Heavenly Bodies

Title: Becoming

Authors: M. Edison and Christina A.
Fandom: Angel/Highlander
Pairing: Angel/Grace
Disclaimer: Again, all I own is Grace.
Archive: At Ink-and-Quill

Summary: second in the ‘Destiny’ series

*-*-*

Grace held her sword aloft. Sparring with Angel was hard work, since he
was 100 times quicker than her normal opponents. But sparring Angel,
her lover, wasn’t what she needed to help her learn to fight vamps. She
needed to spar with Angel, the vamp. Looking at him, she said, “Do you
think you could change, please?”

Lowering his sword, Angel paused to stare at her. “Excuse me?” He
looked down at his sparring outfit then gave her a teasing grin. “Don’t like
my outfit? Or is it the reason you can’t seem to keep a grip when we’re
practicing hand-to-hand?”

She sighed with mock indignance. “Well, the color is awfully neutral,
but if it works for you, go for it.” She gave him a smile. “What I mean
is, when you are… you know… the vamp… you’re quicker, stronger,
more intimidating. That last group of vamps we faced down, the old one
almost got the drop on me. But I figure if you and I spar with you
as… the vamp… then it would help me.” She looked down at her feet and
then back up at him. She knew he was touchy about it, but it really
would help her.

Angel fidgeted in place, his gaze dropping to the floor as he
considered it. “I…I don’t want you seeing me…*like that*” He shrugged.
“It’s…uh…It’s not pretty…and, well, it’s bad enough that you have to
see it when we face other vamps…”

She dropped her sword and crossed the space between them. She loved
this man, more than anything… ever. She touched his face and smiled. “If
you’re that uncomfortable, I’ll respect it. But you know me… this…”
she gestured to the workout room, “this is how I work to stay alive.
When I train, I go all out. You can ask Gunn. Just the thought of that
vamp getting the drop on me the other night, scared the hell out of me.”
She kissed his nose. “And as far as seeing you as that self… what’s
on the outside, though it is perfect, isn’t as important as what’s on
the inside. But we can continue this way. Just please, don’t hold back.
YOU are the only vamp I feel comfortable sparring with.”

The idea that some vampire could kill her…harm her – well Angel hated
the idea of showing that side of himself to her but he hated the idea
of her dying more. “All right…but feel free to stop whenever you
want.” He stepped back, not wanting her to be touching him when he changed.

She’d seen it before… when they fought side by side. But it was never
directed at her. He fed from her at night, and he changed for that. But
this was different. She had asked for all that he was, and from what
she’d heard, Angelus was the most feared vampire of them all. A part of
that thrilled her, but it also scared her too. She grabbed her sword.
“Haven is the safe word,” she said. “And thank you.” Her body became
alert, not tense. He had explained to her about his speed… his prowess.
Wesley had explained that these chosen ones could stand up to it. And
apparently she was a chosen one. Oh, she was going to get her butt
kicked, but she’d stand a better chance against a lesser vamp the next time
around. She went on the defensive as he very quickly moved in. If he
got her on her back foot, she was done.

And Angel didn’t back off. He tried to avoid hurting her but he also
knew he had to let her know what it was like to fight a vampire who was
trying to kill her. So he approached it as if he were actually Angelus
again, fighting a slayer with the intent to kill. At least, if he hurt
her in this form, he knew she’d heal. He just didn’t want to make a
mistake with the sword so he tossed it aside. Not like he needed it anyway.

It threw her momentarily when he ditched the sword. It was her comfort
zone, but she lost it before she even got the thought out… he was
that fast. She dove and rolled, barely having enough time to set herself
before he came at her again. Then something settled inside her. And she
began to block some hits, and then give some in return. Some of the
hits even impacted. If she weren’t so zoned, it would have shocked her.
But it wouldn’t last long. She knew that too.

Sparing for a few seconds gave Angel a good view of how she fought and
he snuck a leg sweep in that sent Grace flying onto her back and he
dove in to capitalize…not wanting to give her a chance to get much
movement in but hoping she would anyway.

As she fell, she knew what would come next. If he got on top of her…
if he had been an unfriendly vamp… she would be dead. Even before she
hit the ground, she rolled and popped up. Before he could correct, she
caught him with a hard kick in the ribs. Grace’s legs were the
strongest part of her body. When she kicked, she kicked hard. But hard enough
to do damage to an enemy vamp was another question. And she really
didn’t want to hurt him, but he was going all out, so holding back was not
an option. And when she abandoned her arms and used her legs, she gained
something. But damn, he was quick.

The kick sent him rolling but Angel was up on his feet quickly, and
already swinging when he did, connecting with her midsection in several
quick jabs. He felt a bit guilty for fighting so hard but he had to show
her what another vampire would do and there were some out there older
and more powerful than he was. He didn’t want her to end up facing one
of them and get into a situation where she couldn’t defend herself…or
worse, someone would find a way to bring Angelus back. He needed to
know she could defend herself against Angelus in a killing mood. And that
was anything but merciful. She *had* to know how to take him out. It
was simply a risk he wasn’t willing to take.

She had doubled over in pain; it felt as if he’d punched a hole clean
through her. He was a blur; he was almost that fast. Whether it was luck
or skill, she managed to deliver a blow to his throat and then
connected hard with his nose. If an opponent can’t see, he can’t fight. She
never forgot whom she was fighting… but she HAD to be able to defend
herself. She’d make it up to him later. Lifting up, she connected a
roundhouse kick to his groin and then another to his chest.

Now Angel might be undead yes, but even undead feel pain when kicked
*there* and he doubled over immediately, dropping to his knees when she
hit him in the chest. Not bad at all. Reaching out, he grabbed her by
the leg and pulled her down onto her back, lurching forward to pin her.
“Not bad…” He stated aloud, his face returning to normal. “Though that
might finish of tonight’s entertainment…” This was said with a wry
grin.

She gave him a smile as the pain in her abdomen subsided. “How about if
I rub it? I’ve heard everything feels better if you rub it.” Her hands
went into his hair and she smiled. “Thank you for that. I know what it
took, but I do feel more confident… maybe not so worried.”

“Rub it…” Angel mused as her hands worked through his hair, very
distracting that. “Good idea…and you’re welcome…. you’ve got to
know…how to deal with *us*.”

She nodded. “Prophecies will only get us so far. As a team, we’re
unbeatable, but I’ve not been holding my own.” Her leg moved up to caress
his. “I need to hold my own. And to do that I need a lot of practice. But
there are some things I don’t have to practice.” She initiated a kiss
and sighed. “I love sparring, but I also love the um… cool down, so
to speak.”

Angel leaned down to steal another, deeper, kiss. “More like heating up
but I get your meaning.” His mouth drifted down onto her neck and ear.
“And no, we definitely don’t need practice at *this*…though I
certainly don’t mind using that as an excuse…” He pulled back and grinned.
“I’ve got a hundred years of sexual frustration cooped up in here…”

Her hands began to busily work on his clothing. If he gave off heat,
the skin would be sweaty; hers was enough for both of them. “And I’m
Immortal. That’s twofold. I have great stamina, and forever to take care
of that frustration.” Her hands brushed over his skin. “And I so want
to help with that.”

Casually ripping open her tank top (it was old anyway), Angel’s mouth
dove in to pay a proper hello to her breasts. “I love a willing
assistant…” He mumbled against her skin as he pressed his body against hers
firmly.

Casual spars with him always got her worked up, but this one had been
hotter than normal. That body that moved so fluidly, yet so deadly, it
caused a response in her. She arched into his mouth and her hands dug
into his shoulders. “I’m ready, willing, and oh dear Lord, am I able.”
Her other leg wound its way around his waist and she pushed up into his
growing hardness.What he did to her? It had been a rough road getting
him to fully accept her, but this man touched her in a way no one had in
almost a thousand years. And she strove to prove that to him, every
time he touched her.

“Definitely able…” Angel agreed, working a hand between them and into
her loose pants to stroke her softly as he steadily sucked and nipped
at her breasts, moving from one to the other and back again. Never
leaving one lonely for long.

She bit the inside of her lip, drawing blood as she rubbed herself
against his hand. “I’m the one who’s supposed to rub your wound,” she
gasped out. Busily, she all but ripped his pants off of him.

“We’ll get to that…” He said against her skin before lifting up. “And
besides, this is good therapy…”

Her head arched back as she all but ground herself on his hand.
“But… but you’re the frustrated one. Oh god,” she groaned. Her hands forgot
what they were doing and in a rare moment, Grace let him have complete
control. It was something she hadn’t given over in centuries, and she
did so to him without thought.

“Yeah…” Angel agreed, his fingers working more firmly. “But it’s
giving me all kinds of ideas watching you…” He chuckled and leaned down
to whisper in her ear. “All kinds of very *bad* ideas….”

Her tongue snaked out and licked his ear even after she moaned deeply.
“Like what?” she asked, loving the sound of his voice speaking in her
ear while they made love. It was almost as arousing as the way he was
touching her…not that she’d last long enough to hear his plans.

“Ooohh…pulling you up and taking you…from behind…nice and hard.”
Moaning, he nipped at her ear. “The way you like it of course….”

Instinctively, she angled perfectly for the position he was proposing.
“Then what are you waiting for,” she answered his moan with one of her
own. She did love the harder sex…and loved being immortal so she
could take it.

Removing her pants, Angel moved up behind her and, without warning,
pushed into her swiftly. “Just enjoying the scenery…” He said with a
chuckle, moving on a fast pace right off the bat, thrusting against her
hard.

She really bit her lip then. Oh gods, she was being torn apart and
remade just for him. She almost came the minute he thrust into that part of
her. And the fact that his hand was still working on her other part was
almost more than she could take. Any smart retort she had was lost in
the sensations. All she could do was repeat his name over and over.

Groaning, almost growling, Angel upped the pace again quickly ––
knowing this one wouldn’t last long but would definitely make up for it in
intensity. They definitely knew how to play hard and make it pay. The
real fun would happen when they headed for the bedroom. There they could
make it last for *hours*…

She met him pace for pace, and cried out, “No…” as she finally
plummeted over the edge. It was hard; it was powerful. And she wasn’t ready
for it to be over. But when pure heat flooded through her… her ‘no’
turned to a definite ‘yes’!!!!

Angel was right behind her as he’d expected, slamming into her once
more with a powerful yell as he too exploded into an orgasm. Damn but it
was intense…

She clutched him to her as light and color returned to her world. They
should definitely spar more often. Then a thought ran through her
head. Smiling, she breathed, “Guess you didn’t need it rubbed, huh?” She
also took a moment to be thankful that the others were occupied and had
not entered unexpectedly… as they were prone to do.

“No…You worked your magic on it as usual.” Angel joked with a grin.

She laughed and then sighed as she couldn’t hold the position and he
slipped free of her. “But I was looking forward to the rubbing,” she
teased. Then an idea came to her. “How about we head up to the tub and I
can work some magic there as well?”

