(no subject)
Three's a Crowd - Part 2.
_________________________
Grey winter rain was pattering against the towering windows, ignored for the most part by the three vampires tangled together in the sheets and blankets of the grand and luxurious four-poster bed.
His head resting against Herbert’s belly, William looked beautifully and drowsily angelic, his sandy hair curling against his cheeks. With one hand, Herbert played with the loose strands, his other hand caressing the bare back of the dark-haired vampire who was resting on his shoulder.
“Should probably check on the girls, y’know.” The mumble against his belly made Herbert smile, the tip of his index finger tracing the nape of sweet William’s neck. He felt Alfred’s lips tugging as well, unseen.
“They have their own matters to deal with,” he said lazily, far too comfortable with such pretty creatures draped over him. “I’m sure we would know if any catastrophe too great had come to pass.”
“Still...” William mumbled, one eye opening. “Been a few days...”
“Sarah will be fine.” Alfred shifted to prop his chin on Herbert’s sternum, closing his eyes like an indulgent cat as Herbert combed his fingers through the younger vampire’s tousled dark curls.
His nose wrinkling, William closed his eye. “Not exactly her I’m worrying about.”
Herbert chuckled. “Darling, your dear little hellcat will be quite all right, I have no doubts,” he said, tracing the curve of William’s ear. “I would not be surprised to see her march through the gates of Hades and storm back out carrying a snow ball.”
One of Alfred’s eyes opened and glanced at him. “She sounds quite terrifying,” he mumbled drowsily.
“Oh, she is, cheri,” Herbert said, smiling. “She is a vicious, ruthless little hoyden with the temper to match.” His ribs heaved as he sighed contentedly. “Father is quite taken with her.”
“I suppose I shall have to meet her, then,” Alfred said vaguely, lifting his head reluctantly from Herbert’s chest. “And see what damage she and Sarah have wrought upon one another.”
His head falling from Herbert’s belly onto the blankets, William’s voice was muffled by the fabric. “Nibs can take ‘er...” His body curled against Herbert’s side and he shivered pleasantly as Herbert slowly sat up and caressed his bare shoulder and neck.
“Optimistic, isn’t he?” Herbert offered with a chuckle, drawing Alfred’s lips to his, then releasing the youngest of their number. “But I suppose he is right. It is unfair that we leave father to suffer the slings and arrows of outraged females without support.”
Sliding from the bed, Alfred bowed his head. “I claim the bathroom first, then,” he said. The way he pivoted, muscles slipping smoothly beneath his skin, by the dull glow of the fire and the light, cat-like tread were a delight to watch.
Only moments later, certain that dear, sweet, silly William was deeply asleep once more, exhausted from so many days without respite, Herbert crept towards the open door of the bathroom, closing it after him.
Leaning over the edge of the gilt-edged bath, as if oblivious to Herbert’s presence, coils of steam curling around him from the streams of scorching water, Alfred trailed his fingers in the flowing water.
Approaching silently, Herbert lowered his head and kissed the base of Alfred’s spine, his loose hair trailing in a silken caress.
Straightening up, Alfred looked over his shoulder coyly through those delightfully long lashes. His lips curled upwards as Herbert’s hands slipped over his hips and the elder vampire pressed against his back.
“You,” Herbert whispered against his throat, “Are quite remarkable, cheri.”
“I had a remarkable tutor.” Alfred tilted his head back and to one side, his hands covering Herbert’s. His chuckle was wicked, his eyes closed happily. “I think we broke your pet.”
Herbert pulled him close and laughed. “He deserved every pleasurable moment of it, my cunning little actor,” he said, kissing Alfred’s shoulder. “Your eyes would be the utter ruin of saints, dear Alfred.”
“You flatter.” Those same eyes danced. Turning in Herbert’s firm embrace, Alfred smiled broadly and rose a little on his toes to claim a brief kiss. “You know you do not need to hesitate to call upon me again.”
A golden eyebrow lifted. “Is that so?”
With a touch more of that feigned modesty, Alfred looked coyly down, then back up at the elder vampire, brushing a kiss and a soft whisper against the corner of Herbert’s mouth. “It is.”
Herbert’s lips twitched. “For me, or for my sweet, naive William?”
