AN: Just wanted to let you guys know: I posted two chaps at once, just wanted to tell you because I know I have a nasty habit of just looking at the latest chapter.

Also. . . right now I'm writing this completely on my own, and am looking for a beta. I've been looking in the beta section, and had e-mailed a couple peole a few weeks ago, with no response. If anyone would like to offer any help, it would be greatly appreciated!

Chapter Eight

One Month Later, London

The young woman stared up at the lid of her crate as she waited for the men to dock the ship. She sighed as she thought of their long journey home, and the reason for it. She did so hate these long sea voyages, they unsettled her tummy, bringing thoughts of her daughter when she was ill to her troubled mind. She hated being away from her.

It wasn’t right, for a mother to be away from her child. Anything could have happened to her while they were away. The only concern that they faced was what would have happened if they had stayed.

Whistler took her away five years ago, using her death as his excuse. The only problem was that he failed to mention that her death would have occurred very soon, it was far too close of a call.

The slayer had been following a demon, a chaos demon, with slime pouring from every... pore of his body, giant antlers poking from the base of his skull.

He was a nice fellow, but so disgusting! Imagine kissing one of them. . .

Wonderful, now her tummy was turning even worse.

Wonderful.

But her girl was only a few blocks away! And how pretty she would be! With her long, dark hair and hazel eyes. She’d always loved her daughter’s eyes, and her skin that shone from the brilliance of the sun.

She was her sunshine, the only sunshine she would ever be allowed, now. She’d let her daughter bathe herself in the sun if she wanted. She hoped she wasn’t wearing that wretched powder everyone was so insistent on. It tasted of chalk, as they strived to look just like her. Silly women.

She smiled as she felt the anchor drop deep bellow the surface of the water. She’d see her soon.

All she had to do was wait. She was good at waiting, so long as the stars didn’t start calling for her attention. They could wait their turn, just this once.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
London, Another Party

He looked about the room, searching for his muse. He smiled as he finally spotted her, all smiles as she chatted with her friend. His eyes raked across her body, appreciating her trim, womanly figure in her snow white gown which further showed off her tanned skin. It was unfashionable to spend so many hours in the sun uncovered, but she was beautiful. He looked her over again, at the exposed golden skin. There was no obvious line that showed where her clothing began. He let out what sounded suspiciously like a growl as he thought of why there wouldn't be a line.

He looked to her again, taking note of the streaks of yellow in her ever-changing hair. She’d been horseback riding again. She loved her horse; she spent countless hours upon his back. There were many weeks that went by when no one saw her, unable to bring her in from the outdoors.

And who could blame her? These parties were positively dull.

She looked up at a nudge from her friend’s sharp elbow. That must hurt, though there was never a flicker of pain in her eyes.

She smiled as she locked gazes with him, motioning him to join them.

He sucked in a deep breath, and strolled forward to greet his future wife.

Now all she had to do was agree. He hoped that he could meet with her privately, he hadn’t had a chance to say "hello" to her properly yet.

He did so enjoy his horseback riding lessons, why again did they need to attend these parties?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

“William, I have some wonderful news!” she smiled up at him, impulsively tipping her chin in a demand for his kiss. When he blushed, backing away, she smiled again at him, a mischievous look in her eyes.

“Come now, William! You have won me, now what do you intend to do with your prize?” she teased.

A soft look fluttered over his face as he looked to the beauty sitting before him, so open, so trusting. She wanted him to kiss her, here, before everyone who existed in their social circle. It would undoubtedly force his hand, he would have no choice but to marry her, or she would lose any sort of good reputation she had.

After all, if a lady was willing to kiss a gentleman in public, what then might she do behind closed doors?

He blushed as he thought of him and Elizabeth being. . . intimate. It was a thought that kept him up at night and commonly visited his dreams. It was a shock when he didn’t wake up, slick with. . . sweat.

He’d taken to helping the laundrywoman with his bedclothes. The knowing look she gave him always made his face flame.

He still remembered her look when he introduced his wife-to-be to his mother two weeks ago. The knowing look and the nod of approval Mrs. Long had given him was mortifying.

He still shuddered to think of it.

“William? William are you alright? Can you hear me?”

And there she was. His muse, his angel. Her brow scrunched up as she stared at him. She was upon her knees in front of him. Appharenly, she’d pushed him into a chair, and she was holding his hands, a look of relief upon her face as came out of his daze.

She was so beautiful, so sweet, and innocent. She was a wonderful woman, and she had consented to his becoming her suitor. Him!

And just him.

He smiled as he looked down to her, swooping down to capture her lips in a chaste kiss.

He hoped he was the only one to hear her moan like that, if not, she would be mortified. He broke the kiss too quickly for either of them, pulling her to her feet as he stood. He led her over to a sofa, hand still holding tightly to her own as he sat her down, kissing first one hand, then the other as he did.

“You said you had news, darling?”

AN: Hey guys, I’m trying to get back into the mindset to write-I had a major case of writer’s block, and things are moving a bit smoother this time around. Cross your fingers! Anyways, the characters are not mine, they belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and 20th Century Fox. Hope you liked the chap, let me know about any inconsistencies, grammar, what worked-didn’t work. I’m sure you guys can see what’s going on, now. If not, it should all clear up. And as for Dru: I think she’s a very maternal person, so basically, my iea is that the longer she’s away from Lizzie, the harder it is to deal with her visions, which are driving her insane. Angelus is all demon, he’s very protective of his family-especially Lizzie. He never thought he would have a child as a demon, so the demon is very proud of that, it sees Lizzie as an accomplishment. It sees her as a way for him to live on-all of him. Added to the fact that she is family, he’s raised her, and loves her.