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Chapter 11 Part 1

Angel stared at the door in front of him hesitating for a long moment before he finally knocked.

The door opened, Aisling was standing on the other side, her expression grim.

"Hello, Ash." He said.

Aisling gave a tight smile before she stepped aside to let him in. "How do you like your blood?" She asked.

"My… blood?"

"Mmmhmm," Aisling said as they turned into the kitchen. Angel could see something bubbling on the stove. "Do you like it straight blood… or do you want me to add something to give it flavour."

Angel wrinkled his nose. "Where do you get these ideas?"

Aisling raised an eyebrow and nodded toward the living room. Angel looked through the kitchen window to see Spike sitting on the table, a mug of blood already in his hand. Spike raised his mug in welcome,

"Spike's always been a weird one," Angel explained.

Aisling sighed as she looked over her blood. "Expired human or animal?" She said. "We have some just unexpired too if that tickles your fancy. On delivery day the hospital sells the unexpired stuff that'll be worthless in a day or so." She said.

"Umm… Animal." Angel said.

Aisling shrugged. "As you wish." She said. Walking over to the fridge and pulling out a bag of blood. "Though if you want constant unexpired human blood. You should consider working at the blood bank. They're constantly screening for toxic blood. Spike worked there for a time. Never been better fed." She poured it into the mug as she spoke and placed it into the microwave.

"Uh…"

Aisling laughed. "It's cool. It's cool." She said. "Want to stay away from the temptation, right?"

"Uh… yeah." Angel looked at Spike. "I'd advise the same with your father… especially given that he lives with a human."

"Da's already tasted my blood," Aisling said.

Angel blinked and turned to glare at Spike. "You what…"

"Nice going Aisling" Spike sighed. "It was after I'd gotten sick." He said. "She gave me some of her blood while I was unconscious. She's already been severely disciplined and won't do it again." Spike turned to stare at Aisling. "Right?"

Aisling grinned and turned back to the microwave as it started to beep. She handed the mug to Angel before she turned back to the stove and started stirring. "Go catch up." She said gesturing to the living room. "I'm finishing my dinner."

Angel watched as Aisling hurried across the kitchen. "She's spirited." He finally said. He turned to Spike. "Don't tell me you let an 8-year-old handle the stove?"

Spike snorted. "Of course not." Though He did look a bit guilty. "Though… I did buy a lot of takeout before I learned how to cook." Spike sighed. "Nanna Kat was a lot of help teaching me how to cook."

Angel stared at him. "The Witch who came to Parent Teacher night?"

Spike nodded. "She was a lifesaver," Spike said. "About 6 months after Aisling came into my care Nanna Kat is who I left her with when I went soul searching." Spike took a sip of his blood. "Literally."

Angel looked at Spike. "And… you found it."

"A demon up in Africa will grant you a wish if you succeed in your trials," Spike said, taking another sip.

"Was covered in scars for weeks," Aisling said as she took the pot off the stove. "Not to mention how long it took him to come back to himself after he suddenly had 100 years of guilt come back into him."

"Only a few weeks?" Angel said.

Spike rolled his eyes. "Some of us can't afford to brood for years and years. Aisling needed me together and whole. So, I did what I had to do."

"Like what?"

"Like go to therapy," Spike said. "Kat insisted for the two of us to go, And I couldn't figure out a decent reason to deny her." Spike shrugged.

"Findin' a therapy that handles paranormal problems was a pain," Aisling said. "Since me being seven I'm not good at idioms. And tellin' a regular psychiatrist the truth would send me back into the psychiatric facility strung out on meds I don't need."

"Eventually I just revealed myself," Spike said with a shrug.

"That was smart," Aisling said dryly as she came out with a table of pasta. "The woman screamed blue murder before we could convince her to listen."

"She fired us as clients not long after," Aisling said. "It was cool. Eventually, we did find a therapist who specializes in Supernatural issues." She said. "Just have to learn how to read the lingo in the ads." She said.

"Yeah."

Aisling nodded. "Supernatural therapists never use the words supernatural. They can't if they want to be taken seriously." She said sitting down beside Spike. "But… they have there was of letting people know."

