Southernbangel: thank you for highlighting the double chapter, I hadn't realised when I uploaded it last thing at night... here is Chapter Eight.


Five Month Ago

Looking at her costume in the mirror, she turned and stuck her ass out before turning back and pouting as she topped up her lipstick. The skimpy outfit made her feel almost empowered, for the first time in a long time she felt beautiful, confident and feminine.

Buffy smirked, as she turned to leave her room, she jumped as Darla was standing in the door "Darla!" She watched as her foster mom eyeballed her costume and frowned. She half expected to get an earful off her about not dressing so provocatively but Darla rolled her eyes.

Darla came over and pulled her shirt wider, exposing more of the lacy bra she had on "If you're going to insist on dressing like that then don't do it half assed" she smiled "Take your key kiddo, Im going to the city tonight so don't expect me home till late tomorrow"

Buffy nodded "I'm just going to hang with some friends, I wont be out too late" that was a lie but she hoped that Darla bought it, going by the look she was receiving, it fell flat "Okay, so we've scored some tickets to the Halloween Party at some Frat House near UC Sunnydale but I promise, I wont be out all night"

Darla frowned, having been to many a Frat Party, they tended to finish early in the next AM. At least Buffy was being honest with her "Hm, I'm not a hypocrite so I wont tell you not to go BUT do be careful, don't leave your drink around and if some guy gets handsy – condoms"

Buffy flushed and stuttered "Believe me, you have nothing to worry about there" that was true, since having been with Parker and how lousy he made her feel, she had no inclination of going further with just anyone at the moment. Kissing, sure she'd be up for that but no way would she let anything more happen.

Darla only gave her a sarcastic noise in response before leaving. Hearing the door slam shut she finished throwing a few things into her purse then paused as her phone began to ring. Angel was calling, again. Since last year she had only seen him a couple of times and not for long, each time she would build up courage to speak about that night, she would crap out and avoid him.

Once the call ended, it wasn't long before his name flashed across her screen with a text message.

Hey, its been a while, call me xx

She frowned, it had been, she wanted to speak to him and hear his voice, hear him say kind and charming things but most likely it would be a lecture in avoiding him and about the fact she got suspended from school for a week last month cause Parker framed her for sabotaging the bands performance.

Buffy swiped away the message but left it unread so that he wouldn't attempt to call, it wasn't like he was stalking her, he would see her avoiding his message and call until she finally answered. Slipping the phone into her purse she shook her head and made her way down and out of the house.

Oooooooooooooooo

The frat party was a bust, they had arrived, drank, played some beer pong had a little fun, all until Luke had swung for one of the Frat guys for hitting on Faith. A brawl ensued and the cute guy she had been talking too bailed when Parker insinuated that she was his and that they were leaving.

They had swiped some beer from the party and headed for The Factory, there was a handful of their classmates already there playing some music. Sinking her seventh beer of this evening, Buffy noted to herself that she was done, she felt all swirly and lightheaded but not enough to stop her from getting home safely.

Her and Faith had escaped the main throng of partygoers and had taken refuge in one of the side rooms, just enjoying talking to each other. Although Faith was majorly moody and abrupt, sometimes she would be so caustic that it was off-putting but every once in a while she would be a real good friend.

They had talked about her and Lukes official unofficial relationship, about the guy she was speaking to earlier and about Parker. Faith and Luke both found out after the fact, even though Parker said he wouldn't tell a soul, he told them and made it obvious the next time he talked her into having sex with him.

When Faith asked if there was someone that she had her sights on, her stutter made the brunette cackle and ask who. Taking a deep breath Buffy forced an even tone "Just some guy, you don't know who he is and I'm not telling!" The guy in question had text a couple times earlier asking for another call and then another that he was going to bed.

Faith rolled her eyes, she didn't massively care who Buffy was or wasn't dating or whatever, she just wanted a name so she could wind up Parker when he started off on one about her "Fine…" seeing Buffy discretely check her phone an idea came to mind "Say B, why don't you send him a photo… looking all fine like that, surely that'll get his attention?"

Buffy blushed, she would never have thought or even wanted to do anything like that. Having been messed about by Parker lately, she wasn't feeling at her best but she remembered how she looked tonight and did think her confidence was on the way back again "Oh I couldn't!"

