Inell's Fanfiction Archive

Xander sat on the couch, looking from Jesse to the man that been introduced as Angel. He didn't know what they were, but they weren't human. They scared him, but he trusted Willow. She had allowed them into her home, that was good enough for him. Besides, he was too worried about her to give them a second thought.

"She'll be fine, Xan," Jesse said, flashing a familiar smile. "Grandfather helped her."

"I cannot believe the Master came to surface to find her," Angel said, shaking his head. "Have they all changed so much in such a short time?"

Jesse shrugged, "I don't know, bro. They've been that way as long as I've known them."

Angel cringed at the younger vampire's use of the word bro, wondering what on Earth had possessed Darla into turning him in the first place. His eyes found a picture of a redhead and he knew. "My name is Angelus. It would do you well to remember it."

"And here I thought it was Puppy," Jesse said, laughter in his voice. "At least, that's what Wills always calls you."

"You have a big mouth, boy," Angel growled, not liking being laughed at by his much younger brother.

"What is happening up there?" Xander asked softly, interrupting their argument, his eyes on the stairs. It had taken nearly twenty minutes before Jesse had returned with a beautiful blonde and Angel in tow. The blonde, Darla he assumed, had gone upstairs immediately while Angel had sat in the chair farthest away from both of them.

Jesse looked at his old friend, smiling slightly, "Well, Xan, you see, it's like this. Vampires are real......"

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

"Darla?" Willow saw her mate and felt a pull at her.

"Willow," Darla smiled at her lover, leaning over to kiss her.

"I feel strange," Willow said after Darla moved, sitting up in her bed. She looked from the master to her mate and asked, "I'm one of you, aren't I?"

"You are," the master confirmed.

"It feels weird," she said, making a face. "Not what I expected at all. There's something inside me but it feels like it belongs."

"That's your demon, honey," Darla explained. "It will take some time, but you'll adjust. You're alive. That's all that matters."

"Are you upset that it wasn't you?" Willow asked, her hand moving to her neck.

Darla laughed, "Of course not, love. Father's blood is stronger, more powerful. He hasn't created a childe in centuries. You will be very powerful, Willow."

"Thank you," she told the master, smiling softly. "Xander? Does he know that I am all right?"

"I left Jesse and Angelus with him," Darla said, moving to lay beside her mate. "Jesse will have explained everything by now, I'm sure."

"Great, Xander's probably freaked out," Willow said, rolling her eyes.

"I shall go reassure them all," the master said as he opened the door. Looking at Darla, he smiled, "I believe that Angelus and I have a bit of catching up to do."

"Be nice, Father," Darla warned, laughing. "He went against his soul to help me, knowing that she would die when I find her."

"Why do you persist in thinking that I will harm the boy?" the master grumbled. "Just because he is arrogant and annoying and too handsome for his own good doesn't mean I plan to torture him for sport."

"Puppy is here?" Willow asked, a smile crossing her face as new emotions spread of her.

"There shall be none of that yet, young lady," Darla said, seeing the lust rise in her mate's eyes.

"And my Xander is here," Willow said with a soft smile. "I can feel him...hear his heartbeat. So very loud."

"He saved you, did he not?" Darla asked, her hand moving along Willow's stomach.

"Yes. He killed the demon not knowing that it was too late," Willow said, remembering.

"He loves you," Darla said simply, watching Willow smile. "When you are stronger, I shall let you have him. He can be your first childe. Would you like that?"

"Yes," Willow smiled at the thought of siring Xander. "You'd allow it?"

"His love is strong. He will be a nice addition to the family," Darla decided.

"And Puppy?" Willow asked, hoping she was not pushing her luck.

Darla laughed, "Puppy will be staying, though I believe he would prefer to be called Angel."

"I love you, Darla," Willow said, kissing her lover possessively.

"And I love you, Willow," Darla whispered, feeling her lover's cool skin for the first time. "For eternity."

END OF SERIES