As if the decision had been taken from then, Willow’s face rippled and she gasped in surprise and pain as her knees buckled. Spike caught her before she hit the ground and scooped her up into his arms already hurrying towards the mansion. “It’s the First Hunger,” he called over his shoulder, for the benefit of the others who were following him out of curiosity and concern for their friend. “How much blood’s at the mansion, Sire?”
Angel whipped out his cell phone and dialed a number before rapidly speaking in another language that seemed to consist mostly of snarls and growls. After a few minutes he hung up and tossed a comforting smile at Spike. “There will be a cooler full waiting for us when we get there,” he replied and a bit of tension seeped out of Spike’s shoulders.
Darien stumbled slightly, and found himself being held up by both Darla and Bobby. Bobby was almost expected, as his sire, but Darla was a complete surprise considering how she had been acting. “Willow’s not the only one who needs blood,” remarked Darla even as she reached out and snagged Drusilla’s wrist, pulling the crazed vampiress along behind them. “You’re still recovering and no matter how powerful Angelus’ blood is, you need more blood to heal.”
When they reached the mansion, there was a small, imp-like demon waiting for them next to a large red cooler who scampered away the second it saw them approaching. Angelus opened the front door for Spike even as he scooped up the cooler and moved into the kitchen as Spike sat down on the couch, wrapping himself around Willow who was struggling to get away, even snapping and growling at Spike in full game face. Darien felt his chest throb in sympathy as a shadowed memory of being held down while hot blood was poured into him to sooth the desperate craving that had exploded in him.
< At least the humans are smart enough to keep their distance, > mused Darien as he was eased into a chair. Bobby perched on the arm of the overstuffed chair and ran his hand through Darien’s hair in a soothing manner as Darla stood near the door, acting as a guard. Drusilla hummed softly as she swayed to music only she could hear, her long skirts and dark hair swirling around her and adding to the picture of innocents that she created.
Minutes later, Angel returned to the room with a large glass that looked like it should have been a vase, filled with blood and he sat on the edge of the couch, cradling it in his hands as Willow’s body went tense, her nostrils flaring at the blood scent that hung heavily in the air. He lifted the glass to her lips and she gulped the blood down, draining it completely in seconds. Willow stopped struggling against Spike’s grip but her face didn’t smooth out into its human mask, and Angel returned the kitchen to heat some more blood.
Darien closed his eyes and leaned against Bobby as the stress of the evening seemed to drain the last of his energy. Soft purrs filled his ears, drowning out the tempting sounds of the heartbeats that echoed through the room. A cool hand touched his face and Darien opened his eyes to find Angel standing there with a large glass in his hand. “Here, drink.”
Grasping the offering, Darien quickly drained it, feeling strength spread through his body as the blood started healing his injury. The empty glass was removed form his fingers and Darien glanced around to find that Willow was relaxing in Spike’s arms, her face human again as her head rested on his chest, a sleepy expression on her face. Buffy was standing about halfway between the couch and the door, an uncertain and sad expression on her face while the others wore unreadable masks.
“So now what?” asked Darien, his voice sounding loud in the quiet room and everyone looked at him. “The vampires have been scared off and the Council has been sent running with its tail between its legs and we’re safe until the next baddie comes along, so now what do we do?”
Buffy took a breath and walked over to Willow. “Willow, I think you should go with Angel to LA for a while,” stated the Slayer, her voice full of anguish. She continued before Willow could interrupt. “I’m not kicking you out of Sunnydale and telling you never to come back, but you need to learn how to be a vampire and Angel is the best one to teach you.” A weak smile spread across her face. “Besides, we can still keep in touch with phone calls and e-mails. And I’m gonna need your help or I’ll never get the nerve to ask Riley out on a date.”
Hesitantly, Willow held out a hand. “Still friends?” she asked, her voice hushed as if she was afraid of the answer.
Without hesitating, Buffy grasped the offered hand and pulled Willow up into a hug. “Always friends,” she corrected, causing a smile to spread across Willow’s face. She released Willow and stood up, brushing a stray tear off her cheek. “Now, you take it easy tonight, okay? I’m gonna go dust some vampires before they think they can just take over my town.”
Willow giggles and waved Buffy out the door. The Slayer started for the door but stopped when she reached Darla, looking at the petite blonde with a frown on her face as if trying to figure something out. Giles seemed to pick up on her confusion. “What is it?”
Laughter rang through the room and everyone turned to look at Drusilla who was spinning in dizzying circles. “Oh sisters, too, how may we do for to preserve this day?” she sang in a clear voice before laughing again. “Reflections looking at each other, one with wood, one with teeth, but inside both the same.”
“Are you saying that Darla is a Slayer?” gasped Giles, rising to his feet with a stunned look of disbelief on his face.
Buffy gazed at Darla curiously. “Funny, you don’t feel completely like a Slayer, but that must be your demon,” mused Buffy, some of the hostility fading from her posture.
