Ok, I've finally chosen the names I think were best. A big thanks to the people who gave me the suggestions. Sorry if this seems a little all over the place, I'm struggling to get everything into place.


Balance chp 29: Truth is beauty, Beauty is truth

Calista couldn't sleep; she'd just given the babies their three am feeding and now was wide-awake. Connor was sleeping soundly beside her in their new bed in their new apartment. It was a little way off from the others rooms so no one was bothered by the babies screaming. Calista sighed softly and decided she'd get some warm milk to send herself to sleep. She slipped out of the warm bed and wrapped a borrowed robe around herself, popping a baby monitor into one of the large pockets. She wandered silently downstairs and heated the milk. She then curled up on one of the couches in the lobby to drink it. She suddenly felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on edge and knew she wasn't alone.

"You know when I asked you to come here the day we brought the babies home this wasn't quite what I meant." she commented lightly. Spike had the grace to be embarrassed.

"I know I said I'd be here but… it was just too hard."

"Dawn was disappointed you know."

"Yeah I figured she might be." Spike sat down beside her, staring at his shoes. She let the silence draw out for a little while and then said

"You're hiding something from me." Spike looked up sharply. "All of you." she continued, her blue eyes staring into space, her voice soft. "It's something important, something bad."

"Why do you think that?" Spike wondered,

"Because you keep saying things that make no sense. You yourself said that you helped protect my babies, protect them from what? And Angel said that Connor and I slept for several days, but I don't remember it! And my memory seems so blank. I try to remember things and they just aren't there. I don't remember anything at all really. I don't remember where I grew up, or how we lived. I only barely remember Daniel; I just remember he was important to us. I don't remember anything in my life except a few small things." Spike wasn't sure what he should say. "I know one thing. My life was miserable."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because the only things I do remember are good, and you can't have only good in your life, some things are bad, they have to be to have the good. So since I can't find anything bad I know that my life was miserable. The strange thing is that I'm not scared by it. I ought to be, I don't remember my life, that's a frightening thing, but I'm not scared. I'm not angry or sad either, in fact everything's been blissfully happy."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing, it's just sad that I needed to forget everything in order to feel it. Bad things have happened to me Spike. What they were I don't know. Was Daniel cruel to me? Did Connor take advantage of me? Are you really good? I don't know any more." She finally looked at him, "But I wish I did. Without knowing these things life has no substance for me. I'm just drifting… just drifting." She sighed and set the mug down, it was now empty. She stood up and said calmly to him, "I'm not going to ask you to come back again… but I wish you would. I like talking to you." She then went upstairs and back to bed curling up against Connor.


"Oh my god this is the life." groaned Cordelia as skilled hands massaged her back gently.

"Mm hm." sighed Calista, she sounded half asleep. Buffy just moaned softly as the hands moved down her back.

"After this we're getting our nails done and after our hair."

"Does that mean we have to move?" asked Calista turning her head towards Cordelia.

"Sadly yes, but don't worry Calista, it's not painful."

"Unlike waxing."

"Well you said you'd give it a try."

"But I didn't mean a bikini line!"

"Woops." Buffy grinned sheepishly as Calista laughed. So far they'd been through waxing and now massaging. After they were getting manicures, pedicures and facials done, after which they were getting their hair done. Then they were going to be finishing up their shopping, having still to buy some final things for Calista, like makeup and hair things. The teenage girl had been pampered all day, with all the girls helping her find a style of clothes that she liked and helping her pick out both practical and stylish clothes. They'd even bought a few things that they swore would make Connor do absolutely anything she wanted. She'd been a little embarrassed at the things the girls, particularly Faith, had suggested.

"Hey Faith." called Cordelia, resting her chin on her folded arms, "What's going on between you and Robin?" The dark Slayer looked at her and a very slight tinge of pink appeared in her cheeks.

"Nothing," she said stiffly, "Just, you know, good sex. That's all."

"If that's all then why were you making moon eyes at each other?" Buffy all but purred in delight. It was a very rare thing for Faith to be embarrassed.

"We weren't!" Faith insisted sharply.

"Faith's in love! Faith's in love!" sang Dawn, a broad grin on her face.

