I don't own BTVS or AtS, but I would scalp my cat if I thought it would make a difference. *looks over at cat and notices evil glare* I retract that last statement, on the grounds that my kitty may kill me because of it. *clears throat* I don't own most of the characters in this story, but the ones that I do own, I've decided to give up for adoption. Hey, it's better than selling then to evil, merciless men. Anyway, Joss is a genius and if he doesn't start AtS soon, I'm gonna start a riot, at the neighborhood pet store. The hamsters will be at my mercy! Ahem... Anyway, I suppose I should get...

On with the show.

::Carpe Diem- So Happy Together::

Lindsey ran every light, on the way home. He tried to make sure there were no pedestrians walking into his path, but other than that, you could say he was being pretty reckless. When he pulled up in front of the Hyperion, he slammed his head against the steering wheel, which yelped out a startled beep. Lindsey swore and swung open his door, before stepping out into the street and slamming it shut behind him. He took a deep breath and tried to think of something he could say, when Katie asked him what Missy wanted to talk about. He wasn't sure whether to tell her the truth, or if he should accept the truth, himself. Andy probably wasn't his? He shook his head and huffed, as he headed to the door of the hotel. He slammed the door open and it hit the wall, with a bang.

Katie and Cordelia had been chatting at the desk and painting their nails, when Lindsey stormed in. Katie smiled, sweetly, at Cordelia and confided. "That's Lindsey-speak for, 'Honey, I'm home'." Katie shook her head, in mock sadness. "He hasn't gotten it perfected, as of yet."

Cordelia sighed, gustily. "I don't know how to tell you this, but if you don't have him well trained by now, then there is no hope for you." Cordelia patted Katie's hair, with an unpainted hand, and glanced at Lindsey. "If you let it happen, those men will grow a mind of their own and after that, they'll get a backbone. Then, they are lost to you."

Lindsey stomped in through the lobby and frowned at his fiancé. She seemed too at ease with the world. She was magical. Couldn't she feel how upset he was?

"Dear, God, darling. Turn the remorse down a notch."

Lindsey looked up at the stairs, towards the source of his mental interruption. "Lorne." Lindsey gave the green demon a look that resembles a genuine smile and nodded hello.

"So, I hear you are a daddy." Lorne made his way down the stairs and gave Lindsey a toothy grin. "Congratulations." He put out his hand and Lindsey took it. Lorne grunted, in speculation. "Care to hum a bar for me, sugar?"

"Not in particular."

Lindsey's eyes looked dead. Lorne hated to see that look, but worst of all, he hated feeling the emotion that accompanied that look. "I understand." Lorne pulled his hand back and stepped away from the man. Next thing he knew, he was being pushed back toward Lindsey, by a force that was not noticed before.

"Hell no, Angelus! It is my picture and you aren't gonna' get it." Spike was running through the Hyperion lobby, like a cat with his tail on fire. To everybody's surprise, the cause happened to be Angel, who seemed to be the fire.

"It is not your picture, Spike!" Angel chased Spike, until they came at a 'Mexican standoff'. One man was on one side of the desk and the other man on the opposing side. Spike was giving Angel a wry grin and the older vampire sighed. "Okay, it is your picture, but it doesn't belong to you." Spike grinned cheekily and nodded. "Bloody damn, Will, give it back!"

"Will?" Katie threw a glance up at the blonde vampire, who was clutching the back of her swivel chair and stepping side to side. She nodded, acceptingly, when he grinned at Angel and, suddenly, looked like the devil. "You look like a Will."

"Do I?" Spike asked as he used Katie and her chair as a shield. Angel was prowling around the desk, toward his wayward childe. "I always thought I looked more like a... shit!" Angel jumped the desk and lunged at Spike, who shoved Katie in the line of fire and ran toward the other end of the room.

Angel growled and jumped up off the fallen woman and the broken chair. "You are paying for that, you little shit!" Angel stalked toward Spike and growled, softly.

Lindsey walked over and helped Katie up off the ground, still entranced by the sight of Angel and Spike chasing each other around the room. He looked over at Cordelia, as Katie snuggled into his side and he hugged her. "Do they do that often?"

