As usual it took me ages to update, but I never leave a story unfinished, and this one isn't yet.
Enjoy!
Balance chp 27: Two new arrivals
"Are you sure you don't want to come Gunn?" Connor pressed again.
"I'm positive kid, I intend to do nothing more stressful then decided if I want buttered or toffee popcorn." Gunn assured him and to make his point clearer he wiggled in his seat, digging himself deeper into the couch. Connor laughed, getting the point.
"Then I guess it's just me and dad, since you humans are going to be lazy and just watch that dumb movie."
"Hey! I'll have you know this movie is a classic!" Xander scolded
"Uh uh." Connor raised an eyebrow, once again glancing at the video box. "Titanic?"
"We need a good romance around here." Willow smiled as she sat down on the couch, snuggling up to Kennedy a big bowl of popcorn in her lap. Connor crossed his arms over his chest and raised the other eyebrow.
"A good romance ends with one of the lovers dead?" he asked curiously.
"Shh, don't spoil it!" Cordelia scolded, lobbing a cushion at him. Connor dodged it grinning.
"Boys or girls?" exclaimed Fred out of nowhere. Connor just shook his head. Fred groaned in frustration. Connor and Calista had gone to her last check-up and they had found out the sexes of the babies, but they refused to tell anyone else. They wanted it to be a surprise. Naturally this meant that the rest of them were now taking turns to jump on them and ask the question when they were least expecting it, so that they'd blurt it out. Unfortunately neither was falling for it. Rather they were amused by it.
"Connor ready to go?" asked Angel, coming in.
"Yeah dad, do you think we should wait for Dawn and Calista to come back before we leave?" Calista and Dawn had gone out shopping for a while, mostly to cheer poor Dawn up. She seemed to miss Spike the most. The blond vampire had left the hotel a week ago and hadn't been seen since.
"Connor, they'll be fine. Neither is defenceless, besides they said they'd be home in half an hour." Buffy assured him. Like Gunn, she'd vetoed the idea of going out slaying. She was much happier watching hunks and romance. Besides it would give Angel and Connor time together with out any stress.
"Connor behind you!" Angel called even as Connor whirled around and punched the vampire in the face. The two of them were on a roll, twenty vampires in ten minutes. Apparently word had gotten out who was responsible for the ending of the apocalypse, and resident demons wanted to show their appreciation. Suddenly Angel's phone rang. Two vampires paused in surprise, as if it was very wrong to have such a normal thing occurring when fighting the supernatural. Connor dusted them as his dad answered. "Yello?" Angel punched another vampire to Connor to stake. He then froze in complete shock. The phone slipped out of his hand and he stared ahead dumbly. Connor looked around as he got rid of the last vampire, concerned that there was another problem. His sharp ears picked up Dawn's voice calling from the phone, which had survived the fall. He picked it up and held it to his ear.
"Dawn?" he asked
"Oh hey Connor, what happened to Angel?"
"He went into shock. Why did my dad go into shock Dawn?"
"Well, erm…" Dawn hesitated and he heard Calista murmur something nearby.
"Dawn, put Calista on the phone." he told her calmly. He had a sudden feeling he knew what was up. What idiot couldn't guess considering the evidence? The next voice was Calista's.
"Connor?" she sounded excited.
"Calista are you in labour?" he asked pointedly.
"Yes." She answered with equal bluntness.
"Ok then."
"We're getting a cab now. We're going straight to the hospital. Why don't you get the others and then come over?"
"Alright, are you ok?"
"The contractions are only slight, and my waters haven't broken, so I'm fine for now." He knew she was smiling radiantly.
"Good… I love you."
"I know." She hung up and Connor turned to his catatonic dad.
"Were you this bad for my birth?" he asked shaking him.
"No. Too much was happening." Angel's voice was distant. He was still in shock. Connor found he was still mobile if he was pulled in the right direction. They found the gang exactly where they'd left him. The Titanic was barely out of port, they hadn't been gone long. Connor left Angel in the archway of the door and went up and switched off the TV. A chorus of protests rose up but a quick, "Calista's in labour" robbed them of all words. They gaped at him and he felt a slight irritation flare up.
