Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Angel/Spike or more properly Angelus/William 
Somewhat AU with some elements of cannon altered to suit my needs. Meaning William begins life within this story as a human. Who can say if that will change?
Graphic sex, violence
Disclaimer: These characters are NOT mine. I'm only borrowing them. All BtVS/AtS characters belong to Joss Whedon, ME, UPN, WB etc.etc.etc. 
Poems found in this work are not my own. The poem read by William is entitled 'Because I could not stop for Death' and was authored by Emily Dickinson. The title of this story was derived from that poem. The poem read by the bully in the Bronze is called 'A valentine to my wife' and it was authored by Eugene Field. I have made some slight changes to the second poem to fit the needs of the story. 
Other Points of Interests: Buffy still works for the council. Angelus has never been souled and the initiative is still functioning in Sunnydale. 

This story is also archived at The Crypt
 

Chapter Three
 

Angelus sat beside the bed, watching the boy sleep. The steady rise and fall of his chest was mesmerizing and he found that he could not look away. The boy was beautiful, even with his injuries, and the more he watched him the more he wanted him. 

The vampire had gone to the Bronze hunting the Slayer but had been distracted the moment the boy had walked into the room. He had watched as the other men had attacked him and, even though the boy had handled it badly, he had not been dissuaded from his interest in him. There was just something about him that he found intriguing.

The fight in the cemetery had only increased Angelus' interest as it made it clear that the boy was capable of defending himself, and he was curious to know why he had not done so in the Bronze. He had watched as the human had fled, the scent of his blood lingering in the air, and he followed, wanting to know the taste of it. He had only intended to make a quick meal of the boy, after a bit of sport of course, but finding him unconscious and quite helpless had taken all the fun out of it, and there was just something about the boy that wouldn't let him end it so soon. Looking at him now, snuggled beneath the sheets, Angelus knew he wanted more from this young man.

He had been without Childer for decades, having lost Penn, his eldest, to a slayer and Drucilla to an angry mob in Prague. He had felt those losses deeply and the years without companions had been difficult. Glancing down at the boy he reached out, stroking his hair softly, and he wondered if this child could fill the emptiness he had felt for so long. 

William stretched, feeling the stiffness in his muscles as he opened his eyes trying to orient himself to the strange surroundings. He took in the room around him, noting the expensive furnishings and exquisite artwork, then rolled over and almost jumped out of the bed. 

"Good morning." Angelus said as the young man stared over at him. He was sitting right where he'd been the night before and William wasn't sure if he'd been there all night, but he found the idea disturbing, to say the least. 

"Don't you ever sleep?" It was not the most polite response but Angelus excused this, sensing the boy's confusion. He smiled at him, but said nothing. "What were you doing there?" William asked, finding that the silence disturbed him even more. 

"I was watching you." 

"Why?" William asked, alarmed by this revelation. 

"Because head injuries are very dangerous things and you could have gone into a coma or gotten amnesia or something. I'm very pleased to see you managed to avoid the coma, but we need to be sure you aren't suffering from the other." William eyed him suspiciously but made no response. "Can you tell me your name?" Angelus asked, noting the boy's look.

"I don't have amnesia." He answered simply, but Angelus wouldn't be put off. 

"Then tell me your name." He smiled.

"William. My name is William." 

"Well, William, can you tell me where you are?" He watched as the young man's face fell, not certain how to answer, a glimmer of doubt in his own assertions in evidence. Then he too smiled as he stared back at Angelus, enjoying the game. 

"This is your house." He wore a smug expression as the words left his mouth and Angelus could feel some of his guest's tension ease.

"And who am I?" He asked finally.

"Your name is Angelus." The young Englishman answered without hesitation.

"Well, it seems you were right. You do not have amnesia."

William's tension eased at this and he relaxed, finally believing the man meant him no harm, after all he had had all night to do... suddenly he turned toward the window, his thought interrupted as he noticed the small sliver of sunlight that peeked around the edge of the heavy drapes. 

"Oh God...I have to go!" He said, trying to rise, but the pain in his head and the strong hand on his chest prevented it. He cradled his head in his hands as he groaned at the pain. 

"You have to be still. You're still in pain and I don't think..." He was cut off by William's voice. 

