A/N: Sorry I haven't updated in a bit. I got really busy during the holiday season. I have not forgotten though. Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Buffy and I definitely don't own Beauty and the Beast either.
Riley sat in his normal seat in the town's pub. He had agreed to help the goblin, but he had no intention of completely fulfilling his side of the bargain. He wanted Buffy as his own, there was no way he was going to allow her to leave his house to go see her father. Riley found Buffy beautiful, despite her human appearance. While it did not appeal to many, it did to him. He knew he could not go public with this information because it would ruin his reputation. Having Buffy as his live-in maid would give access to her, without anyone questioning him. Now he just had to figure out a way to get rid of the old goblin.
Willow had noticed over the last few weeks Buffy and Prince Angelus spent more and more time together. Willow knew they both had feelings for one another, but neither was willing to admit it. Willow saw the way the prince looked at Buffy. It was as if she was the most precious jewel in the world. When she had inquired about his feelings, he had simply stated that he desired her, but it was nothing more. Willow had also started questioning Buffy. Buffy had admitted that her feelings towards the prince, were changing, but she was scared. Willow knew she had to do something big to get the two most stubborn individuals she had ever met to realize they were in love.
Willow however, was not the only one plotting. Riley had finally figured out a way to get to Buffy without having her father around. He would kill her father and make it look as though the lovely prince had done it and he would be able to tell the rest of the town that he had been killed saving his daughter.
Riley quickly made his way over to the inventor's cabin. Once he had told the old goblin, that he had finally figured out how to rescue Buffy, they quickly took off into the woods. It was not long before they were far enough from town that Riley could enact the first part of his plan. The old goblin man never saw the knife that Riley thrust deep into his back. Giles fell to the ground and only muttered one whispered word before he died, "Buffy"
Riley quickly moved on leaving the body of Buffy's father behind.
It did not take long for Riley to reach the castle. He wasted no time in climbing over the rod iron gate, that barred his entrance to the castle. He confidently strode into the castle and began searching for Buffy. The experienced hunter did not even realize he was being stalked by his own prey.
Buffy had spent the morning in her room. Over the last few weeks, she had been seeing a lot of the prince. At first she told herself it was all out of obligation, but then more and more she realized she was enjoying the company of the prince. She more recently had grown comfortable with him, even enough so, that late at night, when Angelus would read to her in the library, she would lay her head on his lap, watching the fire as she listened to his voice. Buffy was confused by her change of feelings. Her heart longed for every moment spent with Angelus; it loved the feeling of him stroking her hair as he read to her. Yet, her brain told her she shouldn't be enjoying his company she should hate him for keeping her here.
"Buffy" She heard a familiar voice call, it was Riley.
Buffy leaped from her bed and went to her door. She peaked out and she saw him in the hall approaching her room. Buffy once again was confused by the emotions coursing through her body. Buffy was excited to see him because it meant she could go home and see her father, but her heart ached at the thought of leaving the prince. Buffy stopped her own thoughts, her brain taking over telling her, she should not care about Angelus and that she should go with Riley.
Buffy listened to the voice of her brain and stepped into the hall.
The moment Riley saw her he smiled and moved to grab her by the arm.
"Come on, I am getting you out of here. It is not safe," he urged.
"Did my father send you?" Buffy asked as she was pulled behind Riley.
Riley was about to answer when Angelus appeared in his path, blocking him from leaving.
He was furious that this man would dare to try to take his mate away from him. Angelus did not even notice in the moment that he did truly think of Buffy as his mate. Rather, he was focused on the smell of blood. His eyes quickly shot to Buffy, but he was unable to see any evidence of injury. He took a deep breath, taking in the scent of the blood. He could tell it was not Buffy's; it was that of a goblin. Instantly, he recognized it was the blood of Buffy's father. A saddened look came over his face for a brief moment before returning to its cold steeled expression. His sadness quickly fueled his rage for the demon before him.
"Where are you going?" He voice came out in a growl.
Buffy was scared; she had never seen such rage. A part of her was comforted when he shot a quick glance her way. In that quick, fleeting glance, his expression had softened and had become one of worry and sadness. Buffy wondered what had brought the sadness to his face. Did he know that she willing went to Riley?
"I am taking Buffy with me" Riley stated, his voice leaving no room for argument, but that wouldn't stop Angelus.
"Only if I am dust," His voice was quite, but the rage in his voice echoed in the hall.
Riley smirked, "I am more than happy to oblige"
Riley revealed a wooden stake and at that moment Buffy moved from behind him to in front of Angelus.
"Riley, you can't hurt him" she cried.
