Title: Distant
Series: The Demon Love Trilogy: Story Two
Author: M. Jade
Summary: The aftermath of “Bitter”
Rating: PG-14
Email: If you have comments or suggestions, email me at m_jade34@hotmail.com
Spoilers: If you haven’t read “Bitter”, this won’t make sense
Warnings: Violence, sexual situations, psychological torture, character death
Feedback: Do I have to ask?
Disclaimers: Joss = BtVS; Hole = the music; and I = plot
Distribution: If you have “Bitter”, you can have this
Notes: This is the second part of a planned trilogy, dubbed the “Demon Love Trilogy,” which began with “Bitter”
More Notes: The three songs used are “Celebrity Skin”, “Dying”, and “Use Once and Destroy,” all off of Hole’s “Celebrity Skin” CD, which I’m not sure was out at the time this is supposed to take place, but let’s pretend it was, okay?
Even More Notes: As always, { } denotes song lyrics
Thanks: To all the wonderful W/G listers who, first, asked for a sequel, then helped me so much with this one.  You guys rock

“Honey, I’m home!” Angel called into the mansion’s sitting room, closely followed by Giles and Willow.  It was a large stone room decorated with various antiques and a few paintings.  Even with the décor, there was a certain coldness that hung in the air.  A type of uninviting ambiance that clung to the very furniture and it was the first thing one noticed about the room.  The other was that it was now home.  Giles decided that he liked it.  From the hallway to the left, Spike wheeled himself into the room with Drusilla at his heels, or wheels as it was.

“Look what daddy brought home!  New friends, Spike,” Dru cooed.  Spike gave a slight scowl, but tried his best to smile at the newcomers.

“Yeah, I can see that, ducks,” Spike deadpanned.  Drusilla walked over to the latest additions to Angelus’ family, and surrounded Willow first.

Dru gave a wicked smile at her estimation of the hacker, proclaiming, “This one has fire in her, to match her pretty hair.”   She moved over to Giles, placing her hands on his shoulders as she examined him.  She spent a few moments looking into his calm eyes, then gave a feral growl.  “Ripper,” she intoned, using his old nickname.  “Miss Edith thinks you’ll be a very naughty boy.  We’ll have to punish you some day,” she said.

“I’m sure she’s right,” Giles told her as he looked into her eyes.  As always, there was something to Dru that was haunting, fascinating, and dangerous all at the same time, and the vampiress used it to her full advantage.  She walked behind him and gave a growl into his ear, ignoring Spike’s annoyed look at the display and Angel’s chagrin at both.  He took his hand to her face, gently tracing her features with his light fingers.  She gave a coo of delight, until Spike loudly cleared his throat.

“That’s enough, Dru,” Spike told her.  She gave a little pout, but obediently walked over to join Spike again.

“Welcome home Little One,” Angel whispered to Willow from behind.  She turned to face him, a slightly perplexed look on her face.

“What happened to the factory?” she asked him quietly.  Spike gave a scoff, answering the question for her.

“Your damn Scooby Club burned it down the night you died, that’s what,” he muttered with some disdain.  “That bloody chit of a Slayer brought the whole place down and nearly took us with it!  And you try moving everything on such short notice!”  Giles gave him a cool glare.

“And we’re supposed to feel responsible for it?  Not bloody likely,” he told him evenly.

“She was your Slayer…” Spike shot back.

“I’m not her damn keeper, you prat,” Giles returned calmly, which only served to infuriate Spike even more.  His tone was mocking yet forcefully soothing at the same time.  Not a good combination.

“Why, you sodding…” Spike began, only to be cut off by Angel.

“Enough you two,” their sire said.  “We can continue this pissing contest later gentlemen.  First, Rupert, what self respecting vampire goes around wearing tweed?”  Giles gave him a glare, but kept it to himself.  Even he had to admit that his attire was…less then desirable, but he didn’t care to be mocked for it in that way.  Angel kept his stance behind Willow and lightly fingered the collar of her navy blue dress.  It was high cut and stretched all the way to her ankles.  “And this dress is much too modest for the likes of you,” he added.  “I’m sure we can fix that, though,” he added with a grin, which Willow easily returned.

