Chapter 12

I found Fred and Lorne, who asked many questions about Buffy and her family. Angel had been making phone calls and had arranged for Beth and Kate to see Faith. He was going to take them the next day, after that we would have one more day and then home. I couldn't believe what an action packed time we had had.

Various Kerrigans arose at different times during the morning. Finn and Liam wanted to go and see Faith too. Initially, Angel said no as he didn't think it was a good idea to take the two boys to a women's prison. However, he didn't bargain for the persuasive power of teenagers. In the end they wore him down and he agreed. It made me smile as my boys did the pincer action of attack that they so often did on me when they wanted something. Thinking about it, they never seemed to do it to David.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing. Beth and Kate said that they would take the boys to the leisure complex after lunch, and Fred said she would tag along too.

Over coffee Angel told David and I that Willow was also looking into a protection spell for us.

"Is Willow a really powerful witch?" asked David.

"Incredibly so, she was able to return my soul to my body when I became Angelus."

"Was that recent?" I queried, not believing that Angel could ever become Angelus in recent times.

"A couple of years ago," He told us what happened. There was another famous Kerrigan silence.

I was trying to get my mind round the story. "So... Buffy killed you... and you went to Hell... but you had just had your soul back?"

"Yes."

"And... she killed you." I know I sounded stupid, but I had to repeat this for myself to try and understand.

"Well technically I was dead already, but she cast me into Hell."

"Did she know?"

"She just found out."

"She was very brave; because she had to sacrifice you seal the entrance to Hell."

"Yes she was, and she did seal it up."

Another Kerrigan silence.

I had to ask the question.

"What was Hell like?"

"Continual torment."

"Oh, you mean like it says in the books?"

"Yes."

"You don't really want to talk about this, do you?"

"Not really."

"Oh Clare," sighed David, "Finally, you have worked that out." He turned to Angel, "Sorry, Angel, she can be sometimes very slow on the uptake."

David patted my arm like I was a small child with special needs. I pulled my tongue out at him.

Angel laughed, "No wonder you two have been married for so long, you complement each other very well."

"You mean we are like chalk and cheese?" replied David.

"Something like that," Smiled Angel.

"Will Willow's spell give the family double protection?" continued David.

"I am hoping so."

"Will she have to come to England to cast the spell?"asked Beth.

"No, she said she will be able to cast the spell anywhere."

"That's good, but I was hoping she could come over and visit."

"She can come over, Beth, you know she would be very welcome."

"I know," agreed Beth.

From the other side of the room came, "I didn't know Willow was gay." Finn had now joined the conversation.

"Is she?" asked David.

"Yes, Tara is her partner," Finn continued, "Dawn told us."

Liam took over, not wanting to be left out. "She used to go out with a werewolf called Oz."

"Do they have gay werewolves?" I asked. My imagination was going wild.

"No, Mum, listen, this was before, and don't interrupt." Liam gave me one of his frowns. "So Oz was a werewolf and he went away and then she joined a Wicca group."

Finn took up the story. "The Wicca group wasn't very good, but Willow met Tara and they liked each other and when Oz came back he had learned to control the wolf, except for the full moon – you know like in the werewolf films – his cousin bit him – but that's not in a film…"

"STOP!" I pleaded. I had lost the plot.

"He's a musician." It was now Liam confusing me, and ignoring my plea,

"Who is?"

"Oz."

"How does he play when he has paws?"

"Mum!" They both shouted. Finn continued, "No, he's only a musician when he's human."

I knew I shouldn't have asked, but I never learn.

"What does he do when he's a werewolf?"

"Eat people," Stated Liam.

"Liam!"

Finn was getting irate now and began to rush; "No he doesn't, stupid, not you Mum, Liam. During the three nights of the full moon, Oz goes into a cage and doesn't harm anyone. He left Willow to be with Tara."

"Well I'd eat people if I was a werewolf."

"Liam!"

He continued, ignoring my protest again. "Starting with my art teacher, and then I'd work through all the R.E. teachers and then…"

"That's enough, Liam." It was David, and his words were final. Liam knew not to push it any further. Finn was about to take a breath and continue, but David looked at him and Finn said nothing and gave a weak smile.

"So, who wants a drink?" I said, changing the subject. Everyone said they did. Angel came to help.

"How does David do that?" Angel asked quietly.

"What? Oh, the Dad thing?"

"Yes, he's very impressive. He has this quiet authoritative air about him that expects respect."

I agreed with Angel, "He very rarely raises his voice, and he has never, ever hit any of the children."

Angel looked at me. "Well, I shout more," I admitted, "and have been known to poke Liam and Kate on occasion, especially Liam. They try my patience and I have had to count to ten innumerable times! I tell you frustration, compromise and forgiveness are the key words to parenthood!"

"I don't know if I would have the patience," admitted Angel.

"Yes you would, it comes with the job, that, and the ability to have continual and unbounding love for your children."

After lunch the children and Fred went to the leisure complex and I began to think about the practicalities of getting ready for the return home. I had made a tentative foray into the children's rooms for clothes to be washed as I had decided to do as much washing as I could in the Hyperion, so I wouldn't have the mound when we returned home. I forgot to ask Joyce if having the Slayer as a daughter, they did more around the house, but I suspected that the answer would be no – just wishful thinking.

The hotel had a brilliant laundry room – I could use four machines at once and there were tumble driers and a drying room for delicates. Heaven, and then I thought what a sad person I was getting excited over laundry facilities! Everything that had happened to us and I was looking forward to using the large tumble drier…

After I emerged from a very satisfying session with a pile of dry, clean clothes, I learned that Wesley had called and reported that they had found the seer. After some negotiation the seer had cast the spell. So we were protected from Wolfram and Hart.

Relief.

Wesley, Gunn and Cordy would be heading back and would join us in the early hours of the morning.

I decided we should have some sensible food for the evening meal and so went to the supermarket. David and Angel were in deep conversation and Lorne said that he had one or two things to sort out for our last evening at the Hyperion.

When the children and Fred came back we sat down for the meal and spent the evening watching DVD's.

I eventually persuaded Beth and Kate to go up and start packing and reluctantly the boys went up as well.

David, Angel, Fred and I waited for Cordy, Gunn and Wesley to return which they did at 2.00am. They were exhausted but very pleased at the outcome of their meeting with the seer. The Powers that Be certainly knew their stuff – I supposed that's what they were there for. The protection that the seer gave could not be broken or reduced; it was for life and not only ours but also for the future generations.

Before we headed upstairs, Cordy manoeuvred me into the office.

"How was Buffy?"

"Fine, and I think Angel is too, we have already had this conversation in the car and Angel said that he was alright."

"Just checking," she said, "he has the knack of going all quiet after he has seen her, so I was just bracing myself for Mr Moody Pants." The name made me laugh and played havoc with my imagination – what did moody pants look like? I knew I was tired when I started visualizing them. It was going to be a long day tomorrow with the children meeting the second Slayer of their visit. Two Slayers for the price of one. I wondered what Kate would make of Faith, who all all counts, was very different to Buffy.

Tomorrow would tell.