Parts: 31 - 40
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~Part: 31~
Giles and Joyce awoke around noon to the sound of a frantic knocking on the front door. "Giles open up! Please Giles!" they could hear Cordelia's frightened voice as it shook with tears.
Swinging open the door, the elder watcher was surprised to suddenly have his arms filled with a sobbing shaking Cordelia Chase. Leading her to the sofa he sat the young girl down next to Joyce and moved to kneel in front of the crying girl and the sound of quick foot steps came down the stairs.
"Cordy?" Willow said as she came to the girl's other side. "What happened?" she asked as she brushed the brunette's long hair behind her ear.
"Will-ow" the girl said around a sob. When the redhead nodded at her she flung herself into the girl's arms and began rapidly speaking through her sobs. "I took Xander home last and-and he said it would be ok. But the light was on and he got really quiet. When - when he went in, I heard yelling and - and I heard a sound like someone got hit and then lots of crashing and he won't answer his phone and I went to his window and I couldn't see him and there was," Cordy pulled back so that scared brown eyes met concerned green. "On his door, on the door knob and there was blood."
"Oh Goddess," Willow began to feel lightheaded as her breathing became faster and more frantic. "Daddy," she whimpered and found herself in Giles tight embrace before the word was completely said. Joyce held Cordelia as Giles held Willow, both of them trying to understand what the two young girls apparently already knew.
Brushing his daughter's hair out of her face he pulled back slightly to look at her. "Willow dear what is it?"
"Xander - he said he stopped."
"Who stopped what?" he asked patiently as over her shoulder he saw Angel, Wes and Faith descend the stairs.
"Xander's father.He used beat Xander a lot, even broke his arm once. But when he turned thirteen, Xander said he stopped. That he was ok. But I don't think he-"
The girl's words were cut off as a sloppy knock was heard at the door and Wesley went to answer it. A soft exclamation of `bloody hell' was heard and then they saw him kick the door shut as he escorted Xander inside the apartment. The boy was badly beaten, one eye swollen shut and his lip broken, various other injuries beneath his clothing that had yet to be seen.
"Xander!" Willow and Cordelia both cried out as they rushed to his side. Helping him onto the now empty sofa, Joyce stepped back into the room carrying a bowl of warm water and a cloth.
"Bloody hell," Giles breathed. "What happened?" he asked as he began to gently clean the boy's wounds with the dampened cloth.
Hissing as he moved slightly, Xander held his side and said softly, "I was late."
"Late for what?" Angel asked as he crouched next to the boy.
"Curfew."
~Part: 32~
San Fernando Valley, CA
"Spike."
"Yeah pet?"
"Daddy needs us."
"Oh right. Dru baby you know what happened the last time we were there." Spike watched as Drusilla spread out her tarot cards and looked back up at him with steel determination.
"Daddy needs us, and he's found us a mummy. We must leave now Spike."
"Dru pet if we leave now we burn. It's three in the soddin' afternoon."
"Yes and your car is in the attached garage and its windows are covered." She said with a smug smile, not one hint of insanity in her voice or eyes.
"Dru...pet." Spike leaned closer to her to see if what his eyes and ears were telling him was correct, Drusilla was as sane as he was and it wasn't an act nor a simple fleeting moment of sanity. She was well and truly sane.
Standing from the bed, the dark vampires went across the room to the closet and took out a duffle bag. Filling it with her clothes and various other items she began speaking to Spike.
"I had a dream last night my Spike. I met mummy. She's beautiful and kind, you'll love her just as much as our Angel does, as I do already. She touched me in the dream," she carried her now filled bag back to the bed and wrapped up her tarot cards in a dark silk cloth, putting them in the bag and zipping it up. "Her hand to my face, the doors opened and the light shined through. Everything is clear now and I see as I have not seen even with my mortal eyes."
Taking his hands in hers she looked deep into his questioning ice blue eyes. "Daddy needs us pet, so does mummy. I'm not insane anymore Spike. You know that I know you can see it. And on our way there, we will stop somewhere and pick me up some jeans and shirts because I am so bloody tired of wearing all these sodding dresses and prancing around like some unloving porcelain doll."
