Liam by Pentwirler
This an AU story about Angel before he became Angelus. The First Evil, Wolfram and Hart wanted Angel to believe that he was destined to be nothing more than a drunk and a wastrel who would die from syphilis.
This is about Liam; his life before he was turned. A man is shaped by the events in his life, from the cradle on to the grave. This story starts with his parents and his relationship with his father. How the expectations of life in 18th century Ireland may have had an influence on his family and Liam. Throughout the story Liam will be seeking a mysterious blonde made with green eyes that he has dreamed about for years. Thus B/A in spirit
This is rated T, for some nudity mentioned in the first chapters, and the description of Liam's birth(if you are squeamish skip the first chapter). In his teen years will begin adult situations, language and content and definitely in his adult years. So, those chapters will be rated M.
All characters from BTVS and ATS are the property of Joss Whedon, and buddies. I am only using them for entertainment and not for profit.
Please review, and be honest, point out the flaws and make suggestions; how else will I improve.
Chapter 1 The Birth
May 20, 1727
Eamon O'Connor was a handsome, dark haired man, four and twenty in age, with stormy gray eyes. He was very worried about his lovely, young, wife Orla who was with child.
Of All the days to return home from their cousins' manor, it was the worst. The rain poured down drenching all who were not in the Carriage. The wind blew gusts, which whistled through the cracks, chilling the occupants. The road seemed more rutted than usual and one of the few trees that stood along the highway had fallen, blocking their road home. The driver had to take another road by way of Galway Town to seek lodging until the storm was over. The road was at times flooded and proceeding onward was slow.
No one had expected the storm. It had been a fine spring day. The weather had been nice for the pass fortnight. It being May and the flowers blooming, he thought they would have only sunny afternoons and the wet of foggy, soft days. He thought that the stormy cold of winter was finally over. Yet, while they journeyed home in the middle of a sunny day, the wind and torrential rain of a heavy storm came.
The rain was pounding on the carriage roof, while they slowly traveled down the country road. In the dim light of this dreary afternoon, Orla looked so beautiful with her large brown eyes and raven hair. They had been wed for not more than a year, and he loved her with his whole being. He was in awe that this beauty barely eighteen years old, who had stolen his heart three years before, had agreed to be his wife.
He had worried that her family would not accept their courtship, because he was old Norman English and only a second born son who would not gain a large inheritance. The O'Connor family had a fairly prosperous linen trade, with two fast merchant ships to go to ports that English law would allow and to bribe(which many knew was a price of business) or smuggle if needs required it (only a very privileged few knew this).
From Master O'Connor's silence, Orla knew he was brooding. She tried to lighten his mood breaking the silence.
"Eamon, it will not be so bad, at least we will have a warm dry place for the night and not be stuck in this rain the whole night. The men servants must be drenched and miserable. The horses need a rest also. It is best we go in to Galway."
"Orla" Master Connor, growled,
"I nay pleased with ye wife, your constant begging to see your silly cousins, because you're bored and want your cousin Una's company. You canna see the danger of yer being away from home. You have servants Orla, that would see to yer every whim and yet, you tormented me 'til I gave ya what ye wanted. I think you feel me father's house nae grand enough with the library and gardens. Mind you, we're lucky me brother let us live there, since me da passed on."
Orla feeling defensive pouted.
Her husband ranted on. "We could still be at me cottage in the village, if ye chose it, but nay it needs to be made larger, which wilna be soon because of wet weather."
"You fret too much, Eamon." Said Orla; beginning to feel angry herself.
"The babe is nay expected for a month or so. Even, Biddy and the midwife agree that the first bairns are late, some a fortnight or more."
At that moment, Biddy, a middle-aged and full figured woman who was sitting across from the couple, let out a loud snore. The couple smiled suppressing laughter at Orla's favorite maid. The woman slept so soundly, despite the pounding rain, the constant shaking of the coach on the rough road and their arguing.
Eamon took Orla's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze as he caressed her knuckles with his thumb.
"Beloved let's not argue and I admit I did say with warm weather that a trip to the country would do na harm."
Connor O'Connor, his older brother had offered for the couple to stay at the O' Connor's manor, while work was done to expand the cottage Eamon owned near the village. It was being done by carpenters Orla's father had hired to make more room for the new family they hoped to have. It was his wedding present to the couple.
Yet, Orla was not happy, she was sick of being cooped up in the big house with nothing to do. She had been ordered by her sister in-law, Enya O'Connor, to take it easy while in her delicate condition. She was not allowed household duties; the servants were to pamper Orla for her health and the child she carried. Enya's grandaunt agreed and further stressed that she was to keep to the family rooms; that as a mother she would do respectful activities like reading to her young nieces, writing letters and embroidering baby clothes. She could take short walks in the gardens, when weather permitted, but no more hiking all over the countryside and wild pony rides.
