Chapter 18

Couplet (part 3)

Gru led the way through the sewers. They had been walking for a little while and Buffy was getting a little tired. Her feet hurt, her back ached, and she was pretty sure her ankles were swollen to the size of large mangos.

"I am honored they requested the Groosalug to save them." Gru said.

"I wouldn't say requested, more like included. Hang on. Here. Here. Did you feel it?" Angel asked.

"Something evil."

"Whoa, easy. Slow down, Champ! We have to be very careful here."

"You're right. Will you keep this safe?" Gru asked Buffy, handing her the bottle with the potion in it.

"Fine." Buffy took it and stuck it in her coat pocket.

They started to walk a little ways and Buffy hung back. Angel stopped and turned to her. She had her hand on her stomach and a look of pain on her face.

"Buffy?" Angel asked.

"It's nothing. Conner's just not too happy that I'm uncomfortable." Buffy said.

"You're uncomfortable?"

"Just my feet and back hurt and my ankles are swollen."

"You should go home."

"We're too far away. Besides, the car is just out on the street about a block away."

"Then you should go back. Sit down. Relax."

"Hmm, let me think. A small pregnant girl sitting alone in a car out in the dark? Sounds like a party for the vamps."

"I see your point." Angel sighed. "Fine. But we've just got to be, you know, a little bit more.."

Gru took off at a dead run.

"..patient."

Gru started to slash at the roots as he entered the cave.

"It's Gru!" Fred cried.

"Over here!" Gunn called.

Gru let out another battle cry. The face in the trunk roared back. A root shot out and buried itself in the middle of Gru's chest. Gru dropped the sword as he was pulled up beside the now released Jerry, who was lying motionless on the ground.

"What are we gonna do now?" Fred asked.

Angel came running in through the roots. "That's my shirt!"

"Angel?" Buffy asked.

He turned to find her coat tangled in a root that had decided to grab her and hold her hostage. He started to untangle her as he asked, "This thing is not actually made out of wood, is it?"

"No, it's flesh." Fred said.

"Good." Angel finished helping Buffy out of the roots and went to pick up Gru's dropped sword. "Flesh I can deal with. Flesh I can kill."

"But I don't think hacking it is going to do any good. It doesn't seem to have any vital organs. It uses people as batteries. It draws its power from its victims."

Angel looked from the root-demon's snarling face to Gru, who was groaning and straining against the root buried in his chest.

"And it's been getting stronger since it tapped into Gru." Gunn said.

"Really? Stronger? Come on! He can't be that great." Angel said.

"He is the Groosalug." Fred said.

Gunn looked at Fred as Angel dropped the sword and walked to the face in the tree.

"What do you think? Honestly. Does he seem really 'better' than other men?" Angel asked.

"He's magnificent." The tree thing said.

"Really? I'd say more like magnificently stupid. Because him with the beer tap in his chest and me with the, you know, just walking around." Angel walked up to Gru. "And I'm really getting tired of the 'Groosa- worship' thing." Angel slugged Gru in the face. The root-demon let out a roar. "Nothing personal, champ. Oh! Everyone makes such a big deal about the Groosalug." He slugged Gru again. The root-demon roared. "He's such a champion." Slug. Roar. "He's so rugged." Slug. Roar. "He's so emotionally available." Slug. Roar. "Look at him in the daylight." Slug. Roar. "But you know what? I'm smarter, and I'm stronger, and I pick out my own clothes!"

Angel kicked Gru. The demon roared, withdrew its tap-root from Gru, and buried it in Angel's chest instead.

"Angel!" Buffy cried.

Angel dropped to his knees, catching himself on his left hand, while his right wrapped around the taproot. "Okay. Oh, jeez. Well, it's okay. You know, no one is using my heart at the moment anyway."

"Kill you." the tree thing said.

"Sorry. Already dead."

"Vampire!"

"Yeah. Did I mention that?"

"Cold. Cold."

"Oh, yeah. It's kinda cold in there. But, hey, don't let that stop you."

The tree demon moaned. The root bindings around Gunn and Fred shriveled and dropped away. Buffy jumped up, grabbed Gru's dropped sword.

"So cold!" The tree said.

"So dead!" Buffy roared at the tree. She buried the sword in the root- demon's face. A yellowish green liquid poured out.

Fred and Gunn went to check on Gru, while Buffy checked on Angel.

"How is he?" Angel asked.

"Pretty beat up. Still alive thanks to you." Fred said.

"Beat up huh?"

"You got what you wanted. Are you happy now?" Buffy asked.

"Oh yeah. This chest sucking business, this is the stuff."

Buffy laughed and tried to help Angel to his feet. Gunn had to help her because her large belly got in the way.



