Dancing on the Edge
By: skyz
A/N: Hi all, this is just a little idea I had and thought I might put out there. Completely AU and B/S centered. If you enjoy let me know. Review and if you want, I'll keep writing but only if you guys want it.
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Btvs and the characters'. This is for entertainment only. I own my own creations.
~#~#~
Chapter 1
Buffy Summers stared listlessly out at the dark summer night. Her thoughts a thousand miles away as she remembered her life only months ago. How happy she had been, how content. How loved.
"Mom," a small voice asked from beside her and she turned from studying her city view and smiled warmly.
"Yes baby? What's wrong?"
"Why do we have to move?"
Buffy knelt down next to her daughter and took her face in her hands. She studied her daughter for a moment before she spoke.
"Terri I know you'll miss your friends and school but staying here isn't a good thing. Too many memories of your father and I know you'll like Sunnydale."
Terri frowned as she moved away from her mom and bit her lip.
"But I like the memories here mom. I like that we lived here with dad. It won't hurt much more, cuz that's what Billy said-"
"Terri, I'm sorry but I can't stay here and that's final we're leaving as planned tonight."
"But I don't wanna! Mom," Terri whined as she stomped her feet and placed her hands on her small hips.
"No, don't give me that Terri, we already talked about this and you agreed. You can't change your mind like this and expect me to just stop everything, all the plans I made! Now go to your room and bring down your suitcase!"
Buffy watched with a sad heart as her daughter glared daggers at her before she ran, stomping all the way up the stairs to her room. Sighing heavily Buffy rose and rested her forehead against the window.
Looked out over New York City skyline and saw his face. Her husband's. Angel O'Connor wasn't just a world renowned photo journalist but a loving and giving father, a wonderful husband and one she had loved since forever it seemed. He had been her heart, and now he was gone.
Just like that! One minute here-well not with here, he had been on assignment in Singapore and had vanished almost as soon as he set foot off the plane. When he hadn't shown up for his assignment by the next morning his partner and co-owner of the magazine they ran immediately got on the phone demanding answers.
He hadn't gotten any though and soon it became apparent Angel was gone, kidnapped. By some rebel terrorist group who had demanded nothing but had killed him any way. That's what the authorities said anyway, they never got the body, so Terri still had hope, but not Buffy, she had resigned herself to the fact Angel was gone for good and she had to rebuild her life. Take care of her daughter and provide the life she had always wanted to for Terri.
Turning abruptly, she wiped at her tearing eyes and strode purposefully towards the stairs.
"Terri! Come on we don't want to be late," Buffy called as she slipped into her coat and the cab she had called pulled up and blew its horn.
Teri tore down the steps dragging her suitcase behind her.
"I'm telling you now, I will not be staying there long mom! Some little hick town is not for me and if you think I'm gonna stay there forever you've got an-"
"Complaint noted. Come on, we don't want to miss our flight," Buffy cut her off mid rant and opened the door ushering Terri out.
Terri and Buffy paused together as they turned to take one last look at their country house, all the memories they'd created and come to cherish enveloping them for one brief moment as if Angel were actually there. His presence was overwhelming and for a moment, Buffy looked around. Thinking all of this was some mistake that she hadn't lost her husband five months ago and she wasn't moving what was left of her family to a small town called Sunnydale.
It lasted a moment only before Buffy took her reluctant daughter's hand and tugged her toward the waiting cab.
~#~#~
William 'Spike' Winthrop studied the dossier in his lap as the plane he was on took off. The quarter numbers for the past few months were very impressive and Spike was quite happy that his gut instinct with this failing company had panned out and he was earning a respectable profit.
So engrossed in his thoughts he was startled when someone poked him in the arm and he glanced up, his glasses slipping down his nose.
Sky blue eyes met chocolate brown and Spike arched a scarred brow.
"Can I help you miss?" he asked politely.
"Yeh is that seat taken," the girl asked impatiently.
Spike hesitated. He had bought both seats on the sides of him and had been content to have all the room and space he needed not to be bothered. Now here was a girl who looked vaguely familiar and pissed as hell asking if she could take a seat. His initial answer was no, but on closer look, he decided a girl as pretty and upset as this shouldn't be sitting next to anyone who might take advantage of her in any way.
"Sure, go ahead," he said lifting his laptop and files from the aisle seat and placing it in the middle seat.
The girl sat and crossed her arms, her mouth a thin line of anger.
Spike was about to say something when a petite blond woman came hurrying up.
