A/N: I'm baaaack! Woo hoo! I got to say that I missed you guys! Well, here we are with the sequel to TSOTSC. For those of you who are just joining us, it would probably be helpful to go back and read Two Sides of the Same Coin first. You don't have to, but ya know, if you want to get any references to previous events...
So, this sequel is going to be loooooong, not neccessarily chapter wise, but word wise. I'm guessing at least as long as the last story, though probably longer. I know nice long chapters are awesome, but I don't like super long chapters. Hence, the vast majority of the episodes are probably going to be in two parts, possibly three.
Also, I know that in some stories that rewrite a season with Buffy and Angel together, Buffy takes center stage and Angel is just kinda there. I'm going to try and avoid that, because I mean come on, it's Angel. Studly needs his page time! In order to do that, I'm going to have a few chapters of Buffy going to L.A. and helping out with a case and (cough) Darla. Aren't ya wonderin' how that's going to play out!
Also, as far as updates go. I know that I was pretty regular for TSOTSC. I will try to stick with that, but since it is the summer and I'm writing my own personal novel (fun fun fun), not to mention I still owe my Merlin fans a concluding story, I'm gonna be just a little busy. So I'm going to promise one update a week. If I finish another chapter before that week is out, then I will post it. But I'm promising no more than one update a week. I really meant to not post this until Saturday, but I can't help myself.
Sooooo...here be Buffy vs. Dracula Part 1 in my own version of Season 5.
P.S. New story. New random disclaimer.
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy. BUT if I did...Angel would have punched Xander more, had more lines, and would have never left; Smurfs are really green...still think I own Buffy?
"Heads up, Will!" Buffy called before serving the volleyball towards her friend on the other side of the net, careful not to use too much strength.
Willow squealed as the ball sailed toward her and slapped the ball away from her...right into the back of Oz's head. "Oh! Sorry, sorry, sorry!"
Oz merely smiled and shrugged nonchalantly to ease his girlfriend's guilt, "I think you got closer to the net that time."
"Hey, you think we can cool off for a minute?" Willow asked, looking over to the ocean behind them and then back at Oz and Buffy.
Oz shook his head, "Nah. Too many unidentified substances in that water."
Undeterred, Willow turned to Buffy who wore a sly smile, "Race ya?"
"You'll win," Willow argued grinning.
Buffy shrugged, "You never know."
Willow's eyes narrowed playfully, "One…"
Buffy laughed, "Two…"
"Three!" They both cried before taking off towards the water, both laughing as they jumped into the surf.
"I win! Oh yeah, go me." Buffy laughed, doing as much of a victory dance as she could waist deep in the water.
Willow got a sneaky look in her eye, advancing ominously towards Buffy, who began backing away, "Willow—," Buffy said cautiously, her arms out in front of her.
Willow giggled before jumping at Buffy, trying to pull her under the water. "No, no! Don't—," Buffy laughed before letting Willow drag her under.
Seconds later they both appeared, laughing as soon as they had enough breath. For a while they both just enjoyed the cool water and the contrasting hot sun. It had been almost a month since Angel had defeated Andronikos, and Buffy was ready for a little mini vacation to the beach, along with the rest of the gang.
"Is Angel still gonna be comin' down this weekend?" Willow asked before spotting a shell in the sand and crouching down to retrieve it before the next wave.
Buffy grinned, "Yep. We talked the other night."
Angel and Buffy had both tried to work out a plan so they could see each other as much as possible without inconveniencing the other. They'd eventually decided that they'd see each other on weekends (unless there was an apocalypse and/or something else bad for humanity), alternating which one made the trip to either Sunnydale or L.A. This weekend was Angel's turn to come to Sunnydale, and Buffy couldn't help the little bubble of excitement that settled in her stomach at the thought.
Now that Angel's soul was permanent, both of them were much more relaxed (and sated). The curse had always been hanging over the heads, and now that they didn't have to worry about it, everything was so much smoother between them. Slaying and other nightly activities included.
Xander, Anya, Tara, and Oz watched Willow and Buffy playing around in the water like little kids. Xander shook his head, "I'm exhausted looking at those two. All that jumping and splashing and running—shouldn't relaxing involve less exertion?"
"Absolutely," Anya replied immediately frowning. "Exertion can lead to sweatiness."
"Which can cause the pain and heartbreak of stinkiness," Tara added. "Best to just stay put."
"I think we just put our finger on why we're the sidekicks," Xander grinned as Willow and Buffy approached.
