Chapter Two

 


 

The fog was comforting. Warm and dark. Angel let it seep into his bones. It held him close, wrapped in its arms. He felt warm and safe. Through the fog, he thought he heard Buffy's heartbeat as he had on the night they had lain together. He let the sound guide him deeper into the fog. Her scent surrounded him, comforted him.

 

“Angel.” Buffy shook his shoulder again. “Angel, wake up.”

 

“Wes said we may have to do something a little more drastic to wake him up.” Willow told her. “And he said we should be careful.”

 

“Careful?”

 

“He may not be real happy when he wakes up.” Wes’ words were more to the effect that waking Angel could be dangerous, but Willow kept that to herself for now.

 

Angel relaxed deeper into the fog. He could hear Buffy's voice. Feel her warmth surrounding him. The fog wrapped tighter around him. Buffy's body was curved into his. They must still be cuddled up in his bed after they’d made love. He’d never lost his soul and then abandoned her. It had all been a bad dream. Nothing more than a nightmare.

 

Pain rippled across his shoulder. Was Buffy scratching him? Did she want more? She’d been afraid at first, but her passionate nature had quickly pushed her fears aside, and she had urged him on. Angel nuzzled deeper into the warmth of her body.

 

Images flashed through his memory. Burying himself in her tight, wet heat. Buffy holding him and locking her legs around him, moaning and crying out as she moved eagerly under him. Rolling her head back, baring her throat for him to nip and bite at as his body exploded into hers.

 

Sighing, Angel settled deeper, pressing into her warmth. It was the most intense orgasm he’d ever had. The precious gifts of her innocence, love, and trust had transcended sexual pleasure and pushed him into joyous ecstasy.

 

Pain flared across his back. Sharper and harder than before. The fog lifted slightly. Had someone come into his apartment? Someone – something had dared disturb him while he lay with his mate?

 

“Okay…” Xander backed up as a low growl rumbled from Angel. “Should we really be poking the sleeping vampire?”

 

“Angel!” Buffy pressed the heel of her hand down on Angel’s wounded back once again. “Angel! Wake up!”

 

Willow was doing the same on the other side. She flinched as another, fiercer growl came from Angel. “When he does wake up, he’s going to be mad.”

 

“We’ll deal.” Buffy bit her lip before once more touching Angel’s torn skin. She pressed her fingers into a deep cut. “Come on, Angel!”

 

The fog was lifting, and Buffy was slipping away. No! Come back! They were taking her, hurting her. Angel struggled to see – he could hear her, but he couldn’t see her. They were taking her away!

 

With a roar, Angel pushed up off the bed. Willow scrambled back as he spun around, fangs bared and amber eyes flashing. One hand shot out and clamped around her throat. “Oh, God!”

 

“Yikes!” Xander lifted the baseball bat he’d brought up over his head.

 

“Angel!” Buffy vaulted over the bed and grabbed his arm. “Angel!”

 

He roared again and let go of Willow. Turning, Angel raised a hand to strike this new threat. In an instant, his features morphed from vampire to human, and his fist opened to gently caress Buffy's cheek. “Buffy?”

 

Xander lowered the ball bat and leaned on it. “This is just too much fun.”

 

“Uh huh.” Willow skirted around Angel. “Going now.”

 

“Buffy?” Angel blinked and looked around in confusion. “Where – they – “

 

“You were – sleeping.” Buffy guided him to the bed. “You have to eat.”

 

“It felt safe. Comforting.” He sat down heavily. “It was – I didn’t want to wake up.”

 

“I know.” She handed him a glass filled with blood before sitting down beside him. “Wes told us that a badly injured vamp can go to sleep and never wake up.”

 

“Hibernation.” He sipped slowly, the usual fever to feed not there. “It happens.”

 

“Not to us – you.”

 

“Buffy, I’m – “

 

“Tired, I know. And I don’t blame you.” She clenched her hands together. “But I need you, Angel.”

 

“Maybe if – “

 

“No. No maybe ifs!” Grabbing a fistful of his hair, she twisted his head around and looked him in the eye. “You’re not going to just lay down and die! You’re not! I need you!”

