CHAPTER TWO: EXPECTING


Buffy and friends entered her home to see a rather empty living room. As Willow helped Tara to the couch, Xander closed the door. He sat on the opposite side of Tara, seeing as Willow had seated herself to the right of her beloved on the sofa. Buffy quietly stepped to the staircase, glancing up the flight before making her way upstairs. She cautiously pushed open the door to her room, her tension relieved as she spotted Angel lying on her bed, serenely asleep. She moved over to her dresser, spotting a faint glint. As she picked up the source of the shimmering, she smiled softly. The twinkling was caused by two claddagh rings, the bigger one obviously his. Buffy ran her fingertips over the engraved heart of her ring, silently slipping the loop onto her left ring finger.

Her smile was unrelenting as she glided the larger ring onto his left middle finger, feeling her lover stir on the bed as the symbol of their undying love once again adorned his body. She turned to face him as he sat up, his dark mane tousled with sleep. As his eyes met her, she felt herself drifting into those soft chocolate pools, falling even deeper in love with him than ever before. Angel smiled slightly, standing and moving to embrace her, strong arms locking around her waist.

"Is Tara okay?" he said, kissing her lips gently.

Buffy felt that familiar heat sweep over her body, the same warmth that always came with his kisses. She'd missed that comfort so very much, and she didn't realize how much until that moment. Tears began welling up in her eyes. She lowered her head in an effort to hide them, smiling a veil over her mounting emotions. "She'll be fine."

Angel alighted a finger beneath her chin, lifting her head slowly. "Buffy, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," she said, wiping away a few escaped droplets. "I just..."

"You can tell me anything, Buffy," he said soothingly, brushing a few strands of her hair behind her ear with his fingers. "Did I...do something?"

"No, I..." Buffy looked up at him, tears streaming freely down her cheeks. "Why are you here?"

"What...?"

"Why are you here? You said you wanted to talk to me, but there was no conversation. You just made love to me. I'm not complaining, but it'd just be nice to know why you decided to come back into my life after all this time."

Angel touched her cheek gently, settling his palm into the contour of her face. "I left so you'd have a chance at a normal life...a normal relationship. I always planned on coming back to you when I was human."

Buffy rested her head on his chest, her tears dampening the silk of his shirt as she clung to him, relishing in the sense of security his presence always brought her. "My life is nowhere near normal. Never has been, never will be. Don't...don't tell me that you left to make things more ordinary for me. Nothing can ever make me a regular girl and you know it."

"Buffy," he said, his hold on her tightening much to her satisfaction. "I couldn't have stayed. We couldn't make love."

"You think that mattered to me?"

"No. But there'll always be that need. The desire, the passion, the necessity to be in that union. It's always there. We can't resist it. It's essential for us."

"But it's essential because we love each other so much. We belong together."

"Don't you think I know that? I never stopped loving you, Buffy. That isn't why I left. I left because if we carried out that desire, it would have had devastating consequences." He kissed the top of her head affectionately before resting his chin atop it. "I never said goodbye to you...because I couldn't. I knew that if I had to tell you I was never coming back, I'd falter and stay forever in your arms. I knew that if I had been any closer to you that night than I was, I'd have forsaken the lives of countless people to stay with you. I'd have made love to you that night if I could have. You don't know what it did to me, how it tore and ripped and wrenched my heart to just abandon you like that. But never, not for one second, did I think we'd be apart forever. I always planned on coming back. I was foolish to think you wouldn't move on-..."

"Hush," Buffy said, nuzzling upwards into his cheek, her words quieting to a whisper. "I never moved on from you, Angel."

Angel closed his eyes, emotion coming to him as well. "But...Riley..."

"Hush means you don't talk," Buffy said, smiling a bit as she looked up at him, her tears now arriving from joy. She leaned up to kiss him, whispering into his ear. "Make love to me, Angel."

That sweet murmur of hers merged with her gentle nibbles and licks at his neck, nourishing the seed that lead to what could only be called total contentment. He was human, and she was determined to provide bliss for him, become the epitome of perfect happiness, just as he had to her. Angel's mouth captured Buffy's full, ripe lips, and their tongues met and dueled in a feverish reunion. She couldn't get close enough to him, managing to break the buttons of his shirt right down the middle, pulling the now-useless garment off of his shoulders and down to the floor.

