Bonded

Chapter Two

 

Summer’s house

 

Buffy sits on the sofa watching Angel sleep. She softly holds his hand as she watches the furrows in his brow slowly relax. Willow walks up and hands her a glass of coke.

Willow: (w) Here.

Buffy: (w) Thanks. Did you get up with Willie?

Willow: (w) Yes, when he heard it was for Angel, he offered to deliver it himself.

Buffy: (w) Good.

There is a knock at the door.

Willow: (w) That should be him.

Buffy: (w) Hurry before he wakes Angel.

Willow rushes and yanks open the door.

Cordelia: Okay where is he!!

Angel wakes up. Cordelia walks in carrying Conner. She looks over at him as he begins to sit up.

Cordelia: You want to tell me what the hell is going on here?

Buffy: Cordelia?

Angel: Cordelia, calm down.

Cordelia: Calm down! You take off without a word to anyone. Not even me. And then I get a call that you are in Sunnydale and want me pack up Conner and meet you here. What are you doing here? And with her?

Angel: If you will calm down I will explain and you are upsetting Conner. Hand him here.

Cordelia looks down at the crying baby and walks over and hands him to Angel.

Cordelia: Okay, start explaining.

Buffy watches as Angel holds and soothes Conner. She looks at Cordelia and back at Angel and the baby.

Buffy: Uh, who is that?

Angel: This is Conner, my son. I was going to tell you before Cordy got here but….

Buffy looks at him and back at Cordelia. She jumps up and heads for the stairs. Willow grabs her arm and turns her toward Angel. She glances at his face contorted in pain.

Cordelia: Oh lord, let her go.

Buffy walks up five feet from Angel. She crosses her arms across her chest.

Angel: Thank you.

Cordelia: Thank her for what?

Angel: Cordy, please hush and I will explain everything to both of you.

Cordelia: I’m listening.

Angel: Buffy, please sit down. I know this is hard to understand. Hell, I am still trying to understand it all myself.

Cordelia: Hello. I am waiting.

Buffy: Shut up Cordelia.

Cordelia: What?

Willow: Cordelia, please. Why don’t you sit down and listen for once.

Cordelia looks around and drops into a chair.

Angel: Buffy?

Buffy: I am fine. Just talk.

Willie: Knock, knock.

Everyone turns to see Willie standing in the open doorway.

Willow: Oh Willie. Almost forgot.

Willie walks in.

Willie: Hi ya folks. Hey there Angel. I brought the stuff for ya. Best I had mind ya.

Angel: Stuff?

Buffy: Dinner. We thought you might be hungry after passing out and all.

Angel: Oh. Thanks.

Willow: Here Willie let me take that.

She takes the bag and guides him to the door.

Willie: Kinda tense in here.

Willow: Yes it is and thanks again.

He walks out and she closes the door.

Angel: Buffy, I know this is hard to understand. I don’t quite understand it myself. But Conner is my son. I do not know how or even if I really want to. I just know I love him.

Buffy: So you and Cordy are……..

Angel: Me and Cordy? What? No! No, Cordy is not the mother. His mother is dead.

Buffy: Oh. Who was she?

Angel: Uh his mother is Darla.

Buffy: Darla? As in big pile of dust Darla?

Angel: Yes. But as in resurrected Darla.

Buffy: You resurrected her?

Angel: Not me. She was resurrected to go after me.

Buffy: Well I see she did that if you two got back together.

Angel: We did not get back together. Please just let me talk.

Buffy: Listening.

Angel: These lawyers resurrected Darla in order to try and stop me from interfering with their schemes. Well it almost worked. I finally was ready to give up when Darla showed up in my room. I figured if I slept with her I would lose my soul and it would be over with once and for all. No more guilt. No more caring.

Buffy: And you slept with her?

Angel: And I didn‘t lose my soul. Only you make me that happy and content.

Cordelia: Puhlease. That was one time. Who says it would be the same now even with Buffy?

Angel: I do. Buffy, I have no idea how Darla got pregnant that night but she did. I only found out a few weeks before he was due. She showed up big as a house.

Willow: That had to be shocking.

Angel: To say the least. Then she went into labor. But there were complications. Her body could not deliver him. So he was dying.

Buffy: And?

Angel: And she staked herself.

Buffy: What?

Angel: Darla staked herself so Conner could live. So I am all he has. And I love him.

