Buffy walked into the large closet, finding her bag, still packed, on a shelf. She didn’t touch it, though, preferring the elaborate dresses hanging nearby. She picked some underwear and a dress and took them into the bathroom.
She showered quickly, using a towel for her hair because no hairdryer was in sight. Surely this place had electricity; those muffins were cooked to perfection!
She put on the white silk underwear set before covering it with a heavy blue velvet gown. While the dress trailed on the ground slightly, probably meant to be worn with tall heels, she found the front thigh-high split to show off her legs as well as allow her enough freedom of movement.
“Buffy,” Angelus whined from the bedroom, discarding his robe and returning to his previous position on the bed. “Hurry up!” Yeah, he was impatient. But who could blame him? His scrumptious lover was in the next room, and though he’d offered her clothes, he honestly only wanted her to put something on so that he could take it off. And she was spending far too much time dressing considering the fact that she’d be wearing it for less than five minutes.
She emerged finally, holding up the skirt of her dress in her left hand so that it didn’t drag and revealing a lot of leg in the process.
Angelus tensed as she approached him, torn between watching her shyly walk over and getting up to thrown her on the bed. In the end he compromised; he waited until she was beside the bed before he pulled her beneath him.
“Oh, Angelus,” Buffy moaned as he kissed her neck before moving to her mouth. His lips met hers slowly and her arms went around his neck to scratch lightly. Her skin was flushed, warmer than usual from the shower, and he felt like she was burning him everywhere they touched.
He caressed her breasts, her hips, before lowering her panties and tossing them aside. She whimpered as he inserted two fingers, then three, into her passage. Her hot, tight walls immediately gripped him and he quickly replaced his fingers with his cock, rolling so he was beneath her.
“Buffy,” he moaned, felling her tighten as he began to pump. She moved up and down several inches on top of him but it wasn’t enough. He pulled down the dress’s straps and removed her bra so he could cup her breasts.
She felt him suck one nipple into his mouth, sending delicious shivers down her spine, and she came hard around him. Angelus followed immediately, slipping two small but sharp fangs into her plump breast.
“Ow!” Buffy exclaimed, surprised. “Angelus?”
“My fangs? I’m a Fey king, Buffy! I survive partly on blood, and as my mate it is your duty to supply it,” he told her, shifting so they lay next to each other, a satisfied smirk on his face.
“Mate?” she asked curiously.
“A union of sorts,” he explained. “If I bite you while we are making love, it binds us. A ceremony must be performed in the next few days or the bond will fade. Until then, it is more comfortable to stay together.”
“So I’m your food source for now?” She frowned. Maybe this wasn’t as good as she’d begun to hope.
“You are my lover, Slayer,” he told her firmly. “Forever.” He leaned closer to her, reaching for her neck with his fangs.
“But still a food source,” she said sadly, staying perfectly still.
“Fuck,” Angelus whispered, pulling away from her and leaving the bed.
“I have to be in love before I commit to someone. I told you.”
“If we are going to have a child, we have to be bonded in some way. It is in the prophecy. What would the people say if the king didn’t marry his baby’s mother?”
“I don’t know,” Buffy said, beginning to cry.
Angelus dressed and left the room without another word.
She turned away from the door. No, this was not at all what she had expected. How could she live like this? Sure, she was going to have to marry him, and he was a skilled lover, but now the truth was out. He only wanted her because she’d have to let him feed from her.
She was going to be pregnant soon, if she wasn’t already. She couldn’t allow a child to grow up here.
Chapter Seven
A/N: I admit it; I’m mean. I’m a mean bean. Try and stop me. (This may make more sense as you read the next chapter.) It’s 2am as I post this so I’m a little crazy. Now I’m off to sleep.
Angelus sipped at his scotch, deep in thought. His precious little lover was unhappy. How could he fix this? He had been told by the council to treat her like a wife, not a whore. But was he allowed to perform the bonding with her? Marriage, in her world, consisted of a white dress, rings, and a gathering of friends and family. Of this Jenny had already informed him. Here, a bond meant forever. Blood exchanged and after they could not be parted. It was the only way for a legitimate child to be born to him.
It didn’t help that he was confused over why she was sad. Did he not satisfy her? Surely he did; her moans and orgasms were proof of it. Did she not want him to feed from her? An impractical demand! It would be difficult for him to resist her until the bonding took place. Besides, she didn’t seem to mind the first time.
Perhaps he should allow her a day to sort herself out. Yes, he had the restraint for twenty-four hours apart. He called Jenny in to give her the message.
~~
“If I may speak freely, Mistress Buffy,” Jenny began, continuing after she received an affirmative nod. “How did your previous master treat you?”
“Excuse me?”
