Honourable Sons

Fic: Honorable Sons
Author: josie_h
Pairing: Spike/Angel
Rating: Mature Audiences (M/M sexual content)
Summary: The final battle came at a terrible price. Can our boys recover some of what they’ve lost? Do they want to?
Spoilers: Post end of S5 AtS so Minor if any
Author’s Note: Don’t own the characters etc and bow down to their original creators Joss, et al., plus all the wonderful online writers who continue to give

-a href= http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=rngrdead&keyword=Honorable+Sons&filter=allPart 39- Previous Parts Here -/a-

Part 39

The next morning found the two dogs let out for a run. Their need to perform certain bodily functions was extremely foreign but thankfully ‘hardwired’, and to make up for the inconvenience (and minor embarrassment as apparently Connor had to pick up the ‘doggy do’ and deposit it in the bin), the joy of running in the sun was simply… extraordinary.

Dawn was up early also, and though a little shaky, enjoyed the short walk to the open space of the apartments’ central green. She settled on the grass letting the children crawl over to her while Connor delighted the children by throwing a stick for their two dogs.

Angel and Spike were relatively matched in speed – though Spike had the advantage in agility, and Angel in size. It was an even competition in the end and rather liberating, simple fun made even more joyful as the small ones giggled and tried to crawl after their more agile ‘pets’. The exercise was needed, Connor’s strength and own full speed run seeing him compete a couple of times with the animals, wrestling them on the ground to retrieve the stick then taking off at a sprint, only to be tackled by the huskies with growls that, if the sentiment had been genuine, should have terrified.

Buffy rose around nine and stood on the balcony enjoying the still, sunny morning, fascinated by the scene below and just a little jealous of her sister.

Buffy was happy with the Immortal. She had wealth, status and freedom, and an amorous, handsome, timeless lover. But she didn’t have what her sister seemed to have found, a normal albeit rather suburban existence full of children, pets, studying husband and Dawn’s wish to continue her own career when the next one was ‘established’.

Spike was beginning to adjust to his new form but the thoughts were still all Spike. He saw the opportunity and took it. Dawn squealed as a broad rough tongue laved the most ticklish part of her feet. Angel came to her rescue by barreling into the slightly smaller husky and taking the two just far enough away for them to play wrestle, accompanied by low growls and much posturing. Minutes later both dogs were lying together at the base of a large silver birch panting furiously and all but grinning. Spike tilted his head and licked under his Sire’s chin and was rewarded by a broad hot tongue massaging over his ears and forehead.

Eventually Dawn stood and began to move the children inside the apartment for their mid-morning snooze.

In the third day, Buffy could not hold her tongue as the dogs once more positioned themselves between the children and the Slayer aunt.

“You really should watch out for those two.”

“Which two?”

“Connor’s dogs!”

“Buffy they’re *our* dogs… part of the family!”

“Yes… but… they seem to look at me strangely! I mean… they don’t treat Willow like she’s the wicked witch or anything, but they give me the ‘prickles’… You know what I mean!”

“They know and trust Willow and they’ve nothing but look after the children if they are around.”

“Oh come on! Dawn! There’s something odd about them… are they Hell Hounds?”

“What?... No!!! Of course not!! They’re huskies. They are renowned for their loyalty and stamina.”

“Well they give me the willies… and not in a nice way! Are you sure they’re not…”

“They would never hurt the children… Buff, we are under day and night scrutiny…” Dawn thought for a moment then told not so much a lie but… “They are so loyal Buffy – to Connor and I. Should something happened to me or to Connor, the dogs know how to contact the coven… they know what to do… Buffy, they would *never* hurt the children and would protect them to their own death… you need to trust us on this one”

The slayer looked unconvinced, but as the two dogs were lying at the base of the cot where two small children were sleeping, licking each others’ ears innocently, side by side, she could raise no real argument.

The rest of her stay was uneventful, and Dawn and Connor left the children in F’Iaid’s care (truth beknown their changed grandparents) and she was driven to the airport.

