Welcome to my World
Author: Angel's blue eyed girl
Rating: T
Disclaimer: I own none of them... Though I swear I wish I did!
A/N.. You know it's so funny... I have gotten so many responses to the Angelus/Dawn pairing. Many good and almost as many bad!! Okay, so here's your chance guys... Let me know which ending YOU prefer. Angelus... OR Angel ending.
A/N two... Just to let you know some parts of this ending is the same as Ending one. Only because it's the same situation just a bit different. Okay? Good, now don't write back saying parts were the same, you've been warned:) Lol!!
Chappie... Ending Two.
The basement of Angelus' hideout...
Spike felt Angel as soon as he entered the house. He raised his head and knew Dru had felt him too by the look on her face.
"The Angel beast is here," she whispered with a strange, mad grin. She danced around the room. "Now the time is here for daddy to finally get rid of the curse forever Spike. It's a beautiful trap daddy has set."
Spike opened his mouth to reply, but she put her hand over his mouth. "Ssshh... Don't speak my love. They're here... Miss Edith told me in secret that the warm daddy would come and he's here... The moon...It talks to the stars and the Slayer will lose. Her heart will break and daddy will win."
She giggled and clapped her hands in a frightening type of maddening glee. Her dark indigo eyes showed her madness as she twirled around the room.
"See my love... I told you he would win my Spike." She gripped his chin in a grip that belied her thin stature. "Do you want to die Spike?"
Spike shook his head. "No pet, I don't want ta die...Dru, luv listen to me. The Slayer won't lose. She's the..."
Dru slapped him...Hard. "Stop it! I won't hear another word. The wolf is in the house my Spike and he's gonna eat the Slayer all up. She will lose what she treasures..."
Spike raised a brow, "Oh and what does she treasure luv?"
Drusilla grinned, "Her sister... She loves daddy and she wants to run away with him... We are going to be a family again once daddy makes her our mommy!"
Spike's blue eyes widened. He should have known what Angelus was up to. He just never thought Dawn would actually give herself to his demonic Sire.
He was speechless and had a hard time focusing when Dru gripped his face and whispered to him, "Come away with us... My beautiful Spike I forgive you for being the tool of the beast...Come with me."
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Booth heard the sound of the crazy vampiress talking to whom he hoped was Spike as he silently crept down the stairs. He looked over his shoulder at Bones who was right behind him. "Okay, we go on three.." he hissed to her.
They took a deep breath in unison, both eager, yet scared at what they might find below. Booth gripped the piece of wood he had tighter. He looked back again at Bones. They both had stakes in their hands.
Booth felt weird with the long piece of wood instead of his gun, but when in Rome... The stake was what he needed to kill the crazy bitch below, so that's what he had.
He paused at he end of the steps and took a deep another deep breath, it was now or.. he looked over his shoulder at Bones, her face was a picture of shock, he turned and suddenly Dru was right there in front of him.
"Shit!" He exclaimed and flung his 200 lb. body at the slim vampiress.
They wrestled on the ground for a few moments before Booth felt himself flung off and away from her.
'Damn she's strong,' he thought right before he slammed into the concrete wall of the basement.
Brennan saw Booth tackle the dark haired vampire. She knew he'd be no match for the deceptively skinny demon. Vampires had preternatural strength and though Booth was much bigger than the vampiress, Drusilla was still much stronger.
She froze for a second as Booth was thrown across the room. When Dru stood and giggled, Tempe made her move. Rushing up behind the distracted brunette, she wrapped her left arm around the slim, swan like neck of Dru and with her right hand she reached around and plunged the stake into the chest of the female vampire.
Brennan fell forward and landed on her hands and knees as Drusilla screamed in agony and exploded into a cloud of dust.
Spike watched the scene with an agonized sense of surrealism. He screamed in pain as he saw Dru get dusted. "Nooooooo!!!" He howled, his voice filled with shocked pain.
Spike felt the tears as they trailed down his chiseled face when he watched the woman, he had spent over a hundred years loving die.
Booth dusted himself off as he stood. He looked around surprised to see the crazy vampiress gone. He saw Bones just as she stood too and dusted off the thick layer of ashes off her face and shirt.
"Bones are you...?" It was then he realized what had happened. Tempe had killed Dru.
Booth rushed over to her, "You did it!" He wrapped her in his arms and thanked God she was okay.
They both then turned to the obviously distraught blond vampire that was suspended to the wall with numerous chains.
Booth hurried over to him, only to stop when Spike's face shifted and he growled at him.
"Ya bloody well killed her!! Did ya really need ta dust her?" Spike's voice was hoarse with pain and Booth realized how much the bleached blond demon had loved the wraith like Drusilla.
