Disclaimers: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own it all. I'm just doing this for fun, and hopefully entertainment
Reviews: Welcomed and appreciated
Buffy opened her eyes to see her Angel entering the room with two mugs in his oh-so capable hands. "Mmmm. Coffee?"
"No, nourishment. You need to get used to having blood when you wake up. Especially after a strenuous evening." He handed her a warm mug.
She took it and looked at him with uncertainty. "I don't know if I can do this Angel." She held her nose to the lip of the cup, prepared to be repulsed. To her surprised, it didn't smell the way she remembered. She lifted her eyes to Angel's again. "Do I need to like, release fangs or something?"
He laughed. "Just drink. You never have to vamp out. But at certain times you may find yourself doing it naturally."
She bit her lip, willing herself to be strong. "Okay…lots to learn." She handed the cup back to him so she could position her pillows in just the right way, then took the cup back from him. He sat next to her, leaning back against the headboard, as well. "Just take a sip at first, let yourself acclimate to it."
She tipped the cup to her lips, not holding her nose since she realized it no longer really mattered. She allowed the warm liquid to enter her mouth, run over her tongue and down her throat. Not bad, she thought. It actually tasted alright. "It doesn't make me sick, I think I can do this." She tipped the cup and more slid down her throat. The power, she thought, I feel power. "Is this what you feel when you drink?"
"The rush of power? Yeah. It's our life-force Buff. We need blood to stay…un-dead." He polished off his cup and got up to shower. "Giles will be here soon, we should get ready."
Buffy finished her cup as well and followed him. "I almost feel warm, does it make you feel warm?"
"Yeah, it's supposed to." Angelus turned on the shower and stepped in as she joined him.
"Is it different when you feed off a live body?"
"It's been a long time, but yeah. It's the thrill of the hunt that's involved. It can be almost sexual." He handed her the soap and she began to rub circles on his back, totally immersing herself in her task. She then handed it back to him, turned around and he proceeded to repeat the process.
"This is so weird. I live on blood. I live indefinitely. I live indefinitely on blood." Her voice had become a bit high pitched.
He pulled her to his chest, sensing her panic rising. "I know babe, but you'll get use to it. I promise." He kissed her at the base of her neck then turned them around to get rinsed off.
When they came downstairs, everyone had already arrived. Willow seemed a bit out of place so Cordelia went to stand next to her. "You'll be fine. We'll all be fine. It's just another aspect of living on the Hellmouth. And think of it Willow, with your fair skin sun would've been your worst enemy anyway. Now you have to stay out of it and you'll never age. Makes it almost worth it all."
Buffy rolled her eyes, some things would never change. She found herself very glad for Cordelia at this moment. Okay, so some things did change. Buffy walked up to the two girls and took Willow's hand, "Hate to admit it, but she's right, we're gonna be fine." Buffy motioned her head at Cordelia. "And after all," she said with a laugh, "we have our sire to lead us." Buffy meant it as a joke, but Willow nodded, taking comfort in the knowledge she was a part of them.
Angelus gave her a small nod, his eyes bringing her into the fold, bringing her home, she thought. She looked at him, then at Buffy and Spike. The four of them were kinda like family, she thought. All of the Order of Aurelius. How totally bizarre was that? But she always considered Buffy, Xander and Giles her family and it a totally weird way, Cordelia as well.
Buffy, Willow and Cordelia sat together on one couch, Cordy moving over to make room for Xander. She laid her hand on the back of Xander's neck, rubbing her fingers back and forth, in an unconscious motion. Something that wasn't lost on either girl. Buffy an arched eyebrow at Willow, who leaned over to whisper, "We'll talk later, big news."
"How are you doing?" Giles stood in front of the two girls, who had been through so much in the last 24 hours, guilt showing in his eyes.
"Giles, there was nothing you could've done to stop this. You have to know that. I mean, it's because of you that I've stayed alive as long as I have living on the Hellmouth. You have to know that." Buffy's eyes pleaded with him to realize what was fact to her.
"Yes, well. This is neither here nor there at this point. How are you?"
"Good, we're both good." Buffy looked over at Willow. "Right?"
"Mostly. How am I gonna tell my parents Giles? What if they won't accept me? What will I do? Where will I go?" Buffy looked up at Angel and he came over and knelled before the young redhead.
"You belong to my family now Willow. I, we" he looked over at Spike, "will never let anything happen to you. We're your protectors. Its how it's always been." He ran his hand over her cheek and she calmed down.
