Dawn

Kendra was back in control of her senses. She had been bathed and oiled by vampire women. She was clothed in a long red robe. Her hair hung around her back, still wavy from the braids.  Her feet were bare on the cold stone floor. She was slightly nauseous from the concoction she had been drinking.

Angelus stood in front of a fire pit that had been brought into the room. He was also dressed in red robes. A small smile played on his face as she was led around the pit five times. Five days, five turns around the fire, five times Angelus must take her between dawn and dusk. Then Angel would be back.

Someone chatted in the background. She thought it must be Frank.

She stopped in front of Angelus. He looked like the eager groom. Kendra played her part and smiled shyly up at him.

“Do you give yourself willingly?” The question came from the shadows.

“Yes.” She whispered.

Angelus walked to her lifting her robes from her body. She stood proud as the demons circled them. He removed his robes. Kendra gasped. He seemed bigger…more intimidating then he had been five days before.

Fear radiated off of her. Angelus laughed out loud. She delighted him.

He took her hand and pulled her to him.

“I will be gentle…” He whispered. “Today.”

Because you have to, Kendra thought.

He laughed in her ear as she wrapped her arms around him pressing his erection into her nest.

The chanting continued as he led her to the alter that stood in the center of the room. He lifted her onto the cold marble before settling himself between her legs.

“There has to be blood. Do not show fear, don’t pull away princess or we’re both dust.”  Nodding she wrapped her legs around his waist and buried her face in his neck. Angelus pulled himself back and rammed into her. He hissed as she bit into his shoulder. Quickly he pulled out of her and stood for their inspection.

Hooded figures came out of the shadows, nodding at the blood they saw on his erection. When they turned for the door Angelus lifted her from the cold marble and threw her over his shoulder.

“Come on princess let’s make a baby.” Tossing Kendra onto the bed he climbed on top of her and began pumping into her. “Gotta love a virgin.”

Kendra closed her eyes to the pain and damage he was causing her. She could feel her body stretching and tearing. She felt her blood lubricating him. She finally understood what he meant when he said, “I’m gonna rape you to death.” A normal woman wouldn’t be able to survive his “gentle love making” but Kendra’s slayer blood she would heal before he began the next round.

“So tight baby.” He whispered as he came.

The rescue

They got into the compound with little trouble. Buffy didn’t like it. The halls were virtually empty. She could hear chanting everywhere she went. Suddenly a shadow blocked they’re path.

Frank stepped forward looking past Buffy to Jenny.

“I didn’t think you would make it.” She gave him a quizzical look. “The prophecy was very specific. We must hurry the councils men are not far behind you.” He opened a passage near them and rushed through.

“If they are not done Angelus will know we are there.”

“No, the spell focuses him and Kendra. They may hear you but they will not be able to respond to you. That is why they are so venerable. Hurry.” He opened another panel. He quietly crossed to the bed and nodded. “He is almost finished. Begin the spell.”

Jenny handed the orb containing Angel’s soul to Willow. She took the spell from her pocket and began to read from it. She turned so she wouldn’t need to face the moving bodies on the bed.

Buffy couldn’t take her eyes off of them. She watched as Angelus sunk his fangs into Kendra’s neck.

“No,” She screamed rushing forward she knocked the orb out of Willows hand. They watched in horror as the orb shattered on the floor and the soul shot up to the ceiling.

“Finish the spell!” Frank yelled.

“They aren’t finished.” Jenny yelled back.

“His soul will dissipate if you don’t and all will be lost.”

Jenny said the final words bypassing the section that ties Angel’s happiness to his soul. With a flash of orange light the soul disappeared.

Kendra and Angel

Kendra heard the screaming from the shadows but couldn't take her attention from Angelus. It had been that way for several hours. Their bodies were in sync. Even when the orange light shot from Angelus' eyes and mouth his rhythm didn't break. Angel held her until he spilled his seed in her.

Breathless he looked into her eyes. Soft and kind, they held his shame and regret.

"Angel?" Tears shone in her eyes when he nodded. She cried softly into his neck. Angel wrapped his body around hers.

"Sir, the Council is attacking. We must leave." Angel jumped up being careful to cover Kendra's naked body. Frank handed him some clothes and began assisting Kendra into hers. He had chosen a skirt and blouse know the condition Angelus would have left her in. "Here."

