Title: HEARTBEAT – Chapter 31a
AUTHOR: Mistress Ace
EMAIL: rosewood@inreach.com
FEEDBACK: Please... It is always nice to know if I reached you somehow with my words.
DISCLAIMER: Don't own the characters at all. They belong to Joss Whedon et al. This is my own little world that they play in from time to time. Hopefully this story will help alleviate some of the pain we have been feeling about what has been happening to Riley lately... Please don't sue – This is only for entertainment purposes... All I own is my computer, two cats and a very fertile imagination...
RATING: NC-17 m/f, m/m
PAIRINGS: A/B/R
SPOILERS: The I in Team and Goodbye Iowa
SUMMARY: This story takes place in my universe, not Joss'. Ah domestic bliss, how long will it last?
DISTRIBUTION: FINNactics, FINNSmut, Jen, it's yours... anyone else, just ask.
EXPLANATION: Anything within ** denotes internal thought. Gaelic translations: daor caraid – dear friend, Aingeal – Angel, leannen – lover, mo cheile – my spouse (husband), Maduin - morning, mo ban-cheile – my wife, alainn - beautiful
DEDICATION: To Marc Blucas for giving such depth to a character that so many of us love.

 
CHAPTER 31

Spike was counting heads again, silently amazed at just how many vampires and demons had filtered into the mausoleum over the past few hours. There had originally only been himself and the two from the bar but now there were somewhere around 30 bodies milling about in the dimly lit space. This alliance of the demon underground was bigger than he thought and more just kept coming.

He took a long drag off his cigarette, noted how his hands trembled slightly while he watched the group with hooded eyes. The note he'd left at Willy's for his lovers was turning out to be an invitation to a slaughter, a slaughter that would end up with his family dead. His mind raced through the possibilities of how he could warn them about what they would find in this place and he was fresh out of ideas.

All that was left was prayer, something he as a demon should not believe in.

But he was praying now.

*******

It was almost mid-morning when Angel woke again. He was still cradled between his two sleeping mates, his body completely warmed by theirs. It was such a luxurious feeling to be warm again, to wake to the feeling of silky skin against his own, the sight of soft golden hair trailing across his chest and the steady rhythm of two heartbeats resounding in his ears.

Even though he was very worried about Will's absence and knew he needed to start the search for him, Angel was loathe to move out of comfort of their shared bed. A sweet little sigh rose up for Buffy as she rolled onto her other side and snuggled into him. The soft curves of her ass now nestled against his stomach and thighs instantly reawakened his desire for her.

He gazed lovingly at her, admiring the beauty of the girl lying in front of him. This amazing girl had been willing to look past the monster's face and love the man beneath it. She was everything to him, his lover, his mate, his lady... his wife.

Behind him Riley stirred, the warm arm around his stomach tightened and Angel felt a pair of firm lips place a soft kiss on the back of his neck. A sleepy voice echoed in his head as his other mate's marvelous body was pressed lightly against his back. *Angel... You okay?*

He knew the absence of William was bothering his vampiric mate but he was at a loss on how to truly alleviate his worries about his missing childe. He chose instead to just keep kissing his neck and shoulders, trying to soothe him as best he could with the warmth of his touch. The soft purring that rose from within Angel told him he was having a positive effect on his mood.

Angel smiled and arched his back to bring them into even closer contact. He was grateful for the love and genuine concern pouring into him from the young man who so readily accepted him into his life. Like Buffy, Riley was a treasure, something he couldn't believe he had ever lived without.

*I'm fine, daor caraid. Did you sleep well?*

*Mmm-hmm...* More kisses, a hand slipping down from his stomach to trace circles in the sensitive skin just below his navel. That warm hand brushed the tip of his erect cock and Angel stifled the impulse to draw in a startled breath. *Like a baby... God, you taste so damned good. Almost good enough to eat.*

Angel leaned into him as he reached between their bodies to return the caress. His hand on Riley's warm cock caused the young man to moan and press even closer. The whirlwind of passion that always existed between the three of them was gathering speed again, tempting both of them to throw caution away. That warm mouth bit down on Angel's neck and the vampire was lost.

To hell with Will, to hell with anything that was going to ever make him leave this bed again. Angel pulled on his lover's hips, urging him to take him again, this time without preliminaries, without lubrication. Just hard and fast and so satisfying in it's very simplicity...

At that moment, the young man's stomach chose to growl, startling both of the lovers out of their erotic dance. Riley chuckled a little, kissing Angel's shoulder in apology for breaking the mood. *Sorry, Angel. Mortal body, needs food to survive... Plus I really should get up and deal with another mortal thing...*

Angel nodded, he could now feel the pressure inside his lover's body, a pressure that was bordering on painful. He felt Riley slip out of the bed and turned his head to admire the graceful lines of his mate's form as the young man padded off to use the bathroom. The boy was just so damned beautiful...