Now it was Darla’s turn to look confused. “What do you mean that I don’t feel completely like a Slayer?” she asked. “One Slayer has to die before the next is called. That’s how it’s always been.”
“Buffy has never followed the rules when it came to slaying,” remarked Angel, a playful smile on his face. “She went to confront the Master and was killed.” He jerked a thumb at Xander who was standing in the corner with Anya. “Xander there threatened me into leading him down to the Master’s lair where he revived her. So, legally, Buffy was dead for about five minutes, but that was long enough for the next Slayer to be activated.” Darien was watching Darla and was surprised to see something crumble in her eyes before Buffy left the mansion with a cheery “good-bye” prompting the rest of the humans to leave as well.
Slowly, Darla turned and started up the stairs, pausing halfway up. “I’m going to bed,” she announced in a flat, lifeless voice. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” She continued up the stairs, never once looking back, and Darien noticed a look pass between Spike and Angel, the later nodding slightly.
“Spike, why don’t you take Willow to bed,” advised Angel. “Bobby, you and Darien go to bed as well. Willow and Darien are still recovering from their injuries and could use you both close by.” Reaching out, Angel cupped Drusilla’s chin and stared into her eyes. “Princess, would you rather play in the garden or rest in your room? You must be tired after the fight.”
“Miss Edith would like a tea party,” mused Drusilla, her voice soft and dreamy. “I shall be very cross with her if she spills any tea on her pretty dress.” Silently, she brushed passed Angel, heading for the stairs and quickly climbed them, still humming to herself.
Bobby stood up and helped Darien to his feet, instantly concerned when the taller vampire winced at the twinge of pain that arced through his chest. Smiling in reassurance, Darien leaned on Bobby as they, too, climbed the stairs for the room that they had claimed for the duration of their stay. Relaxing on the bed, Darien closed his eyes as Bobby quickly stripped him of his clothes, changed the bandage on his chest that had grown bloodied sometime during the fight, and simply relaxed as his sire’s presence soothed his nerves. He never noticed when he fell asleep or when Bobby slipped under the covers and cuddled him close.
********************************
After checking on Bobby and Darien, Angel silently moved down the hallway to look in on Drusilla when he heard a soft sob, no louder than a sigh, coming from one of the rooms and he gently pushed open the half-closed door. Sitting in the window seat and illuminated by the pale moon light was Darla with her hair falling over her face in a pale curtain, hiding her from the rest of the world.
“Darla,” he called, softly. “can we talk?”
Instantly her posture changed from vulnerable to ramrod straight, as if nothing could touch her or even get to her. “If you wish,” she replied in a cold tone. “You ARE the Master of our Order now.”
There was something he was missing about her, he was sure of it. Casually, he walked across the room and stood next to her, gazing out the window at the garden below, the night blooming flowers filling the air with a myriad of scents and shades. She stiffened slightly at his close presence but didn’t look up at him, keeping her face turned away and her hair obscuring her features. It was then that he noticed the slight scent of tears in the air.
She had been crying.
Angel couldn’t remember the last time, or any time when he had seen Darla cry. “Want to talk about what’s bothering you?” He kept his vice gentle and inviting, wanting her to open up to him so that he could help her. She remained silent and Angel sighed, turning to sit next to her on the seat. He reached out and cupped her cheek, surprised at the slight flinch his touch had caused. “Things weren’t always bed between us.”
“No, they weren’t,” agreed Darla in a soft voice. She raised a tear-streaked face and he blinked in surprise at the lost look in her eyes. “But that was when we were both demons, enjoying our lives to the fullest of our abilities.” She dropped her gaze to where her fingers were twisted in her lap. “Now, I’m not sure what I am. I’m a vampire, once the Most Favorite Childe of the Master himself, but thanks to Darien, I have the soul of a Slayer, battling the demon that I took pride in.” Gently reaching out, Angel took her hands in his, not interrupting but letting her talk and get her problems out into the open where he could help her. “Acting like the cold hearted bitch that you remembered was safe, easy. I had so much practice at it. Now, I don’t know how I’m suppose to act like.”
“Why not act like yourself?” suggested Angel.
That earned him a snort of disbelief. “And just who am I?” she demanded irritation and fear echoing in her voice. “When I was alive, I was scooped up by the Watcher’s Council and trained as a Slayer as soon as they found out what I was. I was also a whore so I not only had an excuse to be out at night but also made some money. Let’s face it, being a Slayer is a one way ticket to starvation and the grave. Then, the Master turned me and I was his childe, a vicious and cruel harpy because that’s what he wanted from me. Now…” She spread her hands, presenting her case to Angel, and silently asking him for help.
