•••

“You were right, Angelus. They make beautiful vampires.” Spike surveyed Angelus’ newest childe, Wesley, and his first one, Tara. The two newest members of the Order of Aurelius were draining a pair of college students they’d lured out of a nearby bar.

“Of course I was. And these two will be much less work than you were.” Angelus smirked, accepting a light punch from his childe. Indeed, Wesley and Tara were far less work than Spike had been, but then again there hadn’t been any magicks involved with turning Spike.

Angelus and Spike had taken the humans back to their hotel, making sure that the two former good guys didn’t have any weapons on them. The vampires then spent nearly two days fucking, fighting, feeding and killing, always with the humans nearby. The link between the vampires and the humans was very strong in such close proximity, and the humans were soon ready to be turned. They begged for it.

Now Angelus and Spike had two childer who already knew more about their vampiric nature than most vampires would ever know. And they were bonded to each other, as well as their sires. Neither Angelus nor Spike had to worry about Wesley or Tara wanting to turn someone for companionship; the older vampires could barely keep them apart long enough to feed.

Spike had been ecstatic when Angelus had allowed him to turn Tara; the blonde had never had a childe, had never wanted one. But the power of the young witch appealed to him, much the same way that Drusilla had so many years before. This time, however, his beautiful witch would be sane. And a sane vampiress witch was a formidable enemy.

•••

“Remember, I want Angelus alive.” Lilah said to the group assembled in her office. “I don’t care how you do it, as long as he isn’t permanently damaged.”

“What about the other?” The lead hunter asked.

Lilah smirked. “I don’t need that one, so you can have fun with him.”

The vampire hunters left quickly, the thrill of the hunt already racing through their veins. Lilah watched them go. It was a good plan; Angelus and Spike would kill off most of the makeshift group, leaving Lilah fewer paychecks to cut. And she’d have her pet vampire.

•••

“Oh look, a puppy!” Tara said, dragging Wesley down the street. Angelus and Spike followed quickly after, watching their young childer carefully. They hadn’t been turned long enough to be trustworthy, and even though San Francisco was a fairly safe city, Buffy and her gang might still be lurking about, even though Angelus was sure they’d gone back to Sunnydale to regroup.

“Tara…” Spike warned, calling back his delicate childe.

“But sire, it’s a puppy!” The blonde vampiress pointed down the street.

“Bloody hell.” Spike swore when he saw what Tara was pointing at. He recognized the young, teal-haired werewolf as Red’s former boyfriend. “Angelus?” He turned to his sire, seeing immediately that the older vampire was plotting something new. “What?”

“This could work nicely into our plans, you know.” Angelus smiled, letting Wesley and Tara go down the street in front of them. “He would be quite the addition to our new family. Think of Willow’s face when he shows up at her door.” The blonde laughed cruelly, imagining the redhead’s shock and horror.

Oz saw familiar faces out of the corner of his eye. His surprise surfaced as a raised eyebrow when he saw that the people were Angel, Spike, Wesley and Tara—not a combination he would have expected. “Guys. Fancy meeting you here.”

•••

Buffy swore, throwing down the books. Research was getting them nowhere. “Giles, we have to go look for them!”

The Watcher sat down wearily. “I know, Buffy, but it would be unwise to do so without some sort of plan.”

Cordelia privately agreed with Giles. Buffy and Willow were too emotionally involved in the issue. Yeah, she was going to miss Wesley, but she’d come to terms with the fact that he was probably dead, or undead. The two girls were still horrified and enraged—two emotions that Cordelia had learned would only make the group weaker. “Giles is right. We need a plan.”

“And when did you ever listen to anyone else, Cordy?” Xander asked snidely. He was taking the appearance of Angelus very badly. Many issues between Xander and Angel were left unresolved, and now the boy was on edge, jumping at every sound. Anya had decided to stay busy at the shop, picking up the slack as Giles focused on the two vampires.

“Bug off, Xander.” The brunette cheerleader muttered, turning back to the books.

•••

Oz woke up with a pounding headache. He reached up to rub what he was sure was a basketball-sized lump on his head, only to find his wrists and ankles shackled to the floor.

“Puppy dog’s awake, Spike.” Wesley said from across the room. Spike grinned, patting Wesley on the head.

