Hey, this is my first story and I hope it goes well. I would appreciate feedback on whether or not I ought to continue it. Remember that Angelus IS evil and Buffy is not perfect. Neither are her friends or watcher. People are going to do some bad things in this story. People are going to make some bad choices. For all that though, this is probably not going to be a dark fic. I do believe in a reasonably satisfying resolution and intend to craft one. On that note, on with the story!

Well, this was an interesting development.

Angelus opened his eyes and looked around the room in amusement. He used to live so much better than this. Soulboy was just as luxury minded as he was and had access to the same kind of funds. So why the hell didn't he fucking use them? Oh, right.

He didn't have a clue as to how he had gotten free but he certainly wasn't complaining. Though he did need to find out how. After all, it might not be permanent and he was loath to see himself back in his box in Angel's mind.

"No", he said aloud. "That wouldn't do at all".

So first things first. Find out whatever the hell had happened. Ensure he was going to be in control permanently. Cement that control by killing everyone who could re-curse him. Starting with that fucking witch… And he would have to kill his so-called team. Really, one half demon and a vapid ex-cheerleader were not exactly the best team he'd ever seen. So they would have to go as well. And Cordelia was always so bitchy to Buff….

Buff. Ah, Buffy. She was next on his to do list. Actually she was at the top of the list of things he wanted to do. And do her he would. His face slowly shifted into a sensual half-smile. He was certainly looking forward to seeing her again. Of course, it hadn't gone so well last time he was out. He growled at the memory of their last battle with Acathla. Well, he mused, he did try to end the world. She never would have been able to kill him otherwise. He sighed when he remembered his stupidity last time he was out. Sucking the world into hell all because he wanted a girl who he thought he shouldn't want and who he couldn't kill. And poor Buff had been so sweet to him with her shocked little eyes and her cute little pouts. She had plenty of opportunities to kill him. He had, after all, seriously underestimated her. But she couldn't even try properly until he tried to suck the world into hell. No, he had definitely mishandled her last time but he wasn't a fool and he wasn't insane(any longer anyway), he knew exactly what he would need to do to get her back where she belonged.

And with that cheery thought he stalked to the door…before looking at his clothing, letting out a resigned sigh and going back to Angel's closet for some better clothes

Lindsey MacDonald did not approve of The Plan. And it was not just because it was not his plan. His plan involved killing Angel. Not being killed by Angel's alter ego. Lilah Morgan however, had managed to convince the Senor Partners that unleashing a murderous sadistic psychopath on L.A. was a good idea. Of course, the Senior Partners had always wanted Angelus to work for them but from what Lindsey had read up on the guy, Angelus was not exactly a team player. Hence Lindsey's unhappiness with The Plan.

The Plan was to magically remove Angel's soul and then send it on to, well, on. It would probably go to Heaven, Lilah had theorized, but that couldn't be helped and as long as his soul no longer rested accessibly in the ether she didn't mind if he went on to heaven, he'd be out of their way after all. So they had brought in some very powerful demonic sorcerers to remove his soul. That had been three hours ago.

A knock on his door brought Lindsey out of his reverie. Oh, he was fucked. He drained the rest of the whiskey in his glass quickly and slowly wacked to the door.

"Who is it?" he mumbled.

The door was kicked off its hinges and he narrowly avoided being hit. Angelus leaned imposingly in the open doorway and smirked at him.

"Me"

"Is this too much on the skanky side of the sex-appeal spectrum?" Buffy asked Willow.

"What, um no, it's just that you know, the frat boys are kind of, yeah, you know" Willow responded.

Buffy knew. She knew all too well. Even after her unpleasant experiences with Don Juan Parker, she was still not totally against frat boys. She had a low opinion of stereotypes. But in the past few weeks she had been hit on by a variety of obnoxious, chauvinistic fraternity boys who just wouldn't take no for an answer. And after Parker, well.

She hadn't actually slept with Parker. She nearly had. She had been ready to. But she had seen Angel's face in her mind, disapproving and betrayed. He had seemed to accept her explanation of a really bad first time (which was both so untrue and such and under-exaggeration that it wasn't even funny) and he agreed that it would be better to take it slow. And then he dumped her and told everyone he'd slept with her.

She hadn't told anyone what had really happened.

She wasn't planning to either. She was fairly optimistic about Riley. He seemed nice, faithful, kind, and totally normal. Everything Angel had wanted for her. He was admittedly attractive with his all American boy good-looks and it seemed like everyone she knew adored him and thought they'd be perfect together. Everyone except Buffy.

But, she mused, it wasn't as if she would ever be in love with anyone else. Riley was a good choice as any.

"Okay", she told Willow, holding up another costume. "What about this?"

Willow looked at the costume. "It looks great" she enthused.

And that was how Buffy ended up going as an angel to the party at Riley's frat house.

"Lindesy", Angelus murmured. "Lindsey, Lindsey, Lindsey…We 're going to have a little chat"

Lindsey looked grimly at the man in front of him. He lounged elegantly, sensuously, against his doorframe. There was an arrogant tilt to his head and a maniacal glint in his eye. This was a man who knew exactly what he was and had supreme confidence in his own worth.

"Well", Lindsey said giving a chocked laugh, "I guess it worked"

Angelus raised one contemptuous eyebrow.