“I like that idea,” she exclaimed in a childlike voice.  She looked to Giles, placing her hand on his shoulder.  “Bored now,” she proclaimed to him.  “I need something to do, Ripper,” she told him.  He gave her a smile, pulling her close to him.

“And here I haven’t made any plans,” he sighed.  “I’ll have to rectify that, love,” he told her, then roughly pushed her away, receiving a shocked look from the redhead.  “But not now,” he told her sternly.  “Angel’s right.  The sooner we take care of our atrocious attire, the better,” he finished sharply.

“Then we play,” Willow said hopefully, and Giles nodded.

“I have always thought patience was a virtue, and I would never disappoint a patient woman,” he told her.  Willow gave him a predatory grin, then followed Drusilla to another part of the mansion.  Spike gave a languorous look to his love, as did Giles, then Spike faced the others.

“So what, Rupert, you don’t plan on trying to make tweed this year’s fashion statement for the undead?” he asked snidely.

“Hardly,” Giles told him simply.  “And until I can find some suitable attire I guess I’ll have make do with whatever’s laying about this little hole, but I don’t plan on looking like you two wankers forever,” he finished.  Even when insulting them, his tone held the same quiet undertones as before, which only maddened his comrades even more.

“Follow me,” Angel grumbled as he walked towards the hall to the right, motioning his command as well.  Giles joined him without a word, leaving Spike alone in the room as he gave himself a secret smile.

“I think I may like him,” he said to the empty room, then wheeled himself back down the corridor.    

*****************************************************************    

One hour later, Spike and Angel waited outside a chamber door, impatiently standing around for its occupant.  The door opened and Giles came out, dressed in a black satin shirt, a dark velour coat, and black leather pants.  As Spike took a look at him, the blonde vamp broke out into a raucous laughter.  “You look like…Angel!” he cried, laughing harder.  “One great big black poof!” Spike added.  Giles took him by the collar and physically pulled him out of his wheelchair.

“Say that again, and I will flay the skin from your sorry carcass!” he hissed.  Spike gave him a smile and threw off the threat with a laugh.

“Didn’t mean anything by it, mate,” he told him.  “Just making an observation.”  Giles released him and roughly sat him back down in the chair.

“Well keep your bloody “observations” to yourself, you prat,” Giles warned.  From down the hall, a tall male minion came up to Giles, whispering something into his ear.  Giles gave him a nod, and the minion was dismissed quickly.  Spike arched his brow, wondering what was going on, but by Angel’s nonchalant reaction, his sire apparently knew about it, which usually meant that it was okay.  From down the hall, Drusilla came into view, slightly ahead of Willow, who was now dressed in a pair of black leather pants, wicked looking boots, and a black leather halter to finish off the look.  The halter was edged with a red satin.  Her soft pale skin, offset by a dark red lipstick and her red hair, accentuated the whole outfit.  Both Angel and Spike gave her an appreciative stare, but Giles was the one who had his preverbal breath taken away.  As he openly stared at her, she seemed to come towards him in slow motion.

{Oh, make me over}
{I’m all I want to be}
{A walking study}
{In demonology}
{Hey, I’m so glad you could make it}
{Yeah, now you really made it}
{Hey, so glad you could make it now}

Giles grandly took Willow’s hand as she walked up to him.  “You are a vision,” he told her in a soft voice.  He gave her a gentlemanly kiss on her outstretched hand, then pulled her in, closer to him.

“I’ve been very patient, Rupert,” she told him as she absently began to play with his hair.

“And I never take back my promises,” he told her, walking back down the hall with her at his side.  Angel gave a smile as he watched his two children go on, pleased with how they had turned out.  Spike gave a smile too, but for a different reason.

“Allies can be a very good thing indeed,” the mused to himself as he watched them leave, sizing up his newest “family” members.      

*******************************************************************    

Giles lead Willow to a room down the hall and opened the door, ushering her into the chamber.  Wax candles surrounded the room, bathing it in their soft glow.   Fragrant rose petals were strewn around the floor and the bedspread.  The bed itself was large and topped with a black satin comforter.  In one corner was a stereo, and Giles walked over to the player, turning up the music.  He took her hand and began to dance around the room with her.  She gave him a smile and a small giggle.

