CHAPTER 30

Will stalked away from the mansion, his heart torn almost in two by his separate desires. Part of him just wanted to keep on walking until he met the sunrise while part of him wanted to turn around and run back to the shelter of his sire's home.

He was unsure of his place in the world right now.

All he really knew was how much he hated being alone.

But with the chip in his head, Dru would not take him back. His sire's family was open to his remaining with them but he knew he would not be able to abide by their rules.

The slayer was just too tempting of an item for him. All that glorious blonde hair, beautiful face and sexy little body, she made his teeth itch whenever he saw her. And Angel, with those soft brown eyes, that soulful sweetness just waiting to be taken like a ripe plum off a tree. He ached to feel his sire's body thrashing underneath him while he fucked the ensouled version of him into the mattress.

But both his sire and soldier boy wouldn't allow him to have Buffy. And that big marine wouldn't let him near Angel. He lit a cigarette as he walked, frustration pouring off of him in waves as he contemplated the other two members of his family.

Angelus owned him, whatever his sire would allow him of himself, William would accept gratefully. He'd loved that demon for over two centuries, there was no chance of him stopping anytime soon.

And now the very thought of soldier boy was setting his blood on fire. The human had dominated him, had forced him into utter subjugation and he craved more of it. He wanted him in a deep visceral manner, not out of love but out of pure lust. No softness there, just bodies slammed against walls or doors, all hands and mouths and cocks...

Deep in his ruminations, William was not aware of the path his feet had taken until he found himself at a very familiar door. Somehow his body had brought him to the one spot in Sunnydale that would offer him a small chance at oblivion. He shrugged his shoulders and pushed open the door into Willy's Place.

Tonight was a good night to be get blind, stinking drunk.

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

Dinner was prepared and eaten in virtual silence. The mated trio was feeling the loss of William from the instant he stormed out into the night. Angelus wanted to go after him but knew the younger vampire needed time alone to sort out his thoughts. He would give him until dawn.

But if his childe did not return at daybreak as promised, he would take to the tunnels and drag him back by his ear if need be. Once William was safe within the confines of their home, he would talk to his beloved childe and his mates. He knew they could come to some equitable agreement so Will would feel he was a full part of their family.

If that didn't work, there were all those chains down in the basement.

And Will had always looked good in chains...

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

Will had been there for an hour when he heard his sire's name. The bottle of JD in front of him was still half full so he knew it wasn't an excess of alcohol that had brought Angelus to mind. He glanced over one shoulder, trying to discover the source of the overheard comment and spotted two vampires talking quietly in a booth nearby. Lifting his glass casually to his lips, he settled in for a good eavesdrop.

"You sure it was him?" The smaller of the two glanced around nervously, his dark eyes taking in every detail of the room. He didn't recognize most of the creatures in the bar, he'd only been turned a few weeks ago and it was one of his first forays out in the human world.

"Yeah, I know him when I see him. Can't miss that big, black car of his." The other vampire was larger, more self-assured. He was well past the fledgling stage, Will guessed him to be at least several decades old. There was a familiar look to him, probably one of the Master's old minions. Which would explain why he knew Angel at least if not Angelus himself.

"So where is he?"

"Word on the street is he's moving back into the old Crawford Street house. The one he holed up in two years ago with Spike and crew." The older vamp took a sip from his drink.

"Isn't he afraid the Slayer will take him out? I've seen that girl at work, just barely missed being dusted by her the night I rose." The younger vamp played with his own glass. Booze didn't taste as good as blood but with a vampire slayer in town it was probably better for his health.

The minion laughed, surprised that the fledge hadn't been informed of the other vampire's sordid tale. Everyone who was anyone in Sunnydale knew about Angel and the Slayer. "Angel's got nothin' to fear from the Slayer... They dated a few years ago."

His eyes got wide as he stared at his companion. There was no way he heard his friend right. "No shit? He dated the Slayer? Guy must have balls made out of fuckin' steel."

"Nah, he's a bit of a wimp. Got a freakin' soul." The bigger vampire took a long pull of his drink then gave his companion a sideways smile. "Now the soul-less version of him is something to see. Ever hear tell of a vampire named Angelus?"

The fledgling's eyes were like saucers now. "M-Master A-Angelus? Scourge of Europe? Sire of Spike and Druscilla? He-he's got a soul?"

"Yeah... Seems he had a run-in with gypsies a century ago and got cursed with a soul."

The younger vampire shook his head, an expression of shocked amazement covered his face as he gave out a low whistle. "Man... A soul. That's gotta be harsh."

"Yeah... He's been trying to atone for his sins. And believe me, Angelus has a whole lot of sins... But there's this funny thing about that gypsy curse. If he has just one moment of true happiness, poof... soul's gone."

"Really? So one good feed would take care of that, wouldn't it?"

"Un-unh, that vamp doesn't feed from humans... Goes against his high moral code and all. I understand he lives on animal blood." They both made a face at that idea before the older one dropped his voice into a whisper. William had to strain to hear the next few words. "Angelus got loose a coupla years ago when he boffed the Slayer. Tore this town up real good."

"He what?!" The younger vampire realized his voice had gotten really loud and toned it down to a matching whisper. "He fucked the Slayer? Man, that guy's into some really freaky shit. Although... She's got great legs, wouldn't mind feeling them wrapped around me... Wonder how tight and hot that little pussy would be?"

