Chapter Seventeen

Beginnings

 

 

 

 

When they arrived back at the encampment the gang had everything under control and were actually sitting around the pit, drinking down some beers and looking like they were hanging out with a bunch of old friends.

 

Paulina walked over to Buffy the second she saw her. “Buffy, you okay honey?”

 

Buffy smiled, hugging Angel, “As sweet as cherry pie Paulina.” She said copying Paulina’s southern accent.

 

“Paulina, I want you to meet Angel.  Angel this is my good friend Paulina.”

 

Paulina turned hesitant eyes to Angel.  After Gunn had subdued the rowdy bikers he explained who they were and why they were there.  Hearing that the Scourge of Europe was Buffy’s new boyfriend, everyone immediately thought the worst.

 

But Gunn, Oz and the polite Englishman explained that they were only there for Adam, Grant and Parker.  After hearing that the majority of the crowd couldn’t have cared less that they were there at all.  And the ones that were loyal to Adam choose to leave the encampment instead of facing Angelus. 

 

Paulina however wasn’t so confident that all would be well.  She was a woman in love, who had a husband that she knew would do anything to protect her honor. Knowing Angelus’ reputation she wouldn’t be surprised if he came back to the camp and wiped them all out. So it was a nervous shaking hand that she offered to Angel.

 

Angel had no idea of the conflict inside of the woman and he smiled openly at her and took her hand inside of his. “We already met. It’s nice to meet you Paulina I’ve heard a lot of nice things about you.”

 

 “Really?” She squeaked out, her eyes bulging with shock.

 

Angel leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you for being Buffy’s friend when she needed one. You’re always welcome in my house.”

 

Paulina blushed profusely at his words and Buffy’s eyes watered with gratitude. Yes he was definitely getting jumped on the way home.

 

Charlie stepped up behind Paulina and held out his hand. “Hi I’m Charlie, Paulina’s husband. I guess we have you to thank for getting rid of our not so esteemed leaders.”

 

Angel smiled back at him and shook his hand. “No hard feelings ah?”

 

“Shit dude, are you kidding me!  Let me tell you something, there were plenty of us here that were tired of Adam and Parker’s rule, not to mention Grant’s nosing around. Hell as far as we’re concerned you did us a favor.”

 

Angel laughed at Charlie’s candid remarks and as he looked over at the pit everyone raised their beers and shouted a salute, the biker way of course, with guns in the air blazing away.

 

When the raucousness finally died down Buffy looked up at Angel. “Angel, I know you want to leave but can we just stay for a minute, I’d really like you to talk to Charlie. Would you mind?”

 

Even though his libido was raging he couldn’t deny her anything. “Of course not baby.”

 

She pulled him over to the pit and they sat down with everyone, joining in on the conversation.

 

Angel was surprised to learn that most of the people from the New York Chapter of the Brotherhood, had decided to stay with the LA chapter who was much more lenient in their rules. While others like Charlie and Paulina wanted out all together, they were tired of the biker way of life and wanted to try their hands at something else.

 

As he sat and listened to Charlie talk he realized that he liked him…a lot.  He was open, honest, and seemed very level headed. And as luck would have it, he was a former Marine and demolition expert, something that Angel’s team was sorely lacking. 

 

While he and Spike were both proficient in explosives, Gunn was not. Explosives required a cool and rational hand, someone serious. While Angel loved Gunn like a brother he knew that he was not that man.  Being a good judge of character he had summed Charlie up the second he shook his hand, and he knew that Charlie was that man. 

 

“You know I could use a good man like you on my team.” Angel said. Buffy, who sat quietly listening, squeezed his arm showing her approval.

 

Charlie looked around at the other members of the group who were all staring at him waiting to hear his answer with blank stares, and it made him slightly uncomfortable “Well I um…I don’t know. I don’t want to impose.”

 

Spike wasn’t surprised to hear Angel offer Charlie a job.  Charlie’s past and the fact that his wife was very close with Buffy was a boon as far as Angel was concerned.  You could never have too much loyalty in this business. And they could always use another skilled level-headed guy on the team.

 

He also wasn’t surprised to hear the hesitation in Charlie’s answer.

 

It was a little daunting to be asked to join The Scourge of Europe especially when what they really did was not known to the Underground world. Of course that could easily be remedied, well after a long discussion that was, and one definitely not suitable for here.  But it was one worth having and Spike wanted to make sure that Charlie heard it.

 

“Oh come on mate, you’ll love it! France one day, Spain the next…you never know who you’ll be robbing.”  He said coaxingly.

 

“Or scamming,” Oz replied.

 

“Or killing,” Gunn added and Spike toasted them both. “Here, here.”

 

Charlie looked a little taken aback by their candid and proud acknowledgement of what they did and he started to wonder if he was leaving one nuthouse for another. 

 

Angel chuckled and attempted to reassure him. “I know they sound cracked but they’re perfectly sane I promise.”

 

“As sane as I’ll ever be.”  Gunn stood up and held the rocket launcher on his shoulder pretending to fire it and hollering to the sky as he did. 

 

Everyone laughed, except Angel who gave Gunn a stern look shaking his head at him and secure with his decision. ‘Definitely no explosives for Gunn.’

 

He turned back to Charlie. “Charlie why don’t you, Paulina and the kids come back to the hotel with us, Wes can fill you in and tell you what we’re all about. If you’re not interested you can leave no strings attached.”