Angelus smirked as Riley's expression became one of rage.
"Buffy, move!" He commanded, but she did not move.
"Buffy, you would protect the beast that killed your father?" Riley asked.
Riley smirked slightly as Buffy's expression fell into one of horror. Buffy sunk to the floor and began sobbing. She quickly slid herself in fear against the wall for support.
Angelus never felt such rage, as when he heard the demon's lies. His rage seemed to double when those words caused Buffy to sink to the floor and scurry away from him. With a fierce growl he leapt through the air tackling Riley to the ground. Angelus quickly placed a hand around the red demon's neck.
"Tell her the truth," Angelus growled, bearing his fangs.
Riley remained quiet and Angelus smiled menacingly and an evil glint twinkled in his eyes.
"I was hoping you wouldn't say anything," he said as he grabbed Riley's right hand and snapped the red demon's wrist.
Riley screamed in pain.
As Angelus moved his grip up Riley's arm so the next joint to break would be his elbow, Riley shouted, "I killed him!"
Buffy looked up only for a moment to see Angelus snap Riley's neck. Buffy let out a horrified cry, before breaking down into tears once again.
Angelus removed himself from Riley's corpse and approached her slowly, but Buffy backed further into the wall. A part of him was hurt, but he understood. His body called for him to comfort her, but he just stood there waiting for Willow, wishing it was him she would let soothe her.
Willow quickly made her way to Buffy as she came running from the other side of the castle. She slid to the floor wrapping the crying girl in her arms. She said nothing; she only made slight hushing sounds.
Angelus waited, watching, and just wishing he could comfort her. A familiar thought struck him, and this time he accepted it, Buffy is my mate.
After a while, Buffy fell into a fitful sleep in Willow's arms. Angelus wasted no time in scoping her up in his arms and taking her to her chambers. He placed her in the bed making sure she was covered in many layers of blankets. He grabbed a chair knowing he wouldn't be leaving her side tonight.
Buffy awoke the next morning as the sun began to rise. She moved her head and then she saw him. He was asleep in a chair that had been placed next to her bed. He was hunched over, his head on the bed, his face facing her. Buffy thought about how handsome Angelus looked and then wondered why he was in her room. Then in a second, the events of yesterday rushed back to her. The sobs racked her body instantly.
Angelus was jolted from his sleep at the sound of her tears. The scent of her pain was no longer appealing and he wanted nothing more than to make that scent disappear. He quickly climbed into her bed and wrapped her in his arms. This time she let him comfort her.
Angelus lulled Buffy back to sleep whispering to her. Reminding her she was safe and that he would never allow for anything to hurt her.
As Buffy awoke only a few hours later, she felt a pressure around her waist and a presence in the bed with her. For a moment she panicked, not realizing who was in her bed, but then the sound of his voice invaded her racing thoughts.
"You're safe. I'm here," Angelus' voice was low and sleep filled, but calming.
The prince quickly tightened his grip on Buffy's waist as he drifted back to sleep hoping Buffy would soon follow. He didn't want her to be awake to relive the memoires of the previous day.
Buffy remained there, pressed against Angelus. She wondered how long he had been in bed next to her. She also wondered why he had stayed with her through the night, even comforting her when she had first awoken that morning.
"You are supposed to be sleeping," his sleep laden voice invaded Buffy's thoughts.
"When I close my eyes all I can see is Riley killing my father," Buffy whispered.
Angelus remained silent and just tightened his grip around her a little more. He could smell the sadness coming off her in waves. He waited just holding her waiting for the tears to come. He could smell her sadness becoming despair and then he heard her sobs.
"I never got to say goodbye," she slurred out as her sobs pounded her chest.
The prince started to stroke her long silky blonde hair. Only a moment after his hands touched her scent quickly turned from misery to anger. Before Angelus could question the drastic change in Buffy's emotions, she turned over in the bed and faced him.
"It is your fault!" She yelled.
"This is all your fault! You kept him in a dungeon and then before I could say goodbye, you…YOU dragged him out by his neck," Buffy seethed.
"Because of you, I have no one," Buffy whispered, but none of the anger left her tone.
Buffy turned over in the bed, moving out of his embrace. Angelus' heart ached to hear Buffy blaming him for her father's death and that he was being pushed away from the girl he thought of as his mate. Angelus placed one last kiss on her cheek before moving off the bed and toward the door. Once he reached the door, he gave on last quick glance at Buffy before he left with a sigh.
A/N 2: Don't kill me. I know I left this in a not so happy place, but it can't be all fluffy goodness all the time. Please leave a review. It keeps me inspired and makes me write more.
