Thanks for the reviews guys. Uh, sory about the long hold up on this chapter but I have been being a BETA reader for Blood Of Tears. BOT(blood of tears) has an awsome story started called Sea Of Change. I suggest you read it, it's awsome.
By the time Carla and Gavin came to their rooms, only Glen and Ian were left in the common room. Both were asleep on the sofas, it left a smile on both of the adult's faces. They quietly went into their room, located next to the girl's staircase.
"Glen, do you think they're ready?" I mean, they are like my children, I love them, I'd trust them with my life any day. It's just…..no that's silly." Carla stopped with a small laugh, shaking her head.
"No, what is it, just tell me, I won't laugh, I promise." Gavin turned to face his wife, who was looking vacantly at a spot on the wall just above his head.
"It's just that I've grown to treat them like I gave birth to them, like they are really ours. Our baby's, I just can't think of one of them getting hurt or killed, I love them so much. It's ripping me apart from the inside, I'm so scared." Carla began to cry, and in a rare display of affection, Gavin wrapped his arms around his sobbing wife.
"There, there love, I know, they are like my kids as well. We have to let them go, let them do what they were trained to do. I hate to admit it, but they could be killed. They know that, but they are willing to risk everything, just like us. We have to be strong Carla, you have to be strong." Gavin's eyes began to water as well, but he quickly blinked the unshed tears away, he wasn't one to cry or show emotions openly.
"I…..I know, I love you Gavin, remember that, no matter what……I love you."
"I love you too Carla, I have loved you from the first time I saw you. From the first time I saw you shoot with that bow of yours, I knew we were meant to be together."
"I remember you swinging a rather large broadsword, which caught my attention; I think you decapitated three death-munchkins in one swipe." Carla responded with a hiccup and a laugh. "I think we are the strangest couple, two warriors, raising seven teenagers under our roof, training them to risk their lives, like we risk our lives, to save others."
"Yeah, I'd have to agree with you on that one….." Gavin trailed off as he was pulled into a passionate kiss by his wife.
The next morning Raiden was awakened by Noah, as usual.
"Wake up before I have to go to extreme measures, twerp." Noah growled playfully as Raiden pretended to continue sleeping.
That got him moving though. The last time he ignored Noah when he threatened to do something extreme he was awakened by a bucket of ice-water and shrieks of laughter.
"I'm up, I'm up already, grrr, you are such a pain in the ass Noah." Raiden growled as he crawled out of his warm and comfortable bed.
"I know you love me little bro, anyways, this trip isn't a holiday, we still have to train, so go take a shower, we're supposed to meet Gavin outside by the lake in thirty minutes, got it?" Noah laughed as Raiden gave him a dirty look and sauntered off towards the bathroom, tripping over Ian's trunk along the way and using some very colorful expletives to show how he felt about it.
"That kid….." Noah shook his head, and laughed.
Thirty minutes later, everyone was gathered down by the lake, Carla would take the girls through the morning training, while Gavin would take the boys, it just worked easier that way. Gavin didn't like to have to deal with feminine problems such as PMS. He'd rather make his wife do that.
"Ok, four laps around the lake after you stretch, got it?" Gavin quirked his head to the side, "You better not be slacking off, someone with a long crooked nose is watching you."
This evoked a laugh from each of the boys.
Raiden ran through his stretches quickly but properly, and he was the first to begin his run. By his third lap, he could feel his legs burning and lungs begging to ache. He pressed on, without slowing a bit. It was about one mile around the lake, making it that the boys had to run four miles in total. By the time Raiden finished, he had begun to sweat, but was warm and ready to begin his daily practice and training.
First they ran through simple drills such as having small rubber balls thrown at you and having to duck, jump, roll, and flip to keep from getting hit. There also was fighting/wrestling with your hands tied behind your back, you had to pin or make it so that your opponent isn't able to win. The loser has to run another lap around the lake. Those were the warm-ups. Next was going through the motions of sword moves, using a blunt blade of course. Then they ran through martial-arts moves. Finally they had mock-matches using martial-arts and swords. The last thing they did was a duel using magic. All in all it was always a tough, rigorous practice. Plus they worked in the evenings as well. The afternoons were usually left for them to enjoy. They could do work, clean, ride horses, work out, read, or whatever. Since they weren't home, they had no idea what they could do for fun.
