The usual disclaimers just see all the other stories.
Yes still evilly no Beta and me grammar bad.
Once again, Angel found himself in his office at the Hyperion. Tilting his head back and looking to the ceiling, he sighed. On that note, he heard the squeals of Cordelia and Fred.
Walking out to the lobby Angel called to the two ladies but before he could say another word Cordelia rushed up to him.
"Angel couldn't you at least dressed up a little. You look like you just got out of bed," Shaking her finger in his face and frowning, "This is the first time a vision of mine will pay off in something other than demon gore and dry cleaning bills so don't ruin it or so help me…"
Fred squeaked jumping up and down as she looked out the window, "They're here and would you look at that limo. Oh my gosh there getting out," another quiet gasp, "they're gorgeous!"
Cordelia races to the window looking out but quickly pulls back adjusts her skirt and her smile and walks gracefully to the front door to open it.
Cordelia beams at the two men standing in the door each with a suitcase in one hand and a leather duster thrown over their shoulders, "Please come in we've been expecting you". She graciously stepped back so the two men can enter. "I'd like to introduce Winifred Burkle and Angel."
"Yes indeed," the dark haired man steps towards Angel with his hand out to shake his hand, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm Wesley Wymdam Pryce of W & W Pryce brothers incorporated."
Stepping up to Fred and Cordelia Spike gives the ladies a warm open smile, "And I'm the other W in that name," bowing to the women he reaches out taking Fred's hand and placing a gentle kiss on the back of her hand, "William Wyndam-Pryce at your service Winifred. Word of warning Winfred my brother might be looking to add another W to the family business."
"It's just Fred really everybody just calls me Fred . I'm a physicist but I was stuck in Pylea for five years so I'm just getting caught up…."
Cordelia quickly elbows Fred in the ribs and gives her a scowl.
Fred looks confused and then she remembers what Cordy told her, "Oh, Oh yeah it's a pleasure to meet you." shaking his hand a wide grin plastered across her face and as and after thought she gives a little curtsey.
"It's a delight to meet you miss…Fred, beauty and brains what a treasure you are." William gives her an amused smile as he turns to Cordelia, "May I be so bold as to ask your name my fair lady."
Cordelia giggles, "Fair lady's (raising an eyebrow) "name is Cordelia, Mister Pryce."
"Please do me the honor of calling me William. Fair lady is what came to mind as you greeted us at the door. ' taking Cordelia hand and places a kiss there. Then he looked up at her with the sparkling blue eyes. " You see I remember my mother reading me stories of fairy tale princess who were the fairest in the land. I never dream I would get to meet such a beauty."
Angel groans 'OH brother!"
Cordelia and Fred both give Angel poisonous looked.
Wesley leans in and whispers in Angel's ear, "Corny perhaps to you and I but believe me when I say it works for him, always does." Raising his voice, "William please come meet Angelus scrounge of Europe…"
"Certainly", nodding to the ladies he turns on his heels facing Angel extending his hand "an honor to meet the first souled vampire,"
Angel smirks "The one and only," leaning in to whisper in Williams ear, "please don't kiss my hand, wanker." pulling back and raising his voice for the others to hears "just call me Angel."
As Angel applies pressure to the handshake William pulls him close and whispers, "You can kiss my arse you burk." raising his voice to normal, "not the only".
"Well credit where credit is due. Angel was the inspiration for returning your soul when you were turned little brother." Wesley politely points out.
Cordelia in a surprised voice, "So blondie is the vampire ! Here I thought it was you the guy who's all dark and broody looking."
"Nope he's the bookworm, I'm the vamp", stepping closer to Cordelia, "The one with the long endurance, strong", William smirks at her, "by the way my nickname is Spike".
Cordelia with a grin, "Spike huh there has to be a story behind that one."
"Consent to accompany me to the governors for dinner tonight and I promise to tell you the story." Spike eye's twinkle and he gives her a leer. Turning towards Fred, "Seeing how my big brother is a bit shy would you fair Fred do me a favor and accompany my brother if for nothing else but to keep him out of trouble." turning to Cordelia "I'm afraid all of my attention will be diverted elsewhere".
