"Peaches!"

Angel sighed and leaned back in his chair. Spike had had the kitten for barely a day and already the little beast had attacked three pairs of his socks, clawed at his desk and left him some 'presents' on his office floor. And it was called Peaches.

Thunder was crashing round outside and there was a kitten on the loose. Add in a frantic four-year-old and you've got trouble.

Angel wondered if the big Spike inside little Spike was trying to annoy him with the well-known nickname of Peaches. Either way the kitten had been christened Peaches and it was bugging the hell out of him. Last night had been awful. The second night of Spike being little and now he had a kitten to care for as well. Spike had gone to sleep as peacefully as before and Angel had managed to persuade him to leave Peaches in his office to prevent the hairs from getting over everything.

Fate had other ideas.

Later that night Spike had the same dream about the 'scary demons' and was sick again. Angel had cleaned it up and tried to calm down his childe, to no avail. No matter how many times he had rocked Spike and tried to hush him, the boy still cried and cried. Finally at around three in the morning Angel had taken Spike downstairs to get him some blood and left him on the sofa while he went into the kitchen. When he came back, Spike was curled up fast asleep with Peaches in his embrace. Angel had had to carry them both upstairs to his bed and let them sleep it off while he kept an eye on them in case Spike was sick again.

Now it was two in the afternoon the following day and Angel was watching his childe hunt for the ginger fur ball while thunder crashed around the sky outside. "Peaches!" Spike yelled again while crawling round the floor of the office. Angel rolled his eyes and didn't bother to help look. This had been going on since Spike took his eyes off the fur ball around half an hour ago. Last time he had tried to help, Spike had insisted that he was scaring Peaches off and pushed him away to do research. "Where are you Peaches?"

"Spike? Maybe your kitten went for a walk somewhere. He's probably fine. Why don't you come here and read a book?" Angel suggested trying to detour Spike from crawling round his ankles.

"But what if he's losted? And what if he's hurted? We might not find him never 'gain!" Spike pointed out and kept searching. "'Sides," the boy continued, "Can't read." Peaches had been not been hiding long and Angel was in no hurry to find the little sock chewer. The longer it was out of the way the better. Another crash and flash of thunder and lightning sent Spike clinging to his Sire's leg. When Spike's bottom lip began to tremble and the boy burst into tears Angel wished that the kitten was here so Spike wasn't worried for it's welfare.

"Hey come on now Sweetling. I'm sure kitty's fine." Angel picked up the crawling boy and sat him on his lap. Angel rocked Spike back and forth while he sobbed into the older vampire's chest. Spike's whines were that of pure sadness and it almost broke Angel's heart to remember that William used to whine like that so long ago. Five minutes passed with nothing but Spike's tears soaking into Angel's shirt before Spike could talk again.

"'S no...an...bad...an didn' wanna an...'s all wron...wasn't sposed...i...'s no...no here...an no safe...or nothing...an...DADDY!" If you could call the random vowel sounds talking. Angel sighed and rocked Spike a little longer, letting the boy sob harder as thunder rattled the windows.

"I'm here Sweetling." He mumbled into Spike's little ear. If it would stop the child from crying then it would be worth a chance. "Daddy's here. Stop crying now baby it's all right. Kitty's fine. I swear." The comforting words did nothing to calm Spike down. The next lightning flash sent him screaming into Angel's chest and trying to share his sire's skin. It seemed that the poor boy was terrified.

Now Spike was screaming into Angel's chest and making random vowel sounds while sobbing hysterically. Angel tried to pry away the little boy's face so he could see into his eyes and try to calm him down. Spike however, wasn't having any of it. Soon enough, the boy was screaming harder and refusing to lift his head.

Angel sat back and wrapped his arms tightly around his screaming childe. Stroking what he hoped were soothing circles on Spike's back, he waited for Spike to finish his panic attack. By now Angel was getting pretty panicky himself. Other than 'Daddy' a few minutes ago, Spike's words were making no sense and Angel desperately wanted them to make sense. He could deal with things that made sense. He dealt every day with things that made sense. But this... he sighed and used his vampire strength to pull Spike away.

"WILLIAM!" Angel relaxed slightly when Spike's scream stopped but frowned again when Spike tried to burrow back into his chest. He pulled the boy back and made sure he was sitting properly on his lap before talking slowly and carefully to his still trembling childe. "William my boy." He used a finger to trace the outline of Spike's chin before gently beginning to stroke the child's face. "Tell Sire what's wrong. I'll make it all better." Spike sniffled and Angel used a tissue to wipe away the tears before holding it on Spike's nose. "Blow, no one likes a mucky pup."

When Spike was done Angel made sure that his face was clean before lifting the boy in his arms, standing up and settling him gently on his hip. "Now," he ignored the thunder from outside and tried to stop Spike from curling up again. "Tell Sire what's wrong while we look for kitty." Angel made his way from the office with Spike balanced on his hip. The fact that Spike had Angel blankie wrapped in his fist didn't escape Angel either as they went down the main staircase.

