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He hid himself to watch, wanted to see Buffy's reaction. As Darla shifted Joyce into a better position Buffy ran up, "Darla, what…?" She started then gasped, seeing her mother, "Did…?"

"Yes, Angelus did." She said quickly, "I'll get her to the hospital. Come with me, I need to tell you what he said."

Angelus smiled at the enraged look on Buffy's face and decided to follow them to the hospital. Once they were inside and her mother was admitted Angelus walked in with a smirk on his face. Buffy glared at him, knowing she couldn't do anything in public.

"Get out of here." She hissed.

He raised an eyebrow, "This is a public place, I can be here if I want. Just wanted to deliver the message my sire failed to." He paused, "If you want your mother and your friends to live then you will give me back my boy. If you fail to return him to me then I will take care of them one by one." He spoke quietly so only she could hear, "Starting with your mother."

Buffy narrowed her eyes, "Don't you dare lay a hand on them."

He stepped close to her, "Return him to me and I won't." He paused, "He'll be well taken care of now that he has been fully claimed. Not only that but I think he wants to stay with me now. Would you deny your friend what he wants?"

"If it's not good for him I would!"

He chuckled softly, "And who's to say it's not good for him, you? I think it's best that you give him to me as soon as you leave the hospital. I didn't take enough to kill your mother but next time you can be sure that I will. I'll be waiting outside your Mr. Giles' home. If he is not released to me before sunup then I will kill your mother or one of your friends depending on who I can get to first." With that he walked out, he wanted to play with someone anyway but he could wait out the rest of the night.

"We have to get everyone safe. I-I'll ask Xander what he wants when he wakes up. I really don't want him hurt anymore; I don't want him to be under his control. It can't be good for him."

Darla nodded, "I know, I'll watch your mother, you go get everyone over to Giles'."

"Alright, I hope Xander's awake so I can talk to him." With that she left, heading to Giles' home.

Seeing Angelus waiting outside reminded her of what he wanted, "Buffy, are you alright?" Jesse asked as she walked in.

"No, I am so not ok." She paused, "Is Xander awake?"

Jesse shook his head, "I was just up there, came down to get something to drink. He looks exhausted and in quite a bit of pain."

"I have to talk to him." She said, making her way upstairs, "Even if I have to wake him up." Jesse grabbed a soda and followed her up, wondering what she needed to talk to him about. She sat down next to the bed and gently shook him, "Xander, wake up please." He let out a groan, "Come on, wake up, I have to talk to you."

He groaned again and opened his eyes, "Buffy?" He couldn't believe it was her.

She nodded, "Yeah." She smiled slightly at him, "I need to talk to you, it's important."

"What about?" He asked softly.

She looked down at the bed for a moment, playing with the comforter, "About Angelus. He…" She paused, "He said if you weren't returned to him he'd kill my mother and everyone else. I don't want to give you over. I want to know what you want. Do you want to go back to him? If you don't that's fine."

Xander closed his eyes for a moment before looking up at her, "Give him what he wants. I won't be the reason for anyone's death."

"Are you sure?" She asked, looking into his chocolate eyes. He nodded, "Alright, let's get you something to wear. He was outside when I arrived. Can you walk?" She questioned, grabbing Giles' robe from the bathroom, not thinking he would mind and intending to replace it.

"Even if I can't I'm going to try." He sounded determined as he got shakily to his feet.

Buffy helped him into the robe and downstairs. As they were walking to the door Jesse finally spoke, "Xan, don't do this man." He wrapped his arms around his friend, "Please Xan, don't leave."

Xander hugged him in return, "I have to, it's for the best." He was resigned to his fate, "I'll miss you Jess, don't do anything stupid, please." He said before pulling back and going for the door, "Take care of Willow."

Angelus was waiting outside, "How touching." He mocked.

"Master, can I please say goodbye to my friends?" He whispered.

To their surprise he nodded his consent. Xander gave Buffy as big of a hug as he could, "I'll find a way to save you." She vowed, returning the hug and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"I know." He said softly, "Take care of Willow and Jesse for me, please?" She nodded, "And take care of yourself, no dying, you hear me?" She laughed and Xander gave her a final hug before going to Angelus, "Alright."

He looked him over for a moment, "You can hardly walk." He stated, picking him up easily, gently, "I won't have you hurting yourself."

Buffy watched, surprised at his apparent tenderness before Angelus walked away carrying his boy. Once they were safely at home, Angelus bathed him quickly in silence before taking him to bed and tucking him in. Xander was confused at his change of attitude, wondering why he was suddenly being gentle and nice.

"Master?" He whispered softly in question, wasn't about to call him anything except that.

Angelus raised an eyebrow, "Yes?"

