Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Dracula is not mine, he's a character written by Bram Stoker. The Buffy/Angel characters aren't mine, either.
Distribution: More than happy to distribute if you want it- just contact me first!
Feedback: PLEASE! This is my first archived fic
Author's Note: This occurs after Buffy Season Five Premiere 'Buffy vs. Dracula'. Whole B/A Canon applies, starts out B/R- doesn't end that way. THIS IS AN OLD FIC, SORRY!
Summary: Angel becomes aware of Dracula biting Buffy in the premiere and decides to deal with the Dark Prince himself.

Night fell over Sunnydale. Buffy had just encountered Count Dracula in the cemetery, as had Xander and Willow. Xander thought Drac was a phony, but Buffy knew better. Fear pulsed through her veins and chilled her to the bone. Dracula instilled anxiety in the Slayer. Dracula had crept into her bedroom as mist flowing over her windowsill.

When on Buffy's bed, her told her to move her hair, as if he knew that a bite mark still remained. Kindred, The Count had called her. He peered down at the bite mark, saying the biter (Angel) was unworthy when Buffy tried to explain.

'Unworthy,' Buffy had thought. 'More worthy than you. How can you know?'

Dracula seemed to read her mind.

"I know all, my fair Slayer. This man was not worthy of your blood," he had whispered in her ear. He bit her then, and Buffy slowly lost control.

< No, > she was thinking, < no, no, no >.

In Los Angeles, Angel thrashed in his bed the same night Buffy was bitten. He saw teeth sink into her neck and he moaned in agony. Buffy's head flew back and she made several small whimpers.

Seeing Buffy's bedroom, he went on full alert. The man's face came into view; Angel would know that undead anywhere. It was Dracula, the Dark Prince, the Count. The blood flow from Buffy shocked through Angel's body as if he had bitten her himself.

Dracula transformed into a bat as black as night. He flew over Sunnydale, with a blood thirst raging in his veins. He knew where he was going, the Count did. Angelus was an old foe of Drac's. The Count was heading to Sunnydale to even the score. He would murder Angelus at whatever cost.

What he didn't know was that Angel and Buffy were… well… linked. The bite Dracula had found on Buffy's neck was Angel's; he had been forced to do it by her to save his life. Faith's Killer of the Dead Poison was eliminated with the blood of a Slayer. His Slayer.

Buffy rolled over in her bed. Riley was next to her, but Buffy couldn't sleep. Something was going on. She knew that Dracula was still alive; he could be killed multiple times and could rise again. Even though he was probably gone from Sunnydale, she was still restless. Riley provided no protection, for Buffy knew anyone could be under Dracula's thrall.

In LA, Angel had had enough of worrying. He picked up the phone, not caring what time it was. Angel dialed a number he knew by heart and heard the phone ring. It rang three times until someone picked up. The person was groggy, but Angel would know her voice anywhere.

"Hello?"

"Buffy?" asked Angel. He was extremely concerned.

"Angel? Why are you calling? Do you have any idea what time it is?" Buffy got out of bed and crept down the hallway so Riley wouldn't overhear their conversation. Riley was still iffy on the whole 'I loved a vampire with a soul thing' even though it had been several months since he found out about it and met Angel.

"I saw it," he said to her.

He scuffled around his bedroom, opening the window to let fresh air in. For two straight nights he had seen Buffy and Dracula. He had seen when she drank his blood in addition to his biting her.

"Saw what?" Buffy asked. She was annoyed; she hoped he would get to the point soon. She had to admit to herself that she felt slightly better now that he had called her. Dracula had scared her and no one could relate to being bitten like he could.

"Dracula. I saw you getting bitten and… I saw you drink his blood." Angel had difficulty telling her that. It still bothered him that Dracula could seduce her like that. His stomach turned thinking about all of the possibilities to his power.

"How did you see that?" asked Buffy, extremely bewildered.