"Terri! You cannot just go off like that! I mean it's dangerous and I-"
"Like you care," Terri snapped as she turned her back on the woman that Spike assumed was her mother.
"Oh, don't you dare get that tone with me missy! I've had about enough o- excuse me," Buffy said to Spike as she brushed past her daughter to stand impatiently at the full middle seat. Spike glanced up into startling green eyes and found himself gathering his things into his lap. He smiled too as she nodded a thanks and took the seat again talking to her daughter.
Spike found himself unable to keep himself from listening to their conversation as Buffy began speaking again.
"I'm sorry you feel as if you can't talk to me about your feelings Terri. I love you and only want the best for you. This move to Sunnydale will be good for us. We need a new start," Buffy aid softly touching her daughter's cheek.
"How can I when you ignore everything I say! I said I didn't want to move and you move us anyway! I said I wanted to stay with Aunt Dawn you ignored that too. When I said I knew dad was coming home you di-"
"Because your father is dead Terri," Buffy whispered in a strangled voice. "I don't think it's healthy to have hope that he'll be coming home. He isn't, I'm sorry and it hurts me to say this he-"
"You don't understand! You just want to leave everything we knew behind! Like dad wasn't even in our lives! Well, while you're at it why don't you leave me behind too, if it bothers you so much to think about dad," Terri angrily growled as she jumped to her feet.
Buffy caught her arm in a tight grip.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"To the bathroom, is that okay with you," Terri asked sarcastically.
"Of course you can go to the-"Buffy began but Terri was already gone.
Spike turned his curious gaze away just as Buffy looked up and smiled apologetically at him.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what-well I do. She misses her father. He died. She's not handling it well. I am very sorry to interrupt your work and make you move your things because of us both."
Spike nodded understandingly.
"It's okay. I'm sorry about your husband. I know myself how hard it is to deal with a parent's death. My father died when I was young too. I'm sure you'll work it out."
Buffy gave him a small smile before she rose.
"As I said before I'm really sorry, we don't usually air our dirty laundry like that."
Spike waved a dismissive hand.
"No problem," he said and watched as she went to meet her daughter at the bathroom door. He didn't stop staring until they had retaken their own seats and he couldn't see them anymore.
He was intrigued he couldn't help but be. Quite a pair, he thought. He figured for sure the girl was going to cause her mother a few problems before she finally began to accept her father's death. He sure hadn't made it easy on his mum; he mused as he tore his eyes away to redeposit his things in the seat next to him.
The mother was a looker, he thought. Not gorgeous, but pretty, beautiful in a luminous kind of way. But she had the saddest eyes he had ever seen next to his mum's. She was still grieving and he scolded himself for thinking like that about her. He didn't go for widows and certainly didn't go for woman who had children even pre-teens like that Terri girl. He wasn't a kid type person and he planned to never have them. His childhood hadn't made him the type of man to raise children, to love them properly.
His thoughts were drifting down a path he didn't want to think about. Pulling out his dossier, he opened it and began reading again. Pushing aside the images of a grief stricken mother and an angry grieving daughter. He shouldn't even care about their problems he told himself. He would never see them again.
~#~#~
Sunnydale, California...
"Why are we going to live here? Can't we afford better?" Terri asked voice laced with disdain.
Buffy glanced at Terri before her gaze settled on the two-story house on Revello Drive. It was nice, she thought. Homey looking. A place she could raise Terri. Let her make lasting friendships.
"Terri this is the house I bought. You never gave me your opinion either way so now you will just have to live with it. Come on. Willow said she'd meet us at the Espresso Pump on Main and Third in an hour."
"Great," Terri mumbled as she followed her mom into the house.
She was not impressed with the house at all, used to all the riches they'd had and still had she couldn't understand how her mom could move them here as if they didn't have the money to live in one of those new loft apartments she'd seen driving into town.
Buffy and Terri soon had their suitcases open and unloaded and were on their way to meet Willow in little under an hour. With five minutes to spare, they spotted Willow's red head and moved towards her outdoor table.
"Buffy! Terri, it's so good to see you," Willow exclaimed as she hugged them both and urged them to take a seat.
Willow studied the two as they ordered.
They looked tired and sad; she almost regretted inviting Buffy to move here. Almost. She loved Buffy like a sister and when she'd moved here almost two years ago she had known this was a place Buffy would enjoy. Now that she had her here, although under extremely bad circumstances she was glad. Her gaze settled on Terri.
