Honorable
Sons: 18
by Josie_h
Notes
It was Connor’s turn to feel fear through the link. He had only just shut the door of his taxi when the jolt through the blood bond caused him to stop the driver and jump from the vehicle.
The Witches were in the cab directly behind, and did likewise as they witnessed Connor’s act.
Within seconds, Connor had pushed Spike and his father aside and had the man pinned to the car, arm twisted up behind the assailant’s back until the hand dropped the stake it was carrying.
A female form skidded to a halt at the rear of the taxi. “Rob… Angel????” Angel frowned then recognized the grinning brunette as she stepped from the darkness. “Faith?”
“Geez Big guy! How?? Man ‘s good to see you! Andrew said you got taken out. Last big battle that sort of thing.” She then nodded at Connor “See you still haven’t got junior there a muzzle. Might have one at home you could use. You mind lettin’ go my other half there…. Connor wasn’t it?”
Angel nodded at him. Connor gave his charge a final threatening push then relented, released his captive and moved over to stand by his father.
Spike stepped forward from the shadows to join his Sire.
Faith stared in amazement. “You too??? What? You guys got a permanent revolving door on the whole death gig or what? Nice t’ see you blondie – and gotta say… the matching hair ribbons? Very San Fran.”
The man Connor had been restraining looked a little taken aback by Spike’s emergence but acknowledged the vampire, “Spike.”
“Wood.” Spike folded his arms around himself protectively.
Angel looked confused, as did Connor, but both felt the tension through the bond so stepped back to flank the blonde.
“Heard you were dust.”
Spike’s eyes narrowed “Yeah well, sorry to disappoint. Shouldn’t always believe everything you hear.”
Faith stepped in front of her partner. “C’mon lover, play nice.”
Spike noted his Sire’s legs beginning to falter and snaked a supportive arm around the slim waist, then turning to Connor gave a brisk, “Gotta get our ol’ Da off his pins, can you get the door?”
Connor moved toward the taxi, Faith and Robin stepped aside to let him open the door. He gave the driver curt nod, “You’ll be paid for your time.”
Spike led Angel to the car and eased him into the back seat just as Willow and F’Iaid joined the group.
“Wills? Geez the gang’s all here! Thought you were slayer training with Giles? ‘Sup?…” Faith stopped mid sentence as the regal figure of F’Iaid came into full view, “And I thought I’d cornered the market on tall, dark and beautiful! I am assuming…?”
Willow blushed and smiled knowingly at Faith.
“Well you go girl!!” The dark slayer stepped forward and offered a handshake, “Hi, I’m Faith and this is my sig other, Robin”
F’Iaid graced the woman with a stunning smile, took the offered hand and squeezed it slightly, “F’Iaid.”
Faith then turned back to the cab where Spike was crouched between the knees of a seated Angel, hands in his, kissing each in turn whilst whispering reassurances. Connor stood only inches away looking concerned. Faith had heard of the vampire relationships between Sire and Childe, but was struck by the devotion and adoration apparent in Spike’s actions, and by the loving reciprocation from the brunette. She shook her head a little, and began to look at Angel more carefully. Seated, it was clear he was far thinner than she remembered, certainly a far cry from the imposing form of Angelus during their Los Angeles encounter.
Spike turned to the group. “Listen folks, me ol’ Sire here is a bit knackered. We’ve got a nightcap and floor space, if you’re inclined come with. But, I’m takin’ the old bloke home.”
Willow was looking equally exhausted. She touched F’Iaid on the arm, then answered for both of them. “I would rather if we visit in a day or two. Nice to see you Faith, Robin…”
Connor leaned into the car and kissed his father on the forehead. “Sleep well, Dad. I’ll call you tomorrow.” He nodded to Faith as the three moved to find transport.
Faith smiled briefly at Robin, then turned to the vampires. “Guess that’s our cue. So… you guy’s got a cell or somethin’?”
Spike borrowed a pen from the somewhat bemused cab driver and scribbled their number onto Faith’s arm.
“’S been fun, blondie. Talk soon, yeah?”
Spike grabbed the dark slayer’s hand and squeezed it affectionately, “Cheers luv.”