 

Angel set the glass down on the bedside table and pulled Buffy into his arms. “I need you, too.”

 

“Please don’t go.” She whispered into his neck. Tears overflowed and ran down her cheeks. “I’m so tired of being alone. Please, Angel…”

 

“Shh…” He rubbed a hand up and down her back.

 

“Tell me you love me.” She pressed her lips to his. “Tell me you need me.”

 

“I love you. I need you.” Her tongue slid along his lips, and he opened his mouth to her.

 

Buffy nibbled and sucked at Angel’s cool lips, warming them with her own. Her tongue explored his mouth, sliding in and out along his tongue until he moaned into her mouth.

 

Lying back on the bed, she pulled him down to her. He resisted for a moment, but she was stronger, and he missed her lips the moment they no longer touched his. Following her, Angel tangled his hands in her hair and held her still to kiss her.

 

Buffy urged Angel on top of her, spreading her legs and cradling his body with hers. Through the thin material of her pajamas, she could feel his arousal as he settled his full weight upon her.

 

Their last kiss had been over a year ago, and Angel was starved for the taste of her. Ruthlessly, he ground his lips down on hers and thrust his tongue into her mouth to play.

 

Carefully, mindful of the cuts and gashes on his body, Buffy slid her hands along his sides and chest. Her breasts ached, and she arched up to rub them against him. His kisses were rough and hard, and his teeth nipped painfully at her lips.

 

When Angel’s lips moved to her neck, a burst of fresh desire flashed through her body. Buffy raised her knees, pulling him harder against her as she rolled her head to one side and bared her throat to him.

 

Tasting the rough scar, Angel listened to her blood singing through her veins. Love and desire whispered to him, and the scent of her arousal filled him. His own arousal matched hers, but his body lacked the strength to act on it.

 

“Buffy, I can’t – “

 

“I know.” She stroked her fingers through his soft hair. “The curse.”

 

“The curse doesn’t matter.” He nuzzled her throat. “I don’t have the strength.”

 

“So… the spirit is willing but the body isn’t able?” Buffy covered the hand he had on her breast with her own.

 

“The flesh is weak.” He laughed softly. “But still wanting you.”

 

“You awake now?”

 

“Very.” Angel traced his tongue along the pulse beating in her throat. “Hungry.”

 

Shivering, Buffy arched her neck into his caress, and the hand in his hair tightened to hold his mouth to her.

 

“Not quite what I meant.” He nipped at her soft skin.

 

“Not hungry for me?” She shouldn’t be disappointed, but the memory of Angel feeding from her came back in a rush. It had been violent and frightening, and the most sexual experience of her life. The orgasm had been intense and shattering, and she’d never been able to recapture it.

 

“I’m always hungry for you.” Buffy was shuddering under him, and Angel knew that she was remembering how he’d fed from her before he left Sunnydale. The sweet tang of fear mixed with lust wafted from her skin. “It was good, wasn’t it?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Marks – on your neck – wouldn’t be the best idea.”

 

“Xander and Willow would wig.” She pushed at his chest until he lifted up off of her.

 

“Just a little. I better – “ He stopped as Buffy unbuttoned her shirt. “What are you doing?”

 

“My throat isn’t the only place you can drink from.” Pulling open the pajama top, she bared her breasts to him.

 

“This – ah – isn’t the best idea either – “ One pink nipple hardened under his fingertips. “Look what happened last time.”

 

“So… don’t take so much.” Pulling his lips to her, she kissed him softly. “It was good for both of us, wasn’t it?”

 

“Yes.” Buffy’s blood hot and sweet in his mouth and her body arching up into his as he'd ground his aching cock against her. When he’d tasted the rush of her orgasm – it had triggered his own. “Yes, it was.”

 

With one last gentle kiss, Angel tasted his way along her throat and down the middle of her chest, licking and kissing her golden skin. He cupped her breasts in his hands and lowered his lips to suckle at one pink nipple and then the other.

 

Nuzzling along the underside of her left breast, he kissed the soft skin above her pounding heart. Her blood was crying out to him, telling him of her lust and fear. “I’ll try not to hurt you, lass.”

