RATING: PG
DISCLAIMER: Buffy, Angel and all other characters (except those I make up) are the absolute property of Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy and Warner Bros (If I owned them, the events of Buffy season 4 or most of season 3 wouldn't have occurred).
SPOILERS: Season 1 and 2 BTVS.
TIMELINE: AU season 2 (BTVS).
PART 1
Buffy Summers awoke suddenly, and barely made it to her bathroom before throwing up. < What's wrong with me? > she thought as she checked her reflection in the mirror. She'd been feeling off balance since her birthday had heralded Angelus' return, but today was the first time she had even considered another possibility. < I shouldn't be so ridiculous > she tried to reassure herself, < Angel said he couldn't, so it's just the thought of Angelus that's making you sick >. She left the bathroom and slowly got ready for school, including putting on her everything-is-just-fine face and when she was finished she headed off for another day of torture in Snyder-Land.
When she arrived at school, she saw her friends do the de-coupling thing and pretend that they hadn't seen her so she wouldn't think she was the reason for the de-coupling. "Hi" she said unenthusiastically.
"Hey" everyone but Cordy replied.
Instead Cordy said, "Jeez Buffy, could you like look any worse?"
"Well, I am so sorry that I am unable to meet your high standard of fashion this morning Queen Cordelia, but I had a rough night" Buffy replied sarcastically.
"Angelus?" Willow asked sympathetically.
"I didn't see him, but he was out there. And with my mom out of town and his open invitation into my house...I just couldn't sleep much" Buffy told them.
But before anyone (especially Xander) could comment on the situation, the bell for class rang and they all headed inside.
*
That night Buffy was out on patrol, not really paying attention to her surroundings when she heard a familiar voice say, "Hello Lover."
"Oh joy" Buffy replied sarcastically, "Just who I wanted to see, NOT!"
"Oh no, I'm crushed" Angelus mocked, "And here I though that you'd be glad to see me."
"And why would that be?" Buffy asked trying to sound bored.
"Because you love me" Angelus told her in a sing-song voice.
"No, I don't. I love Angel, not you" Buffy replied.
"We're one and the same lover" Angelus taunted her.
Buffy didn't want to listen to this again, so she said, "Enough talk, let's get down to me kicking your butt".
"I would Buff, but I'm too busy tonight to play with a silly school girl" Angelus said walking away, leaving a confused Buffy standing there.
She walked home after the confrontation and went inside the house, she was still upset and hadn't noticed that she was being followed. She took off her jacket and suddenly felt warm and dizzy, then without much warning she fainted.
Angelus saw her fall and burst into Buffy's house and moved to her side. As he stood over her, he thought < What am I doing? I hate her, she's my enemy. Maybe if I help her now, I'll be able to hurt her later? >. With that thought in mind, Angelus picked Buffy up and took her to the hospital.
*
An hour later, Angelus was still in the waiting room and was becoming anxious, when the doctor finally approached. "Mr Angelus?" he asked.
"Yeah...Is Buffy okay?" Angelus asked trying to convince himself that he wanted to know for evil purposes and not because he cared.
"Ms Summers is fine" the doctor said.
"If she's fine, why did she faint?" Angelus asked starting to get mad.
"It's nothing to be concerned about, it's a perfectly normal occurrence at this stage of her pregnancy" the doctor replied thinking how nice it was to see a young couple so obviously in love.
"Her what?" Angelus exclaimed in disbelief.
"Her pregnancy" the doctor repeated noting that Angelus' reaction was the same as Buffy's.
"How far along is she?" Angelus asked. He wanted to know who had dared to mess with HIS Buffy, she was his to mess with and only his.
"From the information given to us by Ms Summers, conception would've occurred about six weeks ago".
Angelus stood there in shock, < The child is mine...How is that possible? >.
Since Angelus was still silent the doctor informed him he could take Buffy home now.
*
Both Buffy and Angelus were silent on the way back to her house. They went inside and sat down in the living room, each staring at the other until Angelus said, "How do you feel?"
"Fine...Scared. How am I going to explain this?" Buffy said.
"They'll understand and forgive you. I'm the one they'll hunt down and stake" Angelus replied.
"They want to do that anyway" Buffy told him. "What am I...we gonna do? We hate each other."
Angelus sat there listening to her and realised that he was getting a warm fuzzy feeling, he suddenly said "I gotta go".
Before Buffy could say anything, Angelus was outside and away. Buffy headed upstairs to bed more confused than ever about her feelings towards Angelus, but at the same time she felt better than she had in a long time.
*
The next morning Buffy got ready for school earlier than normal and headed straight to the library when she arrived at school. She found Giles in his office reading, she knocked on the door.
"Come in" he said and after he looked up he added, "Hello Buffy."
"Hi" she said quietly.
"What's wrong? Is it something to do with Angelus?" Giles asked concerned for her well being.
"Kinda" Buffy answered.
"Did he attack you?" Giles asked.
"No. I fainted and he took me to the hospital" Buffy told Giles.
"That is uncharacteristic behavior for Angelus" Giles said worriedly. "Why did you faint?"
"Nothing much" Buffy answered lightly, "I'm just pregnant."
"Okay" Giles said, then he realised what she said. "You're what? You're sure?"
"Yeah".