The girl had on major chip on her shoulder. She was certain this was the best place for Terri to grieve properly and heal from her father's death.
"You'll love it here Terri, we've got the cutest guys," Willow said with a large smile.
Terri plastered on a fake smile and rose abruptly.
"I'm gonna call Mariana," she muttered as she moved a table over and pulled out her cell phone.
The women watched her walk off and then turned their attention to one another.
"I see she hasn't gotten any better."
Buffy shrugged.
"If possible worse. On the plane, she went storming off to sit with some stranger. We ended up getting into it right in front of him. Quite embarrassing. She doesn't want to give up hope Angel's alive and thinks us moving is a betrayal. He will never find us since we've moved to this 'hick' town as she puts it. I just wish I knew how to deal with this! The therapist said I had to give her time and I'm trying, but I want my sweet daughter back! Is that such a bad thing?"
"Of course not. This will take a long, as it will in order for her to grieve. You just can't get over something like this Buff."
Buffy nodded and glanced at her daughter.
"I know," she sighed sadly.
~#~#~
Terri tiptoed down the stairs of their new house and hefted her backpack over her shoulder. She had decided there was no way she was going to stay here. She had enough money to get herself back to New York and from there she was going to find a way to find her father.
She softly closed the door behind her and locked it. Turning away from it, she let out a scream, as two masked men appeared right in front of her. The larger one made a grab for her and Terri kicked out screaming all the while.
"Shut up and we won't hurt you," the smaller snapped as he tackled her to the ground a gun to her temple.
Terri whimpered in fear as she felt the cold barrel of the gun.
"Pick her up Greg," the smaller man ordered.
"Please..please don't hurt me," Terri gasped in terror.
"Terri," he mother's scream ripped through the air as Buffy tore open the front door and raced down the walk. "Let go of my daughter! Some one call the police," she screamed as she ran at the smaller man.
Casually he lifted his gun and pulled the trigger.
Terri screamed as she saw her mother fall down and her last thought before she was knocked out was she couldn't lose her mom too.
~#~#~
Spike was busy typing on his computer when a tentative knock sounded on his office door. Glancing up in irritation, he narrowed his eyes.
"Julie I thought I told you I didn't want to be dis-"
Julie his middle-aged secretary pocked her head in, a worried expression on her face.
"William there are two gentlemen here to-"
"Move out of the way ma'am," a deep voice over rode Julie's voice and Spike rose in alarm as his secretary was pushed aside.
"What the bloody hell is gong on here?! I don't know who you think you are but you can-"
"We're the FBI. I'm agent Riley Finn and this is my partner Forest Martin," the large brown haired man said as he flashed a badge and indicated his partner with a jerk of his head.
Spike's eyes narrowed to slits as he studied Finn. Just what he needed, he thought bitterly, some corn fed prick comin' in as if he owned the place flashing a badge!
"What do you want? I've got nothing to do with the FBI," Spike snapped coldly as he glared at them.
"Are you aware your brother is dead sir?" Finn said eyeing the peroxide blond with contempt.
Spike's head jerked back slightly and his eyes widened in surprise. Shock filled him and he clenched his jaw. He had not been aware his brother had died. But then again he wasn't surprised; he had lost contact with him when he moved out at sixteen. Hadn't spoken to him ever since.
"No," Spike answered shortly crossing his arms and staring hard at Finn.
"Well he is. Angel O'Connor is-"
"O'Connor? Listen this must be a mistake, my brother's name wasn't O'Connor, it was Liam," Spike interrupted.
"You were half brothers right? He changed his name to O'Connor in '86. Is this your brother," Forest asked as he handed Spike a picture from his pocket.
Spike took it, glanced at it, and felt his stomach drop. Eyes glued to the picture of his brown haired, brown-eyed brother. He was smiling at the camera, his hair spiked up and poofilooking.
"It's him," he muttered thrusting the picture out, dropping it before Forest could take it back. Whirling around he stalked to his window and stared out into the night.
"Well, he was killed five months ago in Singapore, by whom we're not sure. But that's not why we're here. Seems some one snatched his daughter yesterday. A-"
"And you think I did it? Listen I haven't seen my brother in years. I didn't even know he was dead; much less, that he had a daughter! What would I gain from taking her huh?! Get the hell outta my office with that shit," he yelled anger overtaking him.
Finn stared at Spike's back and then glanced at Forest.
"We never suggested such a thing sir. Now that you mentioned it we will ask, you say you have not heard from your brother in years can you prove it? We-"
A cell phone ringing cut off Finn and he answered it.