"No, you don't understand. She'll be worried. I have to go. She'll think something's happened to me." Angelus could see the anxiety in the boy's eyes and for some reason he couldn't fathom, he didn't like that expression marring his beautiful face. 

"So there's someone waiting at home for you?" The vampire asked, not sure why that thought bothered him.

"Yes...please, I have to go." William tried to rise again but Angelus' wouldn't have it. "Please, my mother will be worried." Angelus smiled at this comment then grew serious again. 

"Your mother, is it? Well we can't have her upset now, can we? So this is what we'll do. You'll give me your phone number and I'll call her, and then she won't have reason to worry anymore." 

"No, I need to call. She'll want to know why I didn't come home and I don't want her to know what happened to me. It would only upset her."

"What did happen to you?" Angelus asked, already knowing the answer. 

"I was attacked by two..." William paused for a moment, not sure what to say. 

"By two...what?" 

"I was just attacked, that's all." 

Angelus looked at the boy and then patted his hand. 

"Well, don't worry, William, I won't tell your mother what happened. I'll make sure she knows you're alright and nothing more." William tried to think of a reason to argue but he could see none so he nodded his head gently, the pain throbbing harshly, and watched as the older man retrieved a small pad and pen from the desk which sat in the corner. William wrote down the number and his mother's name then handed them back to Angelus. 

"Now you stay put while I take care of this." He said as he headed across the carpeted floor. William watched him leave the room as he waited for the pain in his head to subside. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. His mother was sure to be worried about him. He had never stayed out all night before and after everything that had happened with his father she was probably frantic by now. 

Suddenly feeling like this wasn't a good idea, he sat up slowly and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. The ache in his head had dulled somewhat but he could still feel it. He was sure if he moved too fast that the sharp stabbing pain he had felt earlier would return, but he needed to make that phone call and be certain his mother was alright. Placing a hand on the night table he pushed himself up off the bed and then turned, trying to steady himself as he wavered a bit. He was just about to take a step when the door opened and Angelus walked in.

"I thought I told you to stay put?" William frowned at the man as he sat back down on the bed. 

"I'm fine." He said, trying to make him believe it.

"Well, you'll be happy to know that your mother is fine as well." William looked up at this and smiled. "She was a bit upset that you didn't call, but I managed to smooth things over and told her that you would be staying the weekend as well." 

"The weekend... no, I couldn't...I..." Angelus didn't let him finish.

"Well, you're in no shape to go home -- especially if you don't want her to know that you've been fighting. Those bruises will take at least a few days to heal, and that cut over your eye will probably take longer. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if you end up with a scar. Besides, the least you can do to repay me for all my help is keep me company for the next couple of days. I have few visitors and it will be a nice change to have someone else to talk to." 

William thought about this for a moment and realized Angelus was right. He wasn't in any condition to go home and he also realized that he wanted to stay. He hadn't made one friend since moving to the states and here was someone offering him friendship and he was trying to throw it back in his face. 

"Alright... I'll stay." He said at last.

"Good. Now tell me, my young friend, are you hungry?" William thought about it for a moment, then decided he was. He nodded by way of answer and Angelus smiled back. "Alright, I'll get breakfast started and I would suggest you clean yourself up. I had one of my min...ah...servants pick up some things for you. The clothes are on the settee and the other things have been put away in the bath room."

William looked over at the small couch in the corner of the room and saw that there were indeed new clothes lying there. He started to protest, but was silenced by Angelus before he could speak. 

"I know what you're going to say. I shouldn't have done it... well, I did, so there's no point in bothering to argue about it now. Your clothes are soiled and torn and I can't have a guest walking around the house like that. Now can I?" He smiled and it was so disarming that William found he could do nothing but agree. 

"Thank you. I'll repay you for everything."

Angelus stared back at him for a moment before speaking.

"Actually, if you really wish to repay me, I have a small task you could help me with."

"What kind of task?"

"We'll talk more after you've eaten." Angelus replied as he turned and headed for the door, stopping as William rose from the bed. He watched the boy steady himself by holding on to the headboard. 

"Can you manage on your own or do you need help?" He asked.

William's head shot up at this and he answered quickly. "No. No, I'm fine. I can manage just fine, thank you." Angelus left a moment later and William exhaled the breath he wasn't even aware he'd been holding. He made his way across the room, holding on to the furnishings as he went, then picking up the new clothes he entered the bathroom.