I don't own anything. ;)
If I could take all of your pain
I'd hide it all away
I can say one thing's for sure
You know I hate it when you hurt
And you're worth every minute I wait
If you only knew
That this is all that I can do
Its God's honest truth
I just miss you
- "This is me being honest" E for Explosion
They stood there for what seemed like forever just staring at each other. Tension was thick and Buffy couldn't take it anymore. Before leaving she took once last look at the demon who wore her lover's face. The same demon was also probably one of the few people in the entire world who could understand what she was going through.
As she reach the AI team and the Scooby gang the fact that they had been watching her encounter with Angelus became apparent. Horrified, she rushed out of the room and into Angel's apartment.
Tears streamed her face as she slammed the door behind her. The apartment felt so familiar, so comforting. She glanced around, the memories flooding her senses. All the places they had made love. Breaking the kitchen table.
A small smile comes across her face. It was proof that they were happy... Proof that they were capable of being happy.
She finally wonders into the bedroom and lays down on the bed. The scent of him on the sheets brings her comfort and the worn-out slayer finally falls asleep into a dream world were all of this is just a nightmare.
Meanwhile..
"Well, he did at least give us some decent information." Wesley says not sure what else to say.
"Can we trust anything he says?" Gunn asks exhausted.
Wesley looks at Willow. "I don't think he would gives us information that could led to harming Buffy."
He nods in agreement at the witch's assumption.
"But can you be sure?" Gunn questions.
Willow takes a deep breath."Angel.. Angelus.. the one thing they agree on to a certain degree is Buffy. When he first appeared his motive seemed to be just revenge. But later, it appeared to be an obsession... almost a twisted form of love. I believe in some demented twisted way he does love her. And if he wants to harm her or kill her... it will be a his hands."
Wesley sighs. "I would have to agree with you on that... There is no doubt he has feelings for Buffy" He pauses. "The scar on her neck proves that."
"What that hideous thing on her neck she got when he fed off her?" Cordy sneers.
Connor looks at Wesley looking for an answer. He is intrigued even more about the small blonde's involvement in the vampire's life.
Wesley sighs yet again. This stupid girl has to make everything so much more difficult than it has to be?
"Even I know what the scar means! God you people are so stupid!" Anya nearly shouts.
"A vampire mates for life." He states. The group gives him puzzle looks. Must he explain everything?
"The mark on Buffy's neck isn't a normal scar. If it was then it would of healed as do all her other injuries do. Marking symbolizes the ownership of one another for a lack of better definition. Sort of a demonic marriage... except in the vampire world there is no divorce. Hence why it is not so common. Most vampire don't find someone they want to be tied to for the rest of their undead lives. "
He looks around at the group and the reasoning sinks in. Angelus wouldn't lead his Slayer into harm. If she was to die, he was going to do it.
Buffy woke up many hours after her confrontation with Angelus, having the best sleep she had in years. She searched for noises upstairs and didn't hear anything. Everyone must have left or was sleeping.
Feeling well rested and realizing she hadn't eaten in over 24 hours she popped into the kitchen to see if there was anything to snack on. The fridge had only blood stored in it. This didn't surprise her. The freezer however had cookie dough ice cream in it. A small sad smile came across her face.
She grabbed a large mug and filled it with blood. Then popped it in the microwave while she searched for a spoon.
She found herself once again facing Angelus. He was sitting down know in the cage his eyes closed. She didn't know why she came back to see him but she needed to talk to someone. To someone who understood.
He felt her coming way before he heard her walk into the room. She sat down outside the cage her legs crossed and knees touching the bars.
"I figured you would be hungry." She states quietly.
He slowly opens his eyes and stares at her for a solid minute. Slowly he scoots over to sit across from her. He gently takes the cup and puts it to his mouth. She warmed it up. He internally smiles.
Trying to distract herself she scoops a large amount of ice cream into her mouth. She looks young, carefree. The way someone her age should be.
"Thank you." He says somberly.
Her head pops up quietly obviously surprised by the gratitude.
After a few moments of silence Buffy breaks the silence. "The powers.. they... they did something to me...I don't.. I don't know. I feel more powerful, more reckless. Like... Like I'm.."
"A demon." He states . A statement not a question.
She nods."The first slayer was a demon... that's where the power comes from. I feel like I'm on steroids. Everything is louder and clearer. I can.. I can smell things I never could before.. like.. like sex."
Angelus smirks a little. Welcome to my world baby he snickers in his mind. He waits for her to continue.
"No matter how much I scrub myself clean his scent..it never leaves me. I ...I.." She stutters.
"Well.. we could fix that. And trust me baby I want to fix that. You are mine and I don't share." Angelus states in a very matter of fact way.
Buffy takes a deep breath. She knew he was going to say that. She excepted it. Wanted it?
"Let me out of this cage, Buffy."
She shakes her head.
"Let me out, lover. We can be together. I'll take care of you. I'll make you happy. I'll never leave you like he did. I promise."
The words cut her heart like a knife. I'll never leave you like He did.
The offer was tempting. Too tempting. The demon inside of her was begging for his. To be with her mate.
"Why did he leave?" She asks quietly.
This was a perfect opportunity for Angelus to take advantage of the fragile Slayer, to tell her horrible untrue things about the soul. But he just couldn't do it. Damn, he was really going soft.
He takes an unnecessary breath. "In a misguided attempt to protect you. But you and I both know Slayer's have an expiration date and children and white picket fences aren't exactly in your future."
She closes her eyes taking it all in. "And Cordelia?"
He snorts. "Another misguided attempt. The AI team has some sort of delusion that Soul boy and her belong together."
Buffy stays silent not sure what to say.
Angelus sighs. He refuses to stick up for his soul half but he can't bear to see her in this kind of pain. Pain, that he didn't inflict.
"You're always going to be the only one for him. You should know that."He says barely a whisper but she hears him perfectly.
And me. He thinks silently.