“Was he…gentle?”
“I’ve only ever been with Angelus if that’s what you’re asking,” Buffy replied, blushing.
“Oh, you poor dear!” Jenny exclaimed, abandoning the sculpture she was attempting to dust. “Angelus, he… he’s dangerous. It appears that he’s treated you well so far, but you must have angered him.”
“Angered… No! Oh, no! He’s… angry? And he’s going to hurt me? What if he kills me? I’ll never go home!”
“He won’t kill you, Mistress. You’re part of the prophecy; no matter what happens, your son will be born.”
“That’s a relief,” Buffy said, pausing. “My son? I’m pregnant?”
“Yes,” Jenny told her.
“How do you know?”
“I have the gift of future sight. It is how I came to discover the prophecy. Your son will rise to great power.”
“What would I tell Angelus?”
“Nothing yet. He knows of my gift. I will tell him today, after I serve dinner. It would not do to keep such a thing from him.”
“Thank you,” Buffy said. She was still on the bed where Angelus had left her, and she rolled onto her stomach, facing away from Jenny. “I didn’t mean to anger him. Will he hurt me?” she asked quietly.
“He would not harm his bride,” the maid replied.
“Will you help me to escape? Please?” Buffy asked.
“No,” Jenny told her. “Good evening, Mistress.” And she was gone.
It left Buffy wondering when the day had passed so quickly, especially because she was even more frightened of Angelus. She should probably just submit to him; agree to the bond and allow him to feed from her. Perhaps a bond entered into here would not affect her back in her own dimension.
~~
Angelus lay on his black leather sofa, watching Jenny pour blood into a glass from the corner of his eye.
“She’s scared of you, Master,” Jenny said.
“Should she be?” he asked, concerned. He wanted to bond with this woman; it wouldn’t do to have her afraid of him.
“She’s pregnant. A son. You have your prophecy fulfilled if you perform the ceremony soon.”
“A son? Oh, Jenny. You know I’ve never even thought of a bond before. But now that I must, she is unwilling. How can I force her when she must accept me willingly for it to work?”
“Do you love her, Master?” she asked curiously. “How can you expect her to enter into this willingly if you yourself only grudgingly agree to your fate?”
“A fair question. I want her. I want to keep her safe and be her only lover.”
“You love her. You must tell her. She knows her sadness angered you and she’ll agree to the bond as if you have threatened her life.”
“I love her?” Angelus mused. “Yes, I love her. She will be mine. The ceremony will be in two days, at sunset, in the main courtyard.”
Jenny stopped pretending to dust the books on a nearby shelf. “Yes, Master.”
“Was it like this with your Rupert? Not knowing love until you had it?”
“It was,” she answered after a short pause, blinking back tears. Her Rupert, her love, was lost to her because of her abilities. Her magic and future sight had sent her into Angelus’s service as soon as his minions had found her. Love did not always triumph.
Chapter Eight
A/N: It's closer to 2:30am now. Hint: the more reviews I get, the more persuaded I will be to fix things. Can Buffy and Angelus ever be together? My muse will be appearing next chapter to make a public statement. No interviews are available at this time. :)
Buffy sat primly on a chair in the far corner of the bedroom. Her perfect posture gave away her nervousness as Angelus approached, seating himself on the sofa opposite her.
“I’ll bond with you,” she told him, not meeting his eyes. She spoke quietly, emphasizing how much of herself, how many of her values she was sacrificing.
His heart lifted. Now was the time to admit his feelings for her. She, of course, would reciprocate, and he would watch over her to keep his bride and his son safe. He could convert the unused rooms in another wing to bedrooms, and they would fill the mansion with laughter-
“I love you, Buffy,” he said, approaching her. Sitting down and pulling her onto his lap, he watched her curious behaviour. She shied away when he tried to kiss her, not allowing him to deepen the kiss. “Buffy?”
“I don’t love you. Angelus, it is against my beliefs to marry without love.”
“You have love, my sweet. That is my child you carry. We cannot bond if you are unwilling.”
“Jenny told me you wouldn’t hurt me if I agreed to marry you,” she told him, uncomfortably warm where their skin met.
“Jenny’s a fool,” he said, taking her to the bed and laying on top or her. She didn’t resist as he cut a small line on his throat and she licked it as he sunk his fangs in and drank deeply from her. Soon she was weak and he lay on his side, arms around her, holding her to his chest as his eyes closed.
~~
“Jenny!” Angelus growled some hours later, leaving his bedroom. “Tonight,” he told the maid. “Tonight it will be done.”
~~
“Mistress, please wake up!” Jenny whispered, shaking Buffy lightly. It wasn’t often that she was sent to awaken someone, much less a human, and she had very little idea of how it was to be done.
