Chapter 20 Turning Point
Warning: Torture sequence at the end, mature people only.
Spike saw Angel packing up his stuff but he couldn't leave there were two dead men. Angel needed to give an initial statement. But he needed to get back the man said he saw Elizabeth and had no idea if there were more of them. Did Angelus know? What if his brother now knows where Buffy is? This was bad he needed to find her.
"You can't leave yet mate," Spike informed him but Angel wasn't listening as he was almost done and ready to speed off. "If you're worried call in a cop to check in on her or have someone stake out in front of the house but you just put someone down, you'll get written up."
"My family could be in trouble, not letting anything happen to them. If I get written up for that I can care less." Angel gave his reason and Spike on the inside smiled but on the outside acted concerned. Spike agreed, go to your family but he made seem like he didn't which he knew would only make Angel race home faster. Angel got in his SUV and was off and Spike smiled a little.
Angel raced back to the house with his heart pounding. He had no clue if the hit men were able to tell Angelus if Buffy was here. What if Angelus was in town waiting for a signal. He had to push that out of the way and just get home. He was supposed to stay on the scene but how do you do that knowing two people you care about lives were in danger right now. He sped home and if he had to would turn on the sirens just to bypass traffic.
Angel parked the car and headed inside. Buffy's car was still here but that meant nothing. He went in and there were no signs of disruptions but his heart was still racing. But until he saw Buffy and Connor it didn't matter how calm the house looked.
"Buffy!" He yelled. Upstairs Buffy was in bed wide-awake and heard her name. She got out of bed and walked down the hall to the foot of the steps and saw Angel at the bottom of the stairs. His heart sank and it felt like his legs were going to give out. They were ok and he raced upstairs. Buffy stood there confused as Angel raced to her. He then embraced her tightly and now she was confused. He pulled away looking at her as her eyes were starting to tear up in both confusion and happiness because he hugged her.
"What's going on?" She asked because Angel raced inside. But Angel said nothing and leaned in and kissed her a passionate kiss. Buffy didn't pull back but pushed closer. Something happened for him to come back and kiss her. He pulled away and hugged her again.
"God, you're safe," He sounded out of breath but what he said meant it had something to do with Angelus. Buffy pulled away looking at him.
"I'm ok, we're ok, Angel what happened?" She asked possibly breaking a moment but she needed to know. "Angelus?" Angel looked frustrated and sad and confused and concerned.
"It doesn't matter," Angel answered and hugged her again and she accepted it. "Buffy," He squeezed her tighter when he said her name and she just melted in his embrace holding him. "I'm sorry," He apologized. "I promised I wasn't going to leave and I won't." Buffy closed her eyes and buried her face into his shoulder. He pulled away and leaned in for a kiss and she accepted it. He needed to tell her about the hit men but right now he wasn't going to ruin this perfect moment. Angel picked her up and took her to their room to make up for what has happened all week. This was not her fault, this was not his fault, there should be no anger between them.
Buffy fell back onto her bed not once breaking the kiss with Angel. He was fierce in his kisses devouring her. It was out of love but tonight was going to be more out of lust, want and need. Spike was right Buffy was with him not Angelus. She left Angelus and asked Angel to be father. Angel would never get this chance again and he was going to take the chance, the risk for these two people.
Connor woke up and climbed to the end of the bed to avoid the side rails and got out. He ran to his door and reached for the knob and opened it. Connor learned how to open doors about two weeks ago so no place was safe. He peaked out into the barely sunlit hall and then smelt food. Someone was cooking breakfast. Connor ran back to his bed and grabbed his pig and his blanket and went to the stairs. He saw his mom's door closed and looked to the bottom of the stairs. He took each step one by one until the he got to the bottom. He then went to the kitchen and smiled.
Angel felt someone at his feet and looked down and Connor looked up at him smiling. Connor barely saw Angel all week and the way he was greeting him was like he hadn't seen him in three years. Angel set everything down and picked Connor up and hugged him. Angel let out a sigh holding him. Connor pulled away and smiled at Angel and placed his hands on Angel's cheeks.
"You going away?" Connor asked and Angel shook his head no.
"No, I'm staying here." Angel answered and Connor nodded.
"Kiss and hug, kiss and hug," Connor demanded and Angel did as he was told. Connor did his best to wrap his arms all around Angel and hold him so he won't go away. Angel loved holding Connor and just wanted to squish him with love.
