Untitled Document
"Best Laid Plans"
Sequel to To Me

Spoilers: Bargaining Parts 1 & 2; & Afterlife

Summary: A continuation of "To Me" The fallout when they return to the Magic Box. Will Buffy blab what Xander said to her at the tower, or will she keep it her little secret?

Author's Note: Just following up my post-premiere fic. This'll take place between the premiere and the next episode (I believe it's billed as 'Afterlife' on the Buffy site).

Dedication: This is partially to Calen, and the review I got for "To Me" And answer to the question, of sorts. Besides that, it's to all my fellow B/Xers out there who've been going through rough times in the faith lately.

*FADE TO: The walk from the site where the tower stood to the Magic Box.*

Silence reigned supreme during their walk. Only the sound of crackling fires and the occasional stray voice pierced the night. He was unsettled being outside tonight, as with many other nights since Buffy had... well, it's past tense now, isn't it? He could still barely form the word in his head, but it wasn't as if it mattered anymore. Buffy was back in Sunnydale, if slightly off her game.

He was driven to the uncomfortable silence by his own words. He couldn't believe what he'd admitted straight to the source. Loving Buffy had been the furthest thing from his mind lately. Well, that wasn't the complete truth, but he felt almost certain that his time of pining after her was over. He had Anya now, and they were engaged. He winced involuntarily at that. He was going to have to tell everyone sooner or later. Now, though, he was hoping for later. How would Buffy react to the news? Would she even react?

It was then that he noticed Buffy was just as silent as he was, though she didn't seem half as uncomfortable as he did. It warmed his heart to see a little of the innocent returned in her eyes. She had, in effect, been given a new lease on life. It seemed logical with her 'rebirth' that she'd lose a little bit of the baggage she'd been carrying around. The kind one never tries too hard to claim. Let someone overseas have it.

She looked as beautiful as ever, which reminded him just how head over heels he still was with her. He had tried not to show it, and almost fooled himself along with everyone else in thinking he was truly over her. But seeing her like this, alive again and full of wonder, had brought it all rushing back. Not surprisingly, thoughts of Anya were lost until they turned the corner and the Magic Box came into view.

He had to tell her. The part of him that could never say no to her, could also not deny her this bit of information. It would be easier saying it to her alone, than with everyone else there. Suddenly, with the voice of a nervous teenager, he spoke, "B-Buffy?" She kept walking, but looked at him, waiting for him to say whatever it was. It didn't make it any easier for him, "Buffy... Anya and I... we're engaged."

She stopped in place, looking at him questioningly, "Y-you... but?" She glanced back the way they came.

He had stopped and turned around when she looked back, his eyes following hers, "I know, Buffy. I wasn't sure how to tell you. What I said up there was the truth." He stepped back towards her and hoped his eyes would tell the tale, "And it complicates things, but I'm still engaged to her. I made a promise to her, and I intend to keep it. It's the kind of guy I am."

She seemed lost again, "Why, if you don't love her..."

He glared a little, "I didn't say that. I love her very much. It's never compared to you, though, but you weren't available at any of the times I wanted you. I've got a good thing with Anya, and I don't intend on making the same mistake twice."

It took her a moment to catch his meaning, but the memory of the clothes fluke with Willow came rushing back to her. She sighed loudly, and couldn't help but notice the worry and concern on his face as she did so. "How long?"

He caught her meaning almost immediately, "Since before we went to fight Glory. When we were rummaging around for the Dagon Sphere in the basement."
She smiled ruefully, "When you went to have sex." He blushed furiously.

He took a few more steps towards the Magic Box before stopping again, "Even if Anya wasn't an issue, I wouldn't be with you... not right now."
She was again confused, "Why not?"

He didn't look at her, simply expressed his thought through word, "You're not exactly yourself right now, Buffy. You're still all jumbled up in your head from this whole ordeal. I'd feel like I was taking advantage of you... that you'd want nothing to do with me when you got back to being yourself." She was about to say something else to him, when he gestured for her to follow, "We should hurry up. They're probably worrying about us at the shop. We shouldn't keep them waiting."

*CUT TO: The Magic Box. Anya is pacing around, while Willow and Tara are comforting each other. Dawn is sitting on the counter, looking a million miles away.*

"Where is he? He should be back by now." Anya cried, "He's dead. I just know it. Xander ran into some of those demons and they killed him. I'm going to be a widow before I'm even married."

"What?" Tara's ears perked up.

Anya sighed, "Nevermind. That's not the point. Xander is going to be dead and then I'll have to do something moronically romantic like killing myself."

