Chapter 4 Family

Sorry it's taken so long. Grown up life gets in the way.

I was going to rush into David and shout that someone had kidnapped our boys, jumping to conclusions as I normally did. My mouth working without my brain often landed me in trouble but I checked myself and decided to visit my daughters' rooms.

I knocked gently on Beth's door and went in. She was lying fast asleep with her arms around Finn. He was snuggled up to her under the duvet. You could only see a mop of dark hair as his face was pressed into her. I smiled.

I knew what I would find in Kate's room. Sure enough, Liam was in with Kate but they were lying far apart on the bed. Only when I was going out did I notice Kate's hand was on Liam's shoulder. Not too invasive but protective. In contrast you would have to prize Beth and Finn apart with a spatula.

As I was coming out of the room I saw Angel standing by the door. I beckoned him into see the sleeping sister and brother and then took him to Beth's room. He was smiling as he came out. I followed him downstairs and we went into the kitchen where the kettle had just boiled.

"You have an amazing family." He smiled.

"We have an amazing family." I replied taking his hand, "You are up early."

"I haven't been to bed yet. David, Wesley and I must have talked all night."

"I thought I could smell malt whisky – Talisker, I think."

"Correct." He laughed. "It helped the conversation."

"It's a good job I didn't rush in to wake David up about the boys as he must have only recently gone to sleep. What did you talk about?"

"Oh, family, activities, safety, my job, safety, the rest of the team, safety."

"I get the message."

"You know your husband is a very sensible man."

"He compensates for me."

"He knew all about me, and had done for a while."

"Yes I found that out when I came back home after I met you. He knew about the Watcher's Council and had spoken to Wesley."

"He asked some very searching questions and above all is concerned about the well being of his family."

"So he didn't stake you then?"

"I think he came close once or twice."

We then lapsed into general chit chat and covered such mundane matters about the weather and how expensive petrol was – even though it was still many times more expensive in Britain. Slowly the rest of the team and family joined us and had a mish mash of breakfasts. None of the children mentioned their night time alliances. Cordy came in with a set of folders and looked very efficient.

"I consulted with Dennis and we both thought that it would be a good idea if you had a rest day today and just wandered around to see what was in the local area and then you can get up early tomorrow to all go and see Disneyland."

"Who's Dennis?" I asked

"The ghost that lives in Cordy's apartment, his mother buried him alive in the wall. We got her to admit it – she was a ghost too – so Dennis decided to stay with Cordy." Confided Wesley.

"Good call!" piped up Finn. If there is any conversation you do not wish your children to hear, they seem to be masters of hearing it. I've often wondered how they manage it – is it some sort of ESP?

Angel asked if anyone would like to do some training with him later on in the afternoon. He said that he had some space in the basement and he had some equipment. The resounding, "Yes!" by all four younger Kerrigans put a smile on his face. Finn went up to David and asked if he wanted to come along as well – David said that he might drop in at some point.

"What about me?" I asked indignantly. I was even more indignant when they all laughed, including David.

"What's so funny about me doing training?"

"Your lack of balance." Suggested Beth.

"Your inability to co-ordinate arms and legs," added Kate.

"Sorry, Mum but your inability to anticipate any one else's moves – including your own." Put in Finn.

"Remember when we went Clay pigeon shooting?" Liam reminded me.

"OK, OK I can take a hint."

The rest of the group looked at me.

"I found it hard to lift the gun and I could only really shoot the rabbits – the clays that are pulled along the ground and every time I shot, my ear defenders fell off."

"She also tended to shoot with both eyes closed." David pointed out.

That sent everyone else laughing, including me.

Fred asked if I'd like to go and visit the local museum and library. She used to work there and so knew it very well. She also mentioned that there was a small shopping mall within walking distance. I got ready and we went off together. It was only when I saw the Hyperion from a distance did I realize how large it was. Fred and I spent a really relaxed afternoon chatting about families, the museum artefacts, what happened at the library and how she was whisked away to Pylea in another dimension. Her nightmare time nearly took her to the brink of madness but Angel rescued her and brought her back to L.A. She also told me that she and Gunn had just started a relationship and that she was really happy.

We had lunch in the mall and wandered around. We were chatting so much we didn't realize the time.

When we got back to the Hyperion, Angel, David and the children were standing around a large cupboard.

"Hi Mum!" Finn came over to me to give me a hug. He looked really hot, but was full of information. "Beth did really, really well. We had some pretend swords and she beat everyone and Angel said that with some more training she could beat him."

"Well," said Kate, who had always thought that Beth's re enactment was a load of rubbish, "I never thought I would hear myself say this, but Beth's prancing around with her friends and swords looking a complete geek, has really given her exceptional skills."

Beth just smiled. Hearing her sister compliment her was a very rare occasion, especially if it involved her twelfth century hobby.

"You were all really good." Angel said proudly. "Your moves you learned from Tae kwon do really give you the edge and all of you had really good hand eye co ordination with the weapons".

"You should have seen Dad!" added Liam, "He was so good too."

"We were just about to look at the weapons' cabinet."

Beth walked over to the array of weapons and picked up a long sword.

"This has got really good balance." she beamed, "Although I usually fight with a single handed sword."

There were lots of very scary looking weapons in the cupboard, however my eldest daughter seemed to know quite a few of their names as I could hear words like, "bearded axe, winged spear, glave, hatchet, reaping hook and Dane axe." all of which I did not have a clue about, but which the rest of my family seemed very interested in. As I wandered off I could still hear words floating behind me, "bill hook, mace and dagger…" I thought I should just go and lie down.

We ended the first full day at the Hyperion with a Chinese take away and we fulfilled Kate's ambition of having the take away in the small white containers that you see in American films that are none existent in England.

That night I went upstairs after the boys had said they were going to bed. I knocked on Liam's door.

"Night Liam, will you be OK?"

"Fine, Mum what do you mean?"

"I know it's hard to be on your own…"

"I'll be fine." he said with a definite,' that's enough' message given to me.

"OK but just to let you know, Angel said he would be in his room which is number 217 if you need anything."

"Mum."

"I'm going."

I knocked on Finn's door. As I walked in I was bombarded with, "If I wake up in the night can I go to Beth because last night I woke up and Liam wasn't here and I didn't want to go to him and show that I couldn't be alone without him and so I went into Beth and I slept in with her and she is so kind and she didn't mind and said I could come back tonight but I did disturb her and so do you think she will mind again?"

"No of course not, that's what big sisters are for." I said and kissed him goodnight.

Kate had gone out with Gunn to get some Cookie dough ice cream as Lorne said that he knew an excellent recipe which involved ice cream. Angel and Beth were sitting on the sofa deep in conversation. As they were talking he was absent mindedly twisting her long hair in his fingers. I wondered if he had done that to Clare O'Malley all those years ago.

After Kate returned and she and Lorne started to make the cookie dough recipe which involved chocolate and chocolate biscuits, I just felt the calories wafting out of the kitchen so I thought I would leave them to it and go to bed.

Next morning true to form I found Finn snuggled up to Beth again. I wandered down to Angel's room and knocked gently and went in I saw Angel sleeping in his bed, but then had to do a double take as he was also sleeping in his chair. Oh when they were asleep, Angel and Liam were really the double of each other.

The likeness was breathtaking.