“How’s your project coming, Connor?” Buffy asked several weeks after Willow’s discovery. 

“Along nicely,” her childe said with a smile, looking up from his plans. This project meant a lot to him; it was his chance to prove that he could live up to both Buffy and Angelus’ expectations of him. Connor knew that didn’t matter, that he was whom they wanted him to be, but he still felt as if he needed to prove himself. And this was his chance to prove that all their trust in him was not misplaced. 

“Construction is on schedule, I’m gong there at the end of the week to oversee the plans myself and add a little…incentive to the workers.” The smile Connor sent his Sire made Buffy proud. It was cruel, predatory, indicative of Angelus at his absolute worst, and sent a tingle of appreciation through Buffy. 

Smiling back, Buffy ruffled his hair before smoothing the fine strands down and resting her hand on his shoulder. The vampiress couldn’t have said what it was about the boy that made her so affectionate towards him, but something did. She adored the boy, the biological child of her lover; she loved watching him explore his surroundings and his new life as one of them, as a vampire. Buffy also loved the way he fit in with the rest of her family, the way he made his own place but worked with everything else they had going on. 

She also wanted his approval just as much as he seemed to want hers. Because he was Angelus’ son, she wanted him to be hers; she thought she succeeded, and rather nicely. 

“Excellent, Connor. I’m sure,” she said as she looked over Connor’s shoulder at the plans he designed for her, “That everything will be fine.” She didn’t understand anything on the large rolled papers, but when Connor smoothed the first page down, showing her his vision of the castle Buffy wanted for Angelus, Buffy hummed in appreciation. The castle was indeed huge and exactly as Buffy envisioned it. 

“It’s perfect, Connor,” she breathed in excitement, “Just the way I wanted it.” 

Looking over her shoulder, Buffy smiled and turned back to a beaming Connor. That look, he’d discovered early on, smiling not abating, was one reserved for Angelus. It was weird, but the two of them always seemed to know when one was near, or in trouble, or just wanted the other. It was eerie, but Connor accepted it for what it was; two beings who survived better together than apart, and who knew each other so well that it was natural. 

“I’m going hunting,” Connor told her, feeling the need to get out and kill something. He hated being cooped up in their house – palace – for so long during the days. It was one of the very few things he missed about being human, going out whenever he pleased. Since subduing most of the world with Buffy and Angelus, Connor had less and less of the actual fighting to do, and it made him antsy. He lived for the fight, reveling in the viciousness of it, in winning, in knowing that he always would. 

“Want to come?” 

Buffy laughed and nodded, “Of course, my dear boy,” she agreed and then paused. “You don’t mind, do you Connor,” she questioned as it suddenly occurred to her, “That Angelus always comes along?” 

Snorting, Connor shook his head. “No, I get it. I understand what it’s like between the two of you.” 

“Yes,” Buffy said slowly, “But I’m your Sire, and there are things between a Sire and Childe, as well. Would you like it just to be the two of us tonight?” 

Connor paused before answering. She’d never offered that before, and he honestly never thought to wonder or to ask. They’d hunted before, just the two of them, but Angelus was always nearby, or always meeting them shortly. Slowly he nodded, considering that. He knew there’d never be anything between he and Buffy, not in the traditional Sire/Childe way and he was perfectly fine with that, but there was something there, between them, and he missed that.

When he was first turned, and even before that, Buffy was always there; affectionate despite her admitted hatred for his mother, Darla. Willing to do whatever he asked, answer any question he had, and generally just be there, always, for him. Now, with everything that happened, trying to rule the world, tracking the rest of the resistance, this whole Dawn/Willow thing, they hadn’t a chance to just spend time together. 

“Yes,” he said eventually, “Yes I’d like that.” 

Buffy smiled, and it was a brilliant smile that could cause any being, no matter the state of their soul, to do as she asked. Her dark eyes lighted with something between happiness and voracious hunger, and Connor laughed with her, knowing that their hunt tonight would be vicious. Good, he was feeling cooped up in here, anyway. 

