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: General BTVS and it's prequel Deceptions.
TIMELINE: Five years after Deceptions.
Buffy awoke a few hours after dark and immediately sensed that something wasn't right, she got up and went to check on her children. When she got to their room she found they were fine - sleeping peacefully - Buffy turned around to go back her and Angelus' room, when she bumped into Marco (Angelus' right hand minion).
"Sorry Mistress" Marco apologised.
"It's okay" she told him continuing on to her room.
"Umm... Mistress..." Marco began uncertain how to tell her the news.
"He's gone again" Buffy replied sparing him.
Marco looked uncomfortable telling her that, he actually liked the Mistress and wondered why she put up with the shabby way the Master treated her and the children. He confirmed her suspicion, "Yes Mistress."
Buffy sighed and told Marco, "He'll be back. Why don't you and the others go hunting?"
"We can't leave you and the children..." Marco began.
"We'll be fine for a couple of hours" Buffy promised as an idea ticked over in her head.
Marco was torn between his bloodlust and his duty to his Master. "We'll all return shortly" Marco replied the bloodlust winning out.
Buffy went back to her room and waited for the minions to leave. She was just so sick of her life, everytime that Angelus believed he was having a feeling towards her or one of their children he ran off... eventually he'd come back but this time Buffy had, had it. Buffy packed up all of her belongings and put them into her car and then did the same for the children. She then carried each of the kids out to the car and then headed off towards the closet thing to a stable happy home she'd known... Sunnydale.
***
Buffy arrived in Sunnydale early the next morning and parked outside her mother's house. She was uncertain about what to do next, part of her wanted to ring that bell and jump into her mother's arms, but another part of her was afraid... afraid that her mother had forgotten her. While Buffy was trying to make up her mind, the decision was made for her... Joyce came outside.
"Buffy?" she said in shock.
"Hi mom" Buffy replied trying not to cry.
Joyce rushed over and hugged her, "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too" Buffy answered returning the hug.
Their reunion was cut short when a tiny head popped out of the car and said, "Mommy."
Buffy broke the hug and turned to her son, "What sweetheart?"
"Can we go inside yet?" Kian asked.
"Sure you can" Joyce told the child. She was in shock, her little girl had returned and was now a mommy. Joyce's shock grew when Buffy pulled not one child from the car, but three. "Triplets?"
"Yep" Buffy answered. When they'd finally made it inside Buffy said, "Mom... these are your grandchildren. Kian, Brandon and Callie." Buffy then turned to her kids and said, "That's your grandma."
Three little bodies rushed towards Joyce at once and gave her a group hug, this made Joyce truly regret that she and Buffy had never been close... but now was the time to change all that.
**
An hour later Buffy and the kids were upstairs napping, exhausted after their trip and Joyce decide to call the one person who'd helped her search for Buffy all these years.
"Hello?" a British voice came down the line.
"Mr Giles... it's Joyce Summers."
"Do you have another lead on Buffy?" he asked immediately perking up.
Joyce took a deep breath, "I have something even better... Buffy."
"WHAT?"
"She turned up on my doorstep this morning... with my three grandchildren" Joyce informed him.
"Well, this is a shock but also very good news. Shall I call the others or do you wish too?" Giles asked.
"Could you please do it? I want to spend as much time with Buffy as I can" Joyce asked him.
"Certainly. Goodbye Joyce" Giles said.
"Bye Giles" Joyce replied hanging up the phone.
Joyce then went back to making the special celebratory lunch for Buffy and her grandchildren for when they woke up.
**
An hour later after they'd just finished eating, there was a knock at the door. When Buffy answered it she was totally surprised when Willow threw herself into Buffy's arms.
"Buffy... I can't believe it's you" Willow cried. She was just so happy to know that Buffy was alive and well and back among them.
While Buffy tried to pry Willow off of her, Joyce let the others in and they all moved into the living room. They all sat around staring at each other, unsure of what to say after so long, eventually Buffy broke the silence. "I'm sorry" she said simply.
"There's no need you did what you had too. Angelus was on your tail and it was leave or die, we understand" Giles said.
"No you don't. He didn't force me out... I went with him and willingly" Buffy confessed.
"WHAT?" Xander yelled, "Do you know what he did to us that night?"
They all saw the guilty look on Buffy's face. "You did know" Willow said softly in a state of shock.
