Spike entered Giles' home quietly. He didn't feel like slamming the door as usual and Giles took note that the vampire seemed down and not as enthusiastic as usual. In fact, Spike had been home a full thirty seconds and he hadn't insulted Giles once.
"You're back early." Giles commented and leafed through his book whilst glancing up at the vampire. Spike shrugged and sat on a chair opposite the watcher tracing patterns on the tabletop. "Is something wrong?"
"Didn't feel like staying out tonight. Too many memories." The blond replied and sighed unnaturally. Spike never sighed; he always seemed too worked up to sigh. Indeed Spike was usually a ball of energy, but now he was...calm. And it unnerved Giles.
"Memories of your siblings?" Giles pushed gently with his questions. If Spike was going to act like this he was going to try and get back the old version. This Spike couldn't be trusted. He didn't know how he was going to react.
Spike just nodded.
Giles leaned back in his chair and took off his glasses to clean them. "Do you want to talk about it?" Spike lifted his head and watched the man polish his specs.
"Vamps don't talk about their feelings. We're not s'posed to have any 'member?" Giles nodded and sat back leaning slightly towards the other man now. "Can't talk to anyone bout it. They wouldn't understand anyway."
"How about you just tell me their names?" Giles explained himself when the vampire glared at him. "For information purposes. Not to let out your feelings or anything. I could threaten to stake you if you like." Giles hoped feigning a need for information would let the vampire explain what he was feeling. Spike seemed so weak.
The vampire grinned and sat up straighter. "Yeah. I could do that. For information purposes only though. But if I accidentally slip into revealing anything about my feelings, you'll just have to deal with it." When Giles nodded and smiled at the fact that the vampire had caught on, Spike took an unneeded breath and began from the beginning.
He knew most of the details; Angelus had taken pride in explaining all of his beautiful creations known as his childer.
"Laura's the eldest."
&&&
1839
Darla watched her childe return home from the bedroom window. But he was not alone. Someone was bundled in his arms. She couldn't tell who it was or even if she knew them at all. Little did she know what her childe had in store. Darla hurried down the stairs to meet her boy and his cargo.
"Oh Angelus, she's beautiful..." the elder vampire purred to her lover and looked over the girl spread across the sofa. The girl's brown hair was tangled slightly and lay across her face, but it was not enough to hide the pale skin beneath. The girl was only slight in build and had the perfect figure that any woman of the time would rival. Darla took to her immediately.
"She's mine." Angelus purred and brushed away a few strands of hair away from the girl's forehead. The girl stirred slightly and moved her hand to clutch at the man's.
"What is she called?" Darla asked and wrapped her arms around Angelus' neck still peering adoringly at the girl that lay before them. Before Angelus could answer, there was a reply from the sofa.
Both vampires looked to see the girl wide-awake and watching them with brown eyes rimmed with gold. "Laura. My name is Laura."
&&&
"Darla used to love Laura. And it was just the three of them for a while. Since Laura was Angelus' first childe, Darla helped to teach him how to raise her and they all got close because of it." Spike sipped the blood that Giles had got him from the kitchen and paused to look at the swirling red liquid.
"Then what happened?" Giles interrupted the vampire's memories and jogged him back to the conversation. Spike paused for a while before smiling and continuing.
"Michael."
&&&
1842
The music echoed off the walls and reverberated into the ears of everyone in the room. It was so spectacular that everyone there was enthralled with the sounds and soon forgot their conversations. It was a paradise for anyone who wanted to be there. But not everyone did.
Angelus smiled and slowly made his way round the room to the corner near the buffet. And what a selection there was this evening. Traditional frown plastered on his face, black hair scruffy and hastily thrown back into a ponytail stood the one. His one. The one that was soon to become his. He was perfect and ready.
Making his way through the crowd and hastily pushing away the mortals that got too close, Angelus was soon next to the man. Still holding onto the beauty of youth stood the one. Brown eyes did not hide the fact that the man didn't want to be there. Angelus smiled and stood directly in the young man's gaze, gaining a disregarded look.
"And I wonder just why someone as attractive as yerself cannot enjoy a mere party." The vampire smirked when the man tensed slightly at the compliment. Obviously not used to men playing with words to another man. He'd have to teach him.
"I'm enjoying myself just fine sir thank you." The young man muttered and brushed a stray hair from his eyes. He went to move away from the looming figure but was stopped by a firm hand on his arm.
