A chapter that's not super late? I must be dreaming...

Chapter 10

If I get possessed by a demon:

Make sure I'm actually a demon, because you guys can be idiots.

If knocking me unconscious, use a tranq-gun. I don't want a bump on my head.

If you need to lock me in a room, have me pick out a new outfit. I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for fashion, and if demon-me's trying to trick you, it had better know that. If not, talk about how weird 'I'm' acting.

If you need to have an excuse for locking me in the room, say it's revenge or something. I don't know, you're all weird.

The other part: back when I had to research that kid-killing flu demon, Giles explained there was a demon that sucked out "demonic essence" (which totally sounds lame, but whatever). Try that I guess.

FYI - I will get my revenge if there's any damage done to my clothing, any concussions, damage to my car, or really anything annoying. You have been warned. Be glad I'm feeling nice enough to tell you now.

BtVS - A:tS - Sw9

"Buffy, no,"

"Willow, you're the only one of us who can do magic!"

"But… I can't!" Willow exclaimed, "I don't wanna go crazy and try to end the world again!"

"...I know," Buffy responded.

"You do?" Willow asked. "I mean, yeah."

"I just don't know what else we can do? Send Xander in there and see if she's mean to him?"

"..."

BtVS - A:tS - Sw9

Xander had about a second to glare at where the gang was hiding before the door opened.

"Xander," Cordelia said, expression neutral.

"Can I come in?"

"Uh, you know," she said, "I'm feeling kind-of tired right now? Maybe come back later?"

"Come on, Cordy," he said. "It's been forever since we've talked." Xander could practically hear Cordelia's response. That's what happens when you cheat on someone with your now lesbian best friend.

Instead, she said, "Fine," and opened the door a little wider.

BtVS - A:tS - Sw9

Wesley slowly opened the door to his apartment and was relieved to find it empty. If Lilah had been there… he wasn't sure what he would have done. That night had been crazy, even by his usual standards. Becoming a teenager again, he couldn't imagine anyone wanting to do that again. It had been awful.

Well, he thought as a particular memory with Fred came to mind, it hadn't been completely awful. With that thought, Wesley grabbed a bottle of scotch with a glass and mused over the better parts of the day.

BtVS - A:tS - Sw9

"Nice place," Xander said as he entered Cordelia's room.

"What do you want?" she asked. Whatever was possessing Cordelia… Xander had to admit it was doing a pretty decent job. It's main problem in fooling him was the fact she seemed to lack the anger, the... passion, they always had when they talked.

"Just to talk. How's LA treating you?"

"Great," she said. "You know, you don't have to talk to me. The spell worked just fine."

"You sure?"

"Of course I'm sure," she said.

"You have all your memories back?"

"All the way back to my first shopping trip."

"That's your first memory?" he asked.

"What's yours?" she retorted.

Xander raised his hands. "Fine, whatever."

"Can you go now?" she asked.

"Sure," he said, heading towards the door. "Oh!" he said, turning around as he exited. "We might be staying a few more days, just so you know."

'Cordelia' scowled. "Why?"

"Want to get a outsider's look on the yearly big bad."

"Bye, Xander," she said.

"See you later," he said as he exited the room. The group turned to him as he made his way to where they were down the hallway.

"What do you think?" Angel asked.

"Whatever it is, it's doing a good job, it's just…"

"Not quite right?" Willow finished. Xander nodded.

"It has been a while since you've seen her," Angel said.

"Last time we had a real conversation, she hated me," Xander told him. "This was just… weird."

"Should we tell the others?"

"We should probably get Wesley to help with the research, but I don't think we should tell anyone else, at least until we plan on actually doing something," Buffy said. "What?" she asked, noticing the look on Angel's face.

"Shouldn't we ask Giles?" he asked, mostly ignoring the question. "I mean, it's his book."

"Um, Giles is in England," Buffy told him.

"Why?" he asked.

"Uh, he left last year, but all his books are in Sunnydale, so maybe we could ring…" Buffy stopped. "Who do we have in Sunnydale?" she asked.

"Um… There's Anya," Willow said, "But she's barely talking to us, and I'm not sure how she'd react if we told her it was to help Xander's ex-girlfriend."

"Anya…" Angel said, "Xander's girlfriend?" he asked.

"Ex." Xander responded, darkening.

"I think that leaves Spike," Willow said. At that, Angel's expression became as dark as Xander's.

"I guess it's that or drive back to Sunnydale," Buffy muttered. She turned to Angel.

"Where's your phone?"

BtVS - A:tS - Sw9

"Hey, ya'll," Fred said as she entered the kitchen to find Dawn and Connor sipping hot cocoa. "What you doing?"

"Hey, uh, Fred," Dawn responded. "We've got some cocoa. You want some? I think the kettle still has some water."

"No thanks," she said, shaking her head.

"Are you okay?" Connor asked.

"I… It's fine. So, what were you two up to tonight?"

"Oh, you know. Watched a movie. Had some fries," Dawn told her.

"Sounds like you two had a fun date," Fred teased.

The teenagers turned red.

"It wasn't…"

"Not…"

"Just teasing," she smiled. "You know what?" Fred said, "That cup of cocoa sounds good right about now."

"Help yourself."

That was chapter 10! I hope you enjoyed it. For some reason, 'Cordelia' was fun to write.