Ok, I was just recently re-reading my original version of Balance and I was horrified at not only the bad spelling and grammar but the inconsistencies and plot holes and plus… I was rather sick of Connor and Calista being so forgiving with each other. The way I see it (now anyway) is that they'd have been raised by a man from the 18th century, who wouldn't have a very high opinion of women, among other issues. Thus they couldn't be the ideal sort of way I had them to be. So I've rewritten a vast majority of the story and the plot has been altered a bit. You'll see what I mean as we go along. But I hope everyone who enjoyed the original enjoys this new version and I hope anyone new to the story enjoys it too.

Anyway, that's enough from me, on we go with the story!


Balance

Chapter 1

"Connor don't let her in!" pleaded Darla as she stood in the warehouse trying to save her son from Cordelia.

The woman in question was beginning to get very irritated as Connor shifted where he stood, hands clenching and unclenching, the very image of uncertainty.

"It's Angel! Trying to turn you against me with this cheap image of… Darla." Darla blinked in surprise as Connor asked, wide-eyed,

"You can see her?"

"Connor listen to me let the girl go!" insisted Darla, feeling her connection with her son wavering. She'd been so close!

"It's not her. It's not Darla, it's Angel. This is how much he hates you!" whispered Cordelia coolly. Connor screwed up his face as both women continued to speak, confusing him, clouding his mind as they tried to speak over each other. He was torn in half, what was he meant to do? Cordelia was the woman he loved (he was sure he did anyway, wasn't he?) and she was carrying his child. And he had no proof that this was his mother, even though his heart was screaming at him that it was. Even as he looked at her he saw similar features, high cheekbones, blue eyes, and just something about her that was so like something he saw in himself. The girl sobbed and pleaded with him to let her go, and he felt his heart kick him in the chest. He couldn't place it but she reminded him of someone he knew or used to anyway. And why did she have to die? It was a sin to kill. How could it bring any good? In the end he knew it couldn't. Both Holtz and Angel would have agreed about that, if nothing else.

'Stephen!'

That whisper in his mind instantly caught his attention, some of the fog in his mind began to clear. He recognized that voice, but from where?

'Listen to Darla, you are too good for this, Cordelia has tricked you more than you realise! Please remember me Stephen!' Connor was suddenly assaulted with images, memories and feelings. He gasped in horror and he nearly fell to his knees as he realised, as he remembered. And then he felt fury rising up from the pit of his stomach. His eyes flew open and they were burning with fury as they focused on Cordelia. She shifted, the look was unnerving and almost scared her. Darla's brow creased in concern for her baby.

"You!" he shouted furiously, "You made me forget! You made me forget about her!" Cordelia was baffled by this outburst, and then she realised, her eyes widening,

"Oh crap!" she cursed and stepped back out of fear, in her present condition she would never stand a chance if Connor attacked, even with the knife in her grip. Connor, however, had other ideas. He reached down and grabbed the girl by her bonds and dragged her to her feet. Pulling her with him he glared at Cordelia who gripped the knife tighter. "Where do you think you're going?"

"I never should have trusted you." he snarled, backing away, keeping the girl behind him. "You're not Cordy. And whatever that thing is inside you, it isn't my child. It can't be."

"Don't you dare to even think of trying to run out of here!" Cordelia waved her hand and the door shut. Connor pushed against it hard but it didn't give an inch and Cordelia advanced menacingly, raising the knife, "Now bring the girl into the other room, now!"

"No!" He pushed hard on the door, when Darla suddenly appeared beside him. She reached out and touched his cheek softly and then whispered in his ear,

"You'll find all you need soon my beautiful baby boy. She'll forgive you."

"Mother." he whispered tenderly, meeting her eyes, "I'm so sorry for all I've-"

"It's not your fault. But now you've made the right choice."

"Hello!" Cordelia snapped, "I'm ordering you to do what I say Connor!"

"Ignore her." said Darla, and she reached out a porcelain hand and the door flew open, "Go! Get away now!" Connor stared at her for one last moment and then he dragged the girl out of the room and down the stairs as fast as he could. He could hear Cordelia screaming after him to come back but he ignored it and he just kept running.

'Stephen. We'll be together soon.' said the soft, female voice in his mind,

'Oh God, I'm so sorry.' he said remorsefully. He could almost hear her sweet smile as she said,

'We'll talk soon. Just get the girl home.'