"Look I can't have you all acting like zombies, minus the fleshing eating part. We're to meet the girls at the hospital. So hop, skip and jump to it!" On reflection, he acknowledged that he really did sound like Connacht more and more. However the words seemed to have their desired effect. They all jumped to their feet and began running around. Connor ran upstairs and picked up Calista's bag. It contained all the things she'd need. Clothes, towels, body stuff, a couple of books, and a word search book. He checked that everything was in it and then slipped it onto his shoulder. He looked around the room, wondering why he felt so calm about this, he was about to become a father. Yet he knew it would be alright, he had his dad, his friends… no his family and he had Calista, on top of which he had a brainful of powerful knowledge. He knew he'd be fine.
"Connor!" called Angel, "Hurry up!" He hurried down before his dad came for him. "Got everything?"
"Yes. Ready?"
"No." Angel blurted. Connor rolled his eyes, smiling to take away the sting of the gesture,
"I meant to go."
"Oh, then yes." Angel would have blushed had he been able.
"Ready to become a grandfather."
"No!" Connor laughed.
Dawn paced back and forth outside the hospital. Calista had asked her to keep a look out for the others.
She was feeling edgy, the whole labour thing had caught her completely off guard.
(Flashback)
Dawn and Calista were walking down the street keeping an eye out for a taxi, chatting about how Calista should have her hair cut. Dawn personally thought she should keep it long, but only half way down her back. Calista was considering getting it really short, like Buffy once got it the day she turned invisible.
"If you did that you'd never be able to do anything with it really." Dawn objected.
"But I've always had very long hair, it'd be nice to have it different. A new look for a new life." Calista suddenly paused and pressed her hand to her belly, a small frown on her face. Dawn looked at her with growing concern. This was the fifth stop on this street alone where she'd done that. It was as if she couldn't make up her mind if something was wrong or not. Now Dawn was so paranoid that every time she stopped she got a flash in her mind of Calista screaming in labour with herself having to deliver the babies on the street. Not pretty. Calista sighed and then began to toddle along again. Dawn didn't ask if she was alright, Calista said if something was wrong she'd say so.
"I mean maybe you're right, maybe keeping my hair long is a good idea, just not as long as yours. Maybe as long as Willow's, I love her hair colour." Calista returned to their topic with such a sharpness it left Dawn shocked for a second, but then she recovered.
"Yeah Willow has lovely hair, and so does Anya."
"And you and Buffy." Calista added.
"Aw thank you." Dawn smiled, "Your hair is lovely too."
"It just needs a cut." Calista laughed, she had a nice laugh, she was a nice girl. Dawn thought she was pretty, but she wasn't staggeringly pretty, she wasn't so pretty that Dawn felt ugly. Yet it was definitely her personality that made her beautiful, it was easy to see why Connor was head over heels for her. Dawn's musings were halted when Calista grabbed her hand.
"Ok I wasn't sure before, but now I am, I'm in labour."
"What! Are you sure?" Dawn panicked. Calista nodded patiently.
"Yes, these are not Braxton-hicks contractions. There's a difference."
"Wouldn't your, you know, waters burst?"
"Not always, Dawn, you watch too much TV." Calista smiled at her, how the heck was she so calm? Dawn could only assume it was the spell Connacht and Calida had put on her. "Listen call Angel on the phone and I'll get a taxi, ok?"
"Uh, ok." This was surreal, it was so calm and slow. Calista was right; she did watch too much TV. Dawn pulled out her phone and speed dialled Angel…
(End Flashback)
Calista had been taken to her private room, Angel had organised it and paid it with all the trimming ensured. There were definitely perks to having him as a 'father-in-law'; Calista had giggled when Dawn had said that.
"Dawn!" she whirled around to see everyone hurrying over. Angel looked panicked and Connor seemed calm, just like Calista, she noted. She also noted that Lorne had put on a full length trench coat, a hat and bug eyed sunglasses in an effort to hide his demonism. Well he got points for trying.
