Title: Caritas
Author: Joy
Email: SleepingBeauty2@ziplip.com
"This place is cool," Dawn said with wide-eyed wonder at her surroundings. Caritas looked better then ever.
"Sure, if you don't mind the fact we're the only humans here," Buffy said as she sipped on her soda.
"You are so xenophobic… or species phobic or what ever kind of phobia there is for demons," Dawn bickered.
"Hey, if it comes down to them or you, who would you want me picking?" Buffy bounced back.
"Hey now," Lorn said coming to the Scooby table. "You are invited as long as there's no violence. Got it Buffy?"
"Yeah, yeah… From what Angel says, I couldn't fight in here if I tried."
"That's true too," Lorn said stealing away from the table to check on other customers.
"Hi guys… Wow, you all did come," Cordelia said carrying Connor in her arms along with his diaper bag. "Seat please."
"Here you go," Xander said standing up for Cordelia. "So this is the Spawn of Angel. He looks normal."
"He is… Aren't you little guy?" Connor cooed at Cordy. "All right, everyone this is Connor," showing off the baby in her arms. "The brunette is Fred… We found her in the dimension Lorn is from. This is Gunn and you remember Wesley. Both rogue demon hunters before joining the agency… You now have met Angel Investigations." Wesley and Gunn grabbed another large table and rolled it to the Scoobies.
"Alright then," Buffy began. "Fred and Gunn, you won't be expected to remember all our names but here they are anyway: I'm Buffy, but I think you knew that. This is Willow…"
"I'm a grateful recovering witch," Willow said with a smile.
"That's new," Wesley commented to Gunn as they sat on either side of Fred.
"Tara…" Buffy continued.
"I'm a witch too."
"Not in need of recovery," Willow said casually touching Tara's arm, as they both smiled in a flirtation manner. Gunn looked at them with question, then to Wesley, who just shrugged.
"Xander…"
"Construction worker and all around Joe Normal… Well, except I'm marrying the ex-vengeance demon over there." He pointed off to his left. "Where did she go now?" Xander asked.
"I'm right behind you," she said tapping him on the shoulder. "Hi, I'm Anya… I just saw a Incubus I haven't seen in 500 hundred years."
"That's great honey," Xander said kissing Anya sweetly. "Look, Spawn of Angel." Xander said pointing to Connor.
"It's chewing on a bunny… Why would you let a baby do that?" Anya asked Cordelia.
She looked confusedly at Xander. "She hates bunnies," he whispered
"Anyway, this is my younger sister Dawn. And before you ask any questions, Cordelia or Wesley, it will take you a minute then all these memories will hit you," Buffy said quickly. Wesley and Cordy sort of looked at each other then looked back.
"I'm not real," Dawn said with a big smile.
"Dawnie," Tara said with frustration. "You are too real… just different."
"How is it she's not real?" Fred asked
"Well, I didn't exist as of last year and now I do. But I have memories of my whole life and they have memories of me being there too. It's weird to think I didn't exist," Dawn said with a far off look.
"You existed, just differently," Buffy fussed.
"What are you two bickering about now?" Spike asked walking up to the Summers women. "Hi all… Thank you for coming to settle once and for all how much better a performer I am then Peaches."
"How many times do I have to say 'don't call me that'?" Angel stated clearly over Spike's shoulder. They obviously had just come from back stage where most of the evening's performers were assembled.
"Oh, stop grousing. You've called me worse," Spike snipped back.
"Look, Spawn of Angel," Xander said to Spike pointing at Connor.
"Honey," Anya said. "It's not funny anymore."
"Thank you," Angel said with a smirk then introduced himself, "Angel."
"Anya. We have met but it was a while ago, when I was still a demon… Ya know you really shouldn't let your son have contact with those little fluffers." Angel looked confusedly at Xander then Cordy who both just signaled to let it go.
Spike cleared his throat. "This is Dawn… You haven't actually met her."
Angel looked for a moment at the teen then said, "Right. Pleased to meet you."
"Sorry, can't say the same," Dawn replied.
"Dawn!" Buffy snapped as Spike laughed. "She gets this from you. I swear she wasn't nearly this rude before you…"
"Before I what?" Spike asked batting his eyes. "Started corrupting the Summers women… Sorry, luv… She has your blood, your backbone… your tongue."
"Hey… How bout my backbone…my tongue?" Dawn retorted.
"Fine, then you apologize with your tongue," Spike said regarding her.
"You've said far worse," Dawn pouted.
Spike smirked at her then at Angel. "Yes, but that is in the privacy of our own home… Not to my Sire's face where he can attempt to eviscerate me."