'I will. I promise.'

Connor and the girl eventually stopped running and Connor quickly looked around as he undid the bonds that were around the girl's wrist. As they came away he saw there was a mild rope burn around them. He winced and swallowed the bile that rose in his throat as he thought about how he'd caused it.

"I'm so sorry about this, I didn't mean…" he trailed off unable to finish so he settled for looking at the girl with remorseful eyes. "Please don't tell anyone about this." he whispered gently. She nodded, her eyes wide with fright and, when he stepped back, she quickly ran off. He watched her go until she rounded a corner. He leaned back on a tree and breathed deeply trying not to cry, this was too much for him to handle. He felt so disgusting and evil. He slid down the bark to sit on the ground and buried his face in his knees. Gripping his hair tightly he willed himself not to cry but he couldn't stop the choked sobs from escaping his lips. He wanted his father! He wanted his dad!


Angel glared at Skip as the demon sneered over the red sand spell. He was still sore from the fight with the metal guy but was doing his best to hide it. Suddenly he felt a strange tug within himself. Connor's face flashed through his mind. His son was in trouble and he needed his father! Angel knew it for a fact. He shifted and met Lorne's gaze. The green man was giving him a questioning look. His empathic powers must have sensed the feeling from Angel.

"Wes? A word?" he called, beckoning him over. They walked out to the front of the hotel. "Look I gotta go."

"Go?! Where?" Wesley demanded, staring at Angel in utter shock.

"Connor. I, uh, I can sense him. I can't explain it, it's like when he was a baby, I can sense he needs me."

"Angel… you can't just leave. Skip-"

"You guys can question him, and that red sand'll hold him. Look Wes, I really have to go. I'll be as quick as I can." Wes stared at him carefully and then said reluctantly,

"Alright, but don't be long, the more muscle we have the better." Angel nodded and turned on his heels. "Exactly how will you find him now without a trail to pick up on?"

"I have no idea." Angel turned back frowning deeply. He had to go! He could sense Connor's need for him and yet he had no idea where his son was. "Wes, can you perform a locating spell?"

"I can try. I think there's one for family members to find each other."

"Good, lets do it."

Fred and Gunn were both shocked when Angel told them what he was doing and neither of them liked the idea of their best fighter being gone after the boy who'd beaten them all in order to save the enemy. Lorne and Wesley set up the spell, while Angel questioned Skip some more but the demon wasn't feeling very talkative.

"Angel-cake! We need a bit of your blood for the spell to work." Lorne called lightly. Angel held his hand out and Wesley cut across the palm and pressed it to the map of L.A. they'd spread out. "Now read this outloud." Lorne held out a sheet of paper. Angel took it with his other hand and read aloud,

"Blood by my blood,

Flesh by my flesh,

Lead the way to the light,

Lead the way to the life." He pursed his lips and said lightly, "Catchy."

"And working." Wesley said dryly. The blood suddenly became fluid again and moved over the map, finally stopping seven streets west of the hotel. It stayed put there. "Looks like he's not moving. Think you can find him from there if he moves?"

"Hopefully I'll be able to pick up his scent." Angel grabbed his coat and shrugged it on as he walked out. "Oh and Skip." The demon looked at him. Angel smirked, "Don't go anywhere." Skip growled.

Connor was so tired as he lay on the small grass area that surrounded the tree that tried to hide all the stone and metal that made up the fabric of L.A. He stared up at the stars through the branches as they swayed in the slight pollution-laden wind. They twinkled at him cheerfully, as if they didn't have a care in the world.

'Lucky stars.' he thought closing his eyes, feeling so weary that he could just sleep and never wake up.

"Connor!" He jumped as he heard his dad's voice. He looked over to meet the wary but caring eyes of his father. "Jesus Christ Connor, what's wrong?" Angel crouched beside him and rested a hand on his chest as if checking that his heart was still beating. But dad could hear his heartbeat. Connor knew that.

"You were right dad!" the exhausted boy murmured, "It's not Cordelia, the real Cordelia wouldn't have done things like that." His dad looked horrified by the defeated, tired and sad tone that was in Connor's voice. "She wouldn't have told me to get her a sacrifice or that you hated me, even if you do. She wouldn't have done that to me." Connor wasn't referring to the other things he had mentioned, but Angel couldn't have known that.

