*~*~*~*

*Part 1*

I glanced around warily and sighed.  It was the summer of 1996, the moment
in time those in my care had been waiting for far too eagerly for my tastes.
I sighed again, sitting back.  "Ok, Angelus," I said, "tell me again what's
so important about Sunnydale in 1996?  I just. . .I don't get it."

Angelus growled at me.  He always tried to be so strong, so tough, but deep
down, I knew the demon had grown to care for me.  "Jenny," he said, "this is
where we meet our destiny."

"Is this that tree thing Dru was talking about last year?" I asked, still
not knowing what the insane vampire had been talking about.

Spike chuckled, turning to me.  "Yea, this is that 'tree thing'."

I sighed again, looking around the mansion Angelus had obtained for us.  It
was on Crawford Street, and tended to give me feelings of. . .well, I was
concerned.  Rather scared, actually.  That was an odd feeling, being scared.
Especially when I had spent the last two years of my life following Angelus
and Spike around the world.  The two vampires weren't exactly known for
their pleasantries.  Before Angelus had returned our favorite sister in the
clan, they were known as the Scourge of Europe.  "I don't. . .like this
place."

Spike sat back, putting his hands behind his head.  He propped his feet up
on the coffee table, causing Angelus to growl angrily at him on the other
side of me.  "I rather like it, luv.  It is the epitome of evil."

"Things will work out here, Jenny," Angelus reassured me.  He took my hand.
"We belong here.  All of us.  Everything will be fine.  You are going to
teach at Sunnydale High. . .I know you've been wanting us to settle down."

I stood up, pulling my hand out of his.  "I just hope that nothing bad
happens here.  I really don't have a good feeling about this place."  I
started towards the stairs.  I glanced back at the two vampires, my two best
friends.  "I'm going to bed."

*~*~*~*

~July 31, 1996~

~Dear Diary,~

~Well, it was another boring summer day.  I've already read all my books for
our upcoming year at Sunnydale High.  I can't believe we are going to be
Sophomores!  Soon, we will be able to drive, then graduation, and college. .
.maybe, just maybe I can get Xander to notice me.~

~Yea, right.  Who am I kidding?  Alexander LaVelle Harris, my best friend
since we were five, would never notice me as a girl.  He's too busy being
swept up by all the beautiful women.  I don't understand that.  We saw some
of our fellow classmates today, at the mall.  I think Xander and Jesse's
mouths were going to hit the ground.  Seriously!  I mean, when the ninth
grade let out, they were still little girls.  And now, they are wearing
makeup and designer dresses. . .and I'm still a little girl.~

~Sometimes, I wish that I could just be like them.  Be the ditzy airheaded
beautiful one.  Not Net Girl.  Not Homework Girl.  Or, oh, yea, my favorite
nickname - Bookstudy Nerd Girl.  When Xander told me that he overheard
someone call me that, I thought I would cry.  He was so sweet, he took me in
his arms and hugged me tightly, telling me that I may have been Bookstudy
Nerd Girl, but I was still his best friend, and that's all that mattered.
That, and the fact that I had to help him pass his classes the next three
years.~

~Sometimes, I wish I would meet someone wonderful; some dark, tall, and
handsome stranger that would sweep me off my feet.  It would be a wonderful
feeling, to be swept off my feet.  And then Xander would notice and be
jealous, and that would be it.  He'd beg for me, and I'd turn to Stranger,
and say, "I'm sorry, Mr. Man, but I love Xander.  He's the only one I will
ever love."  And then Xander and I would look into each other's eyes, and
there would be only love there. . .~

A loud stomping brought me away from my diary.  I jumped, closing the cover
quickly.  I turned with a scowl.  "Xander!" I cried.  "What do you want!?"

"Geez, Wills, what a way to greet your best friend."  He rolled his eyes at
me.

I opened my desk drawer and shoved my diary in, hoping he'd never ever read
it.  I don't think I could handle knowing that he knew my most private
thoughts, the way that I felt about him.  He has no clue, and I know he
doesn't feel the same way.  If he did, he'd treat me differently.

Not that Xander treats me bad, because he doesn't.  He's my best friend, and
I'm his.  But he would be more considerate of my feelings, and he would see
me as a woman, not a little girl.

"Sorry," I mumbled.  "So what's going on?"

"I'm just bored.  I want to do something.  Anything!  We should go for a
walk!"

My eyebrow rose.  "Should we call Jesse?"

"No," he said.  "Just me and you."  He smiled his patented XanderGrin at me.

I fell in love with him all over again, my heart swelling with hope.  He
wanted to be alone!  Maybe he wanted to tell me that he loved me and that I
was his for the rest of my life. . .  "Really?" I asked softly, hopefully.

"Yea," he said, still grinning.  "I need you to help me figure out how to
get Betsy Roberts to notice me.  I figured since you were a girl, that you
could tell me what would attract a woman."  His face scrunched up in
thought.  "Do you know what attracts a woman?"

I screamed in my head.  < YOU IDIOT!  I'm sitting *right* here!  What do you
need with *Betsy Roberts*? >   "Um. .  .yea," I said softly.  I'd never tell
him how I felt.  Somehow, when Xander had finally hit puberty, the Fates
decided to play a trick on me and leave me a little girl.  I stood up and
sighed.  "Come on, Xand.  Let's go."

We walked out of my house and down the street.  The sun had set about an
hour earlier, and the night was oddly quiet.  If I didn't know any better, I
would have thought there was a predator out.  I know that sounded strange,
but when Xander, Jesse, and I were younger, we went camping once.  We
huddled in the tent, knowing that there was a bear outside, beyond the
clearing.  And for the first time since we'd been in the woods, it was
completely quiet, as if all of the animals were hiding from that bear.

"Willow," Xander said, taking my hand.  I was too scared to let the feeling
of electricity register.  "Are you thinking about that bear too?"

It amazed me that Xander and I were usually on the same wavelength.  We were
best friends, and that only strengthened our bond.  Jesse could be on the
same plane as us *sometimes*, but he hadn't been friends with us our entire
lives.  Not like Xander and I.  I nodded quietly.  "Something's out there,"
I said quietly.

Xander puffed up, poking his chest out.  "I will protect you, Princess
Willow!  I won't allow anything to harm you!"

*Part 2*

Of course, as soon as I said I'd protect her, I jinxed us.  A couple of tall
angry looking men stepped out of the shadows in front of us.  I stepped
back, tugging Willow behind me.  They could hurt me, but I was going to be
damned if they'd hurt my best friend.  "What do you want?" I asked.

The taller one laughed.  "You," he hissed.  I blinked in shock, imaging that
his eyes went yellow, then back to the green that they were.

"U. . .Um, yea," I said.  "Right.  Ok, fun and games are over, we are a
couple of kids.  We have no money, and nothing really important to speak of,
so um, why don't you run along and go. . .pick on something your own size.
Yea."

Willow was trembling behind me.  She was even more scared that I was, and I
was on the verge of running down the street screaming like a woman.  But I
had to be brave and strong.  I had to protect her.  It was my idea for us to
take this walk, and if something bad happened to us while we were out, well,
I'd never forgive myself.

"You will do just fine," the other man hissed, grabbing my collar.  He
pulled me against him, and then he did the most extraordinary and scariest
thing I'd ever seen.  His face. . .changed.  His eyes went gold, his teeth
turned to sharp fangs, and wrinkles appeared between his eyes.  He. .
.looked like a vampire!  But that was silly, because vampires didn't exist.
Right?

"Oh, shit," I said, blinking in shock.  "Wills. . .um, now would be a good
time for you to run."  I turned my head, meeting her wide green eyes.  "Run,
Willow, damn it, RUN!" I yelled, the direness of the situation setting in.

Willow looked at me for a split second, tears in her eyes.  She
straightened, and put on her resolve face.  I knew that I was going to hate
whatever she was about to say.  "I'm not leaving you," she whispered.

"Wills," I said, "I think these guys are vampires, if they really *do*
exist.  I don't think I'm going to live very long!"  I was quite shocked at
the calmness I felt.  The vampire holding me still had me by my collar, and
the other one was watching us with a smirk.  He had since vamped also.

"No," she said, tears falling down her cheeks.  She was still trembling, and
I wanted to hold her.  I pushed against the vampire and tried to get out of
his grip, but he only hauled me against his body.

"Struggling turns me on," he hissed.

I immediately stilled my movements.  I turned back to Willow.  "Wills, you
might *die* if you stay here!"

"I don't want to live without you," she whispered.

My heart dropped when she said that.  I've always known she cared about me,
even loved me.  But I never realized it was to the extent that it was.  "Oh,
god, Willow. . ."

She was sobbing openly now, as the other vampire grabbed her frail body.
She was so small, so helpless.  And she was going to die, all because she
loved me.  I opened my mouth to speak.

"Let them go."

I twisted in my captor's grasp and looked back at two *more* men.  I
frowned.  The taller one of the new men had dark hair and dark eyes, while
the shorter one had a head full of striking blonde hair, and the most
intense blue eyes I'd ever seen.  And those blue eyes were focused on me.  I
gulped, wondering why this man's gaze was so penetrating.  Why it affected
me in ways I'd never been affected before - not by a man, anyway.

"And who are you?" my captor asked.

Tall and Dark crossed his arms.  "You don't recognize me?" he asked.

"Should I?"

"I am Angelus."

I actually felt my captor shudder slightly.  He, a vampire, was scared of
this Angelus!  That had to be a bad thing.  That must have meant that
Angelus was super bad.  Or really good.  Oh, god, I prayed he was really
good. . .

"Are you an angel?" Willow asked softly, in awe.

A slow grin spread on Angelus' face.  "You could say that, Willow."

I blinked in shock.  How the *hell* did he know Willow's name?

My captor threw me down on the ground with a thud.  I cried out in a mixture
of anger and pain when my elbow grazed the pebbly concrete.  I could already
feel the tiny cuts and knew that I was bleeding.  That wasn't good.  I was
bleeding, in front of two vampires.  I stood up, realizing that I had two
hands on my sides, helping me.  I turned wildly, stepping back.  Blue eyes
was helping me up.  "Who are you?" I asked.

"Spike, luv," he replied.

I shivered, hearing his accent.  There was something. . .I couldn't place my
finger on it.  But there was *something* about this man.  Something that
rocked me to the core.  Something I didn't understand.

"Let her go, she's mine," Angelus said to the vampire holding Willow.

The bastard laughed.  "Unlikely, Angelus."  I blinked as he started leaning
towards Willow's neck, his fangs glistening in the moonlight.

Her eyes caught mine.  She was terrified.

Well, I wasn't stupid.  If I let Willow die, the only person who had loved
me my entire life would be gone.  And that wasn't about to happen.  With a
roar, I launched at the guy, slamming into his side.  "NO!" I screamed.

He slid across the pavement, me straddling him.  I ignored the pain that
radiated from the new cuts on my knees.  I started pounding into his chest.
"You can't hurt Willow!" I screamed.

He flipped me easily, like I was a rag doll.  My anger was replaced by pure,
unadulterated fear.  Those fangs were coming towards my neck. . .I closed my
eyes.  I could hear Willow screaming at the vampire, telling him to leave me
alone.

I waited, and waited.  I was so tense, I didn't realize that the weight was
gone, and a fine layer of dust was settling on my body.  "Pet?"

I opened my eyes.  Spike was standing there grinning at me, a stake in his
hand.  He held his own out to offer help.  I took his hand, jolted by the
electricity I felt from his touch.  < Nope, wrong, bad, Xander, no dirty
thoughts about a man. >  "Uh. . .thanks," I said, snatching my hand away
from his.  I turned to find Willow.

*Part 3*

I know I must have looked crazed, staring at Xander with big alligator tears
streaming down my face. I was terrified when I thought he was going to die,
I think I might have even told the vampire that I would offer myself in his
place. And then Angelus and Spike were a flurry of action. Spike stabbed
the vampire over Xander in the back, making him burst into dust. Up to that
point, that was the strangest thing I'd ever seen in my entire life.
Angelus took out the other vampire, as if it were no problem.

Xander stood up, watching me. "Willow?" he asked softly. "Are you ok?"

I rushed into the safety of his arms. He wrapped them around me, holding me
tighter than I think I've ever been held. He kissed the top of my head and
rocked me gently, murmuring words of comfort. I could feel my body calming
down just a bit. I looked up at him and sighed. He was looking at me with
those big brown chocolate eyes that I loved. . .

I shivered. I remembered seeing Angelus' big brown eyes when he first saw
me. They were wide with recognition, and. . .something else. Something I'd
never seen in another person's eyes before. It was almost as if. . .he knew
me. And he knew my name. How did he know my name?

I turned, looking around. I blinked in surprise. "Uh, Xander?"

"Yea, Wills?"

"Angelus and Spike. They are gone."

Xander's eyes widened and he blinked rapidly. "Ok, this is totally giving
me the wiggins. I think we should go home now. I'm staying at your house
tonight."

"Yea," I said. "That would be of the good."

Neither of us spoke as we walked back to my house. He was still holding my
hand, and both of us were glancing around warily. "Wills, they can't come
in the house if they aren't invited, can they?" he asked softly.

