The Vampire, the Seer and the Protecter

Title: The Vampire, the Seer and the Protector
Author: AddictedtoBuffy
Rating: NC17
Pairing: Eventually Angel/Gunn/Doyle
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel the Series. They belong to Joss. I do not make money from the writing of this, it is purely entertainment. I do not mean any disrespect to the actors who have portrayed these characters. This fic contains explicit Male/Male relationships if you are adverse to this or are under the age of eighteen then please do not read. Thankyou to all the online writers who help keep the Buffyverse alive.
Series: This is part of my Belonging series. First was The Watcher and the Wolf, then The Rocky Road to Belonging, DeSoto Sex and a Canadian Interlude.
Summary: What happens in the lives of Angel and co in LA while Spike and group are escaping initiative soldiers and are out of the picture.
Beta: The wonderful Bubbysbub as always has betaed this.
Feedback: Please, please, please. I crave it
Part: 8/8
Distrubution: Ask and you will receive
A/N: Thankyou to LadyVirgo who came up with this name sometime last year. Sorry its taken me so long to write this.

Chapter Eight – Suprises

Doyle’s POV

I throw up into the toilet bowl again, heaving long after there’s nothing left to throw up. I rest my head against the smooth surface of the bowl for a moment, gathering my strength. It’s been over three months since Gunn and I moved in with Angel. It was the right thing to do and the three of us have been enjoying each others company. Not just for the sex but when we solve a case together or just watch something on the television together. I can see us being happy for a very long time. Wolfram and Hart haven’t been that much of a pain lately. They’ve started hounding us about housing code violations and sending people in to exterminate bugs. The only down side is that I’ve been throwing up every day for the last couple of months. I wonder if it has something to do with my having visions, because this definitely isn’t normal. I hear footsteps coming towards me and someone flushes the toilet for me.

“Come on, up you get,” its Gunn and he helps me to stand up and direct me to the sink.

“Where’s Angel?” I ask, putting off what I know he’s going to say.

“He’s gone to follow up the Duarl case.” Gunn helped me into the bedroom but I knew he had more to say. He rubs my stomach and I stare down at it forlornly. I have a definite bump despite all the throwing up and putting myself on a diet, its just gotten bigger not smaller.

“You know if you were a girl I’d say you were definitely pregnant.”

“What?” How could Gunn even say that casually.

“The throwing up, the bump and you have been having a couple of very weird mood swings.”

“Hey!” I protest. “Are you saying…. I’m a guy… I can’t….” I sit down heavily on the bed trying to slow my breathing. I should be able to just dismiss Gunn’s words as ludicrous but some part of me is taking them very seriously. They seem to resonate with something inside me. I don’t understand.

“Shhh, breathe, I was only saying but….” I look up at him scared that he’s right. I don’t even want to think about it, but all I can see is Cordelia’s last moments on earth after she’d been impregnated by demon spawn.

“Maybe I should go see a doctor.” I need to know. Maybe I’m just being silly and it’s a tumour or some weird Bracchen demon thing.

“Do normal doctors see half demon males who are scared they’re pregnant?”

“I know a demon doctor who I can see discretely, but will you come with me please? I don’t think I could do it alone.” I plead, scared that I may be right, though it’s impossible. Males don’t get pregnant. Bracchen demon males don’t get pregnant.

“Sure I will, how ‘bout you get dressed and then we’ll go, ’kay?” He hugs me and I don’t know what I would do without Gunn. Without him and Angel, I would be nothing.

*****

Gunn’s POV

I sit next to Doyle in the doctors office holding his hand, giving him as much support as I can while we wait for the good doctor to come back and tell us if what we suspect is true. Doyle is a ball of energy, he can’t stop fidgeting and so I am deliberately being calm next to him. Luckily we don’t have to wait too long for the doctor to come back. The doctor looks human except for a tail.

“So what’s the verdict, doc?” I ask knowing that Doyle can’t.

“It’s quite extraordinary. I’ve never seen anything like this. Congratulations you’re pregnant.” Doyle completely freezes up beside me. I want to ask if he’s sure, but I bite the words back, of course he’s sure. Doyle is still processing the news so I’d better ask the questions we need answers to.

“Is the baby human?” I ask, needing to ask the hard questions.

“Its still very early in the pregnancy but the foetus is humanoid. I take it you’re the father?” He asks me. Now how do I explain our relationship.

“I might be or it might be our other lover, a vampire.” The doctors eyes widen at that piece of news.

“Vampires can’t reproduce.” Doyle lifted his head to address the doctor.

“Just like half-Bracchen males aren’t supposed to bear children?” I watch as the doctor flinches a bit before addressing Doyle.

“Quite right, there is a simple procedure we can do that will establish the child’s father. If we know who the father is, it might help us work out what to expect.” Doyle just nods so I find myself asking the hard questions again. It doesn’t really matter who the father is to me, even if its Angel’s I’ll love this child as my own, and I know Angel will feel the same. However we do need to know if the child will be half vampire or three-quarters human.

“Is there any risk to the child or Doyle with this procedure?” I ask, I can’t let anything happen to Doyle or the child he now carries.