"Ok, bud," Angel set Connor down and he remained at his feet latching on. Buffy came downstairs and smelt something good and walked into the kitchen.
"Mommy," Connor greeted still next to Angel and she smiled. "Daddy, daddy cookin," Connor explained and Buffy smiled. Angel looked to Buffy and he had a soft smile as she walked to him.
"I'll need to go to the office," Angel explained as Buffy reached for coffee cups as Angel was finishing up the breakfast.
"How long?" Buffy asked and it felt like their normal routine. Of course they needed to talk about all this but for now it was just let's enjoy this.
"I don't know but I'm in trouble." Angel answered and Buffy looked at him.
"Oooo," Connor jumped in looking up at them and they looked down at him as he smiled. "Daddy in trouble," Angel smiled along with Buffy.
"Yeah, I am bud," Angel said. "Go to the table it's breakfast time," Connor got up with his pig and blanket and walked to the table to his chair. He then climbed into his high chair and sat down. Buffy grabbed some plates as Angel started to plate things up.
"Cup daddy," Connor informed Angel meaning he needed his cup. "Cup daddy," Connor repeated as Angel went to the cupboard to get Connor's sippy cup. "Cup daddy,"
"Working on it," Angel answered as he filled Connor's cup with juice and handed him the cup. Buffy then gave Connor his plate with pancakes and sausage all cut up and ready. Connor dug in as Buffy sat down with a plate for her and Angel and they began to eat.
"We need to tell everyone," Angel spoke up and Buffy nodded. "Bring them over tonight and tell them." Sooner or later everything will be told but it needed to be said by the right people. Angel and Buffy had to accept the idea that Angelus would come or at least make some dangerous threats before this was all said and done.
Angel helped Buffy clean up while Connor went on his jogging marathon around the house. Buffy was glad that she got a house and not an apartment. Connor had room to run and jump as he was getting bigger. She wondered how Angelus would handle the noise of Connor. He probably wouldn't like it versus Angel who at times encouraged it. Connor was two now and time went by so fast. He was two and it was summer time. Connor wouldn't stop growing no matter how much she wanted time to stop. Would Angel want more children, would he want hers?
"Would," Buffy started and Angel looked to her and she sighed. "Connor's yours but would you," Angel smiled a little knowing what she was trying to ask.
"Yes," Angel answered and Buffy faced him. "Connor's a handful but I've always wanted lots of children whole ball team if I have my way." Buffy smiled at him. "Would you want to have my children?"
"Yes, I do maybe not a whole ball team but yes. We'll add onto the craziness of this house. Besides it seems a little empty." Buffy answered and Angel smiled. "What would you do if you had a girl?"
"The glitter and baby powder would fly. I already know if I had a girl she would be spoiled. Boys are tough. Connor's like my boy, we can do man stuff but a girl." Angel thought about it. "She'll control me and I know it." Buffy giggled thinking about more children with Angel and it made her happy. "But it doesn't matter what I have as long as they're yours." Angel then pulled her in for a kiss and she accepted it. The heat between them hasn't died down yet so the kiss was passionate. They pulled away for a moment resting their foreheads together.
"Well, while we wait for the ball team to arrive we can practice cause you know practice makes perfect." Buffy suggested and Angel smiled leaning in for another kiss. He then made a trail of kisses down Buffy's neck and she playful slapped his butt.
"Oooo, she slapped me," Angel giggled but it didn't stop him from kissing her neck.
"Angel," She tried to protest knowing Connor was loose in the house but as soon as he started to whisper in Gaelic to her that was it. She didn't want him to stop but if he kept going it would be harder to resist and she needed him after this long and awful week. Angel found her lips again and kissed her slowly enjoying it.
"Mommy! Daddy!" A little voice ruined the moment as they pulled apart smiling. They headed upstairs hand in hand to see what their son needed.
Angel left to the office to finish what should have been done last night. He was prepared to get yelled at for it. But Connor didn't want him to leave and looked out the window as Angel left and he cried.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Connor cried and Buffy felt bad but Angel needed to go to the office for a bit after what happened last night. "I want daddy. I want go with daddy." He whined as he looked to the empty spot in the driveway.
"Connor," Buffy came to him as he cried.
"I want daddy." Connor stated clearly and she wanted him too.
"I know I want daddy too but he needs to work for a little bit." Buffy tried to explain but Connor wouldn't have any of it. "We can play in the water out in the backyard while we wait for daddy," Buffy suggested as she sat next to Connor on the couch while he still looked out the window. Connor then looked to his mom thinking. "He'll be back I promise." Buffy assured him.
