TITLE: Spinning Around.
AUTHOR: Kelly Rowe
EMAIL: [email protected]
RATING: NC-17.
DISCLAIMER: Buffy, Angel and all other characters (except those I make up) are the absolute property of Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy, UPN and Warner Bros (If I owned them, do you think that they would be acting this ridiculous right now).
SUMMARY: Buffy makes a deal that changes her entire future.
SPOILERS: Totally AU - so none.
TIMELINE: Present.
DISTRIBUTION: You want you can have it; just tell me where you put it. Any lists just take it.
PAIRING: Buffy/Angelus
CATEGORY: AU and Romance.
WARNING: Foul language, adult themes.
Part 1
What did one wear on a date with the devil, or at least a creature as close to the devil as you could get on earth? Buffy didn't know the answer, if she had she would've been ready for her business dinner with *him* by now instead of rummaging through the piles of clothes scattered around her stylish bedroom. Sighing she gave up trying to find something that would impress and settle don something she liked and felt confident in and began to dress.
The bright, cheerful house that she shared with her mother and younger sister in the *good* part of Sunnydale, had been her home for half a decade; since her parents extremely ugly divorce. Due to her father's death in a car accident a few months ago, unfortunately it wouldn't be home for very much longer. Everything that she and her mother could've sold they had and now the creditors were simply waiting for the Summers' girls to declare bankruptcy before sinking their teeth all the way in. If only her father hadn't died and left them with his half of the debts, that could not afford to be paid.
Both her and her mother's credit cards were maxed out and her mother's small art gallery on Sunnydale's main street was mortgaged to the hilt. In less than a week they would have to walk away from their home, take what little the bank would allow them too and try to make a new lives for themselves, ones that would be radically different from all they had known.
Buffy could hardly believe that she was almost twenty-one and about to be tossed out onto the streets. It wasn't pleasant, she'd had to drop out of college and Dawn was now being picked on by the people she'd once called her friends. The only person who hadn't abandoned them in their time of need was her best friend Willow, but the loss of everyone else had caused them all added stress.
This evening's meeting was her absolute last hope, the last chance that she had to save her family from losing everything. Liam Angelus McKenna, known as Angelus to everyone who knew him, was the only person with enough cash and enough clout with the banks to save them. Unfortunately he had absolutely no reason to help them, she was surprised that he even agreed to the meeting. She didn't want to deal with him, but she'd have too. If need be she'd sell herself to the devil to save her family. Buffy had only ever met him once that she could remember, her freshman year at Sunnydale High. He'd been harassing a fellow classmate of her's and she'd told him to drop dead, he was a loser and he always would be. She hoped he didn't remember that.
In truth she was really embarrassed about asking him for a loan, she didn't know him back then and she didn't know him now. She sighed once more and made her way downstairs, relived that Dawn and her mom had gone to the gallery to start packing up things, she didn't want them to know about the meeting - it was just simpler this way. She grabbed her jacket and headed off to meet the man who now, whether knowingly or unknowingly, held her fate in his hands.
The restaurant that Angelus had picked for their meeting was newly opened and Buffy had never had a chance to eat there before disaster struck. Unfortunately it was also a popular one and Buffy had to park blocks away from her actual destination, consequently she was late for her meeting. That was not such a good thing when trying to make a good impression on a man you hoped might lend you a lot of money. She'd barely walked through the door when someone grabbed her arm.
"Buffy," he said with an unreadable expression on his face.
{Shit. I so don't need to piss him off} she thought. Buffy decided to schmooze a little. "I'm so sorry I'm late. I didn't keep you waiting long, did I?"
"No."
They were shown to their table and the waiter arrived seconds later. Although she wasn't hungry, Buffy ordered as not to offend Angelus. After the waiter had left, they just sat there staring at each other as they awaited who would make the first move.
Buffy was the one to finally break the uncomfortable silence that had descended. "I guess it's no secret why I asked for this meeting..." she began.
"I think we should eat before we get down to business," Angel said cutting her off.
Buffy shook her head, "I'm not here to eat and have a good time. It's not a date. I'm only here to talk business."
Angelus just smirked, "It's a good thing I don't possess a fragile ego."
Before she had a chance to reply their food started to arrive and she forced herself to begin eating. She kept telling herself that she only had to make it through one simple dinner and she'd have her answer, sealing her and her family's fate.
Almost an hour later as the last of the plates were removed from the table, Buffy got straight to business.
"Are you gonna give me the damn loan or not?" she asked directly.
"Why should I take such a risk? Even a *loser* would be smarter than that," he countered, reminding her that he to remembered the encounter in High School.
"I fucking knew that was gonna bite me in the ass," Buffy mumbled. Then she said louder, "Do you want me to beg? Because I will if I have too."
"Maybe I should let you... before I decide."
Buffy couldn't believe she'd been stupid enough to even hope that he'd help. Obviously he just wanted some twisted sort revenge for High School and wasn't at all interested in helping her. She grabbed her bag and got up.
"Where are you going?" he asked watching her.
"Home," she replied, "Tonight has got to be the fucking worst idea I've ever had and I'm leaving."
She couldn't leave, it would ruin his brilliant plan. The one he'd spent so many hours on since he'd first heard about her family's troubles. The one that would get him what he'd always wanted - at least for a while.
He grabbed her wrist and held on tight. "Sit down!" he ordered her.
"It's a waste of what little time I have left."
He tugged on her arm trying to force her to sit. "Sit down!"
