Sitting on the reception desk, her bare feet drumming against the side impatiently, the undead Slayer watched the clock. "I'm bored."

"We could always call Wesley and Cordelia through here so you could use them for target practise." Angel suggested, entering from one of the weapons rooms, a small chest gripped in his hands.

"Not funny!" Coredlia's voice floated through from one of the other rooms.

Kendra glanced towards the doorway, through which the seer had disappeared, then chuckled softly. "Don't tempt me." He hefted the small chest on the desk next to her, then placed his hand on either side of her thighs, gazing at her. "What? Do I have somet'ing in me teet' or a smudge on me nose or somet'ing?"

Standing eye-to-eye with her, he raised one hand, cupped her face gently, running his thumb over he cheek lightly, shook his head. "No. Nothing there." He ran his fingers through her braided hair softly, smiled. "Nothing at all." Drawing her face down to his, he brushed his lips carefully against hers, drew back, smiled again.

"Angel..." Her cheeks flushed, she tentatively lifted her hand, touched his brow, trailing her fingers down, along his jaw. Her fingertips swept over his lips in a feathery touch, two pairs of brown eyes meeting.

His hands moved to her waist, drew her closer to him, her chest pressing to his. "Kendra." His voice was a guttural purr, her fingers tangling into his hair and drawing him down to kiss her again, her shy lips soft and closed chastely against his.

Snaking one hand up between her shoulder blades, his hand cradling the back of her head tenderly. Gently teasing her closed lips open, he coerced her tongue into meeting his, felt her gasp and tighten her hold on him.

Supple fingers kneaded at his shoulders and neck, firm young breasts rubbing against his chest through the material of his shirt and once again, he thanked whoever was listening that neither of them needed to breath.

Drawing apart, souled vampire and undead Slayer stared at one another. Kendra shakily raised her fingers to her lips, a a smile twitching at the corners of her mouth. "Dat wasn't in di Slayer handbook." She murmured, turning to the chest, her cheeks pink.

"I wouldn't think so." He agreed with a small smile, watching her go through the weapons chest with an expert's eye. He vaguely registered Wesley re-entering under a mountain of books, focusing on the girl until he heard the front doors creak open. "It's party time, little one."

Both of them turned to the door to find the blonde and dark vampiress standing there, the blonde smiling, the other not so. Behind them, some younger, but no less dangerous, vampires stood impatiently.

Wesley moved alongside Angel, clearly afraid, but determined not to run away. Cordelia peered around the doorframe curiously at the suddenly silent triad, sighed and joined the two Immortals and the Watcher.

"I hear you have a visitor, Angelus." Darla crooned. The minions spread out around the room, blocking all exits. "A little Slayer, or so a little bird told me. Bring her out and your sidekicks get to walk away."

"Somehow I don't believe that." Angel straightened up, following Drusilla's wide-eyed gaze that was directed towards Kendra. The young Slayer was examining a small ax nonchalantly, ignoring the two vampiresses.

The dark vampiress slowly turned her gaze towards the other male, a leer creeping onto her fragile features. "Look at him, baby." She murmured softly, taking several paces closer to the Englishman, voice lilting. "A Watcher from the homelands."

"Dear God..." Wesley blanched.

"Tell me, sweet." Drusilla skirted her Sire with a small smile, reaching to touch Wesley's cheek with her perfect nails. Etching a narrow scratch down across his cheekbone, she eyed the drop of blood greedily. "Do you wish to live for ever?" She traced a finger down his brow. "Hmm?"

"I…I…"

Catching the drop of blood on a fingertip, Drusilla lapped at it thoughtfully. "Just like my sweet Will." She murmured, drawing her hand down his chest. "All words and thoughts that nobody hears, but me."

Cordelia snorted, reached passed Angel and tugged the profusely- sweating Wesley. "Look, Psycho, you want an English idiot, go back to England. Plenty of them there." She gave the dark vampiress a pure Cordelia glare. "And keep your paws off my co-workers." She glanced at Wesley, sniffed. "This doesn't mean I like you."

Darla sighed in clear frustration. "Dru, we didn't come here for the Watcher. We came for the Slayer." She narrowed her eyes, hands on her hips, and glared at Angel. "Bring her out, or we have a dinner party and you know you can't fight them all."

Drawing alongside her childe, the older vampiress returned her gaze to the silent Slayer, her attention focused on the dark, bowed head. Angel chuckled, stepped in front of Cordelia and Wesley, shook his head.

"She came out of the darkness." Lilting with insanity, Drusilla broke the silence, swayed, lips moving in silent words. "The Chosen One fell down, but she got up again. Fell out of Heaven into a fallen angel's arms."