“Oh, William, of course!” Alfred’s face split in a grin. “I expect he’ll chain you up more often if you punish him with blushing, bashful pretty things with the eyes of angels and the tongues of devils.”
A hand firmly swatted one pert buttock. “You may presume too much,” Herbert chastised, grey eyes gleaming. “We wouldn’t wish to spoil you now, would we?”
“But I came all this way, after you asked so nicely for my aid in avenging your honour!” Alfred pouted delightfully and received a kiss for it. “Should I not be allowed a little of the spoils?”
“And as generous as you are,” Herbert replied, his lips touching Alfred’s softly, but the look in his eye belied the tenderness. “I am not.”
All playfulness fled Alfred’s expression, and he touched Herbert’s chest lightly with both hands, the soft smile on his lips genuine, affectionate. “He has made you terribly happy, hasn’t he?”
Despite himself Herbert could not contain the smile. “If you tell him, I will flay every inch of you.”
Slipping his cheek against Herbert’s, Alfred whispered, “I do not mean to disappoint you, but I suspect anyone who looks at you is more than aware of it.” A second swat, firmer than the first, made Alfred pull back, a wounded pout on his lips.
“That devil’s tongue of yours is running away with you, Alfred,” Herbert murmured softly. His hands covered Alfred’s, squeezing the pale, slim fingers firmly enough to make the younger vampire wince. “I would use it sparingly.”
His lips pressing together, Alfred nodded wordlessly.
“Some things,” Herbert lowered his head until his forehead was brushing Alfred’s dark curls. “Are better left unsaid.” Again, Alfred nodded and Herbert smiled more gently, kissing Alfred’s pale lips. “The soul of discretion, hmm?”
“Yes,” Alfred whispered faintly.
“And if I do call you again...” Grey eyes glinted with teasing mirth.
Alfred’s lips curled up. “You know wild horses would not keep me away.”
“Good boy,” Herbert kissed him again, lightly, then stepped back. “Now, tend yourself and I shall rouse my dear William. We should go and save my poor father.”
________________________
“No! That’s gross!”
“I think it quite becoming.”
Halfway into the lounge, Spike stopped dead at the feminine voices raised in merry disagreement. In front of the fireplace, on the couch, two figures were silhouetted against the flames, heads bowed over something.
“Don’t be afraid, darling.” A hand ran low on his back, somewhere between a caress and a nudge. He looked sideways at Herbert who was smiling into the room. “They can smell your fear, you know.”
By the fire, the two figures had turned and were looking towards the door.
“Perhaps we should run now?” Alfred offered quietly from behind the two elder vampires, making Spike glance back.
He’d been lurking behind them since they’d left the room, but not in the bashful way that had caught Spike’s attention the night before. If anything, it was almost like he was making himself invisible, only reminding Spike that he was actually there when he spoke up.
“Too late!” Herbert announced. “They have seen us now.”
“Damn straight we have!” the Niblet exclaimed, beaming in a way that didn’t do much to stop the half-grin that was creeping onto Spike’s lips. “So... you guys finally got out of bed, huh? How much sleep did you actually get?”
“Gentlemen don’t kiss and tell, Nibs,” he said with a smirk, but he only actually managed to gear his feet into walking forward when Herbert moved that wandering hand from his back.
Dawn laughed. “So there was kissing, huh?”
“Did you doubt it?” Herbert, smiling lazily, draped an arm around Spike’s shoulders and leaned close to nuzzle his temples.
“With a perv like you hanging around?” The teenager was grinning so much that Spike almost felt himself blushing as Herbert wrapped his arms more possessively around Spike’s body and started kissing his throat and jaw.
“Herbie...” he mumbled in token protest. “We’ve got company.”
“So?” The murmur against his ear preceded the teasing touch of that damned tongue.
A pointed cough from the couch made him realise sharply that not only had his eyes closed, not only was he making sappy little noises and clasping Herbert’s arm, but he was leaning into Herbert, almost swooning like a girl.
Both the girls were looking at him, trying not to smile.
“Sod off,” he mumbled, though he didn’t immediately shake off Herbert’s embrace.
Dawn looked at Sarah. “Didn’t I tell you they were stupidly cute?”
“I would never have believed it,” Sarah replied, brown eyes glinting. She leaned sideways and motioned for the young vampire behind them to come closer. “I hope you behaved yourself, Alfred.”
