Kindness, Love, and Acceptance

Part 20

Spike and Angel walked in silence for awhile. They could smell fresh blood in the air - Spike knew it was Robin's but wasn't about to tell Angel that; soul or not, he wanted that piece of shit dead. Eventually they wound up at a park and both sat at opposite sides of a picnic table. Spike waited for Angel to speak.

With a deep, unneeded breath, Angel looked over at his childe and sighed. "Why Connor?"

It wasn't the question Spike was expecting, but nonetheless, he answered it. "Because he's Connor. He's special, Angelus. I wouldn't risk my relationship with Xander for just anyone. He fits with us - he's one of us." Spike thought for a minute and then looked at Angel inquiringly. "He ever tell you about his life in Quortoth?"

"Some. Not much. I know that it wasn't easy, but he never discusses it with me, just mentions things in passing once in awhile. Why?" Angel watched as Spike shook his head slowly, and then looked up at him with pain-filled eyes.

"He was raised in hell, Angel. By a man who hated you more than anyone. How do think he was treated? Do you think Holtz loved him? 'Cause if you do, you're a bigger fool than I ever pegged you for. He was abused, Angel. Maybe not physically, but mentally. Emotionally? He’s more screwed up than I am, and I was raised by you!"

"Tell me? I know so little about my own son. Not a day goes by that I don't regret losing him, that I don't wish I could go back and do it over." Angel ducked his head and wiped surreptitiously at his eyes. Spike pretended not to notice.

"What? You want all the grizzly details? No, not going there. I'll tell you about other things though, shall I? How about how he loves to watch cartoons with Xan on Saturday mornings, or that his favourite food is bacon and tomato sandwiches, but only if I make them ‘cause Xan always overcooks the bacon. You want to know how good a job he does at work? That he was put on permanent crew after only a week? He's a good boy, Angel. A good man."

Angel looked up at Spike and smiled. "Thank you for telling me that. But you do know that if you hurt him, I will kill you. Soul or not." Angel’s eyes flashed yellow and Spike nodded.

"Fair enough, but don't count on that ever happening. I've always been loyal to my lovers, Angel; you know that. Looked after Dru for a century, and she was the one who left me." Spike knew he'd made his point when Angel nodded once and stood.

"Well, I better get going if I'm going to make it back to L.A. before dawn."

Spike watched as Angel strode away with his shoulders slouched in defeat. He snorted to himself in disgust over what he was about to do. "Angel, wait up." Spike jogged to catch up to his sire and put his hand on the older vampire's shoulder. "I'll keep you updated, alright. Never know, maybe someday he'll forgive you."

"No. He won't. But thank you." Angel threw his arm over Spike's shoulders as they walked. "So, you got yourself a soul, why?" Spike chuckled and shook his head. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

~!~

It was almost daylight by the time the trio got home. Xander unlocked the door and they all trudged inside. No one was up to doing anything more than crawling into bed and sleeping the day away. Once they were all comfortably ensconced in the large bed - Spike in his preferred spot in the middle - they relaxed.

After the L.A. contingent had gone back to L.A. and Willow and Kennedy had returned from patrol, the four original scooby-gang members filed into the back room to talk. They emerged sometime later, red-eyed and puffy, but definitely happier than they had been going in. Both Spike and Connor - thanks to enhanced hearing - knew that Buffy had apologised for her recent behaviour, and that the others had forgiven her. Xander made a joke about Buffy's taste in men being worse than his taste lothlothing and Willow cheekily offered to "gay her up" as well.

Now everything seemed to be getting back to normal, well Sunnydale normal, anyway. Connor told Spike about his conversation with Cordy and Fred and asked if he was doing the right thing by keeping in touch with them. Spike had assured him that he was, and told him about his conversation with Angel.

As he lay in bed between his lovers, Spike had to wonder what had happened between Connor and Angel, either before he had gotten there or after they had gone off to talk. He never would have expected his sire to leave the boy here in his and Xander's care. Knowing that he wasn't going to sleep until he knew, Spike sat up slightly and nudged Connor lightly. "What did you say to Angel to convince him to leave you here with us?"

Xander was curious to know this as well, and rolled onto his side hooking his chin over Spike's shoulder and draping his arm around his waist. "Yeah, I'd kinda like to know that, too. Deadboy never seemed the accepting type to me."

Connor rolled over to face the two men who had become his world. He smiled at then and then lowered his eyes before speaking. "I told him the truth. That I was happy here, that I loved you - both of you, and that you loved me. I told him that I had finally found what I had been looking for."

Spike lifted Connor's chin and looked into his eyes. "And what was that, love?"

"A place to call home. People who wanted me, who understood me - who gave me their kindness, their love and acceptance."

Cool lips pressed to warm as Connor was enfolded by two sets of arms - one cool and one warm. He sighed as the cool lips moved away only to smile as they were replaced by warm ones. Hands trailed lightly over his skin and he returned the caresses.

Soft touches and kisses turned harder as comfort turned to passion. Connor found himself ed oed on top of Spike's cool body as Xander moved in behind him. He gasped into Spike's mouth as Xander's slick finger breached him. He felt Spike's hard cock brushing against his own and thrust himself against it.

Xander spread both Connor and Spike’s legs and knelt between them. He finished preparing Connor and then slid his still slick fingers into Spike and readied him as well. When he was sure they were both stretched and slippery, he quickly rolled a condom over his erection and then slid into Connor in one smooth stroke.

Spike canted his hips and reached between him and Connor; grabbing the hot, hard length of Connor's erection, he guided it to his hole. "Hurry love, I need you in me." His eyes rolled back in his head as he was split open by incredible heat. He loved the feeling of being stretched and filled by his lovers; they felt so good and hot inside of him.

Connor stilled and panted harshly in Spike's ear as Xander slowly withdrew from him; then pushed back in almost savagely. He picked up Xander's rhythm, and then they were all moving together fluidly.

Xander sped up his thrusts and cried out as he climaxed. He withdrew from Connor's body and rolled to the side and just watched as Connor continued to thrust into Spike. He could see how close Spike was as he shifted faces, so he reached between them and stroked the vampire’s cock. Spike howled and erupted over Xander's hand just before Connor shuddered and came as well.

Xander got up and headed for the bathroom. He cleaned himself up and then returned to his lovers with a wet cloth. He cleaned them both as well and then tossed the cloth into the hamper. He climbed back into bed and snuggled down in the middle of the bed. He stuck his tongue out at Spike when he grumbled about being moved to the side.

Xander pulled Connor close to him and kissed him. "I love you. I'm glad you're here." Connor smiled and kissed him back. "I love you, too." Spike pouted and feigned a hurtful expression. "Doesn't anyone love me?"

Xander and Connor looked at each other, smiled, and then reached for Spike. They pulled him over Xander and into the middle of the bed. They both kissed him until the pout disappeared and then snuggled down on his chest. Xander yawned and then sleepily replied, "I will always love you, Spike." Connor lifted his head slightly and looked at the vampire's smiling face. "Me too."

Spike closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around his beautiful boys. He thought about what Connor had said. Kindness, love and acceptance; he had always wanted that, too - had thought he'd never find it. Then Xander had fallen in love with him and given him more than he had ever thought possible. Now, now he was doubly blessed. He vowed to make sure his lovers always knew they were loved, that he loved them. With that thought in mind, Spike finally relaxed and fell asleep to the soft snoring sounds coming from the two men sleeping on his chest.

~!~

THE END