“Go fetch Tara, luv. She’s going to want to do those spells of hers.” The blonde vampire crouched down beside the werewolf as Wesley left to get his lover.

“Why?” Oz asked. The last thing he remembered was realizing that Wesley and Tara were vampires just as a sharp pain raced through his head.

Spike’s grin spread. “Cause its fun, Dogboy.” He patted Oz’s bright head. “Don’t worry; we’ll take good care of you.”

Tara entered the room carrying a tray of supplies. “Sire, he needs to be naked for this.” Spike leaned down, easily ripping off the young man’s clothing. Oz tried briefly to cover himself, but found it to be impossible given how he was restrained.

The blonde vampiress began mixing herbs and oils, chattering all the while. “Don’t worry, Oz, this won’t hurt…much. We just have to fiddle around with the wolf so that he plays nice once you’re turned.”

The words made Oz shiver. Werewolves were rarely turned into vampires because the transition was often…messy. “Don’t do this, Tara.”

The girl smiled and ignored him completely. “Ok. I’m ready now. Wesley, you go paint this all over puppy dog’s body. Even his hair—don’t miss a single spot. You might need Spike to hold him down for the eyes, nose and mouth—that’ll burn. So will his ass.”

The cruel smirk on Wesley’s face sent chills down Oz’s spine. The blonde Master vampire laughed as the two men began smearing the black liquid over the werewolf’s pale flesh. Wesley giggled insanely as Oz screamed when the caustic stuff hit his eyes. The young man twisted away from Spike’s probing fingers as he spread the stuff deep into his anus, while Wesley simultaneously poured the stuff all over his face.

Oz felt the hands leave his body as Tara’s soft voice began chanting. The pain he felt from the potion grew, invading every cell of his body. The werewolf screamed as he felt his flesh ignite, then burn away.

•••

“Ready?” Xander asked as he loaded their new supplies into his car. The two weeks that had passed since losing Wesley and Tara had been tense. Now, finally, they were going to do something about it.

“Let’s go.” Buffy jumped in the car, joined by Giles, Willow, and Cordelia. Anya was staying behind to run the shop and answer the phone in case any of their contacts came though.

The gang sped toward San Francisco, determined to rid the world of Angelus and Spike, consequences be damned.

•••

“Isn’t he lovely?” Tara said of Angelus’ newest childe. Oz lay on the floor sleeping, having just fed for the first time. Tara’s spell had worked perfectly; the new vampire had complete control over his wolf and could change into it at will, regardless of the moon’s phase.

“Bloody gorgeous, blondie.” Spike said, pulling his childe to him. “Let him sleep now. He’ll be up for more play later.” The Master vampire led his childe back to the bed, pulling off his shirt. Tara dropped onto the bed, running her tongue over her pale lips.

Spike grinned at his lovely, greedy girl. Who’d have thought that under those ugly, baggy clothes was such a little vixen? He watched as Tara unzipped him, and then bent her head to his cock, suckling contentedly. The young witch loved to do this; one day she’d spent more than ten hours with her head in his lap, wrenching come out of him like no other before her. Angelus had found her quite the item as well, and had traded Wesley for her more than once. Of course, neither Wesley nor Tara could replace Spike in Angelus’ bed. The oldest vampire still preferred his stubborn childe over all others.

•••

Angelus and Wesley slammed the door shut, levering into place the iron bar. They didn’t stop, running back to the bedrooms where Spike and Tara were fucking.

“What?” Spike asked, looking up from the girl under him. He didn’t pause, continuing to thrust into her as he focused on his sire.

“Hunters. At least twenty of them.” Angelus said in disgust. “Looking for us, specifically.”

Spike cursed virulently as he came. He pulled out of Tara, tugging up his jeans as the young girl righted her clothing. “What do we do?” Tara asked, checking on the still-unconscious Oz.

“As much as I’d like to stick around and play with them, I doubt it’s a good idea. You and Wesley are just too young right now, and Oz is, well, out of it.” He, too, checked on the were-vampire, determining that the boy was coming along fine. “It is best, perhaps, for us to leave town. I hate running, but this is not my turf.”

