Honorable Sons: 34
by Josie_h
Notes

Spike rolled over and snuggled into his larger partner, his mate, his cool vampire friend. The electric blanket underneath them both provided an artificial, but no less welcome, warmth.

Spike latched onto his Sire’s exposed neck taking two long drafts before he extending his own and waiting.

A still sleepy Angel bit down and took back what had been drawn. The older vampire had yet to truly regain consciousness after their ‘fairy’ experience. Spike grinned a little and rolled onto his mate pressing their ‘morning’ erections together and moving a little. It elicited the right response. “C’mon ya big fairy, know you’re awake… how about some decent sized action for a change.”

Angel, who had apparently been half asleep, grabbed his partner and flipped them. Spike was now trapped under the significantly larger body, which apparently suited him fine. He grinned up at his larger partner then wriggled just enough to feel his mate’s erection twitch against his own rapidly increasing hardness.

…………….

They had been out until almost dawn patrolling, so woke late afternoon to the familiar sounds of Willow, F’iaid and the studying witches moving about chatting and ‘practicing’.

It was just over four months after the faerie incident and the students had doubled their efforts to *never* allow that situation recur. They were far more adept at their skills and Connor was also pleased that, of late, he had not let his fangs fall during any of their rituals or spells. Indeed it was only when his fathers were present, or when being given permission by those around him, that he would allow the dark magic through. But F’iaid indicated that for Connor, the dark magic was also part of his strength and that he needed to release it.

Connor was still worried by the incident in the park many months ago, and knew he was capable of draining and turning a human. He was terrified by what he knew he could do, but at some level also concerned that at some level he *wasn’t* worried by his new status or abilities.

His night vision, hearing and speed was so enhanced that now, when the fathers and the son were training, it was a moment of joy. Adding to his Quort’oth experiences and training, and his own natural talent, his confidence grew.

No longer the impetuous youth, he always seemed calm amidst unimaginable confusion when in a fight, something indicative of old masters like his father as Spike. And as far as his own origins were concerned, the regular exchange of blood and the close link with his vampiric line centered him. Connor’s increasing magical prowess gave him a link to ‘the other’, and his ongoing contact with Dawn and his human family grounded him. He felt compelled to bind himself all his families. After so much of his life feeling lost or ‘wrong’, he knew what he wanted but still waited.

Almost half a year on in their training together, he always returned to his wiccan Dawn… his partner in almost everything… with a sense of relief and happiness. There was little to be said, because she seemed to know. They had found each other during the summer break. Staying in his fathers’ home five days out of seven and working/studying together all day every day had helped, but the connection had been instant. Splitting his time between his Masters studies, his schooling in magic and his training with his fathers was always going to be a challenge but at least for a third of the day he spent time with his best friend, his Dawn.

Most evenings, he left with the two elder Aurelians as the sun went down, initially heading out for a run, but ultimately patrolling and training, then exchanging blood and finally taking his leave of his fathers as they disappeared into the night for more adventures.

It was now habit that around midnight, Connor would return to his fathers’ family home where he and Dawn were staying permanently. More and more the fathers noted that the son was not in his own bed when they came in, but rather, had let himself in to Dawn’s bedroom. It had begun slowly, both magical beings gently, caringly, lovingly gave each other what was needed at the time: comfort and friendship with no other agenda.

Spike noticed the increasing connection between ‘The Destroyer’ and ‘The Key’, and even Angel received the message as Connor, in the throws of passion in the two youngsters’ fifth month together, forgot to close the familial link and conveyed his feelings openly, causing both fathers to wake in the early hours of the morning rather bleary, but filled with transferred lust, a natural adoration for each other, resulting in an inevitable joyous partnering. Nothing was ever said.

……………

Connor had been back at university for just over five months, his Masters degree underway and fast tracked. His research was local and he was studying hard and writing as much as possible. His two supervising professors were thrilled at his progress. He was on track for a year to finish and the faculty was talking of a scholarship to go further… But…

Real life kicked in to mark the eighth month of Dawn’s and his wiccan studies.