Will felt his anger start to rise. It was one thing to hear them talk about his sire but when they started to cast their thoughts on his sire's mate, that set his teeth on edge. He had given his oath to both his sire and Buffy. Because of that oath he was honor-bound to protect her and that included not allowing these youngsters to discuss her like she was some cheap whore.

He slowly turned toward them as he continued to listen as the older vampire talked. "Probably pretty damned good... Good enough for her to get marked as his mate."

"Crap! Angelus marked the Slayer as his mate? Wow, that pussy must be made out of solid, fucking gold." This time Will was out of his chair, his eyes saffron with barely controlled rage. He had to admit to himself that the fledge was right, Buffy did have the sweetest little snatch he'd ever had the pleasure of in his long existence. But that didn't mean he had to listen to someone else speculate about it.

He was almost upon them when the minion's next words stopped him dead. William took a seat at the booth behind them, his mouth open in shock as he listened to him. "Listen, there's a whole group of us and we gotta a plan going on. Since she's his mate and all, it's only a matter of time before he caves in and screws the girl. Only thing is, we figure if we help in the process, maybe force Angel to do it to her, Angelus will be grateful for getting him released sooner."

"B-but what about the Slayer? Won't she fight it?" Despite his half-hearted protest the fledge was very intrigued by the thought of seeing the tiny gorgeous Slayer being held down and brutally fucked by some big vamp... From what he knew about Angelus, he was probably one of the biggest vamps around. There were whispers in the sewers about his massive size and not all of those whispers were referring to his height...

"Nah, she loves the guy, couldn't even bring herself to dust him when the demon was loose. And there would be no need to worry about the Slayer once Angelus was free." The minion snapped his fingers in the air. "He'll either turn the girl or kill her... The way I hear it, he hates her with a passion. Which make the whole mating thing even freakier. And what with the Master being dust, he's the oldest one around this place. When he's on a roll, the blood flows like wine... Wouldn't hurt to be in on the ground floor of that one..."

*I told Angel this would happen...These buggers plan on using the girl against him. Best to nip that in the bud right now.* He cleared his throat and first one, then two heads popped up over the top of the booth.

William put on his cockiest attitude and slid right back into being Spike. The two startled vamps watched him light up a cigarette as his eyes changed from saffron to crystalline blue. "Only one problem I see with your plan, mates."

The older vampire had the good sense to blanch a little. Spike had a fearsome reputation, almost as bad as Angelus'. He'd had no idea that this particular vampire had been in the bar and apparently heard their entire conversation. This could be very, very bad.

"Uh, Spike... Long time no see."

William had finally remembered the name of this minion, he was one of Darla's making. Looking the vampire over, he decided that his grand-sire's taste has deteriorated over the years. Of course Angelus had admittedly been her finest hour but this one in front of him was a pathetic excuse for a vampire. "Hullo Evan..."

"We were just..."

"I know what you were just... There's a big problem with your little plan, Evan." He took a long drag off his cigarette as he watched them fidget. "Angel's soul is permanent. He can shag the Slayer six ways to Sunday and you won't get Angelus. My sire's unreachable by the likes of you..."

*There that should shut them down...* Angel had mentioned to him during the long argument the night before how he planned on getting the word out about the permanency of his soul. Will was glad he had been able to start the long process of convincing the Sunnydale demonic population that Angelus was not theirs to recall on a whim.

The Slayer would have a chance at a longer life if the denizens of the Hellmouth knew she was not an instrument to be used in their plans for conquering Sunnydale. And if they knew the rest, if they knew what Angelus would do to them if they touched his mate...

The girl might live into her hundreds if he left that part slip.

"And one other thing, lads... Even if you were able to raise my sire, it wouldn't do you any good. Angelus won't kill the Slayer." Will was enjoying this. The two vampires in the other booth were watching him avidly, their entire attention focused on his every word. It felt good to be the big, bad again.

"W-why not?" The fledge asked in a hushed tone. He'd never had the privilege of meeting William the Bloody before and he had to admit the guy was pretty scary. All cold, dangerous eyes and a North London accent that bespoke of brutal murder in cobblestone streets. This vampire was almost as old as Angelus, was his childe in fact... This was so not good.

"Simple, mate. Angel boy loves the chit to distraction but my sire feels the exact same way. Wouldn't have marked her if he didn't." Another long drag on the cigarette, then a sip of his drink. "Touch her and he'd tear you limb from limb. He wouldn't be quick about it either; he'd do it very, very slowly. It could take him months before he actually dusts you. Angelus is an expert on every kind of torture, got a sadistic streak a mile wide and two and a half centuries of practice..."

Evan had regained his composure as Spike drawled out those chilling words. He knew Angelus and Spike had a real long history together, most of it bad since the older vampire had gotten a soul. Maybe there was a way to salvage this whole fiasco. "Thought there was no love lost between you and Angelus, Spike. Didn't you send him to hell once?"

If he was wrong, he and the fledge were dust, but if he was right the cold-eyed blonde in the booth next to them could be an invaluable ally. If Spike still hated Angelus, they could recruit him into their group. The guy knew all the ins and outs of the old Crawford Street place. And if what he was saying about his sire was true, they would just have to take Angelus out along with the Slayer.