"I'm sorry Spike, but she didn't really give us a choice," he said as he set about to free Angel's childe from his restraints.
Spike fell to the ground when the last chain was undone. He looked up at Booth and Brennan... "I loved her..." he said very softly. "She was my princess an' I loved her."
Booth sighed, "Look I understand and I'm sorry for your loss, but we have to get going Spike... Angel and Buffy are going after Angelus. I'm sorry you lost um..Dru, I am, but you have to get it together and help us."
Spike raised his head, a part of him wanted to rage at them for killing Dru, but the other part... The part that loved and respected Angel and the Slayer wouldn't allow him to mourn his dark princess at the moment. There would be time for that later..IF Angel won.
Booth pulled Spike to his feet, "Can you walk?" The dark haired agent asked the blond vampire.
Spike nodded, "I bloody well 'ave to now don't I?"
Booth scowled at him fiercely, quickly remembering that he really didn't like this platinum headed childe of Angel's. "Hey if you want to be a jackass you can just get yourself outta here, hmmm?"
Spike shot him an unrepentant smirk, then sighed, "Bloody hell! Fine, jus get me the soddin' hell outta here."
Booth shot him an irritated look, "Listen I don't really like you, so if you're gonna be a pain in the ass, I'd just as soon leave you here to fend for yourself. So if you want my help, keep your smart assed comments to yourself okay?"
Spike wanted to tell him to sod off, but the fact was he was too weak to get himself out of here... 'Damn it why the bloody hell do I always have to be tied to some rendition of the poof?'
"Fine..." Spike grumbled, not happy with having to be dependent on Angel's mulish twin, but realistic enough to know he needed the agent's help.
At Spike's acquiesce, Booth turned to Brennan, "C'mon Bones, let's get the hell out of here." Looking around at the chains and obvious instruments of torture, Booth grimaced, "This place gives me the creeps."
Walking up the steps, Spike stumbled and fell to his knees twice. Even though his vampire healing was already starting to help, he was still weak...He needed blood. "I'm weak...I.." He stumbled and Booth grabbed him around the waist and kept him on his feet.
Helping him walk up the stairs, Booth asked the blond vampire, "What's wrong with you? I thought you vamps had this super strength or something like that?"
Spike eyed him with a slight scowl, "I need blood ya bleedin nitwit!"
Booth scowled back and almost let the blond vampire fall back down the stairs. "Hey I told you, don't get all name calling on me or else I'm just gonna leave your ass here to deal with whatever crazies are still wandering around here. Got it?"
Spike sighed, really beginning to dislike this rugged version of his sire. "Fine, but I can't heal properly... I need blood if I'm gonna heal. Get me upstairs, maybe Angelus has some blood in the fridge, though I doubt it, the soddin' prick never eats the frozen stuff. Prefers his fresh from the tap he does."
Booth grimaced in distaste at the meaning of that, but he and Brennan helped Spike up the rest of the stairs and out of the basement.
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Upstairs...
Angelus watched as she became aware of her surroundings. "I'm sorry baby, but they burst in here like the calvary, ready to dust me and save you from my wicked clutches!"
He chuckled softly as he turned to Angel and Buffy, "Does she look like she's been mistreated?"
Buffy raised a shocked brow, "Okay, color me clueless, but why is my sister in bed with you again?"
He almost laughed and told the Slayer just how WELL he WAS treating her sister, when he stopped himself, realizing that would embarrass Dawn and he wanted Dawn to love him, turn on Buffy and not feel like he was using her.
Dawn saw her sister's horrified face and flushed bright red at how they had found her. Her embarrassed shock lasted all of a few moments before her eyes met and held Angelus' golden gaze. She felt his strength flow through her and held out her hand to him.
Angelus kept the sword in one hand and with the other he helped Dawn out of the bed and to her feet...Directly in front of him.
Angelus grinned arrogantly at Angel and Buffy. "She's mine Slayer. I won't let you take her."
Dawn nodded in agreement. "It's true Buffy. I am his. He saved me. He took care of me... I love him."
Angel growled as anger warred with disbelief at dawn's answers. He couldn't believe Angelus had made her turn against Buffy like this. What could he have possibly done to her to make her think she was in love with him? Angel didn't know, but he knew somehow they had to break through whatever hold Angelus had on her if they wanted to get her back.
"Dawn listen to me.." he said softly, trying to inch closer to his demon and his hostage?... He really wasn't sure what Dawn was anymore.
"Whatever he's done to you...it's not real. He's brainwashing you. He doesn't really love you. He CAN'T love, don't you see? He's a demon... Evil. He has no soul, therefor he can't love. Believe me, I lived with his feelings for a very long time. Angelus doesn't love. He possesses, he enthralls, he seduces, then he kills!"