Wesley stepped up to the two ladies, "Please don't feel obligated and forgive my brother. This weekend we were guests of honor at a renaissance festival and it seems my little brother still wants to play the white knight."
"
Well both Mister W. Wyndham-Pryce I speak for both damsel and say we would love…uhmmm be honored to dine with you " beaming Cordelia answers for both of them. " what time?"
"Cocktail at 7 dinner at nine." Spike
"Great we have to go shopping, formal right." as he nods his head yes, she grabs Fred heading for the door, "toodles till tonight." and they are out the door.
Wesley moves next to his brother looking to the door the women disappeared out of "shy brother?"
"She's perfect for you, brains, beauty, innocent charm much like yourself sweet big brother."
With a look of distain, "You little brother are incorrigible ," looking towards Angel "how do you know one of those young ladies aren't his?"
Smirking Spike looked to his brother, "elementary did Wesley I read Angel here can't get a happy as Americans say so stands to reason can't get can't give. Those two look like they want to be happy", smirk growing wider, "very happy".
Angel made a lunge at Spike intuitively Spike raised the case in his hand batting Angel away. Perhaps? A little harder than intended, the blow sends Angel crashing into the settee in the lobby sending both crashing into the wall.
Wesley sighs shaking his head 'not again "Please forgive my brothers crass behavior. I assure you no insult was intended towards you or the ladies….."
In that, moment came the sound of breaking glass and the thundering of hoofs and a sulfuric mist enters the lobby.
"Good lord it looks as if Miss Chase vision was correct that has to be Manticore has come to life." Wesley snatches his suitcase throwing it open.
"You mean the one you said didn't exist except in the over active imagination of ….." Spike said as he rose up from his suitcase he had thrown to the floor battle-ax in hand.
Wesley rose up with broadsword in hand , "yes one and the same," swinging the blade a couple of time before taking a firm two handed grip.
"Cor it stinks, is that the lions body that has that odor?" Spike wrinkled up his nose after having errantly taken a deep sniff "glad I'm not the one who has to breathe", gracing Wesley with a mischievous smile. But then again may be it reminds you of the date you had from the kelton dimension. I see a family resemblance I do believe." Spike smirked as he swung the wickedly sharp battle-axe back and forth in front of hi
"Her name may have been kit but she certainly didn't have the body of a lion. Nor did she have red hair much like a witch we both know. Please take note this beast as a human and definitely masculine face and I do believe the same shade of blue eyes as you." Wesley grinned as he teased his brother.
Spike straightens and looks the beast over "Yes but with three rows of teeth. Bonus features a ball of what I believe to be poisonous spines at the end of his tail. He no where near as pretty as I."
Swinging his axe with lightening speed in front of Wesley, "Oh joy more fun to be had he can launch those spine into the air just like arrows."
As a stunned, Angel sits up in time to see the two brother's step up to meet the demon.
In effortless harmonization, the two brothers went against the beast, only being able to watch as the beast took his stance in front of the weapons case.
As the brothers maneuvered the beast away from the cabinet Angel retrieve his sword to join the brothers to battle the two Manticores.
An hour later the three sat on the floor exhausted and covered in gore, "Explain this all again to me," Angel holds his head.
It's this way peaches, that little beauty of yours called said you have a demon problem you couldn't handle no surprise there," growl from Angel and snort from spike. "my charming brother check out vision girl and you found you legit and given the chance to see and get samples from what the beast your girl described we came we saw we sliced and diced but the only thing I'm cleaning up is me so off to the showers for me."
Waving as he headed towards the shower Angel had mentioned Spike called over his shoulder, "Wes don't forget the date tonight and the date is with something you don't have to eviscerate."
As Wesley and Angel sat on the floor
"Was your brother this tireless before he was a vamp?"
"Always, always frustrating full of nervous energy got us in more then one scrape growing up." Wesley sighed falling back comfortably on the settee they had again up righted.
"Please tell me how your brother was turned", as he fell down on the settee beside Wesley.