“Mistress!” she tried again, slightly louder this time. The maid shook harder until Buffy’s eyes opened.
“Angelus?” she asked sleepily, stretching her arms out.
“It’s me, Mistress,” she said. “The ceremony is in several hours. Please, you must prepare!”
“The bonding ceremony? Today? It’s next week or something.”
“Two and a half hours,” Jenny told her. “Please hurry.”
After Buffy had showered, the maid helped her to don a pale pink dress. It was strapless, because of the nature of the ceremony, and the colour was a compromise between her world’s white and this world’s red.
~~
The ceremony went as planned; only a few dozen guests were invited rather than the whole of the family’s circle so as not to overwhelm Buffy. The couple retired to their bedchamber soon after, Angelus claiming fatigue with a smirk.
Queen Mab, Angelus’s mother, smiled upon the gathered group. Her son had fulfilled his duty; she was already proud and could not wait for the day when she would present her grandson to the kingdom.
~~
Hours later, Buffy snuck out of the bedroom. Angelus was sound asleep, she was sure. Pulling her robe tighter around her, she made her way further down the hallway, searching for a specific location. The library.
Text after text were lying on the desk, all open to pages relating to the prophecy. This didn’t matter; all she needed was one spell. To get her home.
She went through two huge, leather-bound spell books before finding the one that could help her.
After arranging some small candles on the points of the pentagram marked on the floor, she chanted the spell and promptly fell unconscious, her body disappearing moments later.
~~
“Buffy?” Angelus called. “Buffy, my love?”
No answer.
He looked around the room, finding no sign of her. Entering the hallway, he saw a flickering light under the door to his library. Perhaps she was in there.
“Oh, Buffy,” he called out teasingly, hand on the doorknob. “Hiding from me, my love?” He burst into the room, finding the candles still lit but no Buffy.
Chapter Nine
A/N: Pretend you believe what’s going on with Joyce. Please? It’s for the sake of the plot, I swear.
The next day was worse. Willow waited for Xander on the front steps of the school, as always. He cheerfully approached, clearly intent on having a relaxing Friday, and sat next to her.
“She’s gone,” she reminded him, and he quickly recalled the contents of the last few days.
Buffy leaving. Giles telling them about the prophecy. Not to mention the awkward moments they’d shared.
“See you after class,” he told her, getting up and walking into the building.
Willow watched her last friend rush away from her.
~~
“Hank Summers,” he answered the phone, taking a seat in his office.
“Hank? Oh, thank god!”
“Joyce? Why are you calling?”
“It’s about Buffy,” she told him. “She’s run away. Left a note and everything.”
“Buffy ran away? I always knew she was a troublemaker.”
“Hank, I don’t know what to do. The police are doing everything they can, but she’s probably miles away by now. I take it she hasn’t stopped by to see you?”
“No,” he replied.
“I’m really worried about her.”
“Listen, why don’t you pack up a few things and come stay here for a while? I don’t want you to stay there alone if you’re scared.”
“I have to be here. What if she comes home?” Joyce asked, concerned. “You could stay here, though. I’d feel better with someone else in the house.”
Hank flipped through the planner on his desk. “I’ll be down tomorrow afternoon. See you then,” he told her, and they both hung up.
~~
Buffy woke up on the cold floor of the high school library. Standing up, she pulled her thin robe tighter around her. “Hello?” she called quietly. “Giles?”
“Buffy?” Giles asked, exiting his office. “Is that you?” At her rolled eyes, he continued, “are you okay?” He tentatively hugged her.
“Don’t make me go back,” she begged, holding onto his forearms. “Please, Giles. You can’t make me go back there.”
“Oh, Buffy,” he sighed, pulling her into another hug. At that point her state of dress became obvious and he ushered her into his office.
“Let me find Willow. She’ll have gym clothes you can wear, I’m sure. I’ll be right back,” he told her.
Buffy sat quietly on the chair to wait. She probably should have taken her bag with her when she escaped, or at least changed into regular clothes. Or- oh no! Mr Gordo was in that bag! And all her photos. Her favourite pair of runners…
She told herself to stop being silly. Those things could be replaced; her sanity could not. Angelus was temperamental and prone to violence, at least according to Jenny, and she would not risk her child like that. Even if he was the father. Even if she found herself attracted to him. Wait, no. She didn’t even like him! Now she thought she lo-
“Buffy! Oh my god, you’re here!” Willow exclaimed, “and you really do need clothes! Here.” She handed her friend her gym bag. “We’ll wait outside.”
She tried not to think as she donned the yellow t-shirt and maroon sweat pants.
“Are you okay? What happened?” Willow’s questioning began as soon as she was out the door.
