Disclaimer: Nothing, nada, zip, zero, zilch. That's how much I own the
characters. The story is all mine, but what is a story without great
characters. Thanks Joss.
Rating: R
Showdown part two: Coming through
When Xander awoke he found himself in completely new surroundings. He had gone from the nicely furnished factory, to some place dank and dreary. He was wet and cold. He could smell the rats. Smell the rats? He questioned himself. Since when could I smell rats?
He got up slowly. His head was pounding. He looked around. He saw himself alone in an almost black pit. He could see surprisingly well for the complete lack of light, he thought. Than, Xander noticed something moving. He squinted and recognized what was moving. Dawn. He walked over to her and examined her closely. Except for a small bruise on the forehead, she looked good. Good enough to eat, he mused.
Then he remembered. Oh shit! He felt his neck, and sure enough there were two bite marks.
"Took you long enough," a female voice called as she entered the dank cell and flipped on the lights.
"Tara," Xander said simply, as if that word explained everything.
"Xander," she replied. She stared at him for a few moments. "Hmm, something's off."
"Yeah, how about the part where I become a vampire!" Xander shouted. He was amazed at how much control he had. During all his research, he had come across some theories that said the human soul remained in the vampire until it severed ties with humanity. Most times the demon overpowered the mortal soul the second it arose on survival instinct. Other times it took until the first feed. That was also the theory behind why most vampires killed family members or loved ones. To shock and suppress the remnants of the human soul.
Xander had a surprising amount of his soul left inside him. He wondered if his friends had already cursed him with a soul. Then he wondered what had become of them, since Dawn was lying before them.
"Oh, well," Tara interrupted his musings. "Just have to feed you, then you'll be fine. And I brought you a perfect first meal," Tara said and turned to leave the room.
"Dawn, are you okay?" Xander asked, concerned. He could smell the power in her blood, or at least the demon could. EWWW! Xander thought.
"O-oh, hiya there Xander. I was just leaving," Dawn said and stood up wobbly. She fell back to the floor instantly. Xander moved with lightning speed to catch her. "Thanks," Dawn managed weakly. She didn't trust him. Not that Xander could blame her. He didn't trust himself.
"Here we are," Tara called as she reentered the room, with a girl in her arms. She was badly beaten and gagged, but there was no mistaking who it was.
"ANYA!" Xander called. He went to make a move, but the demon in him flared and took control. "Snack?" He asked.
Tara nodded. She flicked her thumbnail out, nicking a cut on the side of Anya's neck. "Hungy?" she teased. The scent of blood gave the demon even more control, and he reverted to his game face automatically. Dawn squirmed to free herself from Xander's grip. "Yummy," he rumbled at the young girl.
"No," Tara commanded.
"Yeah, all skin and bones, nothing good to eat here," Dawn tried, talking very quickly and nervously. She was petrified of him.
"She is for the mistress only. You can have this one," Tara gestured at Anya. Xander gave Dawn a quick look, but let her fall to the floor. He got up and started towards Anya. He was about to take a bite, but Xander's soul regained control.
"No," he struggled out and turned his face away from Anya's neck. "I won't."
"Damnit, once you feed you will be free, embrace who and what you have become." Tara's words hammered away at Xander's resolve. He could feel the demon in him grow in power.
"Yes," he growled and advanced on Anya again.
"Xander, please no," Dawn begged, realizing that some of her friend was left, and she had to reach him or Anya would be dead. Xander hesitated for a second. Tara's quick kick to Dawn's gut left her speechless.
"Eat," she told Xander. The demon raged at the violence that it thought it should be committing and moved to take Anya.
The other door to the room burst open with an ear-ringing thud. Faith, Angel, and William burst in. Human Xander scored a victory at the power he was able to take from their still being alive. Faith and William were carrying crosses, trying to pry Tara away from Dawn. When he saw Angel, the human part of Xander had a whole new respect for him, if this was the struggle he went through daily. Then his memory brought pictures of him kissing Buffy, his Buffy, and the demon eroded Xander's control.
Faith pulled out a stake, and Dawn cried out, "No, wait. There's still some of Xander left in him."
"I know," a voice called, and Buffy entered the cell that Xander now realized was somewhere in the Sunnydale sewer system. Willow stepped in right behind her friend. Xander's human side took enough control of his body to calm his face back to normal. Seeing Buffy and Willow alive made him jump for joy.
They were at a standstill. Tara, holding Anya's neck in a position that implied she would snap it. Dawn had crawled over to Faith and William. Angel watched Xander, eyeing him suspiciously.
"You can't have the key," Tara told them. "If you try and take her, you will all die."
"I don't think so luv," William told her.
"Did you really think that holing up in a separate area of the sewer would help you escape me?" Buffy asked. "You have my sister, and my boyfriend. Hell itself couldn't stop me."
That explained to Xander how his friends had managed to get to them without the vampire army or Amy stopping them.
"Take the key, and die," Tara repeated.
"Doesn't matter, I'm here for him anyway," Buffy said calmly.
The demon in Xander raged at its own survival instinct. She's going to kill us. His game face appeared again. Buffy cringed, but didn't back down. She looked at him. Her eyes were so soft, so full of love. She still saw Xander the man she loved not Xander the demon he had become. His own eyes raged at her. There was a long internal struggle, but finally, the chocolate brown eyes won out over the yellow demon eyes.
"Buffy," he said weakly. She nodded.
Willow spoke next. "Xander, is Buffy your true love?"
"What," he growled at Willow, but fought the demon back down.
"Is Buffy your true love?" she repeated the question. She sneaked a glance over at her ex-lover. She glared at the group, angrily cursing at Willow. Willow sighed, she was hurt, but Xander could still be saved.
Xander's human soul wouldn't let the demon win out and cry about Buffy's betrayal. "Yes," he said. The demon raged. But his soul knew that this was still true, despite her betrayal. He had even given his life for her.
"Buffy, is Xander your true love?" Willow asked.
"Yes," Buffy said with all the warmth and sincerity of an I do at a wedding. Willow and Buffy
exchanged a knowing look and Buffy approached Xander.
"I love you," she said. Xander nodded. He expected her to stake him, and that the whole true love thing was a way to allow Xander's soul enough strength to hold the demon in check so she could do it.
"Have you fed?" she asked him.
"What?" Xander asked, the demon in him rising up at the word fed. He was hungry, and only one thing could quench his hunger. NO! NEVER! He told his demon self. "No," said, struggling to keep in control.
What Buffy did next shocked Xander. She pulled the hair off her neck and told him, "If you haven't fed, then drink."
"Buffy," Xander shook his head. "No, I can't. You don't want this. No one is worth this," he tried to compel her. He had given his life for her to live, not for her to join him in demon world.
"Take Willow first Xander, if a slayer's blood is the first you taste nothing will ever satisfy you again," Tara called out, unsure of what exactly was happening, but knowing it was not good. William and Faith kept her at bay. She held Anya, keeping them from staking her were she stood.
"Xander," she looked into his eyes. She seemed so calm, so sure of herself. "Do you trust me?"
"Buffy," Xander started, searching for what to say next.
"Do you trust me?" she asked again. Her nerves had been a mess on the trip over, but now, seeing that her sweet loving Xander still existed, even inside of the twisted demon he had become, she was calm and at peace. It wasn't too late.
"Yes," Xander said.
"Then drink," she offered him her neck again. Xander glanced over at Willow who nodded. Unless this was all some ploy by Amy to break his soul, he had to trust them. But then again, all she would have needed to do would be to show him Buffy as a vampire to break his soul. He took a deep breath, which he realized he didn't need.
"Please, close your eyes," he begged her. She complied. He didn't want her to see him like this, taking her blood. He bent into her neck, allowed his game face to come on and bite down as gently as he could manage. He heard Willow start to chant something, Tara shouted something but Angel silenced her with a bottle of holy water to the face.
Xander had expected the demon to take control when the sweet taste of Buffy's blood flowed into him. He thought that he would greedily drink her dry, and the blood would crush his soul. What in fact happened, was that he wanted less and less of her blood as her drank. He gained more and more control and the blood was actually destroying the demon within him. He drank, until he no longer wanted. The power in her blood was so strong and powerful, he felt as if her blood was life itself.
