They all grow up so fast

Her whisper made him look sad as he looked down for a moment, because in a way it was true. But he was only like this because he feared how she would hate him if she ever came to the realization that he had been right when he said it was wrong and the heartache that would come from that was just too much for him to even think about. Her question made him swallow as he thought of what to say, but his heart had already decided on the answer. It was just too selfish of him to say, or so he felt. He couldnt be cruel like Amos, he couldnt just push her away and be done with it. It was complicated. He nodded at her addition and thought about it for a moment. “Yes,” he whispered hoarsely as he looked at her quite vulnerable, “You can kiss me,” he whispered, despite him worrying what it meant and what would follow. Amos wouldnt take it lightly when or if he found out. “Amos cant know. The rest I dont care about,” he mumbled, looking at her lips as his own quivered a little.

He had given her permission and he felt her hand move down to his throat and play with his golden locks. She moved closer and he held his breath as he prepared himself for her lips. Connor had kissed before, but it wasnt like it was something he did a lot, because it hadnt really been what he had focused on before in his life. When their lips met, he gasped against her lips and placed a hand on her side as he pulled her a little closer. He was careful and gentle with his lips but he wanted to be greedy. It felt like dangerous thoughts, the want to be greedy. Verity had always been the one to encourage her seraphs when it came to love, but that was probably wouldnt apply to the person you considered a sister and had nursed into adulthood? What would the goddess advice to a complicated issue like this one? His hand on her side, grasped slightly at her clothes as he pressed himself a little closer but it was just because he wanted more of her lips.

He didnt mean to tug at her clothes but it was like his hands had a life of their own. His mind wandering to how this couldnt be that wrong if it felt that right. So far, it had only been Amos that had wanted to push her away, Connor had only wanted her to find her happiness. Wasnt she happy, here close to him? She broke off the kiss and he looked at her completely dumbfooled and blinded by the lingering memory of her lips. He was speechless, and as she crawled over him, his free hand found it’s way to her other side, wrapping his fingers together on her lower back. They kissed again and his time he felt himself getting a little more loose, his lips becoming that more longing for hers. Her hips moved and he groaned against her lips, which might have made her think that she hurt him. “It didnt hurt,” he assured her gently, cupping her face. But he sighed, “You shouldnt do that though. Let’s just stick to kissing for now,” he said in a warm tone, sending her a soft smile.

Her nodding to his words made him feel a little more at ease because that had been among the biggest of his worries and why he had agreed to Amos’ plan - That she would do something she would come to regret because she was getting in to something she didnt understand. He just wanted to keep her safe, even if it had been from himself and Amos. Her question made him frown in a thoughtful manner as he looked at his thumb that caressed her cheekbone. “I dont know. They probably will be worried more than angry. I could tell that your father was only worrying about you when he looked at me like he did,” he said, making a deep sigh as he thought more about it. “You shouldnt lie to them,” he concluded, looking into her eyes as he made a small pout. “Your parents only want the best for you. They want you to be safe and happy,” he assured her. But there was a sad reality, “I cant tell you what Buffy will think. But I dont think we can get angry at her if she doesnt approve of it,” he then said in a sad tone.

Her whisper made him smile a little as he looked at her. He hoped she was right and that she wasnt just saying it to make him feel happy. Their foreheads connected and he closed his eyes for a short while as he listened to her speak, “That’s true, but they werent related like we are. There are different worries that comes to mind when it comes to being with someone you’re related to,” he explained, but he worried that she might use that argument towards her mother. Buffy wasnt like the rest of the bloodline and somehow Connor knew that the same rules couldnt apply to her. Sure she had the genes, but she was a fenix, not a seraph. She kissed him again and he lost track of his thought as he returned the kiss in a sweetly manner. Her words made him frown. Hadnt he shown how much he loved her, how deep his love made him able to sacrifice his selfishness in the thought that she would be happy? “I do love you,” he whispered softly, shifting between her eyes.
“Havent I convinced you that my heart belongs to you?” He asked in a soft tone. He heard the door open, but he wasnt going to move if she didnt want to. Though it was probably for the best.

