Part 3
Buffy closed her eyes and buried her face into his chest. She let out a few more sobs. Angelus stroked her honey blonde hair over and over again trying his best to console her. Finally Buffy began to relate what had happened.
Buffy tore through her room looking for her journal. Where could she have left it then she remembered she had been writing in the living room last night. Buffy ran down the stairs and started to search the living room. Still she could not find it. She bit her lower lip and began to chew on it nervously. She had to find it; maybe she had picked it up and put it in her book bag. Hopefully she would find it in her locker the next day. She looked up at the clock and saw that it was time that she began to prepare dinner. Buffy had just started making dinner when the front door opened. "Buffy get in here now," her father's hard voice came floating in the kitchen causing her to get the shivers. Timidly Buffy walked into the living room. She gasped when she saw in his hand he held her journal. "Who the fuck is your Angel? You fucking him, you little slut?," he spat out at her. Buffy began to shake her head no as tears threatened to spill from her green eyes. He hurled the book across the room sending it crashing into the wall a few inches from her face. Buffy jumped and yelped involuntarily. Her father began to stalk towards her yelling about what a slut his daughter was. He smacked her hard causing her to fall and hit her eye on the corner of the coffee table. Buffy reached up and cradled her right cheek and left eye in her hands. She groaned in pain and tried to back away as her father started to come towards her some more. "Why don't we go upstairs and see how you perform", he spoke cruelly into her face causing Buffy to flinch and begin to cry harder. She was shaking her head no, but he just grabbed her by her arms and lifted her cruelly to her feet.
Buffy struggled the whole way up the stairs as he pulled her cruelly along behind him. "Come on Buffy you must be fucking him what's the big deal?," he spat out at the girl. He hadn't wanted the little bitch to come live with him anyways. He had tried to convince his sister to keep her, but she had insisted that the girl needed her father. He liked the fact that she cooked and cleaned. It had taken him hitting her several times to get her to do it to his satisfaction, but now he was ready to escalate it to the next level. He had thought she was a virgin, but now he knew the little bitch was out sleeping with some college boy that she referred to as her Angel. He looked down at the girl as she was crying on the stairs. He slapped her hard across her left cheek leaving a nasty red mark that would soon be a bruise. He kicked her a couple of times in her side and told her to get up. She just laid there cradling her stomach in her arms crying like a little bitch. He sighed in anger and hoisted her up over his shoulder. He carried her to his bedroom and dropped her on his bed roughly. Hank pulled his belt out of his pants loops. Buffy tried to scramble off the bed only to be hit by Hank causing her to fall on her stomach on the bed. "Stay still you little bitch or its only going to get worse for you," he growled at her. Hank brought his doubled over belt down several times on her ass eliciting several cries of pain from the rather distraught girl. Hank flipped Buffy over onto her back then straddled her and started unbuttoning his pants. Buffy panicked knowing what her father was about to do. She waited until he was concentrating on his button then used all her strength to kick him with both her feet. Not expecting her to fight back Hank flew across the room and into his dresser. Buffy jumped from the bed and began to run down the stairs. She grabbed her jacket and purse on the way out the door and continued to run. She ran to the first place she thought of and that was Angelus apartment.
Buffy continued to sob as she finished telling of her horrific ordeal. Angelus was ready to go kill Hank Summers. Angelus thought back to all the times he had seen bruises on her and she had explained them away with her tales of clumsiness. Angelus now felt like a jackass that he hadn't pressed her further, but he hadn't wanted to push her away. Angelus would deal with Hank Summers and make sure that he never hurt the fragile girl he loved again. He would wait, he would bide his time and wait until she was fast asleep. Buffy sobbed for what seemed like hours. Angelus eased off the bed and walked out of the room. He stowed out of the apartment and into the hallway. Angelus beat his fist into the opposite wall causing his elderly neighbor to open her door and scowl at Angelus. Angelus waved an apology at the woman and reentered the apartment. He sunk down into his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was startled when Buffy approached him. "Baby come on you need to get some sleep," he told her as he stood up and guided her back to his bedroom. Buffy let him tuck her back into bed. "I cant sleep, every time I fall asleep I dream of…," her voice trailed off as she began to cry again. Angelus went to the kitchen and filled up a glass of water and grabbed a sleeping pill. "Here take this it will help you sleep," he tried to comfort her. Gratefully she took the pill and drank down the glass of water. Twenty minutes later Buffy was fast asleep on his bed. Angelus sat and watched her for a long time. Watching her chest rise and fall in a rhythm that threatened to lull him to sleep. For the first time Angelus thought that he could not live with out her in his life. Angelus knew that the actions of the previous night would forever change his innocent beauty. She would now always have trust issues. He knew he would never force anything on Buffy let alone raise his hand at her in anger. Thinking of the tale Buffy had told him Angelus' anger began to seethe. Angelus stood up trying to decide what he should do. He knew one person he could tell this to and one person who would know what to do. Angelus picked up the phone and dialed his college advisor. Over the years the man had become like a father to him. Angelus related the horrible story to the man on the other end of the phone.
