In the shadows by the back wall of the Bronze, an angry presence lurked. It wove its way between the darkest spots and those that were slightly less dark, watching the bodies swaying on the dance floor with an intensity that would have been frightening to those being observed, had they known that they were being scrutinized. The figure remained in hiding for much of the night, creating its own mental list that it planned on sharing later with those it was so very absorbed in watching. (Soon,) the presence thought madly, (Soon they will understand about betrayal... and I will have my revenge...) It glared wildly at two of the dancing couples in particular before turning and slinking out the door and into the night, never noticing the badly dressed hat-wearing demon who was watching it from the shadows. "Well, well," said Whistler quietly to himself, "Things are about to get very interesting in good old Sunnyhell..." He glanced back at the two couples on the dance floor. "For some of us, anyway..."

Spike looked down into the shining green eyes of his dance partner. Hell, she was beautiful... he still couldn't believe that here he was, the 'Big Bad', not only dancing with the tiny human witch, but almost desperately in love with her as well. And it was all her fault, too.

He had come back to Sunnyhell after the whole fiasco with the Gem of Amarra, having every intention of killing her, the Slayer, and the whole jolly little gang of Scoobified misfits, but from the moment he'd arrived, things had gone horribly wrong. He'd been hiding in the shadows, quietly taunting the Slayer, when he'd heard the sound of a body rustling in the foliage behind him. He had been about to turn around and cause some major death and destruction, when he suddenly felt as though he'd been struck by lightning! His entire body had clenched and un-clenched, contorting from the sheer voltage passing through him, and he's been sure that it was the end for dear old Spike... that he would live to see another sunset. And that's when it happened. A softly lilting, yet thoroughly angry, voice came from the shadows of the trees opposite where the lightning had come. He had recognized the voice, too. He tried to turn, body still twitching, as he felt a wave of warmth flow over him, but found that he still couldn't move. So he relaxed and just listened. "Hey!" he heard in that oh so familiar voice, "What do you people think you're doing? You can't just run around campus electrifying people!" He almost grinned at the outrage in her voice before realizing that someone was responding to her comments. "Move along, Miss... this... man is dangerous." He heard her growl of outrage at hearing the man's voice. "Riley!?" she said, surprised, "Riley Finn?! I recognize your voice!" He felt her crouch down beside his inert form, and barely caught her muttered "Follow my lead if you want to get out of this, Spike." He felt her hand on his shoulder as he nodded slightly. "Riley," she said again, "How can you say that? You don't even know him... and why are you out here hunting my boyfriend anyway? What'd he ever do to you?" "Your what? But, Willow," the not-so-manly voice replied, he can't be your... he's a... I mean, well..." "What, Riley? He's a what? Vampire?" She snorted. "Don't be ridiculous! I've lived on the Hellmouth my entire life, I think I know a vampire when I see one! Besides, feel him! He's warm!" Spike felt a hand touching the exposed skin at the back of his neck, and felt it being just as quickly snatched away. "But the scanner..." he heard the man sputter. He heard Willow sigh with exasperation, "Is obviously malfunctioning!" She stood, still talking to the man, Riley... he'd have to remember that name for later... put it on his list. "He's warm, Riley... he can't be a vampire, 'cause he's warm... now scurry along to whatever little hole you crawled out of... and if you're lucky, I won't tell Buffy about this little... escapade of yours..." He heard the man slinking off, tail between his legs, and almost chuckled aloud when he heard the girl's muttered "Gods, I really don't like him!" Spike grinned to himself as he felt the little witch crouch down beside him again, and then finally managed to ask her what he'd been wondering about ever since she'd shown up in the clearing. "Red... what... how... why?" He felt her hands on his side, rolling him over so that he was face up. She looked him in the eyes before glancing away and laying down beside him. "OK... what? If you mean what just happened here, you were about to be taken away to a very bad place for your kind... I'm not sure of exactly what it is, but from what I hear, any demon that this group takes is never seen or heard from again... I only know about it from stumbling into their system while I was trying to hack the Pentagon. What?" she asked at his look of surprise, "I'm not the Slayer, I have to make my own fun! And besides... never mind... Umm... how? was next, right? I, umm... I cast a spell... made you warm to the touch for a while... it won't fool a machine, but it sure fooled Riley, so..." she giggled, "He's such a doof! And as for why?... I... I like you, Spike... I mean, sure, you've tried to kill me on numerous occasions, but still... you're only following your nature, and that time when you kidnapped me? Well, I kind of felt... bad for you! I mean, she ditched you for a slime demon? That's gotta suck... And, OK, the whole bottle-in-face thing was maybe a bit much, but you didn't actually do it, so... I guess I just respect your dedication! And besides, you've been a stellar enemy... you deserve to go out with a bang, not a whimper, and OK, I'm babbling here... shutting up now! Also leaving, before you get control of your body back and decide that I look like a nice little snack!" She rolled up onto her feet and began walking away, glancing back once. "The effects of the taser should wear off in a few more hours. That should leave you plenty of time to find shelter from the sun... and Good Luck, Spike..." She continued on her way, her voice trailing back to him. "Oh, and I'm not gonna tell Buffy you're back, either... You might want to get out of Sunnydale before she finds out through other sources, though..." (She likes me!) he thought, a silly grin splitting his face as he watched her disappear into the trees. (The little witch actually likes me! There's no way I'm leaving now!) He lay there smiling until he could move again, all the while planning his courtship of the lovely mortal who had helped him just because she wanted to.