Pulling her to her feet, the vampire took another kiss before grinning.
“My own personal genie hmmm?”

“I’m not wearing a ponytail on the top of my head though. No way.” She
grabbed up her clothing and came across the very ripped tank top. “Ok,
help me here. We walk out there, Cordy asks what the hell happened to
my top, do I just say ‘Fits of passion’ and leave her gaping?” She
couldn’t help but laugh. She even put the remnants on for effect.

“It’d shut her up for sure…” Angel joked, his words not nearly as
harsh as they sounded. “You can have my shirt…” He picked up the shirt
he’d thrown to one side on the way in and passed it to her. “It’s big
enough.” Leaning forward, he nipped at her ear. “And the ponytail would
be great…easy access to your neck.” This was said with a teasing grin
before he pulled back.

“Exactly why I keep my hair short,” she teased. “There are times when
long hair is just too much of a pain in the ass. Her hand ran lightly
across his stomach as she teased, “Or would that be gut.” She took off
her torn shirt and handed it to him. She then donned his. Picking up her
sword, she wrapped her free arm around his waist. “You can have access
to my neck anytime you want.”

“Good…” came the low promising voice. “Because it’s a positively
delectable neck…”

“C’mon, handsome,” she gave him a slight pull. “Sounds like we have all
kinds of hungers to feed.” She stepped out of the workroom, with
Angel’s shirt hanging well below her waist. She smiled at Cordelia and
Wesley. “Sparring accident,” she said with a twinkle in her eye.

A warning look from Angel prevented any questions from the two mortals.
Instead, Cordy and Wesley both found themselves scurrying to find
something to make them look busy, while smoothing snickers. Given the sounds
coming from the workroom, it was no accident and they knew it.

Sighing ruefully, Angel shook his head and rested a hand at the small
of Grace’s back as they headed up the stairs.

——————————————————————————–

Grace couldn’t help but giggle. “Oh yeah, they bought that. I am a
horrendous liar,” she said as they reached the suite they now shared.

“More like they probably stopped by the door to listen.” Angel said
dryly, putting Grace’s sword back with the others she kept in their suite.
“That’s one thing Wesley’s never been able to leave behind with the
Watcher Council…”

She smiled and wandered into the bathroom. She turned on the water…
hot… and added bubbles. Coming back into the bedroom, she continued,
“I don’t care who they watch, Watchers are all alike. It’s for history’s
sake, don’t you know?”

Throw in a sacred duty like protecting the world from the evils of
vampires and you’re right.” Angel agreed, pulling Grace’s favorite robe
from the closet for when they were done. Wouldn’t want her to catch a
chill…if Immortals could. Ah well, he just liked seeing her in it. And
out of it but that was another story entirely.

She peeled off his shirt and tossed it over the back of the chair. “Ah,
my Watchers ‘observe and record, but never interfere’, which is a
crock, but it lets them sleep at night.” She picked up her brush and began
brushing her short hair.

Taking the brush from her, Angel started running it through the silky
blonde strands. “The Council’s supposed to let the Slayer handle things
most of the time but they have a bad habit of trying to tell her how to
do her job. Bureaucrats.”

She sighed. He was so good at this. Before he was cursed, he had to
have had a lot of experience with this stuff. “Sounds like my Watchers.
They talk a big story about staying out of the Game, but you get close
enough to one and they spill all they know in the name of ‘friendship’.
But I’ll give them this…it’s dangerous work.”

“Given what I’ve seen of your Immortal brethren I’d have to agree on
that one.” Running his fingers through her hair, the vampire savored the
feeling of the strands playing across his skin. God, she was beautiful,
her hair reminded him of sunlight.

She turned in his arms and gave him a smile. “Most are somewhat like I
am. They just want to lead their lives. But during the time of the
Gathering, everything changes.” She had taken a couple more heads since
Armand’s, each one had been just as vile if not more. Grace loathed the
Game but never backed down from it. And just as she was learning about
Angel’s world… the world of vamps, he was learning about her world…
the world of Immortals. And the prophecy was right, they were
unbeatable together. She was so thankful to have him by her side. She couldn’t
live without him. She wouldn’t. “I’ll bet the tub is full.”

Smiling, he started backing them toward the bathroom. “And I do *love*
seeing you soaking wet….” A teasing leer appeared in his eyes. “And
occasionally in the tub…”

She laughed against his mouth. “Almost as much as I enjoy seeing you.”
Her mouth moved to his jaw and tasted the skin there. “Divine,” she
said as his legs hit the back of the tub. “I almost hate washing this
taste off. But then, you’re damn good soapy too.”

His eyes dark, Angel pulled her mouth to his and kissed her deeply, his
hands making sure Grace’s body got as wet as possible. He loved the
feel of her wet body against his.

This round of lovemaking did last for hours. Angel knew all her
sensitive spots. He knew just how to bring her to the edge and then pull her
back. He knew everything about her, just as she did about him. Lord help
her, but she loved this man with everything that was in her. When he
finally let her climax, it was long and hard and the best thing she’d
ever experienced.

As always, once he knew Grace had let go, Angel fell too and it was
*intense*. As strong as the one he’d had earlier but stronger in a
different way. He couldn’t remember ever feeling like this not even during the
most intense and erotic rounds of play he and Darla ever involved
themselves in. *Nothing* had ever come this close. Not even Buffy. Grace was
more incredible than any other woman he’d ever known.

Her forehead rested against his shoulder as she tried to regain control
of her breathing. “It’s taken me a millennia to find perfection in
human form. And lucky me, I get to have him for eternity.” Her arms went
around his chest and she squeezed him tightly. She’d loved before, but
NEVER like this.

Holding her equally tightly, Angel rested his cheek against her hair.
“Haven’t been around that long but I’ve never met anyone like you ever
before…and I know I never will.” Hesitating, the vampire ran a hand
down her back. “Not that I ever plan on looking for anyone else.”

She smiled and rubbed her head against his shoulder. “That’s good to
hear because I’d die without you.” She kissed his neck tenderly.
Forever, when seen through the eyes of her love for him, seemed like a
wonderful lifetime.

“Thought you only died when someone cut off your head…” Angel teased
softly. “but no way in hell am I letting *that* happen.”

She didn’t respond that if he lost his life there was no way he could
prevent her from taking hers. But that was how it would go. “Then stick
around,” she said softly. She pulled away and gave him a smile. “Now
before I totally prune, we should vacate this tub. Besides, the water is
freezing.” She regretfully broke their connection before giving him a
deep kiss. “You are incredibly sexy when you’re wet. Though you are when
you aren’t too.” She couldn’t help but giggle at that statement.

He laughed and stood up with her. “Thanks for the compliment…”
Angel’s gaze lingered on her nude form again and he found his *interest*
rapidly returning. “And you look damn good pruney I’ll have you know…”

She laughed and admired what her mere presence was doing to him. She
loved that he never tired of her. She was a very sexual being… and of
course, was thankful that he was too. Grabbing her robe, she draped it
over her shoulder and sauntered into the bedroom. “It doesn’t last
long.” When he joined her, she pushed him onto the bed and began kissing
any part of his body she could reach. “I think I should compliment you
more often.”

“Naw, just walk around with that robe on your shoulder…that’ll do
it.” Angel said with a wicked grin before pulling her mouth up to his and
rolling her over. “Puts all kinds of ideas in a vampire’s head.”
Standing up, he walked over to where they kept their *toys*. Funny, for a
vampire who’d been unable to express himself sexually, in love, for a
hundred years, Angel had taken to ‘playing’ with a great deal of glee. “In
fact…some of them are very….interesting.” Opening the chest, he
surveyed the various sexual toys with an appraising eye then picked it up
and carried it back to the bed – setting it on the floor.

Dangling a pair of fur-lined handcuffs from one finger, he smirked at
herbefore openly appraising her nude form. “And they’re getting more
interesting by the second…”

She was lounging against the headboard, one leg drawn up toward her
chest. Her eyes were literally smoldering as she caught sight of the
cuffs. One finger traced the outside of her nipple as the other rested on
the top of her head. “I like those ideas of yours,” she said in a sultry
voice. “I like them a lot.”

Kneeling on the bed, Angel took her hands in his briefly kissing the
nipple she’d been tracing before securing her wrists to the headboard.
“You’ll like them even better once we get going.” He informed her with a
promising look.

Standing up, he surveyed her for a long moment. “You look delicious…”
he informed her quietly, his eyes dark. “In fact, I think I should go
get Wesley and Cordy…see what they think.” The teasing was natural
between them, though he wouldn’t put it past her to go through with it if
he actually carried through with that comment. One thing Grace Hammond
wasn’t was reserved when it came to sexuality.

She raised an eyebrow. “I can just hear Cordy now. ‘You want me to do
WHAT?’ And Wesley would swear that Brits didn’t do such things. But it
could be fun. And then there’s Gunn.” She tested her other hands above
her head and moved her legs up and down the bed. “What do you think?”
She waggled her brows again. She knew Angel, he was far too private a
man for such public displays. “Though I’d actually rather have you all to
myself. I don’t share well with others.” She gave him her most
seductive smile.

His eyes following her movements, Angel slowly met her smile with one
of his own. “More like I’d rather have you all to myself…you are the
one cuffed to the bed after all…” His gaze grew decidedly lusty.
“Ready for the taking…”

Her eyes locked with his and she nodded. “Oh yeah.” Her hands twisted
in the cuffs. She was very comfy right where she was. These games always
brought a heightened level to their lovemaking. The spar of earlier had
only increased their awareness of one another, and although they
normally didn’t play during the night, she knew neither one of them were of
the disposition to wait. This was a longing that neither could deny and
had to play out to its completion. “I’m all yours.”

“You are…” He agreed with a slow nod, returning to the bed and
touching her in what almost appeared to be an appraising manner, hefting one
full breast in one hand before moving to the other then running a slow
finger down her midsection and between her folds, surveying her with an
unreadable expression on his face.

Grace matched his expression perfectly until he touched her womanhood.
Then her only response was a slight hiss and an opening of her legs to
give him more access. He wouldn’t let her come quickly… or maybe he
would but he’d make her come screaming several more times after that.
One thing sex with Angel never was and that was predictable. She rested
her head back on the headboard and sighed. “You won’t get an argument
from me on that. I’m completely yours. But you’re mine as well.” Now who
was claiming whom.

He chuckled and let his finger run back up her folds to circle her
navel before making the same trip back down. “I’m not going to disagree
there…we’ll wait till you’re out of the cuffs to debate it though.”
Angel leaned down to nip at her inner thigh before stretching up to bite
lightly at a nipple, teasingly.