Buffy drops her arms and looks at him.

Buffy: So he is part of the package?

Angel: Yes.

Buffy: Oh.

Willow: Buffy, are you okay?

Buffy: I guess.

Cordelia: So now that Buffy knows your little secret, do you want to tell me why you are here?

Angel: Well it started with a spell.

Buffy: A spell we suspect was cast by Jonathan Levenson and his cohorts.

Angel: Who? This spell was the work of Lilah.

Buffy: Who?

Cordelia: I don’t care who did the spell. What was it?

Angel: The spell compelled Buffy and I to go to my old apartment near the Bronze and well recreate her seventeenth birthday.

Cordelia: What? Oh. But you didn’t.

Buffy: Oh we did alright.

Cordelia: Oh, but I was right. It did not work. He did not lose his soul.

Buffy: Oh he lost it alright.

Buffy watches as Angel holds Conner.

Cordelia: But?

Buffy: Willow did the curse again.

Cordelia: But it worked. So what is the problem. Why are you still here?

Angel: Because she altered the curse in order to make it permanent and it had a slight side effect.

Willow: Slight? You are being kind.

Cordelia: Anyone going to tell me what went wrong?

Buffy: Willow attempted to bind his soul with mine so it had an anchor. But because of the fact we are soul mates, it backfired.

Cordelia: Soul mates? You too?

Angel: Yes, us two. So when she tried to bind the souls that were already connected, they merged. And now I can not leave.

Cordelia: Angel, you can not buy into this. You are not soul mates. Star-crossed lovers I will give you but soul mates. No way.

Angel: Cordy, please.

Cordelia: Well how long do you intend on staying here?

Angel: Forever.

Cordelia: You can’t. There is work in LA. You have a job and friends. And a home. Just because you have this soul bond thing is no reason to stay here.

Angel: Actually it is. I can not physically leave Buffy. Our souls are one and if I try and leave, it literally rips my insides out.

Cordelia: Little melodramatic aren’t you?

Buffy: He means, it pulls on his soul and hurts like hell. Anything over about 10 feet and he is in extreme pain.

Cordelia looks a them then over to Willow.

Cordelia: You are going to fix this? Right?

Willow: I can’t. It can’t be reversed.

Cordelia: It has to be.

Angel: It can’t. I have accepted it. I will not be coming back to LA. I am staying right here.

Cordelia: But you can’t. What about Conner?

Buffy: Conner is staying too.

Angel looks up at her gratefully.

Cordelia: This is insane. What about Angel Investigations?

Angel: You guys will have to decide that. Now when did he eat last?

Cordelia: Right before I left LA two hours ago.

Angel: Good. That gives me about 2 hours to eat and get a little more sleep.

Cordelia: That is it. One little spell and you chuck your whole life and move to Sunnydale.

Angel: Yes.

Buffy takes the bag from Willow and Angel follows her to the kitchen. He watches as she opens the container and pours it in a glass before heating it in the microwave.

Angel: You’ve done this before.

Buffy: Yes. I use to do it for you right after you got back from the Acathla Dimension.

Angel: Oh yeah.

Buffy: And for Spike when we had him tied up at Giles after he got the chip.

Angel: How is Spike?

Buffy: (swallows) He is Spike.

She hands him the glass.

Buffy: How’s that?

Angel: Perfect. Not to hot.

Buffy: So how old is Conner?

Angel: Two months.

Buffy: Were you ever going to tell me?

Angel: Yes, but it is not something you do over the phone. I was waiting until I could tell you in person.

Buffy: I guess it is not the kind of thing you call and go hey by the way.

Angel: No it isn’t.

Buffy: You done? I need some sleep. This has been very weird day.

Angel: I have to agree.

She rinses his glass.

Angel: Buffy, I need to find somewhere for Conner to sleep.

Buffy: Oh yeah, I guess you do. Like what?

Angel: Not sure. We used a big drawer at first until Gunn got him his crib.

Buffy: A drawer? How about a laundry basket? I got a big wicker one.

Angel: That should work.

Willow walks in.

Willow: Hey guys, I put Conner and Angel’s bags in Buffy’s room. Is that okay?

Buffy: Yes. Will, can you go downstairs and get the big wicker basket for Conner?

Willow: Sure.

Buffy: We’re going up.

Willow: I will bring it to you.