"I am not!" Faith sounded like a little girl as she denied it. Calista watched the argument with interest her eyes curious. At length she said softly

"If you don't feel anything for him then why does your heart quicken whenever you see him." They stared at her in surprise. She shrugged, "Vampire hearing is a useful thing at times."

"It does not, unless I'm remembering the moves he's got, and he has them, but they aren't for innocent ears." Faith smirked at Dawn and Calista.

"I'm an innocent? I just had twins." Calista laughed.

"I'm not innocent either." Dawn said. Buffy looked up sharply at her little sister.

"I hope to God you don't mean that as in you are no longer a virgin, because if that's the case you are in big trouble missy!" Dawn rolled her eyes at her sister,

"She's still a virgin Buffy don't worry." Calista murmured as she lay down properly again.

"What you can hear virginity?" asked Faith raising an eyebrow.

"Can you actually do that?" asked Fred.

"I can't, but Dawn smells like a virgin." Calista sounded like she was nearly asleep. Dawn looked torn between embarrassment and disgust. "Ask Angel or Connor if you don't believe me, they're better at scents then me."

"How did you learn to tell the difference?" asked Willow curiously, before she let out a moan of enjoyment as the hands massaged her shoulders. Calista's eyes opened suddenly and she said softly

"I don't remember." Her head raised and she looked at each of them in turn, a kind of lost look in her eyes all of a sudden, then she laid her head down again and closed her eyes again.


"I still don't see why I need so much stuff." Connor complained.

"Because baby sick is not pleasant to be wearing." Wesley said patiently, "Believe me, you taught me that." Connor blushed; he still forgot that before Holtz it had been Angel and his friends that had cared for him. He sighed and followed Wesley inside with bags weighing him down. He came to an abrupt stop as he took in the lobby. The place looked like a bomb hit it. The banisters were broken, lamps and computers were smashed, as was the window of Wesley's office and the books were throw all over the ground. And in the middle of all this wreckage sat two men, whose physical appearance belied their age, sharing a bottle of whiskey with seven empty bottles beside them.

"What did you do?" exclaimed Gunn as he entered.

"We sorted out where we stand." cheered Angel, sounding a little tipsy as he raised his glass. Spike let out a chuckle, which set off Angel and soon the two vampires were giggling heaps on the ground.

"Well if you don't clear this up now Calista will make sure you don't have a leg to stand on between you!" Connor moaned as he set down his shopping bags. He was happy to see Spike but honestly! "Where's the babies? Where's Lorne?"

"Who? Oh, uh upstairs, said sumat about a bear… or was it a bare bottom…" Spike blinked as if he couldn't remember. Connor snarled and bolted upstairs, shouting for Lorne. He burst into his apartment,

"Hey, hey whoa kiddo!" exclaimed Lorne as he rocked one of the babies in his arms. "Who lit a blaze under you?" Connor sighed with relief and scooped up the other baby and kissed his brow, holding him close. "Jezz, what's up?"

"Nothing, Dad and Spike, they… they um."

"Got drunk and scared you?" asked the green demon knowingly.

"Yeah." Connor sighed as he sat on the couch.

"Oh don't worry about it, and don't give your old man a hard time either, he and Spiky needed to have it out down there. If you want both without having to hold them back twenty four seven, then they needed to fight and then get drunk."

"But why today?" groaned Connor, "Calista's gonna be back in a few hours and she's gonna freak when she sees the mess. I just wish that it would all clear itself up!" Suddenly he felt a tingle go up his spine and Lorne jumped. They shared at look

"No way." They stood up and walked to the lobby, which was now spotless, with two sober vampires looking a little confused along with several bewildered humans. "Way." gasped Lorne, "Whoa kiddo that was nice!"

"That was you Connor?" asked Wesley

"Seems like it. All I did was say that I wished it would clear itself up." Connor shrugged, the baby still in his arms.

"So what you can suddenly grant wishes?" asked Spike half scornful half hopeful.

"Doubtful, but I'd say some of what ever power I've got is beginning to form."

"How come?"

"It's the knowledge, knowledge is the key to our kind of power."

"So when Calista starts to remember, her own power will be unlocked?"

"I think it already is otherwise she'd never have achieved the Balance."

"Oh so she just can't use it?"

