Honorable Sons: 36
by Josie_h
Notes

Willow straightened up, eyed each if the senior vampires in turn with her most frightening ‘resolve face’ then allowed just a little leeway in the inanimate spell so both could return to their human features, though were still unable to comment or move.

“F’Iaid, the coven and I, can ward their family apartment of course, as yours is. You must be aware that your son and Dawn are fast becoming powerful and skillful witches, and soon it will be possible for them to ward their own home without outside assistance. For now we think it best to assist them as it will take some time for Dawn to adjust to her new motherhood and recover from the delivery.

“Our concern is primarily the children. With such a strong connection to you all, thanks to Dawn’s taking of your blood while they were within her, and of course their own heritage, they will have an extraordinarily robust feeling of being loved, cherished… and protected so long as you are all close.

“The difficulty comes as you all face the day to day trials of adult and vampiric existence. You *must* shut down the link with them unless you are at peace! This is the same message F’Iaid and I will give Dawn and Connor. If you are upset or worried, or on patrol, their ability to sense the emotions and thoughts is *not balanced* by an understanding of what is going on or why.”

Despite their inanimate state Willow could not fail to see tears tracking down both the vampire’s faces at the thought their grandchildren might be injured by their own experiences, and even worse, that they had to cut themselves off as a consequence. Both ensouled vampires had the feeling that their demons and souls would not allow being ‘at peace’ to occur, which would mean a total shutting out of the new little two.

Spike felt the distress and longed to embrace his mate. They had only just held the grandchildren and felt the connection… and Angel had been so happy… Now the distress was flowing so freely through the link that an utterly disorientated and extremely distressed Connor lurched into the lounge room to embrace his father. Thankfully his wife and newborns were still sleeping and oblivious.

Seeing the tears and the inability of his father to move, he reacted as only the destroyer might, but Willow was faster and Connor was also, very suddenly, inanimate.

“Oh sweetie we don’t mean to hurt you… but you too need to hear this too.”

Angel was watching as the sky began to lighten and the panic for his mate mixed with terror for his grandchildren and he heard Connor’s heartbeat accelerate with the same realization.

Seeing the very real distress of her friends and suspecting the cause, Willow continued quickly, “Your demons will not hurt them, they are of your line and Dawn took your blood when they were still growing… so *please* listen… when you are with the children, you *can* open the link… let them feel the love and adoration, the knowledge and the wisdom. But you *must* shut it down at all other times.

“We also need to bind the children’s magical abilities until they are able to be schooled. It is so rare to have children with this level of power, and until they understand how to use it, they will be a danger to themselves and all around them. By binding it we are also cloaking it when they are away from the home.

“Now… Is everyone calm enough for us to have a *civil* conversation? Because Spike needs to be getting inside soon.”  Angel looked at the sky then pleadingly at Willow and she knew the truth. It was barely minutes before the sun would peep over the horizon.

As the spell was released, all three relieved individuals collapsed, then Spike and Connor immediately joined Angel inside. The exhaustion and emotion of the last few hours causing all three to sink to the floor in a desperate three way embrace, drop their fangs, and share familial blood in an effort to find balance.

Willow and F’Iaid gave them a few minutes before joining the distraught group.

F’Iaid spoke first, her deep, soft voice, strong presence and quietly accented ‘th’, soothing all present “We are sorry to have had to still you, gentlemen, but you gave us little choice. We must bind de babies’ power by morning. You must also be aware … de wards will not be able to conceal dem from ones who might truly do harm.”

It was Connor who looked up with a yellow tinge to his eyes and stood resolute, the protective father. “What do we need to do?”

Willow squeezed her partner’s hand and F’Iaid continued, “Dey must wear a circle of white gold, a bracelet removable any time dey are ready, or replaced if needed. Blessed by us, it will bind de babies’ powers but dey also must bear a mark of Aurelius to tie dem to you for protection and complete what was started as Dawn carried dem.