In that scenario, Spike could be their best weapon against the Slayer and her pet vampire. He knew Angelus better than any one else; he would be able to take his sire down better and faster than any of the rest of them. Plus, he was a Master Vampire in his own right...

Spike narrowed his eyes, considering his options. They hadn't run cowering for the hills as he had expected. Maybe it would be best to play along with them and see what other feeble plans they could devise. His protection oath to his sire could be better served by determining the size and extent of this gang of vampires. Once he knew their location, then the four of them could wipe out this possible threat to their family.

"Yeah. I hate the bleedin' bogtrotter with a passion. He stole my Dru from me..." Spike picked up his drink and moved until he was standing in front of their booth. He gave the two vampires his coldest smile before sliding in next to them. "What have you got in mind, lads? And how can I help?"

********

It was dawn, Angel felt the instinctive pull to seek shelter moments before the first light of day tinged the horizon with golden hues. He rose from the huge bed he shared with his mates and ambled over to the French doors leading out to the wide, shaded balcony. If he sat in one far corner, he could just make out the sunrise on the eastern horizon. The huge trees overhead and the deep shade in that corner protected him completely from the sun's harmful rays.

As a human, he loved the advent of dawn. The air always smelled so clean, even after a long night of drunken debauchery. He would rise from whatever whore's bed he had landed in, don his clothes and walk back to his father's house while whistling a merry tune. The dawn always made him feel fresh, almost innocent and so very alive.

Darla had stolen the dawn from him as she had stolen so many other things. He'd spent years hating her for that very thing, for the loss of innocence... or its illusion.

But now he no longer hated her, if he hadn't already dusted her to protect Buffy, Angel knew he would probably be on his knees thanking his sire for the gift of eternal life. For that gift had brought him to Buffy, brought him to a girl born centuries after his turning, a girl destined from her birth to be his mate. Her very existence had put the song back in his silent heart.

And that gift had also brought him to her human lover, to a young man who fulfilled his other sexual desires. Angel's bi-sexual nature had been the final impetus that caused his father to throw him out into the streets.

The man had almost been willing to turn a blind eye to his son's wenching and drinking as that behavior had been considered normal for a young man of his day. But when he found his only son on his knees with the local squire's cock in his mouth, that had been the final straw.

The fight between them had been brutal, Liam barely escaped with his life and a few meager possessions. Plus a burning hatred for his father which was still there when he arose from his grave three days later. His family was completely decimated before that anger was assuaged. Angel felt the ancient grief welling up inside of him and ruthlessly clamped down on the sensation.

Now was not the time to deal with that whole issue. Will had not come home as promised and he was worried...

He was worried but Angelus was furious. His demon was ranting inside his head, demanding that he don his clothes, grab up a set of chains and go find his wayward childe. Angelus planned on chaining William up in the basement for a few weeks until the boy had some sense either beaten or fucked into his head. The demon was dwelling on the ways he was going to possess his childe when Angel heard a soft voice call his name.

"Angel? Oh God, Riley, where is Angel?" Buffy sounded sleepy and frantic at the same time.

Riley was wide awake in an instant, his heart in his throat. The fear in Buffy's voice drove away the quiet reassurances that Angel was sending to them through the bond. He looked around in a blind panic and noticed the breeze stirring the curtains of the balcony doors. "O Dia! The doors are open and it's dawn! Angel? Angel!"

Angel heard the sound of two sets of feet hitting the floor in the exact same instant, their fear burning through him like a wildfire. A moment later, his mates burst through the doors, both of them gloriously naked and absolutely terrified. The magnificence of that sight seared into his soul, stealing away all of his words of reassurance.

They were both so very beautiful and they were his lovers. Angel was humbled, completely in awe of how such a sinner as he had come into this priceless fortune. He started to rise to his feet, to wrap them in his embrace and let them know just how much he loved them.

Riley reached him first, his large body shielding his lover from the killing rays of the sun. He lifted him bodily, hefting him effortlessly over one shoulder, surprising his vampiric mate with his strength. Without a single word spoken, the young marine retreated into house, carrying Angel into the safety of the darkened room.

Angel could feel the young man's heart racing as he lay quiescent over Riley's warm broad shoulder. He would have laughed at the incongruity of being carried this way but the panic welling up from within his two mates had him paralyzed. They were so afraid that he had chosen to greet the sunrise...

"Angel... Angel you promised!" Buffy was vibrating with fear and rage.

She glared at him as Riley deposited Angel on the bed, pinning him there with his own heavy body should his mate decide to make a run for the balcony again. Angel could hear the thoughts spinning out of control in the young man's mind. *Dammit, we almost lost you... Oh God, I can't live without you, Angel... I can't live without either of you. Don't do this! He's not worth your life!*

"Shhh, Shhh, leannen, alainn, I wasn't, I wasn't... It's all right..." He was stroking Riley's hair, nuzzling the stubbled cheek pressed tightly against his own. A small purr rose up from him, Angel knew that sound always calmed his beloved mates even when their fear was running this high. Buffy joined them on the bed, her little body curling protectively around both of them.

"Just what the hell were you doing out there, Angel? The sun is rising." Buffy's eyes were full of unshed tears as she gazed down at him over Riley's shoulder. They had been so afraid, so very afraid.

