Father of Mine
Chapter One
(Spoilers a little for ATS "City Of")
Angel was already there when Xander and Spike arrived at Giles' apartment. The big black 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX convertible sat in all its dark glory next to Giles' car and now sandwiched between Spike's Desoto.
Xander trailed behind the blond vampire in the dimly lit corridor up to the Ex-Watchers door. He was still slightly shocked by the news of the previous day, even called in sick later that morning just to have time to see how he was reacting to such a revelation. So far he could say he was reacting rather well, but he knew meeting Angel like this was going to either make him or break him.
He wasn't wrong.
"You're coming home." Angel growled yanking the door open before pulling Spike inside by the collar throwing the younger vampire into the apartment. He waited with a soft tone for Xander to walk in before slamming the door. "Better yet," he pointed at Xander "you're coming with me and you who-I- call-childe are going to stay here or wait for the sunrise for all I care!"
"Told ya," Spike muttered at Xander from his position on the floor.
Angel growled keeping himself between Xander and Spike. "I'm claiming Sires rights Spike. You can't have him."
"He's mine!" Spike shouted "I just got him an' I'm not lettin' him go!"
"Enough!" Giles roared stalking out of the kitchen; humans and vampires alike took a step back as Ripper flared through those soft eyes. "Xander! Come here!"
Xander gulped wide-eyed but complied crossing the room to stand at Giles' side.
Giles glared at the two vampires then sighed, his eyes returning to their normal I-can-face-the-world gentleness. "Gentlemen please have a seat." He said softly waiting for the two vampires to take chairs at opposite ends of the room. "Xander," Giles gestured for the boy to sit on the couch between the two vampires.
"Now Angel," Giles said in his Watcher Voice once Xander was seated. "Please tell us why Spike has no claim to his son."
Angel growled at Spike "You know as well as I do that Spike can't be trusted. Even if he is Xander's real father we can't trust him to keep the boy protected." His voice got a slight whine to it "And I don't want him to have him."
"You don't want me to have him?" Spike asked "Why not? He's mine so why can't I have him?"
"Why do I feel like the last piece of chocolate at a chocoholic's anonymous meeting?" Xander asked looking back and forth between the two vampires "Don't I get a say in this?"
"No!" came three simultaneous replies.
Giles took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose "Well at least we can agree on something, not an important something mind you, but something."
"He can't have him!" Both vampires shouted "No you can't! I can't? You can't!"
Giles groaned. "My God Xander are you sure you want to be apart of that family?"
Both vampires growled at Giles, Xander smiled. "Well you know G-man this is a lot better then anything I ever had to deal with at home," He shrugged with a droopy grin "it's kinda nice to have two people fight over me. kinda scary too, but nice."
"But it's Spike!" Angel protested. "I mean. its Spike."
"Very good argument there Deadboy, or should I say Grandpa," Xander said sarcastically. "But I fail to see your point."
"Yes Angel," Giles said "As much as I wish to agree with you on that case, I must point out that not only has Spike been helping us for the last year, but he is Xander's biological father."
"Ta mate," Spike said with an approving nod to Giles.
"Right," Giles said "However that isn't the only matter needing to be addressed here." Spike frowned "My question to both of you, why are you arguing over an eighteen year-old young man?"
Spike and Angel stared are Giles blankly for a moment. "Because," they both said.
"He's my son" Spike said "I have rights to keep him safe, an' I didn't know he existed. Gives me some rights to him."
Giles nodded and turned his attention to Angel "And don't tell me just because he's Spike."
Angel nodded "Alright, the reason has to do with Spike, but it's not exactly because of him." Giles waited. Angel sighed, "Human or not just being the child of a Vampire puts Xander in more danger then he would be just because he lives in the Hellmouth. Technically it makes him a Diamphire."
"A what?" Xander asked sitting up.
"Day walker," Giles supplied "Are you sure?"
Angel nodded.
"Oh dear," Giles said walking over to his endless supply of Old and Dusty books.
"You're doing this to protect him from those crazy wankers that think half breeds should all be killed?" Spike asked in shock "Why would they care about one kid half a country away?"
"They moved," Angel said simply "They're not far from here in a little city dealing with a half breed that gained power. My contacts say they are headed for Sunnydale."
Spike bit his bottom lip, "How long?"
"A week maybe less," the older vampire replayed. "LA has more demons in it then you can shake a stick at, he'd be safe there."