After Angel left Claire came over. She stood outside the door nervous to knock. She finally did and she heard Connor yelling, "People here." Claire smiled and the door opened as Buffy stood there. Claire would understand if Buffy didn't let her in and just shut the door on her but she didn't. Buffy stepped aside allowing Claire to come in and she did as Connor looked up at her and smiled.
"Hi, Connor," Claire greeted her grandson. It was her grandson by birth. She thought he would be her grandson by Angel marrying Buffy and adopting him but no he was already her grandson through Angelus. Connor ran off somewhere in the house to burn off energy. Buffy shut the door and walked back to the kitchen with Claire following. "I am sorry," Buffy looked up at Claire knowing she was sorry.
"Angel came home last night and," Buffy smiled a little. "He's not going anywhere." Claire smiled a little and then Connor came running in. "We need to get dress don't we?" Buffy asked Connor and he nodded. Claire smiled as Buffy picked him up and headed upstairs to get Connor in his bathing suit and get him outside to distract him until Angel came home.
Connor was out in the backyard running through the sprinklers laughing. Buffy and Claire sat on the chairs watching Connor smiling. But they needed to talk about what happened last week.
"What happened?" Claire asked and Buffy looked to her. "I mean what caused this?"
"I fell in love with the wrong man." Buffy answered and sighed. "I caught him cheating and confronted him. Then I saw him kill three men. So I left." Buffy summed it up and Claire nodded.
"Arthur told me and I tried but couldn't. I felt awful for not getting Angelus. And now he's a monster because I wasn't like you. I was too afraid." Claire told her feelings.
"You are brave for standing up." Buffy assured her and Claire nodded.
"I thought the fear was gone from running." Claire confessed and then she felt someone grab her hand and she looked to Buffy.
"At least we can be a family." Buffy stated and Claire smiled. "You did what was right. Angelus chose his life he could have changed but he didn't. So I left and did my best to give Connor a better life." Claire smiled and looked to the little boy as he was playing. If he was still in New York there was no way of knowing if he would be this happy. "I did love Angelus, for the time we were together did love him."
"And Angel?" Claire asked and Buffy smiled.
"I love him, he's what I wanted I just had to wait." Buffy answered and Claire nodded. Both her sons had a great woman but one threw an amazing life away but the other saw what he could have, brushed it off and took it.
Connor was still wet as he climbed into his chair for lunch while Claire helped Buffy. Just then Angel came in and saw his mom and Buffy and knew they worked something out.
"Dad!" Connor greeted Angel as he walked into the kitchen. "Emon aide, I want emon aide!" Connor said as Buffy got lunch ready. Connor was always a hungry man and she didn't know where he put it. He eats like a horse and sleeps like a rock. Angel jumped in to help and smiled at little at his mom.
Once that was over and Claire offered to clean everything up so Angel and Buffy could be with Connor. Connor told Angel what he did outside as he headed upstairs with him followed by Buffy. Angel sent Connor to the bathroom to use it while Buffy went to Connor's room to get his pajamas to sleep in. He was outside running around for almost three hours in the water so he should sleep for a good two maybe even three hours. After Connor was done he came bouncing in his room doing a dance or at least going in circle.
"Into bed," Buffy said and Connor looked at her like she was crazy.
"But I wanna, Connor no eh, Connor no sleepde." It turned into gibberish but it meant no. Sometimes Connor would add an extra syllable to word like "Connor playde eh. Or parts of his sentences were gibberish but somehow Angel and Buffy could decipher it. He still hadn't master the English language yet but he was learning. Everyday he could talk more and more.
"It's pig Latin he speaks," Buffy was telling Angel. "Connor no ed eh," And Angel smiled. "No idea where he picked that up from."
"Connor you need a nap you're tired." Angel picked him up and he screamed. He missed Angel all week and now that he was home he didn't want to sleep. But that scream meant he needed one. "I'm not going anywhere ok." He laid Connor down and the little boy nodded. "See you soon," He kissed Connor and then Buffy kissed him and they left. The couple headed downstairs to talk to Claire and get their friends over later. It was time to start over from the beginning.
