Chapter 2: Conversation

A week and a half, ten days of being grounded, that was Sasha's punishment for helping everyone sneak to the human plain. The girls of course only got punished for a single week, while the rest of the boys would still be grounded another four days themselves. That was one of the great things about aunt Shi, Sasha mused to himself, she always balanced his punishment with everyone else's. Sitting on a stool in the kitchen, the redhead poked his eggs with his fork and the yoke ran across the plate. A knock at the door, broke Sasha from his musings and he stumbled from the kitchen to the front door; breakfast still in hand. Swinging the front door open wide, three blindingly bright smiles met his own as he took in the trio on his front step.

"Really Sasha you know you shouldn't show food to guests unless you plan on sharing." Epica grinned, dressed in a purple blouse and black jeans.

Shrugging, he led his friends into the kitchen, "I don't know maybe Aunt Shi will make pancakes."

"Pancakes?" Atty's voice bubbled.

Charis joined in, "with Chocolate chips?"

"Why don't you ask instead of just assuming?" A voice wafted out of the kitchen.

When the group entered, they found the elder succubus dressed in a drastically different fashion then when she has caught them in the human world. Instead of sweaters and skirts, she was in a baggy t-shirt and sweat pants. Her hair has been pulled away from her face and into a pony tail, a few choice strands framing her face. She was currently mixing a bowl of batter as the group of young ones settled onto the stools. With a quick turn of the bag, little diamonds of chocolate plopped into the batter and were mixed in. Shiarra smiled at them as she began to pour the pancakes onto the skillet.

"So girls, you are looking lovely today." She smiled

"Thank you Ms. Shiarra." The girls said in unison

"Please I've told you call me Shi, otherwise I feel so old." The woman laughed and flipped the pancakes. "So are you excited for the change? What about you Charismatic, I bet you and Lindsay can't wait for it."

"Um…well." Charis blushed.

The echo of a trio of laughs bounced around the kitchen as poor Charis' face darkened to a shade redder then Sasha's hair. Burying her head under her arms, the blush quickly moved to the tips of her ears and left her burning with embarrassment. Realizing her mistake, Shiarra shot a look around the room that silence every laugh still caught in their throats and even seemed to make the walls swallow the echoes. When the silence filled the room completely, the auburn haired succubus lifted her head from the counter and smiled at the plate of pancakes that were stacked in front of her. The group sighed as the warm pancakes were quickly devoured; satisfied the group dropped there plates into the sink and walked to the back yard.

"So how's does it feel to be a free man?" Appy giggled locking arms with Sasha.

"You know Shi, as long as I was home she didn't really seem to mind."

Charis rolled her eyes, "That really so isn't fair, you're the one who distracted the guards!"

"I know, wasn't it awesome." Sasha's grin stretched into a full blown smile.

Epica cuffed the pair of redheads lightly on the back of the head, "Can we not talk about punishment, I mean it is over with anyway, so what's the point."

"True"

Atty looked at her sister, "So what do you wanna talk about then?"

"I know," Charis echoed the core of Shi question, "have you guys given any thought to you know, after the change?"

The young ones settled down onto the shaggy lawn that made up Sasha's back yard, the early sun not quiet burning in the sky. But even this early in the day, amidst the poorly manicured lawn, a light coating of sweat broke out on all of them which meant that it was only going to get hotter. Crossing there legs in Indian style, the group all looked at each other with faces that were a mix of curiosity and apprehension. It was the twins that broke the silence first.

"We both figured." Eppy and Atty grinned, "We would get out into the world, finally be our own woman."

Sasha chuckled and began to tickle the blondes' sides. "So no more little girls? No more dressing up? No matching outfits, that's gonna be a shame."

"Whatever Sash, your just jealous do don't have anyone to color coordinate with."

The red-haired male faked injury and turned to his female counterpart, "What about you, what are your plans?"

Charis' face scrunched up as she painted her mental picture, "Well I figured I start with a trip around the globe, you know Paris, Rome, Florance and a bunch of other. See the world and its romantic hotspots."

"Sounds more like honeymoon plans then post-change plans." Epica's lips twisted into a playful smirk.

Another fit of laughter to rival the one in the kitchen burst free, this time instead of embarrassment Charis howled right along with the others. She knew her idea of plans were really flighty and bubbly, but she figured if there was going to be any places for a budding new succubus to sink her teeth easily it would be cities over flowing with love. So she explained to her three friends and all of them looked really sullen, full of understanding. Atty and Eppy echoed each other explaining on how they hadn't thought about it that way, even Sasha with drew his previous scoffs.

"Well," Charis concluded, "It better then Cam's idea."

Sasha's ears perked up and his head twisted up softly, "Oh and what idea is that?"

"Ask him yourself, you know he can't resist your puppy dog eyes."

"Its true." The twins echoed in chorus.