 

Charlie looked over at Paulina and saw the happy excited look in her eyes. He promised her that he would think about Buffy’s offer and he had to some extent, but he hadn’t really taken it seriously because it came from Buffy and not Angelus himself.  But now being asked by the Scourge to join was an honor that he couldn’t pass up. “Sure I’d love too.”

 

Angel slapped him on the back and shook his hand. “Great. You can follow Spike back. I’ll see you there tomorrow.” 

 

Feeling Buffy’s warm appreciative eyes on him, Angel figured he did what she wanted him to do and saw no reason to stay any more.  Restlessly, he stood up pulling Buffy with him and looked at Spike. “Do me a favor and burn the bodies. I’d do it myself but I’ve looked at those three more than I want to. “

 

“Sure thing mate.”

 

“Great thanks, we’re leaving. You ride back with Faith.”

 

Spike nodded, “I think we’re going to stay awhile and enjoy the festivities.”

 

Faith who had sat by his side quietly the entire time now spoke up, “Umm…Spike, I don’t know if I want to stay.”

 

Spike turned worried eyes to her, “What’s a matter luv are you alright? Were you hurt?”  His voice rose with each question and Faith smiled at him shaking her head.

 

“No…I just…” Faith was worried and had been since Grant mentioned Luke.  He said he would call him, but knowing how these guys worked, he probably had and Luke was probably on his way here. The least time she spent here the better.

 

But Spike seemed to understand her concern and didn’t let her finish her sentence. “What?  You’re not worried about that bloke Luke are you?”

 

She lowered her head, ashamed to admit that she was, but Spike lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “Don’t worry bout him luv, I took care of it.”

 

She stared deep into his eyes and instinctively knowing what ‘I took care of it’ meant.  A blinding smile lit her face, for the first time in years she felt the weight lifted off of her shoulders. She grabbed his head and kissed him soundly on the lips.  

 

When she released him, Spike was enthralled by the radiant beauty beside him, and he suddenly lost his festive mood. “On second thought, maybe we’ll be leaving too.”

 

 

 

*********************

 

 

 

The drive back to LA was most enjoyable for Angel if a little on the life threatening side.  Buffy had proved to be more eager than he was. Of course she waited to attack him when he was least expecting it, which was when he was doing eighty down the freeway.

 

Giggling she leaned over and pulled the Beast out, stroking him as she whispered naughty words in his ear. 

 

He had barely been able to keep his eyes open when her velvet lips wrapped around the head of his cock. And as she started to suck him with long deep strokes with her gifted wet mouth, his hands almost cracked the wood steering wheel of his beloved car. But the real accident getter was when she started to hum.

 

Any other day, he would have lasted a lot longer and enjoyed the soft vibrations her humming made around his cock, it was soothing and invigorating at the same time.  But driving an old car with an engine that produced over 500 horsepower and vibrations on it’s own as it screamed down the freeway, was way too much.

 

He made a sharp right, the tires hopped over the small median and the car began to rock as it drove over grass and dirt.

 

Buffy jerked up from the violent motion of the car and her body lifted off the seat. Her nails dug into Angel’s naked thighs trying to balance herself as bubbles of laughter spilled from her lips.

 

Angel threw the car in neutral and turned the engine off. In his frenzied state he completely forgot to put the emergency brake on all he could think about was her. He picked her up and threw her down on the bench seat. Her head hit the metal door in the process but she didn’t care, she was still laughing.

 

It was amazing how different she felt. She never noticed how still being married to Parker was a restraint to her heart and soul. But now that he was dead, she really felt like a new woman.  

 

She remembered that night six months ago when she was at the observatory and contemplating her life. Then she thought she had everything that she wanted. She thought that her life was perfect just the way it was.  But she had been wrong. 

 

She met Angel that night, and every second, every minute since then her life got better. She got better.  And now, now that she was no longer tied to Parker it was like the cloud she didn’t even know was there dissipated, and she was free. The sun was shining down on her and all she wanted to do was lift her hands up to the sky and scream her elation.

 

His frustrated grunts drew her mind back to now. As her eyes followed every frantic move he made as he pulled her pants down, she knew that she would be forever thankful that he came into her life.  He was her everything and she wanted to be everything that he needed her to be.

 

He looked up at her in that moment and watched her face light up with laughter and what he would have to describe as pure joy, and his heart filled with love for her. 

 

“God you’re so beautiful.”  He ardently said as he finally yanked her pants down and in one smooth motion thrust inside of her.

 

“Flawless.” He keened as his eyes closed. God she was perfect. The way she wrapped around him, like a hot blanket of love, was just the most exquisite sensation in the world to him.  And for Angel, it was just another affirmation that they were made for each other.

 

Buffy stopped laughing the second he entered her. Her body was pulsating with heat as he started to move inside of her. She grabbed his head and pulled him down, fiercely attacking his mouth. Kissing him hungrily and branding his lips with her own. “I love you so much Angel.”

 

“Oh God me too.”

 

He pulled out and then sank back inside of her moist heat, his face crinkling as he did.  He was not in the best position right now and his knee slammed into the stick shift as he thrust forward, he snarled with annoyance.

 

He slipped his hands under her ass and tried to lift her up to get a better angle but his knee hit the shifter again, and as he moved forward his other knee slid on the vinyl seat making him miss his target. 

