Title: The Babysitter

Author: Azure K Mello

Part: 32/36

Pairing: Angel/Spike

Rated: Adult

Type: AU

Summery: Parallel conversations.

Disclaimer: I don't own BtVS

In the kitchen Will kissed his mother's cheek. Before he could say anything she said, "Does God know you're cheating on Him?"

"What?"

"You dress like that once a year for church Christmas Eve."

"Well I was cheating on Him with another religion." Before she could continue he asked, "Can I change before we sit down? I feel horribly uncomfortable and need to do something about my ugly face. It's been naked for hours."

She kissed his nose and said, "It took me nine months to make that face, don't be mean to it. But, yes, go clean up." Seeing his hands she grabbed them. "You don't take off your nail polish for God!"

"Mum, having a lovely imaginary friend for a few days a year is great fun. But changing your nails for Him is a bit excessive." He kissed her check, "I'll be right back."

As he went up the stairs he heard the front door open and turned to see his dad and Faith walking in holding axes. "Good patrol?"

"The graveyard was, pun totally intended, dead."

"Well, this close to the solstice things get super quiet. If you didn't see anything tonight you won't see anything until about a week after New Years." His father nodded. "Which is good because Tuesday is our last day of school so the Bronze will be having the 'Finally' party. Coffee is a dollar, no cover, good bands. Starts at nine, gets good at round ten, I turn up at ten thirty and it ends at one thirty. If you're up for it?"

"Sure. I'm going to bed now, though. I get tired being bored." She followed him up the stairs and she said, "Why are you dressed like a Jehovah's Witness?"

"I went to dinner at Angel's family's house."

"Ah, was it fun?"

He shrugged, "In a way? I'm ready for cocoa now."

"Cocoa?" she repeated with a note of disdain.

"Is served after curfew," he responded. She laughed and went into her room. "Night, Faith," he called after her.

Angel flopped down on his bed, thinking back on the night. He always loved the first night of Hanukah with family and a huge meal. Pretty sure Will had had a good time he thought it went quite well. He picked up the finest of his new paint brushes and pulled out his watercolors and a drawing on thick stock paper. He slowly painted the outline with a razor thin line of black. The phone on his bed stand screamed.

"Hey, Shelia," he said, "I'm using my new brushes."

"You don't have caller ID how do you know who it is?"

He laughed, "It's only you. I hate the ring but when it's you it's sort of less horrible."

"That's sweet."

"Thanks for tonight."

"We like Will."

"He was on best behavior all night."

"Did you warn him off? He could have slumped about. We liked him but we actually liked you around him."

"I figured that."

"Not that we don't like you not around him. You just seem lighter recently."

"I know. He was trying to make you like him."

"Well what's he like usually?"

"He's all in black, tons of makeup, and so quick witted and cutting that you'll lose a finger without realizing it. But I like him and I feel surer of him and better about being with him than I ever felt about Darla or Penn. He makes me happy."

Will sat down at the counter. "We're going to be here for a while."

"Well, it's been a big day," said Joyce.

Laughing Will said, "That's what you told Xander when he was overtired after his first day of preschool."

"This is quite different," conceded Joyce. "What happened with the band?"

"Wes and Gunn fired Oz, we're having breakfast tomorrow."

"You told them," said Giles sounding pleased.

"I wasn't actually going to. But they called."

"Good. So is it breakfast to commiserate the death or to plan?"

"We are discussing possible bassists."

"Am I keeping you?" Shelia asked. "Should you be out putting yourself at risk?"

"No, no I quit hunting. Will wouldn't be dating me if I hunted. He has issues with it."

"Another plus for Will." Angel laughed and she continued, "Oz beat you up, didn't he?"

"Yes, he was one of them. There were seven. But I took care of it." He ran a hand over his bruised face.

"Why didn't Will say that?"

"I guess because he knows Willow and Oz used to be friends; he was trying not to be offensive."

"So why is he so angry? He's just a teenager?"

"No, he um… look, I'll tell you so that you don't say something in the future; so you don't accidentally offend him. But this is to go no farther than the two of us."

"Angel, you know it would never go beyond my ears."

"Remember how Willow and I had logical proof that there couldn't be slayers?" She gave an accenting noise. "His first girlfriend was a slayer. She was turned in front of him and wanted to eat his two month old brother. So he um, he sort of became a heroin addict. Anyway, he's been clean for a couple of years but… he's angry. She died less than four years ago. So I think the anger, makeup, and sullenness are cover for the fact that he's still grieving. So how can I hunt and expect him to deal with that?"