"Nay." Angelus shifted his weight slightly closer and smiled as the man tensed. "I can see it in those eyes Michael. You're not enjoying yerself one bit." Angelus whispered. Gently leaning inwards he had to restrain himself when there was a gasp of breath. No use changing face when he wasn't ready.
"How...how do you..."
"Come with me Michael. Come with me to a place rid of this. No hustle and bustle. No crowd. No hiding. Nothing you don't want. Come with me. Will ye come with me now?" Angelus felt his mouth shift but not his forehead. Good, no one would notice if they were quiet. "I can give you everything."
"I...I will." Angelus smiled. There was no way he was letting his boy go now. He had been charmed and was now waiting. Waiting for the moment. Now.
"Close your eyes. I will take you. Me boy." Angelus didn't even bother to slap a hand to cover the man's mouth as he slid his fangs into the tender flesh. The music was strong and the dancers were creating just the correct amount of noise to cover screams of a dying man. Yes, this place was perfect.
&&&
Giles shuddered and poured himself another cup of tea. "I'm sure Angelus was proud to have his first son." How had his life come to this? From being a librarian/watcher to being a vampire counsellor.
"Oh he was. Michael could do no wrong." Spike chuckled to himself, no doubt reliving a hidden memory. "Angelus waited for a bit then. Five years. Not too long, but long enough for Michael and Laura to become accustomed to their new lives before the next."
"And who was that?" Giles asked before taking a sip of his tea.
"Sophie."
&&&
1847
"Please I need shelter. There's a storm coming and I have nowhere to go. Please Miss." He whispered in a hoarse voice. No use trying to act like a complete beggar. Manners were everything in this day and age.
"Oh you poor thing, of course. Come right in and warm yourself by the fire." She ushered him in and guided the stranger towards the fire. The poor man looked bedraggled and worn down. There was a deep scratch on his face and it looked like some sort of animal had taken a chunk from his coat and possibly his arm.
"Thank you Miss. God bless your kind soul." He eyed the crucifix on the wall wearily and sidestepped it carefully. Shrugging off the cloak he wore atop his clothes, he was delighted when the girl took it from him and hung it up. Obviously she was waiting for him to stay away.
"Please do sit down and I shall get you some food." The girl requested gently. He voice was soft as silk and floated through the air. She was just what he had been waiting these five years for. An angel.
"No Miss. Not to be ungrateful, but it would be unseemly to eat before the master of this house if you catch my meaning." He grumbled low to sound even more the beggar. She was going to be worth this undignified entry.
"That is quite alright. My father is away. I shall be the only one here for the next few days." She laughed slightly and the sound was like a soft chiming of bells. Angelus licked his lips slightly and thought of himself attached to the neck of this beautiful child.
"Perfect." He smiled and stood to his full height, pulling back his hair out of his eyes and readjusting the clothing that was twice as itchy as uncomfortable. How did the beggars do it? The girl stood back a little and watched him warily.
"Sir? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine me child." He talked smoothly, not like before and added his accent to feel more like himself. The girl looked confused and was nearing the crucifix when he changed his face. However, instead of screaming like any sane person, she merely turned to face the cross.
"Please sir. If I am about to meet God, may I talk to him first, from this plane of existence?" She had tears in her eyes and Angelus could smell the fear she was trying to mask. He approached her carefully and turned her to face him.
"Me child, I grant you permission to speak." She sighed and went to turn back, when he stopped her she looked up at him confused. "Now talk to me." Sophie never said farewell to her Lord, but greeted him the same the next evening.
&&&
"Poor girl..."
"Hey if you're going to start dissing my family's birthes then we'll stop right here right now."
"Sorry, carry on."
"Right. Kim."
&&&
1851
"Darla?" The vampire looked up to see her favoured childe holding the hand of a young girl. Darla stood and smiled. Another beautiful girl. "Isn't she perfect darling? I thought you might like her." Angelus pulled the girl forward and made sure his mate could see his new girl.
"Oh Angelus. She looks just like I did when I was human and young." Darla sighed and stroked the young girl's cheek. The girl for her part didn't move, just smiled at the compliment. "What's your name dearie?"
"Kim Madam." The girl pushed a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and curtseyed slightly. Darla laughed and pulled he girl upright. Angelus smiled and patted Kim's shoulder affectionately.
"Kim was raised well my love. Looks like I wont need to teach manners this time." Angelus grinned and received a kiss from his mate.
