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barrow ask. I'll oblige.
Spike critically examined the girl that stood in front of him. She was standing in the half-light of the street lamp, her body staying in the midst of the shadows. He cocked an eyebrow at her claim of being the only family the pint sized pup. "Sorry poppet, last time I checked you weren't short with multi colored and the tendency to growl," he paused, as if he was trying to decide on what to say, or rather how to say it. "So you better rethink your last statement."
The girl looked as if she didn't know how to respond. Finally she chuckled. "Tendency to growl?" she raised an eyebrow. "I've heard that I can do a very good one, wanna hear?" her smile was coy, "Oh, and I'm not your poppet."
Blinking at Mercedes, Spike finally chuckled. "I'll make a note of that. But you're a bit too young for me, not to mention I go after blondes now. Any how, why don't you tell me why you're looking for bite size pup?"
Mercedes' eyes narrowed as she tossed her head, making her pony tail swing back and forth. "Told ya, to protect him. I'm the only family he's got left."
It was Spike's turn to narrow his eyes, "I thought we went over this. I know Jeeper's family, and last time I checked you weren't part of it," the last part came out harsher than he intended though it didn't seem to effect the girl at all.
Pausing to think, Mercedes sighed as if she was defeated. "Family can be people who know what they are feeling. Family doesn't mean blood. You should remember that," the girl told him before turning on her heel and walking into the shadows, leaving Spike to stand in the street light, alone.
The drama of JP was over, for now, and Kieran escaped to her bedroom. When she entered the stars and moon sanctuary, she let out a sigh. To think, when she was little, she had only dreamed of something like this. Crawling onto pillow littered bed, she leaned her head down on the softest pillow and closed her eyes.
Daddy was a drunkard, there was no doubt about that. Momma had a gambling problem, and whenever things were bad, they had sex, that's why there were so many kids. First there was Krista, who bailed out of there. Last the McDonald family had heard about her, she was in Orlando working in one of the theme parts. Next was John, he was never left home Instead took a job as a mechanic in town. Then there was Lindsey, possibly the only one who made it in life. Last time she checked up on him he had bailed out of his fancy lawyer job because he had a conscience. He hadn't even left her a post card. Gary was in New York, probably waiting on tables, trying to get an acting job. Lexi got pregnant and dropped out of high school and lived with John at home. Then there was Kieran herself. With her crappy family, it was a miracle she had turned out normal…or semi normal at least. But then again, Kieran was someone who had skipped out of town at age fourteen.
Rolling over slightly Kieran found her stuffed bear and smiled. It had been a present from Lindsey, for her fifth birthday. The bear was one of the few things she cherished from her childhood. Her eyes flickered up and there on the shelf sat two dolls, also presents from Lindsey. Although she knew she was too old to play with dolls, Kieran longed to touch their hair, to dress them up. Sometimes, when she had been little, she had longed to be one of those kids you saw on TV. She wished to have a childhood sans empty glass bottles lying about.
But no family's perfect, and with that thought she stood and walked over to her dresser drawers. Opening the top one, she rummaged around and pulled out a cell phone Years of secrecy taught her this nifty little trick. Dialing the familiar number, she hoped he would pick up.
"Hello?" her brother answered the familiar twang still in his voice. Idly, Kieran wondered if he'd ever lose it.
"Hello girly man," she did a horrendous accent, her brother promptly told her so in between his bouts of laughter.
"What caused you to call up? Usually you do so on every Tuesday after the forth Sunday of every second month. You're early," Lindsey McDonald, ex-evil lawyer informed her.
Try as she might not to, Kieran cracked a smile, but Lindsey didn't see it. So he couldn't tease hear about laughing at one of his stupid jokes. "You're lucky I call at all," she grumbled.
"So why'd you call?" he asked her.
"Bored," Kieran said, lounging back onto her bed. "I've been way too bored the past couple days."
