Title: Our Sons and Daughters Chapter Title: One By One Author: Baby Blues E-mail: purely_blissful@hotmail.com Rated: R Disclaimer: Characters are not mine, except for the children and the story. Summary: Angel gets a taste of each individual. More drama. Dedication: To Tina, cause I think shes super awesome and cause I love her. Whohoo! *start singin* hip, hip, hop . . . what was that again? *lol* Excerpt: ~Angel: You cant just leave them here and walk out . . . Theres eight of them out there! ~Whistler: Theyre only children, Angel . . . And plus, theyre not evil or anything. Theyre not here to try and kill you in your sleep if thats what youre worried about. ~Angel: Well that just puts my fears aside. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whistler shook his head and turned to look at Angel. I know what youre thinking, Angel. Dont mentally beat yourself up over this. You had to do what you had to do. But she died anyway, Angel said in a low and dangerous tone. But she came back. Thats what matters. Whistler returned to his seat and once again poured more spoons of sugar into the concoction than necessary. Austin didnt suffer there with the High n Mighties. They treated the kid like a prince. The boy even had servants. Angel stared at him. But he couldve been here . . . with me, with his mother, he said, trying to fight off the many images that attacked his mind; Buffy holding a baby in her arms while she rocked him to sleep, Buffy, Angel, and a handsome toddler in a picnic in the park, Angel dropping off a rambunctious little boy off to school, Buffy and Angel teaching a 16 year old teenager how to drive . . . Angel paused. Okay, that thought wasnt as pleasant, but the idea of watching that teenager grow into a man and graduating college at Harvard more than made up for it. Whistler folded his hands on the table. And what would you have done? Stayed home and change his diapers while Buffy fought on the night? He shook his head and went back to his coffee, You would have been completely powerless. Austin would have been dead before he could say Mama. Well, he didnt, did he? Angel snapped. Whistler sighed and the vampire frowned. Are you saying that what I did was supposed to happen? That I did the right thing? For myself? For Buffy . . . for Austin? As corny as it sounds, Angel, everything happens for a reason, the demon replied. Austin was destined to be with the PTB. He was treated like a God without it ever getting to his head, and he grew up with wisdom and knowledge beyond your imagination. Angel grew angry. How dare the Powers try to take his right as a father? He fought for them and they took away his future with Buffy and the son he never knew. Four years, the child wouldve been three by now if he hadnt turned back the clock on that day. Whistler read his thoughts. He watched you every moment he could get. Watched moments of Buffys life as well as yours. Whistler smiled, He may not have been here with you physically, but the boy was here. He had cried, laughed, and shared moments with both his mother and father . . . whether they were together or apart. He saw your victories and defeats, your lives and your deaths. He saw it all and experienced it all with you. Angel sat back on his chair, some of his anger diminishing. And now hes here. Whistler nodded. And to stay for good. Austin will definitely be one permanent fixture you wont mind having. He paused, Hes a good kid, Angel. Youll really be proud of that one. Even tempered and kind with the ability to take control . . . as you clearly saw. Angel couldnt help but smile. It sounded all too familiar. Like Buffy. Like Buffy. Angels smile widened. He saw it in the boy. The gentleness, the spark, the sincerity. It spoke volumes of who he belonged to. Hes here because he needs a family. A chance to make up for lost time. I have a feeling he wont give you much trouble. After all, he has the wisdom of the Powers. But too smart for his own good. Reminding me of someone else I know, Whistler said pointedly. Angel laughed lightly at that. How about the others?
