Also, I don't know much about Harmony's childhood. Let's just pretend that what I write about it is remotely close to what it is.
Enjoy.
"I think she's high on sugar." Angel declared. He and Spike had earlier bribed her with candy in order to avert playing dress-up with Harmony. Angel never thought she would eat half the jar they got her. Now many hours later, she seemed to still be bouncing off the walls with more energy than she already possessed.
And she didn't look like she was about to stop anytime soon.
"You think?" Gunn drawled. "You only figured this now? After she broke one of the last two Mesopotamian vases attempting to do a cartwheel in Wesley's office, sang old McDonald over and over for five minutes, stole the mail guy's cart and ran away with it, set the garbage can on fire-"
Angel raised his hand in defeat. "I get the point, Gunn. Spike and I shouldn't have fed her so much candy." Fred was fortunate enough to be in the lab while Harmony was systematically driving everyone crazy.
"Ooh, pretty." Finding something that caught her interest, Harmony quietly looked around the room. Angel and Gunn were talking, their backs turned to her once again. It was safe.
Smiling with glee, she tiptoed and outstretched her hands to reach the object.
"Harmony, don't touch that!" Angel warned, just before she could get her hands on the sacrificial knife. It was probably the rubies on the handle that attracted Harmony but Angel was not going to let her play with it, no matter how pretty she thought it was.
Startled, Harmony backed away quickly, knowing that she was in big trouble. "I didn't do it!" She declared in all innocence, hands hidden behind her back as if to show that they were nowhere near the objects.
Angel did not look convinced. "These are not toys, Harm." He said, sounding rather understanding but firm. "These are weapons. You don't play with them."
"Can I touch it? Just a little?" She asked, meeting Angel's gaze. It was so pretty. They all were and Harmony wanted to play with each and every one of them.
He shook his head. "No." Angel declared with finality.
"Please?" She pleaded, batting her lashes.
Angel shook his head again. "No, Harmony."
Harmony shot him an aggrieved look. "Meanie!" She hissed with all the vehemence her little self could muster and then sauntered out of the room to sulk.
Angel sighed. He was only trying to protect her.
"I'll go get her." Gunn offered and followed their new budding drama queen. "Where are you going, Harmony?"
She huffed. "Where's Spikey? He was fun. You're all no fun!" Harmony stopped walking, folded her arms in front of her defiantly and glowered at Gunn's expensive shoes.
"Spike is somewhere." Gunn wasn't sure. "Don't be mad at Angel. That thing you were going to touch was sharp and you could have cut your hand off if he didn't stop you." He said as he crouched down to her level.
Her dark eyes danced with excitement and a small smile crossed her face. "And there would have been lots of blood, right? All red and sticky, right?" She asked, disconcertingly delighted with the thought of blood.
"There would be lots of blood." He concurred. "But it wouldn't be fun because you would be in pain."
"Oh." Harmony looked disappointed. "Am I in trouble? Big trouble?" She blinked a few times; worry flickering in her innocent eyes.
Gunn smiled. "Not at all. Just don't try playing with weapons anymore." He replied, knowing full well that Angel didn't have the heart to be really angry at an adorable little girl like her. "Besides, you got me in your corner, kiddo."
She looked relieved. "You're the best-est Mr. Gunn Sir." Harmony declared, flinging herself to him and hugging him tightly. "Right next to Spikey."
Gunn gingerly hugged her back. Big, tall, hunky man and now best-est. I can do no wrong. "Just Gunn, kiddo. You never called me mister when you were older. No need to start now." He said and when Harmony didn't seem to understand, Gunn just stood up and patted her head.
"Is this the circus?" She asked as she walked over to the railing, pressed her face against it and watched the assortment of both humans and demons mingling and interacting with each other. All day, Harmony had been exposed to nothing but the employees and clients of Wolfram and Hart.
Angel had long surrendered trying to keep Harmony from seeing anything that might frighten her.
Gunn chuckled as he stood beside her. "I guess you could call it that." He replied.
"So, I ran away with the circus?" She asked, trying to find some sort of explanation as to why she was suddenly here and no one she knew was with her.