"I. . .don't think so. At least. . .they can't in the movies."

He tugged on my hand a little. "Come on, there's your house right up
there." He was practically dragging me now, more than eager to get into
the safety of my home.

I pulled out the key and slipped it into the lock, opening the door. We
rushed in, shutting the door behind us. He leaned against the door,
breathing hard. "Ok, that was something I don't think I ever want to face
again."

I watched him, as the emotions played out on his face. He was angry,
scared, worried, and finally, sad. He opened big brown tear filled eyes and
looked at me. "I could have lost you," he said, his voice low and hushed.

"But you didn't. An angel and that Spike guy saved us." I sighed, chewing
on my bottom lip. There was something about Angelus that made me feel. .
.he made my heart flutter, even more so than Xander did. < No, Willow, you
love Xander. No one else. >

"Your parents don't care if I stay here?" Xander asked, glancing around the
dark house.

"Xander, this is Sheila and Ira. You know they are never here. They won't
even know." I looked down, chewing on my bottom lip. "Ok, I have to ask
you something. . .this is kinda. . .awkward. . ."

Xander took my hand. "I don't want to sleep alone either," he said softly.

I glanced up at him and smiled. "Thanks."

It was odd. I thought that I would be nervous, but I really wasn't. I
mean, I was terrified to the core of my being, and I couldn't stop seeing
those vampires in my head. And Angelus. . .I couldn't stop seeing him, the
way his hair spiked up, the dark look in his eyes, the way his leather pants
molded to his body. . .I swallowed hard. "Come on, Xander, let's go to
bed," I said in a husky voice. Kind of shocked me, I never heard my voice
so low and. . .sultry.

If Xander noticed, he didn't say anything. For the first time since I
realized I was in love with him, it didn't bother me that he didn't notice.
This way I could think my thoughts of Angelus in peace, and not have to try
to answer him about said thoughts.

*Part 4*

I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling.  Even though I've been living with
Angelus and Spike for two years, they still came in late at night after
feeding and woke me up, every time.  For two dead guys, they were awfully
loud.

With a sigh, I crawled out of bed, put on my robe, and went downstairs.
"Guys, don't you have. . .I don't know, something to do?  Someone to kill,
or something?"

Angelus looked up at me, a huge grin on his face.  "I saw her.  She was
beautiful, Jenny, even though she's four years younger than when I met her,
she's absolutely breathtaking."

I blinked in surprise, sitting down on the couch.  "Angelus, what are you
talking about?  Four years younger?  Who?"

"It's the tree, pet," Spike chuckled.

"The tree is a woman?" I asked with a frown.  Somehow, the thought of
another woman here made me jealous.  I didn't love Angelus or Spike, not in
a romantic love way; but I was used to their company.  Other than my family,
Angelus and Spike were the only friends I had.  If they brought someone else
home, then I would get lost in the shuffle.

"Her name is Willow," Angelus said.  "She is the most beautiful woman I've
ever seen, long red hair and big green eyes. . ."

"And Xander. . ." Spike growled softly.  "Did you *see* him?  He still looks
good, even though he's so young."

"Right," I frowned.  "I'm confused."

Spike sighed.  "Ok, here's how it goes, pet.  A century ago, Angelus and I
were in an alley, stalking our prey, when we came across two humans.  But
there was something different about these humans.  They were. . .tolerable."

"This was before I was to have eaten your sister," Angelus clarified.

"Ok," I said, motioning to Spike to continue.

"Well, their names were Willow and Xander, and they were best friends.
Apparently, they were doing a spell that got messed up, and they were sent
to our time.  They were from the year 2000."

My mouth dropped open.  "What did you do?"

"Shagged them," Spike grinned.

Angelus gave me a short nod.  "Then we sent them back home.  But we promised
that we would find them in 1996, when the Slayer first comes to town, and we
would sweep them off their feet.  And here we are, Sunnydale, 1996, ready to
sweep them off their feet."

"You know, it was Willow and Xander that saved your sister's life," Spike
said with conviction.

I frowned.  "What?  That's not possible.  Were they there then?"

"No," Angelus said.  "Xander said in their timeline, I ate the girl and your
people gave me a soul."  He shuddered.  "The thought of that is truly
horrible."

"That's why you didn't kill her," I said with realization.  "We always
wondered what would make the great Angelus save a life instead of taking
one."

"That's the reason, ducks."

"So you are here to what. . .claim these two mortals?  Take them as
concubines?  Sire them?  What's going to happen?" I asked.

"They are our mates," Spike replied.  "They just don't know it yet."  He
grinned at me.  "Xander was *wonderful* when I saw him last.  He was so
passionate, so. . .warm.  There really is nothing like having a warm body
pressing against you. . ."

I smiled softly. "Spike, is there ever a time you aren't thinking about
sex?"

"Yea, I sleep sometimes.  I feed too.  When I feed, I don't think about sex.
Unless I'm having sex when I'm feeding. . ."  He grinned.

I laughed.  I turned to Angelus.  "Ok, so what happened?"

"Couple of vampires attacked them.  We saved them.  They didn't know about
vampires, and we didn't show them our faces.  I didn't want to scare them."

"Xander was right.  He is scared of being with a man.  He jerked his hand
from mine when he felt the electricity go between us," Spike said.

"Well.  I guess we are going to have to figure out what to do.  I mean, if
you two want them, and you won't hurt them, I'm willing to help."  I
shrugged.  "This could be a good thing, you know.  Apparently they had some
effect on you, since you tapered off on the killing and maiming and all that
after you met them."  I frowned.  "We just have to find them again."

"Well, we know where one of them lives, we followed them home."  Angelus
glanced at Spike.  "You don't think they are dating, do you?  They seemed
pretty close. . ."

"They are best friends, Sire," Spike responded.

"Good, I'm glad you are going to find the two mortals."

I spun around in my seat, while Angelus and Spike jumped up, vamping.
Angelus growled low and dangerously.  "Who the fuck are you?" he hissed.

Spike pulled me up and stepped in front of me, protecting me from. . .I
looked around Spike and studied the man in our living room.  He had a bored
look on his face, a black suit and a hideous multicolored shirt.  A fedora
of some kind was on top of his head.  "Who are you?" I asked.  < Where did
you get your horrible fashion sense? >

"I'm Whistler," he replied, walking over to the bar.  He poured himself some
brandy.  Angelus and Spike never let their eyes leave our unwelcome guest.
"Don't worry about me, guys, I'm not going to hurt you.  I'm here on behalf
of The Powers That Be."

"The Powers That Be?" Angelus growled.  "What the hell do we have to do with
them?"

I could tell Angelus was really not happy this man was here.  I reached out
and patted his back gently.  "It's ok, Angelus.  I think he's ok.  He has a
calming aura.  He isn't going to hurt you."

Angelus turned his head and looked down at me, his eyes blazing.  I could
see the demon was ready to rip him apart.  I stood my ground though.  I wasn
't scared of Angelus, I knew he'd do anything in his power to make sure that
I wasn't harmed.  I crossed my arms.  "Well?  Are you going to trust me, or
are we going to have a battle of who can outstare the other all night?"

Angelus closed his eyes and allowed his features to smooth out.  He turned
back to Whistler.  "What do you want?"

Whistler made himself at home in Angelus' favorite chair.  We sat down on
the couch and watched him.  "So anyway," Whistler said, "some hundred years
ago, or so, there was this poor little gypsy girl who was captured by a
beautiful vampire."  He looked pointedly at Angelus.  "Her name was Darla."

Whistler took a sip of his brandy and continued, "Angelus was given this
gypsy girl for a birthday present, and of course, he enjoyed his dinner.
The Calderash clan was outraged.  They cursed the great Angelus, made him
have a soul.  Made him feel guilt for all that he had done over the years.
He fled his Sire, who wanted to kill him anyway.

"No one heard from the great Angelus until the year 1996, when he came out
of hiding and fell in love with a beautiful Slayer named Buffy.  He made it
his life's mission to help her on the Hellmouth.  The two had a stormy
affair, he was a vampire and she was the Slayer.  One night, as they sat on
his bed, shivering from the rain, the inevitable happened.  They made love."

"Wait," I said.  "That's not what happened.  Angelus gave her back to my
family."  I was confused.  How could this man tell us something that had
happened that never did?  Plus, he was talking about the future, and that
hadn't even happened yet.  I crossed my arms.  Angelus patted my shoulder
and nodded, motioning for me to keep listening.  He was taking all of this
very well.  Much better than I thought he would.

"Shush, child.  I'm getting there," Whistler said.  He sipped his drink,
then continued.  "The Calderash, who were very much into their vengeance
against Angelus, had a clause attached to the curse."

I frowned.  I couldn't imagine my family ever wishing anything bad on
Angelus.  He was almost an icon in our family, he would arrive if we needed
help.  Together with Spike, the two vampires would take care of whatever it
was that bothered us.  They protected us, and I protected them.

"The curse was to be broken and the demon set free if Angel experienced one
moment of true happiness."

"Angel?" I asked.

"I think Dru said that was Peaches' name when he was all having the soul,"
Spike said.  He shrugged.  "At least, that's what she gathered from talking
to Willow."

I smiled slightly.  Spike rarely called Angelus Peaches, only in times of
extreme closeness or intimacy.  The most I heard it was when we were sitting
around a fire somewhere as a family.  Spike would start calling Angelus
Peaches and Angelus would call him William.  I loved times like that, when
we were a family.

"So what happened?" I asked, truly interested in the story of the other
timeline, even though I was still not sure what changed it.

"Angelus tried to bring Sunnydale to its knees.  Buffy was a wreck, her
worst enemy was wearing the face of the man she loved.  Jenny, you came.
You tried to restore his soul, after you neglected to tell them that there
was a curse to begin with.  You were. . .stopped."  Whistler looked away and
I had a chill run down my spine.  I wasn't sure how I was stopped, but I
didn't think it was a good thing.

"There was a girl, an up and coming witch, named Willow.  She found your
spell and cast it on him, giving him his soul.  They weren't really friends,
only acquaintances, but she did it for Buffy.  She knew that Buffy couldn't
kill Angelus, and that he needed to be stopped.  She was Buffy's best
friend."  Whistler sat back.  "Time passed, Angel was brought out of hell,
and he moved to LA.  That's where he was when the whole world changed."

I sat back and shivered slightly.  "So all of this happens?  Or it did?"

"It did, yes.  Until the Witch and her best friend Xander stepped back into
time."

*Part 5*

I was dreaming.  It was such a nice dream.  Willow, Jesse, and I were
sitting there, eating ice cream.  I was watching all the women walk by.  I
was amazed, there were so many beautiful women in the park that day.  And
then a man walked by.  He stopped and turned, gazing at me.  I inhaled
sharply when I realized it was those blue eyes that had haunted me.
  "Spike," I said, standing up.

The dream flashed and I was sitting there, my eyes closed.  Someone was
lazily stroking my hard cock.  The sensations were *awesome*.  So much
better than when I did it myself.  I opened my eyes to see if it were Betsy,
or Cordelia, or *maybe* even Willow.  I'd had a sex dream about her one
time.  It completely freaked me out.  I mean, it's *Willow*.  She's not a
woman; she's my best friend!

But it wasn't any of them.  It wasn't even a woman!  It was Spike.  I
grabbed his wrist, suddenly ashamed, scared, disgusted, and turned on *way*
more than I should have been.  "Stop," I hissed.

"I won't hurt you, Xander.  I would never hurt you," he said softly, his
English accent sending chills through my body.

"No, I can't do this!  I want a woman," I proclaimed.  "I like women!"

He leaned in and kissed me, setting my body aflame.  I have kissed one girl,
at school last year, behind the gym.  It was awkward and horrible.  But
this. . .this kiss was the kiss of movies.  This kiss would have made Willow
bawl tears of joy, it was so passionate.

I finally pulled away and gasped.  He was a vampire!  "You. . .you are. . ."

"I won't hurt you," he purred.  "I promise."

My eyes flew open and I was breathing hard.  I moaned softly, realizing that
the dream had made me hard!  < Damn, > I thought, < I'm dreaming about men
and enjoying it! >

The higher part of my brain finally clicked on and I realized that I was
pressed against a body, spooning it.  I had my arms wrapped around said
body, the back to my chest.  I glanced down and sighed with relief,
realizing it was only Willow.  And then I froze.  I was hard, and it was
pressed against Willow's ass!  Oh, god, that was sure to wake her up!

I started to pull away slowly, and she gripped my hand, still deep in sleep.
She grinded her backside into my pelvis, causing me to close my eyes and
moan softly.  "Willow," I whispered, "please, god, please don't do that. .
."

"Angelus," she murmured.  "Please, Angelus, touch me. . .make me a woman. .
."

My eyes flew open.  She was dreaming about *Angelus*?  Why the hell was she
dreaming about *Angelus*?  I started shaking her, while pulling away.  It
wouldn't do any good to let her know that I had woken up hard.  "Willow," I
hissed.

She turned over.  "Angelus?" she asked softly, opening her eyes.  She smiled
sweetly, then realized what she'd said.  Her eyes widened in horror.
"Xander," she whispered.  "I dreamed about him!"