Buffy and Angel walk through the living room.

Buffy: Cordy, sorry all we have is the sofa .

Cordy: It will have to do.

Buffy: See you in the morning.

They walk up the stairs as Cordy stands in the living room watching. Willow walks through with the basket.

Willow: Do you need anything else?

Cordy: Just an explanation.

Willow: About what?

Cordy: How you could do this. How you could trap him this way.

Willow: Not that I owe you an explanation but I was trying to help him. I had no idea he would be bound this tight. It would not have happened if they were not soul mates.

Cordy: Again with the soul mates.

Willow: I have no idea what has been going on in LA, but you have always known they belonged together.

Cordy: Nothing has been going on in LA. I just think he is better off alone.

Willow: Now that is selfish. Everyone deserves to be loved. Now if that is all, Angel is waiting for this.

She heads upstairs and gives them the basket before heading to her room.

 

Buffy: Is he asleep?

Angel: Yes. For now at least.

He sits on the edge of the bed beside her. Buffy runs her finger tips across her jaw.

Buffy: Are you okay? You looked so bad when you got back here.

Angel: I am fine. I never should have tried to leave. I just…

Buffy: Wanted to get home to Conner. I get that. But you could’ve told me.

Angel: I know. I just didn’t think you could handle another shock.

Buffy: I am not that fragile.

Angel: I’m seeing that.

He takes her hand and kisses her palm. Buffy slides her other hand around his neck and guides his lips to hers. He kisses her gently. She slides her fingers into his hair and opens her lips. His tongue accepts the invitation and slips into the warm recess. She lies back pulling him with her. He lifts up and looks down at her.

Angel: We need to stop. We shouldn’t.

Buffy: We can.

He sits up.

Angel: It is no longer just about us.

Buffy: What?

Angel: We can not just ignore what has happened.

Buffy: Oh……Oh my god.

She jumps up and heads for the bathroom. He quickly follows. He stops in the hall and leans against the wall. Willow comes out of her room.

Willow: Everything okay?

Angel: No.

Willow: What happened?

Angel: Not sure.

Willow walks up and takes his hand. She leads him back into the bedroom.

Willow: Is this okay?

Angel: Yes. It is fine. Just a little achy.

Willow: Okay now tell me what happened.

Angel: We were talking and she kissed me.

Willow: Yes?

Angel: And she tried to go farther and I had to stop us. She got upset and ran to the bathroom. I guess I ………..hell I don’t know.

Willow: You turned her down? But why? There is no obstacle anymore. Unless there is another one.

Angel: Just one.

He glances at Conner.

Willow: Conner? You don’t want to make love with him here?

Angel: No. I just don’t know how he is here.

Willow: How? ….Oh how. You don’t know if it could happen again.

Angel: After earlier, it may already be too late but we can not take any more chances.

Willow: There are ways to protect against it.

Angel: I know that. But this is all happening so fast. Not actually been time to prepare.

Willow: So if you were prepared, would there be any other obstacles.

Angel: No.

Willow: Then I will be right back. It should take me ten or fifteen minutes, tops.

Angel: Where………

Willow: The drug store. There is a 24 hour one over on Hamilton.

She leaves. As she walks down the stairs, Cordy walks up.

Cordy: Is someone in the bathroom?

Willow: Buffy. I think I just heard the shower turn on.

Cordy: Where you going?

Willow: Need to run to the store. Be right back.

Cordy walks down the hall and looks in the bedroom.

Cordy: Now that you are alone, I think we should talk.

Angel: Go ahead. Just know I can not go back to LA right now.

Cordy: But you will go back.

Angel: Yes. I need to get the rest of our stuff and talk to Wes and the others. I need to explain what has happened.

Cordy: And what about tomorrow night. Just a few hours ago it was all you talked about.

Angel: The ballet. I forgot about it.

Cordy: I know.

Angel: Well, I guess if we can get another ticket.

Cordy: And bring Buffy?

Angel: Of course. I can’t go without her. If she wants to go, then I will need you to go get another ticket tomorrow morning when you get back to LA.

Cordy: And if she says no?

Angel: Then the four of you go without me.

Cordy: Just like that?

Angel: Pretty much.

Buffy: Would you two mind stepping out so I can get dressed?

The look up at her in the doorway wrapped in a towel. Angel stands up and they walk out past her.