"What are you talking about?"

"He wants her." Drusilla's haunted gaze flicked to Angel. "He only wants her. The eternal Slayer. He stinks of her." She shook her head, hands trembling fitfully. "His mind is all filled up with her, singing of her. Our Angelus wants the Slayer more than he wants us. Our Angelus wants her like he once wanted us."

Darla's eyes narrowed. "So where is the little slut, then? Bring her out, Angelus. See if she can fight me without having you kill me for her again."

"I sent her soul to the sky." Drusilla whispered, in denial. "It whispered through my head when I let her go. I made her fall. I know I made her fall. She isn't one of us...she isn't one of them either...she isn't...I killed her..."

Kendra looked up from the ax in her hands, smiled a chilling smile. "You didn't do a very good job of it." She murmured. Dropping to her feet, she felt Angel's arm slide around her waist and smiled again. "I was di only Slayer ya killed and you couldn't even make me stay dead."

"Wait a goddamn minute." Pinching the ridged bridge of her nose between forefinger and thumb, Darla inhaled a slow breath. "She's another Slayer? He's in lust with her? And you killed her? When the hell did all this go down?"

"Two and a half years ago, I t'ink. I don't remember dat much cos, well, I was dead." She swayed back against Angel, tipped her head as he nuzzled at her neck, his eyes glinting with mischief as he looked over at Darla. "T'ank yer friendly lawyers. Dey brought me back."

Shaking her head, Darla frowned. "Where did she spring from anyway? Who killed your slut?"

"The Master, when he rose."

"I knew he could do it!"

"He died half an hour later though." Angel couldn't help but grin. /He was an ugly bastard./ "I hate to tell you, this, but my little slut was the one who killed him. Pushed him through the roof of the school and staked him."

Seeing her confusion, ignoring Drusilla's mumbling, Kendra pulled Angel's head down and pressed a light kiss to his mouth. "I was di replacement." She remarked.

"She's the first of the line of Second Slayers." Angel explained, the minions surrounding them unimportant, his hands folded over her belly, he felt her hand scratch under his chin and butted his head against her. "She died, but now, she's back and bad."

"You know," Taking a controlled step towards the pair, Darla's eyes were icy. "I haven't killed a Slayer for a long time. I'll free you from the spell this one has you under, Angelus. She may have your soul, but she doesn't have you."

The dark vampire snorted with laughter, let his face shift. "You're still as self-assured as ever, mum." He drawled, drawing Kendra's hair back from her neck, nibbling at her throat. Sinking his fangs into the soft flesh, he could sense Kendra smiling lazily and purposefully ignored the shocked gasps from the two humans. Withdrawing, he lapped at the wounds, felt Kendra's hand stroke his cheek. "I have everything I need now. I don't need the replica of my Sire anymore. Or my childe."

"You mean she was right...?" Glancing at Drusilla, Darla's face grew stony. "Well, no matter, my boy. That won't stop us killing her."

Several minions barreled in, grabbing Angel, Cordelia and Wesley in vicious holds, dragging them away from the young Slayer. The vampire growled, struggled angrily, glaring at the blonde vampiress. The Slayer arched an eyebrow.

"Dru," Turning to her Sire, Darla gestured to the Slayer. "Maybe you should try again?"

"She's not right." The dark vampiress whimpered, but took several steps closer none-the-less, her crazed eyes fixed on Kendra's dark, calm face. "She's full of death and life and anger and peace and many magicks."

"Can we shut up and get on wit' my cold-blooded murder a'ready?"

Drusilla warily neared, held the girl's chin in her hand, stared at her. "Look at me, Slayer." She murmured, drawing Kendra's gaze. "Be in me." She gestured to her eyes, smiling confidently. "Be in me."

"No t'anks."

"Slayer." Tightening her grip, she grit her teeth. "Be in me."

Kendra blinked slowly, met the vampiress' eyes. Angel stiffened. "Kendra! Snap out of it! You can beat this!" She briefly glanced towards him, but Drusilla snatched her attention back, swayed from side to side.

Imitating Drusilla's sway, the Slayer's eyes grew glassy. The vampiress flexed her razor-sharp nails, smirked slightly.

"Kendra." Angel pleaded. "Kendra, please...come on, little one..." The girl blinked, looked towards him. Smiled.

Drusilla's hand snapped up as soon as the girl looked away, replicating the narrow scar that the Slayer still bore from her first death on the opposite side of her throat. Kendra's hand snapped up, eyes widening in shocked awareness, her blood trickling between her fingers.