She laid him back on her bed, removing her own top. As she cast it too to the floor, she unbuttoned and lowered her jeans, straddling him. Her arms wound around his neck as she pressed nearer, the warmth of her belly nurturing his erection. She tugged his barriers of denim down, tossing them nonchalantly onto the building pile of fabric at the side of her bed. When she felt him stiffen and rise against her, Buffy was completely lost, consumed with desire. Their hearts pounded in unison as they devoured one another in a frenzy of passion.

The rest of the world slipped away. Buffy's reality centered on Angel - the taste of his mouth, the sure touch of his fingers, the warm, strong, living presence of his body - and the currents of energy that flowed between them. It was more than desire or lust: each kiss, each caress, was charged with intense emotion. Taut, aching nipples matured under Angel's seeking tongue, teeth nipping gently at the sensitive pink bud. Buffy gasped, astonished by the sudden shock of pleasure. She suffered the sweetest torment as Angel kneaded her swelling breasts and teased each nipple with his tongue and lips. She twined her arms about his neck in search of a kiss. Angel obliged, cupping her buttocks in his hands and lifting her upwards.

Buffy wrapped her legs about his hips, thrilled to feel the hard pressure of his manhood against the core of her desire. Shivers of delight transported her to their first night together as he swirled his tongue over each swollen peak, sucking gently until she began to pant and move her hips against his in a timeless rhythm. When Angel shifted slightly to position himself between her legs, Buffy rocked back and forth against him. The tip of him teased her bottom as she arched instinctively in response to his thrusts. She slipped back and forth until, suddenly, there was a burst of delicious throbbing sensations deep in her loins that undulated in waves over the rest of her body.

Angel's heart tightened with tenderness as he watched her enchanting face contort at the moment of her release. She made a sound of primitive joy, her nails digging into his back and her legs tensing around his hips, and Angel could feel her spasms against the length of his manhood. Again she moaned, this time reaching blindly between them, begging wordlessly for his entry. Buffy waited, spellbound with anticipation, staring boldly at his chiseled body. He was, without a doubt, the most beautiful man in the world, regardless of age.

Buffy blushed a bit, feasting upon her lover, running her hands down his tapering back, kissing the warm expanse of his chest, then nuzzling his nipples as he had done to hers. When they tautened against her soft lips and she heard Angel's sharp intake of breath, Buffy was delighted by her discovery. Her hands strayed lower, exploring and caressing until Angel could take no more.

Angel moved forward and pressed himself against her, closing his eyes and breathing in the subtle scent of strawberries laced in her honeyed hair. Buffy felt a fresh surge of arousal as he cupped her breasts, then trailed his hands over her belly to caress her more intimately. Buffy clenched the headboard, a faint cracking heard from it as her grasp tightened, feeling Angel gradually enter her from below. They moaned softly in unison, savoring each sensation until Buffy was completely filled. Angel shut his eyes for a moment, snug inside her warmth. It was as if their bodies had been made to fit together this way.

Then, slowly, he began to move, letting the ecstasy build. Buffy held fast to the headboard and pushed off of it to meet Angel's thrusts, while he framed her hips with his hands. The sound of their breathing filled the air, fueling their passion. Each time he pushed into her, a low cry escaped her lips, and when Angel nipped at her neck, then caressed his way back down with his lips, Buffy thought she would explode. The sensations of their coupling were the wildest, keenest, most exquisite she had ever known. Just when she was certain she could bear no more, Angel leaned forward to kiss her breasts, a hand reaching to brush the soft curls protecting Buffy's womanhood. Still moving inside of her, he gauged the level of her arousal and lightly pressed his fingers against her. Buffy whimpered, in a near frenzy of unbearable pleasure. She wondered how Angel knew exactly how to touch her, how he knew exactly what she needed. As the climax built, his fingers pressed again, paused, then pressed again. Suddenly Buffy cried out, shuddering, as Angel thrust deep inside of her, feeling his own spasms begin. It was as if his entire being were centered in his loins, in the shattering contractions that left him pulsing and incredibly sensitized.

A minute passed before Angel could speak, and then his voice was a hoarse whisper. "My God..." He stayed inside of Buffy, keeping them securely joined, his face buried in the curve of her neck.

