*****

"Happy Thanksgiving, Pop," Xavier said as he entered the apartment.

"Good to see you, Xavy," Angelus said as he closed the door behind his son. "So, why don't we cut to the chase."

"Well," Xavy said with a smile, "You know how mad Dad gets when we start eating before he's even in the room. Besides, I thought the turkey wouldn't be done until one."

"Not the turkey, son, your midterm grades. How'd you do?"

The nineteen year old nervously cleared his throat as he looked about the room. "Hey, where's Dad?"

"You know where he is, now tell me about those midterms."

Xavy sighed as he moved to the couch, knowing that his father was following. "Didn't I already tell you? I mean, midterms were a while ago."

"I believe I asked, but I'm pretty sure you weaseled your way out of telling me by asking your dad if he managed to get any Halloween candy this year."

Sighing again, Xavier said, "Oh, yeah."

"Well, he's not here to distract you right now, so why don't you go ahead and tell me how you did."

"Well," he started off slowly. "I got an A on my Art exam. I only missed one, but really, who cares why Caravaggio was called Caravaggio? Not me, I tell you."

"And your other four exams?" Angelus prompted.

Rolling his eyes, Xavier continued, "B on my math, but it was a hard test, okay? I mean, this was stuff that the majority of people at the school, professors included, can't do." Angelus nodded. "And I got a B on my Philosophy. I know, I know," Xavier said as he held up his hands, "I can do better. I know that. But it was a toss up between Plato and Aristotle and dammit, I my mind was just too cluttered to remember. And then there was this question that I totally didn't see, so I got that wrong and it was an easy one too."

"Your History?"

Looking down, Xavier spoke softly. "I got an A. It was a low A. Thomas Mathers beat me by one point."

"It was a contest?" Angelus asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No, but it is. I mean, Thomas always has to be the best and it makes me so angry." He shook his head. "Anyway, when I was writing my essay, I totally forgot Senator Fullbright's stance on the war."

"He was against it."

"Yeah, I remember it now, but it doesn't do me any good."

"How'd you do on your psychology?"

Taking a deep breath, Xavier said, "Well, keep in mind that Cognitive Psychology is really hard and I'm the only sophomore in that class, it is graduate level, you know."

"I'll keep that in mind, Xavy."

"I got a 90 percent," he said in a disappointed voice.

"So you're saying that right now you've got a GPA of about 3.6?"

The boy rolled his eyes. "Yes."

"Well, I'm proud of you."

The crease in Xavier's brow disappeared. "Really?"

Angelus nodded. "Of course. I mean, you've only got another few weeks, right?"

"Yeah, a little less than a month."

"A 3.6 is a very good GPA, especially when considering that there isn't one class that you're taking that isn't one hundred level or isn't honors."

"I really think I blew that philosophy test, though."

"Quit being so hard on yourself. You did an outstanding job."

Xavier's smile grew. "Thanks, Pop."

"Your Dad will be very proud of you as well."

Letting himself sink back into the couch, Xavy asked, "Shouldn't he be home by now?"

"He has to pick but Spike and Willow. Their car broke down last week and you know Spike, it makes him feel more manly if he does everything himself. The only problem is, is that he doesn't know the first thing about fixing cars."

"Are Dru and Ethan coming?"

Angelus nodded. "Yeah. They thought that they might have been in Morocco for the holiday, but Dru had a vision."

"Of what?"

Angelus shrugged. "Don't know. Anyway, they're coming as well as Giles and Amy and Jonathan. And as you know, Sophie will be here." Taking in a breath, Angelus smiled at his son. "I hear that she's doing really well at college herself."

Xavier nodded. "Yeah, she's enjoying her Women's Studies classes."

"Like we all knew she would."

Chuckling, Xavier siad, "She tells me all about them over the phone, and surprisingly, they sound kind of cool. I mean, I might take one, just as an elective."

"Really?" Angelus asked, arching his eyebrows.

"Yeah, it'll give me brownie points with Sophie," he returned with a smile.

"I don't think you need any."

Returning his father's smile, Xavier said, "Yeah. But maybe someday I will." Both men turned to the door as it opened. They watched Xander hustle through, a heavy looking brown paper bag in his arms. Spike and Willow followed him into the apartment. Standing up, Xavier smiled at his father. "Hey Dad!"

Smiling widely, Xander greeted, "Hey there, Xavy. I thought you'd be across the hall with Sophie by now."

Xavier shrugged. "I wanted to see you and Pop first."