Willow grinned up at the tall blond vampire who held her so tightly. (Gods, I'm so glad Buffy went away for the summer! If she'd stayed in Sunnydale, Spike never would have made a move... and the waiting was driving me crazy! But, she did... and then he did... and we did, and ohhh... he's beautiful!) She smiled a bit more broadly and rested her head against his hard chest. (If anyone had told me, even six months ago, that Oz cheating on me would be a relief, well, I never would have believed them! But it was... I loved Spike even then, I just didn't know it! And sure, Vampire, but... I know he'll never hurt me... or anyone I really care about... and he only feeds on the baddies now!) She giggled softly against him, wondering if the oh-so-bright Sunnydale police force had any idea that the radical drop in crime was due almost entirely to her vampire. (Well,) she thought, glancing over at the couple dancing beside them, ( He and his Sire.) She grinned at the sight of Angel holding his partner close and whispering things she could only imagine. (I didn't think Xander could blush that much! But they're happy together... yet another reason to be glad for a Slayer-free summer! If Buffy were here, she'd be all over 'her Angel', trying to split them up, even though she's got Riley now! Stupid bitch... wouldn't know love if it reached out and smacked her in the face! Although...) she laughed out loud, (That could be fun to watch... Love smacking Buffy in the face, I mean...) She reluctantly released her hold on Spike as the music ended, and the two couples walked slowly back to their table. "Thanks for watching our things, Angela!" Willow said, hugging the girl who had become more of a friend to them all than Buffy had ever been.

"Yeah, pet, you're a doll, y'know..." Spike murmured, just loud enough for her to hear.

The auburn-ish haired girl looked at the four over the top of her glasses, her hazel brown eyes twinkling in the dim light. "No problem, guys," she said softly, her eyes scanning the darkness at the back of the club. "But I think I've got to go... my date's here... finally! Only an hour late, but who's counting?" She grinned widely as she stalked off into the shadows, her long dark blue coat flapping behind her as she approached the dark haired young man standing by the stairs.

"Hey!" cried Xander, trying to pull away from his lover's tall, dark form. "Isn't that... No!" He turned, Angel's arm still firmly planted around his waist. "Willow... please tell me you didn't! Uhh... you didn't... did you? 'Cause I thought you said 'No more spells'... for the summer at least... please tell me you didn't..." He looked again at their friend snuggling up with the guy she'd been waiting for. He sighed, seeing how happy he made her. "This is so not fair... you go and do something like this, and you don't even tell me? And you should have! I mean, after all the help she's been to us this summer, and with being such a good friend and everything, don't you think that I'd want her to be happy, too? As happy as you are with Fang, here... and I am with Deadboy." He smirked, seeing his Angel grimace good naturedly at the nickname. "But you should have told me, Will... maybe I would have liked to help... after all, he is me... OK, the vampire me, but still." Xander tried hard to get mad and stay that way, but just seeing their friend so thrilled, even if it was with his Vampy-self, made him smile against his will. "It's OK," he sighed, pulling his best friend since childhood into a tight hug, "I just don't like it when we have secrets from each other."

