A/N Back from hols now - thanks for the brilliant reviews x

Chapter 11

"I don't understand." I whispered.

"It's just that when your daughter is the Slayer, and they go out and patrol, they are in constant danger."

My stomach started to sink and I could feel myself holding my breath. Joyce continued. "I am sure Buffy has not told me everything that happens. It's when I come downstairs and see her treating her wounds."

I felt a cold shiver go through my body. I could be in the same position, watching Kate, my little girl, do the same.

Then Joyce brightened up, "But she will have super strength and you will never have to worry about undoing a tough jar lid ever again!"

"Clare, you are a mother, you worry, it's what we do. If there is any comfort to give you, I can tell you that as the Slayer, Buffy has the perception, strength and ability for that role. You worry when your children are away from you." I could feel my head nodding when she said that. " I worry about Dawn going to school and the friends she is meeting."

"Does being the Slayer make Buffy easier to cope with, you know, the teenage stuff?"

"No!" she said categorically.

"Oh," I continued, " I was just hoping that being the chosen one would make them easier to live with."

"That's wishful thinking, but it doesn't happen!" We both laughed.

"Your children are so good looking. What about those boys? So handsome! I'm sure they will turn many a young girl's head."

We sat and looked at one another and both had the same thought.

"Dawn!" shouted Joyce.

"Liam, Finn!" I added. As there was no response we both went into the living room. David, Angel and Giles were standing around the fireplace, talking.

"David, where are the boys?"

"No idea." He replied.

I turned to Joyce and mouthed, 'typical' to her and she smiled and nodded back. I followed Joyce upstairs. She knocked on a door and went in. The three teenagers were all sitting round a computer screen playing a very noisy game. Dawn was in the middle.

"Have you told the boys what it's like to be Buffy's sister?"

Without looking away from the screen Dawn replied, "Yes … boring."

"And have you asked the questions you wanted?" I prompted the boys.

"Yes." They both said, their eyes not leaving the vision of mass destruction and mayhem that was appearing in front of them.

Joyce looked at me; we both shrugged our shoulders and went back down to the kitchen. On our way we passed Beth and Willow who were chatting very animatedly and looking interested in what each other had to say. Buffy and Kate were nowhere to be seen, so I presumed they must be in Buffy's room.

When we sat down in the kitchen Joyce asked, "So how did you meet Angel?" I proceeded to tell her the whole story. It was really good to be able to talk to someone else apart from family, as the fact that you met a relative who is two hundred and fifty years old, and a vampire, is not something you can drop in casual conversation in the staff room or out with friends. We were still talking when Spike came back from what appeared to be a cigarette break. He pulled up another kitchen stool and came and sat down next to me.

"So, how does someone like you become related to Angel?"

"It's a long story and I'm sure Joyce can tell you, however, what I'd like to know is your story."

His eyes lit up as it would appear that few people, if any, had asked this question. He began to tell me his story about his life, his poetry, his mother and how everything changed when he met Drusilla. His recount of teaming up with Angelus and Darla including some of the milder events they were responsible for, made me have shivers. I couldn't believe that Angel was anything to do with Angelus. We must have been sitting for a quite a while and I was totally engrossed in Spike's stories when there was a'ping' from the oven, which made me jump, and then we laughed and on cue the back door opened and three more young people walked in. They were Xander, Anya and Tara. From nowhere, every other person under twenty two appeared and started sharing out pizza, nibbles and drinks. There were introductions and lots of eating and laughing. I had brought food down with us and the three latest arrivals had come armed with supplies too. David, Giles and Angel joined us and it made quite a gathering.

I managed to steer my way over to Kate.

"How are things?"

"Buffy is amazing!" She beamed through a mouthful of tuna salad.

"Has this visit been helpful?"

"Oh yes. Don't worry, Mum, everything is under control. I'm good, honest," and she turned away to talk to Beth.

I was looking around the room. Joyce was a good mum, and she seemed to be coping with being the mother of the Slayer. Her main advice was to be there when your daughter needs to share, but also to give her space. (A lot of space if I knew Kate!).

I didn't notice Giles coming up to me until he began to speak. "You have a very interesting family, Clare. David was telling me how you met Angel and the incident with Wolfram and Hart and how Kate is a Potential."

"Yes, it's been a whirlwind of an experience. I am sure I am going to take a while to process all the information."