Slumping, she collapsed in a heap on the floor.

Staring at her in abject horror, Angel raised his face to his childe and sire-cum-grandchilde, eyes blazing furiously. The two humans gasped, clearly shocked that she had been killed. The two vampiress moved towards him, smiling. "You shouldn't have done that." He growled.

"Why?" Darla smirked. "What are you going to do about it?"

Angel's furious facade melted away, replaced with a grin. "Nothing." He replied. "She just gets very pissed off when people kill her."

Before they had a chance to register his words, both staggered forward a step, a blow from behind followed by a burning in their torsos. Looking down in tandem, they whimpered. Drusilla looked to her childe a moment before she disintegrated into dust, leaving Darla, staring at the silver blade that had emerged through her stomach.

"What the hell...?" Darla glanced back over her shoulder, found herself eye-to-eye with the dark-haired girl, the smile on her face a deadly one. Blood was still pouring from the cut at her throat, but she didn't seem aware of it.

"I really don't like bein' killed." She murmured, twisting the blade. "Call your boys off, or I release di Holy water inside di knife. You'll fry from di inside out. You want dat, heh?"

Grimacing in pain, the blonde vampire nodded, the minions dropping back. She swallowd hard, trying to step forward off the blade, only for the Slayer to tilt the curved blade up, pulling her back harder. She glared at Angel, who gave her a helpless shrug.

"They brought her back and just happened to bind her life to mine." He reached forward and tapped the end of the dagger with his fingertips. "You never know, you might have liked her if you spent some time with her. She's the smartest Slayer I've met."

"See me jump for joy." Darla hissed, flashing a glare at the grinning Kendra. "And you, just get this fucking knife out of my chest."

Kendra frowned, shook her head. "I don't like dis one, Angel. She is rude." She said. Darla was barely able to notice the blade jerked out of her body, as the stake slipped home, her eyes widening in disbelief as she felt herself crumbling to dust once again.

"Fuck." Was the last thing she said, before her lips turned into powder.

Angel gazed down at the twin piles of dust, distantly registered Kendra's voice enquiring. "Can I kill dem too?"

He nodded, left her to it. Cordelia and Wesley wisely made themselves scarce, as he stared down at the dust that had once been the two most important women in his life.

/So its over./

[Looks like it.]

/You don't care?/

[I'll miss them. They were mine for so long. It hurts knowing they're gone. You?]

There was a pause. /Funnily enough, I feel the same./ There was a resigned laugh. /To think I prefer the company of a Slayer to my Sire and Childe, though. Never thought it would happen in a million years./

"Angel?" He looked down, found the bloody Slayer smiling tiredly up at him, one crimson hand rising to caress his cheek. Tilting her head to bare her still-oozing throat, she softly asked. "You still hungry?"

If she had been mortal, he would have lost her. She would have been gone from his life, for the last time. Uncalled for tears rising in his eyes, he wrapped his arms around her in a crushing embrace, pressing his lips in a worshipful kiss to her bloody neck. The neck she had offered him freely.

Sinking to the floor with her arms around him, she knelt and held him as he started to sob. He couldn't say why he was crying. Maybe it was the deaths of Sire and Childe, maybe it was the thought of losing her. He didn't know.

Half-cradled in her arms between her knees, his face buried in the bloodied crook of her neck, arms around her waist tightly, he felt her fingers running through his hair gently, her lips whispering soothing words to him.

***

Watching the latest so-called 'act', the Host sipped his drink. A tingle passed down his spine and he smiled. The Slayer was all pleasant, present and correct, along with a certain broody presence that seemed more subdued than usual.

Waiting until the act finished, he offered a quick explanation, then turned towards the door to see the Slayer, a bandage wrapped around her slim neck, the vampire with his arm draped posessively around her, glowering at anyone who dared to look at the girl.

"Hola, sweetie!" Weaving his way to her side, he planted ferverent air-kisses near both her cheeks and looked her up and down. "Hmm...that bandage look is really not doing anything for your complexion."

She shrugged, smiled tiredly. "I've been dead again." She replied. "I'm still a little bit out of date wit' fashion."

"Would your growly pet here mind if we went shopping?" Angel flashed a glare at him, arm tightening that little bit more around the girl. "Hmm. I'll take that as a definite yes. Alas, busy schedule anyway." He gestured towards a table. "Care for a drink?" He clapped his hands, made an order, then turned back to them. "I got some news for you two sweethearts, all the way from the upper reaches." He confided.

Angel's gaze that had been flitting suspiciously around the club suddenly came to full focus on the Host. "Let me guess. We have to sing for our supper?"

