*****

Xander lay sandwiched between his two lovers, not wanting to move despite the fact that it was early afternoon and he could hear Cordelia loudly banging around outside, hoping that he would wake up soon. The group had been in LA for a week since facing down the rogue watchers and finally leaving Sunnydale for the streets of Los Angeles. Angel had moved them into a hotel, one that it was apparent he owned when they realised that with Wes having given up the lease on his apartment and Faith now in his care they needed somewhere bigger to live.

Spike had mumbled something about the Gothic nature of all the Poof's homes when they had first seen the twenties style Hyperion, but when he'd seen the flash of relish on Xander's face at finally having a home he had quieted. The Vampires allergy to sunlight had greatly disadvantaged the chance for the trio to share one of the nicer suites upstairs but Xander had fallen in love with the basement lodgings designed to house the owner and their family so it had become their room. Faith and Wesley had taken rooms on the second floor with the reception and office being the official place of business. It was here that Cordelia was making noise with the hope of waking up one of the band.

Xander's thoughts were lost in the moment, not wanting to think about the viscious demon that Angel had slayed the night before, or Spike's displeasure that he was expected to fight by his Sire's side, instead he focused on the texts that he had appropriated from Wesley, the books that he had read telling of a coming evil that would be slayed only by the trinity. It was this that bothered Xander the most, it obviously pointed to the three warriors of the Powers, thus Buffy, Faith and Angel, but the three barely spoke so to expect them to fight together was more difficult. Somehow he knew that it was up to him to organise the battle as he had done in Sunnydale, this was giving him a headache, hence still snuggling with his lovers, not that he needed an excuse.

"Shhh...I can hear your brain ticking luv." Spike said kissing him gently on the forehead. "You'll wake the lord and master if you're not careful, then we'll all be for it." Spike added making Xander giggle at the thought of a naked Angel stood at the end of the bed reprimanding them. Xander moved to get up only to be pulled back down by his blonde lover. The pair snuggled back together, Xander gently kissing Spike until the Vampire's purrs had turned into gentle snores. It was only then that the Alliance's newest member could leave the bed to get breakfast, then he was going to tell Cordy to be quiet, after all there was no reason to wake the Vampire's just yet and his sore ass was asking for a reprieve that he only seemed to get when the pair were asleep.

--------------------

Cordelia was bored, she didn't know why she was the only one expected to do any work around the place, but with Wesley in training with first Xander and now Faith she was having to hold down the fort. It bothered her that Angel took it for granted that she had no work, admittedly the auditions had dried up to nothing and there was not even any modelling for her but it would have been nice if he asked, only Xander asked and then only half listened to the answers.

The click of the door up from the basement meant that one of the trio was awake and judging by the sun coming in through the windows that meant Xander. 'Oh, Well. At least someone to talk to.' Cordelia sighed, wishing that she could explain to Faith the importance of shopping, but the Alliance's newest recruit was having too many problems with rudimentary invocations to be allowed out for 'frivolous pursuits' as Wesley had so eloquently put it.

"Morning." A dishevelled Xander said with a yawn, pouring himself a cup of coffee and sitting at the desk that belonged to Angel. "Any calls?" He asked, she knew by now this covered both personal or other worldly contacts, she shook her head. There was a silence between them for a while before Xander looked up at her, Cordelia sat doing her nails a bored look on her face. "Okay, I'll cover for you, but don't tell him that I said you could go." He said, Cordelia looked up in surprise, she had not been angling for this, but there was a little boutique that she had been meaning to check out, she left before he could chance his mind.

Left alone Xander wandered into the make shift library they had set up and began ordering the books that still lay in boxes. When he found the old text that he had not noticed before Xander scanned the title. It was a book of prophecies linked to the Order of Aurealis, the 'family' of Vampires that his lovers belonged to. It was written in Lore that the eldest in each family kept the history, so that the children would know of their heritage and although it was logical that Angelus was the oldest the fact that his lover kept the tradition was strange to him, after all with his soul, Spike's chip and Dru's madness and weakness there was unlikely to be anymore childer in the family. Knowing that there was no need for him to read a private heirloom he put it aside, opting instead to read the latest novel he was reading, "Interview with a Vampire."

He was still reading three hours later at sunrise when his lovers came to find him.

------------------------

"I've told you pet that there is no reality in that trash, just because Brood boy has a passing resemblance for that Louis..." Spike said walking straight into the library and seeing what it was that Xander was reading.

"Hey, less of the 'Brood boy' Childe." Angel said, his eyes glowing amber at the threat to his dominance, Xander sighed it was times like this that he wondered if he ought to have absolved his lover of his sins...