Angel's deep brown eyes entreated Dawn to believe him, "Please Dawn, don't fall for his lines, he doesn't love you. He'll only bring you pain."
"No!" Dawn said. "You don't understand... He loves me Angel. He's been so kind to me. He's..."
Buffy raised a blond brow and crossed her arms over her chest. "Yeah, we can uh...see how um...kind he's been Dawn."
Buffy saw her younger sister's face turn red. She didn't want to hurt or embarrass Dawn, but Buffy felt she had to make Dawn see what a manipulator Angelus was. "Dawn, you don't know him as well as you think. He twists things. You have to see he's brainwashed you...I mean he kidnapped you for God's sake. How can you think he loves you?"
Dawn raised a stubborn chin, "That bothers you doesn't it?"
At Buffy's disbelieving gaze, Dawn went on. "It always has to be about you Buffy. You're the Slayer so the world revolves around you and how hard it is for you. You. You. You! Is it really so impossible to believe he loves me and not just as a way to hurt you?"
Buffy shook her head sadly at hearing the bitterness in Dawn's voice. She'd always known Dawn had at times been jealous of Buffy's role as the Slayer, but she'd really thought they'd gotten past that in the last few years.
"Dawn I'm sorry if you feel that way, but there are times when, yes, it is all about me when I'm the one risking my life every night... Those are the times when, yes... I'm sorry, but it is ALL about me and my needs. But I never tried to make you feel like you weren't important Dawn."
Angelus smirked, "But you never made her feel like she was your equal did ya Buff? Well with me she's not only your equal... I prefer her to you."
Buffy scoffed, hating the way Angelus twisted her words around to suit his own purposes. She'd forgotten how wicked his wit was and how he used that wit to bring the utmost of pain to his victims. Well Buffy was tired of being his victim.
"As if I care. Please... I have Angel." She lashed out heatedly, "He's the ONLY one I ever wanted and you know that."
Angelus laughed, "Yeah you keep saying that Slayer, but like I said, it was MY name you were screaming that night."
Angelus chuckled at Buffy's flushed, angry face. He flashed a wicked smile at Buffy then Angel. "Really it doesn't matter anyway, I have what I want. She's mine and no one is taking her from me."
He took Dawn's chin in his hand and turned her head so both Buffy and Angel could see his mark on her throat. "See...She's mine and I keep what's mine."
Angel recognized it immediately as a permanent mark. That was not just a bite. No, Angelus had marked Dawn as his mate.
Buffy gasped, and started forward. "You BIT her, you bastard!!"
Angel's eyes glowed yellow as he grabbed Buffy's arm and stopped her from rushing Angelus. His demon still had Dawn right in front of him. Angel still didn't believe Angelus wouldn't use dawn as a shield to escape.
"He didn't just bite her Buffy..." Angel said quietly.
Angelus smirked as his knuckles rubbed along Dawn's cheek softly, "No I didn't Buff. I marked her... as mine."
Buffy wasn't sure what horrified her more. That Angelus had permanently marked her sister or Dawn's obvious pleasure that he had.
Angelus met the dreamy blue gaze of his indoctrinated lover, "I did. I told you lover that I was never letting you go once you gave yourself to me. You ARE mine. That's what this..." His finger touched the bite gently, "..mark means. It tells everyone that you belong to me. It's the same one Angel gave your sister all those years ago."
At Buffy's gasp Angelus grinned, "Isn't that right Soul Boy?"
He saw Buffy's eyes widen at that and he wanted to laugh with delight when he saw the Slayer's wide green eyes turn to Angel.
Angelus let a smirk grace his beautiful face as he asked Buffy innocently, "What Buff? Didn't oh so perfect Angel here tell you that he marked you years ago as his mate?" He turned to Angel, "Damn Soul Boy, I would've thought that would be the first thing you'd have told her as soon as you two got back together. I mean that mark is the proof you've always loved her isn't it?"
He snapped his fingers and smiled sarcastically as he said mockingly, "Oh that's right...You left her though didn't you? Well I guess maybe it doesn't mean the same thing to you as it does to me. Huh?"
Angel wanted to rip the arrogant bastards head off for his hurtful words. He had never told Buffy what the mark meant because at that time Buffy had appeared to have moved on. What point would there have been in it. And Angelus was right, he had left her, but what the hateful demon wasn't saying, (which he damned well knew) was how leaving her had devastated Angel.
Angelus looked down at his dark haired lover and smiled with as much tenderness as he could force on to his features, "I will never leave you anamchara."
"What does onumkorah mean?" Dawn asked, entranced with his beautiful words and the look of tenderness on his face.