 

He growled with agitation and a little bit of his ego bruised.  He was a skilled and smooth lover yet the old car wasn’t cooperating with him, and instead made him miss his goal and look like an inept teenager. 

 

“GOD DAMN IT!” He yelled out his frustration as he held her hips up high and slammed inside of her, just barely making it in.

 

Buffy understood where his frustration was coming from because frankly this position wasn’t working for her either.

 

“Angel.”

 

She called out to him, but his eyes were closed and he was concentrating on keeping his balance so he didn’t hear her. He was determined that he was going to take her the way that he wanted to, so he continued to move with the hit and miss rocking technique.

 

As his movements got wilder Buffy felt more than just her body moving, she felt the car rolling backwards.

 

She hit him on the shoulder, “ANGEL!”

 

His eyes snapped open, “What?” 

 

“The car is rocking and it’s not from us.” She said, smiling as his face changed from irritation to alarm the moment he understood what she was saying.

 

“Shit.”

 

He pulled out of her and sat on the bench. He stepped on the brake and then stepped on the clutch throwing the shifter in reverse. Then taking his foot of the clutch he pressed on the emergency brake.

 

The car stopped rolling and he laid his head back on the headrest, breathing out with complete disgust.  God all he wanted was to take her, fast and hard, but it seemed that his much-loved car didn’t want to help out in achieving his goal.

 

“This isn’t working.”  He said unhappily as he laid an arm over his eyes and felt The Beast deflate with rejection.

 

Buffy smiled at the tone of his voice. It was miserable, frustrated and just…dejected. He was so cute. She sat up and crawled over to him putting her hands on his shoulders she lifted her knee and straddled him.

 

His hands automatically rested on her waist, and when she leaned forward and started to kiss his neck, his nostrils were filled with the smell of her shampoo.  Lavender and vanilla, it was calming and alluring at the same time and he felt his cock begin to swell once more.

 

“Don’t sound so sad lover.” She rasped in his ear. 

 

Her hot raspy voice sent shivers through out his body and his fingers dug into her ribs as she ran her tongue over the rim of his ear and then gently bit it.

 

“Just relax and let me take control.”

 

Her mouth sucked on the bitten flesh, soothing it seductively, and he sucked in his breath, ‘Oh God she’s going to kill me.’

 

It felt really, really good but it wasn’t what he wanted. He had this blinding wild need to be the dominant one and for him to just sit there and hand the reins over to her was pure torture.

 

Balancing herself on his shoulder with one hand she reached down and took the Beast in her hand.  Laying him flat against Angel’s stomach she sat down on him, her wet lips seemed to wrap around his aching cock and Angel moaned, his fingers digging deeper into her ribs.

 

His grip was deep and painful in her side and she whimpered as she slowly slid down his velvety cock. Every ripple of his skin felt like a hammer striking against her aching lips, and her body shook with a deep need that was almost paralyzing with its intensity.

 

She remembered how hot she got watching him fight for her dignity and respect, fight for their love.  He was like a savage animal that had just been set free and watching his powerful body move with strength and confidence had turned her body to molten fire.  She had been so aroused that she wanted to be taken by that savage beast.  She wanted to be conquered. 

 

But all that changed the moment their positions were turned. The second she sat on him the urge to control him became irresistible and she realized that now she had to be the one in control. 

 

Slowly she slid her pussy over his turgid flesh, drool practically dripping from her lips as she watched him struggle with his own inner desire to conquer her. He was so strong, so powerful, so undeniably an alpha male who found himself trapped in the confines of car that didn’t give him the opportunity to be that person. He was for all intended purposes, a complete and utter slave to her every whim. It was a heady sensation because she knew that it wasn’t easy for him to concede his power and let hers rule…yet, here he was.  

 

The play of emotions on his face ranged from bliss to agony. He was fighting a battle inside and it was tearing him apart, but for Buffy it only heightened her pleasure. His submissiveness made her feel powerful and put her in control, and that was what she wanted.

 

Sliding back up, she leaned in once more returning to her erotic mouth play on his ear.  She pursed her lips and gently blew as she held his head, swinging her hips from side to side over his rigid flesh.

 

“Angel?”

 

“Mmm…” He barely responded to her breathy call, his mind solely focused on the languorous lovemaking that she was currently trying to kill him with.

 

“You know what gets me hot?” She slid down his shaft again applying just a little bit more pressure.

 

He could only shake his head in response as his hips lifted off the bench with a vehement need to press further against her naked heat.

 

She smiled sensually, they rubbed against each other with a powerful stroke, and a guttural moan slipped from her lover’s lips.

 

“You…in such a submissive state, God it just makes me so…wet.” She purred as she pressed his head against her breasts and slid sensually down his shaft.

 

Angel groaned hungrily his mouth catching a cloth covered nipple and sucking on it roughly. He whimpered loudly when her words finally registered in his lust filled mind, seeing what she was up to.

 

He released her nipple as his hands wandered up her rib cage. Grabbing her shirt he lifted it up and pulled it off her head. Buffy obliged by lifting her arms, and when naked breasts were revealed to his watering mouth he latched on to them, pushing them together as he rubbed his face in between them, pleading with her to end his torment.

 

“Buffy, please…not now, I need you. Please…just fuck me.”  He gruffly begged her, his hands wandering back down to her waist urgently gripping her flesh trying to impale her on his twitching aching cock.