"I know," I pouted.  I was jealous!  Why was I jealous?  I didn't love
Willow, not like that.  So what was wrong with me?  When did she start
noticing guys anyway?  She hadn't up to that point.  So what if she and
Angelus hit it off and they started dating.  So?  Except she would be
spending all of her time with him. . . she would forget I even existed. . .

"Xander, it was wonderful.  He was so gentle and caring, and. . .god,
Xander."  She sighed.

"I dreamed about Spike."  Shit!  Did I say that out loud?

"You did?" she asked softly.  "How so?"

"I was. . .he was. . ."  I looked down.  I couldn't tell her. . .

"What, Xander?  Were you having sex or something?" she asked curiously.  It
was odd, she wasn't saying it nasty or meanly, just. . .curiously.

"Not exactly," I whispered.  I looked up at her, swallowing.  If anyone
could understand, it would be her.  "Willow, I think I might be. .
.attracted to him."

She shrugged.  "He's an attractive man."

"You don't think that's. . .wrong?" I asked.  That was the last thing I
wanted, for Willow to look down at me.

She shrugged again.  "Not really.  I mean, I've found women attractive."

A new scene popped in my head, one where Willow was lying between Betsy and
Cordelia. . .I groaned as I started to become erect again.

"Xander?" she asked, laying a hand on my arm.  I could hear the concern in
her voice.

It was all I could do not to attack her right there.  I wanted to kiss. .
.something.  Anything.  I wanted to feel warmth around my cock, push in and
out, god, I wanted to fuck something.  "I. . .I have to go to the bathroom,"
I mumbled, pushing myself out of bed.  I ran into the bathroom and slammed
the door, hoping she didn't see the tent my bulge made in my boxers.

I sat in her bathroom for half an hour, trying to imagine all the women I
knew naked.  I was sitting on the toilet, turned towards the bathtub,
leaving my back to the door.  I knew Willow wouldn't just walk in, but I
still didn't want her to see me jacking off if she did.

I stroked myself slowly.  I was hard, but I wasn't to the point of needing
to cum.  I imagined Cordelia Chase, Betsy Roberts. . .hell, I even imagined
Willow naked.  They all got me excited, but didn't do anything for me, not
like it usually did.  I closed my eyes and sighed, and there he was.  His
chest was smooth, almost carved out of stone.  He was smiling at me, those
blue eyes dancing.  My cock surged and I started stroking faster, knowing
that thoughts of Spike would make me cum.

I came, the white stream of fluid landing in a neat ribbon in Willow's
bathtub.  I shuddered, then realized I'd quietly cried out "Spike," when I
came.  Oh, god.  I was dreaming about a man, and I knew that he'd probably
think I was crazy if I told him I wanted him.

*Part 6*

Something weird was going on.  I'm not quite sure what yet, but something
was going on.  I couldn't get thoughts of Angelus out of my head, his big
brown eyes, that spikey hair, that tight ass in the leather. . .and Xander.
Oh, god, Xander was freaking out.  I think. . .I think he liked Spike.  And
I knew that bothered him.  He would stand on top of the roof and yell that
he was not gay; he didn't like men.

He didn't have anything against men who like men, and I knew he'd kill to
see two women together, but he felt threatened.  But I could see in his eyes
that he was interested in Spike.  I knew that look, I'd seen it plenty of
times, as he thought of whatever girl he wanted that week.

He was in the bathroom for a long time.  I wasn't sure what he was doing,
but I figured it had something to do with sex, masturbating probably.  I
knew he woke up erect, I could feel it.  Of course, it took me almost a full
two minutes to realize that it was *Xander* pressing into me, and not
Angelus.  I'd never wanted Angelus near me as bad as I did then.  I was
actually disappointed that it was only Xander.

These new sets of feelings scared the hell out of me.  I've never loved
anyone other than Xander.  That was natural.  He was my other half, he had a
part of my soul.  How would I love someone else?  What would happen to
Xander if I did?  Would we still be friends?  Would Angelus let us be
friends?

And then I felt silly, lying there in bed, waiting patiently while Xander
jacked off in the bathroom.  I was trying to figure out all these complex
feelings and emotions when I didn't think I'd ever really see Angelus again
anyway.  The answers to my questions didn't matter, since they'd never get
answered.

I sighed, pushing them from my mind.  I rolled over, snuggled to Xander's
pillow, and fell into a troubled sleep.

*~*~*~*

I blinked.  "They went back in time?"

"Yes," Whistler said.  "They weren't supposed to, but Fate smiled on them
that day, and sent them back to 1886, in London, England.  Now," he said,
leaning forward, "of course, they were looking for a  way back home.  As
they searched for a shop to find a magic book, they bumped into Angelus and
Spike.  They were terrified, because they knew Angelus hadn't gotten the
soul yet.  That wasn't to happen for another thirteen years."

I turned to Angelus.  "And you didn't kill them?"  I was shocked, to say the
least.  I knew that before Angelus returned our sister, he and Spike were
violent killers that tortured humans for the enjoyment factor.  "Why didn't
you kill them?"

Angelus shrugged.  "The woman, Willow, was. . .I can't explain it.  She was
beautiful.  Completely the most beautiful woman I think I'd ever seen.  Big
green eyes, red hair that looked like fire. . ."

"And the man, Xander, he was just. . .he was intrigued with me.  I think he
had a crush on whoever I was back in his time, though I don't think they got
along very well.  He was scared, but his body betrayed him.  He wanted me."
Spike leered at me.

I rolled my eyes.  "Is there anyone who doesn't want you?" I said, patting
his cheek playfully.

His blue eyes were dancing with amusement when he nipped at my hand with his
blunt teeth.  "Be careful, pet," he said, waggling his scarred eyebrow.
"You know I bite."

I laughed.  "Silly vampire."  I sat back against Angelus and he wrapped his
arms around me.  The three of us were extremely close, the two treating me
like I was their little sister.  I looked at Whistler.  "So what now?" I
asked softly.

"Now, Angelus and Spike will woo our favorite humans, and then Buffy will
come town."

"The Slayer," Spike spat.

"Correct," Whistler said, leaning forward.  "Now, here is the important
part.  You messed up the time line when you didn't eat the gypsy girl.
Buffy will need you, Angelus.  Your souled counterpart saved her life, and
the lives of her friends, more than they probably even know."

"What are you saying, mate?" Spike asked with a growl.

"When Willow and Xander befriend Buffy, we need you to help them," Whistler
said matter-of-factly, like vampires helping the Slayer were every day
occurrences.

Spike stood up with a loud growl.  "Listen, Angelus.  I know we promised
Red, but I don't think we should help the Slayer.  I mean, she's the
*Slayer* for Christ's sake!  That completely goes against everything we
believe in!"

I could feel Angelus' chest vibrating against my back.  He was growling low
and dangerously.  I wasn't sure though if it was because he agreed with
Spike, or wanted to chastise his childe for his outburst.  I turned to
Angelus.  "Angelus?" I asked softly.

He pulled his eyes from his childe and looked at me.  I shivered, a small
amount of fear entering my body.  His eyes were brown, tinged in yellow.
They were filled with hate, anger, and complete evil.  It was at that
moment, I realized *exactly* whom I had spent the last two years with.  He
was a demon, and he had no qualms about killing something and wrecking havoc
on the world.  "What?" he hissed.

"You've laid pretty low the last century.  Why?"

Angelus thought about it.  "Because of Willow."  He shrugged.  "She was so
innocent, so sweet, and my demon was so happy to be with her, that he just
didn't really want to do anything evil, because he knew she'd look down at
him."  He glanced down.  "But that doesn't mean we have to help the Slayer."

"Buffy is going to become Willow's best friend, other than Xander.  It will
tear her apart if she's killed," Whistler said softly.  "And you can't keep
them from wanting to help her.  They are what will save Buffy's life."

Angelus growled again, pulling me closer to him.  "We don't have to like
her, do we?"

"Of course not," Whistler said.  "You probably won't.  She's a Slayer.  But
you need to help her."

I glanced back at Angelus.  "Please, Angelus?  I think we should do this.  I
have a feeling that it's the right thing to do."  I did.  For some reason,
when Whistler started talking about helping the Slayer, my feelings of
unease started to slack off a bit.

"Fine, we will.  Under one circumstance.  Willow asks us to," Angelus said.

Spike, who was never very good at controlling his emotional outbursts,
growled angrily at Angelus.  "Bastard," he hissed.  He grabbed his duster
and walked out.

Whistler watched Spike leave.  "Will he be ok?"

"Yea," Angelus said.  "He's just throwing a tantrum."  He growled angrily.
 

*Part 7*

I glanced up when I heard her coming down the stairs.  I was sitting on her
couch, eating a bowl of Cap'n Crunch.  "Hey, Wills," I said, after
swallowing the sugary goodness.

"Xand.  I see that your stomach couldn't wait." Willow chuckled.

I laughed.  "Does it ever?"  She didn't say anything about last night. Thank
god.  I didn't want to talk about it, about the dreams, about the feelings I
was having about Spike, about her waking up with my hardness pressed against
her back. . .  "What?" I asked, realizing that she was talking to me.

"Bugs Bunny?" she asked, nodding towards the TV.

"Hey, I like Bugs Bunny," I defended.  "You know that."

"Yea, Xander, but Scooby Doo is on," she whined.

A big smile broke on my face.  "Damn!  I completely forgot!  It's been a
long time since we've watched Scooby together!  Hell, it's been a long time
since I've been up at. . ."  I leaned around her and glanced at the clock,
". . .six-thirty in the morning."

"What *are* you doing up this early in the morning?" she asked, sitting down
next to me.  She took the remote off my lap and changed the channel to where
Scooby was.  "You don't even get up this early when we have school."

I shrugged, taking another bite of my cereal.  How do I tell her it's
because I couldn't close my eyes without seeing Spike?  I was becoming
obsessed with this man, I just wanted to see him again, see if he had that
much affect on me in person.  I was sure that he wouldn't.  He was a man,
after all.

She leaned against me.  I set my bowl of cereal down on the coffee table,
and wrapped my arm around her.  Things had changed last night, but in a
weird way.  I realized that Willow wasn't a girl anymore.  She was having
the same kinds of dreams I was having.  It was strange, I just never figured
her for an actual. . .woman.  She wasn't supposed to think of men, only
books and computers.  I knew she was sorta thinking of dabbling in magic
too, but she hadn't really talked to me that much about it.  But last night,
I realized she thought about more than that.  She was, for all intensive
purposes, a woman.

"Wills?" I asked, glancing down at her.

She looked up at me, with those big green eyes that I adore.  "Yea?"

"So do you think that. . .I mean, would you date this Angelus guy if he
asked you out?  He seems kinda. . .old, you know?"

Her eyebrow went up.  "I didn't notice how old he looked.  I was too busy
looking at his eyes.  And those leather pants.  It should be a crime for
someone who looks that good to wear pants that tight.  Not that I'm
complaining or anything. . ."  She giggled, a blush spreading on her cheeks.

"I never knew," I said, shaking my head.

"Knew what, Xander?"

"That you were interested in anyone."  I shrugged.  "You are so wrapped up
in school. . ."

Willow shrugged her shoulders and looked down at her hands.  She twisted
them nervously.  "I have only noticed one guy my entire life, and didn't
have a need, nor a want, to notice anyone else," she said softly.

And somehow, I knew it was me.  "Willow, I. . ."  I closed my mouth.  What
could I have said to that?  It was obvious that she didn't really want to
talk about it.  "Do you think that if you two started dating, that he'd be
jealous of us?"

"There's nothing to be jealous of," she replied.

I wanted to tell her that there was, that I knew that she cared about me,
but decided not too.  I didn't want Willow to love me like that.  She would
only get hurt.  It wasn't that I couldn't love her, because I probably could
in the long run, but she was too important to me.  I was so scared that
being with her, as an actual couple, would ruin everything we'd spent our
whole lives fine-tuning.  "I know, but we are best friends, and I'm a guy.
A lot of times boyfriends don't like that.  You saw what happened to Monica
Gretsic.  She couldn't be friends with me or Jesse anymore when she started
dating Johnny."

Willow snorted.  "Johnny was a stupid jock who wanted to show her off.
Somehow, I don't see Angelus being a stupid jock.  It was weird, there was a
connection there.  You know?  And I swear he knew me."

"All I remember is the electricity," I said softly.  "When Spike touched my
hand, it sent electricity all through my body.  No one has ever done that."

She cuddled closer to me, putting her head on my shoulder.  She wrapped her
arms around my waist.  "Would you get involved with him?"

"I. . .I don't know.  I mean, I'd love to, I think, but you know my dad.  He
'd *completely* wig out.  And then what would everyone at school say?"

She looked up at me, our faces inches away from each other.  "Who cares?"
she asked.  "I mean, *I* won't judge you, and I doubt Jesse would.  He's
pretty carefree.  Spike and Angelus seemed to know each other, so I doubt
Angelus would look down on his friend, or you."  She shrugged.  "So a couple
of kids give you a hard time at school.  Just get Spike to kick their asses.
It's obvious that he could."

I laughed, leaning down to kiss her lips softly.  "You are the *best* friend
a guy could have."

She smiled and put her head back on my shoulder, watching TV.  "Thanks,
Xander."