"When did you find this out?" Xander asked not liking the thought of being hunted down by anything. Let alone a crazy demon group who thought he was lower then pond scum.
"Last week," Angel said "I've been monitoring them to find out where they're going."
"And you didn't at least call to tell us just in case they came here?" Giles asked from his book "What are they called?"
"Mro'nic'ta," Angel said "And I didn't know they were coming here until yesterday."
"Before or after Spike called?" Giles asked
"After" Angel said "I would have come here anyway since they are coming here for a specific someone." He cast Xander a sympathetic glance. "At least it's easy to vanish in LA."
"So G-man," Xander said in a pleading voice "Umm can we pretend this isn't my life on the line? I'd like to wake up now and pretend this never happened."
Giles shook his head "I'm sorry Xander," he said putting down his book "I wish I could do that, but I saw the records myself. The best we can do is keep you protected."
Xander nodded a bit curling up on the couch with an odd expression in his face. Spike glanced at Angel in a half challenge then sat on the couch next to the boy drawing his son close protectively.
"It's alright Xan, not gonna let nothin' happen. Those sodden wankers ain't gonna get anywhere near you; I'll make sure of it."
"Call Buffy and the others," Angel said after a while "I know they will want to help."
Giles nodded and left the room to make the calls.
***
"Xander are you going to be ok?" Willow asked concerned as she walked into Giles' living room. She rushed over to her life time friend ignored the growled from the vampire sitting next to him and gave Xander the tightest bear hug she could give. "Is it really true you were adopted? I always thought you were born here and that those evil people were your parents. If I have known before I would have done more to help."
"Wills," Xander interrupted gently prying the red-heads arms from around his neck with a smile. "I know you would have, and it's ok really."
"Really?" Willow asked sparing a glance at Spike "Are you sure you're ok?"
Xander smiled genuinely, "Better then I have been in a very long time. Thanks Wills"
Willow smiled, "So did you find anything out about your real parents?" She practically jumped up and down in place.
Spike couldn't help but smile at that.
Xander nodded, "In fact I did," He said frowning just a little. "My mom died after I was born"
"Oh Xan!" Thin arms wrapped around his neck again, "I'm soo sorry to hear that."
"But that's not all" Xander wheezed "But you're going to have to let me breath."
"Sorry" Willow said letting him go. Next to him Spike growled in warning, Xander shot him a glare. "What else did you find out? Did you find your Dad? Is he rich? Is he married? Is he cool?"
"No more soda for you Wills," Xander said with a laugh "And yes I did find my dad."
"Really?" She jumped up and down excited again. Behind her Xander could see Oz watching with avid interest. At least he was sure that's what the emotion playing on the blank face the werewolf always had. He also saw Buffy walk in just in time to see Willow start to jump up and down again.
"Hey guys what's up?" The blond Slayer asked giving Spike and Xander a critical eye. "Spike, why is Xander practically on your lap?"
"Am not!" Xander protested as Spike growled at her.
"Oh guess what Buffy" Willow shrieked "Xanderfoundhisrealparents, wellnothismother, buthefoundhisfather. Isn't that great?"
"Huh?" Buffy asked in confusion, "Can someone translate that?"
"Xander found out he was adopted, real moms dead, and knows who the real father is," Oz supplied, then went about picking lint off of his shit as if he hadn't said anything at all.
"Oh," Buffy said then her eyes widened, "OH! Xander are you alright? Did you meet him? Is he ok? Did he know about you?"
Xander started to laugh, "To answer your questions Buffy, yes, yes, yes, and no." He turned to Willow, "To answer your questions, I also have a grandfather, yes, I don't know, not that I know of, and depends on your definition of cool."
"Hey!" Spike protested.
Three sets of eyes fell on the blond vampire in a mix of shock, disbelief, and vague interest.
"Oh my God!" Buffy exclaimed, "You're Xander's father? How? When? Who? Are you kidding?"
Spike snorted "Yes, magick, eighteen years ago, my wife, and no."
Xander knew he couldn't contain his hysterical giggles for much long as he stood walking over to where Giles was researching their findings with Angel. "Find anything?" He asked trying to wipe the smile off if his face.
"Not much," Giles said, "Not much of use anyway," He raised his voice "Buffy if you kill Spike you will be the one to clean it up, before several people decide to hunt you down."