Angel rolled his eyes at the absolute insanity of Angelus calling Dawn his soulmate when the bastard didn't even have a soul! "Oh give me a break.." he muttered angrily.
Angelus winked at Angel and flashed Buffy a cocky smirk as he whispered softly into Dawn's ear, "It means you're my soulmate."
Dawn sighed, lost in him, his words, his beauty and the spell he was still weaving around her and her emotions.
Buffy; who was tired of listening to his deceitful words took a small step forward, "Your soulmate?!! How can that be Angelus, when you don't have a soul?"
Angelus flashed her an arrogant smirk, she'd just given him the perfect opening to stroke Dawn's insecure ego some more and drive the wedge further between the two sisters. "Dawn makes me feel like I do, that's how." He said with an audacious smile.
Buffy rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. She realized to late she'd given him another perfect opportunity to tell Dawn something she wanted to hear, dammit!
She looked at Angel and her eyes asked what they were going to do. Dawn was in fact shielding Angelus by clinging to him and Angelus; who was no fool, was keeping her there, knowing Buffy and Angel couldn't attack with her in front of his body.
Just then pandemonium broke out...
Booth, Brennan and Spike flew into the room as if tossed by some huge giant hand. Their bodies were followed by a tall, lanky man with red thinning hair and a long hooked nose. He was dressed in a dark blue robe and his black beady eyes and bird like features were tightly drawn into a scowl.
Angelus glowered at his sorcerer, "Tristan," he said, "About time you showed up... I was wondering where the fuck you were!" Angelus' tone was pissed and Tristan shrugged.
"Master Angelus, I got here as soon as I could...I believe that is something that belongs to you?" he pointed a long, bony finger to Spike who was struggling to get to his feet.
Angel, Buffy and Dawn all gasped in horror at the sight of Spike, still bloody from the days of torture, both at the hands of Angelus, then Drusilla.
Angelus had two seconds to decide how to play this. He knew Dawn would be upset that he'd had Spike tortured, but he also knew that to pretend like he didn't know it had happened made him appear inept and more likely a liar. So he made the split second decision to be honest here.
He looked down at Spike and sighed, "He betrayed me." Angelus made eye contact with Angel, then Buffy and lastly Dawn. He raised a dark, slashing brow in sardonic question, "Did you honestly think I would just say, 'Gee Spikey, I know you sent me to Hell and all, but hey, no hard feelings, okay?' Is that what you expected? Well..." He made a sound of a buzzer. "Not gonna happen."
His eyes flashed yellow as he glanced down at Dawn. "He's my childe. He betrayed me with your sister, I had to punish him or every childe, minion or associate of mine would see me as weak. It's Vampire Hierarchy love. To betray your sire is a cause for death in Vampire lore. For what Spike did to me I had every right to kill him, but I didn't. I punished him instead."
When Dawn apparently excepted that answer, Buffy was shocked. "Dawn! Please you have to snap out of this!!" Buffy went towards her sister, she held out her hands in a pleading gesture, "Can you honestly say you think what he did to Spike was alright?"
Buffy eyed Angelus, "I swear I'm gonna dust you and dance in your ashes for this."
While Angelus was focused on Buffy, Angel attacked. He pulled Dawn kicking and screaming away from the dark haired demon, which gave Buffy time to rush Angelus.
It was then that things got really chaotic...
Booth and Brennan got to their feet just as Buffy spun and kicked Angelus in the chest.
The Agent and his partner had barely got to their feet when the tall red haired sorcerer began to levitate. His thin lips began to chant something that appeared to be Latin, though Buffy wasn't sure.
The Warlock waved a thin, long nailed hand and Buffy was thrown away from where she and Angelus were trading blows. He turned and made a fist at Angel and suddenly the souled vampire felt his throat close up, his body felt like it was filled with lead. He couldn't move, couldn't speak...To his horror he could do nothing as he watched Buffy fly across the room and smash against the wall.
Angelus turned and grinned at his sorcerer. "Nice, but still what the fuck took you so long? Soul Boy and his Slayer were ready to dust my ass long before you showed up."
"I told you I got here as soon as I could. I was following these two," he signaled to Booth and Brennan. "They attacked Drusilla and were in the process of helping your blond haired childe escape, when I found them."
Angelus shot Booth a surprised look. "Well, you've got balls I'll give you that pip squeek. Not a lot of brains obviously since you're still here, but a set of big brass ones you do have, so I promise to kill you quickly." He flashed Booth a smile that didn't reach the darkness of his eyes.
Booth felt a chill race through him, he'd seen a lot of evil in the world. He'd met child murderers, serial killers, terrorists and men who killed for money or pleasure, but he'd never really experienced true evil like the sensation he had looking into the burning eyes of the demon known as the 'Scourge of Europe'.