"I'd like to come and visit when I am next in England, if that's alright?"

"Mr. Giles you are more than welcome. Anyone who knows about the more unusual aspects of my family life will always have a place with us!"

"Thank you, Beth and Willow have got on very well. They have a great deal in common and I think Beth brings out the best in people, she is an extremely exceptional young lady. As for your sons, their likeness to Angel is astounding."

"Most of the time, Angel reminds me of Liam, but when he is smiling – he's a dead ringer for Finn." I paused, "When I said 'dead ringer,' it was just an expression, it wasn't meant as a joke…"

"It was quite a good one though." And he took off his glasses and cleaned them.

The noise level in the house was gradually rising as people were becoming more comfortable with each other. Xander seemed so funny and genuine along with Anya, his girlfriend who told me that she used to be a vengeance demon. I surprised myself how I seemed to take everything in my stride, not being phased by the fact that my boys were talking to a bleached blond vampire and my husband was talking to a witch, as I had found out that Willow was a very powerful one.

It was just a day in my life now.

All too soon it was time to go back to L.A. We said our farewells with hugging, and promises of e-mails. Joyce reminded me that she was just a phone call away and I was so grateful of that goodbye message.

When we got back into the car the questions started again.

"Are you alright, Angel?" asked Finn.

"Yes, why?"

"Well…" I could actually see Finn trying to work out what to say. "Seeing Buffy again must have been difficult for you, and, I… I just wanted to check you were alright because you are an important part of my family, so are you really alright?"

Sometimes I was very proud of my children, and this was one of those times.

"Yes," said Angel, "It isn't easy to see her, but I'm learning how to cope and having family around me makes all the difference. Thank you, Finn." Angel changed the subject, "What did you think of Dawn?"

"She's really cute!" jumped in Liam.

"What is it like having your sister as the Slayer?" asked Beth.

"She said that Buffy's just like any other big sister, but she's pretty awesome and no one ever messes with her."

"I'm like that already." Commented Kate.

"Yes, but Buffy's cool and really pretty." Replied Liam.

"And…" the response from Kate was a warning.

"And so are you." Added Finn, the peacemaker.

"Glad we cleared that up." Smirked Kate, poking Liam in the ribs. She turned to me. "You know, Mum, you don't have to worry because if anything did happen to Buffy, which I'm sure it won't, Faith is ready to take over. I mean she's Slayer in waiting."

"Didn't she have a very rocky patch when she became very dark and fought for the baddies?" I loved Finn's use of vocabulary and by the grin on Angel's face so did he.

"Yes," answered Beth, "Willow was telling me all about Faith. She made some wrong decisions –which we all have – but Faith's were quite spectacular, however, she had made the right ones now and is dealing with the consequence."

"Why?" asked Liam.

"Because she is in prison."

"Oh!" he wasn't sure what to say to that.

Beth continued, "I'd like to go and see her and I think Kate should come too. Can you arrange it, Angel?"

"I'll try, but I'm not sure if there will be time before you have to go back to England."

"Wow!" remarked Finn, "Back to normality and … school. Ugh!"

"Somehow," I said, "After this holiday, I don't think things will ever be back to normal again!"

"Sorry," muttered Angel and Kate together, which made us all smile.

"Who said normal is good?" It was the first time David had spoken. He never failed to amaze me. My so called ultra normal and respectable husband, was simply accepting that our lives would be quite different from now on.

"Who's for a Baskin-Robbins?" Again David surprised everyone.

"God Dad, you rock!" The comment from Finn and Liam summed up everyone's thoughts. And yes, the ice cream was good.

On our final part of the journey back to the Hyperion, the children fell asleep – Liam and Finn on each other and Beth and Kate on Angel.

"You're getting squashed." I commented.

"Yes, but I love it," he put his arms around the two sleeping beauties, "and I'll survive. You know, Clare, the concern Finn showed earlier and the fact that I have spent so much time with you all, has made me really feel part of the family and I am truly grateful. You are incredible, taking everything that has been thrown at you in your stride."

"Our family is the most important thing in our lives. And meeting you was meant to be, you have certainly added a new dimension to it!"

David drove on, I'm pleased he did as I fell asleep and only woke up as we were pulling into the Hyperion car park. In a sleepy daze, the children and I wandered up the stairs and to our rooms and fell into bed. I presume David followed on as next morning I woke up next to him.