"Buffy, it's okay... The balcony is perfectly shaded at dawn, especially that corner. It's part of the reason Angelus bought the house. I can watch the sunrise in complete safety from there." Angel drew her down for a very gentle kiss over Riley's shoulder. The young man still had him pressed firmly to the bed but his heart rate was slowing drastically as he listened to his mate's explanation.

When the kiss ended, Riley lifted his head from its resting place next to Angel's. His normally gentle hazel eyes were blazing with repressed fury as he spoke in a very low voice. "Don't... you... ever... do... that... again. You scared us almost to death. We thought you had chosen to meet the sunrise because of Will not making it home last night..."

"I would never do that. I love the two of you far too much to leave you." Angel laced his fingers through Riley's hair and covered his mouth with his own. They kissed for a very long time, each of them exploring the other fully before breaking apart. Riley was still shaking a little, partially in fear and partially due to his reawakened desire for his dark-eyed mate.

The young man rolled a little to make room for Buffy beside Angel and the two humans cradled him between their bodies. His quiet purr got even louder as he felt their warmth seeping into his bones. He loved it when they did this, it never failed to bring his libido into sharp focus.

They had all been so upset by Will's abrupt departure the night before that none of them had been in the mood for amorous play when they crawled into their big bed. Only the merest of kisses had been exchanged between the mated trio before they each drifted off to sleep.

Angel considered briefly his earlier plan to take off through the tunnels after his missing childe but rejected it almost immediately. With the advent of sunrise, the search for Will could be delayed just a little. The younger vampire was probably holed up somewhere safe...

Besides, his concerns about Will were being rapidly swept aside by an onrush of desire for the beautiful girl currently rubbing her hands all over his chest and the young man who was doing some very interesting things with his tongue on his right shoulder. When Riley chose to bite down hard on the curve of muscle there, the vampire's hips shot off the bed.

Buffy looked deeply into his dark eyes before kissing him thoroughly. A wave of love and reassurance washed over him while her little voice echoed in his head. *Angel.. I'll go check at Willy's when the bar opens. If anybody would know where to find him, it would be Willy.*

Riley's mouth drifted down along the smooth plane of Angel's chest, stopping briefly to take a flat, coppery nipple between his teeth. *I'll call over to HQ and see if he got picked up by our boys... He's on the don't touch list because of his work with Buffy but some of the guys have a shoot first, ask questions later attitude. We'll find him, Angel.*

The vampire purred softly, enjoying the physical contact with his mates and their combined concern for his wayward childe. *Indeed we shall, mo leannens... But for now...* He reached down between their bodies and cupped each of their sexes in his large hands. *Let's just take a few minutes to christen our bed like a proper mated triumvirate...*

The two humans moaned softly, pushing themselves further into his cool grip. Riley glanced at Buffy and grinned at her before continuing his path down the length on Angel's magnificent torso. He traced the rolls of muscle on his abdomen before engulfing his lover's cock in his warm mouth. The vampire hissed in appreciation as that talented tongue swirled around him, drawing him ever inward.

Buffy gazed down at Angel's beloved face, watching the expression of absolute joy spreading across his normally somber features. Even after the last week, she was constantly amazed at how well her Angel responded to Riley's touch. The two men had bonded on so many more levels than she ever expected. Were it not for the continuous flow of love they sent to her through the mated bond, she would have been totally jealous of their closeness.

She looked over one shoulder to observe Riley. His eyes were closed, his mouth full of Angel's cock and the expression on his face mirrored the bliss she had noted on their mate's. One hand was curled around the vampire's hip while the other cupped his balls.

A moan rose up from Angel as he laid one of his large hands on the back of Riley's head. The young man changed his angle to open his mouth wider and his lover thrust upward to drive his cock even deeper into that warm cavern.

A tiny frown appeared between her brows, they were so lost in one another that she might as well not even be there.

Both Angel's and Riley's eyes snapped open as that thought crossed her mind. Their internal voices filled her head instantly.

*Don't even think that, alainn. I love you, I need you, I am dust without you.* Angel's soft brown gaze locked with hers. He could feel her doubts and understood their source intimately. His leaving had devastated her on so many levels, it had shaken her self-esteem to the very core. And then came the damage done by that bastard, Parker Abrams and then the rape.

She was so fragile, so very fragile...

Angelus was watching within him. He had hoped that by mating completely with the two of them these doubts would not arise. But the girl did have weaknesses, weaknesses that he knew like the back of his hand. He had exploited them when they were enemies, now that they were mates he would have to deal with them on a whole different level.

The best thing he could do now was remind her that she was the one he craved above all others.

His inner voice joined Angel's, rumbling through her mind with more than its usual force. *Little Slayer. You are my first chosen. While I love this mortal boy, it is you I have always wanted. No one owns me the way that you do. And no one every will.*

Riley lifted his head to gaze adoringly at her. His internal voice included a trace of his infectious sense of humor. *Buff, while I do admit that I love the big guy here...* He punctuated that comment by eyeing Angel's cock and giving them a lop-sided grin that had both of them almost laughing at his not-subtle joke about his lover's endowment.

