Chapter 27

February 18, 2005

The family of three made their way down the back Crashdown steps. Liz, about to push open the swinging door, whirled around quickly and told Spike with a single glance what she expected out of him. She wanted this experience to be as easy on Lucas as possible and he wouldn't be as open to Kyle if Spike made it clear he didn't like him.

Spike glared but nodded. He would keep his insulting comments to himself…while Luke was in the room anyway.

Lucas, who saw the interaction, giggled. "Mommy gave you the look."

"She certainly did." Spike agreed. He'd seen the 'you better not do anything funny' look a few times in their marriage.

Taking a deep, semi-calming breath, Liz peaked out of the diamond shaped window into the restaurant. She could see Kyle nervously standing up and then shaking his head and quickly sitting down, only to, a few seconds later, stand right back up. Liz instantly felt bad for her former friend and one time lover, he didn't even know if it would be better to sit or stand when he first officially meets Lucas. He didn't know what would make Lucas comfortable, what would make him smile, cry, or laugh. Kyle didn't know Luke and that was her fault.

It didn't matter that at the time, even now, she had a multitude of reasons for not telling Kyle, the point was she hadn't told him, possibly to the detriment of her son and Kyle's future relationship. Liz hoped that Kyle and Luke could make up some lost time now and she hoped he didn't hate her for keeping Lucas from him for four years. Exhaling she put on a brave face and pushed the swinging door open.

Immediately Kyle, who had again went to sit in the booth, stood up and nervously wiped his palms down along his jeans. He cleared his throat and took a shaky breath in and out. Kyle saw the spitting image of him as a young child. It made his knees weak and he wanted to sit down again but forced himself to remain standing.

"Kyle, I'd like you to meet Lucas. Lucas sweetie this is Kyle." She introduced them.

Kyle was silent for a moment; he saw how his son burrowed his face into Spike's neck, seeking comfort and security while slyly looking him over. "Hi Lucas."

At first Luke was silent too. Then Spike, who up until this point had been quiet as well but had been staring at the slightly shorter man with a cool gaze, jostled the little boy gently in his arms. "Luke, Kyle said hi. What do you say?"

Sticking his finger in his mouth he mumbled. "Hi Kyle."

Spike smiled at his son and nodded. "Good boy." He knew he did well when Liz rubbed her hand down his back.

Liz let out the breath she had been holding. "How about we sit down over here," she pointed to a table on her right, one that wasn't a booth so it'd be easier for Spike to hold Luke, who didn't look like he wanted to be let go right then.

"Sounds good pet." Spike agreed. With a soft push against her lower back he guided his family toward the table. Kyle sat on one side, Spike and Lucas on the other, with Liz sitting in the middle.

Again the group of four fell into an uncomfortable silence. Not sure where to start first. Liz, after a few moments, found a topic that might get some conversation going.

"Luke do you know that Kyle, back in high school, was both a wrestler and a basketball player?"

Immediately he brightened. "Really?"

Kyle sent Liz a thankful smile. "That I was." He gave Lucas a warm grin. "Do you like wrestling or basketball?"

"Both. Basketball is the funnest. I have a basketball hoop in the backyard. It's small though—Mommy says I have to be taller before I get a bigger one." Lucas pouted.

"You know my Dad said the same thing when I was younger. It sucks having to wait huh?" Kyle chuckled.

"No kidding. I've been this tall forever." He began to swing his legs back and forth on the left of Spike's lap. Both Liz and Spike knew that meant he was loosening up but he still needed to safety of his Dad's hold. "How tall do I have to be Mommy?"

"When you can reach the cookie jar on the counter with the help of a chair." She teased lovingly.

Luke pouted. "That's gonna take forever."

Spike smiled. "It'll go by faster than you think." He assured the youngster and tickled his ear and neck.

Although it hurt seeing Spike have such an easy time with Luke he was thrilled he got to spend this time the boy. "So have you started Kindergarten yet?" Kyle asked while keeping his back firmly glued to the back of the chair, although he wanted to lean forward, he kept himself where he was. Lucas was starting to relax and he had a feeling if he tried to get any closer he'd tense up and he didn't want that.

"No. I go next year. But I go to preschool." Luke sighed dramatically.

"You don't like preschool?" Kyle questioned.

"I bored there. Mommy and Daddy say I have to go. But there's no Uncle Lorne or Uncle Angel or Uncle Wesley or Uncle Gunn or Aunt Fred or Aunt Cordy or Aunt Buffy…" He trailed off after naming all the Aunts and Uncles that he saw on an almost daily basis.

Liz knew he would rather be home at the hotel spending time with his family but she felt that Luke needed to get to know kids his own age and kids who were human. Spike disagreed, mostly, and believed Lucas could learn everything he needed to from them or at least everything that was important.

However as extraordinary as their lives were she wanted to give their son some kind of balance. She didn't want him to just have supernatural experiences or just regular human experiences. The supernatural side he had to have some knowledge of, after all his father and Uncle were vampires, Lorne and Cordy were demons or had demon abilities, and Buffy and his mother were Slayers and she was also a half-alien, the supernatural was bound to play a part in his life but she didn't want that to be all he knew.

Kyle and Lucas continued to talk for another half an hour about various subjects. They both found out that their favorite Disney movies were Toy Story and The Lion King. Luke told him about his stuffed animal that looked like Mufasa that slept next to his bed. The two also found out that their favorite color was blue, although Kyle seemed to like regular blue more while Lucas preferred navy blue. And they both loved Kraft™ Macaroni and Cheese and thought any other kind was sacrilegious.

Although they had similarities there were differences too. Kyle loved to watch football, American football. While Luke loved watching international football, soccer, with Spike. Kyle preferred Woody from Toy Story, while Luke, much to Spike's chagrin, loved Buzz. During that conversation Spike mumbled about Angel corrupting his son with namby-pamby astronauts.

Overall it was a good first meeting between Kyle and Lucas. One she hoped would last a little longer. However that wasn't to be, a few minutes into Kyle and Luke's cute but somewhat heated discussion over which was better, Twix or Snickers, the bell above the Crashdown door jingled and in walked Tess, Max, Isabel, Maria, and Michael. Alex and Serena were missing from the group.

Liz knew that last nights display of vampires and Slayers would cause the group of aliens and knowers of aliens to come over at some point today. She had hoped that it would be a little later in the day. The four people sitting at the table, turned toward the double doors as everyone filed into the restaurant curious and eager for answers.

TBC