"Such a shame." Willow mumbled. She cleared her throat and glared at Anya, "They're going to be fine. Buffy can take care of them both."

Anya fumed a little, "Are you implying that Xander can't take care of himself? He *did* axe that demon, y'know." She was about to pounce on Willow for her skeptical look, but had not the time, as Xander came rushing through the front door with Buffy en tow.

"Buffy, Xander!" Everyone declared at once. A round of singular hugs and group hugs were exchanged, and everyone began gushing about Buffy's return.
Everyone, except Dawn. She was stunned into silence at seeing her sister before her. Buffy was likewise quiet, for the most part, when it came to her sister. They stared at each other for a long time.

"Is it really you?" Dawn asked, her voice barely a whisper. Anya was about to answer the obvious, when Xander threw a hand over her mouth and dragged her away.

Buffy nodded, and within moments, was enveloped in a bearhug that rivaled her Slayer strength. She returned it, and felt her long-unshed tears beginning to flow. Dawn's sobs could be heard, though muffled through Buffy's dress. Her head lifted from Buffy's shoulder, just enough for her to hoarsely mumble, "I love you, Buffy."

Her eyes instinctively, she wasn't sure why, found Xander on the other side of the shop. Her eyes closed tightly as she replied easily, "I love you, too, Dawn."

The moment was broken as Willow cleared her throat. Buffy looked at her quietly, her look expectant, "Yes?"

"I... uh... I'm sorry to interrupt... but I wanted to ask you some things... about where you were and how you're feeling."

Buffy released Dawn from the embrace, keeping an arm around her protectively, "I don't really think there's much to it. I was in hell, had a really not good time with a bunch of hellbeasts, did the eternal torment thing, and now I'm back. Other than that, I'm pretty much peachy."

"Buffy... I... this isn't something we can just joke about. We have to know if we brought you came back alright. If you're all *you.* We want to make sure there weren't any mistakes."

"Mistakes?" Dawn asked, incredulously, "You mean you did this?"

"Yes... we... it's complicated, Dawn." Xander tried to answer gently, reaching a hand out to her.

She quickly batted it away, "Don't touch me. You knew you could do this and you waited so long? You didn't tell *me* about it?"

Tara replied, "D-Dawn, we didn't want to get your h-hopes up... in case it didn't work. We didn't want you to get your feelings hurt."

Dawn clutched her sister protectively, "By lying to me? How did you think you'd break it to me if it worked? 'Oh hey, Dawn. By the way, we brought Buffy back. Here she is!' I can't believe you did this!"

"Dawn." The calm voice startled her. Buffy looked down at her, "Dawnie, please, try to calm down."

Dawn unexpectedly broke away from Buffy's protective arm, looking at her in disbelief, "Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down?" She sniffled deeply, tears beginning to form again, her eyes became angry, "How do I even know you're real?" She looked at Willow and the rest of them with something bordering on hate, "Is she even really my sister?"

The words stung them all, especially Buffy. The look on her little sister's face was enough to break her heart. The young girl stumbled away, towards the stacks, sobbing openly. She turned away from them.

"Yes, she's your sister!" Willow responded, "We wouldn't use anything to trick you. We love you, Dawn. We don't want to hurt you."

"You idiots." The voice was barely recognizable. There was only a trace left that they could recognize as Dawn's. She spun around, bearing pure white eyes and a menacing glare, "You have no idea what you've done."

"Dawn?" Buffy was breathless.

"You'll be made to pay for your transgression. And it will be by my hand." Dawn's mouth opened wide, and a startling burst of flame spouted forth. They all ducked out of the way, as Dawn finished spouting and collapsed to the floor. Xander grabbed a throw pillow and began beating out the fire that had been started in the books on the table. The rest of them rushed to Dawn's side to see if she was okay. After finishing to put out the fire, he rushed to Dawn's side, sitting right above her head.

"W-What happened?" Dawn croaked out, disoriented.

Xander stroked her forehead, as the others comforted her in other ways, "Someone decided to rent Dawn Patrol for a minute. Are you okay?"

She nodded weakly, giving them all relief, "My throat's dry."

Anya looked amused, "Well that's what happens, y'know, when you spit fire."

"Fire?" Dawn was confused.

"The thing that took you, it made you..." Buffy paused, "It's not important. You're okay, that's all that matters."

"Wills, I think we should hit the research pretty hard now. Find out what this is. Anya and I will take Dawn back to the Summer's house, get her some rest. Uh, Buffy... you can go either way." He avoided her eyes as he spoke to her.

