Chapter 10
Everyone turned to take in the new comer, he was Xander's height, dark brownish black hair, soft brown eyes. He wore black jeans a white wife beater shirt with a black leather jacket. The biker look was finished by a neatly trimmed goatee.
"Who the hell are you?" Buffy demanded. The man just chuckled , as he approached them, well more like swaggered towards them.
"You see that would normally wound my already small sense of self-worth and self-esteem if I didn't already know the truth about you "Buffy"." He said putting her name in hand quotes.
"What do you mean by that?" Buffy snarled this man was getting on her last nerve and the others were getting far too curious.
"Wait a second," Willow said in fascination, "I know you!" the man gave her a curious look.
"Oh? You do?" his voice seemed awed.
"Yeah! Your Pike!" Willow said smiling.
Pike just stared at her in surprise, "How?"
"Buffy showed me some pictures from her life in L.A., you occupied a lot of them from her last year there."
Pike actually seemed to blush with a shy smile. "I'm glad that she didn't leave me behind as some dark secret."
"Wait a second! Rewind and slow down." Xander said confused. "If Buffy told you about him,"
"He was her boyfriend before she moved, they never actually broke up." Willow supplied to Pike's blushing embarrassment.
"And the were really, really close right?" he turned hard eyes to Buffy.
"Then why doesn't she seem to recognize him?"
"Four sets of eyes widened with shock before narrowing in anger and suspicion. Pike remained unaffected, while Buffy seemed to actually be afraid.
"You see," Pike said drawing everyone's attention, "I arrived here about four months ago, to this "Buffy" drooling over some vampire and being some spoiled psycho chick, when the night before she was normal and herself, even made plans to get together. That's when I figured out she wasn't Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
"Yes I am, who else could I be?" she demanded while trying to sneak away.
"If you're really Buffy tell me, where did you go to school?" Pike asked with a smirk.
"Duh, in L.A. of course." Buffy sneered.
"Good general answer." Pike laughed, "On what event did we burn down the gym?"
"a school one," Buffy said with no confidence.
"Wow, vague much?" he continued to laugh, "Ok here's an easy one where did we meet?"
Buffy said nothing, her eye frantic to find an escape.
"No answer, well I know someone who can answer." Pike smirked as he turned to look into the shadows. Willow, Xander, and Giles stared in surprise and horror as Cordilla stepped out into the moon light.
"Where did you go to school?" Pike asked her.
". . ." "Cordy" answered.
"On what event did we burn down the gym?"
"The Senior Dance, our first official date." Cordy smiled sweetly at Pike.
"Where did we meet?" Pike returned the smile.
"The movies before I was the slayer, I was there with m spoiled rich friends and you snuck in."
Pike turned back to 'Buffy', "What was the name of my friend who became a vampire?" she just gave him a blank stare.
"Benny," 'Cordy' answered.
"What was the name of the Master Vampire you took out?" again nothing but silence from the blond.
"Lothus."
"What was the name of your Watcher?"
"Giles?" it was a panic filled question.
"Nope," Cordy said sadly, "Malick"
"No one knew me before I moved here how could they possibly buy this act!" Buffy demanded fear and panic lacing her voice.
"What did I give you for good luck at the cheerleading tryouts?" Xander asked in suspicion.
"Ummm . . . a ummm . . ." she tried to think of something, anything to answer.
"A bracelet, I keep it in my jewelry box when I'm not wearing it." Cordy smiled at him.
"What did you tell me your motto was, that first night at the Bronze?" Willow asked her 'resolve face' firmly in place.
"Get a makeover to get a guy?" 'Buffy' asked not even trying to hide her sneer now, she know that she was caught.
"Live every moment, cause tomorrow you might be dead." 'Cordy' smirked now.
"Who saved your life during the fight with the Master?" Giles asked Cordilla as he cleaned his glasses.
"It was Xander," she smiled at them, "He forced Angel to take him to the Master's lair and then gave me CPR after I drowned."
"Xander and Willow pounced hugging Cordilla in death grips, while Pike watched with a smile, and Giles muttered to himself as he continued to clean his glasses.
Only Meg and Zeldie noticed fake Slayer trying to make a break for it. A few mumbled words from them and she stopped mid-step.
"How could this possibly be?" Willow asked tears leaking from her eyes.
"How could we not have known?"
"Where have you been?" Xander asked more angry in his voice then tears.
"How do we fix this?"
"Slow down guys, please" the Cordy shaped Buffy laughed, "one question at a time! Cordilla, after Angel by passed her in the Bronze to get to me, became even more jealous of me. So she paid some gypsy lady to perform a body swap spell thingy and then kept me in my locked in my own freaking attic. She kept me alive because if she didn't we would both die. Her body is still connected to her soul even though it was in my body, and well you all have been a little pre-occupied with either boys/vamps" she winked at Xander.
"Or pretty girls" she looked between Giles and Willow, causing them all to blush.
"Cordilla thought it was funny to keep updated on what was going on in my life and how she planned to ruin all your lives." She offered in way of explanation of her up-to-datedness.
