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NA GRACH CROI


Chapter 23: ‘Agus Seol Sinn Ni; Sinn Tha O’Haras’
(Of Course We Will; We Are O’Haras)


A/N: Thank you to everyone reading this fiction. Thank you to the lovely reviewers, I am sorry I cannot respond personally to each one of you.



Hours turned to days, days to weeks, weeks to months. Life on the O’Hara farm went on, day after day, week after week. It was now early autumn in Ireland and Buffy O’Hara was getting heavy with her first child.

Iarann, William’s horse, had sired a foal with Suicra, Buffy’s mare and the little one was a beauty. Will was always telling Buffy that this was a good sign, a good omen for their own child. The little philly was pure white in color, a rarity in a newborn horse, anywhere. Especially when the sire horse was nearly all dark in color. This meant, of course, that the young pony was special in many ways, a special hybrid and would need a special name.

Will had insisted that Buffy pick out a name for the foal. After pouring over old Irish texts, Buffy picked out the name of ‘Suil’ which meant ‘hope’ in English translation.

So many new and wonderful things had flourished on the farm. Every day, Buffy found a new wonder to see and ponder, breathe in and cherish. She knew that it was her upcoming motherhood that helped make her more sensitive and aware of the wonders and beauty about her. But it was her Will, she realized, that made her life worth living, really. For once in her life, Buffy felt completely safe and content, and so very, very full of hope.

Spike watched his wife scurry about the kitchen, her little body now fairly heavy with their coming child. His Buffy would constantly prattle on about ‘our Patrick this, or our Patrick that’ but Spike himself? He actually wanted their first child to be a girl, a daughter. A honey blond haired beauty, with green eyes like her mother. Tiny, petite even, with a melodic voice like Buffy’s, a daughter to cherish and protect. That’s what Spike wanted, a daughter. For a first child anyway.

The couple, Spike and Buffy, had been to Balleycastle only twice since the unfortunate events of months before. Each time they had traveled into the city, the O’Hara’s had been received with open arms from the townspeople.

“We need to leave, for Ballecastle, early, Princess,” Spike told his wife as she set the dinner table. “Xander and me, we’ve business to attend at the bank in the city. I’m hoping to make it there by 9:00, to have breakfast at the McClay Diner. Would you like that, baby?”

Buffy nodded, happily. Will, herself, Xander and his wife, Nancy, along with their two boys and Tara, were to go to Balleycastle tomorrow. It was her advancing pregnancy, nothing more, that kept Buffy from going to Balleycastle more often then she had.

The good people of the city had re-embraced her after the unhappy events from the Spring and Buffy felt no shyness in seeing any of them. But she held with the tradition that a woman should ‘cover’ her advanced pregnancy and not be too brazen in showing her condition.

However, tomorrow, Will did have business in town, and Buffy had some precious packages to retrieve from the Chase Mercantile. All of the pretty baby clothes were in at the store and Buffy could not wait to visit with Cordelia and her mother again. The Chase women had come to the O’Hara farm, about twice a month now, to visit with Buffy and Tara. They brought Willow with them and Buffy was glad for her sister-in-law for that.


Buffy, in her heart, knew that Cordelia Chase kept her hope that Angel may yet return to the O’Hara farm, someday that is. However, so far? No one had any news of Angel O’Hara’s whereabouts or anything of him. It broke Cordy’s heart, Buffy was well aware, but she kept her tongue about it.

The little group left for Balleycastle, early the next day, all of them in high spirits. Spike kept a watchful, loving eye on his wife, making sure she was all right as they made the long journey to town.

After their breakfast, at the diner, Spike and Xander headed to the bank, while the ladies made their way to the Mercantile. Buffy was so excited to retrieve the baby clothes she had ordered and the fine English lace Christening shawl for the coming baby. She paid no heed to a pair of deep brown eyes that watched her, Tara and Nancy Harris head into the Chase store.

“Buffy!” Cordy cried with glee, “all of your orders are here! I can’t wait to unwrap them and see what the babe will have.”

