Special thanks to SMGbest and annekebb4ever for the reviews and to everyone else who alerted and favorited this. This is a short chapter so I'll get the next one up quickly.
Many hours later Buffy walked into the library where Giles was talking to Xander and Willow. "Hey guys."
Giles turned and beckoned her over, "I'm glad you're here. I've been reading some texts that indicate a powerful master vampire should be coming to Sunnydale in the near future. We need to try to find out who."
Buffy nodded and plopped down next to Xander, yawns escaping her every so often. As the hours ticked by everyone began yawning too until Angel walked out of the stacks nonchalantly and sat down on the stairs. "You're a lively bunch aren't ya?"
Xander jumped before glaring, "You do that just to scare us don't you?"
Angel shook his head but he looked far too innocent for someone that actually was. "No! I specifically flew to the stacks to not scare everybody."
Giles rubbed his forehead, it seemed every time the angel would show up a headache would come on. "How thoughtful of you."
Angel shrugged and glanced at the table, "What are you looking for?"
"A big time vamp that's supposed to show up soon," Buffy answered.
Angel nodded, "The Master."
Everyone's heads snapped up to look at him and he held up his hands, "You could have just asked."
"How do you know that Angel?" Giles asked through narrowed eyes.
"I'm not clairvoyant and I'm definitely not omniscient if that's what you're asking. There are just some things that you can find out if you know where to look and who to talk to."
Giles was already flipping through his books for The Master while Xander spoke up again, "Why did you ask and find out about that? Do you care that much about the hellmouth?"
Angel shook his head with a subtle glance at Buffy, "I have other interests than Boca del Infierno."
"Yes you do," said a deep voice from the other side of the room.
Everyone stopped speaking and looked at the man who had just walked through the library's double doors. He was around six feet tall and dressed in an all white three piece suit. He had a thick head of black hair streaked with grey at the temples and looked to be in his late fifties. An air of confidence surrounded him and something that Buffy couldn't quite put her finger on.
"Can I help you sir?" Giles asked politely as the others just stared at the new arrival.
Angel however approached the man stiffly and stood a few feet away with his arms crossed, "What are you doing here?"
The man smiled softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I think you know why I'm here Liam. It's time," he said patiently.
Angel shook his head, "I haven't decided yet."
The man took a step forward and peered into Liam's face closely before stepping back. "I see." The man then tried to step around him but paused when Angel blocked his way. A frown flickered across his face but it was quickly replaced by an easy smile again as he looked over everyone in the library.
His eyes landed on Buffy and he smiled warmly, "Hello Miss Summers, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard much about you."
She smiled uncomfortably wondering who exactly was in front of her. "Thanks, I'd say the same but I'm not sure who you are."
The man stepped back and looked at Angel with a slightly amused expression. "Still no manners I see. Would you like to introduce me or would you like me to?"
Angel met his eyes with a hard expression, "Everyone. This is Lucifer."
Everyone's eyes widened as they all took a step back. The man in front of Angel was Satan, the most evil thing in the entire universe. The fallen angel. It was difficult to comprehend that the same person that the bible spoke about was standing in a library looking so… normal.
Lucifer placed a hand on Angel's shoulder and looked compassionately at the angel. "I'm sorry it hurt you when I tried to speak with you, I hadn't thought about how you would receive it in your weakened form."
Angel shrugged away from the hand and took a step back as his wings suddenly became visible and his eyes began to turn red, "Don't act like you care. You're a monster." He was surprised he remembered to keep the bases of his wings incorporeal to save his shirt.
Lucifer smiled as if amused with his words, "If anyone's a monster it's you Liam. I bet you haven't even told them what you really are have you? Lying is a sin Liam, and to your mate no less?" He shook his head as he eyed the black markings on Angel's skin. "Haven't you learned from your mistakes at all? After all you're running out of skin to put them on."
At the word 'mate' Giles turned his head sharply to Buffy who was blushing but shook her head indicating they would discuss it later. She was too focused on the emotion flooding through her from Angel, a feeling that she knew he didn't feel often. Fear.
Angel looked lost and hurt for a moment before recovering an angry expression, "I've given my pound of flesh and I have never lied to her."
Lucifer smiled, "Omission is still lying Liam. Now let's fix this shall we?" He turned and looked at everyone who was watching the interaction closely. "Everyone, Buffy… meet my son, Liam."
It was like all the air had been sucked out of the room. No one moved or spoke for what felt like days until Giles finally broke through the suffocating silence.
"You…you're… the antichrist," he said shakily as he collapsed pale faced into a chair, Xander and Willow slowly moving backwards until their backs were against the stairs.
Angel looked at Buffy with wounded eyes and felt his heart break in two at the shock and distrust on her face. "Buffy it's not…"
Buffy shook her head and took a step back when Angel took one towards her, "You lied, about everything. You are evil, you're the son of Satan. I was so stupid and you tricked me into…" She covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a sob, "Oh my God."
He shook his head, his face filled with desperation as he fought to explain only to be interrupted by Lucifer. "Don't bother son. You don't owe any of them anything. Come home with me, come where you belong. I love you son, let me give you what you deserve. You won't be punished you'll be rewarded. You belong at my right side, come claim your rightful place."
Angel's wings flared widely as his eyes turned completely red and his fangs descended as he growled. Lucifer just smiled softly, "I can see you're upset and it's understandable. I'll come back later to talk. Goodbye son."
He disappeared with a small noise similar to leather on leather leaving Angel standing in the middle of the library chest heaving with anger. He knew he needed to get it together to try to explain so he retracted his wings but kept them visible and turned around slowly to face everyone, letting his eyes and teeth revert back to normal.
Giles was shaking and everyone else seemed to be frozen except Buffy who had silent tears running down her face. "You betrayed us." Betrayed me.
He reached out a hand but pulled it back when she flinched. "Please let me explain."
Giles interrupted with a hard tone, "Is Lucifer your father? Do you share blood with the devil?"
He looked at Giles before nodding once. "But there's more to it than that…"
"Are you marked as such?"
Tears filled his eyes as he nodded again, "Cross of St. Peter, left side of my scalp." He looked at Buffy again, "But it's not…"
Buffy shook her head, "Get out. Go away. If I ever see you again I will find a way to kill you."
Tears spilled over and ran down his cheeks as he nodded. "I love you," he whispered before spreading his large wings and disappearing.