Angelus didn't just look evil, he exuded it, it surrounded him like a aura or a mist and it traveled to the observer. It was so palpable, Booth couldn't control the shivers that wracked his body. He barely restrained the urge to cross himself.
Angelus laughed as he watched the Agent, "Go ahead clutch your little crucifix brother, it won't save you. God's not here Seeley and even if he was, he won't save you."
Angelus smirked with pleasure as he saw the pain in Booth's dark eyes. 'Shit, he's as easy as Soul Boy!' he thought as he went on, enjoying the scent of Booth's agony.
"See God doesn't want you. Just because Soul Boy over there made a deal with the devil to give you a new life doesn't mean God forgot or forgave you... God never forgets...Isn't that what you're taught? When you were a good little boy in Sunday school didn't they teach you that a sinner went to hell. Well look at me... I AM sin brother... I made you, you are a creation of sin, so where do you think you're going brother?..."
He flashed Booth an almost teasing grin, "Let's just put it this way, don't dress to warmly, it'll be hot enough!!"
Angel growled, finally breaking free of the magical hold the sorcerer had him in, "Shut the fuck up Angelus. He's nothing like you or me for that matter. He's good and he'll never go where you're going..."
Angelus just laughed, and gave an exaggerated shiver. "Ooooh and who's gonna send me there? You? Please..." he rolled his eyes, keeping a wary eye on Buffy.
She was the one fly in this lovely agonizing ointment, she could and would take him out if given the chance. Tristan's magic still kept her at bay, which gave Angelus time to run his mouth, which he thoroughly took advantage of. Nothing like spreading some more pain to make him feel better since they had all crashed his bedroom party.
"You don't have it in you Soul, Boy. Without me you ARE nothing, hell you wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for me. You'd have probably died of syphilis or drank yourself to death, so spare me any of your pious bullshit, you're no better than me, you may kill for the sake of good now, but the fact is you're still a killer Angel..."
Buffy tried to scream at Angelus to shut up, but nothing came out. The Warlock had taken away her voice. She fought his magic, but he was very powerful. Again she wished Willow was here, she was probably the only person she knew strong enough to fight Angelus' warlock.
Angel pulled his sword and went after Angelus. Everything kind of went in slow motion at that point. Angelus and Angel, squaring off finally. Swords clanged and everyone watched in a kind of morbid fascination as vampire against vampire...Soul against demon fought with every ounce of their strength against each other.
It was Booth that turned the tide, He pulled his gun and went to shoot the Warlock, Tristan seeing the very real danger of a gun, had to refocus his magic at Booth, therefor letting Buffy go.
But it was too late and Booth was able to fire off a round that caught the very human wizard right between the eyes. He died instantly as did his magic.
Buffy wasted no time in jumping into the fight between Angelus and Angel. Within moments Angelus was against the wall a stake about to be rammed into his heart.
Everything was as silent as a tomb, until Dawn's voice broke the silence just as Buffy went to ram the stake home, killing the demon known as Angelus forever.
"If you kill him...I'll die seconds later. I swear I will!!"
Angel didn't hesitate he grabbed Dawn's and ripped the dagger out of her hand.
Buffy hesitated just a second too long, her eyes riveted to her lover and her sister.
Angelus took that moment to shove her away from him. It was then that he saw Tristan dead on the floor. Thinking quickly, he reached out and snagged Booth in an iron grip. What he hadn't counted on was the steeley determination of his captive.
Booth managed to push the gun up under Angelus' chin. The shot stunned everyone in the room.
The force of the bullet shattered Angelus' jaw. He was thrown back and away from Booth. It didn't kill him as it would've a human but it did immobilize him long enough for Angel to jump him.
With blood pouring from his wound Angelus was weakened and Angel was able to wrestle him to the floor.
They had both shifted into their 'game face' during the fight. Angelus' golden eyes met the saffron gaze of Angel. "Do it then Soul boy!" he gritted out, his hands gripping the wrist Angel had the stake in.
With angry force Angel forced the stake down closer to Angelus' heart.
Dawn saw what was about to happen and with a magical force she had no idea she even possessed, she broke free of Buffy and picked up the sword. She poised it over Angel's head. "Let him go." Her voice held a steely determination in it that shocked both her sister and Angel alike.
"Dawn you can't be serious!" Buffy cried.
"Oh but I really am." Dawn said, tears streaming down her face. "You can't... Please Angel, don't make me hurt you. Just let him go...I'll stay here, just let him live. Please..." She was crying now and with an angry growl Angel rolled off Angelus.
Angelus jumped to his feet. His eyes met Dawn's and he felt the tug of a very real emotion tear through him. Knowing he had no choice but to leave without her, he met her eyes and his face shifted back to his handsome human visage.