He handed a spell to Jenny who began chanting until a large fissure opened.

“Slayer, Willow, help me.” Frank ran to a large room throwing the double doors open they rushed in and returned with a very large two wheeled chart.

"Push it through the porthole." The cries of the fallen could be heard through the door. "Hurry."

He cried grabbing the bloody blanket and sheet from the bed.

Angel carried Kendra. They followed him through the aperture.

"Jenny the spell." Jenny quickly recited the spell again closing the rift.

Angel looked around. The sun shone down on him without effect. It looked like the Irish country side. Everything was plush and green. There were beautiful rolling hills. Two rivers could be seen coming from a large mountain.

"Where are we?" Buffy asked not looking at Angel, who still held Kendra in his arms.

"Purgatory, the demission between heaven and hell; for us it's heaven." Frank responded. "We need to move from here."

"Can the council find this place?" Jenny asked.

"No, but it is a dangerous place to be after dark. We need to make for that hill." He gestured to the hill that was at least half a day's walk away. Angel kept Kendra in his arms and started towards it. Buffy, Willow, and Jenny helped push the cart.

When they finally arrived they were sweaty and exhausted. Angel gently placed the unconscious Kendra on the grass as Frank began removing items from the cart. He unrolled a thick travel mattress and several tents. Angel hung a sheet from a nearby tree and carried an inflatable tub to it. Using a pump he blew up it up. Then taking two buckets he walked the short distance to a water fall and began filling them. He made several trips until it was full. Frank handed him towels and soap. Angel gathered Kendra in his arms and took her inside the make shift room.

"Kendra?" He whispered.

"Wake up." He held her close to him. When he received no response he began stripping her. "I’m going to clean you."

He removed his clothes and lowered them into the tub settling her on his lap. She sighed as the cool water settled over her worn frame. Angel took the soap and began washing her.

She was so bruised. Despite Angelus' promise to be gentle he had hurt the girl.

Angel spread her legs to let the cool water flow over them. Instinctively she tried to close them again but he stopped her by whispering soothing words in her ear. He felt her relax against him.

"Angel?" She whispered. He looked into her exhausted eyes. "Thank you."

It would be the last words she said for several hours. After a time, Angel lifted her from the tub and wrapped a blanket around her. Upon dressing himself he carried out of the make shift tent and laid her in the warming sun.

Jealously

Buffy saw how Angel cared for the other Slayer. He lay next to her in the sun for a while. She watched as he spoke to Kendra knowing she was in an exhaustive sleep. She wouldn't hear him.

"So, you gonna help with the tent?" Willow asked behind her.

"Sure." They struggled with the heavy tent while Frank effortlessly erected Angel's and Kendra's. He then constructed a second one behind first. He pulled furs from the cart and entered the first tent then went out of the back into the second one with the remaining furs. He took the thick travel bed and reentered Angel's tent. He moved back and forth silently for over an hour until the accommodations were perfect He flipped open the flap and the clothe windows to allow the soft breeze in.

Finally to the women's relief he assisted them.

"How long have you been in Angel's service?" Jenny asked as they spread the furs out on the ground.

"As far back as I can remember.” They followed him to the cart.

Buffy took a good look at the cart. It had two large wheels on either side. It was rectangular in shape. Lifting the long lid she could see how deep it really was. No wonder it was so heavy it held pots and pans, dishes silverware and everything needed to survive in the woods for a while.

"How long are we going to stay here?" She asked lifting the box that contained the pots.

"When the triad receives the blessing, then the union will be blessed by the high priest and we will go back to our realm." He pulled out boxes of food and sat them on the ground. He continued until the cart was empty. Finally he retrieved a long wooden box. Opening the lid he began handing them large jars filled with a fine white power. Taking their hands he situated them in a line. "Wait five seconds, and then follow me. Pour your power over mine, Willow, then Buffy yours on Willows, and finally Jenny. We must protect the camp until the blessing."

He opened the lid and began pouring the power. Buffy looked around the camp and was sure there wasn't enough to cover the whole area but as she followed Willow she could see the jar never seemed to empty.

They traced a wide path around the camp and water fall. The powder floated on the water but never broke its chain.

Once they had finished Frank took the bloodied sheets he had taken from the bed and draped them over a tree limb.