"Not you, dreamboat." Red lips rose in a smile. "Only your pretty Princess here."

"Me?" Kendra's voice emerged as a shrill squeak.

"No." Angel pulled her onto his lap, pinned her close to his chest, his face rippling into demon form. "She's not singing again."

Pushing against his chest, Kendra shifted to stare at him. "What's wrong wit' ya, Angel? Why can't I sing?"

He shook his head, grit his teeth, burying his face in her neck again. "I don't want you being told you have another mission and another one and sooner or later being told that everything leads to death and that I'll lose you." He whispered, a tremor running through his body. "We finally agree about something and we don't want to lose you."

Her gentle hand tilted his chin up, her dark eyes finding his golden ones. "It won't come to dat, Angel." She brushed a light kiss over his ridged forehead. "I promise ye, I'm not goin' anywhere. Not'ings goin' ta get me killed, but we have ta know what's happenin'." Brushing her lips over his in a light kiss, she smiled.

"But what if..."

"Sh." Pressing a fingertip to his lips, she shook her head. "No buts, Angel. She whispered. "Its just one song, okay?"

The Host watched, but tried to look like he wasn't doing so, a tiny smile edging onto his features as the Slayer kissed the vampire, despite the fangs and yellow eyes and weird bumps that sprung up everywhere. If he didn't look so bumpy and fangy, it would have been cute.

Relinquishing his grip on the girl, the vampire kissed her fingertips and reluctantly watched as she made her way to the stage, a microphone pushed into her hand.

After selecting the song, she moved to the front of the stage, squinting in the spotlight, her eyes finding Angel's as the intro started to play. She smiled, the words rising on the screen at the front of the stage, but she ignored them and sang from memory, her voice swelling into the chorus.

"Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grave. Ooh, the more I get of you, the stranger it feel, yeah." She half-smiled. The song was so appropriate. Every word referred to her feelings about Angel. "Now that your rose is in bloom, a light hits the gloom on the grave."

The entire bar was deadly silent as she sang, her voice carrying effortlessly, her body lifted by the motion of the music.

"Yes, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grave. Ooh, the more I get of you, the stranger it feels, yeah. Now that your rose is in bloom, a light hits the gloom, on a grave." She felt the end nearing, saw the spotlight come into closer focus on her face, as she softly sang the final line. "Now that your rose is in bloom, a light hits the gloom on a grave."

The spotlight winked out and the applause started, quiet at first, then increasingly loud. Her face scarlet, the Slayer scrambled down from the stage, hurrying back to her vampire and the Host, settling on the vampire's lap, catching his small smile.

The Host shook his head, as if to clear it. "Honey, that was beautiful. Plenty horny, but who would notice that?" The girl flushed even more, buried her face in her hands. "If read your vibes right, which I never don't do, you two are going to just love me."

"Uh-huh?"

Nodding, eyes dancing with pleasure, the Host leaned forward. "Word came in that your soul has been made permanent, dreamboat." Gold eyes met brown, then both turned to red hopefully. "You think I'd be such a tease to make that up? Do I look like the kind of idiot who would incurr the wrath of a vampire and the most deadly Slayer in the World?"

"If you did, I'd probably have to kill you, you know."

Angel smiled at the Host. "Don't you love a fiery little thing like this one?" He nuzzled at her neck fondly. "Before we go off and check your theory, do you have any reason why they would do that?"

"Probably thought it was unfair to deny you both smoochies for all eternity." The pair exchanged glances. "Babies, the vibes are just screaming. You only wanted each other, demon, soul, undead Slayer. Twisted, but cute."

"In that case." Angel got to his feet, Slayer still cradled in his arms, a wide grin creeping onto his face. "We have some testing to do."

As the pair disappeared out the door, Kendra's voice laughingly carried back to the Host where he sat, drawing a small smile from him. "You try an' go bad on me an' I swear I'll kick your sorry ass, Angelus."

***

Curled on her side, head pillowed on her arm, the silky red sheet demurely covering to her breasts, Kendra looked like she was still asleep. Her lashes rested like smudges of ash on her tawny cheek.

His hand propped on his fist, Angel lay facing her, fascinated. He wished he could leave her long enough to go and find his sketch pad, but he didnt want her to wake without him being there to see her.

/You sappy idiot./

[Yup.]

/You quite happy now?/

[Yup.]

/Me too./

[Oh?]

/In spite of being stuck with you for eternity, I'm liking the idea of this eternal threesome./

[Perv.]

/Yup!/

Turning his attention from the demon, he snagged the sheet and drew it slowly down her slender body, smiling slightly when she whimpered, her hand groping out for the sheet and tugging it back up to her chin.