"She's perfect Angelus. Has she met the others?" Darla watched as the girl glanced round with wide blue eyes, obviously scared. The older vampire quickly hushed the girl and linked arms with her. "Let's go."
Angelus left the room first and went along the hallways to a room that had a lot of noise coming from it. Entering he saw just why there was so much noise. Whipping the door open and letting it reverberate off of the wall behind him, Angelus grinned at the slight startled noises he received from his childer.
"What's all this ruckus?" He growled playfully. He'd never once had to yell at his childer before. They were all perfect little angels to him and never needed any kind of punishment.
Michael grinned and immediately stood to attention and gave a mock salute to his sire. "Nothing sire. There is no ruckus sire." Angelus smiled and thwapped him playfully round the head.
Laura laughed at the display and helped Sophie back to her feet. "We were just having a discussion Sire. We're excited about our new brother or sister."
"Michael says they'll be a boy, but Laura and I know you've turned a girl. You've always liked us girls better haven't you sire?" Sophie glared over at Michael and poked out the tiniest tip of her tongue, to which Michael responded with a growl.
Angelus laughed and hugged all three to him. "I love you all equally. Now be nice." He whispered when Darla entered with Kim at her side. "This is your sister. Kim."
"But I wanted a brother!"
&&&
Giles chuckled despite himself. "Yes I suppose Michael was quite desperate for a brother. Having spent the past nine years with only Angelus as male company. It must have been quite difficult for him to live with four women."
Spike smiled and licked the trace of blood from his lips. "It soon got better. Coz now's when Darla went away for a while."
"What happened?"
"Penn."
&&&
1855
"Forgive me father. I meant not to disobey you."
"But you did you disgrace!" The larger man pushed the shorter out of the door and kicked him swiftly in the chest. The small man doubled over in pain and a loose strand of dark hair fell into his blue eyes. He stood up shakily and tried to reason with the drunken slob in the doorway.
"Please father. I did not mean to go against you. You know I would not." Penn called over the shouting from the pub doorway that his father was standing in. It was no use. The man's face was scarlet and there was no reasoning with him this time.
"Out!" The drunkard bellowed. Catching his son off guard he managed to pin the younger to a nearby wall. "I will not let you into my home until you have learned some manners boy." The whiskey in his breath burned against Penn's cheek and he longed to be anywhere else but here.
Soon enough his father had staggered back inside and there was an uproar of cheers and shouts from the tavern. Penn scrambled to his feet and ran for it. Better to get away while he still could. There was no knowing what his father would do if he stayed here.
But where to go? He couldn't go home. He had no friends to run to. No other family. He was completely alone. Sighing and sniffing away the tears that threatened to fall he began walking in no particular direction. That was when it happened.
A gang of thugs that had been watching him for weeks began to follow him. Before he knew what was happening, Penn was running through the dismal streets trying to find somewhere safe. But he had nowhere to go. He was alone.
"Quick lad, in here!"
Penn sidestepped into the empty porch and watched as the gang herded straight past them. "Thank you." He turned to find a man taller than he with the face of an Angel. Letting out a breath he didn't know he had been holding Penn gazed upon the face of his saviour. "Is there anything I can do? In return for you saving me?"
"You can stay. With me. For eternity."
As the fangs sank into his neck, Penn didn't even scream. He had found someone that understood. He was not alone.
&&&
"So Penn joined them that night? I'm sure Michael was thrilled."
"Oh he and Penn became great friends. But you know that saying, watch what you wish for?"
"Yes..."
"Prime example. Richard."
&&&
1859
"You certainly are a pretty little thing." The man growled into the boy's ear. Richard winked over the looming man's shoulder to the boys that were hiding behind him.
"That I am sir. Cheap too." He grinned when the man's eyes sparkled with lust. Oh this would be easy. Almost too easy. "I'm also very flexible and talented." The man laughed slightly and Richard could feel his excitement brushing against his leg now.
The blond haired boy tried to hide the shudder at the thought that another man would be willing to do such a thing. Not to worry though, if he could hold on a little longer he and the boys would be fed tonight. And by the feel of things, it was only a few seconds until...
"How much are you?"
Richard grinned and gave the slightest of nods to the rest of his crowd. As they ripped the man's body away from his own he laughed and watched his friends pin the man's arms and legs whilst the others searched his pockets for anything of value. "Everything you got." He smirked and stood towering above the man's face.