Buffy still winced when she saw Cordelia Chase, though she did try and hide her uneasiness. It near broke Buffy’s heart to think that this fine young woman could never have the man she loved with her. Always, it reminded Buffy how lucky she was to have her Will by her side, no matter what obstacles they had faced together, or might face in the future.

As the women made over the bundles of treasures, Buffy gazed at Cordy. “There’s still been no news,” Buffy whispered to the woman beside her. “We’ve no idea where Angel’s gone to, Cordelia,” she added, sadly. “I wish…”

“It’s all right, Buffy,” Cordelia sighed, meeting the blond woman’s gaze with her honest dark eyes. “I’ve known for years that Angel was a ‘lost’ cause. It is my problem if I still harbor feelings for him.”

“Cordy,” Buffy began with a sigh, “I…”

The front door bell of the Mercantile tinkled a new arrival. Buffy had hoped it was Will and Xander, but she was sadly mistaken when she looked up to see Parker Abrams enter the store.

The six women suddenly became very quiet as they watched Mr. Abrams approach them. Buffy stepped around Tara and headed Parker off, quickly.

“What do you want, sir,” Buffy asked, evenly, accutely aware of her advanced pregnancy, suddenly.

“I would like to…apologize, Elizabeth,” Parker Abrams stammered out, almost shyly. “For ever coming to this town, your new home. For bringing unhappiness to you and yours.”

The dark haired man seemed earnest enough, but Buffy found it hard to accept his apologies. She shrugged and shook her blond head, “not necessary,” she mumbled, never meeting his gaze.

“It is Lizzy, I mean, Miss Elizabeth. Mrs. O’Hara, I mean,” Parker continued, hesitantly. “It was a stupid, vain and selfish thing I did, months ago. To interrupt your new life, with your new family. In my defense,” the man sighed sadly, “I can only offer the fact that I was smitten with ‘you’ and under the influence of the Finn-Raynes. Which,” Parker paused with a frown, “which I feel I must break from, now.”

“I’ve some information, Elizabeth,” Parker continued, seriously, “that may be of some use to your fine husband and yourself.”

Buffy blushed when she realized that Parker Abrams was perusing her pregnant body. Even though the man’s eyes held no lust, she felt uneasy at his gaze.

“You, your husband and child,” Parker began again, his dark brows scrunched together. “I fear that you all may be in danger, Elizabeth.”

Buffy flinched, her green eyes flew wide open and she reared back from this man, fearful now. Tara hurried up to join her and gave Parker a heated glare, but the man did not back down at all.

“It’s Riley, his father, Ethan and the whole bunch of them,” Parker murmered, his voice tense. “I’ve heard some things, Elizabeth, Miss O’Hara,” he nodded at Tara.

“What things?” Buffy asked sternly, almost afraid to hear the words from Parker’s lips.

“Old Ethan,” he began carefully, “he still wants the O’Hara farm, Elizabeth. I’m afraid that he’ll go to any lengths to secure it for himself and his sons. That’s why he dragged me out to your place, months ago and had me,” Parker’s voice trailed off and he looked away from the two women, shame in his expression.

“Anyway,” Parker finally began again, “the old coot wants your place for himself and his family. I am afraid he might resort to violence, force as it were, to secure the farm for them.”

Tara gasped and Buffy felt like she was going to faint. Somehow, she managed to collect herself and reply, “no man, including Ethan Rayne will ever ‘take’ my Will’s farm from him, or us, his family.” She reached over and took Tara’s strong hand in her tiny one, giving it a firm squeeze to show her conviction.

“Good,” Parker finally grinned at the two women, happily. “And, now, Elizabeth, or should I say Mrs. O’Hara? I’ll take your leave. My train back to Belfast, then on to England leaves in just a few minutes. I hope your life is blessed, your child healthy and all of your future children? May they be as fine as you and your good husband. Good day, goodbye and God Bless you, Elizabeth O’Hara.”