"Well Angelus, it seems that the best course of action would be for the girl to become emancipated. I assume you would rather her not be put into some sort of foster care or be returned to her Aunt?," the man said in his British accent.
"No I want her to stay with me where I can protect her. How do we get her emancipated?," Angelus asked hopefully.
"Well she would need to show that she could take care of herself on her own financially. Also, there is the matter that Im sure her father will contest it," he informed him.
"I can take care of all that. I'll set Buffy up a bank account and I will talk to her dad. I can be quite persuasive," Angelus said slyly.
"Now Angelus don't do anything rash. And Angelus are you sure you should get involved with this girl? She is underage and I would hate for something to happen to you because of it," the man asked concerned.
"Giles listen I have never felt this way about anyone. I want to, no I need to protect her from him and the only way I can do that is by keeping her here with me," Angelus explained earnestly to his British advisor.
Angelus was driving to Buffy Summers house. He pulled in front of the house and peered into the front window. He could make out the form of a man sitting on the couch with a beer in his hand. Angelus took several deep breaths before opening his door and stepping down onto the paved road. He had to keep this civil or else he knew the man would not hesitate to press charges. He had to keep his anger under control for Buffy. He kept repeating this mantra over and over again in his head. He ignored the fast pace beating of his heart as he walked up the steps to the front door. Angelus took one more deep breath then rang the doorbell. After several long moments he heard a crash then someone curse then finally the door opened. "Whooo da fuck arrre yoou?," Hank managed to slur out. Angelus pushed his way in past the drunken man. "I've come to speak to you about Buffy," Angelus managed to say calmly. "Dat Bitchhhh, sooo youre the one whossssss fucking her?" Angelus gritted his teeth and flexed his fists in anger several times before he spoke again. "No I'm not fucking her as you so delicately put it. I know what you did," he said and then Hank tried to interrupt him, but Angelus had had enough. Angelus pushed Hank against the wall and held him there then began to growl in his face. "Don't interrupt me. I know you tried to rape her and I know you beat her. And I know you've been hitting her. Buffy is going to file for emancipation and you are not going to fight it. Do you understand?," he spat out angrily. Hanks eyes were wide in fear, but he managed to shake his head yes. "Good and if you ever try to approach her I will hurt you. If you ever see her it would be in your best interest to turn the other way and leave. Now I'm going to go upstairs and pack some of Buffy's things up. I don't want you to ever see her again," he barked at the startled man. Angelus loosened his grip and backed away from the man watching as he slid down the wall. Hank stayed put not wanting to anger the man in front of him. "You will never bother Buffy again?," Angelus asked making sure the man understood. Hank managed to choke out, "Never." Angelus walked up the stairs and wandered down the hall until he found what had to be Buffy's room. He entered her pink room for the first time. He found a bag and began to fill it with clothes and pictures of her mom and then he saw a stuffed pink pig so he threw it in the bag as well. Angelus came down the stairs carrying a bag and saw Hank scurry into another room. Angelus smiled to himself knowing he had accomplished what he had needed to.