Giles pondered the situation for the moment. "Does Angelus know?"
"The doctor told him" Buffy answered.
"How did this happen? Angel was a vampire and he couldn't..." Giles trailed off as he thought of a remote possibility.
"What?" Buffy asked.
"His soul...it is theoretically possible that it made him more human..."
"Oh boy" Buffy muttered.
Trying to change the topic slightly, Giles asked "How did your mother take the news?"
"I haven't told her yet, she's still out of town and it's not something you can say over the phone" Buffy explained.
The bell rang and Giles said, "We'll tell the others after school".
Buffy nodded her head and left. As he watched her go, he began to worry about what Angelus could and most probably do with this new found information.
PART 2
After school Buffy and Giles were sitting at the library table, waiting for the others to make an appearance. The silence in there was eerie, usually Buffy would be babbling aimlessly to Giles, this was the gangs first clue that something major was up. They sat down opposite Buffy and Giles and waited for an explanation. When one was not forthcoming Xander opened his big mouth and said, "So what did Deadboy do now?"
This comment caused Buffy to burst into tears and Willow ran over to comfort her, while Cordy turned on Xander. "Even I'm not like that cruel" she told him.
"Wanna bet, Ms Queen of the Sunnydale Bitca's" Xander retorted.
"Oh, go spank your inner moppet" Cordy replied turning her attention back to the crying slayer.
A few minutes later, when everything had calmed down Giles told the gang about Buffy's condition. The news made Willow faint and Oz rushing to her side, Cordy make comments about hideous maternity fashions and flabby thighs and Xander started mumbling about how Buffy brought it on herself. Seeing how all of her friends reacted, Buffy got up and ran out of the library and headed off. Since she wasn't sure where to go, she headed for Angel's old apartment.
*
Meanwhile back inside the library, Giles was berating the Scoobies for their attitude and behavior towards Buffy.
"But Giles..." Xander started to protest.
"No Xander. The way you three acted was reprehensible" Giles replied.
"Giles is right" Willow agreed feeling guilty.
"Besides if Buffy believes that we are against her, she may do something stupid" Giles told them.
"Like what?" Cordy asked.
"Go running to Angelus" Giles and Willow said in unison.
"She wouldn't" Xander commented, "Would she?"
"She would" Cordy replied. "She was always so needy when it came to Angel and Angelus knows how to use that against her." When she'd finished she saw everyone staring at her, to which she replied, "I'm not a total oblivious bimbo, you know".
They all spent the next few hours in the library trying to figure out the best way to show Buffy they were still all her friends and that they'd support her.
*
While this was going on, Buffy had arrived at Angel's apartment. She let herself inside and laid down on the bed and fell asleep almost instantly. A few hours later (after nightfall), Angelus entered his former apartment, he didn't know what he was doing there, he just knew he had to be there. His confusion didn't lessen any when he saw Buffy asleep on the bed, the same bed in which their child had been created in. He walked over to the bed and sat down next to Buffy's sleeping form, he gently placed his hand over her still flat stomach. It was with this gesture that he knew what he had to do, his confusion lifted and left behind clarity. Now all he had to do was to put his plan into action.
A little while later Buffy awoke to find herself wrapped in Angelus' arms and his hand still placed gently upon her stomach. Angelus sensed when she awoke and he thought < Time to to put my plan into action >. "Hey" he said to her.
"Hi" Buffy replied suspiciously.
"I'm sorry for touching you, but I couldn't help it" Angelus apologised.
This confused Buffy, she'd never expected him to act like this. "It's okay, I really didn't mind."
"You didn't?" he asked in surprise.
"No, after all you were there at the conception" she answered.
"Yeah, it's a night that I'll never forget" he told her.
With that comment Buffy got angry, she remembered what he'd said to her that next morning. "Oh, that's right I'd almost forgotten. You can't forget that night because I was bad right?"
Angelus realised he had to think quick. "I'm sorry, I lied. It was the best night of my un-life, but I'm an evil demon and you made me have disgusting warm feelings. I really didn't like that and so I lashed out at you" Angelus said hoping he sounded sincere.
"Really?" she asked needing to believe the things he was telling her.
"Really" her affirmed as he leaned over and kissed her gently.
Buffy couldn't believe how good it felt to have his lips pressed against her again and she gave into temptation and kissed him back.
Angelus could hardly believe how easily Buffy was falling in with his plans, since it was so much easier when she cooperated. The kiss deepened and Buffy was pulling Angelus down onto the bed with her. He thought he should at least put up an Angel-like protest and hope that she didn't change her mind. "Buffy...maybe we shouldn't..." he said.
In reply Buffy pulled him closer and kissed him more desperately. Nothing more than the occasional whisper was heard for the rest of the night.
PART 3
Angelus awoke about an hour before dawn and looked over at the girl asleep next to him. If she remained as cooperative as she had last night, then his plan would go smoothly. However with her pesky friends around, he might have a few problems and unfortunately for him he couldn't just kill them, because then Buffy would cause trouble and as much as he hated to admit it, he needed her.
Angelus thought his plan was a work of genius. First he was gonna act like Angel...well at least until Buffy gave birth and maybe also for a while after that. When the kid was a couple of years old then he'd turn Buffy, unfortunately she'd still have her pesky soul due to the slayer factor. The final part involved waiting until the child grew up before turning him or her and then the three of them would rule the Hellmouth.