"I'd say so… or maybe it is and we just haven't noticed it yet." He resettled his son so that his head was on his shoulder. Spike grinned and said

"I want my whiskey back!"

"Not a chance Spike! You two had better behave now, I won't have you upsetting Calista with your fights." Connor scolded sharply. Both vampires nodded sheepishly. Connor then smiled, "Welcome back Spike." Spike grinned.

"Thanks mini-poof. Now come down here and show me those babies! I haven't seen them in ages!" Connor and Lorne obliged and the men stood in the lobby talking and passing the babies around. They were still like this when the girls arrived. Kennedy, looking fresh faced and with her hair neatly curled, came in and ordered all the boys to look away.

"Why?"

"Because you idiot, we're not ready for you to see the new Calista, she needs to change!" Kennedy then pointed her finger at them and made circular motions with it. They obligingly turned around and they heard footsteps and giggles as the girls ran inside and up the stairs. When they were gone Gunn grinned down at Baby girl,

"It won't be long till that's you kid." She just stared at him curiously. It was an hour before the girls reappeared. Connor and Gunn had put the babies in carrycots and they were asleep now.

"Ok!" chirruped Dawn, bouncing down the steps, "We are ready." The boys all got to attention looking up at the stairs. Connor, Angel and Spike could hear the girls giggling and whispering to each other quite clearly. Dawn announced each girl and they would come down the stairs, like in a fashion show. The boys were obliging and applauded each. Buffy looked great with her hair layered and full, with light make up and fancy top and jeans. Angel was nearly drooling when she came down. Buffy giggled as she entered the lobby and joined Willow, Anya, Faith, Dawn and Kennedy. Cordelia came next, her short hair freshly highlighted and her clothes showing off her curves. Lastly was Calista and she hung back when Dawn called her. The girls shared a look and Buffy ran up and coaxed her out. It took a while but eventually Buffy came back down and Calista, after a few minutes, shyly came too. The boys all dropped their jaws. They barely recognised her. Her waist length hair was gone, it was just past her shoulders and it was layered and straight. Her skin was smooth and fresh, with a light make up done, pale blue eye shadow and red lipstick. Her clothes were completely different. She wore a pair of dark blue jeans that hugged her long legs and heeled tanned boots. Her top was a sleeveless V-necked lilac top that showed off her bust just enough to tantalise the imagination. She looked amazing and more, she looked her age. She looked like an eighteen year old who was ready to go out. She smiled shyly at them and let her hair fall forwards so she could hide behind it slightly. She looked at Connor and smiled a little wider. Connor just gaped.

"Damn girl you look great!" Gunn managed to say. She giggled a little and smiled bashfully.

"You think so?"

"Absolutely." Wesley nodded vigorously. Angel, Spike and Giles all nodded too.

"Incredible, I wouldn't recognise you." Giles added. "Wouldn't you agree Connor? Connor?" Giles looked at the young man who appeared to have lost all ability to speak. Finally he gasped

"WOW!" The girls all grinned at each other and Calista blushed slightly. She walked up to him, walking with surprising confidence in her heels even though she'd probably never walked in them in her life. Soon they were standing face to face. She let out a breath of a laugh and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear shyly.

"It's different, I know. I just wanted to try it." She shrugged nervously, "Do you really like it?" He slowly smiled,

"Yeah. I love it." he answered. She smiled and kissed him on the lips sweetly. His hand curled around her neck gently and his other hand held hers as he kissed her back. He was oblivious to the giggles and chuckles of the others, all he could think of was his Calista, looking so beautiful. His fingers left her neck and went around her waist to pull her closer.

"Alright junior, calm down!" exclaimed Spike grinning wickedly. They pulled apart and glared at the blonde vampire for a second then they smiled.

"Took you long enough." Calista smirked, as she turned around and leaned back against Connor. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her shoulder. Spike shrugged,

"I like to do things in my own time."

"Uh uh." she responded dryly. She then smiled down at the babies and left Connor, going to crouch down before them. "Hello little ones, did you miss mummy?" she cooed and kissed each of them on the forehead. She then giggled as she saw that she'd left a lipstick mark on each of them. Connor passed her a wipe and she cleaned it off.

"Hey! These poor kids still ain't got no name!" Spike reminded them. Calista looked at Connor critically.

