"Immortal Beloved..." XCIX...

PG-13

Disclaimer: No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down!

It's all yours and ME's...

Spoilers for Angel to the bitter end...Flee at once!...

Summary: Though the standard IB format, one of (99!) versions of events following the end of Angel S5 episodes from "Girl in Question" through to "Not Fade Away" and beyond, this one's sorta notoriously south by southeast...(C'mon, you're a Hitchcock fan, you get it...)

Credit for this one goes to Ms. Angela Dawson's suggestion...Thanks...

Archived (soon) at the 'Normal' Buffyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse at -https://www.angelfire.com/zine2/buffyrebecca/index.html , scroll down to "Immortal Beloved" series

***

Part N...

"So..." Angel took two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter...Thanks...Passing one to Buffy beside him...

"Not exactly the way we once thought we might end up..." he noted...A hair ruefully...

"No..." Buffy shook her head... "But we'll always have Sunnydale..." she grinned, patting him... "And I won't forget...Ever..."

"Me neither..." he smiled...

"Nina ok with that?..." she asked, a sly grin...

"You and me, no problem, thanks to Angelus I have an out...It's a few other ladies in LA I have trouble explaining..." he eyed her...

"Yeah...I know...And tell her I didn't buy the 'I was never truly happy with any of them' excuse either..." she returned the stare... "But at least happiness can be yours now...Or so I understand...?"

"The modification to the curse has taken the whammy off..." he nodded...

"One of the benefits of learning the corporate player game, I guess...In the good cause...Still can't see you behind a desk in a suit every day, though..." she noted, smiling...

"I try to duck it whenever possible...Fortunately I have Charlie Gunn with me still and can dump it off on him... "

"And you have...(my) William..." she eyed him...Dropping the my to almost inaudible level...

"For want of a...Please, better word...Yeah, I 'have' him...But he's even less willing to accept the chair and desk..."

'Though as I told you, he has come through for us, many times..." he looked at her...She smiling rather warmly at the last...

Was it simply because he was there that year when she came back?... And I let her down?...he wondered, staring at her pleased face...

Or was it always there, from the moment they met?...Finn told me it was never me he was afraid of with her...And that it wasn't my name she woke up screaming...Crying out for in her dreams...

They paused to greet several guests, including a former President of the United States and his Secret Service entourage...

"Glad to know we have potential back-up tonight..." Angel whispered as they moved to a more secluded spot near the vast porch windows...

"God, lets hope not...This is supposed to be intelligence-gathering, not a slugfest..." Buffy replied...Looking round... "Where is Will anyway...?..."

"With your mother-in-law, last I saw him...I think she's taken a fancy to him..."

Her return stare caught him by surprise...Slayer locked on target...

"No offense..."

"None taken..." she replied quickly... "Maman's just worried about him and me, under the genteel exterior she's rather possessive of ole Henri...I kinda would rather Will didn't hang too close to her tonight..."

"Should I go and try a retrieval?..." he suggested...

"Nah, he'll get free of her...Just we don't have lots of time to do this...I've got get him to the cellar before things get too busy for me to duck out..." she patted the rear of her hair bun...

"Maybe I...?"

"He's got the keys...Lets leave Henri with one ex-lover to get steamed about..." she noted... "And it might make Nina a lil' nervous to hear we went off alone...Even for a mission..."

Perhaps not a bad idea, he thought...Saying nothing...

"You think the stuff is down there...?"

"There or in the stables or the garage or God knows...But it's a place to start...There he is..." she beamed...

"Hey, Will!..." she waved at him as he walked with the Countess and Dr. Baumann...Emil nervously watched from another group of guests he'd joined... "Having a good time?..." she called...Will waving back, a nod...

"Lets head his way...We can break off in a bit..."

"Sounds good..." Angel nodded...She gave him a quick glance as several guests approached...

"Say, Angel..." she turned to one, a tall, commanding figure, dark-haired...

"This is Hans Vanderhoos...Hans, Liam Angel...You two have something in common..." she grinned...Angel shaking the offered hand as Vanderhoos eyed him carefully... "Hans is the head of Interpol...I understand his people are investigating the new organization that took over Wolfram-Hart and their organization in Europe..."

"Really?..." Angel replied... "So those were your boys pokin' round our place the other day?...Sorry..."

***

The Countess had pulled William away from the other guests as they moved round the vast hall...They now had reached the same area Buffy and Angel had stood at a few moments ago...

Buffy glancing over to them as she and Angel continued their conversation with the head of Interpol...Angel politely noting his new firm was pleased to cooperate with the ongoing investigation, so long as the investigators displayed proper credentials and warrants on being found in the office at 4 am...Buffy turning back to them, clearly amused to see Angel in defensive CEO mode...Though giving Will another sidelong glance...

Lets get a move on...

"William..." the Countess hesitated... "If I may use..." Certainly, he smiled... "Perhaps you might care to see the view from the lawn?...Just out here...I can have the staff turn down the exterior lights..."

"If you'd like...But there's no need..."

"Please...I can assure you it's one of the best views in Europe...And I have something to discuss...A request to make, actually..." she eyed him...

By all means...he spread his hands and followed her to a side door by the windows...Angel glancing over to him now as well...A slightly clouded look over Buffy's features for just a moment as she watched...

Angel's attention being suddenly diverted by the entrance of Drusilla into the hall, on the arm of a young, good-looking man...She in quite elegant dress, hair carefully done...Looking round with considerable attention, her eye catching on several famed and not so famed guests...

Dru...He gasped...Stepping towards her...Tensing for a possible quick change to fighting mode...

"Angel?..." Buffy suddenly sensed his shift and turned from Vanderhoos...Spotting Dru herself...

"Let me, Buffy..." Angel called back, moving along, now hurrying as best he could...

"No, Angel!...Wait!..." she broke off from her guest to follow...Vanderhoos staring...

Angel trying to move as quickly as possible through the crowd without attracting Dru's attention...Buffy following now, likewise carefully...

"Angel...!" she called...

***

"A beautiful view..." Will nodded toward the estate's main house from the spot on the lawn the Countess had led him to...

"Yes, it is one of the finest homes we've ever owned...And that is saying something..." she smiled faintly...Waiting...

"Countess?..." he eyed her... "I'm here...What was your request?..."

A deal in the makin'?...Maman hoping to save sonny boy from Uncle Sam's wrath, perhaps? he thought...

She gave him a hard stare...All nervous manner dropped...

"My request, William...Is that you leave…Geneva, certainly…Europe if your business will allow you…Or if you would consider an offer of employment in one of our American offices should Mr. Angel have no need of you in Los Angeles?...I'm asking you as a mother…" the Countess looked at him carefully… "I know you were close to yours…"

"That, I really have to warn you, Countess…Is hitting well below the belt as the Yanks say…"

"I only want to see my child happy and nothing that I can do to prevent that happiness from being marred will I overlook, sir…" a pleading look now...

"Including, perhaps, removing me from the scene permanently?..."

"I did not send Drusilla after you, William…" a hard stare… "But I might be capable of it, under the right necessity…" Again the pleading look…

"And your dear son?..."

She drew herself up proudly…"His reputation as the Immortal and acts of service to Humanity speak for themselves…"

"You didn't answer my question, Madame…"

An exchange of thin smiles...

"Nor have you answered mine, sir…But let me say one thing…I firmly believe you want Buffy's happiness…And yet you know, have known, instinctively, that you are not the man to bring it to her…She can be kept safe, loved, and well-cared for by my son…Can you say the same?...And if you cannot, do you have the right to take all that from her?..."

"I didn't come to Geneva to take Buffy from your son, Madame..."

"But if she were willing to be taken...If only out of gratitude and guilt for your sufferings on her behalf...?"

"I'd have to experience the context of that situation, Countess...Can't say as to what I would do in such a case until it happens..."

"I'd hoped your human soul would be more willing to see her happiness settled..." she eyed him coolly...

"I won't deny I'm glad to see her again but I'm here for my work, Madame ...And if I thought my presence was hurting Buffy, I would consider leaving..."

"In time it will...I assure you...She will be torn between her love and duty as a wife and her guilt over your fate..."

"And if she loves me...?" he frowned at her...

"She's had many opportunities to come to you...I understand from what I know of your relationship...And yes, I have checked into your past together...She never made any effort to help you with your unjust curse...Hardly signs of a devoted woman in..."

"You don't know..." he began...She watching him carefully...

Slip-up there, you idiot...he berated himself...She's feeling you...And Buffy...out...

"It's up to Buffy...If my presence bothers her and she wants me to leave, I'll go...End of story, Madame...Till then, I can promise you I would do nothing to mar her happiness...Assuming that she is as happy as you claim, there should be no problem..."

A cool smile... "Well, I shall have to trust to your discretion and honor, Mr. Walthrop...Thank you for hearing me out..." she offered an arm and they proceeded back, she speaking only to point out an interesting feature or two of the house and grounds...

Offhand, I'd say I'd just been given the kiss of death, Vestigy-style...Will noted to himself as they re-entered the house, the Countess thanking him as he helped her over a step hard to make out in the dark...

***

"Immortal Beloved..." XCIX...

PG-13

Disclaimer: Disclaimers? We ain't got no disclaimers...I don' need to show you no stinkin'...No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down!

It's all yours and ME's...

Spoilers for Angel to the bitter end...Flee at once!...

Summary: Though the standard IB format, one of (99!) versions of events following the end of Angel S5 episodes from "Girl in Question" through to "Not Fade Away" and beyond, this one's sorta notoriously south by southeast...(C'mon, you're a Hitchcock fan, you get it...)

Credit for this one goes to Ms. Angela Dawson's suggestion...Thanks...

Archived (soon) at the 'Normal' Buffyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse at -https://www.angelfire.com/zine2/buffyrebecca/index.html , scroll down to "Immortal Beloved" series

***

Part O...

