Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter 56

 

 

Dawn opens the door.

Dawn: Angel. I guess Buffy called you. So you are here to jump all over me again.

Angel: No. I just came to see Buffy. But I am not happy with what I have been hearing. Can I come in?

Dawn: Why not? You will anyway.

Angel: Dawn, I just want to talk to you.

Angel comes in and sits on the desk chair. Dawn plops down on the bed.

Dawn: So talk.

Angel: What all do you really know about me?

Dawn: That you’re a vampire with a soul who does good, unless he gets horizontal with my sister.

Angel: My life in a nutshell I guess. What do you know about me outside of being a vampire with or without a soul.

Dawn: Besides loving my sister and having a cute son, not much more.

Angel: Well, I was pretty much like you before I became a vampire. I hated being told what to do. I wanted my father to love me. But he wasn’t capable of it. I began getting into trouble. Staying out till all hours, drinking, and sleeping around. I tried everything to get my dad’s attention, good or bad. Oh and boy did I get the bad.

Dawn: You sound like you were good for nothing.

Angel: I was. My father called me a worthless layabout and he was right. But I didn’t see it. I was having too much fun. And when he refused to give me any more money to continue my self destructive ways, I took to stealing from him. But it stopped one night in an alley near a tavern. They threw me out when I ran out of coin. I headed home to swipe a bit if my father’s silver to continue my night of debauchery.

Dawn (laughs): Sometimes you sound your age. I have never actually heard someone use the word debauchery. I thought it was only in literature.

Angel: Okay I am old, but I still have feelings.

Dawn: Sorry.

Angel: I never did make it to my father’s, I ran into beautiful woman who dangled an exciting new life in front of me. I was both too dumb and too drunk to ask any questions. I leapt at the chance to escape my life and she knew I would.

Dawn: So you let some female vampire seduce you. I am too smart to let that happen.

Angel: Oh so you never have never met a good-looking vampire? You have never been drawn into their web?

Dawn: Looks like big sis talks a lot.

Angel: No, I just know you. I was you. Now tell me about all this stealing.

Dawn: Stealing? What stealing? I found that necklace on the floor.

Angel: Dawn, why are you so unhappy. You have a so many people that love you.

Dawn: Love me? Name one. My dad deserted me. My mom up and died. My sister dies, but when she does come back she is too busy with her new family. Tara, was the only one who gave me a second glance and she takes off because of Willow. Xander can only see Anya. Oh and Anya is nice enough and I like being with her but she is only loves Xander. So you tell me why should I be happy. I have no one. And everytime I try to find someone to love me, they either end up being a vampire or a sex starved alcoholic.

Angel: Anything else.

Dawn: And you. I was so excited when I heard you two were getting married. I thought hey, a brother. But all I see of you is an appendage of Buffy. You walk in the door and you latch on to her and that is it until you leave.

Angel: I am here now. Buffy is not. I am here because I love you.

Dawn: You are here because I stole your precious necklace and without it you can’t boink my sister.

Angel: Wrong. Granted I am upset you stole the necklace. But I am just as upset about the other things you have stolen. Dawn, I can not believe you don’t think anyone of us loves you.

Dawn: All I am is a kid to get in the way, to protect from the truth.

Angel: So you are saying we don’t love you because we want to protect you and not have you grow up too fast. Then I guess we don’t love Conner either by that definition.

Dawn: You have to love Conner, he is your son.

Angel: And you are my sister. Which I miss having a lot.

Dawn: Miss? Did you have a sister before?

Angel: Yes. Kathy. She was just a tad younger than you when she…..when I killed her.

Dawn: You killed your own sister? Why?

Angel: That’s what vampires do. Most start with their own families.

Dawn: Did you love her? I mean before you became a vampire and killed her.

Angel: A lot. She was the only one of my family I can truly say I loved. But now I have another little sister. And I love her just as much.

Dawn just sits there.

Angel: Dawn do you want to be alone? Or do you want to come down stairs and spend time with the ones who love you?

Dawn: But what about all the stuff?

Angel: Stuff?

Dawn: The stuff I stole.

Angel: What did you do with them?

Dawn: I still have most of it. I keep them in a box.

Angel: What do you want to do?

Dawn: I guess I should give it all back and hope they can forgive me.

Angel: Your decision.

Dawn: I know.

Dawn digs a box out of the bottom of her closet and heads toward the door.

Dawn: Are you coming?

Angel: Of course. What are big brothers for?

Dawn: You know I love you too.

Angel: I never doubted it.

Dawn: Even when I told you I hated you.

Angel: Especially then. Family does that.

Dawn: You are pretty good at this.

Angel: Pretty much my job. I save souls.

Dawn: And mine needs some serious saving.

Angel: Your not too bad. Just a little misguided.

They enter the kitchen. Everyone is feasting on soup and sandwiches.