After well over eighteen months clear of symptoms, his mother fell ill once more. After diagnosis Dawn returned to Spike and Angel’s apartment with an almost inconsolable Connor. His mother was apparently out of remission and would back on treatment. They had not found the primary source of cancer and it was spreading fast.

Dawn received the desperate call from the private cancer clinic. She had consequently joined her friend by his mother’s bedside rung Willow and F’Iaid, then driven him back in F’iaid’s car from across town at nearly two in the morning, the distressed young man sobbing all the way back to his fathers’ apartment to find solace in Angel’s arms.

Connor’s whole adoptive family was out of town so he had spent the previous night with his mother as she received the news. He had then spoken to his distraught adoptive father who was unable to return home until a day and a half later, and promised to be strong amidst his own tears. His mother, despite her own pain and fear, did not fail to notice that Connor was holding tightly to the hand of the beautiful brunette whom he had previously introduced as his best friend and partner at his birthday, thanksgiving, and their traditional Christmas Eve meal. Merryl resolved to talk to her husband when he saw her the following afternoon.

She was not scheduled for surgery for two days, and she knew her time was limited. Her boy was happy, and she predicted, just needed a slight push to marry his beautiful Dawn. She would hold on for that alone. Her lovely boy… he deserved that. He was always special and had *never* done anything but made them proud. And now… he had the chance to partner with someone he deeply cared about.

On the way back to the apartment on the second evening, Connor was desperate, his fathers were out and Dawn saw the distress so offered her neck without thinking, his incisors dropped and…

……………

It was two weeks later when Connor and Dawn appeared at the door to his fathers’ rooms, looking contrite and rather worried. Dawn was sporting the marks of claiming on her neck, but there was more.

Spike was the first to smell it, Angel only moments later. It was a rather puzzling mix, so they merely waited.

“Um Dad? Spike? Um can we… Well can we talk for a minute…”

It was Spike who answered, “Hey Bit, Sprog, always know you’re welcome. Pull up a pew.” Spike smoothed the bed in front of him, Angel remained silent, his arm draped over his beautiful lover. The two intruders sat, Dawn’s tight grip on Connor’s hand and their raised heartbeats not missed by either of the Master vampires. The two young wiccans sat on the right side of the bed and faced the two vampires, their hosts and relatives in so many ways.

Connor was obviously upset but spoke first, “Dad, Spike, I… We… Ummm… We had already kind of decided that we want to be together… for all time… you know?! But then, with Mom, and it was late and… Gahhh!!!!… So we sort of… Ohhh!” Connor looked at the roof then took strength from the extra squeeze he received from his partner. “I claimed her! Properly! Willingly! You know Vampire claimed!... But then… Oh Da??!!” Connor looked at his partner, now claimant and claimer let tears begin to spill. He squeezed Dawn’s hand and kissed her passionately, though the act was interrupted as he hiccupped with emotion. Fortunately Dawn, though not particularly calm, still managed to take over the commentary.

“He needed it and…. so I offered… and… he bit me, and gave me some of his blood, and we… well we kind of said the words – ‘cause you know we *have* been reading a lot about this stuff – and then it just felt different. And it was ‘right’…. You know? It is right isn’t it?? ‘Cause it felt…” She looked hopefully at first Spike then Angel as her tone dropped, “And then we kind of kept going… and um… It had *never* happened before, so we didn’t… and then… Ohhh…. But we *wanted*… and um … Ohh….” The young wiccan trailed off and burst into tears.

Spike stopped the difficult conversation by a simple act. His eyes narrowed then he leaned over, placed his free hand over Dawn’s ever so slightly swollen belly and whispered, “We’ll only be happy if you two are Pet.” At which point the young wiccan began to sob even more and her partner shifted his hand to caress her stomach. Through her sobs managed to say, “I think we are… if you are… Oh Spike, I do love him… I really do!” She then pulled away from Connor and fell into the blonde vampire’s welcoming arms.

Angel left Spike to their embrace but reached up to pull his son into a warm hug. Spike shifted to accommodate the two new additions to their bed. He shifted to sitting and moved his Li’l Bit to sit across his lap then continued to hug and reassure her in a way that only a dear relative might.