"Yeah" she whispered.
Everyone except Joyce simply stood up and walked out on her. She didn't blame them for doing so, after all she'd done it to them five years ago in a moment of selfishness.
Joyce asked then, "Who's Angelus?"
"The guy I ran off with" Buffy told her mother, "The kids father."
"Why did you leave?" Joyce asked struggling to find Buffy's motivation.
"I love him... I was pregnant and scared, he played with that fact. I should've listened to everyone, especially Giles..."
Joyce sighed, "I can't believe you ran off with some strange guy. Couldn't you have at least introduced me?"
"You did meet him" Buffy told her. When she saw the look of confusion on Joyce's face, "My history tutor."
"Oh" Joyce replied. She thought it over and then opened her arms to Buffy, "I don't care where you've been or what you've done, as long as you're back."
Buffy hugged her mother and suddenly began to wonder when her happy time would run out and Angelus would come looking for them.
***
Angelus returned home a week later and called out Buffy's name and when she didn't come, he just assumed that she was still mad at him for taking off yet again. He climbed the stairs and went into their bedroom, he glanced around and then went to throw his stuff into the wardrobe for Buffy to put away later. However when he opened it, he found that all of Buffy's clothes were missing. Angelus raced to the children's room and found that all of their stuff was gone too. Angelus was so mad that when a minion came up behind him, he threw it against the wall in a fit of rage.
"How DARE she leave ME. I am Angelus the Scourge of Europe... NO-ONE leaves me" he yelled to the empty room. Angelus then calmed himself down and tried to think where'd she would run too. Sunnydale... no, after what happened there five years ago she wouldn't dare... or would she?
PART 2
Angelus arrived in Sunnydale an hour before dawn and headed straight for the mansion deciding to give Buffy a little extra time to worry over when he would arrive (well that and he didn't want to fry in the sun). He walked straight and once he was recognised no minion of Spike's dared stand in his way, he stood in the shadow and observed his vampire family. Dru was dancing insanely around the room singing, "Daddy's coming home home."
Angelus would've laughed if she hadn't suddenly had a change of mood, Dru stopped dancing and began to whimper as if she were in pain, "He's not coming for me... he wants the nasty slayer and the kiddies back."
This seemed to cheer Spike up, "Ha-ha. The big, bad, mighty Angelus was dumped by the slayer. If it wasn't so funny, I might feel sorry for old Peaches."
"What's so funny?" Angelus asked stepping out from the shadows.
Spike was so surprised by Angelus' arrival that he fell out of the chair he was sitting in and Dru ran screaming to Angelus, "Daddy."
"Dru" Angelus acknowledged as he detangled himself from her.
"So Peac... Angelus, what makes you think that slutty came back to Sunnydale after she dumped your ass? No-one here has seen her" Spike told him.
Without warning Angelus reached out and grabbed him by the throat and squeezed, "What did you just call my wife?"
"Slip of the tongue... I meant to say Buffy" Spike choked out.
Angelus dropped Spike and said, "You idiot, she's here... lying low. She actually thinks that she can hide from me!"
Angelus hit the wall and punched a hole straight through to the other side and sat himself in Spike's chair. He ignored his childe's indignant look and sat in silence imaging the punishments that he'd hand out to Buffy for thinking that she could ever leave him... for thinking that he'd ever let her leave, she was his for all eternity... maybe it was time to turn her. He was ripped from his plans by Dru going psycho.
"The stars... the stars" Dru shouted climbing on the dining room table and using it as a bed, as she lied back and began to speak to her imaginary stars. A few minutes later she began to howl, "No... no... not again."
"Dru... honey what's wrong?" Spike asked as he ran over to his beloved side.
"It's not fair" she sniffled into Spike's shoulder, "Daddy and the mean slayer are going to have another baby."
Angelus heard the news and stilled. This changed everything, especially how'd he would have to deal with Buffy, all thoughts of punishment for her recent behaviour had to be postponed. He was incredibly proud of himself and best of all it meant that Buffy's ex-watcher was wrong about the soul being the reason that the triplets were conceived... what this news meant was that it was true, Buffy was the perfect mate for him. Now he had to make plans to woo back his wilful bride and bring both her and their children back where they belonged. The problem was he'd have to do it nicely... that was going to be a challenge.
