Craig had led Buffy into her house and set her in a chair in the dinning room. He was in the kitchen making tea, but added the Essence of Evil to Buffy's cup.
"Here, drink this. It will help, at least a little." He said as he put the cup down in front of Buffy. To his surprise she drained the whole cup instantly. "Any better?"
"No, just memories flooding back."
"I sorry Buffy, truly!" Craig rubbed her back.
"We just need to figure out what to do next, maybe call my mom. God, I don't know!"
"It will be ok, I'll help anyway I can."
"Thanks Craig, that means a lot, I…"
"Buffy?" Buffy slumped into his arms asleep.
Craig carried her small form into her bedroom. I guess she was just too tired. Shouldn't be too long now. Spike and Dru must have brought Angelus back by now. Craig covered her up, and then went downstairs to wait.
It had been two hours since Craig had put Buffy in her bed, and was just thinking about going to check on her, when he heard her coming down the stairs. He got out of his chair in the living room and went into the hallway. What he saw, he liked. Buffy was coming down the stairs with a little evil skip in her step. She was dressed all in black. A knee length skirt with small tassels bordering the bottom. Her shirt had long, pocket sleeves, a criss-cross design made by robes across the top of her chest, the rest of the shirt was solid forming a triangle over her belly, lining like the skirt. She wore kick-ass knee length black boots, her hair done up with black Chinese sticks, and a beaded black choker.
"Well don't you look nice!"
"Why thank you, Craig." Buffy smiled as she took the hand he offered as he helped her off the stairs. "Not so bad yourself."
"So, my dark queen, how do you feel? Sad about your friend's death, your lover's death?" He asked as he took her in his arms.
"Actually, I feel great. Everything seems so clear, better then ever. As for my friends, they were getting on my nerves. Angel? That is so over, I mean I see my lover right here!" With that, the two kissed passionately.
"How about I explain everything on the way to the factory?" Craig said as he broke the kiss.
"Fine by me!" Buffy recaptured his mouth in another kiss.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Ok, I'm bored, when is this Craig getting here?" Asked a very angry Angelus.
"Patience, Angelus, Patience!" Said Spike.
"Daddy's right Spike. Maybe he ran away with her!"
"You doubt me Dru? I thought we had made a deal!" Asked Craig. The three vampires turned to see him leaning against the doorway.
"So you're Craig?" Asked Angelus, clearly interested in this young man. "I was told about this great plan of yours, it sounds good. But if anything goes wrong, I'll eat you!"
Craig ignored the last part and turned to Spike. "You told him about her?"
"No, just the rest."
"Who's her?" Asked an exasperated Angelus.
"Do you do your part?" Asked Spike, narrowing his eyes at Craig.
Craig leaned back against the doorway. "See for yourself." He smiled and turned to the approaching figure. The three vamps craned their necks to see. Surprised at what they saw.
Buffy stopped just a bit ahead of Craig, her hands cradling her belly, and a purely evil look on her face. "Well looky here, three corpses with mouths on the floor." Turning to Craig, she said, "This is the welcoming committee you promised me. I would get better if I walked in the middle of a blind hospital."
"Gentle vamps and lady, may I present Buffy. Pregnant, evil and full of wonderful torture ideas." Craig went to her and hugged her from behind, putting his hands on her belly and his cheek to hers. "My queen!"
Spike turned to his queen. "Dru?" She started to walk towards Buff and Craig, her smile overflowing her face.
"Oh yes, her thoughts fill my head, like dark birds flying everywhere." She looked straight at Buffy. "You are a naughty little girl aren't you?"
"I try!" Said Buffy with a shrug.
"Oh I like this very much, it's like Christmas time, first Angelus now an evil slayer on our side! What a treat!"
"Why thank you Spike. Angel or should I say Angelus, what do you think of my little makeover." Buffy walked over to Angelus and gave a little twirl for him. The rest of the group waited for his response, it was clear that he was their leader now.
Suddenly Angelus reached out and grabbed Buffy by the neck, pulled her to him and kissed her fiercely. She didn't object, in fact she kissed just as passionately back.
Overcome by anger, Craig lunged out and tried to pull the two apart, but Spike and Dru stopped him.
"Now, now pet, let them be." Cooed Drusilla.
"It's only a test my lad." Said Spike.
Sure enough, at minute later the two pulled apart. Angelus laughed, pushing Buffy back to Craig. "She'll do, she'll do fine. Come, Dru, Craig! Lets go and see our little friends downstairs." He turned and walked out of the room, Drusilla trotting happily after him.
Craig turned to Buffy. "Are you ok?" Buffy stood there, licking her lips, staring after Angelus.
"Fine!"
"Craig!" Called Angelus in a singsong voice.
"Go lad, Buffy and I have some thing to talk about." Said Spike.