 

“No big.” She trailed her fingers over his face. “You go to bed with a vamp – “ Angel’s fangs pierced her skin, and she sucked in her breath at the pain and pleasure. “You’re gonna – get bit – “

 

The blood hunger had been gone, almost dormant, but now it roared back with a vengeance at the first taste of Buffy's blood. Suckling gently from her breast, Angel felt the demon stirring within him. His free hand moved over her body and down between her legs.

 

With a soft cry, Buffy arched her hips as his hand slid under the waistband of her pajama bottoms and through her curls. Cool, thick fingers pushed inside of her, fanning the fire in her belly hotter. The pull of his mouth on her blood and the push of his fingers within her set off ripples of small explosions.

 

With a growl, Angel lifted his mouth from her breast and crawled up to kiss her, his features changing back to human an instant before their lips touched.

 

The taste of her own blood made Buffy gasp. Angel’s tongue pushed into her mouth in rhythm with his fingers inside her pussy. She reached down between them and wrapped her fingers around his hard cock, stroking the cool, thick shaft until he moaned into her mouth.

 

Thrusting into her warm hand, he growled again, deeper and harsher. His other hand wrapped around hers and pumped himself while he plunged his tongue into her mouth again. His seed spurted onto their joined hands seconds before he collapsed onto her.

 

“Hey.” Buffy pulled her hand out from between their bodies. “Love you, but you’re heavy.”

 

“Sorry.” He kissed her again before moving off of her to sit up.

 

She sat up and pulled off her pajama top, using it to wipe Angel’s cum off her belly.

 

“Sorry.” Angel said again. He looked away, guilt stabbing at him.

 

“Don’t be.” Wiping a few drops up with her fingers, Buffy sucked them clean. “I like the taste of Angel, remember?”

 

“I remember.” A smile lifted the corner of his mouth. He remembered vividly how more than one night’s patrolling had ended with him cradling Buffy's face between his legs while she sucked him off. Eagerly and enthusiastically.

 

The girl can deep throat like a pro. And she swallows.

 

Where have you been? Angel was startled. Angelus had been quiet since he’d arrived.

 

“Hello?”

 

Angel looked up to see Buffy frowning at him. “I ah… was just thinking.”

 

“I bet.” A honey blond eyebrow arched up. “And how is our favorite demon?”

 

“He’s – “ He stopped. “How do you know – “

 

“That you can hear him?” She shrugged. “When you were delirious from Faith’s poisoned arrow, you kept arguing with him.”

 

“You never said anything.”

 

“You left.” Buffy regretted the words the moment she said them. “I’m sorry. I – “

 

“Don’t be.” Angel put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side. “I did leave.”

 

“Can we just – “

 

“Not talk about it? Yes.”

 

Thank God!

 

“So…” Buffy turned to look up at him. “Is he being real talky?”

 

“This is the first I’ve heard from him since we talked in the bathroom – when I got here. I – he was hurt pretty badly.”

 

“I can see.” Her fingers touched the edge of one of the scrapes on his cheek.

 

“No, you have no idea.” He closed his eyes. Angelus’ memories were now his own, and he remembered the pain inflicted by the Beast. The memory of teeth crunching down on his head made him shudder.

 

Buffy had seen Angel go through many moods and emotions, but fear wasn’t one of them. Not fear for himself. “But he’s – you’re both okay now.”

 

“Yeah.” Aren’t we? There was no answer from Angelus.

 

“Wes said you were blind.”

 

“For awhile. Wes found me, brought me back to the hotel and took care of me.” The memory of lying huddled in the corner of the cage they had locked him in came crashing to the front. Blind and helpless while they argued. Fear for the first time in his life. Fear as they argued about what to do with him – it – the thing.

 

“Angel?” She pulled him closer. He was shaking, lost in the grip of something terrible. “Angel, talk to me.”

 

“I – they – “ He cleared his throat. “They wanted to kill me – him – “

 

“Kill you?” Leaning back, Buffy looked into his eyes, sure she’d heard wrong. “But Wes had a spell – “

 

“He didn’t know if the spell would work.”

