Title: The Babysitter

Author: Azure K Mello

Part: 29/?

Pairing: Angel/Spike

Rated: Adult

Type: AU

Summery: Breakfast, band, and kosher wine.

Disclaimer: I don't own BtVS

They showered quickly. Angel was ashamed at having stayed in bed all morning and Will knew Oz was pissed at him. Will asked, "What are you doing today?"

"I'm going to lock myself in my studio at school and paint for a long time. I've finished all of my requirements for the course but they supply you with free supplies. Why waste time? I'm going to paint and paint until I can't stand up. Tonight's the first night of Hanukah so I'm going to dinner at the Rosenbergs… you can come if you want, it be a little awkward, but they'll like you. It's just that it's usually just family… all the family. Tara doesn't come, it goes against her beliefs, Willow just goes to please her parents."

"I have band practice." Will smiled, "Thanks for the invite."

Angel's smile in response was tight. "You have fun, with Oz and them."

"Angel? Would it upset you to know that Oz is a werewolf?"

"No, no that wouldn't upset me." Angel shook his head. "Werewolves are people every day of the month and all but three of the nights. He takes precautions?"

"Yeah, he locks himself up."

"A long as you're safe I don't mind him. He's your friend. Friends are important even if they have faults." He turned off the water and Will wasn't quite sure about his tone. "Enjoy breakfast."

At breakfast he quickly realized the source of Angel's edginess. Oz was sitting, bold as brass, in their normal booth with a black eye and a torn ear. He stood rooted to his spot in the door for a moment and then marched over to the table, raring for a shout, "Di'ya get in a fight?"

With a tired smile Oz said, "You should see the other guy."

"I have," Spike glared at him. "What the hell were you thinking?" Oz just sort of shrugged. "Don't you dare go laconic on me! I haven't spent time with you? You're not my only friend? I trust him? What? Is this some sort of playground? I'm having play dates with Angel so you beat the shit out of him to be BFF with me? Are you really that petty and jealous? What the hell did you think you were doing?"

"I figured we could talk."

"No, we can't."

"Did you come to tell me we can't?"

"I came here to have breakfast with my friend. I came to give you new lyrics. See he didn't tell me you were there. He wouldn't tell me the real reason why he wasn't going to the cops. He told me that friends are important and that he doesn't care about your monthly issue so long as you're a good friend. I came to have breakfast with my friend. But fuck you, fuck the band, find yourself a new lead vocals and guitar and writer. Why don't you get Larry? Because the last time he talked to me he smelled of your flat. And maybe, someday, you should learn to actually play the bass because you kind of suck."

He turned and left. Outside he called Angel's cells it rang three times and then Angel picked up with a, "Sorry, it always takes me a minute to figure out how to answer. What's up?"

"Do you think I'm thick?"

"I was hoping he would have the good grace to lie. You don't have that many friends."

"That's ridiculous."

"Someday he's going to get over his hard on for you and y'know. And he won't resent me. I'm willing to wait that out."

"What, that's his motive?"

"You didn't know? I met him once; it was pretty obvious."

"I just quit the band."

"Want to come to dinner?"

"Would that be okay?"

"It's a high holiday. There'll be tons of food and extended family. Ira and Shelly are always complaining that they don't meet Willow and my friends. As long as you don't mind overbearing parents and tons of family stories it'll be great."

"Cool. Angel? Thanks, I guess, for not telling me."

"Come to my place at five?"

"Yeah." Will hung up and sighed. He drove home too fast and felt a bit better. He heard the ticking in the door that meant the alarm. He opened the door and turned off the alarm as quickly as he could.

His dad spoke behind him, "Morning, Will."

He didn't look away from the wall, "Angel wasn't sick. He had a living hell beaten out of him by Larry and some footballers because Larry's suddenly decided I should be with him. And Angel said he didn't want to go to the cops because he inflicted way more damage to them than they did to him. That was a lie; I went to meet Oz for breakfast. Guess who's sporting an award winning shiner. I quit the band, told Oz to get better at the bass, and invited myself to dinner at the Rosenbergs."

Giles was silent and then said, "Want a cup of tea? Everyone's out at the shops."

"That would be great." They went into the kitchen where Giles put the kettle on and Will rummaged through the cupboards for the good biscuits. Giles added a liberal amount of sugar to the large mug of tea that he handed to Will.

They sat in silence drinking and eating their biscuits. Will saw the stoop in his father's shoulders. He turned and started massaging exactly where he saw the tension. The knots slid apart under his skilled hands. "What have you been doing?" he asked.

"Sparring with Faith. I think I pulled something."

"Da, you're not as young as you once were. Maybe I should spar with her."

"I want to keep you as far from the eyes of the Watcher's Council as possible."

"I sorry about all that."

"Don't be daft. If it hadn't happened you would have been at the Watcher's Academy by now. And I think, because of the ignominy you brought upon our name," he laughed, "they won't want you or your siblings. I will not be asked to sacrifice any of my children to the cause and have to bring their disapproving anger down on us for telling them to stuff it."

"You don't want to carry on the line?" Will was shocked.

"When I was your age I wanted to be a fighter pilot."

"Right, but you followed your destiny."

Giles shook his head, "You've heard what I told Dru; it's not true. Slayers have destinies Watchers have jobs. You can't ask a little girl to kill things, to give up her dreams and future without saying that you did the same. I allowed my father to pressure me. And I'm not saying I regret it. The Watcher's don't think of them as children. As I'm the best I get the girls and I can treat them like girls, take care of them, help them, train them to be strong women as opposed to weapons. I never would have killed that vampire in Hyde Park, rescued your mother, married and had you children. I wouldn't wish you away. But I don't want it for you. I want you to have your choices. What will you do about your music?"

"Audition for others? I don't know." He lit a cigarette and offered his dad the pack but Giles shook his head and went to get his son an ashtray from the cupboard.

"If I were you I would tell Richard and Wesley why I left. When I was in a rock band I would have wanted to know that my mate had beaten up another band mate's boyfriend. I wouldn't want to play with someone who brought that vibe."

"It seems a bit cruel. He did something stupid."

"Stupid is leaving your best jacket out in the rain. Stupid is not maliciously, purposefully toughing someone up. I think you should tell them."

"Maybe," he agreed. "What should I bring to a Hanukah dinner?"

"We have a few bottles of kosher wine in the cellar. I'll find you a red and a white." As he stood he kissed Will's forehead. "It'll all be alright, Will."

"Da," he said before Giles walked away, "I'm sorry about the other day, when I said you didn't care. I was just upset and out of sorts, and it wasn't true or fair of me. I was just being mean. I didn't mean it."

"I know; I knew as you were saying it. I'm your father and you're seventeen. It's your job to shout at me when you're upset and it's my job to listen."

By the time everyone else was home, the two men were playing guitar in the living room singing, "I get by with a little help from my friends. Oh oh I get high with a little help from my friends."