(Merry Christmas everyone! I appreciate the reviews and am taking some of them in to consideration. The Oz smelling thing I can't address right now cause it will eventually be explained. I have had a voice in my head saying as I write this Angel is more mature than this, This might not be in character, I keep coming back to though this Angel has been radically changed. He is literally dipping back in to the puberty/raging teenage hormone pool. As For Buffy she is a hero and champion but also a teenage girl. She is going to make bad choices. Any ways I have to get this done so I can go eat some Christmas Grub Hope all of you have a Merry Christmas. With that I give you chapter 7)

Buffy sat at her usual table at the Bronze while Angel was off getting each of them a fresh drink. Willow sat next to Buffy. "So you know my boyfriend is playing tonight?"

Buffy couldn't help but laugh at Willow's giddiness. "Yeah I think you might have mentioned it a time or 12."

Willow looked at the bar as Angel stood in line. "So how many days left.?"

"Just under 2 weeks." She let go of a deep sigh hoping it wasn't to telling.

"I'm sure Angel will be happy to get his body back."

"Xander too. I'm sur" She froze as she suddenly remembered. "Oh Shit."

Buffy looked at Willow closing her eyes frustrated. "We were supposed to go hang out with Xander."

Willow suddenly remembered. It had been an in-service day at the school and both of them had agreed to spend the morning and afternoon with their old friend. "Oh God I forgot. I just."

"I just got so wrapped up in the Angel aspect of this. I check in on him to make sure Angel is okay and it's easy to forget there are two sides to this equation."

"This is Xander. He might get a little angry but we can apologize and find a way to make it up to him. I mean."

Buffy stood up and grabbed her purse. "I'm going to tell Angel I have to find him. I can't "

From across the room Willow saw him. He was locked on with a glare she swears she could feel. Willow tugged at Buffy's shoulder. "Uhm I think he is here."

Before she could say anything Xander was standing behind both of them. "So Busy Day?"

Buffy looked him up and down. His complexion was pale even for Angel. There was darkness to his eyes. "Xander are you okay?"

He snapped at her. "Stop pretending like you care."

Willow came to her aide. "Xander calm down. You seem off."

"No. I think I'm at a perfectly fine level of calm."

Buffy took his arm. "Xander we are your friends."

Xander aggressively pulled his arm back. "Really? You are my friend? You know what I realized Buffy? This is a friendship of convenience. For both of you."

Willow looked a little hurt. "What does that mean?"

He crossed his arms. "It means that I have been the one keeping this thing alive. If I stopped calling or coming by or even hanging out you guys would just let me fade in to the background."

Willow was hurt by the words and could feel the tears stinging her eyes. "That isn't true. I have been by your side since kindergarten."

He glared at her. "Yeah but now that you have something better I'm just an after thought. I would have taken a God damn bullet for either of you. It sucks to learn that road only goes one way."

Even with the loud music Xander was being loud enough from across the room Angel saw him. He got out of the line and ran over to him. He could tell by his complexion and eyes that the blood lust was building. Angel approached him directly. "Xander you need to listen to me."

Xander turned to him angry and grabbed him. "FUCK YOU" He pinned Angel to the metal support beam. His hand wrapped around his throat. "This is all your fault. I never wanted this."

Buffy grabbed Xander's arm. "STOP."

Xander fought against her as he just held Angel there. "You made this stupid fucking wish and now you are stealing my life. I won't let you."

Angel gasped and tried over powering but Xander's grip was tight. Buffy knew she had to act quickly, She reached back punching Xander with everything she had hitting him in the face. It was enough to loosen his grip and send Xander falling to the floor. The once loud crowd noticed the punch and everyone fell silent watching what was about to happen next

Angel gasped sucking in air. He bent over and was sucking wind just trying to calm his breathing. Before Xander could do anything again Buffy stepped in front of him. Xander glared at her angry. Even in full on rage the idea of Buffy hitting him was shocking. With that hit it was like the last shred of there friendship was gone. "You know what." He pointed at Buffy than at Willow. "I don't want to know you. Either of you. When this is done? I don't want to see either of you ever again."

With that he turned around storming out the back door. Buffy looked at Angel hoping he would know what just happened. "What the hell was that?"

Angel rubbed his throat finally feeling like he was getting back to normal. "It's the blood lust. I'm pretty sure he hasn't had any blood in a few days. We got to get him to feed."