 

“It worked before.” There was more to this than Angel was telling her. “Why not this time?”

 

“Different spell. Wes wanted – he wasn’t sure it would work.”

 

Buffy started to prompt him for more, but Angel seemed to be struggling with the memories. Instead, she clasped his hands in hers and waited.

 

“They were arguing. I – he – could hear them. Wes and Lorne wouldn’t let her – let them kill me. Lorne even fed me. Hid blood bags under his shirt and made me drink.” Pain flared up in the chocolate eyes. “She wanted to kill me.”

 

“She? Who she?” Fred seemed like too nice a person to want to harm Angel. It’s always the quiet ones.

 

“Cordelia.” Angel’s voice dropped to a whisper.

 

“Cordy? But – “ A recent conversation with Cordy popped into her head. “She said you and she – that you loved her and she loved you.”

 

“Loved me?” Angel’s laugh was harsh and bitter. “‘Stake it, stake the thing,’ that’s what she said. That’s what she called me.”

 

“The thing?”

 

“Oh yeah, she loved me.” He shook his head. “She told me she loved me but because of Angelus she couldn’t be with me. Because of how I’d enjoyed the things I’d done.”

 

“But Angelus – “

 

“She slept with Connor.” Again he gave a bitter laugh at the expression on Buffy's face. “I saw them. Screwing. Banging. Fucking.”

 

“Oh my God! That’s sick!” Her skin crawled at the image. “She changed his diapers and – God! It’s like child abuse!”

 

Some of Angel’s anger drained away. “I can’t blame Connor. He didn’t remember her, and he fell for her.”

 

“Like you did?” She had managed not to cry until after she’d gotten off the phone with Cordelia, the news that Angel didn’t love her anymore ripping her heart out.

 

“No.“ He cupped her face in his hands. “I never loved her. I cared for her. And I was lonely enough to think that I loved her. We took care of Connor together, and I had this make believe fantasy world where we were a family.”

 

“Angel, I’m so sorry.” Tears burned her eyes at the image of Angel reaching out for love. “I wish I could take away the pain.”

 

“I wish you could too, love.” His thumbs caressed her delicate cheekbones. “I should never have left you.”

 

“You had to.” Buffy covered his cool hands with hers. “We’d have made with the happy sooner or later if you’d stayed.”

 

“Probably.”

 

“Angel, can he hear me?”

 

“Angelus? Yes, but he’s not talking to me. I think he’s – “

 

“Hiding?”

 

Angel waited for the smart remark from the demon that was sure to follow, but he heard nothing. Angelus? “This has done something to him, Buffy. I – he’s never been beaten like this. I – he – “

 

“Just say ‘I’.” She grinned impishly. “I understand what it’s like to be two people.”

 

“Yeah.” Leaning close, he kissed the tip of her nose. “I have always been the predator. Playing with the prey. The only one who ever kicked my ass was the Master, and at the time I was so young and stupid that I just laughed it off.”

 

“The Master? That’s why you said he didn’t like you?”

 

“I was a disrespectful pup.” The little half smile quirked his mouth. “But Darla left with me. A ‘stallion’ he called me.”

 

“No wonder Angelus was so full of himself.” Buffy shivered. She remembered only too well Angelus’ arrogantly sexual predatory presence.

 

“This thing was stronger than anything I’ve ever faced. Weapons didn’t hurt it. It beat me – threw me around like I was nothing. Beat me down until I couldn’t get up. And kept beating me.”

 

“And Connor killed it?” The boy had some unusual strengths and talents, but he was still human. “How?”

 

“I don’t know how. I couldn’t see, could barely move.” Angel rested his forehead against hers. “I heard fighting, screaming – Connor and the Beast both – and then this sound like a million thunderclaps – and it was over.”

 

“And Angelus hasn’t spoken to you since then?”

 

“Oh, no, he was talking nonstop from the second I got back.” Lifting his head, he smiled at her. “We went in circles. I’d worry you were dead and he’d say you were fine. Then he’d worry you were dead and I’d say you were fine.”

 

“Really?” She smiled, imagining the two of them arguing inside Angel’s head.