“Such a mark must happen as soon as you can, Connor may do it, and bracelets we can obtain in de mornin’ from my coven. We will return to bless and fit dem before midday. Your children are *very special*, we *will* not take *any* risks.”

Willow moved to squat in front of a kneeling still visibly upset Angel and took his large hands in her tiny ones.

He refused to catch her eye, instead stared at the floor and all but whispered, “I would have hurt you…”

She kissed each hand in turn then whispered, “Only to save the children honey … And I understand… OK?! We have to do this and you had to know…”

Angel looked up with pleading eyes, “Thank you …. But… I am *so* sorry… you know… for grabbing you… and frightening you.”

“Oh… It’s OK sweetie… And in case you didn’t notice, it was us who threw *you*… So let’s just forget it… Anyways it’s been a long night for all of us… so…” With that Willow stood, waited until the vampire was also standing then moved toward Angel, though his flinch was unnecessary as she pulled him into a hug and shot an affectionate sisterly smile to Spike. F’Iaid meanwhile had taken Connor’s hand and led him to the couch where they were speaking quietly as he had not been privy to the whole of their dialogue.

Shortly after, the new father excused himself, looking very tired and worried, and returned to the family bed.

……………

Two days later painted a very different picture.

The twins now had names - Luka Lawrence and Talia Joyce. The first names the parent’s choice, the second, familial favorites, Lawrence being Connor’s adoptive father’s name, and Joyce a favorite for all of them. What stunned the vampires was the third name registered for each before Connor and Dawn’s official surname – Reilly-Summers. Angel stared, speechless at the printout of the birth certificate… Aurelius.  For all time, the name would now be on the *birth* register… Their family name. The children’s heritage acknowledged.

The little folks were both sporting tiny white gold, enchanted bracelets, and the emotional link was only ever opened when they were held by family as recommended by their wiccan doctor and her partner Willow.

The remainder of Dawn and Connor’s furniture arrived on the third day, and with the combined efforts of the Grandfathers, Willow and Connor, the apartment was picture perfect by the fourth day of the children’s lives. It was heavily warded and the family moved in.

Connor’s mother and father came to visit around midday of the following day. His mother still requiring a wheelchair, but Connor grinned and insisted on carrying her from the car and 'across the threshold'. His father was relieved as his wife giggled as the faux married couple tradition was carried out, and trailed behind with all manner of ‘goodies’, returning to the car to collect the wheel chair, a large bunch of flowers and a helium balloon arrangement.

Luka and Dawn were both feeding well, though Connor had been worried as he observed his wife’s pain and discomfort as cracked nipples and very sore breasts made each feeding more and more painful. Colleen was relaxed in a huge reading chair Connor had bought especially for Dawn, a pillow on her lap in case the tiny figure of Luka she held became too much for her. But the new grandmother was not about to give in to fatigue, not for the world. The little boy had snuffled a little then relaxed against the older woman, while Dawn fed his sister.

Colleen could not help but notice the wince of pain as the little mouth dropped off then tried to reengage. She quickly advised rubbing Dawn's own milk onto the nipples after the feed then if needed applying papaya cream to the abused nubs. She went on to show the new mother how to express and grinned as the rather stunned young woman managed to send a thin squirt across the room. Cabbage leaves sounded like a bit of a stretch for sore breasts, so Dawn was most surprised when F’Iaid confirmed later that evening, that their beneficial effect really was far more than an old wives tale.

It would still be several months before Connor’s mother could truly be said to be in remission once more, but Connor could still smell the hope and love flowing from his father. They were sharing the task of putting away the ‘care package’ Colleen insisted they brought with them, and despite his protests, Connor was truly grateful.

“You know your mother wants to be called Nanna right?”

“What?”

“Nanna”

“Oh… yeah sure… but what about…”

“She is so darned happy son… you’ve made us so darned happy. It’s like this was the little spark she needed… not that the girls and you aren’t worth it … just… Ahhh geez.” Connor saw his father turn away for a moment and compose himself again. “I can’t tell you how… [deep breath] I can’t tell you how incredible it is to have a grandson bearing my name… incredible.”