The following week the announcement was made to Connor’s adoptive parents. She had met them a few times as ‘a friend’ spending thanksgiving, the first part of Christmas, and Connor’s birthday party with them at his invitation. The family liked her immensely, and the announcement that they were to be married came almost as a relief. The previous two years had been a challenge with Connor’s mother’s health and a couple of issues with his father’s work, now, finally there was something to celebrate.

Dawn and Connor opted for completely civil ceremony in the early evening. Connor’s parents were initially worried at the request for a minimum of ceremony, but the two seemed to be determined. Less than two weeks later Giles arrived to give Dawn away in the absence of her biological parents (her real father apparently non-contactable). Giles was one of Dawn’s formal guardians, and the elderly gent obviously moved to be given the right to ‘give Dawn away’.

The ceremony was short, the vows heartfelt and self written, and the partnered couple radiant. They would couple again according to wiccan lore at the new moon in five days’ time, but for now were legitimately partnered in society’s eyes… and if only that Connor’s ill mother might see her son happily married, it was enough. As it was, Connor had the joy of whispering to his adoptive parents “So do you want to be Nanna and Pa, or Gramma and Gramps?” He was given a slap for his trouble, but both parents were moved by the possibility of grandchildren, and Spike heard something that warmed his heart courtesy of his vampire senses and felt the joy through the familial link as Connor’s adoptive father whispered, “We would be *so* blessed… Oh son… she is… just be happy OK?? Like your mom and I… cause you never know…” Then there was incredible sadness as Connor pulled his father into a tight hug and they both let their fear and desperation be conveyed.

Angel watched from the shadows, his partner’s arms now surrounding him, and let a tear track down his cheek. “’S alright luv, he’s got the best of both, so’s she… and just think the joy they’re bringin’ to his lot! Look at ‘is ol’ Mum, hardly keep herself from bucklin’ with the pain but happy as Larry… just look at her! Pain forgotten! And he’s yours Pet. Look at the joy he’s bringin’, they’re bringing!”

Angel was unrecognizable as the Wolfram and Hart CEO they had met several years ago. His illness had stripped any extra flesh from his body and face, and the extra bulk had failed to return. Instead there was a tall, lean, brunette with a tie holding back unruly dark locks appearing slightly younger than the attractive young man he stood beside.

Spike and Angel were introduced to Connor’s adoptive parents by Giles, Connor and Dawn as cousins (Spike being Angel’s ‘life partner’ and long time protectors of the bride’ interests which was odd on one level but sped things along as the family on the groom’s side was apparently ‘broad minded’ enough to welcome the new friends of the bride into their fold.

Connor’s parents were pleased to greet the two men, who were, by all reports independently wealthy, and influential friends of Dawn’s. They thanked Willow, Angel and Spike for their assistance with Connor’s Masters and engaging the men in small talk regards the financial and political climate in America. Both Angel and Spike noticeably allowed Connor to shine in all matters economic. Though in a quiet moment Connor’s father identified Spike’s accent and was unsurprised that the pair had significant international market knowledge that spanned decades. Spike was rescued from the dialogue as a toast was raised to the wedding couple.

Shortly after, the delightful evening finished abruptly as Connor’s mother paled. The vampires noted the change and hearing and smelling the illness first, and Connor sensed it too. They called an ambulance and she was whisked to hospital, plied with pain medication and attended to by a new doctor, a dark woman Dr F’Iaid Alahzir. It seemed the new doctor came highly recommended and had skills others could not offer.

Within the hour Connor’s mother was resting comfortably, breathing easier and could swallow a little water. She squeezed her husband’s hand as he sat by her bedside and agreed to yet another round of tests being ordered. The loving husband felt the physical relief as his lovely partner relaxed a little. Though still obviously struggling, she squeezed one hand of her desperate husband’s and lifted her other to caress the features that were so aggrieved.

Connor and his sisters watched through the glass of the door. Connor’s acute hearing picking up the conversation easily.