 

Buffy huskily chuckled as her nails dug into his shoulders, preventing him from pushing her down, and he hissed from the sharp sting.

 

“I love to hear you beg Angel, it’s so sweet.” She crooned

 

‘Sweet! She’s killing me and she thinks it’s sweet!’

 

He threw his head back against the headrest, his eyes squeezed shut as he willed himself to relax and take deep breaths.

 

She sat down on his cock fully seating him inside her hot folds then leaned back against the steering wheel.  Her hands caressed her belly then moved up to her breasts. “Angel, look at me.” She called out to him on a throaty moan.

 

His eyes automatically opened and he lifted his head to look at her. 

 

She was leaning back, her fingertips rolling over her nipples as she pushed her breasts up for his attention. “Take them Angel.”

 

She commanded him and he responded quickly as he sat up and moved forward taking the hard nub that she offered in between his lips.

 

“Yesss…” She cried out as her fingers splayed through his hair.

 

Angel greedily sucked on her breasts and tapped on her nipple with his tongue. His throaty groans filling her ears and invigorating her senses.

 

She rotated her hips against his cock and he shamelessly cried out again with blatant need. “Buffy please…fuck me. I need you so bad baby. I need to be inside of you.”

 

He was practically whining like a baby and Buffy’s body responded to his plea as a rush of wetness spilled out of her core and coated his shaft like warm honey.

 

Angel was trembling all over, his mind was yelling at him to take control, and he knew that he wasn’t going to be able to last any longer. Her time was up.

 

Buffy either sensed his control snapping or was a victim to her own game she didn’t know. All she did know was that she couldn’t take his needy pleas any longer and her own control shattered.

 

She violently pushed him back against the seat. She grabbed his cock and held it in her hand positioning him at her entrance. She looked deeply into his eyes as her voice took on a note of pure authoritative conviction. “You want me to fuck you? I’ll fuck you baby.” Then she pushed down fully embedding him inside of her.

 

His head whipped back against the headrest, his fingers mercilessly digging into her rib cage, he hissed with pleasure and a smile of pure rapture appeared on his face.

 

The aggressiveness that was coursing through Buffy’s veins was indescribable. And she once more dug her nails into his shoulders applying painful force as she lifted up and then slammed back down.

 

“Yes! Just like that!” She screamed as she lifted up and then once more slammed back down, rotating her hips, grazing her clit against the wiry hair of his lower abdomen, and causing her body to ripple with incredible sensations.

 

Angel couldn’t speak, the only thing he could say were the grunts and moans of ecstasy that left his mouth as she continued to ride him hard and fast, with deep penetrating strokes.

 

“You’re mine Angelus!”  She firmly said as she continued with her assault on his cock.

 

Angel groaned hearing his given name off her lips, his own inner demon rising to the occasion, desperately wanting to rein her in and take the upper hand.

 

But her grip on his shoulders was intense and the pain, now throbbing, melted into the erotic torture she was inflicting on his appendage. He felt like he was getting the worse beating of his life as she continued to thrash above him, punishing him with her profound brutal movements.  It was the most sexually satisfying experience he had ever felt and his body surged upward, his hands dug into her flesh, blood trickled out of her side, as his mouth opened and he screamed so loud and with so much force the windows rattled.

 

Buffy feeling a rush of warm heat filling her core threw her head back and slammed down on him one last time as she came hard and long.  Ripples of ecstasy coursed through and she lifted her hands to the roof, stretching her body back and moving with each delicious ripple as it spread throughout her. 

 

In her violent motion her back hit the horn and it sounded off…loud in the quiet world outside their steel box of wickedness.

 

Faith and Spike were just driving by when the horn screeched out into the night. Faith jumped and looked out the window just as they passed the car that sat on the side of the road. “Isn’t that Angel’s car?”

 

Spike looked in the rear view mirror as they drove by, a smirk on his face. “Yup, the horny bastards.”

 

Faith smiled as she settled back next to him, her hand sliding up his thigh. “You know a Desoto has a lot more room in it than a Roadrunner.” She said idly watching his expression.

 

Spike smiled, she had a good point.  He knew it could not be easy having sex in the Roadrunner. Of course he knew from experience just how difficult it could be but he wasn’t going to tell Faith that.  Pulling over to the side of the road he chuckled to himself when he thought of all the fun he was going to have teasing Angel about it.

 

Buffy was still riding the wave, her earsplitting exclamations of ‘oh god yes…yes…yes’ was like a rock concert to Angel’s ears that were beginning to ring.  His own body was still shuddering with his intense orgasm. He held on to her waist, his grip now loose, his eyes closed as he leaned his head back.  If he didn’t feel his heart pounding in his chest he’d sure think he was dead. Because that was just the most unbelievable staggering and mind-blowing ride she had ever taken him on.

 

So swept up in their own scintillating after effects that neither one noticed the horn blaring loudly. It wasn’t until a full five minutes later that Buffy finally gained her senses back.

 

“Oops.” She giggled as she leaned away from the steering wheel. 

 

The horn stopped and she sighed deeply as she looked at her lover. God he was so handsome, so incredibly giving and understanding.  Everything that he had ever done for, every feeling that he had ever made her experience hit her like a slap in the face. Her heart swelled with so much emotion and so much gratitude that he was still a part of her life that her eyes began to water.  She had no idea what she would do without him. And it was so scary to even contemplate it that she began to shake.

