Kindness, Love, and Acceptance

Part 16

The weekend seemed to fly by. Between standard patrols, the nest of fyral demons that had moved into Spike's old crypt and the hours they spent together in bed, the time had gone by too quickly for Connor's liking. Not that he was complaining about work - he loved his job - but he did miss Spike during the day. He could always see Xander - they ate lunch together everyday - but knowing that Spike was by himself in the apartment all day bothered him.

When Connor brought his concerns to Xander's attention, the older man smiled at him. "Spike's fine, really. He's spent a century as a bad ass vampire - he still needs his space from time to time. This lets him have it. During the day - when we aren't home - he can do whatever he wants, reminisce about his glory days, sleep, laze around in front of the TV or write god-awful poetry that he thinks I don't know about." Xander smiled at Connor's look of amusement. "Trust me, Spike's fine with the way things are; and if he wasn't, believe me, he'd tell us."

Connor had to take Xander's word for it - he had known their blonde lover a lot longer than Connor had. But even still - he vowed to find something for Spike to help him pass the time when they were all separated from each other. From what he had seen of daytime TV, there wasn't that much to amuse oneself with unless one actually liked watching people argue with their own siblings about sleeping with the cousin they had been engaged to. This world had its own version of hell - it was called the Jerry Springer show.

Five o'clock was quitting time and Connor met Xander at his car. Tonight they were picking up Chinese on the way home before the meeting at the magic shop. Connor liked the patrol part of those meetings but could do without all the research and bitter looks that came with the package. Back in L.A., Fred had done the research thing - before that it had been Wesley, and now they both worked together. Here it seemed everyone was expected to research and to fight. Not that he thought Angel's set-up was any better - just different.

"You're awfully quiet. Something happen today?" Xander could see that Connor had something on his mind - something he was obviously troubled with. He just hoped he would trust in him and talk to him about it. He wasn't blind to what was going on with the gang - he could see Robin's dislike for Spike and even himself and Connor pouring over onto Buffy. She had been distant lately, avoiding him. They used to have lunch together a couple times a week, but they hadn't done that since the night he'd introduced Connor. Come to think of it - it had slowed down quite a bit since he and Spike had gotten together. He wondered if this was what was bothering his young lover - the cool reception they seemed to get from Buffy every time they saw her? Willow and Giles were still okay with them but something was definitely up with the Buffster.

"No. Just ... something feels off about tonight. I have a bad feeling."

"Okay. Bad feeling how? Like the hellmouth is going to open and swallow us all, or bad feeling like Buffy, Wills and Kennedy are all on their monthly at the same time?" Xander scrunched up his face in thought. "Come to think of it, I'll take my chances with the hellmouth, thanks."

Connor smiled. Xander just had a way of making him feel better, no matter what it was that bothered him. "I'm not sure. It just feels like something is coming - something not good."

"We'll mention it to Spike when we get home. Maybe we can figure out what it is. One thing I've learned is not to doubt your instincts when living in Sunnydale. If you feel like something bad is coming, it probably is." With a sense of impending doom in the air, the two drove quietly to the Jade Palace and picked up dinner.

~!~

They were greeted with kisses before Spike took the bags of food from their arms and pushed them toward the shower. "Slayer called. Meeting's been moved up so I'll set out dinner while you two clean up. And I mean clean up - I catch you two playing around in there and I'll... Well, actually, I'll probably join you. Then we'll all get bitched at when we're late."

Xander nodded solemnly and headed for the shower. "Best if we shower separately then. Connor, fill Spike in while I get cleaned up, okay?" Xander disappeared into the bedroom and Connor turned around to see the blonde lounging in the doorway, his eyebrow cocked in a quizzical manner. "What's up, love?"

"I'm not sure. I just have this sense of foreboding. Like there is something here - or on its way that's going to be trouble. Xander said I shouldn't ignore my instincts on this, and to talk to you about it."

Spike tilted his head and fell silent. He looked as though he were searching for something and couldn't find it. Finally he focused on Connor again. "So, something wicked this way comes, huh? Well, can't say as I feel anything ... off-putting, but now that you mention it, I have been a bit edgy today. We'll talk to Rupes when we get to the shop - if we can get him away from the slayer and her boy-toy."

"Alright. Why don't I give you a hand getting dinner set out?"

~!~

Showered, fed, and loaded up with weapons, the trio headed out into the darkened streets of Sunnydale. They took out a small group of fledges on the way to the shop, something that seemed to calm both Spike and Connor down, somewhat. Xander smiled amusedly at his lovers; they both really got into the slaying.

As soon as the shop door opened, Xander wished he had fallen and smacked his head in the shower. Then he would have an excuse not to be here. It was pandemonium - Buffy and Willow were squared off with each other, yelling back and forth over God knew what. Giles and Robin were glaring at one another from across the room, and Kennedy was standing behind Willow glaring at Buffy.

Spike pulled Xander back toward the door slowly; he noticed that Connor had yet to come inside and hoped they could quietly slip away unnoticed. "Xan, love, come on. Let's go, yeah? Let them have their spat in peace." Spike continued to pull Xander outside and sighed in relief when the door closed behind them and they hadn't been caught.

"Spike? What the hell was all that about?" Xander's eyes were huge as he turned to look at his blonde lover. He had never seen Willow so angry at Buffy before.

Connor answered Xander. "They're fighting about us. About me. They don't think it's right for the three of us to be involved; they blame Spike. Or rather, Buffy and her boyfriend do. Willow is arguing that you're a grown man and can make your own decisions. No one else is speaking."

Xander groaned. He knew that Wood was a homophobic asshole, but he never expected Buffy to actually side with terk.erk. He couldn't help but get a warm, fuzzy feeling by Willow defending him; it was good to know they hadn't grown so far apart that she wouldn't stick up for him. "Fuck. Can this night get any worse!"

Xander slapped his hand over his mouth and looked around in fr as as Spike groaned and rolled his eyes. "Way to go, love; bloody brilliant!" Spike sighed and pulled out his stakes as he looked down the street.

Connor watched his lovers with confusion. "What are you doing? Did I miss something?" He had no idea what had frightened Xander or what Spike was looking for. He didn't sense anything coming toward them.

Spike snorted and smiled softly at Connor. "Xan here just bloody well jinxed us. Never, and I mean never, ask if things can get worse when you live on the hellmouth. They will, and in the worst way you could imagine."

Just as Spike finished his explanation, a black Plyh coh convertible came squealing around the corner. Connor and Spike both recognised Angel’s car and glared at Xander. Xander took one look in their direction and whined. "What? What are you glaring at me for?"

~!~