Angel went silent for a long moment. "What are some of their ways?" Angel asked.

Aisling and Spike looked at each other before turning to Angel. Aisling stood and went to her fridge where a sticky notepad was hung. "Here," she said writing something on a sticky note and handing it to her. "This is our therapist." She said. "Give her a call when you feel comfortable."

Angel looked from Aisling to Spike back to Aisling again. "Thank you." He said.

"No problem."

Aisling laughed before she stood. "Well… I'm going out with my friends." She said. "We're hanging out at the Bronze and then going to spend the night at Buffy's house."

"I remember."

"You two won't kill each other?"

Spike rolled his eyes. "We'll be fine."

"I won't leave you orphaned," Angel said.

"Oh, you think you can kill me?" Spike said sitting up straight. "In. Your. Dreams."

Aisling rolled her eyes. "Don't get blood on my things." She said before she hurried out of the house.

"How's your dad doing?" Xander asked.

Aisling blinked as Xander pulled her out of her thoughts. "Doing ok," Aisling said. "He and Angel are hanging out at the apartment catching up." She said. "What is everyone arguing about?"

"The Captain and Tennille," Xander said. "Trying to figure out who was in charge."

"Both," Aisling said without thinking about it. "Compromise."

"You don't think that one had more of an advantage over the other," Willow asked.

Aisling shrugged.

"Sorry… who are we talking about?" Buffy said.

"Captain and Tenille. Singing duo." Aisling said.

Buffy shrugged. "I don't know them."

"You don't know?" Xander said. "You need more culture in your life."

"I'm sorry. I was just—"

"Thinking?"

"No. Not Thinking, having a lot of happy non-thoughts. I love it when things are quiet around here."

"Yeah," Aisling said. "What happened with Drusilla anyway?" Aisling said. "I was so happy about Spike being cured I never asked."

"She was severely weakened," Buffy said. "She tried to escape but we accidentally set fire to the church trying to get Spike out."

Aisling laughed. "That shouldn't please me as much as it does.

"Don't worry about it," Buffy said.

"Thanks for being there for him," Aisling said. "Angel too."

"It's fine," Buffy said. "I wasn't expecting how evocative it would be?"

Aisling remembered what she'd read in the translation of the cure. "On yeah the tying up together." Aisling sighed. "There's always been a… blurring of the lines when it comes to sire-child relationships," I say. "In some ways, it is like a parent-child relationship. But in others… it's really. REALLY, not. Drusilla frequently danced around that line."

Buffy, Xander and Willow looked at each other highly bothered.

"Anyway— you were right. The Order Taraka left when Giles gave them double what Drusilla was giving them. Still have no idea how he got that many kittens." Buffy said.

"There are ways," Aisling said. "Probably best if you don't ask questions."

Buffy looked bothered again as she pulled out her key. Only to notice that it was already open.

She looked back at her three friends. "Stay here."

Aisling sighed and leaned against the door frame. "Fine. Scream if you need help."

"Ha," Buffy said sarcastically before she slipped into the house.

"I mean…" Xander said. "What could you do?"

As Aisling kicked him in the shin, Xander fell over in pain. "Taught by one of the most notorious vampires in history. I know how to handle myself, Xander."

Xander winced. "Ok. But do you have to be so violent?"

Aisling helped him up. "Wanted to get my point across."

"You two," Willow said shaking her head.

Buffy came back looking shaken. "You guys can come in."

"You, ok?" Aisling said stepping in. She stopped when she saw a man staring at them smiling pleasantly looking like the guy from 'Threes Company'. "Oh…"

"Yeah," Aisling said. "Apparently my mom is dating someone new."

Aisling smiled and shook Ted's hand. "Nice to meet you."

Ted decided to show them how to make mini pizzas. Aisling didn't really care for Pizza, but she wanted to be more polite than anything.

Buffy stepped away to speak with her mother.

"Buffy doesn't seem to like me much," Ted said noticing Aisling's stare.

Aisling jerked her head back to Ted as he stirred the mixture. "It's a surprise," Aisling said. "That's all."

