Chapter 2- Answers Disclaimer: See chapter 1
Feedback: Please let me know what you think. I'll only continue the story if I get some acknowledgement that you want me to.
Summery: Willow, Spike and Angel gathered around for a drunken pity party but found so much more was waiting for them. How will their loved ones react to this news?
"Ok, this is delicious. Did you know Super China delivered?" Willow said between voracious bites. Spike got an evil grin on his face.
"Yeah, luv. Delivery boy tasted real good too."
"Ew. Spike, I know you used to eat people and all but please don't remind me." Willow squealed as Angel came swaggering downstairs to see the two playfully fighting. He was only wearing a pair of leather pants so his hard chest was bare to the world. "Angel! You know if you don't put a shirt on, we'll never get out of here."
"She's right Peaches. We have some bridges to burn."
"No, William. Keep talking like that and I'll never know if we're staying or leaving." Angel laughed so much that his face lit up with joy. "ok, let's go. We'll have our own fun later."
Joyce decided to join the others at Giles' place. While the children slept upstairs, she kept Rupert company. Joyce massaged Giles' shoulders while he sipped on a hot cup of tea.
"I know how upset you are Rupert, but if the spell worked then Angel isn't a problem."
"No, you don't understand. The evil will always be a part of him. Angelus is closer to the surface than he's ever been. If something sets him off, Angel will be as dangerous as Angelus ever was. It's like the Ripper inside me. A fury with held is still a formidable foe."
"Well, then we'll worry about that when the time comes. Now, tell me more about this Riley boy. Is he nice?"
"Very. Joyce, he truly cares for her. Reminds me of the way I feel about you." Giles put his hand on hers and took hold of it. He pulled her down and around so that she was sitting on his lap. Giles pulled her in for a kiss. "I love you Joyce."
"And I love you Rupert."
"Marry me?" Giles barely got the words out that he had been longing to say. He was terrified that she might say no.
Buffy couldn't sleep any longer. She was too upset about things though having Riley's arm around her was comforting. She was very aware of the others in the bed as well. She tapped into Riley's side with her elbow. "Hmm, Riley. Wake up," She whispered. "Let's go downstairs."
Riley opened his groggy eyes to stare into her lovely hazel eyes. The beautiful girl beside him was gently shaking him awake. "I have got to be dreaming. Buffy, are you really here?"
"Yes, I'm really here. No dream this time. Though I'd love to hear about those dreams some time." Buffy smiled as they both started to get up. They walked quietly out of the room so as not to disturb the others.
"So where to first? Your place or Scooby central?" Angel asked as they got into the car. He held the door open for Willow as Spike climbed into the driver's side. "Or I guess you can drive."
"Thanks mate. Thought you'd approve." Spike joked with him as though they hadn't been separated all these years. He knew how it rubbed Angel not to be able to drive but he couldn't help it.
"'Salright Spike, m'boy. I'll just sit here right next to Willow and make sure our Little One is contented." Angel slid in beside the redhead and put his arm around her. He placed his right hand on her thigh. She turned her head to meet his angelic face. His eyes implored hers and they kissed deeply. Willow wanted to make sure Spike didn't feel left out so she placed her own hand high on his thigh. She wasn't at all surprised to find him already hard. She broke the kiss and allowed Angel to find her neck with his mouth. His lips covered the bite marks he'd made the night before. Spike placed his long slender fingers over his own marks. Angel's hand began to move slowly up Willow's thigh to her crotch. He couldn't feel through her jeans, but Angel knew she was already wet for him. Willow was breathing hard.
"Gotta face the fire guys. Deal with the Scoobies first then we can screw till the end of time." With that, Spike started the Desoto's engine and drove off down the street.
"Marry me?" Giles was speaking as Buffy came down the stairs with Riley's hands on her shoulders.
Who's he talking to? Buffy thought, unable to see the familiar blonde head that blocked Giles' face from view. But the voice was unmistakable.
"Oh Rupert! Yes! I'd love to." Joyce began to cover her lover in kisses. Buffy was unable to contain her surprise. Her mother with her watcher?
"Oh My God! Mom? Giles? Is this a? How long have you? I can't believe this! Ugh!" Buffy screamed. She started to leave but Riley held her steady. He knew she needed to face this, though he wasn't entirely sure what this was. Anya and Xander came staggering down the stairs, awakened by the Slayer's frustrated screams.
"What the?" Was all Xander could get out. Anya however, saw the diamond ring that Giles was still holding out.
"Giles, what a very large and expensive piece of hand jewelry you have there. Might I examine it closer?"
"Ahn, sweetie. Not now." Xander pulled his girlfriend back so once more his position and hers mimicked Riley and Buffy's. "Buffy, are you ok?"
"My mother just agreed to marry my Watcher. Should I be ok?"
"Sweetie, we never meant to upset you. That's why we'd been dating in secret. We didn't want you to lose focus."