Smiling brightly she hugged Spike tightly and kissed his neck. "I do love you Spike, but if we're honest with one another, neither one of us has been in love with the other for quite sometime. Now luv, go get packed and we'll be on our way." Kissing him again on his cheek she left the room.
~~~*~~~
Two days had passed since Xander had fallen against Giles' door beaten and bloodied by his own father. After taking him to the hospital and getting his father reported for assault and battery, Xander had been brought back to the watcher's flat and had stayed there since. Sitting at the kitchen table, the boy tried once again to make the tears stop but was unable and soon found himself held securely in Giles' embrace. Pressing his face into the man's shoulder he cried unable to stop. Pressing a kiss to the boy's hair, Giles looked up and found Angel watching them.
"Want me to kill him?" the souled vampire asked softly.
"No," Giles answered just as soft. "Because if you do.I won't get any shots in."
Angel smiled wryly and went into the living room where he found Willow searching through some books. As he moved to sit next to his mate he heard Xander's softly muffled words to Giles, "Willow was right, you do make a good dad."
Smiling softly, Giles lifted Xander's face to his with gentle fingers beneath his chin. "You will always be safe here."
Moving to sit in the chair next to his, Giles' face became ever more serious. "Xander something has to be done. I cannot and will not allow you to go back there. I can't allow you to be hurt again. I phoned my lawyer last night after you went to sleep. I can start the ball rolling to get your parents declared unfit, to become your guardian as well if you like."
"You don't - you don't have to do that," Xander stammered, looking down. He kept hearing his father's voice in his head declaring that no one would ever want him and that he was worthless beyond words.
"Xander," Giles waited patiently as the boy's eyes met his again. "I want to."
Looking at Giles with eyes much like that of a wounded puppy he asked, "You want me.you want me to be in your family?"
Looking Xander in the eye and making certain each of his words came across with as much gentle strength as he meant them he said. "You are already a part of my family, I just want to make it permanent, if you'd - oof"
Giles' words were cut off as he found his arms full of Xander who was clinging to him tightly, holding on for dear life. Wrapping his arms tightly around the boy, he held him until Xander wished to be released.
~~~*~~~
"Angel," Willow said softly looking up at her mate and lover. "You know that dream I told you about, the one with Dru in it?"
Nodding he moved closer to her and stroked her hair. "Well, I think she's ok. Like sane ok, I felt something, and I think-"
The doorbell rang silencing her words for a moment. Standing she left the couch and moved to answer the door. Opening it she found the subject of her discussion and dream standing there. Without any fear or hesitation she stepped into Drusilla's arms and hugged her tightly. Moving to the door, Angel's eyes opened wide in surprise at the scene.
"I knew it was you," Willow said softly into the vampiress's shoulder. Pulling back she issued both Dru and Spike an invitation. Turning to Angel she raised her hand to his jaw and shut his mouth. "They're part of your family Angel, so now they're a part of mine as well."
"Bloody hell what happened to you mate?" Spike said as he saw Xander's bruised face. Hearing Willow's soft growl beside him he looked at the redhead and was shocked when he heard her softly growl, "the bloody pratt that calls himself his father."
Smiling with amusement he looked at Giles and said, "So rumors are true, you been teachin our mum British. Well done mate." Turning his attention back to Xander he said, "Well mate, there are three vampires here now and a man next to you formerly known as `Ripper', I'm sure we could make the wanker scream."
"Spike, Drusilla," Giles greeted with reservation and a bit of distain.
"Daddy," Willow admonished. "Be nice."
Xander shook his head and began to chuckle at the absurdity of the situation, and soon the chuckles turned into full belly laughter that turned into wracking sobs. Everyone was surprised when Drusilla went to the boy and held him in her arms.
"You're not well yet," she scolded softly. "You still need your rest."