*
Across town Buffy was in her bathroom throwing up again. "Buffy... are you alright?" Joyce asked her through the bathroom door.
"Fine" Buffy managed to call out before another wave of nausea overcame her.
"I'll take the kids downstairs" Joyce said trying to move them away so they wouldn't get scared by the noise.
"Okay" Buffy muttered sinking to floor as a realisation hit her. < Oh God... I think I'm pregnant. How is that possible? > she thought, < Unless Giles was wrong >. She could be wrong and it could be some bug, but really there was no other explanation that suited not only the nausea but also the other symptoms she'd chose to ignore when she'd left Angelus. Buffy took a few minutes to pull herself together before she headed downstairs to her mom and her kids.
"Hi sweetie, feeling better?" Joyce asked as Buffy came into the kitchen.
"A little" Buffy told her as she was mobbed by three worried little kids.
"So... maybe you should go and see Dr. Allenby" Joyce suggested.
"I'll think about it" Buffy answered.
Joyce sighed, "He could give you something for that virus."
"I don't think it's a virus" Buffy said softly.
"What then?"
"I think I'm pregnant" Buffy told her.
Joyce was silent for a moment, then she came over to Buffy, hugged her and said, "Wow... I just found out I had three grandchildren and now I'm getting more."
Buffy looked at her mother and wondered what was wrong with her. Ever since she'd gotten back, her mom had been acting nice and she'd never been nice in her life. It was wigging Buffy out and she promised herself that she'd get to the bottom of it, besides it was a good distraction... it kept her from wondering when Angelus would finally arrive.
PART 3
As soon as night fell Angelus left the mansion and headed straight over to Joyce's home, hoping that Buffy would be there. Once he arrived he knew that she was definitely there, but he lurked around outside until Joyce had gone to bed. He plucked a rose from a neighbours garden, climbed up to Buffy's old bedroom window and went inside. Angelus saw his beloved wife sleeping soundly and felt a sudden longing to just lie down next to her, but he knew that it would just upset her. So he decided not to wake her and instead left the rose on her pillow as well as a note which asked her to meet him the next night. Satisfied that he had completed his task successfully he left Buffy (somewhat unwillingly) and headed out to feed.
When he finally returned to the mansion, he went to his room and found Dru on his bed naked. He took one look, turned around and barged into Spike's room, where he barged in not bothering to knock. "SPIKE" he yelled angrily.
"What?" Spike answered wondering what was going on now.
"Get your psycho girlfriend out of my room" Angelus growled at him.
Spike was suddenly offended, not that he wanted Dru and Angelus together but he felt that Angelus was insinuating that Dru wasn't good enough for him anymore. "Hey man, move 'er yourself" he replied.
Angelus grabbed Spike in a choke hold, "Move her now or I'll stake her. Your choice."
He dropped Spike, who ran from the room to go and rescue his precious Dru from getting acquainted with the sharp end of a stake. A minute later he returned and Angelus deciding he wouldn't get any peace went to his old apartment.
**
When Buffy awoke the next morning the first thing she saw was the rose and note, but before she could take a look a wave of nausea hit and she had to run to the bathroom. When it had passed she returned to her room and picked up the rose and note. These two things were left there to inform her he was around and could come in at anytime... however she wondered why he'd bothered to leave a note instead of just taking her and the kids. She opened the note cautiously and began to read...
My Dearest Buffy,
I know that I've hurt you in past and that you had every right to leave me and take OUR children, but I would appreciate you at least discussing your future options with me.
Please meet me at my old apartment after dark.
All my love,
Angelus
Buffy could hardly believe that this note came from her Angelus... it was almost friendly and he'd called her dearest and wrote 'all my love' before signing his name. She was still staring at it in shock when her mother came in to check on her.
"Buffy?" Joyce asked seeing the look on her face, "What's wrong?"
Buffy handed Joyce the note and said, "It's from him."
Joyce read it and asked, "Are you going to go?"
"I guess" Buffy mumbled in reply. "He at least deserves to know when he can see the kids... and he should know about the baby."
"Be careful" was all Joyce said to her before leaving the room.
"I'll have to be" Buffy said to herself as she placed a hand protectively over her abdomen.
