BAD ANGEL

A/N: I have definitely been getting some interesting feedback on this fic, all of which I appreciate since you took the time to share your thoughts. I realize that some people are somewhat upset with the direction in which the last chapter went. Believe it or not, I do understand your perspective. Unfortunately changing that is not an option because I am trying to achieve something further down the road, something that I hope will be evident shortly. So although what will happen in the next few chapters may not be everyone's idea of justice, I am a firm believer that sometimes consequences come in a way we don't expect. So since you made it this far, I am asking that you just hold on a bit longer and let the story unfold. I think the ending will have something for everyone.


Part 21


Lying next to her, Angel pulled her robe around her still trembling body and held her hand, entwining their fingers as she recovered. As eager as he was to continue, he didn’t want to be too aggressive with her. For several long moments she remained silent, her eyes closed as her breathing and pulse returned to normal. Once she seemed less overwhelmed, he slowly began nuzzling her cheek, lightly kissing her.
“God I wanted to do that for so long,” He whispered between kisses, “I couldn’t get rid of Lindsey fast enough.”
As he kissed along her neck Buffy slowly recalled his intent to, as he put it, get it right. She began to panic.
“Wait.” Her voice was so soft that Angel wasn’t sure she had spoken.
Pausing, he looked at her, encouraging her to continue.
Realizing he didn’t quite hear her and was waiting for her to speak, Buffy cupped his face, her voice more confident, “No more, please.”
Nodding, Angel lightly kissed her hand before helping her sit up.
Pulling her robe even closer, Buffy nervously ran her hands through her hair, as she looked at him, her mind flashing back to their image in the mirror. She needed to get out of there. Excusing herself, she stood from the bed and went into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
Hearing the door lock, Angel suddenly regretted his spontaneity. Tightening his robe, he moved to the edge of the bed, awaiting her return. Clearly there would be no second act to the closet.
Pacing the length of the bathroom, Buffy turned the taps on high before slumping against the wall. What in the world was she doing? Last night she thought she had a handle on things; she felt in control after finally finding the escape she needed to be with him again but now that she had, she wasn’t so sure about it anymore. Quite frankly, she hadn’t expected it to go so far so fast, especially just now; she wasn’t prepared for it, neither for his advance nor her response. And how exactly did one prepare for a guy to go down on you anyway? She thought she had buried the inexplicable connection between them but if anything it seemed more powerful than ever. The way he looked at her in the closet was simply mesmerizing. It shook her to the core that after everything he could still affect her that way. It was sick! And it was cruelly ironic that the escape, the one thing she needed to get through it was fueled by their explosive chemistry, one of the many things that scared her. She wasn’t as in control as she had thought. So what now? How was she to handle this? No matter how she tried to rationalize it, this was entirely different from the situation with Dawn. She was not giving herself to him to save her sister but to make a damn phone call. Somehow in her desperation she hadn’t allowed herself to see it that way before, all she could see was a way home. But looking at it now, she regretted being so rash. She really hadn’t thought this through. So what was she to do now? Back out completely? No, that was out of the question. Looking at her situation, she refused to go back to how things were before. She was tired of being the victim. She had to help herself and as reprehensible as this was, her chances of escape or rescue were much higher as long as she and Angel remained on friendly terms. She would have to work from there. But as she stood and began washing up, she couldn’t silence her doubts. Was she really prepared to do this? Was it really worth it? Looking at herself in the mirror, she couldn’t escape the accusation in her eyes. She had to do something.