Stroking the boy's hair as he sobbed into her shoulder she lifted him easily into her arms and carried him to couch. Holding him on her lap as she sat down, she held him as he rode out his tears and cried himself to sleep in her arms. Looking up from the sleeping teen she asked Giles, "Do you have anywhere for him to sleep Rupert?"
Nodding Giles led her, as she carried Xander, into his bedroom. Laying him on the bed she waited as Giles pulled off his shoes, and with one on either side, both tucked the boy in. Moving to stand in front of Giles she took the man into her arms and held him close. "Rupert I'm so sorry." Pulling back and looking into his eyes, her own filled with guilt and heavy sadness. "For tricking you, for her death. I know you loved her dearly."
Pulling back Giles looked at her. "What are you talking about? Jenny's alive."
"No Rupert she isn't," Dru looked at him with sad eyes. "She died Rupert. You're the only one who's seen her since she was buried."
"She's alive."
"No," her voice broke as she held Giles tightly to her. "I'm so sorry Rupert, I know it's not enough but it's all I have."
During their talk Angel had quietly made his way upstairs and was now watching them from the hallway. Stepping inside the room, he walked to Giles and put his hand on the man's shoulder.
"Rupert," Angel spoke softly.
Pulling away from the two vampires, he stepped into the hallway and shook his head furiously. "She's alive I spoke to her not two weeks ago." How could he make them understand, Jenny was alive.
"Rupert you buried her. You stood at her grave as they lowered her into the ground. My god, Angelus left her body in your bed. She's dead Giles." Angel looked at the man concern, confusion and sorrow in his chocolate eyes.
"No," his voice hitched on a sob he tried to hold back as visions of Jenny's lifeless body in his bed, her pale face as he placed a rose in her casket before the service, her coffin lowered in to the ground. "No," his voice shook as tears fell from his eyes closed tightly as he tried to will the visions away.
Angel and Drusilla caught the man between themselves and held him in a tight embrace as he finally allowed himself to grieve for his lost love. Lifting the man into his arms, Angel carried him into the guest bedroom and laid him on the bed. Settling behind him and Drusilla in front, both hugged and held the man as he cried heart wrenching sobs.
"I'll stay with him," Dru said softly once Giles had cried himself to sleep. Nodding sadly, Angel left and closed the door softly on his way out. Looking down at the man in her arms, Drusilla brought his head to lay on her breast and stroked his hair.
~Part: 33~
It had been three days since Buffy had dragged herself out from underneath the freezing spray of the shower. Three days since she moved at all from where she lay in her bed. Three days since she had come to realize that perhaps Willow had been telling the truth all along. Three days was long enough. Three days was too long.
Rising from the bed she climbed back in the shower and cleaned herself and then quickly got dressed. Pulling her hair back into a ponytail she looked up in the mirror above her dresser and saw the cold fire burning in her eyes. Oh she still planned the death of the Rosenberg, what had changed was the person. She no longer had any hard or vengeful feelings toward Willow. Now all of her bloodlust was directed at Ira. Not only had he tricked her, but he had killed her best friend's mother, had terrorized Willow, and had degraded her. Raped her. Beat her. Oh he would pay. No one messed with this slayer like that and lived. No one hurt her friends like that and lived. He would die. Slowly. Painfully. And in such a manner that the vampires would be asking - Angelus who?
Putting small daggers into the waistband of her leather pants, she slipped out of her window and went on her hunt only the light of the full moon as her guide.
~Part: 34~
"Come back for more my little whore," Ira sneered as Buffy steeped inside the house. Her outfit, black leather pants, black turtleneck-cable knit sweater and black combat boots worth of Spike or Faith, had him amazed. "I told you no clothes unless I approve them."
Tilting her head and looking at him silently, Buffy stepped closer and smiled sweetly before slamming her fist into his face with all of her slayer might. The hit sent him flying back across the room and shattered his jaw. Dragging his unconscious form down into the basement she chained him up by the shackles hanging from the ceiling. Using her daggers she striped him of his shirt and began to smile rather cruelly.
Lifting a bucket filled with icy water, Buffy threw the water into the man's face. "Wakey, wakey."