"Hey guys, she's being settled in, c'mon." she motioned for them to follow. She led them upstairs to room 367 and knocked before going in. Calista looked over at them and smiled. She was pacing back and forth but she stopped as Connor came up to her. They kissed sweetly and Connor stroked her belly softly.
"How are you doing?"
"Ok, the doctors want me to try to break my waters myself, it's better then if they do it." She smiled at him and then began to pace again. "Wow, you brought the whole gang!" She finally noticed that everyone was here.
"I couldn't keep them away." Connor smiled.
"Are the contractions really bad?" Willow wondered
"No, not at all yet, I feel them, but there's no real pain, so far so good." There was another knock on the door and Calista called
"Come in!" A tall brunette woman with green eyes and a white coat came in.
"Oh wow big party." she smiled, "Now where's the momma to be?"
"Over here!" Calista waved over everyone and they parted to let the doctor through.
"Ok then, uh, Calista right?" Calista nodded, "I'm Dr. Miller. How's it coming with your waters?"
"Um…" Calista scrunched up her face and there was a sound of gushing as her waters broke. Over Angel's favourite shoes no less. He winced and sighed softly to himself. First Darla's waters break all over the back seat of his beloved car, now his shoes were the victims. That had to be a sign it just had to be.
"Right then, very good." The doctor was clearly amused, whether it was her timing, or her aim wasn't clear. "Ok I'd like to just see how dilated you are, but I'm not sure how long this will take."
"Aren't multiple births supposed to be quicker." Willow wondered out loud.
"Generally speaking they are, oh by the way, when was your due date?"
"Uh three or four days from now." Calista smiled as Connor and Angel helped her onto the bed. The doctor made a note of it.
"Ok, it's very common to go into early labour with multiple births. Are they well spaced out?"
"About two minutes."
"Really?" the doctor looked surprised.
"Is that bad?" Connor worried. She looked at him,
"And you are?"
"Oh I'm Connor, her boyfriend, and the father."
"Okey-dokey then and you?" she looked at Angel.
"Liam Angel. I'm Connor's… brother."
"Right then and in answer to your question, no it's not bad, it's just this seems to be happening very quickly. Are they extremely painful?"
"No not quite, but that last one was kinda bad. I've been having very bad false contractions for a good part of the pregnancy so maybe I'm just used to it."
'Or maybe a certain someone is still taking care of you.' mused Dawn. Was it possible that Calida was still caring for her? The doctor smiled and then moved to the foot of the bed. She paused and looked at the group of fourteen people (minus Connor, Calista and Angel).
"I'm afraid I'll need you to leave, I'd say Calista would like some privacy, I'm going to see how dilated she is." Calista smiled at them then groaned and grabbed Connor's hand. Automatically the doctor turned to her and said, "Remember your breathing Calista." Calista did so, calm deep breaths. As the contraction ended she leaned back against the pillows and the others filed out.
"Doctor?" Calista shifted and leaned forward to the doctor to speak to her. Dr. Miller leaned closer and Calista opened her mouth to speak again. Then she paused and glanced at Connor and Angel uncomfortably. The boys took the hint,
"Uh, c'mon Connor, lets um, go get Calista some water, or is it ice chips? You want anything else Calista?" She shook her head, "Ok then coming Connor?"
"Sure… Liam." Connor raised his eyebrows in amusement and followed Angel out. Calista shuffled slightly then leaned closer to Dr. Miller. The woman smiled and moved to sit on the edge of the bed, leaning in.
"Uh, I was wondering if I could have a female only team please?"
"Of course, you are to do whatever you want to make yourself comfortable, although strictly speaking, we'll only need me there to deliver the baby and an assistant to… assist."
"Oh ok then." Calista nibbled her lip and seemed to want to say more. Dr. Miller smiled at her gently and reassuringly.
"Was there something else?"
"Well… I want them to be born with me being the first person they come into contact with… skin to skin."
"Ah." She nodded having an idea where the teen was going with this. "You want to give birth naked so that there's enough skin."
"Is that bad?" she wondered wide eyed. An incredibly innocent look for some one about to have a child. Smiling more Dr. Miller shook her head.
"There's nothing wrong with it. What way do you want to give birth? What position?"