Buffy took in the decidedly bare fire pit and looked at Xander, "Where's my burger?" she asked as Xander continued to try and lit the fire.
"Yeah man, I'm starving. Cow me." Oz said.
"The, uh, fire's not working," Xander muttered flustered. "It's comforting to know I lack the culinary finesse of a caveman."
Willow laughed before gesturing at the fire, "Ignis Incende."
"Woo! Willow, check you out! Witch-fu," Buffy bumped the red head's shoulder playfully as the fire cackled in front of them.
Willow shrugged, trying to be nonchalant, "It's no big. You just have to balance the elements so when you affect one, you don't end up causing—."
A huge, crashing clap of thunder interrupted her, and dark clouds took form, covering the once blue sky. Another clap of thunder and torrents of rain began pummeling them, quickly extinguishing the fire and soaking everyone to the bone.
"I didn't do it! I didn't do it!" Willow repeated as they all hurriedly picked up their stuff, heading for their cars.
By the time everyone arrived in Sunnydale, it was already getting dark. They all went their own ways. Oz and Tara went back to the dorms, while Xander and Anya went presumably to Xander's basement. Willow headed off to Giles', saying something about computer stuff. This left Buffy, growing more and more excited the darker it became, to go home.
Buffy walked down the sidewalk towards her house leisurely. She had discovered that it was much less dangerous when thinking if you walked slower. Her mother had been as supportive as she could be with Angel. Buffy sighed and kicked a rock, watching it skip on a few feet ahead of her. Her mother. She never said anything bad about Angel—or anything good either. Buffy snorted. If her mother could give Spike hot chocolate, then she could give Angel a chance, couldn't she?
Spike. That was an interesting new development. Much to Buffy's surprise, he was really making himself useful. It wasn't a surprise if he joined her for patrol or even walking her home afterward before skulking off in the shadows back to his crypt. She'd even watched a few episodes of Passions with him (which had been more fun than she would ever admit). Spike was very passionate about Passions…and it was hilarious when he yelled at the actors on screen.
Buffy shook her head as she jogged up with stairs of her front porch, opening the door with a wry grin on her face. "Mom! I'm home!"
"Buffy?" Joyce returned, poking her head around the corner, smiling when she saw her daughter. "Dinner's almost ready, why don't you set the table?"
"Sure," Buffy replied getting the silverware and placemats and plates out of their respective drawers.
Five minutes later, they were both sitting at the table digging in. Buffy ate enough for two, as was usual, before leaning back in her chair sipping her glass of water. Her mother seemed antsy. Almost as if she wanted to talk about something that really bothered her. That left two options. Angel or slaying…and Buffy really didn't want to talk about either. After making some light conversation, Buffy glanced at the clock. 8:30. Angel was close. She could feel it…time to wrap things up and get to the graveyard.
"Thanks Mom," she said as she set down her napkin. "Everything was yummy."
Joyce smiled, "Hey, you up for desert?" she asked. "We could, uh, go out for ice cream?"
Buffy shook her head and began gathering up the dirty dishes, "maybe some other time. I got to get out and patrol."
"Now?" Joyce questioned. "It's only 8:30."
Buffy bristled, thinking of an excuse as to why she would leave earlier than normal that didn't involve meeting Angel. "Well, uh, you know vamps don't really care what time it is. You know, dark equals dinner bell."
"Right, of course," Joyce nodded, looking around at the empty table. "You know, I'm going to have to get used to this place without you again. It gets so quiet."
A wave of guilt washed through Buffy and she tried to think of a solution. She knew what it was like to be lonely. "Why don't we make a regular thing of this? You know, once school starts."
"Mhm," Joyce nodded with a small smile.
"Well, duty calls," Buffy said, giving her mom a quick kiss on the cheek before heading out the door.
Buffy didn't know if she'd ever gotten to a cemetery so quickly. She grinned when she saw Angel's black Plymouth, and more importantly Angel leaning against the car door. He looked up just when she came into view, and quickly met her halfway.
"Buffy."
"Angel," she grinned immediately wrapping her arms around his neck to kiss him.
Angel returned the kiss instantly as his arms wound around her waist, pulling her to his chest. They stayed glued together until Buffy had to break away to breathe. Buffy laid her head on his chest for a moment, reveling in the feel of his arms around her. Finally she pulled back, and he took her hand, leading them towards the cemetery.
"How're things in L.A.?" Buffy asked as they wove in between the tombstones.