***
Angelus spent the day in his old apartment cleaning it up, so that Buffy would feel comfortable when she arrived. He sat down on the freshly made bed and impatiently began to wait for Buffy, he had no doubt that she would come - after all she was still in love with him. Angelus sat there remembering the good times and was so engrossed that he didn't hear Buffy come in, a second later though he did sense her presence.
"Hi" she said softly. She was feeling so totally overwhelmed by him... she'd missed him so much and he looked so good that she had to restrain herself from jumping into his arms and capitulating.
"Hi" he replied. He was stunned by her beauty... her glow and he realised how much he missed being with her and how much he needed her, she was truly his better half. "Take a seat" he said nicely trying to show her that he could be kind.
Buffy sat down next to Angelus on the bed and waited for him to say something, when it was obvious that he was gonna stay silent Buffy decided to speak. "Aren't you gonna say anything?" Buffy complained, "What do you want?"
Angelus looked like he was going to be sick, "That's not fair Buff. I just want you and my munchkins to be happy and if you're all happy without me..."
Buffy realised what he was up too, "We are."
"WHAT?"
"Not" Buffy faked him out. Then seeing the look on his face she tried not to laugh as she got up and pushed Angelus down on the bed and straddled him. "We all miss you" she told him.
Angelus began to smile thinking he'd gotten what he'd wanted, until Buffy continued. "But we're not coming home."
"Why not?" he whined.
Buffy kissed him, "Because you're just putting on a Mr Nicey act to get us back and as soon as we're home... nothing will have really changed."
"Yes it would" Angelus insisted.
"How?" Buffy asked him. When Angelus couldn't answer Buffy got up and started to leave. "When you figure it out... let me know."
"I love you" Angelus told her, desperate to keep her with him.
Buffy stood still at this announcement, then she whirled around. "That's the first time you've ever said that to me."
Angelus got up and walked over to her, he kissed her and led her back to the bed and then lowered her down onto it.
He continued to kiss her and she told him, "This won't change anything."
"We'll see" Angelus replied cryptically continuing his passionate assault on Buffy's senses... it was also the last words spoken that night.
PART 4
When Angelus awoke a few hours later, he found that Buffy had already gone and he became angry. He'd thought that after what had happened in combination with Buffy's own feelings for him and his admission that she would've stayed and would right now be ready to go home. Angelus got up and dressed and then headed back to the mansion showing his anger to anyone or thing he came across. Even Spike and Dru's minions scurried out of his path unwilling to deal with an extremely pissed off Scourge of Europe. Spike on the other hand saw it as an opportunity to get in some cheap shots.
"Well if it looks like a wuss and smells like a slayer... then it must be Peaches" Spike said as Angelus came into the room.
Angelus just growled at him as he moved past to go to his own bedroom.
"What's the matter Peaches? Did the slayer bonk you and run?" Spike asked laughing.
Angelus stopped dead and turned around to face him, wearing his game-face and growling.
"Oooh... I'm so scared, not. What are ya gonna do... kill me" Spike taunted.
Dru unfortunately chose that moment to come into the room, Angelus picked her up and threw her at Spike.
Spike caught his beloved and said, "Hey. I never threw Slutty at you."
Angelus stalked off vowing that he would get his revenge on Spike, just as soon as he had convinced Buffy to come back home.
****
Buffy was lying in bed trying not to think about the events of the previous night. She couldn't believe how easily she'd fallen back into Angelus' bed and she knew for certain that if she hadn't managed to sneak away while he slept, that she and the children would right now be heading back home. Buffy was about to get up when Joyce came into the room.
"Hi sweetheart. How did it go last night?" Joyce asked her.
"Fine" Buffy answered not wanting to tell her mother that not a lot of talking actually went on.
"Well... what did you do? Did you sort anything out?"
"Kinda" Buffy mumbled wishing that she could disappear.
Joyce looked at Buffy, "You and he... instead of talking?"
"It's a form of communication" Buffy tried to argue.
"If the two of you can't control yourselves in private, then you'll have to bring him here and we'll all talk" Joyce said.
"Mom, that's really not a good..." Buffy began.
Joyce cut her off, "Buffy invite your boyfriend."
"Husband" Buffy corrected.
"Thank God" Joyce muttered. "Just invite him over for dinner tonight" Joyce told her.
