CYA Fic - The Ties that Bind and Gag
Apr. 6th, 2006 11:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessThe Ties that Bind and Gag
D M Evans
Disclaimer - So not mine. All rights belong to Joss Whedon
Pairing - Dawn/Connor, Buffy/Angel, Spike/Illyria
Rating - FRMAO
Summary - While Dawn and Connor attend his fraternity formal, their friends and family reunite for the first time since the attack in L.A./Sunnydale, and celebrate the bonds of friendship
Author’s Note - This was written for the Choose Your Own Author ficathon. Challenge at the end. Also, this story grew out of a set of drabbles for Open On Sunday which everyone wanted to see expanded and this challenge fit beautifully. Also sneaked in one of my smut_69 prompts as well (best friends). Hope no one minds dreadfully that this fun challenge is serving many masters. Thanks to SJ for the super speedy beta and for suggesting the title (and thanks to Erma Bombeck for saying it in the first place)
“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.”- Richard Bach
Chapter One
“This would have been easier if you and the others had stayed in Europe.” Connor fussed with his deep blue tie. “It’s not like I’ve ever taken a girl to a fancy party. I’m nervous. The last thing I needed was you.” Connor glanced over his shoulder long enough to give his father a baleful look.
“You’ll be fine. Here.” Angel pressed cufflinks into Connor’s hand. “They’re mine. They’re old. Victorian era. I was never sure why I kept them, even in my darkest times. Maybe because your mother gave them to me.”
Connor caressed them with a calloused thumb in the palm of his hand. They were simple ovals of rose gold with a crash of waves rolling around the edge. “Thanks, Dad. They’re pretty. How do I use these things? Formal wear seems to be a gap in Vail’s implanted knowledge.”
Angel helped him put them in the black wool then stepped back to survey the black on black tux and the decidedly not-bow tie. “This is a little informal for a black tie party, isn’t it?” He flicked a finger against the sapphire tie.
Connor’s blue eyes flipped in their all-too familiar roll. “The guy at the tux shop tried to talk me into a Nehru jacket. They’re the hottest thing in formal wear right now.”
“I’d have slapped you.” Angel smirked.
“I could have picked the white tux with black pinstripes,” Connor retorted, his lips curling back.
“I would have killed you.” Angel’s smirk broadened. “For Dawn’s sake.”
“No, you would have stomped on whatever Dawn left of me,” Connor shot back. “Fashion is not my thing, but even I know better than that.”
“So, fraternity formal? You aren’t driving home tonight are you?” Angel fretted, stepping back to give Connor another critical once over.
Connor shook his head, going to the window. He waved at Gunn who was waiting for Angel in the parking lot and apparently scoping out co-ed’s. “Going by limo and staying at the hotel. The dance is in the hotel ballroom.”
“Do you have any....” Angel broke off, shifting from foot to foot. He suddenly became inordinately fascinated by the cuticles on his thick fingers. What made him ask that? He knew Connor and Dawn were lovers already. He could smell it on them but he hadn’t said anything. Angel knew Connor would know that he was aware of it and there seemed to be a silent agreement that Dawn should be the one to break the news to Buffy, if the Slayer hadn’t already figured it out.
Connor flushed from the knot in his tie to somewhere past his hair line. For a moment he just stared at his father in disbelief. “You’re the last man on earth who should be asking about that! Yes, I have condoms, now quit fussing over me.”
“Can’t help it, son.” Angel went over and put his hands on his boy’s shoulders, gazing into the mirror. Connor alone looked back from the glass but the boy looked good. “You and Dawn have fun tonight.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Connor broke away to go check on the corsage in the dorm fridge. He was borrowing one of his friend’s rooms to get ready in since Dawn had asked him to vacate his own house. She was so nervous she didn’t want to see him. He knew they were both being silly. It wasn’t like this was a first date, or even the first time they’d sleep together but he understood the desire for this night to be perfect. Neither of them had done anything like this before and his rented home - a large turn of the century affair - was currently overrun with Sunnydale ex-patriots and a few L.A. ones, if Lorne, Spike and Illyria could be considered being from L.A., which Connor doubted.
Angel smiled, seeing his son’s nervousness. It was sweet. This is what teenaged boys should be like, fumbling, a little less than self-assured all the while trying to pretend they had things under control. Angel slipped the slim-lined digital camera out of his pocket and winced when turning it on sounded thunderous to him. Connor was too distracted to notice. “Connor, could you come here a moment?”
When Connor stood and faced him, Angel snapped the picture. He snapped another as Connor’s face fell into the familiar scowl, might as well immortalize the most used expression in his son’s repertoire. “Dad!”
“Blame Willow! She insisted. She spent hours teaching me to use this stupid thing.” Angel waved the camera.
“I’d make you give me that memory stick, but it’s not like people won’t be shoving cameras in my face all night.” Connor sighed.
“You are doomed to that.” Angel cuffed Connor’s shoulder. “I’ll see you later, son.”
“Okay, Dad. Tell her I’ll be there soon.”
Angel nodded and let himself out. From the shadows of the doorway to the dorm, he waved an arm at Gunn. His friend had offered to drive Angel to the dorm in the daylight. Gunn had chosen to wait outside. Angel suspected the girl’s dorm just across the way had a lot to do with that. Hot college co-ed’s, that and the fact that Gunn still had to walk with a cane. His busted up leg bothered him more than Gunn was willing to let on but Angel had noticed Gunn knew when not to push it. Still, given all that happened in L.A., a damaged limb was a lucky outcome.
Gunn drove up close to the door and Angel sprinted for the trunk. Luckily the trees shaded most of his short route. As he huddled in the smelly darkness of the trunk, Angel’s lip started to tremble with universal parental angst. How could his little boy be so old to be taking girls to formals? Time shouldn’t move that fast. Well, of course he had magical interference to contend with but still. His son was all grown up and Angel did what most fathers did facing this situation, told himself he wasn’t crying tears of joy. No, that was just dust in his eyes.
X X X
“You look beautiful.” Willow hugged Dawn as the young lady came into the living room, the sapphire silk of her short train brushing her crystal studded heels.
“No, no, you can’t go out looking like that.” Spike jumped off the couch, waving a hand at plunging halter top and corseted bodice. “You’ll just give him ideas. We can almost see your boobs!”
“Spike!” Dawn turned a fierce gaze on him.
“I think that’s really rather the point,” Giles said, setting aside the diary he was working on. He got up and went over to take Dawn’s hand. “Willow’s quite right, you’re lovely.”
Dawn put her slender arms around the older man’s neck, hugging him tight. “Thanks, Giles.”
“Little fraternity wankers shouldn’t be looking at my Li’l Bit like I know they’ll be looking at her,” Spike said, fishing out his cigarettes. Xander was bobbing his head frantically in agreement as he glanced over from where he was watching the Stargate marathon and sharing a bowl of popcorn with Andrew.
This time Dawn slapped Spike’s arm. “So? It’s my turn to shine.”
“Do leave Dawn alone, Spike,” Giles said, tiredly.
“Yeah, she’s more than earned some time for fun,” Willow said, almost as excited as if she were going herself.
“And how do you know she already hasn’t? She’s been going to school here for almost a year now.” Spike lit up, wearing his most lemony expression. “She needs better taste in men. What in hell possessed her to go somewhere with Angel’s stick of a son.”
“I can’t believe I’m on Bleach Boy’s side in something,” Xander moaned, leaning over the back of the couch.
“And Connor has abominable tastes. He doesn’t even like Padame. He might not even like Star Wars,” Andrew exclaimed, obviously equating that with a carnal sin.
“Will you three stop? I’m nervous enough without your Three Stooges routine,” Dawn scolded, glancing towards the doorway, hearing foot falls. She smiled at Buffy who hesitated in the doorway as if to take in the scene.
Buffy’s eyes seemed to mist just a little, seeing Dawn standing there in her sapphire silk gown. Dawn felt like this was her wedding day and not just some stupid dance. Of course, Buffy more than anyone wanted her to have a nice normal life. Dawn had missed out on the prom since she finished school online as she bounced all over the world. No prom for her, no real graduation and Dawn had to admit she hated missing out on those things. “That dress is beautiful,” Buffy said finally.
“Dina Bar-El.” Dawn smoothed her hands over the slim lines of her waist. “Cost a fortune. Luckily Connor’s adoptive parents have a fortune.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s one good thing about him,” Xander grumbled around a mouthful of popcorn. “This house of his is pretty cool.”
“Spike and Xander keep picking on Connor. Andrew’s helping.” Dawn rolled her eyes as she informed her sister.
“Are you honestly surprised?” Buffy took a box out of her pocket. “This was Mom’s. I wore it for luck that last night in Sunnydale.”
Dawn opened it and saw the little diamond cross necklace. Her breath caught, her eyes flooding with tears. She gingerly lifted the delicate cross from the velvet box. “Mom’s wedding necklace.”
“I figure Mom would want you to wear it. It’ll be her way of seeing you tonight. She’d be so happy. At least the guy taking you to the formal isn’t the living dead.” Buffy smiled wryly then put the necklace on for her. She hugged Dawn. “Don’t be nervous. You’ll have a great time.”
“Isn’t it silly? I am nervous and it’s not like Connor and I haven’t been dating for a while now because we have. I know most of his fraternity brothers and their girlfriends. The only thing new is this dumb dress and a band. Oh, and the fancy dinner, which I’m sure will land on the silk in a matter of seconds,” Dawn lamented, clinging to her sister.
Buffy patted Dawn’s back. “No, it won’t. You’ll do fine.”
“You’ll be the prettiest girl there even if you’re taking a hopeless blighter with you,” Spike grumbled, a dejected pout riding his lips.