"How long?"
"We began shortly after Jenny. Your mother started out comforting me and then we discovered how much we had in common. And then there was our shared love for you." Giles regained his composure. "Of course, we hit a rough spot when you ran away that summer. But we got through it." Buffy calmed down a bit. It really did make sense, she told herself. A slayer's closest allies should become close themselves and love is the strongest bond.
"Ok, I can deal. I guess. But we are going to have a very long discussion about this later. And another one about keeping secrets from your daughter slash charge. Got it?" Buffy admonished her elders. Then she looked closely at them both. "There's something else you're not telling me isn't there? Spill!"
"Angel's back."
"Deadboy?! Didn't see that one coming." Xander spoke up. He still hated Angel and wanted everyone to know it. Riley just looked at them all. He was suddenly very confused.
"Can, um someone fill me in here? 1- What's a watcher? 2- Deadboy? 3- who's Angel?"
"Oh boy!" Buffy bit her lip. "Riley, come sit down. We have a lot of explaining to do."
Spike pulled up to the Watcher's house. Willow adjusted her clothing and smoothed her hair as they parked. She smiled over at Spike then to Angel, a bit wearily but a smile nonetheless, which Spike felt she hadn't been doing nearly enough. "Ok boys. Let's do this."
Willow didn't bother knocking. She just walked in. That way they'd all know she hadn't been turned, which would be an issue proving otherwise since she bore two fresh bite marks. Spike swaggered in behind her and Angel behind him, both cloaked in their long black dusters. Angel was stopped however by the invisible barrier at the door. No one noticed them enter, too busy discussing among other things Angel's return.
"Speaking of which, can I please come in?" Angel shouted. Everyone turned to look at Willow with Spike's arms wrapped around her and Angel, waiting at the door. Angel looked around and saw the boyscout with his arm around Buffy. He wasn't hurt by the image as he had been the night before. He had his family now. However, Angel sensed the fear in Spike.
"Oh, bloody hell! The slayer's hooked up with one of the bleeding gits who put this sodding chip in me head!" Spike took a step back to be nearer to his Sire and directly behind Willow. Together they took a step closer to the door. "Willow, luv. Soldier boy there isn't who you think he is."
"Hostile 17?" Riley spoke up. Heads turned to him. Buffy looked up into his eyes.
"His name is William or Spike, get it right Boy Scout!" Angel shouted.
"Looks like I have some explaining to do too, huh?"
"Are you evil again?" Xander asked as he rushed to the door. "Cause if you are I am so not above staking your ass."
"Not evil, just pissed. Now, Rupert," Angel turned his attention away from the boy in front of him. "May I please come in?"
"Yes, I suppose that you should come in. Looks like we've got a lot of talking to do."
"Joyce, hello."
"Spike," Joyce blushed a bit. Her engagement was so fresh that she was radiant. "Angel, how are you boys?"
"Doing well, yourself?" Angel kept up the polite conversation so that he wouldn't rush the army boy and rip his bloody limbs off. He knew the time to answer questions would come but later looked better than sooner.
"I'm very well myself. Rupert just proposed to me."
"Really? Well, congratulations. Hear that Will? There's going to be a wedding! Rupert, old boy, may I kiss the bride?"
"Don't push your luck Angel." Giles placed himself between the vampire and Joyce. Willow put her hand on Angel's arm.
"Angel, don't tease." She said simply. "Congratulations Mrs. Summers. We're very happy for you both. I'm sure."
"Willow, what happened to you yesterday?" Giles asked finally. When he actually looked at her, he noticed the bite marks on her neck and then the clothing she wore. "Oh, Willow, tell me you didn't."
"What are you talking about Giles?" Buffy pushed Riley out of the way so that she too could see. A blush flooded the young witch's face. Buffy saw the bite marks too. Before she could think, Buffy had a stake in her hands and was aiming it at Spike's chest. Quicker than was possible for a human, Willow and Angel both stepped in front of him. Angel grabbed Buffy's wrist.
"You wouldn't want to kill me and Red here too would you Buffy?" Angel gritted his teeth. His anger was boiling inside him. There was only so much Willow could do to calm him at this point short of mating with him right there. Just have to get my family out of here and then we can make love till dawn. Just gotta go.
"What the hell are you talking about Angel?" Buffy wanted to scream. They had all trusted Spike blindly. They'd let him go off with Willow and therefore, they'd failed her.
"Don't touch my childer. We're a package set Buffy. What you do to one of us you do to all of us," Angel spoke slowly in controlled words. Spike smirked at the idea of do unto all, but he kept his thoughts to himself.
"Would someone please explain to me in plain English?"
"Love to pet. But you still wouldn't understand." Spike loved messing with the Slayer's mind. He also took pleasure in mentally beating the boyscout. That is until his chip kicked in. Screaming in pain, "Bloody hell! Now I can't even think of causing pain for any length of time. When I get this soddin chip out..."