Then his expression grew serious as he sat up, his warm hands stroking her leg. *But you are the center of my world. Don't ever think for even one moment that I don't love you with my whole heart. That I wouldn't lay down my life to keep you safe...*

Buffy touched both of them gently, her head and heart full of their combined love. She was supremely embarrassed by how much her moment of childish pique had affected them. *Oh God... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry about how that sounded...* Her luminescent eyes were awash with unshed tears. *It's just you are so close to each other... I never expected you to get so close...*

*It's because we have a common focus, alainn. Our love for one another is just one part of that...* Angel kissed her tenderly, his large hand cupping the back of her head as his mouth explored hers. *But the focus is not each other, it's you, Buffy. Keeping you happy and protected is our sole purpose now...*

She brushed his face with her fingertips, delighting in the cool texture of his skin. His words were like magic, soothing away her doubts about them. Her mates loved each other but they loved her more and that was a great balm to her ego.

But his insistence of her protection being paramount sent a new thread of fear entwining itself within her. She could accept their help in combat but if they were too focused on her safety, others could die... including them.

And that thought made her heart slam into her throat. *Angel, I am the Slayer. My purpose is to protect others, not be protected. It's my job. Danger is my birthright. I have to be the one to fight the darkness and maybe die so others can live...*

Buffy meant to say more, she meant to add her warning about needing to keep them safe, about how losing them would kill her but Angel's reaction caused all those thoughts to die out. He growled deeply, the sound rising up from his chest like a wave as his eyes flashed saffron in the dimly lit room.

Both Angel's voice and Angelus' resounded in her head, the combined tone full of barely repressed fury at the very thought of losing her to the demons and the dark. He pressed her small hand over his silent heart. *As long as this body still moves, you will be protected. If I have to kill every single demon on this mortal plane, you... will... be... safe!*

Riley nodded grimly, adding his vow to that of his immortal mate. *As long as I still draw breath, you... will... be... safe!*

The combined looks of savagery on their faces caused the remainder of her protest to die away. They were both so fierce in their conviction that Buffy once again allowed the hope of living to a ripe old age to fill her heart. Angel could keep her safe, had kept her safe when she was new to the whole Slaying gig. Riley was strong, smart and capable, he had proven time and again to be one of the best back-ups she had ever worked with.

And Angelus...

The evil Angelus was the worst enemy she had ever faced, the only one who had ever gotten close enough to truly hurt her. But now he was her ally and so much more... She looked down into Angel's eyes and saw the demon looking back at her, his eyes full of rage, passion and naked lust. And all of those emotions were caused by her.

The raw power behind that look sent a bolt of pure desire through Buffy. This demon was her mate, her lover and her protector, he would move both heaven and hell to keep her with him. A small smile spread across her face as she realized she could live with that...

As that thought drifted to Angelus through their bond, he directed Angel to pull her down for a passionate kiss. Her acceptance had been won again, this time with less words and less struggle then during their initial bonding. Now was the time to mark her again with his scent, with his taste and with his love...

Buffy found herself being lifted bodily by her vampiric mate until her legs straddled his face. Angel gave her one of those soul-melting looks before placing his mouth on her sex. She gasped aloud at the delicious sensation of his cool tongue on her as he gently licked until she opened like a flower for him. His purr rose up, surrounding her with that luxurious sound and his eyes slowly closed while he lost himself in the glory of her taste.

Riley laid one hand on her back, reassuring her through that gesture of physical contact of his love for her, before taking Angel back into his mouth. Buffy reveled in the sheer amount of sensation rocketed through her body and her mind. She felt both Angel's tongue on her and her own taste as it filled his senses as well as Riley's delight in the feel, taste and texture of the cock filling his mouth while his hips moved in a slow, sensual pattern, grinding his own painfully erect shaft into the tangled bedsheets.

That very overload of sexual excess sent her spiraling into climactic bliss in a matter of mere moments. Her thighs tensed, her back arched and she sobbed Angel's name aloud as he pulled her even closer to him. One cool finger slid into her tightly clasping channel, stroking deep inside. His purr grew ever louder while he drank from her overflowing sex, bathing himself in the delirium engendered by her sweet release.

Before the tremors had ceased from this first orgasmic rush, Angel was lifting her from his face. She moaned in protest, not wanting to break contact with that wonderfully talented mouth until she realized that Riley had moved from his earlier position. Within seconds, she was impaled on her vampiric mate's cock, filled to the brim with his cool flesh and his undying love.

While one trembling hand stroked the side of his face, Buffy stared down into Angel's soft brown eyes. This was one of the times when his unearthly beauty took her breath away. He was so exotic, so incredibly handsome, so drop-dead gorgeous and he loved her.

Angel loved her, Riley loved her and even her most terrifying enemy, Angelus loved her. How could she ever have thought they would prefer each other over her?

Warm hands rested on her hips, covering Angel's as Riley kissed the back of her neck, nuzzling her hair with his stubbly cheek. She turned her head to kiss him and found within his mouth a remnant of Angel's intoxicating flavor. They shared that taste between themselves for long moments while their lover moved underneath her, pushing her slowly toward another shuddering climax.

Riley continued to kiss her, smothering her cries of ecstasy with a moan of his own. He had moved until he was seated beside them and Angel caressed his cock with one hand while he brought Buffy over the edge into rapture. His body ached with the desire to be enjoined with his lovers but the young marine was willing to wait until her needs were satisfied.

