Part 7

As soon as Will heard the front door click closed, he sank heavily face first onto the bed.

‘What the hell am I doing,’ he asked himself as he buried his face in the covers, laying there motionless as his thoughts seemed to tap-dance in his brain.

‘I know I want to be with Angel. Well, that bit was easy, apart from the simple fact that whatever we do is, oh, ILLEGAL and he could go to jail!!! Why am I doing this? Christ, I started it last night when he said ‘no’ in that big firm voice of his.’ Will smiled to himself as flashes of last night popped into his head.

He shook himself mentally. ‘Not helping here Will, you’re meant to be sorting out your head not reliving…nope – stop thinking about it and start thinking about how the hell you are going to make this work and what on earth you are going to say to Joyce when she gets here….Wonder if she knows Angel is gay…oh God what if she puts two and two together and comes up with four… she must know – that’s why she’s coming round, she knows!’ Will began to hyperventilate. ‘She’ll be angry.’ Will quickly scrambled off the bed and grabbed his bag, opened the draw and started stuffing his stuff in. ‘William is a good boy, have to go, have to go home,’ he mentally chanted in his head over and over while packing his stuff up.

Suddenly he threw the bag on the floor and stared at it blamefully. “NO,” he yelled at it, “Stop this now William! You promised Angel you would still be here when he got home – now pull yourself together and deal with it!” Will buried is face in his hands, shocked when he found his face was wet with tears. “What the hell am I going to do,” he muttered to himself as he huddled against the wall and rhythmically began banging his head on it, hoping to knock some answers in.

Will was so engrossed in the rhythm of his head hitting the wall that he didn’t hear the doorbell at first.

“Shit,” he muttered as the sound penetrated the fog in his mind. He looked at his watch and cursed – he had been standing there for hours. “Coming,” he yelled as he quickly checked his face in the mirror and ran a comb through his hair.

He gave the bedroom a quick look over, kicking his bag into the corner, and walked into the sitting room scanning his eyes round to check it was presentable. He stood by the front door, hand on the handle, before taking a deep breath and plastering a false smile on his face as he opened the door.

“No, no, no, no, no, no, no,” he muttered as he slowly backed away from the open door only to be stopped when two arms grabbed him painfully by the shoulders and squeezed. His face was suddenly buried in long blonde hair. “What do you think you are playing at boy,” hissed a voice in his ear. Will felt the tears prickle behind his eyes – it was over SHE was here.

“I told you he was fine Buffy,” said a cheerful voice.

Buffy looked over her shoulder and gave the woman behind her a smile. “I know, it’s just we have been so worried and frantic.”

Cordelia snorted and Joyce gave her daughter a ‘keep quiet you’re still in trouble’ look. Buffy’s eyes just narrowed.

“Why don’t we sit down and have a cup of tea,” Joyce suggested.

“I would rather get him home,” Buffy said as she tried to usher Will out the door.

“I need to get my stuff,” Will muttered.

Joyce took Buffy by the arm and began steering her to the sofa inadvertently bringing along Will as Buffy refused to let go of him. “Cordy, make the tea” Joyce called over her shoulder.

Relieved to be out of her mother’s sight, Cordelia hurried to the kitchen, pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed Angel’s number cursing as it went straight to answer phone as it always did when he was at work. Tapping her foot impatiently, waited for the message to end. “Angel get home now, Will is in trouble,” was all she had time to say before Buffy appeared at the kitchen door eyeing her menacingly. Cordelia stood there, drawing all her ‘Queen C-ness’ to the forefront, hands on hips and asked, “Can I help you?”

“No, I just wondered if you wanted a hand,” Buffy said.

Cordelia flipped her hair and picked the kettle up and began filling it. “No, I think I’m old enough to make four cups of tea on my own thank you,” she snapped, making sure to fill the kettle to the brim so it would take as long as possible to boil.

Buffy nodded and retreated back into the sitting room.

Will stood staring at his mother’s back as she leaned against the kitchen door. ‘She will not touch Cordy, she will not touch Cordy, she will not touch Cordy,’ his silent manta whirled in his head so that he almost missed Joyce’s question.

“I’m fine ma’am,” he said never taking his eyes from his mother.