Baal had tried to explain the situation to Buffy, but he had felt himself getting a little frustrated over it, because it wasnt exactly what he had wanted for their daughter to begin with. As supportive as he wanted to be, it was hard when he felt like it was two members of their family that their daughter seemed to be in love with. He held the door for Buffy and excused himself with a kiss to her temple as he wanted to make a call to Nova and figure out what the bond implied.

Amos didnt seem to think much of Saoirse's apology, ignoring her as he looked away. Baal went to Buffy, placing a hand on her shoulder as he looked at her for a moment. Maybe they should have thought a plan out before all this, but then again, they had to know how the bond was affecting the three on the couch. Amos seemed unfazed, but it was clear in his eyes that it was bothering him more than anything that had ever been seen before. He seemed both hurt and angry in a way that wasnt just the regular bratty behaviour that he could have.

As Nova arrived, Baal shook his head when she spoke about punishment. He didnt think this was something that they could be punished for, but somehow, the way he saw Amos behaving there was the impression that the young daemon was the one to do the punishing - For whatever personal reason he seemed to have. He just kept close to Buffy, his hand gently squeezing her shoulder as he listened to the celestial go on to explain what the bond was exactly about.
Amos just looked up at Nova with annoyed eyes as she said they hadnt been listening, "You forgot to mention how this bond isnt just a family based kind of love now. You said this would save her life," he said in an angry tone, Baal wanted to tell him to calm down, but he didnt think it was his place - The daemon would probably just have some snarky remark to throw off anyway if he was provoked.
Connor just nodded at Nova's words, looking at Saoirse's hand in his before he looked back at the celestial. "So what are we supposed to do now?" he then asked, just as Saoirse pleaded. Connor looked at her and shook his head, "This isnt your fault," he assured her and placed his free hand over hers.
Amos looked at Saoirse for a moment as he frowned deeply and narrowed his eyes, to then look away again. "That's not what you said earlier is it?” He almost barked at her but it was his jealousy at an all time high. He looked back at Nova. “So what’s the deal then? Will I always feel this need to fuck my own sister, or is there a way around it?” He asked quite straightforward, eyeing his mom shortly as he knew his behaviour was crude. He just wanted to make Saoirse sad because Connor obviously couldnt hold his end of the bargain. “Stop being a dickhead,” Connor said in a stern tone but Amos scoffed, “Funny that you say that, cousin of Buffy. You’re like one of those creepy uncles,” he replied, sending the seraph a big mocking smile. Connor rolled his eyes and looked down at the ground - Despite how much Amos wanted to push him, the seraph was calm.

Amos could tell by his mother’s harsh look on him that he had stepped over the line - But wasnt it just the norm to assume that he would have under any circumstances? He just looked down and frowned to himself. Even if she was right, what choice did he have in the manner? Should he have said no and let his infant sister die? He clenched his hands in his lap at the thought. Even if it was a choice, it hadnt felt like one and maybe that was what Amos hated the most about the bond. Sure he would have been chasing after his sister anyway, it was in his blood... but this force inside of him telling him he belonged with her? He belonged to no-one and no bond would ever change that feeling. He just kept looking down.
Connor looked at the empusa as she spoke to him, nodding as he looked down at Saoirse’s hand in his. It was true, that he was willing to give up everything for Saoirse and that wasnt even the bond’s fault. Even if she was a hybrid and the other part of her was the sworn enemy of the serpahim, she was a seraph as well. He couldnt just ignore that, because it wasnt in him to be that judgemental.

Baal appreciated that his sister took a moment to comfort Saoirse, mostly because it showed that she hadnt been lying when she said she would care for the child. He kept squeezing Buffy’s shoulders to make sure she wasnt stuck to her thoughts without at least a comforting touch of his. He could feel the worry in her and he felt the same, but Alyssa was right. It wasnt something they could control. At least not fully, “Saoirse is not yet fully adjusted from mind to body - There is still much she needs to learn about being 17,” he then said ratger seriously before he looked at the boys. “We dont want to control you. We dont want to change your bond or sever it... Because we cant,” he then said, eyeing all three of them before he made a deep sigh. “But I would like if you all were mindful of Saoirse’s lack of knowledge. She will learn with time, faster than anyone,” he then said, it was clear that as careful as he was with the words he used, he just wanted to keep his daughter safe. He then looked at Saoirse and in all honesty, he still felt like he was seeing the little child he had held in his arms mere months ago. “You dont have to rush through all the emotions you feel. You’ve got time to figure out everything,” he said as he let go of Buffy and went to his daughter to grab her hand. “I know the bonds you have make your day better. But maybe it’s a good idea to just be friends with the boys, just while you’re figuring out the world?” He suggested, giving her hand a soft squeeze.