Grace moaned lightly at his tender attack. That’s what he was doing.
Her inner thigh and her breasts… both very erogenous zones for her.
And of course, he knew that. She leaned in to wherever he touched her.
“Mmm…true. But then, of course, I get to play with you. And you know
how creative I can be.” Her eyes slid shut for just a moment as she
concentrated on feel.

Erotic images, examples of Grace’s creativity, danced through Angel’s
mind and he forced himself to keep his mind on the body before him
rather than to release her from the cuffs and let her have her way. That was
definitely too easy…besides, he wanted to hear her scream first…see
her reacting and knowing he was the one who brought her to it…it was
intoxicating.

She knew that she could work him up with her words almost as much as he
was working her up with his touches. Everywhere he touched her was on
fire. “You know what I’d do first, don’t you?”

His tongue flicking over her clitorous, Angel looked up into her eyes.
“There are a few possibilities,” he noted, blowing on the sensitive
skin.

She hissed and almost cried out on when the cool air hit her. “Oh god,
yes. I’d say more than a few. But you’re starting much as I would.
That’s for sure.”

“Really?” He chuckled. “Then I’ll have to come up with something to
surprise you…” Slipping a cold finger inside her, he slowly stroked her
internal walls before pulling free once more.

Her hips pushed forward, begging of their own free will for his touch.
“Color me surprised,” she managed to say. Her wrists pulled against the
cuffs. She was definitely enjoying herself. “Oh gods…” she moaned
again.

Angel chuckled softly, his hand resting on her knee. “Oh I can think of
a few other things I’d rather do to you.” He noted, his voice husky
with unvoiced desire. This was having as much of a toll on him as it was
her. “A repeat of downstairs for one…”

Oh dear god, she repeated in her mind. She was all but begging for him
to touch her anywhere. For him to just take her however he wanted. She
swallowed thickly and said, “W-we.” She took a deep breath and tried
again, “We could do that. S-sure.” She wanted to say please, but she
couldn’t form another coherent thought. “Orrr…” Angel held himself over
her before entering her swiftly. “I could do this…”

“Yes,” she cried out, straining against the cuffs, wanting to touch him
more than she could express. But the restraints held her firmly so she
simply wrapped her legs around his waist and moved with him,
counterthrusting to every thrust.

Alternating his speed and strength, the vampire couldn’t help his next
movement, leaning down, he shifted into his vampiric visage and buried
his fangs into her smooth neck – drinking eagerly of the passion-heated
blood.

She cried out, but it wasn’t in pain, it was in sheer ecstasy. There
was something so erotic about him feeding from her. It was almost like he
consumed her completely. Her blood flowed from herself and into him and
her climax slammed into her hard. She screamed his name with it.

That brought him back from her neck as his body called attention to
another need. His own explosion. Letting his face return to normal, Angel
groaned out her name as he spilled into her, hips moving in a steady
pounding
movement as she spasmed around him.

Her head fell back as the climax seemed to last forever. When she
thought itwas over, a small movement from him would set them both off again
and again. Finally, when it appeared to be over, her head rested
against his. “Fantastic,” she said, as the wound on her neck closed itself.

“Unbelievable.” Angel corrected, reaching up to free her hands and rub
her arms, just to be sure they weren’t too tingly. “Absolutely
incredible….”

She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. “You have no
idea. I may never let you out of this bed. Ever!!”

Laughing, Angel ran a hand across her forehead and down her cheek.
“Well, you might need to eat every now and then…”

“We have a phone. Cordy will bring us food.” Her hands ran the length
of his body. “And you are resting on top of your food source. So I think
we have it covered.”

“Smart woman…” He noted with a laugh. “You’ve got this planned
out…” Nipping at her chin, Angel grinned. “And it is a *very* tempting
idea…” when he said very, he moved within her meaningfully, adding to the
message with a physical reminder.

“Mm… I thought you’d like that.” Slowly, she rolled them over so she
was now on top. Her hands danced across him, and when the cuffs snapped
around his wrists, she couldn’t help the smile that danced across her
face. “Oh, now this is very nice.” She separated them slowly. “I’m
really liking the idea of never leaving this bed.”

Chuckling, Angel tested his bonds. “You could have warned me…” He
teased with a smile, not the slightest bit upset as he watched her
smirking at him.”Naw. Once in a while, you have to live life on the edge,
Angel. Take it to the extreme. Grab it with gusto and never let go.” All of
this was said as she moved down his body. With the gusto that she had
spoke of just a moment ago, she swallowed him whole. His tip touching
the back of her throat. She’d been thinking about doing this all day. She
loved the taste of him… and actually at this moment, he tasted like
them. She let him fall from her mouth slowly, licking his member all
over. She then licked her lips. “You taste so good.”

Groaning, Angel strained against his bonds, his hips moving up –– eager
for more. “That’s extreme…” He said hoarsely. “Very…” His entire
body seemed on edge as if it couldn’t take anymore but yet, that’s
exactly what he wanted.

“What’s extreme?” she asked coyly. Her finger traced his length
lightly, stopping long enough to tease his slit before moving back down to the
base, which she squeezed. “I’m just getting started.” She parted his
legs and set herself between them. He was totally exposed before her. Her
fingers went into her mouth and she smiled. “Oh yes, I’m just getting
started.”

“Revenge is sweet…” He gasped out as he anticipated her next move. He
knew this was going to be intense…with Grace it was never just sex.

Her fingers slick, Grace slowly slid one and then another inside his
entrance. She rotated them gently and licked her lips as she searched for
his prostate. When she found it, she pushed on the extremely sensitive
gland and engulfed him at the same time. This wasn’t quite revenge, it
was an all out attack.

A strangled cry was Angel’s response and his arms pulled tight in the
restraints as he thrust up. “God!!!” He managed, relaxing back after the
initial reaction. “If I said you weren’t playing fair, would you care?”
The comment was made with a playful tone but his eyes were dark with
passion. She was definitely achieving the affect she’d been going for.

She slowly released him and gave his tip a lick as she said, “Probably
not. But if you want me to stop, and just screw you senseless, I can do
that too. But we’ve done that what… three times already.” She giggled
before rotating her fingers again. “I think I’m up for a little naughty
right at the moment.” She gave him a wink before moving back down to
her work. She knew what the cool air was doing to him. She loved the
alternating sensations.

A grunt of pleasure escaped him when her mouth covered him once more
and Angel gritted his teeth. If she wanted to play then they’d play. He
was a controlled guy. He could handle it.

Yeah. Right.

She let her mouth wander off of his penis and roam down to his
testicles. She didn’t do this often, preferring to keep it for the more erotic
nights…and this one surely qualified. With deep concentration, she
paid diligent attention to each one before letting off and blowing on
them, watching his reaction with satisfaction. “You liked that?” she said
with a smile.

The look the vampire gave her was hot enough to set almost anything
alight. His entire body felt like it was ready to explode off the bed.
“You’re not careful…” he warned with a promising tone. “I’m going to
break through these restraints and give you a performance that’ll make
downstairs look like foreplay.”

She gave him a little pout. “Now who’s not playing fair.” She rotated
her fingers and pressed again on his prostate. “A girl’s gotta have a
little fun.” But she was into teasing and not torture. With a kiss to
his pelvis, she then moved back to his penis and got down to the serious
work of making him cum and cum hard!! She could definitely handle it.

“Fun?” He grasped hoarsely, thrusting steadily against her, straining
now against the cuffs. His body was tense – so close….so ready to
explode….his world had narrowed down to the hot, perfect, channel her
mouth had created and how it felt to be thrusting inside of it. Inside
her.

She used more pressure on him, making the opening smaller, forcing him
to work a little harder at his thrusting. The tighter the fit, the
better. Her fingers pressed on his gland over and over… a dual attack
always helped.

Shouting her name, Angel lost control, his body surging up against her
as he pulsed inside her. Incredible, absolutely incredible! Her name
was steady from his lips as he strained against his bonds, the handcuffs
tight.

She swallowed until he had nothing else to give and then let him fall
from her mouth, her fingers vacating his opening. Stretching out on his
body, she lightly touched a nipple before undoing the cuffs. “You are
absolutely incredible to watch.”

“So are you…” He said before drawing her mouth down to his, kissing
her deeply and holding her firmly against him. “Absolutely
breathtaking…” He whispered when he released her.

She rested against his chest, their sensitive bodies still very much in
contact. “Tell me we have no demons to slay and that just for tonight,
we can stay in bed and stay sticky.” She chuckled at that last
adjective.

“Sticky works for me,” Angel agreed with a chuckle, his hands sliding
up and down her back. “And I’m not the one who can tell you…*they*
are. Cordy has no visions…we’re good for the night.” Glaring at the
ceiling, he silently thought. ‘For once we deserve a night off.’

She snuggled in, her hands dancing lightly on his nipple. “I hope so…
I really truly hope so.” She then, in a surprise move, hugged him very
tightly.

This popped up sometimes… her insecurities. And they weren’t that he
would leave, but that for the first time in her life, she was offered
someone who could live with her forever. Sometimes, she got scared that
she’d lose him.

“As long as it’s in my power…” Angel said softly, not knowing why he
was saying it. “I’m not going anywhere… and if I get taken away…I’m
fighting like hell to get back to you. Y’know that right…?” She
swallowed hard and crushed herself to him. “I…I know. I just get scared…
not always, but sometimes. I can’t live without you.” She’d thought
that since the first moment she realized she loved him, but she didn’t
think she’d ever expressed it quite this bluntly to him. “I would just
die.”

“No.” He said fiercely, holding her just as tightly. “No matter what
happens to me, you keep going. Promise me…You keep going!”

She closed her eyes and whispered. “How do you keep going when your
heart dies? I honestly don’t know.” She had made herself cry. Ok, how did
she go from blissfully satiated to crying… weeping. What was going on
with her? Looking up at him, she dried her eyes. “We aren’t going to
have to worry about this. We are a team. Nothing will happen. I *have*
to believe in that.”

“Works for me…but know this Grace…no matter what. Even if I…I
will *never* leave you – I’ve seen enough magic in the world to know if
the connection’s that strong…I’ll never leave.”

She nodded and bit her bottom lip. She believed it was that strong. She
didn’t have to see him to know what he was feeling. She felt it too.
And just a breath from him calmed her spirit. “The same goes for me too.
Not even death.” She didn’t move from her perch. Instead, she rested
her head on his shoulder and simply felt him. Oh yes, he was her life.

“Good…” This decided, Angel nodded firmly. Somehow, saying that.
Voicing that connection, there was security in it. Like somehow, saying it
meant that the TPTB would have no choice but to see to it. And if it
ever came to be that it was necessary…he’d damn well fight every last
one of them to make sure it did. There was no other option there. That
was simply that.

——————————————————————————–

“Oh Grace!!! Look!!!!!!” Grabbing her friend by the arm, Cordelia
dragged the Immortal to the store window and pointed at a miniskirt with a
zip up the side. “Angel would love you in that…” A mischievous grin
lit the mortal’s face. “Easy on…easy off.”

