Oh God! So sorry, bloody Junior Cert Home Ec Skirt Project:-(
Balance chp 8: Painful times
"Left kick combo!"
"Yaah!"
"Cross block kick!"
"Ka-yaah!" It was about ten o' clock and Buffy was training the potentials in what would have been a ballroom of sorts in the hotel. They had plenty of space, and Angel and Giles and Wesley were setting up some punch bags and other things for them to practise on. Connor and Calista sat watching with great interest as the girls did different fight combos and movements. Already they had picked out the strongest and the weakest, but found the strongest weaknesses and the weakest strengths, for future training. Kennedy was clearly the strongest of the lot, with an Irish girl named Sorcha was a close second. As it turned out Angel could speak enough Japanese to get by and so the Japanese potential was finally able to get her wishes across. Giles was incredibly embarrassed when he learned she was lactose-intolerant since he kept offering her milk and other dairy products. Things slowly seemed to be coming together. The potentials were all becoming friends, even with language barriers, Calista was fine now or so she said, and to top it all off the city seemed to be deserted for now and hopefully until this whole thing blew over.
"Ok everyone take a break." said Buffy finally. The potentials relaxed and moved over to where the water and chairs were, relaxing and chatting. Calista watched them for a moment then back at the deserted floor. Connor caught the look and smirked
"Are you thinking what I think you're thinking?"
"Do you think I'm thinking this?" and she punched him across the room. There was a deafening silence as the group stood there shock, as Connor stood up with a cocky grin and Calista hopped to her feet with an equally cocky grin.
"So you can still fight!" said Connor as they began to circle each other.
"Can and twice as good as the last time we went." she smirked, Connor threw a punch to her face, which she blocked with her arm, she then twisted under and pulled his arm behind, Connor countered by leaping up and somersaulting backward behind her. He grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back, careful not to hurt her. Angel went to stop it but Lorne stopped him saying
"They're just playing!" Calista was free and lashed out with a sharp swipe of her fist.. Connor blocked and moved for a jab. Once the others got over their initial shock they had to appreciate the almost dance like quality of the mock fight. It was like they moved to compliment each other as well as oppose. Their strength and speed was something that none of them had ever seen before. Sure they had seen fast moving creatures and super strong demons, but these two seem to be in their own category, like they were of and removed from the world. It was amazing to watch. Of course neither Connor, nor Calista really noticed this, they were out to win the competition, just like they had when they were smaller. They were both fiercely competitive and they had an unbelievable determination to win and never give up. It was what kept them alive in Qour-Toth.
"So looks like you've improved a bit too!" said Calista, delivering a roundhouse kick to Connor's gut. "But ya still ain't good enough to beat me!" she laughed happily then her face contorted and she grunted in pain. Connor regarded her with worry when she suddenly gasped and her arms went around her belly sinking to her knees. Connor was kneeling beside her in a flash. She groaned a little and Connor instantly let guilt claim him.
'What the hell was I thinking, starting a match with her?' he yelled at himself. Calista shook her head and squeezed his shoulder. She just managed to grind out
"N-n-not your f-f-fault! It's just-" she cried in pain, "Contractions!" at once there seemed to be a complete air of panic about the hotel. Angel and Spike went and picked her up, leaving a very bewildered Connor. Calista tried to speak but another hit her and she cried out again.
"Ok we need to get her to the hospital, the contractions are very close together-"
"No!" Calista shouted cutting Wesley off. "It's not real, ju-just false contractions! I-I've been getting them since very early in the pregnancy, I just need to wait for them to pass." She cried out again as another hit her. Connor had caught up with them as Angel and Spike lowered her onto a chair. He took her hand and gently squeezed it. She squeezed hard then he expected but he managed to keep himself from wincing. Angel watched her worriedly and wrung his hands. Spike watched him in amusement, he had never seen Angel or Angelus nervous before, angry, sad, passionate, happy sure, but nervous was a new one. Buffy saw it too and saw the almost terrified look in his eyes as he watched the girl bearing his grandchildren writhe in pain. Fancy, Angel, a grandfather! Finding out about Connor had been shock enough, she could only imagine how Angel felt when he found out about Darla being pregnant, but now Calista was pregnant with Connor's children!
'Hoo boy, do we live in a soap opera!' she thought as she took a back seat as Calista was dealt another blow. God, she bet that hurt! Calista suddenly quieted and then she sighed in relief.
"See all better!" she smiled at Connor reassuringly and attempted to sit up but Angel placed a gentle but firm hand on her shoulder and pushed her back down.
"Calista I think you should just stay put for a while, you only recently almost lost the babies, you should just rest and regain your strength." Calista looked him in the eye and to everyone's amusement she pouted like a five year old. She hit her fists against the chair's arms and then crossed them over her chest and slouched in the chair. Connor rolled his eyes and smiled as she then gave Angel her best puppy eyes and said sadly
"I just wanted to be able to protect my babies if I ever needed and I heard it's very bad if I don't stay active in the last stage of pregnancy." Angel wilted before their eyes, and he felt guilty for no reason.
"Oh ok you can still do stuff just be careful and don't overexert yourself." Calista beamed at him and hopped out of the chair and practically bounced out of the room. Connor locked eyes with his dad and in his there was both amusement and disappointment as if he was thinking, 'I would have last way longer then that!' Angel shrugged helplessly and Connor chuckled lightly and shook his head as he left after Calista.
"You are such a bloody poof!" said Spike slowly as if he were talking to an idiot.
"Yeah whatever peroxide boy!" snapped Angel irritably
"Ooo peroxide boy! That's a real low blow!"
"Then it must not hurt much!" sneered Angel
"Just what are you trying to imply?"
"What do you think I'm implying, you egotistical Englishman!"
"Oh sod off you drunken, stupid Irishman!"
"That the best you got, William?" taunted Angel, "Cause if it is, then you've clearly lost your touch, not that you had much by way of one before!" and he then turned and left for Wesley's office.
"Why that- argh!" snarled Spike turning and storming out another door. Xander was chuckling behind his hand while Buffy looked disapproving and then followed Angel out. She came into the office without leave and placed her burning eyes on the dark vampire before her. Angel looked up from a paper he was studying
"Buffy! Something wrong?"
"I'll tell you what's wrong! You and Spike, I am sick of you two arguing! Spike promised me he would try to get along with you for the apocalypse, but it only works if you put forth effort too! We are at war here, Angel, and all you can think about is insulting Spike?" Angel stared at Buffy in shock, whatever he'd expected her to say that hadn't been it.
"Excuse me Buffy but I can't exactly turn off the fact that I don't like Spike, besides he started it!"
"Angel, if you want to protect your son and Calista then you have to work with Spike, he's one of the strongest warriors we have! Now if either of you start a fight or anything then both of you will be the ones who will need to go to the hospital, not Calista!" and she turned and left, leaving Angel growling in distaste at the thought of getting along with Spike.
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Night's Darkness