 

Angel opened his eyes as he felt her body quivering. He looked at her, concern on his face as his hand reached up and cupped her cheek. “Buffy, what’s a matter? Are you okay, did you hurt yourself?”

 

He wouldn’t be surprised she had ridden him like a freaking banshee on speed. Even The Beast was feeling numb and battered.

 

She shook her head as tears freely fell from her eyes. “No. I just…Angel I love you so much. You have no idea.” She cried and Angel smiled.

 

He pulled her down and wrapped his arms around her holding her tightly, he kissed her forehead. “I know baby…it’s the same way that I feel about you.”

 

She cried heavily as she held on to him tightly.  Everything that happened in the past week flashed before her eyes and she was so thankful that he was still there with her, so happy to finally be able to give all of her self to him that it just opened up the flood gates.

 

Angel just held on to her to her body as she let loose with a rampant flood of tears and her body racked with the deep wails she made. 

 

When her trembling slowed, she leaned back and looked at him. “I’m sorry…” her hand wiped away the tear drops that were on his jacket. “I got you all wet.”

 

Angel couldn’t help but chuckle. They hadn’t moved and his slackened cock was still nestled warmly inside of her and as he laughed she moved readjusting her position, and because she was so wet he slipped right out.

 

“In more ways than one.” He playfully said. 

 

She smiled at him then gave him a resounding kiss on the lips.  “So…wanna do it again?”  She asked as she wiggled on his lap.

 

Feeling absolutely no stirrings of life from the Beast, he just looked back at her with a stunned expression. 

 

Buffy chuckled. “What’s a matter?  Did I break him?” she teased wiggling some more.

 

Angel looked down at his cock as it lay completely flat against his belly. He put his finger under the head and lifted it up then let it go…it dropped like dead weight.

 

Buffy laughed and Angel scowled a little concerned. “He’s never done that before.”

 

Buffy kissed him soundly on the lips then drew back to look at him saucily. “I bet I could get his attention.” she said wiggling again.

 

Still the Beast lay flat and uninterested and Angel sighed, ‘I think she did break him.’

 

“Sorry baby, but…”

 

He lifted her off of him and put her back on the bench seat, tucking the wounded Beast back in his pants.

 

“I think he’s going to need some recuperation time.”

 

Buffy was all smiles as she got dressed. She felt an incredible sense of pride at being able to reduce The Beast to a puddle of mush.  When she was once more fully dressed, she slid next to Angel just as he started the car back up.

 

During the drive back home, they talked about everything that had happened and shared their most hidden fears and desires. 

 

When she asked about the Mayor, he told her that he would take the diamonds to him tomorrow and then, according to the plan, the FBI were supposed to show up and take him into custody.

 

She accepted his answer and Angel was thankful. She didn’t need to know that that part of the plan had already been achieved.  As far as Buffy was concerned, she stole the real diamonds and if Angel had anything to say about it, that’s what she would always believe.

 

After that, she asked him about Uncle and he told her what happened.  When he did he couldn’t keep the disappointment over killing him so quickly out of his voice, and Buffy mistook it for guilt over killing his own flesh and blood.

 

When she cooed and cuddled him, lovingly rubbing his head against her breasts giving him comfort. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that he didn’t feel guilty and that he was just bummed that he couldn’t drag it out any longer, so he let her console him enjoying the attention she was giving him.

 

He told her about the ritual that he Spike and Oz were going to do that night, and then asked her if she wanted to be there with him.

 

After he told her what it was about her nose crinkled with repulsion and she politely declined. Angel didn’t mind, he knew it was a barbaric tradition but it was still something that he and the guys felt they had to do. Plus Angel was sure that Giles would want to be there for it as well.

 

Thinking of Giles, Angel didn’t tell her anything.  He figured that was better left for the old man to explain himself. Because not only did he have to explain it to Buffy but he was going to have a lot of explaining to do with Joyce. Inwardly, Angel shuddered she was a formidable woman and he didn’t want to be around to hear that conversation.

 

The rest of the drive was done in silence as Buffy lay down on the seat and fell asleep. His hand rested on the side of her hip and as he drove over a bump, she moved changing her position. As she did, her shirt rode up and he saw that insufferable black ink on her back. 

 

He scowled and looked back at the road. He was going to have to talk to her about getting that tattoo removed, because no wife of his was going to wear another man’s mark.

 

And there was no doubt in his mind that she was going to be his wife.  He had felt what it was like to live without her, gut-wrenchingly painful, and he never wanted to feel that way again. 

 

He yawned, just as he entered the Los Angeles County, tomorrow he would start to make his plans. It had to be perfect, because she was perfect and she deserved everything that was in his power to give her.

 

 

 

*********************

 

 

 

One Month Later,

The Hotel Basement…

 

 

 

“Ooof!”

 

Angel landed flat on his back, stunned by Buffy’s strong sure kick.

 

“That’s it B let him have it!” Faith called out as everyone laughed their asses off at seeing the mighty Angelus laid low by such a small woman as Buffy.

 

Angel smirked up at her as he quickly got to his feet. He shook his head and began to circle her. “Nice kick.”

 

She smiled at him as she moved around the room, “Thanks.”

 

Since that night one month ago things had been great and their little family had grown.

 

Charlie decided to join the Order after hearing what they were really all about. Given that he had served his country as a Marine already he was honored to have the chance to do it again.  