“William, I have told you before, call me Joyce.”

“Yes ma’am,” Will responded automatically even as he sighed with silent relief when Buffy turned, her green eyes staring at him hard and full of spite and blame. Will knew he was in trouble. Hell, who was he kidding, he had always known this day would come, but he had just hoped he would of at least had time to heal properly and spend some more time with Angel before it did.

Buffy sat down next to Joyce, still staring at Will with cold eyes. “Did I tell you we are moving?”

“No, you never mentioned it,” Joyce said.

Will felt his heart sink. They were moving. He stared at the ground.

Buffy gave a small smile of triumph before turning to face Joyce. “Yes, Giles has been offered a promotion somewhere up north, we’re not sure where yet. There is a choice between two places, but the money is so much better…”

Will let the inane chatter flow over him. He knew it was all a bunch of lies – Dad didn’t have a promotion. He was being punished and he knew it. It was the same old pattern, hit me mentally so I break just a little bit more, then hit me physically so I shatter.

“Why don’t you sit down Will,” Joyce’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

“No thank you ma’am, I prefer to stand,” he said quietly.

“Nonsense,” Buffy said, “Come and sit next to me and give me a hug. I’ve missed you.”

Will nodded and braced himself. This was going to hurt like hell. Mentally laughing to himself, he scolded his own brain, ‘Of course it’s going to hurt you stupid boy, your mother wants a hug.”

Will slowly began to sit, only to feel strong hands pull him sharply down and encircle his waist, digging into his hip bones purposefully. As pain flared through his body, he felt the tears begin to fall from the pain, but there was nothing he could do as his mother cooed in his ear, “There there, I got you now, you’re safe with me, Mummy and Daddy love you.”

Will knew Joyce saw this as a mother comforting her son, but Will knew exactly what it meant. They were both going to “play” with him.

Cordy shuffled in carrying two cups of tea. She had looked through every cupboard for anything that she could use to put ‘the Buffy-bitch’ (as she now referred it her) asleep, but Angel didn’t even have a pot of aspirin.

Cordy placed the cups on the coffee table, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes and walked stiffly back to the kitchen, where she took a deep breath and pushed the tears back that threatened to fall. She knew Will was in pain and she wanted to run in there and tell ‘the Buffy-bitch’ to fuck off and set her mother straight about a few things, but she knew she couldn’t. It was Will’s choice who he told. She looked at the clock on the wall – 4:45. Please let Angel turn his phone on as soon as the film finishes, she sent a silent prayer to each and every god that might listen as she gathered the other two cups, then took a deep breath and prepared to enter the lions’ den once again.

***

Angel sighed and looked at his watch. He had so much work to do today and he wasn’t sure if he would make it home for a break at all and the boss was back early, in a fowl mood, which had nothing to do with work and everything to do with the stupid wanker’s home life.

Angel stared at the big screen waiting for the last credit to roll as he leant against the projector, his phone digging into his thigh. He pulled it out and turned it on. Instantly it beeped. He dialed the voice mail number and waited for the instructions – he could never remember which buttons to press.

“No personal calls during business hours, Liam,” came his boss’s shrill voice behind him.

Angel sighed and clicked the phone closed, placing it in his pocket as he turned and waited for the ear bashing that was to come.

Fifteen minutes later, his boss left a fuming Angel to get on with his work.

Angel began taking the old film off the projector and got the new one ready for tonight muttering, “S’not my fault you have shoddy equipment that makes the film jumpy.” Then he remembered his phone. “No personal calls in business hours,” he muttered in a silly voice. “Well I don’t care,” he said as he held the phone to his ear once again and waited.

All the color drained from his face as he heard Cordy’s voice, then his anger flared. His boy was in trouble.

He grabbed his coat and ran out of the ‘heavens’ down to the lobby and straight into his boss.

“Where the hell do you think you are going,” his boss yelled.

Angel turned and let the full force of his anger erupt, “You think you can do better then you do it, I quit.”

Angel’s boss grabbed hold of his arm, but Angel shrugged it off yelling, “Fuck off,” as he swung round and ran out of the building. Checking his watch he could see it was 5:05; please let him still be there.