Sliding a hand under the sheet, he found her thigh and ticklishly traced his fingers up the bare flesh, felt her shiver at his touch, watched her peaceful face for any signs that she was about to wake up.

His mouth near her ear, he murmured. "I know you're awake."

"No. I'm not. Sleepin' still." She wriggled a little closer to him, a half-smile on her lips. "I'm still all asleep." She faked a snore. "See. All sleepin'."

"Then," He nipped her earlobe gently. "You won't..." His mouth travelled to her throat, nibbled a little more. "Feel any..." His teeth caught the sheet, pulled it aside, his lips moving to her collarbone. "Of this." He rolled her onto her back, pinning her down and kneeling over her. "Or when I tickle you into submission."

Abruptly, he was flipped onto his back and – wrapped in the sheet – she straddled his body, grinning down at him, her dark hair wild around her face, her hands holding his shoulders down against the mattress. "Never going to happen."

Leaning down, holding herself upright with her hands spread on his chest, she pressed a kiss to his waiting lips and smiled. One of his hands rose, caressed her cheek gently. "This is one of those times that I actually appreciate the Host." He murmured.

"I like him." Laying herself down on the vampire's chest, propping her chin on her crossed wrists, she traced patterns on his chest with her fingers. "Except di part when he wanted me ta sing in front of everyone."

"You were lucky." He toyed with one of her braids, his other hand running up and down her back lazily. "At least you can sing."

She nestled sleepily on his broad chest, pressed a kiss just below his shoulder. "I never t'ought I would end up wit' a vampire cos I could sing." She said quietly. "Especially not wit' Angelus." She lifted her head to look at him. "I t'ink I love you, Angel."

/Whoohoo! Sappy git gets the girl again!/

[Shut up!]

*Yeah, listen ta yer soul, Angelus.*

/What the fuck...?/

[Did I just hear...?]

Kendra smiled. *You t'ink being bonded just means ye have ta put up wit' me? I t'ink not.* She lay her head down again. *And, Angelus, you t'ink I don't know exactly what you've been sayin' about me for days?*

/Damn it!/

Angel couldn't withhold a smile, tracing his fingers over the girl's shoulders. [I think we've met our match, huh?]

/Looks like it./ They both chuckled as the demon gave a long- suffering sigh. /I'm loving my unlife. Really I am./

*Does he always whine dis much?*

[He gets antsy when he hasn't had sex for nearly a hundred years...apart from those few months in 1998.] Shifting her weight, he rolled her onto her side, tracing the contours of her face with a fingertip. "You're beautiful, you know."

She flushed, then stifled a chuckle as an amused voice added /And me agreeing with the broodboy is becoming a regular occurence, but he's actually telling the truth. For once. How scary is that?/

*No more scary dan knowin' I'm involved wit' ya, Angelus.* She grinned.

"I have something I have to tell you, Kendra." Pausing to kiss her lingeringly, Angel interupted the conversation, brushed his forehead lightly against hers. Her eyebrow arched slightly, a small smile twitching her lips as his demon rippled to the surface, his goofy grin looking ridiculous around the fangs. "I think I love you too."

/Hey! What about me!?!/

*What about you?*

There was a sheepish silence, her fingers smoothing Angel's brow as she waited. /I'm part of the lovey-dovey squad too...but in a nasty, mean and downright bloody way./ He mentally cleared his throat. /But you tell anyone and I will find some way to kill you./

[I think we get it.] Hand running down Kendra's side, Angel had to smile at the demon. Since he and Kendra had gotten involved, the demon had happily joined in, occasionally being let out to play, unable to withstand Kendra's superslayer strength.

/So...we gonna screw again?/

*Not if you don't behave.*

Silence.

Twin brown eyes met, small smiles exchanged as Angel lowered his mouth to claim hers again, her arms sinuously twining around his neck. Drawing him down onto her, their bodies joining, brown eyes merged to gold.

Arching against his chest, the Slayer sighed contentedly, fingers weaving through his wildly sticking-up hair to pull his mouth down in a kiss.

/Ahem...can we speed this up a bit? Please?/

Bursting out laughing as Angel lifted his head, seeming to frown inwardly. His eyes focused on a spot high on the wall, he wrinkled his brow, pursed his lips and frowned. The Slayer clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles, eyes glinting with amusement at his undeniably pissed expression.

Life as an Undead Slayer was strange.

Life as an Undead Slayer in a long term relationship with Angel and Angelus was definitely going to be a whole lot more than that. She was willing to bet on it.


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