His reverie was disturbed by Buffy starting to wake up and immediately Angelus switched into soulboy mode and played the dutiful lover. "Good morning" he said kissing her softly.
Buffy for her part was relieved that last night wasn't a dream and that Angelus was still acting nice, she just couldn't take any more rejection from him.
Angelus broke the kiss and asked her, "Shouldn't you be getting home. Your mom will be worried".
"She's out of town and not due back until next weekend" Buffy told him.
"School?"
"It's Saturday" she replied wondering what was up.
"Good, then you and I can spend the day together here" Angelus said confidently.
Buffy played right into his trap by saying, "I'd love too. But what are we gonna do all day?"
With that comment Angelus pulled Buffy to him and began to show her just exactly how they could entertain themselves that day.
*
Meanwhile Giles was distressed because he couldn't find Buffy anywhere. Finally he'd called the gang and they were at that moment on their way there.
"What's up G-man?" Xander yelled obnoxiously as he, Cordy, Willow and Oz entered the apartment. He looked around and said, "Where's the Buffster?"
"You haven't seen or heard from her either?" Giles asked worriedly.
"Maybe she went to Angel's old apartment" Willow suggested.
"Why would she go there?" Xander asked densely.
"Because she always goes there when she's upset" Willow told him rolling her eyes.
"Then let's go get her" Giles said.
They grabbed their stuff and climbed into Cordy's car. In less than five minutes they were standing outside the apartment door, they knocked and when there was no answer they broke in. What they found shocked them all...Buffy and Angelus both in bed and asleep together and from the clothing that was strewn around the room it was obvious that something had happened.
*
Buffy was the first to wake up and when she saw Giles and the gang standing there gaping in shock, she quickly reached next to her and shook Angelus awake.
"Buffy? What's wrong?" Angelus said panicked (for the benefit of his plan, he'd known the minute that they'd entered the apartment).
"Good Afternoon" came an angry British voice.
"Hi guys" Buffy whispered from next to Angelus.
Giles turned to Buffy and said, "Come with us now".
"No" Buffy told him moving closer to Angelus.
Angelus saw a golden opportunity, he turned to Buffy and said (in his best Angel impression), "It's okay, you go with them and I'll see you later".
"Promise?" Buffy asked.
"I swear" he said kissing her tenderly.
The Scoobies stood there in shock and confusion. This was supposed to be Angelus the Scourge of Europe and here he was acting like good-old Angel. They turned away while Buffy got dressed and said goodbye to Angelus. Due to the lack of room in Cordy's car, Buffy and Willow elected to walk to Giles'.
*
The walk started off quietly but it was clear to Buffy that Willow was just about dying to comment on the obvious activities of the night before. "Go ahead Wils" she said.
"So you and he...ummm...got to know each other again?" Willow asked hesitantly.
"Yeah. Wils he's acting so different now, just like he used to" Buffy explained.
"What if he's faking?" Willow asked.
"Why would he?" Buffy replied. "Maybe the news about the baby has changed him?"
"I suppose it's possible" Willow admitted hesitantly.
Before either of them realised they were standing outside Giles' apartment. Willow asked Buffy gently, "Are you ready?"
"As I'll ever be" Buffy replied flippantly.
They went inside and everyone was there already, waiting for them. They all stood there staring at each other in silence. Xander was the first to speak, "Buffy how could you? I may have eventually understood the Angel thing...but Angelus? Is it just me or do others find that repulsive?"
"Xander that was way harsh" Cordy told him.
"Can you all shut up for a minute" Buffy yelled trying not to cry. "Since he found out about the baby, he's been acting like Angel again. He never even tried to hurt me."
"Most unusual" Giles muttered to himself.
"Well, I guess that explains why Buffy jumped into bed with him" Xander replied sarcastically.
Ignoring Xander, Giles said "Just promise me you'll be careful around Angelus until we figure this out?"
"I will" Buffy promised.
"Okay then, let's get to the research. Xander, Cordy and Oz get to the books, Willow use that infernal machine and Buffy go home and rest" Giles ordered.
Everyone went about their orders except Buffy. When she left Giles' instead of going home, she headed straight back to Angelus.
Part 4
Angelus was waiting in the apartment, he knew that as soon as she could she would come back to him, last night and this morning had assured him of that. So far his plan was running smoothly especially where Buffy was concerned, the next part would be difficult. He had to convince Spike and Dru to leave Buffy, her idiot friends and that bitch she calls mom alone. He hoped that they didn't give him too much trouble, he'd really hate to have to kill them after they'd been together so long, but if he had to choose...Buffy, his mate and soon to be mother of his child would win.
Angelus heard the door open and knew Buffy had returned. He saw her run towards him and jump onto the bed. "Hey" she said, "Miss me?"
"Always" Angelus said sincerely. He didn't know why he said that but he knew it was true. After all she was his mate, he had not only marked her but his child grew within her, they were destined...she had been born for him.
Buffy looked him in the eye and said, "I think you're telling the truth". She hadn't expected that from him.
"I am. You and I are fated to be one and that miracle you are carrying proves it" he told her. Inside he was laughing, he knew she had no idea what he meant by fated and he also knew she didn't care.
