Chapter Eight ~ Growing Up
It didn't matter who got the sofa on front of the big screen T.V any more (because it was always either Angel or William that got it due to vampire strength or mage magic). Fred, Wes and Lorne got the chairs, while Gunn usually found himself either on the arm of a chair or parked on the floor. It was supposed to be a 'family moment', well that was what Fred had told them all, not really understanding the fact that she was the only levelheaded female in a group of five overbearing males.
The only annoyance of the evening was when Eve showed up to pester like she always did and was chased out when William bestowed on her a gift of angry boils. Congratulations for the great defeat went around until everyone found out the hard way - how carefully William handled his small, but steadily growing ego.
"Hey Winnie did I tell you it was my fifth birthday tomorrow? I'm going to be five!" William asked through a mouthful of half eaten popcorn.
"Tomorrow! I thought it was two weeks away! Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Fred cried out in dismay at the question.
"Your fishing for something aren't you kid? Their always wanting something" Gunn muttered under his breath.
"Well I'll know to expect a box of kitty litter from you and if you get me dog biscuits as an insult, don't expect any better for yours" the boy replied curtly, silently praising his fine-tuned feline ears.
Lorne used the opportunity to mention anything about music "So squirt, you want me to call Mandy for you? I think that could be fun!"
"Not Mandy! How many times do I have to tell you that Enya is twenty times better!" William suddenly turned on Angle and continued what was on his mind. "And don't you even think about using Barry Manilow!"
Angel hadn't even opened his mouth when the boy shot that one out. He glared at the child; having had to bye new C.D.'s when his others turned up mysteriously stretched beyond repair. In his opinion, giving up the adoption rights to Fred had been the best thing he had ever done. Not only had the atmosphere cleared up, but also everyone didn't have to deal with a lot of nonsense.
"Do you always have to bring that up?"
"Well I don't rightly want a brain tumor now do I?"
"Ha, ha, funny"
Wesley shook his head in disgust.
"Do you two ever stop? I mean it wouldn't kill to try. Really it is a disgrace to see both of you act like this. Sometimes I don't even know what is worse, but I'm going now"
"Wait for me! Don't leave me with the color lacking, broody vampire" William shouted, spraying popcorn and dragging the bag of it alone with him as he jogged after the ex-watcher.
After the two Brits were long out of sight and hearing range, Fred jumped to her feet with the one of best ideas she ever had.
"Let's throw him a surprise party!"
"Oooh that is a great idea honey! I could have so much fun with this!" Lorne almost cheered.
"Leave me out of it and I'm all for it" Gunn grumbled, but with a smile (as he knew it was an 'excellent' idea).
The three turned to look at Angel, who was the only one not to have spoken.
"Do I have to?" was the downcast wince of what he expected.
"Yes" they all replied in unison.
"I know I'm going to regret this"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ouch! Enough of that already!"
"Stop your complaining, you've been doing it all night"
"She's right, its not like you're handling holy water or anything"
"Remind me to sleep in tomorrow morning"
Fred, Lorne, Gunn and Angle were working on a surprise party almost half the night and thing were going crazy. Angel was acting all anal about everything, so Fred made sure not to get him to make or go anywhere near the cake. Like William had said earlier, gave Gunn the perfect gift idea: kitty litter and a scratching post. Lorne decide to get him a karaoke player (like that was a big surprise), Fred got some new clothes, Wesley got him a set of magic books and finally Angel, not having any other idea, got the boy a framed picture of the Lancaster family in 1858. They were unique gifts for a unique child and Fred was certain that this party was going to be a blast.
"This is really starting to drive me crazy"
"You are already crazy, live with it. Oh, I'm sorry, unlive with it"
Angel glared at Gunn before going back to his task.
"Don't be so broody! I know you already have it down to a science, but put some of you unbeating heart into it!"
There was so mush to be done and so little time. Rushing about and then having to make Angel go sit on the sidelines was the only way they could get the job done right. Five more hours of work and then they could all get some sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
William lay silently in bed, like a child on Christmas Eve. He shivered in his self-induced silence, waiting for sleep to take him but it wouldn't let him go. He had a strange feeling that something was coming when he was immediately captured in a bizarre thrall as image flashed before his eyes and urgent whispered voices sang to him, forcing him to watch it all.