Angelus returned to the apartment and immediately checked on Buffy. The sleeping pill had quite the effect on her and she was sprawled out on the bed scantily covered in a tank topand under ware. Angelus watched her sleep for a while then he decided he would clean out some drawers for Buffy. He had already decided that she would stay with him. She needed him to take care of her and he was more then willing to oblige. Angelus had just finished hanging the last of Buffy's clothes in his closet when he heard her panicked voice. "No! Please don't Daddy! No," he turned to see her thrashing about in her sleep. Angelus quickly went to her side and gently roused her. "Buffy it's just a dream come on wake up," he gently shook her until her sleepy eyes looked up at him in confusion. Angelus wiped the few tears that had escaped from her eyes then kissed her on the forehead. "You're safe now baby. I won't let anything happen to you," he consoled her as he hugged her close to him. Buffy fell into his embrace easily. After she calmed down she laid back down on the bed and pulled the blankets up around her. Angelus didn't want to make her uncomfortable so he had already decided he would sleep on the couch. Angelus kissed her one last time then stood up, "I'll be in the living room if you need anything." Buffy watched him walk towards the door, but found herself not wanting him to leave. "Angelus?," she said in breathy voice that sent shivers up his spine and made him immediately stop and turn around towards her. He looked at her with questioning eyes waiting for her to say something. "Will you stay here with me tonight?," she asked innocently. Angelus nodded his head then climbed in the bed next to her. Instinctively he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Buffy snuggled into his embrace and quickly fell asleep.
Angelus awoke to the lithe form of Buffy lying next to him. He inhaled her scent of vanilla deeply and let out a smile. He could get used to waking up next to her every morning. Angelus looked over at her and found himself frowning at the bruises on her face, arms, legs, and who knew where else. Despite the bruises he still found her to be the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Reluctantly Angelus eased out of the bed careful not to wake her. He needed to get things started if he was going to help Buffy get emancipated. He quickly got dressed and scrawled out a note for Buffy. Angelus grabbed Buffy's birth certificate and social security card out of her bag that he had packed for her. Angelus walked into his bank and immediately someone was there to help him. The bank was rather familiar with Angelus since his parents had died. He had several accounts there and the bank was always eager to help the rather rich gentleman. "Mr. Moore how can I be of assistance today?," the obviously eager to please man asked him. "I need to open some accounts," he stated. The man smiled thinking more money was coming into the bank. "Of course just follow me over here and we can get the paperwork started and the accounts set up," the man said pleased. Angelus followed the man and sat down in the offered chair. Angelus sat Buffy's birth certificate and social security card on the table. "I need a checking account containing 50,000 set up in Buffy Summers name and then a trust fund in the amount of 250,000 set up as well," Angelus informed the man coolly. The man gave Angelus a look of surprise. He knew that Angelus parents had recently died and left all the money to there eldest son. He also knew that he only had a brother and no sister so he wondered why Angelus would be giving 300,000 of his money away to some girl. "It may not be my place, sir, but are you sure that you want set up such large accounts for a 16 year old girl?," the man asked as he glanced at the date on the birth certificate. Angelus looked at the mans name plaque, "Lindsay I think that you would not be interested in whose name the money is in as long as it resides in your bank. If you prefer I can take my business elsewhere." Lindsay put in his place rather quickly pulled out the necessary paperwork, "Of course not sir I'm sorry to have pried. Would you be using cash today or pulling the money from your private accounts?" Angelus smiled to himself then answered the question, "Just pull it from my accounts." After several minutes the checking accounts were set up. "Now what conditions do you want on the trust fund?," Lindsay asked. Angelus thought for a moment then spoke clearly, "On the day of her 18th birthday she will have full and unequivocal access to the monies." Lindsay was rather surprised because there had been many conditions for his own brother to attain the monies from his trust funds. Lindsay quickly wrapped up the paperwork then handed Angelus the necessary paperwork for his records. The checks and debit card should arrive within a week, Lindsay informed Angelus as they said goodbye.
Angelus returned to the apartment to find Buffy lounging on the couch lazily flipping through the channels. "I hope you're hungry," he offered as he sat a take out bag from the restaurant down the street. Buffy shook her head eagerly then sat up to make room on the couch. Angelus sat down next to her then pulled out two Styrofoam containers handing one to Buffy. "Pancakes and bacon. I figured everyone likes pancakes," he told her as he handed her a fork and syrup. Buffy smiled taking the items from him, "Pancakes are my favorite breakfast food." Angelus smiled at her then sat back and ate his food. After they ate they sat in an awkward silence. Buffy wasn't sure what she should do after what had happened. Angelus wasn't sure if it was to forward of him to insist that she stay with him. "Buffy?" "Angelus?" They both said at the same time. Angelus had insisted that Buffy speak first. "I wanted to say thank you for, well you know, taking care of me. I"m sorry I dropped all my problems on you. I"m just going to go home. I shouldn"t have come here," she began to say, but Angelus cut her off. "I won't let you go back there. I want you to stay here with me. I won't let you go live with someone who hurts you. I've spoken to my advisor and he recommended that we get you emancipated. I've already set up a checking account for you and I've spoken with your father. You should have no problem convincing the courts you're financially stable," he informed her. Buffy was shocked and didn't quite know what to say. Angelus could tell she was surprised and wasn't quite sure what had just happened.