"And the bit about killing not your Sire, so not true." Spike said pointedly to Angel, it was a dig on two levels, both that Angel had killed Darla and a threat to Angel's dominance. Clearly ignoring his youngest Angel saw the book that lay on the table, the anger showing as he went into full game face.

"This is *Private.*" He said, indicating the family history, Spike saw it and his eyes danced with want and respect in equal amounts. Then he turned to Xander in shock.

"You *read* that?"

"No..." Xander said, he saw the look that crossed Angel's face and as soon as his lover smelled his fear he returned to human form, Angel had not meant to scare his lover but there were some instincts that were difficult to outrun. The protector of his family was a title that he bore with no pride, but one he took seriously all the same. "Angel, I swear as soon as I realised what it was I put it back, I'll even curse it if you want, so no other mortal knows what it is or can't read it even if they do." The thought had only come to him then but he wanted to stop his lover from getting angry again. He knew that Angel hated not being in full control of his demon, even more he hated the fact that Spike had more control than he did, the pain from the chip had seen to that.

"It's okay Pet." Spike said, Xander smiled as he thought how uncanny it was that Spike was to be the voice of reason. "Sire, I think he ought to be inducted."

Angel looked shocked, he had been willing to teach Xander more about ancient Lore than any other Watcher or Alliance member knew, to let his lover in on some of the more secret aspects of the Sire/Childer bond and to teach him some of the old ways, but to bring him into the family. "No." Angel sneered. "He would not survive initiation, not while..." Angel stopped, 'not while he is human' he had wanted to say and Angel was not about to turn him, not looking at his track record with Childer.

"What?" Xander asked not wanting to consider the fact that they were talking about turning him.

"Spike wants to bring you into the family, make you one of us." Angel said calmly.

"T..t..turn me?" Xander swallowed nervously.

"No Luv, make you one of the family, it can be done if two or more of us agree. It would mean you were blessed with the gifts of the order." Spike said.

"It doesn't matter I won't do it." Angel said, not thinking about anything more than his lover's need to remain free, once initiated he'd be tied to the family for his entire life, no matter what happened to Angel or Spike. "but..." he began, Spike and Xander looked at him expectantly. "I want you to read the book, if you want." Angel said, "but no questions." he added curtly before retreating off to the area that they stored the weapons. Spike mumbled something about feeding and walked off too, leaving Xander alone to wonder about what it was that had just occurred between them, he picked up the history and his novel and returned to the basement. His headache was ten times worse and he was even more confused about what it was that he was supposed to do about the upcoming battle.

*****
Part 2:

"No!" Wesley began as he saw Faith throw the stake at the target with 100% accuracy. "Use your mind, not your strength." He said, knowing that the command was the only thing that the girl would understand. It was impossible to make her understand why this manipulation was needed, then the idea struck him. Leaving Faith to her training he returned a few moments later with handcuffs, ones that he had strengthened with magic.

"Wes, I didn't know you were into the kinky sex thang, you should have said. I know I enjoy getting down and dirty." Faith leered.

"Faith, I remind you that you will not always have it within your capability to use your hands, if it takes this then I *will* get you to use your abilities." Wesley said, manhandling his charge into the cuffs. Faith pulled at her bonds, knowing that she ought to be able to use her brute strength to separate her hands, she was surprised that she couldn't. "They are bonded with Magic, none of that cheap rubbish that I know you can break. There is two ways to get out of them. Either use the undo spell that you ought to know or move the key from the table and manipulate it to open the bonds." He said with a smile, watching as the slayer moved towards the table in frustration. She shuffled halfway across the room before she collapsed.

"I don't know why you are bothering anyway, I can't do this. I'm just a stupid little bitch from the wrong side of the town. Not even good enough to be primary Slayer." She said, Wes saw the innocence that had been buried deep through years of abuse and neglect and felt a little more of his heart break. Moving to her he sat at her side and saw the tears that threatened to fall.

"You can do it Frankie, remember what Father Thomas used to say. 'Faith will get you through'." He said, using the names that he had learned from her former friend and the man that had once been her designated trainer. Faith let the shock show for only a moment before the key flew across the room and straight into the lock of the cuffs, turning and allowing her bonds to fall to the ground. Then she grabbed Wesley and pinned him to the ground in anger. Her watcher smiled as he saw that she was beginning to understand that the feelings and emotions were what allowed her to unlock the inner power, for Xander it was his love, for Faith her strength.