Angel flew up the stairs, scrambling for his keys as he went, and opened his front door with a jolt. He stood there, breathing hard, his mother looking at him as he stood menacingly in the doorway. He took in the scene with one glance, walked over to the sofa, leaned down and grabbed Buffy by the arm, yanked her up and began to frog-march her to the door.

“Liam,” Joyce yelled, jumping up.

“Let me go,” Buffy yelled as she dug her heal in and slapped Angel round the face.

“Buffy,” Joyce yelped.

“You leave now,” Angel said in a low menacing growl.

“He’s mine,” Buffy growled back as she freed herself from Angel’s grasp.

“Wrong, he’s mine now” Angel towered over her.

Buffy laughed and sneered at him. “He belongs to me and his father to do with as we please.”

Angel sneered back at her, “Wrong.”

Will cringed, he knew that look in his mother’s eyes. As fast as he could he stood and began to walk over, but he was too late. Buffy raised her hand and punched Angel in the face and Joyce yelled and ran to Cordy’s side and, not knowing what else to do, held her in a protective hug. Both of them just stood there with tears in there eyes.

Angel looked at Buffy, raised his hand and swiped the blood away from his split lip. “Do it again and I will hit you back,” he warned.

Buffy stared at him as doubt fluttered across her face briefly before it was gone. She turned and faced Will. “We are leaving now,” she said sternly.

Will looked at her, then at Angel. Straightened his back and took a deep breath. “No,” was all he said.

Buffy saw red once again and made a lunge for him, but Angel was there standing between her and his boy. “He said no.”

“He doesn’t get a say, he’s mine and I want him back,” Buffy screamed at Angel.

Will went and stood at Angel’s side. “No mum, I don’t belong to anyone but myself.”

Buffy stared at him, mouth open, not knowing what to do.

“I think you should leave,” Angel suggested.

Buffy nodded continuously as she backed away towards the door. “This isn’t over. I will have what’s mine.” With that she spun round and stormed out of the flat. Angel closed the door and locked it securely behind her with a deep sigh before double checking the locks again, just to be sure. He turned to the room and was met with a sea of faces, one looking rather pale, one with red-rimmed eyes and the last full of questions.

He looked at his boy and smiled sadly. Will looked at him and smiled back before crumpling to the floor despite the fact that it hurt and began to dry heave. Angel was at his side instantly holding him close.

“Shush Little One, it’s over now, you’re safe,” he muttered into Will’s hair.

Will took huge gasps and tried to calm himself as torrents of conflicting emotions filled him.

“Would someone care to explain to me what just happened,” Joyce asked.

“It’s kinda complicated,” Cordelia said quietly still holding her mum close and being thankful that she had a mother like her, even if they did argue and annoy each other.

“Well, I suggest someone make it simple and tell me what the hell just happened.”

Angel looked at her. “It’s not up to us,” he said quietly before turning his head back to his boy and rocking him, waiting for the shudders to subside.

Joyce raked her hands through her hair in frustration and decided to let it lie for now; there were more important things to worry about. Carefully she untangled herself from Cordelia giving her a kiss on the forehead. “Go pop the kettle on for me hun. I think we could all use a cuppa.”

Cordelia nodded and walked quickly into the kitchen. Joyce looked at the two boys huddled together on the floor and walked closer. Will spun his head round and looked at her fearfully. Joyce stopped and crouched down. “Will, it’s me, Joyce; I’m not going to hurt you. May I come closer?”

Will didn’t answer, but closed his eyes and tried to snuggle closer to Angel. Joyce took this as a yes and moved towards them.

Will began to relax in Angel’s arms. “You need to move, Little One. You need to get off your wounds – it’s not good for them.” Will nodded.

Joyce looked at Angel questioningly, but Angel looked back with sad eyes and just shook his head. Angel tried to stand with Will still in his arms, but it was impossible. He took Will’s face in his hands and made him look straight at him. “Will you need to let me go so I can stand?”

Will held him tighter. Angel looked at his mum silently asking for help.

“Will,” Joyce said, “Would it be alright if I helped Angel and you stand up?”

Will looked at her and finally nodded. Joyce stood and they helped Will to stand.

“Bedroom,” Joyce asked, Angel nodded.

“No,” Will’s voice croaked.

