A/N Sorry it has taken so long to update real life took over for a while, but now the summer holidays are here I can spend more time writing. Thank you for your reviews, you are all very kind.

Chapter 8

Lorne was of course right and the children were starving by the time the pizza was delivered; it was like looking at a group of chimpanzees who had only recently discovered food and everything was new and had to be tested and eaten as fast as possible. I wasn't hungry as I was worried about David. My David, my wonderfully sensible husband who normally had to check at least three times before committing to a take away choice but who was at this moment going into a law firm - made up of senior partners who came from God knows where and an assortment of humans and demons – to find out what was going on and to pay back for the earlier visit by Lindsey McDonald.

"Clare, he will be alright, he's with Angel." Cordy told me reassuringly. I wasn't convinced.

Gunn had started telling stories of their various encounters with demons and Wolfram and Hart – the children thought it was great and I must admit, Gunn told a very good story but it didn't really help my anxiety about what David was heading in to.

Lorne put on a DVD of Monsters Inc – how did he know it was the family's favourite? Oh yes, that demon thing. It did take my mind off current events for a while – I loved hearing all the children laugh at the film and it was good to hear Gunn, Cordy, Fred and Wesley laughing too. Lorne kept on putting in," I taught them everything I know." And the thing was, I believed him!

Fred found some more pizza in the freezer and so cooked that which was shared out among my four hungry children. Thank goodness they didn't have a fight every day or else I would be eaten out of house and home!

"I bet Dad kicks butt!" announced Finn through a mouthful of pizza.

Beth looked at him with the, 'I know but not in front of Mum' face which he completely ignored only to be fuelled by his brother.

"Yes, when we were training I didn't realize Dad was so good. I thought he'd be like Mum."

"And what's that?" I asked.

"Rubbish." Came the voices of all my children.

"Wait a minute!" said Fred, perhaps you underestimate what your Mum can do,"You are not being fair."

Beth smiled, "Mum is wonderful, she can listen, tell jokes, cook, have endless patience, make anything from two egg boxes and a piece of sticky tape, tell stories, sing, dance, be supportive, tend to wounds, be a taxi driver, wash team basket ball kits with two hours notice, cater for all our friends when they arrive un announced and many, many more amazing activities she does to be our mum as well as teach and be a wife BUT she cannot fight."

"She might if she needed to protect you." A voice came from behind me.

"Dad!" all the children shouted.

They all rushed to him. I turned round and took a sharp intake of breath.

David was standing in front of me. He was safe. He had a black eye and bruises and blood on his face but he was alive.

"David." I went to him and put my arms around him. "Thank God." I whispered into his chest. "I was so worried."

Then I noticed Angel standing on his own – he too was battered and bruised but in one piece. I went to him and hugged him.

"What happened?" asked Beth.

"Well," said Angel, "All I can say is that Wolfram and Hart will not be bothering us for a while and that Lindsey McDonald offers an apology for any distress he caused you."

"You got him to say that?" I was amazed.

"No." answered Angel, "David did."

"Way to go Dad!" shouted Liam and gave David a high five.

I was speechless. I knew David would protect our family, but when it actually came to the physical side of protection I hadn't thought about that.

Cordy, as ever, rescued the situation by saying that she needed to get David and Angel's wounds cleaned and treated and then they could tell us what happened.

After they had been cleaned up the cuts and bruising didn't look too bad.

I wanted to know what had happened. I am sure that David and Angel gave a very mild version of the actual events but they told me that Angel got them into Wolfram and Hart and that he found Lindsey's office and then David took over.

"Did you find out why they wanted Mum?" asked Kate.

David and Angel looked at each other.

That was not good. My stomach churned slightly.

"Clare is the eldest of the bloodline." Replied Angel.

"Yes she is old." Remarked Liam, smiling at me.

"Watch it." I laughed, trying to lift the sudden heaviness that had fallen on everyone since Kate asked the question. I knew that Liam was trying to do the same and not be intentionally rude – as he normally is.

I looked at Angel. "But surely you are the eldest of the blood line?"

"I have vampire blood; the blood they need is human."

Need and human were words that I definitely did not like.

"What do they want to do with the human blood?" asked Finn.

"Wolfram and Hart have found a way to use the blood from my blood line to remake a vampire that would be like Angelus but would be totally in the control of Wolfram and Hart."

Silence.

"So…" I went on. "So I would be used to be made into a vampire and work for Wolfram and Hart."

"Yes." Replied David.

Silence.

"They can do that?" asked Finn.

"Yes." Replied Angel.

Silence.

I blurted out more of a statement than anything else, "I don't want to be a vampire like that and… and.. I can't fight!"

Wesley now took over saying that he would make sure that it would never happen and that he would begin the research that would help us. Gunn also said that he would find out what could be done and Cordy and Angel said they would contact the Powers that be.

"The powers that be what?" asked Kate.

"It's complicated." Responded Cordy.

That's when I saw Team Angel really go into action. David and Wesley were on the computers looking up information and making copious notes. Angel, Gunn and Cordy disappeared, Angel and Cordy to go and find the powers that be and Gunn to follow his own line of enquiry.

Lorne said that he was going to take the children, Fred and I to Caritas to take our minds off events and I thought that would be a very good idea. Before he left, Angel had said that Beth could drive the Plymouth which I didn't think was such a good idea but I seemed to be in the minority. However I was soon impressed by the way my eldest daughter handled the car and in no time we were walking down the stairs of Caritas. Yet again the calmness of Lorne's wonderful bar infused in my body and I felt instantly more relaxed. I could tell the atmosphere of the bar had the same effect on the children.

I loved seeing Beth, Kate, Liam and Finn's faces when they saw who was drinking and singing in the bar. Lorne had the bar staff make up non alcoholic cocktails for Beth, Kate, Finn and Liam. Beth said she wouldn't drink as she was driving. Time passed well and it was really good when the children all got up to sing, "Alright now," by Free which is my favourite song. Seeing my children singing together on the stage of a demon bar with their arms wrapped around one another to the delight of all will stay with me forever.

As they were singing, Lorne's face changed and he looked at me.

"Well," he said, "I don't know how this will change the state of play, but let me tell you how special Kate is."

"All my children are special." I said proudly.

"I know." He paused. "But Kate is the only one of your children who has the potential to become the next Slayer."