“Thanks, Spike.” Dawn went over and hugged him. “And technically Connor’s taking me and has spent obscene amounts of money to do it.”
“So he’ll really be expecting things.” Spike draped an arm around Dawn’s bare shoulders. “You smell too good, too. He’ll lose his mind. You shouldn’t let a scrawny runt like Connor touch you but if you do, he doesn’t get anywhere near you without a condom.”
“Oh my god!” Dawn turned ruby to go with her brilliant sapphire dress. She looked like she wanted to crawl under the couch. She glanced at her sister for help but Buffy was too busy laughing behind her hand to be much use to her.
“And I’m not just saying that because it’s like you touching Angel second hand and it’s all strange and incestuous.” Spike wagged a finger under her nose. “That boy’s demon spawn. Who knows what happens if he gets you up the spout, a demon-Key baby? The world might end, so condoms are a must!”
“Someone please save me!” Dawn begged, covering her face delicately so not to smear the make up.
“No, this is much too funny.” Xander snickered, tossing a kernel of popcorn up and catching it mid-air.
“I’m with Xander,” Buffy said.
“And Spike makes an interesting point about the offspring of a half demon and an interdimensional key. I wonder what would happen.” Giles added, trying hard not to grin.
“Oooo, that could be so fun.” Willow clapped, eyes bright with glee.
“No! No, babies!” Dawn waved her hands frantically as someone opened the front door. “That had best be Connor.”
Gunn walked in with Angel behind him.
Dawn scowled and went up to Angel. “I’m warning you now, not one word about me going out with your son, about my sad taste in men and if you even mention safe sex, I’m staking you!”
Angel gave her a ‘what did I do?’ look and said tentatively,. “I was just going to say you look beautiful, Dawn, and my son probably doesn’t know how lucky he is.”
“Well, that’s okay.” Dawn put her arms around him and hugged him gingerly so not to fry him with the cross.
“Hey, she toasted me with Joyce’s cross. You she treats like fine china,” Spike protested.
“Does that tell you anything?” Angel smirked at him.
“No fighting,” Buffy said, taking Angel’s arm. “I could give your mouth something better to do.” She kissed him.
“Are you testing my gag reflex?” Spike shuddered.
Dawn slugged his arm. “Be nice.”
“I hear the limo,” Willow said with a little bounce. “Ready for pictures, Dawnie?”
“I’d better be.” Dawn looked resigned as Connor came into the house. Resignation melted away as desire flooded in. “You look so hot.”
A wicked smile blossomed on Connor’s face as his cornflower blue eyes roamed over the sapphire swath of silk that clung to her form. “You’re gorgeous.”
“They always say a tux will make any man look like James Bond. They’re wrong. You can manage to look like a scarecrow,” Spike said, waving a hand at Connor.
“He does have a Turniphead thing going on,” Xander agreed, a wide grin on his face.
“I do not look like Turniphead. If I look like anyone from that movie, it’s Howl. You’ll notice he was very lean, too,” Connor shot back, fire in his eyes.
Dawn captured his cheeks in her palms. “Do not get into a geek-out with Xander. You’ll lose. Ready to go....once they take a thousand pictures?”
Connor looked up as if seeing the rest of the crowd for the first time. “Pictures...oh joy.”
Dawn gave him a crooked smile as she linked arms with him. “We’ll survive it.”
While Buffy, Angel and Spike were saying their last goodbyes and taking some final pictures, Willow silently waved everyone else downstairs. She grabbed Giles’ arm. “You know what to do.
He nodded and watched Willow herd the others into the basement game room where Lorne already had everyone at work putting the final touches on the decorating. Mardi Gras beads were strewn all over the tables, barring the pool table, and dripped off the bar. A huge banner reading ‘Welcome to the Adults Only - sorry no orgies, Spike or Giles - party’ hung over the bar.
“Do you know how hard it is to sneak in a keg and bags of ice with those vampires in the house?” Lorne fretted.
“You did a fantastic job,” Willow assured him with a hug. Lorne had been the hardest to convince to come to the party. Once Willow saw Buffy was determined to visit Dawn in the States - and hence Angel and Spike - Willow organized a reunion. The party came as an afterthought when Buffy started moaning about Dawn being all grown up and going to college formals.
Everyone from both teams was here except the junior Slayers, including Kennedy whom she had broken up with long before she even went to Tibet. Faith should be arriving from the airport a little later. She’d miss the beginning of the party. Willow was sure Faith would groan a bit about that but there was nothing to be done for it.
The party just seemed natural, especially when she knew Buffy was still in surrogate mom mode and wasn’t ready to let go of Dawn yet. Lorne, once he got over his reluctance, took over the party arrangements. He was a natural at it.
Lorne gave the room a final once over. “This is as good as it’ll get with what I have to work with,” he lamented, his red-orange eyes critically roaming over the spacious - but needing repairs - room.
“It’s fine,” Willow said. “Gunn, Xander, are we set for music?”
“We’re good to go,” Gunn said, skirting around Illyria who had been standing in the middle of the room for hours now, looking lost.
“And I have the appetizers in the oven,” Andrew said, pointing towards the ceiling and the kitchen above.
“Good, then all we need is for Giles to do his thing,” Willow said, sitting on a bar stool, very pleased with herself.
X X X
Deciding the Slayer and the vampires had enough time at tormenting Dawn and Connor, Giles cleared his throat. “Buffy, I need your help for a moment. Angel, it could use your input, too. Even yours, as well, Spike.”
Spike lipped a cigarette, determined to smoke as much as possible because Connor had made the house non-smoking. “What am I? An afterthought?”
“Always,” Giles retorted.
“Does it have to be now, Giles?” Buffy groaned, with a little stomp of her foot. “We’re in the middle of something.”
“Your something’s escaped and is probably already in the limo,” Giles replied, gesturing at the door. “This will only take a moment then you can go back to tearing your hair out and moaning about what the kids will be doing.”
“Fine,” Buffy said, tromping away from the front door.
“Down in the game room please,” Giles said, wearing a look of ‘why me?’
Spike rolled his shoulders. “Anyone up for a little pool? We can pretend the balls belong to the pipsqueak.”
“Spike!” Angel snapped.
“Oh, I know you think that boy of yours is as pure as the driven snow,” Spike snorted.
“No, I don’t. He’s a little too much like his old man for that,” Angel replied.
“Didn’t need to hear that,” Buffy moaned, going through the basement door.
“Surprise!” Willow cried.
“What the hell?” Spike nearly lost his cigarette.
“It’s our party, formal wear not required,” Xander said, buffing his nails on his Trigun T-shirt.
“Which of you was responsible for the orgy crack?” Giles gave them all a baleful look and Xander and Willow stabbed accusing fingers at each other.
“Well, I think this is a fun idea.” Buffy surveyed the room with an appreciative nod. “This looks nice.”
“As long as there’s enough booze to make me forget Dawnie’s riding in the scarecrow rodeo I’m happy,” Spike said, going over to the pool table.
“There’s an image,” Buffy groaned, sitting down at the bar.
“Illyria, can’t you do something with Spike?” Angel glared at the younger vampire.
The demoness cocked her head at him. “I don’t understand.”
Angel waved her off. “Never mind. Just give him a beer, Lorne. That’ll fix him.” Angel leaned against the bar. “And you did a good job with the place.”
“Thanks, Angel-cake. It’s good to be appreciated.” Lorne looked at the humans. “Put your drink orders in, kiddies. Xander, you’re an experienced bar keep. Can you give me a hand?”
“Sure thing,” Xander scooted around the bar and the alcohol began to flow.
X X X
“Did I forget to say you look beautiful?” Connor asked as Dawn snuggled against him in the limo
“In spite of the insane family, you remembered but I like hearing it.” She patted his knee.
“I know. Could they have made things more awkward?” He touched a petal on the orchid corsage he had bought to compliment her sapphire gown.
“I’d say at least you didn’t have to endure the embarrassment of a century old vampire trying to be sure you were having safe sex but you did, didn’t you?” Dawn smiled.
Connor snorted. “Sadly, yes. Thanks, Dad, I think we can skip the condom talk. Luckily he was willing to do just that.”
“Now if only Spike had been.” Dawn’s face winkled up. “Just so you know, if you get me pregnant, Willow and Giles will be right there to poke, prod and otherwise test our baby.”
“Okay that scared me impotent,” Connor said, eyes round as robin eggs.
“You have a few hours to wake that part back up.” She kissed his cheek. “Because from here, the night can only get better.”
Chapter Two
Dawn rested her cheek on Connor’s shoulder, getting a slight kink in her neck. He was a lot shorter than her when she had on heels but he wasn’t self-conscious about it. She appreciated that. So far, the party was a success. Nothing had spilled on her dress at dinner and she started relaxing once she realized she wasn’t the only one with the ‘oh hell we’re in fancy clothes’ nerves. Connor felt good against her as they swayed to the slow music. For a moment, Dawn was tempted to take him upstairs now to their hotel room but the night was too young.
The music changed to something insanely fast. The DJ needed to learn better segue ways. Dawn took a step back knowing that while Connor couldn’t really dance well, he’d try for her. At this speed, it would be just scary. “Want to sit for a little while? My feet hurt,” she said and it wasn’t a lie.
Connor smiled appreciatively. “Yes. Want some wine?”
“Please. That’s the good thing about a formal over a normal frat party, real wine instead of Mad Dog.” Dawn gave her head a rueful shake.
“Okay, one glass of wine that won’t blind you coming up.” Connor laughed, heading off for the bar.