Grace rolled her eyes, but smiled at the thought. “Cordelia Chase, you
are incorrigible. If I bought that, it would stay on…” She paused and
laughed. “But not for long, probably.” Taking the young mortal’s arm,
Grace pulled her into the store. “But if I’m getting one, so are you!”
These shopping trips were never just about Grace. They shopped for
Cordelia too.

“Okay but I’m not the one that needs it!” Cordy protested with a grin.
“I haven’t got the gorgeous…guy at home waiting to take it off as
soon as I put it on!”

Grace sighed. “Then we’ll buy you two so you can alternate while you’re
out looking for that gorgeous guy. Don’t argue with your elders,” Grace
teased as she grabbed a black and a tan skirt in Cordelia’s size.

“Yes ma’am.” The brunette responded obediently, taking the skirt.

Grace gave her a smile. Whoever was fortunate enough to fall in love
with Cordelia, would be a very lucky man. Grace totally adored her
friend. No one had ever taken her in as easily as Cordy had. Grace was
honored.

“Grab yours and we’ll go try them on.” Cordelia responded with a smile
in return.

The Immortal grabbed a tan one, though it was a couple sizes bigger
than Cordy’s and the pair all but bounced into the fitting rooms. Grace
teased by looking around and making sure there were no suspicious guys
with knockout gas roaming around.

Little did they both know, they weren’t about to be jumped but they
were being watched. And the woman watching them was anything but safe.

With a dark look in her eyes, Darla watched as Angel’s new love and his
Seer disappeared into the changing rooms.

Grace came out of the dressing room in the skirt. She had removed her
shirt and was just wearing the flimsy camisole. When Cordy came out,
Grace laughed. “Why is it that I’m hearing Angel saying, “You cover that
with a shirt and you’re in for it, Hammond.” She had made her best
‘Angel voice’ in the process.

Cordy grinned. “You’re hearing it because you know he’ll say it…well,
if he bothers to wait before he jumps you that is…you two are like
bunnies.”

Grace laughed. “Imagine decades of sexual frustration wrapped in a
package that has had countless women thrown at it. And there’s literally
nothing he can do. Along comes a prophecy and BAM! he’s back in the game.
He justifies it as making up for lost time. Now myself, I’m sexually
uninhibited. I have no excuse.” She gave Cordy a wink. “And I swear to
you, that you’ll find yours as well. You won’t have to wait nearly as
long as I did.”

“God I hope not.” Cordy grinned back. “I’ll be dust and bone by then!!”

“Hey,” Grace tried for firm, “I resemble that remark. Well, if I
looked my age, I would. Now, I like the black on you, but it pales me. I
think I should go tan.”

“Or red.” Cordy gave her a wicked look. “That’ll get Angel’s… ahem…
well things’ll definitely take a jump shall we say?”

Grace laughed. “That’s putting it mildly on him. You thought he moved
fast when he fought. Ok, tan skirt and red shirt. What do you think?”

“That’ll do it.” Looking around, the mortal woman found a low cut red
shirt and held it out. “Just don’t wear it demon hunting…red shirts
bad…”

Grace laughed. “They are always the first to die!” She took the shirt
and pulled it on over her camisole. “Oh yes! And for you, I like this
light beige.”

Taking the shirt, Cordy held it up against her then, realizing she
couldn’t exactly whip of her top to change in the midst of the store,
turned and backed toward the change room. “I’ll go put it on…see what it
looks like.”

“It will look fabulous!” Grace called after her friend and then looked
at the clothing on a nearby rack while she waited. She couldn’t believe
it, but every piece she touched, she couldn’t help but wonder if Angel
would like it.

“You should try the dark blue.” A soft voice suggested as Darla
approached her prey. “It’s perfect for your complexion.”

Grace, always leery of people she didn’t know, gave the very beautiful
blonde a smile. “I should? I don’t own much that’s blue.” There was
something about this woman that made her uneasy, but what? All she’d done
was give a casual suggestion. “Have we met before?” Grace asked.

“No, I don’t think so.” Darla said smiling back as she moved forward to
pick out a shirt. “But I think we know some of the same…people.”

Ok, she wasn’t immortal… at least Grace’s kind of immortal. And she
suddenly didn’t like this woman very much. “What do you mean by…
people?” It was an honest question. Was this woman a Watcher, a demon, what?

“Well, I believe you’re acquainted with a relative of mine…Angel.”
Watching the taller woman intently, Darla did her best to make her
appearance as angelic as possible.

Oh, now that caught Grace’s attention. “Relative? Angel’s ‘family’ is
long dead.” Grace’s eyes hardened and suddenly all her thousand years
were visible in them. She just didn’t like the vibes she was getting
here. “Wanna cut to the chase here? Your ‘‘relationship’ to Angel is
what?”

“Oh that’s simple – I made him.” Darla purred her answer and waited for
the reaction. “He’s probably spoken of me quite a lot…we were
very…close.”

Grace’s face was a perfect mask. She was completely enraged but she
didn’t show it. Her mother would have been proud. “Well, Darla, I do
believe the operative word here is ‘were.’ And if you have any idea about
what is good for you, you’ll turn around and walk out of here and don’t
stop until you find the hole you crawled out of.” She paused and smiled
sickly sweet. “All I know of you is your name, actually. He spoke of
you only once.”

A bit taken aback by that, Darla made a small moue and surveyed Grace
calculatingly. “Well, he obviously hasn’t forgotten me…Another
blonde…still trying to recreate *us* I suppose…” Pacing a few steps away,
the former vampire chuckled. “Isn’t it funny how men do that…they
find a committed relationship, then run away and spend the rest of their
lives trying to recreate what they gave up.”

Grace couldn’t help but laugh. Obviously this woman had no idea who she
was messing with. She smiled. “Oh that was good. Classic attempt to
demean me and lift your confidence. Classic. But if you really want to
analyze it, try this… Angel’s not sought to replace you. I could have
been a redhead and he wouldn’t have cared. It’s not about how we look.
It’s about the fact that I make him happy in a way no one else can. That
bothers you, doesn’t it?” If she wanted to play, Grace would. But she
wouldn’t wear kid gloves… she never did.

“Oh I don’t think so.” Darla stepped into a nice wide patch of sunlight
shining through the door and raised an eyebrow. “You’d be surprised
what I can do…”

Grace did raise an eyebrow at that. “Well, well, aren’t you just full
of surprises. But let me tell you something, you have no idea who you’re
fucking with. No idea. So if you wanna play your little games, that’s
fine. I’ll play. But forewarned is forearmed. I learned from the best.”

“I know more than you think….” The former vampress purred. “And be
careful of what you boast…there are things about me, and Angelus, that
you don’t know…that you’ll never know. And in those lie my victory.”

Grace sighed, almost tired of this little standoff. “So, let me get
this straight. You apparently want him back and you think that by using
whatever tidbit of knowledge that you know and I don’t that you can send
me away running. Is that it? Or wait, maybe it’s more diabolical than
that. Maybe you have some great plan and this is just one small part of
that plan. Maybe to get me worried about the stability of our
relationship, or maybe so my confidence will be shaken. You can’t do that. But I
appreciate the effort. I really do.”

Laughing softly, Darla shook her head. “Silly little thing…you
haven’t a clue what’s going on here….and you won’t…not until it’s too
late.” Thus said, she turned and walked out into the sunlight.

“Fine. And then that’s when I’ll deal with it.” Just then Cordelia
walked out of the changing room. Looking at her friend, Grace asked, “Why
is it that people feel that they can waltz in somewhere, drop a few
sarcastic lines laced with vague foreshadows and innuendos, and scare me? I
mean really. I think I’m a little beyond such petty ramblings.”

A confused expression on her face, Cordy looked up at her. “Umm…I
missed something didn’t I?”

Grace nodded. “Yes, you did. And it isn’t good. I just talked to Darla.
And I don’t know what she’s got planned, but she wants Angel… or
Angelus. Either way, she wants him. And I’ll rip her heart out with my own
hands before I’ll let her near him. We should head for home.”

“Darla!!!!!!” Shock on Cordy’s face, she nodded dumbly. “We
should…Angel has no idea…She’s dead…how could she?!!! Oh damn, this is one
of those magic things again.”

——————————————————————————–

They changed quickly and arrived back at the hotel in record time.
Grace didn’t like the thought that the woman had been dead and somehow
brought back. She didn’t like any of this. And the more time she had to
think about it, the more afraid she became. She couldn’t shake this
feeling… at all. Even when she saw Angel standing safely by Gunn, she
couldn’t shake it.
“What’s wrong?” Angel questioned, setting aside the paper he and Gunn
had been looking at and moving to take Grace’s hands in his.

She glanced at Cordelia and tried to remain calm. “I had a verbal run
in with your sire today. She’s up to something… I’ll be damned if I
can figure it out.” She’d held onto her calm the entire walk home but
she was quickly breaking. “She wants you. I know it.” Her arms went
around his waist and she simply shook.

“Darla!!” Shock on his face, Angel held her against him and looked at
Cordelia. “Did you…”

The brunette shook her head. “No, but given what Grace told me, it’s
her. It has to be.”

Understanding Grace’s reaction now, Angel gripped her tightly and
looked at Gunn. “Find Wesley…we need to figure this out and fast…”

When the mortal had left the room, the vampire pushed Grace away enough
that he could see into her eyes. “What she wants is something she can’t
have. I’m not going anywhere Grace…remember that.”

She shook her head. “No! She has something going on. She said I
wouldn’t figure it out until it was too late. She might not be able to take
you, but she mentioned *him* as well.” And in a rare moment of loss of
control, she cried. She hated crying, but the thought of losing him.
Hadn’t they just talked about that?!

“We stopped her the last time…And him?” Looking into her eyes deeply,
Angel frowned. “Angelus? I won’t let him come back Grace…I’d die
first…And I have no intentions of dying so that’ll tell you…”

She could only nod and wipe angrily at her tears. “I know. I know. I
can’t believe I let her get to me. I should have dragged her back here by
her hair and we could have beat the information out of her.” She was
just talking now. A part of her not knowing what she was saying. Giving a
hiccup, she looked into his eyes and asked, “What do you want me to
do?” She trusted him… trusted all of them. She’d do whatever was
necessary.

“Relax.” Her lover instructed quietly, leaning forward to brush a kiss
across her forehead. “Give us a chance to find out what’s wrong…then
we’ll call you down and get to work on a plan.”

She nearly panicked. “You’re sending me upstairs?!! No way! They don’t
have to deal with the repercussions if Darla gets the upper hand, I
do!” Her eyes narrowed. “You know that.” There was no way she was just
going to sit upstairs and wait. “Like I could relax right now anyway. Let
me help, please.”

Angel looked at her for a long moment then sighed. “All right, go get
Wesley’s books on Darla…they’re on the bottom shelf. We’ll need them.”