Willow smiled, hugging him tightly. "You're right, Xan... I should have told you... I just wasn't sure how you'd react." They pulled themselves apart, laughing at Spike's lamenting cry to his Sire.

"Hell, Peaches, can you please get your great poof of a mate off of my girl? Take him home and shag him or something... just get him off of her!" He reached out, pulling the redhead back into his arms. "Bloody hell, she reeks of him now! How are we supposed to shag with the smell of the moron all over her?" he said teasingly, glancing at his Sire over Willow's head.

Angel laughed, pulling Xander tightly against him. "You'll find a way, Spike... you always do... And he may be a moron, but never forget that he's my moron." He grinned at the look on his lover's face before leaning down and whispering in his ear. "Teach you to call me Deadboy, hmmm?" He grinned in delight as he felt the slight tremors flowing through the younger man's body. They really would have to be going home soon.

Faith had been standing outside the Bronze for quite a while now, and frankly, she was getting bored. Not the running-off-and-wreaking-some-havoc kind of bored, because she didn't do that anymore, but the god-I-want-to-go-patrol-and-kick-some-demon-ass kind of bored. She wasn't exactly sure of how it had happened, but somewhere between working for the evil mayor and going to jail, she had come to the realization that she really needed to get her priorities straight, because if she didn't, she probably wouldn't be alive for long enough to have priorities... and she liked being alive. It had taken her a long time to realize that, and now that she did, thanks in large part to Angel, she wanted to make the most of her time on Planet Earth. She found it somehow fitting that her guide on the path towards redemption was the souled vampire who sought that same redemption for himself. She knew what he had gone through trying to help her... she hadn't been anything like a treat to deal with at first, and she knew that she still had her moments, but they were getting fewer and farther between. It was hard for her, a constant struggle. She had always wanted things to be easy, and it had taken her a while to understand that the easy way was not necessarily the right way... that sometimes the hard way was best... and carried the greatest rewards. She was finally getting over the idea that the best rewards were money and power, and was starting to enjoy the real rewards... the feeling of satisfaction at helping good triumph over evil, the sensation of having done something right for a change... and not by accident, but on purpose! It was a heady brew, but now that she'd had it, she found that she wanted it all the time... kind of the way she used to feel about sex. And that was why she was standing outside the Bronze, waiting.

Earlier that day she had been in L.A., holding down the fort with Cordelia and Wesley. They had gone out to lunch, and so she had been just sitting there, alone, thinking about the past and feeling just wretched, when there was a knock on the office door. The man who had walked in would certainly have passed for human... at least, to someone who wasn't a Slayer, but she hadn't gotten a bad vibe from him, so she had just offered him some coffee and waved him to a chair. He had looked askance at the coffee, relaxing when she informed him that she, not Cordelia, had been responsible for the brewing of it. As she sat back down and just stared at him, he introduced himself. (Whistler,) she thought, (Yeah, Brood Boy's mentioned him...) She listened as he explained that there was trouble brewing in Sunnydale... trouble that Angel wouldn't be able to handle... and while it wasn't imperative that Faith be there, it would certainly make for a more favourable outcome if she were. Of course she agreed... Angel had already done so much for her, she'd be damned if she'd let anything happen to him if she could help it! The demon, for demon he was, stood quickly, thanking her for the coffee and saying he'd see her in Sunnydale as he left the office. Faith sat for a moment, her mind whirring, turning over the things she'd just heard. She was going back to Sunnydale... she just hoped she was ready.

