Disclaimers: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own it all. I'm just doing this for fun, and hopefully entertainment
Reviews: Welcomed and appreciated
Takes place at the end of season 2, takes off from episode Becoming, Part 2 and becomes total AU. Buffy couldn't kill Angel and now has to live with the consequences of her actions.
Angelus saw her sitting in the deep window sill over looking the quad. She had scraped a small hole in the paint that covered the panes to peek out. He walked the length of the hall and up the stair case to stand behind her.
"That didn't take long." Buffy continued to look out the window. She felt him the moment he walked into the building, at least her senses were in working order again.
He softly snorted as he sat on the far end of the sill to look at her. Still so beautiful he thought as he felt himself begin to tighten with desire. What was it about this girl he asked himself for the thousandth time?
Buffy swung around to look at him and her breath caught in her throat. Angel, my beautiful Angel. No, she corrected, Angelus. But beautiful all the same. "I'm not gonna just lay down, you know?"
"Never thought you would Buff. But you're not alone here, are you? Got all your little scooby snacks with you. Minus the pointless boy." He smirked.
"You'll have to get through me to get to them." She began to rise.
"Buff. All this antagonism, really now." He leaned in closer to her. "I actually have a little proposition I'd like to discuss with you."
"Yeah, right." She huffed.
"Look at you babe. Your weak, haven't been eating too well, I take it. Once you're out of the way I could use all my skills on that little family of yours. But I don't want to do that." She eyed him doubtfully and he gave her that wicked little half smile. "Okay, so maybe I'd want to, but I don't need to."
"What do you want?"
"Simple. You. I want you Buff, always have. Come with me willingly, your little band of merry men survives. And survive well. I'll feed them, clothe them, all their needs will be seen to. They'll be protected, immune to the horrendous conditions your actions led them to." He considered her through half closed eyes.
"You hate me. Why would you do this?"
"I want you more than I hate you. This is a one time offer. You refuse I bring in a small army and I'll let you watch while I put them all to death in glorious Angelus fashion. I may even let Dru have Giles, lord knows why but she has a bit of an itch for the watcher." He shrugged. "I'll still have you. Chained and shackled maybe, but I'll have you whenever I want you, however I want you. The choice is yours."
Buffy considered the view out the small hole in the window and sighed. She was tired. Tired of the guilt, tired of the fear, tired of the responsibility. But mostly just tired of life. Turning her head to look at him, she nodded, almost unable to articulate. "They'll be safe? You'll give me your word? And I'll still be able to see them?"
With a victorious smirk he stood and held his hand out to her. "You have my word they'll be safe as long as you keep to the bargain. And they'll be living with us, so you can see them when you aren't looking to my needs." He pulled her up close to him and whispered in her ear. "Are you ready to be a consort to a king?"
"My, you have developed illusions of grandeur, haven't you?" She gave a mirthless laugh.
He chuckled at her audacity. "Don't forget Buff. I am the master of the Aurelius clan now and the destroyer of Acathla. The world is a different place and my name holds more than a little clout in demon circles, which is all there really is. With the slayer as my mate, well it's quite impressive."
She bit her lower lip. "I guess I did forget." She winced as he ran his hand over her throat. "I suppose you are living large in this world."
"Oh babe, you'll find out just how large." His eyes narrowed knowing she understood just what he meant. "Shall we go and tell your friends the good news?"
Blushing at the way he was looking at her she pulled away from him. "No. Let me do it, give me a few minutes to explain. Please Angelus?"
"Ten minutes Buff and then I'm coming in."
"Thank you." As she turned to leave he grabbed her arm and pulled into his embrace giving her a deep kiss that left her breathless. He ran the palms of his hands down her spine to cup her backside. "Just sealing the deal. Now go."
Angelus watched her walk away feeling victorious. That wasn't as difficult as he thought it would be. Of course four months of living in the new world order had drastically helped his cause. She wasn't the same cocky bitch he remembered. She was tempered, even. Her guilt had taken a lot of the fight out of her and he was fine with that. It would make his domination of her all that simpler. His gut tightened at the thought of the slayer. His slayer. He glanced at his watch. Ten minutes. Ten minutes and his life would be complete. He threw his head back and laughed out loud.
"Buffy, you can't be serious." Giles was incredulous. "I know you feel guilty, but to sacrifice yourself in this way? No, I will not allow it."