Once the tremors in her legs ceased, Angel released his grip on Riley and lifted her again. This time he turned her little body until she faced his feet before sheathing himself back into her warmth. Buffy gasped, the change in angle was amazing. He was so deep inside her now that there was nothing in her world but his marvelous cock, just stroking away, it's very action within her driving away all other thoughts but how good it felt.

Angel patiently waited as another climax ripped through her body, he was exerting every ounce of control he had learned in his many years to keep from joining her in release. He wanted Buffy to feel fully possessed, fully loved and appreciated. To achieve that goal, he was more than willing to delay his own completion.

Her cries of ecstasy were still on her lips when he rolled their conjoined bodies onto their sides. Angel cradled the back of her knee in his palm and lifted her upper leg which allowed him full access. He drove into her, once again making her realize just how big he was and how deep he could go inside her little body. His internal voice was pouring words into her as he poured his body into hers.

*Buffy... I love you. I've loved you from the instant I first saw you... I will love you long after we are nothing but dust and memories. We are forever... Forever, that's the point, alainn...* Hard kisses on her shoulder, one cool hand on her hip, an arm wrapped around her other side until the remaining hand cupped her breast.

That tiny bit of doubt she had felt earlier had shaken him to his depths. Angel felt the need rising within him to let her know just how much she meant to him. As with most time of truly strong emotion, he found himself unconsciously lapsing into Gaelic. *Tha sibh mo gaol, mo tearmann, mo slainte, mo saorsa...*

Tears formed behind her closed lids as Buffy felt overwhelmed by the meaning of those sweet words. He had called her his love, his sanctuary, his salvation, his redemption. All doubts were gone, what remained was a pure and shining love for him. Nothing could make her see his devotion any clearer, or so she thought...

Angel rose up off the bed to look over her shoulder and into her eyes. Tears were streaming down his face as he spoke aloud, his voice filling the room. And his words pierced her heart, transfixing her in place. "O Dia, I would take you to wife if I could..."

She was speechless, in her wildest dreams she had never imagined that Angel wanted to marry her...

Well, maybe in her wildest dreams.

But never had she thought he felt the same way, that he would actually want to marry her. Her fingers trembled as she traced the tear tracks running down his face. "Angel, I would marry you in a heartbeat if that is what you want, you know that..."

"I do want, with all my heart I do want... But a proper church wedding is not something I can have, ceisd mo cridhe. That holy ceremony is as forbidden to me as the wearing of crosses..." He kissed her gently before raising his head and looking deeply into her eyes. "However, there is one way... Would you consider wearing the claddagh again for me?"

"The claddagh?"

He lifted his left hand from her knee, turning it to display the silver ring resting in the bridegroom's spot. "Among my people, it was impossible sometimes to afford the expense of a wedding and priests were not always within reach when a couple chose to wed. So the lovers would exchange the claddagh and pledge their troth to one another in front of family and friends. It was the way of an Irish country wedding for centuries, mo gaol."

"So... The one you gave me, it was not just a ring?" Her voice quavered a little as she remembered him giving hers to her on that fateful night.

He continued to look down into her face, his hand lightly caressing her cheek. Behind him, he could feel Riley watching them in stunned silence. Angel wanted to draw him into their little circle, to not let his other mate be left out but this was something that was just between he and Buffy at the moment. "No, Buffy, it was not... It was a wedding ring."

And now it was out, the very last secret he had ever withheld from her. He had given her a wedding ring on the night of her seventeenth birthday. Angel had given her a wedding ring and during that terrible storm when death had come so close to destroying both of them, he gave her a wedding night. Tears welled up in Buffy's eyes as she stared up at him. "Oh... Oh Angel!"

Then she was kissing him, sealing their lips together and catching the combined taste of their tears between them.

Angel held her tight, keeping his hips perfectly still so as not to sully the tenderness of this moment with the resurgence of sexual desire. Silent laughter shook his long frame as he realized just how fitting it was that he, who had spent his mortal life chasing every attractive woman under the sun would end up proposing to the love of his existence with his cock fully buried in her warmth.

When their mouths finally parted, Angel drew in a very deep breath. Some mortal habits never faded, he still found himself breathing during times of great emotion. He smiled down at her, having already heard her acceptance through both the bond and her kiss.

But he needed the words spoken aloud, just as Angelus had needed her verbal acceptance to complete the bonding. "Buffy... Will you have me as a husband? Am bi thu mo ban-cheile?"

She laughed because he had asked her in both English as well as Gaelic, showing just how much he was trying to keep in control and how much he was failing at it. Her heart sang as she decided to answer him in both languages.

Buffy took his face in both of her hands and whispered against his mouth before enveloping him in another deep kiss. "Aingael, seadh! Oh, Angel, yes!"

Riley watched the two of them, trying to absorb what had just occurred. In his heart of hearts, he was ecstatic for his mates...

But he had wanted to be the one to propose to Buffy, he had wanted to be the one to take that beautiful girl and introduce her to his friends and family as his wife. At this moment in time, he was torn between joy for them and sorrow for his own loss.

Angel raised his head and turned to gaze at his other mate. "Riley... In the top drawer of the desk, there is a small box. Could you please get it for me?"