“Why are you doing that?” Willow asked. “It’s embarrassing.”

“We want to show these creatures that Kendra was a virgin. Yes, I know Angelus makes everyone bleed but virgin blood smells different than any other blood.”

“Frank,” Angel called to the servant. “Kendra will need to eat soon.”

Frank nodded and began to build a fire. Willow opened the cans of stew he pulled out of one of the boxes.

“You may use the river to bathe.” He said as he dumped the food into a pot. Out of a cooler he pulled a bag of human blood. Emptying it into a cup he warmed it over the fire. Frank filled a bowl and carried both items to Angel who indicated he should take them into the tent.

Frank held the tent flap open while Angel carried Kendra inside. Buffy watched the interaction with Jenny.

She began to complain about the size of their tent and the fact that they had to do all the work. She complained about anything she could except that she wanted to be in Angel’s arms instead of Kendra.

Angel

Angel lay next to her watching the rise and fall of her chest. He knew what Angelus had known, there was a rage boiling just below the surface. She was so angry at the ‘powers that be' for choosing her to sacrifice herself for the world. She was angry that she had been humiliated by Angelus and forced to torture and kill. She was angry that she wouldn't fall in love and marry a human man. Most of all she was angry that her child's life would be as focused on saving a world that would never know what he had sacrificed for them.

Angel understood her anger. He had given her what he could. He claimed her for his mate and he had done it with Angelus in control of their body. In every way that counted she was his wife. Their destinies were joined together. He would protect her and the child that grew in her womb. They were one.

He could hear Buffy outside their tent. He wanted to tell her that he had always known she was not the chosen one. Buffy in her selfishness could never see the truth about Kendra. He had tasted it in her blood. It was slayers blood but it wasn't special, not like Kendra's.

Her blood reeked with power and dominance. No wonder her watcher had feared her. The Watcher's Council feared her. Kendra did not know that her ancestor Marie Savoie was also a slayer. She turned to voodoo when the Council rejected her because of her color. The young frightened girl became a powerful priestess that man and demon alike respected and feared.

"They will learn their place once and for all." Angel whispered to the sleeping girl kissing her lips softly.

He could feel Angelus raging inside of him wanting more of her. Angel wanted more too, but she was still too weak and tender.

            Angel carefully sat her up and began putting the stew to her lips. She automatically chewed and swallowed it. After a few moments she turned her face away from it.

            “For our child.” He whispered in her ear. She automatically opened her mouth again and chewed the stew until it was all gone. Angel quietly drank the blood Frank had brought him. When they were done Angel sat the dishes outside the tent.

Franks family had been a gift to Angelus from Darla. In his years of service to Angel he had never failed to do what he needed to in order to protect him. He had been Angelus’ first human friend. Now Frank had saved Angel and Kendra. If asked he would say it was his duty.

Angel went back into the tent. Kendra had kicked the thin sheet from her and lay naked. He removed his clothing and slipped into the bed next to her. Wrapping his arms around her he whispered. “You are mine.”

Kendra

Kendra final felt the veil being lifted from her. Slowly she became aware of her surroundings. The first thing she felt was Angel’s body half draped over hers. His back was to the tent opening.  His leg was thrown over hers effectively keeping her in place. She was wrapped in his arms. Her soft body molded to his hard one. He kissed her head.

“Angel.” She whispered wrapping her free arm around him pulling him completely on top of her. His body immediately responded to her moving one.

Angel moaned and kissed her gently. She spread her legs wrapping them around his waist.

“No.” Angel whispered pulling away from her. “You need to heal.”

“Please my Angel…” She whispered to him pulling him back to her. “Take the pain away.”

Her eyes begged him for what she needed to truly heal. Angel swallowed but nodded. He would work his entire life to free her from her anguish.

Kendra had never felt hands so gentle on her body. She could have wept when she thought that only hours ago those same hands were clawing at her, tormenting her body.

She gripped his head as he kissed her bruised body. He never actually entered her but crushed their bodies together, grinding against her center until they found release.

She could hear growling and grunting outside their tent.

“They smell our mating.” He whispered as he cleaned her off. He stood naked before her holding out his hand. Slowly, they stepped out of the tent and walked around the edge, careful to stay within the barrier.

Kendra followed Angel. Holding his hand she kept her head below his as a sign of submission.  There were grunts of approval from the creatures.

