The Proposition

Part ten of The Surprise Series

Author: Tequesta

Relationship: Angel/Willow

Overall Rating: NC-17

Email: teewalkertq@aol.com

Summary:  Guess who is ready to make a proposition and who will accept it.

Disclaimer: Willow, Angel, and the rest of them, are the sole property of Joss Whedon and Fox. I do not own any of them.

Feedback: PLEASE!!!!!!! The more I get the more I write.

Distribution: If you already have permission just take it. All others just ask and you shall receive.

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Angel was awoken later that night by the shrill ringing of his phone. Earlier he had tried to convince Willow to meet up with Cordelia and Wesley when they had been around but Willow had wanted to put it off until tomorrow and now after hours of doing his best to calm her down enough so that she would get some sleep, some inconsiderate idiot was ringing them at this insane early hour of the morning.

"Hello." Angel growled trying to stop the anger that radiated from his sharp tone.

"Hello, Is this An…an….Angel," Giles stumbled over his name.

"Yes. This is I." Angel responded recognizing who was on the other end.

"Who is it baby?" Willow asked sleepily as she tried to sit up.

"It's Giles sweetheart. Get back to sleep. I've got it" He sat up a little surprised to be hearing from Giles.

"What is it Giles?" He asked turning his attention back to the librarian on the phone.

Angel listened a little impatiently as to what Giles was trying to tell him. Giles seemed to be prolonging the conversation and was taking his time to get to the point. Angel wondered why he was stalling and he was beginning to lose the little patience he had.

"Alright Giles what is it? Get to the point" He snapped this time unable to wait any longer.

"I'm sorry Angel. I am calling because Buffy quit slaying. She was so upset over you and Willow."

"Oh really. When did she decide this?"

"A couple of hours ago. I tried to reason with her about…you two but she wouldn't  listen."

"Oh Ok. I'm sorry Giles but I don't know what you want us to do about it."

"I….I was hop….hoping that you could…….maybe talk to her." Giles stumbled out closing his eyes tightly and hoping that Angel would be the bigger person.

"Why me Giles?" Angel asked clearly confused.

"I was hoping you could talk some sense into her or something. I know if she listened she could see how important her duties are and what a big mistake her quitting is."

"Oh….Ok ….I guess I'll talk to her."

"Thank you so much Angel " Giles breathed out a silent sigh of relief and felt very humble towards Angel.

"Your welcome. I will call you tomorrow after I talk to her."

"Ok, Good-Bye Angel."

"Bye Giles."

"What happened Angel? Is there anything wrong?" Willow asked clearly concerned. She noticed how tense Angel was.

"Yes" he answered as he sat on the bed beside her a little frustrated that he had to talk to Buffy. When was she going to grow up.

"Buffy has gotten extremely upset over our new relationship and has decided to quit slaying."

"Oh my God….no."

"Yes she has and Giles wanted me to talk to her but I don't know what to say to her Willow. She is a big girl although she’s not acting like it but I can't make her do anything that she doesn't want to do."

"I know but you have to try baby. If you don't those nasty demons and blood sucking vamps…sorry no offense, will try to take over Sunnydale."

"None taken kitten." Angel looked into his mates eyes. "I know Willow and I don't want the people of Sunnydale to get hurt just as much as you don't but I don't think that she is ready to hear from either of us so soon. But for you lover I'll try to get through to her."

"Thanks Angel. Now come back to bed." Willow ordered. "You know I have to meet the others tomorrow and hopefully they won't hate me."

"They won't hate you baby and I'll be glad to come back to bed." Angel followed orders by laying back down and reached over, taking Willow back into his arms.

****

"I have found her sire." The vampire informed Dracula as he made his way into the domain.

"Good.  Where did Angelus take her?"

"To LA. They live in an hotel that he calls Angel Investigations."

"Angel Investigations?" Dracula smirked. "Good…..we will leave tomorrow tonight. Pack my things I want to get to her before my time has run out. I need her power and by having it, I will become invincible. I also intend to keep the little red haired witch once I have consumed all of her power. I want to make her mine. I will teach Angelus to take what rightfully belongs to me. He is completely inferior and I will be sure to make the witch watch as I torture him. Let her see his weakness.

"Why do you need her? Sire she is nothing but……."  The vampire cut his words short knowing that he had just said something wrong especially when he heard Dracula's growl.

Dracula staked closer to the vamp and grabbed him by the neck and squeezing it as tight as he could, he vamped out.  "NEVER I MEAN NEVER SAY THAT ABOUT WILLOW.  SHE IS SPECIAL. THAT WITCH IS THE ONLY THING THAT HAS KEPT ME GOING FOR YEARS AND NOW IT'S TIME TO END MY CRAVING. I. WANT. THAT. GIRL."