**
After Joyce finally left her bedroom, she grabbed her phone and dialed Angelus' cell phone (even though he'd told her never to call it).
"Hello?" came an angry, groggy voice.
"Hi" she whispered.
"Buffy? Are you and the kids alright?" Angelus asked trying to sound concerned and not angry.
"We're fine" Buffy answered, "My mom... kinda wants you to come over for dinner tonight. I think that she wants to meet you... but you don't have to come..." Buffy babbled.
"Buff... I'll be there, after dark" he told her.
"Okay."
"I love you Buffy" he said.
"I know" Buffy said hanging up. She then got up and headed to the guest room where the kids were sleeping, to tell them that daddy was coming to dinner.
***
By the time darkness fell that night, he Summers household was in an uproar. There was three extremely hyperactive four year olds, Joyce puttering around the kitchen trying to make the perfect meal to impress her son-in-law (unaware that food wasn't his staple diet) and Buffy was pacing the living room nervously, praying that Angelus didn't assume that her mother was the main course. When the doorbell rang Buffy froze momentarily before heading to answer it, what she found caught her by surprise. Angelus was standing there in a suit and was carrying two bunches of roses (one for Buffy and one for Joyce), he moved closer and kissed Buffy hello as he handed her the roses. Buffy returned the kiss and said, "Thanks... they're beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as you" Angelus told her entering the house.
Buffy looked him up and down and asked, "What's with the suit?"
"I thought your mother would expect it. Why, do I look bad?" he replied.
"No, you look great... you always look great. It's just not you" Buffy told him. That was when she spotted some blood on the collar of his shirt, "Did you kill some poor guy and steal his clothes?"
Before he could answer, they were interrupted by three high pitched voices screaming "Daddy" and running into Angelus' waiting arms.
"I missed you guys" Angelus told them.
The boys pulled away and ran off to play, but always daddy's little girl Callie stayed in Angelus' arms. He didn't complain, he just picked her up and held her close, like he'd never let her go. Buffy and Angelus were so wrapped up in their family that they didn't notice the angry face of Xander staring at them through the window.
PART 5
Xander couldn't believe it, he come over to Joyce's to make up with Buffy and what did he find but Buffy and Angelus playing happy families. He turned away from the window and sank to the ground, trying to figure out his conflicting emotions over the scene. He knew he had to tell Giles and the others about Angelus being in town (evidently after Buffy), but for some unknown reason he felt guilty about spying and telling on Buffy. Xander shrugged off the guilt by telling himself that Buffy deserves what she gets for being with Angelus and he took off for Giles' apartment.
***
Meanwhile inside the Summers' home, Joyce had come into the living room and was impressed with what she saw. "Hello" she said interrupting the family reunion, "I'm Joyce... you know Buffy's mom."
"Pleasure" Angelus replied handing Joyce her roses, "I'm Ang... Liam Angelus." He decided to use his real first name because it sounded more Human... normal.
"Well, lets go into the dining room. Dinner is ready" Joyce told them.
They all followed Joyce through to the dining room and began to eat. About half way through dinner is when Joyce began her interrogation. "So, Liam... what do you do?" Joyce asked in a friendly tone, but Buffy wasn't fooled she knew the look her mother had in her eyes.
"Please call me Angelus... everyone else does, including Buffy. My job is... well, I'm independently wealthy and I manage my investments from home" Angelus replied.
< Not bad > Joyce thought. "Anything else I should know? Criminal record... mental problems?"
"No, I'm 100% sane and I haven't a criminal record" Angelus told Joyce.
As she heard Angelus say this to her mother, Buffy choked on the mouthful of food she was attempting to eat.
"Are you okay, darling?" Angelus asked her.
"Fine" Buffy mumbled taking a drink of water and went back to feeding the children.
Joyce was touched by his concern for her daughter. "How long are you in town for Angelus?" Joyce asked curiously. She wanted to know if this was some token effort or if he seriously wanted Buffy and the children back.
"For as long as Buffy wants" Angelus told her.
The last of Joyce's reservations melted and she decided that for Buffy's own good she was going to help Angelus convince Buffy to go home. They finished their meal and when Angelus was ready to leave, Joyce made him an offer he couldn't refuse. "Since it's so late... why doesn't Angelus spend the night."
Before Angelus could answer Buffy said, "Where would he sleep?"