"When… when a vampire bites a human… they see things and feel things about them. Usually it only happens with people they… love," Angel stammered.

"What kind of things?" Buffy was hoping he didn't see everything, especially things with Riley. Angel would not be happy about that.

"When the person is hurt or they die. Things like that. It scared me. I thought you were under his thrall, Buffy."

"I am. I mean, I was. It was just weird. He has these hypno eyes that… he has eyes like Dru, you know? They suck you in."

Angel grimaced at the mention of Drusilla.

"I know about Dracula. He and I are old enemies."

"Oh."

"Does he know about…" Angel's voice trailed off.

"No. He saw the bite mark, Angel. He said that the biter was unworthy. I didn't tell him anything. He'd come after you."

The truth was that Buffy didn't like to talk about that. It still hurt. Sometimes she wanted to turn a corner and run into him, just to see him there.

"I am unworthy." Angel knew it was true. He waited for her response.

"I'm talking to a friend of mine, Riley. Yeah, I'll be there in a minute. What'd you say?" she asked.

Riley had wanted to know who was on the phone. Buffy had an eerie feeling Riley knew who was on the phone!

"I… said… nothing." Angel wasn't about to repeat that!

"Tell me." Her voice meant no-nonsense. Angel recognized the harsh tone and relented.

"I said that I am unworthy."

"Don't say that! It was necessary! You had to live! You were vital to the whole Ascension."

"I still wish you would have staked me. Put me out of my misery," he muttered.

"You're beginning to think like Spike."

"We ARE vampires," he replied. It was true. There was no denying that.

"I wanted to SAVE you, Angel. I loved you so much and I didn't care if you were leaving me or not!" Buffy said that a bit too loudly.

Riley appeared in the hallway with a disturbed look on his face. Buffy knew that Riley knew who was on the phone.

"Riley's out there, isn't he?" asked Angel.

"Yeah."

"I'll get off so you can… proceed. I just wanted to make sure you were all right."

"I'm fine. Being bitten by him was different than by you."

Buffy grimaced. She wished she hadn't of said that. Feelings were stirring that shouldn't have been. Buffy thought he was 'out of mind, out of sight'. Too bad she didn't believe it.

"How so?" Angel asked skeptically.

"I loved you." Buffy hung up the phone. She almost said 'it tickled' just to make him laugh. Riley looked at her with a slightly wounded look on his face.

"Riley," she said.

***

"What? Talking to… to HIM?" Riley asked jealously. There were a few things that Riley had to admit about Angel to be fair. First of all, Angel was a very handsome man. Angel was an excellent fighter, one of the best he'd ever seen- other than Buffy. But there were also things about the vampire that concerned him.

Angel was like a time bomb. One second of true happiness would make him go psycho. This was unsettling for Riley, especially since his girlfriend was the cause of this reversion. Riley was also quite annoyed at what had happened in Buffy's dorm room.

The Slayer and ensouled Vampire had a type of non-verbal communication. Riley had watched Buffy barely make a nod of her head towards the door and they were in the hallway. He couldn't do that with her- everything had to be spoken. It scared him that Angel had that much power.

Buffy looked at her boyfriend.

"Yes. He's still my friend, Riley."

"You two sure sounded like more than friends," he snapped.

"You were listening?" asked Buffy.

"How could I not? You get up and wander out in the hallway. You're shaking and your eyes are all jumpy. I knew something was up," he said.

Buffy's eyes grew hard. She was angry. Angel hadn't listened to her phone calls! "Go home, Riley."

Riley spun on her. "Why? You still love him, don't you?"

"That is crazy," Buffy said. She was trapped like a mouse in a corner.

"You must be crazy."

"Riley! Please," she begged.

"No, no! I feel like I'm playing second fiddle, like a substitute! You can do stuff with me you can't with him. Is that it? He's a Danger Guy so I have to be a Danger Guy? You make me sick. You love a VAMPIRE. Do you realize how sick and deranged that is? No matter what you tell yourself, you still love him and IT IS SICK and DEGRADING. Good bye, Buffy."