“I’m… fine. I’ll be okay,” Buffy told the two. She sat down at the table.
“Are you sure?” Giles asked. “Angelus is brutal, to say the least. Has he… touched you? Buffy, I need to know, for the sake of the prophecy.”
She was silent for a moment, gaze settling on her hands as she avoided their expectant expressions. “I’m pregnant,” she told him. “We’re bonded as well. You got your stupid prophecy.”
“Bonded?” Willow asked. “What’s that?”
“It’s like getting married,” Buffy explained. “It’s a ceremony. Lots of talking, we drink each other’s blood, no big deal.”
“No big deal?” Willow repeated incredulously.
“Buffy, a bonding is a strong union. To defy a mate as you have done by coming here is dangerous.”
“But I had to, don’t you see? He… he’s mean, Giles. He orders me around and-”
“Does he hurt you? Can you show me evidence that you’re in enough danger to justify keeping a man’s child from him?” Giles demanded.
Buffy was silent. He may have been rough with her, but she was fed and her clothing was beautiful and he seemed to have feelings for her. She didn’t even bother showing him the bite; he’d just tell her they were necessary for the bond, anyway.
“Then you’ll return tomorrow morning. I know it’s Saturday, but come through the back entrance and I’ll be here.”
Chapter Ten
“Can I stay with you tonight, Willow?” Buffy asked as Giles went into his office to search for the spell to send her back. “I don’t want to see my mom and then have to leave again.”
“Sure, my parents are probably busy anyway.”
“Thanks.”
~~
Hank arrived the next morning, and Joyce answered the door still wearing her robe. “You’re early,” she told him.
“I am.”
“Would you like to come in?”
“I would,” he said, closing the door behind him before kissing her passionately. She lead him up the stairs to her room.
~~
Giles waited impatiently for Buffy to arrive at the library. She was hours late and noon had passed before she appeared.
“Buffy,” he scolded her. “It’s too late to perform the spell now. We’ll have to try again on Tuesday morning. The conditions will be correct then. You should go home now.”
“You’re really going to send me back,” she said. “At first I didn’t think you would but you’re sending me back to a place where I’m unhappy.”
He sat at the research table and continued to avoid her eyes.
“I’m going home.”
Buffy left him there, heading for her house on Revello Drive. As she walked down the streets she noticed that nothing had changed. The leaves were still green, flowers still bright, sun still shining.
There were two cars parked in her driveway. This was new. Peeking into the living room from the porch, she saw her parents sitting far too close on the couch for a divorced couple. When they kissed, that sealed it. They were back together, temporarily at least.
She’d been replaced. Why would Joyce need a troublesome daughter when getting rid of her had brought Hank back?
Suddenly she loathed her father. Why did he tell her so many times that she didn’t cause the divorce when clearly she did? And now she needed a place to stay. She decided to impose on Willow for a few more nights.
“Willow?” Buffy called, tapping on her friend’s glass door. “Willow!”
Willow opened the door. “What is it?” she asked, knowing immediately that something was wrong.
“My parents are together!” she exclaimed, beginning to sob into Willow’s shoulder.
“But Buffy, that’s what you wanted, isn’t it? You told me you wanted them to get back together.”
“It’s because of me. They’re together because I’m gone.”
“That can’t be it, Buffy,” Willow said calmly. “How do you know about them anyway?”
“I saw them,” she said with a frown. “Snuggling.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.”
~~
“Jenny!” Angelus yelled, stomping down the hall. “Where is she?”
The maid took the stairs two at a time, stumbling several times, in an attempt to catch her master before he destroyed any priceless art pieces. She remembered picking the remains of a vase out of an antique rug after Darla had run off with Sir William, a former member Queen Mab’s court. The memory only made her run faster.
“Master, who are you searching for?” she asked innocently, catching her breath.
“Who do you think?”
“She has enjoyed the library,” Jenny suggested. “She can read, you know.”
“She can read?” he repeated in astonishment. “Never mind that. She’s not there. Where else could she be?”
“Perhaps your bedroom?”
“The candles are lit in the library. For a spell. Find her and bring her to me. You have an hour.”
“Yes, Master,” she told him, turning and rushing down the hall to the library.
~~
Jenny placed a few hairs, procured from the hairbrush in her mistress’s bag, onto a small plate of herbs.
Chanting, she lit a circle of candles around the plate in sequence before setting its contents alight as well. Time seemed to run in fast-forward as the candles burned down. She suddenly felt very tired, like she should lie down.
When she woke up, she didn’t think she was in her dimension anymore.
~~
The room seemed so familiar, but this was not Angelus’s library. It belonged to her old life, she thought. Before she’d been taken.
“Hello?” she called out, not expecting an answer. The place seemed deserted.