Of course, he would have taken more time to gloat if someone hadn't snatched him from behind and taken him down a misused alley that none of his boys went down. Shaking slightly at the thought that it could be a friend of the drunken man, Richard tried not to think of what they would do to him. Instead, he bit the hand covering his mouth and turned to face his attacker. If living on the streets had taught him one thing, it was that you could win any fight with your teeth.
"Calm yourself lad. I was only trying to help." The stranger chuckled and pulled the boy closer to himself. Richard pulled away again and stood a good few paces back from the man. The figure was tall and daunting. Not someone you wanted to mess with.
"Help? How is gagging me and dragging me away from my friends help?" He tried to back up more when the man took another step forward but was stopped by the wall against his back.
"Because," the dark haired stranger continued, "I can give you a family. I can stop this and give you a home. Forever." The man smiled and pinned Richard between himself and the wall. "Forever."
The blond struggled and tried to call out when the man bit him. To no avail. He was going to have family whether he wanted it or not.
&&&
"I don't understand what this has to do with 'watching what you wish for'."
"If you'd stop interrupting you'd understand wouldn't you?"
"Sorry. Carry on."
"James."
&&&
1861
Green eyes peered into the darkness and he increased his pace slightly. Whoever was following him had been doing so for a while and did not seem to want to give up soon. The wind was picking up speed and he had to get home soon before the weather became worse.
Moving towards the street that his house was located on James' breath caught in his throat when he felt the breeze catch his hair and almost whisper his name. But that was ridiculous. He was hearing things. Perhaps it was best if he went home and rested for a while. His thoughts were running away from him again.
Of course, when it did it again he wasn't so sure of his thoughts.
The trees were not rustling as much as they should if the wind was strong enough to ruffle his hair. The breeze was not coming in regular intervals either; it was in short sharp hitches and made a chill run down his neck. He wrapped the overcoat of his around himself and quickened his step. He needed to rest.
James was three steps from home when he felt the hand clasp onto his shoulder. He was turned around swiftly until he found himself facing his pursuer. Releasing a breath he didn't know he had been holding, James managed to ruffle the few loose strands of the man's hair. The colour of the man's hair was exactly the same as his own in texture and he wished that he could touch it.
"And may I ask why you were running from me child?" The man's voice was soft and smooth. It was so calming that James forgot that he was caught in the arms of a stranger and possible threat.
"I...I was scared." He admitted. "I thought that you could be a thief or dangerous or...something." James blushed when he though about what he'd just said. The man had taken the breath from his lungs and he was finding it hard to form words whilst under his gaze.
"Are you scared now child?" The man whispered and James felt himself being pulled slightly closer to the taller figure.
"Yes sir." He replied in a hushed voice. The man was too close for comfort now, and he could feel the breeze from before on the back of his neck.
"Then you are no fool." James heard the man utter before he felt the sharp pain in his neck.
&&&
"I still don't see what..."
"Shh! You're missing the good bit. Chris."
&&&
1863
"Well? Have you learned anything Michael?" Angelus purred and lent his head back against the thigh of James. For some reason, the boy liked to play with his hair. He was surrounded by all of his childer in the sitting room of their mansion.
Michael nodded from his perch next to Penn and opposite Angelus. He looked at the new brother he had nestled in his Sire's arms. He should never have asked for a new brother. Now he had four. But he had to admit they were all great.
Richard and James were sitting behind their sire, James was stroking Angelus' hair and Richard was talking to his younger sibling about their new brother. Michael had no doubt that the three of them combined would be a powerful force not to be reckoned with.
Laura, Sophie and Kim were sulking after having another younger brother brought home. The three were constantly asking their sire for a little sister. They were sick of being the only girls in the house, in their opinion; it was good the Darla was home.
Their grandsire was seated beside her childe and looking over Christopher with piercing eyes. The young fledge was fast asleep in Angelus' arms and their sire was watching him sleep whilst talking to his sire. The new boy's sandy hair kept falling in his eyes and Angelus kept brushing it back out again.
Darla stood and motioned for the girls to follow her. They did so and Angelus also rose form his seat on the floor to place Christopher along the sofa James and Richard were on. They shifted happily and began chattering to their newest brother. Richard hadn't been so excited since Angelus brought James home.
Penn was soon talking to Michael and Angelus smiled whilst looking over his boys. Christopher would fit in perfectly. But Darla was correct the girls were outnumbered slightly. Time for a new daughter.