Nodding slowly, the young man rose from his position on the bed and retrieved the item in question. Angel took it with a smile, his hand lingering on Riley's briefly before turning back to Buffy. He gently withdrew from her body, kissing her shoulder in silent apology as he sat up. She followed suit, her eyes bright and shining as he opened the little box and withdrew a small silver claddagh.

Angel held the ring in his hand for long moment before taking Buffy's left hand. In a very low voice, he asked her once again. "Ceisd mo cridhe... Am bi thu mo ban-cheile?"

Buffy nodded, her voice trembling just a little. "Yes, Angel. I will be your wife."

With that acknowledgment, Angel slid the ring onto her finger with the heart pointing inward. As they shared a kiss, Riley moved away from the bed. This was a time for privacy, a time when he should leave the two of them alone...

*Riley... Please do not leave...* Angel's quiet internal request stopped him in his retreat from their bedroom. The young man stood for a moment with his back to them before squaring his shoulders and returning to his seat on the bed beside Angel. His vampiric mate fixed his warm gaze upon him, gave Riley a slow smile then rested his cool forehead against his.

"Daor caraid, tha gaol agam ort."

"Aingeal, I love you too... But..."

"No buts... Tha sibh mo leannen, mo seis. Riley, am bi thu mo cheile?" The quietly spoken question hung there in the air and Riley felt all the tears he had been holding in tighten his throat. He hadn't been left out of this after all. Angel had just asked if he would also marry with him, be his husband. A part of him thought this was such an odd concept, being a mate he understood intimately, but being a husband was almost foreign...

However the rest of him was singing with joy as he answered. "Seadh, Aingeal, seadh..."

Angel possessed his mouth in a passionate kiss, one hand in his hair while the other still clutched the little box. When their mouths finally parted, the vampire opened the box again and removed a much larger silver claddagh. He held it in his hand for a moment, contemplating its simple beauty before taking Riley's left hand in his.

"Aingeal, please..." Buffy held out her hand for the ring, which he gave to her with a smile. She placed a warm kiss on it, then together Buffy and Angel slid the ring onto Riley's hand. It fit as though it had always been a part of him, just as the two people holding his hand seemed like they too had always been a part of him.

At a loss for words, Riley simply wrapped his arms around both of them and held them tightly. For several long moments, the bonded trio sat quietly on the bed, each absorbing the others' thoughts and feelings with quiet reverence.

They could have stayed in that position for hours but Riley had one final question of his own which needed to be resolved. He had hoped for a more romantic setting for this but a part of him realized that doing this while holding the two people he loved most in the entire world was probably the most fitting...

Riley kissed Angel first, silently thanking him for the gift of his heart before he turned to face Buffy. Their matched hazel gazes met and he watched the tears rolling down her face. Tears that he knew were mirrored by his own. "Buffy... I'd wanted to wait until you graduated but would you... Would you do me the honor of being my wife?"

The tears came even faster as once again Buffy was speechless. What had started this morning as a simple case of misplaced jealousy had resulted in the fulfillment of her most ardent daydreams. Not only had Angel chosen to marry her but so had Riley.

She knew deep inside that the vampiric mating was a much stronger bond than the human convention of marriage but she was a human girl after all and what human girl didn't dream of marrying the love of her life... Or in her case, the loves of her life.

She glanced at quickly at Angel who was beaming at both of them, his usually somber face lit with a brilliant smile. That expression changed his features so much that she almost didn't recognize him, it made him look so young and carefree. He nodded in encouragement for her to accept Riley's offer. "Buffy, the world outside will never recognize your marriage to a vampire. Nor Riley's for that matter..."

The vampire kissed each of them in turn before focusing his entire attention on the girl beside him. He laid one hand on her stomach in a very possessive manner. "Alainn, we have discussed you having children so often. You know I delight in the prospect of watching you grow round with our mate's child..."

Angel paused as the three of them reflected on that wonderful thought before continuing in the same soft, low tone. "And while I understand these are modern times and many women bear children outside the state of wedlock without impunity, I am a very old-fashioned man, mo gaol... Please accept our mate's offer, your beautiful babies should bear at least one of our names."

Buffy looked down at the hand splayed across her stomach, then back up at Riley. She had every intention of accepting his offer but wanted to make sure it was acceptable to Angel. He was her first love after all as well as her first husband. Riley was sitting back on his heels, his expression one of shining hope and love as he held her hand in his, waiting silently for her response.

"Of course I will marry you, Riley..." Strong warm arms swooped around her waist and she was pressed tightly against his chest as he rained kisses down on her face and neck. Laughter bubbled out of Buffy as she was unable to contain that expression of sheer joy.

They kissed for a long moment before she drew back and gave him a rueful little smile. "But can we possibly wait on the baby thing until I graduate?"

He was laughing also, his heart soaring as he looked down into her eyes. Riley felt like dancing around the room with her in his arms. But instead he chose just to kiss her again before reassuring her about the whole pregnancy issue. "We can wait as long as you like. Course you know I will have to start buying stock in Trojan with the way we go through condoms."

Buffy giggled at the expression of mock sorrow he now affected. "Don't worry too much about that. I have an appointment at Planned Parenthood today. I will be Pill gal soon."

"Oh, thank God!" He meant that exclamation as a joke but it came out so strongly that there was no doubt how much he wanted to discard that form of birth control. The very thought of being able to sink into her lush heat without the barrier of a condom had him hard again in an instant.