Cordelia shrugged. "Only if they are overcome by boredom."

If Angel hadn't been smiling, Spike would have truly been... intimidated. Yes, he would admit that intimidated is something he could feel, over his sire. When Spike took time to think about it, he would have probably realized that the smile Angel was wearing, was *more* of a reason to feel intimidated than anything. Now, was not a time to think about it, though. "Angel, don't come any closer." Spike looked around the room, as he backed himself into a corner. "There are witnesses. Do you want them to see me kick your big Irish tail, all the way back to your motherland? I mean... really?" Spike felt the wall press into his back and grunted. Angel was still making his way toward him, with all intentions of stealing the picture out of his pock... Spike grinned and reached in his back pocket, pulling out a piece of paper. "Want this?" Spike made a big show off placing it in his back pocket, so the others could see. He leaned against the wall, confidently. "Then, come and get it, big boy. The others can witness you molest me, instead."

Angel took another step forward. "It's not molestation, if you ask for it." Angel growled.

Cordelia muttered, from the back of the room. "No, but it's still pretty gay."

Spike's eyes grew wide. Angel wouldn't. Angelus probably would, he thought wryly and then shivered. Spike did the only thing he could think to do. He plowed into Angel's midsection, knocking the vampire off-balance, and shot toward the office.

Angel rolled backward and landed in a crouch. He turned toward his childe and ran after him. He tackled Spike, just as they got inside the office. Angel tried to hold Spike still, but the younger vampire was writhing and cussing up a storm. Spike kicked out, aiming at nothing in particular, and ended up kicking the door closed.

Everyone in the lobby heard a loud crash and passed looks around.

Katie looked up at Lindsey, fear in her eyes. "You and Andy won't fight like that, will you?"

Lindsey looked thoughtful. "I don't plan on it. At least, while you're around the house." Lindsey mussed Katie's hair and looked over at Lorne. "When did you get back?"

Lorne shrugged and put his hands on his hips. "A couple of hours ago, I suppose. I'm very jet lagged, but it seems someone has turned my room into the new kitten play-room." Lorne stuck his hand out, in front of him, and looked at his nails. "Can't even begin to imagine who would do such a thing." He chuckled.

"Nobody I know." Connor hummed, as he walked down the stairs and buried his face into the side of his kitten, blowing softly. The kitten purred and swung its head back to nuzzle his master's face.

Lorne sighed. "If you two weren't so cute, I'd probably pitch a fit over the whole being homeless thing."

Lindsey squeezed Katie, tighter. "You can have our room, as soon as we get the few things we have in there. We have to get Andy and go by our hotel room, at the plaza. After that, we are going home."

"Home?" Katie asked, suspiciously.

Lindsey smiled down at his fiancé and put on a Southern drawl. "Doncha' wanna' go home Miss Katie? I thought 'Loosiana' was the place your heart yearned for. I know Big Momma would love to have you back. The garden probably misses you, as do the chillun'. Also, Momma Ruth would be elated to find out she'd be feeding two extra mouths."

Katie hugged Lindsey, until the breath had been squeezed out of his lungs. "I love you..." She whispered, hoarsely. She looked up at him and pulled back, wiping the tears out of her eyes. "...but damn it, Lindsey, if you don't stop trying to sound Southern, I'll rip you a new one. Got it?"

Lindsey nodded, acceptingly. "Got it."

There was a loud thump and then a crash that came from the office.

Cordelia jumped and swore. She had accidentally painted half of her pinky fuchsia. "Would you guys keep it down?" It was more of a command, than a request.

There was another crashing sound and then a thump against the door.

Connor watched the office door, intently, and finally asked. "What's going on?"

Cordelia shook her head and rubbed the side of her finger with a soaked cotton ball. "Your dad and Spike are fighting over some picture. I think it may have been one of Angel's drawings, but of course I've never seen it, so I don't know for sure." Cordelia held her hand out in front of her and examined the damage. "I think it's a picture of Spike, though. He seems pretty set on keeping it."



Lorne grinned, as he took a seat on the couch. "It sounds like they both have every intention of owning the prize. I would be willing to wager twenty dollars on Spike, myself."