She kissed him, she was glad that he seemed to be something romantic towards her rather than distaste. Even though she was in love with Angel still, she also knew she had some major feelings for Angelus and that confused her.
She pushed Angelus down on the bed and he said, "Buffy, maybe you should get some rest?"
"I'll rest when I'm dead" she replied kissing him.
< What a delightful idea > Angelus thought, < Maybe on some subconscious level she wants to be like me >. All of the thoughts abandoned his head, as Buffy continued her passionate assault on his body.
*
Meanwhile at Giles' the research was getting no where. "This is ridiculous" Giles announced closing the book he had been reading. "There's nothing in any of these books that tells us something new."
"I say we stake him and tell Buffy it was an accident" Xander suggested.
"Xander, even Buffy's not dumb enough to fall for that" Cordy replied.
"Maybe we need to look at this another way. What could Buffy have that Angelus would want?" Willow said.
"The baby" Oz contributed.
"That's right, it's something that no other vampire will have" Giles confirmed.
"I don't think that's all though" Cordy said. "I think he also wants Buffy herself. Come on people if he really wanted her dead, she'd be dead. I think he was trying to drive her nuts like that slut Dru and then turn her."
"But Buffy wouldn't break" Willow added, "So he uses the baby as an excuse to get close to Buffy, and when she lets her guard down..."
Giles saw the looks on everyone's faces and said, "She'll be fine for now, Angelus won't do anything to endanger the child."
"Now, all we have to do is convince Buffy that Angelus is still the bad guy" Willow said.
"And that'll be so easy to do" Xander replied sarcastically.
"Xander grow up. Buffy needs our help and I plan on giving her mine" Willow told him.
"Me too" Cordy replied, "As long as I don't have to do anything icky".
Oz and Giles were also in on helping her. So Xander put aside his jealousy and chose to help Buffy too. They sat back down and tried to plan how they were going to show Buffy that Angelus was an evil mastermind and that she needed to get far away from him.
*
That night Angelus sent Buffy back to her house where it was safer and promised her he would be there soon. When he was sure she'd followed his order, he headed to the factory, he needed to have a little talk to Spike and Dru. When he arrived he found Dru having hysterics and Spike trying to desperately to calm he down.
"What in hell is going on here?" Angelus demanded.
"She had a vision and went nuts" Spike said.
"Daddy, tell me it isn't true" Dru wailed.
"What is it pet?" Spike asked in concern.
"The slayer and daddy" Dru muttered angrily.
Spike looked at Angelus and asked, "Did the big, bad slayer kick your sorry butt again?"
"Shut up Spike" Angelus growled.
Spike took a good look at Angelus and then thought of Dru's behavior since her vision. "You didn't fight with the slayer...You slept with her" Spike said in disgust.
"Spike I can assure you that the last thing I did with Buffy there was sleep" Angelus told him.
"I don't believe you man. For as long as I can remember you've said the only good slayer was a dead slayer" Spike reiterated.
"Well, none of the others ever had Buffy's talents" Angelus remarked.
"The babies" Dru yelled, "Nooooo...it's not fair".
"Babies? What is she going on about now?" Spike asked.
Angelus walked over to Dru. "More than one baby? How many?" he demanded she tell him.
"Three" Dru answered trying to be a good girl.
"Triplets" Angelus said feeling immensely proud of himself. "Wait until I tell Buffy."
"Why would you tell the slayer that? And why is Dru upset about babies?" Spike asked angry at being ignored.
"Buffy is pregnant" Angelus announced.
"Oohh, who's the dad? Her watcher?" Spike asked curiously.
"I am" Angelus answered. "I apparently gave her three birthday presents extra that night".
"Disgusting, you and the slayer are breeding" Spike said repulsed. "Wait a minute, how is that even possible?"
"The souls humanity" Angelus said.
"Then they're Angel's children and not yours" Spike replied.
Angel towered over Spike in his wheelchair. "You're lucky that you're in that chair. As I keep reminding Buffy, Angel and I are one and the same". Angelus shoved Spike across the room and went to leave, at the last second her turned around and said, "Both of you will leave Buffy alone, she is my mate and neither of you will dare anger me by attacking her." Angelus walked out and headed to Buffy's.
Part 5
Angelus arrived at Buffy's house and climbed up to her window. He found her asleep on the bed, so he undressed down to his boxers and climbed into the bed next to her and pulled her close to him, justifying it to himself by saying it was for her protection and not because he needed to feel her close. An hour later Buffy awoke and saw Angelus lying next to her and she finally relaxed, it had only been a few days and already she had trouble sleeping without him by her side. She got up and made sure that the blind was pulled down, so that the sun wouldn't get at Angelus. When she returned to the bed she found him awake. "Hi" she said quietly.
"Hey" he replied kissing her, then pulling her into his arms and telling her "Goodnight".
This totally confused Buffy, "Don't you want to..."
"Of course I do" Angelus told her, "But you and the babies need to rest."
Buffy snuggled into his embrace, then what he said dawned on her. "Babies? As in more than one?" she exclaimed near panic.
"Dru had a vision, we're having triplets" Angelus informed her.
"Wow, triplets...Maybe Dru made a mistake? Since she is insane and all?" Buffy asked.