Eamon thought that she might form a closer friendship with his sister in- law. Eamon sighed; he could not really blame her. Enya O'Connor could be so over bearing, she would try the patience of a saint. For his free spirited Orla, his family's estate felt like a prison. Everyone was just anxious because this was his wife's first child.
Eamon's wife snuggled close to him and he placed an arm around her shoulders, making her comfortable against his side. They fell into an easy silence listening to the rain, the coachmen, and the horses.
After a spell, the rain seemed to have eased to a gentle drizzle. The coach stopped so that Orla could see her personal needs attended to in privacy. Eamon had left the carriage to stretch his legs and talk to the men servants. Orla spoke to Biddy while finishing with the chamber pot.
"Biddy is the bairn to press down on me so. I feel like I need the gardener's wheel barrel to lesson the burden."
Biddy covered her mouth as she chortled with laughter and blushed so red she almost matched the strawberry red of her hair.
"Oh, Orla that would be quite a sight and yes, when the babe drops it will press the most, with its wee head pointing downwards."
Orla gave a little groan sounding fatigued.
"I hope I can bear it, because it already feels uncomfortable and me back at times aches."
Biddy suddenly became concerned and asked.
"How bad is the ache and is there pain in yer belly, like a cramp?"
"Do not worry, Biddy. It does na hurt, just a twinge in me back." Orla replied tiredly.
Biddy was relieved after this answer and said, "'tis nothing pet. Yer might have many little aches before it is truly yer time."
"Biddy let us not tell Eamon, he would fret so and be horrible company 'til we arrive at the O'Connor manor."
"Nay, mum, I wilna say." Biddy reassured her.
A knock was heard on the carriage door and Eamon yelled. "It is starting to rain hard again, may I come in?"
Biddy, open the door letting Eamon in as she handed the chamber pot to one of the servants to be dumped. After everyone was settled, the carriage continued on the road. Eamon had a dark scowl and was brooding again.
"We will be fine Eamon. Biddy gave the men some of the cheese, bread and preserves, that Una had the servants prepared for our trip and there is still plenty left if we are hungry." Orla told her husband.
"It is all we will have fer awhile before we can rest and dine. I do nay ken where we will find lodging that late. Seamus, says wilna be in Galway until long after dark." Eamon angrily informed the women.
Orla let out a little yawn knowing this would get Eamon's thoughts away from their current troubles.
"I feel so tired. Stop fretting and hold me Eamon while I nap."
Biddy notice while nodding off herself, that despite Master O'Connor's irritated groan, he still placed his arm lovingly around his wife. He held her gently against his side as Orla laid her head upon his chest, eventually falling asleep.
Biddy did not know what woke her first the sound of the horses' hooves on cobblestones of a street or the moans of distress from her mistress and then realized it was Master O'Connor begging her to wake.
"Biddy, please see to Orla, she's in pain and I donna ken what to do."
"Master Eamon, may I ask how long Orla has been like this?" She asked trying not to sound alarmed.
He looked at his wife and with an anxious voice, he responded.
"Nay long, she keeps complaining of her back aching, I tried rubbing her back, but she ..."
"EAMON!" Yelled Orla, "I am here and can speak for me self."
"Biddy, my back just hurts. I will be better when we leave this coach and I can rest in a warm bed."
Eamon immediately banged on the roof of the coach. Outside was heard the yelled commands as the horses slowed and the carriage stopped. Promptly, the footman Pedar McCoole was at the door.
"What tis it, sir?" asked the young man.
"Tell Seamus, we need to get the Mistress to shelter, she is in pain and needs rest quickly, boy!" yelled Eamon over the driving rain.
As soon as the door was shut, there was shouting, a snap of a whip and the coach lurched off at an alarming speed.
"AAAAh!" Moaned Orla.
"Oh! Sir this speed is causing too much shaking, I think this nay good!" Bidddy exclaimed.
All three occupants were thrown to the side of the compartment when the coach careened around a corner, there was a sudden loud crack of splintering wood and the carriage crashed onto one side and stopped.
Horses and men were screaming. The coach had broken an axel going around at such speed and now lay on its side in what appeared to be an alleyway.
Eamon realized he had been knocked out for a few minutes and was aware that he had Orla still in his arms. She was moaning with more intensity.
"Beloved are ye hurt." He asked.
"I donna ken Eamon, me back hurts so bad and me stomach feels like it is going to fall out of me body." She suddenly arched and cried.
"AAAAh .. it hurts, Aaaah, Oh! Mother Mary it hurts!"
Someone with an oil lamp yanked open the side door that now was where the ceiling of the coach should be.