After a while she managed to compose herself and quietly left the bathroom. She still wasn’t certain what her next move would be but she couldn’t hide in there anymore. But one thing was certain; she had to take more control of the situation. Walking into the bedroom she saw that Angel was still anxiously seated on the bed but he was no longer in his robe, clad instead in a casual shirt and trousers. Next to him was the pair of jeans and tank she had taken down to wear, along with another set of underwear. Well, at least he knew the taste test was over. That at least took some of the pressure off. Seeing his contrite expression, she took several deep breaths to collect her thoughts. Choosing her words carefully, she finally turned to him. “Angel, I know we’ve been trying to overcome everything that’s happened between us and I get that you want me to …have a good time with this and all.”
“But?” He prodded, his voice gentle.
“But we’re moving too fast. Clearly there is something very intense going on here but I need more time before this goes further.”
Looking at her, he cautiously asked, “Are you saying you want to go back to sleeping apart?”
She was surprised by the disappointment in his voice. Cautiously thinking over her response, “No, that’s not what I mean … I’m saying that we’re just getting close again and I still have mixed feelings. We both know where this is headed; I don’t want this to go further until I know what I want.” When he remained silent, she added, “If you want to stay with me that’s fine but let’s just take the other stuff slow.”
Pensive, Angel ran his hands through his hair, taking in her words.
When it seemed like an eternity had passed, she nervously whispered, “Are you mad at me?”
Taken aback by her question and the uncertainty in her voice, he looked up suddenly and hastily replied, “No, I’m not mad. Why would you think that?”
“You look upset … “
“Oh Buffy, no … I was just thinking that I should have known this was moving too quickly. Cornering you like that was … well, I just wasn’t thinking.” He felt like smacking himself. Just because she wasn’t overtly refusing him didn’t mean she was ready for oral sex. The power dynamic was still too much in his favor for her to really feel free to say no.
“So you’re not mad?”
“No, a little disappointed perhaps but I’m definitely not mad. Buff, never be afraid to back out. I meant what I said yesterday, I still do.” He wasn’t sure how else to reassure her and obviously if she was still this afraid of angering him then they definitely had to slow down. Reaching out to her, “Buff.”
He smiled with relief when she didn’t appear to hesitate but immediately came to him, perching on his lap. Caressing her, “Buff, I need you to speak up when you’re uncomfortable about anything. Sometimes, I try to initiate things that I think you will like but I don’t know whether you’re shy and simply prefer to be passive, whether you’re just not ready to make the first move or just not ready at all. Now some things I can gather on my own but for others, only you can tell me how you feel. That must always come first; remember I want you to enjoy our time together. So I am glad that you felt comfortable enough to say something. I don’t want to do anything you’re not ready for.”
When she looked at him, he lightly pecked her lips then, “Are you ready for breakfast?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Good, what would you like?” He asked as he turned and leaned over to press the call button but before he could Buffy pulled him back. When he looked at her curiously, she held his chin and to his utter shock kissed him back. It was quick and chaste but at that moment it was everything. At his surprise, she awkwardly smiled, “For trying.”
Once he placed their order, Buffy sighed with relief and immediately went back into the bathroom to get dressed, locking the door behind her.


The rest of the day passed without incident. Although for a while things were somewhat awkward, Buffy and Angel managed to get through it. Establishing clear boundaries, they spent much of the day reading more of Angel’s novel and cuddling. Buffy was still very conflicted over what she was doing but she was relieved that she managed to rein in their level of intimacy while not setting back her agenda. She was pretty sure the kiss she spontaneously threw in at the end helped to solidify her position.
As the day progressed, Angel also found himself somewhat conflicted. On the one hand, he knew she was up to something. Buffy would never have come to him otherwise. But what was it? Why was she making nice? What was she planning? A part of him was truly frustrated that she was trying to play him, using her body no less to manipulate his affection for her but then again, what did he expect? He had forced her into an impossible position and to be honest, her tactics aside; he couldn’t help but find her endless determination truly admirable. But whatever her motive, he worried that she was allowing it to go too far too fast. And by her reaction so was she, which he also admired. In addition to what she said, she seemed so rattled afterward that it was obvious that she was having a hard time going through with it, which brought him to the other side of his conflict. As glad as he was that she felt confident enough to express her feelings, her reaction was a blunt reminder of what he had done. He couldn’t help but notice that she still tensed up whenever he touched her; that her responses were feeling increasingly forced and empty. And as much as he hoped otherwise, he feared that she would never see beyond their violent past. That’s why she was reluctant to back out before. She thought he would be angry, that he would react as he had before. That deeply saddened him. No matter what she was trying to do or how she was manipulating him, she was his partner and he never wanted her to fear backing out. But there was little to nothing he could do to convince her otherwise. He could only back off and let her come to him as she wanted. But would she?
That night, after watching some television and finally resuming their game of Risk, they settled in together. Again it was awkward at first but eventually they found a level of closeness that both could handle. Holding her in his arms, Angel’s mind searched for ways to assist her in this transition. Their history notwithstanding, he had to find a way to get her to trust him. Compelled to open himself to her as he never had, Angel decided to take a huge risk. If she was to ever see past the monster, he had to be as transparent as possible, he had to share everything with her.


