Chapter 25 A

As soon as she set his coffee down in front of him, along with the sugar and creamer bowls, he grabbed hold of the cup. She watched as he carefully poured three packets of sugar and two creamers in his drink. The two sat in silence for a few moments collecting their thoughts.

Just when Liz thought the silence would get to be too awkward Kyle broke it…however it didn't soothe the nervousness either was feeling at that moment. "Can I see him?" Kyle asked.

Liz hesitated thinking about how Kyle would take this. It wasn't everyday a guy found out he was a father and technically had been for five years. "If he wants to see you then yes."

"Excuse me?" Kyle scoffed rudely. "If he wants too?" She told him he had a son, which of course gave him an overwhelming desire to get to know the boy, and now she said it was a possibility that he would never get to him.

"I know that's not what you want to hear." Liz acknowledged his anger at the situation.

"You damn right it's not what I want to hear. You tell me that Lucas is my son and now you're saying that I can't see him if I want too?"

"It's not about what you want." Liz winced know how mean that sounded. "Kyle my son comes first. If he doesn't want to see you or get to know than I'm not going to make him."

"Why not? You're his mother he should do what you say." Kyle argued back.

Liz raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? When your and Tess's child reaches the age when they can say no to you and defy you, try to use that reasoning, see how well it goes over."

Kyle kept his eyes locked with Liz's. "Please. I want the opportunity to get to know Lucas. He's going to have a half-brother or sister in a few months; shouldn't we all get to know each other? Shouldn't Luke be apart of their lives? Shouldn't we be apart of his?"

Liz pressed her lips together in a thin line. She didn't really like Kyle calling her son by his nickname. It irked her a little bit. "I'm not saying that Lucas shouldn't get to know you or your growing family with Tess. All I'm saying is that I want it to be on his terms. When he wants too. Not when you want too."

As much as he didn't like it, he didn't really have much of a choice. "Fine." He held his coffee cup a little tighter but still didn't drink it. "What happens now?"

"Now…well now I go ask my son if he wants to meet you." Liz stood and started to leave the dining area when Kyle touched her arm and turned her around.

"Wait, now?" Kyle questioned.

"Yes." Liz stared at him. "Are you ok?"

He opened his mouth but closed it. Kyle remained quiet for a few seconds before finally speaking. "What if he says he wants to meet me?"

Liz smirked a little bit amused at Kyle's instant turn around. One minute he wanted to meet Lucas and the next he's completely frightened. She couldn't say she blamed him. "If he wants to meet then you and Lucas can—talk, baby steps." She shrugged not really knowing the proper etiquette for meeting a child that you only recently found out about.

"What if he doesn't like me?"

What could she tell him? Could she lie and tell him that Lucas would absolutely like him? There was a possibility that Luke wouldn't like him. Did she tell Kyle to just be himself and deal with everything as it came up? Miss Manners certainly never tackled the topic.

"I don't know. You're a good man Kyle and Lucas will see that. Other than that I don't really know how this will go." She told him.

Kyle smiled at her. "I guess this is new territory for the both us. Will you be there—if he says yes that is?" Suddenly being alone with his son was the scariest thing he'd ever come up against.

"Yes. I'll be there. I'm won't leave Lucas alone…or you either." She squeezed his forearm in reassurance then left the dining room.

TBC

Chapter 25 B

Liz left Kyle in the Crashdown and made her way up the back stairs. Although she had no doubt it would be awkward she hoped that Lucas wanted to meet Kyle. He really was a good man and should be able to have the opportunity to meet his biological son. Despite that though she wouldn't force Luke to one decision or another. It'd be his choice and no one else.

When she went into the living room she saw Spike holding Lucas up in the air. "Alright, now, when I make you dive you do what I taught you ok nibblet?"

"Ok Daddy." Lucas nodded enthusiastically. Spike's hands were pressed against his upper chest and under his legs keeping him in the air.

"K, little one, here we go." With a big smile on his chiseled face he lifted Luke up higher then dramatically sent Luke's small body into a dive.

Lucas growled and made his hands into claws. "I'm going to suck your blood. Grrr."

"Ahh, very good. Next time though make your voice a bit deeper and when you growl do it like this." Spike shook his head and transformed into his vampire features, he let out a terrifying growl that if she and Luke didn't know any better would be frightened of.

Instead of fear though it brought joyous laughter to Luke and desire from her. "I leave you two boys alone for a half-hour and you have our son pretending to be a vampire." Liz teased.

"Hello kitten." Spike rumbled out. "Just teaching the boy skills for the future."

"Oh, you plan on him being a vampire?" She raised an eyebrow. "As much as I love you baby, vampire and all that will never happen."

Spike set Luke down and patted him on the back. "I know that luv. The kids going to be well-rounded is all."