Dawn sat back down at their table and refreshed her make up using her compact. Connor came back quickly with the Chardonnay that she liked. He had a beer. Bless Willow for faking them some killer id. She took a sip. “I’m having fun.”
“So am I.”
Dawn leaned into him, running a hand up his thigh. “And I think you look sexy, no matter what Spike and Xander say. You do not look like Turniphead.”
“That’s good to know.” Connor’s hand slipped around the back of her head, his fingers toying with her hair as he urged her forward into a kiss.
Dawn met his lips hungrily, her hand sliding higher on his leg. She squeezed his crotch gently, feeling him tense a little. He broke away from her slightly, a hungry look in his eyes. Dawn smiled then turned her attention back to her wine glass, giving him an arched look over her shoulder.
“Ah, so we’re going to be a tease.” Connor laughed, leaning over to catch her earlobe between his lips. His tongue rolled over her diamond stud, which nearly got yanked out when Connor jumped as the fire alarm sounded.
At first no one moved, thinking it was part of the show or something then a loud crackling sound hissed over the music. Something in flickering oranges and yellow swooped in through the door with a laugh. That’s when the screaming started and like a bright swirling rainbow, teens started spilling at top speed toward the exits.
“What the hell is that?” Dawn looked around for anything that could pass as a weapon.
“How should I know? You’re the Watcher type,” Connor said getting to his feet, ready for a fight.
“Is it too much to ask for one night of freedom from demons?” Dawn sighed.
“Apparently. Help the others out of here. I’ll handle this.” Connor eyed the fire demon. “I hope.”
X X X
Connor sat on the curb across the street from the hotel, watching the fire fighters work. Smoke tendrils still curled from his tux. He poked a finger through a gaping rent in the jacket. “There goes my deposit.”
“Think I can dry clean this out?” Dawn pointed to an ash smudge on her dress. She had fared better in her role of crowd control.
Connor wagged his head. “At least I killed the thing.”
“We’ll have to ask Giles what it was.” Dawn looked at the blaze. “So much for our love nest and our limo went home for the evening.”
“Guess it’s back home and if someone hears us later, too damn bad.” He smirked. “My house and if I want to make love to my girl so be it.”
“I like how you think.” Dawn slipped off her heels. “We’d better start walking a few blocks that way. We’ll never catch a cab home from here.”
“I know.” Connor went to slid an arm around her.
“Uh-uh, back off buddy. This dress might be salvageable but not if you rub that nasty tux all over me.” She shook a finger at him.
“I think I burnt important parts of me fighting that thing,” he whined.
“I’ll kiss them when we get home and make them all better,”she promised.
Connor shrugged. “Works for me.”
X X X
Buffy sluiced the beer out of her hair as she perched on Angel’s lap. “Okay, so I can’t belly dance with a beer on my head.” She leaned back against her lover with a drunken grin.
“But we really appreciate you trying, Buff.” Xander’s smile was sloppy with drink. “Maybe you should quit picking dares.”
“She’s got too much to hide,” Spike observed, leaving off nuzzling Illyria’s neck for a moment.
“I wish you had more to hide.” Gunn gave Spike the hairy eyeball. “There were things I just didn’t need to know.”
“Speaking of which, my turn. Truth or dare, Spike?” Buffy asked as Angel wrapped his arms around her, his lips resting on her crown. She hoped he wasn’t sucking the booze out of her hair. Angel was trashed. They all were, a sight she had never really seen before and only blurrily did she realize Andrew was recording it all for prosperity.
“Truth,” Spike said, nearly knocking over his beer when he reached for it.
“Of course.” Buffy sighed.
“Give it up, B. You knew he’d say that. Should have picked someone else,” Faith said, putting the Black Eyed Peas’ Don’t Phunk With My Heart on the cd player. She grabbed Gunn and Xander’s arms, dragging them both after her so they could dance.
“Probably,” Buffy grumbled, contemplating dancing for a moment then changed her mind. “Okay Spike, truth, who was your worst lover, ever.”
“Feeling brave, Buffy. What if he says you?” Willow giggled into her chocolatini.
“I’m not worried,” Buffy said, as she surreptitiously rubbed her butt on Angel’s crotch.
“You should be.” Spike twisted around, putting his head in Illyria’s lap. “Not you, pet, you were fine. Angel, on the other hand was just awful.”
Xander plowed into Faith, nearly knocking the Slayer down. A stunned Gunn caught her. “What did he just say?”
“I was not your worst!” Angel cried, dumping Buffy off his lap as he jumped up clumsily to his feet.
“Spike?” Andrew asked somewhere between hopeful and dismayed.
“You were, too,” Spike said, sitting back up.
“Okay, when I sober up, I’m sure this is really going to squick me out,” Buffy said, rubbing her butt as she got up off the floor. “When did this happen?”
“A century ago or more,” Angel said, dismissively. “Just once, mostly by accident.”
“The better question was why? How?” Xander’s eyes were huge as he staggered toward Angel and Buffy.
“Well, when you’re having orgies sometimes things happen, lines get crossed and you end up tonguing a bloke.” Spike shrugged.
“Tell me about it.” Giles knocked back his whiskey. “Ethan had a talented tongue.” He looked at his whiskey glass as if it had just confessed. “Maybe I should switch to beer.”
“Whoa, to the things I don’t need to know about.” Xander held out his hands. “Maybe we should find another game.”
“Not before I get my turn. Come on, lousy lover, truth or dare.” Spike smirked over at Angel.
“I’m pretty sure it was you who sucked as a lover, Spike. Darla wouldn’t even let you have a second bite at the apple.” Angel pouted. “Dare.”
“Knew it. Okay, up on the bar, Captain Forehead. Just to commemorate me being the better lover, you get to stand on the bar and sing, ‘You’re the Top’ to me, without your bottoms.” Spike grinned.
“Is it a waste of time to ask for pity?” Angel’s shoulders slumped and Buffy rubbed them.
“Of course it is,” Spike said.
“They did this on M*A*S*H you know,” Andrew said, readying his camera as Angel jumped up on the bar.
“Always steal from the best. Come on, Angel, hurry it up.” Spike lit his cigarette.
“I don’t sing in public. Ask Lorne. It’s for everyone’s safety,” Angel protested.
“It really is but we’ll make an exception,” Lorne shot back, a huge smile on his green face.
“Come on, Angel. This is the only chance I’ll get to see your ass. Buffy keeps it under lock and key,” Faith cried after a hearty cat call. “If you’re any good, I bet I have some ones to toss to you.”
“Damn straight,” Buffy said, glaring at the other Slayer.
Angel turned his back on his friends as he grabbed up a beer and downed it in two neat swallows. He dropped his pants and started torturing the old Cole Porter tune. As Buffy, Willow and Faith started hooting and hollering - with Illyria joining in but only because she assumed as a female she was meant to - Angel started getting into it.
“A Shakespeare's sonnet,
You're Mickey Mouse.
You're the Nile,
You're the Tower of Pisa,
You're the smile on the Mona Lisa
I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop,
But if, baby, I'm the bottom you're the top!”
Angel started gyrating his hips to the enthusiastic cries of his audience and dared to bellow out the next set of lyrics.
“Your words poetic are not pathetic.
On the other hand, babe, you shine,
And I can feel after every line
A thrill divine
Down my spine.”
“Holy hell! That just added another decade to my therapy!” Connor cried as he and Dawn limped into the game room.
“Speak for yourself. That’s a nice ass.” Dawn laughed, clapping her hands.
“Besides you’ll be in therapy for three lifetimes anyhow, kid.” Faith bounded over and hugged him. “What the hell happened to you two?”
“First, why is my father half naked on my bar?” Connor shielded his eyes.
“Truth or dare,” Angel said, yanking his pants up. “Answer Faith’s question. What happened? You look like hell.”
“Fire demon of some kind burned down the hotel,” Dawn said, leaning against Connor.
“The good news is I killed it,” Connor said. “Bad news is, I lost the tux. I smell beer. I need it. We’re going to change out of this mess.” He waved a hand at their outfits. “And we’re crashing your adults only party.”
“More the merrier.” Willow grinned. “You have a lot of catching up to do beer-wise.”
“Willow!” Buffy gave her friend the gimlet eye then turned to Giles. “Should we worry about the fire demony thing?”
“Connor said he killed it. Good enough for me. I need another drink.” Giles got up, stole Spike’s cigarette and headed for the bar.
“It’s like we never left the fraternity party.” Dawn laughed some more, pulling Connor back towards the stairs.
“Tell me about it,” Connor moaned. When he and Dawn came back in, dressed in casual clothes, Lorne had a beer waiting for him and an apology for Dawn for not knowing what she might want to drink. “Oh look, Dad has his pants on.”
“You’re just jealous that I have an ass and you’re totally ass-less,” Angel replied and Connor just gaped at his father, shocked. “And we’re not playing truth or dare any more.”
“We’ve moved on to I never,” Gunn said. “Who knew college games were so dumb?”
“I really am back with my frat,” Connor snorted, flopping next to Giles on the couch.
“We’re playing all the games we got cheated out of in not getting to go to or stay in college,” Willow said. “Grab something to drink, Dawnie. And it’s my turn. I’ve never shoplifted.”
“Hurry and pour me some white wine, Lorne. I think I have to drink,” Dawn said as Gunn, Giles, Faith, and Spike swigged beer.
“Here you go, sweet ‘ems,” Lorne said, handing her a ruby glass filled with wine.
“Okay, I’ve never done it in a cop car, can you believe that?” Faith laughed.
Giles drank.
“Take two since you did my mother on that cop car twice,” Buffy instructed, wagging a finger at him.
“He did what?” Spike roared. “You shagged my Joyce?”
Giles just leered at the vampire.