The following morning Buffy woke to Angel gently caressing her hair. “Wake up sleepy head.” He encouraged as he playfully nudged her.
“It’s too early.” She mumbled grumpily as she turned away from him.
“It’s not that early, it’s after 8.”
“Too early.” She whined. Angel smirked at her; she looked so adorable when she was sleepy.
“Come on, Baby, you need to get up.”
“Why?”
“Because I am going to work soon and I’d like to take you with me.”
“WHAT?” Buffy looked at him as if he’d sprung another head. “Are you serious?” She had to be dreaming, this was too good to be true.
“Yes I am serious that is why I want you to get up so we can get dressed and have breakfast.”
Controlling her excitement, “Why do you want to take me with you?”
“Hmm, because I’d like to show you the other side of my world. You seemed a bit curious about it yesterday and well, you’re my partner; you should know what I do. Would you like to come?”
“So you can teach me how to deal drugs and how to put a hit out on somebody?” She couldn’t let on just how much she wanted to go with him.
“For now I’ll just introduce you to the basic variety of narcotics, maybe a crash course in their street value. Then we’ll move onto the more hard core stuff.”
When she looked at him aghast, he chuckled.
“I’m kidding. When I said my work I meant along the lines of my shipping company. One of my executives is giving me a quarterly report.”
“Oh …” She replied, her relief evident. “Will it take long?”
“I doubt it, I’ve already received the preliminary figures so this is more of a formality, just to make sure we’re all on the same page. But you don’t have to stay the entire time I’m there, it might be a bit dull for you.”
“I don’t mind; I’ll bring something to read.” She then got out of bed and headed for the shower.

Entering the forbidden zone hand in hand, Buffy surreptitiously watched as Angel unlocked his office. She practically drooled when he pulled out his keys. She was so anxious she had to remind herself to breathe on occasion. As Angel guided her in, she took several moments to take in her new surroundings. The entry was a fairly large foyer with several oversized leather chairs and a fireplace. Along one of the walls was a credenza on which several bottles of liqueur were placed. But what especially drew her attention were the many portraits displayed on the walls. Gazing up, she walked closer as her interest grew. She had no idea who the couple was but she was struck by how closely the woman resembled her. Although there were some differences, it was eerie how similar they looked. Seeing which portrait had captivated her, Angel answered her unspoken question. “Those were my parents. The artist presented it to them as a wedding gift.” Ok, eerie was an understatement.
Choosing not to comment on her resemblance to his mother, Buffy studied the other person in the portrait. This was the first time she ever saw an image of Ethan Rayne, the man with whom it all began. Curiously looking back and forth between Angel and the portrait, she decided that Angel looked more like his father. Moving along, she saw several other portraits the subjects of which Angel informed her were various extended relatives, including Lindsey’s mother. Finally she came to one with two little boys in it. There was a distinct familiarity about them both and Angel’s silence spoke volumes. Looking at him, she ventured, “You and Lindsey?”
He nodded.
The last few portraits were of Angel with his parents, the last of which was only of him dressed in a suit and necktie, sitting in a huge armchair with his feet dangling over the edge. Seeing this young and innocent version of him was truly odd. When she looked at him he offered, “That was done for my 7th birthday.”
Then the oddest thing occurred to her, “How old are you?” The question sounded odd to her ears, after all this time, after all they’d done and she never knew his age.
“Older than you.”
“That I know but my dad stopped practicing law a long time ago and if you were a little boy at the time then you’ve got to be … well, much older.”
“How very diplomatic of you … I’m 37.” He watched, as she seemed unaffected by the age difference.
When she said nothing more, he offered, “Onto to my office?”
She nodded.
Passing through another locked door at the other end of the foyer, they finally entered Angel’s office. The room was decorated in very much the same way as the foyer, in dark-toned woods, leather and oversized furniture. The entire place was distinctly masculine. But there was also an abundance of natural light streaming through the large bay windows, which looked out to the pool and the gardens in the distance. It was not an entirely unpleasant space to be in. Offering her a seat, Angel moved behind his desk and opened his laptop. As he waited for it to boot up, he scanned some papers as he casually talked to her about his schedule for that day. But Buffy’s mind was elsewhere, her eyes glued to the telephone sitting so temptingly on his desk. In the distance she could hear him speaking to her but she was enthralled, utterly incapable of pulling her attention from it. But somehow she eventually managed to break its spell and at least pretend to be listening; she didn’t want him to catch her ogling the phone.

