I lasted... what, over six months? I just have to write Angelus/William. Can't live without it. And since there seems to be a lack of well written fanged four stuff out there, I have to make do with my own feeble attempts. :glares at everyone else: write me some Angelus fic somebody please!

Anyway I hope you enjoy this little gem of my imagination... well... the little stone that I've polished and polished in the hope that it may become a gem... heh.

Will opened his eyes woozily, and shut them again as the world swam around him. He let a moment pass, and then tested first his left eye, then his right. Everything wasn't swimming so much any more and he blinked a couple of times to focus himself. He decided to concentrate on just one thing, the fact that his head was throbbing painfully.

Why was it throbbing? Because he must've been hit.

Who had hit him? Hmm. Good question. Probably Angelus, that was usually – oh! No, not Angelus for once.

Could he do anything about it? No. Something was holding his arms up behind him and moving it just made it worse.

With those questions answered, he felt brave enough to look around and see where he was. He seemed to be in some sort of dungeon – it reminded him a lot of the cellar at home, except it was completely empty.

Or was it? At first he had thought he was alone, but then he realised in the dark corner opposite him, Angelus was slumped against the wall. There was blood down the left side of his head and clotted in his hair, which was all over the place. His blood and muck stained shirt hung in tatters off his frame and his head lolled forwards over his chest sp Will couldn't see his face. His arms were manacled upwards, holding him in position that reminded Will of Christ. Will almost liked the idea of Angelus as Jesus, but he did not like the sight of his always perfect Sire like that. It filled him with unease. Angelus looked… awful.

It suddenly struck him that his own state must be somewhat similar. The back of his head felt sticky where he assumed blood had clotted from his probably fractured skull, and there was a small pool of blood dried on the floor around him. His arms were held similarly to Angelus' and he tested them to see. Definitely chains. Other than that he couldn't really tell what he looked like, because he didn't want to move his throbbing head too much.

He looked back at his Sire, hoping he would wake up. As if he knew Will was watching, Angelus' head rose and his eyes opened, locking onto Will's immediately. They looked at each other for a few seconds before Will realised he had nothing to say that didn't sound ridiculous, or state the obvious. Finally Angelus' head fell again and he spoke quietly.

"Go to sleep, Will, use the time to heal while you've got it."

Will closed his eyes but found it impossible to sleep. His head hurt too much for him to forget about it, and after Angelus had mentioned healing, the thought of blood popped into his head and he had suddenly become aware of his hunger.

Eventually he gave up and just stared at a patch on the floor near the door where either he or Angelus must've dripped blood on their way in. Perhaps he did doze off, because the next thing he remembered was the door opening and four vampires entering. One of them was the Master himself. Another was clearly a young fledgling, carrying a large leather case. Will got the impression that although he was the youngest of the Master's group, he was still distinctly older than Will himself. The other two were, from their mannerisms, probably a little younger than Angelus, although one with short hair may have been about the same age.

Angelus was awake and was looking at the Master with what Will desperately hoped wasn't surrender. Will licked his lips and glanced between Angelus, the Master, and the other vampires in the room. Only the fledgling paid him any attention, looking at him expressionlessly. The motionless eye contact between everyone seemed to go on forever and Will found him self getting bored, which was absurd given the situation. He tried to remember why he was there, how they got there…

Things had been odd for a couple of weeks now. Darla and Angelus were arguing far more than was usual, and Will got the distinct impression it was his fault, although no one ever said so. No one really spoke to him at all. There was an atmosphere of tension through the whole house, and William knew enough to keep out of the way as much as possible. Darla would go out on her own four hours, sometimes even days, on her own, and Angelus would spend the time locked in his own room. Will and Drusilla had been strictly forbidden from going out without Angelus, a rule which Will had learnt was absolutely not to be broken. He'd only just healed from the punishment.

It was about 9 o'clock and Will wondered vaguely why no one had called him yet. He crept out of bed and stopped at the top of the stairs, because he could hear voices from the floor below, where Darla and Angelus shared a room.

"No." It was Angelus' voice.

"Why not?" He could barely make out their voices but they sounded like an argument was brewing, so Will sat down on the step to listen. He didn't want to go any closer because he knew they would smell him. There was the sound of Angelus speaking but Will couldn't make out what he said. Then Darla spoke again, but Will didn't catch it all. "So? Drusilla------ two ------- fine."

"Drusilla's different."

"How is she different?"

"She's ------ for one thing, and ----- girls ----- mad ------ take care ------!"

Darla was getting angry now because her voice was shriller. "Look Angelus, -------- William NOW, not in a few more years when you decide he's ------!"