~ Two and Zero will get together, and bringing along their brothers One and Five. The moment of change commences when they meet and brings the inner world to a sudden stop. Beware of midsummer's day, for magic works in mysterious ways. Beware young one, beware ~
He saw many people. There was his family and others that seemed to be of some high significance. They started off happy and then looked horrified. He was there too, but he was looking through his own eyes. Then there was the sun and the moon, interlocked in a battle of the Titans. Pain and sorrow, he did not know how to place it all together. It ended just as suddenly as it started with a final flash of brilliant light and William found that the images were gone and he was laying alone, panting for breath.
What had he just seen? Was he hallucinating from being up too long? Everything seemed so twisted now. Had Wes done something when he had stayed with him that night to explain some more about controlling his mage magic? But that only felt like a cover up on something else. They really didn't think he was that pathetic did they? No, it couldn't be that. Well maybe Angel did, but then again that was Angel for you. So William decided that he was going to sleep now, even if he had to put himself into a mild self- induced coma, he was going to sleep so that he wouldn't have to deal with stuff that a child should not have to deal with.
"Mister Sandman, bring me a dream" he whispered singsong like and was shocked when a light sprinkling of golden powder appeared and settled over his head.
As his eyes grew extremely heavy, he snickered absently to himself. The Sandman really was real. If only - if only there was away he could strike a deal with the dreamland critter - to help him pull a joke on Angle - if only. William's head sagged back against his pillow and he got what he asked for, a dream.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~ Dreamland ~
Two figures filled the shimmering world of dreamland and wavered about like the wind was blowing them.
"So buddy, what up?" the first figure asked.
"Oh nothing that would interest the likes of you and I'm not your buddy" the second figure replied.
"You don't know that" the first poked at the second.
"Go away before a rip you eyes out" the second snapped.
William felt like he was trapped beneath water. He could breathe, but everything seemed to move so slowly. Every word spoken dragged out for minutes. The blurred images, so truly different from those in his vision, so lacking of truth and substance.
"Don't be such a sour puss" the first chided.
"I'll sour puss you!" the second yelled.
One of the two obscured people in the dream plain launched itself at the other. The colors blended and mixed like a Van Gough painting. Who were they? What was going on?
"Stop, just stop" he whispered softly.
The two figures continued battle, until the second figure screamed. It was a scream of sorrow, pain and anger all in one.
"I hate her! I hate her!"
William shrank back in fear, his movements in slow motion. He stumbled and fell. The crying voice imprinting itself into his mind. The fall that seemed to last forever. It was as if he were felling through time.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"William wake up!"
William's eyes snapped open to find Winnie standing over him, a concerned expression written across her face.
"It was horrible, I don't ever want that to ever happen again!" he sobbed, throwing himself into his adoptive mother's arms.
"It was just a nightmare. Its okay now, don't worry" she hushed, patting him on the back soothingly.
They just sat there silently for the next few minutes until Winnie finally spoke again.
"So, how's the birthday boy this morning?" with the cheerfulness in her voice, William ceased crying and stared at her with confession in his wide feline eyes.
"What?"
"Its your birthday today remember? The big five?"
"Your right!" he cheered happily, having forgot about the dream. "Oh wow, I'm five!"
He jumped off the bed with utter enthusiasm and grabbed Winnie's hand and pulled her laughing at him out of the room. What he didn't know was that he was falling right into her trap. So when he saw his family all there, on the first new annual holiday at Wolfram & Hart, with a big surprise just for him, it almost made him start crying all over again.
"Happy Birthday William!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
So I was wrong, I made this my special last chapter before the holidays! Hope it wasn't too sappy or confusing. I also had lots of fun with the Angel bashing part and ooh I am going to have fun with the next chapter! Things should start getting clearer in the chapters to come on the little dreams and visions, as well as I will be bringing in a few BtVS characters for the next chap.
Also on a very awesome note: this fiction has been nominated for an award at the Barefoot Awards for outstanding BtVS and AtS kidfic! It's enough to make me burst with pride!
Hope everyone has a happy, safe holiday season (even if it means no spiked eggnog - he, he). Later. Merry Christmas from Golden_Eyed_Vamp!