As the hours passed, Buffy tried to maintain the charade that she was reading although in truth she was intently listening to his conversations while stealing furtive glances of the telephone. But so far he hadn’t said anything of major interest or given her the slightest moment alone with the phone. It took all of her self-control not to jump onto his desk and wrest it from his grasp. But as tempting as that was, she knew the moment she made a move for it he would easily overpower her and probably drag her back to the bedroom. No, it was better to appear nonchalant. But not too aloof, don’t want to seem to be trying too hard. Needless to say that achieving the right combination was exhausting.
Eventually, Angel finished his phone calls and brought Buffy around to sit with him. Holding her in his lap, he used a chart on his computer to explain the basic organization of his empire. He told her of the businesses he inherited, those he built on his own and his plans for the future. Listening, Buffy was surprised to discover how enterprising he was. He seemed to know every aspect of his work from the boardroom down to the mailroom, his zeal reflected in his eyes and his voice. He was clearly as passionate about his work as he was about … well, other things. Once his impromptu tutorial was done, he answered the few questions Buffy asked about his ability to conduct business from anywhere in the world, omitting a few crucial details of course. Ok, so maybe he wasn’t quite ready to be completely transparent. As he talked the ringing phone suddenly interrupted their conversation. Answering, Angel immediately sat up with her as he spoke, “Yes, this line is secure.”
For quite some time he continued talking, his responses terse, giving no indication as to what the caller was saying. Then as he talked, he reached over for a pen, inadvertently touching his mouse. For a moment Buffy nearly burst into tears when a dialogue box requesting his password instantly appeared over the screensaver that had come on. A password! A damn password! It took all of her will power not to scream in frustration.
Over the next few moments, Buffy took several deep breaths to calm herself. It wasn’t over, this was just a setback; she had to stay focused. She couldn’t afford to let on that anything was wrong. Fortunately by the time his call ended, she had finally managed to get a handle on her emotions again.
“Something wrong?” She managed to ask as casually as she could.
“Um, no, nothing … just a few unexpected developments but no disasters.” Eventually, they resumed their discussion as Angel finished up his tasks for the day and secured his documents. As they left his office, the sound of the bolts locking into place seemed to echo in Buffy’s mind. But she refused to cry; this wasn’t over.


That evening Buffy sat between Angel and Lindsey in the formal dining room. She was still rather disappointed that she was unable to use the phone but at least her time in Angel’s office wasn’t a complete bust; now she knew about the password on the computer. No wonder he wasn’t too concerned about taking her to his office. And given her glitch with the gate, she now suspected there may be some code for the phone as well. Despite her relief of not actually being caught doing anything, she had to admit that this wasn’t going to be as simple as she had hoped. She was no hacker and really had no idea where she might even start trying to decipher it. Her playing nice aside, there was no way Angel would just give it to her. She would have to find some other way around it. That would take time. Thankfully Angel didn’t seem to be onto her yet. She had to tread carefully.
At one end of the table, Lindsey casually observed her. Throughout dinner, he and Angel kept the conversation casual and light, both ensuring to include her in the exchange but her mind was obviously elsewhere. He wondered what she was planning. Although he had been keeping his distance, he was well aware of the developments between her and Angel. The house was certainly large but it was also very quiet and since the master suite was not exactly soundproof, noise traveled down the marble halls. It didn’t take a genius to know what all the moaning was about not to mention the supremely satisfied grin on Angel’s face while they were talking about cricket had absolutely nothing to do with their team winning. Hell, Angel couldn’t get him out of the room fast enough after she left the shower. He was elated to see his cousin finally so happy. He only hoped that Buffy had enough sense not to try anything stupid. But somehow he knew she hadn’t given up; there was obviously something stirring below the surface of her submissive façade.