“No, its perfectly safe.”

*****

Angel’s POV

I know the moment Doyle and Gunn enter the hotel. When I got home earlier I found the hotel empty but there was a note telling me that there was something they had needed to do and that they’d be back soon. I trust my lovers, but the note had been particularly vague and I would like to know what’s going on.

“I’m in here,” I yell out from where I sit at my desk. I can smell their anxiety as they quickly make their way to me and I stand up.

“What’s wrong?” I ask as they both come right up to me, into my arms, needing comfort. Whatever it is, it’s not something truly bad. I can smell confusion and happiness on them.

“I went to the doctor today,” Doyle begins. Finally, I’ve wanted him to go to the doctor for a while but he refused. I know that it’s Gunn’s influence that finally got him there.

“What did they find out?” I have to ask. I watch as Doyle takes a deep breath and looks at Gunn for a moment. At the younger mans nod of reassurance he turns back to me.

“I’m… I’m pregnant and it’s yours.”

*****

Doyle’s POV

I stand in Gunn’s arms grateful of his support as I wait for Angel’s response. It’s nothing I ever considered, something I know none of us ever considered in our current relationship and it was something we were all fine with. Well, Angel can’t… shouldn’t be able to have kids anyway. I know after Harry I decided that I wouldn’t be a good father. Gunn always said that he just couldn’t bring a child into the world with how screwed up the world was. Now, I’m pregnant, something that should be impossible and we need to deal, bring this child into the world. Angel stares at me flummoxed and I wish he would say something.

“Wow! Um, How? And are you sure? Well of course you are, you wouldn’t be telling me if you weren’t. But how and are you sure cos this shouldn’t be possible.” At least he’s talking I reflect though I’ve never heard Angel babble. At least I know that he can be shaken.

“Yes, I am sure,” I tell him and he smiles at me. “I think it was that first night. With how far along I am it seems to have happened then but apart from that I don’t know how. I’m a man, this shouldn’t happen to me.” Something must show on my face because he pulls me in wrapping his strong arms around me.

“I am happy and I feel very special that you’re carrying my child, I’m just overwhelmed and I’m sure you are too,” I let his words wash over me, snuggling into his embrace feeling his hand moving up and down my back in a soothing gesture. I’m surprised I haven’t completely flipped out but I don’t think its completely sunk in at the moment. I’m sure the flipping out will happen soon enough.

“Are they sure I’m the father,” I hear Angel ask Gunn over my head. I feel Gunn move in til he’s against my back.

“Yeah they did a paternity test showing that I’m not the biological father but it’s still my child.” I hear the challenge in Gunn’s last words and I hope Angel won’t rise to the challenge. I don’t think I could cope with them fighting at the moment.

“I know and I’m glad. This child is going to have three loving parents and you, Doyle, are going to have two men waiting on you hand and foot.” I move back so I can see his face and he lets me.

“You’re not upset about this,” I ask, needing the reassurance. I’m not usually this needy, it must be those hormones the doctor was talking about.

“No, I must admit that its taken me by surprise and I have questions but I’m not going to abandon you or run away. This,” he places his hand on my stomach and I place one of my hands over his holding it there. “This is a beautiful thing that has come out of the relationship the three of us have and this is just going to make our relationship stronger, you’ll see.” He bends down to chastely kiss my lips and I feel safe sandwiched between him and Gunn. For the first time since we left for the doctors I feel like somehow, it will all be okay. Suddenly Angel freezes, something is wrong. Before I could say something Angel iss pushing me to the back of the office.

“Stay here, Gunn protect him.”

*****

Gunn’s POV

I trust Angel’s instincts and grab my hubcap axe that was in the corner of the office.

“Nothing will get through me,” I promise and he just nods in full game face. Something bad is definitely here. He opens the door to the lobby and I stand behind him holding my axe ready for anything. Doyle is hanging far back and I’m glad. He can’t jump headlong into a fight anymore, he’s got the baby to think about. In front of us is twenty of Wolfram and Harts black ops men and behind them Lilah and Lee. How I hate those two.

“Ah Angel,” Lilah begins. “I hear congratulations are in order. You’re going to be a daddy.” How did they find out so quick? I know it wasn’t the doctor.

“How’d you find out?” I ask knowing that if these lawyers have a fault its how they like to gloat.

“Remember those exterminators,” Lee gloated ignoring Lilah’s harsh whisper to shut up. “They plant bugs, not remove them.” Lilah glared at Lee before turning her attention back to us.

“Now why don’t you hand the half demon over to us and we’ll get out of your hair.”

“You think I’m just going to hand him over to you?” I let Angel talk, knowing that we are going have to fight, and I don’t know if we will be able to take down all twenty of the lawyers lackeys.

“Well that way you’ll still have one lover, because believe me when I say that we are going to have that child and its, ah, mother.”

