Title: Total Eclipse: Angelus Ascendant Series: Part Four
Date
Posted:
Author: Buffywatcher
Feedback: Constructive comments always welcome: [email protected]
Pairing: Primarily Angel(us)/Spike
Rating: R Possibly a bit of romantic NC-17’ish circumstances.
Spoilers: None this story takes place in an AU setting and will pretty much
ignore the current season of Angel.
Warnings: This story will contain instances of extreme violence, sexuality and
character deaths.
Disclaimer: Just borrowing them for a bit of harmless fun. All characters,
recognisable likenesses are retained by their owner and accredited license
holders.
Writer’s
Notes: This story takes place in an AU setting and
includes a scene challenge posted by Angela with some minor artistic changes.
Connor has been born, Spike has his soul and isn’t chipped as well and Angel
and the LA Gang have taken over the running of Wolfram & Hart. However the
incident with the first has not taken place and Buffy died and has been
resurrected. As always thanks are going out to GF, MarieC, Luba, and Mera my
most excellent group of Beta/Editors. Very special thanks to Mera, she got in
on the ground floor on this one and chimed in with some big assistance so
dedicating this one to her.
Distribution: If I’ve already been given permission to archive my work please
consider it yours if you want it. If I haven’t and you would like to archive it
please do, all I ask is that you email me and tell me where it’s going so I can
visit J.
Summary: The Powers That Be offer to release Angel from his destiny as a
Champion but they make a critical error that may well doom their cause forever.
*
He is talking to Giles, pretending to go over a
map of Sunnydale to decide what areas to search next when the door is flung
open and a veritable army of anxious bodies flies through it.
“We’ve found him Giles! He looks horrible!”
They try to carefully set the comatose Vampire down but only succeed in almost
toppling him off the couch. Angelus strides forward and takes over, settling
the younger Vampire onto the couch and running his hands over him, feigning an
exam that he doesn’t need to perform.
“He’s been drained almost completely; he’s
fallen into a coma.” His words elicit mixed reactions from the people gathered
around him.
Xander has an arm around a weeping Dawn,
looking like someone’s hit him between the eyes. Andrew falls to his knees
beside him and reaches out and takes Spike hand gently in his own, using his
free hand to stroke the blond’s hair lovingly. Giles and
Angelus jerks his head up, angry words on his
lips for the selfish Slayer but to his surprise Andrew and Dawn are already
rushing to defend Spike.
“I can’t believe what a selfish BITCH, you are!
This isn’t about you, it’s about Spike!” Dawn says vehemently as she scowls at
her selfish older sister.
“You’re the Slayer, it’s your almighty calling
to patrol, it’s never been his but he helped you anyway! You’re an awful,
horrid person and I think you should leave!” Andrew says shaking.
Angelus sets a hand on his shoulder, pulling
the young boy closer. “I never realised
what a child you are Buffy. Spike is hurt and you don’t care at all do you?”
“Why should I? He’s just another Vampire.”
Buffy says stamping her foot. “He only hangs around because he wants me,
everyone knows that!”
Angelus growls and before anyone realises what is going on he’s wrapped
a hand in Buffy’s shirt and another in the waistband of her chinos and listed
her off her feet. He smiles as Dawn darts ahead of him and opens the front
door.
“Thank ye Lass.” He
says with a smile as he unceremoniously tosses Buffy bodily out the door,
laughing as Dawn slams it and locks it. Xander and Andrew look pleased, even
amused and Giles and
“Grandfather…he will be alright won’t he?”
Andrew’s hesitant voice is full of barely contained fear and it snaps Angelus
out of his daydreams of the look on Buffy’s face as she sailed bodily out the
door.