"I'll take care of it," Angel said from behind his pile of books, he was absolutely not hiding behind. A few seconds later the room filled with two loud streaks, one coming from Buffy the other coming from Spike. Xander wasn't sure if they were killing each other, getting killed by Angel, or getting tickled like he suspected.
"What did you find?" He asked instead of turning to confirm his suspicions.
"I found that I might have to agree with Angel and send you to LA with him." Giles said ignoring the others in his living room just as he had done for years. "There is nothing to find on the Mro'nic'ta except that they kill half breeds and have been doing it for quite sometime. They mostly stay in Europe and the East Coast, but for some reason have come here. Why they are after you specifically is anybody's guess"
"Perfect" Xander said in exasperation "Does this mean I'm going to be hunted down no matter where I go?"
"By all evidence I would have to say yes."
"Mro'nic'ta," Oz said lazily looking over Giles' shoulder at the picture and description detailed in the book the ex-watcher was reading. "Saw them,"
The shrieking stopped abruptly as the vampires stopped tickling the Slayer and looked at Oz with twin yellow eyes.
"What do you mean you saw them?" Angel growled.
"Patrol yesterday, the cemetery down the street from Xander's apartments." Oz said with his detached calm though anyone that knew him would have sensed the urgency in his demeanor.
Both vampires exchanged looks then as one looked from Oz to Giles to Xander and back to each other.
"Guys?" Buffy asked, "What's going on?"
"We're leaving," Angel said.
"We are?" Spike asked
Angel nodded "We are."
"Right then," Spike nodded at Xander "Com'on then."
"Hold it!" Buffy yelled stepping in front of the door. "Someone please tell me what's going on!"
"A group of demons that believe half breeds are wrong have come here to kill one of our own." Giles said without his usual glamour to his words.
"Ok," Buffy said, "What's a half breed?"
"A half breed is when one species crosses with another, usually demon and human." Willow said with a look of horror on her face, "Oh, you mean they're after Xander?"
"Yes," Angel said, "that's why I'm here. When Spike called me last night I knew I couldn't let my grandchild be hunted down like an animal."
"Grandchild?" Buffy asked then looked at Xander "Oh."
"Does that mean." Willow started looking at her friend with a sympathetic fear
"No," Spike said "He's fully human in the sense he doesn't have a demon and has a heart beat"
"Oh again," Buffy said.
"I think we should go," Angel said, "If we hurry we can be gone before they even figure out where Xander is."
"Wait," Buffy protested "Why can't I just kill them and everyone will be safe?"
Angel opened his mouth to answer that then closed it with a shrug. Spike did much of the same turning his gaze onto Giles.
"That's a good question. Watcher you got any reason to keep the Slayer from doing her job here?"
"Ahh." Giles started eloquently. He took off his glasses in a classic sign of nervousness and cleaned them. "Well, according to the texts the Mro'nic'ta are notoriously hard to kill. I wouldn't put it above them to just snatch Xander just to kill him in a place that. err well to say.How can I put this without two over protective just-found-out-we-have-long-lost- family vampires killing me slowly?"
"Very carefully" Spike growled "Very, very carefully"
"Umm right," Giles cleaned his glasses again, "They are most likely to kidnap Xander then to out right go after him."
"Ok, how do we kill them?" Buffy asked concern for her friend apparent on her face.
Giles looked at a loss. "I don't know," he admitted.
"You don't know?" Xander asked a little panicked, "Why don't you know?"
"Well all the book says is that no conventional means can kill them. Anything that anyone has ever tried has failed and if someone has managed to kill one, they didn't live long enough to share with the rest of us."
"Then we leave." Spike said in a matter of fact tone.
"It's not that simple," Giles protested. "Once the Mro'nic'ta get a scent they don't just give up when they can't find him. They will hunt him down until he is dead. They are like cockroaches, kill one and not only does it come back, but two come with it."
"I will not accept those terms." Spike spat.
"Then watch your son die," Giles replied coldly.
The blond vamped out with a hiss and stalked toward the Ex-Watcher only to be stopped by Xander standing in the way.
"Spike. Dad. Father. Please." The boy begged near tears. "Don't hurt the only family I've known that loves me. Giles is hurting and afraid and angry just like you. Please don't take it out on him or any of them. They're all I have."