And it was. When he pulled away, his vampire self was no more. He felt his face, and the teeth and ridges were gone. He looked at his girlfriend, who gave him a weak smile, and fell, into his arms.
"Buffy," Xander said concerned, forgetting the others were even there. He sat them down, feeling run down while at the same time full of an energy he could barely understand. She lied his arms, nestling her head against his shoulder.
"What the hell?" Tara demanded when she realized what had happened. The mistress will not be pleased, she thought.
"It's complicated luv, just let it go. And that one while your at it," William said, pointing to Anya. He had seen a lot of amazing things in his long lifetime, but that spell had definitely taken the cake. It had seemed to William that Xander actually glowed with life's energy. He smiled at his friend before returning his attention to Tara.
"Give me back my key," Tara returned, tightening her grip on Anya's throat. Faith hadn't allowed herself to take her eyes off of the witch. She was amazed that Buffy had lived through the spell. Now, they had a chance to pull the triple play, Xander, Dawn and Anya. Faith knew what she had to do. She grabbed Dawn's neck and squeezed, hoping she would play along.
"Not a chance. I'll kill her before I give her to you and your bitch," Faith growled.
Angel wanted to step in, but William shot him a look. Angel decided to trust Faith and see where she went with this ploy. He was trying very hard not to think about what had just transpired before him.
"Seems we're at a draw then. You want both the key and Anya, but I only want the key. But you are willing to kill her before you give her to me."
"Quick on the uptake," Faith quipped.
"Well, since I sense you won't actually kill the key, watch me actually kill Anya." Tara started to twist Anya's head, but an arrow to the shoulder stopped her.
"Unhand her," Giles called, stepping into the lair with crossbow in hand. Tara seemed to consider her odds and injuries, then threw Anya at Angel and ran down through the door.
"Let her go," Willow told the group. She was worn out from the powerful spell she had just cast. "We have to get out of here before reinforcements arrive." The others nodded. Faith let go of Dawn's neck and looked at her, the hurt clear in both their eyes.
"You okay kid?" Faith asked. She had actually kept her violent side in check. She was proud of herself. She just hoped Dawn would understand.
"Yeah, I knew you were only acting," she said, unsure.
"Xander, you up to helping Buffy get out of this hell hole?" Angel asked.
Xander looked at him. He wanted to tell him that he understood now. That he understood why he wanted to find something or someone to take comfort in and take his mind away from the demon that was always present. But that just wouldn't be his style. "Whatever you say, lead the way Dead- boy." Angel smiled. As much as Xander had wanted to say it with venom, his true feelings came out in the tone of his words. "Shut up," Xander mumbled as he lifted the light slayer up. She was only 110 pounds at most, and Xander had gotten used to lifting much heavier weights at the construction sites.
Angel picked Anya up, while William helped guide Dawn out of the tunnel. Giles led the group, and Faith stood the rear, watching for a possible ambush.
DEEPER IN THE SEWERS
Amy lay completely still on her bed. She was battered and close to broken. The slayer had nearly killed her. It had taken all of her magical powers to escape with her undeath. All because of the stupid boy. That boy was becoming the biggest thorn in her side. She had only three days to recover her strength for the ritual. Then, she would never feel this way again.
She had sent Tara, Xander, and the key far away from all the rest of her army and her lair. Hoping that even if the slayer could find her, she wouldn't find the key. Despite her weakened state, she could still feel the magical disturbance. Before they even finished their spell, Amy knew what had happened. Somehow, they had reversed the boy. She didn't think it could be done, but they had managed it. And if they had managed to cast a spell so powerful, they certainly had taken the key. Her only hope was that Tara had managed to escape. She had Tara take out a backup plan, just in case, but she was unsure whether it would work. It was her only chance now, she was in no condition to try and retake the key.
Amy's hatred of Xander increased. His death had brought out a side of the slayer she hadn't been prepared for. She had dodged all her magical blasts. The slayer had even managed to burst through her magical protection barrier. But Amy had escaped, and once the ritual was over, her only threat was now one of her own. Now, he was a threat again. If she had any strength left, she would have thrown a fit.
SUMMERS HOUSE
They laid Buffy down on the couch. Xander knelt by her side, but Willow brought over a cot for him to lie down on.
"I know you won't leave her side, but at least rest," she demanded her resolve face in place. Xander smiled at his friend's concern. The euphoric feeling of the life energy had left him, and he was feeling the after affects of the spell.
Giles and William had taken Anya to the hospital. She was in bad shape and not conscious, but they were hopeful she would pull through. Angel and Faith took watch over the door and Dawn rested in the Summer's new lazyboy recliner that they had recently bought with their winnings. Cordy came over and covered Dawn with a blanket and handed her a cup of hot chocolate. She then proceeded to nearly choke the life out of Xander.
"Hi, Cordy," he gasped, and she relented in her embrace.
"I'm so glad you're okay Xander," she said, clearly close to tears. Then added, "That was the dumbest thing you have ever done. And you've done some really dumb things. What, you couldn't just kick her?"
"Hey, Buffy kicked her with all her slayer strength and she barely budged, I wasn't going to be able to take her down. So I did the only thing I could think of. Which brings me to all the questions I have swirling in my mind," he said. It had been a quiet trip back, all of them expecting an attack. None had come. Buffy squeezed his hand. She was awake, but exhausted.
"Did I get cursed?" Xander asked, glancing at Angel.
"Tell the story Red, you tell it best," Faith said with a smirk from the door. She was happy her friends were okay, but she was concerned about her love. The two watchers were alone. Not that it would do Amy any good to capture them, but she was still concerned.
"Okay, this is what happened." Willow began.
FLASHBACK 24 HOURS AGO
FACTORY
Buffy watched as Amy turned Xander. She screamed his name, and after that words would not come out. Amy dropped Xander to the ground, and looked up just in time to see Buffy's attack. She saw it, but she couldn't stop it. Buffy hit her. Repeatedly. In the face, in the chest, and on the head. She had such power behind her swings. One blow broke her nose. The next shattered ribs. Buffy grabbed Amy's arm and twisted it until it snapped.
Amy sent bolts of energy out at her. Buffy dodged them and kept coming. Buffy's mind was blank except for one thought, kill. Amy put up a magical barrier. When Buffy arrived at it, she pounded on it with such force that it collapsed. Buffy hammered away at her. Bone cracked and snapped. Finally, she pulled out a stake to finish Amy, off crying inwardly but outwardly trying to avenger her lover's death. Suddenly, Tara appeared with Dawn.
AT THE SAME TIME
SUMMERS HOME
Cordelia was up the stairs as soon as she could walk. Giles and Dawn followed her up. They found her flipping through a big volume that Giles recognized from his own collection. He had taken it to England with him because of the dark magic it contained, fearing Willow might stumble upon it.
"Cordelia," he began.
"Got it!" she exclaimed. "Heart to heart spell."
"Cordelia, that, that, i-is an incredibly dangerous and powerful spell. It's only used for, oh dear," Giles sighed, filling with an immense sadness. "Xander?" he asked quietly.
"Yesss!" she hissed.
"Someone fill me in," Dawn whined, confused beyond the norm.
"Dawnie?" a voice called from outside.
"Tara," Dawn cried and ran out to embrace the witch.
"Dawn, please do stay in the house," Giles told her, trying to hold on despite his bubbling sense of sadness.
"It's okay Giles, I'll take good care of her," Tara teased as she showed the two in the house her true face, snapped her fingers, and the girls were gone.
Giles face fell in shock and fear, "Xander and Tara," he said, the weight of it all pressing on him like a rock.
"It's not too late to save Xander. I don't have these visions for the fun of it," Cordy demanded. She was in shock, but she knew that the PTB sent her this vision for a reason. "It may be dangerous, but if I had a vision, then there's something we're supposed to do about it."
"Yes, keep Xander away and stop any damage he might do to his friends," Giles said defeated.
"NO! I found this spell. You know what it is, we can do it. We're going to the factory, I bet that's were Tara took Dawn." That snapped Giles out of his depression.
"Right you are," he said and grabbed a crossbow from the weapons chest, thinking that he would kill Xander so Buffy wouldn't have to send a love of her life to hell again.