Cordelia shook her head, as she repainted her pinky nail. "I'm not gambling with an empath."

Connor smiled. "Angel will win. He's older and stronger."

Lindsey watched the two 'men' and decided that he liked the odds, in this bet. "I'll take the bet, also, but I'm going for Spike. He's crafty and stubborn."

Katie hit Lindsey in the shoulder and laughed. "Your stupid, you know that? Angel's gonna' win."

Lindsey threw Katie a mischievous grin. "You willing to bet on it?"

Katie shook her head. "As many vices that I do have, gambling is not one of them. You can play, baby, but remember who my vote was for." Lindsey saluted Katie and she stuck her tongue out at him, in response. "Have fun." She said, as she headed up the stairs and toward her room.

Lindsey watched Katie walk up the stairs and smiled. As quick as he was to smile, a thought came to him, which made him frown. "Where's Andy?"

Connor, who was tossing Skittles up in the air and catching him, answered the man. "He's getting ice cream with Wesley and Fred. They should be home..."

Just then the outside door was pushed open and in stepped Wesley, Fred, and Andy, who was chattering up a storm.

"...now." Connor said, with a smile. He held Skittles to his chest, so that the cat wouldn't dart away. The kitten was still a little upset over being chased by the child. He didn't trust Andy and if Connor was being perfectly honest, he would admit that he didn't trust Andy either. "How was the ice cream?" He asked the energetic little boy.

"It was good." Andy said, with a bounce. "Daddy!" He squealed, when he saw Lindsey standing beside the counter. Lindsey squatted and opened his arms. That was all the invitation Andy needed, to go running into the embrace. He squeezed Lindsey's neck and started chattering more enthusiastically. "We went to the 'Saskin Bobbins' and after we got all full and sticky, Fred took me to the rest room, to get cleaned up." Andy stopped talking and looked back at Fred, with a frown, before leaning into his dad's ear and whispering, loudly. "She made me go in the girl's bathroom." He pulled back and nodded, to stress his point.

Lindsey tried not to laugh. He remembered being at the age where it was weird to go into the girl's restroom. He also remembered the age where it was cool to spy in the girl's restroom. Lindsey hoped that he would have a while before Andy was recounting those sort of stories to him.



"...the zoo and this time I didn't eat any 'gallels'." Andy nodded, and smiled, triumphantly. Obviously, it took a great bit of will power not to eat 'gallels'.

Lindsey smiled, with pride. He didn't care what Amelie thought. Andy was his child, even if it was only in spirit. Of course, somewhere down the line, he would probably get so curious that he would have blood work done, but as of right now, it didn't matter. What did matter was whether he and his family were happy. Family... Lindsey hugged Andy to him, cutting off whatever the boy had been saying. "God, I love you."

Andy was confused. He didn't know what he had said to make Lindsey hug him so tightly, but whatever it was, he was glad he said it. "I love you, too." He hugged Lindsey back and then, jumped with a start. There was a loud crash from Angel's office. "What was that?"

"They're at it, again." Cordelia muttered. "Connor, go yank your dad off of Spike and tell him that they need to grow up."

Connor shook his head. "Nope. I have money riding on their immaturity."

Wesley perked up, on this note. "Money riding on what?"

"Over which vampire will win the fight. Angel drew a picture of Spike and he's trying to get it back." Connor stated, mildly. "I have twenty dollars bet toward my dad's victory."

Wesley grinned, devilishly, and dug into his back pocket, pulling out a wallet. "If twenty is the going rate, I'll put it on Spike. He already has the picture and he would probably rather die, again, rather than give it up."

Fred thought it all over and shook her head. "Wes, can I borrow twenty dollars?" Wesley pulled out another bill and handed it to Fred, with a smile. The woman thanked him and then held it up in the air. "I'm putting this on Angel."

Wesley quirked a brow, at the woman. "Really?"

Fred nodded. "I like Spike a lot, but he isn't Angel." Fred noticed the 'duh' look, written across Wesley's face and added. "Angel's a hero, remember? The hero always wins, in the end."