Spike slid back into his human guise reaching out a hand to cup the side of the boys face. "You got me now," He whispered "An' Angel. Don't you forget. We're your family, all of us. Blood or mud we will always be your family."
"Family," Angel agreed.
"Family," Willow second.
"Always," Buffy said tears in her eyes.
The room fell into a comfortable silence of a family enjoying each others company. The type of companionship that everyone in the room had wanted most in the world.
Then someone knocked on the door.
Everyone in the room jumped. The two vampires backed Xander into a corner shielding him behind them. Buffy moved into an easy fighting range of anyone threatening her family. Willow moved to defend in anyway she could. Oz moved to assist and protect Willow if needed.
Giles opened the door to a handsome young man in his mid-twenties. Soft blue eyes held a wealth of emotion none of them threatening. "Yes, may I help you?" Giles asked only slightly relaxing.
"That you might," the young man said in a light baroque that made Angel remember Ireland. "Are any of you named Xander? Or Spike? Or Angel?"
Before the young man could say anything more he was thrown into the apartment by an angry Slayer. He landed at Oz' feet, with a loud 'oomph' rolling onto his back, but smart enough not to try to stand.
"I'm just a messenger!" he shouted holding up his hands in surrender. "I was sent by the Powers That Be."
"The Powers That Who?" Buffy asked waiting for a reason to pounce.
"The Powers That Be," He repeated, "I was sent here to help the vampire's son, by the Higher Who Ever of Good Guys."
"You're not human." Angel commented.
"My mother was very much human," The young man protested.
"And your father?" Spike asked.
"Ummm.I don't know?" He asked in a small voice.
The two vampires visibly relaxed. "Half breed." Spike said sniffing the air. "Brachen I'd say."
"So not a bad guy?" Buffy asked disappointed.
"Not as such no," Spike replied. "What's your name?"
"Doyle," The young man said automatically.
"You're from Ireland." Angel stated as fact not opinion.
"So are you," Doyle pointed out.
"Two Englishmen and two Irishmen walked into a bar." Xander started, "Err.Pub?"
Two Englishmen and two Irishmen turned to glare at the brunette, but the tension that was there was already broken. Xander grinned innocently.
Spike slowly grinned back, "That was low even for you pet."
"Well I'm traumatized. I have bad joke license." Xander said still grinning.
"Can I get up now?" Doyle asked raising his hand. Oz helped the young half demon stand without a yay or nay from the people with the opinions. "Thanks mate."
Oz nodded picking again at the non-existent lint.
"Umm.Xander," Giles said suddenly staring closely at the boy, "Not to sound.umm.why are your eyes Hazel?"
Xander turned to Spike. "See? Not blue."
"Hazel?" Buffy and Willow said walking over to their friend to look closely at him.
"Wow, Xander," Buffy commented.
"Hazel?" Willow pouted, "Why didn't I know your eyes are Hazel?"
"Umm.because I didn't want anyone to know?" Xander asked with an apologetic shrug.
"You're not a natural blond are you?" Buffy asked "'Cause that'd just be weird."
Xander shook his head, "So not a blond," he looked at the Slayers hair, "No offence."
Buffy nodded, "So, can I go slay bad guys now?" she asked cheerfully.
"Have at it Slayer," Spike said, "We'll be on our way to LA if it's all the same to you."
Willow raised her hand.
"Yes, Willow?" Giles asked.
"Umm.Doyle, you said that you are here to help Xander?" Willow asked the young half demon.
Doyle nodded, "That I am little miss."
"With what exactly?" Xander asked.
Doyle ran a hand though tussled brown locks giving everyone a sheepish look to match and rival Angel. "To hopefully prevent your untimely demise." He replied. "You see I get visions."
"And what do they give you?" Angel asked.
"Mostly a splitting headache."
"Other then that." Angel said un-phased.
Doyle took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "I saw death," he whispered averting his eyes. "Death to one who would change the world forever."
All eyes turned to Xander fearing the worst was coming. Not only to the boy and Sunnydale, but to the world itself.
***
Silent shadows moved through Maplewood cemetery toward the large apartment building just in view over the trees keeping the dead- or undead- hidden from the living. They moved with purpose, stalking the very night as they hunted their pray.
Demons, half breed or full blood, vampire or hell beast, avoided these shadows at all costs turning tail and running at the mere scent of one. The shadows ignored the others focusing only on their next sacrificial lamb.
.Only on the half breed that would save the world.