"Um… it's not supposed to be good for the baby or something to be born with the mother on her back or something."
"That position is now determined to be very bad for birth. It compresses all the major vessels and laceration is more likely to happen."
"Oh, well I want to give birth squatting down, if that's possible."
"That should be fine." Dr. Miller nodded.
"Thank you." Calista reached out and squeezed her hand gratefully. The woman patted her hand gently and the two looked up as Connor and 'Liam' came back inside. Connor handed her a plastic cup of ice chips. She took it and placed a few in her mouth.
"Ok, I'll just check you now."
"Do you want us to leave again?" Connor asked, gently stroking her cheek. She smiled at him and shook her head.
"No, stay Connor, and Liam, you can just turn your back to me." 'Liam' complied and the doctor checked her.
"Well, you're four centimetres already, that's very impressive."
"Do you think this will be quick?"
"Oh I don't like predicting that, you never really know." Calista grunted and squeezed Connor's hand tightly as another contraction came. She breathed properly and then relaxed.
"I hope this doesn't last long." she said releasing Connor's hand, "They're already getting past the tolerable point."
"Would you like an epidural, or some other form of pain relief?"
"No, no, I'll live." Calista smiled at her, "I'm not scared of pain, I just don't want this to be long. I feel like I've been waiting years for this to come."
"Pregnancy can feel that way sometimes." Dr. Miller smiled and patted her hand again, "I'll come back in a little while to check on you again, and if you have any problems let me know ok?"
"Thanks doctor." Connor smiled at her and then turned to Calista and stroked her face gently, lovingly. She closed her eyes and leaned into the touch, unaware of the doctor leaving. Unfortunately she was very much aware of the next contraction that came. She groaned and nearly crushed Connor's hand, making him yelp like a puppy. She bit down on the ice chips she pressed into her mouth, the sudden cold numbing her tongue. When it was past Angel asked
"Calista are you sure you don't want any pain relief?"
"Angel, women have been giving birth since the beginning of time, and most of them didn't even get an option of pain relief. If they could do it, so can I." Calista's eyes were dancing with excitement and determination. She then looked at Connor and said casually
"I just sorted out how I'll be giving birth with the doctor."
"Uh, excuse me?" Connor blinked at her bewilderedly, "I thought there was only one way to give birth." Angel had to grin at his son's naivety.
"No I mean the position." Calista giggled, she didn't really seem to be in labour at all, except when the contractions came, but once it was over she just seemed so normal. Angel wondered if it was the spell that Connacht and Calida had cast or if it was just her. "I decided I want to give birth squatting down and naked." Connor blushed, and threw an embarrassed look at his dad who stared at the ceiling, trying to pretend he wasn't there. "I want to ensure skin to skin contact with the babies when they're born, so I'm going to be naked. Ok?"
Connor thought about it for a second then nodded,
"Ok."
"Ok, we are definitely ready to go I'd say." Dr. Miller announced as she checked Calista again.
"Really?" Calista gasped her tone verging on pissed off. The contractions had begun to get the better of her excitement. Not that anyone held it against her. The labour, which had started out quickly, was now in its twentieth hour.
"10cm." the doctor answered simply. Calista stared at her in obvious shock. An intern came in with a wheelchair and Connor and Angel help her onto it, more carrying her then anything. The others who were still there, Buffy, Dawn and Fred were all beaming encouraging smiles at her. The rest of the group had gone back to the hotel because there had been too many of them.
"Good luck Calista!" Dawn chirruped
"You'll do great." Fred smiled. Buffy gave her a hug, saying softly
"You can do this." in her ear. She smiled at them and at Angel who stared at her, obviously at a loss at what to say. Then he leaned forward and hugged her in a bear hug saying so softly,
"Thank you." and then he let go. She squeezed his hand and then Connor wheeled her out to the delivery room, the doctor at her side.
Calista managed to stand as she arrived at the delivery room and once she was sure the door was shut tight, she took off the hospital gown. She heard Connor draw in a sharp breath, but couldn't do anything as another contraction hit her. Connor's arms caught her and held her up. They walked slowly to the mat in the room and then they crouched down, Calista squatted down in position.
