Challenge #117

This week's challenge is... Fathers.

Pre-Series – William/Cecily

1. Be Fruitful and Multiply

William dresses with care; his Sunday suit looks a little worse for wear these days, but it's the best he's got. Not that Miss Addams will be put off by a few stray threads when his soul shines for her. One look and she'll see the dream in his heart – a beautiful future together.

Ignoring the hushed sniggers of the other guests, he sits in the drawing room, envisioning life years down the line. Several strapping sons, a toddler daughter; dark curly hair and blue eyes like their papa.

Perhaps he'll write a poem as he awaits his beloved's arrival.

AtS – Season 4 – Angel, Connor

2. Film at Eleven

Angel stares at the screen embedded in the wall; Connor's glowering visage shredding his soul. There's nothing but hatred and despair radiating from the boy. In many ways, he's deader than any vampire. Lilah's yammering fades into the background, and all he can see is his failure as a father. He's failed to protect his child from hell on earth.

Slowly, a plan forms. If Wolfram and Hart wants him so badly, they'll have to sweeten the pot. Even if it means excising Connor from existence. It's for his own good, after all. A father's sacrifice.

He states his case.

AtS – Season 5 – Spike, Angel, Connor

3. Of Children and Vampires

The revelation rocks Spike to his foundation. His Grandsire has a human son. By i Darla/i The vampire who hated humanity was gifted with the ultimate blessing… an heir. Not just a childe – blood kin.

The very thing his erstwhile vampire family had taken away from William. A chance to carry on his lineage, such as it was. To bounce a little nipper on his knee and send him out into the world to make his mark.

Instead, when things go tits up, Angel cuts his losses, as usual, and gives his child away. Wipes him from everyone's mind.

Spike seethes.

BtVS – AU Futurefic – Xander

4. Love Breaks the Cycle

Xander never truly understood the depth of love and commitment for another. Not when he'd contemplated running out on his marriage. Not when he'd come back and joyously declared his vows to Anya in front of friends and family.

Watching his teenaged son come through the door, sporting yet another black eye courtesy of the high school jock, Xander determines to do better by his son than his derelict father did for him.

"Anya, I think it's time Alex takes his Aunt Buffy up on her offer for self defense lessons. Our boy is not gonna be anyone's butt monkey."

AtS – AU Futurefic – Wesley/Lilah

5. Fatherhood

Wesley remembers the day he became a father with perfect clarity. Lilah stormed into his office dragging a recalcitrant little boy with stormy gray eyes and a suitcase. Within five minutes of her leaving, Damian uprooted a ficus, tossed the cushions from the couches, and emptied dozens of files on the floor.

Raising the child alone isn't easy, as the boy's temperament is hellacious, but Wes does the best he can. Two years later, seven year old Damian hands him a grubby, sparkle laden card. "Happy Father's Day, Daddy."

A smile in his heart, Wes gives silent thanks to Lilah.

BtVS – AU Futurefic – Spike/Buffy

6. Halloween

"Well, isn't that… neat?" Spike is entranced. Once again, Buffy's managed to come up with the perfect costumes for their children. Five year old Will is dressed in red – a little devil – complete with horns, tail and pitchfork. Three year old Annie Joyce is a fluffy white sheep, complete with harness to keep her safe.

Buffy is a vision in white chiffon and feathered wings; greeting the trick-or-treaters at the door

"Now, this is an angel I can love," he winks, planting a kiss on her cheek as he whisks the children out the door for an evening of fun.