Willow looked at the door trying to find him. "But he hates us. We can't get him to do anything?"

Buffy shook her head "Than we hold him down and if I have to put a funned down his throat he will drink."

Willow looked at her. "What can I do to help?"

Angel still rubbing his throat," I don't' think he would go after Cordeila but I'm not going to place money on that bet. You need to get there and give her a heads up. If she sees Xander avoid him."

Willow looked nervous. "What do I tell her?"

Angel stood up. "The truth if you have to."

Buffy looked at Angel. "What are we doing?"

Angel put on his coat. "First we are stopping at my butcher. I am going to get my hands on some blood. We have to get him to drink." He than looked to Willow "After you tell Cordy go to my place. If Xander is there don't go in alone. Wait for us."

Willow nodded feeling shocked. "I'm just going to tell Oz."

5 minutes later Buffy was riding in the front seat next to Angel. He looked at her. "You still have some weapons in the trunk?"

Buffy kept her eyes ahead "Yes but we aren't using them."

"Bufffy yo"

"No. Xander's lost right now. I'm sure the whole hungry blood lust thing has everything to do with it. But he wasn't wrong?"

"You can't blame yourself."

"Really? The way I see it I need to own a lot of this blame. Xander needed me. He needed a friend and I was so wrapped up in having a boyfriend that was human that nothing else mattered."

"Buffy this whole thing has been a big adjustment and if the shoe were on the other foot."

"Xander would be by my side. He is right. He is a better friend to me than I am to him."

"Buffy I'm not going to let you beat yourself up over this."

"Angel beating up will come later. Right now I just have to find a way to get him back in the right state of mind."

Angel pulled up to the back dock of the butcher shop. "You can wait here I promise I won't be long." He got out of the car and opened the car trunk. He didn't say anything. He just dropped the weapons bag that was in the trunk to the back seat.

Angel came out the back door of the dock a few minutes later. He was carrying a simple paper grocery bag. As he opened the back door to put the bag in he noticed the weapons bag was no longer in the back seat. He knew Buffy put it back in the trunk. "Buffy"

"Don't. This is my call to make. Xander might be blood crazy or what ever but I know he won't hurt me."

"Meet me in the middle."

"What is the middle?"

"I won't take any weapons I promise. Just take one stake. Just in case."

"Why? I won't use it."

"Better to have it and not need it than not have it and"

Buffy sighed "One stake."

Angel took it out of of his coat and passed it to her. "One Stake"

Across town Willow was pounding on Cordy's front door. Cordy was dressed in simple sweat pants and a t shirt. She flung open the door wanting to stop the pounding. "What is your damage?"

Willow was trying to catch her breath. "You haven't seen Xander right Cordy?"

Cordy looked on confused. "No. I just got back an hour ago from a family reunion. What is going on?"

"Nothing. Just I got to go. But if you see Xander maybe you don't you know invite him in." She turned to leave but Cordy stopped her.

Cordy grabbed Willow's arm. "Whoa whoa whoa. You don't get to drop that bomb and just leave. What is going on?"

Willow tried to find the words. "Buffy and I were at the Bronze tonight and he showed up. He showed up pissed off. He was angry. I've never seen him like this before. Angel said it is blood lust. He hasn't been drinking blood."

Cordy crossed her arms. "What was he angry about?"

"Does it matter?"

"YES!"

Willow looked down not able to make eye contact. "He's pissed because Buffy and I both forgot we were supposed to hang out with him today."

Cordy rolled her eyes. "Oh My God."

"What? You are his girlfriend and when was the last time you saw him?"

"Yesterday."

"Really?"

"Yes Really. You and Buffy are so fucking wrapped up in your world you can't even see what this body switch is doing to him."

"Okay fine I've been a bad friend. I will own that. But right now I have to go and find a way to fix this."

Cordy shook her head. "Give me 2 minutes I'm coming with you." Cordy opened the door inviting her in. She stepped inside as Cordy was grabbing her jacket and shoes.

Willow looked at her "So the whole seeing your boyfriend as a vampire thing. That doesn't bother you."

Cordy just rolled her eyes "Of course it bothers me but Xander is hurting. So I tell him to keep strong and I paint a fake smile." Cordy stood up and zipped her jacket. "Come on lets go."

Angel was just pulling up to the front of his mansion. Buffy looked at the windows. "It looks dark inside."

"If he is here he wouldn't need lights on. Vampire senses kind of help you with seeing in the dark.