Ted nodded before turning back to his cookies He started putting the cookies into trays asking each of them to help. Aisling grinned and helped out.

Once they were all in the tray, he took it. "Ok, here we go!"

Xander and Willow crowded around him curiously, while Aisling stayed back. She pulled out her cell phone and stepped away to make a phone call.

"Hey, Aisling." Spike's familiar voice came through the call.

"Hey." Aisling sighed and leaned against a nearby wall. "How's the… dinner I guess, going."

"Going well. Just been going down memory lane." He said. "Not that we enjoy it too much. Been catching up too trying to figure out common ground outside of the whole…"

Aisling chuckled. "Yeah." He said. "I think Angel was a bit disappointed he wasn't the one in seven billion anymore."

Spike chuckled. "True. But what was I supposed to do? You needed someone a bit more human."

As Aisling looked up at the ceiling they'd always disagree on this topic. "You and he patrolling tonight?"

"I'm patrolling on my own now."

Aisling winced feeling guilty. "Sorry, I'll…"

"No. No. It's fine. It's a quiet tonight." Spike said. "The fire—" He sighed.

Aisling said nothing about it. "I know." She said. "I'm sorry."

Spike went quiet for a long moment. "Don't worry about me." He said with forced cheer. "At least she can't hurt you again."

Aisling nodded. "Ok. I'll see you tonight."

Aisling turned off her phone and closed her eyes to calm down.

"Everything alright?" Aisling turned to see Ted staring at her.

Aisling smiled, "Yeah." She said. "My dad just recently finished healing after a terrible accident out in Prague." She said. "I was checking on him."

He lightly pressed his fist against her shoulder. "A good daughter you are." He said.

Aisling shrugged. "I try." She said.

He pressed his hand to her shoulder. "Come on, let's try those pizzas."

"Oh," Aisling said. "I'm not really a fan of pizza." She said.

"Nonsense," Ted said, steering her into the kitchen. "Everyone loves Ted's pizzas."

"Still," Aisling said. "I'd rather not. Father always told me not to take things from strangers."

"Oh, but I'm not a stranger. I'm a friend of Buffy's mother."

"You are too me," Aisling said by this point they were in the kitchen. She stepped away from Ted and walked toward Buffy.

"You, ok?" Aisling asked softly to Buffy.

Buffy looked at Aisling and gave a forced smile. "Yeah. yeah of course."

Aisling rubbed Buffy's back.

"Ted was just telling me about how he could give me a demo that would allow me to upgrade my computer," Willow said.

"That's great!" Aisling said.

"Yeah," Buffy said her expression carefully neutral. "Great."

"Hey, Buffy?" Aisling said. "I'm still staying the night, right?" Aisling said.

Buffy blinked and looked at her mother. "Yeah. Yeah! Yeah, you are." Buffy said.

"Great. Can you show me where I'll be sleeping again? I'm such a scatterbrain when it comes to those things."

Buffy took the excuse and grabbed Aisling's hand. "Sure. Come on Ash, I'll show you."

Buffy half dragged Aisling up the stairs to Buffy's room and closed the door behind her leaning against it.

"You, ok?" Aisling said.

"I just wasn't expecting to come home to… that."

Aisling didn't really have a feeling to compare it to. So, Empathy was hard. But she did sympathize with how hard it must be. "I'm sorry."

"It's…" Buffy sighed. "It's just so sudden," Buffy said. "Mom says she met him when he updated the Gallery's software."

"You distrust it?"

"No." Buffy groaned and walked over to her bed. "I just—"

Aisling came to the bed and sat beside her. "What do you need from me?" She asked.

Buffy turned to Aisling. "What?"

"Do you need to just vent, and I just sit and listen? Do you want advice? Or do you want distraction?"

Buffy blinked at Aisling. "I…" Buffy took a deep breath. "I'm sorry."

Aisling shook her head. "No. No. I was being genuine. What do you need from me."

Buffy lay down on her bed. "Are you really staying the night?"

Aisling sat on the bed with her. "Yeah, Dad's not gonna be home till late, remember?"