Vaguely, somewhere beyond the world where Herbert was doing wickedly pleasant things with his tongue and Spike’s ear, Spike noticed the dark-haired vampire moved towards the couch, his eyes modestly down, before looking askance at Herbert.
“Oi.” Despite knowing it would mean he would lose some of those interestingly intimate attentions, he elbowed Herbert lightly in the ribs, disconcerted by the look on Alfred’s face. “You’re being looked at.”
With a protesting mumble, Herbert tilted his head and grey eyes flicked to the younger pair. “He behaved,” he said, smoothing a hand in a circle on Spike’s belly, doing nothing to assuage those pleasant tingles that followed his fingers.
Reaching out, as if Herbert’s approval meant something, Sarah dragged Alfred closer to her, nodding as he slipped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, chin on her shoulder.
Tilting his head to look at Herbert, brows drawing together, Spike asked, “You want to tell me what I missed?”
Brushing his lips against Spike’s, nuzzling him, Herbert smiled in a vague, pleasant way. “Mm?”
“Don’t you ‘Mm’ me,” Spike tried to say, only to find himself dipped over Herbert’s knee and kissed thoroughly. He tried to complain, but somehow it only meant he was steadily lowered to the floor and Herbert sprawled over him as the kisses grew more and more impassioned.
Dawn groaned on the other side of the couch. “Herbert! God! Can’t you leave him alone for ten seconds?”
Tossing his head back, grinning, Herbert looked up at her.
“One,” he purred, his body positioned at just the right angle to make Spike groan in incoherent want. “Two... three... four...” The very tip of his tongue roamed along his lips. “Five... six...”
“Bastard!”
“Okay, okay!” Dawn exclaimed, covering her eyes with her hand. “Don’t wanna see little Spike coming out to play, thanks!”
Spike squeezed his eyes shut, mortified. “You are a sick bugger,” he mumbled.
“There is nothing there I have not seen before, cheri,” Herbert laughed, kissing him lightly. “But we emerged to be sociable. I suppose I can wait...” That said, he rolled off Spike’s body, leaving him incoherent for other reasons.
On the couch, Dawn uttered a squeak of laughter.
By the time Spike pulled himself upright, clawing at the back of the couch for leverage to let him peek over it, Herbert was sitting delicately in one of the arm chairs by the fire, right ankle resting on his left knee, hands resting on the arm-rests, his hair smoothed back into place and a calm, confident smile on his lips.
Making a face, balancing unsteadily on his knees, Spike clung onto the back of the couch. “You are a twisted git,” he mumbled, not quite willing or ready to stand up and sit in plain sight.
“And you’re the one all in loooooooove with him,” Dawn cooed, reaching out to pat him mockingly on the head, only to yank her hand back to avoid an irate bite. “Whoa, mister cranky!”
“Still craving more, cheri?” Herbert murmured, and Spike looked at him. Bugger the git! Pushing back his plan for sitting in front of people by at least another five minutes just with that look in his eyes.
“Herbert.”
From his position, Spike saw everyone shiver as the thrumming resonance of the Graf’s voice filled the room. His breath caught when a hand was laid upon his head, his own eyes fluttering closed.
“Sir,” he whispered, shivering as the long nails raked through his hair. He was drawn upright, turned to face the Graf, and granted a smile. Sensual lips briefly touched his and then, staggering slightly, he tottered around the couch to all but collapse by Herbert’s seat.
Those same lips touched Dawn’s, then Sarah’s, and lastly Alfred’s.
Then Dawn’s again, as she reached up and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him down to kiss her, both of them ignoring the sound of muted fright from Alfred, even more so when von Krolock’s arm slipped around her, drawing her even closer.
Spike saw Alfred’s arms tighten around Sarah and he saw her tilt her head, nuzzle Alfred’s cheek comfortingly, saw the youngest vampire present slowly relax, though his arms were still tightly around her.
“Didn’t see that coming, did he?” Spike mumbled, tilting his head to rest it lightly against Herbert’s thigh, his eyes closing as Herbert ran his fingers through Spike’s tangled hair.
“Mm.” Herbert’s thumb brushed his Spike’s cheek lightly. “I think he has had more than one surprise this week.”
There was such weight in those words that Spike mentally noted them to ask for details later, but for now, with his mismatched family securely close and his lover stroking his hair, almost a week without sleep crept up on him without warning.