A rather warmly beaming Dru in elegant ball dress had now caught sight of the tall, dark, and somewhat pointy-haired fellow in tux moving toward her through the crowd...Behind him, the young and lovely Countess d'Vestigy, nee Buffy Summers, in as hot pursuit as the need not to trample and panic guests would allow...

She showed her male companion, both looking curiously at the fast-approaching man...Who seeing no immediate menace on Dru's part, had slowed a bit as he neared them...And with considerably more interest at their hostess, likewise closing...

"Dru!..." Angel called...She blinking at him...

"Excuse me?..." she stared at him as he grabbed at her arm... "Dru, be quiet and come with...I won't hurt you..."

"Hey!" the young man moved to face him... "Who is this guy?..." he addressed Dru who shrugged nervously, annoyed, perhaps a tad frightened... "Who do you think you are?..." he began...

"Angel!..." Buffy came up...Pulling hastily at him..."This isn't who you think..." she tried to smile at the couple...Other guests staring now...

Huh?...

"This is Ms. Landau, the actress...Daughter of the famous actor..." Buffy explained, a smile to the lady in question... "And this is Liam Angel, my old friend from LA...Who's very mortified to have mistaken you for another acquaintance of ours..."

Everyone always gets Dad in in introducing me...Juliet sighed...Like I have no career of my own?...Geesh...

Cute, if a bit odd in that tux...she eyed Angel...Wait...

"Liam Angel?...The head of Wolfram-Hart?..." she looked at him more carefully...

Corporate owner of some of the world's major studios...

"The firm's under reorganization..." he noted...Moping a brow sweating more from embarrassment... "Sorry, the Countess is right...I mistook you for an old friend of mine..."

The young man at the actress' side glaring now...More from his companion's lack of annoyance at the unwanted intrusion...

"Whom you weren't gonna hurt if she came quietly?..."

"Just a little personal joke..." Angel tried...Looking to a rather amused Buffy...

"And she looks that much like me?...Wow..."

"An identical twin, I'd say..." Buffy smiled...

"Is she here yet?...I'd love to meet her..."

Buffy and Angel exchanged glances... "I'm afraid not...Dru had sent her regrets just this evening...I hadn't had a chance to tell her...Foster dad here..." she smiled at Angel...

"Well, they were close as daughter and dad for a while...And I know our Dru would have loved to be here tonight to see him..."

She really does hate me for not telling her about him, doesn't she?... Angel thought, eyeing Buffy...

He doesn't seem that old...But a major corporate player can probably keep himself pretty youthful-looking...

"Excuse me, I've got to tend to a few other guests and family...Angel, why don't you show Ms. Landau round?...You can tell her all about you and Drusilla..."

"Lovely name..." the actress beamed...Her companion giving Angel a narrow look...As Buffy headed off...Distinctly giggling, Angel realized...

***

"Hey..."

"Hey..."

"Having a good time?..." Over here, keep it low...Buffy hissed, pulling Will back a bit toward some doors at the right upper side of the great hall...

"Delightful...Your mother-in-law was showing me the grounds..." That's not Dru with Angel over there?...He inclined his head that way...

No...A guest who looks like her...Some actress... "You oughta see the rest of the place...I have a minute, lets start with the library here..." she opened the doors...Pulling him along...

"Nice..."

"Yeah..." she gave a cautious look... "We've got quite a collection, under surveillance of course..."

"Naturally..."

"Come on over here...I'll show you the rest of the lower floor and we can go upstairs to the main collection later..." she held open an ornately carved door at the rear...

Ok...The hallway's not so carefully monitored...she hissed...

"And here's the way to the main kitchen..."

"Is that a Monet?..." he eyed the painting hanging in its own nook under glass...

"Oh, yeah...Henri was a personal friend..."

"Just through here..." she pulled him through a door...

"Great pl..." he began as she whirled him into a closet, shutting the door...

Wait...she hissed, covering his lips first with a finger, then kissing him...

Then flipping a light...

"Will, William..." she kissed him again...

Ummn...He felt her arm firmly round him...

Abandon, yes...But somehow not quite total...

Wait, let me check...she looked round...Carefully moving items on a couple of shelves...

"Ok...We're clear..." she'd resumed normal voice...A bit low perhaps...

"He even has the closets monitored?...."

"I doubt it but we can't take chances...I'd swept this one with some of Riley's stuff before, but I wanted to be sure..."

Wait a min...

"So that little scene a sec ago...?"

"If they did catch something, just a little illicit rendezvous...Damning to my rep but nothing worse..." Buffy smiled...Then kissed him again, passionately...

"That one was absolutely uncalled for..." she grinned, releasing him...

"So what now?..." he asked, a bit coldly...She looked him in the eye, then sighed...

"Buffy the lying, unfaithful slut of a lover and wife returns to her party and you get on with the mission, starting with the cellar...Hoping I won't abandon you again...Though given my record, I'd cut out and run if I were you..." she replied, equally coldly...

"Your mother-in-law thinks I'm up to no good, maritally...Asked me to get myself gone from these parts..."

"Did she send Dru after you?..." Buffy's voice was icy...

"She said no, sincerely enough, but she was a tad cagey..."

"Then I'll wait...Too bad she doesn't know how little a menace to Henri's happiness you've tried to be..." she noted... "The cellar entrance is over to the right in the kitchen hallway here...It's locked and I'd better cover you as I'm not supposed to have that key..."

Swiped it while he was dressing...she gave a faint smile... "But that's why I haven't been able to get a look down there...He's walked me down but just to see the wine cellar...The key wasn't included among the set he gave me when I moved in...I've thought it best, and Riley's agreed, not to press..."

"Is it monitored...?"

"Can't say for sure, but if the stuff is down there I'd bet he wouldn't want every new security guard watchin' him playing with it...If it is and they come, I told you to go down and wait there so we could talk...I will be down asap after I check in with Maman and maybe him..."

"Another illicit meeting?...Slayer, you're doing wonders for my rep at least..."

"Just get this one right and we're out of here...Whether you believe me or not..." she eyed him...

"And on to the next one...Will there be a part for me in that?..."

She stared at him... "That was low, William...You know, maybe I ought to just show you what I'm capable of and betray you to Henri...He loves me, after all, whatever else he is..."

Would that convince you I'm capable of loving someone enough?...

"It'd be impressive..." he nodded...

"You better go...Try not to get radioactive...I couldn't make use of you on the next one..." she pushed at him...

"Look..." he paused... "Buffy...I'm sorry..."

"Sure..." she nodded... "But hey, we're here, job to do...And you were right, I didn't give it up for you...I probably couldn't...Get moving, I'll see you down there later..."

"Buffy...?" he stared at her...Her look inscrutable..

"Go on, save the world...We'll be practically even after this one..."

"What are you going to do, Buffy?..."

"My duty, what else?..." she waved at him... "Hurry..."

***

"Immortal Beloved..." XCIX...

PG-13

Disclaimer: Disclaimers? We ain't got no disclaimers...I don' need to show you no stinkin'...No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down!

It's all yours and ME's...

Spoilers for Angel to the bitter end...Flee at once!...

Summary: Though the standard IB format, one of (99!) versions of events following the end of Angel S5 episodes from "Girl in Question" through to "Not Fade Away" and beyond, this one's sorta notoriously south by southeast...(C'mon, you're a Hitchcock fan, you get it...)

Credit for this one goes to Ms. Angela Dawson's suggestion...Thanks...

Archived (soon) at the 'Normal' Buffyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse at -https://www.angelfire.com/zine2/buffyrebecca/index.html , scroll down to "Immortal Beloved" series

***

Part P...

(La Vie en Rose-English)

Hold me close and hold me fast The magic spell you cast This is la vie en rose

When you kiss me, Heaven sighs And though I close my eyes I see la vie en rose

When you press me to your heart I'm in a world apart A world where roses bloom

And when you speak Angels sing from above

Every day words Seem to turn into love songs

Give your heart and soul to me And life will always be La vie en rose

I thought that love was just a word They sang about in songs I heard

It took your kisses to reveal That I was wrong, and love is real

Hold me close and hold me fast The magic spell you cast This is la vie en rose

When you kiss me, Heaven sighs And though I close my eyes I see la vie en rose

When you press me to your heart I'm in a world apart A world where roses bloom

And when you speak Angels sing from above

Every day words Seem to turn into love songs

Give your heart and soul to me And life will always be La vie en rose..."

"Beautiful couple they make..." Ms. Landau noted to a slightly perturbed Angel as Buffy and Henri glided past, opening the dancing phase of their ball...

A rather unnerving evening for Angel all around as he awaited word from Will over his earplug receivers...Almost surreal with Ms. Landau clearly quite taken with him, hanging on his arm, almost as sweet as the human Dru he was currently experiencing some very uncomfortable memories of...

And now Buffy waltzing along in the arms of the Immortal, looking every inch a content and happy bride...A little too good a performance...

Time to get off somewhere and contact William via his shirt stickpin transmitter...And perhaps get in a call to Nina...

"Would you excuse me a moment, Ms...."

"Juliet..." she beamed...Her long-departed escort fuming at them from the well-laden bar at the far end...

"I've got to place a call in to my company...Back in a few..."

"Oh, please..." she beamed more brightly... "I'd love to hear about your plans for Wolfram-Hart's reorganization...Business fascinates me nearly as much as acting..."

Not all airhead, this girl..she grinned...

Hmm-hmmn...he nodded, a vague smile as he headed off...Dru's kind face before him as she offered to summon a priest to help pray to free Angelus' tormented soul...Looking down at him from her window in the convent as he pleaded from the yard adjacent... "Only your innocent prayers can help me, miss...Let me pray with you and the father in the chapel...I managed the strength to spare your mother, take pity..."

Buffy and Henri, whirling along still to "La Vie En Rose", passed him...Buffy waving slightly...Henri with standard benevolent smile...They turned back to each other...

Kinda glad Will isn't here...