“Connor, book me time with your therapist,” Dawn groaned, leaning against her boyfriend.
He put his arms around her. “Anything for you, baby.”
Giles got up and swayed his way over to the pool table. “I think we should give up on the truth telling games before we all suffer permanent mental scarring. Who’s up for some pool?”
“I’m betting the kids would like to get in a little of the dancing they’re missing out on thanks to the fire,” Faith said going to put on Rihanna’s Pon de Replay. “Borrowing your boy for a dance, Dawn.”
“Okay. I’ll just borrow one of yours.” Dawn yanked Xander up so they could dance.
Sometime during the dancing and playing, Connor noticed Buffy and Angel sneaking off. It sounded like a good idea to him once he pushed all the mental images of his father having sex out of his mind. Connor took hold of Dawn’s hand and led her to the door. “Can I snare you away from all of this for a little alone time?”
She smiled at him, wine lending rose to her cheeks. “Is it naughty alone time?”
“Oh yes.” Connor swept her up in his arms and headed for the stairs with her giggling.
X X X
“It feels a little weird, knowing everyone’s downstairs and we’re...here,” Dawn said, gesturing to his bed.
“No one can hear over all that music and everyone’s too drunk to care,” Connor lied, figuring the vampires and Lorne might hear. He just hoped the second part of his statement was correct. He really didn’t care. He had spent a lot of money on the aborted evening. At least he still had sex to look forward to.
“Good point.” Dawn looked at the floorboard as if peering beyond to the basement below where music still trickled upwards.
“Still, it’s kinda nice having all our friends around. We get to have fun so rarely because well, just when you think you’re going to have fun, here comes a fire demon.” Connor rolled his eyes as he pulled the covers down on the bed.
Dawn put her arms around him. “I’m lucky. I get to sleep with my best friend.”
“Best friend...I like the sound of that,” Connor said, nuzzling her neck.
Dawn pushed him back on the bed, straddling him. “It is nice, isn’t it? I think that’s why so many couples fail. They weren’t friends first.” She brushed her lips to his. “At least we have that.”
Connor murmured his assent as he caressed her back. Dawn slipped out of her shirt and bra, then slid his shirt up, kissing his belly. She sat back on him, seeing a swath of red over his narrow chest.
“You really did get burned,” Dawn fretted, tracing the unburnt skin around it.
“It’s nothing. It’ll be gone by morning,” Connor promised, trailing his fingers over her breasts.
“Should we be doing this? You have to be in pain.” Dawn pouted.
Connor smiled up at her. “Well, you could stay right where you are now. That won’t rub on the burn.” He flexed his hips against her buttocks.
Dawn reached back, patting his half-hard cock. “That could be fun.” Dawn swung off him to strip off her pants, watching Connor slither out of his clothing with vampire-speed. She almost laughed at his eagerness. She climbed back on him. “Of course you’re trusting a drunk girl, you know that right?”
“You’re not going to break it,” he replied as her small hand curled around his cock, fisting him. He arched into her touch.
“I sure hope not. I like this piece of you.” Dawn leaned down, kissing the weeping tip of his penis.
“Glad to hear it,” he said then hissed in delight as she wrapped her lips and tongue around him.
She loved the feel of his soft skin, the map of swollen veins as her tongue discovered each of the anew. Dawn licked, sucked and nibbled until Connor writhed on the sheets, moaning softly. He was such a quiet lover. She suspected it was just part of his nature being raised in a hell where noise of any kind could leave you dead. A second heartbeat had taken up residence in her swollen, wet nether regions and she couldn’t hold out any longer. Dew curled down her thighs. She needed him.
Dawn fetched a condom out of the drawer, slipping it over him then sheathed herself on him. She let her head drop back as she sighed at the feel of him inside her. He always seemed to hit her just right. As Dawn rocked on him, Connor’s calloused fingers toyed with her nipples, rolling them, pinching lightly until they stood upright. She growled softly as he pushed up on one elbow so he could tease those prepared nipples with his lips and teeth.
Connor trailed one hand down her body, feathering touches over her clit as she ground down on him. She caught his hand before it could escape to tease her elsewhere. “More,” she demanded.
He grinned and complied. Dawn bounced on him so hard it felt as if she were driving him somewhere north of her navel. She rocked back some, giving him better access to her clit as she ran her fingers over his testicles. His fingers stumbled over her flesh as she gave his balls a light squeeze. She felt his testicles draw up as his eyes rolled up a little. He moaned softly as he came. Dawn bucked against his cock, her own release much noisier.
She flopped down on the bed beside him and snuggled in. “You know, in spite of overly protective and totally insane family, high heels and fire demons, this was a really good night.”
Connor wrapped his arms around her, kissing her sweat-slicked shoulder. “Yes, it was.”
X X X
Connor and Dawn slept in late. By the time they trundled downstairs to start brunch, they expected some kinds of life. There was none anywhere to be found. They delayed the making of food until they could at least determine how many to cook for.
“Did they all go out and leave us?” Dawn asked, glancing around.
“Hmm, I’m thinking they’re all dead.” Connor headed to the basement and surveyed his game room.
Giles was still asleep on the couch. Spike sprawled on the pool table - Andrew was under it - while Xander and Willow were lying on the rug next to the fire place, a garbage can at their heads. Gunn and Faith had passed out on the bar stools, held up by the bar. Lorne and Illyria were nowhere to be seen, nor were Buffy and Angel.
“Looks like my frat house after a really good night,” Connor said, heading for the pizza box on the bar.
“It smells.” Dawn waved a hand in front of her nose. “I think they are dead.”
“Leave ‘em,” Connor said, going for a slice of cold pizza. “They’re decorative.”
“Don’t you dare eat that!” Dawn yanked him away from the pizza box.
“What?” Connor cast a longing eye at the pizza. “We do it all the time in the frat house. It’s only a little old.”
“Men, you’re disgusting.” Dawn wrinkled her nose at him as she propelled him towards the stairs.
“But you love us anyhow,” he replied.
“Well, parts of you at any rate.” Dawn swatted his back side.
“Watch it or you’ll start something they might actually wake up and see.” He smirked at her.
“Oh, it’s going to be that kind of morning.” Dawn chased him up the stairs and caught him in the living room just as Lorne and Illyria came in with boxes of what looked to be pastries.
“Hello, kidlets, you look well,” Lorne said, swooping toward the kitchen with his prizes.
“Should they not?” Illyria asked.
“We didn’t drink as much as the crew downstairs. They’re all still dead so I call dibs on whatever goodies are in the boxes. I smell chocolate and fruit.” Connor eyed the boxes greedily, morning sex momentarily forgotten. “Panera! You have the best tastes, Lorne.”
“Never thought you’d say that, Blue Eyes.” Lorne smiled, setting down the boxes.
“Has anyone seen my sister or Angel?” Dawn asked.
“Saw them head outside at around midnight. Hope they didn’t pass out, out there. Buffy will wake up next to a humongous pile of ash,” Connor replied.
“I’m not that big, Connor,” Angel said, staggering down the stairs, red-eyed, hair messed up.
“Well, one of them lives...sort of,” Dawn said, giggling.
“Buffy will be sleeping in.” Angel flashed a lopsided grin. “She’s tired.”
Connor threw up his hands. “Tell me no more. I saw your naked ass last night. That was plenty enough trauma for one week.”
Angel rolled his eyes. “Did you get hurt fighting that demon by the way?”
“Ah, sober enough to be concerned, eh Dad? Yes, I did but I’m fine now. Lorne and Illyria brought sweets. As soon as there is coffee all will be right with my world,” Connor said, poking through the pastry boxes.
“Speak for yourself, I found out my mom had sex with Giles.” Dawn shuddered. “And Xander was saying something about Spike outing himself and you, Angel. I’m hoping he was just really really drunk...something about orgies with Darla and Dru.”
Connor stopped with a donut halfway to his mouth. “Oh man, there’s another ten years of therapy right there. The thought of you and Spike....which doesn’t come as a giant surprise to be honest. You fight like a married couple.”
“I hope Andrew missed getting a recording of Spike outing himself.” Angel shook his head. “Though Giles did the same.”
“Giles!” Dawn slumped at the table and slapped Connor’s thigh. “Make with the chocolate donuts, mister.”
Connor handed her a cream-filled, chocolate-smothered long john.
Lorne miraculously produced a gallon jug of coffee and poured three cups. “You three settle down. Big Blue and I will go check on the others.”
Connor sat next to Dawn, rubbing her back with sticky fingers. “So, how many more reunions do you think my place can handle before we manage to flatten it?”
Angel snorted. “I say we find out. Drunken confessions aside, this was fun.”
“I agree.” Dawn dug a finger into her long john then licked the filling off of it making sure Connor was watching. “Let’s start planning now.”
“After that, you think there’s any blood going to my son’s brain so he can think?” Angel asked and Connor shot him a glare hot enough to curl the kitchen linoleum.
“Good point.” Dawn nudged Connor.
“I can think. I’m thinking, next time, we trash your place, Dad.” Connor glared at him.
Angel just smiled. “You know what, I’m just fine with that. That’s what family’s for.”
Challenge requirements Characters/Pairings you want the story to focus in. Buffy/Angel, Connor/Dawn
Characters/Pairings you want in the story too: any and all that fit. I want a big group!