Wesley nodded and sighed. "Damn it. I already placed my bet." He had meant for his tone to be teasing, but it came out more sarcastic than anything. Fred laughed out loud, over the comment, which made Wesley grin ear to ear.

"Is this a private party?" Gunn came down the stairs, stretching toward the ceiling. He looked well rested and more than a little pleased, about the fact.

"Nope." Fred said, crossing her arms over her chest. "We are betting over who will win in the fight. Spike the immortal or Angel the... other immortal." Fred sighed and smirked. "I'm not good at coming up with nicknames, right off the top of my head."

"The names should be Spike the brazenly, perfect hunk-o-saurus and Angel... that other guy." Everyone turned to see Spike slumping, in the office doorway. He was bleeding, from a cut on his forehead, and his shirt was missing. Other than that, he seemed perfectly fine.

"So?" Connor asked. Everybody waited as Spike grunted and walked out into the lobby and slumped down on the couch. He let out a deep breath and shook his head. "Ask your dad."

As soon as Spike had mentioned him, Angel was filling up the doorway. He looked at the expectant faces and asked. "What?" Okay, his hair was spiked straight up and his shirtsleeve was ripped halfway off at the elbow, but that was no reason for them to be staring at him like that.

"You're buying me new shirts, Angelus." Spike stated, from his place on the couch. He tossed his arm over his eyes and huffed. "They better be black, medium, and Hanes, or by all that's holy... and unholy too, you bastard... I'll go in your closet and attack your pretty shirts, with the paper shredder." As an afterthought, Spike added. "Make 'em those Tagless Tees, Angel. They come in three packs. That'll more than make up for your idiocy."

"Your just pissed about the picture." Angel grinned and pulled out the paper that caused the problem, in the first place.

Connor laughed, jovially. "I think some people owe me and Fred some money."

Angel stuffed the paper back in his pocket and looked at Connor. "Why?"

Connor shrugged. "We were betting on who would win, in your fight." Connor grinned. "I bet on you and so did Fred. Katie said you would win, but she didn't put money on it."

"Who bet against me?" Angel asked, curiously.

"Lindsey, Lorne, and Wesley all bet that Spike would win." Connor smiled at Lorne, who was purposefully trying not to look in Angel's direction.

Spike, who had been trying to ignore Angel's gloating, had perked up to listen to what was going on. "So, I have some fans, yeah?" Spike sat up straight and grinned at Angel. "They know what a tool you are, Angel. That's why they picked me."

Angel arched a brow at his childe and shook his head. "And who won the fight?" He grinned, when Spike settled back in his seat and started frowning at the ceiling.

"So was I right, Lindsey?" Katie was coming down the stairs, carrying a duffel bag and a small baseball cap. She took a few more steps, until she was standing right in front of Lindsey and Andy. She fitted the cap on Andy's head and patted his shoulder. The little boy grinned up at his soon-to-be step mom, which made her heart swell with pride. "Lindsey, do you think you could put this in the car?"

Lindsey looked at the bag and shook his head. "We can just take it with us, when we head out the door."

Katie sighed and rolled her eyes. "Lazy."

Lindsey nodded, with a smile, as he stood up and rubbed the back of Andy's, hat covered head. "How do you feel about going on a trip, Andy?"

Andy shrugged. "Who am I going with?"

Lindsey almost laughed at the comment, but then he realized how unfunny it really was. He suddenly felt very possessive of this little boy... his little boy. He squatted down, until he was staring into the boy's eyes. "You will be with me and Katie from now on, okay? Do you understand? I'm going to take care of you."

Andy smiled. "Cause you love me?"

Lindsey nodded and grinned. "Yes, because I love you."

"Aww..." Spike cooed from his place on the couch. "It's like one of those Lifetime, made for TV movies, without the abusive daddy." Spike yelped, when a bottle of unopened nail polish pegged him in the chest. "What?!" He shot a look over at Cordelia, who was glaring a hole through his forehead. "I was just..."

"Making an ass out of yourself?" Cordelia offered, as an explanation.

Lindsey pushed Andy toward Katie and told them they should say their goodbyes. The two headed over toward the desk, where Wesley, Gunn, Lorne, and Fred stood watching the argument between vampire and she-woman. When they realized Andy was trying to get their attention, they decided to ignore the spectacle and say goodbye, in hushed tones.