Angelus laughed, "She may be insane but her visions are rarely wrong." He saw the look on Buffy's face and asked, "What's wrong?"
"The thought of having one baby at my age was super freaky, but three..." Buffy told him panicked.
"It'll be okay, you have me. I'm with you all the way and together we'll raise three healthy children" Angelus told her.
Buffy let herself believe Angelus' words and calmed down enough to eventually fall asleep.
*
The next morning Buffy woke up when she heard the doorbell go off and then incessant knocking. She silently climbed out of the bed, careful not to wake Angelus and headed downstairs. Buffy opened the door and Willow barged in past her.
"Hi Buffy" Willow said cheerfully, "I thought you might need some company today."
"Actually Wils...that's sweet and all, but I think I need to be alone...to think things through" Buffy replied.
"Are you sure, Buffy? If you want I could come back later or you could come over to my house and we could do regular girly-things" Willow suggested. She had the feeling Buffy actually had Angelus in the house and she also thought that Buffy had probably welcomed him there with open arms.
"I'll think about it" Buffy said trying to hurry Willow out of the house before Angelus woke up, so she could get back and he wouldn't have to know about Willow's visit.
"Okay, call me" Willow told her as she was shoved out of the door.
"I will" Buffy said closing the front door and heading back up the stairs.
*
Angelus awoke when he heard the front door close, his first thought was < She's left me >. He was about to throw a tantrum when he heard her come up the stairs. "Where did you go?" he demanded.
"No where, Willow came to visit and I just got rid of her" Buffy answered.
"I thought that you'd..." Angelus began. He realised that he was feeling things again and he didn't like it, but it seemed to be an unfortunate side effect of life with Buffy.
"I wouldn't do that" Buffy promised him as she wondered what was wrong with him, he was acting strange.
Angelus calmed down as relief flooded his body. He pulled her close and kissed her as he pulled he down onto the bed with him and in his own evil-way showed her his feelings towards her.
*
As soon as she'd left Buffy's hose, Willow headed over to Giles. Once he'd let her inside she said, "I think we have a major problem?"
"What?" Giles asked her. He hoped that Buffy was okay and that monster Angelus hadn't done anything to her.
"I'm pretty sure that Buffy is still playing slumber party with Angelus" Willow told Giles.
"WHAT?" Giles yelled. He hoped it wasn't true, that Buffy hadn't been stupid enough to fall for Angelus' lines.
"I went to see her this morning and she ran me out of the house. She kept looking towards the stairs like she was expecting all hell to break loose" Willow filled Giles in on the mornings events.
"If she's involved that deeply with him, it'll be next to impossible to convince her of his true intent" Giles said.
Willow and Giles sat there in silence wondering how they were going to help Buffy to escape from the clutches of the evil Angelus.
That night at the high school Jenny Calendar was sitting at her desk in her class room, pouring over an ancient text. < Finally > she thought as she turned the page, < If this doesn't make it up to Rupert and Buffy, I don't know what will >. Then Jenny tried to read the text but it was useless, it was written in a lost language. < I've gotta devise a computer program to decipher it > she thought, < and I've got to hurry >. Jenny turned her head, she thought that she'd heard a noise from outside, she closed the book, grabbed her stuff and quickly left to finish the work up at home.
Dru looked through the window at the bad woman, she knew her daddy would want to know what she was up too. However Dru had decided not to tell him right away, her form of punishment for his involvement with the evil slayer. When the bad woman left Dru ran home to play with her Spikey, the one she was sure wouldn't be running anywhere for quite a while.
Part 6
Sunnydale High Monday Morning:
Jenny Calendar hurried down the hallway, she was trying to get to Giles before he got to the library and barricaded himself in again. "Rupert?" she shouted.
Giles stopped, took a deep breath and turned slowly around. "Ms Calendar, can I help you?" Giles asked politely.
"Look, I know you don't want to talk to me and I really don't blame you for that, but I've found the soul restoration spell" Jenny told him, "But..."
Giles was immediately interested. "But, what?"
"I can't read it it's in some lost obscure gypsy language" Jenny said.
"Darn" Giles muttered.
"However I'm trying to devise a translation program, but I'm having a few difficulties. Do you think that Willow would help me out?" Jenny asked.
"Certainly, especially since it's for Buffy" Giles answered.
"Okay then, tell Willow to come to my computer lab after school" Jenny said as she walked away.
"Jenny" Giles called out and when she turned around he said, "Thankyou."
She waved in acknowledgment and continued on her way. Giles watched her go and prayed that this might heal the rift between Jenny and Buffy, as he wanted to have both of them in his life and not have to choose between them. He continued on to the library and hope Buffy would turn up for school.
*
Meanwhile Buffy was at home, trying to get ready for school and having an infinite amount of trouble doing so, with Angelus trying to help. Buffy finally lost patience with him, grabbed some clothes and locked herself in the bathroom, so that she could get ready in peace. When she finally came out, Angelus looked her over and said, "You're not going out dressed like that."
"I always dress like this" Buffy replied as she gathered up her school books.
"Well, now you're mine and I say that only I get to see you dressed like this" Angelus informed her smugly.
"I'm my own woman, nobody owns me" Buffy told him.
"I do" Angelus replied with a smarmy smile.