"Ah yes, a bored Kieran, we wouldn't want that now would we squirt?" Lindsay's tone was light with teasing.
She glowered, "Don't call me that," suddenly she let out another sigh, "When are you coming to LA? You do realize I came to the city looking for you."
"Which no fourteen year person should do by the way," Lindsey couldn't help but let the slight lecturing tone enter his voice. It hadn't been a very smart thing for her to do, but he knew his youngest sibling could take care of herself.
"I'm safe enough," Kieran told her brother honestly. "When am I gonna see you again?" she asked, changing the subject.
Lindsey was quiet for a moment, "Do you need me?" he asked finally.
"It'd be nice," she said simply.
"Oh, well then. I'll talk to you later, squirt," Lindsey promptly hung up.
Kieran looked at the phone that lay in her hand. "Bastard," she muttered. He was always doing stuff like this. Standing, she walked over to her dresser and stashed her cell phone away, after all years of secrecy had taught her.
Angel looked at the little boy who sat in front of him. "So what do you want to do?" he asked. He was alone with JP and unsure what to do. The souled vampire desperately wished for someone, anyone, to come and relieve him of this task. Oz wouldn't come, he knew that much.
"I dunno, what do you want to do?" the small werewolf shrugged and cocked his head to the side, eyes open wide in the perfect image of everything cute and innocent.
"Erm…well then…." Angel looked around, trying to figure out what little boys would like to do. He thought, when he was a little boy, he had liked to run around with the rest of his friends, generally getting dirty. But JP didn't have any friends, and he couldn't very well go out and play. For one thing he didn't care for rolling around in the dirt too much and there was the issue of the sun. "Do you like cookies?" Angel asked hopefully.
JP nodded reverently. "Chocolate chip cookies are the best! Do you have any?" he asked.
Angel shrugged, and offered a hand to the boy, "Why don't we go find out?"
A good ten minutes were spent searching for chocolate chip cookies, but none were found. Angel turned sadly, hating to disappoint the small child. But when he opened his mouth to say something, he saw that JP had already beat him to it. "Can we make them?" the child asked.
Angel was at a loss for words. Make cookies? Well, he had never made them before, but they couldn't be that hard. Now what went into cookies? "I guess so, so what goes into cookies, especially chocolate chip ones?" Angel found himself smiling, entertaining a kid couldn't be that hard after all.
Austin Jacobs wasn't a happy camper. He had found himself waiting in line in the Los Angeles Airport because some ninny had decided that it would be beneficial for the global community for him to cause havoc. Not that Austin minded havoc in the least, in fact he quite liked it. But damnit, he had people to see and places to be, now.
"Bloody Americans," Austin muttered before looking up to see if the line would be moving again. A slight cramp in his right arm made him switch his only bag to his left hand as he wondered how long it would take them to figure out this whole mess.
When the line started moving again, he sighed in relief. Maybe he would get to London in time.
Angel was wrong…baking cookies was that hard. With JP always tasting everything, the batter was half gone…and it was lumpy. Was cookie batter supposed to be lumpy? Angel didn't think so. Finally Angel spooned the half-eaten dough and popped it in the oven for ten minutes, hoping that they would turn out non-toxic. He really didn't need anyone keeling over in the hotel again.
He looked down at JP, who was standing there licking his fingers, chocolate smeared all over his face.
Crouching down, Angel looked the boy in the eye, "Why don't we get you cleaned up?" he asked. JP looked up at him, and gave him a very Oz like look. He almost looked bored. "Does it involve a bath?"
Angel struggled to keep a smile off his face. JP looked serious. "No, no bath is involved."
Oz wandered through the drug store trying to decide what color to dye his hair next. The current color, blue, was getting boring as well as it faded to a purplish blue, making his head look like a giant blueberry. A big sign that change was needed was that JP was starting to poke fun at him, asking if he had been eating too many blueberry muffins again. It made sense in some weird little kid way. Grinning at the thought of the puppy-like child, he strolled down the candy isle.