~Part: 35~
"Faith?" Wesley questioned as he sat next to the girl where she sat outside Giles' apartment. "Are you alright?"
Faith nodded without looking at him and watched her hands as she toyed with the small flower they held. She didn't move, didn't look up when her watcher sat by her side. My new watcher, she thought. Will I get him killed too?
"No, because you're strong."
Her head snapped up at his words, her eyes wide as they looked into his. "But I only thought."
Shaking his head he said, "No Faith, you spoke."
Turning her attention back to the flower, her hands began to shake lightly as her mind drifted back to thoughts of what she had told them all. Dropping the flower to the stone floor, she shook her head sadly and stood. Her breathing became shaky as she thought of what she had to do. She couldn't bear being around them, seeing the look of disgust in their eyes. They knew now, they'd hate her for being so weak.
"I - I have to go," she stammered and turned to leave. She felt a hand on her arm as she moved to go.
"No Faith, you don't." Turning the shaking girl to face him, Wesley saw the trembling of her form and the tears threatening to fall from her doe brown eyes. Taking her face in his hands he tilted her face up to his. Kissing her forehead, he locked eyes with her and said with gentle firmness. "You have nothing to be ashamed of."
"Don't I?" she asked her voice shaking with a combination of shame and anger and fear at her possible friends throwing her away as others had done. "I was weak and stupid and - "
"A child. You were a child. You did nothing wrong Faith. The ones who were suppose to care for you, suppose to protect you, betrayed you, belittled you, and abused you. They hurt you in the worst way possible. They did," he stressed the words. Neither of them noticed when Angel stepped outside. "They hurt you Faith; they were the ones who did wrong. Not you."
"But I should've - I should've done something."
"Like what? What could you have done?" he asked his hands on her shoulders giving her a slight shake. "They starved you, beat you, bloody hell girl, they raped you! This, none of this was your fault. Your first watcher was killed by Kakiestos not by you."
Angel's face grew concerned and alarmed as he heard Wesley's words. All the hurt and fear and anger he smelled on Faith made sense now. What hell had this girl lived through before becoming the slayer?
"But I'm the slayer." Tears were now dampening her cheeks, her skin wet from the salty rivers.
"Yes you are. But he was stronger."
Stepping toward the pair quietly, Angel offered what he could by way of comfort. "Faith," he said softly trying not to frighten either of them with his presence. "I met Kakiestos once, well actually Angelus did. Even he couldn't take that son of a bitch out. He was old, he was strong, and all he cared about was killing. The more people he could hurt with only one death the better. You and Buffy had to run him through with a two by eight fencepost stake. That should prove right there how strong he was. A regular simple stake wouldn't have done a damn thing. That you killed him, well you're right up there with Buffy in the legends among demons. She fought Angelus and survived, but you killed Kakiestos."
"Y-you don't have to say that," she said her voice still shaking somewhat.
With a half smile the dark vampire brushed her hair away from her damp cheek and kissed her forehead. "I never `just say' anything."
Turning to leave the pair, he turned back and looked at Faith for a moment his eyes concerned as he asked her, "Faith is it ok for me to know what happened to you? If it isn't that's ok, but trust me when I say that my mate would kick my ass if I weren't there to protect from whatever it is that's harmed you."
Looking down for a moment, she nodded and looked at him. "Giles knows. So does Mrs. Summers.Um.I'm sorry," she said softly ashamed still had what she thought she had allowed to happen. She was the one they hurt, but they'd always told her it was her fault they had to hurt her. That she made them hurt her. If she hadn't been bad it wouldn't have happened.
Shaking his head Angel looked at her. "The way I understand it you've nothing to be sorry for."
Walking inside, he left the watcher and his slayer in the courtyard.
~Part: 36~
Drusilla’s eyes opened as she felt Giles shift on the bed beside her. Propping herself up on her elbow she watched as the man slowly awakened. Grey-green eyes slowly fluttered opened and found themselves staring into warm brown ones.
