& I'm not proud that nothing will seem easy about me

Matt nodded, feeling something strange in his chest. It hurt. He watched the little girl lean her head on his father's shoulder.

Mike smiled again at the little girl, amazed by her energy and cheerfulness. He went closer to her this time. "And does Angel like Nils?" he asked.

Nick appeared in time to hear Mike's question and see his daughter nod emphatically. He smiled.

William carefully sat Angel down with a smile as Nick entered the room again. She's so polite and caring.

Matt shoved his hands in his pockets. I really don't belong here.

"So Butcher's coming down?" Mike asked, careful not to seem too impatient.

"Uhh..." Nick looked around. "They were..." He looked back again. "He was sleeping, but he said he'd come down..."

William's eyes widened slightly. "W-we always could have came back at a different time if he was sleeping...," he trailed off, feeling a little guilty.

Matt reached out in his mind for Mike. I don't like this.

Mikey quietly descended, hair for once tied back. He looked at them with his dark eyes.

Butcher stuck close to Mikey, yawning as he descended the stairs.

We're just here to see if Butcher can check who's the father of Bill's babies. Don't worry. Mike looked at Mikey with concern. "I heard what happened. Not too much harm, I hope?"

Nick watched silently. Angel ran up to him.

William looked up at both men with concern. He bit his lip and waited for someone to reply to Mike's question.

It feels strange. Matt rubbed the back of his head. Not nice... But... I'm confused.

"Nick." Mikey sighed. "We're fine." He pushed a strand of hair out his eyes. "Little shocked, but fine." As if to agree, Nils reached for Mikey's wing again.

Butcher didn't appear to want to talk about it. "Do you think the food I brought you will be okay, Bill?"

What's it like? You need to show how you feel sometimes. Any idea what makes you feel that way? Mike glanced at the vampire for the sake of making eye contact, and looked back at Mikey and Butcher.

The two shades watched silently; only reminders of memories in the long forgotten past.

William looked up at Butcher, somewhat confused. He looked back at Mike; he needed someone to help him explain. "Oh, yeah, that was fine. We actually came here for a different reason though," he said quietly, turning back to face the two Avians.

I... Matt bit his lip, the first display of indecision he'd ever shown to them. It's burning. Here. He placed a hand on his chest. When William was talking to Angel.

Mikey's eyes flickered momentarily to Butcher before he walked down the rest of the stairs. Nils patted his bare chest, cooing gently.

Butcher moved over to William and took the taller man's chin in his hand, tilting it to the side before letting go. "You don't look so good, William."

Mike smiled softly despite not looking at Matt. Did you wish it was you instead of Angel? That'd be envy. It's okay, it's normal. I think you should tell Bill about it. He watched Butcher and felt slightly guilty; he knew why William didn't look nor feel good. "We were wondering if you could help us find out whether our babies are vampires or part avian. Maybe the pregnancy will be shorter than we thought."

"I think you could've asked most avians here that and got the right answer." Nick murmured, moving Angel into his arms.

» Some days just ain't so easy