Connor pulled his father into a tight hug and gave him a ‘manly’ few slaps on the back. He knew his adoptive father had not received the memory ‘reinstall’ that he had, but still retained the implanted ones. Connor remembered Lawrence's gentle guidance and love throughout the 'other' memories, and they felt no less real. He had hugged Angel for pretty much the same reason late the previous night, and not so strangely was beginning to understand both men a little better. The fierce protectiveness he felt toward his children and partner not a small part of the same.

……………

After a few more days of experience at feeding the children, the young couple was reassured as the raw tissue healed and toughened to the point that Dawn actually enjoyed the feeling of a tiny bodies taking from her. It was a profound realization for the young mother. Her children cried and her breasts filled and began to leak, and despite the inconvenience of wearing tiny pads to catch the spills, it was still amazing to the young couple.

Connor had been back at the University trying to catch up on a bit of study as Dawn sheepishly admitted her pleasure to Spike who’s sleeping habits dictated that he was awake and restless in the early afternoon, well before Angel. He had taken to visiting and chatting to the new mother, even changing a nappy, though his vampire sense of smell made the task rather horrific, until Dawn swiftly dealt with the tiny but very stinky offering.

Dawn brought up the topic in the third week of the children’s lives, as the two gave the little people a warm bath. Spike was always utterly amazed by tiny arms and legs thrashing with obvious delight as the babies were immersed almost fully at opposite ends of the plastic baby bath. Their feet barely touched but it was easy to see that it would not be long before the ‘big baby bath’ was no longer adequate and the real thing engaged.

"It just feels so... I don't know..."

“’S like that for Sire ‘n Childe pet… Best feelin’ in the world to give… and bliss to take.”

“So when you and Angel… It feels…”

Spike wiggled an eyebrow and smirked as he said, “Try it durin’ sex, pet, guaranteed to blow your head off love!” Dawn blushed deep red and felt her milk come in at the mere suggestion from the ‘naughty’ O’Pa as he lifted the tiny female figure from her warm bath and into a waiting fluffy towel. The name suggested in jest had indeed stuck.

Dawn recalled her conversation a few days later. Late one evening in the third week, as Connor pleasured his now voluptuous partner with a loving massage and careful kisses. Connor was very aware of his partner’s still healing body and her fatigue, but she was so responsive and his hour long ministrations with no sign of relief were driving her to distraction. He had pleasured her in every way he could think of, aware that the bruising around her pelvis was only just starting to heal. But her clitoris seemed a viable option, and he hoped she could obtain pleasure from that alone, yet now she needed more and it seemed was inviting him to taste his children’s meal. He kissed her firmly on the lips then gently laved around the full nipple and lightly massaged her sex as he reverently took the offering. She came hard as she felt the milk drop and her partner suckle.

Connor felt his fangs drop as the first squirt hit his taste buds, but kept them away from the wonderful nipples, biting his own lip instead. It was extraordinary. Breast milk was an odd combination of salty and sweet and … something else. It occurred to Connor that it was almost like tasting his first draft of blood, it was just… different. He lifted off for a moment and opened his own wrist with two fine puncture marks, then grinned as Dawn took some of the precious fluid and he returned to his own light feeding. It was a fair exchange, and the children would benefit.

……………..

Angel and Spike were standing in silence on their balcony staring out at the trees and the lights of the bay, the larger vampire’s arms around his smaller companions while the blonde smoked.

The cell phone at Angel’s hip broke the peace.

“Hey Dad? Do you know what it’s like if someone is trying to break through the wards? ‘Cause, we’re all a little freaked here and the babies have both just lost it!”

“We’re on our way… Ring Willow and F’Iaid!”

The cigarette butt had not even hit the ground before the two vampires were at Dawn and Connor’s door.

To Be Continued...