Blinking as thou to chase away some errant thought, Giles yawned and behind a hand and pulled himself into a sitting position. Leaning against the headboard, he looked at Drusilla curiously for a moment and the shook his head sadly. For some reason he could begin to fathom, being near this woman, this vampire made him feel safe and cared for. It was as though he knew she would chase away all the bad dreams, all the demons that haunted his thoughts and memories. Gripping her shoulders firmly but gently, he pulled her up into his arms, leaning her back against his chest. Wrapping his arms around her waist he let his head fall against the headboard.
“I thought it was all some crazy dream. I kept seeing her, even after she had died. It was as though she were still right there with me.” He began talking softly, slowly almost afraid if he said too much, too quickly, too loudly, she would disappear, or perhaps Jenny would reappear. He didn’t know which was worse.
“You loved her,” she said softly as she turned slightly to see his face. “You loved her and I took her from you.” She looked down at her pale hands and knew without a doubt that she would do anything to keep this man safe. She’d never felt this for a human before, not since she met William all those years ago in that alley. “I can’t ask you to forgive me and I won’t. Death is not something that can be forgiven. And if you wish it I’ll leave. I could blame it all on my insanity, but both you and she deserve better…You said she came to you, that she spoke to you…what did she say?”
“She…Jenny said there was a prophecy. That in the time of two slayers, one of closed thoughts would become dark and one from shadows would rise to fight. Until the moon bled and the skies cried the battle would rage on. There was also something about an ascension, but the door rang and she left. I guess it was my mind playing tricks.”
Drusilla shook her head and her face grew thoughtful. “No I’ve heard a prophecy like that. It was years ago. The language, I learned it because I loved the symbols, thought they were spirits,” she laughed as she thought about her own thoughts during her insanity. “Bloody hell I was one loony bird wasn’t I?”
“Yes dear you were,” Giles chuckled. Something clicked in his mind. “Wait…it’s an actual prophecy?”
“Yes. I believe the language was…MieCroixian demon, umm there a long since dead breed, but one of there greatest authors was a prophetess. She was quite eloquent in her prophecies. I don’t know if I still have the book or not, it was around 1903 the last time I looked at it. And we were in Prague, there’s a chance it could still be there. I’ll have to ask Spike.”
As she moved to get up, she quickly found herself pulled back into Giles’ arms. Looking up at him with a curious glance, she found herself quite surprised when he kissed her forehead.
“I do forgive you Drusilla. I think perhaps she needed to die. Not that it makes the circumstances any better, but in the turn of events. If she had lived, she would’ve cast the recurse, Angel and Buffy would be back together and Willow may very well be dead instead of my daughter. In the end run…perhaps it is better that she has passed on. Now she is with her uncle, I have a daughter, my daughter has a mate and her mate and his family are ready, willing, and able to protect a boy that may very well become my son. Did I ever mention how increasingly dizzying these past few months have been?”
Drusilla chuckled and this time stood successfully. Reaching for his hand, she pulled Giles up to stand alongside her. “You,” she said looking with amused sternness at Giles, “need to eat. You’re children need to know that their father is doing well and we have plans to make and a book to fetch.”
Taking his hand she led him downstairs and into the kitchen. Setting the kettle on to boil, she turned and looked at the empty apartment. “Where did everyone go?”
“Ah here,” Giles said as he lifted a note from the table. “Gone to the mansion,” he read aloud, “not enough room here, took the boy, took the slayer, had to knock the wussy watcher out to take him, mum says you better be nice to Dru, and the Great Poof says you need to pick up the boys pills on the way over…Spike does have a way with words doesn’t he?”
Drusilla chuckled as she took out two bags of English Breakfast tea from the cupboard. “Just be glad he didn’t call him the Poofy ballerina in tights. For a long time that’s all he would call him.”
~Part: 37~
At the Mansion
“Ok guys…guys…HEY GUYS OVER HERE!” Willow yelled out as she stopped their bickering. There are enough rooms in here that everyone, including Xander and Dru can have their own, if you all want to share that’s fine, Angel shut up,” Willow fielded Angel’s nearly said words with a growl. “Spike, yours and Dru’s rooms are still as you left them. The rest of the rooms are on the west wing, there are also more on the north wing, Angel and I have the south wing. Any questions? None? Good upstairs…Now!”