Buffy looked at him in disbelief. "You own me? Since when?"
"Since I married you" Angelus snarled at her.
"You...what? When?" Buffy asked looking at him in confusion.
Angelus went over to Buffy's bedside table and opened the top draw. He took out the ring Angel had given her and when he walked back over to her, he put it back on her. "In Ireland this is a traditional wedding ring, well it was in my time. So when I gave this to you..." Angelus told her.
"You married me" Buffy finished in shock, she sat down and stared at Angelus.
"It's not official, but it's as official as I can get being dead and all" Angelus replied. Angelus saw the look on her face and knew that if he was careful he could get her to do exactly what he wanted. "I'm sorry honey" he said, "I shouldn't tell you what to wear, it is after all your decision."
Buffy thought about it for a minute. "No you're right. I'm a married woman and soon to be mother...I shouldn't dress like this."
Buffy went to change into something less revealing and Angelus silently celebrated his victory. He knew that he could now manipulate Buffy to do his will and this practically guaranteed the success of his plan.
When she came out again, she was wearing a pair of jeans and a button down shirt that covered everything. Angelus looked her over again and said, "You look perfect. Have a good day at school."
"I will" Buffy told him as she gave him a kiss goodbye. She went out the door and towards the high school and when she was sure that she was out of his sight, she took of the shirt to reveal a skimpy tank top. As much as she wanted to please Angelus, nobody told her how to dress, she tried to remind herself to put the shirt back on after school and headed on to Snyder-land.
*
When Willow arrived at the library she found that only Giles was there. "Morning Giles" Willow said sitting down across from him.
"Ah, Willow. Just whom I wanted to talk too" Giles replied.
"About what?" Willow asked curiously, wondering if Giles have some new information on Angelus.
"Jenny's found the restoration curse, but she needs some help to design a translation program. Would you be able to assist?" Giles asked her.
"Sure, anything to help Buffy" Willow answered.
"Meet her after school in the computer lab" Giles told her as the door swung open and Buffy made an entrance.
"So this is what you guys do when I'm not around, talk about computers. Is it just me or is that strange?" Buffy teased.
Willow looked at Buffy in shock, not only was she acting as she normally did but she was also wearing Angel's ring again. Maybe the Angelus thing was over and done with. "Hi Buffy" Willow said.
"Hi Wils...Giles. Where is everyone else?" Buffy asked flopping down into a chair.
"Oz is sick and at home and I just figured that Xander and Cordy were in a closet somewhere" Willow answered.
Buffy turned to Giles and asked, "Any big evils?"
"Uh, no" Giles replied confused by her behavior, she seemed almost back to normal.
"Well, I've been thinking that since I can't be like doing the slaying-thingy in my condition...maybe we should call Kendra" Buffy suggested to Giles.
"I have already spoken to her watcher. She is fighting a vampire problem in Australia at the moment" Giles told her.
"Then what are we gonna do?" Buffy asked.
"Ask Angelus" Giles replied.
"Are you serious?" Buffy asked.
"Deadly. He says that he wants to help, then let him help" Giles answered.
Buffy and Willow stared at him in shock. "Thanks Giles. He won't let you down" Buffy said as she got up and hugged him.
"No problem" Giles told her.
Before Giles could say anything else the bell for class rang and Willow and Buffy headed off for some scholastic time.
*
After school Willow said goodbye to everyone and headed for Jenny's computer lab. "Hi" she said when she arrived.
"Hello Willow" Jenny replied, "Are you ready to code the impossible code?"
"As always" Willow answered taking a seat next to Jenny.
Five exhausting hours later they finished. "Now we have to test it" Jenny told her as she scanned the page into the computer.
They both held their breath as hey prayed it would work. They looked at the screen and......it had worked. Jenny and Willow grabbed each other and jumped up and down, screaming in excitement. When they calmed down, they read through the translation.
"There's the part with the happiness clause in it" Willow said pointing it out.
"This is good. I think I may be able to remove the clause without compromising the curse" Jenny replied after she'd read it.
"That's fantastic" Willow told her, "This means Buffy and the baby will be safe from Angelus."
"Baby?" Jenny asked confused.
"Oh, that's right you don't know...Buffy's pregnant. Since Angelus found out about it he's been putting on this big con job over Buffy and now she believes that he's changed" Willow said filling Jenny in on the latest events.
Jenny absorbed the information and said, "Then we better hurry up with the curse."
It was a couple of hours before dawn when they finished removing the happiness clause. When they were done, Jenny made four copies, "I'll keep one here on the hard drive and take one home. You take one home and give the other one to Giles."
"Okay, bye Jenny" Willow said leaving.
"Bye Willow" Jenny replied as she gathered her things and she left the school a few minutes later.
Neither of them had noticed that they were being watched by Dru through the window, or noticed her take off when they had finished with the alterations.
*
An hour later Angelus entered the factory and he was in a really bad mood. "What in the HELL does Dru want with me? It had better be good because she freaked Buffy out by sending the minion to Buffy's house" he yelled.
"Chill man, trust me you'll wanna hear this" Spike replied.
"I'd better Rollerboy" Angelus told him with a snarl.
"Daddy" Dru cried out as she saw him and ran towards his arms.
"Dru, what do you want to tell me?" Angelus tried to ask patiently.