"No! Darla, I'm not having my Childe -------- four -----without me!"

There was the sound of a slap that made Will's eyes widen. "You have no say in the matter, boy!" Will swallowed. Darla was pulling rank, something she rarely did. "He is my Sire." That made him frown. Who was Darla's Sire? Will had never thought about it before. He guessed he just assumed he was dead, whoever he was. What she said next was so quiet he had to really strain to hear it, but he thought she said something like, "In the same way that I am yours. You hadn't forgotten that, had you boy?"

William couldn't be sure, but he thought he heard Angelus say "No, Sire," in an unfamiliar voice that didn't sound like his own. Will didn't like it and decided to go up and find Drusilla.

Later that night, Darla came down and looked disdainfully at Will and Drusilla, curled up together on the rug. That was the only thing Will liked about the atmosphere. He got more private time with Drusilla.

"I'm going out. Will, heat a bucket of water and take it up to Angelus' room." Will didn't move. "Now, boy!"

Will shifted from his position, kissing Dru gently. "Be back soon princess," he whispered, and filled a bucket of water. He hung it over the fire to heat, and settled down with Dru for a bit. She giggled and kissed him.

"Swippity-swap, mix them all up," she laughed to herself.

"What's that love?"

"Swip-swap," she repeated in a sing song voice.

"What's swapped?" he asked teasingly, stroking her neck.

She shook her head, then looked at him solemnly. "Daddy doesn't like it. He doesn't like it one bit."

Will laughed. "You mean the argument with Darla? Course he does. He loves arguing with her, remember?"

Drusilla continued to look solemn. "Not that. Silly William. Silly, bloody William. William the bloody…" then she smiled, and Will couldn't contain himself anymore, she was beautiful.

Fifteen minutes later, the water bucket was boiling, and Will remembered what he was supposed to be doing. He disengaged himself from Drusilla's clothing and unhooked the bucket. "I've got to go upstairs Dru, I'll be back soon ok?"

"Don't make faces," Drusilla murmured gently, and he smiled.

He knocked on the door to Angelus' room and got no answer, so he called gently. "Angelus? Darla sent me with –"

The door opened and Angelus looked down at him. "What?" He was naked to the waist and looked irritated, as if he didn't want Will to be there. The room behind him smelt of blood, but something else too. A very familiar scent, but Will couldn't quite place it.

Will held up the bucket quickly. "Darla sent me up with this."

Angelus frowned suspiciously. "Is she still here?"

"No, but before she left she said to bring it up." Angelus was only opening the door a little way and Will was desperate to know what was making the room smell so strange yet familiar.

Angelus sighed. "Fine. Bring it in." He opened the door wide and Will looked around curiously as he stepped in. The room seemed fine, except for the smell. He put the bucket down and tried to distinguish all the prominent smells. There was anger, both Darla's and Angelus', although hers was stronger. There was blood – a strong smell, which was confusing considering the lack of it in the room, and… submission. That was the peculiar smell. So familiar because he was so used to it, but this was Angelus' submission and it was strange to smell. Angelus followed him, and it was only when he turned to reach a cloth to wash himself with that William realised why it smelt like blood. Angelus' back was, to use the cliché, in ribbons. He stared for a couple of seconds and Angelus caught him looking.

"What? Did you think it was only you that got whipped by your Sire?"

William was dumbfounded. Angelus could easily have stood up to her. He could easily have stopped her… couldn't he?

"W-why?" he managed.

Angelus gave a hollow laugh. "I forgot my place." He turned back to the water and soaked the cloth gently. "Go back to Drusilla."

William turned to leave, but stopped by the door. "Angelus…" he began, and when Angelus ignored him, he tried again. "Sire?" This time he turned. "Erm… well…"

"Yes?"

"Dru and me..."

"Dru and I," Angelus corrected warningly.

"Dru and I," Will repeated, "Well, we were wondering… if we could go out."

Angelus' face darkened. "You are not to go out without me, either of you, understood?"

"Y-yes but we're really hungry."

Angelus sighed. "I'll bring you something back when I go out."

"Can't we come with you?" He asked before he could stop himself. Angelus growled. Will didn't wait for an answer, hastily back tracking out of the door and re-joining Drusilla downstairs.

argh... I'd forgotten how much I love my fanged family... what about you?

Incidently; as far a reveiws are concerned - do not leave this page without pressing that little purple button - but as much as I love compliments - I'm really looking to improve at the moment so any constructive criticism would be welcomed. In fact, it doesn't even have to be constructive. I'm confident enough to turn it positive whatever so if you spotted a fault - let me know. Thanks. xx