Conversation turned towards Sasha's abilities to get nearly everyone to do what he wanted just by flashing them his big baby blues. Quickly the girls shifted to comparing the red head's other ability of persuasion or dissuasion; his pheromones. The debate began to stack out about which would be more effective tools to lure a person to sleep with him, Charis and Epica seemed to think that his pheromone would be more likely to get any person to sleep with him. However, Atty rushed to his defense saying that no one could possibly resist those eyes; that he didn't need anything but those to make someone's guard melt. Eventually the conversation turned to other topics and after sometime had passed ever one of these stomachs growled for attention, laughing like loons the foursome made there way back to the kitchen for lunch.

---

It was slightly over a week later and Sasha found himself lounging on top of a bed, a warm grilled cheese in his hand. His eyes scooping around Lindsey's bed room, he was surrounded by Cam and the aforementioned blonde incubus. They had both been let off of their punishments later then any of them had been expecting but it wasn't long after they were released that they heard about the girls conversations. So a few days later as the air finally dropped from its Indian summer heat to the bite of winter air, the boys gathered at Lindsey's house. Thankfully, Sasha managed to avoid the gaze of his friend's guardian; the man held control over the counsel and he seemed wrapped in a cloud of fear that made all submit to him.

"So," Lindsey started with a bark, "spill it, what did you ladies talk about?"

Sasha made an indigent noise and attempted to flip his short hair; his arms crossing over his chest. They had been at this for atleast a half an hour now, the guys would grill him and the redhead would rebuff them. He wasn't trying to be difficult but watching Lindsey squirm was just too much fun to not drag out as long as he could. Slowly Sasha's smirk spread into a sly smile and he finally relented about the topic. The future, after, what it could hold and what they planed on doing with themselves; a topic the boys seemed to enjoy.

"So what did the twins say?" Cam asked

"Split up and go there separate ways."

"Figures," Lindsey said softly, "and what bout Charis?"

The redhead grinned and waggled his eyebrows, "A round the world feeding frenzy in all of the passion hot spots."

Laughter split down the sides of all three boys, even Lindsey couldn't help but laughing at the idea of pulling off that kind of trip. Tears stung the boys eyes as their laughter hit the four minute mark and finally their chuckles faded to contented sighs. Cam turned to his friend and spoke with a bit of humor.

"So what about you Sash? What did you say?

Sasha paused, it hadn't occurred to him that he hadn't answered it when he had spoken with the girls, "Well, I was thinking of getting into the family business."

"Oh awesome!" Cam's face lit up, "You gonna learn to cook like your aunt?"

"No Cam, I'm thinking more like my dad."

Lindsey looked at the redhead, "But Sash, can you even play an instrument? I mean I seen you pick at your dad's old guitar but."

"I can play just fine thanks." Sasha cut off his friend; he had been practicing and teaching himself for months, much to Shiarra's dismay. "So what about you guys? Thought up any plans?"

Cam's lips tugged at the corners, "High School, defiantly."

"You're kidding," The redhead could hid his shock, "you wouldn't really subject yourself to that could you."

"Just you wait, I'll do it," Cam chuckled

"Why do you even want to go to high school, Cam?" Lindsey asked, his voice strained and confused, "We already know all that stuff. Well all the important things anyway."

"But it's real human high school we're talking about here, Lin," Cam replied running a hand though his brown hair, "What better way to meet people our age, man, Junior and Senior year when everyone's having so much sex, it will be like a buffet"

"I don't think everyone has sex in high school, Cam. In fact, I'm pretty sure a lot don't." Sasha teased as he disappeared completely on the other side of the bed, after a moment bare feet and the tattered ends of faded jeans rose up from around the bed as Sasha did a handstand.

Cam immediately reached and pushed Sasha over. "Kill joy,"

"You just wanna go to high school to meet your dream girl," Sasha teased clambering on top of the bed, "Sorry dude, but Buffy is a fictional character. There is no sexy slayer chick waiting for you in California. Trust me, if there was, she'd probably try to kill you anyway."

"Sash, I so wouldn't want Buffy," Cam gasped and looked greatly injured, "Seriously, have you seen the rack on Cordelia?"

"Cordelia?" Lindsey repeated, his tongue tasting the name like it was sour, his hands behind his head, "Why would you want her Cam? She's like the uber-bitch. Why go after her when you could have Willow, who's pretty and nice and smart."

"There's a surprise," Cam jumped in smirking wildly, "Lin likes the smart, sweet redhead, well the natural looking redhead,"

The bronzed incubus had added with last bit, not even trying to be slick and he grinned at his crayon colored friend. Sasha swats at him but Cam leaned out of the way. Meanwhile, Lindsey had sat up quickly after hearing Cam's not so subtle accusation, and launched on the offensive. Which only made Cam and Sasha shared a look of equal grins and then busted out into fresh scoffing laughing.

"What the hell, I can't like Willow because she's smart, sweet, and a redhead?"

"Dude, really come on, we're not that stupid," Sasha chuckled his voice slightly tender, "You and Charis have pretty much been engaged since we were ten. I think it's great. I mean, most of our parents were how old when they found each other, ancient? And you guys haven't even hit the change yet and you're in love."

Lindsey's otherwise pale face flushed with color and he stuttered. "I…I'm not in love with Charis, you weirdo. She's like my sister."

