Summary: It's 1968 and Angel has found a moment of perfect happiness. Just what it means for Buffy 30 years later remains to be seen. Not happy with the title, so this may change. Will take place at the beginning of Buffy/Season 2, but will deviate from original story line. Almost totally AU. Buffy/Angelus. And Darla's still alive.
Disclaimers: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own it all. I'm just doing this for fun, and hopefully entertainment
Angel and Spike entered the now deserted building, looking at the pool of blood that was left by Darla's sacrifice. The place held no clues and Angel was thinking of a next move.
As if reading his mind, Spike spoke up. "I say we head over to Willie's and have a beer before we head back to children's hour. I don't know how you can stand to be around all those bloody teenagers. Okay, so the slayer is a hot piece and that little Willow is quite a morsel. But the watcher and the rest? Is this really you Angelus?"
Angel took a deep unneeded breath. "Come on, let's go."
It wasn't Angelus and it wasn't Angel. At least not the Angel that would brood about the death of a stray cat for days. Not the Angel he had been for almost 70 years. And not the Angelus who would mind fuck you before ripping your throat out. No, he was someone he didn't recognize. Someone who needed to be with the woman he loved, actually loved. A word, an emotion he didn't think he was capable of and glad of it. Someone who was worried that a certain red-haired child would be eaten by a newly turned werewolf if he didn't step in. Someone who had developed a strange fondness for that same newly turned werewolf and a very odd couple of high-school 'sweethearts'; one a nerd and one a princess. Someone who had a grudging respect for a watcher who had devoted his life to his mate. And someone who was concerned about the fate of the world. No, he certainly wasn't himself and he hadn't been in a very long while.
Angel kept walking, thoughts ping-ponging in his head. Spike was watching him, sensing the confusion, trying to keep his own confusion at bay. Both so caught up in their thoughts that neither noticed the figure in the shadows, listening, sensing the emotions coming off of both of the vampires.
Drusilla had returned to the factory, confident in the knowledge that her William would return as well. Needing to see him. She hadn't expected her daddy to be with him. She quickly chanted a spell to keep her veiled, to keep her presence hidden from both her family members.
"So, have you told her?" Spike knew he was pushing his grand-sire, but all this inner-turmoil was too much and it was starting to rub off on him.
"What the hell are you talking about Spike?"
"Have you told the slayer that you love her?"
"Not that it's any of your business, but she knows." Gods he hated it when Spike tried to get into his personal life.
Spike gave a harsh laughed. "You're such a bloody wanker. If I had someone like that, well first I woulda marked her, but if I did she would never doubt how I felt. I'd tell her everyday."
"Keep your mouth shut about things you don't know boy." He felt his anger rising. "And what the hell is wrong with you? You don't have a soul and yet you are such a fucking bitch when it comes to women." Angel shook his head in disgust, for Spike and for himself.
"Not just women." He looked up at his grand-sire.
"Spike, don't go there. It's been well over a century, okay? It's over, it's done."
Spike paused. "I never wanted to leave you, you gotta know that." The bravado gone from his voice.
"I know it boy. Now we can just drop it, it's gone." Angel continued to walk ahead of his grand-childe, not really sure how to respond to Spike's guilt.
"Are you going to turn her?" Spike was great at quick changes of subjects, so he and Buffy did have something in common, Angelus thought to himself.
This new question perked up Drusilla, the answer would be most useful to Darla.
"Turn her? No, she would never go for that. She's a slayer, taking me for her lover is one thing, there's a connection between us. But for her to be turned, I don't think her scruples...they wouldn't allow that to even come into her conscious thought.
Dru silently backed away from the shadows and headed back to Darla, she had lost her Willie but she knew how to make them pay. And pain for Angelus would cause pain for her boy, of that she was sure.
Spike thought about the answer for a moment, "But she wouldn't lose her soul, she'd still be Buffy, just the new and improved version. She could live forever with you."
"It's just a legend Spike, an old myth. We couldn't ever be sure of that. And Buffy without her soul, it wouldn't be worth it." Angel salivated at the thought of having her for all eternity, but he wouldn't, couldn't do that to her on the off chance of it being fact.
"I don't know Peaches. Legends and myths seem to be what life is all about. I know that sodding Watchers Council would do anything to keep those slayers under their thumb and this is just another one. Die a young death my ass. They just off 'em before they have a chance to become too independent and crave a life apart. Bloody bastards, the lot."
"Are you coming back with me or what?" He was impatient to get back to Buffy.
"Seems I have to mate. Got no place else to go. So, which room do I get in your cushy palace?" Spike smiled.
Angel inwardly moaned. "Let's just get out of here."
Buffy paced nervously looking at the clock. Okay, she thought to herself, ten more minutes. If he's not back in ten, minutes I am so out that door.
Just then, Angel pushed the doors to the library open, his eyes setting on Buffy and her worried expression. She looked up as he entered and launched herself at him, jumping up into his arms and wrapping her legs around his waist.
"Oh my god Angelus, I was so worried." She planted kisses all over his face.
Giles took the scene in with more than a little concern. He felt responsible for his slayer, more so now since she had chosen her calling over her family and now it was very clear to him she and the vampire were more than just a crush. He was sure they were lovers and it worried him no end. "Glad you are back safely, now did you find anything?"
"The place was empty. But I have no doubts Darla will contact me soon enough. Especially now that Spike has been kicked out of their nest. Revenge will be her next move, revenge for both of us."