Clapping was heard as three people stepped out from the shadows of the forest.
"Bravo." Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling; his mind was working fast, trying to figure out a way to use these people to his advantage.
To Raiden's horror, the other two people were the Potters. He edged back slightly behind the group, while the others had to keep a handle on themselves so they wouldn't go get their revenge for their littlest brother then and there.
"May we help you Mr. Dumbledore?" Jenna asked, putting her indifferent mask up once again after its momentary lapse.
"Yes, Ms. Creide, is it?" Dumbledore smiled in what must have been his idea of a grandfatherly way, causing every one of the teenagers there to have to restrain themselves from gagging. "I was wondering, since Mr. Gavin is so busy, could you train one of my students?"
"Mr. Dumbledore, I have no idea where you got the idea of any of us would have any intention to train your students, but wherever you got it from, leave it there. We are not a tool just because we are here." Jenna was extremely angry, as could been seen by her response. "Now if you will excuse us Mr. Dumbledore, we have places to go and people to see."
"Yes Yes, Mr. Gavin told me you were a feisty one, but he was the one who directed me to you. He said you would have a special interest in training Mr. Potter, for some odd reason. I trust you have heard his history? As you know he is the-boy-who-lived, and the 'Chosen One' and our savior. We need him in tip-top shape to fight." Dumbledore flashed the smile again, and everyone tried to cover up their winces.
"Oh you mean Tyler Potter, of course, silly me. Of course we'd be honored to teach him," Jenna emphasized, trying not to snigger at how pleased the headmaster was. If he only knew the torture they would put the boy through, when he found out, it would be priceless to see his expression.
Everyone else caught on to her little word play and nodded, concealing their mirth.
"Well since that is settled, why don't we head into the Great Hall for breakfast and then we can discuss his training in my office afterwards." Dumbledore led the way across the grounds back to the school.
Lily and James followed at a distance, talking quietly between them.
"I don't know James, this could be dangerous, I mean, they aren't exactly qualified are they?" Lily was worried, what if her little baby got hurt.
"Don't worry so much Lil, Ty's a big boy, and can handle himself, I bet by the time he's done with his first lesson he'll be able to beat any of those children with one hand tied behind his back, Potters soak everything up like a sponge." James kissed his wife quickly on the cheek as a reassurance. "Now doesn't that boy remind you of someone? You know the one with the black hair."
Meanwhile Kaylee had draped an arm around Raiden's shoulder's and murmurs small words that didn't make much sense, but the soothing sounds of her voice eventually broke through Raiden's frozen shell of shock and fear of seeing his 'parents' or the spawn of satin, as the rest of the team had come to call them when Raiden wasn't around.
"So Raiden," Glen said, "What's for breakfast?"
"How should I know, I'm as new here as you are." Raiden shot back, making everyone laugh, they had gotten their boy back to normal again.
"Ha-Ha, very funny little dude, now I really am curious, I hope it doesn't taste like cow shit like that diner we stopped at that one time while we were on assignment." Glen winced at the memory of his burnt sausage and extra-crispy toast.
"Yikes. I remember that one, if I remember correctly though, it was Noah who picked the shit-hole out. I think a little over-due revenge is in order, what do you think guys?" Ian laughed as everyone gave their agreement and Noah took off running.
"CHARGE!" Mariah yelled, tackling Noah from behind. Everyone began tickling him as he yelled for them to 'cut it the hell out before I bring out a can of whup-ass,' while all of this was going on Dumbledore and the Potters watched in amusement, until the teenagers stopped their attack, helped each other up, and kept walking like nothing happened.
Dumbledore chuckled, those kids were something, too bad they got mixed up in this whole war, and they might not even be wizards, well not British wizards anyway. He had no idea how wrong he was.
Everyone except Glen and Raiden are from the U.S.A. or other countries. Glen and Raiden are from England, hence how they are known. Don't forget to review, I always love to hear people's input and ideas.