Beside him, his beloved Buffy was still soundly asleep. He kissed his forehead, determining it was best just to let her continue to rest. She needed as much sleep as she could get; her slaying duties weren't exactly conducive toward restful nights. With the addition of her prophetic dreams, the girl was lucky to not be completely exhausted all the time.

After a moment, Angel rose from the bed and followed after Riley. A quick shower would be a good idea right now. A shower, get dressed and take off through the tunnels to find Will. His childe had probably gone back to his own crypt to sulk. Unfortunately there was no underground access to that little building therefore Angel would have to wait for nightfall before checking there.

And Willy's wasn't open until after two in the afternoon. Angel sighed, shaking his head as he glanced back at the clock by the bed. It was almost 11:00 and the computer people were due at 2:30. He couldn't leave until they were done, there would be more papers to sign and some re-wiring that had to be taken care of in parts of the house only he had keys to.

The search for Will would just have to wait a little longer.

Riley stood in front of the mirror with a razor in his hand, calmly shaving when he felt a cool hand on his shoulder. He didn't jump, he knew his mate was in the room and had been watching him for a minute or two. The young man smiled at the mirror, looking directly at the spot where Angel's reflection should be. Not being able to see Angel in a mirror was no longer a disconcerting thing, he had grown used to it.

He turned his head enough so he could gaze into the soft brown eyes of his vampiric mate. There was a wealth of emotion shining in those expressive eyes. Within their depths Riley saw love, concern, desire as well as a deep worry. He knew Angel was concerned about Will and he shared that feeling. The younger vampire had been so upset when he left last night...

*We'll find him, Aingeal. Let me finish here and I'll make that call to the Initiative.* He thought for a moment before shaking his head ruefully. *After I charge up my phone, that is. When are the phones supposed to be installed here?*

*Somewhere around 2:30 today when the computer people get here... The call can wait until after breakfast, leannen.* Angel dropped a soft kiss on Riley's left shoulder before turning toward the shower. He could feel the young man's hunger like a coal in his stomach, it rivaled his own thirst this morning.

There would be time after they ate to locate his missing childe.

Angel set the shower taps at his usual high temperature preference and waited for the water to heat. *Thank you, daor caraid. I appreciate all your help where Will is concerned.*

Riley finished his task with a last swipe of the razor along his jawline and rinsed off the remaining shaving cream. He crossed the tiled floor until he stood behind his beloved mate, drinking in the sight of his unmarred immortal body. Angel's unearthly beauty always drew him in like a moth to a candle's flame.

With one large hand, he gently traced the lines of the tattoo on his lover's shoulder. Angel arched his back a little, reveling in the simple comfort afforded by that contact. He truly appreciated how tactile Riley was in his expressions of affection, the boy loved to touch and that was something that had been missing from his life for so very long.

The smooth texture of Angel's skin never ceased to amaze him, his lover had lived for over 250 years but his skin was still as soft and supple as any Riley had ever felt. *No need for thanks, Aingeal. You know I would do anything you asked of me..."

He kissed Angel's shoulder and nuzzled his neck a little before giving him a playful nip. *And against my better judgment, I find myself liking Angelus' Will... Which really is not the best of ideas, given his history and how fragile the Initiative chips can be. They have been known to malfunction before.*

Golden eyes regarded him quietly as his lover turned back to face him. The change in their color and the sardonic lift of his eyebrow were the only external indication that Angelus had chosen this moment to take control and defend his childe.

Steam from the shower rose up around them as Riley waited for the demonic side of his mate to speak his peace. *I don't think you need to worry about Will returning to his killing ways if the chip no longer works, lover. He never killed when he was young because it went against his nature. He only started killing after our lives were threatened. His first kill was someone who had put a crossbow bolt into me...*

Knowing he had made his point clear, Angelus faded once again into background. He was content to wait and rest until they had recovered William from whatever trouble he probably found last night. Once his childe was located he would take over again.

His darling Will would regret not keeping his promise to return by dawn...

As he took in the information freely given by his lover, Riley felt a knot of tension in his chest ease a little. Perhaps he had been too hasty in his snap judgment of how Will would react without his chip. He had used that concern to distance himself from the younger vampire in order to maintain some sort of barrier around his heart.

A heart that was all too willing to let his mate's childe take up residence within it.

William could be far too easy to love...

But even with this new knowledge, he had some reservations that would have to be worked out over time. Buffy had been very forthcoming about Spike's behavior in the past and until Riley could be certain that he wouldn't revert to that rather arrogant and cruel persona, he would keep a little distance between them. William had to prove himself before he could greet him with open arms.

Angel gave him a gently compassionate look that told him all he needed to know. His vampiric mate was willing to give him all the time he needed to come to terms with Will being a part of their lives.