Buffy got out of the car and started towards the front door. "Let's do this."

Angel grabbed the blood out of the backseat and chased after her "Will you slow down. Kick in to some of that slayer stealth mode."

Buffy grabbed the handle of the door finding it unlocked. She stepped in to the center of the hallway. "XANDER IF YOU'RE HERE GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE. NOW"

Angel rolled his eyes "So much for stealth mode."

The moonlight cascaded through an open window. "Get out of my house."

Angel's eyes darted up to the second floor railing. Xander was standing over them on the floor above. Angel crossed his arms. "Pretty sure this is my house"

Xander climbed up on top of the railing and than stepped off jumping to the floor below them. "Not today it isn't."

Buffy looked at Xander. "I get you are pissed off and we can talk about all of it. You are going to drink though."

Xander looked at the brown bag Angel was holding. He could smell the blood a mile away. He just glared at both of them. "PASS"

Angel shook his head "Damn it Xander. You need to drink. I warned you what would happen."

Buffy looked at him. "Angel shut up." She looked at Xander. "I'm not leaving until you drink."

Xander face twisted to its vampire form. "You don't have a choice. There is only one way this ends."

"You are bluffing. I don't care how blood crazed you are. You won't hurt me."

"Going to bet your life on it?"

Buffy reached in to her coat taking out a stake. She extended her hand out and away from both of them. She opened her fist dropping it to the floor. "Yep."

Angel looked at her "Buffy NO."

Buffy shook her head. "I know you are still in there. You are pissed and you are hungry but you won't kill me."

Xander locked eyes with her angry. "Get out"

Buffy stepped to him pushing him back this time. "You come at me and Willow angry cause we are blowing you off but now that you have my attention finally and you are trying to get rid of me."

Xander looked past Buffy and at Angel. "Maybe I won't kill you but you think I won't kill him."

Angel looked at him. "If you do you'll never get your body back. You'll be stuck a vampire forever"

Xander stepped closer. "Maybe I am okay with that."

Buffy laughed out loud. "Who's kidding who now."

Xander spun around. "You don't know me."

She poked a finger in his chest. "I know you hate every moment of this. You know how I know that. I lived this for a couple hours and it was hell. I couldn't wait to get my life back. Being a vampire sucks. So don't try to play this off like some bad ass who doesn't care."

Xander stepped to Angel grabbing him again. "I meant what I said at the Bronze. All of this is your fault."

Buffy just stood there. "You know why you really won't kill him." Buffy stepped in front of him so she could look in his eyes. "Cause in the end you love the moral superiority you have over him."
Xander glared at her. "You think so?"

Buffy just smirked. "I know so. If you kill him than you can never stand on the same ground. He's a murderer but so are you."

Xander looked at Angel glaring at him wanting to end him but in the end he knew Buffy was right. "FUCK! Why the hell are you doing this?" Xander felt trapped. He was pissed. He was hungry. Even though the blood lust had him ready to take on the monster he couldn't quite fit in to the life. "Will you just GO!"

Buffy pulled Xander away. "Not going to happen Harris. I told you I'm not leaving till you feed."

Xander crossed the room picking up the bag and tossed it across the room all of the blood spilling over the floor. "Now it's gone. GET OUT."

Angel sighed and shook his head. "That was stupid. I think there might be some more though in the down stairs fridge."

Buffy shook her head. "Don't bother with it."

Xander stood angry crossing his arms. "Get out."

Buffy crossed her arms. "I told you I'm not leaving till you feed. So I guess you are just going to have to go straight to the source."

Angel looked at her. "Buffy what are you doing?"

Buffy took off her jacket. "You have to feed Xander. I'm going to give you something. Something even Angel hasn't had."

Xander looked at her shaking his head. "Are you crazy. I'm not drinking from you."

Angel looked at Buffy like she was out of her mind. "BUFFY YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO ME."

She kept her gaze locked on Xander. "Shut up Angel this isn't about you."

Xander turned his back on her. "If you won't leave I will."

Buffy laughed and shook her head. "Angel was right."

Xander cocked his head. "Right about what?"

Buffy shrugged. "Was it a bitch ass pussy or pussy ass bitch? It was one of those two. Angel said you wouldn't have the balls to feed off a slayer. I guess he was right."

Xander balled his fists. "I know what you are doing. It wont' work."

