*set 3 monts after first chapter

Chapter 2

Dawn walked into the large mansion dropping her purse and keys as on a nearby table as she went in search of Angelus. She knew he slept either in his office or one of the guest rooms. She had caught him coming out of his old bedroom once and his eyes had been red rimmed so she quickly ducked into the bathroom. Making her way upstairs she walked into the office to find Angelus slumbering on the couch in his office.

Angelus awoke to Dawn shaking him awake. She'd been staying with him for a month and had just gotten back from visiting Buffy. Quickly he sat up wiping the sleep from his eyes. Dawn smirked then sat down on the chair across from him.

"How was she?," he asked quickly.

"She's doing good," Dawn said not revealing much.

"I need more then that Dawn," Angelus said a hint of irritation lacing his voice.

"Alright calm down. She's doing really good, but uh, I… she told me not to tell you, but I think it's wrong so I'm just going to say it… She's pregnant," Dawn said quickly.

"How far along?," he asked.

"Six months and with a girl," Dawn explained.

"I see. She doesn't want me to know? Is she ever planning on telling me?," he asked.

"I don't know… she wouldn't tell me why she didn't want to tell you," Dawn revealed.

"Don't worry she'll never know you told me," Angelus promised.

"Well I think someone needs to take a shower and shave. We've got plans tonight remember," she said as she stood up.

"I think someone called me three times over the weekend to remind me," he laughed.

"Just making sure you remembered," Dawn said as she left the room.

Angelus made his way to the bathroom to get ready for the movie he'd promised to take Dawn to. He was glad to have someone else here in this big old house. The loneliness and silence was starting to drive him insane. However, now their was plenty of noise. Whether it be from Dawn's loud music or television blaring or from her and her friends taking advantage of the large in ground pool.

Angelus turned on the water and stepped under the warm spray of water. He couldn't stop thinking about Dawn and her easy betrayal of her sister. Dawn didn't know that he already knew about Buffy's pregnancy. However he found it unnerving that she would so easily go against her sister's wishes.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy had been a nervous wreck ever since her sister left earlier in the morning. She was half expecting Angelus to come barging in demanding to know about the baby. Dawn had pressed as to why she didn't want him to know, but Buffy had refused to tell her citing that it was personal. Dawn had said she wouldn't tell, but something about the way her sister had said it left her wondering.

Willow had been wondering Buffy's reasoning behind not telling Angelus as well. The divorce was final and she didn't think Buffy to be the type of person to keep her child from its father. She respected Buffy's wish not to talk about it front of her sister, but she wanted to know.

"So Buffy exactly why don't you want Angelus to know?," Willow pressed.

"It's complicated Wills," was all Buffy offered.

"Well I've got a few hours before I need to head back and I won't run off and tell Angelus," Willow reasoned.

Buffy took a deep breath. She didn't know if she would be able to tell her friend. She had never told anyone about what had happened. Willow saw the look of fear and panic cross over her friends face.

"Buffy is this about that time you ran away?," Willow pressed.

"I… uh… oh god… yes," she finally admitted.

"Just take your time and tell me about it," Willow offered.

"I didn't run away Wills… Angelus he… he kidnapped me," she said finally admitting the dark secret that had clouded her marriage for four years.

"He kept me locked on the third floor of the house and he… he… he did things to me," she said breaking down into sobs at the memories flooding her.

"Buffy I knew you didn't run away," Willow said as she pulled her friend into an embrace.

"He only let me out because of Mom. She was dying and Dawn was going to be put into foster care. I had no choice but to stay with him to keep Dawnie," Buffy continued.

"Oh God Buffy I couldn't imagine," Willow said gasping.

"Then I found out I was pregnant and he wanted to get married. I couldn't say no," Buffy admitted.

"I can't imagine how the last four years of marriage were for you," Willow said.

"Actually after the first few months they were fine. I mean Angelus went to counseling and he never touched me again. But I never got over it Wills. We didn't talk about it. I just don't know if I can trust him," Buffy admitted.

"I understand Buffy and if you don't want him to know then I fully support you," Willow said as she hugged her friend once again.

Long after Willow had said goodbye Buffy sat dazed on the couch. She didn't know how she felt about the private matters she had divulged to her closest friend. Quickly she wiped the tears from her eyes. She couldn't let what had happened to her control her life now. Taking a deep breathe she stood determined to begin the rest of her life.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Angelus and Dawn had just finished at the theatre. They began to walk towards the car, but Angelus stopped them at the ice cream shop. "How about a Sunday?," he asked hopefully. Dawn shrugged then followed him into the shop. Both gave their orders then sat down at a corner booth. Angelus needed to talk to Dawn and he figured a public venue would be best.

"So Dawn I really appreciate you keeping tabs on your sister," he began.

"No problem," Dawn said as she took a bite of her Sunday.

"It's just that if your sister asks you not to tell me something I think you should listen to her," Angelus continued.

"Hey I was just trying to help you out," Dawn said defensively.

"It's not that I don't appreciate it. It's just that you need to show your sister some respect," Angelus admitted.

"But you have the right to know," Dawn objected.

"We're not arguing that point. Look your sister needs you more now then ever. She's having a child alone and she needs all the love and support possible," Angelus explained.

"Well she wouldn't have to have or raise a child alone. I just don't get why you two got divorced in the first place," Dawn said exasperated.

"I know, but it was your sister's decision. Just treat her better for me?," he asked.

"Alright fine I won't break her confidence again," Dawn promised.