Riley leaned over to give him a swift but loving kiss before turning his attention to the massive amounts of steam filling the bathroom. *Angel... I love you and all your strange habits but do you really have to insist at setting the shower on boil?*

The dark-haired vampire laughed silently, not wanting to wake Buffy a sudden outburst of mirth. He gave his now grinning mate a rueful shake of his head and pointed to the other shower head. *That's the reason for a separate shower head. Set the temperature there for what is comfortable for you and we can still shower together, daor caraid.*

With that bit of advice, Angel entered the stall and hissed in appreciation as the scalding water warmed him from the outside in. The heat was delicious, almost as delicious as the sensation of waking between their warm bodies this morning. He hummed an Irish dance tune to himself before glancing over his shoulder at his lover.

Riley gave him an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes at him the way Buffy always did when she was teasing which caused Angel to flash him a rare but brilliant smile. The warmth of that smile lingered as the young man turned on the other taps at the far end of the shower, setting them at a much lower temperature before joining his mate in the huge stall. *Angel...*

His mate looked up from where he was retrieving some sandalwood scented soap. *Yes?*

*Mind if I make breakfast this morning? I have a craving for my mother's blueberry pancakes... Do you have any blueberries on hand?* Riley accepted the soap as Angel handed it to him. Domestic questions helped him sidle away from the doubts he still had about William.

Angel thought for a moment before nodding. *There are some fresh ones in the refrigerator. Blueberry pancakes... Sounds interesting...*

*They're the best... Trust me...* The eager look on his mate's face brought more laughter bubbling to the surface. Angel knew he was in danger of losing his reputation for being the broody type as long as this young man was in his life.

Which he hoped would be a very, very long time.

*I look forward to tasting them... Especially through your perceptions...*

*Great... And Angel?* This request was shyer, almost hesitant which drew Angel's immediate attention. Riley was rarely shy about anything when around his mates. His characteristic straight-forwardness was one of his most endearing qualities, it garnered a great deal of respect from both Angel and Angelus.

*Yes?* He handed his lover a bottle of shampoo, using it as an excuse to study his face. But Riley merely accepted it with a small smile and a light caress of his fingertips.

His expression was a little sheepish as he massaged the woodsy smelling lather into his hair. *Do you have some more clothes I can borrow?*

This time Angel did laugh out loud. The way Riley was going through his wardrobe, he would need to buy a whole new one in order to cut down on the dry cleaning bills. *Certainly... You seem rather fond of borrowing my clothes... You do have some of your own somewhere, don't you?*

Riley's reaction to that teasing question was startling and immediate.

Angel felt a chill pass over him as a sudden stillness overcame his usually exuberant mate. He shot him a concerned glance, noting immediately the grim line of Riley's mouth that told him without relying on the mated bond there was a problem, a very serious problem.

And judging by Riley's instant shuttering of his emotions and thoughts, it was something he was not ready to discuss.

The young marine stood there for a long moment, trying to quell the blind panic rising within him at the thought of returning to retrieve his belongings. His superiors and fellow soldiers at the Initiative were something he was definitely not ready to face. Especially after the threats made by Xander Harris two nights ago.

Riley knew Harris had been right on far too many counts about his current situation. As far as his mission was concerned, his lover was the enemy. His acceptance of the mated bond with a vampire was tantamount to treason.

Imprisonment in Leavenworth was the least of his worries.

If he got caught before getting his discharge, Riley would be lucky to avoid a firing squad.

After a long moment, he responded, his tone very closely guarded. *I do... I'll get them later in the week.*

Riley said nothing further, just turned his back on Angel in order to rinse the shampoo out of his hair.

Angel noted his lover's continued silence and reflected on the hidden meaning in his grim expression. He knew he could pry the secret out of him through the manipulation of their bond but decided it was wisest not to push the issue. And even though Angelus was also concerned about him, he found himself in silent agreement with Angel's judgment in this matter.

Knowing his mate, Riley would tell him in good time.

In an attempt to soothe his beloved, Angel drew closer to him, tentatively stroking his back with one almost humanly warm hand. As he stepped into the cooler spray of his lover's shower, the vampires wrapped his arms around him and placed a quick kiss on one broad shoulder. *Feel free to use whatever you need, mo cheile. Whatever is mine, is yours.*

Riley sighed deeply, leaning against him. This was one of those times that he was intensely grateful for Angel's profound sense of discretion. *Thank you...*

He turned to face his vampiric mate and drew him in for a deep lingering kiss. Their earlier passion still lurked just beneath the surface, but at the moment, each were too distracted by their own concerns to act on it.

There would be time enough after tending to this morning's tasks for a return to one another's embrace.

And to the embrace of the girl still fast asleep in the other room.

*********

The growling in her stomach woke Buffy. She stretched languidly and opened her eyes to find Angel looking down at her. He was sitting on the side of the bed, already dressed in a black sweater and loose-fitting cargo pants, his standard work-out clothes. His frankly adoring gaze was so full of love that it almost embarrassed her. A slow smile lit his features as he cupped her face in one hand.