"Pretty good," Angel replied easily, but he frowned. "But we still don't know what Wolfram and Hart had in that box."
Buffy frowned. Gradually, in between visiting L.A. and Angel meeting her in Sunnydale, he'd told her of everything that had happened in L.A. She knew of the evil law firm Wolfram and Hart, which didn't necessarily surprise her, since she didn't trust lawyers in the first place. Finding out that some were evil didn't really come as a shock. Now, what had come as a shock was when Angel had hesitatingly told her about Shanshu. That had been a surprise. A great, wonderful, totally awesome surprise.
"Well, I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually," she said after a while when suddenly she and Angel both stopped at the same time. "Behind us?" Buffy whispered and Angel nodded.
"Two," Angel answered.
"Fun," Buffy replied before spinning around to face their attackers. "Have I ever mentioned how I seriously hate it when vamps follow me?" she asked annoyed before launching herself at the vampire closest to her, punching the vampire in the temple.
She could hear Angel fighting beside her, as she punched her opponent repeatedly, before grabbing him by the shoulders and kneeing him in the gut. However, the vamp got up a little too quickly for Buffy's taste, so she jumped on his back only to have him throw her off. Buffy grunted as she hit the ground but was back on her feet in a second, charging at him. The vamp sent a wild punch towards her head, but she ducked and dealt a punch of her own. Wasting no time, Buffy spun and kicked him in the chest, causing the vamp to stumble back unsteadily. Buffy tried to capitalize by kicking him again, but he caught her and lifted her over his head before throwing her down.
Buffy cursed mentally as she hit the ground again, knowing she was going to have a bruise, but she didn't give it a second more of thought before she was on her feet again. Fed up with getting thrown around, Buffy jumped up, wrapped her legs around the vamp's neck and flipped him over landing on top of him, and then quickly plunged her stake into his heart, grinning when he turned to dust beneath her.
She hopped up with a satisfied smirk, and turned to her left, raising an eyebrow at Angel who was sitting casually on a tombstone, twirling his stake aimlessly. "Don't overexert yourself now," she said sarcastically as he approached her. "Enjoy the show?"
Angel grinned and threw an arm over her shoulder, pulling her to him so he could plant a kiss in her hair. "Always," he promised.
"Well you owe me a back massage then," Buffy said, thinking of how sore it would be in the morning.
"Play your cards right and that can turn into a full body," Angel joked causing Buffy to laugh and push him playfully. It still amazed her when he was playful, but she loved it.
"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response," Buffy replied, but she couldn't keep the smile off her face.
Suddenly, Buffy stopped and whirled around.
"Very impressive hunt."
Buffy's eyes narrowed as she took in the vamp's appearance. He was tall and thin, and very pale. And he had an incredibly annoying, cheesy accent. She noticed Angel tense beside her, and step a little bit closer.
"Such power," he continued.
"That was no hunt. Just another day on the job," she replied easily, taking in his long flowing hair and robe.
The strange vamp walked towards her and Buffy heard a growl building in Angel's throat. "Care to step up for some overtime?" she asked, stealing a glance at Angel whose eyes hadn't wavered from the vamp in front of them.
"We're not going to fight," the vampire replied and Buffy crossed her arms, tilting her head to the side incredulously.
"Do you know what a Slayer is?" Buffy asked exasperatedly.
"Do you?" he replied smirking.
"That's enough Dracula," Angel finally interrupted coldly.
"No way," Buffy said her eyes wide. "So lemme get this straight…you're Dracula. The guy, the count."
"I am," Dracula replied, glaring at Angel who had spoiled his fun. "Angelus…it appears the rumors are true."
Buffy turned to Angel, "Are you sure this isn't just some fanboy? Cause I've fought more than a few pimply, overweight vamps that called themselves Lestat."
"We should go," Angel said his eyes never leaving Dracula.
"I travel all this way, and I can't meet the world renowned…killer?" Dracula asked innocently.
"Naw, really?" Buffy asked finding herself feeling a little bit off centered by Dracula's presence. It had to be the eyes. "And I prefer the term Slayer. I'm the good guy remember?"
"Perhaps, but your power is rooted in darkness. You must feel it," Dracula insisted, moving closer again, but instantly took a step back when Angel growled sharply.
Buffy squeezed Angel's hand, trying to calm him. "No. You know what I feel? Bored," she said before lunging at him with a stake, only to have him disappear and then reappear behind her. She tried to stake him again, only to have the same thing happen. "Okay, that's cheating!" she huffed annoyed, looking at Angel. "How does he do that?"