Buffy let go of the headboard and sagged within Angel's embrace. "I feel..." Her mouth was parched. "I feel as if I've been turned inside out." Angel nodded a silent agreement, keeping her within his grasp. He heard Buffy whisper the words "Stay inside me tonight...please..." softly, closing his eyes as he indulged her request. She floated into a quiet slumber, perfectly comfortable atop her Angel.
-----

The next morning, everyone had gathered in Buffy's bedroom for a discussion on their next move. Willow nursed Tara's head from time to time, not quite focusing on the task at hand. Xander and Buffy went over their current weapon inventory while Angel leaned against the wall in thought.

"Okay," Buffy said, placing an axe on the coffee table amongst other weapons. "That should do it for any minions. But this girl is supposed to be some formidable witch, right? Don't you guys have any spells that I can use for protection?"

"Well," Willow said, placing a fresh piece of gauze on Tara's forehead. "We can come up with some by tonight. That's when we're doing the location spell Tara got."

"Wait," Angel said, pushing himself off of the wall to stand. "What's her name again?"

"Tabitha something." Tara said. "Why?"

"Tabi...I think I know who we're dealing with." Angel said.

"Who?" Buffy asked, straightening up to listen more intently.

"Tabitha Reedsworth." Angel began. "She was a powerful witch in the eighteenth century. She and I, well, she and Angelus, go back. Kathleen was her twin sister's name. Kathy was the good sister, Tabby the bad. Kathy didn't know of her sister's true nature until she read a prophecy concerning them both. Of course, that was some one hundred years ago."

Angel sat down, glancing over at Willow. "Tabby had an apprentice, one who was deeply in love with Kathleen. She murdered her sister and took her identity just so she could use the guy's emotions as a tool in her spells. Evil deeds are good, but spells using the power of one's heart can turn out some really black magic. His name is Darien. He kept her and himself alive over the centuries, but the aging didn't stop. They just got older. I thought they were dead. Youth was an illusion for them, a facade to hide their elderly appearance. Tabby became a recluse, the dark magic she was using actually weakening her and making her more grotesque than even Time did. Of course, Darien was her puppet. If she has the book, chances are she did this little time warp to make herself over. Something must have gone wrong."

"I'll say." Buffy said.

"You said you and her go back," Xander said, "how so? She do a little mojo on you?"

"You know the stock market crash and the Great Depression?"

"Yeah."

"My idea. Just took her a while to carry it out."

"Well, it's comforting to know we have the creator of one of the darkest days in this country's history sitting right here in our living room."

"Co-creator, thank you very much."

"Anyway," Buffy said rolling her eyes and looking to Willow." Do you think I could get a little mystical help? Just in case she's as dark as Angel says."

"Dark or not, we only have five days before the world ends, so I'd say we need some help." Angel said.

Buffy raised her eyebrows. "Five days?"

"That's what Wesley says. The entire Earth is becoming younger. Time is not on our side."

"When is it ever?" Xander asked, leaning back on the couch dejectedly.

"Good point." Buffy said. "But since Angel and her have a history, maybe it'd be better if he did a little reconnaissance, maybe confronting her."

"But we'd have to know where she is," Angel said, "and if she doesn't want to be found, she won't be."

"What do you suggest?"

"You have to go through the imps to get to the Devil."

"A little less cryptic, please?" Xander implored.

"Darien."
-----

Darien was sitting on his easy chair, slovenly dressed in only a red robe that couldn't even be attempted to be used to cover the tremendous gut that protruded upwards, a bowl of spaghetti balancing on the lump of flesh. He was watching television, the sauce smeared all over his face from his sloppy eating habits.

"Why am I not surprised that I can just walk right in here without an invitation?"

The voice from the shadows startled him, causing him to fall out of the chair, his meal splattering all over his front. He scrambled to his feet, flesh rolling and jiggling as he tried to face the intruder. "I-Invitation? Y-You're a vampire?"

Angel stepped out of the shadows slowly, his features slowly emerging from the darkness. "Now I know I've had a bit of a facelift in recent days, but surely you recognize me."

"A-Angelus...how...nice to see you!" He backpedaled towards the kitchen, keeping his eyes on Angel nervously. "How about I get you something to eat?"

