As soon as Craig had left, Spike had turned to look at Buffy. Slayers had always intrigued him, but she was different. She had a distinct personality, not like the other slayers. She had friends, family, she was in love with a vampire. From what Angel had said, she fought different as well. She fought with her heart, very resourceful, amazing strength and skill. Yes she would do fine. He thought.
Buffy who had still been preoccupied by Angelus's kiss, finally noticed Spike staring at her. She turned to face him, a wry look on her face.
God she's beautiful. Hope Angelus will turn her after the birth. Thought Spike as she turned to him. But whether or not he does, she'll be a fine addition to our little family. She will cause some trouble though.
A little un-nerved by Spike's stare, Buffy was determined to get a high rank in this, little…family, is that what Dru called it? Oh well. She thought. Time to get a move on, I mean what's the fun of being evil if you can't do anything that will cause trouble? Or at least, Buffy thought, get someone in trouble!
"What's wrong Spike? You want a taste as well?" Buffy's lips curled into such an evil smile that he shuddered.
"Sorry Pet." Spike lit up a cigarette. "Dru doesn't like to share!" Buffy smirked walking around the large table that stood in the middle of the room. Spike never taking his eyes off of her.
"That could be taken care of!"
"Don't even go there Love, anyways this talk is about you not Dru and Me!"
"I thought we were talking about me?" An innocent look passed over her face but quickly disappeared. "So what is your fancy today? My life now, info on certain people, demons? Come on Spike, try me!" She took a seat, obviously tired from carrying the weight of her baby.
"No, actually, this is about a little love triangle problem that has come to my attention!" He took a seat across from her.
"Come Spike, I know you want me. But me and Dru, just plutonic, seriously!"
Spike laughed. "Ah slayer, I admire your wit!" Buffy gave him a smile. "But alas no, this certain triangle consists of You, Angelus, and our dear boy, Craig!"
Buffy nearly choked laughing so hard. "You have got to be kidding me! How"
"Let me explain." When Buffy didn't object, he continued. "Craig from the moment he saw you has been devoted, he turned you evil didn't he? Next, Angelus, no matter how much he denies it, he still loves you. Much like I love Dru. And it will not stop after you have your baby, which of course is his, so another problem! And last we have you! You love Angel, and Angelus, two in the same. And you obviously have some interest in Craig. Of course Angelus and Craig share a love of you, but a hatred for each other!"
Buffy couldn't answer, she knew this was all true. Even though the Angelus part still surprised her, she had known it all deep down. When she kept quiet, Spike added an extra bit.
"You know this reminds me a lot of the Angel-Buffy-Xander love triangle!"
"Say I did choose one!" Said Buffy finally. "It wouldn't solve anything, the other would be furious and it would keep on going!"
"Exactly! So what are you going to do about it?"
Buffy got up from her seat. Spike amazed at how although 8 months pregnant, she was still as lithe and cat-like she was before.
"I'm not going to do anything! I like letting it run it's course by itself!" She said these words so quietly and so much force, that Spike had to strain his ears to hear them and ended up getting shivers.
But before he could reply, Angelus, Craig and Drusilla walked into the room. Buffy turned to face them.
"Craig, I'm getting hungry!" Said Buffy. He smiled and started towards her, but Angelus cut him off. He stood in front of her, stroking her upper arm muscles, while she looked up at him, not lifting her head.
"We wouldn't want you to go hungry now would we. There's the baby to think of! Why don't we go and find you something good to eat?" He hooked her arm in his, and steered her to the door, but Craig quickly swept her away.
"Now, now Angelus. All there is to eat in this factory is people. And if I remember correctly, Buffy's not a vampire like you, she's a human like me. So I'll take it from here!" With that he and Buffy were leaving the vampires behind.
Buffy turned her head and gave Angelus a look as if to say, what are you going to do now?
As they disappeared Angelus became overcome by rage and threw a chair at some vampire minions. They exploded into dust.
"Come on now mate, you didn't have to do that! Those were perfectly good minions!" Said a very cocky Spike. Who only received a look of pure hatred from Angelus.
"Ohhhhh, Angel's got competition!" Sang Dru. "What will the black knight do to win the evil maiden's heart?" But Angelus only stalked off.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Just as the sun rose, Buffy and Craig returned back to the factory. While the two had been gone, Spike had had his minions go to Buffy''s house with her permission, and gather things she would need, as well as food so she wouldn't have to leave. Spike and Dru shared a room downstairs, next to them, Craig, then Buffy, and finally Angelus. Each had a large four-poster bed, stolen by Spikes boys. Buffy had gone to her room, saying she was tired and needed to rest, knowing Craig would respect her privacy and would leave her alone. Luckily he left to do business in town, and didn't see Angelus enter Buffy's room, just as he left.
"Did you enjoy you meal?" Asked Angelus as he circled the bed. Buffy was laying upon it, resting her back on the headboard. "How was, Craig?"
"Jealous, much?" She asked knowing fully well how jealous he was.
"Oh no, you've got it all wrong. My interest is--excuse the pun—solely for the baby. After it's born, I move on. It'll be Buffy-who?" Answered Angelus as he climbed on the bed, crawling towards Buffy.
"So, your plan of only doing this for the baby includes seducing the mother and luring her into…doing forbidden things?" Buffy asked.
"Exactly! Is it working?"
"What?
"The seducing and the luring!
"Oh it's working, it's working very well."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Willow couldn't believe what was happening. One minute she was in the library, and the next in an underground cell, being held captive by Spike, Drusilla, Craig, and worst of all, Angel. After he, Dru and Craig had left, everyone tried to figure out how to contact Buffy to make sure she was all right. But so far, they had come up with nothing, or just really bad ideas.
"Oz?" Called Cordy from across the room.
"Yeah?"
"When is your next transformation?"
"Not till at least three weeks, why?"
"Cause if you changed, you could probably break out of your cage!"
"Only one problem with that sweetie!" Said Xander.
"What?"
"Willow!"
"Well she doesn't change."
"No. He means that I would still be in the cage with Oz when he changed." Said Willow.
"And I don't have control over what I do as the wolf." Finished Oz.
"I see your point."
"Willow, what about the projection spell you did for Angel?" Asked Jenny suddenly.
"That could work!" Answered Willow excitedly.
"Can you maneuver the spell so it only goes into Buffy's head?" Asked Giles.
"Yeah, it's really simple, I just need a…oh!" Willow looked up sadly.
"What?" Asked Xander.
"I need a rose quartz!"
"Like this one?" Jenny produced a jagged stone about the size of five pennies, on a leather strip.
"Perfect!" Jenny tossed it to Willow. The rest of the group stayed quiet while she concentrated.