FACTORY
"Release my mistress, or I'll kill her," Tara called, ringing Dawn's neck.
"No you won't, you need her for your damn ritual," Faith cried.
"If you kill my mistress then there's no ritual. So I kill this one," Tara tightened her grip on Dawn.
"Tara, please," the girl squeaked. She tried to reach her, drum up something of the old Tara, but nothing of this creature resembled her Tara.
"Shut up!"
Buffy glared at her former friend, prepared to kill her sister. Buffy knew if she killed Amy, there would be no ritual and many lives would be spared. But she couldn't handle Dawn's death too. Not on top of Tara's and Xander's. She got off of Amy.
"Buffy, what are you doing?!" Angel called. He was afraid Amy had cast another spell. Buffy would definitely be prone to magic in her current state. He briefly wondered if she had been like that after she had sent him to hell to save the world. She's not going to sign her sister over to the same fate, he thought.
"This isn't the time," Buffy said, staring hatefully at Amy as she crawled towards Tara. Amy then snapped her fingers and Tara, Dawn, Amy, and Xander were gone. Buffy slammed her fist into the wall. It shook the whole structure.
"Damn you B, you should've killed her," Faith yelled, the depression of the whole situation hitting her. They were going to lose. Xander and Tara were gone, and Amy now had Dawn. We're in big trouble, she thought.
"And lose Dawn too!"
"You've already lost her," Faith snapped back, letting her anger come full force. Buffy may have lost everything, but other people still had things to live for. She had William. In an instant Faith found Buffy's hands around her neck.
"Buffy," Angel and William tried to separate the two, neither of the former bads knowing what to do or say to calm the women they loved down.
"HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT!" Buffy screamed.
"Buffy," a weak voice called from the floor. "Xander? Buffy, where did Xander go?"
Buffy released Faith's neck and threw herself into her best friend. "Willow," she sobbed. It was too much for her. She was losing it. Worse than she had ever lost it. If killing Angel had been bad, watching as the man she loved gave his own life for hers only to be turned into a thing that would seek to kill her, was unbearable.
"What's going on?" Willow asked weakly. She was confused, disoriented and had a possible concussion, but she knew from Buffy's sobs and Xander's absence that something bad had happened.
"Amy turned Xander," Cordelia said as she and Giles clambered down the stairs.
"How did you know that?" William asked, shocked to see the pair.
"She had a vision," Angel explained.
"Of course," William muttered to himself.
"Dawn, how did she get Dawn?" Buffy said between sobs.
"Tara," Giles said sadly. "She appeared outside and Dawn went to give her a hug."
"Then she went all poof," Cordy said.
Buffy and Willow were crying. Faith and William held each other. Angel just stared at the floor.
"Do any of you want to know why I came here? You should all know I don't have these visions unless I'm supposed to help."
Buffy and Willow stopped crying so they could listen. They needed something to grasp at, some light of hope.
"I found something, it's called the Heart to Heart spell," Cordelia began. Angel gasped.
"You've heard of it I suppose then," Giles said.
"When I first got my soul back and realized my purpose. I was trying to find a way to return my humanity," he said quietly.
Buffy and Willow's heads sprung up. "We can unvampire a vampire," Buffy asked full of hope, maybe I can still save him, she thought.
"Well, in a way," Giles began to try and explain the spell. "It has only succeeded twice. It is the only record of anyone ever having been turned and then becoming human again. With the exception of William," Giles waved at him
"Get on with it, time is short," Faith spoke.
"Yes. Well, it has only been done twice because there are a number of things that must exactly line up. It was created many centuries ago by a warlock. A vampire clan had attacked his village. He watched as the people banded together to stop them. One man, traded his life that his wife be spared. The wife was heartbroken but at the same time she knew he had only done it to save her. The warlock was so touched, that he conjured up a very powerful spell to return the man's humanity. But he placed a great deal of restrictions on it so that it could not be used at will to disturb the balance between good and evil," Giles told them the story.
"That's all great Giles," Buffy said. "But what are the restrictions?"
"Oh, yes of course. First, the person who is turned must have become a vampire to save his true love. Second, the person who sacrificed their life must be the true love of the one he saved."
"So, they have to be each other's true love?" Faith interjected.
"Yes. Third," Giles went on despite the interruption. "and most importantly, the spell must be cast as the vampire feeds on the one he saved. But the blood of the one he saved must be the first blood he takes, or it cannot be done."
"So, if we get to Xander before he feeds, and he drinks my blood while Willow does the spell, we can reverse the transformation?" Buffy asked, full of hope.
"I suppose so," Giles concurred, amazed at how his slayer had once again boiled a complex situation into it's simplest form.
"Buffy," William said gently. "I like Xander as much as the rest of you, but there are a number of problems with the spell. First, we have to find them before he feeds. We'll have no idea if he has fed or not. Second, they have Dawn, focusing all our energy on Xander is just what Amy wants."
"A location spell. I could find them," Willow spoke, determined. "Chances are Amy will keep them together. And far away from her. She may be powerful, but Buffy kicked her ass," Willow blushed as they gaped at her words. "Hey, she took my girlfriend and my best friend, I can use mean words." She was trying to hide her feelings, but she was a wreck inside. She was sure Tara had fed, so the ritual was out for her, but Xander could still be saved. And she was sure Dawn would be with him.
"Okay, even if we find them and can get them together, are you sure about this Buffy?" Angel asked, looking at her for the first time. He couldn't even imagine what she was going through.
"What, you mean the part where I offer my blood to the person I love to save their life?" Buffy asked, her voice dripping with a venom Angel had rarely heard. And she was right. She had let him drink her blood when Faith had shot him with a poison arrow that only slayer's blood could cure during the mayor's ascension.
"I hate to be the one to bring this up," Faith said, looking at the floor. "But, if you are going to do this, you need to be sure he is your true love. That's what the spell says, right?"
"Yes," Giles replied.
"He is," Buffy said, not leaving room for debate. Faith wouldn't be put off.
"So, if Angel was alive, right now, and you two could be together you would still choose Xander. Because that's what it comes down to."
Buffy barely hesitated. "Maybe once it was Angel, but I love Xander now. Heart and soul. He gave his life for me, how can that not spell true love."
"For him maybe, but for you?" Faith pressed.
"Yes for me," she looked at Angel and went on, "Even if Angel were human, he would still be full of guilt. All that baggage and brooding. I just want to be have a baggage free love that makes me feel good not bad."
"Then why the hell did you kiss Angel?" Faith demanded. She wasn't about to lose Buffy. She was needed in the fight and as her friend. Faith knew she would want to do the same if William was in Xander's place, but she had to make Buffy see.
"Oh God," Willow whispered.
"I know, I don't know," Buffy muttered.
"I do," Willow replied. "Amy, Tara, and um, me, cast a relive spell so you would relive a moment of your past lives. I'm so sorry."
"It wasn't your fault, you were under her control," Buffy said weakly. It wasn't her fault, but that didn't take the pain away that Xander would think she betrayed him. He would take that thought into his grave. She was almost in tears again.
"He knows," Angel said, somehow reading her mind. "If he was willing to give his life for you, he knows that you love him."
"Angel, thank you," Buffy replied. "Willow, cast the location spell for Dawn and Xander. If they are in separate places, we'll go for Xander first, then Dawn. Dawn will be kept alive until Amy's ready for the ritual. We need to stop Xander from feeding."
"Buffy, I must object," Giles spoke. "This is very dangerous spell. If Xander has fed, he will kill you."
"That's a chance I have to take."
"No, you don't," he said roughly. "Buffy, this is exactly why Amy turned Xander instead of just killing him, she wanted you to do something stupid and rash."
"No, that's not it," Willow spoke up, a strange look on her face. "My whole, in captivity thing is a little hazy, but I remember her calling Xander her biggest threat on several occasions. That's why we cast the relive spell, to get Xander to leave the group."
"Xander!" the group all said at the same time.
"Then we have to get him back," Buffy said, more determined then ever.
"I won't let you. It's my book and you can't have it," Giles said, giving it one last weak effort.
"Sorry G-man," Cordy said, using Xander's favorite nickname for the watcher, "but I got your book, and I want Xander back. We win," she flashed a big smile at Buffy, who mouthed a thank you.