_________________________
Grey winter rain was pattering against the towering windows, ignored for the most part by the three vampires tangled together in the sheets and blankets of the grand and luxurious four-poster bed.
His head resting against Herbert’s belly, William looked beautifully and drowsily angelic, his sandy hair curling against his cheeks. With one hand, Herbert played with the loose strands, his other hand caressing the bare back of the dark-haired vampire who was resting on his shoulder.
“Should probably check on the girls, y’know.” The mumble against his belly made Herbert smile, the tip of his index finger tracing the nape of sweet William’s neck. He felt Alfred’s lips tugging as well, unseen.
“They have their own matters to deal with,” he said lazily, far too comfortable with such pretty creatures draped over him. “I’m sure we would know if any catastrophe too great had come to pass.”
“Still...” William mumbled, one eye opening. “Been a few days...”
“Sarah will be fine.” Alfred shifted to prop his chin on Herbert’s sternum, closing his eyes like an indulgent cat as Herbert combed his fingers through the younger vampire’s tousled dark curls.
His nose wrinkling, William closed his eye. “Not exactly her I’m worrying about.”
Herbert chuckled. “Darling, your dear little hellcat will be quite all right, I have no doubts,” he said, tracing the curve of William’s ear. “I would not be surprised to see her march through the gates of Hades and storm back out carrying a snow ball.”
One of Alfred’s eyes opened and glanced at him. “She sounds quite terrifying,” he mumbled drowsily.
“Oh, she is, cheri,” Herbert said, smiling. “She is a vicious, ruthless little hoyden with the temper to match.” His ribs heaved as he sighed contentedly. “Father is quite taken with her.”
“I suppose I shall have to meet her, then,” Alfred said vaguely, lifting his head reluctantly from Herbert’s chest. “And see what damage she and Sarah have wrought upon one another.”
His head falling from Herbert’s belly onto the blankets, William’s voice was muffled by the fabric. “Nibs can take ‘er...” His body curled against Herbert’s side and he shivered pleasantly as Herbert slowly sat up and caressed his bare shoulder and neck.
“Optimistic, isn’t he?” Herbert offered with a chuckle, drawing Alfred’s lips to his, then releasing the youngest of their number. “But I suppose he is right. It is unfair that we leave father to suffer the slings and arrows of outraged females without support.”
Sliding from the bed, Alfred bowed his head. “I claim the bathroom first, then,” he said. The way he pivoted, muscles slipping smoothly beneath his skin, by the dull glow of the fire and the light, cat-like tread were a delight to watch.
Only moments later, certain that dear, sweet, silly William was deeply asleep once more, exhausted from so many days without respite, Herbert crept towards the open door of the bathroom, closing it after him.
Leaning over the edge of the gilt-edged bath, as if oblivious to Herbert’s presence, coils of steam curling around him from the streams of scorching water, Alfred trailed his fingers in the flowing water.
Approaching silently, Herbert lowered his head and kissed the base of Alfred’s spine, his loose hair trailing in a silken caress.
Straightening up, Alfred looked over his shoulder coyly through those delightfully long lashes. His lips curled upwards as Herbert’s hands slipped over his hips and the elder vampire pressed against his back.
“You,” Herbert whispered against his throat, “Are quite remarkable, cheri.”
“I had a remarkable tutor.” Alfred tilted his head back and to one side, his hands covering Herbert’s. His chuckle was wicked, his eyes closed happily. “I think we broke your pet.”
Herbert pulled him close and laughed. “He deserved every pleasurable moment of it, my cunning little actor,” he said, kissing Alfred’s shoulder. “Your eyes would be the utter ruin of saints, dear Alfred.”
“You flatter.” Those same eyes danced. Turning in Herbert’s firm embrace, Alfred smiled broadly and rose a little on his toes to claim a brief kiss. “You know you do not need to hesitate to call upon me again.”
A golden eyebrow lifted. “Is that so?”
With a touch more of that feigned modesty, Alfred looked coyly down, then back up at the elder vampire, brushing a kiss and a soft whisper against the corner of Herbert’s mouth. “It is.”
Herbert’s lips twitched. “For me, or for my sweet, naive William?”
“Oh, William, of course!” Alfred’s face split in a grin. “I expect he’ll chain you up more often if you punish him with blushing, bashful pretty things with the eyes of angels and the tongues of devils.”