Well it happened while we were at the watchers academy. Yes family tradition watchers the lot of us. Alarmed sounded and we all ran to check it out. William being a person of action was first down the stairs. A vampiress was trying to breach security with what must have been twenty vampires. They had taken everyone by surprise no one believe any vampire would attack the watchers academy the audaciousness of it.
Wesley had grown quiet as the memory played out before his eyes as if he were watching a movie.
"my first encounter with vampire….I saw…it grab my brother ….I froze….the bite….the blood running down his neck……I….I…"shaking his head, "I didn't know what to do."
Angel looked at the distraught man "There was nothing you could do".
Wesley's voice took on a bitter edge, "Yes there were a number of things I could have done. I could have watched out for my impulsive baby brother, as was my responsibility. I could have staked the vampire before she drained him. I could have prevented him from being carried off and fed her blood in the ritual turning. If I hadn't been a weakling and coward I would have staked my brother when he a rose two nights later."
As softly and gently as he could Angel asked, "Why didn't you?"
Attempting to control the tears in his eyes, so painful still even after all this time "I found his makeshift grave she had put him in and I waited two nights by that dirt filled hole. Two long nights' cold, damp, and lonely nights. Finally, around two in the morning on the second night the earth started to move. I rose up on my knees facing the grave I held on to the stake in my hands so tightly I thought it would splinter. Seemed like I held that position for hours waiting just waiting. Finally hands broke thought the soft damp earth. Clawing at the dirt, I watched my baby brothers broken, bloody fingers clawing frantically to get out of that grave. On my knees, I crawled a few feet further away as his head came out of the dirt. My heart stopped as a distressed keening sound came from him, there were tears in his eyes, he was gulping for air" swallowing hard he shut his eyes and Wesley continued.
Laughing harshly Wesley looked at Angel, "Here my baby brother who I killed and who I had just let crawl out of the dirt because I couldn't bring myself to dig him up. Did I see a fiend ….no I saw him with my heart.
Want to know what I saw Angel I saw William….baby Will…dirty face crying looking up at me….voice crackling looking up at me to make it better. ……knocked him out…fledge he was very weak so I took him back home…basement and by jove I made it better. Swore I would make it better…..like when he broken a toy…make it better Bestley make it better Bestley."
Wesley wiped the tears from his face, "He couldn't control his demon face, and the fangs made him lisp a bit. All I saw was my little brother. I feed him blood I appropriated from different sources then mixed with a little of my own."
"Probably coincidence or maybe providence but he called me Bestley just like he did when he was little. Each time he mispronounced my name I felt my heart swell a bit. I was his Best..ly who could make it all right.
"I'm surprised the watchers council and your family didn't step in and a…a…take matters into their own hands." Angel watched Wesley's face apprehensively.
Ominous chuckle "They tried, oh they tried." slapping his thigh "but enough of the past the future awaits and pardon me for being blunt but my future has a beautiful woman in it so I best make myself presentable. Angel you're more then welcome to come along…"
"No, No thank you but I have some business to attend to tonight "Angel gave him a cheerless smile
Later that evening:
Angel sighed as he watched the couples leave the Hyperion and as soon as they were gone he beseeched the heavens "Please this one isn't right either."
"By the burning fire of Hades what could possibly be wrong? He has it all!"
Angel spins to see Ethan sitting on the reception desk giving him a confounded look.
"Everything seems fine with Spike", Angel walks over and fumbles with some files on the counter, "at least on the surface but the real problem is you just can't leave Wesley with that kind of guilty burden. Yeah see that is what is wrong. Wesley doesn't deserve that kind of guilt."
Silently he considers the idea then Ethan gasps, "Oh I really am lousy at this. It never even occurred to me I was harming another I was trying so hard to get it right this time. With a bit of nostalgia in his voice Ethan continued "Maybe I should just go back to evil I really was quite good at that."
"No really you were so close this time," Angel awkwardly patted Ethan back, "maybe you should try something a little closer to Spike's reality, you know stick with family."
Contemplating this for only a moment, Ethan breaks out in a grin, "I've got it family yes of course family" in a softer voice "A family that can appreciate William the Bloody."
"