{Remember you promised me}
{I’m dying, I’m dying please}
{I want to, I need to be}
{Under your skin}
{I’m dying, I’m dying please}
{I’m dying, I’m dying please}
{I’m dying, I’m dying please}
{Under your skin}

He looked into her eyes and seen something more primal and wanton than he had ever encountered before, and found himself feeling the way she looked.  Here was the one thing he had been forbidden in his entire life, and now she was right in front of him, practically offering herself to him.  He found himself unwilling to turn her down.  He roughly grabbed the back of her head and pulled her towards him, kissing her hungrily.  She opened her mouth a little to allow him access, an invitation to explore, and he took it, returning the offer at the same time.  Their tongues teased and hands roamed and explored until they couldn’t stand it any longer.  He led her to the bed and placed her on the top, gazing into her feral eyes.  “You are mine,” he declared to her in a husky breath.  She smiled at him.

“Forever,” she answered as she pulled him towards her for another kiss.      

*******************************************************************  

The Bronze was packed as usual when Buffy and Xander entered it two nights later.  Since Willow and Giles’ deaths, they hand spent their time seeking out familiar places, tying to let their memories comfort them.  The Bronze had always held a great deal of memories and significance for them, and for some reason they felt closer to Giles and Willow there.  The only other place that came close was the library, but since the temporary librarian had taken over, no students were allowed in after-hours, so the Bronze it was.  It was also their way of regrouping and planning for what to do now, but Oz had band practice and Cordy was at a basketball game cheering, leaving any planning to Buffy and Xander for that night.  They took their place in a corner booth, waiting for the next song to start, but neither felt like dancing.  “Tell me again how coming here is a good thing?  They can find us here, Buff.  It’s not exactly Ft. Knox for security either,” Xander pointed out.

“I know that, Xander, but they know where we live as well.  At least here we have a public place, making the Bronze marginally safer,” Buffy grumbled.  “At least, that’s what Giles would tell me,” she added under her breath.  The Slayer’s eyes roamed over to the dance floor, where she got the shock of her life.  There, in a corner, clear as anything she could think of, was Willow and Giles, both dressed in black leather pants and boots.  Willow wore the same halter as before, but Giles had switched to a crisp with button up shirt, barely exposed by the full black coat he wore over it.  As the music started again, Giles took the hacker’s hands and placed them around his waist as they began to seductively move to the music.

{It’s the emptiness that follows you down}
{It’s the ache inside when it all burns out}
{It’s poisonous, it muscles, it aches}
{It’s everything you had when it breaks}

“Oh, my God,” Buffy whispered.  Xander looked over to see what she was staring at, spotted the vampires, and then he took in a sharp breath.

“They’re here,” he said dumbly, then he began to realize the danger they were in.  “Holy shit, they’re here!” he cried.

“I can see that, Xand,” Buffy hissed.  “What are we going to do about it?”

“Can I vote for ‘run like hell’?”  Buffy shook her head, and Xander sighed.  “Then I say we watch them.  See what they’re up to.”  Buffy nodded and they both turned to face the dancing couple again.  Willow looked like a cat with her arms around Giles, and by the smile on his face, she was whispering something interesting into his ear as they carried on.  A few of the other patrons took a curious eye to the strange couple, but most chose to ignore them in all the night’s festivities.

{It’s the emptiness that’s all you have left}
{Too terrified of your frozen breath}
{It’s the bitter mouth it’s buttered and knived}
{It’s the awful truth you fought for your life}

“That’s Willow,” Xander said with amazement as he stared at her.  He had known the hacker for years, but he had never seen her act like this.  The way she ground her hips into Giles’, and as dangerously close as her mouth was to his, was definitely not the kind of public display Willow would have tried when she was alive, nor Giles for that matter.

“And that’s Giles,” Buffy murmured, her thoughts mirroring Xander’s.  “Ripper and the Trampy Vamp,” she added, and Xander nodded.

“Tell me again that we should be scared,” Xander whispered, swallowing hard.

“We should be scared, Xander,” Buffy replied half-heartedly.