“Oh my love… wasn’t it a lovely ceremony [stops to breath heavily for a few seconds] ummm… jus…. Ohhh!! Sorry… so sorry… sweetheart… I’m fine… I … really am… it was just… the excitement… Aren’t they beautiful together… oh my love … so… [panting shallowly] so were we… Ohhh…. Don’t!!  Not for me…” Connor’s father kissed the pale forehead of his wife and let the tears flow, finally resting his forehead on their combined hands as F’Iaid pushed enough painkillers to alleviate the pain for the woman that *was* his heart, his friend, his other half for close to thirty years.

Dawn’s pregnancy was announced to Connor’s parents within the month, earlier than would be normal but necessary. His mother was so sick, but the result was one of happiness. His mother cried as Dawn held her hand and asked for her blessing while Connor held his own adoptive father as he cried tears of joy.

There could be no jealously on Angel or Spike’s part, the wondrous emotions of a soon to be father permeating their connection and allowing great cause for celebration. That evening they pleasured each other and sent the resultant exuberant feelings through their connection.

………………

As his mother continued to struggle with her affliction, Connor worked hard on his Masters degree, and his magic studies in equal portions, but was also attentive to his lovely Dawn. Angel in particular, watching with pride as the young couple reveled in the knowledge that there really was a new life of their making inside the beautiful wiccan.

F’Iaid was an attentive physician but also a Mistress of white magic in her own right. At the end of Dawn’s first trimester, there was a difficult conversation to be had. At her insistence Willow took Dawn aside, and the fathers addressed the issue with Connor.

If they were to continue to practice their craft, to safeguard the unborn child, they needed to partner, as a wiccan pair, though F’Iaid suspected it would not just be that, their heritage would dictate more. She assured them that it was necessary to keep the unborn children safe.

Dawn dissolved into tears almost as soon as Willow began explaining that the children might be at risk. “Oh sweetie! We’re not trying to put the pressure on you, we’d just like to know... and you have already partnered vampirically and in human terms… is it that much of a stretch?”

“No!! and *Of course!!* I have his child inside me and Connor is sweet and smart and working so hard and with his mother… Oh Goddess Willow, what if it hurts the baby? How could I live with that?” Dawn dissolved into tears yet again then gave in to a bout of nausea and raced for the bathroom.

They formally joined in wiccan terms in the twelfth week of Dawn’s pregnancy. There had been no pressure just support, though Willow could not help but notice the relief on Angel and Spike’s faces as the young couple exchanged blessings and vows then walked three time around the sacred circle before stepping inside and being enveloped sparkling golden light, both their auras suddenly becoming one. It was only later that F’Iaid pointed out that there had been two ‘hot spots’ of light over Dawn’s belly not just one. It was confirmation of something they had all suspected. Dawn and Connor were to have twins.

Immediately following the wiccan ceremony Dawn could feel her partner at a profound level and something else. She struggled with the sensation and finally spoke to F’Iaid. It was confirmed, the link she now felt with Connor also applied to their two children in vitro, and, it seemed, and also strangely to their vampiric grandparents. When she sent calm messages, she was returned love and calm, and her perpetual nausea abated and the children seemed to calm.

Blessings flowed in from around the wiccan world and Giles who had returned to England after their joining ceremony called with a rather uncharacteristically tearful congratulations.

………….

Dawn and Connor’s twins continued to grow according to the boringly slow nine month schedule. Dawn had been suffering morning sickness all day, every day for more than four months. Her stoicism was one thing but her lovely Connor was frantic appealing to both Willow and Fiaid for assistance. It seemed there was little they could do. For all the pregnancy appeared normal, it was anything but.

Connor was attending to his University studies late afternoon. She was in the last part of her fourth month, and Dawn had had a particularly awful day of vomiting and nausea. Spike had woken to the noise then heard the quiet crying. He slipped into the family suite (formerly known as the guest room). Dawn was lying on her side, her stomach obviously distended and breasts full with her pregnancy. She was hugging a pillow and trying to suck on an ice cube whilst sobbing into a hand towel, apparently aware that her distress might be heard.