He left her home in a huff. Buffy didn't chase after him, she couldn't. Riley was right. She still loved Angel, just not obsessively. But that came with the territory- her love for Angel was part of the deal.

**

Buffy ran into the magic shop, forlorn and distressed the next morning. Her fight with Riley had taken a lot out of her. She felt so guilty. She should have just hung up on Angel, given him a direct slap in the face. Willow was sitting on a table and saw Buffy come in.

"Buffy? What's wrong?" Willow leapt to her feet.

"Riley… broke up with me," she said, her eyes wide with pain.

"What? Why?" interjected Xander. He came to her side.

"Last night, I got a telephone call," Buffy said.

"The IRS? The Draft Board?" asked Xander.

"It was Angel."

"Oh. WHAT?" cried Xander. Dead Boy still didn't make Xander get all warm and fuzzy.

"He saw what happened to me. With Dracula," Buffy admitted, taking a seat in a chair. She stared straight ahead, her skin with Goosebumps.

"How did he see it?" asked Willow, sitting beside her.

"When a vampire bites someone he loves, sometimes he sees and feels things. Angel saw me getting bitten by Dracula and drinking his blood. He called to make sure I was all right."

"Aw, how sweet. Couldn't he just send a Hallmark? It could have said, 'Sorry you got bit'," suggested Xander.

"It was nice of him, Xander," said Willow, defending Buffy's case.

"Riley overheard my conversation. Angel just seemed really depressed. Talking about staking himself, how we wasn't worthy of my blood," Buffy rambled. She played with a rubber band. It snapped and flew across the room.

"I support whatever decision he makes that involves death," said Xander.

Buffy ignored his comment.

"Riley came out and told me I still loved Angel, that I was deranged and sick and degrading myself. You know what the worst part was?" Buffy said, ignoring Xander's comment.

"What?" asked Willow.

"He was right." Xander looked blown away and even Willow was a little shocked.

**

That evening, Dracula (in bat form) arrived in Los Angeles. Angel was at home, reading. He was brooding over his conversation with Buffy. Checking his watch, he picked up the phone and called her again.

"Hello?" Buffy asked.

"What happened after you hung up on me?" asked Angel. He wasn't going to waste any time.

"Angel… why are you calling again? Whatever happened to staying out of my life?"

"Stop being stubborn, Buffy. Something happened, I can feel it."

"Even over the phone?" Buffy asked. She could feel it too, and she knew Angel was brooding. It wasn't an untypical situation for him. He had plenty to brood about. "Riley broke up with me after your phone call this morning."

"Did I cause it?" Angel asked. His voice remained placid although he felt like cartwheeling across the floor.

"Of course! He yelled at me about how I loved you and that I am sick and deranged at it's degrading how I love- loved a vampire. Then he just walked out on me. He seemed really angry."

"I'm sorry."

"Yeah. Well, me too."

"Good night."

"Good night- hey Angel?"

"Yeah?" he asked, spotting a figure outside. It seemed to be floating in mid air. He recognized the floater as Dracula. Fear sprang through his body. 'I have to protect Buffy' he thought.

"You're not sorry." Buffy heard the phone drop onto the desk. "Angel?" Not wanting to hang up, she continued to listen. Buffy heard the sounds of a fight- Angel and…Dracula.

Dracula burst through the window, sending glass shards everywhere. "Ah, Angelus. I have found you…after all of these years." Dracula advanced on Angel, a wood tipped dagger in his hand.

"Sure looks like it," said Angel. Buffy was silently cheering for him. She couldn't make any noise or Dracula would hear her on the phone. Seeing the phone, he knocked it down behind his desk on the cord so she could still hear the sounds of the fight without being noticed.

"I have been to the Hellmouth," Dracula taunted. "I have tasted the blood of the Slayer."