 

“Really. It didn't help that the phones were down. We drove Lorne crazy.” He stopped. “Lorne – I forgot he was here. He’s the one who brought me here.”

 

“Green guy with horns?” Angel nodded. “He’s downstairs. Last I saw, he and Dawn were doing an old Supremes song.”

 

“I’m glad I slept through it.”

 

“So is Angelus sleeping it off – or is he – “ Buffy was afraid to ask. “Dying?”

 

“I think he’s just off licking his wounds.” There really wasn’t anywhere the demon could go to hide from him, but he’d long ago decided to respect the small measure of privacy Angelus needed. Not that Angelus usually – or ever – returned the favor.

 

“Good.” She frowned. “I mean – not good like good that he’s got wounds, but good like good that he’s not dying. He’s kinda why you’re immortal and everything.”

 

I’m touched by her concern.

 

She is concerned. Angel smiled and tenderly kissed Buffy. “Was there something you wanted to say to him?”

 

“Yes. Tell him – “

 

“He can hear you.”

 

“Oh, right. Forgot. I love you, Angelus.” She paused. Angel shook his head that there was no answer. “And you’re not a ‘thing’ to me.”

 

There was dead silence in Angel’s mind. After a moment, Buffy's lower lip stuck out in the pout he’d always found delightful. “Buffy, he’s not – “

 

Why?

 

Why what? Angel asked.

 

Why does she love me?

 

“Why do you love me? Him I mean.” Angel asked. “He’s asking, not me. Though I’m a little curious myself.”

 

“Dunno.” She shrugged. “Just do.”

 

I don’t need pity! Angelus snarled.

 

“He thinks you’re pitying him.”

 

“No.” This was a decidedly strange conversation with Angel translating for Angelus. “Not pity. I’ve thought about it a lot, and I realized that the two of you are the Angel that I love.”

 

“What?” It was twisted logic, even for Buffy.

 

No clue.

 

“Okay, if I have this right, Liam was the soul who left when Darla turned him and Angelus is the demon who got the body. Right?” She waited for Angel to contradict or correct her. When he didn’t, she continued. “Then the soul – Liam – gets put back. Both Liam and Angelus live in the body together. Am I right so far?”

 

This is why women should use their mouth for something besides talking.

 

“Yes.” Angel smiled.

 

“You said that at first, you – that’d be Liam – had to fight with Angelus for control. And now you’re nothing like Liam was.” Buffy sat back and smiled smugly at her own logic. “I think that Angel is a third person. Not Liam and not Angelus but made from both.”

 

“It’s crowded enough in here, Buffy.” There was something to her theory. He was about as far from Liam as he was from Angelus.

 

Whatever…

 

“You are the man you are because of Angelus. And Angelus has changed because of you.” Leaning forward again, she tapped his chest. “I can’t love just one part of you, Angel. Love isn’t like that. It’s all or nothing.”

 

“Tell that to Cordelia.” He said bitterly.

 

“Thus the nothingness of her love.” Buffy snorted. “Cordy loves nobody but herself. And all this higher being crap? I’m betting she was off in Mexico with some studly hottie. That Groo guy, I betcha.”

 

Does she know anything about how vampires mate?

 

Probably. What the hell does that have to do with anything? Angel gave a mental shrug.

 

Ask her.

 

Why?

 

Angelus growled. Just fucking ask her!

 

Why not? Anything to change the subject. “Buffy, do you know how vampires mate?”

 

“Is this a dirty joke?” She giggled. “’Cos I’m thinking I know the punchline already.”

 

“No, it’s not a joke.” He chuckled. “Vampires have very few relationships. Sire to chylde – more chylde to sire actually – and they sometimes form little groups. Families, in a twisted kind of way.”

 

“Like you, Dru, and Spike?”

 

“Exactly. And Darla.” Angel grimaced at the thought of his twice dead sire. “But none of these bonds are permanent. Self survival is always number one. Plus we’re pretty selfish – not really caring for anyone’s needs or desires but our own.”

 

“Solitary creatures of the night.” She nodded. “Got it. Seen the movies even.”