"Sorry for the panic attack. Just worried about my mom and dad." She gave a weak smile as she bobbed her head nervously.
Giles took her cool hand in his. "We'll go over together. As soon as the sun begins to set. Angel, Buffy, will you come as well?"
"Of course." They both answered simultaneously.
"Hey, what about me? I'm part of the family." Spike was feeling a bit left out.
"I'm afraid you'll scare them. They can deal with you at the holidays." Angel chuckled at Giles' dry humor.
Willow looked over at Oz, who hadn't said a word during the whole interaction between them, sensing that he was feeling quite out of place. "Are you doing okay?"
"Yeah, all this actually makes my wolf-boy problem pretty miniscule. I guess I should take off and leave you all to it." He looked over at Angel. "So is it cool if I come back later?"
"Of course. The door will be open." Angel nodded at the young boy as he left.
Kendra was feeling that it was time for her to leave as well. "Perhaps, Mr. Giles, I should book a flight home? Now that the crisis is over you won't be needin' me here."
Buffy jumped up, the panic beginning to rear its ugly head. "Kendra, please. I don't know if I can handle patrol alone. I mean…I think I need you here. I'm not sure if I'm even a slayer anymore." She looked over at Giles. "What's the council going to do once they find out?"
"Day won't find out. No one has ta know about dis Buffy. As long as you keep fightin' da fight, the council won't be any da wiser. Isn't dat right Mr. Giles? But if I don't return home, day'll be sure ta know someting isn't right."
"I'm afraid Kendra is correct Buffy. She has to return home, her watcher has already called to find out about her return."
Xander leaned over and put his hand on hers. "Buff, you won't be on patrol alone. You have us, and Angel and Spike. And now Will is gonna be like, super-Will. All that extra vampire strength. She'll be able to leap the big bad in a single bound" He looked over at her. "Am I right?"
She giggled at the picture he painted. "Oh yeah." She held up her fists. "I'm so violent, after all. Besides, once my parents disown me and I drop out of school, I'll have nothing better to do."
"Willow, just stop." Cordelia felt herself about to cry again. "You can get your GED online and you can take college classes online, too…or, or night classes. And what about all that witchcraft stuff? You wanted to be a great witch to help Giles and Buffy, remember?"
"Oh Cordelia, please don't be so upset." She sat closer and put her arm around Cordelia. "You're right. I'll do it all. It's just kinda hard to think of right now, you know. Haven't even told my parents. I'm still really freaked. But you got me through the hardest part last night. And I haven't even thanked you."
"How strange is this anyway?" Buffy gave an incredulous laugh. "We saved the world from hell last night, and all we can think about is this vampire thing. Which I know is huge, okay. Ginormous. But life is still going on. The Hellmouth never sleeps, as is quite obvious. And Willow and I are alive, mostly. And we're the same, mostly. We've taken care of the big bad on a daily basis and we will continue to do so. No big." She looked at Giles. "So, let's take care of the Willow parent problem and get on with it. So Will and I can't go out in the sun, like Cordelia pointed out, you just freckle Will, no big loss. And to be perfectly honest, I'm a night person. I'm always falling asleep during my first three classes anyway. So what's the big diff? And I'm probably really, really strong now. And practically invincible. This could be so of the good, no?"
"And since you don't have to breathe, well you can just talk forever as we are learning first hand." Xander gave Buffy his sweetest Xander look and she broke out laughing.
"Yeah, now you totally have some major competition." Cordelia gave him a light elbow jab in the ribs. "Well, since we aren't going to the Willow intervention, I suggest you take me home so I can shower." She looked up at Giles. "Do you want us back at your place later?"
"I think everyone could use a good night's sleep. I will see the two of you at school tomorrow. Just because Willow and Buffy have to leave school is no excuse for you to think you can shirk your responsibilities."
Xander shrugged. "It seems like a pretty good one to me.
The Rosenbergs took the news much better than Buffy had expected. Mr/Dr. Rosenberg ranted that it was all because of the "friends" Willow had recently taken up with. Using his fingers to make quotation marks. "And" he continued, "she may have known Xander for most of her life, but he came from tainted stock, not the best influence. We were just happy she had a friend who was real."
Mrs/Dr. Rosenberg sat quietly with her hands in her lap. "Now dear, getting all emotional will solve nothing." She looked at Willow. "So, how do you expect us to respond to all this? What is it that you are expecting? I realize we haven't given you the attention you have craved, but we have lives Willow. We gave you independence and this is how you repay us? You haul these people in on your latest fantasy and expect what?" She calmly waited for an answer.