“Perfect,” Buffy purred as she leaned down and kissed Connor on the cheek before leaving the room in a swirl of silk, jewelry, and the light perfume she often wore. 

She left her childe to his plans and went in search of her mate, needing to tell him of her outing with Connor. He’d probably follow her anyway, or have Spike do so, but that was okay, Buffy loved that he worried, that he didn’t want her out of his sight for so long a time. She hated being out of his sight as it was, but with the way their lives, all their lives, were now, sometimes that happened.

Didn’t change the fact that she hated it. 

“Angelus,” she whispered, not out of respect for whatever he was doing, but because she didn’t want others to hear them. Buffy guarded her time with her lover as jealously as he did with her. She entered the room she knew he was in, the curtains drawn against the light and no lamp turned on. Why her lover was in the dark Buffy couldn’t say, but he was alone. 

“Baby,” she said again as her superior eyesight led her directly to where he sat. The doublewide overstuffed chair was soft and comfortable, and one of Buffy’s favorite places to sit. Easily straddling his lap, her dress falling in graceful lines on either side of them, Buffy kissed his soft lips, allowing the kiss to spiral into the consuming passion that always took hold of them. 

“What are you doing here, baby? In the dark all alone?” 

“Thinking.” 

“About?” Her hand drifted down his arms, feather light touches that sparked something between them. Still, she didn’t allow it to go further, more interested in what he had to say at the moment. Twining their hands together, she waited his answer. 

“Things, us, Connor, the world.” He looked into her eyes, bright in the darkness of the room. “All I wanted was you,” he said, “And enough power to never again worry about you being taken away from me.” 

“And now you have that,” she soothed with a smile and a quick kiss, her eyes going dark as she felt him harden under her. 

“Yes, and I never see you, there’s always something to do, someone to see, some argument to meditate. And I still,” he complained angrily, “Still have to share you with your friends.” 

“You mean Willow, Drusilla, and Anya? Saffir and Giles when they’re here? ” Buffy asked, leaning back to look at him, suddenly serious. “You never seem to mind,” she defended herself, “We’re Family. And as you said, you’re always busy with other tasks.” 

Angelus’ fingers tightened around hers, “I know,” he ground out, obviously pissed. “And yet you still manage to find time for your friends when our time together is growing less and less.” 

“What do you propose, Angelus?” She asked, wondering what he was thinking and why now, of all times, when they were so close to everything they’d imagined. The world was at their feet and the universe opened up before them. “That we stop ruling the world, let someone else take it over? We’d be in even more danger then, than we were before and you know it.” 

“That’s not what I want,” the Alpha Male within her lover said. Power was something he’d always craved and something he planned on keeping. And he’d never put Buffy in danger. Never. 

“Then what?” Buffy all but shouted, in exasperation. “What do you want?” 

“You,” he growled, face changing with his words. “I want you and I want power and this world. I don’t want you spending time with your friends, no matter that they’re Family. I don’t want you doing anything that I’m not a part of, damn it!” 

“How do you propose that?” Buffy shot back, her own temper not to be outdone. 

He didn’t answer her, but crushed her lips under his hard enough to pierce her lips with his fangs. “You’re mine, beloved, and I dislike sharing. Even with my own son.” 

Pulling back, her own face having shifted when Angelus’ fangs nicked her lips, Buffy stared at her lover’s beautiful golden eyes. “That’s what this is about?” She asked, incredulous. “This is about Connor?”

“No,” he said. “Yes.” He made no sense to himself, either and hated that almost more than he hated sharing Buffy. “I know the Sire/Childe bond between the two of you is strong, but not as it is with most childer. I…” 

Understanding that her strong lover was insecure over this, that his possessive streak she so adored was again rearing up and that she needed to soothe it before he did irreparable damage to their Family, Buffy leaned in and kissed him again. She allowed him to take control of their intimacy, knowing that no matter what passed between them, Angelus always preferred to be the dom in their relationship. Mostly she was fine with that, though Buffy loved taming the wild man beneath her. This time, however, she sensed his need for her, his need to completely control her and their loving. 