Little was said on their way home, Spike content to simply hold his Sire’s hand, as the exhausted elder shut his eyes and rested. Recognizing his partner’s limits, the blonde carried him from the cab to their bed, refusing the weak pleas for independence in favor of expediency. Having settled his partner comfortably, he downed three bags of blood in quick succession, then opened his wrist and let his Sire suckle until they both succumbed to slumber.
The days following their evening out and the impromptu reunion, comprised a strange combination of high’s and low’s.
The high’s were easy. Connor rang twice on the first day, the first time to check on F’Iaid’s address, followed by another excitedly reporting his results for the previous semester - all high distinctions. He rang again mid-week to ask if his two college friends would be able to come over to meet his ‘real Dad’. Angel was thrilled beyond measure. The definite low that accompanied the high however – Angel almost drove Spike mad with his anally retentive attention to detail around the apartment, insisting that everything be just ‘perfect’ for his son’s visit.
A definite high came in the form of Willow and F’Iaid. The two enamored witches graced the vampires with their combined calm presence almost every day and quietly planned all the details for the mating ceremony to occur at the weekend.
Faith called midweek. She and Robin had been called away for a few days, something about helping out at the Cleaveland Hellmouth for a short time. Spike told her of the coming ceremony then practically heard the wicked smirk through the phone as she wished them well and asked if they needed a sisterly chat about honeymoons and nuptial expectations.
The lows were harder. Angel struggled with his still recovering body, acutely aware of his limitations as he and Spike increased their training and began sparring. His body remembered fighting moves but residual muscle weakness meant his balance was still unreliable. The lack of speed left him with little choice but to defend more often than attack, and absolute fatigue saw him beginning to shake uncontrollably toward the end of a mere half hour on the first day. They both knew his full strength was returning, but it still did not stop him from sulking for an entire afternoon after Spike pinned him to the mat with three easy moves on the third day.
The following night Spike had left their bedchamber in a huff after Angel’s refusal to hurt him, despite repeated requests, and the sudden appearances of an elegant, hand-crafted, black leather riding crop, and antique ivory handled boning knife. They had not broached the issue of pain/pleasure needs in vampire love-play as their own coupling had begun again during recovery, but Angel recognized the issue as one that would need to be resolved before the weekend – even if only with a promise.
Another high… Connor stopped on Friday evening with his two college friends. They were on their way to a party somewhere in Berkeley when Connor called from his cell phone to ask if it was appropriate. Spike had been less than thrilled at the concept but Angel was so pleased with the thought that Connor was including him in his ‘real life’, that the blonde could not refuse.
The soft knock on the apartment door announced the arrival of the trio – Connor, John and ‘Shorty’ (alias Anthony). The latter had apparently been the smallest student at his school in the first year of junior high. Now he measured just shy of six foot six inches, with a substantially broad chest and thick muscles to match, but somehow the name had stuck. John, on the other hand, was slender, more of Spike’s stature, and reminded both vampire’s of Wesley in a way – the blue eyes, the slight build, the dark hair and studious looks.
All three students were struck by the affectionate welcome Connor’s birth father and his partner Will afforded them. Both vampires smirked as they stood in the kitchen fetching drinks for their guests and listened to the hushed conversation out on the deck.
It was Shorty’s baritone that was most audible, “Man he must’ve been young when he had you! Seems pretty cool about the whole ‘out’ and parent thing now though right?
Connor had not answered before the voice continued, “Have they always been… you know, he and Will… Not that I wouldn’t if I was a switch hitter….God! Did you see those blue eyes, and the lashes!”
Connor interjected, “’S been good to find him again now mom is sick. And he kind of gets it ‘cause he’s been out of action for almost a year too, had a bad accident. Will nursed him back,” Connor went silent for a few moments. “Anyways, he and Will are tying the knot Saturday… kinda cool that.”
It was John’s turn to speak, “So you get a adoptive dad, a birth dad and a step dad! Man that’s kinda weird, I mean not bad just… San Fran really isn’t it.”
Angel heard Connor’s good natured, “Oh you don’t know the half of it.” Then smiled to himself… no they really didn’t.