Chapter One
(Spoilers a little for ATS "City Of")
Angel was already there when Xander and Spike arrived at Giles' apartment. The big black 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX convertible sat in all its dark glory next to Giles' car and now sandwiched between Spike's Desoto.
Xander trailed behind the blond vampire in the dimly lit corridor up to the Ex-Watchers door. He was still slightly shocked by the news of the previous day, even called in sick later that morning just to have time to see how he was reacting to such a revelation. So far he could say he was reacting rather well, but he knew meeting Angel like this was going to either make him or break him.
He wasn't wrong.
"You're coming home." Angel growled yanking the door open before pulling Spike inside by the collar throwing the younger vampire into the apartment. He waited with a soft tone for Xander to walk in before slamming the door. "Better yet," he pointed at Xander "you're coming with me and you who-I- call-childe are going to stay here or wait for the sunrise for all I care!"
"Told ya," Spike muttered at Xander from his position on the floor.
Angel growled keeping himself between Xander and Spike. "I'm claiming Sires rights Spike. You can't have him."
"He's mine!" Spike shouted "I just got him an' I'm not lettin' him go!"
"Enough!" Giles roared stalking out of the kitchen; humans and vampires alike took a step back as Ripper flared through those soft eyes. "Xander! Come here!"
Xander gulped wide-eyed but complied crossing the room to stand at Giles' side.
Giles glared at the two vampires then sighed, his eyes returning to their normal I-can-face-the-world gentleness. "Gentlemen please have a seat." He said softly waiting for the two vampires to take chairs at opposite ends of the room. "Xander," Giles gestured for the boy to sit on the couch between the two vampires.
"Now Angel," Giles said in his Watcher Voice once Xander was seated. "Please tell us why Spike has no claim to his son."
Angel growled at Spike "You know as well as I do that Spike can't be trusted. Even if he is Xander's real father we can't trust him to keep the boy protected." His voice got a slight whine to it "And I don't want him to have him."
"You don't want me to have him?" Spike asked "Why not? He's mine so why can't I have him?"
"Why do I feel like the last piece of chocolate at a chocoholic's anonymous meeting?" Xander asked looking back and forth between the two vampires "Don't I get a say in this?"
"No!" came three simultaneous replies.
Giles took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose "Well at least we can agree on something, not an important something mind you, but something."
"He can't have him!" Both vampires shouted "No you can't! I can't? You can't!"
Giles groaned. "My God Xander are you sure you want to be apart of that family?"
Both vampires growled at Giles, Xander smiled. "Well you know G-man this is a lot better then anything I ever had to deal with at home," He shrugged with a droopy grin "it's kinda nice to have two people fight over me. kinda scary too, but nice."
"But it's Spike!" Angel protested. "I mean. its Spike."
"Very good argument there Deadboy, or should I say Grandpa," Xander said sarcastically. "But I fail to see your point."
"Yes Angel," Giles said "As much as I wish to agree with you on that case, I must point out that not only has Spike been helping us for the last year, but he is Xander's biological father."
"Ta mate," Spike said with an approving nod to Giles.
"Right," Giles said "However that isn't the only matter needing to be addressed here." Spike frowned "My question to both of you, why are you arguing over an eighteen year-old young man?"
Spike and Angel stared are Giles blankly for a moment. "Because," they both said.
"He's my son" Spike said "I have rights to keep him safe, an' I didn't know he existed. Gives me some rights to him."
Giles nodded and turned his attention to Angel "And don't tell me just because he's Spike."
Angel nodded "Alright, the reason has to do with Spike, but it's not exactly because of him." Giles waited. Angel sighed, "Human or not just being the child of a Vampire puts Xander in more danger then he would be just because he lives in the Hellmouth. Technically it makes him a Diamphire."
"A what?" Xander asked sitting up.
"Day walker," Giles supplied "Are you sure?"
Angel nodded.
"Oh dear," Giles said walking over to his endless supply of Old and Dusty books.
"You're doing this to protect him from those crazy wankers that think half breeds should all be killed?" Spike asked in shock "Why would they care about one kid half a country away?"
"They moved," Angel said simply "They're not far from here in a little city dealing with a half breed that gained power. My contacts say they are headed for Sunnydale."
Spike bit his bottom lip, "How long?"
"A week maybe less," the older vampire replayed. "LA has more demons in it then you can shake a stick at, he'd be safe there."