Buffy looked torn, but then came to a decision, "I'll come along with you... in case it takes her over again and we find out the human torch isn't the only thing in its bag of tricks."

Xander nodded, and started helping Dawn out of the place. He stopped, letting Anya and Buffy resume the carrying of Dawn, and turned back to Willow, "Willow... whatever you find out, see if it took over Dawn because she was the key, or if its after mystical hosts... cause then I'm coming back here to keep watch over you two. Just... find out something, okay?"

Willow nodded and stuck her nose back in a book, while Tara ran around the stacks grabbing a few other books. Xander headed out after the others.

*CUT TO: The Summers House. Buffy is tucking Dawn in.*

"I don't want to hurt anyone." Dawn spoke quietly, her voice still hoarse.

"You aren't going to. Whatever it is, it's not you." He squeezed Dawn's hand, "We're going to figure out what it is, and we're going to kill it. Just for you."

Dawn smiled faintly, "I'm glad you're back, Buffy."

"I'm glad to be back. I couldn't leave my sister for long." She leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead, "You should get some rest. If you need anything, just get our attention. Just don't do that fire thing again. That's one trick I could live without ever seeing again. Goodnight, Dawn."

"Goodnight, Buffy. I love you."

"I love you too."

Buffy left the room and closed the door behind her. She made her way down the stairs to see Xander sitting apprehensively on the couch, trying to not look extremely worried. When he heard Buffy come down the stairs, he nearly leapt off the couch to interrogate her, "Is Dawnie okay? Is she sleeping?"

Buffy smiled a little, "She will be soon, on both counts. How are you doing?"

"Other than being freaked out that my favorite little Summers was spewing fired less than an hour ago? I'm fine."

Buffy couldn't hold back a smile as she asked, "Who's your favorite *big* Summers?"

Several emotions fluttered through Xander's eyes, but settled on discomfort, "Buffy... can you please not use that against me?"

She nodded quietly, before changing the subject, "Where's Anya?"

He was thankful for the change, as he motioned towards the kitchen, "She went to make some tea in case Dawn had trouble sleeping... you, too."
"Well, I'll have to remember to tell her tha..."

She was interrupted by a soft, pleading, "Xander?"

They both looked over to see Anya, with pure white eyes, marching out of the kitchen with an open scissors held to her face. When she knew she had their attention, she smiled wickedly, "Upon the world you have unleashed an unspeakable evil. I will have vengeance upon this place, and all who reside, for as many centuries as I need. And the glory will be in the means of destruction. Your own bodies will be used against you." To accent the point, the possessed Anya brought the blade of the scissors down across her cheek, opening a large gash.

"Anya!" He was about to make a dive, but was halted by an unseeable force. The non-Anya continued to mark up her own face, a delighted smile on her face as she did so.

"The human race will be their own undoing. I shall be the hand, you shall be the tool. At the mercy of my influence. And you will not know when it will come. I use this body as an example."

The scissors was brought to Anya's throat, but before the slash could be made, Anya was tackled from behind, "No!" Dawn grabbed Anya's arm, knocking the scissors from her hand. Before anything further transpired, Anya dropped to the floor unconscious, taking Dawn with her.

"Dawn!" Buffy rushed to her sister's aide, as Xander went to Anya. As soon as she knew Dawn was alright, she sprung up, "I'll get bandages!" She bounded up the stairs.

"Ahn, speak to me... please. Let me know you're okay." He was beyond relieved to see the blade only nicked her throat, the small spot of blood nothing compared to what it could have been. He rocked her gently in his arms, whispering her name repeatedly.

He didn't notice her slight shiver as she regained consciousness, continuing his ritualistic rocking, until she barked, "Xander, stop it, you're making me nauseous."
He smiled with relief, leaning down and planting a kiss on her with no heed to the fact he was getting blood all over himself. Buffy returned with the bandages, and helped him move her onto the couch, where he immediately started dressing her wounds.

Buffy led Dawn back up to her room and put her back to bed. When she came back, Xander had finished bandaging Anya's face, and she had since fallen asleep. He sat over her, as if to watch and make sure she took ever breath she was supposed to.

Buffy came to stand by him, and he looked up. She could see his eyes were wet with barely held-off tears. She laid a hand on his shoulder, "Is she going to be okay?"

He stood up, leading her across the living room, "Yeah," He whispered, "The cuts were mostly shallow. She should be fine, but she almost..."
She squeezed his arm, "I know, Xander. But she's okay. Focus on that."

He sighed, "I suppose we should call Willow... warn her. This thing... it made her... how can we stop this, Buffy? It's using us against ourselves."
"Well find something, Xander. And we'll kill it for what it did to her. I promise."