"How was Hanukah?"

"Very foreign. But good fun, yeah, different food another language. They gave me a present." He held out his wrist, "Wasn't that nice of them? It winds itself."

"That's very nice," said Giles taking his son's hand and studying the clockwork.

"I'll send them a note tomorrow. I hope it's okay: I invited Angel to Christmas."

"Of course, is he coming to dinner?" asked Joyce.

"No, he's coming from Christmas Eve onwards. He's had nice dinners and stuff but he hasn't had a real British Christmas since he was ten. Is that alright?"

"Sure, Angel's a nice young man." Giles said, "I'm on to tea. What does everyone else want?" He poured two teas and a coffee for his wife.

"Shelia, Will invited me to Christmas."

"Say no more. He's your boyfriend, it's serious, and he's not a vampire. So of course you go."

Angel laughed breathily at the vampire comment, "Thank you."

"You don't need my permission, sweetheart."

"No, but I feel a lot better about going when you bless it."

"Well we got Will for the first night of Hanukah so it's fair that the Giles get you for Christmas. Besides, Santa came early. He said that he needs to get to all the kids on Christmas Eve so he dropped off your gifts. Maybe we can have Christmas with you and the girls a few days later? I found Tara the most beautiful glass scent diffusers for her solstice present. Or rather Santa did."

"I'm sorry," said Will. "I know I haven't been easy to live with these last few years."

"Will," Giles laughed, "at times it was almost as though there was someone in your room, wearing your face, but he wasn't you. You were such a happy little boy. And we weren't upset; we just miss you at those times. You're so angry."

"I'm not, I mean, I'm-" Will faltered and started pulling up his sleeves trying to show them his lack of track marks.

"Baby." Joyce reached out to hold his face. "We know you're not on drugs. But sometimes you're so miserable. And you'll play with Xander and tease Liz but there's none of your happiness."

"I know. I have been trying to be better. I mean, I joined a band."

"But, I know I shouldn't bring this up," Giles stammered.

"He does make me happier." Will was tired and he didn't feel like making his dad say it.

Giles nodded, "After what Oz did… he was your best friend, and you're very nearly fine."

"That's not actually Angel," Will shook his head. "I just… Oz was my friend but I didn't think Wes and Gunn would care. And the fact that they did is what made me feel better about it. Because maybe, while I was losing a mate, I actually have two others. But it's true that Angel makes everything a lot better."

"Does he realize that?"

"Yes, he does. I don't know… maybe it's just because of his family but I can just talk to him. He can talk to me too, he talks about his baby sister and he doesn't do that. I know I should talk to you about Dru but… if I could talk to you about Dru I wouldn't have ended up with shite for blood. It's just, I felt stupid. I knew that we shouldn't have been dating, I was distracting, it's fine to have friends but a thirteen year old Slayer probably shouldn't have a boyfriend. And I felt like I killed her. And I still feel like I should have found some way to save her. I know that's ridiculous; you don't need to say it. I feel like I let you down, I know I let you down; I can't really ask for your forgiveness. You would grant it unconditionally but I contributed to her death, and I cut you out and became an addict, and I sent us into exile."

"You're very good to us. I mean you ended up with a Pagan lesbian and a queer Catholic." Angel said as he started to pull off his suit with Shelia still on the phone. "You buy solstice gifts to give out on Christmas."

"When Willow was born she weighed seven pounds three ounces. She had a full head of black hair and the bluest eyes I had ever seen. And I thought, 'Here she is, my little Jewess. She's going to be clever and good. And she'll be a doctor, a lawyer, or a scientist. She'll marry a Jewish doctor, lawyer, or scientist. I will have lots of Jewish grandchildren.' Within two weeks she was bald and had green eyes. It should have been the first indication that not everything you think is correct."

"Yeah," said Angel with a soft chuckle.

"Then Ira and I lost sight of her. We were so busy and she was so well behaved, smart, and pretty. It wasn't until everything happened with your family that we opened our eyes. I would give anything to give you back your parents. But as it is? I wouldn't trade or change you two for a hundred good Jewish grandkids. You make Ira and me so proud. You're both good, kind, intelligent people. All we want is for you to be happy and healthy. And Tara and Will make you both happy."

They finished their third drinks and washed the mugs up. Will kissed both his parents cheeks and went up to bed just as Angel was bidding Shelia goodnight across town.