"When did you find this out?" Xander asked not liking the thought of being hunted down by anything. Let alone a crazy demon group who thought he was lower then pond scum.
"Last week," Angel said "I've been monitoring them to find out where they're going."
"And you didn't at least call to tell us just in case they came here?" Giles asked from his book "What are they called?"
"Mro'nic'ta," Angel said "And I didn't know they were coming here until yesterday."
"Before or after Spike called?" Giles asked
"After" Angel said "I would have come here anyway since they are coming here for a specific someone." He cast Xander a sympathetic glance. "At least it's easy to vanish in LA."
"So G-man," Xander said in a pleading voice "Umm can we pretend this isn't my life on the line? I'd like to wake up now and pretend this never happened."
Giles shook his head "I'm sorry Xander," he said putting down his book "I wish I could do that, but I saw the records myself. The best we can do is keep you protected."
Xander nodded a bit curling up on the couch with an odd expression in his face. Spike glanced at Angel in a half challenge then sat on the couch next to the boy drawing his son close protectively.
"It's alright Xan, not gonna let nothin' happen. Those sodden wankers ain't gonna get anywhere near you; I'll make sure of it."
"Call Buffy and the others," Angel said after a while "I know they will want to help."
Giles nodded and left the room to make the calls.
***
"Xander are you going to be ok?" Willow asked concerned as she walked into Giles' living room. She rushed over to her life time friend ignored the growled from the vampire sitting next to him and gave Xander the tightest bear hug she could give. "Is it really true you were adopted? I always thought you were born here and that those evil people were your parents. If I have known before I would have done more to help."
"Wills," Xander interrupted gently prying the red-heads arms from around his neck with a smile. "I know you would have, and it's ok really."
"Really?" Willow asked sparing a glance at Spike "Are you sure you're ok?"
Xander smiled genuinely, "Better then I have been in a very long time. Thanks Wills"
Willow smiled, "So did you find anything out about your real parents?" She practically jumped up and down in place.
Spike couldn't help but smile at that.
Xander nodded, "In fact I did," He said frowning just a little. "My mom died after I was born"
"Oh Xan!" Thin arms wrapped around his neck again, "I'm soo sorry to hear that."
"But that's not all" Xander wheezed "But you're going to have to let me breath."
"Sorry" Willow said letting him go. Next to him Spike growled in warning, Xander shot him a glare. "What else did you find out? Did you find your Dad? Is he rich? Is he married? Is he cool?"
"No more soda for you Wills," Xander said with a laugh "And yes I did find my dad."
"Really?" She jumped up and down excited again. Behind her Xander could see Oz watching with avid interest. At least he was sure that's what the emotion playing on the blank face the werewolf always had. He also saw Buffy walk in just in time to see Willow start to jump up and down again.
"Hey guys what's up?" The blond Slayer asked giving Spike and Xander a critical eye. "Spike, why is Xander practically on your lap?"
"Am not!" Xander protested as Spike growled at her.
"Oh guess what Buffy" Willow shrieked "Xanderfoundhisrealparents, wellnothismother, buthefoundhisfather. Isn't that great?"
"Huh?" Buffy asked in confusion, "Can someone translate that?"
"Xander found out he was adopted, real moms dead, and knows who the real father is," Oz supplied, then went about picking lint off of his shit as if he hadn't said anything at all.
"Oh," Buffy said then her eyes widened, "OH! Xander are you alright? Did you meet him? Is he ok? Did he know about you?"
Xander started to laugh, "To answer your questions Buffy, yes, yes, yes, and no." He turned to Willow, "To answer your questions, I also have a grandfather, yes, I don't know, not that I know of, and depends on your definition of cool."
"Hey!" Spike protested.
Three sets of eyes fell on the blond vampire in a mix of shock, disbelief, and vague interest.
"Oh my God!" Buffy exclaimed, "You're Xander's father? How? When? Who? Are you kidding?"
Spike snorted "Yes, magick, eighteen years ago, my wife, and no."
Xander knew he couldn't contain his hysterical giggles for much long as he stood walking over to where Giles was researching their findings with Angel. "Find anything?" He asked trying to wipe the smile off if his face.
"Not much," Giles said, "Not much of use anyway," He raised his voice "Buffy if you kill Spike you will be the one to clean it up, before several people decide to hunt you down."