"What is it Giles?" Buffy said. She, Willow, Xander, and Anya were gathered in Giles' flat. "I'm a little short on the timeframe here what with all the fun I could be having at the party listening to stupid pickup lines and watching people make drunken fools out of themselves".

"Ah, yes, well, my sources in Los Angeles say that there was a major magical disturbance there of the blackest kind. I thought it best to warn you". Giles polished his glasses.

"Well, L.A. is Angel's city. So it's really Dead boy's problem" chirped Xander, decked out as a cowboy.

"Ah, yes, well, I suppose I should give him a ring then." Giles murmured. "Very, well, have fun at your soirée and ah, do try and be careful. What are you all supposed to be anyway?"

"Oooh, I'm a ladybug, 'cause well, um, you know" said Willow. "And-and Xander is a cowboy and Anya is a cowgirl 'cause they go together and Buffy-"

"Is ready to go. Come on, Wills" said the girl in question.

"Oh, you're an angel, rather ironic I suppose" said Giles.

"Yeah, yeah it is" mumbled Buffy.

"If I hear one more pick-up line about my costume I will not be held accountable for the resulting bodies" stated Buffy. Willow nodded emphatically. Buffy smiled at Willow.

"you look good Wills. Very cute" she said.

"Th-thanks, you look good too, Buffy" she said. It was true. Buffy, Willow was sure was probably not entirely aware of her effect on the male species. Willow didn't really understand why but supposed that her friend hadn't been made aware of her attractiveness cause Angel was always scaring off guys who tried to ask her out before she even knew they existed.

But now with Angel gone Buffy was fair game to most of the guys t the party. A fair few took one look at her expression and decided to wait till the petite blonde looked a little less murderous to ask her to dance. But sizable portion of the population was intoxicated at some level and discounted her expression. Willow had to admit, Buffy was looking very good. Her costume consisted of a white silk dress that hit a few inches above the knee and with its simple cut and spaghetti straps it looked remarkably like a nightie. Over that there was a sheer over dress . She had cute little feather wings and the gold wire twined through her loose wavy hair made her look beautiful, cute, sexy, and a whole bunch of adjectives that Willow in her decidedly un-sexy costume was sure she was not.

"Hey, Buffy" said Riley. The voice broke Willow out of her reverie.

"Riley!" Willow exclaimed happily. Willow liked Riley. He was perfect for Buffy. Unlike certain un-named vampires. In fact, she had told him what Buffy had been wearing just so he could match her. Buffy needed a little push when it came to Riley. Willow was happy to provide that.

"Hi Riley" said Buffy. She glanced at his costume. What the hell was he supposed to be?

"Um, what are you Ri?" Riley grinned bashfully at her.

"I'm uh, the devil"

"Oh" Buffy had to keep herself from cracking up. It was so ridiculous. She had seen every face evil had to offer. She had seen dozens of demons, vampires, monsters, and one really creepy puppet. She had looked into the devil's face and called him lover (albeit mockingly), Riley was so far out of league…

"Did you uh, wanna dance?"

"Sure"

And then the angel and the devil walked out to the dance floor.

Angelus was fairly pleased with the way things were shaping up. Despite not being able to kill Lindsey (little prick was too smart to leave the safety of his apartment) he had negotiated a deal with Wolfram and Hart that was very much to his advantage. Not that he had any intention of keeping it but still. Cordelia and Doyle were safely chained up in the dungeon of his new manor on the outskirts of L.A. and he was on his way to Sunnydale.

He stopped for gas (sports cars had horrible mileage)and impatiently waited for the tank to fill.

"Come on" he muttered.

"Why you in a hurry boy" some redneck trucker sneered at him. "You'd think some pretty boy like you would learn a little patience". Angelus slowly morphed into the demon's visage.

"Yes. One would". He spun on his heel and smiled menacingly at the overweight rat who turned pale with terror. He opened his mouth presumably to scream for help. Angelus was there in a second, covering his mouth and holding him off the ground with another hand around his neck.

"Ah, ah, ah" he said. "No screaming. Wouldn't do for my girl to know I was back in town. You know women, they just love a surprise and you don't want to spoil mine for me, now do you? Hmm, what was that? I'm afraid I can't understand you there, buddy. Cat got your tongue?"

The man whimpered.

"Let's take a look, shall we?" Angelus said. He wrenched opens the man's mouth and ripped out his tongue. "Not a cat then, pity".

The sharp sound of a neck snapping echoed around the deserted gas station.

Send us a blindfold

Send us a blade

Tell the survivors

Help is on the way

Buffy and Riley swayed awkwardly to the music. Riley chattered on about his sister's wedding and Buffy did her best to look interested. How was she supposed to date this guy? He was do damn boring. But since she had to date somebody to keep her so-called friends happy Riley would have to do. He was nice, she reminded herself, a really nice guy. Problem was, she didn't want nice. She wanted Angel.

I was a blindfold

Never complained

All the survivors

Singing in the rain

Buffy and Riley had finished their dance and Buffy had walked back over to where Willow was just as Oz whisked her off to dance. She felt like that something was about to happen. There was a tingling sensation that crawled up her spine. Vampires? Damn, that was vampires! And something else…something familiar.

Angel?

Ah, things are coming along nicely my pretties. What is Angelus' deal with Wolfram and Hart? What is going on at the costume party? Can I kill Riley yet? All to be answered in the next chapter.

Please, oh pretty please, REVIEW!