"What do you know about my family?" Faith growled at him in a tone that a Vampire would be proud of. Faith was angry and Wes knew she deserved an explanation.

"Perhaps we could find a more civilised place to hold this discussion." He said, not wanting to let her know that the knee pressed to his groin actually hurt. Faith looked at the position they were in and blushed a little, letting Wesley up and grabbing her jacket, wandering towards the library downstairs and taking a seat. Wes followed allowing himself the time to gather his thoughts, Faith too was lost in thought, about her past and her family.

~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~

Francesca Carla Rancini watched as her mother took yet another punch from her drunken father, she grabbed the little money that she had been saving for a new walkman and left the house, heading to the one sanctuary in the neighbourhood, the church. Father Thomas was not the usual priest, but for an inner city church he was the best that they could hope for. He understood that even though Contraception, Abortion and other such things were sins that if the Pope lived in a working class area of an underprivileged City they would not be sins anymore. He was a modern priest who handed out advice with his hail Mary's and kind words as well as condemnations. Francesca liked him because he let her come and sit in the church, finding the solitude that she didn't get at home and sometimes even bought her butterscotch or other sweets that most children got from their grandparents, something else that she never had. He always told her that there was more things than she could ever understand and that bad things happen to good people, he had been her oasis in a life unbearable to live. That day, she went into the church to find the police gathered around, the priest that had been her mentor had intervened in a gang fight and one of the less than orthodox members had shot the old man dead. She returned home in a daze, not wanting to think of the fact that her only protection was gone and unaware of the events unfolding on the other side of the country in a town called Sunnydale. When her father went to strike her the next time a rage burnt in her, she hit back and was surprised that she had the strength to send him across the room. Fear and adrenaline carried her out of the house and out of the city, only stopping to pay her last respects at the church, she saw the tapestry that Father Thomas had hanging in his office, the words she had embroidered for him 'Faith will get you through'. At that moment there was no god for her, only herself, so when the next person asked Frankie her name she had chosen Faith, because if there was one thing that was going to get her through life, it was herself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I knew Father Thomas..." Wesley began when they were settled in the library. "I was in town shortly after he died, looking for you both as a member of the alliance and as a Watcher. He had an idea that you were to be called as the next Slayer, but as a priest and only an observer in the alliance he could not intervene or tell you about your true status." Wesley said. "I knew who you were Faith, but was not allowed to say anything while you were still..." he paused to choose his words carefully. "on the wrong path." he said eventually, Faith smiled at the euphemism that clearly meant, mad bad and deadly to know.

"So you know that I killed my Dad? That I went back to beat up the guy that killed Father Tom?" She said. "See why I'm no good." She said, her voice filled with the guilt and self-loathing that only backed up the point that she was ready to be reformed.

"I know that you are a very troubled young lady who needs help and is seeking it finally, and I see a very brave girl who even before she got her powers was taking beatings on a regular basis to protect her younger sister." Faith's face changed as she thought of Maria, her little sister. "She's safe with foster parents." Wesley added. "She knows nothing of your father or mother. I tried..." he stopped as he saw the look on her face, for Faith it was enough that her sister was safe, she didn't need more, it was a life that was over now, Frankie's and that was how it would stay. Wesley understood that.

"I..." Faith tried to put into words what it was that she wanted to say, that she was glad to have someone who finally understood and that she was stronger now, perhaps than she had ever been, but the tears won and she sobbed. Wesley pulled her into his arms, knowing that now the past was out she could try to be the sixteen year old that had run away from home, finally she shed the tears that she had not been able to cry for over four years. Wesley held her knowing that each wracking sob was bringing her closer to the safety and asylum her soul needed to heal.

*****
Part 3:

Xander lay on the sofa, the bag of chips next to him ignored as he read the words that he could hardly believe, Spike was not Angel's Childe, but his Grandchilde, turned by Dru before Prague had driven her to total insanity. This explained a little of the animosity between the pair, the bond was weaker between the pair. There was mention too of a third childe, Penn the Pure, although as far as his history told he was as Pure as Angelus was angelic. Xander was building a theory as he read that each of the Vampires had a nickname, Darla was Darla the deadly; Spike William the bloody and Dru, Drusilla the Chaste, he wondered what they would call him if he joined the family. A shiver ran down his spine as he thought what it was that Spike had meant by initiation, there was no record of it in either the Order or the texts that he could find. But the history did mention one interesting point, 'the three' were mentioned as being part of the order, it made Xander wonder what it was that this meant for the trinity.