&&&
"I see. Michael soon had four brother simply because he asked for one?"
"Well Angelus always liked having new childer, and he did like all his boys. But I think some of their turning was because he wanted to teach Michael a lesson."
"I see. So who was the next girl?"
"Rebecca."
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1867
It had taken four years. Four years of fights, fists and fangs. But he had found her. The girls had been going crazy with so many boys around all the time. And the boys were going mad with the girls always complaining. It was common sense that childer of the same gender usually got on well. It was only when they were mixed that there were fights.
Just to add to the tension, his childer hadn't had anyone new for a while. Four years was the longest all of them had been together without anyone new to introduce. When a new childer was brought home, they always had someone to go to if things got too much. Someone who new to being a vampire, someone that they could teach or just plain talk too without getting into a five year long argument.
So he was walking home with his newest girl. She was slight and very beautiful. Her brown hair was perfect and Sophie would have hours of fun plaiting it and trying out new styles. Her green eyes were perfect and he knew that Laura would have fun trying to make them stand out more. Also, she seemed to be a good talker. So Kim would be kept amused. Also, there was another good thing about his new baby.
Rebecca had grown up with four elder brothers.
&&&
"So I suppose she was not too daunted by the new overly large family?"
"Oh no. Not Becky. There was something that Angelus didn't take into account when he turned her."
"And that is?"
"Becky was exactly like her brothers. A complete tomboy if ever there was one."
"In that day and age?"
Spike nodded and licked the remainder of blood from his lips. "But we're not done yet. Nick."
&&&
1870
He waited silently and didn't make a sound as the boy ran straight into where he was waiting. The rain was pelting down around them. Puddles were appearing here and there, and the bridge that they were under was the only sanctuary from the beating water.
Angelus smiled at the young man and offered him a cigarette even thought he knew the boy would refuse. As predicted, Nicholas shook his head but took a step closer to the vampire as he lit up. Angelus blew out a stream of smoke into the rain and watched as some droplets fell into a large puddle.
"So." Nicholas began. "Where were you heading when the rain began?" Angelus smiled and took a step closer to the boy. Nicholas didn't even step back. He merely smiled and lent back against the wall as the vampire was doing.
"I was looking for someone." Angelus replied and looked back out to the rain. He knew that the boy was curious now. Nicholas was a curious boy.
"Well who were you looking for? I might know them." Nicholas smiled and watched as the vampire blew a smoke ring away from them both.
Angelus smirked and threw the cigarette to the floor, crushing it beneath his heel. He then turned completely to face Nicholas and reached out to grab his hand. "Of course you do child. Of course you do."
The cigarette's light stopped flickering as Nicholas let out his last breath and sank against Angelus' chest.
&&&
"So I'm led to believe that Drusilla and Yourself are the last two childer?"
"Yup. Wanna hear about Dru?"
&&&
1873
Angelus burst through the door with the girl in his arms and a grin on his face. "This is it my loves." He called into the room filled with his childer. He was holding lucky number eleven in his arms.
"Another sister?" Laura was excited.
"She's pretty." Sophie was already thinking of dressing up the girl.
"What's her name Sire?" Christopher was thinking on a more basic level.
"Is she the girl you've been taunting?" Nicholas was happy at not being the youngest any more.
"Is she insane like you said Sire?" Penn wanted to know everything.
"He never said she was insane." Kim had to disagree with her brother.
"Yes he did!" Michael is quick to jump to Penn's defence.
"He said she had visions. She's seer." Rebecca clarified.
"He said she was insane!" James joined the side of his brothers.
"Did not!" Richard was for once agreeing with his sister.
Soon Angelus was standing in the middle of a full-blown argument. He sighed and sat down with Drusilla on his lap. Of course, the debate went on and on whilst Darla and Angelus were comforting Drusilla when she woke up.
The argument kept going into the early hours of the morning, when all good childer should be asleep.
&&&
"Extraordinary."
"Of course, that's when Angelus decided no more childer. Eleven was enough, and any more meant that there would be more fights. It was bad enough already."
"But you..."
"Seven years between me and Dru. That's the longest span of time between two of Angelus' childer. Work it out watcher, I was an accident."
Haha! Keep you guessing for William's turning...am I evil? Please review if you want more. I stand by what I said before. More reviews mean a happier Higgy. And a happier Higgy writes more fanfic. And more fanfic means more reading. Continue the circle and the fic gets completed earlier. See? Everybody wins!