{It might as well, it might as well hurt}
{It might as well, it might as well}
{I went down to rescue you}
{I went all the way down}
{Fill your hungry wretched life}
{Here they come, it’s closing time}

They continued to watch them through the crowd, the dance only becoming more heated.  Giles seemed to be nipping at her ear, and Willow’s hand had roamed onto his rear end, visibly gripping his ass.  “Maybe watching them was a bad idea,” Xander muttered.  Then he seen Giles begin to trail kisses up Willow’s neck, ending at her mouth.  “Definitely bad,” he croaked.  As they broke apart, Giles happened to turn his head in their direction, and met Buffy’s eyes.

“We’re spotted,” she squeaked out.  Giles simply smiled and continued to dance with Willow.

{It’s the bitter root, it’s twisted inside}
{It’s the heart you used to have when it died}
{It’s the emptiness, it poisons, it lies}
{It’s everything that you’ll never find}
{It might as well, it might as well hurt}
{It might as well, it might as well}

“We can make a run for it,” Xander whispered to her.  Buffy shook her head.

“They’ll follow.  What the hell is he doing!” Buffy exclaimed.  Giles was once again kissing Willow deeply, and the other on the dance floor had stopped to gawk and the wild display.

“Um…I think he’s trying to break the Bronze’s make out record, Buff,” Xander quipped.  “Four more songs and they have the title.”  Buffy gave him a pointed look, then turned back to the other couple.  This time, they had broken from their kiss and they were both staring directly at Buffy and Xander, Willow giving them a girlish smile.

{I went down for the remains}
{Sort through all your blurs and stains}
{Take your rapture blister burns}
{Stand in line, it’s not your turn}
{All dressed in red, always the bride}
{Off with her head}
{All dressed in white}
{Off with her head}

They continued to dance, keeping their glaring eyes on Buffy and Xander, neither the Slayer nor Slayerette able to move from their seat.

{I went down to rescue you}
{I went all the way down}
{I went down for the remains}
{Sort through all your blurs and stains}

“We are so dead,” Xander whispered as Willow licked her lips, looking directly at him.  Buffy only nodded.

{Ooh, I will follow you}
{Anytime, anywhere}

Giles mouthed the words to the song, causing Buffy to nearly blanch in her seat, but the music went on.

{Ooh, I will come for you}
{Just say you aren’t there}

The music ended, and as Buffy and Xander’s eyes followed, the vampires walked back to a booth in the corner, which was occupied by an obviously human couple.  The woman was in her early twenties, with chestnut colored hair and blue eyes, and the man was around the same age, sporting sandy blonde hair and blue eyes.  Giles smiled at them as he sat down, taking a cup off the table and placing the contents to his lips.  “Okay, I’d say those two are dead first,” Xander told Buffy.  The Slayer gave a grim smile, then looked at her former Watcher.

“Not if I have anything to say about, Xander.”  The young man gave her a look.

“So is it ‘let’s confront the big bad vamps that used to be our friends time’?” Xander asked.  Buffy nodded.  “I was afraid you’d say that”, he deadpanned as she stood up, making her way to the booth, followed by Xander.  As she came up to the table, Buffy gave her most polite smile.

“Father,” she said in her sweetest voice, “We need to talk.”  The younger couple at the table gave each other a pointed look, but Giles took it in stride.

“Well, my dear, I do have company,” he announced, sitting his drink on the table as he pointed to his guests.  “This nice young lady is Monique, and her companion here is a fellow compatriot named David.”  The young man stood up and gave Buffy a polite handshake.

“Nice to meet you, miss,” he said in a crisp British accent as he sat back down.  He glanced over to his companion, and she nodded.  “If this is a private matter, miss, we’d be more than happy to leave,” he offered.  Giles was about to say something, but Buffy cut him off quickly.

“It sure is, David.  Thank you,” she said with a smile.  The two stood up to leave the booth quickly, David taking the young woman’s hand.

“It was nice to meet you,” she called out quickly to Giles and Willow in a distinctly American accent as they left.

“Let’s go, Mon,” David said under his breath as he walked away with her.  She gave him a curious look, but followed him to the safety of another booth near the exit.  He talked to her in what seemed a hushed tone at the other booth, and Bufy knew they were safe for the moment.  Buffy took the seat next to Giles, and Xander sat down on the other side of Willow.