"You didn't tell them?"

"I wanted to wait." he defended.

"You mean you've named them?" Buffy grinned, they nodded. "Well what did you call them?" Calista reached out and stroked her daughter's cheek

"We've decided to call her Tayen Catherine Angel. I said I wanted something exotic so Tayen was chosen, it's Native American, it means new moon."

"And we knew that Catherine is the name of your sister dad, so we thought we ought to use it and we agreed we'd call them Angel instead of Holtz." Angel swallowed hard, looking near tears as he beamed at the two. The two teens smiled at each other sweetly and then Calista moved her touch to their son.

"This is Liam William Angel." They both looked at the gaping vampires, "We wanted something Irish again to honour that heritage, and English to honour Daniel so William seemed to work." She grinned at them mischievously and they knew she was enjoying their shock. After a few minutes Angel walked over and hugged Connor and then Calista. Then he bent over the twins smiling and said softly

"Well then Tayen Catherine and Liam William, welcome officially to the family."

"Well I'm not sure about Liam, but well chosen on the William." Spike smirked to himself and then gave Wesley a slight shove, "What about you pansy? What do you think?"

"I think that they're all brilliant choices and I am not a pansy Spike!"

"Whatever."


Connor set Liam down in his bassinette and smiled at the sleeping babe. Calista was sitting in the rocking chair and feeding Tayen. The little girl was sucking greedily and her whole body was scrunched up with effort. Connor sat down on the bed and stared at Calista in a slightly dreamy way. She ignored him till Tayen was finished and settled in her bassinette. She then turned slowly towards him and walked towards him, swinging her hips ever so slightly. He watched her entranced as she reached him and the straddled his lap. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him on the lips softly and sweetly, barely letting them touch. She then pulled away and pushed some of his hair back. Her eyes were strangely sad. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered to her, asking her what was wrong.

"Bad things have happened to me." she answered eerily "Very bad things, haven't they?" Connor wasn't sure how he was meant to answer the question. "I don't remember enough to count a full life and all I remember is goodness, so everything else must have been bad. Don't lie to me Connor; I don't want any more lies." She looked at him pleadingly. He sighed and bowed his head, resting his forehead against her collar. Finally he looked up at her

"Yes Calista, bad things have happen, lots of bad things. We grew up in hell, tormented by demons and by Daniel." She shook her head to cancel his words and he caught her face in his hand making her look at him. "He was a monster to us, he'd tie me up and leave me and he'd drag you with him. He'd keep you in a cave while he and I went out to hunt demons so that you didn't know if you'd ever see us again. He told us we were evil, that we were destined for damnation."

"Stop! Stop it Connor!" she pleaded sounding close to tears. He hugged her close and said

"I'm sorry but you said no more lies."

"Why can't I remember?" she asked desperately.

"Because Connacht and Calida blocked your memories so that you wouldn't be stressed out by an experience, so that you could be happy for the last few days before the babies were born, to ensure nothing went wrong. They cared for you and the babies and didn't want you to have any complications, not after we spent so long protecting them."

"Protecting them from what?" He sighed and pressed his forehead to hers and whispered simply

"Evil baby." She choked on a sudden sob.

"What kind of evil, I don't understand!"

"Shh." hewatched her entranced as she reached him and the straddled his lap. she ever so slightly. he m seemed to work." murmured and ran his hands up her back and down her arms to sooth her. "You will soon, the magic will slowly fade away, you'll remember everything soon, don't worry." He then hugged her close and lay back so she was lying on top of him. He kissed the top of her head and they lay there all night just holding each other like they used to do in Qour-toth.


The First Evil was a patient being, It had waited years for this apocalypse, for Kai' Enna to move all her pieces into place, for everything to be ready. And now, because of a few small individuals that had all gone to waste! Those Children of the Vampires were like an overly annoying, plot ruining bunch of mosquito bites that It couldn't scratch. Still It was formidable and now It was pissed.

"Those Children are going to die one way or the other." It hissed as It stalked around the Hellmouth, "Along with their offspring and their precious Scoobies and Angel Investigations." It surveyed Its massive army and smiled coldly in excitement. It wouldn't be long now. No not long at all.


Soon, very soon.

Night's Darkness