He reached the grand entrance, and explaining to the butler and a politely smiling fellow who introduced himself with studied courtesy as Eric Matisse, estate administrator and security chief, that he was getting a breath and making a quick call home, stepped out...

Hmmn...He recognized that guy from Riley's rogue's gallery...Eric Matisse, right...

Matisse eyeing him as he walked off...Breath, eh?...

Angel reached a dark corner of the grounds, not too far from a few couples and individuals strolling about, and pulled a high tech satellite phone, pretending to dial as he carefully activated his stickpin transmitter...

"It's me...How's it going?..."

"Swimmingly..." the reply came back via the plugs... "I'm in the wine cellar...So far nothing..."

"No radiation at all?..."

"Just the random click...Finn did say it was very well shielded though...How's Buffy makin' out?...Is she coming down?..." just the slightest trace of anxiety on the "Buffy"...

"Uh...Fine...I think she'll need a little time..."

A faint chuckle... "So how's Dru's twin and you getting on...?"

"A little too well..." he admitted.... "She likes me...I'm finding it a little hard to take..."

"Well, we'll help our old girl out when this is done, Dad...Remember it wasn't you who tormented her...Just your worst side..."

"Thanks loads..."

"Hmmn..." A sudden tensing, Angel sensed...

"Will...?"

"Hold a mo, poof...And I hope you're where no one heard you call me by name?..."

"Uh...Yeah, Connor how are you and your friend Will doing?..." he tried...

"Brilliant...I see why Wolfram-Hart recruited you..."

"Hey, you're the one who's been talking about Buffy and Dru and Wolfram..." he paused as a couple moved closer...

"I checked to make sure the place where I'm standing wasn't bugged...Did you, bloss-man?..."

"I'm outside the house, it's fine...Hey, I know what I'm doin'..."

"That's a world of relief to me, poof...Anyway, hang on...I may have found something...Wait...There's someone..." Faint sound of rattling, key in a door...Footstep...

"It's Buffy...Just a sec..."

More footsteps...Faint sounds of...

Hey, did he just turn the mike off?...

"Hey..." Angel hissed... "Is everything ok?..."

Nothing...

Hmmn...Maybe they wanted a little privacy...Or...

Well, ten minute call to Nina and if no word by then, head back in...

She sure did look...Back there with Henri...

Ah, c'mon...After all he'd seen of her agony over Will?...

God, she's gotta take up acting...I should offer to get her a screen test...

Buffy stringing them along?...On the Evil team?...Ridiculous...'Sides she woulda had us both grabbed or killed by now...He looked back toward the entrance...

It's that Ms. Landau...She's got me all unnerved...

I really shoulda hunted Dru down the first night we heard she was here like Buffy wanted to...

***

"Angel's been in touch..." Will softly told the newly-arrived Buffy, bearing flashlight...

"Yeah?...I figured he was going to try and reach you, I saw him leave...Hey, Angel..." she whispered to the air...

"I turned the transmitter...And Captain Riley's secret video recorder stickpin...off..." he eyed her...

Though we could use a moment alone...

"Oh?...And here I was thinkin' we had work to do..."

"I think I've gotten somewhere with that..." he noted dryly... "Tell me, does your husband bottle his own stuff?...Give it out as presents?..."

"You found it?..." she looked at him...

"First, the important thing...Let the world's safety hang a minute..." She was quiet, staring... "I've been acting like a jealous, bitter moron...Which I am..."

"I won't argue...So?..."

"I understand you can't help putting the world before me...Or anyone you care about...It's the way..."

"...Things are?...That's so big of you, Mr. Walthrop...Thanks..." she nodded coldly... "I'll treasure the fact that you don't mind my not giving a damn about you..."

Please feel free to sacrifice me anytime as well...No hard feelings...

"I know you love me, Buffy..."

"Hey, I am good...Henri believes me too..." she eyed him..."Any of you love me?..."

"I'd say we both do..."

"Then you're both idiots...You said you found something...?" a hard look...

"I think so..." he sighed... "The bottles over here..." he led her over to a large rack of bottles and pulled one champagne bottle back...

"1974?...Was it a good year?...Henri's just started to teach me a little about wine...He does make his own actually..."

"There's a very slight increase in clicks..." he eyed her...She took the bottle...Tipping it to see the fluid within move...

"Looks like wine or whatever...Maybe one further back..." she started to hand the bottle back...

"You say you're running short..." Angel's sudden loud voice over the earplug system startling William...He pulled away as Buffy passed the bottle to him and it dropped...

Hearing the counter go wild, he shoved her back...

"...On champagne?..." Angel continued...

"Get back, Buffy...This stuff is too hot even for you to handle long..." William studied the tiny grains in the pool of what smelled like wine, now covered again by the broken glass or whatever material it was carefully...His counter now considerably less active...

"You think it's the...?" she looked at the puddle...

"Yeah..." he nodded slowly... "This is how they're getting it past the borders...And US surveillance..." he lifted a piece of broken bottle, studying it... "The bottles are in two sections, top is probably good old vintage champagne, lower section, grains in wine or some liquid..."

"I think we may be, sir..." the butler who'd greeted them on entry's voice now over the earphones... "I'll ask His Benevolence if he wishes to bring more from the cellars..."

"Will?..." Buffy hissed as he paused...Turning off the receivers...

"Sorry, Angel's trying to tip me off...Seems you folks didn't bring out enough champagne...They may be coming..."

"What about..." she nodded at the broken bottle...

"It's some form of leaded glass, I think...Maybe some new formulation...Used as a containment vessel...Maybe the liquid as well...They're shipping the plutonium packed in some of these grains out in the wine bottles...Don't come over..." he waved her back... "Even with the glass there's still a lot of radioactivity...In fact you'd better get out of here altogether...And there may be safety monitors...Henri and the boys could be here any minute..."

"What about you, Will?..." she anxiously hissed...

"It can't likely hurt a dead man...Just a little burning...Though the glass is protecting me, don't worry...There's not much, I'll try to clean things up...Just wait in the outer cellar and let me know if anyone's coming..."

"All right, but be careful..."

"I will...Go on out now, you're not going to be able to explain radiation poisoning..."

She went out the door...He began carefully collecting the few grains he could sense energy emanating from...

The convenience of being Undead sometimes, he smiled at the thought...

I ought to recommend nuclear engineering as a career option to all vamps our organization soul restores...

***

Back above, waiting near the bar, a nervous Angel...His mood not much helped by the return of Ms. Landau to his side...Was watching the stock of vintage champagne steadily diminish...

Would've thought they'd've planned it better...

"Did your call go well?..."

Hmmn?...He looked at the young lady...Dru smiling back at him...

"Uh...Fine...We're trying to get the European office back in order following the reorganization..."

"Should I be investing in your stock?..." she grinned... "A working girl like me needs all the help she can get, you know..."

"I think we'll make out..." he caught sight of Buffy emerging from a room...Phew...Just as the butler left to summon Henri, off with his mother and several guests at the far end of the room...

A corporate giant's brusque way of invitation or...? Juliet wondered, staring at Angel...

"Excuse me..." he gave a quick smile and headed off...

Guess not...

Henri however had beaten him to Buffy...And walked her away...He paused, uncertain if to pursue them was a good idea...

"Mr. Angel..." the Countess beamed at him, coming over... "I've not had much chance to speak with you..."

"Wonderful party, Countess..." he smiled back...A quick look to Buffy who was talking to Henri alone...Nodding and beaming at several guests passing...

"My dear...I see Mr. Walthrop has deserted you..." Henri smiled at Buffy...Who shrugged, looking over at Angel and the Countess...Now being greeted by a number of other guests, including the ever-eager Ms. Landau...

"He's off drowning his sorrows..." she gave a thin smile as Henri eyed her... "Angel seems quite popular and busy...How are things going otherwise?..."

"Wonderfully...I think we can rate this quite a success...I'm very proud of you, my dearest..."

And I thank you...My darling...he whispered...Kissing her forehead...

"Sir...Madam..." the butler had reached them... "A word?..."

Angel caught of Matisse, moving toward Henri, a slight frown on his face...

Hmmn...

"Low on champagne?..." Henri now caught sight of Matisse as well...Eyeing him carefully...

"Eric's got something..." Buffy noted, inclining her head Matisse's way... "Why don't you give me the wine cellar keys and I'll take Joseph down...He knows what's wanted, right Joseph?..." The butler nodding...

"Well..." Henri paused... Buffy staring at him a moment...Angel catching the look from where he stood...

One of her...I need to do this, ask no questions looks...For sure...

But is she maneuvering him...Or?...

Nah...C'mon...Why am I getting so...This is Buffy...

"Count...Pardon me, Countess..." Matisse had reached them, smiling at Buffy... "May I speak with you a moment?..."

"Very well, dear..." Henri pulled out a large set of keys..."Finally allowed access to the sanctum sanctorum alone..." she grinned, taking them before the Immortal could look at the ring...

Come on, Joseph...Lets get some bubbly...Angel!..." she called... "Wanna see Henri's wine collection?..." she pulled the butler off...

"Indeed, Mr. Angel...You mustn't miss a chance to see the collection...Some of the wines are quite ancient and rarely viewed..." the elder Countess noted...

Like I thought...Nothing to worry about...Angel sighed...Smiling and nodding to the waiting Buffy as he made his excuse to the group about him...The elder Countess offering a hand...

But there is definitely something else afoot with her...And I will be a lot happier when we've got the hell outta here...

***

Matisse maintained a polite smile to Buffy and in general until he and Henri had entered the same library Buffy had brought William...Then suggested curtly they retire to the Immortal's private...And unmonitored...study off to the side...

"Why did you give her the keys?..." he frowned at his nominal superior as soon as the door closed...

"They're just getting more champagne...It would be more suspicious to..."

"The radiation sensor in the cellar was activated..."

"Really..." Henri paused and rose... "Then we must..."

