One Thing They Had in Common

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Buffy, they're all Joss and a couple of other people's. Really.

Summary: Xander dies and returns as Buffy's angel. But when he chooses to make himself seen by Buffy, will she feel more than just friendship love? And even if she does, how will they be able to be together? (obviously B/X)

Note: The Spike and Buffy sexcapades never happened. (thank God!)

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The demon was much worse than they had expected. It was larger and stronger than the vampire had described when Buffy had been threatening it with holy water and a cross.

"Watch out!" Buffy shouted, ducking the demon's tail. Xander swiped at it with his sword and found himself half way across the room. Willow and Tara were chanting some sort of spell that didn't seem to be working.

Suddenly, the demon grabbed hold of Anya.

Xander saw the demon snap Anya's neck and fury raced through his body. He launched himself forward with his sword and thrust it into the demon's body. It roared in fury, spinning to face Xander. Xander backed away as the demon yanked the sword from its body. He could hear Buffy screaming his name.

The demon raised the sword and thrust it into Xander's stomach. He gasped in pain and looked down at the sword protruding from his abdomen. Slowly, he sank to his knees. He could see Buffy run towards him and leap onto the demon's back. She snapped its neck then came to kneel beside Xander even before the demon slumped to the ground.

"Xander," she murmured, putting her arms around him. "Oh God."

Xander looked down at himself to see the front of his shirt soaked in blood. In that instant, he knew he was dying.

"Oh God, Willow! Call 911!" Buffy pulled him into her lap. "It's okay, Xand. You're gonna be okay."

Xander managed to shake his head, swallowing hard. "Buffy, I-I'm dying."

"No you're not," Buffy told him firmly, tears pooling in her eyes.

"Y-yes I am." He paused, seeing Anya's body lying a few feet away. "Give her a nice funeral, please? Don't worry about me."

"No, Xander," Buffy said, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You're going to be fine."

"Buffy, s-stop lying," Xander replied, trying to keep his own tears in check. He could feel himself growing weaker with each passing moment. "J- just tell everyone th-that I l-loved them v-very much."

"Xander…" Buffy tenderly brushed his hair back from his forehead.

He managed to smile as her beautiful face grew dimmer. "I love you." He paused, his voice growing lower and the room going out of focus. "A-at least I went out fighting."

And he died.

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"No!" Buffy shook Xander when his eyes fell shut and his body went limp in her arms. "Xander, please, wake up!" She pulled him closer to her, pressing her face into his hair. "Xander…"

She saw Willow come running towards them then stop short upon seeing the sight of Xander. Wordlessly, she fell to her knees. She put her face in her hands and started to sob.

They stayed like that, until the ambulance arrived. Buffy reluctantly let them take Xander from her arms and onto the stretcher. They made futile attempts to revive him, but finally pronounced him dead.

While they called for the coroner, Willow slowly came to stand next to the stretcher. The paramedics had covered him with a blanket but his white hand stuck out from beneath it. She tenderly stroked it, tears coursing down her cheeks.

Buffy sat against the wall, staring numbly at her two best friends, one alive but broken, the other gone forever.



Please R&R! More chapters coming soon!