"Connor are you hurt?" asked Angel worriedly, his eyes roaming over his son for an injury. He seemed especially alarmed by the tone of voice Connor had. Defeat just wasn't something you associated with him. He would fight until the end, like his father, he wouldn't just give up. Connor shook his head

"No I don't think I am." and he closed his eyes and seemed to loose consciousness.

"Connor!" Angel cried in terror. He scooped Connor up into his strong arms, noting how the boy weighed next to nothing in his arms. He then rushed back to the hotel as fast as he could, cradling Connor all the while.

"Fred, get a cold cloth!" he ordered as he entered the hotel. Fred jumped and then obeyed, hurrying into the bathroom that was down behind the lobby. Angel laid Connor down on the couch carefully and gently brushed some of his brown hair out of his eyes. Fred rushed back into the lobby with a wet cloth and a bowl of cold water that Angel took and began to wipe Connor's face in an attempt to rouse him. It worked, Connor almost instantly woke up and he grabbed Angel's wrist his eyes wide with fear.

"Hey Connor it's ok, you're safe." Angel tried to soothe him, speaking in a soft tone of voice. Connor looked around and felt very uncomfortable that he was surrounded by his dad's friend, all of whom were regarding him with suspicion. Angel noticed and gave them all a look that said 'back off'. They quickly did so but didn't stop their accusing stares. They didn't trust Connor.

Connor looked at his father and gulped, he was afraid of the trouble he was in. In Qour-Toth punishments had been severe, he just prayed Angel would be a little less harsh. Yet at the same time he wanted to be punished for what he did, that and the fact that it would make him focus on the pain and not the thoughts that were rolling around in his head. Angel meanwhile noticed the frightened look in his eyes and reached forward to gently squeeze his son's shoulder, but then drew away as Connor flinched before he even touched him. Angel looked at him, hurt, and then stood up and walked upstairs. Now Connor felt worse, he had flinched because he expected pain, like a reflex, he hadn't meant to hurt Angel. Unfortunately the others didn't know this, and as soon as Angel was gone and out of earshot they surrounded him and glared furiously.

"What?" asked Connor tiredly

"You are so lucky I don't have a taser handy!" snarled Fred angrily, her eyes flashing dangerously. Connor flinched again he could remember that as easy as he could see her right now.

"Yeah after everything, everything you've done. You put Angel through hell and yet he still cares about you, he lets you come back here, takes care of you and you still treat him like he's a monster!" shouted Gunn. Connor bowed his head, his hair falling into his face, obscuring it. Gunn, thinking Connor was sulking roughly grabbed him by the shoulder and shook him and yelled "You are nothing but a selfish brat! Get the hell out and stay out of Angel's life, cause ever since you were born there's been nothing but trouble!" Connor's head snapped up and they were shocked to see the tears flowing down his cheeks. He pushed Gunn away and stood up, rushing towards the door, only to collide with Angel who'd come back down with a blanket for his son. Connor looked up into his father's caring eyes and broke down, burying his face into Angel's chest he sobbed, soaking Angel's shirt with tears. Angel was taken aback by this sudden show of emotion but he quickly wrapped his arms around his son and held him as he cried, murmuring softly into his hair,

"It's ok Connor, it's ok." Connor shook his head and simply cried, clinging onto his father like he was a lifeline. Angel threw a furious gaze at his friends who all looked bewildered and ashamed. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I'll always be here."


"… and that's how you dust a vampire!" finished Buffy Summers as she brushed her clothes free of vampire dust. She turned to the group of awed potential slayers and the bored Spike. Suddenly the silence was broken with a light chuckle.

"Impressive moves!" They all looked to the right and saw a teenage girl standing just a little away, leaning against a tree and shrouded in shadows so they could only see her face.

"Thanks, but that was nothing I got better moves." said Buffy. That was both a comment and a threat should this girl attack. No telling what anything was these days. The girl smiled knowingly

"You are all… very strong." she said softly, cocking her head curiously to the side. "But I wonder if you are strong enough for this mission."

"What mission? We have enough on our plate we don't need anymore missions."