Finally she stood and descended the stairs into Angel's apartment. He had been letting her stay there while he was on vacation, and she was glad... it was so much nicer than the dank and drear hole in the wall residential hotel where she had been staying. She looked around for a minute before throwing a few changes of clothing into an overnight bag along with some toiletries. She glanced around again before returning to the office upstairs to wait for Wesley and Cordelia, trying to get the image of the man-demon Whistler out of her mind. (Well, his wardrobe is tragic, but otherwise... not bad...) She was still grinning when then office door flew open and an obviously worried Wesley entered, carrying Cordelia.

"Wes!" Faith cried as he settled the Seer on the couch. "What happened? Is she OK?" She calmed down a bit when she heard the pain-ridden voice rising from the couch.

"Relax, Troublesome... just another damned vision! Just let me get some aspirin in me, and I'll be... five by five." Cordelia groaned and sat up a little as Wesley ran to her with the institutional-sized jug of pain-reliever. "Thanks," she muttered, washing four of the pills down with most of a bottle of water. "OK, vision... Faith, you need to go to Sunnydale... Angel's in trouble, or he will be... Willow, Xander, and Spike, too. I'm not sure of exactly what the trouble is, didn't see any great uber-evil, but the vision showed that you're gonna be the best chance for keeping them all intact, so..."

"Don't worry, C... I'm on my way." She walked to the desk and grabbed her bag from the floor beside it. "Umm, if... anyone calls..."

"It's OK, Faith, if your parole officer calls, we'll just tell him you're out taking care of something for Angel." Cordelia said, still amazed at the changes in the formerly psychotic Slayer. "It'll be alright, just... don't get arrested, OK?" she grinned slightly around the pain that was slowly receding.

"Oh, funny, C! Ever thought about taking that comedy act on the road? Speaking of which, I'm outta here... see you in a few." Faith turned, looking back once before she closed the door and headed to the bus station.

Faith was so caught up in her thoughts and memories that the low voice speaking from beside her startled her into jumping almost a foot straight up. "Hey, kid," she heard, "Glad to see you're so alert... the world needs all the lerts it can get."

"Whistler! Damn it, you... demon! Don't sneak up on me like that! I could have killed you... and I really don't want to have that talk with the Boss, I mean, what could I say? 'Sorry I killed your friend, Angel, but he snuck up on me, and he is a demon, after all.'? No thanks!" (Why does he have to call me 'kid'? It's not like I'm twelve or something...)

Whistler laughed to himself, loving her reaction. This Slayer was something special alright... full of spunk... and sass. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had so much fun tweaking someone's nerves. She was amusing... and kinda hot, too. He pushed those thoughts away, and got down to business. "So you were watching, right?" He looked at her, seeing her nod. "Did you see someone leave out of here about a half-hour ago? All in black, scarf covering their face?" He sighed, relieved, when she nodded again. "Well, I think that's the trouble we were talking about. That same person, and I use the term loosely, was inside watching your boss with his boyfriend, and the witch with the blond. Whoever it is, they're up to no good... What?" he asked, seeing the confused look on the brunette's pretty face, "What is it?"

Faith couldn't believe that he didn't know. How could he be a messenger for the Powers and not know? "Uh, Whistler... that was Buffy... didn't you recognize her? I mean, sure you haven't seen her in a couple of years, but..." She could see the disbelief on his face, plain as day. "Really, Whistler, it was her. I could... feel it. We are the chosen two, you know... and besides, I recognized her! I mean, she slinks around her own town, dressed like someone from a bad spy movie... of course I recognized her! Geez..." she grumbled, " I knew her, and I've been in jail for months! So much for the Powers!"

Whistler looked at the girl and smiled slightly. Of course she knew what she was talking about, it took a Slayer to sense a Slayer... or a vampire... and since he was neither, he didn't feel too badly for not knowing the identity of the mystery stalker, but still... he'd gotten some way creepy vibes from the figure in the Bronze, and he had no idea of what the Powers must have been thinking to let the blonde Slayer deteriorate so badly... it was obvious, to him at least, that the girl was completely gone... if his instincts were anything to go on, Buffy had at this point fallen farther and harder than Faith ever had. At least Faith knew she was evil when she was doing bad things. He had sensed no such knowledge from the figure that Faith swore was Buffy. He shook his head slowly, suddenly realizing just why it was so important that the brunette girl be in Sunnydale for whatever was going to happen. This would be the final step for her... the final choice would be made by all involved, but especially by Faith. He liked the girl... he just hoped that she was strong enough to make the right decision. "OK, Faith... if you're right, and I'm sure you are!" he said hastily, "We should probably go on inside and explain what's happening to the gang." He took her arm and began leading her across the street, looking back at her when she stopped suddenly.