"No thanks. I prefer freshness." Angel said, smirking slightly. "You don't own this little rathole do you? Tabitha provide it for you? I mean...Kathleen..."

"What are you talking about?" Darien asked, growing angry. "What does my beloved have to do with this?"

"Oh, come on, Darien," Angel said, stepping towards the man. "It's the new millennium. Certainly you've caught on by now." He saw the puzzled look on Darien's face and sighed. "Okay, Tabby murdered the girl you were hot for and took her place in your heart just so she could use and abuse you like the poor schmuck you are, and now the world's going to end because you can't tell two girls apart."

"Lies!" Darien yelled, "All lies!"

"Yes, let's get melodramatic about it." Angel said, rolling his eyes. "You have an opportunity to avenge your sweetheart and right every wrong you and Tabby have committed."

"I...I do?"

"Yep. Just tell me where she is."

"Why should I believe you? Why should I tell you anything?"

"Because I can get rid of your excess weight."

"Y-You can? How...?"

"The natural solution would be to bleed you like a stuck pig. That'd be fun, and you'd lose twenty pounds. But the most effective solution," Angel said, taking an axe from his duster and hefting it up onto his shoulder, "would be to carve out all those annoying little fat cells then sew up the wound with barbed wire, just in case any vital organs get out. Doesn't matter to me. One has more blood, the other more screaming. It's like deciding between eating steak kabobs or shrimp kabobs - it doesn't really matter, because one way or the other you're gonna get stabbed in the neck with the skewers. Now, ready to talk?"

"She's at the warehouse on Fifth Street, trying to summon the demon Alhtaca to grant her immortality."

"And how exactly does that grant get fulfilled?"

"A pregnant girl must be given to Alhtaca so he may possess the baby and be birthed into the world and reign terror on the earth and annihilate all who oppose him."

"Thanks, Darien. Won't have to bleed you like swine after all."

"Thank you, Angelus."

As Angel exited the apartment complex, he walked over to the rest of the gang, who had been waiting outside Darien's window. "Remind me to thank Wesley for that address."

"You know," Buffy said, "you took a chance guessing that he didn't own this place."

"Yeah, and what was with the whole "Light Switch of Sadism" that you conveniently turned on poor Darien back there?"

"It's a gift. Like the ability to lurk." Angel said. "Doesn't all come from being a vampire."

"That's comforting," Anya said, "in a scary, evil spawn of Satan kind of way."

"It is off, right?" Xander said. "Right?"

"Come on, let's go find this Tabitha baddie and vanquish her so we can go home." Buffy said.

"Not tonight," Angel said. "She's not ready. If she was, Darien would have been there to assist. We have to wait for her to perform the ritual."

"What? Why?" Buffy asked, "We're on a time limit here."

"Because she's probably masked herself from the location spell. Once she starts the new spell, we just turn our enchantment loose, and it'll pick up the new mystical energy forming."

"But we know where she is."

"No we don't. There is no warehouse on Fifth Street."

"Great," Buffy said, "Back to square one. What else can happen tonight?"

Buffy suddenly screamed as she looked down at her hands...or, where her hands used to be. Her friends stared in horror as they watched her body abruptly fade away into nothing.

"She had to ask." Anya said.

"How can she disappear like that? She's not a vampire!" Xander said.

"She's not gone," Angel said, "Just somewhere else."

"Where?" Willow asked

"With Tabitha."
-----

Buffy labored to shake the weight of sleep off of her body, the effects beginning to dwindle as her eyes focused on her new surroundings. She could tell she was in some sort of warehouse by the crates and advertisements that were strewn about on the floor, but she also noted that a mass of candles created the only illumination in the gloominess of her new prison. She tried to sit up, but found her hands shackled by her sides, her ankles restrained as well.

"So the sleeping beauty awakes. Just in time."

Buffy looked into the shadows, searching for the source of the voice that spoke to her. Her captor was slowly revealed as she stepped into the light, provocatively clothed in a blue satin dress that showed off her newly tightened midriff. Also flaunted were her legs, which easily escaped the long slit that ran from the bottom of the garb to her waist, the garment's skintight design exhibiting all her youthful yet fully developed curves. All her hair was swept elegantly to one side, almost distracting from the insidious smile gracing those ample lips.