Gunn offered her a wry smile. "Just for a little while, kid. Hey, how about you and I go find something fun to do." He suggested brightly. "You were right when you said it's boring here."
"I said you're all boring." Harmony quickly corrected him, remembering the words she used earlier. Gunn just laughed as he took her tiny hand and held it, leading her down the stairs.
"Taking a day off with your kid?" She asked, noticing the expensive attire Gunn wore. The woman didn't know which one was Gunn's kid exactly.
He shook his head, smiling. "No, just watching my niece for a few hours." He lied smoothly, not wanting to complicate the conversation by telling the woman that he was babysitting his boss' secretary turned five year old kid.
The woman smiled. "Which one's yours?"
"She's the loud one by the monkey bars." The woman looked surprised when she spotted Harmony, who was currently swinging through the bars with startling ease and agility. "Adopted." Gunn added.
"She's very pretty. What's her name?"
Gunn smiled. "Harmony. Where's your kid?"
"That little boy over there. Cody, what did I say about eating dirt? Spit that out right now!" She sharply exclaimed, shifted the baby in her arms and walked over to her son who was currently trying to swallow a mouthful of sand. Gunn grimaced and watched the woman go off. He returned her gaze to the monkey bars and saw that Harmony was gone.
He scanned the surrounding areas. Nothing. "Harmony!" Gunn called, hoping that she would show herself. There were at least twenty five children crowding the large playground. "Harmony!" Worry began to sink in as Gunn tried to spot her in the throng of children. I only took my eyes off for a few seconds. Gunn inwardly declared as he peered inside the small tunnels.
Suddenly there was a loud shriek followed by someone crying. Gunn ran to where the commotion was.
"She's bit me!" A boy a year or two older than Harmony wailed loudly, holding his injured arm as his mother rushed over to him. The woman glared at Harmony who looked like she had been doused with a handful of sand.
"That's because you called me a monster." She retorted, her young voice filled with anger and hurt. "You're not nice!"
"What's going on here?" Gunn's voice boomed loudly as he rushed over to Harmony, feeling suddenly very protective of her. He picked her up.
Her bottom lip trembled but she refused to cry. "Gunn, he was mean to me." She whispered, balling her hands into small fists.
"You should teach your daughter not to bite other children." The young boy's mother declared angrily as her son continued to cry.
Gunn scowled, holding Harmony tighter. "And you should teach your son to have some manners, and not pick on little girls." He retorted, glaring at her just as dangerously. He didn't bother to correct her.
"She bit my son! He could get rabies from her!"
Harmony huffed. "I don't have rabies, you wanker!" She growled, remembering Spike's words to Angel earlier. It seemed appropriate to use it now. Harmony wasn't quite sure what rabies were but they sounded awfully like cooties and she felt like defending herself from the evil woman and her even more evil son.
The mother gasped.
"I want that little girl to apologize."
Harmony scowled insolently. "No!"
"Ma'am," Gunn said firmly, raising his hand. A circle of curious bystanders had formed around them. "Perhaps you should have your son checked. This is my name and number. You can send your hospital bills to that address and I will gladly pay for them." The woman was momentarily appeased as she accepted Gunn's business card and walked away with her son. "Let's go, Harmony." Gunn whispered, walking back to where his car was parked.
"I don't like the park anymore." She told him, her dark eyes brimming with tears. "I hate boys even more."
Gunn laughed, somewhat relieved by the declaration. "How about you tell me what happened, Harm." He said as they entered his car. She scooted into the front seat and Gunn buckled her up.
Harmony pouted. "I was playing with the other children and that boy threw sand at us and said girls were stupid. He got sand in our eyes and then I got mad."
"And then?" Harmony looked at him hesitantly. "You have to tell Gunn, Harm."
"I felt funny inside and I bit his arm. It was tasty." She smiled, still tasting the boy's blood in her lips. It felt awfully good to hurt him back.
"Why did he call you a monster, baby girl?"