A hand firmly swatted one pert buttock. “You may presume too much,” Herbert chastised, grey eyes gleaming. “We wouldn’t wish to spoil you now, would we?”
“But I came all this way, after you asked so nicely for my aid in avenging your honour!” Alfred pouted delightfully and received a kiss for it. “Should I not be allowed a little of the spoils?”
“And as generous as you are,” Herbert replied, his lips touching Alfred’s softly, but the look in his eye belied the tenderness. “I am not.”
All playfulness fled Alfred’s expression, and he touched Herbert’s chest lightly with both hands, the soft smile on his lips genuine, affectionate. “He has made you terribly happy, hasn’t he?”
Despite himself Herbert could not contain the smile. “If you tell him, I will flay every inch of you.”
Slipping his cheek against Herbert’s, Alfred whispered, “I do not mean to disappoint you, but I suspect anyone who looks at you is more than aware of it.” A second swat, firmer than the first, made Alfred pull back, a wounded pout on his lips.
“That devil’s tongue of yours is running away with you, Alfred,” Herbert murmured softly. His hands covered Alfred’s, squeezing the pale, slim fingers firmly enough to make the younger vampire wince. “I would use it sparingly.”
His lips pressing together, Alfred nodded wordlessly.
“Some things,” Herbert lowered his head until his forehead was brushing Alfred’s dark curls. “Are better left unsaid.” Again, Alfred nodded and Herbert smiled more gently, kissing Alfred’s pale lips. “The soul of discretion, hmm?”
“Yes,” Alfred whispered faintly.
“And if I do call you again...” Grey eyes glinted with teasing mirth.
Alfred’s lips curled up. “You know wild horses would not keep me away.”
“Good boy,” Herbert kissed him again, lightly, then stepped back. “Now, tend yourself and I shall rouse my dear William. We should go and save my poor father.”
________________________
“No! That’s gross!”
“I think it quite becoming.”
Halfway into the lounge, Spike stopped dead at the feminine voices raised in merry disagreement. In front of the fireplace, on the couch, two figures were silhouetted against the flames, heads bowed over something.
“Don’t be afraid, darling.” A hand ran low on his back, somewhere between a caress and a nudge. He looked sideways at Herbert who was smiling into the room. “They can smell your fear, you know.”
By the fire, the two figures had turned and were looking towards the door.
“Perhaps we should run now?” Alfred offered quietly from behind the two elder vampires, making Spike glance back.
He’d been lurking behind them since they’d left the room, but not in the bashful way that had caught Spike’s attention the night before. If anything, it was almost like he was making himself invisible, only reminding Spike that he was actually there when he spoke up.
“Too late!” Herbert announced. “They have seen us now.”
“Damn straight we have!” the Niblet exclaimed, beaming in a way that didn’t do much to stop the half-grin that was creeping onto Spike’s lips. “So... you guys finally got out of bed, huh? How much sleep did you actually get?”
“Gentlemen don’t kiss and tell, Nibs,” he said with a smirk, but he only actually managed to gear his feet into walking forward when Herbert moved that wandering hand from his back.
Dawn laughed. “So there was kissing, huh?”
“Did you doubt it?” Herbert, smiling lazily, draped an arm around Spike’s shoulders and leaned close to nuzzle his temples.
“With a perv like you hanging around?” The teenager was grinning so much that Spike almost felt himself blushing as Herbert wrapped his arms more possessively around Spike’s body and started kissing his throat and jaw.
“Herbie...” he mumbled in token protest. “We’ve got company.”
“So?” The murmur against his ear preceded the teasing touch of that damned tongue.
A pointed cough from the couch made him realise sharply that not only had his eyes closed, not only was he making sappy little noises and clasping Herbert’s arm, but he was leaning into Herbert, almost swooning like a girl.
Both the girls were looking at him, trying not to smile.
“Sod off,” he mumbled, though he didn’t immediately shake off Herbert’s embrace.
Dawn looked at Sarah. “Didn’t I tell you they were stupidly cute?”
“I would never have believed it,” Sarah replied, brown eyes glinting. She leaned sideways and motioned for the young vampire behind them to come closer. “I hope you behaved yourself, Alfred.”