 

Since he and Paulina didn’t have much money, Angel had given him a nice hefty salary advance and then Paulina, Buffy, Faith and Willow went house shopping. 

 

It didn’t take long to find one and pretty soon their kids were established at school, Paulina had a job bartending at The Crypt, and Charlie had smoothly integrated into The Order.

 

Angel, who had decided a month ago that he was going to ask Buffy to marry him, still had not. He wasn’t getting cold feet, far from it.  In fact he couldn’t wait to make her his wife but there were still some things that he wanted resolved before he did.

 

He knew that Giles still had not talked to either Buffy or Joyce.  Angel, being the old fashioned guy that he was, wanted their permission first but he didn’t think that he could do that with this secret looming over their heads.  He wanted Buffy to be in the right state of mind when he proposed and for that to happen, this secret had to be let out of the closet, and fast because he was getting impatient.

 

Of course, he was still finalizing his plans for the proposal, that had to be perfect before anything was done, but he was close and he had been bothering Giles every week. In fact, he was surprised that Ripper hadn’t already taken him out with how much Angel had been pestering him.

 

So over all the last month had been busy and incredibly slow paced at the same time. They had done some minor jobs here in the states, giving Buffy some more time to get back into the groove of things before they took on another big job. 

 

Angel and Spike also took the time to train Faith on safe picking, and she and Buffy were both given incessant weapons training.  Both of them wanted to make sure that the girls were as proficient with any weapon as both of them were.

 

A few weeks after everything cooled down with the FBI, Angel still had not heard from Kate which made him very nervous. But Spike told him not to worry about her; she didn’t know anything and never would.  But Angel couldn’t let it go that easily and it would be a constant pang in his mind until he did talk to her.

 

Angel, Spike and Oz returned to Uncle’s building and cleaned it out. After that they went to his private home and did the same thing. Taking with them anything they found and either locking it up or destroying it forever. 

 

The next day it was reported in the news that a gas leak had occurred in both buildings after a construction team was doing some work in the area, they both blew up and burnt to the ground.  In reality, it was the first demo job that Charlie did as a member of The Order.  After that they made the Hotel the new headquarters for The Order of Aurelia.

 

This particular morning started out good for Angel.

 

Last night they had all gathered at the club and partied into the early morning hours. Afterwards, they came back to the hotel because later that afternoon they were off to Morocco to do a job. As usual Wes, Gunn, Fred and now Charlie, went ahead to make all the arrangements, while Spike, Angel, Oz, Faith and Buffy stayed behind to go over the plan one last time.

 

He had only slept for about an hour before he got restless so he left Buffy sleeping in bed then made his way down to the basement for a little work out session.  He was surprised to see Oz there beating the crap out of the punching bag.

 

“Oz, what are doing down here this early?” He asked because he knew that Willow spent the night last night and that it was their first time together.

 

Not that he kept tabs on his friend’s sex lives, but Buffy was so happy that they were finally getting together that she had excitedly told him all about it before they went to bed last night.

 

Oz continued attacking the bag as he answered Angel. “I…think…I…love…her.”

 

Walking up to the bag he grabbed it and held on to it, as Oz continued to punch it. He smiled seeing the disconcerting look on his friends face. “And that’s a bad thing?”

 

Oz stopped punching and looked at him. “I haven’t…told her.” he simply stated.

 

Angel smiled he remembered what that was like. “You should tell her, Willow’s a great person, and I can tell she feels the same way about you.”

 

Oz shook his head, “No. Not that. I already told her that I loved her.”

 

Angel looked back at him confused, “than what…” then it dawned on him, “Oh.”  He snorted, remembering what a mistake that lack of information had been for him. “I thought you already told her. I mean it’s been a month and every time you’re in town she’s here. How can she not know?”

 

Honestly, Angel thought that Buffy and Faith already told her, and if not he thought for sure that she would have figured something out by now. She wasn’t stupid and in the past month she had spent a lot of time with them, even when Oz was out of town.

 

Oz shrugged then walked over to the bench and sat down. “She doesn’t and I don’t know what to do. She’s not like Buffy and Faith Angel. She’s…delicate…sensitive. I don’t know if she’d be okay with what we do.”

 

‘Delicate?’

 

Thinking back over the past month, Angel had seen and heard many things from Willow and none of them gave him the impression that she was delicate. Maybe a little naïve but definitely not delicate. In fact, just last week they went out to some bar to see Spike’s band play and Willow had gotten so drunk that she started table dancing. If it wasn’t for Buffy and Faith she would have made a lot in tips because she started stripping.

 

Angel cleared his throat. “Oz, I think you’re not giving Willow enough credit. She’s a strong woman and she loves you, everyone can tell.  You’ve got to tell her or it could make things a lot worse.”

 

“Yeah, I guess your right.”

 

Angel slapped him on the back, “Trust me I know what I’m talking about.”

 

Two hours later, Angel was just finishing up his work out when Buffy came walking down the stairs.

 

“Hey.” She said as she bounded over to him and threw her arms around his neck.  She kissed him on the lips then pulled back to scold him. “I thought we had a deal buster, no more absent mornings.”

 

Angel held her tightly, a smile on his face as he remembered the conversation that took place in the bathtub.