Finally, he led her to the river. He sat in the water and perched her on his lap. Angel washed them showing the proper respect for his new bride. His caresses soon became more as he touched her, kissing her, and suckling her until she came. She arched her neck granting him permission to drink from her. Even his taking of her blood was orgasmic.

Kendra sensed the continued approval of the creatures. He brought her to completion three more times; showing his strength by denying himself, before carrying her back to their tent.

            Buffy, Frank, Willow, and Jenny watched from the girl’s tent. Frank smiled at the display. Buffy looked on with unshed tears in her eyes.

“He did well.” Frank smiled at the blushing women. Buffy sighed and lay down on the thin mattress. She wished this was over and she was back at home.

            Angel sat Kendra on the edge of the mattress and touched her breast again. He couldn’t seem to stop himself. She watched him with a small smile on her face. Embarrassed he pulled his hand away.

            “We are bonded. Do you know what that means?” She nodded. “You are my wife. I will protect you with my life. Angelus cannot hurt you ever again, he would die first.” Kendra nodded.  She leaned forward and kissed his lips.

            “I could love you my Angel.” She closed her eyes. “You and Angelus.”

            Angels eyes widened in surprise.

            “He is a part of you and therefore a part of our child. If I love you I must love him.”

Angel nodded. He laid her back on the mattress and lay next to her. He covered them with a thick quilt as he whispered her to sleep.

The next morning

 Kendra and Angel woke early the next day and made love. Angel couldn’t stop touching her.

Frank joined them in the tent and offered Angel a mug of blood. Angel invited him to join them for breakfast.

Angel went to the tree outside the tent and picked the fruit there. Frank explained to Kendra that it was known as the forbidden tree and its fruit could only be picked by a chosen few. The inhabitants would wait for the fruit to fall and collect it. Unfortunately it would soon rot. So if they could get it in great quantities they would bargain with the devil.

It was noon when they stepped out of the tent.  Frank was gathering the presents left by last night’s guests.

The couple examined the items. Kendra loved the wooden cradle. Angel touched the smooth rattles. They reminded him of the kind of toys he played with as a child.

“How do we get all of this stuff back with us?” Jenny asked; her skin glowing from the warmth of the sun.

“We get a bigger cart.” Frank said.

“Why can’t we just leave it?” Buffy asked folding her arms across her chest.

“It would be disrespectful and right know we need all the friends we can get.” Frank said dismissively.

“How, do we get a bigger cart?” Jenny asked.

“We trade.” Kendra said smiling. She gestured to the tree. “If we gather enough fruit do you think they will trade?”

“For this fruit I think we could get a wagon and a horse.”

“So do we wait for nightfall?” Jenny asked.

“No, Frank and I will travel to the village over that hill.” Angel said looking at the map. “It’s the nearest.”

“If you take a sampling, you could get the horse and wagon and promise to return in a couple of days with the fruit.” Kendra said smiling at them. Frank and Angel nodded.

“Why would they trust you?” Buffy asked. Angel sighed at her negativity.

“If you don’t understand now, Ms. Summers you will never understand. We need to leave now.” Frank said gathering a large basket as Angel climbed the tree and dropped the fruit down the Kendra. She selected the choicest pieces and put them in the basket. After an hour they were ready to set off.

“Be careful.” She whispered as he kissed her.

“We will.” He let his hand run over her stomach. “Take care of our son.”

Angel and Frank set off with Angel carrying the heavy basket.

“Why don’t you hate him?” Buffy asked staring after him.

“What purpose would that serve?” She looked down at the smaller slayer.

“After what Angelus must have put you through…I just don’t get it.”

“Angelus was being who he is no more no less. Angel is not responsible for his actions.” She looked after the fading figures. “I could no more hate Angelus for fulfilling his destiny anymore then I could hate Giles for allowing me to be taken.”

Buffy looked surprised.

“I have known since I first stepped in Sunnydale that Giles would betray me.” She began gathering wood for the fire. “When we go back they will try again and Giles will die.”

This time Buffy did not look surprised.

“You will need to choose a side Buffy. When the battle comes we must know you are on our side.” She turned and walked back to the tent. She gathered the vegetables left by their visitor and a knife. She wanted to prepare their evening meal. She was Angel’s wife. Now all her years of training would be put to the test.