-------------------------------

The pair came in from a gruesome fight with a Mithrana demon, a 7 ft tall green slime monster that had been wreaking havoc and was worth killing just for the fact that both were now tired and had forgotten the argument that they had had earlier, at least until they entered the bedroom to find Xander asleep a book on his chest.

"I'll take first shower." Angel said pulling off his shirt that was covered in goo from the slay.

"Thought we could share to save hot water." Spike joked, Angel grunted but then relented when he saw the look on his Childe's face, a feral need and want that was something that only another vampire could understand. Pulling his Childe into the shower with him and ripping off his already ruined clothing Angel proceeded to clean his favourite, before pounding into him.

"Oh Shit." Spike cursed as he felt the heavy thrusting of his Sire, it was a show of dominance and Spike knew it, but it was also a sign that Angel was still his Sire and still the guy that William had fallen in love with. Spike knew that it was a dangerous ploy, to drive the Poof mad with lust and then talk to him about Xander, but it was also a way to protect the youth from the anger that was closer to the surface since Angel's demon and soul had been bound. As his Sire came Spike felt the teeth of a full game face Angel pierce his neck at the same moment that a wrist was put to his mouth, taking a bite the two shared blood as they had done in their glory ('or gory') days.

-------------------

Xander woke to hear the yells of completion of his lovers, he wondered why it was that he hadn't been invited to this party until he heard the growls, this was not love-making but rutting. It was something that he was told was part of all Vampire families, a show of dominance, love or leadership, sometimes all three. He found himself growing hard as he imagined his two lovers together in their most raw animal moments, but it also sent a shiver down his spine as he thought of them both Game Face and out of control. Putting the book that he had been reading down long enough to consider his options Xander deicided to busy himself in the Kitchen, he knew that after the fighting and fucking came the feeding, it was the basic needs of all Masters. He met his lovers with warm blood as they came out of the shower wet, tired and stark naked. That was something else he would have to add to his list of Vampiric features, no inhibitions.

"Well, looks like we're breeding the perfect little wife." Spike smirked as he took his mug of blood. "Yeuch, pig's have nothing on Sire blood." He leered to Angel. Xander looked at the rapidly healing wound on Angel's wrist and wondered when the two had begun sharing again, for a Sire to feed his Childe was something that only happened on rare occasions or if the two were close partners.

"Keep it up and all you'll be drinking is this crap." Angel said, himself wondering why it was that he drank this when Spike's blood was so pure and bitter. The Soul reasserted itself a moment later but not before he had a chacne to consider the need to drink from a human again. There was a shudder with that thought. Where were these outburst coming from?

*****
Part 4:

Wesley had watched the events of recent days with a strange sense of foreboding, he knew what was going to happen, the theory was that the forthcoming full moon would bring with it a historic battle. The astronomers, stargazers and astrologists of the Alliance all saw it as a special night but none knew what was going to happen. Wes had no doubt that it was going to affect one of his pupils, he had been given two of the strongest additions to their number in a century and there was nothing that had told him that he was going to have to train them both at once. He was feeling the panic of his own worthlessness, that which had been ingrained in him by his father but knew that his own teacher had taught him that this was his chance to prove to himself that he was a better man than his father, that he could teach the young what he had failed to learn in his youth. There was a problem too with his employer, Angel was less broody which was obviously a good thing, but there was a problem in that the demon was more prevalent than the soul and he was reacting to everything as if he were a bloodthirsty Vampire with no remorse...the words hit him solidly, the thought that Xander had absolved his sins, had taken away the remorse and therefore the guilt. The soul was losing hold and he knew if they did not do something soon Angelus would be back. Flying into action he knew he had to get to Xander before the Vampire did, otherwise they may lose one of the Alliance to the dark side and a warrior and a sorcerer that powerful fighting on the side of the demons could swing the balance of power. The thought made Wesley freeze in fear, surely this was not the war that they were planning for?

----------------------

Spike pulled Xander away from Angel in an angry display of protectiveness over their shared lover, there was only one stipulation in the bedroom and that was that blood play was only involved when *Xander* said so, the Vampires were both aware that the human body could only deal with so much blood loss and there was nothing that they wanted less than their lover's suffering, especially at their hands. It appeared that in his rage Angel had either forgotten or decided to ignore the rule. Xander was weak from a long session the night before and was now bordering on unconsciousness because he had had little time to recover.

"*Spike!*" Angel growled going into game face.

"*No!*" Spike returned vehemently, clearly ignoring the voice he knew to be that not of a lover but of a Sire. "*He* says when, not you." He reminded, Angel laughed a little, at the weakness that was his Childe, controlled by a mere mortal, then he realised that this was where he was too.

