Author: Stolen Childe
Author's Notes: Hey all! This chapter is dedicated to SPIKEANDKELSIE for being my sixtieth reviewer. Also I hope the rescue scene is okay, I'm not really good with the dramatic fights. Now, as we are approaching that time in the season I put a question out to you guys. For Pylea, should I gloss over it or make a little mini-series maybe three or four chapters? It will be posted separate than Little One. Another thing, someone requested the Sunnydale crew, so I brought them in. I hope you enjoy!
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"And you're sure this is the place?" Angel asked, frowning down at the address. Gunn nodded.
Willow hung up the phone, "That confirms it. There was a mass power fluctuate in the sewers."
Wesley closed his book with a snap, "The Renewal Ritual was indeed performed in that same location."
Cordelia cut the other line, "They brought in Drusilla. I... I think she turned Darla. I'm sorry Angel."
Angel frowned, before he folded the paper quickly and put it in his pocket, "Right. I'll go to the greenhouse."
Gunn and Wesley moved to gather up weapons, "We'll accompany you." Wesley said.
"No." Angel shook his head, "I have to do it alone."
"Angel..." Cordelia said, haltingly, "Do you think Spike is okay?"
Angel stared down at his shoelaces, "Drusilla won't hurt Spike. Not as he is. W... when she first saw him she wanted him to be her knight. Sp-- William was only eight years old then. Dru should be elated that she gets to play mummy. Spike being four only adds to it. She's... Dru's always wanted children. Real children, not childer. She won't hurt him." he repeated.
"Be careful." Cordelia said.
"Bring him back safe." Willow added with her brave Willow smile. Angel looked over at his friends and nodded. He shuffled around pulling out a couple stakes and putting them in his pockets.
"I will." he answered both young women.
xx
Drusilla had finally disappeared somewhere further into the greenhouse. Singing and swaying. Spike caught something about her checking on her doll. He had scrambled back into his little corner, feeling protected in the shade of the small tree. That is until he heard footsteps outside.
They were light and if not for his special vampire hearing he wouldn't have picked it up. He sought wildly for a more secure hiding place and whimpered lowly when he failed to find one. The door opened with a quiet click of the latch coming undone. He closed his eyes against the intruder, that is until the scent tickled his nostrils. His eyes flew open wide.
"Sire!" he whispered.
The familiar head of the elder vampire swivelled in his direction. Angel bent down immediately, opening his arms for the little boy.
"Daddy!" Spike cried out a warning, just as a heavy shovel connected with the back of Angel's head. Angel stumbled forward and shook his head.
"Hello Dru." Angel gritted.
"Daddy has been naughty. He has been hiding away my little prince." Drusilla tisked.
"Drusilla." Angel growled, "What did you do?"
Drusilla pouted, "I brought us together again. A family reuni--" She was cut off by a scream of a person locked in the throes of death. Three heads swivelled to the long planter where Darla had just risen.
Drusilla smiled wickedly, "Now everybody's home." Spike whimpered and rushed towards his sire, Angel not missing a beat scooped the boy up.
Angel looked around at his childer and frowned, "You get a brief reprise. I will be back for you, for both of you. You are to be punished girl." With those last words Angel turned and fled, his trench coat flapping wildly, Spike secure in his embrace. Drusilla's mad giggles and Darla's gasping breaths followed him into the night.
xx
Angel entered the Hyperion lobby, four heads turning to look at him. Spike's sobbing hysterically into his shirt.
"Oh my god. What happened?"
"Where did you find him?"
"Is he all right?"
"Didja get the bitch?"
Angel shook his head at the questions. Not pausing long enough to answer his co-workers as he ran up the stairs. He had to get Spike calmed down and the child wouldn't be able to in the lobby with the hovering group.
"Hush Little One. Yer all right now. Sire's got yeh Childe. No harm will be fall ye." Angel murmured as he walked into his room. Teddy and Dragon were sitting on the bed Angel sat down and Spike immediately grabbed for the toys, burrowing his face in their soft manufactured fur.
"I was so scared." Spike whispered, "She took me away and hurt Aunty Cordy. I couldn' 'elp Daddy. I'm sorry I couldn' help."
"Hush." Angel soothed, "It's not yer fault. Don't worry Childe. My sweet Will."
It had taken awhile but Angel had finally managed to calm down Spike. The boy was now sleeping fitfully and it would take time for the memories to fade enough for the nightmares to go away. Angel wished he could do something to help and not feel so damn helpless. He looked down at the beautiful little angel and realized how lucky he was to have his little boy back. He had a child, a real child after two hundred and fifty years. He was a dad. Angel smiled, albeit: sad and watery, but a smile nonetheless. His thoughts then took a much darker turn, in the form of two vampiresses of his line. Angel had to fight back the growl that was threatening to bubble up in his throat as not to disturb the child.