Willow cast the location spell. It showed that Xander and Dawn where indeed being held together. Then Willow found Amy. She looked for the biggest source of mystical energy other than the hellmouth itself. When the spell was over, Willow looked over the group, pleased.
"Well, good news and bad news. Good news is Dawn and Xander are being held together, and I found them. Plus, Amy isn't with them, she's far away."
"Bad news?" William asked.
"I was getting to that. They're in the Sunnydale sewer systems. It will take a while to make our way through the maze."
"I will make a call to take care of the vampire army if they interfere," William said.
"They won't. Amy is probably at her own lair and sent the others away. The army would attract attention, revel their location. She would keep them hidden. But I found them. We may only have to deal with a small band," Willow argued.
"If you say so," he conceded. "What about cursing him with a soul to assure he won't feed?"
"No time, if we wait any longer, we'll be out of luck," Angel said simply.
"Okay, then let's move out," Buffy ordered. "Cordelia, could you get Oz home safely, I know you want to help but there's nothing more you can do right now. Getting Oz back would be great."
Cordy nodded and helped the human Oz on his feet.
"How did you get here anyhow?" she asked.
"Long story, which I'm not sure I know any of," he replied and they headed out.
SUMMERS HOME
PRESENT
"So, we worked our way through the sewer system, following my guiding spell," Willow added. "We fought a few vamps along the way, but I was right Amy wanted to keep her army elsewhere, thinking that would be where we looked for them. Well, you know the rest," she finished quietly.
Alexander Lavelle Harris, was speechless. After about ten minutes of silence, he spoke up. "Buffy, I can't believe you would risk your life like that."
She smiled tiredly, "How could I not, when you did the same for me?"
"And you guys, how the hell could you let her do that?"
"Giles tried to stop us, but how could he? We need your horrible jokes to remind us just how clever we all are," Cordelia told him.
"Thanks Cordy. I mean it, for everything," he said sincerely. He could barely wrap his mind around the fact that not that long ago he wondered if he even had a place in the scooby group. Now, the gang had risked their lives to save his.
"Sure," she blushed slightly. Cordelia knew that Xander was with Buffy and it was true love. She just couldn't shake the feeling that Xander would have been her true love if things had gone differently. She sighed, her mind bringing up pictures of Doyle, who had sacrificed his life so that humanity could live. Doyle and Xander had a lot in common. Maybe that was why she fell for both of them. It had also been Doyle that had given her the gift of the vision, if you could call it a gift considering it left her with splitting headaches, that had allowed her to save Xander. Payback, she thought to her dead friend.
"Glad to have you back on our side," Faith said from the door. She was more relieved than anything. Relieved to have Buffy safe, Dawn safe, and Xander back. On the way into the sewers, William had told his love of how much he liked Xander and how he understood Buffy's quest. Faith would have done the same if William was in the situation, and was glad it had worked out for Buffy.
Xander leaned in and gave Buffy's forehead a kiss. He couldn't believe how everything had happened. She was his true love. She had risked her own life for his. And her so-called betrayal was all Amy's doing. To think he actually did have the perfect relationship, even on a hellmouth. Anya was probably going to be all right, and they had managed to all escape alive. Except for Tara.
"Willow, I'm so sorry about Tara," he said, regarding his best friend since childhood. "We could curse her. Stop the ritual."
"No," she said sadly. "Even if we cursed her, the hold Amy has over her, she would still serve her. She spied on us for weeks. That's how she knew all our plans. She knew where Anya would be. Amy knew that we all thought she was after me and we completely ignored the fact that Tara was a witch too. She even captured me so she could turn Tara without arising suspicion."
"I'm so sorry Wil," Xander offered. There were no words he could say, no spells they could cast, that would bring her love back or take away her pain.
"I just want to be the one to kill her," Willow said. "Avenge the real Tara, before Amy destroyed her. I'm so stupid, if I had managed to resist her before, I should have figured that she would go after Tara. Her mind was weak after what Glory did to her last year." Willow was crying now. Xander threw an arm around her.
"You couldn't have known Willow," Dawn said, getting up to join them. Her family. Tara had been part of that, and now she was gone. I have to be strong for them, Dawn thought, they don't need to worry about me too. "I didn't until it was too late, and I almost ended up dead."
Willow cried for a little longer, but it passed. "Only one thing left to do," she sighed.
They were silent for a while before Dawn spoke up, "Being bit sure does hurt, doesn't Xander," Dawn joked as she rubbed her neck in soreness, trying to change the subject.
"You were bit?" Buffy asked concerned. She had faded in and out of Willow's story, but her slayer healing powers were beginning to kick in. She'd be good as new in an hour.
"Yeah, Tara bit me once we got back to the creepy sewer. I was really out of it, but I was sure I heard my own voice talking," she chuckled.
"Wait, Tara bit you and then you heard your own voice?" Angel asked. He had a bad feeling.
"Yeah, stupid huh? Like I said, I was really out of it," Dawn laughed again, much more nervous about how they had all taken an interest in her story.
"Or, Amy taught Tara how to use your blood to open the dimensional portal and brought another Dawn out," Willow said, kicking herself. "Amy has the one thing none of the other big bads we've faced had, smarts. She knew we'd find Dawn so she had a backup one. Of course, it all makes sense."
"So we cast another location spell and set Dawn number two free," Xander said.
"Wait, there's two of me now?" Dawn demanded. This was way too much for her. Tara was a vampire, Xander had been but they restored him, and now there was another one of her.
"Great," Faith muttered from the door. "So she won't even bother with us again until the ritual."
"Location spell?" Xander repeated.
"And take on the whole vampire army, not a good bet," Buffy said, sitting up.
"William keeps saying he has that under control, let's take him up on that offer," Angel replied.
"Still no good. It's not our Dawn, without a personal connection or something that belonged to her, I can't do the location spell," Willow said.
"So we need to find her before you can do a location spell," Cordelia moaned.
"First we need to find out all that we can about this ritual. As soon as Giles and William get back, full research mode," Buffy commanded. She had just got her boyfriend and sister back, no way in hell Amy was going to do her ritual. She had been through the most trying time of her life, even worse than when Angel had been sent to hell, she was determined to come out on top.
"What happens as soon as we get back?" Giles asked as the two watchers entered the room.
"We find out about the binding ritual," Angel told them. He was having a hard time dealing with the fact that Buffy was no longer his true love. He had always thought that they would be together if he got his redemption. Not this time. She had chosen Xander over him, and her love had done for Xander what it could never do for him. Her love restored Xander. It had destroyed Angel. He was anxious to finish the job and return to LA, where he had his own problems to deal with that would allow his mind to push Buffy to the back burner again.
"About bloody time," William said as he embraced Faith. They hadn't had a chance to say much to each other since their confessions of love, but enough had been communicated without words. They would have passed the Heart to Heart spell test.
"You told me there is some blood sucking," Xander said.
"Yes," William began. "All that I know is that the key must have her blood sucked out by a lesser vampire witch, and then Amy simultaneously feeds on the second vampire witch. Only Amy is alive at the end," he finished quietly. He was very worried about protecting everyone. The PTB had restored him to help stop Amy he couldn't fail.
"So, let's hit the books to find out whatever we can," Buffy said, hopping off the couch and glaring at her boyfriend who was about to object. "I'm fine. Do we have a name for the ritual?"
"Afraid not," William admitted.
"Then we look for the icky blood sucking ritual book," Xander joked. They all gave him a, we're glad your back but don't push it look, and he threw his hands up innocently. "What?"
SEWERS
"Mistress," Tara whispered as she entered Amy's room. Amy was the picture of death, and not in the way all vampires dreamed.
"I already know my pet. Good of you to escape, I need you for the ritual," Amy sighed. Talking was difficult for her. She had healing abilities but the slayer had put a hurt on her like she never dreamed of. Both physically and magically. She had healing spells, but she needed her to save her strength.
"How, do you know?" Tara asked, clearly in awe of her mistress' uncanny ability to know all around her.
"I felt the magical disturbance, I just knew deep down that they returned my greatest threat," Amy muttered. Just thinking about it increased her anger. These people continued to cheat death like it was just a game. "One of these days they are going to stay dead!"