"He's just in a pissy mood, because I beat him like a newborn fledgling." Angel chuckled, almost evilly.

Spike rolled his eyes and turned to the side, lifting his knees up to his chest and huffed. "You didn't beat me that bad." He muttered. "Where are my bloody cigarettes?"

"You quit smoking, Spike." Connor said, as he sat next to his 'brother'. He nudged Spike's shoulder and the vampire glanced back at him. Connor handed Skittles over to Spike, who smiled fondly. Connor leaned in toward Spike and whispered, quiet enough that Angel couldn't hear. "Why don't you just let him think that he is the head vampire, for a while. In the long run, you know the truth."

Spike nodded, as held the little kitten to his chest and stroked its fur. It was purring, softly, and snuggling into his naked chest. Spike realized something and frowned, back at Connor. "You bet against me!" He shouted, making the kitten in his arms go tense and claw at his torso. Spike ignored the small scratches and swiveled around, so he could smack Connor more easily.

Connor laughed and leaned back into the cushion. "Hey, it's your problem, if you can't just get over it." Connor held out his arms, in a silent plea for his kitten. "Give 'im back."

Spike looked down at the kitten and shook his head. "Nuh-uh... I think I'd rather eat him, actually."

Connor sat up straight and let out a quiet growl. "Give. Him. Back."

"Now this is more like it." Spike nuzzled the kitten, before handing him back to his master. He watched the boy hug the kitty to his chest. "I'm gonna' write a book about you and that cat called, 'Not Without My Kitten'. It'll be a hit." He confided in the boy.

Lindsey sighed, as he watched his son hug Fred and whisper something that made the young woman giggle and blush. "You guys ready?"

Andy looked up at his father and smiled. "I have to tell Angel and Spike bye-bye, too!" He informed his father. The little boy darted around the desk and jumped at Angel's leg, latching on around his thigh. "Goodbye, Angel."

Angel looked down at the boy, in surprise. He could hardly believe that a small child was choosing to cling to his leg. Angel wasn't sure what was the appropriate thing to do, in this situation.

Spike bit back a laugh, as he watched the look of horror pass across Angel's face. He flashed Connor a grin, before standing up and walking over to his sire's side. He leaned in toward Angel and whispered. "Pet the back of his head and say you'll miss having him around."

Angel did as he was instructed and the little boy looked up at him, joyously. "You'll miss me?"

Angel pretended to think about it for a minute and then nodded at the child. "I'll miss you."

Andy let go of Angel and looked over at Spike, sticking out his hand. "It's not sticky, I promise."

Spike laughed and bent down to grab the kid into a bear hug. He tickled Andy under the ribs, making the little boy squeal. "I'll miss you, too, you little brat."

"I'm not a brat!" Andy stated, in between giggles. He broke away from Spike's embrace and ran behind his daddy's legs. He looked over at Connor and smiled, sheepishly. "Bye-bye, Connor. Bye, Skittles."

Connor smiled at the boy and lifted Skittles paw, using it to wave at Andy.

The little boy laughed and buried his face into the back of his father's thighs.

Lindsey looked back at Andy and sighed. "You ready?"

"Yes." Andy nodded and pulled back to look at his dad. "You haven't said goodbye, yet."

Lindsey shrugged. "I'm leaving. The goodbyes are implied."

Andy screwed up his little nose and 'hmmed'. "Mine weren't?"

"No." Lindsey said, with a grin. "People tend to be happier to see me go, than they are with you."

Katie laughed. "I like to watch you go. Is that kind of the same thing?"

Lindsey arched a brow and shook his head. "I don't think so." Lindsey walked over to Katie and gave her a quick kiss, while pulling the duffel from her grasp. "You ready?"

She smiled and waved at everyone. "Thank you for the help and hospitality. If any of you find yourselves passing through the hospitable south, come by Louisiana and we'll have a bash. Us Louisianans know how to throw a party."

Lindsey took the little bit of time that Katie was talking, to walk over to Angel and put out his hand. "Thank you, Angel."