“Spike is very weak Andrew. Dru must have realised he would never leave
willingly. It’s not unknown for Sires to drain Childer in this manner when they become uncontrollable. He should
recover alright in time. I’ll have to gradually feed him myself over the course
of a few days. As Dru’s Sire my blood will heal him better than any other
source would. I’ll take him to the mansion and oversee his recovery, but he’ll be fine Andrew. Spike’s
the toughest son of a bitch I’ve ever met; he’s too damn stubborn to leave you,
Cub.” Angelus says quietly rejoining Andrew beside the couch.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his
wallet and extracts his platinum Visa and tosses it to Xander. “Do me a favour Xander and drop by and deliver
a message to the Snitch for me. Tell him I want ten pints of his reserve stock
delivered to the mansion every night for the next week. Pay whatever he asks
but be sure to mention my name when you talk to him. I don’t want him foisting
rat ichor on us or worse.”
Xander nods happy to be able to do some small
part to help his friend and hurries to get his coat and leaves. Angelus smiles
at Dawn as she sits on his other side and leans against his shoulder, dashing
tears from her eyes. Wrapping an arm around both kids Angelus comforts them
briefly before rising on to his knees and carefully lifting Spike into a
sitting position. He smiles as Andrew and Dawn move to support their
unconscious caretaker. He stands and slowly pulls his shirt out of his pants
and starts to unbutton it, stifling a laugh at
Realising what he’s doing Andrew gently thumbs open Spike’s mouth and presses the
back of his head forcing his mouth over the puncture. Angelus gently rubs
Spike’s nape and flexing his hand rhythmically to stimulate a nursing reflex.
After several minutes of feeding slowly, Angelus starts to feel a weak draw on
his neck and looks down to see barely open, sleepy cerulean blue looking up at
him. He gently slips a fingertip between his neck and Spike’s lips tenderly
breaking the suction on the wound and smiles as Spike capitulates easily. He
strokes the wavy blond curls as he purrs quietly as Spike’s tongue laps weakly
at the seeping wound until it closes.
“Dawn could you find a blanket or a thick quilt
please? He’s cold.” Angelus says stroking the strong back below his palm and
feeling the almost imperceptible tremors.
Giles helps Dawn find the requested comforter
and she busily helps Andrew wrap Spike in its cushioning warmth. Spike smiles
weakly at his Human Childer trying to gather the strength
to hug them.
“Shhhh you’re very weak. Try to rest. Can you
tell us what happened?” Angelus prompts gently, wrapping his arms around the
precious bundle reclining against him.
“Dru…took. Tried…to…escape. Weak…couldn’t…” Spike whispers feebly. “Dru?”
Angelus cups Spike’s chin and lifts his head
until their eyes meet and lock. “Drusilla is gone Spike. I staked her trying to
reach you before they made off with you. I am your Sire now.” He says softly
but steel lines every word.
Spike nods and burrows into the comfort of the
strong body supporting him. “My Sire.”
Angelus guides Spike’s head against his
shoulder and strokes a hand through his hair and rubs his back affectionately.
Within moments the younger Vampire has slipped easily into a natural sleep.
Dawn and Andrew share a smile. Everything will
be alright now.
While waiting for Xander return; no doubt
carrying a large cooler full of dry ice and pints of blood; Angelus takes the time
to quietly discuss the situation with Giles.
“Giles, I’ll be taking Spike with me to the
mansion while he recovers. I would appreciate it if you informed Buffy she is
not welcome there without my express consent. I won’t have Spike upset while he
recovers. This is a delicate time for him and he’ll have some adjustments to
make.”
“I understand Angel. I’ve been increasingly
disappointed in Buffy of late. I’m not sure where her head is these days.”
“I have a fair idea of where it is.” Angelus
retorts grimly and Giles can only lower his eyes and nod sadly. “I need to know
about Andrew…what kind of legal situation is involved with his situation.”
“You mean is he living with Buffy legally?”