"I will, my mistress," Tara offered.
"Of course love," Amy offered, reaching her hand to take Tara's. "Rest. They will be prepared for another attack, thinking we will try and get the key again. But we will take our chances with the alternate key."
"Your wisdom is great my mistress," Tara praised.
"Go and rest. I must do the same. The slayer will not succeed, nor will Harris."
SUMMERS HOME
They had been at the books for hours and nothing had come to pass. Not even Giles in all his watcherly ways could offer anything on the ritual. Buffy was beginning to get frustrated. Her nerves were frayed, and nothing could calm them. Well, almost nothing.
"Hey you," Xander said as he stood up behind her and started to rub her shoulders.
"Hi," she mustered. His hands felt so good, words weren't enough to tell him. Buffy couldn't find the words to say a lot of things to Xander that needed to be said. Saying, thanks for saving my life, yet again, just didn't seem enough.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear.
"I love you too," she replied. Not even those words seemed adequate to express her heart.
"We'll find a way to stop her, I promise. And Buffy, thanks for making all my dreams come true. You really came through for me." Buffy sighed. Xander's promises were always so full of hope. Even after death itself had claimed him, he was still an optimist. He amazed her. Thank God he doesn't give up or you wouldn't be here right now, she told herself. He should have given up on you long ago and he didn't. Why I don't know, but be grateful. I am, she told herself.
She turned herself around to look into his eyes. "Xander, I can't believe how lucky I am to have a great guy like you."
"I never, ever get tired of hearing that," he offered, grinning that stupid lopsided grin of his that made her knees weak.
"You certainly know how to ruin a moment, don't you?" she laughed at him.
"Wouldn't have it any other way," he returned.
William was asleep. He didn't realize that his vision of Amy snapping Faith's neck was a dream until he jumped up, only to find Faith standing next to him, running her hands through his blond hair.
"Faith, you all right pet," he asked worriedly.
"Fine William, are you?" she teased, tousling his hair even more.
"Just a nightmare. You were in it," he added quietly. Despite the fact that they hadn't been able to be alone since their declaration of love, it seemed to William that their bond had grown. Words can often times get in the way, he though philosophically. So can death, Spike replied. William sighed.
He had come to accept, after his strange half memories about Amy's want spell, that Spike was a part of him. He was probably the source of his extra strength. And it was a constant reminder to him of what he was, and what he still had left to make up for. It didn't eat away at him, but it was there. The dull ache and low ringing that he constantly felt and heard. It was what allowed him to know completely what Faith was dealing with.
Faith stared lovingly at her blond guardian. She, yes Faith, was infatuated. It was also much deeper than that, but she couldn't shake the infatuation feeling. Whenever William walked into a room, she just felt her head go a little light. He was so smart and intelligent, without the baggage of physical age that it usually took to achieve it. And he was so damn hot. She imagined them doing all sorts of fun things. But not yet, she reminded herself, stop apocalypse first then jump his bones.
"What was I doing?" she asked casually.
"Dying," he said quietly.
"Oh, well, I've had that one too," she tried.
"Not like this. It's like watching your guts ripped out, and then having them sowed back in wrong. It's always with you, not being whole, just, wrong."
"Okay, I have to say, what's up with the graphic metaphor. I get it, you like me," she said, grinning.
"Yes, sorry, still some Spike left in me," William chuckled at his own words. It was an accurate description of his feelings, but a little too gory to impress the ladies.
"That's okay. Actually, it was kinda hot" Faith said, and leaned down to kiss him.
Angel and Cordelia were in the living room, each with a volume of ancient lore and both doing some major brooding.
"I wish you could just turn feelings on and off. It's be so much easier," Cordelia whined.
"Careful, remember the last time you went making wishes in Sunnydale," he chastised. She remembered the alternate universe her wish had created. The one where Buffy never came to Sunnydale that Anya had created.
"How is our little ex-vengeance demon?"
"Giles said she'd be fine. He was about to send some of the gang to visit her, but she said that stopping Amy was more important. Giles said she sounded more mature than ever," Angel relayed to Cordelia.
"Good." They went back to the books, neither really reading both just thinking.
"Angel, how do you do it?" she asked finally.
"Do what?" he tried to play dumb. It didn't work.
"Do I have to spell it out. Deal with watching your first love move on and become completely happy, while we sit stuck in relationship hell. Some of us much more literally," she added.
"Honestly Cordy, I don't," he muttered. "It isn't fun, and I really haven't dealt with it. I just try to think about all the work I need to do, and love," he stopped and sighed. "Love is still always present. It's the only thing to brighten this world. It is so hard to live without it," he finished.
"Great pep talk boss," she retorted. "There's other types of love you know. Friendship and companionship, that isn't necessarily physical."
"I guess," he said, clearly unconvinced.
"Well, if it helps, I love you Angel," she said. "I mean, in a friendly companion kind of way, not in the make with the happy and have children that could destroy the world way."
"Thanks. I think. You know what drew you to Xander was that you both have a great knack for ruining perfectly nice moments," he laughed.
"You should talk mister "wow that was an incredible night of passion, so let me kill all your friends," she pouted back, with no trace of malice. Angel smiled bittersweetly, and went back to his book.
Things came in pieces over the next few hours. Cordelia found a reference to a ritual and its name: Vessel of the Balance. It basically allowed whoever completed the ritual to be able to destroy the balance between good and evil.
Next, Willow found a cryptic message that described the ritual as taking place "on the day darkness was at its length." After a great deal of debate, Giles finally came to the decision that the ritual would take place on the winter solstice, in three days.
Xander found out what exactly Amy would be able to do if she accomplished the ritual. Create demons from thin air, melt humans with a touch, turn anyone she bites into a vampire immediately, and command the loyalty of ever creature of evil.
"Sounds like a walking carnival act," Xander had joked.
Buffy then came up with the breakthrough: The prophecy of the vessel.
"Listen to this," she started, then read from the book. "On the witching hour of the day darkness is at its length, one who walks in the world of the living dead can become the vessel of balance. The blood of the key must pass through one of the chosen, a living dead but inferior to the vessel, to weed out the humanity of the key so that only the power can come to the one designed to become the vessel. After the vessel has reached its peak, it will be transformed. It will no longer follow the rules of its kind. Demons are its to command, its touch is that of the sun to humans, and nothing impure will stand against the vessel. Its army will grow to be like the air, until the balance has been destroyed. Once the transformation has been completed, no warrior or one separate from humanity in anyway can kill it. Humanity itself must strike the blow."
"Okay, what the hell does that mean?" Faith asked. "Damn prophets, why couldn't they just spell it out, no need to be so damn cryptic."
"I understand it," Giles said from the table. "Allow me to translate, since you don't seem to speak cryptic," he said wryly. "Tara will drink Dawn's blood, filtering out her humanity. Amy will drink Tara's blood, receiving only Dawn's power not her humanity. Once the transformation is complete, well we all heard Xander's descriptions of her powers. She will become invincible to anyone who is not completely human and or called to the fight against evil. Meaning, no slayers, souled vampires, witches, watchers werewolves or visionaries can kill her."
The impact hit them all. The chosen warriors in the fight against evil couldn't stop her. Most of them were sitting in the room right now. The only one not called to fight evil was.
"Xander," Willow exclaimed. "That's it."
"Care to fill me in?" Xander asked.
"Are you dense or stupid?" Cordelia asked.
"Maybe both, still doesn't clue me in at all."
"Xander," Buffy said softly. "That's why you are Amy's biggest threat. If she completes the ritual, no one else in this room can stop her. Willow's a witch, William and Giles are watchers, Faith and I are slayers, Angel clearly isn't human, Oz is a werewolf, Dawn is the key, and Cordelia has the power of vision. That leaves you."
"Crap, that's what I was afraid. If she transforms, only I can kill her. I really wish I had powers right about now."
"Wait, is Xander even still human?" Cordelia asked. "I mean, he was a vampire for like a day, and it said he couldn't be separate from humanity at all," she tried to add tactfully.