"It returned to normal almost immediately...There's no danger, at least for the moment...But something activated it..."

"Mr. Walthrop..."

"Or a malfunction...We must find out immediately...And how he got in, if he is there..."

"Eric..." Henri beamed... "I was not asking a question...I know Mr. Walthrop has been there and I know how...Though I did not know he'd actually opened a container..."

Matisse stared at him...

"If you'll excuse me, Eric...I have a little playlet to perform in..." he rose...

"What...Playlet?...If he's learned how we're transporting..."

"He'll pass that knowledge on to no one...Leave him to me, my friend and keep a watch on Mr. Angel when he returns...I've all the help I need for dealing with our poet-spy..." the Immortal beamed...

***

"Immortal Beloved..." XCIX...

PG-13

Disclaimer: If ya are fan-fic writers, where's your disclaimers? Disclaimers? We ain't got no disclaimers...I don' need to show you no stinkin'...No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down!

It's all yours and ME's...

Spoilers for Angel to the bitter end...Flee at once!...

Summary: Though the standard IB format, one of (99!) versions of events following the end of Angel S5 episodes from "Girl in Question" through to "Not Fade Away" and beyond, this one's sorta notoriously south by southeast...(C'mon, you're a Hitchcock fan, you get it...)

Credit for this one goes to Ms. Angela Dawson's suggestion...Thanks...

Archived (soon) at the 'Normal' Buffyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse at -https://www.angelfire.com/zine2/buffyrebecca/index.html, scroll down to "Immortal Beloved" series

***

Part Q...

The entrance to the D'Vestigy wine cellar...Buffy pausing at the door, Angel and butler Joseph following closely...

"Wait a second here boys while I get the lights on and see where we're headed..." she moved to the door, surreptiously slipping the key Will had returned to her onto the key ring in the folds of her dress...She inserted the key and opened...

"Back in a mo, guys..."

"Right, we'll be here...So...Joseph..." Angel turned to the butler, clearly a trifle puzzled...

There's a light switch right inside the door...

But none of his business if their young Countess wished to go her exploring of the Count's cellar initially alone...She being rumored to be of an inquisitive nature...Perhaps she's a tad nervous of what His Benevolence might have locked down in there...

"Must be quite a job taking care of a place like this..." Angel continued...

Hmmn...The butler eyed the new head of the former Wolfram-Hart corporation...

God, my chance to escape this servant shlock...And some of the other guys were looking to catch his eye...

"Indeed, sir...Quite a responsible position...Though perhaps not completely fulfilling to a man like me, sir..."

***

"Will?..." Buffy hissed as she entered the inner cellar... "All clear?..."

"It's fine, I think...Sorry..." She jumped a bit as he popped into view from the side of a large cask...

"I seem to have got everything cleared away...Any trouble with His B and co?..."

"Nothing so far...Are you ok?..."

"Even radiation can't kill a dead man, girl..." he smiled... "But I don't think I'll be glowing in the dark just yet..."

"I'm down for more champagne...Angel and Joseph are upstairs waiting for me...You'd best hide somewhere till we're finished...I'll leave the upper door unlocked and you can slip out in a bit..."

"Right...Buffy..." he paused...Taking her hand as she looked at him... "I meant what I said...I am sorry..."

"You were only speaking truth to me...Like you always have, even as Spike..." she looked him coolly in the face... "I've done nothing to make you think otherwise...Hell, look at us...I've got you right back on my team like the old days...My fall guy, right?...Though maybe sacrificial lamb's a better term..."

I'd best go and bring the fellas down...she turned away...He reluctantly starting to slip back...

"And well done...In case I get you killed again before I can say it later..." she moved to the stairs...

"Damnit, girl..." he stepped out and jerked her back to him...She whirling on him, fiercely glaring, then grabbing him close...

"William..."

"This way, gentlemen..." Henri's pleasant voice on the stairs... "I thought the Countess might have forgotten the way..."

Christ...Both Buffy and Will looking up the stairs...She starting to pull back...

"No, there's no time...Kiss me..." he whispered...

The Immortal, with Joseph and a rather anxious Angel in tow, stopped midway on the stairs, staring...His Benevolence's face suddenly rather marble-like as he eyed Buffy and William locked in tight embrace...

Uh-boy...Angel sighed...I shoulda tried that idea of claiming that Landau girl was Dru and we had to hunt her down immediately when D'Vestigy showed...

"Joseph...Mr. Angel...Would you wait upstairs a moment longer?...I'll bring the champagne...With Mr. Walthrop and my wife...Up in a moment..." Henri spoke in cool tones...

The man and Unman eyeing each other a second, headed up...Angel looking back briefly at the top of the stairs...

"Fine party..." he noted to Joseph as they stepped outside the entrance...

"Indeed, sir..." the butler nodded...

***

"Henri..." Buffy looked up to the impassive-looking Immortal still on the stairs... "He insisted on meeting me, said he'd make a scene..."

"Please, my dear...We have guests to entertain...If you would both assist me...We can get back to them as soon as possible..."

"D'Vestigy..." William eyed him... "It wasn't her fault...I did as she said...She only let me wait here to keep me quiet...I loved her first and I can't help it if I still do...I'm sorry, Buffy..." he turned to her... "I'll be going..."

"Please, Mr. Walthrop...Stay...I think we must talk later and it may lead to unfortunate gossip if you go hurrying off now...Besides, I do need help here..." a cool smile...

"As you wish...But again, understand that Buffy..." Henri put up a hand...

"I accept your explanation...Lets discuss our situation later...If you would lend me a hand?...Darling, would you take two bottles from the rack over there...?" he pointed to a rack across the room...

"This way, Mr. Walthrop..."

Buffy giving Will a cautious look...

"Fine..." he nodded, following after the Immortal...Who led him toward the area where the plutonium granules were stored...

"Ah..." Henri pulled out a bottle... "A little too fine a vintage for this crowd...We must share it some time ourselves...I think these over here..." he counted down a series of bottles in rack...

"Here..." he pulled two and offered them to Will...

"I want any data you've collected, Walthrop..." he whispered quietly, bending quickly as William stepped forward... "For Buffy's sake, don't deny me...You know what I'm talking about...My associates will dispose of her...And believe me, they can...If they should have the slightest suspicion of her...If you truly love her, give me whatever you have..."

"Got it...Are you all set?..." Buffy came in view, bearing two bottles, an anxious look...

"Yes, we're fine...Shall we go, Walthrop?..." Henri stood up, bearing two bottles... "I think I can send Joseph for more if it's required..." he waved her ahead of them to the stairs...

They headed up, Will looking for a chance to catch her eye should she look back...

***

Above, by the entrance Angel waited with Joseph, somewhat impatiently...

Well, we half-expected this...And our cover story for William the aching ex-lover was certainly put into effect...

"Here we are...Joseph, if you would?..." Henri emerging from the door, offered his bottles which the butler took with a slight bow...Angel looking from a slightly pale but bland-faced Buffy to a quiet-looking Will...

No hints offered...

"Mr. Angel, would you be so kind as to escort my wife back to the party?...Mr. Walthrop and I are going to tour the library collection for a few minutes...We'll both rejoin you shortly..."

"I'll come along, Henri..." Buffy said quietly...

"As you wish, dearest..." a bland tone... "We shall join you later, Mr. Angel..." The three heading off as Angel watched...

***

"I apologize again...And I think it's best Angel and I leave at once..." William told the two D'Vestigys...Buffy standing by Henri as all three stood in the library...

"I want you to leave Geneva, Will..." Buffy, a cold tone... "I've tried to be nice about it, but I won't let you muck up my marriage 'cause things didn't go your way with us...Henri, I'm sorry if you think I..."

"I have no doubts about you, dearest..." Henri looked at her a moment... "But I do require of you a moment alone with Mr. Walthrop..."

"This concerns me too..."

"So it does...But I will tell you all that transpires...Please, darling...This will only take a moment..."

Will watching carefully...

If she gives the slightest sign...A happy end to an iffy day in His B's reeking gore...

"All right...But listen, both of you...I'm not something to be bartered and negotiated over by you two...Just send him on his way and that's that...Will, I'm sorry it has to end this way, I wish we could've stayed friends..." she stared at him, a hard look on her face...

"We could never be...Friends, girl..." he returned the stare...She nodded slightly and headed out the door, closing it tightly...

"Well...?" Henri took a chair, waiting...

Will paused...

"She's not involved..."

"I believe you...For the moment...But my associates won't...Your little escapade below set off our radiation monitors, but I can cover for that if you give nothing to the Americans...Will you give me what you have?..."

"And that will be that?...I find it hard to believe you'd just let me leave..."

"Just that...And you will tell your people you found nothing...For Buffy's sake..."

"Buffy and I have..."

"...Dealt with bigger than me and my friends...Perhaps...But if she's not working with you, then she's unprepared...And whether she is or not, my friends are... Do you want to take the chance, Walthrop?... I'm willing to risk my existence to save her here...Do you love her so little?..." a faint smile...

"Here..." Will handed him the stickpin... "It's a data and video recorder...But I'll need it back if you don't want my people to suspect anything..."

"Yes, certainly...Give me a moment...One of my technicians...My own man and loyal solely to me...Should be able to clear this without raising any suspicions..." he rose... "Thank you..."

"Doesn't mean I won't still come after your group, D'Vestigy..."

"If you must...But surely you can see the danger for Buffy if you do...Take her advice, my friend...Leave Geneva before you compromise her...Innocent or guilty..."

"And leave her to you?...And whatever you may be planning for her?..."

"You know I love her...And if she is working with you, I don't care, personally...Any more than your demon cared about her being the Slayer when you both fell in love with her...It's merely what she does..."

"She's not involved...As I've said..."

"Then see that there's nothing to suggest she is and leave Geneva...A moment, please..." Henri went to a small rear door and left...

William looking across the library to where portraits of the Immortal and Buffy, radiant in formal dress hung...