“I love you, baby,” Buffy said as Angelus’ mouth sucked on her neck where her pulse used to beat and where the mark he’d given her lay. “You know that, right?” 

“Yes,” he growled, hating that he felt this way. He knew she was his, but when she and Connor were talking, he realized something else, too. It had nothing to do with her friends; they had their own lives and were nearly incidental to he and Buffy. But Connor, with Connor she was different. Protective, caring, Buffy treated his son as she did him, and Angelus felt a bolt of jealous insecurity over that. 

“Mine,” he growled, attacking her mouth again. “You’re mine. Connor is secondary to us, lover. You are no one else’s but mine.” 

His hands let go of hers and hiked her skirt up, exposing her all too willing body to his. “Yes,” she breathed when his fingers found her center. “Only yours, my darling.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Later, after their passion was sated for the moment, Buffy asked, “What was that about?” 

She hadn’t minded, far from it; her body still hummed from the explosive orgasm Angelus had denied her, only to let her release shoot through her when he was good and ready. But she worried for her lover, having gone through entirely too much with (and without) him to lose him now. They were only a few years into their forever, and Buffy didn’t want anything to ruin it. Or cut it short. 

As a human, she didn’t function very well without him. Having never tried it as a vampire, and not wanting to, Buffy didn’t want to start now, not after spending nearly every day with him. 

“Nothing,” Angelus grunted, keeping his eyes closed though he felt her steady gaze on his face. He felt Buffy move, resting her arms over his chest and propping her chin there, her legs splayed on either side of him. Keeping his eyes closed, Angelus waited. He didn’t have to wait long. 

“If that was nothing, then why did I think you were going to kill your son earlier?” 

Opening his eyes, Angelus scowled but remained quiet. What as he supposed to say? That he was jealous of the boy? That he wondered if Connor wanted more from Buffy than what she thus far offered? That Buffy would succumb to that bond, to the need of a Sire to tame her Childe, and teach him what it really meant to be her childe? Well, yes, he could admit it, but Angelus wasn’t about it. He needn’t have bothered. 

“I told you before,” Buffy huffed as she read all his thoughts in his eyes. He may be the master of the blank expression, but she knew him better than that. She knew him best, even when he tried to hide things from her. “I love Connor, he’s your son and now he’s mine as well. He wants your approval as much as the Childe within him wants mine. But he is my childe and I will do everything in my power to protect him. You, Angelus are mine.” 

She rolled away from him and stood from the bed, still angry. “We’re mated, Angelus,” she needlessly reminded him. “Joined through ritual and mated in more ways than even magick can do.” Angrily dressing for her evening hunt with Connor, Buffy shot her lover a sharp look at his snarl of disapproval. “I’m yours, baby,” she stated and slipped on her favorite boots. “And you’re mine. But Connor is a part of both of us; I thought you accepted that by now.”

Still he said nothing, but Buffy could sense his anger. It was a hot pulse in the air, colliding with her own anger and Buffy didn’t know what to do about it. “Be like that then,” she retorted to his unspoken protest. “I’m gong hunting with Connor.” 

Angelus watched, silent, as she left. He hated that he felt like this and dressed himself, needing to get the feeling out of his system. He loved Buffy, she was his world and he didn’t want another. Jealously was a sharp reminder in his gut that she was a beautiful creature with a mind of her own and even if she enjoyed their games, enjoyed being dominated by him, that she could just as easily dominate him. 

