Sweet Dreams, Caged

Sweet Dreams, Caged

Summary: At a family barbecue with Connor Reilly, Buffy and Angel's relationship is explored. Is this just a happy family tale, or is there something lurking behind the curtain? (Apart from Angel, of course. What? He can't go out in the sun!)

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Rating: PG13

The barbecue smelt good, even to vampire senses.

Angel lurked, perforce, because the day was perfect for barbecue, and also for vampire death. He could see Buffy making awkward conversation with the Reillys' next-but-one neighbours on the left. They were car enthusiasts. He hoped Buffy was using some of the stuff he'd told her over the years, and not the truthful No one, but no one, will let me drive an automobile. Even in Egypt, where they didn't even have drivers' licences till, like 1995. So I choose not to care about vehicles, unless required for slayage purposes.

No. She wouldn't be saying that. They were undercover, more or less, or at least Passing For Normal, for the sake of Connor and his world.

Connor was sitting just outside the kitchen window, with the new girlfriend, and a couple of college buddies. They played hockey together, which made Angel almost too happy. He'd watched them at games, this past spring, enjoying Connor's speed and skill, and the way the bruising challenges left him basically unmoved, with bigger guys staring baffled after him. Hey: the Angel genes are not to be messed with, college boys.

"So, who's the babe?" asked College Buddy A (probably Deck, though possibly Donnie).

"Where?" Connor said it carefully, not too eager, because this new girlfriend was definitely a keeper, and it would be rude to sound too babe-interested while Jenna's head was actually on his shoulder. But also, a little interested, on account of the guy code, and the fact he was only, at bottom, human.

"The little blonde with the great ass. Talking to those petrolheaded bozos," said Deck. And Angel looked over, to realise, outraged, that they were talking about Buffy.

"What? Oh, no, that's my stepmom," said Connor. Like it was the simplest thing in the world.

"Your what?" The college boys exploded, disbelieving. "But, your folks are married!" Indeed they were: the Reillys holding court by the grill, still deeply in love.

Connor sighed. "Dudes, seriously? I have a bio dad too, right?" And Jenna gave a little murmur of agreement, and sympathy for the complexity of the backstory, as any sympathetic girlfriend might.

"I did not know that," said Donny. "I swear. You're adopted?"

"Yeah. My dad couldn't keep me-" and that little line, full of truth, sent a pang through Angel. I would have, son. I would have, despite everything. And if I had, you'd be five now, and not looking at hot babes who are my wife. "And my parents wanted kids, so-"

"Hey, but your sisters look exactly like your mom-"

"Yeah. It's a thing. Seems like I magically cured their sex life," said Connor, with laughter in his voice, and the expected chorus of Gross, man and I so did not need to think about your Dad's dick today and all the rest burst beneath the window. Angel flicked a glance over to Buffy, obliviously looking more gorgeous than ever, and at the Reillys, not noticing their disgusting not-even-teenage-now son. But he was smiling, all the same. Connor was okay with his past and with Buffy now. Even Stephen, hidden Stephen, seemed okay. This story, with just enough truth, worked for them all.

"So, the amazing stepmom must be, like, a child bride? Unless your bio dad was a teen dad, yeah?"

"Uh," Connor paused. How much truth? "No, he is older than her. Quite a lot. But they've known each other ten years, I think. So, you know, history."

"We get to meet him too- Whatever his name is?"

"Sure, if you want. He's inside, doesn't like the sun. But he'd be glad to say hi to my friends."

"Definitely. I have to meet an older guy who scores a babe like that!"

And Angel should have hated them, but, no. Dumb kids, sure, and more than a little rude. But they were the cement for Connor’s story, and they bought it. Besides, it sounded like Jenna just threw something wet over Donnie, which helped Angel's feelings somewhat.

Jenna talking now. "They don't have kids, right? But Buffy's really young. Maybe you could get a little halfbro?"

"Um." Again, Angel could hear Connor thinking aloud. Just enough truth. "Yeah, I don’t think it's that simple for them. It'd be cool, though." And that last part? Audibly not a lie. A warm and happy thought, of Buffy, pregnant somehow (hell, Angel'd track down a Mohra demon and humanise himself for a month to do it, find a way to switch back later; or maybe, finally, this would be his shanshu: he would be dead, but a living child, uncursed… And Connor would be happy with it. Like a family.).

And-

He could feel the tear in his soul before it left completely.

"No, no, not-"

"Oh yeah, baby," said Angelus. And Angelus then opened his eyes to darkness. Chains and bars. A tattooed monk. The old routine. Plus Hot Stepmom herself, in short shorts, which explained Angel's little outdoor fantasy. Cute. Very cute.

"Good afternoon," said the vampire Slayer. "We need some information from you to save the world. We'll pay you, or find some way to reward you for a few days if you co-operate. No killings."

"Well, then, sweetheart," said Angelus, slowly. "I don't think you have anything I'd want."

"I wouldn't say that," the Slayer purred. "We can negotiate."

"Seriously? You'd fuck the devil to save the world?"

She shrugged. "If I have to. The world's in, like, extreme danger. Angel won't like it, but-"

"Angelus will." He actually licked his lips, looking at her. Remembering that scar, the taste of her in his mouth, near-fucking that time if only his good self hadn't been too gentlemanly and concerned. But meantime, since she'd never give it up so easily, he had time to kill, and dreams to crush.

"You want to know what did it for Angel this time? Soul-wise, I mean? He wants you to be the perfect stepmom to little Connor, and get making babies yourself. Man, that guy watches too much Lifetime. Have you heard anything sappier, in your life?"

She should have looked distraught. Because their life was so far from perfect, with Connor caught in semi-denial of his old life and semi-resentment of the renewed connection between Buffy and the sap. Because marriage and babies were still so very far from likely. Because Buffy and Angel these days were mostly about saving the world, one day at a time. And looking to the future hurt too bad to contemplate.

But she didn't. Just smiled. "Really? That's what you got?" She moved closer to the cage, close enough that Angelus could catch the scent of her with every beat of her pulse. "Baby," she breathed, Monroe-hot and sexy. "Baby, that's exactly what I dream of too."

And she walked off, leaving Angelus in his cellar, alone.

Damnation. He would try to get free. Of course he would. He would try to kill and maim and blight their plan to save the world. Definitely try to ensure his pesky soul never made a reappearance in his equally pesky brain. And he would continue to try to thwart those two damn star-crossed lovers.

But there was a small part of Angelus that wouldn't bet against those shared dreams coming true someday.

***