Whoa . . . Angel said, hands up in the air, Spike? Im still trying to get used to the idea of Buffy being here and now you wanna throw Spike in there as well? Just listen, Angel, Whistler said. A lot of things will happen in the upcoming months. Let me just warn you now while Im still here. You can have your pity party later . . . when Im well away and gone. Angel glared at him but nodded, uncertain. Spike, at this moment, is on the brink of self-destruction. He doesnt need to be blamed by a child from another dimension who was raised by another Spike. A Spike whos a world different from himself. And he needs to know that. Angel rubbed his face and looked at him. He had sensed Aidens troubles. His personality more than made it clear. It was like a big neon sign in Vegas. And the thought of having to deal with that was not just terrifying, but exhausting. As I told you before, Im already having difficulties with Connor. Another reproduction of Spike will kill me. Permanently. Whistler chuckled. Youll do fine with him, he assured, even though he didnt know himself. He may be a dick sometimes but his humor will amuse you if not drive you insane once in a while. That helps a lot. He needs a father figure, and I have a feeling hell be turning to you more than hell turn to Spike, Whistler informed him, getting up for more coffee, There are just some things that cant be healed. Sometimes it scars, and it leaves a reminder. That will be Aidens biggest fault. What about Buffy? His mother? Whistler shrugged. Im not really sure what happened. From what I gathered, she left him and Spike when Aiden was only a baby. At least, thats what Ive concluded. Whistler smiled. Buffys gonna find herself with a big fan when she gets here. Angel frowned. Why do you say that? If Buffy did leave him and Spike, Aiden was never bitter about it, surprisingly. He never knew her except from his prized collection of her journals he considers as Bibles. Hes put her on a pedestal. Shes a goddess to him, the epitome of good and everything sacred. Hes gonna be a Mommas Boy. I can feel it, Whistler smiled at the thought of Aiden, an arrogant son of a bitch, bending to Buffys will like a slave. Somehow, it just sounded too good to be true. Angel smiled. I understand how that is . . . completely. Whistler chuckled and returned to his seat.
Whose are they? Xanders? Angel chuckled lightly at the thought. Buffy may have strayed in a few dimensions with Spike but . . . Xander? He mentally laughed again. No way . . . Whistler said nothing and Angels amused expression fell faster than a dress on prom night. Please tell me its not Xander, he begged, wanting to get up from his seat to kneel on the linoleum floor. Whistler shook his head, almost looking disgusted as well. No. Angel sighed in relief, but was still tense as he asked, Then whose are they? Buffy and . . . Angelus. Dear God, Angel whispered. Thats what I said. Angel stared at the table with shock written all over his face. No wonder he felt more than just deja-vu, but sensed a tiny bit of dangerous familiarity that gave him the chills and sent his blood freezing with a tinge of dread. He didnt know how to make of this new twist. Angel knew he was different from his demon, his soul changes his body . . . even if it was only in the slightest. But Angelus blood ran in those kids' veins. Pure demon blood, and Angel wondered what that meant for the two teenagers. Buffy killed Angelus before he found out she was pregnant. This was during Season 2, the demons eyes widened when Angel gave him a questioning look. I mean, it was during that whole thing with Acathla. Buffy and Angelus gave into some unbound desires. You know how that goes. Angel frowned. The thought of Buffy falling into Angelus bed made him shiver . . . and jealous as hell, but now was not the time to get all hussy over it. Nothing happened here, in this dimension . . . or so he remembered . . . Anyhow, Buffy raised them in LA as best she could . . . but died when they were eleven, Whistler said sadly, and causing Angels stomach to churn painfully, Buffys death just that summer still fresh in his mind and heart. The Watchers Council got a hold of them after that, the demon shook his head, They kept them for two years for observation. They didnt want Mini Angeluses running around, he snorted. Angel clenched his fists in fury. The Council had struck again. Giles finally got a hold of them and brought them to Sunnydale. Theyre 18 now. Angel turned his head, his troubled eyes looking out the door as though he could feel their torment. The death Buffy had been hard on them, he could sense that in their weary eyes. But what bothered them the most, he could tell, was the fact that Angelus was their father. It left doubts and fear. Angel couldnt blame them, he felt the demons presence in him all day. Theyre inseparable. I sometimes worry that they depend on each other too much, Whistler voiced his concern, Its not healthy even though theyre twins. They need to trust and let in others once in a while. Angel nodded in agreement.