"Ok, Connor, go in front of her alright." Dr. Miller instructed already moving behind the panting girl. Connor did as he was told and at the doctor's next instruction wrapped his arms around her and supported her. "Alright Calista with the next contraction I want you to push, ready?" Calista nodded, and drew in a deep breath and then held it as she began to push the babies out into the world. Her face went red and scrunched up in pain. A cry escaped her lips along with her breath and her nails dug into Connor's back. "Ok, and again." Calista pushed again, making airless noises of pain. Connor continued to hold her up, whispering encouraging words to her. "Alright, I have the head, one more and this baby will be born and then you can take a little rest." That hadn't taken long at all Connor thought to himself, but looking at Calista he knew she'd beg to differ. She grunted and then began to push again, the whole room seemed engulfed with silence, as if they were all holding their breaths. Connor stared at his lover, his mate and found himself thinking 'You're so beautiful!' Suddenly Calista let out a scream and then fell against him. Connor held her close and kissed her sweaty face over and over. The doctor smiled at him over Calista's shoulder and held up the baby in her hands.
"Oh, oh wow Calista, you- oh she's so beautiful." he managed to gasp, so shocked was he.
"Our daughter?" Calista whispered
"Yes, oh she's amazing." Dr. Miller moved her arms so that Calista could take the baby girl. Calista took her into her arms and held her close. The baby let out a soft noise, but then opened her eyes and her mouth, making tiny sucking motions with it. They both giggled in glee and Calista held their daughter to her chest, gently kissing her messy forehead. Connor was awed at how beautiful she was, how utterly perfect. Then Calista gasped and grunted as she began to push again. She dug her nails into his back again but didn't dare tense up the arm that cradled their first child.
"Good Calista and again." Calista pushed hard. "Brilliant, and one more." She screwed up her face and pushed with all her might, letting out a primal roar as the second child, their son, came into the world. Calista reached out and instantly received the boy, and put him to her chest as well. Connor couldn't believe it. They'd done it, she'd done it, their children at long last were here! Calista stared down at them and then burst into tears of joy. She sobbed hard, looking from one to the other and then up at Connor the biggest smile he'd ever seen on her face. Calista suddenly whimpered as the doctor took the baby boy and the assistant took the baby girl from her embrace. They tied and cut the cords quickly and then wrapped each baby in a blanket, blue and pink respectively. They were then returned to their mother, as she sat down on the ground and leaned against Connor completely. He kissed her cheek again and then pressed a kiss to the babies heads. He stared at them and grinned knowingly at their son.
"He's got your hair Calista!" he exclaimed with delight.
"Oh he does! And look I think she has your eyes." Calista smiled down at their daughter who was blinking blearily at them. Connor couldn't imagine what this must have been like for them being in this world, but he hoped they were as happy as they were.
Buffy and Angel stood side by side, facing the door that Calista had gone through waiting nervously. Buffy shifted from foot to foot and then asked
"Are you ready to be a grandfather?" Angel looked at her and then shrugged
"Well, uh, not like I really have an option, I mean they're in there being born and, well I'm more then old enough and I- no." he finally answered truthfully. Buffy took his hand and squeezed it.
"It's ok, you don't have to worry, you'll be great."
"It's just with Connor I-"
"Don't! Don't go there, it's all behind you. All of you. This is a fresh start for everyone, don't bring up the bad stuff anymore." Buffy cautioned him. "Connor and Calista are gonna need and they want to see you smile and laugh and be merry when they come out that door." Angel opened his mouth to answer her when a roar from the room vibrated in their ears. They stared at the door wide eyed and then Buffy said quickly
"Ok I never ever want kids!" Angel just nodded numbly. The silence following the roar was eerie. Then he heard the sound of tearful laughter and cries of muffled joy. He looked up at the door, and knew, without a doubt that they were here.
It was about time too.
Sorry if people wanted more in the labour but honestly I've no clue about it really, and thanks to this computers parental protection crap I couldn't find any sites with the info I really needed. Besides I honestly didn't want to go into gory details.
If anyone has any names they like I'll add them to the hat when I give the babies their names.
Night's Darkness