 

“Rarely – and I mean rarely – vampires will mate.” He hesitated. “And it’s different. Permanent.”

 

“Like marriage?” Yeah, cos that’s always permanent.

 

“Like… “ Angel searched for a way to put it into perspective for her.

 

Wolves. Angelus prompted.

 

“Wolves.”

 

The gryphon.

 

“The gryphon.” Angel turned slightly to show her the tattoo on his back. “They mate for life.”

 

“So when vamps mate, it’s for life?” A frown made her nose crinkle. “Or unlife?”

 

“Exactly.”

 

“That’s interesting.” Buffy tried not to notice the torn skin marring Angel’s beautiful tattoo. Not a clue why you’re telling me this, but okay.

 

She doesn’t get it. The demon sighed. Why were women even issued brains? Bigger tits would have been a fair trade off.

 

“Angelus considers you his mate.” Angel hesitated for a moment. “And so do I. My mate, I mean – not his.”

 

“Oh.” Still have no clue here. “I like the sound of that.”

 

“I know I – “ Angel looked away.

 

Don’t wuss out now! Angelus growled. Do you like being alone?

 

Shut up!

 

Tell her I love her!

“What?” The words bounced through his mind, but he must have misheard.

 

Tell her I love her!

 

“He – he – “ Angel faced Buffy again. “I think he’s lost his mind.”

 

“Now that scares me.” She bit her lip to keep from smiling. “’Cos isn’t that your mind, too?”

 

Tell her!

 

“He said he wants me to tell you he loves you.” He said, and Buffy's jaw dropped. “I know it sounds crazy. He – Buffy – Angelus’ feelings for you never wavered. I, on the other hand, almost made an unbelievably stupid mistake.”

 

“I thought his feelings were to rip my throat out.”

 

“Do you know how many opportunities he had?” Holding up his fingers, Angel ticked them off one by one. “Angelus was in your room at least five different times before he left the drawing. He came to the hospital when you were sick. And he followed you on patrol more nights than I can count.”

 

“But he tried to send us all to hell.”

 

“How would you like to be an evil, soulless creature and discover you’re in love with a human?” He rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip. “That you’re in love with your mortal enemy? And there’s no way that she’ll ever love you.”

 

“Guess I’d be a little upset.” Buffy kissed his thumb as it slid over her lips. “Not sure I’d be suck the earth into hell crazy – but upset. Maybe. I could handle it.”

 

“You wanted to kill me when you found out what I was.”

 

“Well if you’re going to bring truth into this...” She nipped at his thumb. “Then true. But there was no hell stuff.”

 

Some of us plan things on a bigger scale. Angelus preened.

 

Did I ever thank you for that, by the way?

 

"So Angelus thinks I'm his mate then?"

 

"He's even jealous of me." Buffy's bottom lip stuck out and her nose crinkled up, and Angel pushed down the urge to kiss her and tell her she was adorable.

 

Thinking she'd smack you. Angelus snickered. Buffy the adorable vampire slayer, not good for the resume.

 

"I like that." She smiled suddenly.

 

"You do?"

 

Of course she does. The demon purred. How can she resist me?

 

"So you don't mind the mark then?" Leaning down, Angel brushed a kiss over the scar at the base of her throat.

 

"Mind? What's to mind?" A shiver started from where his lips touched straight through to the base of her spine and other parts south.

 

Again, she's totally without a clue.

 

"No one’s ever said anything about it?" Angel asked cautiously.

 

"Not really. I mean Riley did, but – you know. And – " She bit her lip and looked away from the dark eyes. "Spike – he – he – hated it."

 

Spike hated it because he knew what it meant. Angel agreed with the growl that came from Angelus, but he didn't let it show. He'd deal with his trespassing grandchylde later.

 

"And Dracula – oh!" She bounced up and down on the bed. "Did you know there's really a Dracula?"

 

"We've met." Gypsy windbag. "He noticed it?"

 

"Said I'd 'been tasted'." He'd also said that Angel wasn't good enough for her, but she kept that part to herself. "Didn't keep him from tasting, I noticed."