Her relief was palpable. If something were to go down, she wanted to be
here with him. As she walked to where Wesley kept his books, she knew
she had to get control. She could almost hear her mother scolding her
for that little episode. Grace tried to pass it off as the fact that
she’d never loved someone like she did Angel and she was terrified of
losing him. Somehow she didn’t think her mother bought it. Grabbing up the
books, she came back into the lobby a much calmer woman. “I think this
is all.”

“That’s them.” Angel agreed with a nod. “Set ’em down on the
counter…Cordy you start reading with her.” Grabbing his coat, the vampire
headed across the lobby. “I’m going to go pay someone a visit.”

Grace nearly dropped the books she was carrying, barely managing to
have them hit the desk. “You’re leaving? Maybe I… or someone… should
go with you.” How many times had she wandered off by herself when
someone had been stalking her? Maybe it was irrational, maybe it was simply
that she was afraid, but she had a horrible feeling about all this.
Finally, she sighed and said, “Just do me a favor and come back, ok?”

Returning to her side, he pulled her against him for a deep kiss.
“Trust me, Lindsey wouldn’t dare cross me…not yet. I’ve saved his life
one too many times for that…and I doubt Wolfram & Hart would expect me
to walk right in and start breaking heads.”

She swallowed hard and acquiesced. “Ok, but hurry back. No detours. You
aren’t back in one hour and I’m coming after you. Got that?” She
touched his face tenderly.

“Got it,” he agreed, capturing her hand and bringing it to his lips
before leaving once more.

She almost cried as she watched him go and waited about three seconds
before turning back to Cordy. “If I lose him, I die.” She handed her
friend a book and opened one herself. “But before I do, I’ll rip Darla’s
head off with my bare hands. I swear it.”

“He’ll be okay…He’s right when he says Lindsey wouldn’t dare…he
owes him his life….”Cordy reached out to touch her friend’s hand. “He’ll
be fine…”

Grace sighed. “You haven’t had any visions. Not even a hint of a
premonition as to what’s going to happen?” She knew if Cordy had, she’d say
something. Sighing she continued, “I know. I know. You’d tell us. I’m
just a bit out of sorts right now. Bear with me ok?” If anyone
understood her, it was Cordelia.

“Nothing yet…” Cordy responded quietly. “And always…”

She sat down on a chair and ran a hand through her short hair before
inhaling deeply. Looking at Cordy,she said, “Thanks.”

——————————————————————————–

Grace was curled up reading in the lobby when Angel returned, a somber
look on his face. Walking up behind her, he leaned down to kiss her
neck. “How’s it going?”

There was no measuring the relief she felt at his return. Reaching for
his hand, she pulled him to her and sighed, “This Darla is a real
bitch. I can’t imagine why someone would bring her back. What would they
have to gain? It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

Sighing, Angel kissed her again. “Wolfram & Hart did it…they want me
distracted right now.”

That caused her to drop her book and sit up. “Why do they want you
distracted, Angel? What’s going on?” She could tell it was horrible.

He didn’t want to tell her but there was no point in lying to her
either. “They’ve got a spell…all they need are the ingredients for
it…they’re trying to bring *him* back…”

She swallowed hard. ‘Remain calm,’ she thought. “Him as in *him*.” She
stood and began pacing. “Well they can’t do that. They just can’t. We
have the prophecy on our side. We’re together, we’re invincible. He just
*can’t* come back.” She began wringing her hands. Wasn’t it just like
that bitch named Fate to give them the world and then snatch it from
them. “They just can’t.”

Stopping her pacing, Angel took her hands in his. “We do have that…”
He agreed. “And we also have the chance to stop them. They have a copy
of the spell, but I think Wesley does too. And that means we know what
they need to make it work. If they had the ingredients then they would
have done the spell by now. We have a good chance here, Grace.”

She made a big effort to stop herself from crying. She wouldn’t lose
him. “I won’t let them take you. I swear it… even if I have to remove
their hearts with spoons.” She took a deep breath. “Ok, so we need to
figure out what they have and what we have to do?” She squeezed his
hands and then quickly and tightly embraced him. It was her worse
nightmare come true.

“Exactly….And I’m not going anywhere…you know it and I know it.”
Pulling her against him, he held her close. “Go on upstairs, I’ll be up
in a minute…they’re not going to be able to do anything tonight…I
kind of made a mess of their offices…and Wesley needs the time to
research, and *you* need to relax.”

She sighed. She wasn’t going to be able to argue with him on this. He
had way too much on his mind already. After all, it was his soul on the
line here. She held him a bit more tightly for a second before pulling
away. “Ok, I’ll go. But don’t be long. I won’t relax without you.”

“I’ll be right up…just have to tell Wesley to start looking.” With
that he ducked into the office to quickly outline the problem for the
former Watcher then, with orders not to be disturbed unless the spell was
going down that night, headed upstairs after Grace. Truth be told, he
needed to relax just as badly as she did. The idea that they could rip
his soul away from him so easily….it sent shivers down his spine.

Grace had fidgeted for a few moments at first, and then began
straightening up the room. They had a habit of strewing clothing across the room
in their haste… most times. She picked them up and started to put
them in the hamper. Picking up his shirt from the bathroom floor, she held
it to her nose and inhaled. She wouldn’t lose him. In that she was
adamant.

Standing in the doorway of the bedroom, Angel watched her with hungry
eyes. No way in hell was he leaving her. Wolfram & Hart could cast a
thousand spells…no way was he leaving her. “You always look better in
that one than I ever will…” He noted quietly, walking toward her.

She let it fall to her lap. “I was trying to relax. It wasn’t working
so Ithought I would brood a little. She stood before him and reached
out for his hands. “How are you holding up?”

Sitting down next to her, Angel sighed. “I’m frustrated…annoyed – a
little scared…but no way am I letting them win.”

She gave him a smile. “You just described me to a tee.” She could find
strength so long as she knew she could be of use. “I don’t lose, Angel.
I don’t. We’ll beat them.” She moved in and put her head on his
shoulder. She couldn’t take away the threat, but maybe she could make him feel
a little better.

“Definitely…” The vampire agreed, stroking his hands up and down her
back. Leaning his head against hers, Angel caught the scent of her
shampoo and closed his eyes. God, she smelled good…better than he had any
right to. His touch became firmer and he chuckled wryly. “I know this
isn’t exactly the best time for…but…” His body wasn’t letting him
take no for an answer. “You smell too good..”

She looked up at him and smiled. “I was just thinking how wonderful
your skin felt.” She reached up and touched his cheek. “And I think it is
the best time, actually.” She leaned up and kissed his chin.
“Definitely the best time.”

Pulling her to her feet, he covered her mouth with his in a hard and
passionate kiss. It wasn’t rough…but he needed her and he wasn’t about
to hide that need. Her arms wrapped around him and she pulled him to
her, there was literally no room between them. She needed him every bit
as badly as he needed her. This was it… what mattered most… them
being together. No one could take that away from them. Her hands then
began working on his clothing, wanting to get at the skin underneath it.

Walking her back into the bedroom, Angel pulled her shirt over her
head, leaning in to nip at her earlobe while his hands sought out her
breasts, cupping them in his palms and squeezing gently.

She moaned loudly and let her head fall back, giving him full access to
everything. Her hands went to his waist and pulled her flush against
him. “Angel,” she said his name softly. There was some urgency here, like
time was not on their side. Looking back up, she gazed into his eyes
and smiled. Those thoughts were for later, she quickly decided. Right
now, she just wanted him.

Finding the zipper of the skirt she was wearing, he quickly threw it
asideand pushed her down onto the bed. He wanted and he wanted now…and
he could see the same in her eyes. To hell with Wolfam & Hart…there
was just Angel and Grace and that was all that mattered.

Her hands made short work of his pants and she fondled his manhood…
it wasn’t roughly, but it definitely left no doubts as to what she
wanted. Releasing him, she took both his hands and pulled him down on top of
her. Oh yes, they needed this!

His mouth on her neck, Angel pressed her hands into the bed – not
violently but definitely pinning her down – his knee slipping between her
legs and pushing them open. When it came to sex neither one had many
inhibitions and this was definitely a time they loved to play. Just by
pressing his knee against her, he could tell she was already dripping wet.
Sometimes, they liked to take things slow and gentle…other
times…they wanted hard and fast. This was one of those times. With a grunt, he
drove into her smoothly, sliding in with one strong movement.

He may have had her hands pinned down, but it didn’t stop her from
thrusting up to meet him, their pelvises almost slamming into one another.
Her legs wrapped around his waist and she cried out before latching her
mouth on any part of his flesh she could reach. She loved the taste of
him almost as much as she loved feeling him inside of her.

Definitely one of those times he decided, as he rammed into her hard
and moved down to bite at her breasts slightly, soothing the red marks
with his tongue. Damn good thing they both healed quickly…when they got
like this…if they were mortal, there’d be bruises all over the place.

She met him thrust for thrust, and just to make things more interesting
she tightened her muscles, making her channel a bit tighter… a bit
harder for him to thrust into. It increased the pleasure for them both
tenfold. A deliciously evil thought ran through her mind as he nipped at
her. Licking his shoulder, she smiled before biting him… marking him
if only for a while.

Grunting at it, he laughed against her skin, bringing out a little fang
for his next bite. She wanted to play rough…rough it was.

She shuddered and loosened her muscles for just a moment before
tighteningthem even more. She loved it when they played like this. Her hand
ran along his marked shoulder and she licked her lips. “You taste good,”
she said between thrusts.

Groaning, he moved up to nip at her shoulder with a normal face and
then grinned at her. “You have no idea how you taste….” He informed her
in a deep voice before licking her neck. “Incredible doesn’t even come
close.”

She sighed and softly said, “Then taste away. I’m all yours.” She
licked his shoulder again and gave his shoulder another nip.

Laughing softly, Angel shifted into his vampire visage and buried his
fangs in her neck as he slammed into her again. There was nothing more
erotic than this. Feeding her while inside her. Nothing like it.

She screamed, from sheer ecstasy. She didn’t even try to stop her
climax. It slammed hard into her. But it was quick. It would take her no
time at all to reach another one before he came.

Feeling her spasm around him, Angel didn’t even slow down. With the
Immortal blood racing through his body, he wasn’t far from it himself, but
still…he was also nowhere near done.

She regained control. And moved surely with him once more. She had no
doubts that she would die with this session. And truth be known, it’s
what she wanted. He never drained her quickly. She hadn’t asked but he
could almost control how much he took from her and how fast he took it.
This was sheer heaven.

Taking his time with his feeding, Angel’s body moved like a piston in
and out of Grace. It was a purely base reason but this was another
reason he’d never leave her. He was addicted to Grace. To her body… to her
taste…to her.