"Hey Buff! What's up?" Xander asked as he and Willow approached them.
"You look like you just—," Willow began but Angel interrupted her.
"Get out of here," he ordered.
"Now," Buffy added her eyes scanning for the elusive vamp.
"Fine," Xander said confused and frustrated, "but I was gonna give you a sip of my double-mint mocha, but…"
"Behind you!" Buffy cut in her eyes wide, causing Willow and Xander to whirl around.
"Hi," Willow said quietly, taking in the man's appearance.
"Nice," Xander said sarcastically. "Look who's got a case of Dark Prince envy."
"I have no interest in you. Leave us," Dracula said annoyed.
"No, we're not going to," Xander paused and mocked his accent, "leave you. And where'd you get that accent, Sesame Street? Vun, two, three victims! Mwhahaha!"
"Xander, I'm pretty sure that's Dracula," Buffy whispered concerned.
Xander's eyes widened, "Wow, really?" he said before grabbing Willow and hurrying to stand behind Buffy and Angel. "Hey, sorry man, I was just…jokin' around," he said nervously.
"This is not the time," Dracula said before looking at Buffy, smiling a little when he glanced at Angel. "I will see you soon."
Before anyone could respond, Dracula turned into a bat, and flew over them, causing everyone but Angel to scream and duck. They all straightened up only to have the bat come at them again and fly around Buffy's head, "Ooh, bat! Bat!"
Annoyed, Angel punched the bat, knocking it off its flight path for a moment, but effectively sending Dracula on his way. "I hate that guy," he muttered.
"And then friggin' Dracula is standing right behind us," Xander explained excitedly to Giles from his spot on the couch between Anya and Willow.
"And then he lunges at us like, whoosh!" Willow added, picking up where Xander left off.
"He totally looked shorter in person," Xander added seriously.
Buffy sat on the arm of the chair Angel occupied, trying not to get too distracted by the patterns his fingers were tracing across her back. "I told you he heard of me, right? I mean, can you believe that?" she watched Giles nod patiently. "Count Famous heard of me."
"I think they heard you the first twenty times," Angel interrupted with a smirk, causing Buffy to turn and glare at him. It wasn't her fault that she got distracted by his roaming hands.
"I'm sorry. Am I repeat-o-girl? I was just…blown away," she explained. And she was. Seriously. Dracula! Well, there was the whole deal about Angel really hating him, but she'd get that story later on tonight.
Spike snorted from his place against the wall, "You're really surprised he's heard of you, Buff? You're the Slayer, every vampire worth his fangs has heard of you."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "I guess. The way he said it—he made it sound so, so…" she faltered as she tried to think of the appropriate word.
"Sexy?" Willow offered with a sly grin. "I bet he made it sound sexy."
"Kinda," Buffy conceded. "You know, with the dark, penetrating eyes and the lilty accent," she went on with a small smile, thinking of another vampire with dark penetrating eyes and a lilty accent…maybe she could make Angel jealous…that could be fun…
Oz came over and sat on the arm of the sofa, handing Willow a glass of soda, "You thought Dracula was sexy?" he asked, his usually pensive mask slipping a little.
"Oh!" Willow exclaimed, blushing. "No, no, he was…yuck."
"Right, except for that whole tall, dark, and handsome thing. Yucko," Anya interrupted sarcastically.
Jealously flared in Xander's eyes, "How would you know?"
"Well we hung out a few times," Anya said blithely, but seeing Xander's jealous look she quickly added, "Back in my demon days, you know, once or twice. He's pretty cool." Anya sighed wistfully, a flood of memories rushing back to her, but then she remembered where she was. "You know, from a whole…evil thing perspective."
Xander scoffed, "Please. He was no big whoop."
"No big whoop?" Willow repeated with an eyebrow raised. "What about when he turned himself into a bat? That was awesome!"
"It must have been, yes," Giles said wistfully. "I do wish I had seen that."
"How come he can do that?" Xander asked the Watcher, his eyebrows furrowing as he thought.
"I—I have no idea. There's a great deal of myth about Dracula. I imagine the trick to defeating him lies in separating fact from fiction," Giles said thoughtfully, his mind going into research mode.
"So we take things slow," Buffy surmised, glancing at Angel who nodded in agreement. "I mean he said we would meet again, but I'd like to avoid that until we do some serious homework."