"So what now dead boy?" Xander pulled Cordelia just a little closer to his side. He didn't want her involved in all this. It really wasn't her fight, she hadn't chosen this, she had just somehow fallen in.
"Now, we wait. Again. The full moon is up in a couple of days and I'm hoping it will play a part." He looked over at Giles. "What do you think?"
"I found this book, it has some further information in it. Come take a look Angel." Giles put the book down on the table and waited for him. Buffy, Xander, Cordy and Oz joined in, feeling the need to do something, anything to be involved.
Willow hung back, sitting at the top of the staircase, somewhat dejected watching the research go on beneath her.
"Why the long face pet?" Spike sat next to her, holding a cigarette between his lips.
"Please don't light that. You know, those are very bad for you. I could show you pictures of lungs…oh, forgot. Not human. Sorry." She turned head, a little embarrassed.
"So, what's the matter then?" Spike bent his head to get a better look at her.
"Oh, nothing. Okay, well something." She sighed. "Seems my potential boyfriend is a demon."
"Oh, pet. You seriously considering me for boyfriend material?" He had to chuckle at her shocked look. So delectable.
"What? No. I mean, not that there's anything wrong with you. I mean you're hot." She blushed furiously. "I mean, no…"
"Calm down ducks. Knew you meant wolf-boy." His eyes twinkling with amusement, "So, you think I'm hot?"
"I…I…" Willow was once again at a loss for words.
"I'm just teasing you poppet. So what's the problem? He's not really a demon worth his salt. What? He morphs 3 nights a month? No powers to speak of, really. Maybe can smell a little better, run a little faster, great night vision and maybe howl really well. That's about it." He leaned back on his elbows and looked at the boy working with the rest of the white-hats. Life on the Hellmouth really fucked with a teenagers' progression into adulthood.
"Your right, but Oz thinks he has to protect me. He wants to stop whatever could've been between us before it has a chance to start. He doesn't want to hurt me." She looked over at the handsome vampire, he was so out of her league. But he was so nice to look at. "It really isn't so bad, this werewolf thing, but Oz thinks it'll hurt a lot less now. But if we start a relationship and he has to end it later…I guess he's right."
"Guess so, but that's kinda true with any high-school relationship, isn't it?"
"Yeah." She felt her resolve kicking in. "Hey, how come you're being so nice to me?"
"Just biding my time love. You're still young. The odds of you and the boy being long term, not good. So when you break up, I'll be here and I'm sure you'll be up for days of mindless sex to take your mind off of it. And I am not one to ever turn down rebound sex."
Willow wasn't sure how to take what Spike had just told her, so she just burst out giggling.
"Glad I could amuse." He said dryly. "Just don't tell the old man about it, 'kay?"
Wiping her eyes, Willow asked, "Old man?"
"My sire, Angelus." He stated matter-of-factly.
Buffy chose just that moment to walk up to the two of them. "Willow? Giles needs you to do some research on that drat machine of yours."
"Oh, sure." She jumped down and began to leave, then she turned to Spike and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you." She giggled and her boldness and went to Giles.
"What was that all about?" Her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "And since when did Angel become your sire?" Buffy stood with her arms akimbo, waiting for an answer.
"Okay, first off, helped the bird with a little problem so she thanked me, not that it's any of your business. And as for the other, once again, none of your business." Spike finally lit the cigarette between his lips and took a deep drag.
"Well, I'm making it my business." She planted herself next to him. "So talk."
Spike looked at the slayer for a few moments and shrugged. "Okay, you asked. Dru wasn't exactly what you'd call a functional sire. She wanted me. She turned me. Then she got distracted." He was looking at Angelus as he spoke and Buffy followed his line of vision. "Peaches there, he took me and he made me. He turned me into a vampire that could carry the line of Aurelius proudly." Spike took another drag from his dwindling cigarette. "He was hard, cruel, sadistic. He taught me, punished me…rewarded me." His jaw clenched and unclenched at the memories. "Darla hated me. But Angelus…he became my sire, my god." He shrugged again." Then we left him, deserted him. And that's it."
Buffy looked at him in amazement. "You loved him." Not a question, just a simple statement.
"And I betrayed him. I let Darla take us from him. Didn't do a damn thing to stop it, just followed Dru like a blind puppy."
"Do you still love him?"
Spike chuckled. "Ah pet, it's been over a century. I moved on a long time ago. I still owe him and I still feel the bond of a sire. That'll never go away. But nothing unrequited going on here. I have to say the poncey begger has gone quite soft on you though." With an evil grin, he added, "Or is it hard? I mean, sex with humans can be fan-fucking-tastic, bloodplay's worth it alone. But with a slayer, maybe Angelus was right," he paused for effect, "shoulda fucked 'em instead of killin' 'em."
"God Spike, you are such a pig." She cast another look over at him, curiosity getting the better of her. "What's bloodplay?"
"What? Guess the old man wants to break you in gradually." He laughed at her expression. "You really have something to look forward to slayer." With that he got up and walked over to Angelus. She had a momentary surge of jealousy. Angel looked down at the other vampire, listening to him. Then he looked at her and the world seemed to stop. It would always be like this, she thought.
He walked to her, surprised by his sudden desire, need, to be near her, to touch her. Buffy held her arms out and he walked into them, luxuriating in the feel of her.
"Not a whole lot more we can do here. Come home with me." Angel bent down to nuzzle her ear.
She was unable to speak for a moment, so overwhelmed by his nearness. "Yes, let me get my key from Willow so Kendra can use it." She ran her tongue over his bottom lip and went to the assembled group.
"Will, can I talk to you for sec?"