He smiled weakly, "Thanks. Well, I don't want to move her, so it looks like we're spending the night here."

"Where are you gonna sleep? Anya has the couch, Dawn had her room, Willow and Tara have the main bedroom... I..." She stopped, something running through her mind.

Before she could get much farther, he interrupted her, "I can manage on the floor." Before she could argue, he kept going, "I'll go give Willow a call, let her know what happened. Just grab me some pillows and a blanket or two from upstairs."

She did so reluctantly, and he made a short call to the Magic Box. When she came back down, he was exiting the kitchen with a couple of cups of tea. He handed her one, and started talking without prompting, "Wills said she didn't find much on what this is. She did, however, find a general warding spell. It should keep whatever this is out... she and Tara just got done doing it at the Magic Box, and they'll do it here as soon as they got home. Hopefully it'll do its job... I really don't want to have that happen again." He motioned towards Anya on the couch.

"Alright... so we just wait for Willow and Tara to get home, and hope the boogie man doesn't try to catch us again. Sounds fun."

He almost laughed, when his eye caught movement in the front yard. The blonde hair reflected in the moonlight told him exactly who it was. Without a second thought, he took Buffy's empty cup of tea and suggested, "Why don't you go upstairs and get ready for bed? I'll clean up down here, and then we can hang out until the witchly women get here."

Buffy was apprehensive about leaving him alone again, but didn't put up too much of a fight. When the door to her room closed, he put the cups down, and headed out the front door.

*CUT TO: The front yard. Spike is making his way to the door when Xander steps out.*

"Xander? What the bloody hell are you doing here?"

"Anya and I dropped Dawn off here. We found her wandering around downtown." Xander answered.

Spike looked irritated, "Oh, right, so I suppose now you're gonna blame me for letting her get out of my sights, right?"

"No. Hell broke loose tonight, Spike. You probably did your best to keep her inside... but we both know how stubborn she is. We ran into her after taking out the demon leader. They pretty much fled town after that."

"Took out the demon leader? What did Red cook up to take the wank out?"

Xander's face tightened, "Willow didn't kill him."

Spike was surprised, "Oh, the little blonde one then?"

"No, Spike. I killed him."

Spike let out a laugh, "You? No offense, droops, but you don't have what it takes to off whatever bloke was ringleading this."
"I'm just full of surprises, *William.*" Xander kept himself even.

Spike just rolled his eyes, "Right then. I'm gonna go check on the nibblet."

He tried walking past Xander, but found a strong arm blocking his way, even pushing him back, "I don't think so."

"Get out of my way, boy."

Xander wanted to start a fight. It would surely relieve a lot of his built up tension. He didn't, though, for Buffy's sake. "She's sleeping, Spike. She's had a *very* rough night. Why don't you just come back tomorrow night?"

"And just who do you think you are, telling me what to do?" Spike spat back impetulantly.

"I think I'm a person who's looking out for Dawn's welfare at the moment. I said you could come back tomorrow, Spike, I suggest you take me up on my offer before it's retracted."

Spike felt like tearing him apart. Vamping out, and sucking the throat right out of him. He sighed inwardly when he remembered he couldn't. He glared at the young man for a while, before turning around and storming off back down the sidewalk, cursing as he went, "Wanker. Git. ...Wanker."

Xander waited a little while before turning around and going back in the door. Upstairs, Buffy's head pulled back from looking out the window.

Xander finished putting the dishes away before heading up the stairs towards Buffy's room. He stopped at the door and nearly fell over. She was dressed for bed, alright. As if she was expecting some dashing young man to come spend the night with her.

Xander gulped loudly as he thought he might be the man she was envisioning. The sophomore boy in his head was doing backflips and taking his pants off already, but Xander mentally shook his head. He put on a simple smile and spoke, "Will and Tara should be home any minute. You can go to bed and we can do the ward spell on our own. You need your rest anyway."

She took his statement as a subtle refusal to her advance. She'd known it was futile the minute she'd slipped on her nightgown, but still felt like trying. Of all the emotions she was struggling to get a grasp on again, love was one she knew she wanted most of all. His outright statement of his love had drawn her towards this. Towards almost throwing herself at him. Despite his refusal of her silent advances, she did not take offense to it, or look at it as a rejection. She simply saw it for what it was; a friend respecting her too much to take advantage of vulnerability. One dedicated to another and not about to go repeating past mistakes. She smiled slightly, "Goodnight, Xander. Sweet dreams."

He returned the smile, "You too, Buff. You too."