Dracula wanted to make Angel jealous. Jealousy leads to anger. Dracula loved his opponents angry.

"I heard about that," said Angel. "I've got friends on the Hellmouth."

Dracula lunged forward with the dagger.

"I didn't think her blood was that great, actually." It was Angel's turn to taunt.

Dracula looked perplexed. "You drank from the Slayer? I laugh in your face."

Angel scoffed. "You mean Buffy didn't tell you? Aw, Buff, I'm hurt." On the other end of the phone, Buffy tensed up. Even though Angel was taunting Dracula, it still worried her. It was putting Buffy at risk. Angel would protect her, though. She was sure of it.

"Still you lie."

"Her scar is… let's see." Angel patted his neck. "On the right side of her neck. It's only exposed when she moves her hair." He found a stake on his desk and plunged it into Dracula, turning him to dust. Angel crossed over to his desk and picked up the phone.

"You still there?" he asked.

"Angel, he's going to rise again! Trust me on this! ANGEL!" she screamed into the phone. Angel had already dropped the phone again, for Dracula was standing in the middle of Angel's office.

"You have tasted the Slayer's blood but still you stand, as does she. That is not possible," said Dracula, continuing the conversation from where it left off. He found a bottle of Holy Water in his pocket and splashed it on Angel. Angel didn't scream but writhed slightly in agony. Buffy screamed for him to ease his pain.

"Well, you see," said Angel, fighting off the pain. "She and I had a rendezvous a while ago. Pretty sexy little thing." Dracula's face stayed still. "You're not the only undead to have a little Buffy blood."

"She never mentioned you," said Dracula.

"I'm crushed. I thought she loved me. You know, I could have SWORN that she did that rainy night… her birthday… oh, look at me, getting lost in the moment. Did you say something?" Angel asked. He knew that Dracula was getting very angry.

"I do! I do!" said Buffy quietly into the phone. Angel heard and he began to smile. Dracula didn't hear Buffy's exclamation and continued to follow Angel's every move.

"You slept with the Slayer, did you?"

"Sure did. That girl can par-tay. Kept me going all night, that's for sure." Angel laughed and made a small movement.

Buffy laughed at the word party. Angelus' words rang in her ears, however: Like I'd want to stay around after that? You've got a lot to learn about men, kiddo. What did you expect? Fireworks? A dulcet choir of pretty little birdies? Bells ringing? As did Spike's: Someone told me you weren't worth another go. Who was that? Oh yeah- Angel. She shivered at the memory.

Dracula stepped forward and Angel moved as he did. Instead of staking him in the heart, Angel was staked in the stomach. Clutching his bleeding stomach, Angel pushed Dracula out of the window. He fell to the ground and disintegrated. Drac gave up and retreated to his lair.

"Buffy?" asked Angel, clutching his stomach. He picked up the phone and held it to his ear. The phone became blood covered.

"Oh, God, Angel. What happened? Are you okay?" asked Buffy, fighting off tears.

"I pushed him out a window but he still got me," Angel said.

"Oh God! Where?"

"My stomach. Don't worry, though. I needed to drop a few pounds anyway."

Buffy blanched and her stomach twisted.

"Ouch," she said.

"I know." He grimaced in pain.

"All that stuff you said was pure genius," complimented Buffy.

"I became evil for a moment. Here was Dracula, you know? He was saying these horrible things about you and I got defensive. So I made him jealous." Angel looked at his stomach that was still oozing blood.

"Angel, stay away from Dracula." she groaned.

"Buffy, it's all right. Calm down. I'll be fine. I have to go, all right?"

"Good night. Be careful."

"You too. Watch you back, Buffy."

"I will." ** The next day, while Angel slept on in LA, Buffy met up with Willow at the Espresso Pump.

"Willow!" exclaimed Buffy.

"Hey," she said. "How are things with Riley?"

"Riley who?" asked Buffy. She was grinning.