Angel nodded and took the proffered hand. "You would have done the same for me."

The men exchanged amused glances. "No, you wouldn't." "No, I wouldn't." They stated, at the same time.

Lindsey stepped away from the vampire and looked over at Spike, giving him a small salute.

Spike returned the acknowledgement and grinned. "I'll take you and your girlfriend up on her offer, one of these days. I believe I have a much-deserved vacation coming up."

Angel threw a look at his childe that fairly screamed 'yeah right'.

Lindsey nodded and joined Katie and Andy, at the door. Everyone shouted their goodbyes, again, as the family went outside and started on their journey.

Connor sighed and settled back into his seat, on the couch. "Why is it so hard to say goodbye?"

Lorne was the first 'person' to find an answer, to the boy's question. "It's only hard to say goodbye to those that you will miss having around."

Spike grunted. "Well, I'll miss the whole lot of 'em." Angel spared his childe a glance and Spike shrugged. "The mite was cute. The lady was a sweet-heart. The guy had a nice speaking voice." He grinned at his sire. "They all had their qualities."

Angel grunted. "Lindsey's still as bitchy as he was the last time I saw him." Angel crossed his arms across his chest, defiantly. "Damn it! I'm going to miss him, too."

Cordelia, Wesley Fred, Lorne, and Gunn exchanged looks. They remembered what it was like when Lindsey was the only bad guy that could really get Angel riled. They had always known that Lindsey wasn't as big of a threat as he tried to make himself out to be. They also knew that angel needed somebody like Lindsey to keep Angel on his toes and keep him non-broody.

Spike took a step over toward his sire and slapped him on the shoulder. "You know, Angel. I think you just an epiphany. All this time that you pretended you hated having Lindsey around, you actually enjoyed his company. What does that say about us?"

Angel arched an eyebrow, at his childe, and shook his head.

Spike sighed. "Yup, it is just as I thought. You love me." Spike nodded to emphasize his point. "Well, after we all pretend to celebrate the ending of another mission, you, my man..." Spike pressed his forefinger into the middle of Angel's chest. "... are going to rest up, for a new mission."

Angel sighed and rubbed his temples. "What mission is that Spike?"

"You and me are going to Wal-Mart. Have you forgotten, already?" Spike gave his sire a perplexed look and grunted. "You're buying me t-shirts!"

Angel's mouth dropped open and he closed it. It was better to just leave well enough alone, after all.

The AI group watched the vampires in interested. A few sighed and rolled their eyes, while the others just grinned. Yes, Angel needed someone to keep him on his toes and non-broody. That's why they were all relieved when Spike decided to stick around.

Spike nodded, triumphantly and ran for the stairs. He turned back toward his sire and grinned. "Angel?"

"What, Spike?" Angel groaned.

"Will you still buy me shirt, when I steal your shan-shu?" Spike batted his eyes, at his sire, and then turned on his heel and darted up the stairs.

Angel growled and raced after his childe. "You aren't even suspect to steal it, if your dead!" He threatened.

Connor sighed and held his kitty up in the air. He talked to it in cooing tones. "Those boys... What are we going to do with them?" Connor sighed and dropped the kitten on his chest. It pawed his chest and turned in a complete circle, before plopping down and curling into a ball. He looked over at his friends, behind the desk, and smiled. "Nothing."

The End

-Okay, so I suppose you have already figured out that this is only the end of Carpe Diem and not the series. The story was actually longer than I ever expected to make it. I enjoyed writing it and I hope that you enjoyed reading it. Obviously, I can't steer away from corny endings, but you know what? I think it was good sappy fun. Anyway, if you have read this story, at all, (whether you have reviewed before or not, isn't relevant) please review. I would love to hear what you have to say about the story... even if it isn't a pleasant review, per se. Okay, now here is something you can participate in. Feed my muse! If you have ideas for another story, I'll take them into consideration. I've already brought back Penn and Lindsey... I could bring back Doyle *thinks about it* or not. We'll see. Of course, it goes without saying that I don't have to bring anybody back, at all. By the by, I love you all and thank you for the reviews.-

--The subtitle was So Happy Together, which is a song by The Turtles. Hippies are so cool.--