Cordelia huddled next to Willow while Oz stood behind them watching the next chapter in their miserable lives unfold. He looked down at Willow who sent him a shaky smile. They were discovered and they're lives could be over at any moment. He shrugged inwardly as he continued to gaze at the girl he'd fallen deeply in love with. At least he'd had that. At least he'd been able to find a small piece of happiness and peace in her arms.
"There's no other way. If I don't do this the last few months, Xander's death, all of it would've been for nothing." Buffy was tossing her few belongings in a bag. She looked over at her friends. "If you want to take anything with you, I suggest you gather it now." She turned back to Giles. "It's the only way to keep us alive."
"And what if he turns you Buffy? We're all dead then as well."
Angelus laughed as her entered the library. "Oh watcher, you have the silliest notions." He came up behind Buffy and wrapped his arms around her. "Buffy without her soul is just plain pointless to me. She wouldn't be half the fun. And that's what I'm all about. Fun." He took Buffy's bag and tossed it to one of the minions who had entered with him. "That'll go in my rooms." Turning to Buffy's friends. "You guys ready to come live with Uncle Angel?"
Buffy looked out the window as Angelus drove them to her new home. She held back a nervous giggle. "You know, I never made it to this part of town very often." The area was located on the edge of Sunnydale, estates that stood on bluffs over looking the ocean. "Most of the action was back in town, the cemeteries and the warehouse district." She almost spoke to herself. "It must've been really pretty here when the sun was still around." She inwardly winced at the inane conversation, her life was virtually over and she was discussing the fucking neighborhood.
Angelus shrugged, a small smile playing at his lips at Buffy's discomfort. "Still nicest part of town. I took over several estates. If you're gong to start an empire you have to have the proper digs."
She turned to him. "You know with the sun all but gone, we, humans I mean, we won't last all that long. All the plants, food, animals, all gonna die. Once we're gone so's your food supply."
"Took care of that babe." He cast her a side-long smirk. "I'm touched that you're so concerned about my welfare though."
"How?" She asked, a bit confused.
"Gathered all the humans we could find into the warehouse district and set up a lighting system that simulates sunlight along with several greenhouses. I let them live, let them breed, they live a life of sorts and they make deposits into the Bank of Angelus." He smiled wickedly. "Constant supply. I gotta tell you it wasn't the easiest thing to do, convince vampires that we should breed 'em instead of slaughter 'em. I mean a fair share of slaughter did occur, it was glorious. But in the end I took charge and we have a…what shall we call it? A little co-op of sorts. We all share in the wealth."
"So, all the people aren't dead?" She felt a bit of relief.
"No thanks to you." He jabbed.
"Hey, you were the one who wanted this world." She knew he was right but she had to fight a little.
He laughed. "Yeah, well I was pretty consumed with ending you, didn't really consider the ramifications of the whole fucking world. But remember, you're the one who couldn't do her job. But I've remedied the situation." Angelus stopped the car at a gated entrance and motioned to the guard house. The large gates opened and they proceeded down a long tree lined road.
"Fancy." Buffy sarcastically muttered.
"Oh babe, you ain't seen nothing yet." He chuckled.
Angelus parked in front of a huge house and tossed the keys to a young man who had been waiting by the front door. House? No, not house. Massive mansion was a better description. "I had no idea these places were up here." She remarked. From the road there was no real indication of the huge residences. She turned to the second car as her friends disembarked and looked around. Willow gave her a weak smile and waved. Buffy could see the fear in her eyes and did her best to send her an encouraging look.
They all entered a large foyer that seemed to go on forever. Angelus motioned to the other group. "Take them to the east wing." He took Buffy's arm. "You. Come with me."
They entered what appeared to be a ballroom. Who had ballrooms? Buffy thought. She cast a quick glance over her left shoulder and saw an indoor swimming pool as well as an atrium and wondered what happened to the people who lived here, the ones who had owned this place. Angelus led her through a maze of people, demons to be precise. Drinking various beverages, munching on various appetizers. How civilized she thought snarkily.
They stopped at one end of the room where two chairs sat. He put her in one as he took the glass of blood offered him by a lackey. He stood, everyone's attention focused on the master vampire and then he spoke. "Everyone. Ladies, gentlemen…whatever. I would like you all to meet my consort." he looked down at Buffy and his eyes darkened causing her to shiver. "My mate." His eyes swung back to the crowd. "The slayer, my slayer, is to be treated with the proper respect and decorum her title merits. Anyone," his eyes narrowed as he coldly scanned the assembled group, "anyone who tries to cross those boundaries will suffer the consequences. At my hands."