"The bad woman has a spell" Dru told him cryptically.
"What bad woman?" Angelus demanded.
"The gypsy" Dru explained, "The spell for a soul."
"Damn, that nosey bitch is trying to ruin everything I've planned" Angelus yelled, "...I'm not gonna let her. I think as soon as it's dark later, I'll pay her a visit." Angelus turned around and stormed out of the factory, vowing to make Jenny pay for interfering.
Part 7
The next night Jenny Calendar was finishing up some extra work in her computer lab, when she thought that she heard a noise out in the hall. This being a Hellmouth and all, she got up and went out into the hallway to check, when she saw nothing she went back into the lab. Jenny sat back down and started to do some more work when a shadow fell over her desk, she looked up and was shocked to find Angelus standing there.
"Hi gyps...I mean Jenny" Angelus said sarcastically.
"Angelus, what are you doing here?" Jenny asked hoping she didn't look and sound and sound as scared as she was.
"Actually I came here hoping for a denial of this nasty rumor that has been circulating" Angelus told her.
"What rumor?" Jenny tried to ask innocently, all the time praying that he didn't know about the curse.
"Just the one where you are planning on re-cursing me and returning control of MY body to that pussy Angel" he replied.
"Don't be silly, I'm only a computer teacher. How could I do anything like that?" Jenny answered.
"I have no idea Ms. Gypsy Techno-Pagan" Angelus said his anger showing.
Angelus was advancing towards her and Jenny began to look around for an avenue of escape, she lucked out when a noise from outside momentarily distracted him. She took this opportunity and ran from the room, but she hadn't gotten far when she heard Angelus' footsteps behind her. It seemed as if every door she arrived at had been locked and it wasn't long before she ran out of places to run, Angelus slowly stalked her allowing her to know that she was going to die. When he arrived at her location, he simply backed her up against the wall, leaned over her and began to drain her blood. Angelus feeling the need to cause Jenny pain, left the smallest amount of blood in her and opened the wound up (making it look like an animal bite) and left her to bleed to death, while he went home to Buffy.
*
When Buffy arrived at school the next morning, she headed straight for the library. "Hi" she said walking in, then she saw everyone's faces, "Who died?"
"Miss Calendar" Willow choked out but couldn't continue because she started to cry.
"Miss Calendar's dead" Buffy said in shock.
"No, she's in hospital. She almost died from extreme blood loss, and she would of if Mr Hinkley the janitor hadn't found her" Xander told Buffy.
"Woah" Buffy muttered. A moment later she had a flash of realisation about where Angelus had disappeared to the night before. "How is Giles?" Buffy asked in extreme concern for her watcher.
"He's upset and at the hospital" Cordy told her. "He's been with her since they called him."
The bell for class rang then and they all headed off sullenly. Buffy although she seemed sullen on the outside, was seething with rage inside and couldn't wait until the school day was over and she could confront Angelus and make him admit to what he did.
*
Meanwhile Giles was at Sunnydale Community Hospital sitting by Jenny's bedside. He'd been there with her since they'd called him at 2am, with a brief break to call Willow and tell her what was going on. At this moment he was fretting over all the things he'd never told her, he just couldn't bare to lose her before he'd at least told her how he felt about her. "For God's sake Jenny, wake up. I love you" Giles told her holding her hand in his.
"It's about time that you admitted it" came a weak voice from next to him.
"Jenny?"
"No, it's the Queen" Jenny tried to say sarcastically, but couldn't quite manage it.
"Well, I'm glad that you are alright" Giles tried to say stiffly.
"Rupert?" Jenny said.
"Yes" he answered.
"I love you too" she told him as she drifted off to sleep.
Giles sat there with a big smile on his face, he could hardly believe that Jenny returned his feelings and that they'd been given a second chance, that he didn't intend to waste.
*
When school was over for the day, Buffy instead of going straight home as Angelus had instructed, she headed for the mall with Cordy. She hung out there until it was almost dark and walked slowly home, when she got there she sat outside until the sun had set, then she went into the house.
"Where the hell have you been?" he demanded she tell him as soon as she walked through the door.
"Why should I tell you?" Buffy replied walking past him.
"I own you" he spat back. He really wished that he could hit her, but he couldn't. Not only because of the babies but also because he loved her, he couldn't believe he just admitted it to himself.
"No, I own myself" Buffy told him. "I want you to leave" she said turning around to face him.
Angelus decided that it was time to change tactics. "Baby, I'm sorry but I was worried about you" he told her, which was exactly the truth.
"Do you think I'm stupid?" she asked him.
"Baby, it's just hormones" Angelus said.
"Answer the question. Do you think I'm stupid?" Buffy demanded angrily.
"No, of course not. Why?" Angelus replied tried to soothe her.
"You...how could you..." Buffy was so mad she couldn't even say what she wanted too.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"Jenny" Buffy spat out at him.
"Oh, her. It was no bother, I mean no one liked her" Angelus shrugged it off.
"I like her, I may be extremely mad at her, but I still like her" Buffy told him. "And poor Giles, he's in love with her. So once again I ask you, how could you?"
"Easily" he answered unrepentant.
"Get out" she told him suddenly feeling weak.
"Buffy..." he began.
"Not now. Please Angelus...I just need to be alone tonight. I'll talk to you about this tomorrow, okay?"