He watched from the shadows as she left with his son, knowing full well that they both knew he was there. Neither said anything, and Angelus resisted the urge to follow them. Spinning on his heel, Angelus stalked in the opposite direction in search of a good hunt and some torture.
~~~~~~~~~~
“What did you and dad fight about?”

Buffy spared Connor a look as she stalked through the streets. Her hair flowed behind her, boots a sharp tap on the cement sidewalk as she moved quickly through the town. Most knew who she was, but couldn’t help but stare at the vision who moved so gracefully among them. Some of them moved out of her way, eyes still locked on her. Others hoped she’d chose them, turn them, make them feel welcomed in her dark embrace. 

“What makes you think we had a fight?” Buffy asked, her temper still out of control. 

A vampire came up to her, eyes downcast as they should be and all Buffy did was snarl at him, twisting his head off in one smooth move without really breaking her stride. Connor looked at the settling dust. “Oh, no reason.” 

They continued on in silence for a few more minutes before Connor finally huffed and grabbed his sire’s arm, stopping her. “Buffy, what happened?” She continued to glare at him and he shrugged, “Fine, don’t tell me, whatever makes you happy. But anyone can see you’re pissed; I can almost taste it in the air!” 

“You understand what’s between us, don’t your, Connor?” 

“Yes,” he replied, confused. 

“You understand that you’re my chide, my favorite, but that the normal Sire/Childe relationship…we don’t have that.” 

Laughing, Connor nodded. He understood, he knew what went on between other childer and their sires; he knew that and didn’t care. He didn’t want that with Buffy; the whole thought was just too incestuous for him; she was his mother, not just his sire. Hoping to dispel her anger and upset at whatever argument she and Angelus had – and get back to their bonding evening – Connor took her arm and led her down a particularly crowded street. 

“I understand, Buffy,” and hoped the jealously that her anger sparked within him didn’t show in his voice. He knew what their relationship was like and was perfectly fine with that. But even now, when Buffy promised the evening to him, Angelus still managed to intrude.  

“And I don’t want that,” he assured her as they stepped from the shadows and into the streetlights. Spotting several potential sources for their evening, Connor nodded to them, while finishing, “You’re special to me. You’re the mother I never knew and the Sire who taught me about myself.” Not very good with verbalizing his thoughts and feelings, Connor wondered if vampires could blush. 

“I…well, I…” 

But Buffy understood. She understood what he was trying to say and that he was also trying to make her feel better and put their night back on track. Kissing his cheek, she smiled at him, “I know.” 

Looping her arm through his, she allowed him to lead them through the crowd to the prey he’d staked out. This night was about them, about spending time with her boy, about making sure Connor knew how she felt about him. Angelus, the bastard, could wait until she and Connor got back home.
~~~~~~~~~~
Several hours later, Buffy stumbled into their house, laughing. 

Connor was right behind her, making sure she didn’t fall on the floor. His dad would really kill him, then, having not taken care of Buffy as he’d promised to when he first joined their Family, still human. She was drunk and Connor didn’t think he’d ever seen her like this. Oh, he knew vampires could get drunk; Spike did so and did it with enough noise to let everyone know. But Buffy hardly drank, something about bad experiences. 

He didn’t ask and she didn’t tell and that was probably for the best. 

“Buffy,” he said, steadying her on the first stair. “Buffy you have to-” Whatever else he was going to say Connor gave up on when his Sire walked up the stairs, determined to do so on her own. “Stubborn,” he grumbled, “Obstinate, headstrong woman.” 

She made it to the first landing before losing her balance again. Catching her before she could stumble backwards and break her neck, Connor just gave up and carried her to her room. It was a great night, once she told him a little of her fight with Angelus. They hunted and danced, stalking creatures throughout the alleyways and brightly lit streets just for the pleasure of it. And they talked. It was a bonding evening, Buffy explained, and then explained what she meant by that. With Connor leaving in a few days for Ireland, and most likely spending the remaining year there, overseeing the completion of the castle, Buffy wanted one last night with her childe. 

During the course, Connor realized what she and Angelus fought over, though Buffy never outright said. And he was touched that she chose to still spend the evening with him when Connor knew how she felt about Angelus. He didn’t want her disappointed in him, so he set out to impress her, telling her jokes Spike told him, telling her a little more of his life in Quor-toth, and about his plans for Ireland. 