Her hands went into his hair and she held him tightly to her. Her hips
moving without thought. She’d never had anyone in her entire life that
she’d felt so connected to, so in tune with. No way would she lose
this. He was her life… the air she breathed.

Upping his tempo both at her neck and below her waist, Angel’s grip on
her tightened – if he could speak he would have growled ‘Mine!’. No way
he’d give her up.

She could feel her strength draining, but she continued to meet him
thrust for thrust. Dying in his arms. To Grace, it was the most divine way
to go. Reviving in them was even more wonderful. And there was no doubt
about it, she was going to die. Panting, she tried to make her voice
form the words, but all she could manage was the first syllable of his
name… “An…” and she repeated it over and over until she climaxed
again and cried out, “Angel!!!”

With a growl, he let himself go, pulsing into her as he pulled free of
her neck and let his face return to normal before claiming her mouth
with his. “Grace……” he countered lowly, resting his forehead against
hers.

“I’ll never let go,” she said softly. It wasn’t just a statement, it
was a promise. She’d kill anyone who tried to take him from her. She had
no moral code to stop her from protecting those she loved. And he
topped that list. But right now, she could feel her life fading. Dying so he
could live, she kinda liked that.

“Me either.” He promised, brushing a kiss against her cheek. “See you
in a bit.”

She gave him a weak smile and closed her eyes. Her head fell to the
side and she was gone. There was actually a look of happiness on her
face.

——————————————————————————–

When she came too, there was that onslaught of pain as her lungs
refilled and her heart beat way too fast. She coughed a bit, but managed to
get it under control easily. The bite marks on her neck had healed, as
had the ones on his shoulder. “Why is it dying is so much more elegant
than reviving?” she teased.

“Everything shuts down easier.” He countered with a chuckle. “But if it
makes you feel better…you look great waking up too…”

She rolled her eyes and laughed. “You must be in love to say I look
good gasping, coughing, and wheezing.” She moved securely into his
embrace. “But thank you for saying it. There’s no where I’d rather revive
than in your arms.”

Glancing down at their lower bodies, Angel smirked at her. “Never mind
with us…” he shrugged meaningfully.

She moved to lie on top of him and pinned his shoulders to the bed.
“You got something to say, Mister.” She leaned down and kissed his neck.
For a few moments, she left their problems outside. It was where they
belonged. In here, nothing could touch them.

“No ma’am.” Angel returned obediently, his hands resting on her hips.

“Yeah, right,” she smiled, wiggling against him, but not joining them.
“Why is it that I don’t quite think you’re being forthcoming?”

“Because you’re a suspicious woman with a contrary nature.” This was
said with a smirk.

That did make her smile. “Yeah, and what’s your point on that? Anyone
who’s known me for two seconds can tell you that. Or did you forget how
we first met?” She leaned down and began kissing his nipples.
Suddenly, she needed to taste all of him.

“As if I could…” Angel gasped out before drawing her mouth back to
his.

They made love several times that afternoon and until late in the
evening. Taking comfort in each other’s presence until they finally
exhausted themselves then they lay together, curled around each other, Angel
resting his head on her chest – savoring the sound of her heartbeat
beneath his ear. No way in hell was he letting *anyone* take him away from
this. He’d kill Darla if he had to. No way was he leaving Grace. Ever.

Even in her sleep, Grace’s arms held him tightly. She was exhausted to
the point that even immortal healing was going to take a while. But it
was worth it. Being with Angel always was. She couldn’t count the
number of times he’d reassured her that they would win. That he’d kill
whomever it took… and she knew he meant it. They loved one another *that*
much.

Still, it couldn’t stop the dreams. She was standing in the hotel lobby
with Wesley, Gunn, and Cordelia. It was so vivid, she could feel it.
“Where is he?” she shouted to Wesley. “You swore we’d be able to stop
them.” She was trying not to panic. Maybe he had just run off after
Darla. Maybe… the world was full of those. Stay calm, she told herself.

“What’s the matter lover…” a smooth voice, Angel’s voice but not,
interjected smoothly, as the vampire – dressed head to toe in black but
with considerably more leather than usual – walked in the door. “You seem
a little upset….”

She looked at Cordy, who was in a state of shock, and geared herself
up. Turning, her hand on her sword, she said, “You are the master of the
understatement.” She had to swallow hard. He had her love’s body, but
this wasn’t her Angel. Nothing of him remained. A despair that was
palpable filled her. Could she kill this demon? Angel had showed her how.
But it would kill her in the process. “Enjoy your visit, Angelus. You
won’t be in there long.”

“Oh I don’t know…I’ve been Angelus longer than he’s been Angel.
Possession is nine tenths of the law or whatever the hell it is…” The
vampire strolled casually toward her, his eyes wandering over her form
appreciatively. “His taste’s definitely improved…moved on to women…No
offense to the Slayer, but Buffy was a kid…and a spoiled one. Now
you…” Circling her, he licked his lips. “You must taste delicious.”

“It’s something you will never know.” She would actually not mind
having some of the Slayer’s experience with Angelus right at this point
though. “No one takes me unless I give of myself. If you don’t believe me,
we can ‘talk’ it out amongst ourselves. No problem. I’ve killed lovers
before.” She glanced at Wesley, praying that he had something up his
sleeve to bring back their Angel. She was talking a big story, but inside
she was dying. Seeing this body, and knowing her Angel no longer
inhabited it was ripping out her heart. And to top it off, she knew Angel
would want her to kill him. But if she could avoid it, she would. Keep him
talking that was best.

“So have I…” Angelus said smoothly, unruffled. “Hell, I drove one
insane…right before I *took* her….made her one of mine. Dru’s
definitely one of my favorites…” Reaching out to touch her hair, trailing
along her smooth neck, he laughed softly. “His tastes have *definitely*
improved…”

“One more thing about me, Angelus. I always keep my promises. And I
made one to Angel.” There was definitely no way she could match him in
strength. And she knew that even though she’d sparred Angel as his vamp
self, Angelus was different. “You’ll never have me. Ever.”

“Maybe you should rethink that…” He promised softly. “I know a few
things that kid never did. Take away the conscience and so *many*
wonderful things come to the surface…and you always keep your word
hmm…how…sweet.”

Giving him her sweetest smile, she said, “Isn’t it though?” One thing
she was an expert at was using her sword, and her sexuality. ‘Hurry,
Wesley,’ she thought as she leaned toward him andsaid, “Though I’m not as
sweet as I look.” In a swift move, she impaled him with her sword. She
purposely missed his heart. There was no way she could kill him just
yet. “Seems you don’t know as much as you think.” It was then that her
knee caught him in the stomach.

Grunting in pain, the vampire went down. “Definitely better than
Buffy.” He gasped out, looking at the sword in his body. “Nice blade….”

“You should know. That one’s Angel’s.” Pulling hers out, she continued,
“This one is mine. And I haven’t meet anyone who could best me.” She
sounded stronger than she felt. She was going to have to kill him. Kill
Angelus and the man she loved more than life itself was going to die as
well. But obviously Wesley couldn’t help. No one could. ‘I love you,
Angel,’ she thought and then attacked.

“Grace?” Angelus spoke, but his voice seemed different…more like
Angel’s. “Grace?! What’s wrong?”

She came up swinging, crying out “No!” as she was facing the demon. It
was then that the scene changed before her and she began to shake.
“Angel? Angel? Is that you?”

“Grace? Wake up….” Shaking her, the vampire looked down at his
sleeping lover in concern. “Grace!!!”

Her eyes opened completely, and her breath caught and held. She
couldn’t help but back away a bit. “I… I had a dream. You weren’t you… you
were him. And I had to… I had to…” She couldn’t say anymore. Not
another word as the shakes took over and she began to really sob.

“Fight me?” Angel finished for her, pulling her close. “That’s not
going to happen Grace…no way. Besides, you’d take him easy…”

“He didn’t even really… really…” She had to pause and gain her
breath through her sobs. “I didn’t want to… I didn’t.” She could still
feel the blood on her hands. She began rubbing them together furiously.
“He just wanted… wanted… to possess. It was awful.” She leaned into
him, needing as much strength as he could give. This was *her* Angel
and she knew that. But the dream was still so vivid in her mind.

“I know…” The vampire soothed, holding her close and securing her
hands between them. “He was being him…Let it fade Grace…you’ll never
have to really see him.” Mentally he cursed the demon, wishing he could
erase Grace’s dream from her mind. Some would say she’d probably
exaggerated Angelus’s personality but Angel knew it wouldn’t be like that. He
knew that if anything…she hadn’t even come close.

She let the sound of his voice soothe her. She wasn’t sobbing anymore.
At worst, she would hiccup once in a while in an attempt to catch her
breath. “I loathed him. I could have killed *him* easily if it hadn’t
meant killing you too. We have to stop them. We have to, because I’m not
facing that *thing*.” Her arms went around his waist and she held him
tightly to her. “I’m not losing you.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” Angel promised and rubbed his cheek against
her hair. “We both know Wesley’s too damn smart to let that happen…”

She shook her head. “No. In the dream, he didn’t do anything.
Nothing.” She closed her eyes tightly for a moment and breathed deeply. “Ok,
ok. The dream was a worst-case scenario. Drummed up by this overwhelming
fear I have. I’ll be ok. It was a dream, I still have you, there’s
nothing to get this upset over. Right?”

“Right…” her lover agreed firmly. “We’re going to win Grace…they
can’t beat that.”

She sighed. Wanting so badly to let him convince her. “Right. We’re
unbeatable. The joining of darkness and light. Nothing can defeat us.”
Wow! Why did that just sound like a mantra? She hardly ever said it first,
but she needed to say it now. “I love you, you know? More than
anything. More than my own life. And don’t wig out on me over that. I just
needed to say it.”

He chuckled and ran a hand over her hair. “I love you too..” Holding
her close, Angel sighed. “And I’m glad you said it…And keep thinking
that…no body can beat us.”

She smiled. “I just have to convince my subconscious of it. Otherwise,
I won’t get a decent night’s sleep until this is over. If I could find
Darla now and rip her hair out, I would. Smug bitch.” She was
definitely coming back to herself.

Laughing, Angel tickled her. “I’d pay money to see that…”

Swatting his hands, she giggled. “You won’t have to pay. I’d do that
for free. I almost slapped her in the store today. But then I suppose you
of all people know what a twit she is.” She moved to find his more
sensitive spots.

Grabbing her hands, he grinned. “Behave.”

“I’m trying. But you won’t let me.” The dreams were definitely fading
and being replaced by him. It was always Angel. For her, he chased the
darkness away.

That made him laugh. “I’m not the one controlling your hands…” He
could see she was relaxing and that made him relax. As long as they were
together and solid that was the important thing.

“Well… no…” she had to admit. “But you started it, and you know I
have to retaliate in kind. It’s my nature. Besides, it’s fun. I love to
see you smile and to hear you laugh. You should do it more often.”