"Maduin, mo ban-cheile." His cool lips caressed her in a brief kiss. "Hungry?"

"Mmmm, starved." She stretched again and sat up, the sheets falling away to reveal her breasts. Angel's gaze grew even warmer as he admired her delicate beauty. His lovely little wife was a sight to behold, even with her hair mussed from sleep, she was still the most exquisite creature on earth as far as he was concerned.

It was a struggle to resist the temptation of simply stripping off his clothes and climbing back into bed with her. But he could hear her stomach growling and he knew it was time for her to eat. Anything else would just have to wait.

Besides Riley would not appreciate it if his efforts at making a healthy breakfast for her ended up getting cold on the table. "Breakfast is ready downstairs. Care to join us?"

She nodded and gave him a shy little smile. Strange that she could still feel shy in front of him after how many times they had made love in the past few days. "Okay... Bathroom first?"

He nodded and stood up. As she rose from the bed, he wrapped the peach silk robe he had taken from her closet around her little frame. A cool kiss was placed on one shoulder while he settled the soft cloth over her.

The scent of her renewed arousal began to fill his senses. Buffy looked up at him with a coy smile, her eyes begging him to kiss her. Angel almost resisted the silent plea but was unable to when he saw the tip of her little tongue sneak out to lick her lips.

His mouth covered hers in an instant as he followed the path of her tongue with his own. Under that subtle pressure she opened for him and Angel leisurely explored her depths, reveling in her sweet taste. Buffy leaned into him, little needy cries rose from her throat as she molded her body to his.

He continued his tender assault for a moment before patting her on the bottom and pushing her toward the bathroom. The look of disappointment of her face almost drew him back into her arms. But there were other matters that needed to be dealt with before he could lose himself within her again. Important matters such as making sure she was fed and discussing the issue of how to complete their search for his missing childe.

Angel gave her a reassuring smile as well as sharing a searing vision of he and Riley making love to her on the kitchen table amidst the breakfast dishes. That image made her eyes light up with eager anticipation. "We'll see you downstairs in a few..."

*******

More vamps, more demons, where were they all coming from? After Adam's fiasco, there shouldn't be that many of them left in old Sunnyhell.

Spike sat on one of the tombs, smoking a cigarette as he curbed his urge to pace. His only outward sign of agitation was the muscle twitching in his cheek as he took another quick head-count. It was now well over 40 and growing.

*Cor, I hope soldier boy has sense enough to call in for reinforcements... Otherwise, we are in for a world of hurt.* He took a long drag off the cigarette and noted Evan approaching him. *Great, just what I need. Mr. Obsequious sidling up to me for a slimy little chat-up.*

"Master Spike?"

He kept his seat, staring up at the other vampire with a collected air that had taken years for Angelus to instill in him. Will could just hear his sire now, lecturing in that lilting tone that never failed to send shivers of desire down his spine. 'Never show fear, my boy, never. Even if you are shaking in your boots, never let your enemy know it.'

"Evan."

"Could you review the entrances and exits to Angelus' lair with the boys? We'd like to know what we can expect?"

Spike nodded, crushing his cigarette out on the heel of his boot before he stood. He silently thanked whatever gods there were that Buffy had moved her some of her possessions into the house the day before. That small detail guaranteed that no vampire could cross any threshold of the home without her express invitation.

If Angel were the only one in residence, it would be an entirely different matter. Vampires could enter the lair of another vampire with impunity but they could not enter the home of a living person without their permission.

He looked over the group and nodded as if in satisfaction at how they gave him their entire attention. It was a heady feeling to be in charge of a group again. Such a seductive feeling of power. Had this not involved the lives of his sire and mates, he could almost enjoy this again.

"Listen up, lads and listen well. There are four main entrances to the place." He drew a map in the dust at his feet and indicated the doors as he spoke. "Front door, garden door, garage and the back door. All but the main door are heavily booby-trapped. The front door is the best bet..."

Spike smiled at his use of misdirection. Whereas his sire did have some pretty heavy locks on all the doors and the garage, none of the above ground entrances were actually booby-trapped. If he could channel most of the group toward the front, his family had a good chance of survival.

The big front entrance was really the hardest place in the house to invade. It had a deep foyer which was easily defensible. Angelus and Riley could probably hold it between the two of them without much effort. Buffy's little group could easily pick off any demon that made it past the front foyer with their crossbows. The Watcher and that whelp Harris were actually pretty good shots with them.

"There is a sewer entrance, here..." He pointed to a spot in the dust. "It's unguarded, Angel uses it to get around in the daylight and he's a bit of a lazy sod. He never was one for settin' up too much that would keep him from a quick entrance and exit..."

The reality of that scenario was the sewer entrance was the only booby-trapped one. Angelus had set so many damned traps, they kept losing their most addle-pated fledges down there when the three of them occupied the mansion two years ago.

