girl.
"Not every girl get's to be that, Bren." Natalie said grimly before stepping into the darkness.
"No, we don't." Brennan agreed before she too left the kitchen.