Faith rolled her eyes "Come on B, its just some fun, no harm no foul huh?" Seeing Buffy bite her bottom lip, she came over and nudged at her to lie back a bit on the abandoned desk that she was sitting on "See, take something like that, you're not doing anything illegal here"

When she reached for her phone Buffy shot up and waved her hand frantically "No, no, Faith… I don't think I could"

Faith took a swig of her beer and nodded "Well how about we pretend then? Try a few, see what you feel is right and what he'd like and then we could take some" she wiggled her brows "he'd be a moron to not like you, especially dressed like that"

Thinking it over, what harm would it do? Its not like she would be taking photos or videos of her posing. Buffy nodded quickly and giggled "Okay" as Faith instructed her, she done a few poses as if she was being filmed and giggled, it was fun after all.

After a few minutes Faith came over and trailed her fingertips down her cleavage and whispered "I think he'd like if this came off too…" her breath caught in her throat but she nodded and pulled bra off through the shirt, letting it drop to the floor, all the booze she had drank lowering her inhibitions.

As the girls giggled and posed away, little did they know that Parker was watching them, snapping away on his phone, saving the pictures in a hidden folder, ready for a rainy day of torment and mockery.


Buffy sighed and sat back on her bed, resting her head against Willows shoulder and bit her lip to stop the tears from falling. It had been a long ass week, some of her classmates had avoided and some shot cruel jokes at her but the thing that hurt the most was that she wasn't in Angels arms.

Willow wrapped her arms around her and held her tight, once final bell went, the cheerleading squad screeched in enjoyment as they taunted Buffy as she stepped outside. Rather than heading home and getting a head on studying, she came here and decided that she would stay for as long as Buffy wanted to.

When they had arrived Darla was preparing for a night out in the city, she had of course gave Buffy words of encouragement and done her best to toughen her up but other than that, it was like she didn't care. Willow found her blasé attitude frustrating, surely staying home with Buffy should be more important?

After Buffy was all cried out she looked to her hands "l don't know if, if, I can go back…" she felt her heart begin to race, that cold sweat creep over her and her body becoming increasingly numb "I can't do this"

Willow frowned, not liking the despondent tone "Buffy, I know this is hard but its only a few more month then you don't have to see them again" she placed her hand on top of Buffys and smiled warmly at her.

Months. Not days, not weeks but months. Months left of torment, of feeling ashamed and embarrassed. It wasn't that she looked down at women who posted photos of themselves online like that but that was their choice, this was something done outwith her control and consent. Pretty much the last part of her innocent essence had been ripped away from her.

"I don't think I'll last a few more month"

Willow panicked, she didn't want to think that Buffy would do anything irrational but with how harsh things were, it wouldn't surprise her in the least if something happened to her "Buffy?" Seeing no response coming her way she nodded "I'll see what food I can make and then we could watch a movie?!"

Buffy blinked rapidly before replying with a small nod, when Willow left the room she took a deep breath and looked at her phone. She'd sent a text or two to Angel that were undelivered, she wanted to panic about that too but couldn't, she could barely feel anything at this point.

Willow called her down once she made them something light to eat and encouraged her to try to eat most of it. Food was the last thing on her mind, the constant nausea really put off the urge to eat but she knew that if she didn't then she would end up ill and in hospital and that was the last place she wanted to go.

Once the dishes were tidied away Willow frowned when the door was knocked, seeing Buffy remain still, she crept over to the door and opened it slowly "Oh!" Swinging the door open she stood back and smiled "She's in the living room"

Creeping slowly in, he looked at her tucked up in a blanket in the sofa, looking so lost and alone, it made his heart break. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his lap, snapping her out of her trance "Buffy"

She let out a tiny gasp and gripped him tight "Angel?" If she could bury deep within him, she would. Her ear was pressed against his chest, hearing his hearts rapid beat "Angel!"

He heard Willow say something as she waved at them before leaving and closing the door. Angel tipped her head back to look at her, he could see she was trying to hold on but was struggling "I'm here" he pressed his mouth to hers then murmured against her, repeating "I'm here"

Her fingers traced his face, up his cheeks, over his brows and through his hair, pulling at his short locks. Holding on, as if he were going to disappear "I missed you" this time she kissed him softly before choking back some tears.

He ran his hands over her back and her legs and kissed her forehead "Missed you more" he felt her sniffles and almost giggle but when he looked down she looked exhausted "Ive got a few phone calls to make, my cell has been off since I boarded, so go, run a bath and then we can spend the rest of the night in bed"

Buffy nodded but didn't want to move, she closed her eyes, giving him another kiss, this time it was drawn out, slowly sparking something between them. When he pulled her closer she broke the kiss and panted, placing her head back on his chest.