Spike began talking when they were on the main lobby floor. "'S stormy. Don't like storms much. 'Member when I was scared before and my daddy used to hold me and purr like Peaches does. But now I can't find my daddy an' I can't find Peaches an' it's all stormy and scary outside." Angel secured Spike's position and nodded slightly to indicate that he had been listening while looking. "Want my Peaches. Member that Peaches used to look after me."

"Hey Boss. Wes just sent up some files to your office. Saying he found something on the Spike case." Harmony appeared from her desk and approached the older vampire. She grinned and ruffled Spike's hair before continuing. "He said he'd be there himself but Illyria wanted him to go with her somewhere. I don't know." And with one bounce of her blonde locks and click of her pink heels, she was behind her unicorn-covered desk again filing her nails.

Angel rolled his eyes and shook his head. He took Spike and began looking in all the corners of the main lobby. Spike had been silent over the past few minutes, he soon found out why. The child was fast asleep with his head resting on Angel's shoulder and face pressed against his Angel blankie while sucking on his thumb. Angel smiled and made his way back to the office. It seemed that all the screaming and crying had worn out Spike.

Going up the stairs slowly as not to wake a napping Spike and still keeping a lookout for the bundle of fur he made his way back to the office. Spike could take a nap on his couch while he read the files.

He opened the door and was met by the sight of Wesley trying to calm Illyria who had a struggling Nina grasped by the throat. He stood there for a few moments before it all registered. He snapped out of his daze when Spike fidgeted and whimpered in his arms. Turning to the others he spoke in a hushed whisper. "Quiet! He's napping!"

Surprisingly enough they all obeyed. Wesley shut up, Illyria released her captive and Nina moved well away from the ex-goddess before storming over to Angel and staring at the boy in his arms. She stood flabbergasted for a few moments before turning to face Angel. "Since when do you have a kid? I thought vampire's couldn't."

Angel raised a hand to stop her questions and walked over to lay Spike on the couch, Illyria's gaze never wavered from the boy. "He's not my kid. Well he is...but not this old." He sighed and took a moment to think about how to explain this. "It's Spike. He's been turned into a kid by something and we need to turn him back."

"Oh right." She looked distastefully over the sleeping boy and almost immediately turned back to Angel. "He's the annoying peroxide English git who hates me?" Angel sighed, as did Wesley while Illyria nodded.

"He is correct to despise you." She replied in her monotone voice. "You were scaring his pet."

"What?"

"What?"

"What?"

Illyria looked at each individual who answered before lifting her other hand that had been unnoticed before now. Angel ran forward and went to lift the overlooked, if slightly ruffled, kitten from Illyria's grip. However, before he could Illyria stopped him with a glare before turning back to Nina. "She was scaring this creature that belongs to the child."

Wesley finally spoke up. "It's because she is a were wolf Illyria. She has an element of canine in her." Illyria cocked her head to the side in confusion so he explained. "She is as normal Spike would say, a dog-girl. Peaches must have been afraid of her."

"That still does not explain as to why the 'dog girl' had the kitten in the first place." The ex-goddess glared at the woman again before looking softly back at the still thumb-sucking Spike.

Nina turned back to Angel to explain. Surely he'd understand. "The poor thing was outside in the storm, I brought him in because it was scared. Kitten's shouldn't be left out in a storm." She fluttered her eyelashes and acted the sweet innocent schoolgirl at the vampire and hoped he'd understand. He merely nodded and went to sit at his desk piled with files.

Wesley had begun discussing Spike's condition and possible cure while Illyria studied the ginger fur ball more closely and Nina walked around glaring at the blue haired woman. All was peaceful...for about two minutes.

"PEACHES!" ############

Well? You like? Oh and for those who were asking. Penn was Angelus' first childe. (As far as we can tell form the series) he was a ruthless killer who instead of being 'artistic' decided to re-enact the murders of his family for the next century or so. Basically he was a sappy Christian who Angelus turned and made evil. Kate the cop killed him in AtS season one.

Also, I am aware that Darla sired Angel(us) sired Dru sired Spike. But I am a serious ASSer (Angel Sired Spike for all those who don't know) and I love to explore this side of their relationship. Sorry if I have caused any confusion, but it's call fan FICTION for a reason.

Thanks for all your reviews and votes for the names. The final score was, Peaches: 22 Socks: 4 It was kinda one sided. Luv Higgy xxx. P.s. Mimi please dear god don't stop giving me ideas for Care! I really need them and you are helping so much! Thank you! If any one else had any ideas please do tell me!!! P.P.S. Red's cat Ginny has now had 5 beautiful kittens!!! I am going to be stealing a ginger boy who will be called William the Bloody. Will for short. He will be the biggest baddest kitten in the town.