He swallowed hard, "Why are you suddenly being nice to me?"

"You're behaving." He replied, "As long as you continue to do so I won't have to punish you and we can have a nice relationship. You misbehave and I punish, you behave and I reward, simple as that. Understand?"

He nodded, "Yes, I think so." He whispered.

"You think so? It's a simple yes master I understand or no master I don't get it. When I ask a question I expect a yes or no not an I think so."

"Yes master."

He smiled, "Good."

"What are you going to do with me now?"

"Now I let you rest for a bit, while I go out and have some well deserved fun." He got to his feet, "And don't worry, as long as you stay here and your friends stay out of my way they won't be harmed." With that he walked out.

Buffy had returned to the hospital to check on her mother, they talked for a bit, Joyce confirming what she already knew. On her way back home she decided to do a little patrolling, hoping to find Angelus and stake him, she was disappointed to only catch a glimpse of Drusilla, hearing her sing her mad tunes.

"Daddy has his kitten back and the stars sing so happily." She twirled around the headstones, obviously feeling better, "They'll never be apart again." She stopped and turned to where Buffy was shielded from view, "Not even the mean slayer will part them." She looked up at the stars again and laughed, "Oh what wonderful secrets."

"What are the stars telling you love?" Spike came out from behind a mausoleum.

"Secrets." She smiled and licked up a bit of blood from the corner of his mouth.

"What kind?"

She put a finger to his lips, "I promised not to tell."

The bleach blonde decided to change the subject, "Feeling better?"

"Oh yes, much. Daddy has been giving me treats." She said, nipping his ear.

He raised an eyebrow, "What kind of treats?"

She purred, "Daddy's bloody kisses." At that, Spike knew Angelus had been giving Drusilla his blood to help restore her.

Buffy watched the exchange, having a feeling they both knew she was there but not making a move, "So love, want to go home? Maybe Angelus will let you feed his kitten."

Her eyes brightened, "You think he will?"

"He might if you ask nicely and promise not to hurt him. He's very protective of his kitten you know."

She nodded, "Yes, daddy loves his kitten, the stars told me so." She said, looking at the stars again.

"Let's go home Dru." He said, wrapping an arm around her waist and steering her away.

"I can't leave him there." Buffy whispered to herself, "I just can't."

"Daddy?" Drusilla questioned as they walked into the mansion, she smiled as she heard a scream, "Daddy is playing." She moved towards the sound of torture to find Angelus 'playing' with a brunette in a cheerleader outfit.

He looked over as she moved towards him, "Hey Dru." He smiled and shoved a dagger through the girl's shoulder.

She smiled, "Daddy, can I feed your kitten?" She asked, running a finger over the blade.

He pulled the dagger out, wringing a satisfying scream from the girl, "You promise not to hurt my kitten?"

She nodded, "I promise daddy, I won't hurt your kitten."

"What do you think Cordelia? Should I let my childe feed my kitten?" He asked the sobbing girl.

"Please, please let me go." She sobbed.

"That's not how it works Cordelia. You see, I'm going to kill you, it's just a matter of how long it takes me to get to that point." He shoved the dagger through her other shoulder, "Alright Dru, you can feed my kitten but I'm going to be there, alright?"

Drusilla nodded and gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Thank you daddy."

"Let me get cleaned up and you go get something to feed to my kitten, alright?" She nodded, "Good girl. We'll meet outside my room." He said before walking to the bathroom.

Quickly he cleaned up before meeting with Drusilla. She was holding a plate with various fruits, meats, and vegetables on it, "Is this good for the kitten daddy?" She questioned, showing him what she grabbed.

"Yes Dru, that's perfect." He opened the door and ushered her in, "Be gentle with the kitten." He said, taking a seat beside the bed.

She smiled and crawled onto the bed, petting Xander's hair out of his face, "Wake up little kitten." She cooed gently.

Xander groaned and opened his eyes, whining when he saw Drusilla, "It's alright pet, she just wants to feed you." Angelus said reassuringly.

Xander relaxed, looking over at him to make sure he was there before looking at Drusilla, "I promise I won't hurt you kitten." She said, picking up a piece of rolled ham and putting it to his lips. He took the offered food, chewing and swallowing, "Such a good kitten." She offered him a carrot and he took it, "Daddy's kitten is so well behaved." She stroked his hair, smiling and feeding him.

"Yes, he's become such a good boy." Angelus agreed. Xander stayed silent, continuing to eat. He wasn't going to argue with them, he wasn't going to do anything but behave the way Angelus wanted him to, "What do you say pet?" He asked once Drusilla had given his boy the last piece of food.

"Thank you Drusilla." He whispered.

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Next Chapter: Angelus plays and Darla suffers.