Spike ignored the hushed conversation that went on behind his back.
Finn turned to Forest and spoke softly.
"Thank you for your time sir," Forest muttered as he hurried out.
"Don't leave the country, we aren't done," Finn threatened as he followed Forest out.
Spike turned once he was sure they were gone and called Julie back into is office.
"Yes William?" she asked.
Spike lifted his eyes to meet her concerned ones and grimaced.
"I want you to find everything you can about an Angel O'Connor," he ordered grimly as he turned to face the window again.
~#~#~
Buffy clenched her hands together as she listened to the agents that now swarmed in and out of her house. She had gotten the first ransom note this afternoon and the agents especially the agent in charge Riley Finn said it was a great start. That they could trace the note and soon she'd have her daughter back.
Moving stiffly she left her house to stand on the back porch, she hugged herself tightly. She had no idea what to think, Terri was gone and she was scared witless. She knew her daughter could only be feeling worse. She could not believe this had happened she blamed herself. If she hadn't insisted on moving here then Terri would have been safe, she'd had that running argument with herself the last two days. She hadn't protected her daughter and she would never forgive herself for it.
Especially the feelings she was having about the ransom note. She hadn't gotten a good feeling about it. She had instantly thought it hadn't been right. She had the oddest feeling this wasn't about money. She recalled a conversation she'd had with Angel merely weeks before his death. He'd made her promise if something ever happened to him that she get Terri out of the city no matter what, get them both away and live quietly. She'd promised of course, but hadn't paid it too much thought. Now she did.
It couldn't have been a coincidence, Terri being snatched and Angel's vehement words. That was what was eating at her, she couldn't figure out what Angel had been so scared of, why he would be worried about their safety when and if he died.
"Buffy Summers," the voice one she had heard only a few day's ago had her turning in surprise and looking into the shadows of the back yard.
"Who is it?" she demanded as she edged towards the door.
Spike stepped out of the shadows, his appearance disheveled and his hair mussed.
"My name is William Winthrop, and Angel was my brother," Spike announced as he took a step closer.
"Angel never said anything about a brother! And I'd certainly remember if he had! What are you doing here? Did you follow us?! Did you take my daughter? Oh my God, you took my daughter," Buffy said hysterically as she flew at him fists flying.
Spike caught her arms and held her at bay.
"Here, look at this. I didn't take your daughter," Spike hissed as he thrust a pile of papers at her. "I wouldn't be here if I took your daughter Buffy."
Buffy jerked from his grasp and shuffled through the papers a suspicious look on her face and confusion filled her face as she realized he spoke the truth.
"H..how-why did he never mention you?" she whispered defeated.
Spike figured it was safe to take a step closer and did so.
"Look I'm not here to explain my twisted history with Angel. I'm here to help you find your daughter."
"Why? You haven't been in Angel's life, why start now I don't need your help! I have the authorities looking for her!"
Spike scowled as he shook his head.
"You can't trust them. I know who has your daughter," Spike announced as he saw Buffy starting to lose interest.
"What?! Where is she? Did you take her? Tell me where she is you bastard," she yelled as she stepped towards him.
"I don't know why but I know who has her and the police won't be able to get her back. On that, I'm quite sure. Come with me if you want to see your daughter again Ms. Summers," Spike said urgently, his eyes begging her to trust him. "I want to help you. She's my blood, the only relative I've got left. Please let me help you!"
Buffy was torn, she didn't want to trust this man, but she couldn't help it as she looked into his earnest blue eyes and her eyes flickered to the papers in her hands. They clearly stated his relationship to Angel, to Terri. She wanted to say no, that she was fine with the FBI and they'd find Terri. But the look on his face convinced her that she had no idea what was going on.
"This is beyond the authorities' luv. These people are ruthless; the only way to handle them is by their own tactics. I'm willing to do anything, and I mean anything to get Terri back. Come with me," Spike looked around as they heard voices calling for Buffy he stuck out his hand.
Buffy shot one last worried glance at her house as she took his hand.
"You'd better be telling me the truth or I'll kill you myself," she warned as he led her into the darkness.
"I am. Seems your Angel was hiding quite a few things and they've come back to haunt his remaining family. Meaning you and Terri. I'm the only one who can help you."
"Why?"
"Because I've got nothing to lose."