It didn't matter who got the sofa on front of the big screen T.V any more (because it was always either Angel or William that got it due to vampire strength or mage magic). Fred, Wes and Lorne got the chairs, while Gunn usually found himself either on the arm of a chair or parked on the floor. It was supposed to be a 'family moment', well that was what Fred had told them all, not really understanding the fact that she was the only levelheaded female in a group of five overbearing males.
The only annoyance of the evening was when Eve showed up to pester like she always did and was chased out when William bestowed on her a gift of angry boils. Congratulations for the great defeat went around until everyone found out the hard way - how carefully William handled his small, but steadily growing ego.
"Hey Winnie did I tell you it was my fifth birthday tomorrow? I'm going to be five!" William asked through a mouthful of half eaten popcorn.
"Tomorrow! I thought it was two weeks away! Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Fred cried out in dismay at the question.
"Your fishing for something aren't you kid? Their always wanting something" Gunn muttered under his breath.
"Well I'll know to expect a box of kitty litter from you and if you get me dog biscuits as an insult, don't expect any better for yours" the boy replied curtly, silently praising his fine-tuned feline ears.
Lorne used the opportunity to mention anything about music "So squirt, you want me to call Mandy for you? I think that could be fun!"
"Not Mandy! How many times do I have to tell you that Enya is twenty times better!" William suddenly turned on Angle and continued what was on his mind. "And don't you even think about using Barry Manilow!"
Angel hadn't even opened his mouth when the boy shot that one out. He glared at the child; having had to bye new C.D.'s when his others turned up mysteriously stretched beyond repair. In his opinion, giving up the adoption rights to Fred had been the best thing he had ever done. Not only had the atmosphere cleared up, but also everyone didn't have to deal with a lot of nonsense.
"Do you always have to bring that up?"
"Well I don't rightly want a brain tumor now do I?"
"Ha, ha, funny"
Wesley shook his head in disgust.
"Do you two ever stop? I mean it wouldn't kill to try. Really it is a disgrace to see both of you act like this. Sometimes I don't even know what is worse, but I'm going now"
"Wait for me! Don't leave me with the color lacking, broody vampire" William shouted, spraying popcorn and dragging the bag of it alone with him as he jogged after the ex-watcher.
After the two Brits were long out of sight and hearing range, Fred jumped to her feet with the one of best ideas she ever had.
"Let's throw him a surprise party!"
"Oooh that is a great idea honey! I could have so much fun with this!" Lorne almost cheered.
"Leave me out of it and I'm all for it" Gunn grumbled, but with a smile (as he knew it was an 'excellent' idea).
The three turned to look at Angel, who was the only one not to have spoken.
"Do I have to?" was the downcast wince of what he expected.
"Yes" they all replied in unison.
"I know I'm going to regret this"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ouch! Enough of that already!"
"Stop your complaining, you've been doing it all night"
"She's right, its not like you're handling holy water or anything"
"Remind me to sleep in tomorrow morning"
Fred, Lorne, Gunn and Angle were working on a surprise party almost half the night and thing were going crazy. Angel was acting all anal about everything, so Fred made sure not to get him to make or go anywhere near the cake. Like William had said earlier, gave Gunn the perfect gift idea: kitty litter and a scratching post. Lorne decide to get him a karaoke player (like that was a big surprise), Fred got some new clothes, Wesley got him a set of magic books and finally Angel, not having any other idea, got the boy a framed picture of the Lancaster family in 1858. They were unique gifts for a unique child and Fred was certain that this party was going to be a blast.
"This is really starting to drive me crazy"
"You are already crazy, live with it. Oh, I'm sorry, unlive with it"
Angel glared at Gunn before going back to his task.
"Don't be so broody! I know you already have it down to a science, but put some of you unbeating heart into it!"
There was so mush to be done and so little time. Rushing about and then having to make Angel go sit on the sidelines was the only way they could get the job done right. Five more hours of work and then they could all get some sleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
William lay silently in bed, like a child on Christmas Eve. He shivered in his self-induced silence, waiting for sleep to take him but it wouldn't let him go. He had a strange feeling that something was coming when he was immediately captured in a bizarre thrall as image flashed before his eyes and urgent whispered voices sang to him, forcing him to watch it all.