A quiet mummer passed through the crowd as they stood and raised their glasses to Angelus and his new consort and various comments reaching Buffy's ears. 'The slayer' 'What a coup' 'The other masters will be so envious.'
Tara silently watched from the alcove she and Spike occupied, guilt pouring off her in waves.
Spike squeezed her shoulder. "Baby, don't. It's mutually beneficial. It's gonna work for the both of them pet, I promise."
She looked up at him with bright eyes and sighed. "Oh Spike. What have we done?"
"What's best for us, that's what. That's all we can do in this world love." He pulled her close to his side. "It's all we can do."
Giles and Cordelia, Willow and Oz were brought to a part of the house that was on the third floor. There was a large main room filled with over stuffed sofas and chairs, a big screen television and stereo equipment. Off to one side was a kitchen and to the other was a long wide hallway. The vampire who had brought them up pointed down the hall. "Bedrooms, library, gym, bathrooms and," he motioned at Oz, "a room to lock the wolf boy in when he's apt to change." He then pointed towards the kitchen. "Kitchen, obviously, dining room on the other side as well as a den and a deck." He eyed them suspiciously. "There's no way down, so don't try anything." He walked to the main entrance and left.
Willow's eyes filled with tears. "I know everyone blames Buffy for this, but I'm to blame too. I couldn't get that damn spell to work. If I had just gotten the spell to work." She burrowed her head in Qz's chest.
"There's lots of blame to go around Will, just let it go. This is where we are." Oz rubbed her back, trying to soothe her.
Sitting on the nearest sofa, Giles ran his hand through his hair. "We're prisoners."
Oz looked over older man. "And when weren't we?"
Giles looked up sadly and nodded in agreement. "I suppose you're right."
The two girls walked through the rooms. Willow nervously smiled at Cordelia. Cordelia admiring the new digs, trying not to let Willow know she was. "Well, I suppose it could be worse, right? I mean, we could…we could…oh, I don't know…" Willow sat down on a large bed and a sob escaped her. "We could be burning in hell. Oh Cordelia, she sold herself for us."
Cordelia sat next to Willow and put her arm around her shoulders. "Will, please." She wasn't very good at trying to console, but she had to try. Since it all happened she and Willow had become actual friends. Especially after Xander's death, their mutual loss brought them closer in grief. She even considered Buffy a friend, of sorts. "I forgave Buffy for what she did, or didn't do, really I did, but she is the reason we're here. Come on Will, you gotta know this is her way of trying to make it up to us, of trying to keep us alive. We're kind of like the world to her. If she can keep us alive it's like she didn't totally fail."
"So, do you think she deserves this?" Willow asked quietly.
Rolling her eyes Cordelia shook her head. "No. She doesn't. But neither do we Willow. And neither does the rest of the world. And this is something Buffy knows. So when she comes to see us don't you dare go all weepy. Don't you dare let her think what she's doing for us is for nothing."
She looked up at the dark haired girl. Cordelia wasn't really all that different in her attitudes. But in the things that counted, the way she protected the group. The way she actually seemed to love Giles. The way she would attempt, attempt being the key word, to comfort. Well, she was a friend and Willow loved her as such. Tragedy does make strange bed-fellows. Cordy and Giles were she proof of that. And now Willow had to agree with Cordelia once again. Buffy needed to do this for them. For herself. Her best friend needed to suffer for what she considered to be her sins. "I guess you're right. I should be grateful that she would do this for us. I won't let her see how wrong I think she is. I mean Cordelia, he's a monster. What will he do to her?" She shuddered and allowed Cordelia to hug her a little closer.
"Sex Will. Lots of sex." Willow pulled away from Cordelia, shock in her eyes. "Oh please, you saw the way he was looking at her. He resents the crap out of her, but I know men. He may be an evil, bastard vampire, but he's still a man. A man who has the major hots for our slayer. That my dear, will be her ace in the hole. If she can keep him satisfied and still wanting more, she'll be okay until we can figure a way out of this mess. "
"You mean you want to leave? To get all of us out of here?" Willow was incredulous. She just assumed Cordelia would love living in this lap of luxury.
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "This place is great and for a time we can relax and regain our strength. Giles and I can actually have loud sex in a comfy bed. But we can't stay here forever. Giles would die. We'll find sanctuary somewhere. It's what he always talks about. And we'll figure it all out." She got up and went to the dresser to pick up a few bottles. "In the meantime I am going to so enjoy moisturizing." She looked about the room. "Hey, are you gonna want these rooms?"