WOES
NOTE: I own none of these guys except for Skylar and any character that you haven't seen before.
A/N: This is the third Skylar story in the Skylar series. Like I said before each story has a different length. This one might be longer or shorter than the others. I don't know yet. But since this story goes with Angel's gift and Valentine's Surprise you might want to read those before you read this.
CHAPTER 12Angelus appeared in the basement of the hotel, inside of the circle. Anya quickly placed the last crystal down, making a clear barrier form over Angelus inside of the circle. Angelus looked around the room at Fred, Gunn, Spike, Anya, Willow, and Lorne. He chuckled softly.
"So here we all are," said Angelus. "Where's my blushing bride?"
"Staying away from you," Anya replied.
"Funny. I thought she was looking for our kid," said Angelus. Everyone in the room gave him a puzzled look. "I saw the little tyke before I was "invited" here."
"What?" Fred approached the barrier. "You better not have—"
"Lucky for you I didn't get the chance, Freddy," Angelus interrupted. Fred released a sigh of relief.
"Don't get too comfortable, man," said Gunn, putting his arm around Fred. "You ain't go be here for long."
"Oh. I'm shaking in my black wear," said Angelus sarcastically. "You people need a life."
"And you need an attitude adjustment, old boy," Spike spoke up.
Angelus gave him a look. "Look at you all good and mighty." He laughed softly. "And yet I still got the girl. I don't even have a cool accent. Ironic, isn't it?"
Spike frowned. That was a low blow. "I can assure you your words are nothing to me."
"Yeah, Brit boy. We'll see." Angelus looked around the barrier. "Well, it looks like someone here actually knows how to think. Fred, Willow, maybe?"
"Never mind," said Willow. "Enjoy it while you can because soon you'll be just a horrible memory again."
Angelus clapped twice. "That was so dramatic. Encore, encore! Give the little lady some applause."
"Can we get out of here?" Fred asked.
"What's wrong, Freddy?" Angelus asked. "You don't like me no more?" Fred gave him a glare.
"Come on," said Gunn. His arm went from Fred's shoulder to her hand. "Let's just go up."
Everyone began to file up the stairs. Spike was last at the door.
"Oh, and, Spiky," Angelus called in a singsong voice. Spike, not in the mood, turned to him. "When Buffy and I are doing it I'm sure she'll be thinking of you." Angelus burst out in laughter. "Oh, I can't even keep a straight face and say something like." With a frosty frown Spike went upstairs.
Buffy, Connor, Dawn, and Xander were all coming into the lobby. Willow, Fred, Gunn, Lorne, and Anya were all sitting around the lobby.
"You couldn't find her?" Fred asked, standing up.
"No," Dawn replied.
"I can't believe this," Buffy sighed miserably.
"We couldn't find her anywhere," said Xander. "And it's starting to rain out there." He knocked raindrops from his shoulder.
"It's like she just disappeared," said Connor.
"This can't be happening," said Fred. "Where is she?"
"More bad news is that Angelus is down in the basement," said Anya.
"What?" said Buffy.
"I'm going down there," said Connor. Buffy put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "What are you doing?"
"You're not going down there," Buffy told him. "I am."
"Buffy, wait a second," said Dawn.
"Forget it. He's taken my husband and I want him back," said Buffy. "Now my daughter is gone, too. That is too much of a coincidence."
Before anyone could stop her Buffy was walking down the stairs of the basement. Thunder roared hard from the outside storm as she went down. Angelus smiled ominously as Buffy approached him.
Angelus said, "Honey, you're home. How was your day?"
"Hell," Buffy replied, anger burning off of her. "My dad has been pure hell and it's all thanks to you."
"Really? Oh, come. You're gonna make me blush."
"Where is Skylar?"
"What?"
"Where… IS… Skylar?" Buffy demanded through clenched teeth. "What have you done with her?"
"I saw the little twerp. But I didn't get a chance to snack on her. Shame, isn't it? That would have given you some free time from packing lunches."
"You know where she is then. Tell me," Buffy ordered.
"Ooh. You're fiery. But save that for the honeymoon, wife."
"I am not nor will I ever be your wife. Now tell me where my daughter is."
"Daughter?" Angelus repeated. "Buff, you have no daughter. In fact you don't even have a real husband."
"What the—"
"Come on. I see everything Angel sees and I hear every thought. You honestly think he wanted to marry you? Get out of fantasy world, darling. Angel had a "stake" in this so to speak. He just wanted a mother for his kids. That and a sex bunny."
"What? See now that's just ridiculous. Angel and I have always loved each other regardless of the retarded bumps in the road."
"Get real. Didn't you wonder why he asked you to marry him so quickly? He saw how attached tiny Sky was getting to you. And he'll do anything for her. And get her anything. And that kid really wanted a mother."
That took Buffy aback. "You're… a liar."
"Am I, Buff? Think about it."
Buffy gave him an icy glare. But inside she couldn't help but think over what he'd said. She was taken from her thoughts when she heard the basement door close. Connor walked down.
"Connor! I told you to stay out of here. Now get your butt upstairs," Buffy snapped.
"Whoa, guess Mommy's in a mood isn't she, son?" said Angelus to Connor.
"So you're the great Angelus?" Connor asked. "The ultimate killer."
"Otherwise known as Daddy," Angelus added with a smirk.
"Connor, go upstairs," Buffy said again.
"I know you know where Skylar is," said Connor.
"Duh, son. What do you care, anyway? She's not even your sister."
"Connor—" Buffy started again.
"Skylar is my sister. I don't care what you say," said Connor.
"Gee, that was very powerful. I know where the kid is. I have to keep tabs on Angel's favorites." Connor glared at him. "Hey, it's only the truth, kid. Ever since Skylar was born Angel's thought of her as the replacement child. His real child. His true child. You were just a mistake. She is a cute little do over. And yet, she's not even his real deal. Just some orphan that he took in." Connor turned his head away. "Don't act like you've never thought that."
"Connor, do not listen to him. He's trying to manipulate you."
"I just state the facts," said Angelus. "And the fact is you're nothing but a follower, Connor. No one cares about you. Darla didn't, Holtz didn't, and Angel did until he got a real kid. Plus she's a cute little girl. Fact it, son. You've been replaced by something ten times better."
Connor got sick of hearing Angelus' words. He reached down for a crystal. Buffy grabbed his arm and pulled him back up, making him look at her.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Buffy demanded.
"I'm going to shut him up. Permanently."
"This should be fun," said Angelus.
"Connor, forget it. Now get your ass upstairs now! I won't tell you again," Buffy growled.
"Uh-oh. You're in trouble," Angelus taunted. "Better go to your room before you get grounded, little boy."
Connor scoffed. However he was in no mood for a fight to begin with. Connor turned and went back upstairs.
"Playing with the mind of a shallow teenager. A little immature don't you think?" Buffy said to Angelus.
"Yeah, but it's fun." All of a sudden with a loud crash of lightning the lights were off. The basement was pitch black. "This could be interesting, too."
Buffy went upstairs. She was careful not to trip. The others were quickly lighting candles in the lobby. Buffy walked up to Willow.
"What happened?" Buffy asked.
"The storm made a power outage," Willow replied.
"Great! This whole damn day just keeps getting better doesn't it?" said Buffy. "Angel's missing, Skylar's missing, and now the lights are gone. This is a load of bull crap."
A/N: I know. I hate it when people just cut into stuff, too. But hey, that's enough for today. Oh, and for those of you who are reading and not reviewing, guess what no reviews equal? No more story!