He spotted a young girl staring longingly at a bag of gumdrops. She looked no more than three years older than JP did; something about the girl made him remember something. Almost a year ago, when he has just gotten JP back. They were in the supermarket and Oz was trying to learn every one of his son's likes and dislikes, and of course the like part included candy. When the child saw the gumdrops he pointed at them to catch Oz's attention.
Thinking that JP favored them, Oz picked the candy up and handed it to the boy. He had held it and then looked up at his father, "The sky loves them," he said and then promptly dropped them, favoring the black licorice that was within his reach.
"The sky loves them," Oz muttered as he picked up a bag of licorice. His eyes flickered over to the girl. Pulling his wallet out, he handed a dollar to the girl. "Enjoy them," he said before turning and walking down the hair care isle. Maybe he'd go black--after he picked up some Flinstone chewable vitamins.
Mercedes unlocked the door of her hotel room and walked in. Glaring in disgust about the cramped room that faced her she sighed. This was pointless, what with staying in Sunnydale. She hadn't found the information she was looking for but she still stayed. Then again, and the town suited her. Tossing her sweatshirt on the bed, Mercedes walked over to her bag and picked up a few pieced of clothing.
She examined them before putting them on. Grinning, she examined herself in front of the mirror that hung across from the bed. "Fashionable, but I can still cause serious damage, perfect." She grinned at her image and turned, her smiled immediately turned sour. There on the otherwise pale skin shone a black ring with the numbers 3425 inscribed on it. She glared. "You're not gonna get me," she told the tattoo, as if it was listening. "You don't rule me, or my family. We're stronger than that."
With that said, she grabbed her leather jacket, shrugged it on, and walked out the door.
Authors Note: I updated since I felt bad for you all....but I want reviews. Can I have reviews please? I don't feel well, and I still updated? Please, do it for the sick Pyro. *puppy dog eyes* Oh, and Imazdi, go feed my prairie dog. You promised *grin* Review, please?
Spike critically examined the girl that stood in front of him. She was standing in the half-light of the street lamp, her body staying in the midst of the shadows. He cocked an eyebrow at her claim of being the only family the pint sized pup. "Sorry poppet, last time I checked you weren't short with multi colored and the tendency to growl," he paused, as if he was trying to decide on what to say, or rather how to say it. "So you better rethink your last statement."
The girl looked as if she didn't know how to respond. Finally she chuckled. "Tendency to growl?" she raised an eyebrow. "I've heard that I can do a very good one, wanna hear?" her smile was coy, "Oh, and I'm not your poppet."
Blinking at Mercedes, Spike finally chuckled. "I'll make a note of that. But you're a bit too young for me, not to mention I go after blondes now. Any how, why don't you tell me why you're looking for bite size pup?"
Mercedes' eyes narrowed as she tossed her head, making her pony tail swing back and forth. "Told ya, to protect him. I'm the only family he's got left."
It was Spike's turn to narrow his eyes, "I thought we went over this. I know Jeeper's family, and last time I checked you weren't part of it," the last part came out harsher than he intended though it didn't seem to effect the girl at all.
Pausing to think, Mercedes sighed as if she was defeated. "Family can be people who know what they are feeling. Family doesn't mean blood. You should remember that," the girl told him before turning on her heel and walking into the shadows, leaving Spike to stand in the street light, alone.
The drama of JP was over, for now, and Kieran escaped to her bedroom. When she entered the stars and moon sanctuary, she let out a sigh. To think, when she was little, she had only dreamed of something like this. Crawling onto pillow littered bed, she leaned her head down on the softest pillow and closed her eyes.