Buffy grabbed Xander pushing him against the wall. "This is a rare treat Xander." She reached above the wall where Angel had decorated a pair of Samurai swords he picked up during the boxer rebellion. She ran a finger along the blade just enough to break the skin. "ooops." She held it in front of Xander's face.

Xander closed his eyes trying to control himself. "Don't' do this."

She ran the finger as the blood pooled over his lips. "Come on. Slayer blood has to be like candy right."

Xander opened his eyes. The blood was intoxicating. He shook his head "I don't want to hurt you."

Buffy tilted her head exposing her neck. "No hurt. Just enough of a taste to fix you."

Angel stepped to them to stop them once and for all. "Buffy"

She looked at Xander pleadingly. She was worried about losing her friend. "Xander please." His hands gripped her tight holding on to her. He flung her around so he was the aggressor.

As he held her there the front door opened as Willow walked in with Cordy by her side. Cordy looked at Xander. "DON'T"

Buffy just smirked. "DO IT"

No more words as Xander lunged his mouth at her neck. As his fangs penetrated her neck Buffy groaned out. She held him tight as he drank. It hurt but in a part of her she never knew she had she felt turned on. Her best friend was savage and like nothing she had ever seen.

Her blood filled his mouth as he continued drinking. Cordy and Willow stood there in shock not sure what to do or what to say.

As he drank deep and dark from her he felt her go limp in his arms. Angel knew he couldn't stop him. He was stronger. So he used the only thing he had. "Xander she did this to save your life. Now it's your turn to save hers."

Xander stopped for a second glaring at Angel. The look in his eyes was pure animal but something was connecting. "She tastes like heaven."

"If you keep drinking you'll kill her and than nothing I say. Will matter. Nothing I will do to you will ever matter. You will never forgive yourself. You know I'm right."

Xander wanted to keep drinking but he knew Angel was right. "Take her. Now."

Xander pushed her in to Angel's arms. He knew he had to distance himself from Buffy. "I'll be in the cage in the basement. Willow bring me the 3 pints that are still in the fridge," Before they could say anything he was gone to lock himself up.

Angel held Buffy laying her on the ground. "Buffy wake up. You gotta wake up hon." He started lightly slapping the side of her face.

Cordy ran to Buffy standing over her. "What the hell man. Is she dead?"

Before Angel could respond Buffy's eyes fluttered open. "Stop. Both of you."

Angel took her hand. "You are awake."

Buffy smiled at him. "He only drank a pint. Maybe a pint and a half. I will be fine."

Angel looked at her terrified. "That was really stupid Buffy."

She sighed "I had to save him. At any cost."

Cordy kneeled down. "I'm glad you are alive but for the record I am pissed about what I walked in on."

Buffy took a breath and shrugged. "A lot of that going around tonight."

Willow was running with the 3 pints of blood from the fridge to the basement. Cordy looked at Angel. "Since you have this under control I am going to go check on my boyfriend."

Angel just pulled Buffy's head in to his lap sitting with her. "Please don't' ever scare me like that again."

Angel wanted Buffy to go to the hospital but Buffy refused. He called Giles to tell her what went down, One hour later Giles showed with a doctor that was an on call for the council. Cordy had been in the basement tending to Xander. When Xander had started to regain his clarity Willow stood out side the cage door.

"So Xander I know you are angry at me but I've been thinking"

Xander closed his eyes. "I'm not angry Willow. What I sai"

Willow interrupted and shook her head. "I've been thinking. In less than 2 weeks you have to go back to class, You've been out for so long."

Cordy looked on at her agitated. "Willow can't this wait"

Willow looked at him. "I'm just saying you are going to be a month behind in your classes. So I was thinking I could start coming by after school and tutor you so you aren't behind"

Xander knew what she was doing. She was testing the waters to see if she still had a place in his world.. Xander just nodded at her. "That's a great idea Will."

Cordy smiled at Willow. "Now it's late and we both have school in the morning so why don't you give me a minute with Xander and I will drive us both home."

Willow nodded "See you later Xander."

As she left Cordy looked at the cage door. "Where is the key for this damn thing?"

"I'm not sure."

"You locked yourself in here not sure how to get out?"

Xander just laughed and stood up grabbing the bars. "It would appear so."

Cordy looked down shaking her head.. "This is exhausting Xander."

He knew she wasn't just talking about tonight. It was the total super natural package. He looked at the ground. "I'm getting my body back Cordy."

She reached through the bars and took his hand. "I know that and I want to believe this will be behind us after. How long will it be though till the next freak of the week incident occurs and."