~#~#~
A/N: Let me know what you think. Should I continue? Stop? Review and let me know. If I get reviews that ask for more, I'll write more. If not..then it's bye-bye. Skyz
By: skyz
A/N: Hi all, this is just a little idea I had and thought I might put out there. Completely AU and B/S centered. If you enjoy let me know. Review and if you want, I'll keep writing but only if you guys want it.
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Btvs and the characters'. This is for entertainment only. I own my own creations.
~#~#~
Chapter 1
Buffy Summers stared listlessly out at the dark summer night. Her thoughts a thousand miles away as she remembered her life only months ago. How happy she had been, how content. How loved.
"Mom," a small voice asked from beside her and she turned from studying her city view and smiled warmly.
"Yes baby? What's wrong?"
"Why do we have to move?"
Buffy knelt down next to her daughter and took her face in her hands. She studied her daughter for a moment before she spoke.
"Terri I know you'll miss your friends and school but staying here isn't a good thing. Too many memories of your father and I know you'll like Sunnydale."
Terri frowned as she moved away from her mom and bit her lip.
"But I like the memories here mom. I like that we lived here with dad. It won't hurt much more, cuz that's what Billy said-"
"Terri, I'm sorry but I can't stay here and that's final we're leaving as planned tonight."
"But I don't wanna! Mom," Terri whined as she stomped her feet and placed her hands on her small hips.
"No, don't give me that Terri, we already talked about this and you agreed. You can't change your mind like this and expect me to just stop everything, all the plans I made! Now go to your room and bring down your suitcase!"
Buffy watched with a sad heart as her daughter glared daggers at her before she ran, stomping all the way up the stairs to her room. Sighing heavily Buffy rose and rested her forehead against the window.
Looked out over New York City skyline and saw his face. Her husband's. Angel O'Connor wasn't just a world renowned photo journalist but a loving and giving father, a wonderful husband and one she had loved since forever it seemed. He had been her heart, and now he was gone.
Just like that! One minute here-well not with here, he had been on assignment in Singapore and had vanished almost as soon as he set foot off the plane. When he hadn't shown up for his assignment by the next morning his partner and co-owner of the magazine they ran immediately got on the phone demanding answers.
He hadn't gotten any though and soon it became apparent Angel was gone, kidnapped. By some rebel terrorist group who had demanded nothing but had killed him any way. That's what the authorities said anyway, they never got the body, so Terri still had hope, but not Buffy, she had resigned herself to the fact Angel was gone for good and she had to rebuild her life. Take care of her daughter and provide the life she had always wanted to for Terri.
Turning abruptly, she wiped at her tearing eyes and strode purposefully towards the stairs.
"Terri! Come on we don't want to be late," Buffy called as she slipped into her coat and the cab she had called pulled up and blew its horn.
Teri tore down the steps dragging her suitcase behind her.
"I'm telling you now, I will not be staying there long mom! Some little hick town is not for me and if you think I'm gonna stay there forever you've got an-"
"Complaint noted. Come on, we don't want to miss our flight," Buffy cut her off mid rant and opened the door ushering Terri out.
Terri and Buffy paused together as they turned to take one last look at their country house, all the memories they'd created and come to cherish enveloping them for one brief moment as if Angel were actually there. His presence was overwhelming and for a moment, Buffy looked around. Thinking all of this was some mistake that she hadn't lost her husband five months ago and she wasn't moving what was left of her family to a small town called Sunnydale.
It lasted a moment only before Buffy took her reluctant daughter's hand and tugged her toward the waiting cab.
~#~#~
William 'Spike' Winthrop studied the dossier in his lap as the plane he was on took off. The quarter numbers for the past few months were very impressive and Spike was quite happy that his gut instinct with this failing company had panned out and he was earning a respectable profit.
So engrossed in his thoughts he was startled when someone poked him in the arm and he glanced up, his glasses slipping down his nose.
Sky blue eyes met chocolate brown and Spike arched a scarred brow.
"Can I help you miss?" he asked politely.
"Yeh is that seat taken," the girl asked impatiently.
Spike hesitated. He had bought both seats on the sides of him and had been content to have all the room and space he needed not to be bothered. Now here was a girl who looked vaguely familiar and pissed as hell asking if she could take a seat. His initial answer was no, but on closer look, he decided a girl as pretty and upset as this shouldn't be sitting next to anyone who might take advantage of her in any way.
"Sure, go ahead," he said lifting his laptop and files from the aisle seat and placing it in the middle seat.
The girl sat and crossed her arms, her mouth a thin line of anger.
Spike was about to say something when a petite blond woman came hurrying up.