Once dinner was over, the three spent a few hours on the terrace, casually talking and enjoying the scenery. Despite Buffy’s reticence, her companions deliberately centered the discussion on her, both asking about her interests and social life. Eventually, she slowly began sharing small details about her time in college, stopping short, however, of discussing her family. Noticing her avoidance, Angel decided not to push; he knew she missed them terribly and didn’t want to upset her unnecessarily. As the evening wore on, Buffy found herself witnessing Angel perhaps at his most unguarded and relaxed as he and Lindsey laughed and told amusing stories from their childhood. He was completely at ease. It was extraordinary, almost surreal, they seemed so normal; not at all like the dangerous men she knew them to be. Their jokes and the stories of pranks they played as little boys made her remember their portrait in the foyer of Angel’s office. It was a glimpse into the past at what those two little boys were really like before life corrupted their innocence.

Later that night, the cousins finally took their leave of each other and Buffy and Angel headed upstairs. Walking her to her door, Angel went into his room to prepare for bed. He would join her shortly. Although they were now sleeping together, they had yet to address the issue of him moving back in with her. And knowing that she still needed space, Angel didn’t want to push it.
Changing quickly, Buffy was brushing her teeth when she heard him return.
Slowly entering the bedroom, she found him already in bed, sitting up waiting for her. For a few moments Angel looked at her as she approached the bed clad in white silk pajamas before holding his hand out to her. Momentarily she paused before taking his hand and climbing in next to him. Lying together, they turned out the lights and tried to sleep but somehow rest eluded both of them that night. Hours passed yet they remained lying quietly together, both wide awake neither speaking until finally Buffy asked, “Why did you let Dawn go?”
The question caught him off guard and for a moment Buffy thought he wasn’t going to answer. Then she felt him prop himself up on his elbow.
When he spoke his voice was soft and mellow. “I didn’t want to use her to control you anymore. That was the reason I took her, to get to you. I knew you wouldn’t give in to my demands otherwise.”
“Well you were right about that one.”
“And now?” He asked lightly caressing her. When she didn’t respond he continued, “I was to release both of you that day but somewhere in the midst of all that anger I fell in love with you and I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t let you go. But I never wanted to hurt you that way again so I left her behind.”
For several moments she remained silent as the weight of his words sank in. She could have been home with her family all this time; somehow with that realization everything came crashing down, overwhelming her. Unsure what her silence meant, he lightly caressed her. Gently cupping her face, he was startled when he felt tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Buffy …” He whispered when she inhaled deeply, her tears coming harder. Pulling her closer, he held her to him, caressing her soothingly as she broke down. He had no idea whether these were tears of anger, sorrow or both but he continued touching her, letting her cry. A long time passed before she seemed to calm again but the two remained silent, just letting it happen. They didn’t talk about it, they didn’t have to and as the hours passed Angel realized that she wasn’t pushing him away but rather seemed to accept the comfort he offered. In that moment he felt closer to her than he had to anyone in his life and as their mouths found each other in the darkness, he knew he was home. She was his center. Touching her gently, his freely caressed her body but he held back, not wanting to push her. She needed time.

The following morning Buffy woke to find Angel sitting in the armchair across from the bed, a sketchpad and drawing pencil in hand.
“What are you doing?”
“Drawing you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re beautiful.”
His bluntness left her speechless and it took a moment to recover her voice, “Well, can I get up?”
“Sure … feel free to move.” He replied as he continued his drawing.
Unsure what to say Buffy slowly made her way into the shower. Being drawn made her feel extremely self-conscious. By the time she was dressed, the sketch was done and Angel had placed it on the bed for her approval. Raising an eyebrow, she had to admit, he had talent.
“You’re really good.” She offered.
“Well it helps when my subject is absolute perfection.”
Feeling very uncomfortable, “I’m not perfect.”
“I beg to differ.” He then walked up to her and for a moment, they locked gazes. Then suddenly his mouth descended upon hers and a torrent of passion washed over them. Picking her up, Angel pressed her to the wall as their kiss deepened, his hands groping her. They kissed frantically, the intensity rapidly escalating as they touched each other until Angel finally pulled back, his breathing heavy.
Cupping her face, “You only have to say yes.”
She looked at him stunned. He was no longer accepting her silence as consent. If they went any further, she would have to say it. But she couldn’t, she couldn’t actually bring herself to utter it. That would be like saying she wanted to have sex with him. When it was clear that she could not or would not, he kissed her on the forehead as he slowly lowered her to the floor. Then wordlessly he moved away from her, preparing to go to his office alone. He already knew she couldn’t say it; it wasn’t time.