"Yes, but the way the Heart to Heart spell works, it's like he was never a vampire at all," William explained. "The spell was performed on him, not by him. And since it left him completely human it was like he was never separate. I still have residual strength and an annoying Spike presence in my mind. Any super strength or demon's in your head?" he asked Xander.
Xander tried to lift the kitchen table up and grunted. "No, no super strength. And I'm pretty sure it's empty up here," he said, purposely leaving himself open.
No one took advantage.
"Why Xander?" Dawn asked. "I mean, no offense, but couldn't we get like a champion kickboxer or something to try and kill Amy?"
"And how would we explain vampires to them in time to stop the ritual?" William asked. "And even if we could, there's no guarantee that they would fair any better than Xander."
"I don't know, I just want to help," Dawn muttered.
"I know lil bit, I know," William said gently.
"I can do it," Xander said determined. "I'll do it. But maybe we could stop her before she ascends so I don't have to," he added.
"She'll need to do the ritual on the hellmouth itself," Giles said. "She will need some preparation time just before the ritual begins at midnight. So that would be our best chance."
"The sewers system isn't good for fighting, plus easy ambushes," Buffy agreed.
"Back to high school once again. Boy, I thought I hated it before," Xander quipped.
"William, can you really take care of the vampire army, because Amy will want us out of the way," Willow pondered.
"Yeah, especially when I explain what the ritual does," he confirmed.
"William, just what exactly is your plan?" Giles questioned, still questioning his true credentials as a watcher. Though, it was clear to Giles he was fighting with them not against them.
"You'll see," he replied.
"You'll see isn't really good enough," Buffy said forcefully, letting the whole days frustrations out.
"Back off B, he said he'll handle it," Faith stepped in.
"Okay, okay, before we come to blows, it's been a really really long day, let's just get some rest and regroup," Xander tried to mediate.
"You're right," the slayers said in unison. "Sorry B," Faith said, "just sticking up for my guy," she said as she nudged William in the ribs.
"I'm sorry too, I'm just on edge a little," Buffy admitted. "Please, stay here tonight," she offered as a sign of peace. "It's not safe to stay at the hotel or go walking all that way at this time of night. You can stay in the fort," she teased.
"Sounds like a plan. Forts are quiet right?" Faith asked.
"Eww, I'm going to bed now," Dawn said.
"Right there with ya Dawnie," Willow chimed in and they headed upstairs.
"We'll be fine in the living room," Angel said as he and Cordelia each took a couch and pillows.
Faith and William called a goodnight and headed downstairs. Giles took up in the lazyboy. Buffy and Xander quickly climbed the stairs into their room.
Once they closed the door, they sat on Buffy's bed. It had become their bed in the brief time Xander had been living there. Buffy flung herself on his legs and he held her for the longest time. Their hearts seemed to beat completely as one.
"How do you deal with the pressure Buff," Xander asked after a while.
"What do you mean?" she questioned.
"I mean, you're the chosen one, the fate of the world rests solely on your shoulders more times than there are Rocky sequels. How do you stand the pressure?"
"That's a really stupid question," she said, slightly annoyed. "You know how I do it, the same way you're going to do it, with a group of people that pull you up just when you need it most," she finished, looking him deeply in the eyes.
"I love you so much," Xander murmured, drawing a moment of peace from her assurances.
"I never, ever get tired of hearing that," she teased, using his words.
"Buffy, I owe you an apology," Xander said seriously.
"What for?"
"For overreacting about the Angel kiss. I should have known that your feelings for him were gone, and I just let the one eyed monster get the better of me," he said.
"Xan, I think you mean the green eyed monster," she laughed.
"Whatever, the one eyed green monster," he said, then paused, "that's either something we've killed before or a really gross disease that I promise I don't have."
"I know, I've seen," she cooed at him. "Unless that's a side effect of the spell."
"I sure hope not," he said concerned. But he wanted to finish his apology. "But, when it has come to Angel, I have a lot to apologize for. Not saying that I want you to go running back to him or anything, but I was really harsh on you guys. I guess I just never knew the lengths that love could drive a slayer, and I'm really glad I found out," he finished.
"You've grown so much since then, so have I, and it's all forgotten. It helped get us to this point, and that's something I would never trade," she smiled at him. The mood shifted. Their serious confessions were over. Buffy decided that it was a good chance to make up for lost time.
She slipped her slender hand down around Xander's waistband and pulled his pants away from his hips long enough to catch a glimpse of him.
"Hey there grabby hands," Xander said, mocking offense.
"Just checking to make sure it wasn't green," she replied, kissing him deeply. When they broke she whispered in his ear, "Not that it would have made a difference, but nothing quite like the original."
"Are you sure I'm not dead and this is heaven?" he cried as she licked his ear and moved her way towards the rest of his face.
"Yup, I've been to heaven, remember?" she mumbled with a mouthful of Xander's lips. "This is so much better," she said and continued her trail of kisses down to his chest and lower.
William and Faith set their cots up next to the fort. Faith had suggested they share one, but William, ever the gentlemen, which managed to turn Faith on even more, declared that they would wait until it could be a perfect event. Faith had let a giggle escape her lips, then quickly shut it down. She relented and settled for kissing him. He had lost the glasses and wore a strange combination of tweed and leather that Faith was sure only he could pull off.
"Hey there sexy," she purred at her lover.
"Hey there yourself," a new voice called out and stumbled into view.
"Oz, how did you get here?" William asked.
"Cordy just kinda took me down here and told me that I could stay in the corner. It felt strangely okay. Too much wolf in me right now."
"I see," William said, not sure what to say next.
"So, you two are together. And not evil?" he made sure.
"Nail on the nose," Faith replied. The added, "And yes, I know it's not right, my own invention." The only thing that William ever did to annoy her was to correct her speech.
"I said nothing," William pleaded.
"You were going to," she retorted.
"Was not."
"Were too."
"I was not bloody going to say anything!" She leaned in and kissed him. She just liked it when he got a little huffy. It was more of a Spike reaction than the usual watcher/Giles type responses he sometimes gave. He's still getting used to being back, she reminded herself. Plus, she didn't want Spike, but William the book nerd wasn't him either. Her William was a combination of William the book nerd, Spike, and something that only a century's worth of living could create. And she loved him for being all of those things.
"Hey, anyway, I'm just going to go upstairs and grab a sofa," Oz said, interrupting their kiss.
"Watch out for Deadboy and Cordy," Faith told him as he wandered up the steps. Oz nodded.
"Alone at last," Faith said and wrapped her arms around William.
"But not for the last, I will not let anything happen to you," William told her. They kissed and held each other for a longtime. Things needed to be said, but not tonight, Faith decided. She wanted it to be in a perfect setting. If the words didn't get said, they would know in each other's hearts, and that would be enough. But if she was going to say the words she was going to do it right, not in a life or death crisis.
"I know you'll protect me. Isn't that in the watchers hand book or something," she told him. He smiled at her. "Come on loverboy, let's get some rest, busy time ahead of us."
"I love you Faith," he smiled.
"Thanks," she returned.
"Thanks?"
"Yeah, I don't usually get to hear that, and I love you too is just such a typical response."
"You are nothing if not atypical," he quipped. She punched him lightly.
"I am not nothing," she complained.
He rubbed his arms, "No definitely some muscle there, that's for certain," he teased.
"Go to sleep before you get yourself deeper in the doghouse," she ordered. They both turned in and dreamed of the other.
STREETS OF SUNNYDALE
The night air was quiet. The usual batch of demons and vampires that patrolled the streets were deep within the ground, hiding at Amy's not so subtle request. The residents of Sunnydale were also absent. They had learned over the years: Streets plus alone plus dark equals dead.
So no one was around when the air rippled. The earth trembled. The wind howled. The night air was swirling around, kicking up dust until there was a figure standing where the mini tornado centered. The winds died and the earth was still again. The figure stepped through the cloud of dust that his arrival had kicked up. He looked around.
Sunnydale, California. Wow, he thought, what a difference a dimension can make. He had come to know the city as hell on earth. Which he imagined it still was, but at least they kept up outward appearances here. He knew the reason for the difference between his Sunnydale and the one he had just come from. Nevertheless, he had to wonder if this Sunnydale would be doomed to follow his suit with own.