"Oh, no. What happened? Is Angel in town?" asked Willow.

"No. He called. I heard his encounter with Dracula over the phone."

"Are you serious?"

"Completely. He told Dracula all of this stuff about drinking my blood… about what happened on my birthday… it was great! Dracula was SO jealous! Finally Angel pushed him out a window and Big Bad Dead gave up."

Willow looked bothered. "Riley called last night."

"He called you?" asked Buffy. She was still riding her post-Angel call high.

"Yeah. He tried to call you and apologize, but your line was busy."

"I don't want him to apologize."

"Yes, you do."

"No! I really don't, Willow. I'm fine with this long distance relationship I'm having with Angel," replied Buffy.

"It won't work, Buffy. You'll want more- he'll want more." Willow was being really persistent.

"If he wants more, I'm happy to make donations," Buffy teased.

"Don't say that! Angel as Angelus was serious bad news!"

"I was KIDDING, Willow. Around him, I just get this feeling. I can't describe it, Will. It's not of this world. I don't get that with Riley."

"Feelings plus more feelings equals… you know… it!" hissed Willow.

"Willow, I give up. I'm in love with him again. Riley can't replace Angel."

"No one's asking you to replace Angel."

"EVERYONE is asking me to replace Angel. I don't want to replace Angel- I WANT Angel. I NEED him." Buffy picked up her purse and walked in the opposite direction.

"She wants Angel. Great! I'll notify the authorities," murmured Willow sarcastically. **

While Buffy daydreamed of her found-again love for Angel, Willow made fervent calls to Giles and Xander, asking them to come over ASAP. She also called Joyce and Riley after that. Soon they had gathered in Willow's dorm room.

"What is it, Will?" asked Xander, sitting down on Willow's bed. He stretched out beside her and made himself comfortable.

"We have a problem and it's not a small one," said Willow.

"What? Dracula's back?" asked Riley.

"No… not exactly."

"Dracula can't be 'not exactly' here, Will. He's here or he's not," said Xander.

"Right. He's in LA."

"Okay, so?" asked Riley.

"Oh, dear," said Giles. "Angel is dead?"

Before Xander could celebrate, Willow shook her head no. "It's about Angel."

"Spit it out already, Willow!" exclaimed Riley.

"Yes, please. You're making me tired," commented Joyce.

"Buffy wants Angel. I mean she WANTS him. Big time wantage going on with the Buffster."

Xander crinkled his nose up. Riley looked completely devastated and Joyce's face was ashen.

"You mean in a body to body smushing sense, don't you?" asked Xander. He was completely grossed out.

"Yeah." Willow had a slightly appalled look on her face.

"Well, that's just gross!" exclaimed Xander.

"Ugh," commented Joyce.

"What has brought on this sudden change of emotion?"

"She said that he made her feel… 'Out of this world', I think. She said she needed him."

"Enough with the visuals, Will," said Xander. Riley ran out of the room, sick to his stomach. Willow felt horrible for him. Still, part of her wanted Buffy to be with Angel. She felt it was right, that it fit her weird situation.

"What are we going to do?" asked Joyce.

"Don't let her near Dead Boy," was Xander's reply.

"We must discourage these feelings," said Giles.

"There's a problem with your plan, Giles," interjected Willow.

"What's that?" he queried.

"It won't work."

***

Buffy lay in her bed, a silly grin on her face. She felt fantastic and alive. Nothing could break her good mood. The phone rang and she picked it up, knowing it was Angel. She had wanted him to call.

"Hello?" she asked.

"Hey," he said.

"I missed you," she told him. Angel laughed.

"Yeah, right."

"I mean it. I need you. I want you," she said, using a seductive voice.

Angel was partially excited, partially upset. "No you don't."

"Wanna bet?" Buffy laughed. "I'm sorry! I just can't… you know… act like a… sexy person."

"You sure have me fooled," he joked.

"Oh, really?"

"Come on, Buffy. Be serious."