Towards the end of their evening, Connor killed a pair of mating Chaos Demons because they tried to eat Buffy – and brought their antlers, their prized possessions, home for Angelus. He knew his dad would hate that they went after his mate, and Connor couldn’t help the slash of pride that burned beneath the surface in knowing he was the one to save Buffy, he was the one to protect her. 

Surely, Angelus could see that all his son wanted was for Buffy to continue on in the role of his mother and Sire? It seemed obvious enough to Connor, but then he, too, understood jealously; he was jealous of all the time Buffy spent with her mate, not her childe. It was clear her mate felt that way, too, even if the childe was his own son. 

Pushing open the doors to her and Angelus’ room, Connor looked at where his dad stood by the window, the first rays of sunlight just a hint on the horizon. Angelus’ hands were clenched behind his back, his stance rigid with control and something else that Connor couldn’t identify. Worry? Anger? 

“Dad,” he said but didn’t wait for Angelus to acknowledge him. “We’re back. Buffy’s a little, well, drunk.” 

Angelus turned, a fierce scowl on his face. His nostrils flared as he scented the myriad fragrances on both Connor and Buffy. Connor smelled of death, fighting, and…slime? Odd. Also of several prey and a quick shag. Buffy smelled of whisky and blood and Connor. Eyes darkening, Angelus strolled closer as his first thought was that he was right and Buffy and Connor…but then he watched Connor gently lay Buffy on the bed. 

His son smoothed her hair back, kissing her on the forehead and turning back to his father. “A pair of mating Chaos Demons attacked her as food,” he said with a look that stated he knew what Angelus thought and the elder vampire was a fool for that thought. “They’re dead and their antlers,” he nodded to the foyer below neither could see. “Are downstairs for you.” 

A light shone in his eyes and Angelus nodded. He’d been fully prepared to kill his son for whatever affections Buffy bestowed on the boy. He knew Buffy didn’t want Connor in any sexual way, but their night together brought his jealousies and passions to the surface. Angelus didn’t share his mate, but Buffy didn’t want to be shared. She just wanted Connor as her childe and friend. He hated admitting that, and wouldn’t in front of the boy. 

“Good job, son,” he nodded instead, knowing that Connor would always defend Buffy. “Where’s the rest of the pack?”

“In a warehouse downtown, I tracked them and have the address.” He wanted to take them himself, but stopped just in time. It was a hard impulse to quell, but Connor knew this was Angelus’ right as Buffy’s mate. Plus, he didn’t want to put Buffy in danger. 

Sharing a feral smile with his son, Angelus clapped the boy on his shoulder, “Excellent, Connor.” Something Buffy said earlier triggered the next words. “This evening we go hunting.” 

Connor smiled at the inclusion and left, knowing that if he stayed any longer, without Buffy there to mediate, he and his father would descend into uncomfortable silence. Which would, no doubt, turn into an argument. 

Crossing to the bed, Angelus lifted Buffy gently from the top and undressed her. Kissing the side of her neck, he pulled the covers back and lay her within the soft confines of their bed. “Angelus?”

”Yeah, baby, I’m here.”

Buffy smiled and curled into him, her mouth on the scar adorning his own neck, fangs eagerly slipping out. She wanted him already, had for hours now as she and Connor hunted through the town, stalking then dancing and drinking. Her one drink became more, and by the time she realized she was drunk, she didn’t care. Angelus had pissed her off and wasn’t there to stop her and it felt nice to be free. But she missed him, missed his presence, missed his kisses, his body. His blood. 

“Didn’t you eat?” He demanded, all previous non-murderous thoughts of Connor fading. 

“They weren’t you,” Buffy said and sank her fangs into the scar there, reopening the wound and taking large mouthfuls of his spicy blood. He’d fed, she noted as Angelus sat further up, his large hands on her hips, pushing her down on his erection. He’d fed a lot, probably working off his anger at their fight. 