"What does eviscerate mean?" Dawn asked.
"Next spelling test," Spike said kissing her head sitting next to both women.
"Okay that was weird," Cordelia said looking at the little family. "Buffy & Spike… living together… Raising a teenager."
"Oh, but you holding Angel's baby is real normal?" Spike commented.
"I'm confused," Fred said raising her hand a bit. "Who is he?" pointing to Spike. "Didn't he just call Angel his Sire?"
"William the Bloody," Spike said shaking her hand across the table. "Or Spike for short."
"But she's the slayer," Gunn stated in confusion.
"Thus being where my weirdness comes in. I mean hello, you tried to kill me last time I saw you," Cordelia fumed. Spike just looked at her and smirked.
"No, I tried to kill Angel last time you saw me. Prior to the hardware."
"Can I hold the baby?" he asked out of left field.
"No…" Angel's crew minus Angel shouted.
"Come on Peaches. He's sort of like my baby brother or weird nephew or something. Plus I can't bite him, especially not in here," Spike said addressing Angel.
Angel looked at Buffy, who nodded. "Let him hold Connor," Angel said with a sigh. Cordelia gave him the evil eye. "We have to start excepting this at some point," he said reassuringly.
"You hurt him, I stake you," Cordelia said firmly. "Or I'll let Angel eviscerate you."
"Noted," Spike smirked.
The baby was passed over to the chipped one. "Hey there bite size…" Spike said to the baby. Glaring eyes hit him from all sides. "Hey, that is what Lorn called him when he came to visit." Spike said to justify himself.
"When did Lorn visit him?" Gunn asked in disgust.
"A month or so ago," Wesley responded. "It was only for a day."
"Well, Nipper… you're going to have one weird life. Your mommy, well she was a nut job and a real bitch, but man did she have balls. Strongest lady I had ever met for many years, till I met the Slayer here. Your aunt Dru is off her rocker, so if you ever see her… run, hide, or crawl as the case maybe. I don't think she would mind turning a baby. But that is just unpleasant so we won't think about that… So I guess I'm the most normal you're going to get for family on this side. Seeing how I have this piece of government issued hardware in my noggin… I'm still fun though. I can teach you how to hotwire cars, play guitar, and even appreciate Shakespeare- Something your father was never good with." Angel smirked at Spike's description of his vampire family and his lack of literary prows compared to Spike. "You don't have to worry about me and the biting thing… You're all human so I can't… but besides that, and I wouldn't last an hour afterwards, and I kind of like the idea of a little person running around driving your daddy nuts now that I'm not there to do it anymore."
"Ain't that the truth," Angel muttered. Buffy shot him a glare.
"Okay another thing… Can't ever let dad get too happy… So that means less then perfect on report card, sneaking out, and hiding dad's blood occasionally… If he does get happy then you're gonna meet the other part of dad. Right evil fellow… He'd eat you in a heart beat," Spike said.
"Hey!" Angel shouted leaning to take his child as Spike leaned away and into Buffy. "If you're gonna say stuff like that, I'll take back my son."
"Oh, relax Peaches."
"Peaches… What's with the Peaches thing?" Gunn asked quirking an eye at Angel. Angel let out a nervous laugh.
"Yeah, Angel why don't you tell them about that nickname?" Buffy smirked.
"I see you've gotten sadistic with age," Angel snipped back.
"Hey, I've died twice, once more then you… I'm allowed fun at your expense."
"That's my girl," Spike said with a big smile kissing Buffy's forehead.
"Okay, once again with the weird," Cordy said.
Spike smiled and turned his attention back to Connor. "Okay little one… This lady is called a Slayer. She kills vampires, because that's her job…but she has found it in her heart to love both your papa and me, so we're pretty lucky blokes… Well, she did send your daddy to hell for a while…but she had to, to save the world. She does that a lot… She died this summer to save the world. One hundred forty seven days she was in the ground, she was. Oh man… Your dad and I were both a mess. But that's beside the point… I guess she'll kind of be like an aunt to you too because those crazy Powers that Be decided that she and I were a good match, what with the whole thing that I can fight demons and all. Just goes to show that sometimes destiny is a good thing… I mean look at you…you shouldn't be able to exist, yet here you are."
Buffy kissed Spike a little weepy eyed, "That was sweet."
"I have my moments… All right, your turn. I got to go make sure that Farnog demon hasn't eaten my guitar. See you in a bit," Spike said as he handed the baby over to Buffy and kissed her. "I'll sing one for you LilBit." Spike said kissing Dawn's head.
TBC