The vamp nodded and Dracula threw him to the ground. He walked up to his window and looked out at the stars trying to calm himself.

"In the next couple of days the moons will line up in the loonier position and on that night if I complete the ritual her power will be transferred to me. She doesn't know how strong she is and I don't want her to find out or I will never get it. Go now and pack my things. My time grows short and I want her with me." Dracula stated quietly. He was calm and back in control.

The vamp only nodded again but didn't make any attempt to move.

"What is it?" Dracula asked.

"The slayer." The vamp whispered, not knowing what to say or what not too say at this point in time.

"What about that damn slayer? I have no use for her. She is nothing to me." Dracula snapped.

"I know sir. But I've heard that she has quit slaying "

"Where did you hear that?" Dracula looked at the minion as if he was lying.

"I overheard it when I was eavesdropping in the library when the slayer and her watcher were talking. She is very upset about Angelus sleeping with the witch. Apparently the slayer and Angelus have been together in the past and once she found out about the two being together she told her watcher that she was quitting when he wouldn't take her side."

"Even better." Dracula said trying to find a way to make this information work to his advantage." Go and pack we will leave tomorrow. I have a proposition that I suspect the slayer will never turn down. I'll be back."

"Yes sir."

***

"Riley I can't believe that Willow or Angel would do something like that to me!" Buffy complained as she was nearly in tears. She had come to Riley's apartment right after her argument with Giles.

"I can understand why you would be upset with Willow but why Angel?"

"Oh no not you too with the questions." Buffy began to become more upset with Riley's questions about Angel.

"Look all that I am saying is that you and Angel have not been together for a very long time and I….I just want to know why are you so mad at him. I know Willow is your friend and you feel betrayed but you shouldn't have quit slaying."

"Willow was my best friend." Buffy jumped up from the couch and walked toward the door not wanting to hear his response and his sudden disappointment in her too.

"Where are you going Buffy? It's late."

"I am going home and when you come to your senses and stop judging me I will come back."

"I wish you would just listen to reason Buffy."

"I just did." Buffy snapped as she walked out of the door slamming it behind her.

***

Buffy walked to the cemetery not really paying any attention to anything. She felt so betrayed, first from Angel and Willow, then from Giles and now from the only person she thought would be on her side her own boyfriend. Buffy was so lost wallowing in her own misery that she didn't even notice when Dracula materialized behind her.

"Hello slayer."

Once Buffy's senses kicked in she went into her fight stance but only to protect herself not Sunnydales’ residents.

"No slayer I didn't come here to fight you. I only came to make a very tempting offer."

"I don't deal with vamps" Buffy spat out, never for a second letting her guard down.

"I know slayer but what if I said that I have a problem with a certain vampire and that I'm planning to take my revenge on him. I believe you know him. The name Angelus. Ring any bells?"

"An……Angel." Buffy almost forgot that she was talking to the enemy, her mind consumed with the idea of getting revenge on Angel and Willow.

"Ahhh….is that what  he is going by these days? Angel...... Hardly."

"Yes but what has he done to you?"

"Better question slayer, what has he done to you?"

"Nothing."

"Not much of a liar, are you slayer? I have a plan that will break up Angel as you call him and his little witch friend. I need her, she belongs with me and you know that he belongs with you.  If you help me have her I will help you destroy him."

"I don't…..I don't want to destroy him I….I don't want him either. I just want him to hurt like he hurt me."

"And what better way than for me to have the one thing he cares for. That would hurt him most of all."

Buffy thought about it. Coming to a conclusion without even thinking about what the consequences of siding with a vampire were, she only wanted to hurt Angel and Willow.

"When," Buffy asked. "When are we going to do it?"

"I am leaving tomorrow. We can plan before I go." Dracula told her knowing that now he had the slayer and soon he would have his witch.

Buffy felt a little at ease with what she was about to do. After all it was all Willows fault. Buffy was the victim here.

"Come on slayer lets call it a truce and talk about what we need to do. I only have a short time before sunrise so we have to make this quick."

"Oh ok….let's go but if you try anything funny I will stake your ass."

"Ahhh….slayer I'm a man of my word and when I say let's call it a truce then I mean it. But afterwards the truce is off and then we can go back to being enemies. Deal." Dracula smiled at Buffy.

Buffy hesitated for a second before agreeing. "Deal."

"Good let's walk and talk. I will fill you in on what I need you to do."

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