Angel shrugged at his mum; he had no idea what to do.

“Would you like to stay in here,” Joyce asked Will.

Will nodded.

Joyce quickly went into the bedroom and retuned with her arms full of the duvet and pillows. She quickly made a nest on the floor and turned the gas fire on. Angel couldn’t help cringing at the thought of where the money would come from now he didn’t have a job.

Joyce caught the look. “Don’t worry, I’ll give you some.” Angel nodded his thanks as he half carried, half walked his boy over to the duvet nest and laid him on his side with his back to the fire.

“Don’t leave me,” Will whispered.

Angel ran his fingers through his boy’s hair.  “I won’t,” he said as he sat cross-legged near his boy’s head, still running his fingers through Will’s hair. Will lifted his head and pulled himself so his head was in Angel’s lap before he relaxed again. Joyce flopped down onto the sofa, cringing slightly at the lack of comfort, as Cordy walked in and popped two cups down on the table before retreating only to appear again with two more which she placed on the floor near Angel before leaning over and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

Then she stood back, hands on hips, and yelled, “What took you so long!”

Angel smiled, trust Cordy to yell at him. “Sorry, my boss was yelling at me, well, I suppose he is my ex-boss now,” Angel muttered the last.

“What,” Cordy shrieked

“Well, I sort of told him to f…off,” Angel said still unable to swear in front of his parents even at the age of twenty-five.

“Jesus Angel, what are you going to do now? How are you going to live,” Cordelia asked.

Angel smiled. “Worse case scenario, I’ll go back to McDonald’s again.”

Cordelia threw her arms in the air and flopped down on the sofa next to her mum. Joyce pulled her close and for once Cordelia went gratefully.

“Would someone please explain to me what you three have been up to,” Joyce asked softly. Her words were met with silence, Cordelia having to bite her tongue to keep from blurting everything out.

“Will,” Angel said quietly

“I can’t,” Will said as he rolled over facing the fire.

“Can I,” Angel asked.

Will nodded and buried deeper into the covers.

Angel sat staring at his mum wondering where to start. Finally he just started at the beginning. He told Joyce about how they had met and how his boy had confided in him, admittedly he didn’t mention that Will’s father was raping him on a regular basis, for which Will gave him a gentle squeeze of thanks. He told her about calling Cordy and getting her to help him get Will out of that house, but most importantly he told her why Will was here.

Joyce looked at her son and daughter, pride written all over her face, then she scolded them. “Why didn’t you come to me in the first place?”

“Would you have believed us,” Cordy whispered

Joyce gave them a sad smile. “I don’t know. If I hadn’t seen Buffy earlier,” she shrugged, “then I doubt I would be believing you now,” she said sadly.

Angel nodded. “That’s why,” he said softly.

Sighing, Joyce ran her hands through her hair once again. “Will, may I take a look at your injuries,” she asked cautiously.

Will’s back stiffened.

“You know I’m a nurse, I just want to check they aren’t infected or anything.”

Sighing, Will rolled onto his stomach still facing the fire, watching the fake flames dance there rhythmically before his tear moist eyes.

Joyce took this as a yes and knelt down next to the young boy before looking pointedly at Angel. “You can go now, both of you.”

“No,” Will yelled holding onto Angel’s leg fiercely. “They stay – not like they ain’t seen it before.”

Sighing, Joyce pulled the covers away. “I need you to lower your trousers sweet.”

Will reached round the back of his trousers, thanking God for elastic, and carefully pulled the waistband away and down. Joyce’s breath caught in her throat as she saw what Buffy had done to her son. Mercifully, her training kicked in and she carefully examined the welts and cuts making sure there was nothing that wouldn’t heal, given time and care, while also noting the old scars. Satisfied, she helped Will pull his trousers up and covered the boy in the duvet again.

She looked at Angel and, seeing the tears behind his eyes, she cupped his face and made him look at her. “You did right, don’t ever doubt that.” Angel nodded. “You should be fine in a bit,” she said to Will. “I’ll nab some cream and see if I can get hold of some pain killers from work for you,” she said to the back of Will’s head.

“Thank you,” Will muttered.

“Your turn mister, let’s take a look at that lip.”