Buffy nodded and turned to Aisling. "How did the dinner with Angel and Spike go?"

Aisling shrugged. "They're still alive." She said. "So… about as well as can be expected." She said.

"Do you know why they hate each other so much?" Buffy asked. "I mean… I could understand when they didn't have souls but… they both have souls now so—"

Aisling pursed her lips. "Angel- back when he was Angelus- he turned well Spike's ex."

"Yeah. He made her insane and then turned her." She said.

Aisling nodded. "About twenty years later. She came across Spike and turned him." Aisling sighed as she leaned back. "Spike… had romantic notions about vampirism. He thought that Drusilla was his and always would be. Angelus… very quickly and very easily disabused him of that notion."

Buffy's eyes widened. "So, Drusilla—"

Aisling shook her head. "Dru isn't… when it comes to Angelus her sire. She finds it difficult to say 'no' to him. She's too eager to please him. She got distressed when Angelus didn't torture her."

Buffy looked worried. "I thought you didn't like Dru."

Aisling nodded. "I don't," Aisling said. "But Dru wouldn't be who she is – was – it wasn't for Angelus." She said.

"But Angelus doesn't exist anymore."

Aisling looked at Buffy. "Doesn't he? The demon didn't die when the soul was put in. It just tempers him."

Buffy looked at Aisling. "Angel is trying to atone. Doesn't that mean something?"

Aisling looked at Buffy and then out the window. "I'm trying," Aisling said. "I really am. But please understand. I may not have met him before this year. But I have 9 years of stories and abuse that would never have happened had he not been alive." Aisling said. "It'll take time."

Buffy lay down.

Aisling looked down at Buffy. "You're dislike of Ted." She said. "Do you really feel something's off about him? Or are angry because he's not your dad?"

Buffy glared at Aisling. "You're making me sound like some kind of jealous daughter."

Aisling looked at Buffy. "You're asking me to forgive Angel for something he wasn't around for." She said. "Don't you think you should try and forgive Ted for not being your father?"

Despite Aisling's words, Buffy found herself sneaking out of the house to do some late-night patrolling.

She found Spike at the park fighting a vampire, it didn't take long for Buffy to take over.

"Oi—" Spike said but Buffy ignored it and continued beating the vampire into submission.

Vaguely Buffy was aware that Spike was sitting down on a nearby bench waiting for her to finish as she punched, kicked, and beat him with a garbage can lid.

"I think he's been beaten enough, Pet," Spike said sounding amused. "Or are you going to just turn him to dust the hard way?"

Buffy ignored him for a few more minutes before she finally stacked the vamp. She turned and watched Spike as he stared at her, biting back a smirk.

"Bad day?" Spike asked.

"Shut up," Buffy growled.

"Ash is the same way," Spike said. "Once came home and took a beating to the punching bag for three hours."

Buffy glared at him as she began to stalk off. Spike easily kept up with her. "So… what's bothering you?"

"Nothing," Buffy said.

"Really?" Spike said. "You have the day off since I'm patrolling for you every other day. Yet you came out here and took over killing the vampire, that I was having fun killing by the way, not to mention the fact that you then spent longer than was necessary killing him—"

"Alright!" Buffy said. "I get it. You don't have to be all…" Buffy waved her arms "Know-it-all-ish."

Spike raised his eyebrows. "Ash texted me when you snuck out on her." He said, crossing his arms.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Are there things she doesn't tell you?" Buffy said. "I mean I don't tell my mom every single little thing that goes on in my life."

Spike shrugged. "She and I have a different relationship dynamic," Spike said.

"Because she bonded with you when your psycho girlfriend kidnapped her."

Spike levelled a glare at her.

"It's true," Buffy said.

"You're boyfriend put her in that state, Pet," Spike said. "Perhaps you shouldn't be throwing stones in your little glass house."

"And you still love her." Buffy shook her head and laughed. "What is it with single parents falling in love? Why can't they just be happy with the child?"

"I'm not dating anyone," Spike said. "Haven't for 8 years now."

Buffy flushed as she realized that she slipped up. "Uh—"

"So, your mom is datin' someone new," Spike said walking alongside her.