"Wait a minute, demon-boy... did you say my boss and his boyfriend?"

Whistler just smiled and started walking again, saying over his shoulder, "Yeah. You remember a Xander Harris?" He found himself forced to stop again as she almost collapsed to the ground laughing.

"Oh... oh, god!!! You're kidding, right? Angel and... Xander?" She struggled to catch her breath, only to begin laughing again as she caught his eyes. "So Xander finally admitted it! I knew it! Oh, god! That's just... priceless!!!"

She was so caught up in her amusement, and Whistler in trying to calm her down, that neither of them noticed the small, black-clad body slip from an alley and quietly enter the Bronze for the second time that night. As it turned out, only pure luck got them inside in time.

The two vampires and their mortal loves were having a lovely time. They had danced some more, and spent some time with their friend Angela and her new boyfriend, and if any of them thought that it was strange to see what Xander was like as a vampire, well, none of them were rude enough to comment on it. They had all had a very nice conversation that only occasionally bordered on the weird, mostly when Vamp Xand would comment to Willow about things that she had done in his reality, but had never done in her own. The vampire version of her best friend had just kept forgetting that she wasn't his Willow, but they all knew that he didn't really mean any harm, and besides, he was giving Spike some very interesting ideas for later on. And so, it was with a combination of affection and relief that the waved the new couple off towards the dance floor, knowing they'd be seeing them again soon. The four of them continued chatting and joking, having a grand time, and none of them noticed the black-clad figure slipping cautiously towards them.

"So," Xander finally said, not wanting to bring the subject up, but knowing that they had to talk about it some time, "What are we gonna do? Buffy gets back next week, and you guys know how she's gonna react to all of... this!" He spoke firmly, gesturing wildly to indicate himself and Angel, and Willow and Spike. "So what do we do?" He looked at each of them in turn, almost afraid of what they'd say.

Angel sighed, rubbing his large hand slowly up and down his lover's back. "I don't know, Xan... I don't want to hurt her, but I don't want to have to hide this from her either... I'd really rather have you just come back to L.A. with me before she gets back, avoid the whole thing... No, no, I know that's not the way to handle it, but..." He sighed again, rubbing his eyes with his other hand. "And it also wouldn't help Spike and Will... I don't know. But we have to do something!"

Spike pulled his lips away from his girlfriend's neck, looking at his Sire. "You're right about that, Peaches... well, OK, I don't really care if the chit's hurt or not," he grinned at the sound of disagreement from his little witch. "But that would hurt Willow, and I can't stand to see my Red hurting, so..." It was his turn to sigh now. "It's a bloody Catch-22... damned if we tell the bloody useless bitch, damned if we don't. The only thing I do know is that I'm not gonna just disappear, or slink around in the shadows, trying to see my girl... I'm William the fucking Bloody, and I will not hide from that little slut of a Slayer!" He growled a bit more, slowly calming as Willow gently licked his neck. "Sorry, pet," he mumbled, "Bitchy just makes me... annoyed."

Willow smiled softly at him before putting her two cents in. "You're right, Spike... and you are too, Angel. We have to tell her, but... how? I mean, first off, the whole idea of you with Xander is just gonna make her... livid! And me and Spike? She's gonna think it's another spell gone wrong!" She lowered her forehead to the table and joined the sigh-fest. "If only she weren't so... unreasonable! I wish that she..." She sighed again, the sigh quickly becoming a gasp as she felt her lover pulled forcibly from his stool. She looked up wildly, her eyes coming to rest on the form of Buffy... standing six feet away, one hand wrapped around Spike's throat, the other holding a stake poised just above his heart.