"Terri! You cannot just go off like that! I mean it's dangerous and I-"
"Like you care," Terri snapped as she turned her back on the woman that Spike assumed was her mother.
"Oh, don't you dare get that tone with me missy! I've had about enough o- excuse me," Buffy said to Spike as she brushed past her daughter to stand impatiently at the full middle seat. Spike glanced up into startling green eyes and found himself gathering his things into his lap. He smiled too as she nodded a thanks and took the seat again talking to her daughter.
Spike found himself unable to keep himself from listening to their conversation as Buffy began speaking again.
"I'm sorry you feel as if you can't talk to me about your feelings Terri. I love you and only want the best for you. This move to Sunnydale will be good for us. We need a new start," Buffy aid softly touching her daughter's cheek.
"How can I when you ignore everything I say! I said I didn't want to move and you move us anyway! I said I wanted to stay with Aunt Dawn you ignored that too. When I said I knew dad was coming home you di-"
"Because your father is dead Terri," Buffy whispered in a strangled voice. "I don't think it's healthy to have hope that he'll be coming home. He isn't, I'm sorry and it hurts me to say this he-"
"You don't understand! You just want to leave everything we knew behind! Like dad wasn't even in our lives! Well, while you're at it why don't you leave me behind too, if it bothers you so much to think about dad," Terri angrily growled as she jumped to her feet.
Buffy caught her arm in a tight grip.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"To the bathroom, is that okay with you," Terri asked sarcastically.
"Of course you can go to the-"Buffy began but Terri was already gone.
Spike turned his curious gaze away just as Buffy looked up and smiled apologetically at him.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what-well I do. She misses her father. He died. She's not handling it well. I am very sorry to interrupt your work and make you move your things because of us both."
Spike nodded understandingly.
"It's okay. I'm sorry about your husband. I know myself how hard it is to deal with a parent's death. My father died when I was young too. I'm sure you'll work it out."
Buffy gave him a small smile before she rose.
"As I said before I'm really sorry, we don't usually air our dirty laundry like that."
Spike waved a dismissive hand.
"No problem," he said and watched as she went to meet her daughter at the bathroom door. He didn't stop staring until they had retaken their own seats and he couldn't see them anymore.
He was intrigued he couldn't help but be. Quite a pair, he thought. He figured for sure the girl was going to cause her mother a few problems before she finally began to accept her father's death. He sure hadn't made it easy on his mum; he mused as he tore his eyes away to redeposit his things in the seat next to him.
The mother was a looker, he thought. Not gorgeous, but pretty, beautiful in a luminous kind of way. But she had the saddest eyes he had ever seen next to his mum's. She was still grieving and he scolded himself for thinking like that about her. He didn't go for widows and certainly didn't go for woman who had children even pre-teens like that Terri girl. He wasn't a kid type person and he planned to never have them. His childhood hadn't made him the type of man to raise children, to love them properly.
His thoughts were drifting down a path he didn't want to think about. Pulling out his dossier, he opened it and began reading again. Pushing aside the images of a grief stricken mother and an angry grieving daughter. He shouldn't even care about their problems he told himself. He would never see them again.
~#~#~
Sunnydale, California...
"Why are we going to live here? Can't we afford better?" Terri asked voice laced with disdain.
Buffy glanced at Terri before her gaze settled on the two-story house on Revello Drive. It was nice, she thought. Homey looking. A place she could raise Terri. Let her make lasting friendships.
"Terri this is the house I bought. You never gave me your opinion either way so now you will just have to live with it. Come on. Willow said she'd meet us at the Espresso Pump on Main and Third in an hour."
"Great," Terri mumbled as she followed her mom into the house.
She was not impressed with the house at all, used to all the riches they'd had and still had she couldn't understand how her mom could move them here as if they didn't have the money to live in one of those new loft apartments she'd seen driving into town.
Buffy and Terri soon had their suitcases open and unloaded and were on their way to meet Willow in little under an hour. With five minutes to spare, they spotted Willow's red head and moved towards her outdoor table.
"Buffy! Terri, it's so good to see you," Willow exclaimed as she hugged them both and urged them to take a seat.
Willow studied the two as they ordered.
They looked tired and sad; she almost regretted inviting Buffy to move here. Almost. She loved Buffy like a sister and when she'd moved here almost two years ago she had known this was a place Buffy would enjoy. Now that she had her here, although under extremely bad circumstances she was glad. Her gaze settled on Terri.