Angel smiled and indulged his mother, knowing there was nothing wrong with his lip apart from a small cut. Again satisfied, Joyce stood and sat back on the sofa, Cordelia instantly in her arms.

“We need to phone the police and report this.”

“No,” Will’s voice said softly.

Joyce sighed. “Will, we have to what your mother did was wrong. Does your father know? Maybe if you told him he would throw her out…or something.”

Will laughed. “Yeah my dad knows.”

“Well, didn’t he do anything when you told him?”

Will turned round and looked Joyce in the eye.  “Yeah, he yelled at Mum because he couldn’t fuck my arse for over a week.” Joyce’s eyes went wide, as did Cordelia’s. Will just laid his head back down and stared at the fire.

“How long has this been going on,” Joyce asked when she finally felt her voice was stable enough, though it still shook.

Will shrugged. “Too long, years.”

“You have to go to the police,” Joyce urged again.

“No, in a few months I will be sixteen and they will have no hold over me. I will be free of them.” Will sighed. “If I go to the police then one thing will lead to another; there will be accusations, tests, statements, questions, and maybe a court case. It could go on for years and years.” Will turned and looked at Joyce with tears in his eyes. “I just want to forget it ever happened, make a new life for myself and move on. I have already lost my childhood; I won’t let them dictate to me how I should live the rest of my life. I just want to forget.”

Joyce stared at the young man before her, because that’s what he was, no longer a boy as she had always thought, but a young man wanting to find himself.

“Alright then, no police. What about coming and living with me,” she asked knowing it was highly unlikely.

Will shook his head.

Joyce smiled. “Then at least call if you need me or John.” Will nodded; he liked Joyce’s husband. He was always smiling and happy and though he was huge and a bit intimidating at times, Will always saw him as a big grizzly bear that you knew was a pussy cat on the inside.

“Also, you are not to be left alone. Angel, you are to be with him at all times and if you can’t, then you get me or Dad to come round.” Angel began to protest, but Joyce cut him off. “No arguments on this. If you won’t go to the police, then this is the least you can do so humor me and if anything happens that you need help with, you pick up the phone and call us no matter what time it is and we will drop everything and be here as soon as we can.”

Angel nodded, knowing it was pointless to argue, but also feeling grateful that his parents would be there for them both.

“I’ll send your father round tomorrow to look at the door and see about getting you a deadlock fitted, just in case. Unless you want dad to stay over tonight, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind…”

Angel cut his mum’s babbling off, “We will be fine and you’re just a phone call away.”

“Maybe you two should go stay at a bed and breakfast till this all blows over.”

“Mum, we will be fine,” Angel said reassuringly.

“Do you have any food in?”

“Mother.”

“Alright, I’m just worried, and I feel kind of useless,” Joyce said as she rose from the sofa pulling Cordy with her. Joyce walked over and kissed Angel on the forehead and quickly pushed a wad of money into his hand. Angel started to protest, but Joyce stopped him.  “You can call it a loan if you want or an early birthday present, but the last thing you need to be worrying about is how you two will be living and yes, I know you are all ‘Mr. Independent’ now, but dad and I have more than enough money stashed away, so I will be contacting your landlord and we will be paying the rent for you until you get yourself back on your feet. You just look after him.” Joyce nodded towards Will who was still staring into the fire. Angel smiled at her. “Thank you,” he said as he pulled her down into a hug.

Joyce pulled away. “So many hugs from my kids,” she beamed. “Will sweet, I’ll be round tomorrow with some stuff for you,” she said before turning and looked pointedly at Angel, “and some food because I know there isn’t any here.”

Will roused himself and gave her a sad smile. “He tried to feed me mustard on toast this morning.”

Joyce clipped Angel round the ear affectionately.

“Ow, you’re not supposed to tell.” He smiled at Will.

Joyce stood and began walking towards the door. “I’ll see you both tomorrow,” she said as she reached the door.

“So does this mean I’m not grounded any more,” Cordelia asked looking hopeful.

“In the car you,” Joyce said sternly, “and yes, you aren’t grounded anymore.”

Joyce closed the door making sure it was secure and Will and Angel both smiled as they heard Cordelia’s shrill voice squeak in pleasure.