Things you want: future, a party/get-together/trip that they’re all on, I’d like to see drunkenness, misunderstandings, friendships, etc… really go where you want with this, fun or angsty
D M Evans
Disclaimer - So not mine. All rights belong to Joss Whedon
Pairing - Dawn/Connor, Buffy/Angel, Spike/Illyria
Rating - FRMAO
Summary - While Dawn and Connor attend his fraternity formal, their friends and family reunite for the first time since the attack in L.A./Sunnydale, and celebrate the bonds of friendship
Author’s Note - This was written for the Choose Your Own Author ficathon. Challenge at the end. Also, this story grew out of a set of drabbles for Open On Sunday which everyone wanted to see expanded and this challenge fit beautifully. Also sneaked in one of my smut_69 prompts as well (best friends). Hope no one minds dreadfully that this fun challenge is serving many masters. Thanks to SJ for the super speedy beta and for suggesting the title (and thanks to Erma Bombeck for saying it in the first place)
“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.”- Richard Bach
Chapter One
“This would have been easier if you and the others had stayed in Europe.” Connor fussed with his deep blue tie. “It’s not like I’ve ever taken a girl to a fancy party. I’m nervous. The last thing I needed was you.” Connor glanced over his shoulder long enough to give his father a baleful look.
“You’ll be fine. Here.” Angel pressed cufflinks into Connor’s hand. “They’re mine. They’re old. Victorian era. I was never sure why I kept them, even in my darkest times. Maybe because your mother gave them to me.”
Connor caressed them with a calloused thumb in the palm of his hand. They were simple ovals of rose gold with a crash of waves rolling around the edge. “Thanks, Dad. They’re pretty. How do I use these things? Formal wear seems to be a gap in Vail’s implanted knowledge.”
Angel helped him put them in the black wool then stepped back to survey the black on black tux and the decidedly not-bow tie. “This is a little informal for a black tie party, isn’t it?” He flicked a finger against the sapphire tie.
Connor’s blue eyes flipped in their all-too familiar roll. “The guy at the tux shop tried to talk me into a Nehru jacket. They’re the hottest thing in formal wear right now.”
“I’d have slapped you.” Angel smirked.
“I could have picked the white tux with black pinstripes,” Connor retorted, his lips curling back.
“I would have killed you.” Angel’s smirk broadened. “For Dawn’s sake.”
“No, you would have stomped on whatever Dawn left of me,” Connor shot back. “Fashion is not my thing, but even I know better than that.”
“So, fraternity formal? You aren’t driving home tonight are you?” Angel fretted, stepping back to give Connor another critical once over.
Connor shook his head, going to the window. He waved at Gunn who was waiting for Angel in the parking lot and apparently scoping out co-ed’s. “Going by limo and staying at the hotel. The dance is in the hotel ballroom.”
“Do you have any....” Angel broke off, shifting from foot to foot. He suddenly became inordinately fascinated by the cuticles on his thick fingers. What made him ask that? He knew Connor and Dawn were lovers already. He could smell it on them but he hadn’t said anything. Angel knew Connor would know that he was aware of it and there seemed to be a silent agreement that Dawn should be the one to break the news to Buffy, if the Slayer hadn’t already figured it out.
Connor flushed from the knot in his tie to somewhere past his hair line. For a moment he just stared at his father in disbelief. “You’re the last man on earth who should be asking about that! Yes, I have condoms, now quit fussing over me.”
“Can’t help it, son.” Angel went over and put his hands on his boy’s shoulders, gazing into the mirror. Connor alone looked back from the glass but the boy looked good. “You and Dawn have fun tonight.”
“Thanks, Dad.” Connor broke away to go check on the corsage in the dorm fridge. He was borrowing one of his friend’s rooms to get ready in since Dawn had asked him to vacate his own house. She was so nervous she didn’t want to see him. He knew they were both being silly. It wasn’t like this was a first date, or even the first time they’d sleep together but he understood the desire for this night to be perfect. Neither of them had done anything like this before and his rented home - a large turn of the century affair - was currently overrun with Sunnydale ex-patriots and a few L.A. ones, if Lorne, Spike and Illyria could be considered being from L.A., which Connor doubted.
Angel smiled, seeing his son’s nervousness. It was sweet. This is what teenaged boys should be like, fumbling, a little less than self-assured all the while trying to pretend they had things under control. Angel slipped the slim-lined digital camera out of his pocket and winced when turning it on sounded thunderous to him. Connor was too distracted to notice. “Connor, could you come here a moment?”
When Connor stood and faced him, Angel snapped the picture. He snapped another as Connor’s face fell into the familiar scowl, might as well immortalize the most used expression in his son’s repertoire. “Dad!”
“Blame Willow! She insisted. She spent hours teaching me to use this stupid thing.” Angel waved the camera.
“I’d make you give me that memory stick, but it’s not like people won’t be shoving cameras in my face all night.” Connor sighed.
“You are doomed to that.” Angel cuffed Connor’s shoulder. “I’ll see you later, son.”
“Okay, Dad. Tell her I’ll be there soon.”
Angel nodded and let himself out. From the shadows of the doorway to the dorm, he waved an arm at Gunn. His friend had offered to drive Angel to the dorm in the daylight. Gunn had chosen to wait outside. Angel suspected the girl’s dorm just across the way had a lot to do with that. Hot college co-ed’s, that and the fact that Gunn still had to walk with a cane. His busted up leg bothered him more than Gunn was willing to let on but Angel had noticed Gunn knew when not to push it. Still, given all that happened in L.A., a damaged limb was a lucky outcome.
Gunn drove up close to the door and Angel sprinted for the trunk. Luckily the trees shaded most of his short route. As he huddled in the smelly darkness of the trunk, Angel’s lip started to tremble with universal parental angst. How could his little boy be so old to be taking girls to formals? Time shouldn’t move that fast. Well, of course he had magical interference to contend with but still. His son was all grown up and Angel did what most fathers did facing this situation, told himself he wasn’t crying tears of joy. No, that was just dust in his eyes.
X X X
“You look beautiful.” Willow hugged Dawn as the young lady came into the living room, the sapphire silk of her short train brushing her crystal studded heels.
“No, no, you can’t go out looking like that.” Spike jumped off the couch, waving a hand at plunging halter top and corseted bodice. “You’ll just give him ideas. We can almost see your boobs!”
“Spike!” Dawn turned a fierce gaze on him.
“I think that’s really rather the point,” Giles said, setting aside the diary he was working on. He got up and went over to take Dawn’s hand. “Willow’s quite right, you’re lovely.”
Dawn put her slender arms around the older man’s neck, hugging him tight. “Thanks, Giles.”
“Little fraternity wankers shouldn’t be looking at my Li’l Bit like I know they’ll be looking at her,” Spike said, fishing out his cigarettes. Xander was bobbing his head frantically in agreement as he glanced over from where he was watching the Stargate marathon and sharing a bowl of popcorn with Andrew.
This time Dawn slapped Spike’s arm. “So? It’s my turn to shine.”
“Do leave Dawn alone, Spike,” Giles said, tiredly.
“Yeah, she’s more than earned some time for fun,” Willow said, almost as excited as if she were going herself.
“And how do you know she already hasn’t? She’s been going to school here for almost a year now.” Spike lit up, wearing his most lemony expression. “She needs better taste in men. What in hell possessed her to go somewhere with Angel’s stick of a son.”
“I can’t believe I’m on Bleach Boy’s side in something,” Xander moaned, leaning over the back of the couch.
“And Connor has abominable tastes. He doesn’t even like Padame. He might not even like Star Wars,” Andrew exclaimed, obviously equating that with a carnal sin.
“Will you three stop? I’m nervous enough without your Three Stooges routine,” Dawn scolded, glancing towards the doorway, hearing foot falls. She smiled at Buffy who hesitated in the doorway as if to take in the scene.
Buffy’s eyes seemed to mist just a little, seeing Dawn standing there in her sapphire silk gown. Dawn felt like this was her wedding day and not just some stupid dance. Of course, Buffy more than anyone wanted her to have a nice normal life. Dawn had missed out on the prom since she finished school online as she bounced all over the world. No prom for her, no real graduation and Dawn had to admit she hated missing out on those things. “That dress is beautiful,” Buffy said finally.
“Dina Bar-El.” Dawn smoothed her hands over the slim lines of her waist. “Cost a fortune. Luckily Connor’s adoptive parents have a fortune.”
“Yeah, I guess that’s one good thing about him,” Xander grumbled around a mouthful of popcorn. “This house of his is pretty cool.”
“Spike and Xander keep picking on Connor. Andrew’s helping.” Dawn rolled her eyes as she informed her sister.
“Are you honestly surprised?” Buffy took a box out of her pocket. “This was Mom’s. I wore it for luck that last night in Sunnydale.”
Dawn opened it and saw the little diamond cross necklace. Her breath caught, her eyes flooding with tears. She gingerly lifted the delicate cross from the velvet box. “Mom’s wedding necklace.”
“I figure Mom would want you to wear it. It’ll be her way of seeing you tonight. She’d be so happy. At least the guy taking you to the formal isn’t the living dead.” Buffy smiled wryly then put the necklace on for her. She hugged Dawn. “Don’t be nervous. You’ll have a great time.”
“Isn’t it silly? I am nervous and it’s not like Connor and I haven’t been dating for a while now because we have. I know most of his fraternity brothers and their girlfriends. The only thing new is this dumb dress and a band. Oh, and the fancy dinner, which I’m sure will land on the silk in a matter of seconds,” Dawn lamented, clinging to her sister.
Buffy patted Dawn’s back. “No, it won’t. You’ll do fine.”
“You’ll be the prettiest girl there even if you’re taking a hopeless blighter with you,” Spike grumbled, a dejected pout riding his lips.
“Thanks, Spike.” Dawn went over and hugged him. “And technically Connor’s taking me and has spent obscene amounts of money to do it.”
