A.N. Hi everyone, thanks for the fabulous feedback. Love that you're enjoying it and I hope you continue to enjoy it because I enjoy writing it.

With that being said this chapter poured out Wednesday night, mainly because of Angelus who refused to stay quiet any longer. Plus museAngelus promised me some fun filled dreams if I gave into his request…how could a girl say no?

Also my wrist is still demanding I take it easy but with visions/promises of a naked Angelus dancing in my head I decided I could live with the small pain. That's what they made Advil for right? Love you all, enjoy.

Previously…

Buffy nodded, now for the real kicker. This little piece of information is likely to send some of the group into a tizzy. "Well your search is over. See I know where the Scythe is."

"Wonderful, where is it?" Giles could hardly believe it was that easy.

"With me. I'm the guardian you're looking for Giles. What do you know—I was right. Should have listened to me when I said that there was something at the vineyard. Don't you feel stupid?"

Chapter 19

April 30, 2000

"That's gotta sting Rupert." The time for Angelus to be silent was over. "Every single one of you whining, it's like nails digging into my ears. Believe me that hurts boys and girls…I should know."

"Why?" Amanda, a Potential, asked.

"Why?" Angelus's expression became one of sympathy—mock sympathy. "Because I did it to a weak, slow, whiny little Potential." The words of torture sail out of his mouth like liquid velvet, coating the occupants in warmth and fear.

Amanda and many of the other girls shrank back trying to get as far away from him as possible. They'd never encountered a creature so sinister, even the First didn't frighten them as much.

Buffy's heart raced, he could hear it, and smelled her arousal. His Mate wasn't scared at all; there was no one like his girl. What person Slayer or otherwise would still be hot for the homicidal boyfriend, not many. He turned to Rupert, that chain saw was looking mighty tempting…Angel even had one in the basement last he checked. His fingers tingled to torture the treacherous Watcher.

"The girl looked a little like you…actually a lot like you." Angelus glided a step closer revealing in the skittish jump back. "She screamed. A beautiful lullaby, such music to my ears."

Liz sent a smirk to Buffy who hadn't taken her eyes from his back, she had a hungry stare and it was glued right on Angelus's firm behind. She watched as she glimpsed up his back and licked her lips taking in the muscles flexing deliciously. And it was delicious; no man who walked like that could be described as anything but deliciousness.

Delicious, she loved that word. If she spoke it aloud the sound would roll of her tongue inducing shivers of delight. Oh another 'D' word, there were so many that could describe the male specimen in front of them. Decadent, damning, dangerous. She could understand why Buffy was so infatuated, she didn't even want to be with Angelus and she was becoming infatuated.

"That's enough Angelus, you should stop running your mouth it's liable to get you dusted." Faith had it up to the ceiling with his taunting and condescending attitude.

"And the number two speaks up. Took you long enough." He whispered. "Did you really think that you could ever be Buffy? You're not even fit to walk in her shadow let alone in her shoes. You are too tainted, too evil to be her."

"Would have thought a vamp like you would find that attractive." Faith smirked a part of her excited that the Scourge of Europe had his attention on her now. It had to be a Slayer thing to be turned on by being threatened.

"Oh I do. Just not on you." He turned his back on her and eased back over to Buffy, but if they thought he was done they had another thing coming. "Did you tell them Faith about how you tried to kill Xander? Not that I blame you, he's in need of a good neck snapping." Xander rubbed his neck nervously. "Or how about when you tried to release me from my soulful prison to kill Buffy?"

She fidgeted but held his stare. "I never denied I did those things but I'm different now."

"Really?"

"I've paid for what I did, went to prison for three years, the only reason I'm out is to help Buffy. Then I'm going right back." She defended herself; Angelus would not make her feel guilty for what she'd already dealt with.

"Three years? You think that's paying for killing people, attempting to kill people, and trying to get your Mayor boss guy to eat the senior class of Sunnydale High and ascend to be a big snake thing?" Liz snorted in disbelief. "Please, that is the biggest load of crap I've ever heard."

"It makes no sense, why is Faith forgiven for all her crimes but Buffy accidentally got led into a trap and you're all down her throat like she personally set out to get you killed?" Cordy snapped at the group at large. "I'd never been so happy to be out of that dysfunctional group." She huffed.

A few minutes more of taunting and throwing accusations back and forth the main players of the two groups came to a sort of agreement. Buffy would go to Sunnydale with Angelus deal with Caleb and the First, then when that was done come back to LA and take care of the Beast with the AI team.

There were more than a few objections to Angelus coming with them. They wanted Angel's soul to be put back into his body and than Angel could help fight Caleb and the First. But Buffy knocked down that suggestion immediately. Sunnydale needed her and the Scoobies were going to do it her way, she was non-negotiable on that issue.

Liz wouldn't fight in either battle. As much as she wanted to be able to help her friends she couldn't, not with her baby boy growing inside her. No harm would come to her child, she'd make damn sure of it.

Kennedy had some 'words of wisdom' to say about her bowing out of the battles. "Why am I not surprised you're backing out. You talk a big game but when it's time you won't step up to the plate."

Liz hadn't gotten a chance to set her straight when Gunn grabbed a hold of the abrasive Potentials arm turning her around to face him. "You will not speak to her that way. She has her reasons for backing out of these fights and I don't blame her. One wrong move or well placed kick to her back or stomach could make her lose the baby she's carrying."

His ex-girlfriend gave him a look of gratitude and confusion. She appreciated what he was doing but didn't know why he was doing it. As her mother always said, 'never look a gift horse in the mouth'.

"The only reason she helped us here, tonight, was because she had no choice. I'm only giving you one warning. You continue to bother Liz and I will throw you out myself." Gunn hissed pushing her back away from him.

Instead of waiting to see what Kennedy do he opened the weapons cabinet and grabbed his favorite axe. "Don't know about everyone else but I'm ready to go kick ass."

"Yes, indeed. Let's go immediately." Giles nodded his agreement.

"Not so fast." Cordelia halted everyone with the authority in her tone. "What about the rest of us who are staying here? Buffy, Angel, Gunn, and Wesley are going to Sunnydale. Now I'm not saying the rest of us can't handle ourselves but none of us are Slayer or Vampire strong. What's going to happen if this Beast thing comes back looking for something to snack on? Liz has her electric thing, Fred has her brains, I have some demon in me—" she rose her hand shutting the curious questions off, "—don't ask, none of your business. And what can Lorne do? Sing them to death?"

"If it'll make you feel better we can call Spike." Buffy told her.

"Spike? Are you kidding me? Billy Idol will probably want to kill us and take Liz as a Drusilla knock-off." Cordy snorted.

Liz leaned forward in her chair. "Who's Spike?"

TBC