“If that’s what you want…” Angel smiled before leaning in to kiss
her. “Then that’s what you get.”

She smiled brightly. Her arms spread wide and then wrapped around him.
“That’s definitely what I want. Well that and this too.”

“Then I’m happy to oblige.” He informed her quietly, in a promising
voice.

——————————————————————————–

The next evening found the entire group downstairs again. Now that they
knew what they were up against, the need to figure out what was going
on was paramount.
Putting one of the books about Darla on the table, Grace said, “Ok,
there’s no information about how she became mortal. This last entry is
about Angel killing her. That’s it. So how did she come back? The
lawyers?” She looked to Wesley for an answer, didn’t he know everything about
this. She prayed he did!!!

Looking over his books, the Englishman hmm’d and haww’d for a minute
before nodding. “Yes, yes here it is!” He turned the book so the others
could look. “A fairly complex spell but, with someone of old magic
casting it…it would no doubt be successful in bringing back an
extinguished vampire. And since she began life mortal…she would begin again
mortal.”

“And she can die like a mortal too then,” Grace whispered. Out loud,
she asked, “Ok. So if she brings back Angelus, she’s knows he’ll turn her
again. That’s a lot of work for immortality, isn’t it? Why not hunt
down this Dru or Spike?”

“Because she made Angelus…” Angel said quietly. “She’s obsessed with
him. Angelus made Dru & Spike… neither one Darla feels particularly
close to. Dru especially not since Angelus became so obsessed with
her… Darla had a tendency to be jealous. She’d want Angelus to do this…”

Grace nodded, trying her best to keep on her strategic face. The dream
still played closely in her mind. Reaching out, she touched his arm.
“She may want him, but she’s not getting him. So we’ll use her obsession
against her. I’ve done that before.” She sat down and ran a hand
through her hair. “The only problem is we still have no idea where she is and
what she’s going to do?”

“Guess that’s where I come in huh?” Cordelia commented with a sigh,
leaning forward to look at the book. “Touch a bunch of stuff and try for a
vision.”

“That would be the idea yes…” Wesley interjected with a nod.

Grace looked at her, knowing what these visions did to her. But she
also realized this was probably the only way. Giving her friend a smile,
she softly said, “Just touch Angel. Darla is focused on him.”

Cordy shared a look with Angel who shrugged. “Might be the only way.”
He put forward quietly.

“Easy for you to say…you get to be the one touching *warm* skin…”
Cordy feigned a shudder, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m the one
gropin’ dead boy…”

Grace gave her a weak smile. Personally, she saw nothing wrong with
groping him, but all that had it’s time and place. They were in a serious
battle for his soul right now. “I know it’s hard, Cordy. But I really
think it’s the only advantage we’re going to get.”

Hesitantly, the young woman nodded then reached over to touch Angel’s
hand lightly.

For a second nothing happened then she winced before her head snapped
back as she was caught up in a powerful vision. Breathlessly, she tried
to describe everything she was seeing so that they could get a head
start on where to go.

Everyone moved toward her, but it was Grace who caught and held her.
She listened to not only what Cordy said, but what she didn’t. When it
was over, she wiped the damp hair from Cordy’s face and showing every
bit of her age, she said, “Thank you, Cordy. I know it took a lot, but
you may have saved his soul.” She looked up at the guys. “Well, does this
‘place’ sound familiar to anyone?”

“Abandoned building on the edge of town.” Gunn reported. “Not many
people go there. Somebody bought the property a few months back. Vamps used
to hang out there but even they’ve been steering clear of it lately.”

“Good sign something bad’s going down there.” Angel noted looking at
Grace.

Still holding Cordy protectively, Grace said, “Then that’s where we
head. But we go in armed.” She paused and swallowed hard. She was trying
to remain business-like, but she was starting to shake. “We can’t wait
for her to decide our future.”

“We can’t.” Angel agreed and, supporting Cordy, helped her into
Wesley’s arms before he turned to take Grace into his. “We go in
fighting…take care of things and be home before sunup. How’s that sound to you?”

Her arms went around him and her face rested in his neck. “Sounds
perfect to me. She’s not going to win… no matter what. She’s not.” She
squeezed him tightly, pushing the nightmare away. She had to be strong and
she would…no doubts there!

“Damn straight…” Angel agreed, resting his cheek against her hair.
“Against you she doesn’t stand a chance…”

Grace smiled and kissed his neck. He was right about that. Grace
Hammond had a plan for Darla, and it included the end of her sword. “We
better go,” she said fatefully. “If the others go, they need to arm
themselves. Cordy’s vision said Darla isn’t alone.”

“To the weapons locker…” Cordy waved a weary hand with a wry smile.
“I’m starting to feel like Batman or something…”

Grace reluctantly let go of Angel. He wasn’t one to really display
things publicly, but right now, she didn’t care. Pulling him to her, she
kissed him deeply… after all, it could be her last. When they finally
broke for air, she said, “I have my sword, it’s all I’ll need tonight.”

On that, Angel just nodded. He kissed her again before going to load up
on weaponry. He understood Grace’s mindset but there was a large part
of him that was still distinctly uncomfortable about having her face off
with Darla. He knew Grace was used to dealing with bad guys but this
was…well this was different.

If there was one thing Grace could do now, it was read Angel’s eyes…
the expressions on his face. He was an open book to her. She knew that
her position on killing Darla was bothering him. But she also knew he
understood and wouldn’t stand in her way. Darla couldn’t be reasoned
with and she would never stop. Her oldest teacher had taught her that,
and he’d been right. She grabbed up her long coat and sheathed her tachi.
“We all go in and we all come out.” She turned to head out and then
turned back. There it was again… that ‘sense’ about Gunn that she’d had
earlier. She didn’t like it. Turning back, she said to all of them.
“You guys are my family now. Watch your backs, ok?”

The mortals all nodded at her.

“You got it, G.” Gunn responded with a cocky smile. “We always come out
in one piece.”

“And when we don’t we have good health insurance.” Wesley added with a
nervous smile.

“Plus they’ve got the best life insurance in town.” Angel noted with
dry humor.

Grace gave a wry smile. “A vampire looking out for them. You got it.”
She really was in defense mode as she led them out to the car. If she
had her way, she’d go in first as well. They not only had to stop Darla
but whatever spell she was casting. Grace hadn’t been this determined
since Armand.

——————————————————————————–

“Why is it these things always look *scarier* in real life than they do
in the mind-bendingly painful visions?” Cordy asked softly as they
approached the building.

“Just the way these things work Cordy…” Gunn said with a shrug.
“Course, it might be cause you’re focused on how bad it hurts not how it
looks?”

“An interesting theory…” Wesley began but was silenced by a stern
look from Angel.

Not now.

The message, without being actually spoken, was received loud and
clear.

Grace, though not by her choice, was taking the rear. She hadn’t drawn
her sword… yet. One thing she’d learned in these months of working
with Angel Investigations was that they actually investigated first. It
was new to her since most of those she chased, she already knew were
guilty. When they reached the door, she could almost sense the danger, and
her hand rested on the hilt of her sword as a precaution. If Darla
truly tried anything, Grace would kill her.

Angel, at the head, moved carefully into the dark building with a wary
expression on his face. If anything so much as moved funny…he’d be
ready.

Glancing back, he watched as the others fell into appropriate
positions, all on the lookout for any possible threats. They were definitely
approaching this well…better than they had at first. Now, they were a
cohesive team. A team he was immensely proud of.

Family.

No way was he letting *anyone* tear him away from them.

Grace kept herself close to Cordelia. Not that the girl couldn’t more
than handle herself… she could. Cordelia was in precise alignment
between Gunn and Angel. And believe it or not, these were the two she
needed most to keep her eye on. She thought again…She’d keep Wesley close
too. She’d never really had a group that meant this much too her. That
touched her heart so deeply. It wasn’t just Angel she’d die to protect.
It was all of them… and it was at this time that she fully realized
that. It was also at that moment that she realized exactly what Angel
had meant by the fact that Darla wouldn’t win. No way could evil break
apart a family like this one. She couldn’t help but smile at that.

Hearing the sound of chanting, Angel gestured and they all fell into
new positions as they crept toward where the sounds were coming from.

Moving quietly, they knelt behind barrels to peer down onto the next
level where they found a group of vampires, lawyers from Wolfram & Hart,
and Darla all arranged over a pentagram drawn on the ground.

Angel’s heightened sense of smell told him the pentagram was drawn in
human blood. This was a spell that meant business.

Looking to Wesley, he waited for the nod of confirmation from the
Englishman that – yes- this was the spell they needed to stop.

After a moment’s observation, the dark – haired mortal man nodded back.

It was the one.

Quietly, with a stealth that surprised them every time she did it,
Grace moved in beside Angel. They were going down and she was the best
barrier they had. They wouldn’t kill Angel because they so desperately
needed him alive. But they’d kill the others, and Grace was the only one
they couldn’t kill simply. (She had her theories about Gunn though.) She
peered over to Angel to await the signal. She knew who her target was,
and she was more than ready.

Watching his former lover with a stunned look in his eyes, Angel was
hesitant to move but finally, he nodded at Grace and stood up. “Honey,
I’m home!!” The sarcastic comment caught the people below by surprise
and they all stared up in shock.

All but Darla.

——————————————————————————–

“Angelus…” She smiled in a twisted version of a welcome. “It’s so
good to see you again.”

“I’d say the same…but I’d be lying. And it’s Angel now. We’ve been
through that.”

While Angel was providing the diversion through skillful witticism,
Grace led the rest of the group down into the lion’s den. They spread
out…weapons drawn. But it was Grace who appeared first. Using her
stealth, she placed her sword at the neck of the first vampire she came to.
“Oh Darla, dear. Your Angel, you see, he didn’t come alone.” With a deft
stroke borne of a millennia of fighting, she skillfully removed the
vamp’s head and was ready for the fight to commence.

“Oh look…he brought friends.” Darla sighed, and returned to her
chanting but paused long enough to wave a languid hand. “Kill them.”

With that, spare vampires on hand for just such an occasion, lunged
forward to do the job as asked.

Shrugging, Angel quickly dispatched two with the stakes he kept spring
loaded up his sleeves. “Next?”

Cordy, not to be outdone, managed to dust one by using the quarterstaff
Grace had been teaching her to use. Granted, this was no ordinary staff
as both ends were pointed for prime staking.

“Nice one!” Gunn yelled in approval, sticking close by her and Wesley
as the trio formed a back-to-back group, ensuring no one could get a
drop on them.

Grace moved smoothly through the group. She did mostly beheadings, as
that was her strong point. She beheaded one, spun low, and was met by
two who were snarling for the kill. “Two against one. Hardly seems fair
to you guys. But if you insist…” The first one who charged her got a
nice slice in the gut. While he was bemoaning his pain, the second was
shortened by several inches. Not even breathing heavy, Grace decapitated
the first and moved that much closer to her goal.