“So he’ll really be expecting things.” Spike draped an arm around Dawn’s bare shoulders. “You smell too good, too. He’ll lose his mind. You shouldn’t let a scrawny runt like Connor touch you but if you do, he doesn’t get anywhere near you without a condom.”
“Oh my god!” Dawn turned ruby to go with her brilliant sapphire dress. She looked like she wanted to crawl under the couch. She glanced at her sister for help but Buffy was too busy laughing behind her hand to be much use to her.
“And I’m not just saying that because it’s like you touching Angel second hand and it’s all strange and incestuous.” Spike wagged a finger under her nose. “That boy’s demon spawn. Who knows what happens if he gets you up the spout, a demon-Key baby? The world might end, so condoms are a must!”
“Someone please save me!” Dawn begged, covering her face delicately so not to smear the make up.
“No, this is much too funny.” Xander snickered, tossing a kernel of popcorn up and catching it mid-air.
“I’m with Xander,” Buffy said.
“And Spike makes an interesting point about the offspring of a half demon and an interdimensional key. I wonder what would happen.” Giles added, trying hard not to grin.
“Oooo, that could be so fun.” Willow clapped, eyes bright with glee.
“No! No, babies!” Dawn waved her hands frantically as someone opened the front door. “That had best be Connor.”
Gunn walked in with Angel behind him.
Dawn scowled and went up to Angel. “I’m warning you now, not one word about me going out with your son, about my sad taste in men and if you even mention safe sex, I’m staking you!”
Angel gave her a ‘what did I do?’ look and said tentatively,. “I was just going to say you look beautiful, Dawn, and my son probably doesn’t know how lucky he is.”
“Well, that’s okay.” Dawn put her arms around him and hugged him gingerly so not to fry him with the cross.
“Hey, she toasted me with Joyce’s cross. You she treats like fine china,” Spike protested.
“Does that tell you anything?” Angel smirked at him.
“No fighting,” Buffy said, taking Angel’s arm. “I could give your mouth something better to do.” She kissed him.
“Are you testing my gag reflex?” Spike shuddered.
Dawn slugged his arm. “Be nice.”
“I hear the limo,” Willow said with a little bounce. “Ready for pictures, Dawnie?”
“I’d better be.” Dawn looked resigned as Connor came into the house. Resignation melted away as desire flooded in. “You look so hot.”
A wicked smile blossomed on Connor’s face as his cornflower blue eyes roamed over the sapphire swath of silk that clung to her form. “You’re gorgeous.”
“They always say a tux will make any man look like James Bond. They’re wrong. You can manage to look like a scarecrow,” Spike said, waving a hand at Connor.
“He does have a Turniphead thing going on,” Xander agreed, a wide grin on his face.
“I do not look like Turniphead. If I look like anyone from that movie, it’s Howl. You’ll notice he was very lean, too,” Connor shot back, fire in his eyes.
Dawn captured his cheeks in her palms. “Do not get into a geek-out with Xander. You’ll lose. Ready to go....once they take a thousand pictures?”
Connor looked up as if seeing the rest of the crowd for the first time. “Pictures...oh joy.”
Dawn gave him a crooked smile as she linked arms with him. “We’ll survive it.”
While Buffy, Angel and Spike were saying their last goodbyes and taking some final pictures, Willow silently waved everyone else downstairs. She grabbed Giles’ arm. “You know what to do.
He nodded and watched Willow herd the others into the basement game room where Lorne already had everyone at work putting the final touches on the decorating. Mardi Gras beads were strewn all over the tables, barring the pool table, and dripped off the bar. A huge banner reading ‘Welcome to the Adults Only - sorry no orgies, Spike or Giles - party’ hung over the bar.
“Do you know how hard it is to sneak in a keg and bags of ice with those vampires in the house?” Lorne fretted.
“You did a fantastic job,” Willow assured him with a hug. Lorne had been the hardest to convince to come to the party. Once Willow saw Buffy was determined to visit Dawn in the States - and hence Angel and Spike - Willow organized a reunion. The party came as an afterthought when Buffy started moaning about Dawn being all grown up and going to college formals.
Everyone from both teams was here except the junior Slayers, including Kennedy whom she had broken up with long before she even went to Tibet. Faith should be arriving from the airport a little later. She’d miss the beginning of the party. Willow was sure Faith would groan a bit about that but there was nothing to be done for it.
The party just seemed natural, especially when she knew Buffy was still in surrogate mom mode and wasn’t ready to let go of Dawn yet. Lorne, once he got over his reluctance, took over the party arrangements. He was a natural at it.
Lorne gave the room a final once over. “This is as good as it’ll get with what I have to work with,” he lamented, his red-orange eyes critically roaming over the spacious - but needing repairs - room.
“It’s fine,” Willow said. “Gunn, Xander, are we set for music?”
“We’re good to go,” Gunn said, skirting around Illyria who had been standing in the middle of the room for hours now, looking lost.
“And I have the appetizers in the oven,” Andrew said, pointing towards the ceiling and the kitchen above.
“Good, then all we need is for Giles to do his thing,” Willow said, sitting on a bar stool, very pleased with herself.
X X X
Deciding the Slayer and the vampires had enough time at tormenting Dawn and Connor, Giles cleared his throat. “Buffy, I need your help for a moment. Angel, it could use your input, too. Even yours, as well, Spike.”
Spike lipped a cigarette, determined to smoke as much as possible because Connor had made the house non-smoking. “What am I? An afterthought?”
“Always,” Giles retorted.
“Does it have to be now, Giles?” Buffy groaned, with a little stomp of her foot. “We’re in the middle of something.”
“Your something’s escaped and is probably already in the limo,” Giles replied, gesturing at the door. “This will only take a moment then you can go back to tearing your hair out and moaning about what the kids will be doing.”
“Fine,” Buffy said, tromping away from the front door.
“Down in the game room please,” Giles said, wearing a look of ‘why me?’
Spike rolled his shoulders. “Anyone up for a little pool? We can pretend the balls belong to the pipsqueak.”
“Spike!” Angel snapped.
“Oh, I know you think that boy of yours is as pure as the driven snow,” Spike snorted.
“No, I don’t. He’s a little too much like his old man for that,” Angel replied.
“Didn’t need to hear that,” Buffy moaned, going through the basement door.
“Surprise!” Willow cried.
“What the hell?” Spike nearly lost his cigarette.
“It’s our party, formal wear not required,” Xander said, buffing his nails on his Trigun T-shirt.
“Which of you was responsible for the orgy crack?” Giles gave them all a baleful look and Xander and Willow stabbed accusing fingers at each other.
“Well, I think this is a fun idea.” Buffy surveyed the room with an appreciative nod. “This looks nice.”
“As long as there’s enough booze to make me forget Dawnie’s riding in the scarecrow rodeo I’m happy,” Spike said, going over to the pool table.
“There’s an image,” Buffy groaned, sitting down at the bar.
“Illyria, can’t you do something with Spike?” Angel glared at the younger vampire.
The demoness cocked her head at him. “I don’t understand.”
Angel waved her off. “Never mind. Just give him a beer, Lorne. That’ll fix him.” Angel leaned against the bar. “And you did a good job with the place.”
“Thanks, Angel-cake. It’s good to be appreciated.” Lorne looked at the humans. “Put your drink orders in, kiddies. Xander, you’re an experienced bar keep. Can you give me a hand?”
“Sure thing,” Xander scooted around the bar and the alcohol began to flow.
X X X
“Did I forget to say you look beautiful?” Connor asked as Dawn snuggled against him in the limo
“In spite of the insane family, you remembered but I like hearing it.” She patted his knee.
“I know. Could they have made things more awkward?” He touched a petal on the orchid corsage he had bought to compliment her sapphire gown.
“I’d say at least you didn’t have to endure the embarrassment of a century old vampire trying to be sure you were having safe sex but you did, didn’t you?” Dawn smiled.
Connor snorted. “Sadly, yes. Thanks, Dad, I think we can skip the condom talk. Luckily he was willing to do just that.”
“Now if only Spike had been.” Dawn’s face winkled up. “Just so you know, if you get me pregnant, Willow and Giles will be right there to poke, prod and otherwise test our baby.”
“Okay that scared me impotent,” Connor said, eyes round as robin eggs.
“You have a few hours to wake that part back up.” She kissed his cheek. “Because from here, the night can only get better.”
Chapter Two
Dawn rested her cheek on Connor’s shoulder, getting a slight kink in her neck. He was a lot shorter than her when she had on heels but he wasn’t self-conscious about it. She appreciated that. So far, the party was a success. Nothing had spilled on her dress at dinner and she started relaxing once she realized she wasn’t the only one with the ‘oh hell we’re in fancy clothes’ nerves. Connor felt good against her as they swayed to the slow music. For a moment, Dawn was tempted to take him upstairs now to their hotel room but the night was too young.
The music changed to something insanely fast. The DJ needed to learn better segue ways. Dawn took a step back knowing that while Connor couldn’t really dance well, he’d try for her. At this speed, it would be just scary. “Want to sit for a little while? My feet hurt,” she said and it wasn’t a lie.
Connor smiled appreciatively. “Yes. Want some wine?”
“Please. That’s the good thing about a formal over a normal frat party, real wine instead of Mad Dog.” Dawn gave her head a rueful shake.
“Okay, one glass of wine that won’t blind you coming up.” Connor laughed, heading off for the bar.
Dawn sat back down at their table and refreshed her make up using her compact. Connor came back quickly with the Chardonnay that she liked. He had a beer. Bless Willow for faking them some killer id. She took a sip. “I’m having fun.”
“So am I.”
Dawn leaned into him, running a hand up his thigh. “And I think you look sexy, no matter what Spike and Xander say. You do not look like Turniphead.”