Spike? Angel asked in surprise. Whistler nodded. He loved Buffy that much and understood that he would hurt more if she did love you and continued staying with him just because it was the right thing to do. Angel couldnt blame him. No matter how hard it would be, he wouldve done the same thing. Brooke doesnt understand the matters of the heart. Thats one of her faults, and one thing she needs to learn . . . that love is love . . . theres nothing in between, and theres no way around it. Theres no gray in her world, Angel concluded then. Only white and black, Whistler confirmed. And her fathers her hero. And I bet Spikes done everything in his power to make sure that Buffy and Angel were seen at a bad lighting, Angel smiled sardonically. Whistler unexpectedly shook his head. He didnt have to. Brooke has her own mind, Angel. She didnt need her father for her to come up with her own opinions and conclusions. She just needed excuses. Any excuse down from Buffy being too much of a lovesick schoolgirl to you having too much of a big forehead. Angel glared at him coldly. You have no idea what divorce can do to a child. I have some idea, Angel said, remembering the time when he had watched Buffy crying dejectedly in the bathroom while her parents fought about her going out with Tyler. He knew, even though Buffy never talked about it, that her parents destroyed a part of her. Part of that security and love a child needs that could only come straight from his or her parents. Buffy may not have reacted exactly the way Brooke did, but the result was the same. But beneath all that, shes too much like Buffy, Whistler smirked, And the best part is . . . she doesnt even realize it. Whistler sipped his coffee. When I found her, she was beating the crap out of a Lyxus demon. Man, does she have some quips to put Buffy to shame. Angel laughed at that, remembering Buffys tendency to talk to her kill as though they care what she's saying. Especially vampire fledglings who are too young to really understand anything beyond eating and killing whenever theyre on the hunt. Shes an awesome fighter. Almost staked my ass too, Whistler shook his head, Took me a while to convince her that I wasnt there to cause any trouble. I think I still have the bruises to prove it. Is she gonna be a handful too? the vampire naively asked. Whistler chuckled. Theyre all a handful, Angel, but yeah, Whistler paused for a moment, thinking of the rights words to describe the little blonde firecracker, Just think Buffy and add a dose of a . . . a female Spike . . . like . . . like Faith. Angel groaned. Yup, she was definitely gonna be a handful.
Whistler nodded sadly. Yep, he answered and paused to look at Angel, trying to gather up the nerve to tell him why, In Paiges dimension, you didnt exactly survive that whole ordeal with Darla coming back from the dead. You were too far down to have been saved . . . by anyone . . . even yourself. Angel closed his eyes, remembering that time of his unlife. It was the lowest he had ever been since receiving his soul. Who . . . who killed . . . me? Not Buffy, if thats what youre thinking, Whistler replied and then paused once again, It was Faith. Angel nodded, not knowing how to react to that. Anyhow, the rest of the A.I. Team went to Sunnydale after that. With their help, Buffy won and survived all the Apocalypses that was thrown at her. Seven years later, The End of Days was over and she lived Happily Ever After with Spike and had three kids, Paige being the oldest. Angel frowned. Why is she here if her life is so . . . absolute? The underworld will be throwing a curve ball around the time she returns to her dimension, just a few seconds after she left. There was no way Buffy or Spike would let me borrow their eldest to be trained to fight demons and other little nasties that go bump in the night, and theres also no time there for her to prepare. Thats why time has paused in her world so she can be tutored and trained here. The PTB hope to return her there in a year or two, until then . . . her physical appearance wont be changing, and she wont be dying anytime soon. So her presence here is only temporary. Whistler nodded. Shes a tough cookie. Willing and eager to learn, the demon continued, I didnt learn much about her throughout the whole time she was with me since she was always so quiet . . . except for that little tirade you witnessed. But I think its only because of the fact that I took her from her home and threw her into this hell. Whistler shook his head desolately. It wasnt fair for her, but we both know how that goes. Angel nodded in agreement. Shes gonna have a tough time here, and a tougher time when she returns to her world. How old is she? Just turned 16. Angel closed his eyes. Just when shes only supposed to get her drivers license and worry about boys and passing Algebra. Whistler sighed, But shes ready to get started, and she knows and understands what she needs to do. She has a feeling if she gets this over and done with, learn a few Karate moves and kill a few demons and vampires, shes up and ready to go back home and kick ass by herself. Angel snorted. She has a lot to learn then.