"And how to fix this I have no idea." She shrugged in defeat.
"I think we may be able to help," Meg said sweetly.
"Really?" Cordy/Buffy asked happily.
"Meg right?" she asked offering her hand. Meg smiled and nodded.
"And Zeldie?" she asked receiving only a nodded of acknowledgement.
"I'm surprised neither of us sensed it earlier," Meg said staring at Buffy/Cordilla. "It's heavy magic."
"But Rom magic," Zeldie stated smugly, "means we can break it. But we need a few things."
"I'll go get them," Meg volunteered, "Sister why don't you take them to the house, explain what we came here too."
"Wait," Zeldie grabbed her arm, "It will be daylight soon."
"I will be careful, I will take the underground." Meg reassured her sister with a smile.
"Alright," Zeldie said with a sigh and an apologetic smile, it was severely hard to stop being an older sister even after all these years.
"Hey Wills why don't you go with Meg?" Cordy/Buffy suggested with a wink that caused Willow to blush beat red.
"S . . .sure, I'd love to." Meg smiled shyly in return to the blushing red-head and nodded her acceptance.
The group watched the two girls walk away, Xander smiled, Giles cleaned his glasses (again!), Buffy/Crodilla looked grossed out, while Cordy/Buffy giggled while leaning into a smirking Pike, Zeldie smiled softly after them before turning a sly smile on the dark haired girl.
"Not very subtle."
"You complaining?"
"Nope," she laughed, "couldn't be happier for her, Meg gave up quite a bit for me over the years I'll do anything to see that she gets who or what she wants, even if that means having to lock them in a closet to do it."
Cordy/Buffy laughed along with Pike, but sobered quickly seeing the pain filled eyes of Xander. Moving slowly she gently put her hand on his shoulder waiting for his eyes to meet hers.
"Xander, I know about how you feel for Angel, I just want you to know that I have no intention of perusing him when I'm me again, and if you still hate him after I'll stake him for you." She said with complete seriousness.
Xander couldn't help but smile at his friend before his eyes fell and filled with tears. "Thanks Buffy but you don't know the whole story, the back story or the new developments."
She gave him curious eyes, "Want to tell me?"
"Not here," Zeldie said sniffing the air, "We have to hurry, some of us don't fare so well in this Sunny state."
"Of course," Cordy/Buffy said suddenly all business, "let us head back to the . . ."
"Our place," Xander interrupted her then blushed shyly at the surprised looks everyone, except Zeldie, throw at him, "It's the safest place right now, I promise you." He explained.
"Alright Xan," She said leaning up to kiss Pike, "will you come or are you going to get your bike?"
"I'll grab my bike tomorrow, I'd rather like to figure out what the hell is going on in this town." Pike said with a smile to everyone.
"I'll take care of the bitch." Zeldie said following Xander letting him lead the way, as she dragged the fake slayer by the neck.
Zeldie tossed the blonde through the door before jumping through herself slightly smoking. "Damn I hate when that happens!" she complained as she patted the smoke from her hair.
Pulling the fake blond up she grumbled all the way to the sitting room, smiling when she saw that Xander had gotten a hard backed chair and rough rope to contain their 'guest' for awhile.
"Thank you Xander," she smiled, "I'll go make some tea for everyone, why don't you begin the tale."
Xander nodded and motioned the three remaining companions to sit.
"Xander, since when do you live in a mansion?" Buffy asked in awe.
"That's the end of the story Buffy, I need to start that the beginning. Two years before you arrived here, in my tenth grade year. . ."
Xander sat looking into space as Meg and Willow entered the sitting room from the kitchen, having come in through the underground tunnels. They giggled softly to each other, drawing Xander's attention, he smiled at the girls they hadn't even noticed is presence yet they were so wrapped up in each other.
"Oh, hey Xand," Willow blushed.
"Get everything alright?" he asked
"Oh yes it's all very common stuff easy to find and cheap to get." Meg answered.
"Where is everyone else?" Willow asked sitting as far away from the gagged and bound blond as possible.
"Zeldie went up to her room only a few moments ago, she was starting to pass out. Giles went to the library to do his research thing, and the Cordilla shaped Buffy and her bad boy Pike headed up to a quest room a few hours ago they got tired of the Buffy shaped Cordilla complaining about seeing her perfect body make out with "the white trash trailer park."
"Well tonight we'll have a Buffy shaped Buffy and a Cordilla shaped cheerleader." Willow smiled, watching as Meg sat further from her then she liked.
Xander watched the silent communication between the two girls, "Don't" he said softly.
"Don't what?" They asked in unison.
"Don't put off or hide your feelings for each other because of my problems. I'm happy for you both I really am. I also know deep down my Angel still exists, just got to wait for him." Xander's voice was light but his smile didn't reach his eyes.
Willow got up and hugged him tightly, "We'll find a way I know it." she promised.
"Yes, well," Xander blinked away his tears, "I'll hold you to it seeing as I'm leaving after the soul swap stuff."