"But the mission I'm talking about links to your mission and Angel's mission." Buffy instantly went on high alert at the mention of her soul mate.

"Really! So peaches needs help as usual!" smirked Spike. The girl giggled quietly then became more serious, although her eyes twinkled.

"Yes but what he strives to prevent is something he cannot stop." She bit her lip as if she was unsure of her next words, "I can, but only if you all come to Los Angeles." Buffy arched an eyebrow suspiciously. She was very aware of how clever The First was and this could easily be a trick. And if it was… it wasn't a very good one.

"So let me get this straight, you have the power to stop something that Angel can't and you expect me to just up and leave Sunnydale and go to L.A." The girl shrugged casually.

"Pretty much."

"And just what do you have to do with this?" asked Spike coming to stand beside Buffy. The girl looked around, as if afraid of someone watching and then stepped out of the shadows. Their eyes were all instantly drawn to the heavily pregnant swell of her stomach. She laid a protective hand on it and gently rubbed it.

"I don't have anything to do with it but this does." she answered looking at them under lowered eyes, indicating her belly.

"We're not midwives." said Kennedy scornfully. The girl rolled her eyes and sighed. Buffy noted she was at best eighteen years old, with near waist-length curly blond hair, that was pulled back into a ponytail, blue eyes and a pretty face. Even with the large stomach she was quite attractive, something Buffy knew she would never be able to pull it off if she ever got pregnant. A large bag hung from one shoulder.

Suddenly there was a rustle of leaves and the girl whirled around, alarmed. Buffy instantly went on alert. Suddenly there was a whistling sound and then a 'thunk'. A dagger trembled where it was embedded in the trunk of the tree, right where the girl had been standing. The girl wrapped her arms around her belly and whimpered softly.

"Please help me!" she whispered sounding afraid, "The world is facing a great danger, and if it comes then not even the slayer and the champion united could stop it." She moved and was suddenly standing beside Buffy, who jumped in shock. The girl had moved far faster than any human should have been able to, especially as pregnant as she clearly was. "I'm afraid. I've been in hell and yet I'm more afraid here because there are things out there that are trying to kill my babies." Buffy stared at her and saw that there was an almost fawn like innocence within her ocean blue eyes. "Please help me." she begged. Buffy slowly reached out and pressed her hand to the bump before her. She felt a strong kick under her palm and, meeting the girl's eyes once again, found she believed her.


"So you want us to leave taking all the potentials with us to L.A. because of what a young pregnant girl told you?" asked Giles slowly and incredulously. Buffy shrugged

"I can't explain it Giles, I just can't help but trust her, she seems so…"

"Pure!" suggested Spike from where he was sitting in a chair in the dinning

"Yeah pure, but it's almost like she was tested harshly by evil, tempted, and she just flicked her hair at it and ignored it." Buffy shrugged at the confused looks she got, it was the best way she could explain it. The girl had said it herself, "She said she'd been in hell but when I looked in her eyes… I think Bambi couldn't have looked as innocent."

"Yeah, but come on B, pregnant teens have probably cried Virgin pregnancy to get help." Faith said with a raised eyebrow. Buffy looked at her sister-slayer and said,

"Go talk to her, all of you. You'll see what I mean. I know she's telling the truth… or at least she believes she's telling the truth."

"Yeah, but what if it's a demon pregnancy, and needs our help to bring about the ruination of mankind?" Xander asked, folding his arms.

"It isn't." Spike said, standing, "No demon has a heartbeat like that, and I can hear those souls just singing in my ears. Pure, the whole lot of them." Buffy nodded to him gratefully,

"Guys, if she's right then we need to get to L.A. She said Angel and we have to join forces or else we're gonna loose. Besides, it might not be a bad idea to get the Potentials away from the Hellmouth for a while." No one could deny that.

Meanwhile said pregnant girl was sitting on the couch in the sitting room, rubbing her belly fondly while Andrew, Dawn and Willow watched her openly.

"You can stare all you like I am not going to turn into a monster and try to kill you." She looked up at them and smiled warmly. They smiled back, feeling calm in her presence. It was hard to mistrust someone who had eyes that were so soft.