Cordy: Now that is even more blatant than I thought even you were capable of.

Buffy looks at her wearily and closes the door.

Angel: Why do you do that?

Cordy: Do what?

Angel: So will you get the ticket?

Cordy: Why not? Not like I have a choice. Well actually I do. I am not the one caught in her trap.

Angel: It is not a trap. I am not caught.

Cordy: You like being here?

Angel: Yes.

Cordy: So that is it? No more Angel Investigations. Could you be anymore selfish?

Angel: Cordelia, lets talk about this later. I need to get some rest before Conner wakes up.

Cordy: Fine. But I am not finished.

She turns and leaves. He knocks softly on the door. Buffy opens it. She is dressed in her pajamas and is brushing her wet hair.

Angel: Can I come in?

Buffy: Yes. Did Cordy leave?

Angel: Yes. I think we need to talk.

Buffy: What could there be to talk about?

Angel: Us.

Buffy: Is there an us?

Angel: I hope there is. Don’t you?

Buffy: I guess. So what do you want to talk about?

There is a knock at the door. Angel opens to see Willow. He steps into the hallway.

Willow: Here.

Angel glances in the bag and stuffs it in his pocket.

Angel: Thanks, Willow.

Willow: Just don’t hurt her.

Angel: I will try not to.

He walks back in the room.

Buffy: What did Cordy want now?

Angel: It was Willow.

Buffy: Oh. So what does she want?

Angel: Wants to make sure I don’t hurt you.

Buffy: Sounds like her. Now what do you want to talk about?

Angel: What happened earlier. You didn’t give me a chance to explain.

Buffy: Explain what? You have feelings for someone else. I got that.

Angel: Huh? What are you talking about?

Buffy: You told me that there was someone else. It’s Cordy, isn’t it?

Angel: There is no one else. Not even Cordy.

Buffy: You said.

Angel: I said that it was no longer just about us. I was talking about Conner. I have to consider him first. I also have to consider how he got here.

Buffy: Darla?

Angel: No not Darla. I just don’t know if Conner was a single fluke or if it could happen again. I don’t want to take chances. Even though it could be too late already.

Buffy: Huh? Oh. Ohhhhh. I never thought of that.

Angel: So I think we need to be careful.

Buffy: Well we can use protection. All we have to do is go to the store. I don’t mean right now. But we can go later, if you want to.

Angel: Willow just got back from the store.

He pulls the bag from his pocket.

Buffy: Oh. Ohhh.

Angel: So I need to know few things.

Buffy: What?

Angel brushes his fingertips along her jaw.

Angel: Do you love me?

Buffy: Yes, I never stopped. And I tried to. Do you love me?

Angel: With every inch of my being. Also do you think you can learn to love my son?

Buffy looks down at the sleeping infant.

Buffy: He is your son. There is no doubt about it looking at him.

Angel: He is part of the package.

Buffy: I know that. And to answer your question. Yes I think I can love your son.

Angel: I am glad to hear that. Another question.

Buffy: Shoot.

Angel: Will you go to the ballet with me and the others tomorrow night?

Buffy: Huh? What ballet?

Angel: We have tickets to the Blinnikov World Ballet tomorrow night. I thought you might like to go.

Buffy: The ballet? You are going to the ballet?

Angel: It is the Blinnikov World Ballet Tour. They are one of the premier companies in the world. And they're doing Giselle! It's their signature piece. I saw their production of Giselle in eighteen-ninety. I cried like a baby. And I was evil!

Buffy: You really want to go don’t you?

Angel: Actually I do but it is your decision.

Buffy: Who else is going?

Angel: Wesley, Cordy, Fred, and Gunn.

Buffy: Cordy and four guys?

Angel: Fred is a girl. Winifred.

Buffy: Oh and I am guessing dressing up is in order.

Angel: Most definitely.

Buffy: Now that is a problem.

Angel: I know you have a couple of things in your closet.

Buffy: Huh? Like what?

Angel: Oh like that pink dress. The one that kept making me want to take it off you.

Buffy: Pink? When?

Angel: The Prom.

Buffy: That dress? You want me to wear that? It is like three years old.

Angel: But this time I get to take it off.

Buffy: You are so bad.

Angel: Well?

Buffy: Fine. I will go and I will find something to wear. But heck no.

Angel: What?

Buffy: Work. I have to work.

