Author's Notes: And the plot thickens. Some Darla/Spike in this which I'm rather proud of I'm very pleased with how Darla's character is turning out. Don't think I quite have Angelus's voice down but it's getting there... mind you this is an Angelus that has been around for a century without being buried under Angel so maybe this is how he would have turned out. Anyway, please enjoy!

 

Thank you Marilyn for the beta!

 

XXXXXXXXXX

 

Chapter Two – Put the Plans in Motion

 

Darla was off with her conquest for the evening; Spike and Dru where frolicking about God knew where and Angelus was left alone at the bar, drink in hand and unable to tear his eyes off the girl. Her hair glittered in the low lighting, her body twisting and turning to the beat, knowing exactly how to manipulate her movements to get the boys chasing after her.

 

The brunette though; Spike had been right, she was something. She had a figure worthy of Aphrodite and her long dark hair just made you want to twine your fingers in it or have it tickle all over your body, feel her lush breasts against your naked skin.

           

Angelus shifted and wished one of his family were available for a quick fuck in the alley. The only ones he was interested in enough were the slayer and her three little friends. Even the boy had something about him; something you wanted to control and manipulate, have him writhing beneath you. Or the red-head; break her, crush her, drink her dry then change her.

 

It was always the innocent ones that made the most glorious vampires. Angelus grinned proudly as he thought on both William and Drusilla; the both of them the envy of the family, not only for their beauty but for their absolute prowess in all arenas. Yes, the red-head would make a wonderful addition to the family and the brunette would likely be akin to Darla; a perfect embodiment of the feminine sexual power.

           

After they finished their little plan, Angelus, as a reward, would let William have first choice over which of the girls he wanted to turn.

 

xx        

 

"That guy at the bar has been watching us all evening," Cordelia mused. "And can I just say sex on legs? Hello, salty goodness!"

           

"Cordelia!" Willow's cheeks flushed a red for her hair to envy.

           

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Oh come on, even you can see he's hot. I know you may be a geek but you aren't blind."

           

Buffy flashed a grin over her shoulder. "Well, I'm going in." She adjusted her tight white skirt and blue tank and walked with her best 'look-at-me' walk over to the tall dark man at the bar.

           

Willow flushed, amazingly deeper. "Wasn't he dancing with that blond guy earlier tonight?"

           

"Oh yeah," Cordelia practically purred. "They should have charged, because that was hot." She looked over and her big hazel eyes widened.

           

"Crap! Harmony and the harpies. Sorry Wil, but you know..." Cordelia said awkwardly.

           

"Don't worry. One of us has to be popular, and why can't it be you?" Willow flashed a large grin. "You have the entire package anyway."

           

Cordelia was just about to go but stopped and turned, shooting a glance to her 'friends' then back at the red-head. "Lose the fuzzy sweaters, and you're gorgeous, Willow. Don't doubt that, okay? Red-heads are so in right now." She smiled and left Willow at their table, moving over to intercept Harmony before the ditzy blonde could see where she had come from.

 

Xander plopped down a moment later, returning from the dance floor.

           

"Toadies showed up?" he said knowingly.

           

Willow nodded.

 

xx        

 

Angelus grinned inside. He could hardly believe it was that easy. The slayer was approaching him playing coy, twirling a strand of blond around her finger and looking up through dark eyelashes.

           

"Hello," Angelus purred. "If I was making you uncomfortable, allow me to apologize. I couldn't help myself and pass up the sight of such beautiful young women, especially the gorgeous blonde at the centre."

           

"Oh no, you weren't making me uncomfortable. Just came over to get a drink," she said.

           

"Allow me then." He turned and beckoned the bartender who nodded and returned a moment later with a strawberry daiquiri. Angelus slid the man the money and a little extra before handing to drink to the clearly underage blonde girl. Angel had watched and it was made with less alcohol then usual.

           

"Special," he smiled winningly.

           

"Thank you." She took it and took a sip. "Mmm, strawberry, my favourite."

           

"That so?" he said. He knew it was; he had smelt it on her lip gloss. Strawberry and vanilla...cute. Angelus stole a glance at her friends. The red-head was just with the boy now and the brunette was off with another group of girls that were hanging on to her every word... interesting.