Angel held onto her tightly and stood up "The bathroom?" Although she had stayed here for years, he had only been inside a handful of times and wasn't sure where everything was. Following her instructions, he took off upstairs and down to the bottom of the hall.

Buffy smiled as she placed her carefully back on the ground and he fiddled with the taps, having a feel at the water before adding the plug and some of the bath liquid and salts from the shelf "Thank you" she linked her hand through his and leaned against his shoulder.

Bringing their clasped hands up to his mouth, he placed a kiss gently before easing her grip so he could switch off the water "Take as long as you need" he pecked at her lips before brushing by and leaving her alone.

Grabbing a hair tie, she twirled her long hair up into a mess upon the top of her head and stripped before inching slowly into the scalding water. Once the sting wore off, she relaxed back against the tub and closed her eyes in an attempt to shut out the world.

After a while Angel locked the door and climbed the stairs in search for her, it had taken him longer than he expected to deal with some urgent calls and he hadn't heard a peep from the bathroom. He pushed open the door slowly and looked at her as she lay sleeping in the tub, he was a little annoyed but thanked the pillow that was keeping her head above water.

"Buffy?" He crouched down beside the tub and stroked at her arm, trying to wake her gently "Hey"

Her eyes flickered open and she looked around in confusion for a moment before blushing "Oh…" she sat up carefully in the water and splashed some water on her face, noting that it was now almost chilled.

Angel smiled and opened up a bath sheet, allowing her to exit the tub before wrapping it around her and giving her a gentle rub "Need me to get anything?" She shook her head and led him to her room.

Buffy yawned "Sorry, didn't think I was that sleepy" she looked to her dresser then back at him before blushing once more. Although he had seen her naked, and the fact that they had already slept together, she felt a new wave of shyness course through her.

Sensing her hesitation, Angel smiled before turning away to give her some privacy. When he made a noise she frowned "What was that for?" He only turned a little and quirked his eyebrow at her, she pulled her top over her head and pulled his arm so he was facing her again.

Angel smirked "It's cute… you being shy, it was you who made the first move, remember?" He trailed his fingertips up her bare thighs, making her shiver.

Buffy closed her eyes "Yeah, well…" she arched into him as his fingers started pushing up her t shirt and smiled.

"Well, what?!" He leaned down and placed an open mouth kiss on her neck, when her breath caught in her throat he repeated the motion.

Her fingers gripped onto his shirt and pulled him tighter "Well, th-that was…" she lost her train of thought when his hands slid around her thighs and curved her ass, he gripped onto her and pulled her against him, giving her a shallow thrust.

"Different?" He finished her answer as he backed her up against the wall, towering over her, his voice taking that throaty seductive tone she had come to love "Tell me, how… is it different…" she arched into him as he kissed her neck again, making her moan lightly.

Buffy tried to answer but she couldn't think straight, what he was doing to her made her feel so much more alive than she had felt all this week. She knew he was the focal point of her happiness but being with him and him doing this to her, she didn't want to waste another moment.

She gripped his head and pulled him down, their mouths clashed in a fiery kiss. Buffy pulled back and panted "When you said spend the night in bed?"

Angel chuckled, his voice thick and heavy with lust "Just lie and watch a movie…" when he made an attempt to pull back she shook her head and pulled at his shirt, helping him pull it over his head and drop it onto the floor.

Her fingers made quick work on his vest and pulled the zipper down, pushing the denim down his lean hips "Later" She wrapped her arms around his neck, hoisting herself up and wrapped her legs around his waist.

Stepping out of his jeans he pushed her up against the wall and smirked, he didn't say anything more as her hand went between them and freed him from his boxers, stroking him gently. Angel closed his eyes for a moment then nodded as she bit his ear and whispered "Bed"

As he stalked over to her bed, he discarded her t shirt on the way and dropped her onto the mattress and covered her petite body with his. He stared down at her and watched as she blushed again, she amazed him, the power she held over him, that she didn't even know she possessed amazed him too.

Buffy looked away for a second, feeling the intensity of his gaze, burning right through her. The way he made her feel from just one look made her feel confident and beautiful and everything in between. She felt blessed that he was with her and that she had him.