Title: Baby Doll
Author Restive Nature
Disclaimers: I do not own any of the characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel the Series. They belong to the almighty Joss and I just play with them for my own amusement before putting them away neatly.
Spoilers: Buffy Season Three "Amends"
Chapter Eighteen
Dolls On Parade
"I still can’t believe that you grabbed all that stuff and still made it out," Angel chuckled.
"Oh, that was really stupid of me," Dylan moaned and covered her eyes in embarrassment. "There was a fire, my life was in danger, and I didn’t want to give up a stupid camera."
"Well, it was a gift," he tried to soothe her.
"Yeah," she agreed quickly. A mischievous glint came into her eyes. "I sure had fun with that thing."
Angel almost laughed out loud when he realized what she was referring to. "I remember. I don’t think I was ever so…" He grinned. "When Spike and I saw those pictures, we were…"
"Gob-smacked?"
"Completely."
*****
Angelus had been able to find them a new lair, fairly quickly after the fire at the factory. They’d only spent a few nights in the crypt. As a precaution, he’d suggested to Dru that she tie up Dylan to prevent the girl from escaping again. Dylan had glared at him. But he didn’t care. Spike had appeared with a length of rope and with a slightly apologetic smile, had anchored her ankle to his, before Angelus could suggest something further. They’d passed the day quietly. There was too much tension to rest well. Aside from Dru that was. She’d lain down beside Dylan, Miss Edith in the crook of her arm; the dog curled up at her side. Spike had volunteered to stay awake, to make sure that the Slayer and her cohorts hadn’t followed them. Angelus drifted off for a while, but his own tension prevented him from slumbering, as he should have. Dylan slept not at all, not trusting the demon that had dragged her here, despite the proximity of Dru and Spike.
She realized that day that once Dru had fallen asleep, Spike had positioned himself on Dylan’s other side, instead of beside Dru. She had thought that he’d prefer being closer to Dru. But she figured out that he was protecting her from Angelus. He didn’t trust the Vampire either. It cheered her a little, but didn’t help her sleep. Finally, Spike could stay awake no longer. Dylan watched his eyes drift shut. She glanced around; noting that Dru was completely under. Angelus was out as well. She sat there, back pressed up against the wall. She wondered only briefly if she should try. But her earlier failure at the factory prompted her. And the murmured words of Spike.
"What are you waiting for?" he whispered, his eyes never opening. Dylan stared at him in shock. Was he talking in his sleep? But then, his foot twitched convulsively. She gulped. It had to be a sign. Her hand crept towards the knot, finding that it was much looser than it should have been. Her eyes flew to Spike. He’d done it deliberately, she was sure. And then declared his watch. He wanted her to escape. She felt a little choked up. Her hands reached for the knot, but just as she began to loosen the rope, a growl came from the wakening Angelus. She snatched her hands back, hurriedly placing a look of innocence on her face.
Angelus rolled over and instantly caught sight of Spike slumbering awkwardly in his chair. He growled again as he rose to his feet. He barely spared a glance at the girl, noticing only the other Vampire. "Spike, you’re doing it again," she said sweetly. She turned to Angelus. "Is it your turn for watch? Spike is getting really tired."
"Tired my ass," he snarled. "Sleeping is more like it."
"Don’t be silly," she shrugged. "Didn’t you hear us talking just now?" Spike’s eyes were open now. Angelus looked slightly confused.
"Did I do it again pet?" Spike chimed in. Dylan grinned up at him and nodded.
"One of these times I’m really going to nod off," he improvised, pretending not to notice Angelus.
"Well he’s awake now," Dylan jerked her head to the side. Angelus stood before them, seething, but they ignored him. Dylan was pretty sure that he was about ready to take either one of them apart and didn’t really care which. But luckily, Dru was waking up.
"I’m hungry," she moaned, her eyes still unfocused.
"I think we all are Dru," Dylan soothed her. "Don’t worry, sun will be down soon." Dru nodded and busied herself petting her dog.
The moment sun set, Dru and Angelus burst from the crypt looking immediately for a meal. Dylan followed after them, pushing Spike over the rough ground. "You know," Dylan smiled down at the agitated Vampire. "It’s too bad you don’t look your age." He twisted in his seat to glare up at her.