 

He closed his eyes slightly and watched the brunette... guessing. Dark chocolate and his eyes tracked over to the red-head... Fascinating; cranberry, he'd bet. Well weren't they just a bit wicked at heart. Just proved his theory all the more that they would make marvellous additions to the family.

           

"Would you like to have a seat?" Angelus offered attention back on the blonde girl who had been introducing herself during his little surveillance.

           

"That'd be nice," she smiled coyly and he led her to a quiet table for two. He'd feel her out and let Spike have a go at it next time. He had a feeling the only way they would accomplish their plan was if they worked together. Angelus would have liked to bring Darla in, but he had to wait, wait until his plan was solid before he brought it to her attention. And Dru? Well she'd do anything Daddy said. Angelus smiled as she started talking, leaning in just the right amount for his illusion of interest to be believable. Hardly five minutes in and he could see she was already eating out of his hand. Perfect.

 

xx        

 

Spike dropped the woman he had been draining and his head whipped around. Slayer. He looked around for Dru and saw her taunting some half-conscious children, satisfied that she'd be kept busy for a while. Spike prowled around the small building in the park which kept the gardening equipment and peered around it. He saw the little blonde slayer all right but he also saw the hulking form of his sire. Oh the old bastard better not be going it alone on this one. Spike fumed internally and leapt on top of the small building; as silent as the grave, he scrambled to the edge then over to a tall wall before jumping around until he had a good perch to hear what it was they were saying.

           

Spike grinned and shook his head. Catching on to the game, his anger dissipated as quickly as it had come. Angelus may be playing an old saw, but it never lost its effectiveness. He was flirting with the bint, working her up nice and soft. Spike admired the old bugger's technique; she was pliable putty in his oh-so-competent hands.

           

"Good on you, mate," Spike whispered then ran back along the wall and returned to Drusilla. It was time to move on. 

           

xx

 

Angelus sensed his childe disappear from slayer range before leading Buffy further in. He hoped they wouldn't encounter any fledges because that would just ruin the game. She'd either run from him to save the hapless humans that undoubtedly would be the prey, or he'd have to act like one of the hapless humans himself; he was a good actor but he was in no mood for it. Maybe Spike would pick up on the game and keep the fledglings distracted in some form or another.

           

Angelus needed to do this right.

 

xx        

 

Darla ran her fingers along the wrought iron grating of the park fence, peering into the night to the walking figures. Angelus was with a little blonde and it wasn't William. She glared into the darkness. This was just getting more and more intriguing. She knew for certain that he was planning something now. Usually Angelus was the chase and bite type, or the stalk for weeks type not the lure the pretty young thing into the park type... that was just too... human.

           

"Are you all right?" a voice asked behind her.

           

Darla whipped around, her pleated skirt twirling around her knees; she knew if she dressed right she could sometimes look as young as sixteen even though her human body was twenty.

           

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." The man speaking was middle aged with kind eyes. She blinked her big blue eyes at him and began to tremble.

           

"I'm sorry... it's just—" she broke down into tears, falling against the fence in her school girl uniform. He came to her side instantly. Sometimes it was just too easy.

 

xx        

 

Giles came out of his office, old book in hand, glasses perpetually on his nose. He knew Buffy was there so asked without looking up:

           

"How was patrol last night?"

           

She tensed, thinking of a lie quickly but all she could see in her mind's eye was Angel's lips and Angel's eyes and Angel's hot body. Dark hair, puppy dark eyes, chiselled features... God, he was a dream. The way he put his gorgeous strong hands lightly on the small of her back, the way he leaned in and gave that little smirk when he was telling a joke, his eyes sparkling. The way the moonlight fell on his incredibly smooth skin.

           

"Buffy?" Giles asked.

           

"Ah... good! No baddies!" she beamed. Well, it wasn't a lie, and she was sort of patrolling. Vampires liked to frequent the park and she hadn't seen any... which was a little odd but fine all the same. Nothing to interrupt her sort-of-kind-of date. What was the best of all is that he hadn't even tried anything. They just kissed as he held her so soft and gentle. She sighed.