Daddy was a drunkard, there was no doubt about that. Momma had a gambling problem, and whenever things were bad, they had sex, that's why there were so many kids. First there was Krista, who bailed out of there. Last the McDonald family had heard about her, she was in Orlando working in one of the theme parts. Next was John, he was never left home Instead took a job as a mechanic in town. Then there was Lindsey, possibly the only one who made it in life. Last time she checked up on him he had bailed out of his fancy lawyer job because he had a conscience. He hadn't even left her a post card. Gary was in New York, probably waiting on tables, trying to get an acting job. Lexi got pregnant and dropped out of high school and lived with John at home. Then there was Kieran herself. With her crappy family, it was a miracle she had turned out normal…or semi normal at least. But then again, Kieran was someone who had skipped out of town at age fourteen.
Rolling over slightly Kieran found her stuffed bear and smiled. It had been a present from Lindsey, for her fifth birthday. The bear was one of the few things she cherished from her childhood. Her eyes flickered up and there on the shelf sat two dolls, also presents from Lindsey. Although she knew she was too old to play with dolls, Kieran longed to touch their hair, to dress them up. Sometimes, when she had been little, she had longed to be one of those kids you saw on TV. She wished to have a childhood sans empty glass bottles lying about.
But no family's perfect, and with that thought she stood and walked over to her dresser drawers. Opening the top one, she rummaged around and pulled out a cell phone Years of secrecy taught her this nifty little trick. Dialing the familiar number, she hoped he would pick up.
"Hello?" her brother answered the familiar twang still in his voice. Idly, Kieran wondered if he'd ever lose it.
"Hello girly man," she did a horrendous accent, her brother promptly told her so in between his bouts of laughter.
"What caused you to call up? Usually you do so on every Tuesday after the forth Sunday of every second month. You're early," Lindsey McDonald, ex-evil lawyer informed her.
Try as she might not to, Kieran cracked a smile, but Lindsey didn't see it. So he couldn't tease hear about laughing at one of his stupid jokes. "You're lucky I call at all," she grumbled.
"So why'd you call?" he asked her.
"Bored," Kieran said, lounging back onto her bed. "I've been way too bored the past couple days."
"Ah yes, a bored Kieran, we wouldn't want that now would we squirt?" Lindsay's tone was light with teasing.
She glowered, "Don't call me that," suddenly she let out another sigh, "When are you coming to LA? You do realize I came to the city looking for you."
"Which no fourteen year person should do by the way," Lindsey couldn't help but let the slight lecturing tone enter his voice. It hadn't been a very smart thing for her to do, but he knew his youngest sibling could take care of herself.
"I'm safe enough," Kieran told her brother honestly. "When am I gonna see you again?" she asked, changing the subject.
Lindsey was quiet for a moment, "Do you need me?" he asked finally.
"It'd be nice," she said simply.
"Oh, well then. I'll talk to you later, squirt," Lindsey promptly hung up.
Kieran looked at the phone that lay in her hand. "Bastard," she muttered. He was always doing stuff like this. Standing, she walked over to her dresser and stashed her cell phone away, after all years of secrecy had taught her.
Angel looked at the little boy who sat in front of him. "So what do you want to do?" he asked. He was alone with JP and unsure what to do. The souled vampire desperately wished for someone, anyone, to come and relieve him of this task. Oz wouldn't come, he knew that much.
"I dunno, what do you want to do?" the small werewolf shrugged and cocked his head to the side, eyes open wide in the perfect image of everything cute and innocent.
"Erm…well then…." Angel looked around, trying to figure out what little boys would like to do. He thought, when he was a little boy, he had liked to run around with the rest of his friends, generally getting dirty. But JP didn't have any friends, and he couldn't very well go out and play. For one thing he didn't care for rolling around in the dirt too much and there was the issue of the sun. "Do you like cookies?" Angel asked hopefully.
JP nodded reverently. "Chocolate chip cookies are the best! Do you have any?" he asked.
Angel shrugged, and offered a hand to the boy, "Why don't we go find out?"
A good ten minutes were spent searching for chocolate chip cookies, but none were found. Angel turned sadly, hating to disappoint the small child. But when he opened his mouth to say something, he saw that JP had already beat him to it. "Can we make them?" the child asked.