"Why is that?" he demanded shortly.
"Cause then people would see me pushing you about and gossip about how rich you must be to have such a little tart pretending to love you to get an obviously large inheritance." As she planned, he laughed. They followed idly after the other two, Spike not protesting when Dylan hung back to avoid the bloodier confrontations. After part of the night had gone by, with Angelus disappearing for a bit of it, they made their way back to the crypt. Then Angelus reappeared, some more supplies in hand. Namely, chains for the teen. With another apologetic smile, Spike snapped them into place.
So she was heartily relieved when Angelus announced that they were moving. He brought them to the old mansion on Crawford Street. Dylan had no idea that it was even there. But when they entered the place, she silently declined Angelus’ tour. She explored it briefly, finding the accommodations slightly more comfortable than they had been at the factory. She chose a small room for herself and deposited her belongings there. She removed the dust cloths from the furniture and wearily lay down on the bed, falling right to sleep. She woke with her leg chained to the wall. She’d been so tired that she hadn’t even noticed. It wasn’t tight, indicating that it had been Dru or Spike. Dylan didn’t mind and had been expecting it.
She had woken a little later from her nap, to find herself alone with Spike once more. After washing up she crept out to the garden to see what he was up to. He was obviously angry. So as usual, she spent time with him, calming him down. After she left him, she returned to her room and gathered what she could to clean up a bit. A week without being able to wash her clothes wasn’t entirely pleasant, but she was glad she had clothes to change into when needed.
Dru and Angelus returned, close to dawn. Dru was trailing after her obviously agitated Sire. Her face looked slightly crestfallen. Dylan wondered what had happened between the two but made no effort to discover it while he was around. And so the days and nights went. Se continued to avoid him and spend more and more time with Spike. She discovered that he could stand and walk, and after her excited squeal, promised not to reveal his secret. And she knew why. He was plotting against the other Vampire to get Dru back. And she didn’t blame him one bit, cheering him on in her head.
But Dru was strangely down; as if she sensed something wasn’t quite right in her little world. It was bothering her deeply. It could have been Spike’s eventual turncoat act he was planning. Or perhaps it was Dylan’s increasing need to get away from Angelus. It may even had been the big man himself sowing discord between the other three. And each of the others noticed it. Angelus brought Dru gifts, as did Spike. But it was Dylan’s idea that finally got her giggling.
One evening, she emerged from her room, her camera in hand. She’d set up her surprise for Dru and hoped that it went over well. Dru had just had to go through the entire rigmarole of warning off the minions again. But it was done and Dylan felt that she could roam about the mansion much as she did at the factory. "Hey Dru!" she called as she entered the living room. The Vampiress looked up as the teen approached her. Dylan took a seat next to her and leaned over to whisper in her ear as quietly as possible. And by the way Dru’s eyes lit up, Dylan’s surprise was a welcome one. With enthusiasm she hadn’t shown in a while, she jumped up and dragged the teen back towards her room.
"Where are you going Dru?" Angelus asked, a slight whine to his tone.
"Shh!" she growled playfully. "It’s a secret." Angelus’ eyes widened.
"Er, what’s the camera for pet?" Spike butted in, staring at both of them.
"Taking pictures," Dylan replied flippantly. Spike rolled his eyes. She began to drag Dru away. The other two followed, but Dru turned to them.
"No boys allowed," she taunted before slamming the door shut in their stunned faces.
*****
"I remember," Angel grinned widely. "We listened at the door for over an hour."
"Oh really?" Dylan drawled.
"That was quite the, er, interesting conversation," he smirked.
"I know," she smiled, the perfect look of innocence on her face.
"Oh, you bad girl," he chided teasingly.
*****
"Dru," Spike and Angel heard clearly from their vantagepoint directly outside her closed door, "the blindfolds are in that trunk. Can you get them?"
"Of course luv," Dru giggled. "Can’t do this without ‘em." Angel raised his eyebrows, a leer on his face. Spike just smiled mildly. He certainly approved whatever Dylan could to do make his Princes smile. There was a pause as they heard something heavy being dragged across the floor.
"What did you bring?" Dru’s voice was excited.