Angel: Huh?

Buffy: Uh I do have bills to pay. But how am I going to go with you here. I can not exactly take my shadow to work. But I need this job. Damn it.

Angel: Calm down. Listen. Let me talk to Wes. We just had a big case that paid really well so I should be able to help out until we can work this bond out.

Buffy: You mean stretch it.

Angel: Yes stretch it.

Buffy: It may take awhile

Angel: I know. We just need to deal with the current problem. By the way where are you working?

Buffy: Please don’t ask that. Just say, I took what I could get and leave it at that.

Angel: Oh.

Buffy: So have you run out of questions?

Angel: No I have one more.

Buffy: Well?

Angel walks up close to her and uses his finger to tip her face up.

Angel: Do you still want to make love?

Buffy: Yes. Most definitely.

Angel: Me too.

 

Later

 

Buffy lies with her head resting on Angel’s shoulder. He runs the tip of his finger in a slow circle around her pink nipple.

Buffy: What are you thinking?

Angel: Me? Nothing.

Buffy: Yes you are, now spill.

Angel: Nothing really. I remember everything that happen today.

Buffy: I knew you would eventually.

Angel: You went through a lot to help me. I just have to ask you something.

Buffy: What?

Angel: Just wondering if those activities are reserved only for my evil twin.

Buffy: Activities? Oh those activities. To tell you the truth, the only way got through it was imagining it was you instead of him. Which was not hard seeing that it was your body. I just had to put up with his mouth.

Angel: Well he was right about one thing. You did know what you were doing.

Buffy: Is that a bad thing?

Angel: I was thinking it was a very good thing.

Buffy: I feel the word encore being spoken.

Angel: Not really.

Buffy: Uh huh. Well let me see.

She leans into him and kisses his chest, followed by another. She leaves a trail of warm kisses over his chest and stomach. Her tongue flicks quickly into his belly button. He wriggles and wraps his fingers into her hair. Conner begins crying. Buffy looks up at Angel as he sighs.

Angel: Duty calls.

He sits up and slips on his trousers. He picks up the baby.

Angel: Hey there little guy. I bet you are wet and hungry.

He lays him on the bed and pulls out a diaper from the bag. Buffy watches as he changes him.

Buffy: You seem to know what you are doing.

Angel: I am learning. I need to go down and get him a bottle.

Buffy climbs out of bed and slips her robe on. She ties the belt and looks at him.

Buffy: Ready?

Angel: Right behind you.

They walk down the stairs and move quietly through the dark living room. They enter the kitchen and Buffy opens the refrigerator.

Buffy: (w) I got it.

Angel: (w) Put in a pot of water on the stove.

Buffy: (w) What about the microwave?

Angel: (w) I just…..

Buffy: (w) Microwave.

She punches in a few numbers and looks over at him. He reaches his fingers out and plays with the tips of her hair.

Angel: (w) Have I told you I like your hair cut?

Buffy: (w) Not yet

The microwave beeps. She takes out the bottle and shakes it. Angel takes it.

Buffy: (w) Aren’t you suppose to test it on your wrist or something?

Angel: (w) No body heat.

Buffy: (w) Let me.

She sprinkles it on her wrist.

Buffy: (w) Not to hot or cold.

Angel: (w) Let’s get upstairs before we wake Cordy.

They slip back upstairs. Angel sits on the side of the bed feeding Conner. Buffy watches. She baby wiggles as he eats.

Buffy: This seems so strange.

Angel looks into her green eyes.

Angel: But it feels right some how.

Buffy: I guess.

She reaches out and takes Conner’s hand. He wraps his fingers around hers. Angel smiles.

Angel: You just fell into his trap.

Buffy: No. Walked in with my eyes wide open.

After Conner is asleep, Angel looks at Buffy.

Angel: I think we need to get some sleep.

Buffy: I guess so.

She slips off the robe and crawls in bed. He undresses and slides in. He pulls her into his arms.

Buffy: I thought you said sleep.

Angel: That was before you got in bed naked. Little too hard to resist.

Buffy: If you can not sleep with a naked body, you will never get any sleep.

Angel: Do you plan to go to bed like this every night?

Buffy: Of course. Complaints?

Angel: No just stock up on the coffee.

Buffy: Or you can sleep on the floor. You have before.

Angel: No way. The bed is too perfect to avoid.