With one last look at Buffy, Craig took off, leaving they slayer and blonde vampire alone.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
While all this was happening, the basement was in quite a stir. Xander was the first to was up, who found himself in a 4x4m cage with an unconscious Cordy. As he looked around he saw the other cages, each the same size, each holding two people, one male, one female. One, with Giles and Jenny, and the second with Willow and Oz. Once his eyes had cleared, he realized he was in some sort of basement, the windows boarded up and the only door at the end of room, was locked shut. He tired his cage but it was locked up tight. Xander then leaned down to check on Cordy.
"Cor? Cordy, please be okay!" He cradled her head in his lap and gentle shook her.
"Wha…Xander! What are you doing in my room, my dad is going to kill you!"
"Oh god! You're okay, I thought you might be…" Xander hugged her tightly, and kissed over and over again.
"Xanpher!" Cordeila couldn't talk because he was smothering her in kisses. "Geff off!" She pushed him off long enough to ask where they were. Xander explained all he knew then pointed to the others in the cages.
"Oh God, Xander! Have you tried waking them?"
"No, I've been a little preoccupied with making sure you were alright!" Xander started to get a little defensive. Cordy quickly gave a hug and a kiss.
"Thank you, thank means a lot, but we have to wake the others!" So the two began to throw dirt and small stone they found at the other four. Soon Giles and Jenny woke up, Cordy quickly explained, then they finally woke up Willow and Oz.
"So no one knows where we could be?" Asked a very scared Willow as she huddled in Oz's arms.
"My guess, Spike and Drusilla, those two vamps, that Angel told us about!" Said Jenny, she had her head resting on Giles's shoulder, while he rubbed her back. It was the first real open sign of affection these two had shared in front of the kids.
"Those two that got into Buffy's house without an invitation?" Asked Cordy, like Willow, She was cuddled up with Xander. He was holding her as if he let go, she would disappear.
"I agree with Jenny, but would these two have the brain power to do this by themselves?" Said Giles.
Their question was answered by the room's door opening as Dru and Craig and a man hidden by shadows entered.
"Look boys, the poppets are awakes. Silly boys and girls the guards heard you making noise, thought you were trying to escape. But you can't, there is no way out!" She twirled around the room like a manic.
Just then Willow realized who Craig was. "Craig? It was you? Your meeting Buffy was just chance was it?"
"Willow, so smart! Do you think you'll turn her Dru?"
"Maybe, if she's good!" Dru laughed and kept dancing to some silent music.
"You don't scare us, Angel isn't here so you must not have caught him. He and Buffy are probably on their way her right now, coming to kill you!"
"Cordelia!" Angelus said as he stepped out of the shadows. They all gasped, all except Xander, whose face had remained stony since the three had come in. "so dense. I hope you'll just kill her Dru!"
"Angel!" They were all horrified by what he had become. "How?" Asked Giles.
"We put magics in him, and they stole his soul." Sang Dru.
"Couldn't have put it better myself." Angelus smiled at them. "Angel's gone, Angelus is back and better then ever!" When no one said anything, he turned to Xander. "What's wrong Harris, no wise cracks, no insults!" Angel smirked, suddenly he rushed at Xander and Cordy's cage, grabbing the bars, his face changing. "Bet it kills you doesn't it Harris! That I got to her first!"
Cordy was pressed against the back wall of the cage, whimpering. While Xander stood just a few cm away from Angel, he showed no fear. "What?" He spit out, obviously seething.
"Come on, it kills you that she loves me, that she slept with me, that she's having my kid! It kills you, because you love just as much as she loves me. You're her knight in shinning armour, but what are you going to do now. You're locked in a cage like a dog! Huh Harris, how are you going to save her now?"
The two just stood there, staring daggers at each other, until Dru whispered. "Angel?" Craig came up behind Angel, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Come on man, let's go, we've scared them enough for now!" Angel threw Craig's hand off his shoulder, and with one last look at Xander he swept out of the room. Dru and Craig followed quickly. The scoobies heard the bolt outside slid back into place. Cordy ran to Xander, hugging him tightly, sobbing. He hugged her back, but kept his eyes on where Angel had just left.
"Dear god, Buffy!" Giles's face was full of fear.
"Do you think she knows yet?" Asked Willow.
"Probably not, Angel kinda hinted that he was going to get her soon!" Supplied Oz as he held Willow.
"But we can't be sure, I mean there is one more cage!" As Jenny said this, everyone except Xander looked over at the fourth cage in the other corner.
"What are we going to do?" Asked Cordy, she was still shaking from Angel's ferocity.
"We'll have to think of something, we must get to Buffy!" Stated Giles.
"Xander?" Ventured Willow. He had been quiet and had kept staring at the door ever since Angel had left.
"What?"
"Are you okay?"
"We need to kill him!" The angry look on his face surprised them all.