Darla was waiting, her eyes still on the book but intensely aware of
Grace’s approach. With a triumphant smile, she looked up at the other
blonde. “Only a few sentences away….then he’s mine…I wonder…how much
pain can you endure? I’m sure Angelus will want to find out…”

That made Angel spin as he tossed a vampire onto the pointed staff
Cordy held at the ready. “I’ll never hurt her…and I’ll stake myself
before I’ll let *him* back to hurt her…Forget it Darla…you should have
stayed dead.”

Grace finished off a vamp and took another step closer to Darla. With a
punch, she knocked out another one, who Wesley immediately staked.
“Question is…” Another one fell… “How much pain can you take? Angelus,
if brought back, will die, and then I’ll hunt you. And I never give
up.” Another vampire beheaded. “I never stop. And you will die slowly.
You better read fast, lady, if you think you can.” She missed one, and
didn’t see where the stake came from that killed it, but she didn’t care.
She’d reached the inner sanctum. Standing before Darla, her sword
drawn, she smiled and said, “Too late.”

Immediately, Darla withdrew a hand from under the massive spell book
and pointed a gun at the Immortal woman. “I always did like these
things…slows people down quite a bit…sure kept Buffy busy, huh Angelus?”
She winked with a predatory smile. “Almost had her…if you hadn’t have
shot me.”

While Darla was preoccupied with her verbal spar, Grace moved slightly
and produced her shiv. With a slight flick of her wrist, she tossed it
as she spun and effectively hit Darla in the shoulder. Most
importantly, it was the one she was holding the gun in. The gun, though it shot,
missed Grace and when flying out of Darla’s hand. “But I’m not a teenage
mortal, Darla dear. I’m a 1000-year-old immortal. Don’t point that
thing at me and not use it.” Her sword went to Darla’s heart.

In a last ditch effort, Darla’s voice could be heard trying to form the
words of the last sentence that would bring back Angelus. As she did
though, Grace’s sword pierced her heart and Darla’s voice was silenced
forever. “No one fucks with my family,” she said softly.

Immediately, Angel was standing behind her and pulled her against him
gently. “Told you we’d win…” He said after a long moment’s pause.

Her sword dropped and her arms grasped his. “I shouldn’t have doubted.
She won’t try to hurt you again. I am sorry though. I know she meant
something to you at one time.” And that was the truth. For what they had
once been to one another, she did regret that Darla couldn’t be saved.
But in no way could she have been allowed to live. To try this again.
Grace’s head rested against his shoulder and she let his presence fill
her.

“To him…” Angel said quietly. “She made him…me, I just feel regret
over it all.”

Wesley, not really paying attention to them, interrupted their moment
with a soft whisper. “Oh dear God…”

Grace pulled away. She hadn’t noticed it before, but the air was
tingling. “Oh God… oh God…” She turned to Angel with tears in her eyes.
“I failed him.” Pushing away, she cried out Gunn’s name and went
running. He would feel her when he revived and her Quickening was quite
strong. But when she saw Cordelia dead as well, and felt it from her too, she
thought, ‘What the hell?’

Angel was right behind her, horrified when he saw both his friends dead
before Wesley. “Oh God…” He said softly in shock, dropping down to
gather Cordy against him while staring numbly at Gunn, grieving for the
young man and woman who’d given up their lives for him…to help him.

This wasn’t supposed to happen…

Grace simply held both of their hands. She shed no tears. She didn’t
have the time. Her mind was in a near panic. In a matter of moments, she
was going to have two new students. One she could easily manage, but
two were going to be difficult. Looking up at Angel, she said, “Hold on.”

“Hold on?!” He managed hoarsely, staring at her in shock. “Hold on?!”

“Angel,” Wesley put forward, realizing what Grace was trying to say. “I
do believe Grace means that Gunn and Cordelia will be rejoining us in a
few moments…”

Looking up at the Englishman with a surprised look, Angel’s gaze flew
to Grace. “They’re like you?!”

“I… I didn’t think Cordelia was. But Gunn… his parents adopted him.
Wesley told me. I thought he was, but still… Cordelia… I had no
idea. But the energy, it’s there. I can feel it. Hold her tightly, Angel.
Her revival will be worse than any you’ve seen me endure. She’ll be
shocked and confused and scared.” She leaned over Gunn. His hand was held
to her chest and she was stroking his face. “And she’ll feel me…
right away. And it will hurt. Just hold her.” She was definitely going to
need some help here.

“That I can do.” the vampire said softly, his eyes on Cordy’s face once
more. It was bad enough having to lose Doyle only a few short years
before. He didn’t even want to consider losing Cordy and Gunn too. If it
meant they were to live like Grace, which was fine by him. He just
wanted them alive.

When the first sparks of their Quickenings threaded through their
wounds, Grace glanced at Angel and said, “It’s happening.”

“No kidding…” Angel noted, staring in amazement at the wound knitting
itself closed on Cordy’s chest, beneath the hole the bullet had torn
in her shirt.

Her healing took only a few seconds and the young woman arched up in
Angel’s arms, eyes wide with shock, horror and pain.

Her hands gripping his forearm tightly, she looked around – her body
shaking. “Annn… Angel?! What…..”

“You died.” He informed her softly. “You’re like…”

“Grace….” Cordy finished in shock.

“Yes.” Wesley knelt next to her and smiled. “Thank God yes….We’d
thought we’d lost you…”

“I was leaning over…Oh God!! GUNN!!” Struggling to push Angel back,
Cordy tried to see what had happened to her friend, remembering the
vampires using her staff to run him through.

Grace could feel Cordelia’s Quickening. It was faint, as most new
Immortal’s were. But she could still feel it coursing through her veins.
Which meant that Cordy could feel hers. It had to be shock that kept Cordy
from recognizing anything. Grace glanced at Cordy and smiled before
saying, “Welcome back, hon.”

Gunn’s took longer because he had been completely run through. When the
last of his wound healed, he lunged up and gasped for air. He shot up
right into Grace’s arms and she held him tightly to her. His was a bit
stronger… again, given his death. “It’s ok, Gunn. I’ve got you.”

“Damn!” Gunn burst out in shock, looking around wildly much in the
manner Cordy had. “What happened?! Cor, you okay?”

Still in Angel’s arms, she nodded. “We both are….sort of.”

“Whaddya mean sort of? G?” Looking up, Gunn realized where he was and
who was holding him. “What the hell is going on?”

Touching his cheek tenderly, Grace gave him a smile and said, “Welcome
to *my* neighborhood, G. One of the baddies took you down. That energy
you feel, that’s what saved you. You… I kind of guessed at. Cordy
surprised me. You’re both like me… immortals.”

“No way?!” Gunn blinked. “Damn!”

——————————————————————————–

Grace opened up the door to the hotel and led the group inside. The
trip back had been quieter than was even the norm for them. She knew Cordy
and Gunn would have questions. Her question was, how did she miss
Cordelia? But now she had to focus on the fact that she had two new
immortals to train. Taking a seat in her favorite chair, she opened with, “Ok,
I could go into a long spiel about how immortals come to be and all.
And if you want that, I can do it. But I’d rather just answer questions
since you both already know something about immortals because of me.”

“Did you know?!” Gunn asked her, intense gaze locked on the elder
Immortal’s face. “Did you know about me and Cordy?”

She leaned forward, crossing her arms on her knees. This was always a
tough one, and the hardest for people to understand. “We never actually
know. There are hints… clues… It’s a feeling actually. You gave off
a low… what I call ‘thrum’. Most times, it’s indicative of a
pre-Immortal. And no, I got no such indicator from Cordelia.”

“Typical…” Cordy shrugged. “The big stuff with me always happens with
no warning…Exhibit A. Doyle giving me these mind-numbing visions. OH
no!!” she blinked, eyes wide. “Does this mean I’m stuck with those?
FOREVER?!”

Grace sighed. “Yes. What conditions you have as a pre-Immortal you have
as an Immortal. But the good news is… the headaches will be
infinitesimal. You’ll barely feel them before they go away. The adrenaline that
your body produces, it will still produce. But you will incorporate it
much faster.”

Sighing, the young Immortal woman nodded. “Much better…” She looked
over at Angel. “You think *they* were behind this?”

The vampire shrugged. “Maybe…I mean, they know I’m going to be around
forever, it makes sense they’d want a link to them to be around forever
too.”

“Yeah, but you only gotta deal with the Slayers…*me*, I gotta deal
with every Immie nut job in LA trying to lop off my head…” Cordy shook
the aforementioned body part and grinned wryly. “Guess, my acting
career’s done. At least the on screen stuff…people are bound to notice I’m
not getting any older…” She paused then thought of something. “What
about swords? Gunn and I don’t know how…”

“Guess we get a teacher.” The other fledgling noted with a shrug.

Grace thought about that for a moment. She’d handled multiple students
before, but these people were her family. And if Duncan’s experience
had proved anything… teaching family could get painful. “Yes, you will.
At least one.” Giving them a smile, she said, “That one would be me.”
Standing, she said, “Angel, a moment please?” She wasn’t about to invite
anyone into his home without talking to him first. Especially the
someone she was considering.

Rising with her, Angel moved away to stand before her. “Something
wrong?”

She led him back into the office where they could have some privacy.
“Yes… and no.” When they were alone, she said, “Normally when I take a
student, I take years to train them. Decades most time. I don’t have
that luxury with Cordy and Gunn. Given the job they do, I need to train
them more quickly. I know you can help with the sword techniques and
such. But you have a job to do as well. So, I have a proposition for you.
I have a student… or should I say I had a student. He’s the best of
all of us, Angel. I’ve never seen anyone better. I’d like to ask him to
come and join us. With him, I could have them trained in a third of the
time.” There was more she needed to say, but if it wasn’t ok from the
getgo, she’d forget the rest of it.

“Ask him.” Angel replied immediately. “If he can help them survive then
ask him. Get him here…we’ve got plenty of room so ask him.” When it
came to keeping his friends alive, that was all that mattered. Angel’d
protect them no matter what.

Grace nodded and picked up the phone. She dialed the number and when
the phone was answered, she simply said, “Duncan, I need you.” She was
quiet for a moment and then gave her address. That was all she said.
Hanging up the phone, she said, “He’ll be here tomorrow morning.”

“Then we give *them* time to adjust….” Reaching for her hand, the
vampire pulled her close. “Come to think of it, we could use time for the
same thing too..”

“Mmm….” she responded as her arms went around him automatically. “In
the midst of all this… we haven’t had a chance to be grateful.” It
fully hit her then. On top of this, she could have lost Angel too. “We
won… for the most part anyway.”

“We’re all alive…we won Grace.” Resting his chin on her head, Angel
repeated. “We always win.”

Finis

Tags: alternate universe, angel, angel/grace, angst, crossover, drama, grace hammond, het, romance

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