Buffy felt more than a little jealous of the family pets as she kissed the two little ones goodbye then alighted the family Dodge 4WD for the trip to the airport. But to give the original Slayer her due, at the same time she expressed her happiness for her sister and attentive husband. She hugged Willow (and friend!) on the sidewalk and promised not to be a stranger.

………………

Three days later Dawn giggled as her feet were once again laved by a rough canine tongue. Connor was at the university trying to make up for some lost time after Buffy’s visit, and the family were having a picnic on the shore in the company of several of Dawn’s ‘play group’ friends.

The temptation of having the sun saw Spike and Angel extend their ‘dog days’ just a little… until the weekend at least! And though some of the young mothers were rather concerned at the presence of such large animals, various women allowed their little ones to pat the dogs under strict supervision. Both Angel and Spike were simply happy to be allowed onto the shore – despite having to wear a lead that secured them to the double pram containing their grandchildren.

Dawn’s friend Sheridan struggled with letting her son Sebastian close. She had a childhood fear of large animals and seemed to have instilled it in her own son without intent, so was amazed when the blonde dog lay down on his side directly in front of the one year old and waited patiently. A rather uncoordinated pat to the underbelly pulled hairs but Spike managed to flinch a little but stay still whilst the little lad ‘patted’ then returned triumphant to his beaming mother. Angel laved the section of fur that had been tugged and small handful removed unwittingly.

All the children were encouraged to brush the dogs, throw sticks and pet them. Angel eventually laved the sore spot as both relaxed into the afternoon sun and waited for the instruction to ‘heel’, after which the two stood patiently while small children patter or hugged them goodbye at the end of the afternoon.

That night their collars came off. Spike and Angel stood quietly and presented their necks. Connor removed the collars with reverence, though was still distressed by the yelps of pain as skeletons realigned and their original forms and status returned. The apartment had been heavily warded for the event, but there was still some concern that W&H might detect the deception.

………

Angel and Spike made love… several times… that evening and life returned to relatively normal after that… though the collars were… well sometime it was nice to have the sun – even if it did take two or three days to adjust to canine form and back… so it was not done lightly but certainly joyfully. And it seemed that Dawn’s older two, young as they were, knew.

At thirty weeks Dawn began to have worrying dizzy spells, by thirty two weeks she began losing weight and was under constant care, and ordered bed rest… and at thirty five a senior shaman, recommended by F’Iaid, was called to attend late one evening.

Her belly glowed with green energy, and despite being fed a cocktail of Spike, Angel and Connor’s blood, her vital signs were waning. The twins were walking and had visited their sick mother during the day, but it brought but little relief to Dawn. She knew something was going awry.

Talia and Luka both knew “Mummy is sick” meant something bad but both were still pre language so were as good as possible, quiet when Daddy or Grampa said but still needed special hugs on three consecutive nights, just to get to sleep.

Dawn went into severe pulmonary distress in week thirty four of her pregnancy. A tiny girl was consequently delivered by emergency caesarian within two hours and Dawn put on life support for close to fifty hours. No-one could account for the severe reaction, and all hoped she would pull through. Connor was beside himself and it took a collapse and near draining to calm him enough to listen to his fathers.

Spike slapped him hard after feeding from him then returning the favour via an open wrist, “You don’t get to do that you selfish f#$%ing Sod! Wake up and take care of what is yours!”

Angel was a little more sympathetic, though also felt where Spike was coming from. Losing family…

“Please Connor, we’ll look after the children, the medical team has the little one… just… just let her know how much she is loved… needed.”

Connor rallied but called Willow on speed dial on his second day of vigil by his wife’s side. “Willow?... Yeah… she just keeps sort of … mumbling… you know… ‘green is for good, not red, don’t let them make red! She is so strong… so strong.’ That mean anything? Geez Willow?! What if she doesn’t?”

Willow knew the ache of losing a loved one – and this way was torture. She appealed to Gaia direct and risked revealing her own status to antagonistic groups in the meantime – but was willing to do so. A day later Dawn’s fever subsided, her blood pressure and heart rate stabilized and she blinked and took in her surroundings for a few seconds. The first time since baby Esther was born.