Not my concern, he told himself. I have one task and one task only, retrieve my love. I cannot interfere with this dimension's conflict. It was a simple find and recover mission. He had a pretty good idea of what would happen to his love in this dimension. But he had to wait it out. He would probably have to watch her come to the brink of death. But that's what he was here for, to save her.
His first thoughts had been that this city was doomed to become like his own. Now he wondered if he wanted to return to his dimension. It may still be the hellmouth, but things were different. He sensed that it was a presence of evil containing the vampires and the demons, but he also sensed the thing that had been so absent in his own Sunnydale, hope. There was a presence of good in this hellmouth that he had never felt on his. It permeated his being. Perhaps we can stay in this dimension when it's all over, finally live in peace.
No, I must simply retrieve my love and return to my own world. Nothing more, nothing less. He continued walking the streets, searching for her presence. He found her easily. He would always recognize her feeling. He decided that he would have to wait out the fight that was upcoming. He knew for a fact that his love would find her way to the hellmouth in the next few days. He would simply have to go there and wait for her.
Good luck my freedom fighting friends, he thought. You will need it.
TO BE CONTINUED
If you read this, please, please give me feedback. I live for it, even if it's just a rating on a scale from 1-10 it brightens my whole day to know people are reading my story.
Rating: R
Showdown part two: Coming through
When Xander awoke he found himself in completely new surroundings. He had gone from the nicely furnished factory, to some place dank and dreary. He was wet and cold. He could smell the rats. Smell the rats? He questioned himself. Since when could I smell rats?
He got up slowly. His head was pounding. He looked around. He saw himself alone in an almost black pit. He could see surprisingly well for the complete lack of light, he thought. Than, Xander noticed something moving. He squinted and recognized what was moving. Dawn. He walked over to her and examined her closely. Except for a small bruise on the forehead, she looked good. Good enough to eat, he mused.
Then he remembered. Oh shit! He felt his neck, and sure enough there were two bite marks.
"Took you long enough," a female voice called as she entered the dank cell and flipped on the lights.
"Tara," Xander said simply, as if that word explained everything.
"Xander," she replied. She stared at him for a few moments. "Hmm, something's off."
"Yeah, how about the part where I become a vampire!" Xander shouted. He was amazed at how much control he had. During all his research, he had come across some theories that said the human soul remained in the vampire until it severed ties with humanity. Most times the demon overpowered the mortal soul the second it arose on survival instinct. Other times it took until the first feed. That was also the theory behind why most vampires killed family members or loved ones. To shock and suppress the remnants of the human soul.
Xander had a surprising amount of his soul left inside him. He wondered if his friends had already cursed him with a soul. Then he wondered what had become of them, since Dawn was lying before them.
"Oh, well," Tara interrupted his musings. "Just have to feed you, then you'll be fine. And I brought you a perfect first meal," Tara said and turned to leave the room.
"Dawn, are you okay?" Xander asked, concerned. He could smell the power in her blood, or at least the demon could. EWWW! Xander thought.
"O-oh, hiya there Xander. I was just leaving," Dawn said and stood up wobbly. She fell back to the floor instantly. Xander moved with lightning speed to catch her. "Thanks," Dawn managed weakly. She didn't trust him. Not that Xander could blame her. He didn't trust himself.
"Here we are," Tara called as she reentered the room, with a girl in her arms. She was badly beaten and gagged, but there was no mistaking who it was.
"ANYA!" Xander called. He went to make a move, but the demon in him flared and took control. "Snack?" He asked.
Tara nodded. She flicked her thumbnail out, nicking a cut on the side of Anya's neck. "Hungy?" she teased. The scent of blood gave the demon even more control, and he reverted to his game face automatically. Dawn squirmed to free herself from Xander's grip. "Yummy," he rumbled at the young girl.
"No," Tara commanded.
"Yeah, all skin and bones, nothing good to eat here," Dawn tried, talking very quickly and nervously. She was petrified of him.
"She is for the mistress only. You can have this one," Tara gestured at Anya. Xander gave Dawn a quick look, but let her fall to the floor. He got up and started towards Anya. He was about to take a bite, but Xander's soul regained control.
"No," he struggled out and turned his face away from Anya's neck. "I won't."
"Damnit, once you feed you will be free, embrace who and what you have become." Tara's words hammered away at Xander's resolve. He could feel the demon in him grow in power.
"Yes," he growled and advanced on Anya again.
"Xander, please no," Dawn begged, realizing that some of her friend was left, and she had to reach him or Anya would be dead. Xander hesitated for a second. Tara's quick kick to Dawn's gut left her speechless.
"Eat," she told Xander. The demon raged at the violence that it thought it should be committing and moved to take Anya.
The other door to the room burst open with an ear-ringing thud. Faith, Angel, and William burst in. Human Xander scored a victory at the power he was able to take from their still being alive. Faith and William were carrying crosses, trying to pry Tara away from Dawn. When he saw Angel, the human part of Xander had a whole new respect for him, if this was the struggle he went through daily. Then his memory brought pictures of him kissing Buffy, his Buffy, and the demon eroded Xander's control.
Faith pulled out a stake, and Dawn cried out, "No, wait. There's still some of Xander left in him."
"I know," a voice called, and Buffy entered the cell that Xander now realized was somewhere in the Sunnydale sewer system. Willow stepped in right behind her friend. Xander's human side took enough control of his body to calm his face back to normal. Seeing Buffy and Willow alive made him jump for joy.
They were at a standstill. Tara, holding Anya's neck in a position that implied she would snap it. Dawn had crawled over to Faith and William. Angel watched Xander, eyeing him suspiciously.
"You can't have the key," Tara told them. "If you try and take her, you will all die."
"I don't think so luv," William told her.
"Did you really think that holing up in a separate area of the sewer would help you escape me?" Buffy asked. "You have my sister, and my boyfriend. Hell itself couldn't stop me."
That explained to Xander how his friends had managed to get to them without the vampire army or Amy stopping them.
"Take the key, and die," Tara repeated.
"Doesn't matter, I'm here for him anyway," Buffy said calmly.
The demon in Xander raged at its own survival instinct. She's going to kill us. His game face appeared again. Buffy cringed, but didn't back down. She looked at him. Her eyes were so soft, so full of love. She still saw Xander the man she loved not Xander the demon he had become. His own eyes raged at her. There was a long internal struggle, but finally, the chocolate brown eyes won out over the yellow demon eyes.
"Buffy," he said weakly. She nodded.
Willow spoke next. "Xander, is Buffy your true love?"
"What," he growled at Willow, but fought the demon back down.
"Is Buffy your true love?" she repeated the question. She sneaked a glance over at her ex-lover. She glared at the group, angrily cursing at Willow. Willow sighed, she was hurt, but Xander could still be saved.
Xander's human soul wouldn't let the demon win out and cry about Buffy's betrayal. "Yes," he said. The demon raged. But his soul knew that this was still true, despite her betrayal. He had even given his life for her.
"Buffy, is Xander your true love?" Willow asked.
"Yes," Buffy said with all the warmth and sincerity of an I do at a wedding. Willow and Buffy
exchanged a knowing look and Buffy approached Xander.
"I love you," she said. Xander nodded. He expected her to stake him, and that the whole true love thing was a way to allow Xander's soul enough strength to hold the demon in check so she could do it.
"Have you fed?" she asked him.
"What?" Xander asked, the demon in him rising up at the word fed. He was hungry, and only one thing could quench his hunger. NO! NEVER! He told his demon self. "No," said, struggling to keep in control.
What Buffy did next shocked Xander. She pulled the hair off her neck and told him, "If you haven't fed, then drink."
"Buffy," Xander shook his head. "No, I can't. You don't want this. No one is worth this," he tried to compel her. He had given his life for her to live, not for her to join him in demon world.
"Take Willow first Xander, if a slayer's blood is the first you taste nothing will ever satisfy you again," Tara called out, unsure of what exactly was happening, but knowing it was not good. William and Faith kept her at bay. She held Anya, keeping them from staking her were she stood.
"Xander," she looked into his eyes. She seemed so calm, so sure of herself. "Do you trust me?"
"Buffy," Xander started, searching for what to say next.