"You're married, so in with you" Joyce told her.
Angelus smiled, "I'd be grateful."
"Good" Joyce said leaving the room smiling.
***
Half an hour later Buffy entered her bedroom and found Angelus lounging on her bed, wearing nothing but his boxers. "Wow Buff, you look radiant" he told her seeing her in the red silk nightie he'd bought her for her last birthday.
"Thanks" Buffy said quickly climbing in bed and hiding under the covers.
"In fact you look almost maternal" he said rolling onto his side to look at her.
Buffy realised he knew, "Dru opened her big yap again, didn't she?"
"Yes. Our fourth child... amazing" Angelus told her laying his hand over her womb.
"Did Dru also mention whether I was going to kick you ass or let you sleep?" Buffy asked sarcastically.
Angelus ignored her last comment and pulled her into his arms, she didn't even try to resist, instead she snuggled closer. He couldn't resist teasing her, "I thought you wanted to kick my ass?"
"Shut up" Buffy said sleepily.
Angelus just held her closer as she slept and thought about what Joyce wanted and why she was suddenly championing his cause with Buffy.
***
Across town at Giles' apartment the scoobies were still discussing what to do about Angelus' return to Sunnydale. "I say we stake him" Xander suggested for the millionth time that hour.
"Maybe we could try to recurse him again?" Willow said.
"Wils, it didn't work the last fifty times. Let's just stake him" Xander replied.
"We can't do that, it's not just Buffy's feelings anymore... there's three young children involved" Jenny added.
"They might be better off without him" Giles said.
"We're never gonna agree on anything tonight" Willow said.
"No, we will not" Giles said, "It's late... come back in the morning and we'll discuss it further."
Giles watched Willow and Xander leave and worried that this time, no matter what was decided, someone was going to get hurt.
PART 6
The next morning Buffy awoke nauseous and ran for the bathroom, there was a difference this time, Angelus stood behind her and held her hair back and when it was over, he carried her back to the bed, where she fell asleep in the comfort of his arms. The next time she awoke she found herself alone in the bed, she heard noises coming from downstairs and she went to investigate. She found Angelus playing tea party with Callie, while the boys watched some awful cartoon show. Buffy watched the scene before her and it finally dawned on her how much Angelus must love them to put up with all the crap he'd been faced with lately. She came downstairs and said, "If only I had my camera. Angelus, the scourge of Europe having a tea party."
"Only because... well, the boys have each other and Callie is the only girl..." Angelus tried to justify his involvement.
"In that case, we'd better have another girl... so you don't have to play with Callie's dolls" Buffy said trying not to laugh.
That's when Callie chimed in, "Daddy likes playing dollies."
"So Dru got the doll obsession from you?" Buffy asked innocently.
Angelus growled and pulled her onto his lap, "I got it from her."
Buffy looked around, "Where's my mom?"
"Mom is at work and said that I was welcome to stay as long as I like" Angelus told her smugly.
Buffy stared at him, "She likes you."
"Surprised?" he asked.
"Totally."
Angelus growled again and then told her, "I love you."
"I love you too" Buffy replied getting up and heading for the kitchen.
***
Meanwhile Willow and Xander had arrived at Giles'. They all sat around and looked at each other, until Giles said, "We can't in good conscience do anything to Angelus. If we leave him alone, he'll probably leave."
"WHAT?" Xander yelled.
"Xander... there are small children involved. They don't deserve to grow up fatherless, they probably don't even realise what he is, besides we can't actually prove he's done anything evil since he arrived" Jenny explained calmly.
Xander stared at Giles, "She got to you. Jenny... Angelus' biggest fan, turned you away from the truth of the situation."
"Xan..." Willow began, but Xander ignored her and walked out.
Willow looked upset, so Giles put his hand on her shoulder, she shrugged it off and hugged Jenny all the time wishing things were different and that she hadn't lost both of her best friends.
***
When Joyce returned home, she wondered how Buffy and Angelus were getting along. Not that she was anxious to get rid of Buffy or her grandchildren, but she liked her son-in-law and didn't want Buffy to screw up her life even more. She was almost to the front door, when she heard a familiar voice say, "Hi Mrs Summers." Joyce turned around, "Hello Xander. What are you doing here?"
"Actually... I want you to come with me" Xander told her.