“Nice people,” Buffy observed.  “But something tells me they wouldn’t have been for long,” she added.  Giles gave her an annoyed scoff as he shifted in his seat casually.

“Could you tell me please what this badgering is about.  Willow and I do have more important things to attend to than to listen to your dribble, Buffy.” he said evenly as he took up his glass and took a drink.  The Slayer was taken aback slightly by the nonchalantness of the statement, but she went on, or more appropriately, Xander did, giving Buffy a moment to recover.

“What, like calling on all your little cronies to come in here and tear the place apart, and the customers with it,” Xander shot off.  Giles took another deep sip from the glass in front of him, and smiled.

“So little imagination,” Giles sighed.  “And far too simple, Xander.  YOU thought of it, didn’t you?” Giles pointed out with a sneer.  Xander chose not to reply, but by his look, he was now en guard.  Buffy shook her head.

“Imagination or no, ten to one you’ve got some of Angel’s lackeys waiting outside the door, ready to storm the place,” she told them confidently.

“Bored now,” Willow said with a sigh, looking at Buffy.  Giles took her hand.  “This is the part that’s less fun,” she added

“I concur, love.  This game is getting tiresome.”  She snuggled up to his neck.  “I haveve had enough of it for one night.”  Xander gave them a look.

“So you are trying to tear it apart!” he cried.

“Hardly, Xander,” Giles said with annoyance.  “I’m quite fond of the place, actually,” Giles replied.  Willow gave Xander a smile, patting him on the head.

“Poor Xander.  Always thinking too hard, isn’t he, Rupert,” she mused.  Giles gave the hacker a smile, but Xander glared at her.

“You seem to have hit a nerve, love,” he snickered, and Xander began to clench his fists.  Buffy shook her head at the display.

“You and your skanky girlfriend were going to kill those two,” Buffy pointed out.  “If Xander and I wouldn’t have come over, they’d be dead by now,” she added.

“On the contrary, Slayer.  Those two were in no danger whatsoever.  They never were,” he returned.  Buffy didn’t believe him.

“You’ve got to be up to something,” she said forcefully.

“Uh, oh, Slayer’s upset,” Willow said in her childlike voice.

“It just irritates you to no end to think that we may be doing absolutely nothing at all, doesn’t it?” Giles observed.  “Because you can’t do a damn thing to us until we do,” he added with a smile.  He got up from his chair.  “Willow, we’re leaving,” he declared.

“But we didn’t get to play…” she pouted.  Giles cut her off.

“Now,” he hissed, taking her hand roughly.  Willow leaned over and kissed Xander on the cheek, then joined Giles.  Before he left, Giles stooped to the Slayer’s ear, whispering, “You are MY Slayer.  Never forget that.”  With that, they were gone, leaving an exasperated Buffy and Xander.

“That did not go well,” Xander said after a painful silence.

“You noticed that, too,” Buffy asked, a look of dread forming on her face.  “What have we gotten ourselves into,” she mumbled.  Xander couldn’t find an answer for her.    

********************************************************************    

Early the next morning, Xander found himself on the front porch of the Rosenberg residence.  He had made a habit out of checking on Sheila and Ira after their daughter’s death, warning them against letting strangers into the house in an effort to protect them.  As he reached for the doorknob, it gave easily, making Xander uneasy.  The door was usually still locked at this time of the morning.  He let himself in; calling out for Willow’s parent’s to announce his presence.  As he came into the living room, he found blood spattered all about.  The furniture, the walls, the carpets all had trails of dried blood adorning them.  Xander got a sickening feeling in the pit of is stomach as he made his way to the kitchen.

As he came in, he looked to the far wall.  There was Sheila and Ira, both nailed to the wall crucifixion style.  Their bodies were battered and bloody, and the walls surrounding them were smeared with their blood.  Xander knew they were dead.  On the wall was scrawled a message, “Dead before.”  He backed up against the far wall by the door and slowly slid down the floor, hugging his knees as he did so.  He began to shake as he stared at the couple, his only thought being, “Who’s next?”

TBC...
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