*Part 8*

He kissed me.

Oh my god.

Xander kissed me.

And. . .it was weird.  I didn't really. . .I mean, I felt something, but I
didn't really feel what I thought that I should.

It wasn't a romantic kiss really, but I still thought I'd feel more than
that.  Angelus really affected me more than I thought.  I hoped and prayed
that I'd see him again.

"Xander?" I said softly, a sudden thought striking me.

"Yea, Wills?"

"Were those really vampires last night?"  I sat back up, last night's fear
returning.  I glanced around, hoping there wasn't one in the house.

He looked at me nervously.  "I think so.  I mean. . .I know that sounds
stupid, but. . .can they really exist?"

"Apparently, they can," I whispered.  "What does that mean?  I mean, does
anyone else know?  Is that why Sunnydale's always had such a high death
rate?  And what do we do now?"

"Well," Xander said, "Spike and Angelus had stakes last night, so we should
get some ourselves.  Maybe we should start working out, try to get stronger.
Holy water.  They don't like that.  Garlic too, I think."

"Oh, and a cross.  That keeps them from hurting you," I said, trying to rack
my brain on what would keep a vampire at bay.  "I wonder how they turn you.
I mean, there are two ways on TV."

"Three bites, or having all your blood drained, then drinking their blood."

"Xander, I don't want to be a vampire," I said softly.  "I don't know if I
would a very good vampire.  At least, if they are anything like they are on
TV.  I don't think I could walk around and be all sexy like that."

He laughed.  "I don't know, I could imagine you with all that leather and
dark make-up."  He grinned.  "I think I just figured out what you need to be
for Halloween."

I blushed, looking down.  "Yea, Xander, right."  I slapped his chest.  "Eat
your cereal.  I'm going to watch Scooby now."

I must have fallen asleep, because the last thing I remember was Scooby Doo
telling Shaggy that he wanted Scooby snacks.  Then, when I opened my eyes
again, I was lying on the couch, covered with a blanket.  "Xander?" I asked
softly.  "Xander, where are you?"  I stretched and glanced at the clock.  It
was almost 1:00 pm!  I had slept the whole day away!

I got off the couch, and went to the kitchen to fix something to eat.
Xander had taped a note on the refrigerator.  I pulled it off, biting into
the apple I'd taken out of the fruit basket on the counter.

~Dear Wills,

~Thanks for letting me stay with you last night.  I was too wigged to think
about going home.  But alas, I must tread towards the hell that is my
household, hoping against hope that no one noticed I wasn't there last
night.  Anyway, you fell asleep and so I just laid you on the couch.  You
looked too comfortable to wake up.

~Thanks for everything.  You truly are my best friend ever.

~Goofily yours,

~XandMan~

I chuckled.  Xander was always funny in the letters that he wrote me, and
for some reason, the whole 'goofily yours' line cracked me up.  I sighed.  I
really was lucky to have him as a best friend.

A loud knocking on the front door pulled me out of my thoughts.  I frowned.
The knock sounded desperate.  I went to the front door and cautiously opened
it, peeking around the corner.

Xander pushed in, slamming the door behind him.  He turned from me, so I was
looking at his back in shock.  He was ramrod straight, not moving a muscle.
Something was seriously wrong.  "Xander?" I asked softly, putting my hand on
his back.

He flinched.

Xander flinched when I touched him.

I could feel the rage bubbling inside of me.  Xander never *ever* flinched
when I touched him.

Unless. . .

"Xander, what did that bastard do to you?" I asked, my voice calm.
Underneath, I was seeing red.  I hated Mr. Harris, I hated him for all the
pain he put Xander through, for everything he'd ever did to him.  Jesse didn
't even know the extent of the damage Xander's father had done. . .I wasn't
even sure if I was.  I knew about the yellings, the beatings, all of that.
Sometimes, the way Xander acted, I wondered if there was sexual abuse, but
he'd never tell me.  I tried, one time, and he told me I was silly and to
not worry about it.  Of course, that didn't stop me from worrying.

Xander turned around and I gasped, stepping back in shock.  His eye was
black.  I'd seen bruises on his chest, but never, ever have I seen the
bastard hit him in the face.  I reached up and gingerly touched his eye.
"Why?" I asked softly.

"I snuck in.  He was waiting for me in my room.  He was so mad that I hadn't
been home.  He asked where I was, what slut I was fucking.  I told him that
I wasn't fucking anyone, and that I had stayed at your house, because
someone tried to attack us last night, and I didn't want you to be alone.
He called me a liar, and said that we were fucking, that you were a slut,
and that I would amount to nothing."  His bottom lip quivered.  "He told me
that you didn't love me.  No one did.  Then he hit me a couple of times
before I could get away from him."

I had never been as calm as I was at that second.  "I'm going to kill him."

Xander grabbed my arm. "No, Wills, he's not worth all that.  I know you love
me, it just. . .it hurts."

"You aren't going back there.  We are going to wait till we know they aren't
there and get your clothes, and then you are staying with me."

"Your parents. . ."

"I don't give a shit, Xander.  They aren't here.  You are staying with me.
I'm *not* going to lose you because your bastard of a father can't stop
hitting you."

"Do. . .do you love me?" he asked quietly.

"Of course I do," I said, wrapping my arms around him.  "I love you so much,
Xander, you are my best friend.  You have part of my soul with you always."

Xander started crying on my shoulder.  I hated it when he cried, it *always*
turned me into a babbling baby.  But that didn't stop us.  We dropped to the
floor and held each other, crying harder than we have in a long time.

I was still going to kill his parents.  His dad for hurting him so long, and
his mom for being such a bad alcoholic that she couldn't stop that bastard
from hurting my best friend.

Little did I know that I would actually get a chance to carry out my plan.

*Part 9*

God, my eye hurt.  It hurt so much.  Willow put a pack of ice on it, and
that made it feel better, so that was good.  But still, it hurt.

Jesse called and asked us if we wanted to go to the Bronze.  Willow didn't
think that we should, because of my eye, but I told her it was ok.  I could
handle a small battle bruise.  "Are you sure?" she asked.  "We can stay
here. . ."

"Come on, Wills.  I'm Xander.  I'm not going to let this mess up my fun with
my friends."  I knew that Willow cared, and I loved her dearly for it, but
if I stopped living my life every time my father hit me, I'd be in my room
all the time for the rest of my life.

I couldn't let Willow kill them.  As much as I hated them, I couldn't let
her take the fall and go to jail for getting rid of them.  However, if she
found a way to do it without getting caught, I wouldn't stop her.  I knew
that was horrible, but I wouldn't.

So we were sitting there at the Bronze.  Jesse was concerned about my
bruise.  "Man, I wouldn't have asked you two to come to the Bronze if I
would have known. . ."

Willow put her hand on Jesse's arm.  "It's ok," she smiled.  "Don't worry
about it.  Xander's tough."

Those softly spoken words made my ego swell.  Willow always thought I was
strong.  I wasn't, but she thought that I was, and I loved her dearly for
it.  "Thanks, Wills."

She flashed a smile at me.

I noticed her eyes drifted from mine, and looked over my shoulder.  They
glazed over and her smile got kind of goofy.  I felt the hair on my arms
stand up.  I knew. . .I knew they were here.  I turned, catching his blue
eyes.  He was staring right at me, with a smirk on his face.  He motioned to
Angelus and the two made their way over to us.

"Pet," Spike said to me, taking my chin in his hand.  "What happened to your
face?"

"Uh. . ."  I stammered.

"His father is a bastard," Jesse said.

"Jesse!" Willow and I cried out.

Angelus glanced over at Jesse.  "You are Jesse," he said.  I shivered, he
acted as if he knew the name.  "You are special to Willow and Xander.  You
are the reason we met."

I jumped up and pulled my chin out of Spike's hand.  "Now, damn it, how did
you two know our names?  What the hell is going on here?"  This was scaring
the hell out of me.  They knew us, they knew Jesse, but we had no clue who
they were.  And damn it, Spike was throwing me off balance!  Damn if I didn'
t want him.

Spike growled low and dangerous.  "Your *father* did this to you?"  He
grabbed my chin again, studying the bruise.

I jerked my head away.  "Yea, what the fuck do you care?" I exploded,
shoving his hand away.

Spike growled louder.  He grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me against
him.  "I care a hellova lot more than I should," he hissed, squeezing my
neck.

I should have been scared, I should have pushed away, but the only thing I
knew at that moment was that my body was pressed against his, and his lips
were inches from mine.  "You know me," I said.  Somehow, instinct told me
that he did.  "How do you know me?  I don't know you."

"Willow told me, Xander, when I met you, the only way to get you to want me
is to kiss you," Spike said, inching his lips closer.

"Too late," I murmured, not paying attention to the fact that his words made
no sense.  "Haven't stopped thinking about you."  I pressed my lips against
his, my tongue shooting out to find his.  He opened his mouth and our
tongues danced together, sweeping in and out of each other's mouths, gliding
over teeth, brushing against the roofs of our mouths.

Finally, I pulled away, breathing hard.  "Oh, god," I said.  I reached down
and grabbed the table.  My head was spinning.  "Spike, damn.  Where have you
been my whole life?"

Spike chuckled.  "Nice to meet you too, Xanpet.  Can we sit?"

I nodded, slumping back into my chair.  Willow patted my arm, beaming at me.
I could tell she was happy, both for me, and the fact that Angelus had sat
down pretty close to her.  Jesse was staring at me, his mouth wide open.
"Xander?" he asked softly.

"Jesse?"

"So. . .you, and. . ."  He turned to Spike.  "I'm sorry, what was your name
again?"

"Spike, mate.  And you are Jesse," Spike answered, running his fingers along
my neck.  I shivered softly, closing my eyes.

An image flashed behind my closed eyelids and my eyes flew open.  I turned
to Spike, staring at him.  "You," I whispered.

"Me what, pet?" Spike asked.

"You are a vampire, aren't you?" I asked.  I was scared, but I could see
that Willow's eyes widened slightly and she looked at Angelus with a small
amount of fear.  He took her hand and leaned over to whisper in her ear.
Jesse was looking at me like I hit my head against the wall far too many
times.

Spike looked at me strangely.  Ok, so I had dreamed it.  It must have been
the stress of last night that made him a vampire in my dream.  I sighed.
"Never mind, I'm crazy.  Those. . .guys, they scared me last night."

"I am a vampire, pet," Spike said softly, running his fingers down my cheek,
along my neck.  "But I won't hurt you."

For some odd reason, that didn't scare me, that he was a vampire.
*Actually*, it made me feel a little better.  I knew that as a vampire, he
would be able to protect Wills and I from other vampires.  I shrugged.  "I
know."

Spike looked mildly surprised.  "You do?"

"You told me in my dream."

"You dreamed about me, pet?" he asked, his grin getting wider.  God, he was
beautiful.

"Yea."  I smiled.  "I did."  I could feel my cheeks heating up in a blush.
 

*Part 10*

I looked up at Angelus.  "You promise you won't kill us?" I asked.  I was
nervous.  He *was* a vampire, after all.  But somehow, I knew that he wouldn
't hurt us.  If he wanted to, he would have the night before.

"I promise," he said, brushing his fingers along my cheek.  "You have no
idea how long I've wanted to touch you.  Over a hundred years."

I giggled.  "What are you talking about?  I wasn't around a hundred years
ago."

He shook his head.  "Don't worry about it," he smiled.

I knew he was making no sense, but I didn't care.  I was too busy enjoying
the feeling of his fingertips on my face.  I started to blush, wondering
what else those fingers could do to me.  I smiled back.  "Ok."

"Hey, Cordelia," Jesse said dreamily.  I rolled my eyes.  Jesse was in love
with Cordelia Chase, the bitch of Sunnydale.

"Don't talk to me, you little no one."  Cordelia stopped directly in front
of Angelus and me.  Harmony and the rest of her Cordettes were behind her.
"Hello," she purred to Angelus.  "Why are you sitting here with the losers
when you can be with the Cordettes and I?"

Angelus rose an eyebrow.  "Why would I want to be with you when I can be
with Willow?"

Cordelia narrowed her eyes.  "I know that you are older than us, and you are
probably at UCSunnydale, but mark my words, Mister, if you hang out with
them, then your popularity points will plummet so bad you couldn't find them
if you had to."

"Chit, go elsewhere," Spike said.

She glanced at Spike.  "And, Harris," Cordelia said, "since when did you all
of the sudden like men?  I know that yesterday you were completely in love
with us at the mall."

I glanced at Xander.  I was wondering what he was going to do.  He made me
proud.  He wrapped his arm around Spike's shoulders and grinned at Cordelia.
"You are just jealous that you can't get him, Cordelia," he smirked.

She looked bewildered.

"Good one, pet," Spike said.  "Like I'd want some silly little chit like her
when I have you."  He nuzzled Xander's neck, licking it teasingly.  Xander
closed his eyes and shuddered.

I looked at Angelus, a big grin on my face.  "That's Xander," I said softly.
"He's my best friend."

"You are all losers," Cordelia said, flinging her hair and walking away.
The Cordettes followed, as they always did.

"That's Cordelia," I murmured.  "Ignore her.  We always do.  Except Jesse.
He's in love with her."