Spike knew all the ins and out of the trip-wires, the hidden crossbows, the pitfalls... He could make his way through it without injury and make it look like child's play. But whoever followed him would probably be mowed down the instant they deviated for his seemingly careless path.

He pointed to the majority of the non-vampires and stated clearly. "I want you lot down in the tunnels with me. The vampires can take the main door and we'll come up from below..." If he could get away for just a minute, just long enough to get to a phone, Spike could save his family. He would tell soldier boy where to find the biggest cache of demons the Hellmouth had to offer and let the Initiative do something constructive for once. Something like protect his beloved sire and his mates.

Of course that plan all hinged on whether or not the great poof remembered to charge up the battery on his cell phone, since the remaining phones were not due to be installed until later this week. Spike knew that Angel hated the contraption and spent a great deal of his time when they were working of Buffy's rescue cursing the object. More often than not, he would simply toss it down on the sofa, forgetting its very existence until one of the Scoobies showed up at the door because they had been incommunicado.

Or if the worst came to worst and he had to lead the ungainly army against his loved ones, he sincerely hoped he could bollix up the works enough to give them a fighting chance. Especially if he could get to Angelus' secret cache of weapons under the house. There was some stuff stored in that hidden cabinet that was guaranteed to be able to take out half of Sunnydale.

Angelus had been a great student of mankind as a whole, wars in particular and he had a predator's love for weapons. His sire was a cagey one, he hadn't taken out so many Slayers by leaving anything to chance. When they took up occupancy in the mansion, the elder vampire insisted on having the extra stash just in case the Slayer and her Slayerettes made it past their defenses and they had to take to the tunnels.

Only he and his favorite childe knew where all the weapons were stashed. And only the two of them knew how to use some of the things hidden there. Soldier boy might have a clue on most of the stuff but there was that one hollow tube that if you pressed the right button, it would shoot out a magical flame that could take out most of his squad of demons with one shot...

Spike stifled a grin as he imagined watching his troops go up in flames.

Maybe there was some real fun to be had here after all.

This whole thing could develop into a great spot of old-fashioned violence, something he could really sink his fangs into. And if he played his cards right, his reward would be a good hard shagging with his sire... Maybe spiced with a side helping of Buffy on his tongue and soldier boy's bittersweet come for dessert.

Things were definitely looking up for old Spike today...

********

Breakfast was wonderful. Old-fashioned blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup, completely slathered in butter, fluffy eggs and crisp bacon as well as a tall glass of milk and one of orange juice. Riley was turning out to be just as good a cook as Angel. And like Angel, he made sure she cleaned up everything on her plate.

During the meal, the mated trio quickly laid out their plans for locating William. Once Riley's phone was recharged, he would make the call to the Initiative. Buffy volunteered to check out both Willy's bar and his crypt because Angel had to remain at the house until all the equipment installation was done. After dark, they would make a full sweep of Sunnydale until they found him.

Buffy relaxed in her chair, thoroughly immersed in the delightful sensation of being so close to the men she loved and the moment of calm before the storm. Since Willy's didn't open for a few more hours, she had a little time to kill and she could think of no better way to do it then be with them. And to reflect on just how incredible her life was turning out to be...

This had to be a dream. She had the two men that she wanted the most in the world in her life on a completely permanent basis. And what men they were, she sighed and gave them loving looks across the table, which were returned in kind. Riley had that slightly proud, slightly goofy smile on his face when he reached over to take away her empty plate. Angel simply beamed at her as he caught her hand in his, kissing her ring before joining Riley in the clean-up process.

She started to rise to help them but both of their voices echoed in her head, telling her this was her wedding breakfast and she was not to raise a finger to help. So Buffy leaned back in the chair while she watched them work, quietly admiring every movement, every touch they shared in their common task.

The love they showed toward one another was almost as much as they showed her. Their utter closeness had bothered her earlier, but after Angel's confession, the impromptu acceptance of Angel's rings and Riley's proposal, any doubts she had on that score were forgotten. She was content to bask in their combined love and marvel at her luck.

For she had the best possible of situations and she knew it. She had a stunning home, a group of friends willing to fight beside her, an utterly devoted husband, even though he was a vampire, and one incredibly sexy fianc้e. How many other girls could say that?

Buffy was in heaven.

She looked down at her slightly rounded tummy and frowned. Buffy was in heaven all right and in danger of getting fat. And fat was deadly to a slayer.

Time for a workout...

She rose to her feet and glanced over at Angel and Riley. They were quietly discussing the re-wiring plans for the computers being delivered later that day as they loaded the dishwasher. Feeling her eyes on them, both men looked up at her with identical smiles.

"Yes, alainn?" Angel laid down his dishtowel and walked over to the table.

"Time to put that playroom upstairs through its paces. You guys with me?" She was now humming with energy; both from the food and the marvelously restful sleep she had experienced after their lovemaking at dawn. Angel nodded in agreement, understanding intimately their need to remain in top fighting form. It was essential for their continued survival.