***

Not exactly the place to try making contact, Angel reflected, fingering his stickpin transmitter as he stood in the great hall, guests swirling round...An eager Ms. Landau again at his side...

Buffy having quickly excused herself...A quick smile...Party to run...And a brief, hard stare...

Hopefully she'd manage to rescue him soon...After William...He thought, smiling at Ms. Landau..

But somehow...An odd nervousness coming over him...

Not the Buffy I knew...The girl I knew would've killed Henri and dragged William off by now...Bad call or no...Rather than chance leaving him in danger...

This one, somehow...Her own agenda...

***

A small room just off the library where William awaited the Immortal's return...

"Well?..." Buffy stared at the Immortal who nodded...

"He gave it to me, thank you dearest..." he held up the stickpin...

"I thought he would..." she nodded... "Well, that should leave Riley Finn with egg on his face..."

"Yes...And now I'm afraid I must ask one last favor of you, my darling..." he eyed her carefully...Even as she tensed, sensing some...Thing...Else in the room...

"There's someone..."

A chair turned away from them, swung round to reveal a beaming Drusilla...Rather matching Ms. Landau's current expression, in a somewhat chilling way...Though in her case she'd opted for basic black...

"Slayer...Very nice to see you again, miss...Er, Countess..." Dru smiled...Though clearly a hair nervous herself, despite Henri's attempts to steady her beforehand...

"It's quite all right, Drusilla..." Henri stepped between them...

"My wife is well aware of your position with us..."

"Yeah..." Buffy nodded quietly... A steady, hard stare...

Dru regarded her carefully for a long moment...Then sighed...

"Poor William...You are cruel, Slayer..."

***

"Immortal Beloved..." XCIX...

PG-13

Summary: Though the standard IB format, one of (99!) versions of events following the end of Angel S5 episodes from "Girl in Question" through to "Not Fade Away" and beyond, this one's sorta notoriously south by southeast...(C'mon, you're a Hitchcock fan, you get it...) Here Dru gets her well-deserved crack at the crop-dusting scene...

Disclaimer: If ya are fan-fic writers, where's your disclaimers? Disclaimers? We ain't got no disclaimers...I don' need to show you no stinkin'...No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down! It's all yours and ME's...

Spoilers for Angel to the bitter end...Flee at once!...

Credit for this one goes to Ms. Angela Dawson's suggestion...Thanks...

Archived (soon) at the 'Normal' Buffyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse at -https://www.angelfire.com/zine2/buffyrebecca/index.html , scroll down to "Immortal Beloved" series

***

Part R...

A swirling mass of long, dark hair and vibrant red dress...

"Yat...Da...Dat...Dah...Dat Da...Da...Da...Dah-da...Da-dah..."Samantha Finn clapped her hands as she spun round in time to the gypsy music now clipping along at near-Slayer pace...The musicians happily urging her on...

Riley watching from their table several feet away...Not especially astounded, after nearly five years of marriage...

Trust Sam to find the best gypsy restaurant in Geneva...

"Whew!..." she staggered over, glass of ouzo in hand...Which she downed in one gulp...The jubilant musicians cheering...

"Ya know..." she took her seat...Waving a waiter over... "Lettle bit more ouzi, bitte..."

"We oughta go over and see how theys doin, Pumpkin..." she suggested...

"I think we'd best leave it to them, honey..."

"I dunno...I think we ought go ova...You know that Buffy...She's a leeettle too fulla herself, ya know?...Doncha think?..."

"I mean...Don' get me wrong, baby..." she beamed at him...He smiling back...

"Brave as dey come...Thanks..." she nodded to the waiter who'd brought another glass of the 40% alcohol ouzo...

"And not lik' dat Willow...Geesh, wha' a hypoderm...Ummn..."

Hypocrite?...Riley suggested... "Thanks, Pumpkin...From dat day we came to Sunnydale...Always giving me that fake smile...I wuz never surprised that she'd turned evil..."

"Only for a bit, Sam..."

"Ri', ri'...But ya could see it coming...Million miles away..."

"Well, it all ended well that time...The others'll be fine this time...And you know we and Giles' Watchers have Ms. Rosenberg under constant surveillance by a special team with magics protection and orders to shoot to kill if she ever threatens Humanity again..."

"I dunno..." Sam shook her head... "And Angel...He was so nice to let us use his exhence account when William asked him..."

Well...Lets assume Spike asked him...Riley thought... "-He's got a kid and that nice little wife...Nina's such a nice name...Nina Loam...Dat's so nice...Isn't it?..."

"It is...But Samantha..." Riley put his hand over her head...Imitating pulling a lamp chain... "Tonight we agreed to put out the worry light for one night...This is our time tonight...And Buffy, Will, and Angel can handle just about anything Evil can still manage to throw..."

"She can't handle...Him..." Sam eyed her husband worriedly... "Pump...hic...kin...Somethin's wrong...I feel it...She's not frocusing..."

"She loves him...I know...But I'm not asking her to sacrifice him for this one...It's just intelligence -gathering..."

"She wants ta be the sacrifice, Riley..." Sam shook her head... "She'll do anything to convince him...If she hasta kill herself and poor Angel to do it...Not ta mention us and all Huanity..."

She's trying to take it back...she eyed Riley sternly... "That day at Sunnydale when she had to leave him...Hic...She's taking it back and letting da wurld go to Hell, if it has to be..."

Riley sighed... "I know she's on edge...But I don't believe she'd do that...And Will won't let her do that..."

Oh...Sam grinned at him... "You leetle...Pumpkin...That's really why you got him in this, isn't it?...He won't let her screw it up...Even for him..."

"And cause you said they made a nice couple..." he grinned back...Sipping at his own glass... "Which they do...And someone had to try and get them back together before they hurt themselves..."

"Ri'..." she nodded... "I guess you're ri'...'Course mebbe I'm just a leetle drunk, Pumpkin..." she noted...

***

The small room near the D'Vestigy estate library where the Immortal's new chief field agent had made her presence known...

"This should do it...I'll give it to him when we go back..." Buffy folded a sheet of paper on which she'd written a brief note...

"It won't..." she handed the note to the Immortal who shook his head as he opened it and read...

"He won't feel a thing..." Dru eagerly cut in...

"Except a little disgust for me...When he reaches Heaven..." Buffy noted quietly...

"Are you sure he'll believe you're in danger from our people?..." Henri asked...

"It's not likely Will is gonna believe that..." Buffy noted "But he'll come out if I ask him to meet me..."

"Then..." Dru looked at her... "You agree...?"

"Sure..." she nodded "But let me give him the note...He won't buy it otherwise..."

Dru stared at her a moment

"Surprised?..."

"Yes, very...You do know...?" Dru paused...

"He doesn't want to live without me...It's a mercy killing...Just be quick and a little less clumsy this time, Dru..."

"Certainly...Count?..." she nodded to D'Vestigy, taking her leave...He nodding graciously back...She pausing as she reached the door...

"Countess..." she eyed Buffy again...And went out...

"Henri?..."

Hmmn... ?

"Did you have Dru?..."

Ummn...I...Well, darling I...

"No..." she frowned... "I know about that, that's before us...I mean, did you give Dru that order about William...The car..."

"The Circle felt, dearest...I mean..."

"It was stupid, Henri...Angel and he suspected you right away...But it's ok...Just keep me informed..." she eyed him...

"I mean, if I'm really your partner in all things..."

"You know I trust you implicitly, dear..." Henri nodded...

"I know..." she smiled...

"After all, the whole scheme to have you involved with the Americans' effort and a source on their moves for us was your idea...And getting Walthrop involved to upset the situation and keep Mr. Finn from becoming suspicious..."

"I knew Will'd never give the idea of me up...But never believe I'd give it all up for him or anyone..."

"Guess he really didn't know me so well..." she embraced Henri...Staring past him toward the door...

A look on her face that perhaps would better have suited the First...

***

"So that's it?..." Angel stared at William... "He just asked to leave Geneva as quickly as possible?..."

"That's it..." Will nodded...Keeping a friendly smile pasted as several guests passed close...Ms. Landau reluctantly waving a good-bye from near the grand entranceway door as her now rather coldly furious escort led her out...

"Well...You've got the recordings...Do we go now or...?"

"Buffy..." Will inclined his head to where Buffy was coming toward them from the far end of the great hall...

"Guys...Angel, can I speak to Will a mo?..." Buffy led Will off before Angel could answer...

"Is everything?..." he paused as they stopped near the patio doors...Buffy nodding pleasantly to a few guests...

"He's suspicious but he loves me...What did he want?...Will?..."

"He wanted the recordings, I gave him my stickpin..."

"What?..."

"Blew the mission for love, Slayer...What can I say?..."

"He threatened...?"

"Said he wanted to protect you...From his mates..."

"Great...Well, Plan B...Lets call Riley and go tear the cellar apart..." she turned...

"He was lying...I gave him my original stickpin...I've still got the recordings..."

She stared at him...

"Guess you're not the only one willing to sacrifice your lover for the mission, Slayer..." he smiled faintly... "But he shoulda come chargin' back demanding the real thing...He was lying about having them erased by his man...They would've checked..." he looked at her...

"Then..."

"Then either he couldn't care less so long as he thinks I won't talk for your sake...Or he's planning to see I never get a chance to pass anything on...Including what's in my head...I thought he was being a bit too noble for a pseudo-Nazi..."

In any case...He pressed the pin into her hand... "This is safer with you..."

She kept her hand closed... "You would've taken this to Riley?..."

"You've wanted me to...Regardless..."

"Always so sure of me...One day, William Walthrop...I may surprise you..."

"I look forward to it, dear..."

"You can't stay..."

"And can't leave with Angel...Nina's wrath in the afterlife if I get him killed is not something I wanna face...But I'll be ok..."

"He wouldn't let you just walk out unless he was sure..."

"Maybe he is...Of my undying love for you..."