Looking at Angelus, Xander commented, "He's such a good boy." He sighed and let the moment pass. "Now help me with this bag, Dead Boy."

"How are you doing Willow? Spike?" Xavier asked.

"Very well," Willow answered.

"Not bloody well," Spike said grumpily.

Smiling and elbowing the blonde vampire in the stomach, Willow said, "You'll have to forgive Spike, he's British, you know."

"Hey," Spike objected.

"And he doesn't know the first thing about how to fix cars, so those combined, he's just a little sour." Crossing the room and giving Xavier a hug, Willow said, "I saw Sophie across the hall. She's looking even more beautiful. Go over and see her before dinner."

"You trying to get rid of me?" Xavy teased.

"No. I'm trying to get you out of setting the table and hearing your fathers and Spike argue about what type of blood to serve like they do every year," she added with a wink.

"Thanks, Willow," Xavier said softly. As his fathers and Spike moved into the kitchen, Xavier smiled at Willow, then headed for the door. Once out in the hallway, he raised his hand to the door and knocked. Jonathan answered the door and Xavy smiled. "Hello, Mr. Madison," he said. Even though he had two gay vampires for fathers, it always seemed strange that Sophie's dad took her mom's name when they married. Not that there was anything wrong with that, it was just weird.

"Xavier," he said, holding out his hand. He waited until Xavy took it and shook it to say, "We were just heading over there in a few minutes."

"Food's not done yet."

Jonathan nodded, but then shrugged. "You know my wife, she wants to magickally whip something up over there and be then in case your fathers get burned."

"I was sort of hoping to see Sophie before. . ."

"You two were stuck together in a room of old people?" Jonathan finished. At Xavier's shy smile, he nodded behind him, "She's in her room."

Saying a quiet thank you to Jonathan, Xavier entered the apartment and made his way back to Sophie's bedroom. He gave a quiet knock then opened the door slightly, "Soph?"

"Xavy?"

He opened the door completely and saw her sitting on her bed, the newest model of laptop resting on her legs. "Hey," he said in a soft whisper.

As he moved in farther and closed the door behind him, Sophie set her computer to the side and nearly flew off the bed. She was in his arms in no time. "I missed you," she said before she pressed her lips to his.

He let the kiss continue for a few moments before pulling back to mutter, "Me too." Entwining her fingers with his, Sophie led him over to the bed. Pointing to the laptop, he asked, "What were doing?"

"Some ecology paper. It's due the day after break ends."

"That blows."

Sophie nodded and sighed. "It does, but it's alright, I know what I'm talking about. It's just a matter of getting it written."

Smiling, Xavier said, "Well, don't let me distract you. I'll just sit here and marvel at your intelligence and beauty."

"You will not," she said, slapping him lightly before moving the computer to her nightstand. Once her expensive piece of equipment was safe, she turned back to Xavy and smiled. "How long until all the food is done?"

"At least an hour," he said, knowing full well what was on her mind.

"Sophie?" Amy called from the hallway. Both teens jumped a little. "We're heading across the hall. You two be good and don't be late."

"Alright, mom," Sophie called, then smiled slyly at her boyfriend. "The Goddesses are with us. Now we don't have to be quiet."

"And I don't have to worry about your dad getting his shotgun," he said as he moved closer, his lips almost touching hers.

"He doesn't have a shotgun."

"No, but your Mom could conjure one."

"She never. . ." her words were stopped as he covered her lips with his.

Forty five minutes later, Xavier and Sophie found themselves hurrying to get cleaned up. "I just thought of something."

"What?" Sophie said as she brushed her hair out.

"They're going to know that we were just. . ."

"How?"

"Five of them are vampires. They'll be able to smell us."

"Oh, please," she said as she rolled her eyes. "Like your dads will care. Hell, Mom and Dad hear them having sex like everyday. Apparently your dad can make your other dad shout like a. . ."

"Okay! Okay," Xavier said, his face reddened. "No talking about my dads' sex lives okay? It squicks me."

Leaning in and running her hand through his hair to straighten it, Sophie gave him a quick kiss. "You got it."

"We should get over there," he whispered, feeling himself being affected again by the nearness of her.

"Yeah, we should," she whispered back.

"You know, maybe I should transfer to your college. I miss you so much."

Smiling, Sophie smoothed down his hair again, "I know. I miss you. But you're not transferring. I won't let you give up everything you've worked for. It's a great school and it's good for you. And being apart is good for us. It's proving that we're bound."

"I love you Sophie Madison."

Smiling softly, she simply replied, "I've always loved you."

~end~