"Sure, just give me a minute to make that call to the Initiative. I want to see any of the roaming squads picked up Will last night... My phone should be charged by now." Riley unplugged the cell-phone from the wall. He was amazed that he had forgotten to keep it charged but with all the recent developments in his life, he was lucky to have remembered he even had a phone. Fortunately if the Initiative really needed to get him, he still had his beeper...

Which was on the nightstand upstairs.

"Okay, meet us up there. I don't want you guys getting fat and lazy on me with all this domestic stuff..." She grinned up at their matched expressions of mock outrage. It was so much fun teasing the two of them because she knew exactly how they would react.

Angel returned her impish smile with one of his own and lifted her up off her feet for a quick kiss. "Immortal body, remember? Doesn't change."

Buffy winked at him before looking over his shoulder at Riley who was shaking his head at her while he dialed the phone. "It's not you I'm worried about, Angel."

Angel set her on the ground and she walked over to the now grinning Riley. Buffy poked him playfully in the stomach. "This one likes his desserts too much..."

"Hey..." Riley's grin got even broader as he punched in the last number.

"Mr. I'm having a twinkie for lunch..."

"That was only once and I was in a hurry..." His hazel eyes danced with merriment until he heard a voice on the other end of the line. Riley's demeanor changed instantly, he straightened his spine, raising himself to his full height as he spoke into the phone. His voice took on its usual commanding tones that he used with his troops. "Miller... Finn, here. Did anyone pick up Hostile 17 last night?"

Angel moved closer, his concern for his missing childe reflected on his face while he listened to the one-sided conversation. Riley was providing the other side through the bond but it was his mate's body language and reactions he was watching the closest. As the conversation progressed his concern for his childe was rapidly replaced by concern for his mate.

The young man was more than a little nervous talking in front of them and it had nothing to do with the subject. There was something about the Initiative that was really worrying Riley. Angel knew without a doubt that this was what made him go so silent during their shower this morning.

He shot Angel a level look that spoke volumes to the vampire. There were some really deep issues involved and this was still not the time to bring them up. "I know he's on the don't touch list... Buffy's looking for him... Un-hunh... Okay... If you see him, give me a call... Yeah? My leave ends Friday..."

Riley glanced at Buffy, his grin back on his face. "Yeah, she's the greatest... See you at the end of the week, buddy."

He terminated the call and gave them each a smile. But it was a smile that did not quite reach his eyes.

The quiet fear he was trying so hard to suppress confirmed for Angel that although he was not ready to discuss the Initiative, they would have to deal with it soon. The Initiative had to be the reason he was reluctant to go gather up his own belongings and bring them to the mansion. It explained his earlier request to borrow more clothing...

Buffy shared a quick glance with Angel, letting him know that she was picking up the same strangeness from Riley. The vampire gave her an almost imperceptible shake of his head, indicating they should not bring it up with him yet. He needed to open up to them of his own free will.

She nodded slowly, conceding that he was probably wisest where this was concerned. But if it persisted she would take matters into her own hands.

Determining that a good workout session might loosen the young man up enough to share his concerns, Angel dropped his intense scrutiny of his lover. He held out his hands to his mates. "Shall we?"

*******

Graham Miller was still shaking his head when he hung up the phone. Rye sounded a little stressed, not like his usual easy-going self. There was something odd about with his behavior that he couldn't quite put his finger on. It felt like his commanding officer was trying to hide some secret from him.

He shrugged his shoulders, grabbed the basketball off the couch and headed out the door. He and Forrest had a death-match going down on the outdoor court in five minutes that he didn't want to be late for. Gates owed him a pizza from their last game and Graham was determined that by the end of this match his buddy would owe him beer to go along with it.

Rye would be back by Friday and then he would have a long talk with him. He would make sure everything was all right with the commander who also happened to be his best friend...

*********

Riley's hands were taped to protect his knuckles against damage while he worked on the punching bag. He could feel his mates around him and it filled him with a quiet joy to be so close to them. Behind him, Buffy's heart rate was elevated as she spun through her routine on the vaulting horse and in the center of the floor, Angel exuded a pool of utter calm, his elegant form moving gracefully through his Tai Chi kata. The three of them were at peace with one another, each reaching for the perfection that could spell the difference between life and death here on the Hellmouth.

As his hands beat out a steady rhythm on the canvas bag, Riley put himself through the mental paces of his blocking exercises. He had come to the realization over the past few days he would need to be able to exclude his mates from certain things, certain thoughts, certain feelings. It was imperative in a combat situation that he be able to block out the pain of possible injury from his loved ones so they could concentrate on their duties.

He was getting really good at blocking out Buffy but Angel was another matter. The ensouled version of his mate had this uncanny knack for seeping in under his best laid shield. And Angelus was impossible to block, the demon just tore through each of his walls whenever he set them up. Riley was resigned to the fact that he would never be able to really hide anything from Angelus.