"I'll come back for you lover..." And with that he was gone. That fast Angelus was out the door, down the stairs and into the night.
As soon as she was sure he'd escaped Dawn dropped the sword and fell to her knees. Her slim body wracked with huge, heaving sobs. In that moment she swore she felt her heart literally shatter as her lover got further and further away from her.
She turned crazed, angry blue eyes to Angel, then Buffy. "There, are you happy now? He's gone. I've lost him. I hate you! Both of you!"
Buffy felt tears well up in her own eyes at the absolutely devastated look on her sister's face. She knew they'd done the right thing in keeping her away from Angelus, but it still tore her apart to see Dawn so hurt and angry.
Temperance went to Buffy, "I don't like to ever jump to conclusions, but in this case it's more an intuitive leap. I think your sister has what's called Stockholm syndrome." Her voice was a whisper so Dawn didn't hear. "It's a phenomenon where the kidnap victim actually starts to feel tied, even in love with their captors. And in many cases they protect or even join their captors. Many will defend their kidnappers with violence, just as Dawn did tonight."
Buffy turned watery hazel eyes to Tempe's understanding blue gaze. "What can I do to help her?"
Brennan sighed, she looked at dawn who was huddled into herself, still sobbing brokenly. "Give her time and psychological treatment. Normally I don't believe in psychology, but in this instance it might be the only thing that can bring her back. Just expect it to take time."
Buffy nodded sadly wondering helplessly if her sister would ever be the same again...
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Angel Investigations... Two days later.
Spike came down the stairs shaking his head.
"How is she?" Buffy asked as soon as she saw him.
"Well since she's still cryin' an' she don't wanna talk about anything but Angelus, I'd have to say she's not doin' to bloody good."
Buffy sighed softly. In the two days since they'd rescued her, Dawn refused to come out of her room and hadn't eaten anything. She refused to talk to anyone but Spike and completely went catatonic when she saw Angel.
Even though Temperance had explained this was normal for Stockholm syndrome victims, Dawn's behavior still had everyone worried.
Spike flung himself into a chair, He felt frustrated and angry, yet sad at the same time. The niblet was hurtin' so bad, he hated to see her like this.
Feeling Dawn's sorrow still surrounding him, he raised his eyes to meet Buffy's worried gaze. "She's arse over elbow for the soddin' prick, I can see that. An' since we all know how mesmerizing he can be...I mean, I know...he bloody well lured me into an alley over a hundred and thirty years ago an' I willingly went with him, so believe me when I tell you Slayer, Angelus can make you believe anything he sets his mind to... I don't know if we'll get the niblet back. She's... Well she's bleedin well likely not ta come out of this anytime soon is what I'm thinkin'"
Buffy felt tears come to her eyes at that. "What can we do for her Spike?"
Angel walked in the lobby doors at that time, followed by Booth, Brennan and a tall gray haired man.
"Buffy this is Dr. Gordon Wyatt. He's a therapist..."
Buffy's eyes widened. "Um..Angel?..." She motioned her lover closer to her. "How can he treat Dawn? I mean you know this isn't a normal..."
Angel smiled, "He knows Buffy. Booth explained her um..situation to him and he's agreed to help."
Angel took her stubborn little chin in his hand and tilted it up so she was looking directly into his dark eyes. "We have to give it a shot baby. If we want her back, we have to try. Maybe since she doesn't know him..."
"But does he know, know what is involved..I mean..." she lowered her voice. "Does he KNOW just WHO and WHAT Angelus is?"
Angel nodded, "And believe it not..He wasn't too shocked at the fact that demons exist."
Buffy sighed and looked over at Booth. The agent smiled at her and Buffy turned back to Angel. "Okay. If he can help her I'm willing to try anything. Spike says she still crying and she still won't eat Angel."
It was then that Dr. Wyatt broke in. "That is entirely normal in these situations believe it or not. It will take some time but your sister will recover from this. You just have to understand that in her mind this Angelus loved her and you made him leave her. She won't just snap out of that."
So it was then that Dawn's recovery began...It was slow, but she did start to come back into herself.
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Angel Investigations... One month later.
Buffy and Angel were at Wong Foo's having dinner with Booth and Temperance when they got the call from Spike. Dawn had come back from her latest session with Dr. Wyatt and had told Spike she now understood why Buffy and Angel did what they did. She had said she knew Angelus had lied to her and she was ready to start living her life again.
They hadn't heard anything in the demonic underground about Angelus. He was obviously laying low and neither Buffy nor Angel wanted to leave Dawn alone to go find him. They felt it more important to be here for her and to guard her too. Neither believed Angelus would just let her go. He was a persistent, obsessive demon and no one believed he'd just gone away for good. But at the moment they were content to just let him hide out and if he came back, they wanted to be ready for him and they especially wanted Dawn to be over him if and more likely, when that happened.