Tristans a loner with the intelligence of 10 Einsteins and then some. A real child genius if I ever saw one. He could put Willow and Oz to shame, Whistler smiled slightly, rubbing his neck tiredly before a yawn escaped through his lips. Hes a silent observer with a keen sense of the feelings and thoughts of others. Hes very much like Austin, but a mute compared to the older boy. And thats saying much, right? Yep, Whistler verified. The demon then paused, his eyes turning somber and dream-like, Tristan . . . whenever I look into his eyes, I see the ocean, and . . . and hes standing alone on the beach just staring at the waves like its talking to him . . . taunting him. And I picture him walking to that blue ocean . . . and drowning in his personal misery. Whistler paused and Angel frowned at the sinister portrayal of one of his own sons. The other demon suddenly burst out laughing, I know . . . its madness but . . . its there and I cant seem to get rid of it. Did something happen to him? Angel asked curiously, knowing he was gonna flip once he hears his story as well. Was there no happy ending for any of his children in any dimension? He was conceived on Buffys 17th birthday. Angel looked up, startled, and Whistler only nodded, And he was originally named Alan Patrick. Angel remained silent as he recognized the Gaelic origins of the name as well as the connection to one of his dearest friends. Acathla came earlier over there than it did here . . . and Willow never got to finish the Gypsy spell before Buffy sent Angelus to hell. And no spells can reach the hell dimension. Whistler nodded his head in reply. Buffy ran away to L.A. and spent the rest of her pregnancy there. Angelus returned just when you came back in this dimension. Angel looked up, alarmed. They were fine for 6 years until Angelus finally came looking. He mentally tortured her with the usual stuff; nailed puppies on her door, left her boss hand in her microwave, not knowing the whole time about Tristan, which is quite surprising considering how smart your demon is. Angel glared at him and Whistler cleared his throat and took a gulp of his coffee. He finally came to her one night and began to turn her . . . Buffy shoved a knife into her heart right when Tristan walked in. Oh, God . . . The image of Angelus in game face, blood dripping from his lips, and holding Buffys limp form came crashing through his brain. As well as the visualization of a young 6 year old walking in and watching in horror as his mother killed herself. Angel felt like he was gonna be sick. Angelus couldnt save Buffy . . . and after tearing down her apartment, he finally took the boy and left. Angel gulped. Angelus raised him. Whistler nodded somberly. And changed his name to Tristan which means . . . Sad . . . in Gaelic, Angel finished for him. Whistler took a deep breath and slowly let it out. The demon didnt abuse him, he actually raised the boy with the best tutors, took him everywhere from Hawaii to France and even Indonesia . . . But hes also seen a lot. Angelus might have seemed like a saint when it came to the boy, but a demon could only go so far. He killed in front of him, Angel deduced without qualms. Whistler nodded again. And maimed and tortured. Threatened and raped. Angel stared at the ceiling, fighting the tears. What he must have gone through. Angelus never did it on purpose, of course, but Tristan would come home early once in a while or walk into a room without knocking. But Angelus never hid it either. You know how he is. He did what he wanted whenever and wherever he wanted it. It was impossible for Tristan to be oblivious for the 9 years he was with the demon. Angel blanched. Nine years? Making him 15 years old. Hes too young . . . to have seen what he, undoubtedly, saw. Angel looked mad enough to kill. God! . . . Why? Whistler could only shrug. It was the way it had to be. My son didnt deserve it, Angel growled threateningly. And now, youre gonna make up for it. Nothing can make up for what happened to him, Angel said angrily, getting up on his feet and pacing like a caged tiger. He couldnt believe the PTB would do this to a child. Even if they give him that everything happens for a reason bullshit they cant seem to get tired of. An innocent child was thrown into a world that belonged to fallen angels. It happened. No, Whistler, shit happens . . . this, what happened to him? Doesnt happen to everyone, Angel ranted on. But hes here now . . . and hes safer here. He has your protection. Angel finally stopped pacing and breathed out a defeated sigh. He is safer here.