"I was! And I DO need you. It sort of hurts," she told him.

"I've been in the so-bad-it-hurts column a few times myself." As Angel said this, Giles, Willow, and Xander burst in Buffy's door. She suddenly stopped laughing.

"Buffy?" asked Angel.

"I'm still here. Can I call you back?"

"Sure."

"I love you," said Buffy.

"I love you too," Angel replied.

"Hey, guys. What's going on?" asked Buffy, completely bewildered.

"We should be asking YOU that, Buffy," Xander snapped.

"I don't understand," said Buffy. She ran her fingers through her hair.

"Who were you talking to, Buffy?" asked Giles.

"Riley."

"You were not," said Willow. "You were talking to Angel."

"So?" asked Buffy. "It's not wrong. I love him," she protested. She did. She really did.

"IT IS WRONG, BUFFY!" screamed Xander. "He's SCUM, Buffy! He's EVIL!"

"He's not evil! He loves me! Which, at the moment, is more than I can say for the three of you!"

Xander's face became very cross and his eyes hard.

"You're perverted," he told her.

Buffy stood up. She was so angry she could have ripped his eyes out.

"I'm not perverted. Of any of us, it's you. Mr. Substitute Stripper! Mr. Demon Magnet!" Buffy lunged toward him. He flinched and she retreated.

"Why, Buffy? Why do you love Angel?" asked Giles. "I beg you, please stop!"

"I can't Giles! I never could! I need him!" she proclaimed.

"You DON'T!"

"I DO! Everyone has always told me that I don't need Angel. That I don't love Angel. They said that I needed to replace Angel. Well, are you satisfied? I can't! I am physically and emotionally unable to replace him. It finally hit me last night as he defended me in front of Dracula, risking his life. I love him."

Willow and Giles stood motionless. However, Xander had to open his big mouth.

"I hope you burn in Hell, you and your vampire lover," he said.

Buffy punched him and he reeled against her dresser.

"He already has," she bit out angrily.

He ran out, clutching his jaw. She instantly began to cry. Giles chased after Xander while Willow stood with Buffy and hugged her.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. If you want him, I can work on a spell. A permanent soul or something."

Buffy nodded and sniffled.

"He would have been proud," said Willow. "You defended him." Buffy nodded again and Willow smiled.

**

Dracula entered Angel's apartment. He reverted from Bat form to Human. Popping his neck, he stood, ready to murder Angel. However, Angel knew how to kill Dracula. Behead him with a golden ax. Luckily, Angel had found a weapons dealer with one and had bought it.

"Angelus. Where's the Slayer?" asked Dracula.

"Beats me."

"I'm here to kill you, and I thought she might want to watch me do it" said Dracula.

"Give it your best shot."

Dracula lunged for Angel. Angel pulled a knife from behind him and cut Dracula with. In doing this, he cut his own finger by accident. The blood intermixed and feeling shot through his body. Everything felt so alive. There was a reason for that- he WAS alive. His pulse was throbbing in his ears.

Before Dracula could take advantage of this new discovery, Angel was defending himself from Dracula's pointed staff. The golden ax sliced the staff in two. However, no longer being a vampire, he strength was less. As Dracula bent down to pick up the staff end, Angel swiped off his head with the golden ax. Dracula let out a pitiful scream and died, never to roam earth again.

**

Soon after defeating Dracula, Angel drove to Sunnydale in full sunlight. He pulled up to Buffy's house and walked to her door. He rang the doorbell. She came to the door.

"Oh, god! Get out of the sun! You're going to catch on fire!" exclaimed Buffy.

"I'm not dead," he told her. He brought two of her fingers to his neck.

"A pulse… oh, you're alive! Thank you, God!" She pulled him close.

"You're alive, Angel! Do you know how long I've wanted this?" She kissed him and put off his response.

"Yes, because I've wanted it longer!"

The two lovers, now reunited, went to make up for years of lost time.

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