“Why not come with me back to LA and find out who you are,” he offered with a small smile. “I have plenty of room at the hotel for all of us and the bank accounts I set up for all of us are still active and gaining interest so money won’t be a problem.” He cupped her face and wiped a tear away with his thumb. “Perhaps we can give this crazy family of ours a second chance. And I’d like to give us another chance. Perhaps we can start off as friends and let whatever develops between us grow on its own.”
A small smile appeared on her face, a true smile, not one of the cold, mocking ones she had worn in the past. “I think I’d like that,” she whispered, meeting his gaze with her own. She bit her lip nervously and looked away for a few minutes, gathering her courage. “Could we sleep together, for tonight? I’d like to be held by someone who actually gives a damn about me for once.”
Smiling, Angel brushed her hair out of her face with a gentle hand. “I think that can be arranged,” he stated, standing up and gently pulling her across the floor to the bed. He kicked off his shoes and slipped under the covers, pulling Darla close to him where she snuggled against his chest and drifted off to sleep. Placing a soft kiss on her blond hair, Angel soon followed her in sleep, for once not feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.
~Epilogue~
The Host stared out over his domain with a smile on his lips and a drink in his hand. The stage where various demons and humans sang was empty at the moment, thank the Powers for that small gift. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to sit through another tortured rendition of any song without wearing his teeth down to nubs. Caritas was packed almost to the walls with an ever changing crowd, a strange occurrence for a weeknight, but one his bank account wasn’t going to object too. His staff was bustling around the bar, and by the pleased looks, tonight’s crowd was tipping heavily.
Just then, the doors opened and a new group entered, causing several of the demons to stare in surprise and suspicion. Angel calmly strolled into the bar with six vampires trailing behind him. Four were strangers to the Host but the small blond and the lovely brunette were all too well known to him.
< Looks like a family outing, > mused the Host, thankful that his bar was neutral ground. < But which family? > He watched as Darla, Drusilla and the hot bleached blond claimed a table that was big enough for all of them as Angel approached him with the remaining three.
“Lorne, it’s good to see you again,” greeted Angel and the Host was startled to see that the usual guilt and misery was missing from both his posture and his eyes. “I wanted to introduce you to the latest additions to the family before settling down to a bit of business.”
“of course, Angel cakes,” agreed the Host, slipping back into the role of host and flirt as he tried to figure out what exactly was going on with the handsome, soulfilled vampire.
Angel chuckled, sending a pleasant shiver down the Host’s spine. “This is Darien, Bobby and Willow,” introduced the dark vampire, gesturing to each in turn.
The Host smiled and waved one of his servers over. “Garcia, first round, on the house for Angel cake’s table,” he instructed, before winking at Angel. “In celebration of the kids.” Angel nodded and sent the trio over to the table where Willow instantly sat next to the bleached blond who wrapped an arm around her shoulders. < All the hot ones are either taken or not interested, > sighed the Host before focusing his attention on Angel. “So what business did you have with li’l ol’ me?”
“For starters, I need you to spread the word that the Accursed One, also called the Child of the Crimson Redemption, is part of my family and under the protection of the Scourge of Europe,” remarked Angel in a soft voice. Startled, the Host’s red eyes flew back to the table, and studied the vampires gathered there when he spotted a soft red glow around Darien, one he had missed before.
“So that’s it,” he whispered, suddenly realizing what was so different about Angel. His gaze returned to Angel. “Lemmie guess, he’s already made your soul permanent, hasn’t he?” Angel nodded in conformation and the Host lifted his glass in a toast. “Congratulations and consider it done. Did the same thing happen to the ladies in your midst?”
Grinning, Angel nodded again. “That’s the second thing,” he confessed. “Darla and Drusilla both have their souls back and are working with me for the Powers.”
The Host simply cocked his head. “And how is the rest of your crew taking that little revelation?”
“Cordelia ranted and raved for two hours, wondering if I had lost my soul again. Gunn didn’t say anything, but was fidgeting with a stake and Wesley accepted everything after I explained everything that had happened,” stated Angel, leaning back on the bar. “They don’t like it, but they’ll have to get use to it. I’ve got my family back and I’m not going to let anything tear us apart if it’s within my power to prevent it.”
“I’ll keep my ears open and let you know if I hear anything,” promised the Host before shoving Angel in the direction of his table. “Now you’d better get over there and spend time with that family of yours before someone else takes your seat.” Grinning, Angel nodded once and walked over to the table, sliding into the seat between Darla and the bleached blond.
Shaking his head, the Host turned his attention to the stage as a Vrolothg demon stumbled up to the microphone. < Angel, hope your life gets smoother than it has been now that you’ve found some happiness, > the Host silently toasted the table where Angel had scooped up Darla’s hand and placed a soft kiss on the back of it, bringing a pleased if slightly embarrassed look to her face. The first words of “We Will Rock You” screeched across his ears as the Vrolothg started wailing in its version of singing, and the Host sighed, briefly wondering if it was too late to invest in a pair of ear plugs.
The end.