She stared at him...

"You'd better go alone...But here..." she pressed the note from her other hand into his...

"There's a car with keys just by the outer gate...Take it and follow the directions...They'll get you out by a back way and to a place where we can meet later which should be safe and far enough away to dodge his guys...I'll stick to him like glue till you're away, then slip out when I can with your thing here..." she shook her closed hand with the stickpin recorder slightly..."Hey, Mr. President..." she smiled at the ex-President and his bodyguard as he paused by them...

"See you around, Will..." she waved him off, turning back to speak to the ex-President...

***

"So I just leave...?" Angel eyed William...

"In fifteen or so...I'll have slipped outside...Just tell them I had...God, help us...Business to tend to in town...Then leave in the car...Buffy's got a car for me...She'll meet up with me later with the recorder..."

Hmmn...

"Seems a little complicated for Buffy...Why don't we three just fight our way out?..."

"I assume so that His Benevolence, Maman, Dru, and the boys won't grab their plutonium and duck out the back way while we clobber the minions...What's the matter?..."

"I don't like it...It's not Buffy..." Angel shook his head...

"This is a little different from the sort of thing we're used to, Angel...She's learned a little finesse...What, you suddenly don't trust her?..."

"I haven't trusted her since the first day at Riley's office...This isn't Buffy's way, William...She's up to something..."

Will gave him a narrow, rather tight look...

"If you're asking me if I believe Buffy Summers would betray us and all Humanity for love of the Immortal..."

William's look tightened...

"No..." Angel shook his head and sighed

"But I do think she might betray the mission and endanger herself and the rest of us for love of you..."

***

Utter darkness but for stars and a very faint glow from a few scattered homes in the still distance...A quiet, deserted field in the remoter regions of Switzerland...Two intersecting roads at right angles stretching off toward an infinite distance ending in Alpine peaks...

A short, rather slight blonde man in dark leather jacket, lighting cigarette as he waits, somewhat impatiently...Scanning again the note handed to him just a short time ago in Geneva...

Thank God she thought of a change of clothes...Another minute in that tux and...Though why here?...And now?...

Is an unlikely spot...He glanced round...

A car pulled up...And a rather rotund, shorter, white-haired fellow in lederhosen emerged...The car speeding off a moment later...

Hmmn...The slight man looked at the note in his hand again...Does say she might be sending someone for her if she can't get away...Though this fellow...He eyed his new companion who smiled from across the way...

"' Cuse me, mate..." Will called...The other giving an attentive look...Ja?...

"You wouldn't have a message for me?...From Miss...er Countess d'Vestigy...?"

"Englander?...Ah...Gott save der Queen..." the man happily saluted...

"Right..." Will sighed, smiling back, then looking round...Insects chirping in the background...He pulled out a cell phone...

"Riley Finn, please...Not in?...Well, yes this might be considered a bit urgent, love..." he told the phone...

His companion now happily humming the royal anthem...Occasionally demonstrating his command of English with a phrase or two... "Gott save..." Hmmn...He broke off as a rapidly moving light suddenly appeared in the sky...Moving their way...The sound of a buzzing motor coming to them...

"I'm sorry..." the female embassy operator came back on the phone... "Mr. Finn has left the building, not to be disturbed till tomorrow...I can get you the night desk?..."

"Plane..." the man pointed...Uh, huh...Danke... Will nodded...Finn, a well-deserved night out with the Missus is all very well, I'm sure but what the hell kind of spy organization shuts down for the night?...he frowned at the phone... "No, love...I'll try another number, thanks..."

"Hello..." he spoke into the phone...

"Buzz, buzz..." his companion chuckled, pointing again at the light coming nearer... "Isst antiquer, ja?...No vroom, vroom..." he made a swooshing motion...

"Right..." Will sighed...No vroom...

If I could just be Spike again for two minutes...

"Hello, d'Vestigy residence?...May I help you?.."

"Uh, yes...Is the Countess...The Count's wife, not his mum...Home?..."

"I'm afraid the Countess is not available, sir...May I take a message?..."

"Would you happen to know where she might be?...A number...?"

Hmmn...The older man was eyeing the approaching plane, definitely an antique, a biplane, now dropping low over the large meadow to their side and beginning to emit a white trail, barely visible in the dark...

"Isst der crop-duster?..." he gave a puzzled look at William...

"Idiot...Isst nich..."

"I am afraid not, sir...But if you would care to leave a message...?"

"No, thanks..." he hung up...Tapping the phone...Well, may as well try the Boss, he ought to have made it home by now...He dialed for Angel's room at the hotel...

"Mein Gott..." the man in leather shorts gave William a quizzical look, utterly baffled now, pointing... "Das plane isst dusting at nich?...Ver der ain't no crops?"

Hmmn?...William looked up as a machine gun started blazing...His companion diving to the dirt...

Whee!...Dru in googles waved at Will and his flattened companion as she flew by at eye level...Machine gun blazing...

The plane rose...

"Hello?..." Angel's voice faint on the air from the phone Will'd dropped as he instinctively ducked to avoid the plane's diving wheels...

The plane dived...This time, having stirred her prey, Dru choosing a more appropriate weapon...

A trail of flame streaking the ground...Leaving a swatch of burned grass as the biplane soared up again...Dru's gleeful cry echoing across the empty meadow to the mountains beyond as she headed up again...

The portly Swiss or German hopping up and wildly running across the meadow...Will rising saw there was some method in the panicky scramble...Something vague in the distance...A forest, trees...He raced after the man...

"Down!..." he called as Dru descended down on them from the rear...Another squirt of flame-thrower setting another patch of meadow ablaze...

"Danke..." his companion called, dazedly from where he hugged the dirt...

"Make for those trees, mate!...Hurry!..." Will cried...Dru's plane having risen yet again, this time quite high...Clearly trying to get a good view of her prey on the field...A cone of bright light racing along the ground now...Searchlight...

The two raced along the flat field, the older man making admirable time...The plane's buzzing growing louder again...No flame this time, though...

A blast just ahead of them rocked the field, throwing both to the ground...The plane's buzzing faded...

The old man was down now...Will reaching him...Still about a dozen yards to the now visible forest...

"C'mon, mate!..." he gave the man a pull, the old fellow surprising him by rising with some agility...

"Luftwaffe..." the man grinned to him, winking..."But only der fighters over Deutshland..No bombers over England..Down!..." he pulled at Will as Dru came up on them again...Another blast just behind them...

"Frau...?" the former Luftwaffe pilot smiled at him from his position on the ground... "Nein, just an old girlfriend..." Will sighed from his...

***

"Immortal Beloved..." XCIX...

PG-13

Disclaimer: If ya are fan-fic writers, where's your disclaimers? Disclaimers? We ain't got no disclaimers...I don' need to show you no stinkin'...No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down! It's all yours and ME's...

Spoilers for Angel to the bitter end...Flee at once!...

Summary: Though the standard IB format, one of (112+!) versions of events following the end of Angel S5 episodes from "Girl in Question" through to "Not Fade Away" and beyond, this one's sorta notoriously south by southeast...(C'mon, you're a Hitchcock fan, you get it...)

Credit for this one goes to Ms. Angela Dawson's suggestion...Thanks...

Archived (soon) at the 'Normal' Buffyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse at -https://www.angelfire.com/zine2/buffyrebecca/index.html , scroll down to "Immortal Beloved" series

***

Part S...

The searchlight from Dru's biplane swept across the field up to the edge of the forest where William and his companion, the former Luftwaffe night fighter ace, lay plastered against the ground...The loud, insistent buzz of her plane filling the air...Though the smell and smoke from the fires her flame thrower and rockets had set were starting to compete for attention...

Gaining altitude for a moment to get a better look at her prey, Dru had chosen an appropriate song to sing for such a delightful, intimate rendezvous...Despite the uninvited extra guest...

"I get no kick from champagne...

Mere alcohol...Doesn't thrill me at all...

So tell me...Why it should be true..."

She broke off, noting the two figures starting to rise for a rush toward the trees and began a slow dive...Firing rockets which struck one tree just ahead the other falling too short...

"That I...Get a kick out of you..."

More flame thrower?...Just the thing...

"Some get a kick from cocaine...

I'm sure that if...I took even one sniff...

It would bore me terrific..ly too...

But I get a kick out of you..."

The choking smoke of the flames at least providing one benefit, a bit harder to spot us, Will thought as Dru, apparently agreeing, fired off another rocket, which crashed with a shattering roar just a few feet beyond them...

Though perhaps not that hard...Her plane soared up, just missing the trees at the forest's edge...

"The trees, mate!...We're almost there!...Come on!..." he pulled at the other man who rose quickly...

"Nein..." the man eyed him, pulling up short... "That way..." he pointed to the right...

That way?...One tree's the same as the other and the closest ones are the...

"Come..." the man grabbed his arm...

"Finn..." he hissed...Pulling again...

Finn?...

"So you were here to meet..." Both men dropped as Dru bore down on them...Another burst of flame thrower searing the ground just to their side and front, forcing them to move...And precluding Will's natural option for the closer cover...She rose again...

"Riley Finn sent you?..." Will called, racing with the former air ace who'd let go but was sticking with him, urging hurry... "Or did that idiot Buffy...?"

"Come...!" The sound of Dru's plane dropping down again...

Right...I can find out if love is beautiful and true later...

Hmmn...Dru frowned as her rocket launcher jammed on the pass...Having to pull up hurriedly as she again came upon the line of trees...

Training the searchlight carefully...Ah...Blocked them off to the side...

"I get a kick every time...I see you standing there before me..."

A careful turn, a good, steady descent...

Wonder if William's noticing how well I've learned to fly...He never did like to...

"Here..." the ex-Luftwaffe ace pulled Will back...Still about ten feet from the trees...He reaching for a small suitcase...

"Not the best time to stop to pick up the luggage, mate..."