It had been several months since Buffy's successful emancipation. Buffy had been shocked when she had learned that Angelus had essentially given her an account with 50,000 in it. Buffy had told him that she couldn't accept it, but Angelus had told her he wouldn't let her not accept it. He wanted to make sure that she was financially sound. Angelus and Buffy had now been dating for eight months. Angelus had set up his extra bedroom for Buffy yet he still found himself waking up next to her on several occasions. Whenever she had a nightmare she would wander into his room and snuggle up next to him. Buffy was still going to the high school, she had wanted to get her GED and move onto college, but Angelus had insisted that she finish high school if not for the education then for the experience. Angelus was sitting in the living room reading a book when Buffy walked in the front door. Angelus looked up from his book to see her walk in wearing her cheerleading outfit. She sat down on the couch exasperatedly letting out a deep sigh. "What's wrong?," he asked. Buffy sighed once again, "It's Snyder he's been on my case a lot lately. I don't know what his problem is, but he's always looking for an excuse to give me detention or something else ridiculous. Like today he said my skirt was too short, hello these are the regulation cheer skirts that the school provided. He said I can't cheer until I get a new skirt." Angelus smiled at her realizing that to her these were the biggest problems in the world. Sometimes he forgot that she was just a high school girl. "Well I think the skirt could be a little shorter," he said staring at her seductively. Living with Buffy had its challenges. She often left him horny and jacking off in the shower. She was a virgin of that he was sure and he wasn't about to pressure her for something she wasn't willing to give. Buffy's cheeks turned a crimson red at his words. He loved to make her blush. Buffy looked down at her hand playing with the hem of her skirt and began to chew her lower lip nervously. "Angelus? I was wondering if well the junior prom is coming up and I was wondering if you would come," she stammered out and looked at him hopefully. Angelus grinned at the look in her eyes. "Of course I would love to take you to the prom," Angelus assured her as he stood up and walked over to her planting a kiss on her forehead. Angelus reached for her hands and pulled her up toward him and kissed her more deeply on her lips. "What do you say you get some more behind the wheel time and drive us to dinner?," he offered. Buffy smiled and grabbed the keys off the table and headed for the door.
Tears were flowing freely down Buffy's eyes. Angelus was angry, but he was trying to hide it. It's only a car he kept repeating in his head over and over again. "I'm sorry," Buffy choked out through her sobs. She was clutching the steering wheel with both hands staring straight out the window at the tree she had just ran into. Angelus shook his head and decided he wouldn't be angry. He knew she was a horrible driver and he didn't think that fact would ever change. "Are you hurt?," he asked calmly trying to keep the edge out of his voice. "No," she squeaked out. Luckily they had only been going 15 mph down the deserted street when a cat had run out in the rode. Buffy had panicked and swerved into the tree on the side of the road. Angelus unbuckled his seatbelt then got out of the car and inspected the damage. His bumper was no longer attached to his car. There was a large dent from the tree as well, but it looked like the damage was all cosmetic. Angelus breathed deeply and kept repeating that it was just a car. He walked over to Buffy's door and opened it up. "Get in the passenger seat," he said a little more coldly then he would have wanted. Buffy visibly cringed at the tone in his voice. She slid over to the other seat and snapped her seatbelt in place. Angelus looked once more at his black convertible GTX before sliding into his seat and starting the car. He let out the breath he was holding as the car started. At least it still runs he said to himself. Buffy was still weeping and staring out her window absently. Angelus had finally calmed down enough to talk. "Baby, I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell at you," he apologized. Buffy wiped away her tears and looked over at him, "I'm sorry I wrecked your car. I'm really sorry." Angelus brought his hand over to her leg and rubbed her up and down briskly. "It's okay its just a car baby. I'm just glad that you didn't get hurt." They pulled up in front of his apartment. Buffy got out of the car and flinched when she saw the damage she had caused. Angelus was standing behind her as Buffy began to apologize again. Angelus rained kissed down on her, "It's just a car Buffy now lets go upstairs. You need to do your homework and I need to call a repair shop."