Willow turned and caressed his face. He looked down into her green eyes. Willow kissed him and the pain instantly began to subside. "Then again, there are definite advantages to being a neutered baddie."
"Good puppy. Now, let's play nice and I'll give you a treat when we get home." Willow smiled playfully. Angel turned his head and nodded in agreement.
"Me too." Angel wrapped his arm around Willow's waist placing his hands over Spike's. "To answer your question, we've claimed her. And she's claimed us. This is an extremely rare and powerful move."
"Ok, Spike was right. I don't get it. And can I just say eww!? Willow kissing Fang Breath?"
"Right cause you didn't kiss them both either." Willow's temper was flaring. "Don't call him that again. Either of them." Willow threw her arms in the air. "No, I can't do this."
"Shh... Come here, love." Angel pulled Willow against his chest and began to stroke her hair to sooth her. "Rupert, explain it to your slayer."
"Yes, well I can't say that I approve of any of this. You hurt her and I'll teach you about pain. Your torture will be nothing like what you've inflicted upon others." Giles threatened both Angel and Spike. Angel, of course ignored his threats. He would never, no, could never hurt the girl in his arms. "Buffy, it seems that they've mated. It's a ceremony amongst vampires, which grants a kind of immortality to their once mortal lovers. But, said lover must be a very powerful magick for it to work, like a necromancer, a slayer, or a very strong witch."
"Will's a lot stronger than you might think mate. 'S why we love her." Spike stepped up to be at Angel and Willow's backs. His head settled just above Angel's shoulder. He kissed Angel's cheek then the top of Willow's head. "We're one big happy family now."
Buffy didn't understand. Why's this all happening to me? She wanted to crumble into tears. Angel was supposed to be her lover, her destiny. Willow took that away. Sure, she had Riley, but at that moment that appeared shaky at best.
"Wait, how are mates made? I mean, doesn't it involve like mating?"
"How intuitive of you, Buffy. Yes, there was a lot of the sex going on." Angel spoke softly, not really wanting to hurt Buffy the way she'd hurt him.
"So you are evil again? No problem them," Buffy pulled her wrist free and re-aimed. Willow grabbed her arm this time.
"A- you really don't want to deal with grieving mates. If it doesn't kill us, we'd kill you. B- He's not evil again. Never will be again."
"What do you mean?" Buffy struggled against the witch's grip; which bothered her. Willow shouldn't be this strong.
"Didn't you wonder why Angel came back after you told him to get out of your city? Why would he come to me?"
"I didn't know he'd gone to you until now. So why don't you tell me?" Buffy relaxed in Willow's grip. Willow looked at her and sadness filled her eyes. Buffy really didn't know what she had done.
"Just after the whole fiasco with granting my own desires, I wanted to make things better. I went back and fixed the curse on Angel. No more happiness clause. Angel can never become Angelus again," Willow explained succinctly. "He came back to Sunnydale, to thank me and to find you. Problem was, he found you first. And you were rather cozy with Riley, which, knowing what he is, is really sad."
"Oh, god! Angel!" The anger passed from Buffy and sadness replaced it.
"Don't!" Angel growled. He had Willow and Spike now but he was still hurt. The pain that love brings doesn't fade quickly.
"Angel found Spike and me in the bar. We got drunk off our asses and found comfort in each other's arms. You've got your Boyscout. Go to him, and leave me to mine!" Willow dropped Buffy's arm roughly and wrapped her arms around Angel's waist. Spike joined the embrace. The lovers all looked at those they had once called friends and hoped one day they would be able to understand. Xander looked very pissed off. Buffy was on the verge of tears. Giles stared blankly not sure what to do. He wanted Willow to be happy but this? Riley put his arms around Buffy to calm her. That helped. Only Joyce and Anya fully understood and approved of the match. They were happy for them. Joyce grasped Giles' hand and smiled brightly.
"We want to wish you all the happiness in the world. And we want to personally invite you to the wedding."
"Thank you very much Joyce," Angel replied politely. There was no doubt that he was the head of the household.
"So, will you be staying here in Sunnydale or going back to LA?"
"Not really sure. Depends." Willow shrugged. She felt more relaxed now that the woman who'd become like a mother to her approved. "We still have to tell my parents, Cordy, Wesley, and Charles. We also need to know if anyone can accept this. We're going to live together, that's all I know for sure."
Anya spoke up this time. Smiling brightly and being as blunt as ever, "Well I for one am very glad Xander and I aren't the only ones having sex. Willow we need to talk later."
Xander tried to quiet the girl but there was no use. Anya had already said it. Giles tried to hide a small laugh when Willow blushed. The mood was lightening a bit.
"Oh goddess. You guys look exhausted. We'd better let you get some sleep. I'm so sorry to have worried you all. Um, we'll call later." Willow fumbled for the right words. Before anyone could object, the lovers were out the door.