He turned to see Dru and plane coming in a steady dive toward them...Searchlight fixing on them this time...

And turned back to see his partner had had more reason than dirty clothes to stop for his bag...

"I get a kick...Though its clear to me...

You obviously don't adore me..."

A leetle closer and...Oh, my...Her eyes bulged slightly...

"Miss Edith...Is that fair for them to have...That?..." she called to the doll strapped in as well as possible beside her as she stared at the portable bazooka the older man had just snapped into firing mode and pointed her way...

"I get no kick in a plane...

Flying too high with some guy in the sky is my idea of nothing to do..." She desperately pulled her stick back, the plane starting to rise...

The missile hit her left wing...The plane lurched to one side and down and zooming past the two men...Dru with a rather trouble look William's way as she passed...Really not fair, Will...Slammed into the line of trees...

The blast throwing both men off their feet...

A bazooka...Will smiled as he lay on the ground...

Oh Christ...Buffy?...What were you thinking?...If they find out...

He rose hurriedly, dazed...The ex-pilot already on his feet, looking at the burning woods...

"Pity...Der trees were so beautiful...Ah...Well, sir..." he turned to William...

"I think we best go now...See if car's still dere...Else ve hoof it..." he grinned...Then sighed again at the flames...

"Poor lady...She vampyr?..."

"Aye...And a survivor...But seein' as I don't think even I'd last too long in those flames, we'd best go...I think my car's still back there..."

"Poor child...Not bad pilot..." the old man paused... "May Gott haf mercy on her soul..."

"Aye..." Will nodded... "But it's not her soul we need to worry about...If she's got out and gets back and tells them someone was here to help me...With most appropriate help..."

His companion nodded...

"You took a chance hiding that thing so far off..." Will noted as they walked back toward his car...

"Herr Finn ordered discretion, sir..." his companion smiled...

***

"Oh, Miss Edith!..." Dru grabbed at the burning doll where they'd landed a few feet from the wreckage after she'd managed a jump...Banging to put out the flames...

Hmmn...She looked down where her own clothes were starting to burn...Then to where the plane likewise was aflame...

Best to get rolling along...She dropped to the ground and rolled away from the plane, rising and heading into the woods as quickly as she could manage...Ducking for the cover of some boulders as shrapnel from the exploding plane flew by...

Hmmn...She frowned, pick a burning piece from Miss Edith's arm...That older gentleman was a bit too well prepared for me...

"Someone on our team has been behaving badly, Miss Edith...And I think I know who..." dark look...

"A very bad young lady..." she shook her head...

I mean...It's one thing to be a maniacal killer vampiress spreading dread, suffering, and death...Quite another to string a nice fellow like the Immortal along...

Oooh...There, there...she patted the doll's burned arm...

"Was Mummy not a good fly girl?...Yes, she was..." she beamed...

***

"Here..." the former Luftwaffe ace had halted his car on a side street just within the Geneva city limits...Nodding over at a non-descript little sedan parked just across from them...Within which Will could just make out the all-American profile of Riley Finn in driver's seat...

"Many thanks, Conrad..." Will put out a hand... "Just see to it ve have no more Hitlers, mein comrade..." the old man shook his hand... "But above all, keep that fine soul of yours from all things evil...Ve know how strong und tempting der darkness can be, eh?..." he smiled...

"Right..." Will nodded and got out, heading over carefully to Riley's car and climbing into the back seat as the old man drove off...

Noting a sleeping Sam, snoring heavily in the front passenger seat...

"Had a good time tonight?..." he asked...

"Wonderful, thanks...Bit too much of one for Sam..." Finn nodded... "I guess you've had a little excitement yourself...Was it a good party?..."

"Smashing...And Dru was in rare form...I haven't given her enough credit all these years...Never thought she'd pick up flying so quickly...Dammnit, Finn, how could you let Buffy give herself away like that?...If Dru's made it or not the Immortal and his crew will find out I was ready for her..."

"I didn't like it either, Will...But Buffy said she could convince His Benevolence my boys had constant surveillance on you...She threatened to blow the whole thing by grabbing him and going for you if I didn't do it her way...It seemed the lesser of the two evils..."

Loud snore from Sam as she rolled on her side...

"Lets get moving...We need to give the Immortal's boys a chance to see you with me...And I should get my girl here to bed..." Riley started the car and pulled out of the side street onto a main road...

"We're done, Finn..." Will frowned... "You know now how Henri and co are getting the plutonium in and out..."

"But we don't yet know where from and to whom..." Riley replied...

"And if Dru or his other people persuade Henri that Buffy hasn't gone so ga-ga for him she's betrayed me?..."

"It's a risk she's still willing to take...So long as you're ok...Her words, by the way..."

Besides...Finn eyed the somewhat surprising image of his passenger in the rear view mirror... "We've cooked up a little scheme that should help ease any doubts our happy husband should have over his bride's slide to the Dark Side for love..."

Really...William replied drily...

"I'm afraid you'll have to do a little melodrama, but that always was Spike's forte..."

"Hilarious..."

"It's what your girl said..." he grinned, noting William unable to repress a smile at the 'your girl'...

Pumpkin's gonna hate having missed this...

Say?...Riley eyed Will's reflection again... "Explain to me how you're pulling this off..." he tapped the mirror...

"The mirror thing's for morons...Like crosses and sanctified grounds, if your soul believes, the demon's susceptible..."

"But...Angel..."

"Like I said..."

***

"Immortal Beloved..." XCIX...

PG-13

Disclaimer: If ya are fan-fic writers, where's your disclaimers? Disclaimers? We ain't got no disclaimers...I don' need to show you no stinkin'...No, Joss, no...I make no claims, put that thing down!

It's all yours and ME's...

Spoilers for Angel to the bitter end...Flee at once!...

Summary: Though the standard IB format, one of (99!) versions of events following the end of Angel S5 episodes from "Girl in Question" through to "Not Fade Away" and beyond, this one's sorta notoriously south by southeast...(C'mon, you're a Hitchcock fan, you get it...)

Credit for this one goes to Ms. Angela Dawson's suggestion...Thanks...

Archived (soon) at the 'Normal' Buffyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse at -https://www.angelfire.com/zine2/buffyrebecca/index.html, scroll down to "Immortal Beloved" series

***

Part T...

A hastily summoned meeting of the Circle to discuss the latest disaster in l'affair Walthrop...Personally...

A rather put out, but relatively undamaged, Dru in angry attendance...The former ball guests, host, and hostess now out of their finery...

"This is most distressing...But you are quite all right?..." a worried Emil eyes Dru...Who beams at him...

Little fellow's sweet... And rather charming in his way...Such nice eyes...

"Very well, thank you Emil..." she nods...

"What distresses me..." Matisse cuts in...Eyeing His Benevolence in his center chair at the table... "Is how Walthrop's 'helper' knew what was up...An anti-aircraft rocket launcher handy?...Hardly likely without advance information..."

"Yes..." Dru nods eagerly... "And Buffy..."

"Finn's men undoubtedly have surveillance on our people at all times..." Henri cuts her off... "It's easily explained..."

"I don't know, Henri..." Dr. Bauman sighs from his chair... "Reluctant as I am to consider the possibility..."

"Gentlemen...And Maman..." nod to the frowning Countess in her chair..."I can assure you that my wife's participation in this latest operation was whole-hearted...She was as distressed as the rest of us to learn..."

"I can speak for myself, darling..." Buffy turns in her chair to better face the group now eyeing her...

***

Angel staring over from his chair in his hotel room at his nervously pacing partner...

"Will?...You know you're doing her no good pacing up and down all night....Why don't you try and get some sleep?..."

"Angel, if Dru gets back Undead to them...And she will, you know she will...And tells them how I got away..."

"Worst case scenario...Buffy'll have to kill them all...And the plutonium slips off in the hands of the junior boys..." Angel eyed him...

"Screw the plutonium...The Immortal's a lying bastard...He might tell her nothing, get the drop on her..."

"God help him if he does...She already hates his guts but she feels a little guilty towards him...This would tip things toward extreme prejudice..."

"Angel...I'm going over..." Will headed for the door...Angel, sighing a bit...Been a long night of this...Hurried over... "Will..."

"You're ready to sit back and give 'em a crack at her...?"

"Will, we go over there and the jig's up...Their people'll spot us before we can even leave the hotel and they'll be long gone, along with Buffy and any info on their smuggling operation...We stay out of it now and she may be able to talk her way out...In any case, she's safer here in Switzerland than on a plane at 30,000 feet with her fleeing 'friends' and 'family'... Our best bet is to follow Riley's plan..."

"You've been saying you thought she'd throw the mission for me?...Now you think she'll go off with them just to get the job done?..."

"You go charging over there putting your ass in jeopardy and you'll see how fast she throws the whole thing over...But if she did go with them, it wouldn't be for the mission's sake but to protect her blonde dunderhead...If she'd cared about the mission, she'd've let Dru kill you, or at least have a fair shot, not threaten Riley if he didn't have help at hand..."

Point there...Will conceded...A smile coming to his face...

"Would you leave her alone there if she were still your girl?..." he eyed Angel...

"I left her in Sunnydale, still believing someday, maybe..." Angel answered coolly... "And I did it 'cause I knew she could handle it and I was in the way..."

"Right..." Will got up... "Now I'm definitely going...After the way you two ended up..."

"Will, for God's sake..."

"Besides, I'm her husband, remember?...Stupid as it might be to butt in, would you leave Nina alone?... "

Angel sighed...

"Lets go..." he shrugged, rising... "I see there's no point...And no, I wouldn't be able to..."

Which I guess means I knew, somehow, even back then in Sunnydale...he looked at William a moment...

"We can still do it Riley's way, more or less..." Will noted as they moved to the door... "It might even set things up better for his little playlet..."

"She gonna have our heads for this, Will...But..." Angel grinned wanly as they entered the hotel corridor, Will peering up and down for any of the Immortal's ..Or Riley's...People....No one...