Angel glared at him. He was talking about his daughter here, even though she wasnt . . . exactly . . . technically. But I didnt, Whistler quickly saved himself. Shes as boy crazy as the next 13 year old with an appetite for Justin Timberlands and Ashton Ketchup. He paused, frowned, and then mentally waved it off as one of his weird things. You may want to look into them . . . I think they may be demons. Possibly, was Angels only reply. She thinks chewing gum is unladylike and Hanson was so five years ago. Her favorite colors pink and she thinks Britney Spears a slut . . . Oh, and you might want to look into her too, she may also be a demon. A succubus perhaps. She loves Chupa-Chup, whatever that is, but I have a feeling it may be taffy . . . or a new nickname for Skittles. Anyway, shes not much into books but she likes reading fashion articles and her horoscope in Seventeen Magazine, which she modeled for a few times. She thinks her dad, thats you, looks like a cross between James Dean and a Romance Novel hero. Angel cringed, thinking of Buffy WAY before she became The Slayer. She may have been cute with an unbound soul and a heart that told all, but he had to admit, she was quite a Valley Girl. And when did he start looking like James Dean and trashy novel characters? But those were the better moments I had with this girl, when she let herself smile and laugh. The times between these? Whistler almost cried at the memory, It was filled with complaining, weeping for you and Buffy, and, more importantly, she bothered the hell outta the others which made THEM pissier than usual, and so everyone ended up complaining and angry too. He shook his head. Good luck with that one, Whistler grumbled. Angel stared at him. Does she have ANY redeeming qualities? Whistler thought about it for a moment. She does have a pretty smile and an infectious laugh, other than that . . . the demon shook his head aggressively, No, I cant think of a thing. Youve never really been fond of children, especially young ones like her, Angel pointed out, wanting to defend his own flesh and blood, even though it wasnt technically true. And you wonder why. And is she also here temporarily? Yes, and you can thank the PTB for that later when you realize what I mean, he mumbled out as though it was some big secret, Amelia . . . Ariella, Angel corrected once again. Whistler continued on, ignoring him. In her dimension, the existence of demons have remained a folk lore since time began. But thats about to change, and the girl needs to be ready to return and fight to save her world. Thats a lot to ask for a little girl, Angel said worriedly. Shes her worlds only hope. Angel understood how that was. The girl would gain so much here, but also loose more: her innocence, her vulnerability, everything that made her 13 years old. And Angel felt guilty for he will be one of the reasons why that would disappear. It wasnt fair for her, he realized, but not much in this world, or any other world for that matter, was fair. As Austin had said, life in every dimension wasnt hearts and roses, unless they were really lucky and ended up in a place where money grew on trees, evil didnt exist, and Michael Jackson didnt get enough plastic surgery to put 20 women with breast implants to shame. I have a feeling shes gonna have the hardest time getting with the program. She was sheltered and thought her father was a God . . . And Im nothing of the sort, Angel said glumly. Whistler nodded and sat back and stretched with a yawn. And thats all 8 of them. The demon stood on his feet, rubbed his eyes, and grinned at him. Good luck with that. Have fun. Dont let any of them die. And . . . smile, Angel, smile. The vampire stood up in a panic. You cant just leave them here and walk out, he raved, Theres eight of them out there! he exclaimed, motioning towards the lobby with an exaggerated wave of his hand. Whistler chuckled. Theyre only children, Angel . . . And plus, theyre not evil or anything. Theyre not here to try and kill you in your sleep if thats what youre worried about. The vampire threw his hands in the air, Well that just puts my fears aside. Listen, Angel. I know how this seems to you. Youve been handed 8 teenagers, each differing from the next like the colors of the rainbow. The only way to do that is by getting help. Call Buffy. Put your petty problems aside and work together. Figure it out and take care of them. Whistler stretched and began walking towards the door with Angel right behind him. You cant just do this! Angel exclaimed, not noticing the eight teenagers who now had his full attention as they ate pizza and Chinese quietly. Bye, kids! Whistler waved at them, eager to leave before the vampire went even more ballistic than he already was with the fear of having to take care 8 virtual strangers. Dont do anything I wouldnt do! he warned. Eat dick! Aiden shouted at him in return. The others chuckled and laughed softly. Whistler frowned at the boy. Angel paled even more. Good luck, the short man grumbled, and within a second, the demon disappeared through the door and straight into the darkness, leaving Angel with doubts that it wasnt Whistler at all but an evil copy of Whistler that had just dumped 8 of his bastards in Angels care. He turned around and found 8 pairs of eyes gazing at him with curiosity. He looked at each of them and his heart new the truth he couldnt deny. He saw Buffy in all of them . . . her kindness in Austin, her love of life in Aiden, her pride in Liam, her humbleness in Eliza, her spark in Brooke, her sincerity in Tristan, her eagerness in Paige, and her beauty in Ariella. They all came from her and held a part of her body, blood, and soul . . . Angel vomited up blood on the floor. Eeww . . . Ahh . . . An eruption of haughty laughter. Thats so gross. Ammm . . . Ughlk! And someone puked along with him. My shirt! Continued to Chapter 3: White Stucco Finish Back to Chapter 1: Lucky #8 |
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