"It’s on the table," Dylan replied.
"Oh," Dru moaned. "Whipped cream!" This evening all of a sudden seemed full of promise.
"Okay, hang on a second," Dylan called out. There was a longer pause.
"Oh, my baby knows I love black lace," Dru giggled. This time Spike raised his eyebrows. Things seemed to be occurring behind the door that he’d not considered at all.
"Dru, did you want to take a picture?" A slight pause. "Okay, just point it where you want and click on that button." It went on for over an hour. By the time Dru finally emerged, her eyes glazed, dressed only in a robe, both males were quite worked up. She ignored them and moved off to her own room, making sure to shut the door firmly behind herself.
By mutual unspoken agreement, the Vampires in the hallway parted ways and retreated to separate corners. Angelus headed out for a kill to take the edge of his sudden tension. Spike debated which female to approach first, but the decision was taken from him when Dru emerged from her room, dressed again and looking to go out as well. So Spike was left behind, not sure that he really wanted answers as to what Dylan had done to put Dru in her mood. He’d much rather let his imagination interpret things this evening.
*****
"I can’t believe you were deliberately doing that," Angel sighed and shook his head.
"Well, what about you guys?" Dylan cried defensively. "Listening at the door like a pair of horny teenagers." Angel continued to shake his head.
*****
When Dru finally returned later that evening, Spike nearly accosted her, wheedling to find out what she and Dylan had been up to. But Dru just kept the Madonna like smile on her face. Angelus soon followed, wiping blood from his large hands. Spike shut his mouth, not wanting to be heard begging, even though he wasn’t really. He was just curious. Luckily for him, Dylan emerged from her room, having heard Dru return.
"Hey!" she greeted them brightly, even seeming to include Angelus in her smile. Then she turned her attention to Dru. "Did you get it?" Dru nodded catching Dylan’s enthusiasm.
"The boys will bring it here as soon as they can," she told the teen.
"Bring what?" Spike interrupted, looking back and forth between the two.
"The computer," Dylan supplied succinctly.
"What the hell do we need a computer for?" Angelus growled.
"To see the pictures silly," Dru giggled. His eyes grew wide, and predatory.
"You can see them now, if you want," Dylan offered. "I just want to upload them to a computer so that you can see them a little better. That little window on the camera doesn’t really show much detail. So I-!"
"What are you bloody waiting for?" Spike interrupted quickly. "Go get your bloody camera."
"All right Spike," Dylan smiled, sharing a knowing look with Dru. She ran to her room, then ran back, the digital camera in her hand. All three Vampires gathered around her, as she sat in a chair. Spike was leaned over one arm, while Dru perched on the other. Angelus leaned over her shoulder from behind. For once Dylan was able to remain cam around him, knowing he was more interested in these pictures than in killing her. It was the oddest sensation she’d ever felt.
Trying to hold back a naughty smile, she quickly dialed through the pictures until she reached the ones they wanted. She snuck a glance at the men, trying not to giggle at their gaping mouths and then the hastily covered reactions. Dru merrily narrated each picture for their benefit. And the women had a good time.
*****
"I still can’t believe the fuss you two made over a tea party," Angel snickered.
"Hey, it was fun," Dylan protested indignantly. "And it put Dru in a good mood."
"True," he acquiesced. "But I always wondered about the black lace?"
"Oh," she smiled broadly. "Those were cookies made with black walnuts. They were called lace cookies, but Dru always referred to them as black lace." He nodded in understanding.
"And why was Dru wearing your robe?" he couldn’t help asking.
"She got whipped cream on her dress," Dylan explained with a naughty grin. "We wanted to get it out before it set and stained the satin." He nodded again. "God," she chuckled, "we really had you two going."
"Yeah, you did," Angel shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"I’m sorry," she apologized, not really meaning it. "You know, I still have all those pictures. They’re in that album over there. Some of the ones of the dolls at the party were quite artsy." She gestured to the bookcase where she’d pulled the first album.
"At least you had some good memories from that time," he cocked his head to the side. "As strange as it may have been. I’m glad for that."
"So am I," Dylan sighed. "Cause it all seemed to go downhill from there."
Chapter Nineteen
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