           

"Something the matter?" Giles wondered.

           

"No! So what are you reading?" She went for subject change.

           

"Well really it's fascinating..." as soon as she heard the word 'fascinating' from Giles' mouth she tuned out.

 

xx

 

Spike nuzzled against Angelus's neck, purring softly and licking at the skin but not breaking it. Angelus was spread eagled on the bed, Spike on top of him as the blonde lavished attention on his sire. Angelus brought a hand up and began combing it lightly through Spike's curls. The purring increased tenfold as Spike changed to vamp-face and bit into his sire's strong neck. Angelus sighed happily and shifted so their naked erections would rub slightly together as Spike fed.

           

When Angelus had returned earlier that night he was immediately jumped by Spike and lead/dragged to the bedrooms as Spike began to studiously lick all traces of slayer from his sire's skin. He had started off growling but soon, upon hearing Angelus's sounds of pleasure, the growling had faded to purring and they now lay like this, content together.

           

"Mmm, wish I had tried and gone at it with the lass. If I had, you'd have more interesting places to lick," Angelus said.

           

"Bloody good you didn't or I'd be biting it off! Mine," Spike was growling again and he moved down the bed taking Angelus's cock possessively into his mouth and proceeded to show his sire just how much he belonged to him.

           

Angelus chuckled before the chuckle quickly degenerated into a moan and his fingers found themselves tangled deeply in Spike's thick hair.

           

When they had finished, Angelus turned so he and Spike lay facing each other on the bed. He pushed in closer, so their noses brushed.

           

"I have to go see Grandpappy," Angelus murmured.

           

Spike pulled back. "No!"

           

"Spike, I must. We can't put it off any longer," Angelus said sternly. "His trust must be built, he must perceive us as no threat if we hope to get close enough."

           

"But Sire, he'll..." Spike said miserably.

           

Angelus brought a finger up and placed it gently against his boy's lips. "Shh. I know, Childe. But it's the only way."

           

Spike waited a beat, glared and pushed against Angelus's chest, knocking the older vampire away. Spike grabbed his pants and stormed from the bedroom.

           

Angelus rolled over and sighed, an arm flopped over his eyes.

 

xx        

 

Darla looked up from her magazine as Spike stormed from the bedrooms and began flicking his lighter, growling low in his throat trying to light the cigarette hanging out of his lips.

           

"Bloody cheap plastic fucking piece of shit!" Spike screamed and whipped the cheap plastic lighter across the room. Dru was holding his old reliable Zippo hostage because apparently it had been naughty; really Spike had just refused to burn her with it; be a waste of fluid after all.

           

Darla sighed and rose to her feet walking to the mantel and taking down a box of wooden matches. She ran one along the side and lit Spike's cigarette before shaking the match out and tossing it into the hearth.

           

"What's the matter, Darling?" She put a hand to his cheek and looked up into his blue eyes. Spike sighed and leaned into the touch, slumping slightly.

           

"Angelus is going to see The Master." Spike knew better than to call him anything short of his proper name in his grandsire's presence; if Angelus wasn't around anyway. Darla was more lenient when the dark vampire was there.

           

"As is expected of him," Darla said.

           

"That isn't the point," Spike growled, pulling away and turning from the woman.

           

"Don't you take that tone with me! Really, William, it is rather unbecoming when you get all pouty like this. You've been a master for a number of years; you should start acting like it and not the spoilt childe you are. Honesty. Sometimes I don't know how I put up with you," Darla huffed.

           

"Sod off." Spike went to walk off but Darla pulled him around and slapped his face, leaving long marks from her claws on his cheek. Spike hissed and glared at the woman a moment before lowering his gaze submissively.

           

"William," she irately prompted.

           

"Sorry," Spike muttered.

           

"Good," Darla nodded. "Now come. Sit with me." She turned and sat in one of the chairs in front of the fire. Spike followed and sat at her feet leaning his head against her knee as she corded her fingers through his hair.

           

"Now, tell me about it. Perhaps if I understand what is going through that head of yours I wouldn't get so angry all the time. You'd like that, wouldn't you?"

           

"Be nice, yeah," Spike muttered. She curled her fingers in his curls and pulled up.

