Rating: PG
Timeline: Five years after 'Mental Questions'
Disclaimer: Do I look like Joss Whedon to you???

Catriona peeked into her parents bedroom.  Normally, she wouldn't go near the room until one of her parents were up.  She wasn't silly or naive.  The five-year-old knew exactly what went on when her parents were alone.  That's what you get for being born with the knowledge of thousands of Slayers and millions of vampires...Catriona thought with a mental giggle.

She crept through the doorway, knowing that her mommy and her daddies were asleep because she couldn't hear their thoughts.  It's a good thing that we reminded you about Father's Day, isn't it, Sweetheart?  came Aunt Dru's voice inside Cat's head.

Cat sent her honorary aunt a silent 'thanks'.  The next to have their say was her Aunt Janna.  Be careful with the tray, Cat.  You don't want to break your concentration and drop the tray on the floor...the dead gypsy advised.  Catriona looked to the tray that floated into the room under her guidance.  It had taken her a while to train her young body to handle the magick that Aunt Janna was teaching her.

The tray landed on the bedside table silently.  Catriona stood by her parents' bed and stood on her toes to see over the top of the mattress.  She clamped both of her hands over her mouth to keep from giggling.  She saw her Daddy laying on the bed with her Mommy.  They weren't wearing any clothes, but the big blanket with the picture of the pink teddy bear on it covered them.  Catriona had given it to her parents for her birthday a few months ago.  She remembered how much she loved getting presents for her birthday and didn't forget what Mommy had said about giving gifts being better than receiving them, so she'd given her parents the bedset for her birthday.

She'd had to ask Aunt Faith to help her buy it, though, because Cat didn't really have any money, or a way of getting to the store and back home again with the gift.  Her parents had been surprised, but happy with the present, so Catriona put away that information for another occasion.  This was that occasion.

The child's light brown pigtails got into her eyes a couple of times as she tried to climb onto the high bed.  Catriona pouted at her failed attempts as she slid down the end of the bed and onto the floor one last time.  She frowned up at the high bed and grunted her displeasure.  Mischief suddenly replaced the irritation in her eyes as she thought of another plan.  She recalled seeing her Mommy do it lots of times, so it couldn't be hard, or dangerous or anything...

Cat took a couple of steps back from her parents bed and took a deep breath.  She jumped on the spot two or three times before critically judging the height of the bed again.  With an encouraging yelp, the five-year-old did a run and jump off the floor and into the air above her parents' bed.  Her eyes widened dramatically and she tried not to panic as she saw the bed so far below her.

"Whhhooooooaaaaaa...!!!!!" Cat screeched as she plummeted toward the mattress that held her parents.

What the fuck?!?!  came Daddy Angelus' mental cry.

His and Cat's cries woke Buffy and Angel.  The two adults shot up in bed as they saw their daughter coming toward them.  Angel caught the child just before she landed on his and Buffy's entwined lower limbs.  The three parents sighed in relief as Catriona sat up in Angel's arms and grinned up at him and Angelus.

"Happy Father's Day, Daddies..." she giggled as she smacked a kiss on Angel's cheek.

Send feedback to Alicia

Back to the Fanfiction Archive