"I'll take care of it," Angel said from behind his pile of books, he was absolutely not hiding behind. A few seconds later the room filled with two loud streaks, one coming from Buffy the other coming from Spike. Xander wasn't sure if they were killing each other, getting killed by Angel, or getting tickled like he suspected.
"What did you find?" He asked instead of turning to confirm his suspicions.
"I found that I might have to agree with Angel and send you to LA with him." Giles said ignoring the others in his living room just as he had done for years. "There is nothing to find on the Mro'nic'ta except that they kill half breeds and have been doing it for quite sometime. They mostly stay in Europe and the East Coast, but for some reason have come here. Why they are after you specifically is anybody's guess"
"Perfect" Xander said in exasperation "Does this mean I'm going to be hunted down no matter where I go?"
"By all evidence I would have to say yes."
"Mro'nic'ta," Oz said lazily looking over Giles' shoulder at the picture and description detailed in the book the ex-watcher was reading. "Saw them,"
The shrieking stopped abruptly as the vampires stopped tickling the Slayer and looked at Oz with twin yellow eyes.
"What do you mean you saw them?" Angel growled.
"Patrol yesterday, the cemetery down the street from Xander's apartments." Oz said with his detached calm though anyone that knew him would have sensed the urgency in his demeanor.
Both vampires exchanged looks then as one looked from Oz to Giles to Xander and back to each other.
"Guys?" Buffy asked, "What's going on?"
"We're leaving," Angel said.
"We are?" Spike asked
Angel nodded "We are."
"Right then," Spike nodded at Xander "Com'on then."
"Hold it!" Buffy yelled stepping in front of the door. "Someone please tell me what's going on!"
"A group of demons that believe half breeds are wrong have come here to kill one of our own." Giles said without his usual glamour to his words.
"Ok," Buffy said, "What's a half breed?"
"A half breed is when one species crosses with another, usually demon and human." Willow said with a look of horror on her face, "Oh, you mean they're after Xander?"
"Yes," Angel said, "that's why I'm here. When Spike called me last night I knew I couldn't let my grandchild be hunted down like an animal."
"Grandchild?" Buffy asked then looked at Xander "Oh."
"Does that mean." Willow started looking at her friend with a sympathetic fear
"No," Spike said "He's fully human in the sense he doesn't have a demon and has a heart beat"
"Oh again," Buffy said.
"I think we should go," Angel said, "If we hurry we can be gone before they even figure out where Xander is."
"Wait," Buffy protested "Why can't I just kill them and everyone will be safe?"
Angel opened his mouth to answer that then closed it with a shrug. Spike did much of the same turning his gaze onto Giles.
"That's a good question. Watcher you got any reason to keep the Slayer from doing her job here?"
"Ahh." Giles started eloquently. He took off his glasses in a classic sign of nervousness and cleaned them. "Well, according to the texts the Mro'nic'ta are notoriously hard to kill. I wouldn't put it above them to just snatch Xander just to kill him in a place that. err well to say.How can I put this without two over protective just-found-out-we-have-long-lost- family vampires killing me slowly?"
"Very carefully" Spike growled "Very, very carefully"
"Umm right," Giles cleaned his glasses again, "They are most likely to kidnap Xander then to out right go after him."
"Ok, how do we kill them?" Buffy asked concern for her friend apparent on her face.
Giles looked at a loss. "I don't know," he admitted.
"You don't know?" Xander asked a little panicked, "Why don't you know?"
"Well all the book says is that no conventional means can kill them. Anything that anyone has ever tried has failed and if someone has managed to kill one, they didn't live long enough to share with the rest of us."
"Then we leave." Spike said in a matter of fact tone.
"It's not that simple," Giles protested. "Once the Mro'nic'ta get a scent they don't just give up when they can't find him. They will hunt him down until he is dead. They are like cockroaches, kill one and not only does it come back, but two come with it."
"I will not accept those terms." Spike spat.
"Then watch your son die," Giles replied coldly.
The blond vamped out with a hiss and stalked toward the Ex-Watcher only to be stopped by Xander standing in the way.
"Spike. Dad. Father. Please." The boy begged near tears. "Don't hurt the only family I've known that loves me. Giles is hurting and afraid and angry just like you. Please don't take it out on him or any of them. They're all I have."