"I know in her heart she'll appreciate it...Even if we all get killed..."

***

"Mmmphf..." Samantha Finn noted as Riley gently deposited her into their bed and covered her with a blanket...

Quite a night...Though about time they'd had a good chance to let their hair...His cell phone buzzed...

"I knew he'd never stay put..." he sighed, moving off from the bed, turning, and putting phone to ear... "Finn here...Uh-huh...Both of them?...Great....Well, follow at a distance, keep 'em under surveillance...I'll be up in a bit...Let me know immediately if Countess d'Vestigy calls or anything is seen going on by our people watching the estate..."

He hung the phone on a belt clip, checked a pistol in a chest holster, and started to move for the door...

"We goin' out again?..." Sam was up and beside him, a tad bleary and swaying...

"Go back to bed, pumpkin..."

"I'm fine...I took a pill...Head'll be clear in a mo..." she blinked... Whoa... "That was some stuf' that ozone..." she swayed again...

"Ouzo...Sam..."

She waged a finger, steadier now... "We gotta a deal, Mr. Finn...If we're around and able to get on my feet or your feet,, we go when you go...Or me go...Well, whatever...Les' go..." she reached for the knob...

Clumsily yet swiftly dodging his effort to try a nerve pinch...He couldn't help smiling at those Samian reflexes... "Pumpkin, you try that again and you'll be the one sleepin' this one off...But I don' know where we're goin'..."

He gave up, shrugging...Besides, she did have him on the deal... "The D'Vestigy estate..."

"Oh..." she grinned, opening the door... "William's made it and's headin' to get his lady love...?"

"He survived Dru's second assassination attempt, thanks to good ole Conrad...But he and Angel must be afraid Buffy may be in danger now if Dru's accused her..." they were moving down the corridor...She moving smoothly now as the anti-alcohol drug kicked in...He briefly calling by cell phone for a car to meet them...

"And he went ri' off to get her...What a sweet guy...She'll be pissed of course..." she noted, just a bit wobbily now... "Though she'll love it..." she beamed...

"Lets move it!..." Riley called to the agents by the embassy exit, waving his just arrived car over...

"Just like when I screwed up your mission in that little village...Comin' after you like a big lug of a pumpkin..." she grinned at him..."Though I did save your life..."

"In more ways than one..." he nodded, pulling her into the car...

"Pumpkin..." she beamed...

***

"We've been over this ground before but I think my record with William the Bloody speaks for itself..." Buffy noted to the Circle, the group's members' eyes on her...Henri's somewhat nervous...Bauman and Emil fairly sympathetic...A few clearly suspicious...Matisse and The old Countess cool and inscrutable... "When he was useful to the fight, I kept him on board anyway I could...When he was no longer of use, I discarded him...I'm sorry for him but he's a vampire and expendable...Though it's a shame he had to come and get in our way...Just as it's a pity he and Angel and Finn could never see past their limitations to what we're trying to do..."

"Someone did inform Finn's man that Drusilla was coming after Walthrop..." Matisse noted, a quiet and polite stare...

"Yes...Someone told the old man to bring a rocket launcher to kill poor ole Dru...And poor Miss Edith...Look..." Drusilla sighed, holding up the slightly singed doll...But tried not to slip off into a maudlin state...

Professional, Drusilla, professional...she told herself...Mrs. Peel all the way...But indignation spilled over...

"He was warned I was coming...Miss Edith agrees..." Ummn...

"I could hardly have warned him you were coming by plane, Dru..." Buffy said quietly..."Since I didn't know..."

"You wouldn't kill Spike, Slayer..." Dru shook her head...Buffy staring back... "You love my silly one..."

"I did kill him...I left him in the cavern when the First was through...I did nothing to help him while we were together...But if the rest of you still don't trust me..." she shrugged... "I might point out that if I was a traitor, I could very easily kill all of you present and turn your project as it stands over to Finn and his people..."

"You very likely could...Turning what you can find to your own fellow Americans..." Matisse noted... "But I would guess...Hope..." he smiled coolly at her, then Henri... "That you know relatively little even now...And we have never trusted you blindly, Slayer..."

"I'm not asking for more than what you're willing to give, Eric..." she frowned... "But anything I can do for Henri and his work, I do...And will do...I've never demanded more..."

"Well, this leaves us in a quandary...." Matisse sighed... "You may be speaking the truth...You may be lying...As we told you when you offered your assistance with Mr. Finn and your former lovers..." Henri wincing slightly... "It would be unreasonable to expect us to place complete faith in you...And now this botched operation..."

Botched?...Dru frowned...

"And as when I offered to help..." Buffy noted... "So long as I know nothing and can divulge and provide some source of information on what Finn and co are up to, I'm useful and worth keeping at hand, under your surveillance...Until I earn the Circle's full trust..."

"Even the most trusted are watched, Countess..." Matisse smiled... "I should hope even your husband, the Countess, and I are properly observed at all times..."

"The issue here is the failure with Walthrop..." Feucher, the politician...Looking rather anxious from his monitor...Though in no immediate physical danger, much to lose should the Circle be exposed... "And if we are betrayed, you, D'Vestigy and the rest of you have compromised me by bringing me into this..."

"This matter concerns us all, Feucher..." Matisse shrugged...

"We'll bear the loss of Austria if we must, Feucher...Your role is one of many..." Henri frowned, cutting in...Feucher reddening... "I've risked much for the Circle and our plans..." he began...

"Henri is right..." Matisse put up a hand...The elder Countess and the younger both eyeing him...

Even if he can't lead an investigation into a matter involving his own wife, Henri should really not let the fellow walk all over him like this...He's the Immortal one, after all...

"We all share the risks, Feucher...And, you being out of the Countess' reach, assuming she finds it necessary to deal with us, are by far the least at risk right now..."

"Getting back to the matter at hand...Finn keeps constant watch on the vampires and this place...It's not unreasonable that his men learned of Ms. Waverly's plan and got help to Walthrop..." Henri insisted... "And since my wife has voluntarily kept herself from detailed knowledge of our affairs..."

"And since eliminating her would admittedly be difficult..." Matisse smiled at Buffy who returned the smile..."I would recommend we await developments but that the Countess agrees to the strictest surveillance..."

"Fine..." Buffy shrugged... "But don't break off my contacts with Finn...For your own sakes...He and William will suspect I'm in danger or worse and do something foolish that'll disrupt your schedule..."

Dru frowning, looking for support among the faces...Emil nodding to her...Good ole Emil...she beamed...

Henri turned at the touch of the discreet butler, Joseph, who'd just entered the room after a cautious knock...Whispers...

"I think it's quite clear our Ms. Waverly did her best and that her effort would have succeeded but for some sort of leak..." Emil spoke up...

"No one doubts our Drusilla did her best..." Henri shook his head, smiling at Dru... "But we mustn't rush to blaming our own without facts..."

"There is one proof..." Emil, buoyed by Dru's fond stare, persisted...Though nervously perspiring as he did so... "If Walthrop knows Drusilla survived, he will want to make sure his beloved is all right...He'll try to make contact..."

"Yes...Good, Emil!..." Dru nodded vigorously, beaming at the little man... "My silly boy will come to rescue his Slayer love..."

"He may come in any case...Whether he thinks I'm in danger or betrayed him...Then we'll have another opportunity..." Buffy noted quietly...

"And we may have that opportunity soon, ladies and gentlemen..." Henri cut in... "Our surveillance tells me both Angel and Walthrop have left their hotel and seem to be heading this way..."

"Emil tole you..." Dru eyed the group firmly...Smile for the now beaming Emil...

"Let me meet him...Under surveillance..." Buffy suggested... "I'll settle this once and for all..." she patted the pocket of her blouse under a bulky sweater...

Matisse eyeing her narrowly...As did the Countess...Henri beaming at her...

"Unless you prefer to do it yourselves..." she returned the stares, smile to Henri... "But I have to point out you haven't done all that well so far..."

"She'll deal with him, my friends...Let her have her chance..." Henri glanced about the room at the faces both seated and on monitor screens...

"Certainly..." Matisse nodded coolly... "And should he escape again, the matter will be settled...In the meantime, I would recommend we prepare to leave quickly...Dr. Bauman, Emil, Countess..." he nodded to each in turn... "I think you should each make your way to a secure exit with any specific material you have with you...I will see that any other materials which can be moved, are...Just in case..."

"Eric..." Henri frowned... "I approve your suggestion..." he said coolly... "And we can see to the removals together..."

"Of course..." Matisse made a depreciating gesture... "Forgive my impatience..."

"I'll give Emil a hand..." Dru suggested...

"Drusilla perhaps would be the best choice to monitor the Countess' rendezvous..." Henri noted... "Indeed..." Matisse agreed...

She frowned a little...Was hopin' to get to know Emil a little better...Still...Duty calls...

Though she was pleased to see the disappointed look Emil in turn bore...

"I'd be glad to, Your Benevolence..." Dru nodded, a tad wistfully...

"First time I've ever had Drusilla watching my back..." Buffy grinned... "Well, let me go and set my poor ex-lover's fears...And his soul...At rest..." she rose...Henri and the others quickly following...

Henri catching her just outside the door where she had paused for him...

"Dear...I am sorry...You know I did not want to see you forced to..."

"It's fine..." she patted him, kissing him on the cheek... "I should have done it myself right at the start...It's the best thing for him as well as us..."

She eyed him as she pulled back... "You trust me?..."

"I always have..." he nodded...And hurried off...Matisse already rushing ahead...

She caught the elder Countess staring at her a moment in the hallway...

Appraising but also...Pleading...

She gave a brief nod and turned to follow the hall back toward to the stairs for the ground level and the estate's main entrance...Nothing but determination in her step...

"Take care Emil..." Dru hastily patted the chubby little man at the door and hurriedly after the Slayer... Emil looking forlornly after her...

"You, too..." he called...

***