~ Two and Zero will get together, and bringing along their brothers One and Five. The moment of change commences when they meet and brings the inner world to a sudden stop. Beware of midsummer's day, for magic works in mysterious ways. Beware young one, beware ~
He saw many people. There was his family and others that seemed to be of some high significance. They started off happy and then looked horrified. He was there too, but he was looking through his own eyes. Then there was the sun and the moon, interlocked in a battle of the Titans. Pain and sorrow, he did not know how to place it all together. It ended just as suddenly as it started with a final flash of brilliant light and William found that the images were gone and he was laying alone, panting for breath.
What had he just seen? Was he hallucinating from being up too long? Everything seemed so twisted now. Had Wes done something when he had stayed with him that night to explain some more about controlling his mage magic? But that only felt like a cover up on something else. They really didn't think he was that pathetic did they? No, it couldn't be that. Well maybe Angel did, but then again that was Angel for you. So William decided that he was going to sleep now, even if he had to put himself into a mild self- induced coma, he was going to sleep so that he wouldn't have to deal with stuff that a child should not have to deal with.
"Mister Sandman, bring me a dream" he whispered singsong like and was shocked when a light sprinkling of golden powder appeared and settled over his head.
As his eyes grew extremely heavy, he snickered absently to himself. The Sandman really was real. If only - if only there was away he could strike a deal with the dreamland critter - to help him pull a joke on Angle - if only. William's head sagged back against his pillow and he got what he asked for, a dream.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~ Dreamland ~
Two figures filled the shimmering world of dreamland and wavered about like the wind was blowing them.
"So buddy, what up?" the first figure asked.
"Oh nothing that would interest the likes of you and I'm not your buddy" the second figure replied.
"You don't know that" the first poked at the second.
"Go away before a rip you eyes out" the second snapped.
William felt like he was trapped beneath water. He could breathe, but everything seemed to move so slowly. Every word spoken dragged out for minutes. The blurred images, so truly different from those in his vision, so lacking of truth and substance.
"Don't be such a sour puss" the first chided.
"I'll sour puss you!" the second yelled.
One of the two obscured people in the dream plain launched itself at the other. The colors blended and mixed like a Van Gough painting. Who were they? What was going on?
"Stop, just stop" he whispered softly.
The two figures continued battle, until the second figure screamed. It was a scream of sorrow, pain and anger all in one.
"I hate her! I hate her!"
William shrank back in fear, his movements in slow motion. He stumbled and fell. The crying voice imprinting itself into his mind. The fall that seemed to last forever. It was as if he were felling through time.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"William wake up!"
William's eyes snapped open to find Winnie standing over him, a concerned expression written across her face.
"It was horrible, I don't ever want that to ever happen again!" he sobbed, throwing himself into his adoptive mother's arms.
"It was just a nightmare. Its okay now, don't worry" she hushed, patting him on the back soothingly.
They just sat there silently for the next few minutes until Winnie finally spoke again.
"So, how's the birthday boy this morning?" with the cheerfulness in her voice, William ceased crying and stared at her with confession in his wide feline eyes.
"What?"
"Its your birthday today remember? The big five?"
"Your right!" he cheered happily, having forgot about the dream. "Oh wow, I'm five!"
He jumped off the bed with utter enthusiasm and grabbed Winnie's hand and pulled her laughing at him out of the room. What he didn't know was that he was falling right into her trap. So when he saw his family all there, on the first new annual holiday at Wolfram & Hart, with a big surprise just for him, it almost made him start crying all over again.
"Happy Birthday William!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
So I was wrong, I made this my special last chapter before the holidays! Hope it wasn't too sappy or confusing. I also had lots of fun with the Angel bashing part and ooh I am going to have fun with the next chapter! Things should start getting clearer in the chapters to come on the little dreams and visions, as well as I will be bringing in a few BtVS characters for the next chap.
Also on a very awesome note: this fiction has been nominated for an award at the Barefoot Awards for outstanding BtVS and AtS kidfic! It's enough to make me burst with pride!
Hope everyone has a happy, safe holiday season (even if it means no spiked eggnog - he, he). Later. Merry Christmas from Golden_Eyed_Vamp!