"Buffy's right," Anya said. "Dracula's too slick to fall for the usual stuff."
"So we hold off," Buffy reiterated. "No killing until we know exactly what we're dealing with."
"You sure you're not just saying that because of those dark, penetrating eyes?" Spike spoke up with a smirk.
"What? Nooo…" Buffy argued. "His eyes were," she looked at Angel, feeling the need to defend herself. "They were—no big deal. Nothing special. Kinda boring actually…"
"All right," Giles spoke clearly, having thought of an appropriate course of action. "Willow and Oz, look up Vlad the Impaler on the internet, and I'll uh, check the library."
"I guess we'll reconvene at the mansion tomorrow evening," Buffy said as she got up, Angel following her.
Buffy wasn't too surprised when Spike followed them out too. The three of them slid into Angel's car, Buffy riding shotgun and Spike in the back. As Angel pulled out onto the street, Buffy turned to them, "So what can you guys tell me about Dracula?"
"The poncy bugger owes me eleven pounds for one thing," Spike spoke up immediately as he lit a cigarette.
"Owes me two hundred," Angel interrupted with an expression as close to a pout as Buffy had ever seen.
Buffy raised her eyebrows, looking back over her seat at Spike, "You know him too?"
"Know him too?" Spike repeated scoffing. "We're old rivals. Angelus included."
"But then he got famous," Angel explained. "He forgot about all his enemies."
Spike nodded, "That glory hound's done more harm to vampires than any Slayer. His story gets out, and suddenly everyone knows how to kill us."
"Like the whole mirror thing," Angel provided as an example.
"But he's not a normal vamp," Buffy pointed out. "He has like, special powers."
"Just a few gypsy magic tricks," Angel explained with a frown. "But they're something to worry about."
"Where would we find him?" Buffy asked as Angel pulled up in front of the mansion.
Angel sighed as he climbed out of the car, walking over to her side to open her door. Honestly, Buffy didn't know if she liked chivalry or not. Sometimes it was cute (well, most of the time when it concerned Angel). And then sometimes it was kind of annoying. She could open her own door.
"You're not going to find him hiding out in a crypt," Angel said as he opened her door and took her hand, shutting the door behind her.
"Yeah," Spike agreed as he sidled up to the front door. "Sod likes fancy stuff and his special dirt."
"So we check out the mansions?" Buffy guessed and both Angel and Spike nodded.
"Well," Spike sighed before taking a long drag of his cigarette. "I think I'll head home. You two don't have too much fun without me."
"Spike," Buffy chastened, seeing the younger vampire waggle his eyebrows suggestively.
"Yeah, yeah," Spike trudged back down the steps, "I know. I'm goin'. I swear you two go at it like bunnies."
Despite herself Buffy grinned at that remark, but she just shook her head and opened the door to the mansion. She headed straight upstairs to their room, without looking back, knowing that Angel was following. She opened the door to their room as she shrugged out of her shirt, letting it drop to the floor.
As soon as the shirt hit the floor, she felt strong arms wrap around her waist. She giggled as Angel's lips began planting a trail of feather light kisses along her shoulder, pausing when he got to the hollow of her throat. She turned around in his arms so she could see him, letting her arms slide along his broad shoulders before wrapping around his neck.
"Now wha' were ye sayin' about a lilty accent?" Angel asked slipping into his old Irish brogue, his eyes shining with laughter.
"Don't forget those dark, penetrating eyes," Buffy added smiling.
"Aye muirnín," Angel grinned before bending his head to kiss her.
Buffy smiled into the kiss, her hands making quick work of ridding him of his shirt. She greedily traced his abs as he backed her up to the bed. Buffy let herself fall back, taking Angel with her, refusing to break the kiss. Angel traced the curve of her hip, trailing his hand down her leg before hooking it on his hip. Buffy took advantage of the new position and rolled so she was straddling him. One of Angel's hands tangled in her hair, pulling her down for a kiss, while the other trailed down her back, coming to rest on her thigh. Buffy traced his bottom lip with her tongue, wanting to deepen the kiss, and Angel didn't hesitate to oblige.
As more clothes were shed, Buffy only had one thought. I have to get him jealous more often.
And we have finished the first chapter! Part Two will continue next Saturday (I think I'll try and always post on Saturdays). Seriously, wouldn't this episode have been so much better if we'd had a jealous Angel and Buffy/Angel fluff? Yeah, I agree. lol
Reviews are still the best thing ever,
ArthursCamelot