"Sorry, I'm busy. Why don't you come in and meet Angelus?" Joyce asked her daughter's old friend.
Xander actually looked sorry as he said, "No, I meant you have to come with me now. So I can swap you for Angelus and destroy him."
"Xander... I thought you'd gotten over your Buffy obsession" Joyce said exasperated. She turned back towards the house and Xander hit her on the head and dragged her off.
***
Buffy looked out of the window and saw that her mother's car was in the driveway, but there was no Joyce anywhere. She was worried and as soon as Angelus came back downstairs she pounced.
"What?" he asked seeing her expression.
"Mom's car is in the drive, but there's no mom in sight" Buffy told him.
Angelus grabbed his coat and was heading to the door, he was about to go look for Joyce when the phone rang. He waited while Buffy answered it.
"Hello?"
"Tell the monster to be at the old factory and we'll give your mom back" a voice croaked in a bad attempt at disguising it.
"Xander? Is that you?" Buffy asked suspiciously.
The other person hung up with a yelp and Buffy turned to Angelus, "It's Xander and he's at the factory."
Angelus left the house on a mission to save his mother-in-law from the raving loony, that is Xander.
PART 7
Angelus arrived at the factory less than ten minutes later and used his superior vampire vision to look around. He saw Xander and a tied up Joyce in the still standing back section of the factory. Angelus stealthily moved towards where the moron was holding his mother-in-law hostage and laid in wait. He could see that Xander was getting more and more nervous with each passing moment, which allowed Angelus to sneak closer and knock Xander unconscious, he then released Joyce. "Are you okay?" he asked her.
"I'm fine" Joyce managed to say, "What are you going to do to him?"
"Tie him up and dump him on Giles' doorstep, with a note explaining what the idiot attempted to do" Angelus said.
Joyce was relived that the boy wasn't going to be hurt and that she was safe. Angelus dropped her home and took off with Xander, leaving Joyce to explain it all to Buffy.
***
Angelus had seriously considered just killing Xander, but had finally decided that his scrawny carcass wasn't worth the grief he'd get from Buffy over it. Halfway to Giles', Xander awoke and realised he was alone and tied up in a car with Angelus and he freaked out.
"Calm down" Angelus told him, "I'm not going to kill you. I'm just going to tell Giles and the others what you did and let them deal with you."
Xander realised what Angelus had planned for him was probably worse than death and laid there silently wondering what Giles and the others could possibly do to him as punishment. Angelus pulled up in front of Giles' apartment and dragged Xander from the car, he walked up to the door and knocked. When Giles answered he got the shock of his life and before he could say anything, Angelus spoke.
"I don't want to come in or hurt you, but I do want to return something that belongs to you."
Giles was shocked when Angelus dumped a hog-tied Xander at his feet. "I would've killed him, but he's not worth the lecture Buffy would give me. However if the little worm even looks in Joyce's direction again..." Angelus threatened.
Giles snapped out of his shock, "What did he do to Joyce?"
"Moron here decided to kidnap her in order to force Buffy to turn me over to him" Angelus said.
"I'll take care of him" Giles promised glaring at Xander.
"See that you do" Angelus told him walking away.
When he was gone Giles pulled Xander inside and prepared to teach him the lesson of a lifetime.
***
When Angelus returned home, he found Buffy sitting in the living room alone. "Where's Joyce?" he asked coming up behind her.
"She went to bed... right after I told her we'd be leaving tomorrow night" Buffy said.
"We are?" Angelus questioned.
Buffy looked up at her love, "It's time to go home."
Angelus took her hand and said, "We can stay..."
Buffy cut him off, "We wanna go home. Mom even promised to visit... of course we'll have to chuck the minions out..."
"Agreed" Angelus said giving her a quick kiss. "I'll go get my stuff from the mansion...
"Tomorrow. Tonight I wanna show you just how happy you make me" Buffy said grasping his hand tightly and leading him up the stairs to her room.
**
As soon as darkness fell the next night, Buffy, Angelus and the kids said goodbye to Joyce and drove off home (after a quick stop at the mansion, where Dru tried to eat Callie). Dawn was about to break when they returned and after putting the kids to bed (they hadn't slept all night), Buffy and Angelus went to bed also (for an entirely different reason). A while later as she fell asleep, she thought to herself < It's good to be home >.
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