Anya: Dawn, soup? MMM MMM Good.

Dawn: Thanks.

Dawn looks at Angel and he smiles at her.

Dawn: Uh I love you all.

Buffy: We love you too Dawnie.

Willow: Of course we do.

Dawn: Well that might change after I show you what is in the box. I have kinda been stealing from all of you. A lot.

No one says anything.

Dawn: Here is what I still have. I gave some stuff away. I am sorry.

Dawn leaves the box on the counter and heads to the living room. Angel follows. He wraps his arms around her.

Dawn: I did it.

Angel: Yes you did. Next question is harder though. Can you stop?

Dawn: I don’t know. But I can try.

Angel: Well Buffy and I are going on patrol tonight. But tomorrow is Saturday, can you pencil me in for say a couple of hours.

Dawn: No. But I can pencil you in Conner’s schedule, he needs you more.

Angel: Oh.

Dawn: But I would love to visit you in LA someday.

Angel: I would like that.

Buffy walks in.

Buffy: Should I be jealous.

Dawn: Of me?

Buffy: No of him. You never hug me like that.

Dawn: I never knew you wanted me to.

Buffy: Me not want a hug? Not ever going to happen.

Dawn and Buffy hug.

Dawn: I am sorry.

Buffy: I know.

 

 

Hours later Buffy and Angel are walking through the park.

Buffy: I hope Dawn is headed on the right path for a change.

Angel: I think she is. But I think we just took a wrong turn.

Buffy: No, we are going the right way.

Angel: There is nothing down this path except the old Carson Crypt and it not used anymore.

Buffy: I know.

Angel: So why.

Buffy pulls him into the rundown crypt.

Buffy: Because it is not used anymore.

Angel: Why do I feel our patrol just disintegrated into something else.

Buffy: Because you have been lured into a trap. Now the only way to get away is to please the mistress of the crypt.

Angel: Oh. Please huh. I think I can sure try.

Buffy: We will see.

Angel looks around the deserted crypt. He notices a clear area faintly lighted by the moon coming through the cracks in the roof. He takes off his duster and spreads it out. He picks up the mistress of the crypt and places her up her new bed. He kneels beside her.

Angel: What does my mistress desire.

Buffy: Your choice. But you better please me or we will be here till you do. Oh and the sun can creep in those same cracks the moon does.

Angel: Ah so my time is limited. I better not dally any longer.

Angel lies down beside her on the earthen floor. He proceeds to leave light kisses upon her face and neck. She resists grabbing him. But is unable to control her rapid breathing. He finally covers her mouth with his. The kiss continues. Her arms eventually wrap around him and he increases the savagery of the kiss. His tongue exploring the deep recesses of her mouth. As she pulls on him as if they could get any closer, she is shaken by the knowledge he is attempting to access even more pleasurable regions. She shifts her body in anticipation. He pulls back for one second.

Angel: I think I know now what my mistress wants.

He resumes the kiss and the maddening exploration of her body. Slight moans escape from her throat

Outside along the main cemetery path Spike patrols. His vampire senses attempting to pickup on any vampire activity. His keen hearing detects the barely audible sounds of a female moan and other noises. He treads toward the sound. He creeps into the doorway. His keen vampire sight picks up the sight of large male over a smaller female.

Spike: Drop the girl.

The kiss stops and Angel instinctively uses his body to insure Buffy’s modesty is in tact.

Spike: Get away from her.

Angel looks over his shoulder.

Spike: Angel?

Angel: Would you mind leaving?

Spike: What are you doing? I thought you gave up killing humans.

Angel: Leave.

Spike: Can’t do it man. I can’t let you kill her.

Buffy: If you don’t leave I will kill you

Spike: Buffy? What the hell?

Angel: Spike leave.

Spike slips out of the crypt and stalks off.

Angel: Where was I?

Buffy: Getting up. Sorry but he may come back and I am not a spectator sport.

Angel: I got another place.

Buffy: Where?

Angel: Crawford Street.

Buffy: The mansion?

Angel: We can check it out.

Buffy: Lets go. Hey can we have a fire?

Angel: Maybe.

They trek off toward the mansion. As they slip down the stairs toward the garden, they both sense the presence of others. They slip back up the stairs.

Buffy: Looks like someone else has taken up residence here.

Angel: I know, and I have a feeling Dru is here.

Buffy: You feel her.

Angel: Yes and remember we lived here together.

Buffy: I wonder if she is responsible for the increased vampire activity in town.

Angel: That is my guess.

Buffy: I am going to slip closer and see what I can.

Angel: Buffy, be careful.

Buffy: I have you protecting my back.

Buffy slips back down the stairs into the garden and peers through a crack in the slates covering a window. She almost gasps in shock. She slips back up to Angel.

Buffy: We have trouble.

© 2005 Tara