 

It was a few nights after the whole ordeal and they were sitting in the tub together quietly talking. She said that she had been very angry with herself for not realizing sooner that something was up with Him. She said that she should have known because of all the times she woke up alone. She then added, very softly, that she thought she was getting a complex about it and how waking up in the morning without him triggered all sorts of paranoid feelings inside of her.

 

He understood her fear so he promised her that she would never wake up alone again, at least when he was in town.

 

“I’m sorry baby I couldn’t sleep so I came down to work out a little.” 

 

Setting her away from him his eyes looked down her body to see her wearing a tank top and sweats.

 

“Were you planning on working out?”

 

He walked over to the bench to sit down but stopped with her next words.

 

“Sort of, actually, I’m here to kick your ass.” She sweetly said.

 

Turning around he looked at her, “excuse me?”

 

Buffy bent over and started to take off her shoes. “You heard me.  I owe you an ass kicking remember? You didn’t think I was just going to forget did you?”

 

Angel chuckled, ‘ah the infamous ass-kicking that she’s supposed to give me for lying to her.’

 

“Baby…you lied to me too, remember? I thought we put this behind us.”

 

“I know and we did. But I thought we both agreed that my failure to tell you about my marital state wasn’t really my fault, whereas, you knowingly lied to me about what you did and who you really were. I think it’s only fair that you should be punished for being such a naughty boy. Don’t you?”  She saucily told him.

 

She turned around and bent over as she pulled her sweats off, to reveal a very, very short pair of black shorts that hugged her ass like second skin and left her cheeks bare for his eyes to see.

 

Of course in that moment he couldn’t remember anything let alone a conversation they supposedly had.  He couldn’t even take his eyes off of her ass. His pulse quickened and he swallowed adjusting his own sweats as he did.

 

 ‘She’s going to kick my ass in those?’

 

He watched her as she got the last sock off then she straighten up, turned around and jumped up and down, rolling her neck around in a circle.

 

“You sure you want to kick my ass?”

 

His gaze looked down at the way the shorts gathered in her crotch and his mouth watered. “I mean those shorts are a little…deliberate, don’t you think.”

 

Buffy frowned as she looked down at her shorts.  “What’s wrong with my shorts?”

 

He leered at her unable to get his mind out of the gutter. “Nothing’s wrong with them if you’re trying to get me to lick your ass.” He snickered.

 

Buffy’s eyes crinkled with annoyance as she looked back at him, “Is that all you think about?”

 

Angel smirked at her hungrily. “Buffy I am a man and those shorts are an invitation.”

 

Her frown deepened. “It just so happens that these shorts are very comfortable.”

 

His eyebrow rose, ‘Comfortable? They’re riding up your crotch, how comfortable can they be?’

 

“You’re just trying to get out of your punishment because you’re afraid of getting hurt,” she said.

 

Angel laughed, loudly and Buffy glowered crossly at him.

 

Seeing her frown he stopped laughing but he couldn’t stop himself from smiling at her. “Baby, I know that you’re proficient in martial arts but you can’t hurt me, and I don’t want to hurt you.” He smugly said.

 

Buffy looked back at his arrogant expression and her eyebrow lifted at his comment.  

 

‘Oh really.’

 

Originally she was planning on seducing him and then punishing him in a sweat tormenting sexual way. But now hearing his arrogant and insulting remarks, she really did want to kick his ass. And she wasted no time in doing it. She kicked out with her right leg and her foot landed right in the middle of Angel’s stomach. 

 

Oof.” 

 

He dropped the towel he had been holding and took a step back as the air left his lungs, completely thrown off by her attack.

 

He looked up at her to find her standing in a fighting position, legs slightly apart, her fists raised and ready to strike the next blow, and he scowled, Buffy smiled.

 

“Maybe you don’t want to get hurt?” she teased him and he chuckled at her as a dangerously dark glint entered is eye.

 

That’s when it began, Angel’s ass-kicking, and since it started which was about thirty minutes ago, the gang made there way down to the basement to watch. They were all pretty much cheering Buffy on, except Spike who taunted Buffy with his usual British humor.

 

Angel was taking it all in stride with a sense of humor and a budding respect for his lover. She was good, very good, maybe even a little bit better than Spike. Her technique was flawless and for a small woman she did pack an incredibly powerful punch. He knew by the time this was over he was going to have a couple of black and blue marks. 

 

In fact he was surprised to see that they were pretty much evenly matched, of course he still held back a little. After all he didn’t want to hurt her. He had landed quite a number of punches and she had taken them like a pro, never faltering and always quick with her response. But still he just couldn’t bring himself to give her the full force of his power.

 

Until he noticed that with every movement she made those shorts rode up her crotch a little higher, and it became relatively apparent that she was not wearing panties. 

 

He looked over his shoulder and at the expressions on Oz and Spike’s face; obviously they had a perfectly good view of something that they should never ever see.  And accordingly, his humor dissipated and anger started to slowly creep in.

 

“Had enough Scourge?” Buffy asked as she just completed the most beautiful roundhouse kick to his chest that Angel had ever seen.

 

“Nice kick.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

“You know I’ve been taking it easy on you?” he taunted her, getting to his feet. 

 

“Yeah I can tell I feel like I’m fighting a girl.” 

 

Buffy wanted him to give her everything he had she didn’t want him holding back. She was determined to show him that she could take care of herself and competently too.   

 

But Angel just grinned back at her not taking her bait.

 

 ‘Okay, well I really didn’t want to have to go there but I guess I do.’