"And who are you?" Buffy asked, still pulling at her restraints. "My fairy godmother?"

"Bippity boppity boo," the woman said, grinning as she approached the table to which Buffy was bound. "Think of me as a pioneer in the feminist movement. The only person to ever gain true immortality will be a woman, and a powerful one at that."

"Tabitha." Buffy said, recognizing who her adversary was, but not yet able to see what was to become of her in Tabitha's plan. The witch just smiled in mock sweetness, playing with a few flaxen tendrils on Buffy's head.

"Surely you'll understand how important it is that a woman rule the world, one deserving of the power and the right to give every single man on this planet, this very universe, what they are worthy of." Tabitha pulled sharply on Buffy's hair, relishing in Buffy's helpless wincing. "Death."

Buffy yanked away from her hand, glaring angrily up at her. "All this because you aren't on the best of terms with the male species? You want to destroy billions of lives because you have man problems?" Buffy tugged at her shackles, hearing the metal wrench a bit. "Take a number, get in line, join the club. Talk to me when you have a schizophrenic boyfriend whose homicidal tendencies are triggered every time he gets a happy."

Again, she jerked at her bindings, feeling the steel loosen around her wrists. "Talk to me when your so-called boyfriend leaves the country because he'd rather have vampires suck off him and face certain death with unidentifiable demons then stay with you." She tugged again, hard. "Talk to me when you have friends and family threatened and killed by someone wearing the same face as the man you love, the man you first gave your heart, body, and soul to." Her last statement brought emotion to her face, a tear falling slowly down her cheek as the emotions themselves fueled her final pull, a resounding click signaling her victory as the bolts in her shackles broke from the table.

Tabitha yawned. "Are you quite done?"

"Nope." Buffy said. "Just one more thing."

As Tabitha listened not-so-intently, Buffy lashed out a hard right hand, knocking the sorceress to the floor. Buffy sat up, working feverishly to free her ankles from their bindings. Once loose, she noticed Tabitha getting back to her feet. She thrust out a knee to the witch's face, knocking her back. Tabitha's disorientation didn't deter Buffy, nor persuade her to lighten up. She spun, using the momentum to intensify her kick, her foot crashing into Tabitha's nose. Thinking her unconscious, Buffy ceased her assault, running to find some sort of exit in the maze of boxes.

Tabitha slowly rose to her feet, furious that blood was trickling from her nose, damaging her once perfect appearance. Her eyes turned solid black as she lifted her hand, her palm facing Buffy's back. She began whispering in ancient Gaelic, her chanting growing louder as the spell built up. She let out a final yell of the enchantment and dropped her hand, smirking deviously.

Buffy felt something rip through her, tearing at her insides. She fell to her knees, hugging her stomach as whatever was summoned by Tabitha shredded her to her very being. She screamed out in agony, her pained and tormented cries drowning out Tabitha's sadistic laughter.

Tabitha chuckled softly. "It's time to make my own destiny."
-----

Willow and Tara looked over at a red crystalline orb that sat on the coffee table at the Summers' residence, watching in shock as it turned blue and levitated, spinning and glowing.

"Guys! It's happening!" Willow yelled out.

Angel and Dawn hurried down the stairs as Xander and Anya entered from the kitchen, stopping in their tracks as they too saw the radiating sphere.

"There should be a light outside, signaling where the use of magic is." Tara said, looking up at Angel.

"And from the looks of that," Willow said, noting the whirling orb, "it's a lot of magic."

"I'll go." Angel said, grabbing his duster from the couch. "You all stay here and try to find some way to stop it if I can't."

"Which 'it'?" Willow asked, raising an eyebrow excitedly. "Alhtaca or the world coming to an end from the youth spell?"

Angel stared blankly at her for a moment. "Pick one. Try both if you can't decide which."

"Oh." Willow said, calming down a bit. "Okay."

"Hey there," Xander said, "you're not going alone."

"Xander, it's too dangerous," Angel said, putting his duster on. "You might disrupt my masquerade as Angelus or even as a vampire. You might get me or Buffy killed. Maybe both."

"Look, you might be able to boss Monarchy Boy and Queen C around, but this is Sunnydale. We do the fighting here. I understand you and Buffy have your little yen thing going on, but when this is all over, you'll still have to leave. And I for one want to be there to comfort her when she starts crying."