Spike nodded his agreement. They would have to leave immediately if they were going to put any distance between themselves and the hunters before sunrise. “Where are we going?” He asked, gathering up their belongings.

Angelus studied an atlas. “Denver.”

“Bloody hell, Denver?” Spike snarled, frowning at his sire. “What is in Denver?”

“Damned little, and that’s why we’re going. Lots of room for Oz, plenty of food for us. And neither the hunters nor the Slayer will be looking for us there.” Angelus helped his childer pack their belongings in the black convertible. Shortly thereafter, he was driving his family out of San Francisco, Oz cradled gently on top of Wesley and Tara in the back seat.

•••

“Look! Isn’t that Angel’s car?” Willow pointed from the back seat. Giles and Buffy turned.

“I believe it is. Spike’s presence confirms it.” Giles said, u-turning.

“Angelus, we’ve got company. Again.” Spike said, catching sight of Giles’ red car in the mirror. He then saw another car behind them, following much more intently than it should be. “And a bit more company as well. Hunters, probably.”

The brunette smiled evilly, stepping on the gas. He raced up the ramp onto the interstate, swerving around cars. There were several major interchanges within the next few miles, so losing their many pursuers shouldn’t be too hard.

“Where did they go?” Buffy asked, looking around frantically. They kept losing the black car in the heavy evening traffic, and this damned conversion van kept cutting them off.

“I can’t see them for this blasted lorry!” Giles said, honking at the van. Then he saw Angelus—right beside him. The vampire swerved, and then hit the brakes. Giles copied him, only to find that the van in front of him had done the same thing. The little red car impacted the back of the van with a sickening crunch as the two vehicles skittered across the freeway. Cordelia looked out the side window as Angelus raced up the interstate, waving gaily back at them.

•••

“We lost them?” Tara said from the back seat. She couldn’t see the red car, or the van, anywhere.

“More like they lost themselves. Crashed a few miles back.” Spike said from the front. “Where are we stopping?”

Angelus smiled. “There’s a nice little town an hour away. We’ll pick up dinner there.”

•••

“Who the hell are you?” Buffy screamed as big, burly men poured out of the wrecked conversion van. There must have been twenty of them packed like sardines in there. They were now beaten and limping from the wreck.

“Go away, little girl. You just cost us big time.” The leader snarled, kicking the totaled vehicle.

“If you hadn’t been driving so erratically, this would not have happened.” Giles said, mourning the loss of his car.

“What were you thinking, anyway?” Cordelia spat at the ruffians.

One of the men rolled his eyes. “Just get lost. Scram.”

Willow stormed up to the leader. “No, they were following Angelus, just like we were.” Her statement got everyone’s attention. “Why were you doing that?”

The leader stared down at the redhead. “Why were you following him? He’s a little out of your league, girl.”

Buffy snorted. “A vampire, out of the Slayer’s league?” She laughed sickly at him.

“You’re the Slayer?” The man stared disbelievingly at Willow. She shook her head, pointing at Buffy.

“No, I’m a witch. She’s the Slayer.” Willow filled them in.

Cordelia turned from the argument to the remains of Giles’ car. Xander hadn’t fared so well; his right leg was broken, and a nasty bruise was rising on his jaw. “Giles, do you have a cell phone? We need an ambulance for Xander.”

Giles turned back to the car. “Oh, shit.”

“This is so not good.” Buffy said, pounding her head on the twisted car.

•••

Oz ran across the field, leaping on his prey’s back. The big football player screamed once, before the were-vampire’s powerful jaws ripped out his throat. Oz shifted back to human form, sucking greedily at the wound.

The rest of his family was busy feeding from and playing with the remaining athletes. Oz ran back to the group, watching in glee as Wesley brutally reamed the punter. The young human screamed, blood flowing around Wesley’s cock as the vampire leaned forward, draining the man as he fucked him.

Angelus took a step back, surveying the carnage. It was a typical American family outing—going to a football game. Tara was twisting the coaching staff’s entrails around the goalposts while Spike used his trademark railroad spikes to torture the offensive line. Oz kept freeing the defense, one at a time, chasing them down and ripping them to shreds. Wesley, meanwhile, had taken charge of special teams, raping each one in turn before draining them.