“That’s good to know.” Connor’s hand slipped around the back of her head, his fingers toying with her hair as he urged her forward into a kiss.
Dawn met his lips hungrily, her hand sliding higher on his leg. She squeezed his crotch gently, feeling him tense a little. He broke away from her slightly, a hungry look in his eyes. Dawn smiled then turned her attention back to her wine glass, giving him an arched look over her shoulder.
“Ah, so we’re going to be a tease.” Connor laughed, leaning over to catch her earlobe between his lips. His tongue rolled over her diamond stud, which nearly got yanked out when Connor jumped as the fire alarm sounded.
At first no one moved, thinking it was part of the show or something then a loud crackling sound hissed over the music. Something in flickering oranges and yellow swooped in through the door with a laugh. That’s when the screaming started and like a bright swirling rainbow, teens started spilling at top speed toward the exits.
“What the hell is that?” Dawn looked around for anything that could pass as a weapon.
“How should I know? You’re the Watcher type,” Connor said getting to his feet, ready for a fight.
“Is it too much to ask for one night of freedom from demons?” Dawn sighed.
“Apparently. Help the others out of here. I’ll handle this.” Connor eyed the fire demon. “I hope.”
X X X
Connor sat on the curb across the street from the hotel, watching the fire fighters work. Smoke tendrils still curled from his tux. He poked a finger through a gaping rent in the jacket. “There goes my deposit.”
“Think I can dry clean this out?” Dawn pointed to an ash smudge on her dress. She had fared better in her role of crowd control.
Connor wagged his head. “At least I killed the thing.”
“We’ll have to ask Giles what it was.” Dawn looked at the blaze. “So much for our love nest and our limo went home for the evening.”
“Guess it’s back home and if someone hears us later, too damn bad.” He smirked. “My house and if I want to make love to my girl so be it.”
“I like how you think.” Dawn slipped off her heels. “We’d better start walking a few blocks that way. We’ll never catch a cab home from here.”
“I know.” Connor went to slid an arm around her.
“Uh-uh, back off buddy. This dress might be salvageable but not if you rub that nasty tux all over me.” She shook a finger at him.
“I think I burnt important parts of me fighting that thing,” he whined.
“I’ll kiss them when we get home and make them all better,”she promised.
Connor shrugged. “Works for me.”
X X X
Buffy sluiced the beer out of her hair as she perched on Angel’s lap. “Okay, so I can’t belly dance with a beer on my head.” She leaned back against her lover with a drunken grin.
“But we really appreciate you trying, Buff.” Xander’s smile was sloppy with drink. “Maybe you should quit picking dares.”
“She’s got too much to hide,” Spike observed, leaving off nuzzling Illyria’s neck for a moment.
“I wish you had more to hide.” Gunn gave Spike the hairy eyeball. “There were things I just didn’t need to know.”
“Speaking of which, my turn. Truth or dare, Spike?” Buffy asked as Angel wrapped his arms around her, his lips resting on her crown. She hoped he wasn’t sucking the booze out of her hair. Angel was trashed. They all were, a sight she had never really seen before and only blurrily did she realize Andrew was recording it all for prosperity.
“Truth,” Spike said, nearly knocking over his beer when he reached for it.
“Of course.” Buffy sighed.
“Give it up, B. You knew he’d say that. Should have picked someone else,” Faith said, putting the Black Eyed Peas’ Don’t Phunk With My Heart on the cd player. She grabbed Gunn and Xander’s arms, dragging them both after her so they could dance.
“Probably,” Buffy grumbled, contemplating dancing for a moment then changed her mind. “Okay Spike, truth, who was your worst lover, ever.”
“Feeling brave, Buffy. What if he says you?” Willow giggled into her chocolatini.
“I’m not worried,” Buffy said, as she surreptitiously rubbed her butt on Angel’s crotch.
“You should be.” Spike twisted around, putting his head in Illyria’s lap. “Not you, pet, you were fine. Angel, on the other hand was just awful.”
Xander plowed into Faith, nearly knocking the Slayer down. A stunned Gunn caught her. “What did he just say?”
“I was not your worst!” Angel cried, dumping Buffy off his lap as he jumped up clumsily to his feet.
“Spike?” Andrew asked somewhere between hopeful and dismayed.
“You were, too,” Spike said, sitting back up.
“Okay, when I sober up, I’m sure this is really going to squick me out,” Buffy said, rubbing her butt as she got up off the floor. “When did this happen?”
“A century ago or more,” Angel said, dismissively. “Just once, mostly by accident.”
“The better question was why? How?” Xander’s eyes were huge as he staggered toward Angel and Buffy.
“Well, when you’re having orgies sometimes things happen, lines get crossed and you end up tonguing a bloke.” Spike shrugged.
“Tell me about it.” Giles knocked back his whiskey. “Ethan had a talented tongue.” He looked at his whiskey glass as if it had just confessed. “Maybe I should switch to beer.”
“Whoa, to the things I don’t need to know about.” Xander held out his hands. “Maybe we should find another game.”
“Not before I get my turn. Come on, lousy lover, truth or dare.” Spike smirked over at Angel.
“I’m pretty sure it was you who sucked as a lover, Spike. Darla wouldn’t even let you have a second bite at the apple.” Angel pouted. “Dare.”
“Knew it. Okay, up on the bar, Captain Forehead. Just to commemorate me being the better lover, you get to stand on the bar and sing, ‘You’re the Top’ to me, without your bottoms.” Spike grinned.
“Is it a waste of time to ask for pity?” Angel’s shoulders slumped and Buffy rubbed them.
“Of course it is,” Spike said.
“They did this on M*A*S*H you know,” Andrew said, readying his camera as Angel jumped up on the bar.
“Always steal from the best. Come on, Angel, hurry it up.” Spike lit his cigarette.
“I don’t sing in public. Ask Lorne. It’s for everyone’s safety,” Angel protested.
“It really is but we’ll make an exception,” Lorne shot back, a huge smile on his green face.
“Come on, Angel. This is the only chance I’ll get to see your ass. Buffy keeps it under lock and key,” Faith cried after a hearty cat call. “If you’re any good, I bet I have some ones to toss to you.”
“Damn straight,” Buffy said, glaring at the other Slayer.
Angel turned his back on his friends as he grabbed up a beer and downed it in two neat swallows. He dropped his pants and started torturing the old Cole Porter tune. As Buffy, Willow and Faith started hooting and hollering - with Illyria joining in but only because she assumed as a female she was meant to - Angel started getting into it.
“A Shakespeare's sonnet,
You're Mickey Mouse.
You're the Nile,
You're the Tower of Pisa,
You're the smile on the Mona Lisa
I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop,
But if, baby, I'm the bottom you're the top!”
Angel started gyrating his hips to the enthusiastic cries of his audience and dared to bellow out the next set of lyrics.
“Your words poetic are not pathetic.
On the other hand, babe, you shine,
And I can feel after every line
A thrill divine
Down my spine.”
“Holy hell! That just added another decade to my therapy!” Connor cried as he and Dawn limped into the game room.
“Speak for yourself. That’s a nice ass.” Dawn laughed, clapping her hands.
“Besides you’ll be in therapy for three lifetimes anyhow, kid.” Faith bounded over and hugged him. “What the hell happened to you two?”
“First, why is my father half naked on my bar?” Connor shielded his eyes.
“Truth or dare,” Angel said, yanking his pants up. “Answer Faith’s question. What happened? You look like hell.”
“Fire demon of some kind burned down the hotel,” Dawn said, leaning against Connor.
“The good news is I killed it,” Connor said. “Bad news is, I lost the tux. I smell beer. I need it. We’re going to change out of this mess.” He waved a hand at their outfits. “And we’re crashing your adults only party.”
“More the merrier.” Willow grinned. “You have a lot of catching up to do beer-wise.”
“Willow!” Buffy gave her friend the gimlet eye then turned to Giles. “Should we worry about the fire demony thing?”
“Connor said he killed it. Good enough for me. I need another drink.” Giles got up, stole Spike’s cigarette and headed for the bar.
“It’s like we never left the fraternity party.” Dawn laughed some more, pulling Connor back towards the stairs.
“Tell me about it,” Connor moaned. When he and Dawn came back in, dressed in casual clothes, Lorne had a beer waiting for him and an apology for Dawn for not knowing what she might want to drink. “Oh look, Dad has his pants on.”
“You’re just jealous that I have an ass and you’re totally ass-less,” Angel replied and Connor just gaped at his father, shocked. “And we’re not playing truth or dare any more.”
“We’ve moved on to I never,” Gunn said. “Who knew college games were so dumb?”
“I really am back with my frat,” Connor snorted, flopping next to Giles on the couch.
“We’re playing all the games we got cheated out of in not getting to go to or stay in college,” Willow said. “Grab something to drink, Dawnie. And it’s my turn. I’ve never shoplifted.”
“Hurry and pour me some white wine, Lorne. I think I have to drink,” Dawn said as Gunn, Giles, Faith, and Spike swigged beer.
“Here you go, sweet ‘ems,” Lorne said, handing her a ruby glass filled with wine.
“Okay, I’ve never done it in a cop car, can you believe that?” Faith laughed.
Giles drank.
“Take two since you did my mother on that cop car twice,” Buffy instructed, wagging a finger at him.
“He did what?” Spike roared. “You shagged my Joyce?”
Giles just leered at the vampire.
“Connor, book me time with your therapist,” Dawn groaned, leaning against her boyfriend.
He put his arms around her. “Anything for you, baby.”
Giles got up and swayed his way over to the pool table. “I think we should give up on the truth telling games before we all suffer permanent mental scarring. Who’s up for some pool?”