Buffy looked away. "Yeah."

"Think he's dangerous?"

Buffy shrugged. "I don't like him."

Spike sighed, "Is it jealousy? Or is it slayer sense?"

"I don't know," Buffy said. "He's just so—" Buffy groaned. "So… perfect. Gives me the creeps."

"As a slayer, your instincts are the most important thing you have," Spike said. "If it is your instinct to talk – listen. But—"

"If it's my jealousy?"

"Try and keep an open mind," Spike said looking out into the distance. "A parent loves their child. But it doesn't mean that sometimes they wish for something more."

Buffy looked up at Spike before she sighed and looked back down. "Still don't like him."

Spike laughed. "You don't need to."

"If you say one more word, things will become dire."

"Did you even taste them? No." Xander said. "And I'm telling you those mini pizzas have changed my life."

"Good to know," Aisling said. "I hate Pizza."

"You are the weirdest girl I know," Xander said. "Just—how can you hate pizza? It's PIZZA!"

"A pizza is dough bread layered with everything I hate – 'except maybe tomato sauce," Aisling said. "Cheese, garlic, olives, pepperoni."

"How can you hate pepperoni?"

"Too spicy."

Xander stared at Aisling in shock and shook his head. "Living with a vampire has ruined you."

Aisling rolled her eyes. "I hated Pizza before I started living with a vampire," Aisling said.

"Ok. Except for this strange girl who is a heathen when it comes to food. Ted is a master chef."

"Fine, so he's a good cook," Buffy said. "What does that really tell you about a person."

"Then he's meticulous. Follow instructions well. Isn't afraid of trial and error…" Aisling rattled before she looked at Buffy glaring at her.

"You don't like him," Willow said.

"I don't know him," Buffy said. "I mean, so far, all I see is someone who apparently has a good job, seems nice and polite, and my mother really likes him."

"What kind of a monster is he?" Xander teased.

"I'm just saying…"

"It's not wrong to be cautious," Aisling said. "Vampires can be polite too."

"You would know."

Aisling aimed a kick at Xander's shin. Xander this time danced out of the way.

"Learning," Aisling said impressed.

Buffy rolled her eyes at Aisling's antics. "There's something a little too clean about this clown."

Willow giggled. "He's a clean clown!" She said. She sobered as Buffy levelled her with a glare. "I have my own fun."

"Buff, you're lacking evidence," Xander said as he walked up to the vending machine. "I think maybe we're in Sigmund Freud territory."

"He has a point: Separation Anxiety, the mother figure being taken away, conflict with the father figure," Willow said.

"He is not my father figure." Buffy snapped.

"Having Issues much?"

"Xander." Aisling sighed.

"You're having parental issues. You're having parental issues."

Aisling kicked Xander in the shin this time actually connecting. "Dick." She huffed.

"Ow. Hey."

"Stop. Being. A. Dick." Aisling said.

"Both of you." Willow sighed.

"Freud would've said the exact same thing." Xander said, "Just maybe not that song and dance."

Buffy huffed. "It's weird. Seeing my mother Frenching a guy is definitely a ticket to therapy land."

"Therapy," Aisling said as she put a coin in the vending machine and pushed a few buttons. She picked up the chocolate bar that had fallen and started eating. "Still think you should go."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Anyway. It's more than that. I'm pretty good at sensing what's going on around me, and there's definitely something wrong with this… Ted."

"Ted!" Xander practically shouted. Aisling rubbed her ear annoyed.

"Of course, Ted. Who'd you think I was talking about?" Buffy said just as Ted walked up beside Buffy.

"Hi, Ted. Ted who's here." Xander said.

"Hello, kids," Ted said.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm updating the software in the guidance office," Ted said. "Which reminds me—" Ted put his hand in his pocket as he turned to Willow. "You're upgrades."

"Oh, what a day. Thank you!"

"Think nothing of it." He turned back to Buffy. "Buffy, do you like miniature golf."

"Boy, do we ever," Xander said.

"Good. I was thinking of taking you and your mom out for miniature golf out on Saturday." Ted said.