Angelus smiled, leaning over to kiss my lips softly.  The electricity from
that one small kiss was incredible.  "When you are around, lover, there's no
one else I want to notice."

I giggled and started blushing.  "Stop, Angelus," I said, swatting at his
arm.

"Hey, guys," Jesse said.  "I'm going to go home."

I blinked, coming out of my spell.  "Oh, Jesse, that might not be so good.
It's dark.  There are a lot of bad things out there. . . "

He stood up, drinking the rest of his coke.  "I'll be fine, Wills.  I only
live down the street."

I jumped up.  "But. . ."  I started.

He hugged me tightly.  "I'm glad that you are happy with Angelus, and
Xander, you and Spike.  Please don't forget me though."

"Jesse!  That's crazy!  I would never forget you," I smiled.  "You are a
part of us."

He grinned.  "Thanks, Wills."  He kissed my forehead.

Xander got up and went to Jesse, taking out one of our homemade stakes.  He
pressed it into Jesse's hand.  "Ok, Jesse.  There are big mean dangerous men
out there.  If a vampire comes at you, *make sure* you stab this in his
heart."

Jesse grinned, putting the stake in the waistband of his pants.  "I will do
that.  I think that you are crazy, but I'll take your word on it."  He
grinned.  "I'll see you two tomorrow.  Angelus, Spike, nice to meet you."
He turned and walked outside, leaving us alone.

I settled back into my chair, a little disturbed.  "What if something
happens to him?" I asked softly.  I picked up my glass and swirled it,
watching the ice cubes dance around in my glass.

"I'm sure he will be fine," Xander said softly.  "He doesn't live that far
from here, and he has a stake."

"I'm going to go down to the church tomorrow and get holy water," I said.

Angelus grimaced.  I turned to him.  "So that does bother you?  And
crosses?"

He nodded.  "Yes, Little One.  Both of those do.  Burns like hell.  Spike
and I will get some stakes for you."  He ran his fingers through my hair.
"We just found the two of you, we aren't letting you go."

I shuddered, closing my eyes.  I had thought I was in love with Xander, and
I still had some pretty intense feelings for him, but there was something
about Angelus. . .he made me forget everything around me.  I didn't know if
it were those eyes, that smirk, or just his general attitude.  I could tell
he was evil, he radiated it.  The way he sat there, the look in those
chocolate orbs. . .yet, I didn't feel threatened.  I didn't honestly think
he'd hurt me, or Xander.  Ever.

I knew I would fall in love with him, if I weren't falling already.
 

*Part 11*

I stood up, stretching.  "I think we should go home.  I'm exhausted.  And my
damn eye still hurts."

Spike turned to me with a growl.  "You aren't going back to that house, are
you?"

I frowned and glanced down.  "No, of course not.  Willow told me I was
staying with her now, parents be damned.  She said that when we know my
parents are gone, or unconscious from all the alcohol, we are going to get
all my stuff.  Why?"

He wrapped his arm around my waist.  "I don't want you going back there,
pet.  It's too dangerous.  If he will do *this*, who knows what else he will
do?"

I looked down, toeing at the chair with my sneakers.  "This isn't the worse
thing he's ever done, Spike."  I flinched, out of habit.  My father always
hit me when I told him something he didn't like, and I guess with the fact
that Spike was an evil, bloodsucking fiend of hell, I expected him to do the
same.

When he grabbed my arms, they were gentle.  His thumbs stroked the flesh of
my arms through my shirt.  "Pet, I will never hurt you, and I will never hit
you.  Unless of course, you have a moment in your life where that turns you
on."  He waggled his scarred eyebrow at me.  "I'll do anything to you that
turns you on."

I was blushing.  I could feel the heat spreading along my skin.  "Um. .
.yea," I said, looking down shyly.  What could I say to that?  "Thanks."

Willow snickered, and I shot her a 'go to hell' look.  She smiled sweetly,
then kissed the air at me.  I stuck my tongue out at her.

Spike chuckled.  "They are so. . .different than when we met them," he said,
turning to Angelus.

"Well, boy, they were four years older, and they had been living on the
Hellmouth for four years fighting demons along side the Slayer.  Now, they
have no clue about what's *really* out there."

I frowned.  "You keep talking like we met you when we were older, in the
past.  How is that possible?"  I crossed my arms.

Angelus smiled.  "My Willow becomes proficient in magic."

Willow lit up.  "Really?  I've always wanted to be able to be a Wicca, but
with me being Jewish and all, following the Wicca belief is kinda against
what I know.  Sheila and Ira would freak," she said, with a slight frown on
her face.

"As if they'd notice, Wills.  How long do you think I will live with you
before they realize that I'm living there?" I asked.  I decided I would
encourage Willow with her magic.  It seemed like it was a neat idea, and
perhaps sometimes her spells could help us defeat whatever evil was crawling
the streets of Sunnydale.

Willow laughed.  "As much time as we spend together?"  She wiped tears of
laughter away from the corner of her eyes.  "They won't notice, Xander.
They will think everything is normal."

I leaned against Spike.  "I promise you, Willow, if I knew there was a way
you could get away with it, I would let you kill my parents."  I sighed.

Spike perked up.  "Did you say kill?  Angelus and I like to kill.  We could
kill for you."

I turned to him.  "No, that's crazy!  I don't want you going to jail,
Spike."

Spike's eyebrow rose.  "Pet, we are vampires.  If you knew how many people
we've killed over the years, well. . .anyway.  The bloody police won't stop
us.  Trust me.  They won't catch us and your parents would be gone."

I shifted under his gaze.  "Can I think about it, before you go and. . .do
it?"

Spike smiled a reassuring smile.  "I have an eternity, pet."

"Come on," Angelus said smoothly.  "Let's get the two of you back to Willow'
s."

The walk there was uneventful.  I was glad, I didn't want to deal with
anything, I just wanted to think about what Spike had told me.  Willow
unlocked the door and the two of us stepped in, then turned around.  "What's
wrong?" I asked.  They were hanging there, on the porch, smiling.

"You have to invite us in," Angelus said softly.

"Oh," Willow blushed.  "I wasn't sure if that was a myth or not."  She
tilted her head and crossed her arms.  "Do you sleep in coffins?"

Spike laughed.  It was a beautiful sight, watching him laugh.  His eyes
crinkled and he sounded so happy.  "No, Red, we don't sleep in coffins.  I
prefer a bed myself."

She giggled.  "I was curious.  Because you know, I was going to tell Angelus
he had to get a bed if he slept in a coffin.  I'm not sleeping in one of
those."

My eyes widened and I turned to Willow.  "Willow Anne Rosenberg!  I am
shocked!"

She rolled her eyes.  "Like you haven't thought of sleeping with Spike."

"That's not the point.  I'm a guy.  I'm supposed to think about sex."

Willow rolled her eyes at me again.  She turned back to our suitors.  "So do
you want an invitation?"

Angelus and Spike looked at each other.  "Actually," Angelus said softly,
"we'd love to come in, but it's late.  We need to get back to the mansion or
Jenny won't be well.  She doesn't like being there alone."  He pulled a
sheet of paper out of his pocket and leaned forward to give it to us.  The
invisible barrier stopped his hand.  Willow reached out to grab it.  He
captured her wrist and tugged her out of the house, pulling her against his
body.  He began kissing her.

I grinned, watching them.  It was a passionate kiss.  I was sure that Willow
's toes were curling.  I was glad that her first kiss was really good.  She
deserved it.

I stepped out and smirked at Spike.  "Well?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"You gonna beat his kiss?  I mean, Willow's melting there, and I think I
should melt too."  I tried my best pouting face.

Spike grabbed my arms and pulled me to him, licking my cheek.  "I like the
way you taste, Xander."  I shivered, imagining all the things he could taste
if he wanted to.  He started to kiss me.  I sighed into his kiss.  It was
perfect.  I *did* melt.
 

*Part 12*

After our vampires left, I stretched, telling Xander I was tired and wanted
                to go to bed.  He agreed.  We had an awkward moment of silence again.
                Finally, I said, "Look, we slept together last night and nothing happened."
                There was a silent begging in my head, praying he didn't remember me
                gyrating against his hardness.

                "You are right," he laughed.  "Come on."

                In the end, the two of us were too tired to really care about sleeping
                together.  I curled up against him and he held me close.  But it wasn't in a
                romantic way, and that was alright with me.  I couldn't forget about that
                kiss Angelus had given me.  I honestly think my toes curled.

                The phone ringing woke me up.  Xander, of course, slept right through it.
                He could sleep through elephants stomping through the house.  I glanced at
                the clock.  It was 5:54 in the morning.  "Who the hell is calling this
                early?"  I leaned over and picked up the phone.  "Hello?" I asked sleepily.
                I laid my head back down on Xander's chest and closed my eyes.

                There was sniffing on the other end.  "Um, Willow?"

                I frowned, pushing myself up slightly.  "Mandy?"  It was Mandy, Jesse's mom.
                "Mandy, what's wrong?"

                "I'm sorry to call so early, but can I talk to Jesse?"

                I blinked, my mind trying to catch up to her question.  I was still in the
                'just beginning to gain recognition of the world' stage of consciousness, so
                I was a little fuzzy.  "Mandy, Jesse's not here.  He went home last night."

                "Oh.  Well, do you think he's at Xander's?"

                "I doubt it.  Xander's here with me."

                "Oh, dear," Mandy said, the soft sobs starting.  I was sure it wasn't the
                first time that she'd cried that night.

                Fear gripped my heart.  "Mandy, Mandy, calm down.  What happened?"

                "Well," she sobbed, "he told me he was going to go to the Bronze and meet
                the two of you there.  I told him goodbye, he said he should be home about
                eleven.  He never came home.  Ken and I drove all over Sunnydale, looking
                for him, but we couldn't find him.  And then a few minutes ago, I figured he
                must have stayed with you, and you two forgot to call.  Of course the only
                reason I didn't call you at the beginning of the night is because I know how
                responsible you are, and that you would have made him call, had he been
                there.  Do you know where he might be?"

                Oh no.  Please, please, don't let them have gotten Jesse. . .  "I don't
                know, Mandy, but Xander and I will get up and help look for him.  I'm sure
                he's fine.  He probably just ran into one of our friends from school and
                stayed with him."

                She sobbed softly.  "Thanks, Willow.  I'll call your house if I find him."

                "I'll check my messages every hour," I promised.  "I'll talk to you later."
                I leaned over Xander and hung up the phone.  I started shaking him.
                "Xander, wake up."

                "No, need more sleep, mom," he murmured.

                "Xander!" I yelled.  I wasn't in the mood to play around and wake him
                gently.  I needed him up so we could find Jesse.

                Xander's eyes flew open and he looked at me with horror on his face.  "What?
                What's wrong?  Are you ok?"

                "Xander," I said softly, "Jesse never came home last night."

                He thought about that, then his eyes widened.  "You don't think. . ."

                "I don't know.  We need to find him."  I pulled the piece of paper Angelus
                gave me out of my nightstand drawer.  "Angelus gave me his phone number."  I
                reached over Xander again and called his home.

                After four rings, a sleepy sounding woman answered the phone.  "Hello?"

                "Um. . ." I started.  My jealousy *flared*.  Who was this?  Was she a
                vampire?  Did she love Angelus?  Were they *sleeping* together?  "Is. .
                .Angelus there?"

                "Hang on, I don't think he and Spike are back yet."  She put the phone down
                and I heard her rustling around, then leaving her room.  A few moments
                later:  "No, they aren't here.  Who is this?"

                "This is Willow," I said, with a touch of defensiveness to my voice.

                "Oh, goddess, you are Willow?" she asked.  "Angelus hasn't *stopped* talking
                about you.  I don't think I've ever seen him like this."

                I smiled and blushed, looking down.  I picked at the comforter.  "Really?"

                "Really."  She laughed.  "Oh, I'm Jenny, their traveling companion."

                "You travel with them?  So you. . .know about them?"

                "Know what?" Jenny asked suspiciously.

                "Why they like the night better than the sun," I said carefully.

                She exhaled.  "Yea, I know.  Why?"

                "I need their help.  My friend Jesse never made it home last night, and I'm
                worried.  If he's a vampire, I don't want to meet him alone."  Xander took
                my hand as tears started falling down my face.  I didn't know how I was goin
                g to handle it if Jesse was a vampire.  He was our third musketeer.

                "Hang on, I think they just came in," Jenny said.

                "Thanks," I whispered.  I covered the mouthpiece.  "Xander, I really think
                that he's dead," I said.

                "No," Xander hissed.  "I refuse to believe that.  He is *not* dead."

                "But," I said, putting my hand on his chest, "don't you feel something is
                missing right here?  You've got to feel it, Xander, it's almost
                overwhelming."

                "I've learned in my life if you avoid it, it will go away," Xander said.

                "I wish that were the case," I said.  I laid my head on his chest and
                started crying.  I knew he was gone.  There was something missing, like a
                part of my soul was gone.  That terrified me.  How would I feel if Xander
                was gone?

                "Willow?"  It was Angelus.

                I cried harder.

                "Willow, calm down," he said.  "Tell me what happened, so I can fix it."