"So who's the father?" asked Willow. The girl frowned mildly and said,

"I'd rather not talk about him. It's not that he and I aren't still…" she sighed and rubbed her neck in a weary way, "It's very complicated." Willow pouted sympathetically,

"Complications suck." she said in true Willow fashion. The girl smiled and said,

"I would say you have no idea but from what I've heard… you would have a fair idea."

"Yeah, a fair idea." Dawn agreed with some humour in her voice. The girl shook her head and looked around the room.

"This is a lovely house!" she complimented, "Far nicer than where I grew up."

"Thanks but it's seen better days!" smiled Dawn, eyeing the broken and boarded window and sleeping bag laden floor of the sitting room. The girl nodded, then started in surprise and then relaxed with a happy smile.

"What is it?" asked Willow leaning forward. The girl just reached forward and took her hand and placed it on her belly. Willow gasped in amazement as she felt movement. "Wow strong kicks they got there." Dawn eagerly reached forward and placed her hand on the stomach and squealed excitedly as she felt the kick as well. The girl laughed in amusement.

"Hey I just realised we don't know your name." said Andrew suddenly speaking for the first time.

"Oh right, sorry, it's Calista."

"That's a pretty name."

"Thank you." Calista smiled and lowered her eyes bashfully, the praise seeming to make her shy.

"Well we've decided!" said Buffy coming in with Giles, Xander, Faith, Spike and Anya. "And we will do as you suggested and go to L.A." Calista smiled happily and heaved herself to her feet, waving away Dawn who moved to help her up. "But…" said Buffy stepping into her face, her own firm and her eyes intense, "If this is a trick of The First, then pregnant or not I will kill you, we clear?"

"Perfectly!" said Calista calmly her lips curving into a small, amused smile as if Buffy didn't scare her at all. That annoyed the slayer because she knew she could easily kill her even if she was pregnant if she had to. Calista made to turn away, then suddenly lashed out with a punch, making everyone jump even as Buffy blocked it reflexively. Calista smiled wider and said, "Nice reflexes." Then she suddenly wrenched her arm free and punched Buffy in the face and then hit her again, knocking her over. "Just so you know how I feel about my babies being threatened." she said lightly, raising her hands submissively as Spike moved to hit her. "I don't want to fight with any one. I've been fighting since I was born, even if the man who raised me used to tell me that girls weren't supposed to fight, so as far as I'm concerned, the less fighting I have to do, the better. But that doesn't mean I can't fight and defend myself. Just so we're clear."

Buffy's eyes were wide. The girl was far stronger than she looked, almost inhumanly strong. Buffy narrowed her eyes at Calista and stared at her carefully, suddenly not so sure she could trust her. "Look, as I said, I don't want to fight you. I need your help. But that doesn't mean I'm helpless. I've had demons, and evil men tracking me for months and I've survived in a world I really don't understand." Her eyes suddenly lost some of their softness and darkened, "I've been abandoned, mocked, spit at! I've been attacked, people have tried to kill me! And all because of my babies. All because of my age, all because of being pregnant." Her hands balled into fists and her cheeks coloured with bitterness she'd clearly been fighting for a long time. Then suddenly it vanished, and her eyes went soft and fawn-like again.

She looked at Giles and said, "I suggest you asked Robin Wood if you can borrow one of the school buses so there is enough room for the 30 people coming." Giles looked surprised and nodded, disappearing to make the call. She then looked back to Buffy and said quietly, lowering her eyes,

"Thank you, I am in your debt for this." Buffy stared at her, unable to figure her out. There was much more to this girl than what she had said already and Buffy wanted to find out what it was she was hiding. Calista stepped around her and announced she was going to step outside and get some air. Dawn followed her as did Spike and Faith, clearly resolved to keeping an eye on her. Buffy sighed and went to the basement where the Potentials were.

"Ok listen up, I want all of you to pack up as many weapons as possible, we are going for a road trip." she announced as she came down the steps.

"To L.A.?" asked Molly excitedly

"Yes, we have a job to do. It seems that there may be more than just The First to worry about now." There were gasps and murmurs of fear from among the girls. "We will fight it and any one else who is involved in this apocalypse, because that is what we do, we fight because we are slayers and you all have to remember that." The girls nodded and Kennedy asked

"When are we going?"

"We are going A.S.A.P… or sooner."


Like it? Hate it? Any queries or comments are welcome, review and let me know.

Night's Darkness