Angel looked down for a moment, Xander's words sinking in. He raised his gaze back up. "Alright. Let's go."

Anya looked over at Dawn, clinging for comfort. "If he dies I'll be very angry at your sister."

Angel and Xander dashed out of the door, only to have Angel stop as soon as the house was out of view. Xander waited impatiently as Angel seemed to have his head lowered in thought.

"What's the matter, Deadboy? Forget your Brooder's Handbook?"

Angel shook his head, looking up. "Do you have a couple of dollars?"

"For what?" Xander asked, raising an eyebrow agitatedly. "Suntan lotion?"

"No," Angel said. "Aspirin."

As Xander's face contorted in confusion, his befuddlement was suddenly halted by Angel's fist colliding with his face, knocking him to the asphalt in an unconscious heap. Angel picked his legs up, dragging him over into the grass, settling him out of view. He looked over at a nearby ray of light that pierced the heavens, falling upon his destination. He took one last look at Xander before running off towards it.

"That's for calling me Deadboy."
-----

Tabitha's repetitive mantra was barely audible beneath the torturous shrieks and sobs of utter misery emanating from Buffy's lips. Something was moving inside of her, something with claws, something that was scraping ruthlessly at her from within to get out. Tabitha was oblivious to Buffy's sorrowful screams and pleas to make the pain stop, continuing her chanting to summon the demon that would grant her everlasting life.

"Alhtaca, I invoke thee! Fill this unborn child with your essence and I with your power! Satiate your hunger for destruction and my own for an endless existence!"

"You know, dark ritualistic chants just aren't what they used to be."

Startled, Tabitha whirled around to see who dared to intrude upon her. When she saw who it was, she smiled gleefully. "Angelus! I can't believe you're here!"

"Me neither." Angel said. Tabitha approached him and spread out her arms to hug him, but Angel didn't budge. "Let the girl go."

Tabitha raised an eyebrow. "What? Angelus, I'm doing this for you! We can finally be together forever...I assume you dumped that whore Darla. Why else would you be here?"

Angel rolled his eyes. "Hard of hearing, are we? Let her go."

"Angelus..." Tabitha paused, looking him over. "Why....why are you human?"

"Let her go or Darien dies."

Tabitha shrugged. "Kill him. The little worm is of no consequence to me anymore."

Angel smiled slightly. "I thought you might say that. That's why I got a couple of Wiccan friends of mine working up something for you. You let her go, or your pretty face is gone for good."

Fortunately, Tabitha didn't see through Angel's bluff...for the moment. "You care for her or something?"

"You might say that."

"You...you have a soul! I heard the rumors, but I never dreamed that you'd be reduced to a sniveling do-gooder. I can't believe this!"

"Yes, your dream guy isn't what you thought he'd be, your daddy never bought you a pony for Sweet Sixteen, and your mommy loved your sister more than you. That about cover it?"

Tabitha's expression turned dark with anger. "I could just kill you."

One of Buffy's screams broke the tension, stabbing into Angel's very heart. "Oh, no. You see, if she and I don't return in fifteen minutes, then my Wiccan associates will make sure that all the Oil of Olay in the world won't smooth out your skin. Your youth will be gone. You worked so hard for it, didn't you? Wrinkles, veins, multiple blemishes, scars. Your flawless figure will be gone forever. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

Tabitha looked down at her voluptuous body in near fright. Angel smiled faintly, having capitalized on her vanity. Tabitha said a few quick words, and Buffy's cries silenced. Angel walked over to her, picking up her lifeless body on his arms. She had fainted from the pain.

"No worry. I can just find another teenager that's with child. Not that difficult. And when I do, I'll kill you...Angel."

Angel started off towards the exit, looking down at Buffy worriedly. Tabitha ran her hands all over her body, sizing up every contour and making sure they were ideal for someone of her stature. She lifted her gaze to Angel's back and watched him make his way out. Just as he was about to leave, she spoke up.

"The baby's yours, isn't it?"

Angel paused in his stride, looking back down at Buffy, who seemed to be breathing regularly and sleeping rather peacefully for someone who almost had a demon burst from her womb. He stared out of the doorway at the night sky for a moment, then continued on his journey.
----------