                "Angelus," *sob* "I think" *sob* "that Jesse" *sob* "might be" *sob* "dead!"
                I whined the last word so bad that if I'd of been Xander, I would have
                slapped myself.

                "Damn it.  Look, why don't you and Xander come over to the mansion, and you
                and Jenny look today.  Maybe he's not dead, he just had to hide out
                somewhere.  You shouldn't have anyone bother you during the day.  And then
                when night falls, we will all go look for him.  I'm sure we will find him."

                I sniffed.  "Ok," I whispered softly.  "Angelus?"

                "Yes, lover?"

                "Do you think he's still alive?"

                "I don't know, lover," he whispered softly.  I could tell he was lying.  I
                could tell he felt like Jesse was probably dead too.

                "Ok, we'll be there soon."  He gave me the address, and we exchanged our
                goodbyes, and then we hung up.  Reluctantly, Xander and I got up, got
                dressed, and went to the mansion.

*Part 13*

I chewed on my bottom lip, watching Angelus pace.  "She was crying, Jenny.
*Crying*.  She's going to be heartbroken if he. . .you know.  If he really
is dead.  Why didn't we stop him from leaving?  Why couldn't we save him?"
He turned to me, a look of worry on his face.

I took a deep breath.  "Angelus, I know that if he's dead, that's a really
bad thing.  I realize that.  But. . ." I couldn't believe I was about to say
what I was going to say.  ". . .have you ever thought about the fact that he
's supposed to die?"

Angelus growled.  "No, I refuse to believe that he was supposed to die.  We
could have saved him.  I could have stopped Willow from hurting like she is
now."

Spike spoke up for the first time that morning.  "But, Peaches, think about
this.  If Jesse didn't die, why would they attempt the spell?  If they didn'
t do the spell to see Jesse, then they wouldn't go back in time, and they'd
never meet us.  And then you would kill the gypsy chit and get your soul.
And then you'd fall in love with the Slayer."  He shuddered.

Angelus sat down with an unneeded sigh.  "Damn, you are right.  I didn't
even think about that.  If they didn't go back in time, everything would be
different."

"You know what this means," I said softly, sitting in the chair and pulling
my legs under my body.  "You have to deal with what happens when a loved one
dies."

Angelus flexed his hands.  "I know.  We've always been the one doing the
killing, never caring about the family and friends."

"And now two of our loved ones have to deal with it," Spike said softly.
"Damn it."

There was a loud knock on the door.  I glanced out the window; the sun was
finally up.  I knew that had to be them.  "I'll get it," I said softly.  I
quietly made my way through the living room to the door and opened it.

Two children stood there, tears falling down their faces.  The boy, Xander,
was holding the girl, Willow.  She was crying hard.  Xander wasn't, but I
think it was because he was trying to be strong for her.  I could tell they
loved each other, and were very close.  "Morning," I said softly.  "I'm
Jenny."

Willow looked up at me.  I could see a little bit of jealousy in her eyes,
but she was far too upset to say anything about it.  I decided now was as
good of a time as any to assure her about my place in the vampires' lives.
"I'm like the guys' little sister," I said softly.

"Little sister?" Willow asked.

I nodded my head.  She brightened, the jealousy leaving her face.  Then it
crumpled again as she began to sob.  I ushered the two children in.  Angelus
immediately went to Willow, while Spike went to Xander.

I was amazed.  I had never seen either of them be tender with anyone other
than Drusilla, or myself.  And yet, they were comforting them, trying to
assure them that everything was ok.  Somehow, though, I knew that it wasn't.
I knew Jesse was dead.

I walked over to Angelus and Willow.  I stroked Willow's hair softly.
"Willow," I whispered, "if you want to go find your friend, we'd better get
started."

She turned to me, rubbing her face with the back of her hand.  "Ok," she
said in a small voice.

Angelus glanced at Spike.  Xander had his face buried in Spike's neck,
crying.  The blonde was stroking Xander's back, trying to let him know that
no matter what happened, he wasn't going to ever let him be alone.  Xander
looked up.  "We should go look," he whispered.

Spike leaned forward and kissed Xander's lips softly.  I smiled.  I could
tell, my vampires really liked these two human teenagers.  "Come on, guys,"
I said.  "Let's do some poking around."

*~*~*~*

We looked everywhere.  Xander and Willow took me to every place they could
think of, all of their childhood cracks and crevices.  "Now what?" Willow
asked softly.

I glanced around.  "Something. . .is going on.  I've been getting that weird
feeling since I've been here in Sunnydale.  I'm not sure what though.  I
went to the public library and tried to research, but they don't know
anything.  I wish I had a book of prophecies."  I sighed.

Willow shrugged.  "You said earlier you are going to be our computer
teacher, right?  Let's try Sunnydale High's library."

Xander moaned.  "Come on, Wills," he said, good naturedly, "it's the
*summer*!  Do we have to do school work?"

Willow slapped him playfully.  "Oh, Xander!  It would do you good to get
some education in that head of yours."

Xander chuckled.  "You know me, Wills.  I need some education in that there
brain of mine."  He imitated a bad southern accent.

Willow's eyebrow rose.  "You need to stop watching TV."

Suddenly, I felt bad.  Here were two happy-go-lucky teenagers, enjoying
life.  And now, because of the evil in the world, their best friend was most
likely dead.  They were about to dedicate a great deal of their life helping
the Slayer defeat said evil.  And they were falling in love with Angelus and
Spike.  I knew that my vampires wouldn't do it intentionally, but I was
scared that they would take away some of that sweet innocence I saw in
Willow and Xander.

"Miss Calendar?"

I shook my head and focused on Willow.  "Call me Jenny."

"Jenny," she said, smiling.  "Are you ready to go to the library?"

"Sure," I said.

I followed the two teens to the school, and then into the library.  "Where
would we begin?" Willow asked, after poking around to make sure the library
was empty.

Xander laughed.  "Maybe we can look up prophecies in the card catalog."  He
walked towards the card catalog and pulled out the 'P' drawer.

Willow went to the computer and sat down, tucking her feet underneath her
body.  "I'm going to look online."

"Er. . .'ello?"

The three of us looked up.  My eyes narrowed.  There was a man standing on
the balcony, by the stacks.  He was dressed in a tweed suit and wore
glasses.  He was a very handsome man.  "I'm Jenny Calendar, the new Computer
Teacher here.  I am helping my students Willow and Xander with some summer
work.  W. . .would that be a problem?"

"No, no, of course not," he said quickly, walking down the stairs.  "I am
Rupert Giles, the new librarian."

"New librarian?" Willow asked, her voice sounding somewhat sad.  "I loved
the old librarian."

"I'm sorry, Miss. . .?"

"Rosenberg.  But you can call me Willow," she said, turning back to the
computer.

Rupert was English.  The sound of his voice gave me chills.  "We are working
on an. . .interesting project.  Um. . .we are researching prophecies."

Rupert's eyebrow went up.  "Prophecies?"

"Anything having to do with a vampire," Xander shrugged, turning back to the
stacks of cards.

"Vampires?" he asked in disbelief.  "You are doing a project on them?"

"Sort of," I said quietly.  "Can you help us?"

Rupert took a deep breath and looked around nervously.  "I. . .have some
books in my office. . ."

I blinked in mild surprise.  He had books in his office?  I wondered what
kind of books could he have that he couldn't have out on the shelves.  "What
kind of books?"

"Some that. . .they are most likely fiction, but some. . .think that they
are fact."  He shifted somewhat nervously and removed his glasses.  He began
polishing them.

I took a stab in the dark and prayed I was right.  If I were, then it would
make our jobs a lot easier.  "Rupert," I said softly, "I believe in
vampires.  Do you?"

He blinked.  "Yes. . .er, actually, I do."

"You do?" Willow asked, spinning in her chair.  "Oh, god!  We think our best
friend Jesse was turned into one!  We have to do something!"

Rupert stepped back in surprise.  "My dear, I'm not sure if there *is*
anything you can do, shy of staking him."

"No!" Xander cried.  "We aren't staking Jesse.  There *has* to be something
we can do!"

I went to Rupert.  "There is something more going on here.  I don't know
what, but there is.  I can feel it," I whispered.

"There has been. . .rumors," Rupert said softly.  "Rumors that there are
those that wish the Master to rise again."

"The. . .Master?" I asked softly.  Angelus had told me about the Master,
about a year ago.  He was Darla's Sire, who was his Sire.  He was a
dangerous vampire - one that Angelus didn't particularly want to see risen.
"That's a *not* good thing."  I frowned.  "I need to call Angelus."

"A. . .Angelus?" Rupert asked, stepping away from me.

"You know him?" I asked, surprised.  Angelus and Spike had stayed out of the
popular vampire publications of the last century.  Only someone who had
their hands on some pretty ancient texts would know about Angelus.

"I. . .er. . .um."  He frowned, looking down.  "I am a Watcher."

My eyes widened.  "You are a Watcher!  Perfect!  Has the Slayer made it
yet?"

"No, er. . .not yet," Rupert said nervously.  "You know Angelus?  And you
are still alive?"

I chuckled.  "He isn't the same man he used to be, Rupert.  He's a wonderful
person.  Now come on, we need to research."

The four of us spent the rest of the day researching, trying to find
anything we could on the Master.
 

^{*Part 14*}

I glanced up from my book when Angelus and Spike sauntered into the library.
I threw a grin at Spike, standing up.  I stretched.  My muscles were sore
from sitting in the same place so long.  "Hey, Spikey.  We've been
researching for the last. . ."  I glanced at the clock.  It was well past
sunset.  "Four hours."

He came to my table and leaned against the edge.  I leaned up and kissed him
briefly.  "Find anything, pet?"

"No," I sighed.  I motioned towards Mr. Giles.  "That's Rupert Giles.  He's
the new librarian, and a Watcher, whatever the hell that is.  Jenny asked
about a Slayer, but I'm not sure if I know what she is either."

Spike shuddered.  "Nasty little chit.  She kills us for fun."

"N. . .not fun," Mr. Giles stammered.  "She kills you because you deserve to
be killed."

Angelus growled from Willow's side.  "Watcher," he said menacingly.  "Do you
know who Angelus and Spike are?"

Mr. Giles paled.  "Er. . .yes, I have read some of your stories."

"Then don't anger me," Angelus snarled, his eyes flashing yellow.

Jenny sighed, putting her hand on Mr. Giles' shoulder.  I studied her
briefly.  She looked. . .well, she looked as I imagined I looked when I
liked someone.  Jenny liked Mr. Giles!  "Angelus, leave Rupert alone.  He's
going to help us.  Someone is trying to raise the Master."

Spike stood straight up, glaring at Jenny.  "The bloody Master?"

"Fuck!" Angelus growled, gripping his hands into fists.  "Not him.  God, not
him."

I frowned.  "The Master is just another vampire, right?  What's so bad about
that?  You guys are vampires.  You aren't going to hurt us."

"No, Xander," Angelus said.  "The Master will have Sunnydale turned into an
army of vampires."  He frowned.  "And I'm betting Darla has something to do
with it."

I glanced at Spike.  "Who is Darla?" I asked.

"That's Angelus' Sire.  She's a bitch," Spike scowled.

"Come on," Angelus said.  "We need to find her and stop her.  Do you have
stakes, Watcher?"

"Y. . .yes, of course."  He ran into his office and got some weapons.  We
loaded up, and were on our way.

The walk was quiet.  Angelus was ahead, trying to reconnect his bond with
Darla, so we could find her.  Spike and I were pulling up the group.  He was
in game face, trying not to growl at anything that moved.  I could tell he
was tense, and probably very worried.

I glanced around with a sigh.  We were in the park, by an alcove where
Willow, Jesse, and I used to play.  I knew he was dead.  I could feel the
emptiness that Willow was telling me about earlier that morning.  I sniffed
as tears filled my eyes.

A hand wrapped around my forearm.  I blinked in shock and turned, then
relaxed.  It was Jesse!  He put his finger to his lips and motioned for me
to remain quiet.  I glanced at the group, seeing that everyone was so
wrapped up in looking for danger, they didn't notice I had dropped back.  He
pulled me into the alcove.  I smiled, my voice low.  "Jesse!  Where have you
been!"

He pushed me against the tall bush, running his ringer down my cheek.  "I
went to a friend's house last night."

"We were *worried* about you, Jesse!  Your mom, she was crying and woke us
up this morning.  Why didn't you call someone!" I scolded, crossing my arms
angrily.  Now that I was over the initial shock of seeing him, I was angry
that he had scared us.  My mind hadn't clicked yet that Jesse was standing a
little closer to me than he usually did.

"I was busy," he purred.

I frowned, really seeing Jesse for the first time.  He seemed. . .different.
Almost sensual.  If it hadn't of been my best friend Jesse, and if I weren't
in love with Spike, I might have been attracted to him.  "Jesse, what's
going on with you, man?  You are acting all weird!"

He placed his hands on either side of my head and leaned towards me.  "I'm
glad that you have found Spike, he seems to be a real stud of a man.
However, he doesn't know you.  Not like I do.  I could make you feel things
he *never* could."

I blinked in shock.  "Oh, god, Jesse, what's *wrong* with you?  You are in
love with Cordelia!"