Willow and Xander came over and Connor was put to bed. Everyone was here Angel, Buffy, Claire, Doyle, Cordelia, Xander, Willow, Anya, Giles, Joyce, Willow, Gunn and Spike; all to listen to the story of both Claire and Buffy. Claire was going to start and then Buffy would pick up where Claire left off. They needed to know everything because Angelus was out there. Angel and Buffy would like to hope and think that Angelus will be caught but Buffy knew better than that. He'll find his way here it's just a matter of time.
In small abounded warehouse US Marshal Riley Finn sat in a chair bounded waiting as Angelus stood before him. Riley was beaten, bruises all over his face, a fat lip that was bleeding. Angelus stood before him wiping his hands that had some blood on them. His motley crew all sat around waiting for the Marshal to crack but nothing.
"Beating him up is the same as killing him." Markus informed Angelus as he read a newspaper.
"He's a dead man anyways, can't let him live after this." Angelus spoke and Riley looked up. "Might as well tell me what you know about Elizabeth and my son." Angelus then put both hands on Riley's shoulders and the two men looked at each other. Angelus smiled and looked to Lindsey and Markus and both got up. Lindsey had a towel while Markus brought over a few buckets of water. Dru smiled and clapped as she waited for this.
Angelus pulled Riley's chair back as Lindsey put the towel over Riley's face. Markus then started to pour some water over the towel and Riley did his best not to struggle but it mimicked the drowning feeling. Markus kept pouring until Angelus waved his hand and Lindsey removed the towel. Angelus sat Riley up right as he coughed.
"Where is she?" Angelus asked and Riley looked up at Angelus.
"Not saying anything." Riley answered.
"No one will save you and if they do find you you'll be dead anyways." Angelus explained.
"I'll die first." Riley stood his ground and Angelus nodded. He grabbed the bucket and placed it on the table and grabbed Riley and shoved his head into the water. While he was drowning Riley he nodded to Markus and Markus left. After a few more seconds submerged Angelus took Riley out as he gasped for air.
"You won't talk? Maybe someone else will." Angelus suggested and Markus came in with a woman tied up too. Riley's eyes widen and he wanted to get out of his seat but couldn't. It was Riley's wife Samantha. Angelus smiled walking over to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"She's pretty Riley." Angelus commented.
"Let her go." Riley demanded and Angelus smiled.
"Maybe if I rape her in front of you you'll say something." Angelus was laying out the terms. "Tell me what I want to know and I'll let her go." Angelus then shoved Samantha to the table and bent her over holding her down. "If not I rape her right here on this table and you get to watch."
"Do whatever you you're going to do," Samantha started and Angelus smiled looking at her. "Then go to hell." Angelus smiled and looked back at Riley.
"She's feisty, got some fight in her, I like it." Angelus was having fun. This was his realm for sure. He ran his hand up her back as Riley could do nothing but watch. "One of you will tell me something."
"Sunnydale California," Riley said and Angelus smiled as he got all the information he needed. "Let us go." Riley demanded.
"I just tortured you, not letting you go." Angelus said and Lindsey handed Angelus a gun while Markus untied Riley enough to get him out of the chair. Markus walked Riley to the wall so he faced and Angelus put Samantha next to Riley and they were going to be shot execution style, Angelus' signature kill. Riley and Samantha looked to each other knowing Angelus very rarely lets people live.
"I'm sorry," Riley said to Samantha and she started to cry. "I love you."
"I love you." Samantha repeated back and Angelus smiled and shot Samantha first as Riley screamed in anger wanting to kill Angelus. Riley quickly got up to fight but Angelus grabbed him and with one forceful twist under Riley's chin he heard his neck snap like a twig and Riley fell to the floor. Dru clapped at the show as Angelus took a step back.
"Get them out of here," Angelus ordered his people. He started to walk away and headed outside into the early morning. The sun would be up soon. He knew that a US Marshal went missing along with his wife. The cops will be able to put two and two together about Elizabeth and that he was on his way. But he wasn't going to just go to Sunnydale and make a mess of things. No that's not his style, he had better plans. He was going to enjoy his time in Sunnydale. Angelus lit up a cigarette and took a deep drag smiling on the inside and outside. After two years of searching he found his family.
We all knew it was coming Angelus is on his way. What now? Angel and Angelus are going to go head to head soon, classic Cane and Able right? Anyone excited and nervous as to what's about to come next? I know this is what you've all been waiting for. So time to start placing your bets Angelus or Angel? No chapter review on this one, it's pretty straightforward. More soon, comments and reviews are welcomed. Thanks for reading.