"I don't know Cordy. We live in Sunnydale and I can't go back to being that guy with my head in the sand."

"I'm not asking you to be the guy with your head in the sand. I just need you to tell me that we can have something that at least looks like a normal life."

"Yes we can."

Cordy shook her head and closed her eyes. "I want to believe you. I don't think I do. For now though want is going to win." Still holding his hand she pulled him to the bars and hugged him through it.

He held on to her looking in her eyes. She was so beautiful. He looked in to her eyes. Cordy ran her fingers through the back of his head playing with his hair. She moved to kiss him.

"Cordy."

"Shut up." She closed her eyes and kissed him. She missed her boyfriend. Xander knew he should have stopped this. It was violating the rules and Angel would never let him hear the end of it but right now that didn't matter. Cordy was what mattered.

As she pulled away from him she smiled. "For the record I like kissing you more in your own body."

Xander just smirked at her "You know just what to say."

Cordy let go of his hand. "I'm going to tell Angel to make sure you get unlocked out of this cage. I will see you tomorrow after school."

As Cordy made her way up the stairs Buffy was just getting an iv taken out of her arm. Cordy crossed the room to Angel. "Find the key for your little cell in the basement and let Xander out."

Buffy looked at her. "Is he back to normal."

Cordy nodded. "As normal as a teenager stuck in a vampires body can be."

Buffy crossed over standing between them. "I need to see him."

Cordy looked her up and down. Her neck was bandaged and she couldn't get the image of Xander mouth on her neck out of her head. "Fine you go see him. Just keep your neck off of him and your blood where it belongs." With that she yelled in to the air. "Rosenberg you want a ride home get your ass in to my car. It is late and I'm tired."

A few minutes later Buffy, Angel and a locked up Xander were the only ones left in the house. Buffy turned to him. "Find the key to Xander's cell. While you are looking for it I need to go talk to him."

Angel looked at her. "Buffy you just got drank from. Maybe you should rest. Anything you have to say to him."

"Will be said tonight. Now find the damn key" With that she made her way down to the basement. The cups from the butcher shop were now empty and laying outside of the cage. Xander sat in the cell with his back to Buffy. She slowly crossed to the cell. "You feeling any better?"

Xander nodded and looked at her. "Yeah. Buffy I." He pulled himself up. "I'm feeling back to my old self."

Buffy stepped to the cage. "Let's just get it out there. I don't want you to feel weird."

"How can I not Buffy? I drank your blood. I'm some kind of deviant."

She just laughed, "Xander you can't blame yourself. I did every thing I had to so that you'd cave. I had to get you to drink."

"Buffy I could have killed you. I could have drank you dry."

Buffy looked him in the eye. "Hey you look at me." Xander couldn't do it. She reached through the cage taking his hand. "Look at me Xander." Xander finally looked up. Even in Angel's face she could see her best friend. "I know you. Even with that blood lust, and anger I knew you could never hurt me."

"I didn't even know that so I'm not sure how you could."

"I know you Harris. I know your heart. I will never doubt that."

Thanks." He pulled his hands back. "There is still one elephant in the room to discuss."

Buffy stepped back from the cage pacing. "You are talking about what you said to us at the Bronze."

"Buffy you have to know."

"That what you said was hurtful and cold. It was mean."

"Buffy"

"And 100 percent accurate."

"No it wasn't."

"Yes it was. Xander you are living out one of my greatest fears. When I became a vampire it was only a couple hours. Even thought it wasn't permanent you were by my side the entire time. I am ashamed to say I didn't do the same for you. I'm ashamed that I could do that. When you told me you didn't want me in your life it hurt a lot."

"Buffy of course I want you in my life. It was the blood lust and."

"And I realized at that moment that I wasn't going to accept that. You are my best friend Xander and if I have to I will fight to keep this friendship."

"You don't"

"I want you to know. Things are going to change. I will make time for you. I'm not going to abandon you."

"I'm going to hold you to it."

"I hope you do." She stepped to the cage. "This feels like a good moment for a hug. Where the hell is Angel with that key." She stepped to the door pulling at it as it popped open.

Xander looked at her surprised. "You opened it."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "It wasn't locked."

"So I locked myself in to a cage that wasn't locked."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Get over here dumb ass."

Xander stepped to her with open arms as Buffy buried her face in his chest. "This is better. Let's not fight anymore."

"I agree."