"Because my face was all bumpy and he said I looked like a monster. I'm not a monster, am I, Gunn?" She looked worried as hurt flickered in her eyes.
He offered her a smile. "No, Harm. You're not a monster and girls are not stupid. That boy was just being nasty." He reassured her.
"Am I in trouble again? For biting?" She knew Angel would not be happy to hear that she made a boy cry.
Gunn smiled at her. "No, you're not in trouble again." He reassured her. "How about we get some dinner? All you've had was candy all day. You must be starved."
"She had her game face on." Spike rectified as he and the group glanced at Harmony who was napping on Angel's sofa. She had fallen asleep in Gunn's car on the way back to Wolfram and Hart.
Wesley looked pensive and Angel worried. "We assumed Harmony had been turned into a human child when she was cursed." He drawled.
"Well, she is human. The sun had no effect on her." Gunn affirmed.
"The mage's curse must have done something wonky to her." Spike declared, pursing his lips. "So Harm really bit the little ponce hard?"
Gunn nodded. "She definitely showed him who's boss."
"Poor thing." Lorne murmured with a sigh. "The little beanpole must have been scared out of her wits. Being called a monsteris going to cost her years of therapy." The group shot Lorne looks. "Oh, you know what I mean, you grumpy pants."
"So what is she, Wes? Vampire or human?" Angel asked.
"She's an anomaly." Wesley replied with a heavy sigh.
Spike scoffed. "Well, that's a refreshing name." He sarcastically declared. "Call the bit a freak already, why don't you?"
"Harmony is neither vampire nor human." Wesley clarified, pointedly looking at Spike. "When the mage cursed her, it allowed Harmony to be both. She lives, breathes like any other human child-"
"But her demon is still there." Angel whispered gloomily. "How do we fix it?"
Wesley shook his head. "We can't fix. If we undo the curse, then I suppose it would be fixed."
"And why should we even try fixing it, peaches?" Spike interjected irritably. "She has the best of both worlds, something that every bloody vampire out there wants. It's like having the power of the Gem of Amara in her blood."
"Even it if was possible," Wesley interrupted them before Spike and Angel got into a heated verbal sparring. "There is no need. She has three weeks left as a child and then she's back to her old self."
"Or eaten." Fred pointed out.
"Or eaten." Wesley concurred.
"We won't let that happen." Angel firmly vowed.
Lorne frowned. "Hold up, kiddies. I wasn't there when all the cursing began but are you sure the mage meant she has three weeks left?"
"Yes, why?" Gunn replied.
"What if he meant Princess Harm over there has a three week window to get eaten?" He pointed out, smiling at the sleeping child. She was curled on the sofa, a blanket over her shoulders, half her face covered by her blonde hair.
Wesley pursed his lips. "It's possible."
"It only means we have to work faster to undo the spell and keep a closer eye on her." Angel stated. Everyone nodded in agreement. "Alright, we'll work again in the morning."
"What about Harmony? She can't sleep here."
The group looked around at each other. "I'd take her in but I have a bachelor pad." Gunn said.
"I have serious demon bar hopping to do tonight." Lorne declared.
"I'm going out to patrol." Spike declared.
Angel arched an eyebrow and looked at him questioningly. "Patrol?"
"Well, someone's got to do your job now that you've turned all corporate." Spike retorted with a snide smirk. "Forgotten about the little people in the mean streets of L.A., have we now, peaches?"
"Harmony can bunk with me." Fred offered quietly.
"Right then. That's settled."
"Wait!" Angel protested. "What if she wakes up in the middle of the night and decides to eat you?"
Fred laughed. "She's just a little girl, Angel."
"We have to be cautious, Fred." Angel insisted.
"He's right." Wesley agreed.
"I'll take her." Angel declared as he walked over to Harmony, lifted her in to his arms. The group looked skeptical. "I'll take her." He repeated with finality and the group dispersed.
Thanks to Brigurl, Cordyfan and Jewel for your reviews. A cute moment with Harm and Angel is soon to follow.
I also have a throwback with Dru and Darla. It's still in the works but if anyone's interested in reading it, let me and I'll post it.
Please review!