The girl had on major chip on her shoulder. She was certain this was the best place for Terri to grieve properly and heal from her father's death.
"You'll love it here Terri, we've got the cutest guys," Willow said with a large smile.
Terri plastered on a fake smile and rose abruptly.
"I'm gonna call Mariana," she muttered as she moved a table over and pulled out her cell phone.
The women watched her walk off and then turned their attention to one another.
"I see she hasn't gotten any better."
Buffy shrugged.
"If possible worse. On the plane, she went storming off to sit with some stranger. We ended up getting into it right in front of him. Quite embarrassing. She doesn't want to give up hope Angel's alive and thinks us moving is a betrayal. He will never find us since we've moved to this 'hick' town as she puts it. I just wish I knew how to deal with this! The therapist said I had to give her time and I'm trying, but I want my sweet daughter back! Is that such a bad thing?"
"Of course not. This will take a long, as it will in order for her to grieve. You just can't get over something like this Buff."
Buffy nodded and glanced at her daughter.
"I know," she sighed sadly.
~#~#~
Terri tiptoed down the stairs of their new house and hefted her backpack over her shoulder. She had decided there was no way she was going to stay here. She had enough money to get herself back to New York and from there she was going to find a way to find her father.
She softly closed the door behind her and locked it. Turning away from it, she let out a scream, as two masked men appeared right in front of her. The larger one made a grab for her and Terri kicked out screaming all the while.
"Shut up and we won't hurt you," the smaller snapped as he tackled her to the ground a gun to her temple.
Terri whimpered in fear as she felt the cold barrel of the gun.
"Pick her up Greg," the smaller man ordered.
"Please..please don't hurt me," Terri gasped in terror.
"Terri," he mother's scream ripped through the air as Buffy tore open the front door and raced down the walk. "Let go of my daughter! Some one call the police," she screamed as she ran at the smaller man.
Casually he lifted his gun and pulled the trigger.
Terri screamed as she saw her mother fall down and her last thought before she was knocked out was she couldn't lose her mom too.
~#~#~
Spike was busy typing on his computer when a tentative knock sounded on his office door. Glancing up in irritation, he narrowed his eyes.
"Julie I thought I told you I didn't want to be dis-"
Julie his middle-aged secretary pocked her head in, a worried expression on her face.
"William there are two gentlemen here to-"
"Move out of the way ma'am," a deep voice over rode Julie's voice and Spike rose in alarm as his secretary was pushed aside.
"What the bloody hell is gong on here?! I don't know who you think you are but you can-"
"We're the FBI. I'm agent Riley Finn and this is my partner Forest Martin," the large brown haired man said as he flashed a badge and indicated his partner with a jerk of his head.
Spike's eyes narrowed to slits as he studied Finn. Just what he needed, he thought bitterly, some corn fed prick comin' in as if he owned the place flashing a badge!
"What do you want? I've got nothing to do with the FBI," Spike snapped coldly as he glared at them.
"Are you aware your brother is dead sir?" Finn said eyeing the peroxide blond with contempt.
Spike's head jerked back slightly and his eyes widened in surprise. Shock filled him and he clenched his jaw. He had not been aware his brother had died. But then again he wasn't surprised; he had lost contact with him when he moved out at sixteen. Hadn't spoken to him ever since.
"No," Spike answered shortly crossing his arms and staring hard at Finn.
"Well he is. Angel O'Connor is-"
"O'Connor? Listen this must be a mistake, my brother's name wasn't O'Connor, it was Liam," Spike interrupted.
"You were half brothers right? He changed his name to O'Connor in '86. Is this your brother," Forest asked as he handed Spike a picture from his pocket.
Spike took it, glanced at it, and felt his stomach drop. Eyes glued to the picture of his brown haired, brown-eyed brother. He was smiling at the camera, his hair spiked up and poofilooking.
"It's him," he muttered thrusting the picture out, dropping it before Forest could take it back. Whirling around he stalked to his window and stared out into the night.
"Well, he was killed five months ago in Singapore, by whom we're not sure. But that's not why we're here. Seems some one snatched his daughter yesterday. A-"
"And you think I did it? Listen I haven't seen my brother in years. I didn't even know he was dead; much less, that he had a daughter! What would I gain from taking her huh?! Get the hell outta my office with that shit," he yelled anger overtaking him.
Finn stared at Spike's back and then glanced at Forest.
"We never suggested such a thing sir. Now that you mentioned it we will ask, you say you have not heard from your brother in years can you prove it? We-"
A cell phone ringing cut off Finn and he answered it.
