Disclaimers: Everything belongs to Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon. I'm just having fun with the characters
Reviews: Welcomed and appreciated
Angel took stock of his assembled crew. Cordelia's face was puffy, although he'd know she'd been crying even without the evidence. Fred, Gunn and Wesley were pretty much in the dark as all of them had been gone for most of the day.
Behind them sat Spike and Tara, who was holding Connor in her arms. Fred shifted a little uncomfortably.
"Angel? Do you want me to take Connor upstairs and see if he needs a change?" She didn't like the idea of a vampire being so close to the baby.
"He's fine Fred." Angel was firm but kind to Winifred. "So, I guess you're all pretty surprised…"
"Surprised? Surprised? Surely Angel that is the biggest understatement you have ever made." Wes was appalled, how could he allow Spike in the same city, let alone the same room as his son.
Angel drew in a deep, unneeded breath. "Okay, I get your disturbed. But if you'll let me finish before you assail me with all your concerns and anxieties…"
Cordelia was the next one to interrupt the vampire. "Connor is in the arms of a vampire! A soulless demon. And you sit there wanting to calmly explain how this is a good thing? Really Angel, have you lost your mind?" She didn't bring up the fact that he'd been fucking both said vampires all afternoon.
"I think we are having a replay of the whole Darla fiasco." Wes spoke up quietly. "Angel, we all understand the strain you've been under. And now with Holtz back in the picture and the knowledge that someone has been tainting your blood supply…"
Spike roared. "Bugger this! Angel are you gonna let them disrespect you like this? In front of you childer yet? This is bollocks!" Spike stood up and got into the center of the little band of followers.
"I'm his childe…"
"Grand-childe." Wesley corrected him.
"Listen watcher wanna-be, shut your gob 'til I'm finished here." He continued. "I'm his childe," Spike stressed the word, "and Tara here is my mate. We're childer of the Master of Aurelius, vampires of the Aurelius Clan. If he has no problem with us bein' here why the fuck do you?"
"You're soulless vampires…" Wes almost whined.
"Hey," Tara stood up with Connor, "I happen to have my soul intact. As for Spike, even without the chip in his head, he's…well he's…" She looked to Angel.
"They are my family and they do not need to defend their presence. I want them here. They can protect Connor and they will." He rubbed the center of his brow.
Tara went to him, concern in her every gesture and word. "Angel, you need rest. You, we…you need to replenish." She turned to the assembled group. "I know you have a lot of concerns, but you can trust us. We would never do anything to betray our master or his child. And we would never betray his family, and we know that's what you are to him."
Wesley laughed. "Well my dear, you may be speaking for yourself, but we know the history of Spike…"
"Okay, you just said it, history. It's history, in the past. Right here and now, Spike and I are here to support Angel and Connor." Her voice was melodic but so firm. Spike had to smile at his little tiger. She handed Connor over to Spike.
"Please put him down. I'm going to put our illustrious leader to bed." Spike's eyes narrowed and Tara smiled at him. "And then I'm coming to our room."
"Our room? Our room? You have an 'our room' here?" Cordelia was horrified.
Fred smiled at Tara and Spike. "Now Cordelia, these are Angel's children, the least we can do is be civil. I mean, we aren't even blood relatives, you know? And well, I just think, well Cordelia…just relax." She turned back to the pair of vampires.
"Do you want me to take Connor and put him down for you?"
Spike chuckled. "Ah peaches, you sure know how to pick 'em." He turned his attention back to Fred.
"Um, no poppet. Little brother and me are doin' just fine. And don't worry, never like to eat infants. Not much blood and really, they cry a little too shrilly for my taste. Now Dru, she liked a nice smorgasbord of babies."
"Enough Spike, take Connor up. We'll take later." Angel allowed Tara to lead him up to his room as the rest of Angel Investigations wondered about their place in the Master of Aurelius' world.
Angel fell on his bed, exhausted from loss of blood as well as other bodily fluids. Tara pulled his shoes off and began to unbutton his shirt. He stopped her hands movement with his.
"You'd better stop. I promised Spike that you and I, well, that I wouldn't try to get you into my bed again. Plan on keeping that one."
"Oh, I...I was going to ask you…I mean you are fantastic in bed, but Spike. He's very sensitive. And I love him and I just couldn't hurt him…seems I inherited Willow's talent for the ramble. …thank you Angel." She graced him with a shy smile. She felt such relief that she wouldn't need to broach the subject with Angel. Tara meant what she said, he was a fantastic lover, but she loved Spike and couldn't stand the thought of hurting him.
Angel smiled back at the young woman.
"Oh baby, you are too good. Really. And to be honest, if my soul isn't ever bound I'm sure you could eventually bring out Angelus. I don't want drama in my house, not with Connor. I need you and Spike to be there for him."
Tara's head shot up. "Oh goddess! Connor!"
"What about him?" Angel was alarmed at the tone of her voice.
"Well, he could bring about Angelus. I mean, it's not just sex that causes complete unadulterated bliss and fulfillment. Children, at least my mama told me, can bring out the best in a person." She gave a sad smile.
"Of course, my father would never attest to that, but you're a good father. Angel, I have to work on that spell. You need to have your soul bound before Connor does something so damn cute you lose your soul. I mean I've only been with him a day and he has my heart." She jumped off the bed and ran from his room.
Angel had to smile at her tenaciousness. He had a faithful childe there and with her influence on Spike, he was sure he had two he could depend on. Angel downed the cup of blood Tara had left on his nightstand, pulled the rest of his clothes off before crawling under the covers. He turned his head and was filled with the scent of Tara.
God help him, he had to bind his soul and see about getting his own soul mate back before he did something unforgivable.