“I’m betting the kids would like to get in a little of the dancing they’re missing out on thanks to the fire,” Faith said going to put on Rihanna’s Pon de Replay. “Borrowing your boy for a dance, Dawn.”
“Okay. I’ll just borrow one of yours.” Dawn yanked Xander up so they could dance.
Sometime during the dancing and playing, Connor noticed Buffy and Angel sneaking off. It sounded like a good idea to him once he pushed all the mental images of his father having sex out of his mind. Connor took hold of Dawn’s hand and led her to the door. “Can I snare you away from all of this for a little alone time?”
She smiled at him, wine lending rose to her cheeks. “Is it naughty alone time?”
“Oh yes.” Connor swept her up in his arms and headed for the stairs with her giggling.
X X X
“It feels a little weird, knowing everyone’s downstairs and we’re...here,” Dawn said, gesturing to his bed.
“No one can hear over all that music and everyone’s too drunk to care,” Connor lied, figuring the vampires and Lorne might hear. He just hoped the second part of his statement was correct. He really didn’t care. He had spent a lot of money on the aborted evening. At least he still had sex to look forward to.
“Good point.” Dawn looked at the floorboard as if peering beyond to the basement below where music still trickled upwards.
“Still, it’s kinda nice having all our friends around. We get to have fun so rarely because well, just when you think you’re going to have fun, here comes a fire demon.” Connor rolled his eyes as he pulled the covers down on the bed.
Dawn put her arms around him. “I’m lucky. I get to sleep with my best friend.”
“Best friend...I like the sound of that,” Connor said, nuzzling her neck.
Dawn pushed him back on the bed, straddling him. “It is nice, isn’t it? I think that’s why so many couples fail. They weren’t friends first.” She brushed her lips to his. “At least we have that.”
Connor murmured his assent as he caressed her back. Dawn slipped out of her shirt and bra, then slid his shirt up, kissing his belly. She sat back on him, seeing a swath of red over his narrow chest.
“You really did get burned,” Dawn fretted, tracing the unburnt skin around it.
“It’s nothing. It’ll be gone by morning,” Connor promised, trailing his fingers over her breasts.
“Should we be doing this? You have to be in pain.” Dawn pouted.
Connor smiled up at her. “Well, you could stay right where you are now. That won’t rub on the burn.” He flexed his hips against her buttocks.
Dawn reached back, patting his half-hard cock. “That could be fun.” Dawn swung off him to strip off her pants, watching Connor slither out of his clothing with vampire-speed. She almost laughed at his eagerness. She climbed back on him. “Of course you’re trusting a drunk girl, you know that right?”
“You’re not going to break it,” he replied as her small hand curled around his cock, fisting him. He arched into her touch.
“I sure hope not. I like this piece of you.” Dawn leaned down, kissing the weeping tip of his penis.
“Glad to hear it,” he said then hissed in delight as she wrapped her lips and tongue around him.
She loved the feel of his soft skin, the map of swollen veins as her tongue discovered each of the anew. Dawn licked, sucked and nibbled until Connor writhed on the sheets, moaning softly. He was such a quiet lover. She suspected it was just part of his nature being raised in a hell where noise of any kind could leave you dead. A second heartbeat had taken up residence in her swollen, wet nether regions and she couldn’t hold out any longer. Dew curled down her thighs. She needed him.
Dawn fetched a condom out of the drawer, slipping it over him then sheathed herself on him. She let her head drop back as she sighed at the feel of him inside her. He always seemed to hit her just right. As Dawn rocked on him, Connor’s calloused fingers toyed with her nipples, rolling them, pinching lightly until they stood upright. She growled softly as he pushed up on one elbow so he could tease those prepared nipples with his lips and teeth.
Connor trailed one hand down her body, feathering touches over her clit as she ground down on him. She caught his hand before it could escape to tease her elsewhere. “More,” she demanded.
He grinned and complied. Dawn bounced on him so hard it felt as if she were driving him somewhere north of her navel. She rocked back some, giving him better access to her clit as she ran her fingers over his testicles. His fingers stumbled over her flesh as she gave his balls a light squeeze. She felt his testicles draw up as his eyes rolled up a little. He moaned softly as he came. Dawn bucked against his cock, her own release much noisier.
She flopped down on the bed beside him and snuggled in. “You know, in spite of overly protective and totally insane family, high heels and fire demons, this was a really good night.”
Connor wrapped his arms around her, kissing her sweat-slicked shoulder. “Yes, it was.”
X X X
Connor and Dawn slept in late. By the time they trundled downstairs to start brunch, they expected some kinds of life. There was none anywhere to be found. They delayed the making of food until they could at least determine how many to cook for.
“Did they all go out and leave us?” Dawn asked, glancing around.
“Hmm, I’m thinking they’re all dead.” Connor headed to the basement and surveyed his game room.
Giles was still asleep on the couch. Spike sprawled on the pool table - Andrew was under it - while Xander and Willow were lying on the rug next to the fire place, a garbage can at their heads. Gunn and Faith had passed out on the bar stools, held up by the bar. Lorne and Illyria were nowhere to be seen, nor were Buffy and Angel.
“Looks like my frat house after a really good night,” Connor said, heading for the pizza box on the bar.
“It smells.” Dawn waved a hand in front of her nose. “I think they are dead.”
“Leave ‘em,” Connor said, going for a slice of cold pizza. “They’re decorative.”
“Don’t you dare eat that!” Dawn yanked him away from the pizza box.
“What?” Connor cast a longing eye at the pizza. “We do it all the time in the frat house. It’s only a little old.”
“Men, you’re disgusting.” Dawn wrinkled her nose at him as she propelled him towards the stairs.
“But you love us anyhow,” he replied.
“Well, parts of you at any rate.” Dawn swatted his back side.
“Watch it or you’ll start something they might actually wake up and see.” He smirked at her.
“Oh, it’s going to be that kind of morning.” Dawn chased him up the stairs and caught him in the living room just as Lorne and Illyria came in with boxes of what looked to be pastries.
“Hello, kidlets, you look well,” Lorne said, swooping toward the kitchen with his prizes.
“Should they not?” Illyria asked.
“We didn’t drink as much as the crew downstairs. They’re all still dead so I call dibs on whatever goodies are in the boxes. I smell chocolate and fruit.” Connor eyed the boxes greedily, morning sex momentarily forgotten. “Panera! You have the best tastes, Lorne.”
“Never thought you’d say that, Blue Eyes.” Lorne smiled, setting down the boxes.
“Has anyone seen my sister or Angel?” Dawn asked.
“Saw them head outside at around midnight. Hope they didn’t pass out, out there. Buffy will wake up next to a humongous pile of ash,” Connor replied.
“I’m not that big, Connor,” Angel said, staggering down the stairs, red-eyed, hair messed up.
“Well, one of them lives...sort of,” Dawn said, giggling.
“Buffy will be sleeping in.” Angel flashed a lopsided grin. “She’s tired.”
Connor threw up his hands. “Tell me no more. I saw your naked ass last night. That was plenty enough trauma for one week.”
Angel rolled his eyes. “Did you get hurt fighting that demon by the way?”
“Ah, sober enough to be concerned, eh Dad? Yes, I did but I’m fine now. Lorne and Illyria brought sweets. As soon as there is coffee all will be right with my world,” Connor said, poking through the pastry boxes.
“Speak for yourself, I found out my mom had sex with Giles.” Dawn shuddered. “And Xander was saying something about Spike outing himself and you, Angel. I’m hoping he was just really really drunk...something about orgies with Darla and Dru.”
Connor stopped with a donut halfway to his mouth. “Oh man, there’s another ten years of therapy right there. The thought of you and Spike....which doesn’t come as a giant surprise to be honest. You fight like a married couple.”
“I hope Andrew missed getting a recording of Spike outing himself.” Angel shook his head. “Though Giles did the same.”
“Giles!” Dawn slumped at the table and slapped Connor’s thigh. “Make with the chocolate donuts, mister.”
Connor handed her a cream-filled, chocolate-smothered long john.
Lorne miraculously produced a gallon jug of coffee and poured three cups. “You three settle down. Big Blue and I will go check on the others.”
Connor sat next to Dawn, rubbing her back with sticky fingers. “So, how many more reunions do you think my place can handle before we manage to flatten it?”
Angel snorted. “I say we find out. Drunken confessions aside, this was fun.”
“I agree.” Dawn dug a finger into her long john then licked the filling off of it making sure Connor was watching. “Let’s start planning now.”
“After that, you think there’s any blood going to my son’s brain so he can think?” Angel asked and Connor shot him a glare hot enough to curl the kitchen linoleum.
“Good point.” Dawn nudged Connor.
“I can think. I’m thinking, next time, we trash your place, Dad.” Connor glared at him.
Angel just smiled. “You know what, I’m just fine with that. That’s what family’s for.”
Challenge requirements Characters/Pairings you want the story to focus in. Buffy/Angel, Connor/Dawn
Characters/Pairings you want in the story too: any and all that fit. I want a big group!
Things you want: future, a party/get-together/trip that they’re all on, I’d like to see drunkenness, misunderstandings, friendships, etc… really go where you want with this, fun or angsty
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Date: 2006-04-07 03:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-07 03:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-07 04:14 am (UTC)That was just awesome, sweetie. My very favorite part of AtS: found family.
Plus, you know, the sex and drunkenness was good, too. Hee!
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Date: 2006-04-07 09:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-08 08:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-08 09:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-08 11:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-08 11:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-10 05:46 pm (UTC)lmao
no subject
Date: 2006-04-10 06:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-08 08:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-05-08 01:27 pm (UTC)