Buffy spent much of the rest of the day unsure what to make of Angel’s new approach. She knew she would never be able to say yes to him. So what did that mean for her? She was well aware that at some point their make out sessions would escalate to where even oral sex would not suffice and she would have to face the music. Just the thought of what might happen made her queasy. No, it was imperative that she be out of there before that happened. She needed a backup, some alternative to using the phone in Angel’s office. Maybe she could get him to take her out again and she could use a pay phone or try to leave another note somewhere. There had to be something. But as the day wore on, everything she thought of was just as risky as what she was already doing and held no greater promise of success. She was nearing her wits end.
By the time evening came, she managed to reaffirm her resolve and was staying the course. She couldn’t lose hope now. But as she sat across from Angel having dinner in the gazebo, she couldn’t ignore the intensity of his gaze. He wanted her. And no matter how patient he tried to be, the ball was in her court and she felt the pressure as well as the guilt. She dreaded what might happen in bed that night.
Then suddenly lightning flashed across the dreary overcast sky unleashing a torrential downpour. Startled, Buffy pulled her sweater closer as the cool winds picked up. Noticing, Angel gestured for her sit in his lap. Her hesitation spoke volumes but eventually she went to him. Holding her in his lap, he wrapped his arms around her, shielding her from the windblown rain and keeping her warm as the heavy mist descended from the nearby mountains. Once the brief storm passed the thick mist enveloped them, creating an eerie, almost otherworldly escape. It was so surreal, sitting in his lap, surrounded by his warmth, unable to see beyond each other.
Feeling his intense gaze, she knew she had to say something; she had to stall. Refusing to meet his eyes she murmured, “I-I’ve agreed to be your partner but I can’t give you what you want … I can’t love you.”
Momentarily digesting her words, he replied softly, “I don’t expect you to … just being with you is more than I could ever hope for.”
“And if I can’t … ever … say yes to you?”
“I can love you in other ways … we’ll survive this.”
Resting against him, Buffy closed her eyes; taking what little comfort she could from it. It wasn’t what she wanted but it was something.

Eventually, the mist cleared and huddled together, the two made their way to the house. That night, Angel held her as they simply lied together in a comfortable silence; sleep eluding them both.

Over the following days, neither spoke of their encounter in the gazebo but they both seemed to accept it. They still slept together and although they still touched and kissed their truce of sorts remained intact. And eventually at some point having intercourse no longer mattered. Each night they lied in the darkness sharing something more, something deeper. They talked about their lives and their dreams and oddly enough, they eventually came to know each other. Angel continued to draw her. He spent endless hours staring at her and sketching her likeness no matter what she was doing but he seemed to particularly relish capturing her in slumber. Although she wasn’t keen on it, she wasn’t particularly bothered either since he never demanded that she remain still until he finished. But the intimacy behind the act still made her uncomfortable. And watching him sketch her, the smooth lines and curves, the fluidity with which his hand glided across the page was enrapturing. It was incredibly sensual, like a velvety caress, as if he were making love to her with every stroke.
Throughout it all Buffy refused to think about it. She never looked at his work again. She wouldn’t allow herself to. If she did she’d never make it. Sticking to her plan, she went to work with him as often as she could, gleaning as much information as possible without rousing too many suspicions. But unfortunately she had made little progress. She was beyond frustrated but nonetheless she was determined to find a way. She went from day to day, seeking opportunities to exploit and with each disappointment she simply took the comfort he offered. She didn’t question it and she never gave up. It was only a matter of time.

That is until one morning she sat across from him having breakfast when she noticed the date on the newspaper he was reading. Initially it meant nothing to her but then she realized that it marked one month since she was kidnapped. Only a month? It felt much longer. Thinking back over the recent weeks, she could hardly believe all that had happened to her in such a short time. Then something occurred to her that made her stomach lurch painfully. Abruptly excusing herself, she went into the bathroom to think. Counting back the weeks, she began shaking with realization, her mind reeling. She crouched over the toilet just as a violent spasm brought up her partially digested breakfast.
As the wave of nausea passed, she gently eased herself onto the floor, feeling faint from the horror. She didn’t want to believe it but she had been with Angel for an entire month and she had yet to get her period. She was late.


tbc ...


A/N: Now before you start shooting off the hate mail, please know there is a reason for all of this. Now that I have most things in place, the pacing of the story will pick up from this point on and you will all know where I've been heading with this by the end of the next chapter.