“Oh no you’re not,” I stare as Angel smirks in a very evil way. It takes me a moment to remember what he said about the demon and soul blending, making him a bit more Angelus-like, but that the demon will never have full control because they are now one being. I’m betting the lawyers don’t know about this development, hmmm, this could be very interesting. With a nod, Lilah indicates for the minions to attack. Angel roars and is soon in the middle of them. I stay in the doorway knowing that I need to protect Doyle and make sure nobody gets into the office where he is. Angel rips apart a man right in front of me, roaring in glee, blood spraying everything but then I can’t look at him as I hold my own against two men. One of them gets under my defences while I’m grappling with the other and I end up with a shallow but long cut down my arm. Then they move back and I hear someone yelling abort, abort. I slump down breathing hard and taking in the foyer. Angel’s standing in the middle completely drenched in blood, dead bodies strewn around him. I should feel repulsed by the image but I’m not. Angel did what he needed to do in order to protect Doyle and our unborn child. I’ve got a feeling there are going to be many changes around here and many sacrifices to make sure Doyle and the child are safe.

“Angel?” I hear from behind me and I whirl around to see Doyle peering out at the mess. I go to him, not wanting him to see. I understand why and I’ll even help Angel tear our enemies apart, but its not something Doyle needs to see. He’s upset enough as it and I’d like him to keep at least one meal down. Before I can embrace him he stops me.

“Charles, you’re hurt.”

“It’s only a scratch.” I try to reassure him but it doesn’t work.

“Yeah, this time, but what happens next time, or the time after. They’re going to come back, they wont stop until they have me and our baby.” I watch as he starts shaking, concerned. He has his hand up warding me off and I don’t know what to do. He’s right, they will be back and in greater numbers. We can’t hold them off forever, we need help but I don’t know who we can call on. All of Angel’s Sunnydale pals are dead and even if my gang decided to help, they couldn’t keep Wolfram and Hart at bay forever. I’m sure there will be other groups after Doyle and the baby after word gets out too. Suddenly Angel’s there and lifts Doyle into his arms, he motions for me to follow him and then he’s off over the foyer and up the stairs. I follow remembering what Lee said about the hotel being bugged. I’m not surprised when Angel doesn’t go near his suite but instead goes up two more flights of stairs before going down many dusty corridors. Finally we stop at one door and I stare in shock after he opens it.

“Wow, when were you going to tell us about this?” It’s a fully furnished room and isn’t covered in dust. He’s obviously spent time up here fixing it up.

“I was going to tell you if we ever needed to hide out.” He drops Doyle on the bed and strips out of his blood-soaked shirt. I notice there are clothes in all our sizes up here.

“Have they bugged up here?” Doyle asks.

“No, there’d be too much area to cover. They would have bugged the main areas we use, as far as they know there is nothing up here.”

“Are you sure?” he asks, hugging his legs to his body. I sit down next to him, having no idea what thoughts must be going through his head at the moment. Angel kneels down in front of him.

“I’m sure, I would have smelled their scent on the way up. I’m the only one who’s been up here for decades. We’re safe.”

“No we’re not. We’ll never be safe again. Not while I carry this baby.” He sounds so defeated that I can’t help but wrap my arm around him. I hope Angel has a plan because I sure as hell don’t, and this helplessness is a feeling I really don’t like.

“Yes, we can be, but it means changes and letting other people or vampires into the hotel.” I stare at him in astonishment but Doyle speaks up before I can.

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about becoming the head of the Aurelius clan as is my right. I’m the only person it could be now that Spike’s… but I’ve refused to take it so the clan is divided, leaderless. If I took it, it would give us the protection we need, but it would mean some sacrifices.”

“What sort of sacrifices?” I ask, “Angel lay it down, no bullshit, what would it mean?”

“It would mean the vampires of the Aurelius line would come here, they’d give us the protection we need but I’d have to rule them, they’d be living at the hotel. You two would be off limits to them as my consorts and the fact that Doyle’s pregnant with my childe would mean you’d both have an elevated position. No vampire has ever fathered a human childe.”

“You mean Darla and Drusilla, don’t you, they’d be back as well as Penn, and you wouldn’t chase them off. I know they were your family but what about the human’s of LA? What would happen to them?” Doyle seems very understanding and I let him decide. He seems to understand more than me and the last time I tried to make the decisions for us, it was to take us away from Angel. I should have fought harder for us to stay when he tried to fire us. Clearly this is where we should be, with him.

“LA would become the home of the Order of Aurelius, which means that what I say goes for all the demons except Wolfram and Hart, they won’t just roll over. I’d make sure my vampires or demons weren’t snacking on innocents, but I’d have to let them eat rapist, murderers and pimps and the like, otherwise they wouldn’t follow if I banned all human blood. Fighting Wolfram and Hart though might put some innocents in the middle, but we don’t have a choice about that. The lawyers won’t stop until they have you and our child, or they are destroyed. There’s nothing we can do to stop that. All we can do is build up the numbers enough that we can oppose them.” Wow, that’s a long speech for Angel and I can see how earnest he is. Doyle turns to face me, looking hesitant and oh so scared.

“Hey, I’m here, no matter what happens, no matter what you decide, I’ve always got your back.” I explain to him, hoping that he believes me.

“I know,” Doyle turns back to Angel. “Okay, do it, call the Aurelius clan.”

THE END