The brunette vampire smiled, grabbing up one of the quarterbacks at his feet. “If you’re a good boy and do just exactly what I say, you might actually survive this.” The young man nodded frantically as Angelus, laughing, opened his fly. He relished the unique feel of warm human flesh against his cold cock, coming twice before pulling the human up and snapping his neck.

•••

“So you all are after Angelus too?” Buffy said to the hunters as they crowded the waiting room. Xander was still in surgery, as well as four of the hunters.

“Yeah. Need him alive.” The leader said to the Slayer.

“No way. He’s dust.” Buffy insisted, backed up by an irate Giles.

“Just why do you need him alive? Who is employing you?” The Watcher asked.

“It’s not important, just stay out of our way. We can handle this.” The hunter said harshly. “And we don’t take well to anyone getting in our way.” The hunters left suddenly, leaving their wounded behind.

“Who would want Angelus alive?” Willow asked, clutching Cordelia’s hand.

“Wolfram & Hart.” The ex-cheerleader replied, her face growing cold.

“Who are they?” Willow asked the brunette.

Cordelia turned to the group. “It’s a law firm that specializes in representing demonic interests. They’ve been gunning for Angel since he moved to Los Angeles—they’re the ones that brought Darla back, hoping she’d free Angelus. Which she did, but Angel came back.”

“How do we stop them?” Cordelia laughed at Giles’ question.

“Stop them? You don’t stop them. You get out of their way.”

Buffy pounded her fist on the wall. “We have to do something. I’ve read about what Angelus and Spike did in Europe. They can’t do that again here.”

•••

“It is time.” Angelus turned to his family. The past six months had been spent in Denver, and later in St. Louis, honing the skills of his newest childer. Wesley, Tara, and Oz had proved to be excellent choices; they killed ruthlessly but intelligently. None of them showed the selfish short-sightedness of Darla or the insanity of Drusilla. Spike, too, had shaped up nicely, becoming once again Angelus’ perfect partner and childe.

“We’ll miss you, Oz.” Tara said, patting her puppy dog’s head sadly. She liked her pet, he was fun to watch chasing the food around before dinner. Of course, she still had Wesley. That was what mattered, really.

“Do you have the spell?” Angelus asked Tara. The blonde witch produced a woven necklace for Oz, tying it around his neck.

“You’ll feel all warm and humany with this—but it only works for two days.” She said, patting Oz again. “That’s why I made you extras.” The vampiress gave the were-vampire a large bundle of the chains, which he stored carefully.

“Right. We’re still an hour out of Sunnydale. Let’s go.” Spike revved the engine on Angelus’ convertible and the family hopped in to drop Oz off.

•••

Anya flipped the ‘Open’ sign over, ending business for the day. Giles stood from his table, stretching. The gang had spent the last several months trying to find a lead on Angelus and Spike, but it was as if the vampires had disappeared in thin air. Their only consolation was that Cordelia’s contacts in Los Angeles indicated that Wolfram & Hart were having no better luck.

Willow and Cordelia, followed by Buffy, entered the store an hour later, carrying yet more newspaper clippings. “We’ve got New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, St. Louis, and Detroit.” The witch announced, carefully setting down the papers.

“Ah. Any luck?” Giles asked.

“I’m thinking something funny’s been going on in St. Louis.” Cordelia said. “The number of deaths by firearm is way down, but there have been twice as many slashings, knife fights, and dog attacks.”

“Still, nothing conclusive?” The watcher said.

“Hey, it’s not like the police are going to say to the newspapers, ‘yeah, it was a couple of evil, two hundred year old vampires.’” Cordelia retorted.

“Oz!” Willow whispered. The gang turned around to see the werewolf standing by the door. “You’re back!” She ran to him, embracing her ex boyfriend in a tight hug. After a moment, he returned it gingerly.

“Yeah.”

“Where have you been?” She asked him, still unable to believe that he was back. After Tara’s disappearance, she’d been so lonely. Now he was here, her solid, dependable Oz.

“Here and there. Traveling.” Oz replied.

“You couldn’t have arrived at a better time. We’re having serious trouble.” Giles said to the boy.

“What?” He asked.

“Angelus and Spike are back.”