"Yes, Ms Frakes. We are, too. You're welcome. Good bye." Wesley hung up phone. "Well, Ms Frakes is very happy. You saved her fiancé's life."

"So he's gonna be okay?" Fred asked.

"Yes."

"That's good." Gunn said.

"Well, good work. You should probably get cleaned up, then."

"Yeah. Good idea." Fred said, getting up.

"Uh, Charles.. A word?"

Gunn and Wes stared at each other for a moment.

"Well, good night." Fred said.

"Good night. What is it?" Gunn asked Wes.

"When you knew this was more than just a tryst you should have told me." Wes said.

"It happened so fast. The thing just grabbed the guy and he was gone."

"That's.. That's not what I meant."

"Oh. You mean.." Gunn pointed a thumb back over his shoulder. "Well.. I'm not so sure that's any of your business."

"No. You're probably right. Still.. She could get hurt. I trust that won't happen?"

"What are you, her brother?"

"Apparently."

"Wesley, I.."

"She chose. It's just important to me that she's taken care of."

"She will be."

"Good."

Wes picked up his pen and went back to working on translating the open book in front of him. Gunn watched him for a moment then turned to go. Halfway to the door he turned back and opened his mouth, but closed it again without speaking and left. Wes looked up.

Angel scrunched up his face, as buttons rained to the floor.

"Sorry." Cordy said.

"It's, uh.. it's okay. It, uh.. was already ruined." Angel said.

"Well, if it's any consolation, I planned to rip it off him later anyway. You did get the potion, didn't you?"

Angel reached into Buffy's coat that was hanging on a coat rack and pulled out the little bottle. "Yeah. We.. we got it."

"Well. This isn't so bad. You heal almost as fast as he does." Cordy said to Gru.

"Princess, I.. I have a confession to make." Gru said.

"Gru." Angel said.

Gru looked over at Angel, who silently shook his head 'no' at him. Cordy pulled his face back around to look at her.

"A confession? What.. what confession? Did something happen at the brothel? Buffy was supposed to look after him!" Cordy said.

"Nothing happened! Except your boyfriend here was very brave, and saved the day." Angel said.

"You did? You big hero!"

"No. I was reckless! I put everyone in grave peril. Angel is the true champion. He saved us all." Gru said.

"Did you hear that?"

"Yeah, but.." Angel said.

"How many guys would just give away the credit like that? That is just so noble." Cordy held out her hand. "The potion."

Angel put the flask into her outstretched hand. Cordy took it then grabbed Gru by his shirt and pulled him up off the settee. "Let's get our of here! See ya!" They practically ran towards the exit.

"Cordelia." Angel said.

Cordy stopped and looked back at Angel. "What?"

When Angel only stood there, Cordy held up a finger to Gru then walked back to Angel.

"What is it?" Cordy asked.

Angel took one of her hands and put a roll off dollar bills tied with a string into it.

"What's this?"

"Just some money I saved up." Angel said.

"Why? What for?"

"I did something for you tonight. Now I want you to do something for me. Don't come in tomorrow. In fact, don't come in for a couple of weeks. Take Gru some place nice. Somewhere where there is sun. He'd like that."

"Angel..."

"Promise me."

Cordy shook her head a little as she looked down at the money. "Okay."

Cordy turned to leave, then turned back and touched the hole in Angel's shirt where the tentacle went into his heart. "You sure you don't need some patching up yourself?" Angel looked down at his chest. "No, I.. I'm good. Didn't hurt a bit. Besides, I've got Buffy."

Cordy looked at him for a moment. "Take care of her Angel. I'll leave after the baby is born though." Angel nodded and she turned and walked out with Gru. As the door closed Wes came out of his office. Angel looked at him then turned towards the stairs.

When Angel reached his room, Buffy was curled up in a chair, a book of his in her lap. She was sound asleep. Taking the book from her gently, he put it on the desk beside her and then picked her up. Angel took her over to the bed and laid her down. She grumbled something as he started to take off her boots and jeans. He lifted her so he could take her shirt off for her. Laying her back down, Angel went and got her one of his silk shirts. He slipped it on her and buttoned it up. Angel went over to the chair by the bed and sat down. He just looked at her. This was his life now. This was his Shanshu as far as he was concerned. And for the first time for longer than a moment, Angel was perfectly happy.

The End

A/N Ok everyone, you wanna know what happens? Read my story "My Own Version of the Buffyverse." This was just a prequel. Look for a new MOVotB coming in about a month or two. I have figured out a way to do a sequel to it. I will rewrite all the new episodes of Buffy and Angel so it fits into the story I have written. All of this I would like to dedicate to my "Willow." You know who you are. This is for all the B/A fans out there girl!