With that, Parker Abrams spun about and strode out of the Mercantile, whistling a jaunty tune as he left.

“Well,” Buffy exhaled slowly, “this has certainly been an informative morning, eh, Tara?”

She glanced at her sister-in-law, who looked as if she’d seen death itself stop by for tea. “Buffy,” Tara hissed, her voice shaky and frightened, “do you think we’ll be all right?”

“Of course we will, dear,” Buffy patted Tara’s hand with comfort. “Do you honestly think that my husband, your brother, is going to let trash like the Finn-Raynes harm us? Take our land?”

“Never,” Tara smiled weakly at her sister-in-law.

“Never,” Buffy repeated back to the taller, blond woman, firmly.

“Still and all,” the older Mrs. Chase piped in, “you need to tell William and Xander about this, my dears.” She was truly the voice of reason in the situation.

“She’s right,” Willow joined in, her gray eyes wide with trepidation, “it’s best to tell William and Xander what this Abrams said. He meant well, Buffy,” the red head advised her friend. “Perhaps to make amends, for before I mean?”

Buffy nodded. They were right, all of them. No matter how tough, wonderful and proud her Will was? This ‘warning’ from Parker Abrams was just that, a warning of possible trouble for the O’Hara family. The man was apparently trying to make amends
“Yes,” Buffy murmered softly, “we’ll tell William. He’s due to be here, any moment. I hate to ruin his morning, especially with the fact that Abrams came to speak to me, but…”

At first, when Spike heard that this twit, Parker Abrams had approached his Buffy, he was hell bent to track the ponce down. Rip his fucking head off for even looking at Spike’s wife.

However, when Buffy and Tara, along with Willow, Cordelia and Mrs. Chase, explained that the man had truly come to warn them? Spike caved in and listened to the words the women had to say.

“I think we should go talk to Father Giles,” Buffy advised her husband and sister-in-law as they left the Chase Mercantile. “If anyone can difuse this situation, it’s the Parrish Priest, right?”

For hundreds of years, the local Priests and Holy Men of the community had ‘tended to’ their flocks. Hence, one local faction or clan, who had a beef with another? They might duke it out, beat the holy bejeesus out of each other on a Friday, but…by Sunday Mass? The warring clans would be sitting, side-by-side in the Church, listening to the Father speaking about the Mother Mary and her sweet Babe. Talking all forgiveness and peace. It had always been the way and always would be.

The real problem was, however? The Finn-Raynes were not a local clan and never would be. They were new starts, outsiders really. Their ways were different then the families that had resided in the area for over hundreds of years. Raynes did not really fit in, nor did they seem to want to. Ethan’s family was new, arrogant and proudly vain. Even if the Raynes had come to the Balleycastle area, married into a fine Irish family like the Finns.

Just the fact that Rayne himself harbored hatred and contempt for the locals, due to his questionable ‘royal’ blood. It made it hard for the local townsfolk to swallow the whole blueblood attitude of Ethan and his family. Especially since the locals had lost interest and fear in dowered landowners years before. Things were different now, and would forever more be.

“Hmmm,” Spike hissed as he helped his wife and sister onto the wagon. Xander helped Nancy and the boys up into the huge transport and Spike took the reins.

“Will?” Buffy whispered, from her spot in the front seat, next to her man. “Shall we go see the good Father?”

“Yes,” Spike answered simply, “we shall.”


A/N: I wonder if Spike is going to really listen to Father Giles’ words of wisdom, or if he’s going to go all ‘shirty’ and clannish on us?!? For that matter, what about Giles? Ripper seems to be just a hair away from the Priest’s usual personality, so who’s to say that old Rupes won’t go rough and tumble along with Spike?

There is not too many chapters left of this story, promise. In the next one, not only will things come to a boiling point at the O’Hara farm (don’t worry, it’s not going to be because of arguing between Spike/Buffy), but some old ‘familiar’ faces just may show up to…..???

Please read and review. Thank you so much, luv Spuf




















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