But he might be able to dampen his output just enough to protect them, especially if he used that trick Willow showed him while Angel was in the closet with Buffy yesterday. She had told him to imagine his spine being connected with the earth and to channel every thought, every feeling directly into that connection. She said if he could master that, he should be able to keep from distracting his mates if he got hurt.

The little witch had been very understanding when he explained all the ramifications of the mated bond. Her eyes grew very round when he gave her the severely edited version of that momentous event when he allowed the bond to be forged. Riley had been very careful not to mention Angelus during that discussion as the demon had been adamant that none of the Scooby core be apprised of his intimate involvement. They were not ready for that revelation.

And even though he tried to keep all of the sexual connotations out of his story, Willow blushed very deeply while he described just how it felt to hear and feel everything that his mates experienced. She placed her hand in front of her mouth after she blurted out the first thing that came to mind. "So you feel everything? Even when... when you are... Oh Goddess."

Riley blushed from the tips of his toes to the tips of his ears as she looked him over. Then she glanced at the closed closet door before returning her attention to him, which caused him to redden even more. It was one of the hardest things he had ever done, to just stand there and let the little redhead stare at him with an open mouth and even wider eyes.

Willow took pity on him after a moment and stopped staring at him. Once his face had returned to a normal shade she sidled a little closer, swallowing nervously. There was something she had always curious about and Buffy would never tell her, but maybe Riley would. "So tell me... Angel... Is he..."

*Oh God... Please don't let her ask what I think she's going to ask. I can just see the look on her face if I told her the truth about Angel. Yes, Willow, he's fabulous in bed. He's got a mouth like silk and a very tight ass. He tastes better than chocolate and his cock is to die for...* Riley looked away for a minute before licking his lips nervously and looking back at her. She was blushing even harder which meant she was going to ask that question. He steeled his nerves. "Is Angel what?"

"Is he... Riley, I've touched Angel's hands, I've kissed his cheek and he's cold... Is he cold all over? Even..." She couldn't continue, she just looked at him with those innocent looking eyes, begging him not to make her finish her sentence.

"Yes, Willow. Even there..."

"Isn't it uncomfortable?" She couldn't believe she was asking him this. But she'd always wanted to know.

"No..." He laughed, growing more at ease with the subject by the minute. "It's like ice cream. All cold and delicious and it gets warmer on the way down... And this is just way too much information for you, isn't it?"

She laughed and nodded while bushing even deeper. Willow had to turn away from him for a moment, so she settled her gaze on William who was moving a nightstand into place beside the bed. The look the younger vampire gave the man behind her made her blush yet again. She had not doubt in her mind from that one glance that Riley had slept with him as well.

It took a walk out onto the balcony for Willow to be able to completely compose herself. Riley followed her at a polite distance, leaning on the railing while he waited for both of them to calm down a little.

Once she finally got herself under control, Willow whispered to him about the immense power that was involved in sex magic. And from what she understood about the vampiric mated bond, it was a form of sex magic of the highest order. After that admission was finally made, she was very forthcoming about shielding techniques.

And those shielding techniques had been put to the test today. First in the shower with Angel when he teased him about his lack of clothing and then downstairs during and after his call to the Initiative, his shields had been in full force. It was obvious that Angel was more than aware there was a problem but he was still showing that infamous restraint in questioning him about it. Riley appreciated his mate's tact in allowing him time to deal with the problem on his own.

And it was a major problem, one that he had to approach very carefully.

The recriminations he knew that would be heaped on him because of his relationship with Angel weighed heavily on his mind. He hated the thought that he would have to hide his changed situation until he was free of the military. But as far as the Marine Corps were concerned, his intimate connection with his mate was forbidden due to his lover's sex. And as far as the Initiative was concerned, Angel's vampiric nature and Riley's love for him made him a traitor to the cause.

If anyone found out, he was a dead man.

*********

Buffy sat on the edge of the vaulting horse, doing her after work-out stretches as Angel finished the last moves of his slow kata. Tai Chi was a beautiful form of martial art to watch, all control and fluid grace, something that Angel personified. She sighed softly, thoroughly enjoy the view.

Behind her, Riley was untaping his hands after having spent the better part of the last half-hour beating the punching bag into submission. He too had been a study of controlled grace as he danced around the bag, throwing short jabs followed by roundhouse punches that would knock a normal person across the room. Like Angel, he was an impressive instrument of war.

Her team, the best part of her team was in this room with her, honing the skills that made them such an essential part in the effort of keeping the world safe from the dangers of the Hellmouth. The tiny Slayer was so grateful for their unwavering support.

That very support and the support of the rest of her friends meant she had a fighting chance, something no other Slayer before her had ever been given. Buffy knew in her heart of hearts that it was because of all of them that she had been able to live this long.

For Slayers were a solitary lot.

Existing solely for the purpose of the kill, their lives were nothing but short whirlwinds of killing grace.