As soon as the growled words left her lips everyone except Angel was moving rapidly up the staircase to find rooms. Falling bonelessly into a large overstuffed black leather chair, Willow closed her eyes and rubbed her face. Angel moved next to her and sat on the arm of the chair, kissing her hair; he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and hugged her to his side.
“I don’t wanna be a mom anymore. You make the children behave,” she moaned out tiredly as she leaned heavily against him. She groaned her displeasure as her mate slipped of the chair and then sighed in relief as he lifted her from the chair and carried her upstairs to their room.
“You need to sleep Little One,” Angel said as he set her on the bed.
“I wanna take a bath, but I wanna sleep too,” she yawned sleepily and Angel smiled down at her in adoration.
“Do you want me to bathe you?” he asked softly as he began removing her clothes, kissing her neck gently as he removed her top.
Yawning again, she rolled onto her side and laid her head on his thigh. Looking up at him with a soft pout and innocently pleading eyes she asked, “Bathe with me?”
Kissing her pouting lips, Angel smiled and lifted her now nude form off the bed and carried her into their large private bath. Setting her on the closed toilet, he ran hot water for the bath and added soothing oils into the water. Looking over at his mate, he found her tiredly brushing her fiery locks. Standing nude before her he took the brush from her hands and set it on the counter top and turned off the bath water. Lifting her sleepy form into his arms, he stepped into the large tub and slowly sat down I the water. As soon as they both were engulfed in the warm water, Willow was asleep.
Smiling softly at his mate, Angel bathed her with gentle care and then dried her and put her to bed. Returning to bathroom, he drained the tub and hung up the towels. Returning to Willow’s side he crawled into bed next to her and was soon asleep as well.
Across the hall, Spike sat up in his bed unable to sleep. It just wasn’t the same. He’d often found it difficult to sleep when Drusilla was absent, after sleeping next to someone for so long it no longer felt the same to sleep alone. Rising from the bed he silently made his way across the hall to the room where his sire and his mate slept. Knocking softly on the door, he heard Willow’s soft voice beckon him inside.
Willow lay in the bed wrapped in her mate’s arms and watched as the door slowly opened. Seeing Spike’s head peak in and the sleepy-lonely look on his face she understood his problem. Reaching her hand out to him, she waited as he slipped into the room and shut the door. Padding over to the bed in bare feet, he climbed in next to Willow and laid his head on her breast as she wrapped her arm around him. Tucking himself tightly along her side, he wrapped his arm over her stomach and let his eyes fall closed as she kissed his hair.
Smiling softly, Willow brushed her fingers through his platinum locks and wrapped her arm more tightly around Spike. Yawning sleepily, she soon fell asleep wrapped in the arms of her mate and her mate’s child.
~Part: 38~
Hearing a soft knock at his door, Wesley set his book down on the bedside table and stood. Opening the door, he was surprised to find Faith on the other side. She looked so lost as she stood there looking down at her hands, her hair hanging down around her face like a curtain.
“I-I couldn’t sleep,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Still frightened of the others’ reaction to her now that they all mostly knew her past, she looked up slowly at Wesley. Seeing what she thought to be a rejection in his eyes, she began to turn away, stammering out an apology.
Wesley’s warm hand gripped her wrist and turned her back to face him. Lifting his other hand to her hold her cheek, he tilted her head up to his gaze. Looking into her eyes for a moment, he saw the insecurity and uncertainty lying so openly in them. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he led her into his room. Leading her to his bed, he gently pushed her down onto the mattress. Waiting silently as the girl lay down, he tucked her in, bringing the blankets up under her chin. Lifting the covers on the opposite side, he slipped into the bed next to her. As soon as he had settled into the bed, Faith curled up next to him and placed her head on his chest. Closing her eyes she was soon asleep.