Spike ignored the hushed conversation that went on behind his back.
Finn turned to Forest and spoke softly.
"Thank you for your time sir," Forest muttered as he hurried out.
"Don't leave the country, we aren't done," Finn threatened as he followed Forest out.
Spike turned once he was sure they were gone and called Julie back into is office.
"Yes William?" she asked.
Spike lifted his eyes to meet her concerned ones and grimaced.
"I want you to find everything you can about an Angel O'Connor," he ordered grimly as he turned to face the window again.
~#~#~
Buffy clenched her hands together as she listened to the agents that now swarmed in and out of her house. She had gotten the first ransom note this afternoon and the agents especially the agent in charge Riley Finn said it was a great start. That they could trace the note and soon she'd have her daughter back.
Moving stiffly she left her house to stand on the back porch, she hugged herself tightly. She had no idea what to think, Terri was gone and she was scared witless. She knew her daughter could only be feeling worse. She could not believe this had happened she blamed herself. If she hadn't insisted on moving here then Terri would have been safe, she'd had that running argument with herself the last two days. She hadn't protected her daughter and she would never forgive herself for it.
Especially the feelings she was having about the ransom note. She hadn't gotten a good feeling about it. She had instantly thought it hadn't been right. She had the oddest feeling this wasn't about money. She recalled a conversation she'd had with Angel merely weeks before his death. He'd made her promise if something ever happened to him that she get Terri out of the city no matter what, get them both away and live quietly. She'd promised of course, but hadn't paid it too much thought. Now she did.
It couldn't have been a coincidence, Terri being snatched and Angel's vehement words. That was what was eating at her, she couldn't figure out what Angel had been so scared of, why he would be worried about their safety when and if he died.
"Buffy Summers," the voice one she had heard only a few day's ago had her turning in surprise and looking into the shadows of the back yard.
"Who is it?" she demanded as she edged towards the door.
Spike stepped out of the shadows, his appearance disheveled and his hair mussed.
"My name is William Winthrop, and Angel was my brother," Spike announced as he took a step closer.
"Angel never said anything about a brother! And I'd certainly remember if he had! What are you doing here? Did you follow us?! Did you take my daughter? Oh my God, you took my daughter," Buffy said hysterically as she flew at him fists flying.
Spike caught her arms and held her at bay.
"Here, look at this. I didn't take your daughter," Spike hissed as he thrust a pile of papers at her. "I wouldn't be here if I took your daughter Buffy."
Buffy jerked from his grasp and shuffled through the papers a suspicious look on her face and confusion filled her face as she realized he spoke the truth.
"H..how-why did he never mention you?" she whispered defeated.
Spike figured it was safe to take a step closer and did so.
"Look I'm not here to explain my twisted history with Angel. I'm here to help you find your daughter."
"Why? You haven't been in Angel's life, why start now I don't need your help! I have the authorities looking for her!"
Spike scowled as he shook his head.
"You can't trust them. I know who has your daughter," Spike announced as he saw Buffy starting to lose interest.
"What?! Where is she? Did you take her? Tell me where she is you bastard," she yelled as she stepped towards him.
"I don't know why but I know who has her and the police won't be able to get her back. On that, I'm quite sure. Come with me if you want to see your daughter again Ms. Summers," Spike said urgently, his eyes begging her to trust him. "I want to help you. She's my blood, the only relative I've got left. Please let me help you!"
Buffy was torn, she didn't want to trust this man, but she couldn't help it as she looked into his earnest blue eyes and her eyes flickered to the papers in her hands. They clearly stated his relationship to Angel, to Terri. She wanted to say no, that she was fine with the FBI and they'd find Terri. But the look on his face convinced her that she had no idea what was going on.
"This is beyond the authorities' luv. These people are ruthless; the only way to handle them is by their own tactics. I'm willing to do anything, and I mean anything to get Terri back. Come with me," Spike looked around as they heard voices calling for Buffy he stuck out his hand.
Buffy shot one last worried glance at her house as she took his hand.
"You'd better be telling me the truth or I'll kill you myself," she warned as he led her into the darkness.
"I am. Seems your Angel was hiding quite a few things and they've come back to haunt his remaining family. Meaning you and Terri. I'm the only one who can help you."
"Why?"
"Because I've got nothing to lose."
~#~#~
A/N: Let me know what you think. Should I continue? Stop? Review and let me know. If I get reviews that ask for more, I'll write more. If not..then it's bye-bye. Skyz