Giles asks and Angelus nods. “Spike didn’t tell you?” Angelus only shakes his
head confusedly. “Spike is Andrew’s legal guardian.” Giles almost laughs at the
comical look of shock on the older Vampire’s face. “After he found out what
Andrew’s parents had done he managed to have them tracked down. He’s never
really spoken about the matter much but two weeks later papers arrived from a
law firm turning over full custody of Andrew to Spike. Somewhat immaterial
however as Andrew’s eighteenth birthday was last month making him legally an
adult.”
Angelus smiles at that news and motions Andrew over and pulls him close
murmuring to him quietly for several minutes before he accepts the young man’s
happy hug and frantic nods. He messes up Andrew’s hair with a playful swish and
sends him back to his vigil over his sleeping guardian.
“I think I should tell you that once Spike
regains his strength Giles, I have ever intention of taking him and Andrew back
to LA with me.”
“Wha…what? What if he doesn’t want to leave?”
Giles says opening and closing his mouth like a bass on a fishhook.
“A better question would be what reasons does
he have left to stay for Giles. Now that Dru is…gone, he and I are the last of
our bloodline. His place is with me and frankly I can’t leave him here any
longer. As it is I’ve left him here too long. He’s had nothing but misery here
and I freely admit that I in my insanity was actually a party to some of that.
I should leave him here so that Buffy can finish destroying him a piece at a
time? I can’t do that Giles, he is my Childe now. It will be my blood that will
remake him; I will be his Sire now, not Drusilla.”
Giles looks shocked by that revelation. “As
much as Buffy says she doesn’t care about Spike, Angel I think she secretly
does. She’ll find a way to make him stay, she’s done it before.” He says reluctantly
pulling off his glasses and cleaning the lenses nervously. “I…I think she knows
that Dawn will go too if Spike and Andrew leave also. So she’ll try and stop
him to stop THEM.”
“If Dawn is of age than she is welcome to come
with us too. If not then she can join us when she can but regardless my boy and
his son will not be staying here Giles. They’ll be with me and I’ll take care
of them. I should have done this a very long time ago and I’ll have to live
with the knowledge that I could have spared him a lot of unnecessary pain and
suffering if I had. I can’t change what happened in the past but I can stop it
from happening again. And you know why I’m going to Giles?” Giles shakes his
head. “I’ll do it because he’s NOT just another Vampire to me Giles. He never
was.”
Giles looks disheartened but nods
understandingly once he admits to himself that he would likely have done the
same if the situation was reversed. Angelus clasps his shoulder and says
honestly.
“You haven’t always been a good friend to my boy
Giles but you’ve always tried to be a fair one. I won’t forget that. If YOU
need our help than we’re only a phone call away but Giles…be sure that you’re
the one that calls because I won’t ever come back here for Buffy’s sake. Not
after this.”
Giles takes a deep breath and sighs as he nods
his understanding of the situation. Buffy’s foolish selfishness has cost them
some powerful allies and he almost wishes she was there so he could have the
pleasure of tossing her out himself.
There’s a knock on the front door a moment
before it opens and Xander slips in quietly, carrying a large ice cooler. He
crosses to Angelus and hands his gold card back and holds up the chest.
“Willy almost wet himself when I told him who
wanted the order.” Xander, Angelus,
and Giles all share a quiet laugh as Dawn and Andrew quietly join them. “I
thought I should bring the first order with me and Willy said a messenger will
arrive every night an hour after sunset with the order for the day.”
Angelus glances down and notices that the two young people are tightly clasping
hands and smiles. It seems Giles is likely going to be right about Dawn wanting
to go where Spike and Andrew go.
“Xander I need you to do me another favour please.”
“Sure, Angel, anything I can do to help Spike.”
Xander says immediately.