Kissing her hair, Wesley vowed softly to her, “I won’t let anyone hurt you Faith. I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”’
~Part: 39~
Ira’s eyes snapped open at the feel of the icy water slamming into him. The first thing he noticed was the pain and utter immobility of his jaw. It felt as though he’d been hit with one of those metal baseball bats. But no, not a bat, a slayer. A very pissed off slayer. Slowly he raised weary eyes to meet those of his captor.
Buffy stood in front of him, smiling ever so sweetly. Her smile was that of a girl asking for an ice cream cone though her eyes were greedily seeking vengeance and death. Looking her captive directly in the eye she began to speak.
“Ira. All those times you told me that your wife, that Willow’s mother was not only alive but safe and sound, they were nothing but lies weren’t they?”
He gave no reply, not even a shake of his head or a blink of his eye. Sighing at his silence, Buffy picked up her dagger and walked the few steps to him. Pressing the flat of the double edged blade against his bare chest, she slowly drew the dagger down, cutting twin lines down his skin. Watching as his blood began to flow; Buffy fancied she might understand Angelus. In this instance, in this moment of torture, Ira’s blood called to her; and all she wanted was to see more of it. It was a rather morbid curiosity. Watching his blood slide down his body as though the lines were made of red tears.
Lifting the blade from his skin, she used the tip of the metal to make small shallow cuts along his skin, from his neck across his shoulders. Watching as more blood seeped through the shallow wounds. Smiling now as she watched the blood, Buffy lifted her free hand to one of the cuts and using her finger, pushed into the cut as far as she could. Hearing his cries of pain only seemed to make the girl smile wider and brighter.
“Not only did you lie to me Ira – or should I call you slave? Not only did you lie to me, but you made me turn my back on my best friend, you endangered your own daughter, killed your wife and oooh here’s the best part,” her face grew hard with rage, “you had me as your bitch!” she growled the words. “Well no more. Tonight you will learn pain, tonight you will meet death. And darlin’ I’m the ex of the Angel of Death. You ever heard of Angelus?” seeing the recognition of the name in the man’s eyes she smirked. “Not only did I date him, but as I understand it, your daughter is now mated to him. How’s that for life’s little ironies?”
The next hours until sunrise, Buffy spent torturing Ira. The cuts and hits were always enough to cause excoriating pain, but never life threatening. When the man finally passed out from pain and exhaustion, she left.
~Part: 40~
Moaning softly as she batted away unseen hands Willow rolled onto her stomach and said, “Play later. Sleep now.”
Smiling at Spike over Willow’s sleeping form; Angel slipped an arm around her. Pulling his mate against his chest, he watched as his child admired her form. Smiling softly, Spike curled up against his new ‘mum’ and wrapped his arms around her, once again sleeping soundly.
Smiling at the pair, Angel reluctantly left their bed as he heard the front door of the mansion open and shut. Donning his robe he made his way down the stairs and into the living room where Giles and Drusilla now stood. Moving forward he took his once – but no longer – insane child into his arms and hugged her close. Burying his face in her hair, he kissed Dru’s shoulder and held her tighter for a moment before releasing her.
“I’ve missed you Dru,” Angel said softly and smiled at her. Receiving her smile in return he turned to Giles and noticed the look of concern on the man’s face. Stepping up to the watcher, Angel put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “Are you ok Giles?”
“Yes thank you,” he answered after a moment. Handing Angel a bit of paper he said, “This was left on the door attached by a blade.”
“Your turn Angelus,” Angel read aloud. “Well it’s Buffy’s handwriting alright. There’s an address.”
“There’s more on the back.”
“I’ve gone, not sure to where yet, but I won’t be bothering you all anymore. Tell Willow I’m sorry that I didn’t believe her. It took hell to open my eyes. He’s there Angel, at the address. I had my fun, but believe me there’s still a lot left for you to have fun with. Kill him Angel, kill him violently. After what he did to Willow, to his own family he doesn’t deserve to live. And after what I did, I won’t be returning. Tell my mom I love her. Goodbye Sunnyhell.”