"Oh, I'd love to, but we have that thing," Buffy said a meaningful look at Willow and Aisling.

Aisling nodded along a thousand and one excuses already on her lips for what they had to do instead.

Then Xander spoke up. "Hey, we do that thing all the time. I'm tired of doing that thing."

"Great!" Ted said. "Can't wait to see you there."

"Guess, I'll be playing miniature golf on Saturday," Aisling said. "Pity it won't be at nightfall."

"What Spike plays miniature golf."

Aisling laughed, "No. He hates it. Watching him complain is a highlight of my day." Aisling said.

"You two have one of the weirdest relationships ever."

Aisling laughed. "Come on. Tell me you two don't enjoy watching when your father rages over something that has no bearing on anything."

All three looked at her as though she was nuts.

"Uh. If my dad's mad I'm hightailing out the nearest exit." Xander said.

"My dad's never around," Buffy said. "And if he's mad, I'm too busy trying to figure out how to calm him down."

"And…" Willow frowned. "My parents would have to notice me to be angry."

Aisling frowned.

"What?"

"I just can't imagine not laughing when my dad is mad," Aisling said. "My dad's rage can be hilarious when not focused on me."

"Oh yeah, he throwing things around. Hilarious."

Aisling shook her head. "He doesn't do that."

Xander paused as though he'd revealed too much. "Never mind."

"Saturday mini golfing?" Spike said as he looked through a book.

"Yeah," Aisling said. "What's goin' on?"

"Someone in Sunnydale contacted me about taking care of a demon that's taken over their house," Spike said.

"What kind of demon," Aisling asked. "Maybe I can help?"

"I don't know the name," Spike said. "But she described him as…" Spike rattled off his description.

Aisling chuckled as she stood, went over to the bookshelf and pulled another volume off the shelf. She flipped through the pages until she found what she was looking for and showed it to Spike.

Spike looked at her. "That's it." He told her. He gave her a kiss. "What would I do without you?"

Aisling smiled. "Happy to help." She sat down. "Need any help."

"Oh No," Spike said. "You just worry about bein' a teen. Heaven Knows that you haven't been able to do that as much lately. Go mini-golfing. Or asking that boy Devin out."

Aisling flushed. "You noticed him?"

"I'd have to be blind, deaf, and dumb not to." He said dryly.

Aisling chuckled then her expression sobered. "Did you ever think of… dating at all?"

Spike paused and looked at his daughter. "What brought this on."

Aisling shrugged. "Just askin'"

Spike sat down at the table. "It's not that easy. Most humans won't look at a vampire. And other vampires…"

"What about Nanny Kat?" I asked.

Spike sighed, "She and I are better off as friends." He said.

Aisling sighed, "There are benign demons out there." She said. "You could—"

"What brought this on?" Spike asked. "I'm not desperate for someone new in my life."

"It's just—" Aisling shrugged. "I don't know." She looked at Spike. "If it hadn't been for me…"

"I'd still be a murderous monster." Spike cut her off. "I'm perfectly happy as I am."

Aisling rolled her eyes. "So, you say." She said. "Can I come to kill this demon?"

"No," Spike said. "Angel's gonna be home call him if something happens alright?"

Aisling blinked surprised. "You trust him?"

Spike sighed, "It's… a testing ground." He finally said. "To see if he can handle you when I'm still in the city. So, if something happens and I have to leave the city—"

"I can stay with Buffy and them," I argued. "And I'm not hard to handle."

"I know," Spike said. "You could. And very likely will. But having a backup is good. And I worded that wrong. I mean… like… you handlin' him."

"Mmm," Aisling said only a little mollified. "What did Angel say?"

"Oi."

"He said something, and it got you right in your mushy William heart, didn't it?"

Spike rolled his eyes while Aisling laughed. "Did he give you some sob story about how family is important, and how he is trying to be better?"

Spike flicked her forehead. "Don't you have homework?"

"Yeah. But teasing you is more fun."

Spike glared at her; Aisling grinned before she stood. "Alright, Alright, here I am goin' to my room, and getting' started on my English assignment."

Hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you thought!