"Hurry we hae injured here. Hurry there be ladies and one looks to … Oh! Father in Heaven preserve us! She is wi child. Hurry boyos!"
In the lamplight, Eamon could see that Biddy was out cold and had a bloody gash across her temple. He tried to get his arm under his wife's legs, but notice that her skirts were wet. He pulled back his hand and in the light of the stranger's lamp, he could see blood. For the first time in his life, the sight made him feel like fainting, because it was his love's blood. Fear for her and his unborn child, he started slapping Biddy to wake her up; hopping the woman was not too hurt to help.
"Biddy wake, Biddy wake! Orla I think is having the baby. Please, Biddy wake up! She is bleeding, I donna want to lose her and my babe."
Biddy's eyes started to flutter as she gained consciousness and began to groan.
"Oh me head! What is wrong Orla, where ya hurt lass?"
Biddy carefully sat up wiping the blood that trickled from her head wound from her eyes.
"Biddy, it hurts…it feels…aaaah!... like me body is trying to split open and me stomach is going to fall out." sobbed her mistress.
"Tis will pass chile, Biddy is here we will take good care of ya, just close your eyes and breath trough the pain." Said Biddy, as she took the young woman's hand.
Biddy looked at Eamon and mouthed in silent whisper "Midwife, now."
He pointed up to make her aware of there present circumstances, and the unlikelihood of them to have a midwife soon.
She whispered to O'Connor, "Eamon you will have to hold up her skirts while I see how far along it is and pray; The Father, Mother Mary, Jesus and all the saints are watching over us."
Eamon shouted at the stranger with the lamp. "Hey, man at the door up there, please lend me yer lamp, so we can see if me wife is more seriously injured."
The man nodded as he handed down the oil lamp.
"I will a close the door, sir."
O'Connor held the skirts out of Biddy's way and both gasped at the large dark show of blood in between the legs of her breeches all the way down to her knees and soaking her petticoats under her.
Biddy saw the shocked look on Eamon's face and quickly gave what reassurance that she could.
"Don't be to alarmed Eamon, all this is not blood, but it is the breaking of her waters, which means the bairn is ready to be born. She may have some time it could be within the hour or not till mornin'."
He became alarmed when his wife suddenly screamed out in pain.
Biddy, quickly with her penknife tore the inner seam in the breeches until she had Orla's privates exposed. Eamon in embarrassment threw his wife's skirts over the head and shoulders of Biddy.
"What are ye doin' ya fool! I canna see, I need the light. Close yer eyes if yer to ashamed to see your babe born." Forgetting herself and rebuking the young man. "Men!"
To his credit, Eamon did try to see, but when dark viscous blood oozed out of his wife's quim as a large fist size bulge began to emerge, it was too much.
Orla screamed again as she arched up.
"Oh! God help me!" she cried.
"Eamon," Biddy ordered, "Get her in sittin' position and hold her so her bum is beyond the edge of the seat, so the babe can drop down on the linens I've placed in a basket between her feet."
To her surprise, the young man was moving his wife forward while holding squeezing his eyes tightly shut.
"Open yer eyes, sir! Ya canna do this by touch!"
Eamon was relieved that Orla's new position with him holding her from behind did not give him such an obvious look at what was causing him such queasiness.
"that tis it, sir." Said Biddy.
AAAAh! Yelled Orla, "It hurts and I hate ya Eamon for doin this ta me."
"Orla, hush child, yer going to feel so bad later if ya say what ya donna mean." Chided Biddy.
"Eamon, it is just the pain of birthing making her talk so."
"Orla, you love Eamon don't you?" Biddy asked with a motherly voice.
"Aye." sobbed Orla. "I love you Eamon, I just want a stop hurting."
"Orla, your babe's head is free and what I can tell there is nothing to keep you from birthing this wee one with the next push. When you feel the pain in your belly come take a few deep breaths and push."
At that, moment a commotion was heard outside and the night watchman that had brought the oil lamp, banged on the door.
"Sir, we've come to git ya out."
"Nay, not now, me wife is having me bairn. We canna be moved yet."
Shouted O'Connor through the door.
"Oh! Sir ya nay want to have yer chile born here. It is accursed. This is Sinner's Alley! It is where whores, thieves and murderers frequent.
Just last night a lad was robbed and murdered, here." Said the watchman."
Eamon looked at Biddy with worry in his eyes.
She shook her head, " It canna be helped …"
And at that instant Orla, blew out hard twice and groaned as she pushed and a baby boy slid into the waiting hands of the nurse maid and lusty wail was heard above the din in the alley and the rain.
Eamon looked at his son and tears came to his eyes, "Micheal Liam O'Connor, me sweet boy, welcome to the world Liam, me son."