Angel was at a loss for words. Make cookies? Well, he had never made them before, but they couldn't be that hard. Now what went into cookies? "I guess so, so what goes into cookies, especially chocolate chip ones?" Angel found himself smiling, entertaining a kid couldn't be that hard after all.
Austin Jacobs wasn't a happy camper. He had found himself waiting in line in the Los Angeles Airport because some ninny had decided that it would be beneficial for the global community for him to cause havoc. Not that Austin minded havoc in the least, in fact he quite liked it. But damnit, he had people to see and places to be, now.
"Bloody Americans," Austin muttered before looking up to see if the line would be moving again. A slight cramp in his right arm made him switch his only bag to his left hand as he wondered how long it would take them to figure out this whole mess.
When the line started moving again, he sighed in relief. Maybe he would get to London in time.
Angel was wrong…baking cookies was that hard. With JP always tasting everything, the batter was half gone…and it was lumpy. Was cookie batter supposed to be lumpy? Angel didn't think so. Finally Angel spooned the half-eaten dough and popped it in the oven for ten minutes, hoping that they would turn out non-toxic. He really didn't need anyone keeling over in the hotel again.
He looked down at JP, who was standing there licking his fingers, chocolate smeared all over his face.
Crouching down, Angel looked the boy in the eye, "Why don't we get you cleaned up?" he asked. JP looked up at him, and gave him a very Oz like look. He almost looked bored. "Does it involve a bath?"
Angel struggled to keep a smile off his face. JP looked serious. "No, no bath is involved."
Oz wandered through the drug store trying to decide what color to dye his hair next. The current color, blue, was getting boring as well as it faded to a purplish blue, making his head look like a giant blueberry. A big sign that change was needed was that JP was starting to poke fun at him, asking if he had been eating too many blueberry muffins again. It made sense in some weird little kid way. Grinning at the thought of the puppy-like child, he strolled down the candy isle.
He spotted a young girl staring longingly at a bag of gumdrops. She looked no more than three years older than JP did; something about the girl made him remember something. Almost a year ago, when he has just gotten JP back. They were in the supermarket and Oz was trying to learn every one of his son's likes and dislikes, and of course the like part included candy. When the child saw the gumdrops he pointed at them to catch Oz's attention.
Thinking that JP favored them, Oz picked the candy up and handed it to the boy. He had held it and then looked up at his father, "The sky loves them," he said and then promptly dropped them, favoring the black licorice that was within his reach.
"The sky loves them," Oz muttered as he picked up a bag of licorice. His eyes flickered over to the girl. Pulling his wallet out, he handed a dollar to the girl. "Enjoy them," he said before turning and walking down the hair care isle. Maybe he'd go black--after he picked up some Flinstone chewable vitamins.
Mercedes unlocked the door of her hotel room and walked in. Glaring in disgust about the cramped room that faced her she sighed. This was pointless, what with staying in Sunnydale. She hadn't found the information she was looking for but she still stayed. Then again, and the town suited her. Tossing her sweatshirt on the bed, Mercedes walked over to her bag and picked up a few pieced of clothing.
She examined them before putting them on. Grinning, she examined herself in front of the mirror that hung across from the bed. "Fashionable, but I can still cause serious damage, perfect." She grinned at her image and turned, her smiled immediately turned sour. There on the otherwise pale skin shone a black ring with the numbers 3425 inscribed on it. She glared. "You're not gonna get me," she told the tattoo, as if it was listening. "You don't rule me, or my family. We're stronger than that."
With that said, she grabbed her leather jacket, shrugged it on, and walked out the door.
Authors Note: I updated since I felt bad for you all....but I want reviews. Can I have reviews please? I don't feel well, and I still updated? Please, do it for the sick Pyro. *puppy dog eyes* Oh, and Imazdi, go feed my prairie dog. You promised *grin* Review, please?