At least now it appeared Dawn was beginning to head in that direction, so they would have to be content with the fact that she was starting to live again.
Buffy; though happy to hear that, still had her doubts that Dawn was completely over the hypnotic vampire. Only time would tell but she and Angel had made the commitment to be there for her no matter what. Dawn still had a long road ahead of her. Angelus had really made her believe he loved her.
Buffy understood how she could've fallen for it though because whenever she allowed herself to remember those months, years ago when Angelus was after her, she knew how incredibly mesmerizing that demon could be when he wanted to be. He was a chameleon who could change his moods and his persona at the drop of a hat. Buffy couldn't imagine what it would be like had he turned on all that charm on her instead of trying to hurt her so badly. She might have ended up just like Dawn. She shuddered at the thought and her hand automatically reached out and grasped Angel's, needing to feel him and know that he was there with her.
Booth raised a brow when Buffy hung up the phone. "Good news?"
"We hope so.. Dawn seems to have accepted that Angelus lied to her, so hopefully that's a step in the right direction." She squeezed Angel's hand as she said that.
It was then that Brennan noticed the matching rings the couple wore. "Does this mean what I think it means?" She asked with her normal skepticism concerning the institution of marriage. (some things hadn't quite changed)
Buffy grinned, happy to share her news with the woman who was rapidly becoming her very good friend. "Well..." she gave Angel a dreamy, infatuated smile and turned back to Booth and Brennan. "...he asked me yeah..."
Booth raised a brow, waiting. "And..." he prompted, his dark eyes going to his brother's beaming face.
Angel's grin was beautiful to behold. His whole face lit up and Buffy stared, enraptured by his beauty.
"She said yes," he said with a grin, "We haven't set a date yet...We want Dawn to be better...ya know? We don't want to hurt her anymore than she's already been hurt..." he said floundering awkwardly.
Angel still felt helpless when it came to Dawn and he desperately wished he could just erase Angelus from her memory.
Willow had offered to help with that, but both Angel and Buffy had said no. Dawn needed to heal on her own. No magic. Dawn had to deal with the memory of her demon lover and realize his manipulation to ever get over him for good.
And it looked like that was finally happening. They'd all seen a definite improvement in the last month. Though it still amazed them that it had only taken Angelus four days to completely brainwash Dawn, yet it was taking her over a month to come back from it.
Dr. Wyatt was the only thing that kept up the faith, by explaining that her progress was normal.
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Epilogue... Six Months Later...
Booth grinned as he adjusted Angel's bow tie. "Stop fidgeting, I can't tie this when your practically bouncing off the wall," he said teasingly.
When Angel just stared at him in a paralyzed daze, Booth raised a brow and questioned, "Man, why are you so nervous? You've only been wanting this for what?... 11 years now! What's your problem?"
Angel took a deep unneeded breath and clenched his fists. "What if she changes her mind. What if she realizes all the things I can't give her and she..."
Booth grabbed hold of Angel's shoulders. "She loves you, you jackass! Why? I don't know," he teased, "But she does, so stop torturing yourself... There.." he said with a satisfying smile. "You're all ready."
Angel felt along his throat and smoothed his hands down his chest. "Do I look alright. I mean...Damn this is when I really miss NOT being able to see myself."
Booth grinned, "Relax man...You look fine. More than fine, she loves your pretty face, so don't worry."
He understood his brother's nervousness though. He hadn't even asked Bones to marry him...
He wanted to, but until he could firmly get her to admit marriage wasn't 'an antiquated form of commitment that had no place in modern society.'
(Where she came up with these things, he didn't know...)
But until then, he was okay with where their relationship was, since just yesterday SHE asked HIM to move in with her, in typical Bones style, stating all the logical reasons why it made more sense for them to cohabitate (her word) instead of have two seperate homes. With that, Booth was pretty sure she was warming up to the idea of her and him having the forever kind of commitment. He was happy with just knowing she loved him and he loved her... He could wait for the rest...She was worth it.
Angel scowled at him, bringing him back to the present and his brother's very real nervousness.
"Considering you look just like me, I wouldn't be teasing me about my pretty face." Angel said, smiling finally.
Booth flashed him a teasing grin back, "Hah! Not even. I'm more rugged than you."
Angel rolled his eyes, "What ever..."
It was then that Spike popped his head in. "Look at the two of ya...You look like a pair of poncey book ends!!"
Both Booth and Angel growled at him.