Angel chuckled as he watched the two of them at play, he knew by Riley's physical reaction it was time to remind his lovers of their original intention this morning. Which he did by once again cupping their sexes in his large hands, drawing their attention immediately to him.

The shared look of renewed desire on their beloved faces set his blood on fire. "Mo leannens, mo chiele, mo ban-chiele. Shall we seal our vows in our wedding bower?"

Buffy grinned, her hands encircling both of their cocks which elicited a deep groan from her mates. "Oooo, yeah!"

The trio laid down on the bed with Angel cradled between them. Riley kissed the back of his neck, molding his long body up against the vampire's cool one while he caressed his lover's shoulders with his warm hands. Buffy continued to smile at both of them as she settled down beside Angel on her back. She kissed him fervently before hooking both her legs over his hip and guiding his cock into her simmering heat.

Riley waited mere moments for them to settle into a comfortable rhythm before sliding his hands down to cup Angel's ass. The vampire moaned softly and spread his legs as best he could in his current position, silently indicating his acceptance and desire to his lover. The young man complied, first wetting his fingers in his mouth before slipping first one then two into his vampiric mate.

Angel moaned deeply, it felt so damned good to have both of them surrounding him. He reached behind to lay one hand on Riley's hip, pulling him forward. The young man hesitated, not wanting to hurt his mate by taking him without the benefit of lubrication.

That problem was solved in an instant by Angel. He reached down to where he and Buffy were conjoined and grasped his own cock, withdrawing from her suddenly. She looked up at him in askance until she felt him move further up the bed. Riley gasped as Angel spread his legs enough for Riley's cock to slip between them into Buffy's heated core.

The young man gripped the pillow next to him and swore aloud. He had never been inside this part of her without a condom, not even for a single moment. The heat and texture was so incredible, he had to bite his lip to keep from coming instantly. Riley managed three good solid strokes before he withdrew, panting heavily and struggling for control.

Angel nodded in satisfaction at how fully lubricated Riley's cock was now and slipped his body back into it's earlier position. He sheathed himself back into Buffy who gasped aloud at the resurgence of his coolness within her after having experienced Riley's heated invasion. Then the vampire grabbed his other mate's hips again, urging him forward.

Riley sank deeply into Angel without a single hitch. There was no pain, just glorious fulfillment in that quiet act of possession. The three of them rocked slowly, sharing the sensations throughout their mated bond. Heated kisses were exchanged, hands stroked, hips moved, legs tensed and slid against one another. Angel cupped a breast in one hand and suckled on the nipple as Riley kissed Buffy for long moments.

There was no headlong rush toward completion, the conjoined trio gently explored one another with hands and mouths. Buffy was not certain which of her lovers reached down to rub on her clit. It didn't matter which one of them brought her to her first sobbing climax or the next... or the next.

All that mattered was that they loved her. This morning they had proved that fact beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Now what remained for her was the business of sharing her life with these two men. These two wonderful, caring, gorgeous men who knew more ways to turn her world upside down with pleasure that she thought possible. She bit Angel's shoulder as yet another orgasm shook her little body and his responding purr surrounded her with his love.

Riley's eyes were tightly closed, his mouth pressed against Angel's other shoulder as he moved in slow concert with the pattern set by his lovers. His was right on the edge of his release when Angel did something with his body that changed the angle just enough. The young man bit down on his lower lip, his body trembling as the first wave rolled over him. It was time...

Angel felt the beginnings of Riley's climax almost at the same instant he did. His eyes closed slowly while he savored the increase in his lover's heart-rate, the straining of his muscles as his body tensed in preparation for release, the soft curse which issued from the mouth now on the back of his neck and the onrush of warm semen filling him to over-flowing. The exquisite combination of all those sensations and the tightening of Buffy's inner muscles on his cock was enough to trigger his own completion.

He growled deep in his throat as the waves of pleasure rolled over him. Angel held on tightly to Buffy, opening his eyes and looked deeply into the fevered gaze of his darling wife.

His wife... he liked the sound of that.

Angel sent a silent prayer of thanks toward heaven for her acceptance of him as a husband. And for Riley's acceptance of him as a husband as well. Nothing could make his happiness more complete.

They laid there in companionable silence until Buffy started to shiver just a little. With a smile on his lips a sleepy-eyed Riley reached down to the bottom of the bed and drew the covers up over them. No one wanted to move from the comfort of the warm bed so they simply held one another for a very long time.

More sweet kisses were exchanged between the lovers before they drifted off into a contented sleep. Their hands intertwined on the pillows above them, the three claddaghs gleaming softly in the subdued light of early morning.

******

Gaelic translations

Alainn	Beautiful
Am bi thu mo ban-cheile?	Will you be my wife?
Am bi thu mo cheile?	Will you be my spouse (husband)?
Aingeal	Angel
Ceisd mo cridhe	Darling of my heart
Daor caraid, tha gaol agam ort	Dear friend, I love you
Leannen	Lover
O Dia!	Oh God!
Mo leannens	My lovers
Mo slainte	My salvation
Mo saorsa	My redemption
Mo tearmann	My sanctuary
Seadh	Yes
Tha sibh mo gaol	You are my love
Tha sibh mo leannen, mo seis.	You are my lover, my mate.