"Ha! Right. Eppy and Atty are like sisters," Cam chimed in and fanned himself dramatically, "Charismatic is your waking wet dream and you know it. Girl like must give you such a case of the vapors."

Lindsey immediately grabbed the stray pillow from the floor and chucked it at Cam's head, smacking him clean in the face. The impact had caused him to knock his head lightly against the wall but he continued to laugh. A red color began to work up into the incubus' cheeks as he couldn't stop the horrid, mocking laugh from coming through. He clapped his hands over his mouth but still they poured out, each one seemed to cut slightly into the stark blond boy.

"Shut up!" Lindsey warned, eyes glowing brightly.

"Well I don't know about you two," Sasha said, speaking loudly to be sure he caught his friend's attention. Lindsey as usual, took the bait and moved to join the others on the bed. It was a natural transition that occurred almost every argument, Sasha's was the diffuser of tension and he played that role pretty well. "But I'd take Angel over the lot of the Buffy girls any day. I've never seen a more 'come fuck me' stare than that one and ya gotta love a guy who looks good in leather."

Cam grinned and pulled himself closer toward Sasha again, "Kinky."

"You wouldn't want to be with Xander?" Lindsey asked humor back in his voice, "I thought you liked the smartass guys."

Sasha leaned over and rested his head on Cam's shoulder. "I do. I just get enough of that kind of guy in real life sometimes."

"Aww, Sasha, I thought we had something special," Cam pouted before lunging at the red head making sloppy kissy noises.

"Ew dude, get away from me," His pale hand pushing back on Cam's tan face in an instant. Sasha was giggling and through them he continued "Now, if you could find someway to take Angel and Xander and combine them into one person then I'd be hooked, a sexy smartass."

Their conversation continued on the sexual aspects of fictional characters for a good two hours, Lindsey mostly being left out anytime that they approached a male character. They ran through TV shows, movies and had even begun to go into books as the sun set the sky on fire. Through out the whole time, Sasha was dimly aware of the proximity that Cam was closing. Where the brown haired boy had started on the other side of the bed, both boys now found themselves in the middle nearly on top of each other. Cam reached out and brushed a strand or two of Sasha's crayola hair away from his ear, finger lingering on the pale boy's skin. From below the trio, the front door swung open and heavy footsteps announced the return of Lindsey's grandfather.

"Lindsey!" The man's grave voice echoed from the first floor, "I need you and the boys to come down here now."

The blonde scurries out of the room faster then most would assume he could, he size often made his sparing partners assume he was slow; a mistake he made them pay for. Sasha rolled off the bed and made his way towards the door when he felt something tug at his wrist. When he looked down, tan fingers gripped his skin and held him firmly in place. Cam gave the redhead a look that attempted to mimic Sasha's puppy dog eyes and he whispered softly.

"Sash, can you wait a minute with me."

"Sure Cam what's up?"

"I wanted to give you something." Cam's fingers dug nervously into his pocket and pulls out a necklace, "I had one of the older guys get it for me while I was grounded."

Hanging from a simple chain was what looked like a coil of rope that had been twisted into a knot, four lumps like a clover. Sliding his finger over the knot, Sash felt its metallic quality and grinned at the way the sliver shined in the bedrooms light. The young redhead recognized the Celtic nature of the knot only because of the few items that aunt Shi had which had belonged to his father, Deklin. When Sasha looked back up in his friend's eyes the redhead was surprised to see so much worry marring his face. Smiling softly, Sasha tried his best to calm down his friend.

"It's amazing Cam, I love it."

The bronze incubus flinched subtlety, "It's a Celtic love knot, Sash, and they are made in pairs."

"Really?" Sasha cocked his head, "What happened to the other one?"

Just as he finished speaking, a pair of lips crashed on to his and Sasha fell back onto the bed. The lithe redhead froze his body unfamiliar with the closeness of his friend, with the smack of his Cam's slightly chapped lips and the urgent noise that begged for reciprocation. Almost on autopilot, Sasha's mouth reacted for him by parting his lips and returning the kiss deeper; as hands began to tentatively ghost over each other Sasha stepped back into himself. He was kissing his best friend, his best friend was kissing him and they were both on cloud nine for the first time in their lives. Both boy's sighed into each other mouths and could have stayed like that for eternity, lips locked with someone who got them on so many levels. An aggravated shout from Lindsey broke their refrain and in a moment Cam was off the bed and at the door.

Turning slightly, Sasha was able to see the knot's twin around his best friends tanned neck. It suddenly occurred to the redhead that somehow in their encounter, Cam had managed to get the other necklace around the pale boy neck. The bronze colored incubus grinned wide enough to cause the top of his head to fall always from his jaw and then slipped out the door. Sasha sat their for a moment, left hand drifting up and running through his hair; it then moved, touching his lips softly before settling on the necklace. A smirk bloomed on his lips as his fingers traced the endless pattern of the knot. Now Lindsey wasn't the only one who couldn't wait for the change for reason other then sexual conquest.

A/N: For those who dont know, the title comes from an irish blessing. It to represent the journey i thought that was fitting. Please Read & Review!

-WordDemon