Angelus looked at her and saw how tired she was. "Fine, but I'll be back as soon as it's dark tomorrow" Angelus said and left her alone.
Buffy watched him leave and and then sank down against the wall. She cried herself to the point of exhaustion and then slowly got up and climbed onto her bed, where she continued to cry until she fell asleep.
PART 8
The next morning Buffy headed straight for the library, she found everyone including Jenny there. "Hey" she said hugging her, "I'm glad you're okay."
Jenny was shocked by this but hugged her back, "Thanks."
Buffy then looked at Giles and said, "I know who attacked Jenny and say it's time we made him pay."
"Who?" Giles asked confused.
She turned to Jenny, "You didn't tell?"
"I didn't want to say anything that would put you in the middle" Jenny replied.
She turned back to Giles and told him, "It was Angelus."
"Why?" Giles asked in shock.
"He found out somehow about the curse" Jenny answered.
"What curse?" Buffy asked confused.
"The original soul getting one, minus one happiness clause" Willow told her.
"Oh great, just what we need a shaggable Deadboy" Xander replied sarcastically.
"Xander" Cordy said, "It's for like everyone's protection, not to satisfy a horny Buffy."
"Oh gee, thanks Cordy" Buffy said sarcastically.
"We'll perform it tonight" Jenny told them.
"I'll keep Angelus busy" Buffy volunteered.
"Alright" Giles said, "Everyone but Buffy meet me here after school. And Buffy please be careful."
"I promise" Buffy replied hugging him.
Giles watched her go and suddenly had the terrible feeling that this would be the last time that he or anyone else here ever saw her.
*
After school Buffy rushed back to her house and phoned Angelus. "They bought it" she told him.
"Good, now tell me where and when?" Angelus asked.
"The library, as soon as it's dark" she told him.
"Hang tight and finish packing, I'll be there as soon as I can" Angelus told her before hanging up.
Buffy could hardly believe that her plan was really gonna work, she could remember when she'd come up with it.
Angelus stormed into the house in a terrible mood. "What's wrong?" Buffy asked hoping he was alright and Xander hadn't tried to stake him again.
"That stupid gypsy witch is trying to recurse me with my soul" Angelus growled in frustration.
"What?" Buffy yelled. As much as she loved Angel, she had finally realised that she wanted Angelus for all eternity. "We've gotta stop her."
Angelus stared at her in shock, "What, you don't want your pussy-whipped soulboy returned?"
"Not really, I'd rather have you" Buffy told him.
Angelus kissed with an intense passion and asked, "So what are we gonna do about..."
Buffy cut him off, "I have a plan."
"Do tell" Angelus encouraged with a devious smile.
"First thing, you have to attack Jenny."
"Really?" Angelus asked hoping she wasn't joking.
"Really, but don't kill her she's still important. Then we have to pretend to fight, in case they don't trust me and are following us" Buffy said.
"Alright" Angelus agreed hesitatingly, not sure where Buffy's little idea was going.
"And then it gets interesting" Buffy told him.
"What?"
"I go to them and tell them you did it..."
"Uh, Buffy" Angelus tried to interrupt.
"...Then when they all gather to recurse you, minus me who will of course be distracting you. You get Spike, Dru and the others to attack them, all while you and I make good our escape from Sunnyhell. And we live happily ever after" Buffy finished.
"I think that I like your plan" Angelus told her and then spent the rest of the night showing her his approval.
Buffy broke out of her reverie and went up to her room to finish her packing and then to await Angelus' arrival.
*
Meanwhile Giles, Jenny, Willow, Oz, Xander and Cordy were finishing the set up for the performance of the curse. "I wonder how Buffy's going?" Willow asked suddenly. She was extremely worried about and for her friend.
"She's probably busy screwing Angelus' brains out" Xander replied.
"Xander" Cordy yelled.
"What it's true...Angelus turned Buffy into a nympho" Xander said.
"There's like no reason to be so crude" Cordy replied.
"Children, stop it" Giles yelled.
Before another fight could break out, Jenny said "Let's do it."
They all sat in a circle on the floor and Jenny began. Then suddenly there was the sound of breaking glass and a hoard of vampires came rushing in the windows and doors.
"Run, it's a trap" Giles told them.
The gang while trying to escape the library that was over run, also had to fight their way through. They all managed to escape relatively uninjured and they all headed to Giles' place.
"God" Xander said, "If Angelus did that to us, what did he do to Buffy?"
"We can't help her, she's on her own" Giles replied sadly. "In the morning we'll go check on her."
Everyone was depressed by the thought of what they might find the next morning and they sent a silent collective prayer that Buffy would be okay.
*
When Angelus arrived at Buffy's house, he found her all packed and ready to with him. He looked at her and asked, "Are you sure that you really want to go through with this?"
"Totally" she replied. "I love you and I want us to raise our children together in a happy trouble free environment. We can't do that here, not only because of Giles and the others, but my mom, Spike and Dru are all gonna be in the middle."
"Then lets go" Angelus said grabbing her bags.
Buffy took one last look around the place she'd called home for almost two years, locked up and climbed into the car Angelus had somehow acquired for their trip. And before she knew it they were on their way out of Sunnyhell and on their way to a new life together.
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