Vaguely, somewhere beyond the world where Herbert was doing wickedly pleasant things with his tongue and Spike’s ear, Spike noticed the dark-haired vampire moved towards the couch, his eyes modestly down, before looking askance at Herbert.
“Oi.” Despite knowing it would mean he would lose some of those interestingly intimate attentions, he elbowed Herbert lightly in the ribs, disconcerted by the look on Alfred’s face. “You’re being looked at.”
With a protesting mumble, Herbert tilted his head and grey eyes flicked to the younger pair. “He behaved,” he said, smoothing a hand in a circle on Spike’s belly, doing nothing to assuage those pleasant tingles that followed his fingers.
Reaching out, as if Herbert’s approval meant something, Sarah dragged Alfred closer to her, nodding as he slipped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, chin on her shoulder.
Tilting his head to look at Herbert, brows drawing together, Spike asked, “You want to tell me what I missed?”
Brushing his lips against Spike’s, nuzzling him, Herbert smiled in a vague, pleasant way. “Mm?”
“Don’t you ‘Mm’ me,” Spike tried to say, only to find himself dipped over Herbert’s knee and kissed thoroughly. He tried to complain, but somehow it only meant he was steadily lowered to the floor and Herbert sprawled over him as the kisses grew more and more impassioned.
Dawn groaned on the other side of the couch. “Herbert! God! Can’t you leave him alone for ten seconds?”
Tossing his head back, grinning, Herbert looked up at her.
“One,” he purred, his body positioned at just the right angle to make Spike groan in incoherent want. “Two... three... four...” The very tip of his tongue roamed along his lips. “Five... six...”
“Bastard!”
“Okay, okay!” Dawn exclaimed, covering her eyes with her hand. “Don’t wanna see little Spike coming out to play, thanks!”
Spike squeezed his eyes shut, mortified. “You are a sick bugger,” he mumbled.
“There is nothing there I have not seen before, cheri,” Herbert laughed, kissing him lightly. “But we emerged to be sociable. I suppose I can wait...” That said, he rolled off Spike’s body, leaving him incoherent for other reasons.
On the couch, Dawn uttered a squeak of laughter.
By the time Spike pulled himself upright, clawing at the back of the couch for leverage to let him peek over it, Herbert was sitting delicately in one of the arm chairs by the fire, right ankle resting on his left knee, hands resting on the arm-rests, his hair smoothed back into place and a calm, confident smile on his lips.
Making a face, balancing unsteadily on his knees, Spike clung onto the back of the couch. “You are a twisted git,” he mumbled, not quite willing or ready to stand up and sit in plain sight.
“And you’re the one all in loooooooove with him,” Dawn cooed, reaching out to pat him mockingly on the head, only to yank her hand back to avoid an irate bite. “Whoa, mister cranky!”
“Still craving more, cheri?” Herbert murmured, and Spike looked at him. Bugger the git! Pushing back his plan for sitting in front of people by at least another five minutes just with that look in his eyes.
“Herbert.”
From his position, Spike saw everyone shiver as the thrumming resonance of the Graf’s voice filled the room. His breath caught when a hand was laid upon his head, his own eyes fluttering closed.
“Sir,” he whispered, shivering as the long nails raked through his hair. He was drawn upright, turned to face the Graf, and granted a smile. Sensual lips briefly touched his and then, staggering slightly, he tottered around the couch to all but collapse by Herbert’s seat.
Those same lips touched Dawn’s, then Sarah’s, and lastly Alfred’s.
Then Dawn’s again, as she reached up and grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him down to kiss her, both of them ignoring the sound of muted fright from Alfred, even more so when von Krolock’s arm slipped around her, drawing her even closer.
Spike saw Alfred’s arms tighten around Sarah and he saw her tilt her head, nuzzle Alfred’s cheek comfortingly, saw the youngest vampire present slowly relax, though his arms were still tightly around her.
“Didn’t see that coming, did he?” Spike mumbled, tilting his head to rest it lightly against Herbert’s thigh, his eyes closing as Herbert ran his fingers through Spike’s tangled hair.
“Mm.” Herbert’s thumb brushed his Spike’s cheek lightly. “I think he has had more than one surprise this week.”
There was such weight in those words that Spike mentally noted them to ask for details later, but for now, with his mismatched family securely close and his lover stroking his hair, almost a week without sleep crept up on him without warning.