Spike slid back into his human guise reaching out a hand to cup the side of the boys face. "You got me now," He whispered "An' Angel. Don't you forget. We're your family, all of us. Blood or mud we will always be your family."
"Family," Angel agreed.
"Family," Willow second.
"Always," Buffy said tears in her eyes.
The room fell into a comfortable silence of a family enjoying each others company. The type of companionship that everyone in the room had wanted most in the world.
Then someone knocked on the door.
Everyone in the room jumped. The two vampires backed Xander into a corner shielding him behind them. Buffy moved into an easy fighting range of anyone threatening her family. Willow moved to defend in anyway she could. Oz moved to assist and protect Willow if needed.
Giles opened the door to a handsome young man in his mid-twenties. Soft blue eyes held a wealth of emotion none of them threatening. "Yes, may I help you?" Giles asked only slightly relaxing.
"That you might," the young man said in a light baroque that made Angel remember Ireland. "Are any of you named Xander? Or Spike? Or Angel?"
Before the young man could say anything more he was thrown into the apartment by an angry Slayer. He landed at Oz' feet, with a loud 'oomph' rolling onto his back, but smart enough not to try to stand.
"I'm just a messenger!" he shouted holding up his hands in surrender. "I was sent by the Powers That Be."
"The Powers That Who?" Buffy asked waiting for a reason to pounce.
"The Powers That Be," He repeated, "I was sent here to help the vampire's son, by the Higher Who Ever of Good Guys."
"You're not human." Angel commented.
"My mother was very much human," The young man protested.
"And your father?" Spike asked.
"Ummm.I don't know?" He asked in a small voice.
The two vampires visibly relaxed. "Half breed." Spike said sniffing the air. "Brachen I'd say."
"So not a bad guy?" Buffy asked disappointed.
"Not as such no," Spike replied. "What's your name?"
"Doyle," The young man said automatically.
"You're from Ireland." Angel stated as fact not opinion.
"So are you," Doyle pointed out.
"Two Englishmen and two Irishmen walked into a bar." Xander started, "Err.Pub?"
Two Englishmen and two Irishmen turned to glare at the brunette, but the tension that was there was already broken. Xander grinned innocently.
Spike slowly grinned back, "That was low even for you pet."
"Well I'm traumatized. I have bad joke license." Xander said still grinning.
"Can I get up now?" Doyle asked raising his hand. Oz helped the young half demon stand without a yay or nay from the people with the opinions. "Thanks mate."
Oz nodded picking again at the non-existent lint.
"Umm.Xander," Giles said suddenly staring closely at the boy, "Not to sound.umm.why are your eyes Hazel?"
Xander turned to Spike. "See? Not blue."
"Hazel?" Buffy and Willow said walking over to their friend to look closely at him.
"Wow, Xander," Buffy commented.
"Hazel?" Willow pouted, "Why didn't I know your eyes are Hazel?"
"Umm.because I didn't want anyone to know?" Xander asked with an apologetic shrug.
"You're not a natural blond are you?" Buffy asked "'Cause that'd just be weird."
Xander shook his head, "So not a blond," he looked at the Slayers hair, "No offence."
Buffy nodded, "So, can I go slay bad guys now?" she asked cheerfully.
"Have at it Slayer," Spike said, "We'll be on our way to LA if it's all the same to you."
Willow raised her hand.
"Yes, Willow?" Giles asked.
"Umm.Doyle, you said that you are here to help Xander?" Willow asked the young half demon.
Doyle nodded, "That I am little miss."
"With what exactly?" Xander asked.
Doyle ran a hand though tussled brown locks giving everyone a sheepish look to match and rival Angel. "To hopefully prevent your untimely demise." He replied. "You see I get visions."
"And what do they give you?" Angel asked.
"Mostly a splitting headache."
"Other then that." Angel said un-phased.
Doyle took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "I saw death," he whispered averting his eyes. "Death to one who would change the world forever."
All eyes turned to Xander fearing the worst was coming. Not only to the boy and Sunnydale, but to the world itself.
***
Silent shadows moved through Maplewood cemetery toward the large apartment building just in view over the trees keeping the dead- or undead- hidden from the living. They moved with purpose, stalking the very night as they hunted their pray.
Demons, half breed or full blood, vampire or hell beast, avoided these shadows at all costs turning tail and running at the mere scent of one. The shadows ignored the others focusing only on their next sacrificial lamb.
.Only on the half breed that would save the world.