Spike just grinned unrepentantly. "Well since the bird is ready and just waiting for his poofiness there to get to his position...I'd say ya better hurry sire, before she comes to her senses and realizes what a huge mistake she's makin and runs out the back door!!"
Angel shot Spike a look that clearly said he was pushing it. "Just get ready. You and Dawn are going first..." Angel suddenly felt light headed. He took deep, calming breaths. "God...I think I'm gonna be sick!" He moaned.
Spike chuckled, "Now that'd be a sight." Seeing Angel's very real pallor, Spike rolled his eyes and grumbled, "Oh bloody hell Angel, you love the chit and miraculously she loves you too...Go an marry the bint, so we can all take off the penguin suits alright?"
Booth nodded, "For once me and Billy there are in agreement."
And with that Spike and Booth each took an arm and helped a very nervous Angel out of the room and to the raised dais of the church, which Angel still felt uncomfortable in, considering he'd been having nightmares where the priest would turn to him and order him out of the church because of what he was.
Finally they got him to the Grooms place at the front of the church.
When the wedding march started Angel's legs gave out and Booth grabbed him and held him upright.
"Dammit Angel get it together or Buffy's gonna think you don't WANT to marry her."
Angel shook his head and when he opened his eyes... There she was... So beautiful she took away his unnecessary breath. If he had a heartbeat it would have stopped, then pounded furiously at how incredible she looked.
Suddenly Angel wasn't at all nervous. This was what he'd wanted for so long...
His eyes met hers as (surprise of all surprises) Hank Summers actually showed up to walk his daughter down the aisle. Buffy had originally asked Xander (who in another amazing twist had said yes) But Hank had insisted he wanted to give his little girl away to the man she loved.
It was a beautiful ceremony as Buffy Anne Summers married Liam Angel O'Connor.
Buffy and Angel had decided the last name in honor of Connor, Angel's son who was also in attendance much to his father's pleasure.
Later at the reception...
He watched the whole ceremony with a malicious sense of surprise...
'He'd actually done it! Married the damned Slayer!' Angelus had been shocked when the news had traveled through the demonic grapevine all the way to Ireland where he'd bought and refurbished an old 17th century castle.
He of course had to see this with his own eyes and with the aid of a new sorcerer and a cloaking device, Angelus had stood at the back of the church and watched the whole ridiculous ceremony.
Now he was still here for another reason all together. His eyes followed the slim brunette as she danced with his soon to be dead childe if he dared put a hand out of place on his mate. She seemed happy. His eyes flashed yellow as he imagined her weith anyone, but him.
Dawn... He hadn't been able to forget her. He knew he would get her back. Now was not the time though. She'd be missed too soon. He was a patient demon and after all he had plenty of time didn't he? As a matter of fact he had all the time in the world to find a way to get his mate back.
Angelus took one more look at her beautiful face and body. "Soon lover..I'll be back for you. I promise." And with that once again he was gone...
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Later that night...
Angel looked at his wife. He really liked the way that sounded. "My wife," he said out loud.
Buffy grinned from her reclining position on the bed, under the covers. "Like that do you?"
Angel turned around, his shirt open exposing his pale muscled chest. He was so beautiful, Buffy sucked in her breath.
He grinned as he saw her eyes darken with desire "Yeah I do...MY wife. Mine. My mate. Mo chroi... Graim thu. I like the sound of all of them"
He said calling her his heart and that he loved her in Gaelic.
Buffy sat up and dropped the sheet that had shielded her nakedness from his view. "Well now that we've decided you like saying my wife...How 'bout this..Do you like SEEING your wife baby, 'cause your wife is ready to see more... No, ALL of her husband."
Angel's eyes flashed yellow as desire ripped through him at the sight of her naked beauty. In seconds he'd joined her on the bed. Naked, hard and aching for her.
No matter how many times he made love to her...he never got enough of her. "I love you Buffy Anne Summers O'Connor."
Buffy gave him a sultry smile and opened her arms to him, the only man she'd ever truly loved. "And I love you, my Angel, my husband, my love... Forever, because that's what we have ... Forever right?"
Angel nodded, kissing her deeply, his hands roaming her body.
"Now Angel..." she said panting, aching for him already, "Please baby..I love you Angel...So much."
"Forever." Angel said as, for the first time as man and wife, he made her his all over again...
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A/N... Okay I know I left this as a possible sequel and at first I wasn't going to do that with this ending, but musie being musie... Well she just couldn't find it in her heart to kill Angelus:P
But I do think of this as an Angel ending, because he finally got what he always wanted... A future with Buffy. Hope you all enjoyed this fic. I sure did enjoy writing it. :)
Thank you again for ALL the reviews, tips and support I've received throughout this epic tale:) Hope you all have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a terrific New Year. :) :)
Jenna