I know, I know. I've got two other main fics to be working on…but this idea wouldn't go away so I decided to write it. By the way, if anyone else has this title, please let me know and I'll change it. There are too many xovers to check and this was the only thing I could think of! This is set just after homecoming, season 3.

The Slayer and the Marauders

Buffy was walking home from the bronze, and wasn't in the best mood. She had arranged a little party to help her friends get over the disaster that had been homecoming, but apparently they all had better things to do. She couldn't understand it, after all, wasn't she the one with big problems in her life? Scott had dumped her only yesterday, she couldn't be with the guy she really loved and she had to deal with the continuing fight against evil. A small part of her knew that she was being unfair, and if she was truly a good friend she'd realise they probably had their reasons…and their own problems as well.

Xander had been unusually on edge when she'd called him, and had acted really weird when she'd said cordelia would be there, surprising since cordy was his girlfriend. And even more weird when she'd mentioned Willow…his best friend. Angel was doing his usual disappearing act that he was known for lately, not surprising when she'd told him that she was seeing someone else. Cordy was the only one she'd gotten an enthusiastic response from…what bizzaro world had she woken up in this morning?

She looked up to see her best friends walking towards her. "Guys, you're late," she said, breezing past them. "The party's long over". She only stopped walking because there was no response at all and she wanted answers.

"Well?" she asked finally, turning around. "Your kind of hurting my feelings here!"

Willow glanced at Xander guiltily, but he seemed to be pretending she wasn't there….something that had never happened before.

"I'm sorry Buffy…we…I…" Willows voice trailed off and ended with a pathetic sigh.

"We were running late," finished Xander. "I mean…I was running late," he added hastily. What was up with these two?

"My parents were fighting again…"

"I couldn't decide what to wear…" that was from Willow.

Buffy held up a hand. "Ok, enough with the lame excuses. I was only trying to lighten the mood. The forces of darkness gather, we party, remember? I mean a proper party were I look my best and not like something the cat dragged in!" She paused and looked at each of them. "And I wanted to clear the tension that's built up between you two…like out of nowhere this past week. What ever has been going on, I will find out. We're friends ok? Friends don't keep secrets from each other".

But her bad mood began to soften at the looks on their faces. "OK fine," she said. "The party's going home now. You can come with if you want though".

Walking in silence through the streets of Sunnydale didn't usually worry her, but tonight? Tonight was freaky. There were no jokes from Xander, no little anecdotes from Willow about her day or about her and Oz. Nothing. Then again, she wasn't her usual chatty self either. Wonder why, she thought, a little bitterly. Must have been that little…what was it called again? A Slayerfest? That she'd taken part in last night. That, or she'd had to spend the night prisoner with Cordelia. I don't know what Xander sees in her…

"Cordy didn't show then? Asked Willow suddenly. Xander narrowed his eyes and walked a bit in front. Willow blushed slightly.

"Nope," answered Buffy pretending not to notice the weird behaviour. "Called at the last minute and said Xander was being more freaky then normal so she didn't feel like it. Said she'd call you tomorrow though Xand".

"She said all that huh?" was his reply. "Typical. It gets a little bit rough and she runs like a …"

"Hey!" Cut in Willow.

Well this is fun, thought Buffy. Then something caught her eye that she'd never seen before…a shop. And she was a girl who knew her shops like the back of her hand. After all, she'd once been popular, back in LA. A lifetime ago.

"Hey, what's that?" she pointed, hoping to break the tension that had built up again.

"I don't remember this part of town," murmured Willow.

"Well, Sunnydale can surprise you," said Buffy, stepping forward.

"I don't know," muttered Xander. "I've got a bad feeling about this".

Buffy frowned as she looked around at the shadows. She didn't sense anything and she was the slayer. But whatever distracted her friends had to be a good thing, right?

When they entered, it was clear it was an occult shop. Filled with crystals, Tarot cards and runes. There were even witches hats, crystal balls and broomsticks. Willows eyes lit up…it was like a kid in a candy shop.

"Oh, interesting," she said brightly. "It's even better then the magic box".

"I'm glad to hear that!" laughed the woman at the counter. "Feel free to browse, the crystal balls are on special offer. But we close in 10 mins".

Buffy separated from her friends, not caring that it was unusual for a store to be open this late, and felt herself drawn to the unusual jewellery at the back.

"What the hell is quidditch anyway?" she heard Xander say to the owner.

She looked at the pretty necklace that sparkled in the candlelight. They were a little pricey, and her mum would kill her. But she deserved something nice after everything that had happened, right?

"Uh…Buffy…" That was Xander again. Willow peeked over her shoulder to have a look.

"To buy or not to buy, that's the question," said Buffy as she picked up the necklace.

"Buffy…what's that writing on the back…." Xander tried again, but it was to late.

A flash of light seemed to fill the shop, coming from the jewel on the necklace. It seemed to form a swirling vortex on the floor when Buffy dropped it in shock. Buffy only had time to look up at the woman for a second to ask for help, but she was calmly counting the money that she had earned that day, as if she didn't see anything. When the light dimmed, Buffy, Xander and Willow had all disappeared.

………………………………...

Angel, who had been trailing the friends for most of the night, flinched when he saw the flash of light in the darkness and closed his eyes against it.

He entered the shop just in time to see the trio fade.

He turned to face the shop's owner, and placed his hands calmly on the counter. "Where did they go?" he asked calmly. When she didn't answer, he snatched the money from her hands and threw it onto the floor. "Where. Did. They. Go?

"I'm sorry," she said sincerely. "I'm not evil or a monster I swear. But…they're the only ones strong enough to stop what's happening. The slayer is the only one who can change things. If it helps any, this wasn't my idea. I told Dumbldore how dangerous it was to not even say anything…"

"Explain. Bring them back". Angel told her.

She shook her head. "I can't. Again, I'm sorry…but it's not time for them to come back yet".

TBC