"Leaving?" they both cried in shock.
"It's thought best for two reasons, first we'll need all the help we can get facing Drusilla and this not quite Angelus Angel, so I'm heading out to find Spike."
That's a good idea" Meg agreed, "He'll know all about Drusilla. How she acts, what she likes, where she hunts, what her plans may be."
"Exactly!" Xander said with a wide smile.
"What's the second reason?" Willow whispered afraid of the answer, causing the smile to fall from his face.
"Zeldie feels it would be best if I don't see this side of my Angel. I have to agree with her actually, I just got him back I can't watch him become the monster he never wanted to become." Xander said sadly.
"But wasn't he . . .?" Willow began to question before she looked away blushing at the hard look Xander gave her.
"He was NEVER a monster Willow," Xander growled, "yes he killed, but only in self defense, he never killed who he ate unless they attacked him or his family first. And yes in his yearly years he tortured, killed, and maimed in pleasure but that was Darla's and the Master's influence after he created Drusilla he realized what he was doing and what he needed to do." Xander was breathing harshly by the end his face flushed from his out burst.
"Sorry" she mumbled.
"No, I'm sorry Wills I shouldn't have snapped at you like that." He sighed, smiling apologetically.
Xander sighed as he watched Willow and Meg set up for the spell work for later and before he knew it he had passed out, he was so physically and emotionally exhausted.
Xander sighed as he stretched yawning before his eyes flew open, he fell asleep! How could he, he was on watch duty. Making sure the slayer wannabe didn't escape.
Looking around he realized that the blond was missing, so was the stuff for the ritual, except for a few scattered candles, that gave off a soft glow. Standing he made his way to the hallway that's when he noticed that the candle's formed a path leading down the hallway and up the stairs.
Walking cautiously but letting his curiosity lead him, "Hello?" he called. Maybe Meg was making a move on Willow and he was about to walk in on something that would scar him for life. Or Pike was working his bad boy stuff on Buffy, again scared for life. Or maybe . . . oh God Giles and that Calendar lady, he shivered at the thought, that wouldn't just scar him that you kill him!
"Meg? . . . Willow? . . . Buffy? . . . Pike?" he called out but there was no reply, no sound at all actually. Taking a deep breath he called out the on that made him shiver, "Giles? . . . G-man?" still nothing. He made it to the stairs and frowned they were covered in rose petals, but not just any roses but blood red roses, his favorite. Not fake ones either but the real deal this must have cost a fortune.
Then a thought came to him, maybe Spike came back maybe this was all for Zeldie. That made him smile even if he did admit to another scaring possibility, "Spike? . . . Zeldie?" Xander continued to follow the path of rose petals and candles.
"Anybody here?" still silence, now he was getting nervous the path led straight to the master bed room, Angel's room. If this was a joke it wasn't funny! Opening the door he growled in anger at the room, candle's giving it that soft romantic glow, rose petals scattered across the floor and the bed that was covered in black satin sheets and the red comforter, Angel's favorite. Xander walked into the room angrily.
"Alright that's it, this isn't funny! I swear when I find you heartbeat or not I'm putting a stake through your chest!!!" Xander yelled. But nothing moved there was no laughter, no one jumping out screaming gotcha, just silence. The door clicked shut disturbing the silence, Xander spun around taking up a defensive position to see a dark figure with his back to Xander.
"Who the hell are you, how'd you get in here?" he demanded his heartbeat jumping as he heard the lock slide into place. The figured turned and Xander focused on the small key in the large slightly tanned hand. His mind not wanting to believe what his heart and his eyes were telling him.
"No hello?" the deep voice asked forcing Xander to focus on the man's face.
"Angel?" He barely whispered. The answering smirk was his answer.
"More or less" Angel slowly stocked towards him, forcing Xander to back step. "What's wrong Xand? You've never been afraid to be alone with me before."
"You had a soul before" Xander said with fake confidence feeling the bed hit the back of his knees, but Angelus didn't stop causing Xander to fall backwards. Angelus moved in a blur pinning Xander to the bed, straddling his hips hands above his head. Angelus leaned down taking a deep breath of Xander's sent.
"Just as I remember, maybe just a bit sexier" he murmured.
"Remembered!?" Xander asked in awe, not bothering to fight against the vampires hold.
"Of course I promised didn't I? I'd never leave you again, you're mine and only mine, just as I am yours." Angelus replied placing gentle kisses across Xander's face and neck.
"But Zeldie said that you lost the last hundred years," Xander said breathlessly trying to remember how to breath and think properly.
"She was right and wrong," he murmured paying extra attention to the pulse point where Xander's neck met shoulder. "It just took some time for everything to come back."
"Oh Angel," Xander moaned, arching his hips into the larger body above him.
"Tonight' special Xander" Angel smirked down at him "Do you know why?"
"Because you become truly mine, in every way." Xander gave him a strange look.
"But I thought I already was?"
"No Xander not yet," Suddenly Angel switched to game face swooping down to bite Xander's neck viscously causing him to scream and . . .