"I...I'm sorry." Angel said, allowing himself to regain control over his outburst, "I don't know what..."

"Well, you'd better find out what." Spike growled, keeping Xander close. "You're not coming near him again until you work out what it is that you have to say for yourself." This was a blatant misuse of their bond, a Childe was always submissive and the Sire dominant but even Angel knew that this was different. Not bothering to dress Angel went to sleep on the couch, allowing himself the chance to brood when he could not sleep over the fact that he was finding it more and more difficult to keep himself under control.

Spike held his unconscious lover close and felt the weak heartbeat that thudded inside the warm body, making sure that he was gentle enough not to wake Xander he slit his finger on one of his incisors and put it to Xander's mouth, allowing the blood to flow within him. 'A few drops' Spike reasoned, 'just enough to stop any real damage for Nancy boy's loss of control.' This done Spike found the glowing pendent that lay on their bedside and put it over Xander's neck before laying his head back on the pillow. The last thing that he did before falling asleep was checking the stake that he kept at his bedside, he had made a silent promise that if Angelus ever came back in full he would stake first and think later. It was looking more and more likely that he may have to keep that promise, but while his demon roared at the lack of respect for his Sire his human side knew it would do anything to keep Xander safe, Demon be damned.

-----------------------

Xander woke snuggled up to Spike, wondering why his back was cold, turning a little he saw that Angel was not asleep next to him and that a blanket was gone from the end of the bed, his eyes drifted out to the lounge and he saw the vampire asleep on the uncomfortable couch, he briefly remembered the beginnings of their lovemaking the night before but not why his lover had ended up out there, he tried to pull away but Spike instinctively pulled him closer. Instinct made Xander snuggle closer to Spike, but not before he felt the tingle of the bites on his neck, he saw the talisman that hung around his neck and could not recall how it had gotten there, this must be why he felt a strange feeling in his veins, it was healing his wounds. Perhaps they had gone a little too far last night and that was why Angel was asleep on the couch, it was probably to give he and Spike a little extra room to spread, or Angel had been up reading, that was it. He'd fallen asleep over a book and Spike had not had the strength to carry him to bed, God knows there was no waking Angel once he was asleep. That must be it.

----------------------

There was no spell in all of his books that indicated how to replace a soul before it was lost, there were ways to return them, ways to curse people (in fact the Gypsy law was full of curses for all crimes real and imagined) but nothing to save them from the carnage that was bound if Angel lost his soul. Of course Wes had already known this deep in his heart, after the Rebecca Lowell tradgedy he had looked but this was different, he needed it now not only for a threat taht may never occur but one that they were waiting for. It appeared that Xander was not as strong a sorcerer or caster as he would have liked to hope, maybe if the boy and Faith united their power then they would stand a chance but this was going to be a difficult task when Faith could barely use telekinesis and had not yet mastered the finer points of alchemy. If only he had gotten to her sooner, or he had restricted Xander's power until after the boy gained complete control, still hindsight was 20/20. For now he would have to do well enough with what he had, it was more frustrating to know that he could not intervene, merely guide. This was to be their test, not his.

*****
Part 5:

She watched the stars, they shined brightly as if they were alive and she liked that, it reminded her of her childhood. It was not often that she thought of these times, times before the evil and pain entered her life, before there were Vampires and demons in her life and before she had lost her innocence. She had gained a new family out of the evil but it was not enough, not for Drusilla.

"Come little Sister, we have a lot to do." Penn said, pulling her out of her day dream. He barely tolerated her usually, the sister that Angelus had thrust upon him after he had gone against his Sire one too many times, but she had found him and told him of the rumours that Angelus and Spike were together again. The Big Bad and the Big Poof, fighting evil, not causing it. Penn had always hated his *nephew*, Drusilla's Childe, the one that Angelus had adopted as his favourite, despite him not even being his own, it hurt Penn more than he cared to admit, he was first, he was meant to be the favourite. Still they would get their revenge.

"The stars say that Daddy is coming back to us Penguin." She said, he wanted to stake her every time she used the infernal name, but unlike his Sire who had staked Darla and his *nephew* who had fought with the Slayer, he was not about to kill his own family, no matter how annoying she may be. "Miss Edith says that a dark force is coming and he will have to decide between us." Penn smiled, between Spike, a neutered white hat or his two evil children, there was no choice, if Angelus was back he'd stake his favourite sooner than let him live as a freak, maybe Dru was worth something after all.

*****