"What, you traitorous bitch?" the blonde seethed, venom in her voice and eyes. "You wish what? That I'd stayed away, and never discovered your betrayal? That I was willing to let you ruin your life and throw yourself away on this... vampire? That I didn't have a stake in my hand, and the will to use it?" She glared at her former friends, eyes finally coming to rest on Angel. "And you... liar! How can you stand there and act like you love him? He's just Xander! You don't love him, you don't even care about him! He's Xander! The moron, remember? Walking garbage disposal, junk food meister, King of Twinkie-land! You love me! You always have, and you always will! And that's how it should be! Besides, it's not like you two could ever do anything! The minute you did, you'd be all Angelus-y again!" She shifted her oblivious expression to the subject of her last harangue. "And you! What was it Cordelia used to call you? Oh, yeah, the Zeppo! Well, at least that stupid cheerleader was right about one thing! You are useless! When I think of all the times I've saved your worthless, miserable ass, and this is the thanks I get? You wait until I'm out of town, and then you try to seduce my boyfriend? As if you could! As if Angel could ever really want you! I mean, look at you! You're just... just Xander! I'm the Slayer! What makes you think that he'd want you when he could have me!... Oh! That's right!" she cried triumphantly, pressing the stake, pointy end first, firmly against Spike's chest, "You can't have me! Can't have anyone, ever! Well, too bad! You think that you can break up our little Scooby gang, don't you? You and Spike planned this all along! Well, you can't! Xander and Willow are mine... just like you are, Angel! You're all mine, to do with as I please, and right now... it pleases me to kill Spike!" She didn't even hear their assorted cries of 'No!', barely noticed them beginning to move towards her now that their initial shock had passed. They would be too late. She pulled the stake away from his chest, and plunged it towards Spike's heart, anticipating the moment when she would brush the Spike-dust from her unfortunately dark clothing and reclaim her people. That was the plan, anyway, at least until a slim tanned arm flew out and stopped the stabbing motion, twisting her wrist to the side and up behind her back. She turned her head, disregarding the pain, but couldn't quite see who it was from her uncomfortable position. She felt herself growing dizzy as she heard the almost forgotten voice in her ear.

"Miss me, B?" Faith drawled, giving another sharp tug to her captive's arm. "It's not nice to stake your friend's mate... or didn't anyone ever teach you that?" She smirked a bit, hearing the whimpers of pain coming from the blonde. "Now, don't get me wrong, B, I'm enjoying this, but if you'll promise to behave, I'll let you go and we can all sit down and have a little chat about what, exactly, your problem is, OK?" At the girl's nod, Faith released her arm and stepped back, ready for the cheap shot that she just knew was coming. Sure enough, as soon as the girl was released, she spun around, throwing a side kick into the space that the brunette Slayer had just vacated. The lack of contact threw her off balance, and Faith closed in, snapping the blonde's head back with a swift right to the jaw. Faith smirked down at her fallen opponent. "Well, that was just too easy! Hi, guys!" she said, turning to the small group. She was somewhat surprised to see that instead of acting relieved that the crisis was over, all four of them were acting suddenly uncomfortable, and she was pretty sure that for once, it wasn't because of her. "Uhh... guys?" she asked, confused for a moment, until she replayed in her mind the things that the rabid blonde had been saying to her supposed friends. She looked at the four of them, and picked up the dazed blonde, shaking her. "Boy, can you believe the crap that came out of this looney bitch's mouth? As if! I mean, Willow... she owns you and Xander? Please! And Xander's worthless? Huh. After backing her up how many times? Not to mention making her laugh and forget all her 'Slayerly woes' on a regular basis! And acting like no one would ever want you! I mean, hello! I'm a Slayer, and I wanted you... had you, too!" She rolled her eyes, noticing the brightening expressions on the two humans faces, as well as the fact that the little blonde bitch was looking a bit less dazed. (Oh, I really shouldn't do this... it's not nice... ah, screw it!) "And, Angel? Just so you know, I would probably have a big old problem with you and Xander being together... at least, I would if your soul hadn't been permanent since you got out of Hell... Hold her!" She grimaced at the filth that was suddenly spewing from the mouth of the other Slayer, not because she hadn't said as bad, or worse, in her time, but because it was directed at those who still thought of the other girl as a friend. (God... she is insane!) She looked at Whistler, who was hold the bitch down on a stool. "See if you can't shut her up, too, would ya, baby?"