“Missed you,” she gasped, pulling away as she began to ride her lover. “Love you.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Connor left five days later, having taken care of the Chaos Demon nest with Angelus. 

Anya didn’t go with him, though did promise, as they lay in bed together before Connor left, to visit now and then. She was a businesswoman, after all, and there were still millions of beings in the world who needed vengeance. She stayed another day with the Family, before heading out to find her next job. 

Buffy watched Angelus when they returned from taking Connor to one of only six jets still in service. Travel just wasn’t what it used to be, though Angelus did make promises to the masses that as soon as the rebels were completely captured, limited – and no doubt expensive – flights would resume. 

“Over the Connor-hating?” She asked. In the days after their fight, Angelus said nothing about his jealously towards his son. Buffy knew he wouldn’t say anything until he was ready, but they were in the process of packing and traveling. She hated to leave without making sure everything was good between them. 

“Yeah,” he grumbled. They managed to work out whatever differences Angelus thought they had while taking out the Chaos Demons. It was cathartic. Then, changing the subject, “Where do you want to go first, my love?” 

“Giles wants to show me England, but since he’s here with Willow, perfecting that spell, Let’s start in Asia and work our way west.”

Angelus nodded, growling at the minions who were packing their belongings to leave. “And then south?” Buffy smiled her agreement and Angelus continued, “The Orient is beautiful,” he whispered and stalked to where she stood by the bed. “There are so many things to show you there, so many beautiful wonders that are all yours now, lover.” 

Buffy smiled up at him, winding her arms around his neck as he lifted her against his hard body. “I can’t wait to see them, baby.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Ethan Rayne slipped through the thick underbrush of the African jungle and cursed. Himself mostly, but anyone else he could think of, too. This was Ripper’s fault for making him run in Sunnydale all those years ago. It was the Initiative’s fault for having a piss-poor security cell. It was Angelus and Buffy’s fault for being better than even he gave them credit for. 

Bloody hell, this was his own fault for not seeing the sings sooner and running faster. 

The sentry stopped him and Ethan just scowled at the pointed spear. Sighing, he raised his arms and stated the obvious. “I’m human, you bloody wanker.” 

“Yeah,” a voice said from behind him, “But still not an ally.” 

“You,” Ethan said as he turned. “Don’t I know you?” He thought for a moment and searched his memory. Something about Sunnydale, but that was it. “You’re one of the Slayer’s gang.” 

“Was,” Oz agreed. “Now I’m here. What are you doing here, Ethan?” 

A self-mocking grin spread across the older mage’s face. “I’m here to join you,” he laughed. “I want to save the world.” 

Oz laughed, disbelievingly. “Right. Why don’t I believe you?”

“Come now,” Ethan cajoled his arms still up. “Let’s let bygones be bygones. I’m honestly here to help.” Seeing that the man before him wasn’t believing a word he said, Ethan sighed again. “It pains me to admit it, but it’s the truth. And I happen to know that Angelus and Buffy are headed this way.”

Eyes narrowing, Oz asked, “How do you know that?” 

“There’s this rumor going around,” Ethan told him as the smell of cooked meat met his starved stomach. Ah, food…it’d been ages since he had something decent to eat. “They’re tired of your little pocket of resistance and want you completely eliminated. They know where you’re at, and are merely biding their time.”

Oz said nothing before nodding to the man with the spear at Ethan’s throat. Turning, Ethan was forced to follow the familiar stranger deeper into the jungle and towards the smell of food. He wasn’t a hero, Ethan reminded himself, but if the world completely went to hell, then he did, too. Really, it was all about self-preservation. 

Oz left Ethan Rayne with Wesley and went to talk to Gunn. The other man didn’t trust him, but Oz understood that. What they needed to do now was plan for the inevitable attack. 

The werewolf had a sinking suspicion that they were about to lose. Gunn silently agreed.

Next Part        Previous Part

Feedback!        Forever Darkness Index        Christine’s Page