Their only companions were their Watchers, men and women who trained for most of their lives to serve their own single purpose. A grim purpose that usually lasted for only a few months, maybe a year at the most. The Watcher was to provide assistance for the Chosen one, that one girl in all the world who was meant to keep all the world's supernatural evil at bay. It was their sworn duty to act as her guide, to stand on the sidelines and finally to bury her when she lost the final battle or to drive a stake through her should she be turned.

Buffy had survived more than the usual amount of time allotted to a slayer because she was different from all of the others. Her identity was known to more than just her Watcher. She had her friends who fought beside her, laughed with her, cried with her and helped in more ways than they could ever imagine. Buffy knew she was incredibly lucky to have them at her side.

And now as well as having her watcher and her loyal friends, she had these two magnificent men who would lay down their lives to save her. Buffy had her beautiful Angel who she loved from the moment she first saw him. And had continued to love even after she found out he was a vampire, that he was one of the things she was destined to kill.

She'd even loved him when the demon wore his face, when he'd killed her friends and tortured her Watcher. Despite all those months of horror, Buffy had continued to love him with all her heart. When he left, part of her died...

But besides having Angel back in her life, she also had Riley. Strong, generous, caring Riley who had been willing to love her despite the fact her heart belonged to another man. Who had been willing to enter into a bonding with that man in order to remain in her life. Who had even found within himself the ability to love that other man almost as much as he loved her. He amazed her more with every passing day. She knew her life would have been a lot emptier without him in it.

Finally there was Angelus, the demon who inhabited the same body with her Angel. A more cunning and devious creature had never existed. He was evil personified when they were enemies, tearing her apart with a single word, a look, a touch. Now that he was her mate, he would turn all of those energies into the destruction of her foes instead of her. He would be her salvation instead of her damnation.

She sighed happily as Angel approached her, his broad bare chest gleaming in the diffused light. A curl of desire rose up from deep within her as she caught the look in his eye. Maybe it was still early enough that she could spend a little more quality time with her mates before she headed off to Willy's. The kind of quality time that involved hands and mouths and bodies all intermingled together...

The mats underneath the vaulting horse looked soft enough, especially if one of them volunteered to be on the bottom. Buffy looked deeply into Angel's eyes, reaching out behind her to beckon Riley closer. Her smile got wider as she felt his warm hands on her shoulders and his lips on her neck.

She was sure there was definitely enough time for a little more bonding between them...

********

Angel had watched Riley closely as he worked the bag, his hands moving with blinding speed and power. The boy was damned impressive, it stirred his blood to know that he had managed to mate with both his beloved Buffy and this fine young man. He was quietly amazed at how deeply he felt for him. Until this point in his long life, only Buffy had gotten this close, had owned this much of his heart.

Now if he could just get him to open up about what was bothering him about the Initiative. Angel was sure he knew the cause of his concern but until Riley chose to confide in him, there wasn't much he could do to help. There was no doubt in his mind that with very little effort he could work his way through the shields his lover had constructed around his thoughts however it would be best if Riley came clean on his own. Once he did decide to discuss it, the four of them, Angelus included, would be able to provide a solution.

As he worked through the slow moves of his kata, the ensouled vampire and his demon reflected on the events of the past few days. His mates basically accepted his childe as part of their family which would make his life smoother overall. Once Will returned all of them would sit down and determine some rules for their relationship.

Buffy had broken the news to her friends and to her Watcher and they had accepted his presence in her life again. Harris would take longer to convince than the others but on that count he wasn't really worried. The boy could never resist the chance to be close to Buffy, he would come around eventually. And if he didn't, it would not break his heart to never have to see him again. That left only one other person in Buffy's life that needed to be informed of her changed situation. And that one other person was the individual he was most concerned about. Angel sighed softly to himself as he completed the last graceful turn of his routine. The very thought of approaching that woman filled him with dread, but it had to be done.

He lifted his gaze from the smooth wooden floor and found himself drowning in the hazel depths of his beloved's eyes. Buffy was done with her own routine, she sat upon the edge of the vaulting horse, watching him intently. The warmth of her regard rekindled the desire for her that always lurked just beneath the surface. Images of bending her over the horse and taking her from behind while Riley filled her mouth with his cock had him hard in an instant.

Angel glided across the floor toward her, intent upon gathering her into his arms for a deep, passionate kiss. As he reached out his left hand to cup her chin, the silver of his claddagh gleamed in the diffuse light. The matching gleam of her own ring caught his eye as she raised her hand to pull him in even closer and the sight of his wedding ring on her finger brought him instantly back into focus.

His lips touched hers briefly, much more briefly than he had intended originally, but now was not the time to be lost in passion. Angel ignored her murmur of protest as he drew back from her. He tilted his head a little so their eyes met and locked before he whispered the question that he hoped would not trigger an explosion. "Buffy... When are you going to tell your mother?"