"You think I'm lying? You think this is all a bid for attention?" Willow could hardly hold back her tears.
"Mrs. Rosenberg, Dr. I mean. I don't think you or your husband is aware of the gravity of this situation. You've lived in Sunnydale long enough to have an inkling of what goes on here. Please. Willow has not hauled is into anything. This is a fact and one that we need to discuss." Giles was beginning to lose all patience with the adults of Sunnydale
"So, you're feeding her fantasies Mr. Giles?" Willow's father questioned the librarian. "I could have you fired in an instant for the involvement you have with these children."
"Oh for fuck's sake!" Angel had risen from his seat. "Willow. Come here." He was standing in front of Willow's mother. "You're a doctor, right?" She nodded. "Can you feel her pulse? Her heartbeat? What does her skin feel like to you?"
Mrs. Rosenberg rose and took her daughter's wrist in her hand. She looked up at her husband, a stricken look on her face. She placed her hand on Willow's chest, tears coming to her eyes. "What's this all about?" She was pleading, looking into her daughter's eyes.
"I'm not lying Mom. I just wish I was. Really." Willow began to sob.
Angel came up to Willow and led her back to Buffy. He then turned and looked at the Rosenbergs. "The question is, what do you plan on doing? She can't go to school, sun will kill her. Are you going to let her continue to live here, with you?"
"Vampires? This is all too ridiculous. Sheila, get a hold of yourself! Willow, come here." She rose and went to stand before her father. Mr. Rosenberg placed his fingers on her jugular vein, waiting to feel her pulse. Nothing. He looked at her, puzzled, and then noticed the scar on her neck. The coolness of her skin and the pallor. He slumped back into his chair, feeling defeated.
He finally looked up to see his wife and daughter in tears. "What does this mean? This can't be real, can it? Mr. Giles? Can it?"
"I'm afraid old boy, it's as real as science. And Willow has had the misfortune to become one of the latest victims. She, however did have the fortune of having her soul restored. Not a common thing." He stopped to see how the Rosenbergs were reacting, and then continued. "You really had no idea of the things that were happening in this town?"
Sheila Rosenberg looked up. "We just thought it was the gang influence filtering down from Los Angeles."
Buffy shook her head. "Yeah, well no. What do you plan for Willow?"
They looked at each other. Sheila spoke up again. "How can she stay here? She has special needs that we can't handle. We have group meetings here. What will people say? She'll have to drop out of school." She looked over at her husband.
"Well, we could put black out curtains in her room. A little fridge…I don't know. Up until a half hour ago I didn't know vampires existed. Now my daughter, my genius daughter with unlimited potential, is one. I don't know." He looked at Willow, seeing her for the first time in years. "What do you want Willow?"
"I don't know. But I know what I don't want. I don't want you to be afraid of me. I don't want you to be ashamed of me. I don't want you to hate me." This last statement was said in a very small voice.
Willow's father looked up to Mr. Giles and Angel. "What should we do?"
Angel spoke up. "She's my responsibility now. It was my sire who turned her. She's dead now and Willow has a lot to learn about what she is. I want her to move in with Buffy and me."
"Now wait a minute mister." Mrs. Rosenberg found her voice again. "Willow is only seventeen. She will not be living in a house filled with…with…whatever. She's a child."
"A child who is now a vampire. And a vampire who needs to learn about herself. You were afraid to have your friends find out about her. This way she'll be safe and you will know where she is at all times. She can see you whenever you're in town and you can come to see her, too." Angel saw a flash of relief cross the mother's face. What was it about the mothers in this town, he thought?
Sheila Rosenberg looked over at husband. "What do you think?"
He looked over at his daughter. "What do you think Willow? What do you want? You have to say something."
Willow swallowed the lump of fear in her throat. "I think it would probably be the best for all of us. I just may need some financial help…"
Angel was about to say something when Mrs. Rosenberg jumped up. "Well, of course. There's your college fund, we can sign that over to you. And we can send you something every month…"
Mr. Rosenberg interrupted her. "I'll bring you something every month." He walked to his daughter and took her hand. "You do know that we love you Willow, don't you? We may not have shown it as we should have, but we always loved you."
Willow looked up into his eyes and saw truth in them. With a wistful smile she answered him. "Yes, I do know that Dad."