"Let *me* go," she countered, stubbornly refusing to do as he asked.
Angelus shook his head, he was just as stubborn as she was. "Not until you sit back down."
She didn't like it or want to do it, but she sat. "What do you want from me?"
Angelus released her, "Actually let's talk about what you need."
Buffy suddenly had a feeling that something bad was going to happen.
"A considerable amount of money to pay of your family's debts, to save your home and your mother's business and of course to buy back what you had to sell. Does that cover it?"
"I know it's a lot of money..."
Angelus just stared at her, "It's over a million dollars."
Buffy scrunched up her face, "What did you do? Take an inventory?"
"Yes."
Buffy paled, shocked by answer. "Why would you do that?"
"I felt like it."
Buffy shook her head in disbelief, "Look Angelus. I may be a blond, but I am not stupid. Why?"
"You interest me."
"With all of California's female population lusting after you. I don't see how that could be possible," she told him.
"No other woman has ever told me I am a *loser*."
"So this is some weird ass form of revenge for pissing you off in High School?" she asked.
Angelus just smirked again, "No. I just find it amusing that neither of us has ever forgotten that day." He went silent for a moment and then continued, "Do you agree that everyone has a price?"
"Just tell me what the fuck you want?" Buffy was growing more and more pissed off as the minutes ticked by.
"I want a child."
Buffy looked at him strangely, "A what?"
"I want a child, one born in wedlock. And of course who better to help with his want than the woman who thinks I am a loser," Angelus told her.
"You're fucking insane," Buffy hissed at him. "If you're so anxious to play daddy, adopt or knock up some stupid bimbo."
"No."
"Why not?"
Angelus grasped her hand and looked into her eyes. "Because everytime I picture the mother of my child, I see you. I don't know why, maybe you pissed me off so much that day I want to get back at you; or maybe I think you're the only one who'd actually care about the child. It's irrelevant, it is the price for your family's future. Take it or leave it."
"You bastard. Let me get this straight," she said. "In order to save my mom and sister, I have to marry *you* and have *your* child... then what, walk away?"
"Not until the child is in school."
"School?"
"Elementary," he clarified.
Buffy really wanted to slap the arrogant smirk right of his face, but she restrained herself because the asshole would probably file an assault charge against her.
"That's almost seven years of my life... if I were stupid enough to agree."
"Only if you got pregnant right away," he informed her, "It could take longer."
"No."
"Of course your family will be fine and you will gain the added bonus of being my wife. Allowing your sister access to better everything, from schooling to all the social activities she deserves," he tried to play upon her family loyalty. "Then of course their is the fact you'll be sharing my bed."
"Forgive me if I don't see having to have sex with you as a bonus."
"Don't knock it until you try it," he told her laughing.
Buffy decided to change the subject, "What happens when I have finished my part in your fucking evil scheme?"
"You will not be kicked out of our child's life."
"If and it's a big if. If I do this I wouldn't and couldn't just be a weekend mom," Buffy told him.
Angelus simply ignored her and pulled out a piece of paper. "It's the agreement. I've already signed my section. Read it and let me know your answer in the next twenty-four hours."
"That's impossible," she said. It was such a major decision and to make it in such a short period of time was ridiculous.
"You're not in a position to argue."
Buffy stood up, "I'll let you know." And then she walked out of restaurant.
Angelus sat back with a smirk, he knew that she'd say yes to the arrangement, even if she didn't.
The next afternoon with only a few hours left until the deadline for her decision, she was still no closer to making one. With the hope of gaining some new perspective, Buffy headed over to her best friend Willow's house. Tara, Willow's life partner opened the door.
"H-hi Buffy," Tara stammered nervously. "I-i'm going to work. W-willow's out back by the pool."
"Hi Tara and thanks," Buffy told her as she passed.
It wasn't that she didn't like Tara or anything like that. She just didn't know her. Tara was a new addition to Willow's life and Buffy was so used to Willow and Oz together, but when Oz had died it seemed like so had Willow... until she met Tara. Buffy was extremely glad her friend had found someone, it was just taking some getting used to Willow's new life-style.
Buffy walked through Willow's comfortable home, only a few short blocks from where she lived - at least for now, and out into the backyard where Willow was sunning herself by the enormous pool.
"Hey Wils," Buffy called out.
Willow sat up and instantly asked, "What's wrong?"
"Where do I start?"
Willow got up and walked over to her friend. "Tell me everything," she said leading Buffy back into the house.
Half an hour and a cup of coffee later, Buffy had told Willow everything about the night before - including Angelus' so-called bargain. Willow was so shocked she just couldn't say anything, instead she just sat there.
"Say something," Buffy almost begged.
"Wow,"
Willow managed. "What did your mom say?"
Buffy flushed bright pink, "I can't tell her this, it'll kill her."
Willow looked at her, "Why? Because it's humiliating... or because you're actually considering it?"
Buffy sighed and wished Willow wasn't so insightful. "Both," she admitted.
Willow squeezed her hand in a gesture of support, "What are you gonna do?"
"I dunno."
"Well, the way I see it. You're pretty much screwed either way," Willow told her. "Either you, Dawn and Joyce lose everything, or you marry and get knocked up by Satan himself."
"Gee Wils, when you put it that way..."
Willow smiled and then turned serious, "You know that no matter what you decide - I'll be here."
"Thanks," Buffy said hugging her.
"So have you decided?"
Buffy took a deep breath, "Yeah. I think I have."