She felt the bed depress beside her and allowed her head to be lifted and maneuvered until it was in a cool lap and her hair was being stroked rhythmically, soothingly. She was amazed as a pale hand took away the ice then replaced it with a dripping wrist. Rather than being repulsed, she felt surprisingly compelled to take the offering. She sucked gently and lovingly, until the wound closed over. For the first time in nearly five months, her stomach settled and she began to drift. She fell asleep to the strains of a very old lullaby sung by her wonderful blonde vampire, and woke to the embrace of her partner in all things, the father of her children.

It was the first of the daily feedings, from both vampire grandfathers, and from Connor. F’Iaid approved it and Dawn craved it, not the blood of others, simply that of family. By the fifth feeding from Spike, she thanked her surrogate father with a loving kiss, then whispered cheekily, “If I knew you were that tasty I would have bitten you years ago!”

She was graced with his full game face for an instant, then it was replaced by a wicked human grin and a quick peck on the cheek before he departed, quipping, “That’s what all the girls say luv…”

………….

The wards around the home were increased, to the point where Spike and Angel felt distinctly uncomfortable for a few seconds as they reentered their own home.

With Dawn’s improved health, their wiccan lessons increased in number and the two younger witches once more reveled in honing their craft.

Also with the improvement in Dawn’s wellbeing, visits to his mother were recommenced. Previously carsick almost as soon as any vehicle began to move, the obviously pregnant brunette slung the seat belt under her ever increasing belly and squeezed her husband’s hand as they visited his ailing mother for the first time in weeks. Connor warned her of the changes.

F’Iaid had done a sterling job. His mother was comfortable after one surgery, one round of radiotherapy and two of chemotherapy. Indeed it seemed that she was on the improve, yet Dawn was still shocked. The formerly slim, fit woman was now barely able to lift her hand to her son as he reached down to kiss her forehead, and was a visibly yellow/grey color and unbelievably thin.

Dawn sat on the side of the bed, Connor behind her, his chin on her shoulder smiling tenderly as Dawn picked up her mother in law’s hand and placed it on a moving belly. Both women began to cry.

Dawn spoke first, “I would have liked my mom to see them you know… So… ummm… Ohhh… “ Connor kissed the mark on her neck and sent strength through their link, waiting while she finished, “But I want you to see them OK… Please?! You *are* the mom, and we *all* love you and I’m sorry I couldn’t come before, I’m so sorry… But you’re going to hang around until they can bug you for candy right?!” Just then two tiny bodies adjusted their positions simultaneously and the older woman smiled tearfully, “Oh my… it seems they agree with you, so how could I refuse.”

Connor leant down and kissed his mother. They stayed for another half hour but were aware of the cost. His mother was snoozing lightly as Connor and Dawn both spoke a blessing of health and sprinkled some magical dust around the bed before departing.

………………..

Connor held the hand of his beautiful partner and they displayed the photos from the eighteen week scan to his fathers, ‘the destroyer’, Connor, finally felt something he had never really experienced before. He felt ‘normal’. He was no longer just some supernatural being, just someone in love with the mother of his soon to be children. It was an epiphany of sorts. He was to be a father of human twins, extraordinary without a doubt given their heritage, but certainly beginning their lives as human. He had heard their heart beats, could sometimes feel them move and had seen his little boy sucking his own thumb in utero.

Now, like so many other dads of modern times, he was sitting with his beautiful, now obviously pregnant partner, showing his own fathers something neither of the elder gents could ever have imagined in their days as humans, pictures of two tiny people, their grandchildren, before they entered the world.

Spike fell very quiet but then abruptly excused himself and left the room for a smoke.

Angel joined him moments later.

He approached the blonde vampire with caution, “What’s up lover?”

“Jus too good to be true, innit?!... Always wanted you and wanted a family… and now got both… An’ I’ve gotta keep ‘em safe Angel… kept you safe… and… ahhh Pet… I’m so happy and that makes me terrified!”

Angel took his mate into his arms and threw the cigarette over the balcony. He then eased them both onto the outdoor lounge to enjoy a reassuring kiss.

Honorable Sons: 35