“I need you to escort Andrew and Dawn back to
Buffy’s house. Andrew is going to pack his and Spike’s things.” A chorus of
voices breaks out but falls silent as Angelus raises his hand silently quieting
them. “I won’t have Spike stay under that spoiled brat’s roof for one night
longer. Spike will be living with me and the mansion and Andrew’s place is with
Spike. When Spike recovers I plan to take them back to LA where I can take care of them.” Dawn makes a pained sound like someone
slugged her in the stomach and Xander looks ill. “This will be a rough time for
Spike. He’s lost Dru and I have replaced her as his Sire. He doesn’t need Buffy
to play with his emotions and screw with his head any more than she already
has. The Hellmouth has been nothing but misery for him since he arrived here.
Dawn…look at me.” Angelus tips the young woman’s head up and winces at the
sight of her tears. “You’ll be eighteen soon?” Dawn sniffles and nods. “Then
there’s no reason why you can’t come to LA
with us is there?”
Dawn looks shocked and then excited. “No, no
there isn’t. I can move out of Buffy’s then and she can’t stop me. You want me
to come too?” her voice turns uncertain and shy.
“Spike loves you Lil Bit and I rather fancy
Andrew does as well.” Angelus chuckles at the blush that stains Andrew’s cheeks
as he nods shyly, squeezing his girlfriend’s hand comfortingly. “You’ll always
be welcome to make a home with us. We can find a nice house or something for
all of us.”
Xander clears his throat and says nervously.
“Ummm got room for one more misfit in the ark there Noah?” He winces; sure that
Angel will remember their animosity from days of old and will have some biting
comment to make.
“You’ve grown up to be quite the man Xander.
Spike speaks fondly of you and he was quite proud of how much you’ve progressed
under his tutelage. I’ve been considering making some major changes in my own
life and I think we can find some way to find a solution that benefits us all.”
Angelus hides a grin at Xander’s
shock.
“My birthday is in two months.” Dawn says
quietly.
“That will give us two months to get Spike on
the road to recovery and make some plans.” Angelus says pleased. “Xander could
you escort the kids back to Buffy’s and I’ll take Spike with me and get him
settled in the mansion and we’ll take things from there?”
Xander nods stepping behind the teenagers and
cupping their shoulders. “I think it would be wise to not mention any of this
to Buffy or
“Very good idea Xander, thank you for thinking
of that.” Xander grows two inches taller under the praise. “I trust we can
count on your silence on the matter Giles.”
“Yes, quite. I think I’ve heard enough young
people irritability to last me for a long while.” Giles mutters heading for his
liquor cabinet, a very tall whiskey calling his name.
“I don’t want you spending another night under
that girl’s roof either Andrew.” Angelus growls and he’s surprised to see
Xander and Andrew nodding their agreement. It’s pretty obvious that Dawn wishes
she didn’t have to stay there either.
“I’ll take them back to Buffy’s and wait while
Andrew packs some things for Spike and himself and then I’ll stop by my place
and do the same?” Xander offers helpfully. “If you have room…”
“Excellent idea again Xander. I’ll be pretty busy looking after Spike for a while and I imagine
Andrew will welcome the company. You realise
that Buffy isn’t likely to leave us in peace?”
“I don’t care about Buffy. She’s taken enough
cheap shots at Spike for a million years. I’ll handle Miss Prissy Princess if
she tries to show up and make trouble.” Xander swears.
Angelus is impressed by this grown up version
of the boy he use to know. “Thank you Xander. I’ll get Spike settled in my
room, easier to look after him that way and I’ll get a couple of rooms ready.”
With a firm plan of action finally decided on
the small group snaps into action with decisive motion. Xander guides the kids
out the door and to his car. Meanwhile Angelus lovingly picks up the cocooned
bundle that is his Childe and carries him out to his own car, cradled in his
arms, the cooler strap flung around a forearm.
Giles watches them leave and knows that he’s
been present for the birth of a new family. A family that he knows Buffy is
going to rage against, with every selfish, petty, repressed emotion in her
stunted emotional make-up. He wonders briefly if Angel would consider finding
room in his strange new family for an ex-Watcher that is suddenly feeling older than the four hundred plus
years he and his Childe have existed.
TBC