 

She smiled at him, “You know I can take a punch Angel, I’ve got a lot of years experience at being the punching bag.”

 

His eyes darkened, he didn’t like being reminded of her previous life.

 

“But I guess when it really comes down to it you’re just not as tough as Parker was.”

 

“Ooohhh now that’s low Pet. Are you going to take that Angelus?” Spike called out.

 

Brown eyes now black as night looked back at her. “Baby you don’t want everything that I got, believe me.”

 

Buffy feigned a shiver, “Oooo I’m so scared.”

 

She snapped a quick jab and landed it squarely on his nose.

 

“Come on Angel, give me everything you got. I can take it.”

 

She snapped another one, this one landing on his chin. His head snapped back and when he looked back at her he saw the hard glint in her eye, it matched his own.

 

“Aren’t you pissed off at me Angel? I mean, I never told you I was married remember?  We could have gone on together for years and you know what…I never would have told you.”

 

She smiled as she heard the soft growl of anger, just before she let loose with another sharp jab, this one landing on his cheek.

 

Between the free show she was giving his friends and her taunts, he wasn’t able to suppress his anger anymore.

 

Spike saw the signs as Angel’s body became tense and his movements became crisper. “Oui Buffy you better tone it tone a bit unless you really want to get a beating.” He called out to her but she ignored him.

 

“And you know what Angel, I’ve been thinking and I think I’m going to keep my tattoo, because you know it’s so much apart of me, of who I am…where I belong.” She goaded him with that and she knew it would work because it was a sore subject with him.

 

It was only last week when they were at the bar that he had brought it up again, demanding that she get it removed.  They had argued pretty vehemently about it until she had to go and stop Willow from doing her striptease on the table. 

 

Of course Buffy had planned on getting rid of the tattoo long before Angel said anything about it. In fact, she was planning on getting it done next Friday, which was his birthday. She thought it would be a nice birthday gift.  So the removal of the tat was not why she fought him. They argued because she didn’t like his attitude and the fact that he thought that he was the one that made the rules around here.

 

“No. That is coming off of your body one way or another, even if I have to do it myself!”

 

Buffy smiled at him then put her hands down. Turning around she faced the gang as she bent over and pulled her shorts down, revealing the tattoo and her naked ass.  “What do you think guys, it is beautiful don’t you think?”

 

Oz’s eyes popped out of his head as he got a quick look at Buffy’s backside before Willow covered his eyes.

 

Spike and Faith laughed at her antics, “it is a beautiful piece of ass…I mean art.” Spike responded.

 

Angel’s face was beat red with rage. His emotions took control of his mind, and in his agitated jealous state he rushed Buffy.

 

Grabbing her he pulled her shorts ups, lifted her up, swung around and body slammed her down to the ground, completely unaware of just powerful his maneuver was.

 

“OOOHHH!”” Everyone exclaimed with surprise.

 

“Now that’s going to hurt!” Spike said laughing.

 

Faith slapped him, “Shut up he could have hurt her. God Angel, what’s wrong with you?” She turned scornful eyes to Angel who just stood there looking down at Buffy.

 

Buffy lay on the mat, her eyes closed as she took a deep needed breath.

 

‘That was what I was waiting for. Now if I could just get up without humiliating myself by throwing up all over the matt, then that would be great.’

 

He saw her face whiten and he immediately snapped out of it.

 

‘Holy shit what the hell did I do?’

 

Frantically he leaned down and helped her up. “Oh God Buffy, I’m so sorry. Are you alright?” Great now he felt guilty.

 

Buffy forced out a smile as she looked at him trying to sound as casual as she could. “I’m fine Angel. It was a good shot. I wasn’t expecting it.”

 

He pulled her hair away from her face. “No it was a low blow. God I’m so sorry I don’t know what I was thinking, I just reacted.”

 

“I know Angel, its okay, I’m alright. I am a little thirsty though so I’m going to get something to drink.”

 

“Hold on I’ll come with you.” He started to follow her but she stopped him.

 

“No it’s okay. I’m going to get a drink then I have to call my mom before I forget.”

 

He looked at her blankly, “oh…okay. You’re sure you’re alright.”

 

Leaning up she kissed him on the lips, “I’m fine baby don’t worry.” 

 

Angel watched as she headed up the stairs and the gang congratulated her for kicking his ass.

 

When she was gone, Faith jumped down on to the mat and started to take her shoes and socks off. “Okay, come on lover boy, let’s see what you got?” She said to Spike.

 

Once she reached the lobby, Buffy practically ran up the stairs to the bathroom.  She just closed the door and made it to the toilet right before she vomited.

 

After a good five minutes of her body heaving up the entire contents of her stomach, which wasn’t much, she laid her head against the cool porcelain.

 

‘God I feel awful.  Maybe I’m coming down with something.’

 

Quietly she stayed there her eyes closing as her body relaxed. But a few seconds later her eyes popped open and her body tensed again.

 

‘Shit, when was the last time I took my pill?’

 

Her stomach rolled and turned irritably as her face paled.

 

‘I haven’t been taking my pill. In fact, the last time I can actually remember taking it was before everything happened. Before I discovered what Angel really did, before Parker turned up alive, and before he rap…’

 

Her hand slapped across her mouth as panic filled her,

 

 ‘Oh my god I’m pregnant.’

 

 

 

The End…for now.