Jesse licked his lips.  "Cordelia," he smiled.  "Mmm. . .she will taste
wonderful when I finally catch up to her."  He grabbed my forearms.  "Not as
good as you will."  I stared in shock as fangs elongated, eyes turned
yellow, and ridges formed between his eyes.

"J. . .Jesse?  You. . .are a vampire?"

He grinned around his fangs and licked his lips.  "Yep.  And that would make
you dinner."

"SPIKE!" I screamed, my blood running cold.  He descended towards me, fangs
bared.  I was going to die.

*~*~*~*

"Xander!" I cried.  I spun around and started running towards his voice, not
caring about anything else.

"Miss Rosenberg, wait!" Mr. Giles yelled.

"Damn!" I heard Angelus exclaim.

"I swear to God, I'm going to rip apart whatever is trying to hurt him,"
Spike growled, running past me.  I was mildly shocked.  I didn't think
anything could run so fast.

We ran into the alcove and I froze.  "Xander!" I sobbed, tears streaking
down my face.  There was someone with his face buried in Xander's neck.
Xander had his face scrunched up in pain.  It was a vampire!  He was biting
my best friend!

I pushed past Spike and jumped on the vampire's back, clawing at his neck.
"LEAVE HIM ALONE!" I screamed.

The vampire pushed away from Xander, spinning around.  He was trying to get
me.  I held on to him for dear life, hoping that Xander would be ok.  "You
can't hurt him!  I won't let you!" I yelled.

The vampire stopped, turning his head.  "Willow?"

I blinked, recognizing Jesse under the gruesome mask.  "Oh, my god.  Jesse.
. .no, please say you aren't."  I slid off his body, stepping back.  Two
hands wrapped around my forearms.  I glanced back, frowning.  There was a
beautiful blond woman standing there, smiling softly.

"Hello," she purred.  "You smell delicious."

"Sire," Jesse said softly.  He smiled.

"Darla," Angelus spat.

I froze.  It was Darla!  I was between two vampires, one of which was
Angelus' Sire!  I closed my eyes and prayed that Angelus would save me.

"Angelus?"  She appeared surprised.  She let go of my arms.  "Angelus, what
are you doing here?  Have you and William come to celebrate the rising of
the Master?"

"No," he spat.  "Come here, Willow."

I glanced back at Darla, then looked at Jesse, a new tide of tears
threatening to spill.  I ran to Angelus, throwing myself in his arms.  He
stroked my back, trying to sooth me.

After a moment, I glanced up, relieved that Xander was ok.  He was a little
unsteady on his feet, but he threw me a grin, letting me know that he was
fine.

Mr. Giles and Jenny were between Angelus and Spike, as if they were
protecting them.  I turned, wiping my tears away.  "Jesse, you are our best
friend.  Don't do this.  Please.  Come with us, we can help you somehow."

Jesse laughed harshly.  "Help me?" he asked.  "How can *you* help me, little
girl?  By letting me tag along with you and the moron for the rest of your
lives?  Especially now that you are *involved* with Angelus and Spike?  I
doubt it."

My bottom lip quivered.  "Jesse, what are you talking about?"

"All my life, I've wanted to walk beside Cordelia Chase.  Be one of the
pretty people.  But you and Xander wouldn't let go of me.  And you *know*
none of them would ever notice me with the two of you at my side.  I never
even had a chance.  I have a chance now, Willow.  I can make Cordelia feel
about me however I want her to feel."  He grinned evilly.

I knew that vampires had no soul.  Mr. Giles made sure to tell us that
earlier.  I knew that it wasn't Jesse speaking, but the demon.  But it still
hurt.  I covered my face and began to cry.
 

*Part 15*

I watched Darla and Jesse walk away, laughing.  I was seething.  That was
really the only way to describe how I felt at that moment.  I wanted to rip
something apart. . .anything.  We were going to have to stake our best
friend.  I turned to Spike.  His eyebrow rose.  "Pet?  Are you ok?  You
look. . .evil.  I like it."  He grinned.

"I want to kill something," I hissed.

Willow put her hand on my arm.  I took three long deep breaths, knowing that
she would talk me out of the budding violence I felt.  I turned to her,
somewhat surprised to see anger on her face.  "We should go to your house,
Xander," she said softly.

I frowned.  "My house?"

Her eyes darted to Jenny and Mr. Giles, then back to me.  The left side of
my mouth curled into a half grin.  "My house," I purred with understanding.
"Right.  I have more things to get there."  She was going to do it.  She
found a way to kill them, in the form of our two evil vampire
almost-boyfriends.  I turned to Spike and Angelus.  "I have to go home, and
get some things from my house.  Would you two like to go with us?"

Spike looked at Angelus, then back to me.  His voice was hesitant.  I knew
he didn't know what was going on between Willow and I at that moment.
"Sure, pet."

"Thanks, " I said.  "Come on."

We dropped Jenny and Mr. Giles off at his house.  He was kind enough to let
us borrow his car.  It was a Criteon, whatever kind of car *that* was.
Willow giggled about it, and Jenny stood tall and said that she liked it,
because it had "character".  Mr. Giles blushed slightly at that and fumbled
around, muttering that it was his car and it had been good to him.  Jenny
patted him on the shoulder, and he blushed even more.  He had it *so* bad
for her, and she was loving it.

Even Angelus and Spike were talking about it, once we got in the car and
started towards my house.  "Even though Rupert is a Watcher, I think I
approve," Angelus stated.

Spike snorted from the backseat, where he was sitting with me.  "That's a
good thing, Peaches.  She'd entertain him whether you liked him or not."

Angelus chuckled.  "I know."  He glanced at Willow, who was watching him
with a smile on her face.  "So I guess coming to Sunnydale was a very good
thing."  My best friend blushed.

Spike leaned forward, brushing his lips against my neck.  "A bloody good
thing indeed."

We arrived at my house.  Angelus turned, glancing at me.  "Are you sure
about this?" he asked.  "Once we walk through those doors, we become the
vampires that we are.  This will be the last time you see your parents
alive."

I touched my eye, where I still had the product from my dad's *love*.  "I'm
sure.  Willow?  Are you sure?"

She nodded.  "They don't even deserve to die like this.  They deserve so
much worse."

"We could torture them, luv," Spike said.

She shuddered, shaking her head.  "No," she said softly.  "I don't want them
here anymore, and I'd love for them to suffer, but I don't think I could
handle torture."

I took a deep breath.  "Come on, let's go, before I lose my nerve."

*~*~*~*

The door to Xander's house seemed bigger than it ever had before.  I knew
that once we stepped inside and allowed these vampires to enter his home,
our whole lives would change.  I knew that we would lose some of the
innocence that we had.

But then everyone had to grow up sometime. . .

I didn't stop to question if we were right or wrong in this.  I knew that
killing Xander's parents was wrong, but they had put Xander through *so*
much that he didn't deserve.  There were so many sleepless nights of
watching him hide under my covers, crying because of something that Mr.
Harris did.  Sleepless nights of trying to soothe away nightmares.

I turned the doorknob, not surprised that his front door was unlocked.  "You
never know what's wandering around the streets, Xander.  Your parents
shouldn't leave their door unlocked," I nodded.

He grinned.  It was eerie.  There was a touch of madness to his eyes, and he
really did look evil.  "I know," he laughed.  "My poor parents."

We entered the house, turning to invite Angelus and Spike in.  The four of
us stepped into the living room.  It was dark, except for the light from the
television.  Mrs. Harris was lying on the couch, passed out.  Mr. Harris was
sitting in his chair, a bottle of some sort of alcohol in his meaty hands.
I narrowed my eyes.  I, in my entire life, was never as angry as I was at
that moment.

He was watching TV and hadn't even noticed we were there.  "You *bastard*!"
I cried.  "How could you hurt Xander?  He never did *anything* to you!"

He slowly turned, looking me up and down.  A slight grin settled on his
features.  "Why, little Willow Rosenberg.  I haven't seen you in years."  He
reached over, turning the TV down.  "You've grown up into a beautiful young
woman. . ."  He was *leering* at me!

I shuddered.  He was giving me the creeps to the extreme, looking at me like
I was a piece of meat or something.  I heard Angelus growling softly,
threatening him.  I put my hand on his shoulder to soothe him.  Even though
Xander and I weren't going to be doing the actual killing, this was *our*
fight.

Xander stepped in front of me.  "Stay away from her, dad.  She's too good
for you to even think of looking at her like that."

"Bastard kid," he hissed at Xander.  "If I want your little friend, I can
have her.  There is nothing that you, or your friends. . ."  He glanced up
at Angelus and Spike, dismissing them, ". . .can do about it."

"If you touch her, I will rip your insides out," Xander growled.

Mr. Harris laughed.  "You are threatening *me*?" he asked.  "Man, Alexander,
you are stupider than I thought you were."

With a roar, I pushed Xander aside and jumped on Mr. Harris, clawing at his
face.  I didn't know what had snapped, or why I was going crazy, but *no*
one called my best friend Alexander Lavelle Harris stupid.  "You bastard!" I
screamed, trying the hardest I could to rip him apart with my nails.  "He is
*not* stupid!  You are the stupid one!"  We tumbled to the ground, me
straddling him.

He was stunned for a moment, then flipped us so I was underneath him.  He
leered down at me, reaching down for my skirt.  "Such a pretty little girl.
I know you are fucking Alexander.  I'm going to show you what it's like to
be with a real man."

I closed my eyes, knowing that he was about to die.  I felt him being lifted
off of me with a yell.  Someone pulled me up to a sitting position.  I
turned my head and opened my eyes.  Xander was sitting beside me, his eyes
wide.  "Are you ok?" he whispered.

Mr. Harris was yelling and screaming bloody murder in front of us, as both
Angelus and Spike had their faces in his neck, but Xander and I were
ignoring them.  I leaned against him, resting my forehead on his.  "Yea, I'm
fine," I whispered.

"You didn't have to attack him."

"He deserved it, Xander.  You aren't stupid."

He sighed softly.  "It scared me, him talking about wanting to. . .you know.
. .with you."

"I knew Angelus wouldn't let that happen.  And neither would you.  I wasn't
worried."  I smiled, hugging him.  We held each other for a moment.  The
thud of Mr. Harris' lifeless body pulled us out of our embrace.  We looked
up at the kneeling vampires.

"Are you ok?" Angelus asked me softly, running his fingers down my cheek.

I nodded.  "Yea."

"Let's go home, we are done here," Xander said softly.

"But your mom, pet. . ." Spike nodded towards the couch, where Mrs. Harris
had slept through everything.

"My dad did most of the damage.  My mom just started drinking to stop the
pain.  Let's go upstairs and get some of my stuff, and leave.  I. . .I don't
want mom dead."

"If that's what you want, pet," Spike smiled.

Xander looked at all three of us.  "Thanks, you guys," he whispered, pulling
us all into a big hug.
 

*Part 16*

I fidgeted nervously.  Rupert was watching me with a look of astonishment on
his face.  "So. . .Angelus gave the gypsy girl back, and you are one of a
long line of Calderash to follow them and protect them?" he asked.

"Yea," I said softly.  "It wasn't supposed to happen that way, though.  The
two, Willow and Xander. . .Willow is a witch.  I don't think she knows it
yet, or at least, her powers haven't come into play.  Her and Xander cast a
spell, about four of five years from now, and it messed up, sending them
back in time.  They met Angelus and Spike. . .fell in love with them.  They
told Angelus he couldn't kill my sister."

Rupert leaned forward, taking my hand in his.  "What would have happen if he
killed her, Jenny?" he asked quietly.

"We would have cursed him.  It's what happened, originally.  We cursed him,
gave him a soul.  He left Romania and finally made his way here to
California.  The Powers that Be showed him his purpose, which was to help
the Slayer.  He and Buffy, I think her name is, fell in love, had a rocky
romance, finally had sex, then he lost the soul.  Why they would curse him
with suffering until he found that perfect moment of happiness is beyond me,
but I assume they never thought he would.  Willow recursed him eventually.
I'm not sure what happened after that, but. . .I think things are much
better now," I nodded.

"Well, if they won't hurt them, then. . ."  Rupert sighed.  "Are they going
to help us?"

"I think so.  They love those children, and I can assure you that they will
want to help the Slayer, so Angelus and Spike will help because Willow and
Xander will want them to," I finished.

"A Slayer usually works alone though. . ."

"But from the way they talked back then, to Angelus and Spike, she was still
alive.  How many Slayers have *you* known to live so long?"

Rupert began to pace.  "Ok, so we need to find her.  But how?  We know her
name is Buffy, but the council hasn't given me much information on her.  I
don't even know if she knows she is the Slayer."

"She knows," a voice smirked behind us.

We both turned and I grinned.  "Hey, Whistler," I nodded.  I turned to
Rupert.  "This is Whistler, one of the good guys.  He came to before,
telling us the story of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer."

"Jenny," Whistler grinned.  "Nice to see you again without the growly angry
vampires."

I chuckled.  "They just like protecting what belongs to them.  Whistler,
this is Rupert. . ."