Connor just seemed to nod at Baal’s terms, glancing shortly at Amos that tried to seem like he wasnt really listening but he was. The both of them knew that she needed time to learn, that was what Amos had yelled at her and scolded her about - But maybe it was something only a parent could explain. Seeing her smile was a relief because as much as her sad expression could make the world seem gloomy and cold, her smile threw sun on that gloom and made it warmer - Well at least that was what Baal thought. He smiled gently at her promise, giving her hand another squeeze before letting go. Amos still wouldnt look at her, but Connor was. He sent her a small warm smile to let her know it was fine. Her question wasnt that surprising, “You can hold hands and hug friends,” he assured her, Connor nodding in agreement. “It’s like... how you are when you are around Tess... and the two of you watch some videos on her laptop, or talk about things you hate about school... remember that one time the two of you couldnt stop giggling?” he tried to remind her, but maybe family wasnt that good of an example.

Connor remembered the nights she would stay over and how much fun they had before the bond had changed. Now things seemed different, but he had a feeling that they could go back to those good old times once again, once they had figured out how to handle the bond. As she got up to go to her mother, he let go of her and Baal moved aside. But somehow seeing her wrap her arms around Buffy and see them close made him look away for a moment as he swallowed hard, as a realization hit him out of nowhere. Amos noticed but he didnt say anything, he was still in his own little bubble of anger for now. Baal sighed and then looked at Nova with a thankful expression. Though he had been harsh towards the celestial, he had come to terms with the fact that she had helped them with getting their daughter through the pregnancy. If that was to be what they were allowed either by the will of the gods or whoever, then it had to be that way. He wasnt going to break the promise he had made to Buffy, he had meant that they could make it through whatever, even if that was only being allowed one child.

Amos finally looked up at Saoirse as she approached him. He got to his feet before she could take his hand, looking down at her as he almost towered over her. Somehow he could still manage to look so angry but then he shortly glanced at his mother, before he sighed and rolled his eyes. “Alright,” he mumbled. Connor looked at the clock before looking up at the others, “I should probably go home. Didnt tell my mom I went here,” he said, thinking Leona must have been beside herself with worry already - Not that she worried he would get in trouble but the seraphim blood was sweet for the tastebuds in vampyres and then there was the daemon issue. Amos looked at his mother, like he was telling her that was their cue as well. Now when the cat was out of the bag, Baal would have thought he would feel somewhat better about it all, but he couldnt help but worry for his daughter. Worry that her heart would be broken.

Amos had cooled off after a couple of days and didnt seem to be that bothered about the discovery he had had of Connor and Saoirse. He even stood outside her class and waited the last few minutes before the bell would ring for recess. Tyler stood next to him, leaning against one of the lockers, rolling a homemade cigarette to place over his ear.

It was safe to say that Amos wasnt looking much at the girl but only at Saoirse. He shrugged at her argument and made a small smirk, “I want to,” he assured her and Tyler nodded with a groan to let her know he was telling the truth. Frankly it had been easier for Amos without all the touching but it was like whenever he saw Connor do something, he would have to do it too the next time he saw her. He thought about her question for a while before he looked at Tyler, “Driving T.J home to his place once school ends... and then nothing really,” he said. The girl excused herself and Tyler seemed to be the only one ofnthe boys who would tell her to have a nice day, not that he was surprised that Amos completely ignored her. Saoirse’s tease made him chuckle, taking out the cigarette before looking at it. “Nah, for bad boys like me, this is just fuel to keep the engine going,” he joked before placing it in his mouth. “And that’s the que for my refill,” he said, booping Saoirse’s nose gently before walking off. Amos gently moved some hair from her head to place it behind her ear. “You look pretty today,” he said, though he never really complimented her.