           

Spike winced and said, "Yes Mistress."

           

"Good Boy. Now tell Darla."

           

"It's just... I don't like Ba—The Master touching him, is all. He's ours and should only be ours, you know? S'like if... if—Well I can't think of an 'if' right now. But theirs is one and it's good!"

           

"I see. Yes, my Boy, love still infects our hearts even while they don't beat. I told Angelus that once, after he ate his father. I loved your Sire from the moment I saw him in that pub brawl. He was magnificent and I had to have him. Plus, he was easy," Darla grinned wickedly and Spike snorted with amusement.

           

She continued. "Yes, it tears me up every time Angelus must be with The Master, but it is also an honour. Of all the childer's childer The Master has chosen mine. Do you understand? I love The Master because He brought me into this world, but He has no obligation to desire those that I create. But He does and it is great clout for our little family. So you mustn't be upset, William."

           

Spike looked up with imploring eyes. "Is there anything you can do, so The Master isn't so... so rough? I mean there's a limit and—"

           

"Tush. There is nothing I can do and I daren't even think it. The Master has no obligations to His grandchilder, but He does have Rights of Sire. I cannot cross Him. I did something before against His wishes and it was decades before I was once more in His good graces. And for you to think it, William, it's absolutely profane. Dash those thoughts immediately and fetch me a cup of tea," Darla said.

           

Spike nodded and stood.

 

xx        

 

Spike returned to the bedroom and Angelus looked towards him. "Well?"

           

"I've decided to let you go."

           

Angelus raised a brow. "You've decided."

           

"Oh don't play that mightier than thou, will of the Sire codswallop with me, Angelus! You know as well as I do that I could stop you if I bleeding well wanted."

           

"Hmm."

           

"I could! You may be my sire but I could beat you if I wanted it bad enough."

           

"I'm your sire."

           

"Yeah, you are. But I don't give a toss about all that tradition bullocks. I'm not like Grandmum, who clings to it like a flea to a rat." Spike toed off his boots and shrugged out of his coat curling up next to Angelus on the bed.

           

Angel tutted but wrapped an arm around the blond. "Don't call your Grandsire a flea."

           

"Bat-face is a rat though, yeah?"

           

Angelus just smiled. "Go to sleep."

           

Spike shifted suddenly, looking down at Angelus. "Hey, I just had a thought."

           

"You. A thought."

           

"Oi! Stop taking the piss! I had a thought. Vamps are always linked to bats, yeah? The whole creature of the night blood sucking thing; and really bats are just rodents with wings."

           

"I suppose," Angelus said guardedly.

           

"But we're like cats, yeah? We purr, growl, have claws, teeth, night vision, stalk our prey and all. So why are we – cat-like we – associated with a relative of cat prey?"

           

"I don't know. Go to sleep."

           

Spike settled for a moment before speaking again. "Gonna let me fuck you before you go? Let me get in there before ol' wrinkly arse?"

           

"Maybe. Sleep."

           

"Not allowed to wash me off neither. Want Bat-face to know who you belong to."

           

"I can't do that!" Angelus protested, aghast.

           

Spike pouted. "Why not?"

           

"Because I'll get my heart ripped out."

           

"So," Spike shrugged. "You'll still be undust for six hours. Maybe we can figure out a way to... you know... jam it back in."

           

"Not if he eats it," Angelus pointed out casually.

           

Spike made a face. "That is disgusting, mate."

           

"What? It's not like you've never eaten a heart before."

           

"Well yeah," Spike shrugged a shoulder. "That's different though. Wouldn't eat a vampire heart. I'd be all cold and shrivelled like."

           

Angelus rolled his eyes. "Go to sleep, Spike."

           

Spike ground his groin against Angelus's hip. "Too horny to sleep."

           

Angelus sighed. "Dru's tied up in the cellar. I'd told her I'd whip her but I'm too tired. Why don't you go do it?"

           

"'Kay," Spike shrugged and slid off the bed, leaving the room.

           

When Spike had left the hall Angelus shifted and curled up on his side, burying deep in the blankets and pillows. He took a long shuddering breath and tried not to think about what he was about to put himself through.

 

TBC...