 

"He – bit – you – "

 

Leaning back from the angry growl and sharp fangs, Buffy held her hands up in a gesture of helplessness. "He was like hypno eyes guy – and he didn't need an invitation! Came right in the window!"

 

First thing, when we're better, we fry that cape wearing fruit! Angelus snarled.

 

"And I couldn't stake him!" She pantomimed staking a vamp. "Poof! Then he'd just pop right back up!"

 

"He's not really a vampire – he's a cross between a vampire and a succubus – maybe an incubus." Angel put his anger and his game face away, and pulled her back into his arms. "He doesn't play by our rules. Spike on the other hand – "

 

Will be in serious pain.

 

"Spike's dead."

 

"What?"

 

What? Damn!

 

"He was protecting Dawn."

 

"I'm – I'm sorry." He caressed her cheek.

 

I'm not! Except that I didn't get to kill him.

 

"Wow, that took a lot, didn't it?" Buffy kissed his palm. "I know you hated him, Angel, you don't have to pretend just for me."

 

She says that – but you jump up and do the Pylean dance of joy and watch what happens.

 

"I know that you and Dawn cared for him, and that's why I'm sorry." Since her head was now tucked under his chin, Angel allowed himself to smile.

 

Serves him right. Angelus smirked. Though, damn, we coulda used a chain saw. I never did get to do that.

 

"Dawn cared for him, I tolerated him." She nipped at the underside of his jaw. "So my scar was like a big 'don't bite me, I'm property of Angel' kind of thing?"

 

Yes.

 

"In a – well it – "

 

Yes.

 

"It’s – you see – " Angel stuttered. "Yes."

 

"Thought so." She nipped again, harder this time.

 

Why don't you just listen to me to start with?

 

"The mark means that you've been – claimed." Angel told her. "It tells other vampires that you're off limits."

 

"Hate to pop your male ego." Buffy poked his chest. "But it didn't seem to keep them from trying to kill me."

 

"Well you are the Slayer." Catching her hand, he held it to his chest, over his still heart. "It's not as if they got close enough to see the mark."

 

"True – well they’re vamp dust by then anyway."

 

And yet… still too close.

 

"This is a – like a – " Her fingers slid over the rough scar. "A marriage sorta thing?"

 

The hope in her voice almost jumpstarted his heart. "Yes."

 

"Like the ring?" Leaning back, Buffy looked up at him. "The Claddagh being traditionally a wedding ring in some far off place in Ireland."

 

"Ah… um…"

 

Busted! Angelus cackled.

 

"It is, and I intended to tell you." A smile quirked one corner of his lips. "But I got sidetracked."

 

"The whole soul losing, turning back into a demon thing kinda kept us busy for awhile."

 

Her tone was sad and wistful, and Angel mentally kicked Angelus. "You know he wore my ring?"

 

"Yeah, to torment me."

 

"No."

 

Shut up!

 

"No?"

 

"He'd take it off and then put it back on." He stroked a finger over her cheek. "Once he threw it away and then dug it out of the trash."

 

Just shut up! Angelus pouted. Haven't we already covered this? Nothing to see here – move along!

 

"You're not making this up, are you?" A smile curved her lips. "So… all the time Angelus was saying he hated me… he was really crazy about me?"

 

Busted! "That’s what I'm saying." He yawned suddenly. "Sorry."

 

"Lay down." She patted the mattress. "Sleep for awhile, then you can eat a little bit more."

 

More Slayer blood? Angelus asked hopefully.

 

Angel settled himself on his belly, sighing contentedly as Buffy curled up next to him.

 

"Then a shower, bacon boy." Giggling, she pulled the sheet up over them.

 

Just as he was drifting off to sleep, a sharp elbow nudged him. Grunting, he opened his eyes to find Buffy staring at him. "What?"

 

"Promise me you'll wake up."

 

"Promise." Rising up, he kissed her. "I feel stronger now."

 

"Yea for good old Slayer blood." Smiling, she closed her eyes.

 

That's my girl! There was a purr of satisfaction from Angelus. Take good care of daddy.

 

Down, boy. Angel rested his cheek against hers and let sleep claim him once more, a contented purr rumbling from his chest.

 

 

 

Chapter Three