He checked on Spike one last time before marching down the stairs, "I'm going out." he called.
"Angel! Wait!" Cordelia called after him.
"No." the dark vampire gritted, "I'm late for a party."
xx
Holland Manners' house came into view. It was large and pompous, like the man himself. He went up the walk to find the door standing wide open and the half conscious form of Mrs. Manners lying in the foyer. She looked up, strained, her eyes glassy. Angel scented the air and realized the bite wound was Drusilla's handy work.
The slender woman looked up, "Help us." The laws that governed the universe took that at as invitation and Angel passed the threshold. His keen senses picking up on the soft murmur of voices coming from the cellar. He navigated the house, following the Sire-scent and Childe-scent and the residual scent of Catherine's blood being trailed by Dru.
"Angel..." Holland said as the vampire appeared in the doorway. But the look Angel sent the lawyer was anything but comforting.
Angel turned to the two vampires, "I'm sorry both of you. I wish I could change things."
Darla glared, "We don't."
"He's soul-sick." Drusilla hissed, "Only caring about the golden boy. Sweet Willy. He was to be my prince but he was taken away." Drusilla pulled one of the men's heads by his short hair, pressing the side of his face against her belly.
Lilah looked around, her eyes darting from the female vampires to Angel in the doorway, "For god's sake, help us." Angel looked at the woman impassively. He was almost sorry for what he was about to do. Lilah was useful for a good laugh.
Holland struggled futilely against Darla's grip, "Angel... Please... People are going to die."
Angel tisked, "You know Holland... That is your name right? Because of you, I almost lost a child tonight. And somehow, I just can't seem to care about your petty problems. Have fun girls. Don't make a mess and you will be punished later." Angel took a step back and shut the door with a resounding bang. The latch slid and clicked solidly into the lock.
Drusilla grinned, "I knew Daddy was coming home. Such a kind Daddy."
"Eat up Dear." Darla smiled, biting into Holland's neck.
xx
Wesley blinked, "And you... just walked away?"
Angel stared back impassively, "No, I walked to my car and then I drove away."
"You didn't do anything?" Gunn asked, incredulously.
"I locked the door." Angel shrugged.
"You allowed Darla and Drusilla to have free reign." Wesley stated.
Angel glared, "I didn't bring either one of them into this. They did."
"Y...you could have stopped them." Willow whispered, her eyes wide.
"And I will."
"When?" Cordelia hissed, cradling the sleeping Spike to her protectively, "After they've finished off all the people you don't like?"
"No. Soon." Angel shook his head, "There are more important things right now." He looked pointedly at the slumbering child.
"Angel, while it's certainly true that these lawyers brought this on themselves - what you did is..." Wesley faltered.
"... is wrong." Cordelia finished for him.
Willow looked at him sadly, "You went too far."
The was a short silence then Wesley spoke again, "We've all been worried about you, and I guess it's fair to say that we all share some of the blame... We should have spoken up sooner--"
"And louder." Gunn added.
Willow nibbled her lip anxiously, "You have to change the way you've been doing things."
"Don't you see where this is taking you?" Cordy asked, hugging Spike to her.
Wesley leaned forward in his chair, "Listen to them! Right now the five of us are all that's standing between you and real darkness."
"Best believe that, man." Gunn said.
Angel looked down as his slumbering boy, his look softened and he met the gaze of his friends, "I do. Truly. But right now, I can't use your help. Not in the way you think. Look, take the week off. Go to Sunnydale. I'm sure Buffy and Dawn want to see Spike. When you get back. I swear it will all be taken care off."
"Angel... I don't think--" Cordy began.
"Please? Cordelia? For Spike. I don't want him mixed up in this. He shouldn't be here for what I have to do." Angel said.
Wesley nodded, resignedly, "Right." he ran a hand through Spike soft curls, "All right. We'll go. For five days. Is that enough time?"
"It should be." Angel nodded, a small smile on his lips, "Thank you. All of you. I appreciate you trying to help. But the only one who can help me right now is me."
Cordelia stood, handing Spike over to Angel who took him gently, "You should tell him. He'll understand it better coming from you."
"I know." Angel whispered, kissing Spike lightly on the head, "Get some rest guys."
"We'll be back before dawn." Wesley said, "Get young William safely to the car and be in Sunnydale for eight."
"I'll call Buffy." Willow said, walking to the front desk.
"What do you think I'll need for Sunnydale?" Gunn asked.
"Lots of weapons." Cordelia joked half-heartedly.
"That I can do." Gunn nodded.
"Good night guys. Sleep well." Angel said, walking up the stairs.
TBC
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Next up Sunnydale! Keep those suggestions coming and remember to tell me what you think of Pylea!