The sudden silence was deafening. No one knew what to say. At least not until the last voice that might be expected spoke up. "You... you bitch!" Willow said loudly, "Like you have any right to tell me what I can and can't do! Who I can see, or anything else! I mean, I knew that you were losing your grip, but you are totally over the edge! I am a grown woman, Buffy, I decide who is and isn't worthy of me and my time, and this little display of yours has just cinched it for me. I have had it with you, Slayer! You sneak back into town, eavesdrop on our conversation, try to stake my boyfriend, and somehow, you think that that's all OK! Well, guess what, Slutty? It's not! You stay away from me, and Spike, and our friends, or Gods help me, I'll kill you myself!" She turned and threw her arms around Spike, burying her head in his chest.

"Yeah," Spike growled, comforting his shaking girlfriend, "What she said."

Angel stared at the small redhead. This was the first time that he'd ever seen that fire of hers, and while he had always known that it was there, the sheer magnitude of it convinced him, more than anything else, that she was indeed a fit mate for his favourite childe. They would do well together, but right now... he had a few things to say himself. Before he could start however, he was silenced by the anger in his lover's voice.

Xander pulled away from Angel's side, approaching the girl whom he had once called his friend. "I don't know where you get off, lady, but if anyone here is worthless and useless, it's you! What, you think that just because you had plans for the summer, the evil just stopped? The four of us spent the entire summer fighting off demons and more than one apocalyptic prophecy, and we did it faster and cleaner than you ever did. So why don't you just pack up and move on? We don't need you. It's you that needs us! And that's just too bad, because you know what? After tonight, you don't have us, and you never will again. Your warped notions of your own importance have made you into an unredeemable bitch, and it took tonight to show me that... so thank you, Buffy, thank you so much!" He turned back to his lover, throwing his next comment casually over his shoulder. "Oh, and I didn't seduce Angel..." he grinned as the strong, cool arms wrapped firmly around his waist. "He seduced me!"

Angel barely managed to hold the chuckle in, but he knew that Xander could feel it bouncing around in his chest. He didn't particularly want to see the Slayer hurting, after all, they did have a history, and he had loved her at one time, but... he just couldn't let the things she'd said about his mate slide. He felt the request from inside himself and grudgingly let Angelus out to play. "Yeah, Buff... and it wasn't easy, let me tell you." He leaned down, laying a long, sensual lick up the young man's neck, and sucked on his earlobe for a moment, his eyes never leaving those of the restrained slayer. "But," he said, pulling his mouth away from the all-too-tempting flesh, "It was for damned sure worth it!" He pushed Angelus back down, having said all that he'd wanted to. He lowered his eyes to gaze deep into Xander's, and so never saw the crazed blonde throw of the demon holding her and begin running at him, snatching the stake from Faith's surprised hand. Those who were looking only had time to gasp as Buffy was suddenly caught from behind. She screamed as the fangs entered her neck, her scream fading quickly to a whimper, and then nothing as her swiftly cooling drained body was dropped to the floor.

"Ding-dong, the bitch is dead! What?" Vamp Xander asked teasingly, "I'm a vampire, people... remember?" He smirked and turned away, holding his hand out to Angela who grabbed it as he led her out of the Bronze and into the night.
 
 

There remained, in the quiet little corner of the club, one souled vampire, one very human young man, one witch, one non-souled vamp, one demon, and one Slayer, all staring mutely at the small dead body on the floor. They turned as one, heading towards the back door, their silence broken only once, and that by the young human man. "Hey, Wills? Remind me to thank you for bring my Vamp-self here..." The silence resumed, and continued for almost a block, until the same young human spoke once more. "So, Deadboy... I guess this means we move to L.A.?"

The others stared at him for a moment, shocked until a small chuckle escaped the hand that Faith had clapped over her mouth. It was soon joined by another, and another, and the night was split by a sound never before heard in Sunnydale... the sound of three demons and the humans they belonged with, laughing together and holding the darkness at bay.

End.

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