"With all the different kinds of people and demons he's around I don't think that will be a problem." She kissed him on the lips when he got within reach. The kiss lasted a little longer than a normal peck would. She needed that brief distraction that being in his arms brought her.

When they pulled back Spike stared closely at her, his face had transformed during their kiss. "What's wrong luv?" He knew her too well. The way she prolonged their embrace, the way she gripped at his shoulders like he was her anchor, something happened while downstairs.

"You're not going to like it." She started. "Kyle's here." She whispered.

"What does that bugger want?" He now knew what bothered her. Not only did she have to deal with the death of her parents and the staking of her father she now had her son's biological father to deal with.

Liz glanced at Lucas, who was playing with his action figures, to make sure he wasn't listening. Luke at one time wanted to have a Dracula figure but Spike instantly put the kibosh on that. He wouldn't allow his son to have anything Dracula related, the vamp was a pansy little loser that was a disgrace to vampires everywhere that owed him money to boot. The little boy was thankfully blissfully unaware of what was happening.

"Pet?' Spike guided her gaze back to his. "What did he want?" He repeated.

Liz swallowed passed the lump in her throat. "Kyle wants to meet him. He wants to get to know him."

Spike's worried expression changed to one of anger. "Well I hope you told him to forget it. He might be Lucas's blood but that doesn't mean he gets any claim to our boy."

"Spike he doesn't want to lay claim." At least she hoped not. She thought she made it quite clear that Spike was Luke's father. "All he mentioned was talking to him. Know who he is."

"He can forget it. He's got another kid on the way with that short blonde bint. He can get his quality time from that package. You and Lucas aren't a part of that deal. Both of you are mine." Spike growled out. No chicken shit human was going to steal his family.

Liz's expression softened. "Spike," she cupped his cheek. "No one and I mean no one could take us away from you. You are Luke's father, not Kyle. You've been with us since the beginning, you held my hand when Luke was born, and you cried and fought by my side when those demons tried to kill him. Nothing could take that away, not Kyle and not the forces of evil. Nothing."

"I'm his bloody father." Spike stated firmly and puffed out his chest, hooked his thumbs through his belt loop. "When are you telling Luke?" Spike asked.

"Now, I just wanted to tell you first." She explained.

"We'll tell him together. But I'm going downstairs too." Spike told her. "Going to make sure that poofter doesn't get any ideas about either of you." He kissed the side of her neck where his bite mark lay subtly staking his claim and together they walked over to Lucas still playing with his action figures.

Liz kneeled down next to her young son and brushed a stray strand of hair out of his eyes. "Baby? Daddy and I would like to talk to you. Ok?"

Lucas rocked back on his heels and stared intently at both parents. "K." He nibbled on his bottom lip, a trait he got from his mother. "Am I in trouble?"

Liz chuckled, putting him at ease. "No baby. You're not in trouble. But we have to talk to you about something important ok?" Lucas nodded but didn't speak; he waited for Liz or Spike to talk first.

"Do you remember when I told you about Kyle?"

Luke nodded. "He's my by blood Dad."

"That's right. Well, Kyle's downstairs and he'd like to meet you." Liz explained.

Lucas stayed quiet for a few seconds shifting his gaze between his parents. "Do I have to meet him?"

Spike shook his head and eagerly spoke up. "Not if you don't want to." In fact he'd be damn happy if Luke chose not to meet Kyle. "Just say the word and I'll go down there right now and tell him that—"

"But," Liz interrupted Spike cutting him off before he could say anything else, "If you want to meet him that's ok too. I told Kyle that it's up to you."

Spike glared at his wife for a moment but then looked at his son again. "You're Mum's right it's up to you." Even though it drove him bloody bonkers.

Luke sat on the couch and thought it over. His parent's watched him with curiosity; one hoped he decided to meet his biological father and the other hoped he'd get to tell Kyle to take a flying leap off the nearest building.

In an instant Lucas stood up. "I want to meet him." Liz smiled and Spike's shoulders slumped a little bit. "But I want you and Daddy to come down with me." At that Spike's lost the bit of disappointed he initially felt. His boy still wanted him. He was still his son's protector. That made him feel damn good.

"Of course we'll come with you." Spike lifted Luke into his arms and kissed his cheek and together as a family they left the apartment and made their way downstairs.

TBC

(I don't know which upcoming chapter will be done/worked on first so whichever one is finished first will be the next one posted)

Next Past Chapter: Spike gets comfortable at the Hyperion and makes it his mission to protect Liz…even from the most mundane things. Cordelia, Fred, and Lorne take notice of the hovering vampire around Liz.

Next Present Chapter: Kyle finally meets his son. Will Luke like or hate him? Spike pokes and prods at Kyle trying to get him annoyed.