"Giles, yes, I know.  The Slayer's Watcher.  She is here.  In Sunnydale.
This is a little earlier than what happened before," Whistler said, "but I
think we should get the ball rolling, so to speak.  I think that we need to
go on and find her."

"But how?" Giles asked.  "Until the Council sends word, I won't know where
to find her."

"Come now, Rupert!  You seem to be an intelligent man!" I exclaimed.  "If
she's here, and she's what. . .fifteen?  Sixteen?  She will be registered at
Sunnydale High.  How many Buffy's do you think there would be enrolled in
our school?"

Giles smiled at me, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.  "I didn'
t even think about that. . .but computers and I don't get along.  Do you
mind. . .?"

"I'll look through them," I said, laughing.  I turned back to Whistler,
ready to say something.  But he was gone.  I chuckled slightly.  "Figures.
Gives one tiny bit of information, and then he's gone, just like that.
Typical man."

"Not all men leave," Rupert said softly, smiling at me.

A bolt of desire went through my body at the smile he gave me.  I shook my
head, pushing those feelings aside.  No scrumptious Rupert thoughts until
*after* we defeated the Master.  "So. . .should we head to the school?"

"Let's. . .wait, until Angelus and Spike get back.  I like the idea of
having the protection."

I sat down on his couch, getting comfortable.  "Wait it is," I said softly.
"So, Mr. Giles, tell me more about yourself."

~*~*~*~

We were at the school late the night before, researching for a 'Buffy'.  She
was the Slayer, and we were determined to find her.  Willow kept nodding
off, and Angelus would hold her tightly, brushing his lips against her
forehead ever so often.  They were beautiful together, my best friend and
this vampire.

Spike didn't help research much, instead, he chose to sit there and watch me
with those blue eyes of his.  They cut into my soul, seeing everything about
me.  I had to look away several times, knowing that if I kept watching him,
my hormones would skyrocket.  He would smirk, reach over and touch me. .
.teasing me.  I think he was enjoying that, teasing me.

Anyway, so the next day, Jenny, Mr. Giles, Willow, and I all got up and went
over to a residence owned by a Mrs. Joyce Summers.  Willow and I glanced at
each other.  We were standing at her door, while Giles and Jenny were down
the street some, waiting for us.  "Why am I nervous?" I asked softly.

"I don't know, but I feel it too," she whispered.  She shifted.  "Come on,
knock on the door!"

I glanced at her again, then looked up at the door, knocking on it.  After a
moment, a pretty older woman opened the door, and smiled at us.  "Can I help
you?"

"Can we talk to. . ."  Willow glanced down at an empty sheet of paper tucked
in her hand.  "Buffy Summers?  We are the Sunnydale High Welcoming
Committee, and we are here to. . ."

"Welcome her!" I supplied, impressed by the story Willow made up and the way
she lied her way right through it.  I knew my best friend wasn't the best
liar in the world.

"Sure, hang on."  Mrs. Summers turned and called up to her daughter.  A
moment or two later, a blonde haired girl bounded down the stairs.  She
looked somewhere between a cross of one of the Cordettes and someone who had
just seen the entire world end.

"Yes, mom?" she asked.

"Honey, these two nice kids are here to welcome you to Sunnydale.  Why don't
you go out.  Get to know them!"

Buffy looked at us warily.  "I. . .I don't know, mom. . .I'm still
unpacking. . ."

"I'm Xander Harris," I said, placing my hand on my chest.  "This is my best
friend Willow Rosenberg.  We just want to show the sights of Sunnydale. . .I
know, I know, you are surprised, there are actual sights here, but there
really is," I grinned, hoping I could enrapture the pretty blonde with my
charm.  I just wanted to get her out of that house, away from her mother.

"It will be fun," Willow said softly.  "And it will keep us from having to
go to other houses today."  She smiled.

Buffy sighed, then grabbed a bag sitting by the door.  "Sure, why not.  Mom,
I'll see you later."  She kissed her mother on the cheek, then followed us
outside.

We walked quietly down the street, giving the Slayer time to think about
whatever was going through that head of hers.  "So you aren't from Sunnydale
High, huh?" she finally asked.

"We go there," Willow said, "but no, we aren't a part of a welcoming
committee.  I don't think SH has one. . .though it's a great idea.  I'll
have to mention it to Mr. Flutie when school starts back up."

"So what's the deal then?" Buffy asked abruptly, turning to us.

I glanced at Willow and she glanced at me.  I stepped forward, as the
designated speaker of the two of us.  "There are some really bad things
going on, Buffy.  There are vampires out there that want to rise the Master,
and we have to stop it."

~*~*~*~

Buffy's eyes flickered back and forth, between Xander and I.  "I. . .I don't
know what you are talking about.  Vampires?"  She laughed, but it was
obviously forced.  "You two are crazy."

"We know you are the Slayer," I said quietly.  "We are friends. . .well,
sorta. . .with Rupert Giles, your soon-to-be Watcher.  The Powers That Be
told us of your. . .Slayerness, because we need you.  We need your help.  We
can't do it without you.  Our best friend was turned. . ."  Tears filled my
eyes and I turned slightly, trying to forget the look on Jesse's face when
he was all grr.

"Please help us," Xander said softly.  "I mean, Angelus and Spike could do
it, I guess, but we really need you. . .we need the Slayer."

"But I don't want to *be* the Slayer!  Don't you get it!?  I moved to
Sunnydale with my mom to get away from it!" she exclaimed.

"We need you," I whispered.  "Please?  Just help us this once, then you can
go back to. . .whatever it is you want to do."

Buffy sighed and closed her eyes.  She tilted her head down, arms crossed,
thinking.  Finally, she looked up, opening hazel eyes.  "Just this once.  I
help you just this once, then that's it.  No more Slayer gig."

I nodded.  "No more."

"Unless you want to," Xander supplied.

I hit him on the arm.  "Come on, Xander, let's get back to the mansion.  We
have to introduce Buffy to everyone."

~*~*~*~

Of course, the second Spike saw the Slayer, his vampire face fell into
place.  Angelus was able to hold it back a little better, but I think that I
saw his eyes flash yellow.  Buffy yelped, turning to us.  "You lied!" she
cried.  "This is a trap or something!"

Giles stepped forward.  "No, Buffy, it isn't.  They are helping us. . .they
don't really want to, but they are."

I moved to Spike, running my fingers over his ridges.  He was beautiful with
his ridges and fangs and yellow eyes.  Not scary, like I thought he'd be.  I
realized that this was the first time I really just *looked* at the demon
that my soon-to-be boyfriend possessed.  "Calm down, Spikey.  It's ok.  She'
s not going to kill you," I purred.

Spike looked at me, leaning over to kiss me softly.  I felt his fangs
against my lips and shuddered softly.  For some reason, it didn't repulse
me, like I thought I would.  Delicious thoughts ran through my mind of all
the parts of my body he could tease me with those fangs.  "Alrighty!" I said
loudly, pulling away.  I *had* to get my hormones under control.  It was so
hard around him though.  "I say we make our plans to take out the Master."

"You two are really going to help?" Buffy asked softly, not believing it.

"Yea," Angelus said.  "We don't necessarily want to, but we are."  He pulled
Willow into his arms.  "It's because of them.  They want us to help, and we
love them enough to do it."

Willow pressed against him, grinning at Buffy.  "This is Angelus, and that's
Spike.  They are both vampires, but they won't hurt you, if you don't hurt
them."

Buffy looked to Giles, and the older man nodded.  "It's true, Buffy.  I have
seen them, they've fought for our side a few times since I've met them."

Buffy sighed.  "Alright, then.  What do we do first?"

*Part 17*

She was *incredible*.  I have never seen someone fight like Buffy Summers
did.  I was literally floored, watching as she plowed through the vampires.
She was so much cooler than any fighter I've ever seen on TV.

"Woah, Buffster!" I exclaimed, pushing the fact that I staked Jesse out of
my mind.  I had to keep reminding myself he was an evil bloodsucking fiend
who just wanted me to be like him.  Not someone who would ever join our
side.  "That was *so* cool!"  I jumped up and landed with my feet shoulder
length apart, hands up in a classic karate move I'd seen on TV far too many
times.  "The way you punched," I punched the air, "and kicked," I kicked up
into the air, "and just generally staked the hell out of them!"  I dropped
to my knees and thrust a pretend stake down, into the heart of the pretend
vampire underneath me.  I glanced up at her smirking face.  "You kick major
ass, girl."

She chuckled, and grabbed my elbow, pulling me up.  "You are one strange
person, Xander Harris."

I grinned.  "Thanks."

Spike came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his
chin on my shoulder.  I melted, leaning into him, closing my eyes.  My god,
he was so sexy.  And he was all mine.  "You did ok, chit.  But if you want
to really learn to fight, really learn how to kick vampire ass, Angelus and
I are going to have to teach you.  Rupes doesn't mind.  I think he welcomes
it, actually."

Buffy glanced around, her eyes wide.  "Uh, I don't know."

"Oh, come on, Slayer," Angelus said beside Spike and I.  "Who better to
teach you to fight vampires than a couple of vampires?"

"But. . ." she said, fidgeting with her shirt.  "I don't want to do this!  I
don't want to be the Slayer!"

Willow sighed, stepping up to us.  Angelus wrapped her in his arms, much
like the way Spike was holding me.  "Buffy, you were awesome out there.  But
it's not over.  Someone may try to raise the Master again, Mr. Giles says
there are other vampires and demons and stuff. . .and we can't do it alone.
We are strong, the four of us, but we need you.  And you were *so* cool!"

Buffy bit her bottom lip.  "So. . .you will help me?"

Willow smiled.  "Of course we will help you.  You can't do it alone.  We
will help you survive, cause we don't want another Slayer to come to town.
We want you.  Besides, I've never had a friend that was a girl before."

Buffy giggled slightly.  "That could be cool.  I guess I'll do it for a
little while.  But I can stop any time I want to."

"Deal," I nodded, knowing instinctively that she never would.

~*~

"Do you think she'll stop?" I asked, settling on the couch next to Xander.
I watched him over my bowl of double chocolate chip chocolate ice cream.

Xander glanced over at me.  "Naw, she won't.  We'll convince her that she
needs to stay.  And besides, I think she's having a great time trying to
beat the hell out of Spike and Angelus."

I smiled, thoughts of Angelus making me tingle in places I didn't think I'd
ever tingled before.  I shifted slightly, sighing.  "I really like Angelus."

"I know," he laughed.  "I can see it.  You look at him with those puppy
eyes, you hang on every word he says. . ."

"Just like you do Spike," I teased.  He really was cute watching Spike.  And
they looked good together.  It didn't freak me out at all that my best
friend was falling in love with a guy, not at all.  After everything we'd
just seen?  I knew that it would take a lot to surprise me now.

"Wills?" Xander asked quietly, looking down.

I sighed.  "I miss him too, Xander," I whispered.

He reached out and wrapped his hand around mine, squeezing it.  "I can't
believe I killed him."

"But you didn't, Xander.  Darla killed him.  You killed the demon inside of
him.  And I'm glad the demon is gone.  It was hard, seeing our best friend
with a demon's face.  But if he had a chance, he would have killed us."

Xander put his bowl of ice cream down and then took mine from me and sat it
next to his.  He pulled me into his arms, and I wrapped my arms around his
waist, resting my head on his chest.  "I know," he whispered into my hair.
"And I don't want that.  Not now."

"Ever?" I asked quietly.  I'd thought about it, a couple of times.  Angelus
was going to live forever, and if our relationship was going to work out,
and we were going to be happy together, I wouldn't be opposed to spending
eternity with him, as long as I didn't become one of the stupid vampires we
saw tonight, the ones that Buffy staked.

"I don't know.  I might, if Spike and I work out."

"Can you imagine that, Xander?  We'd get to live forever, get to be friends
until the end of time."  I smiled at the thought.  I could see Xander and I
a thousand years from now, bickering over something stupid, like what flavor
ice cream to buy.

He chuckled.  "We'd still buy the double chocolate chip chocolate ice cream,
Wills," he murmured softly.

Always reading my mind.  That's what I loved about Xander.

"As if," I replied, snuggling closer to him.  "Xander?"

"Wills?"

"I could fall in love with Angelus," I said softly.

He laughed, his chest vibrating with the sound.  "I think you've already
started, sweetie.  And Spike. . .he affects me like no one else ever has."

I looked up at him, my eyes dancing happily.  "So no more Betsey Roberts
talk?"

"Betsey who?" Xander asked, grinning slightly.  He chuckled and ducked his
head, kissing my cheek.  "Come on, X-Files is coming on."  He shifted,
making me more comfortable against him.  It was a relatively new show, but
we both enjoyed it, and I thought Scully was cool.  He thought Scully was
hot.

"So. . ." I teased.  "Gonna start watching Muldar's butt?"

He chuckled.  "Maybe," he grinned.

I laughed playfully, turning my attention to the TV and the familiar X-Files
theme song.  "Things are good, Xander," I murmured softly.

"Yea, they are," he agreed.

We started watching the show, knowing that there were vampires out prowling
the night, two of whom loved us; and that there was a girl a few
neighborhoods down sitting in her room, trying to decide if she really
wanted to be the Slayer.

I hoped for our sake that she did.

END
 
 

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