"Do you trust me?" she asked again. Her nerves had been a mess on the trip over, but now, seeing that her sweet loving Xander still existed, even inside of the twisted demon he had become, she was calm and at peace. It wasn't too late.
"Yes," Xander said.
"Then drink," she offered him her neck again. Xander glanced over at Willow who nodded. Unless this was all some ploy by Amy to break his soul, he had to trust them. But then again, all she would have needed to do would be to show him Buffy as a vampire to break his soul. He took a deep breath, which he realized he didn't need.
"Please, close your eyes," he begged her. She complied. He didn't want her to see him like this, taking her blood. He bent into her neck, allowed his game face to come on and bite down as gently as he could manage. He heard Willow start to chant something, Tara shouted something but Angel silenced her with a bottle of holy water to the face.
Xander had expected the demon to take control when the sweet taste of Buffy's blood flowed into him. He thought that he would greedily drink her dry, and the blood would crush his soul. What in fact happened, was that he wanted less and less of her blood as her drank. He gained more and more control and the blood was actually destroying the demon within him. He drank, until he no longer wanted. The power in her blood was so strong and powerful, he felt as if her blood was life itself.
And it was. When he pulled away, his vampire self was no more. He felt his face, and the teeth and ridges were gone. He looked at his girlfriend, who gave him a weak smile, and fell, into his arms.
"Buffy," Xander said concerned, forgetting the others were even there. He sat them down, feeling run down while at the same time full of an energy he could barely understand. She lied his arms, nestling her head against his shoulder.
"What the hell?" Tara demanded when she realized what had happened. The mistress will not be pleased, she thought.
"It's complicated luv, just let it go. And that one while your at it," William said, pointing to Anya. He had seen a lot of amazing things in his long lifetime, but that spell had definitely taken the cake. It had seemed to William that Xander actually glowed with life's energy. He smiled at his friend before returning his attention to Tara.
"Give me back my key," Tara returned, tightening her grip on Anya's throat. Faith hadn't allowed herself to take her eyes off of the witch. She was amazed that Buffy had lived through the spell. Now, they had a chance to pull the triple play, Xander, Dawn and Anya. Faith knew what she had to do. She grabbed Dawn's neck and squeezed, hoping she would play along.
"Not a chance. I'll kill her before I give her to you and your bitch," Faith growled.
Angel wanted to step in, but William shot him a look. Angel decided to trust Faith and see where she went with this ploy. He was trying very hard not to think about what had just transpired before him.
"Seems we're at a draw then. You want both the key and Anya, but I only want the key. But you are willing to kill her before you give her to me."
"Quick on the uptake," Faith quipped.
"Well, since I sense you won't actually kill the key, watch me actually kill Anya." Tara started to twist Anya's head, but an arrow to the shoulder stopped her.
"Unhand her," Giles called, stepping into the lair with crossbow in hand. Tara seemed to consider her odds and injuries, then threw Anya at Angel and ran down through the door.
"Let her go," Willow told the group. She was worn out from the powerful spell she had just cast. "We have to get out of here before reinforcements arrive." The others nodded. Faith let go of Dawn's neck and looked at her, the hurt clear in both their eyes.
"You okay kid?" Faith asked. She had actually kept her violent side in check. She was proud of herself. She just hoped Dawn would understand.
"Yeah, I knew you were only acting," she said, unsure.
"Xander, you up to helping Buffy get out of this hell hole?" Angel asked.
Xander looked at him. He wanted to tell him that he understood now. That he understood why he wanted to find something or someone to take comfort in and take his mind away from the demon that was always present. But that just wouldn't be his style. "Whatever you say, lead the way Dead- boy." Angel smiled. As much as Xander had wanted to say it with venom, his true feelings came out in the tone of his words. "Shut up," Xander mumbled as he lifted the light slayer up. She was only 110 pounds at most, and Xander had gotten used to lifting much heavier weights at the construction sites.
Angel picked Anya up, while William helped guide Dawn out of the tunnel. Giles led the group, and Faith stood the rear, watching for a possible ambush.
DEEPER IN THE SEWERS
Amy lay completely still on her bed. She was battered and close to broken. The slayer had nearly killed her. It had taken all of her magical powers to escape with her undeath. All because of the stupid boy. That boy was becoming the biggest thorn in her side. She had only three days to recover her strength for the ritual. Then, she would never feel this way again.
She had sent Tara, Xander, and the key far away from all the rest of her army and her lair. Hoping that even if the slayer could find her, she wouldn't find the key. Despite her weakened state, she could still feel the magical disturbance. Before they even finished their spell, Amy knew what had happened. Somehow, they had reversed the boy. She didn't think it could be done, but they had managed it. And if they had managed to cast a spell so powerful, they certainly had taken the key. Her only hope was that Tara had managed to escape. She had Tara take out a backup plan, just in case, but she was unsure whether it would work. It was her only chance now, she was in no condition to try and retake the key.
Amy's hatred of Xander increased. His death had brought out a side of the slayer she hadn't been prepared for. She had dodged all her magical blasts. The slayer had even managed to burst through her magical protection barrier. But Amy had escaped, and once the ritual was over, her only threat was now one of her own. Now, he was a threat again. If she had any strength left, she would have thrown a fit.
SUMMERS HOUSE
They laid Buffy down on the couch. Xander knelt by her side, but Willow brought over a cot for him to lie down on.
"I know you won't leave her side, but at least rest," she demanded her resolve face in place. Xander smiled at his friend's concern. The euphoric feeling of the life energy had left him, and he was feeling the after affects of the spell.
Giles and William had taken Anya to the hospital. She was in bad shape and not conscious, but they were hopeful she would pull through. Angel and Faith took watch over the door and Dawn rested in the Summer's new lazyboy recliner that they had recently bought with their winnings. Cordy came over and covered Dawn with a blanket and handed her a cup of hot chocolate. She then proceeded to nearly choke the life out of Xander.
"Hi, Cordy," he gasped, and she relented in her embrace.
"I'm so glad you're okay Xander," she said, clearly close to tears. Then added, "That was the dumbest thing you have ever done. And you've done some really dumb things. What, you couldn't just kick her?"
"Hey, Buffy kicked her with all her slayer strength and she barely budged, I wasn't going to be able to take her down. So I did the only thing I could think of. Which brings me to all the questions I have swirling in my mind," he said. It had been a quiet trip back, all of them expecting an attack. None had come. Buffy squeezed his hand. She was awake, but exhausted.
"Did I get cursed?" Xander asked, glancing at Angel.
"Tell the story Red, you tell it best," Faith said with a smirk from the door. She was happy her friends were okay, but she was concerned about her love. The two watchers were alone. Not that it would do Amy any good to capture them, but she was still concerned.
"Okay, this is what happened." Willow began.
FLASHBACK 24 HOURS AGO
FACTORY
Buffy watched as Amy turned Xander. She screamed his name, and after that words would not come out. Amy dropped Xander to the ground, and looked up just in time to see Buffy's attack. She saw it, but she couldn't stop it. Buffy hit her. Repeatedly. In the face, in the chest, and on the head. She had such power behind her swings. One blow broke her nose. The next shattered ribs. Buffy grabbed Amy's arm and twisted it until it snapped.
Amy sent bolts of energy out at her. Buffy dodged them and kept coming. Buffy's mind was blank except for one thought, kill. Amy put up a magical barrier. When Buffy arrived at it, she pounded on it with such force that it collapsed. Buffy hammered away at her. Bone cracked and snapped. Finally, she pulled out a stake to finish Amy, off crying inwardly but outwardly trying to avenger her lover's death. Suddenly, Tara appeared with Dawn.
AT THE SAME TIME
SUMMERS HOME
Cordelia was up the stairs as soon as she could walk. Giles and Dawn followed her up. They found her flipping through a big volume that Giles recognized from his own collection. He had taken it to England with him because of the dark magic it contained, fearing Willow might stumble upon it.
"Cordelia," he began.
"Got it!" she exclaimed. "Heart to heart spell."
"Cordelia, that, that, i-is an incredibly dangerous and powerful spell. It's only used for, oh dear," Giles sighed, filling with an immense sadness. "Xander?" he asked quietly.
"Yesss!" she hissed.
"Someone fill me in," Dawn whined, confused beyond the norm.
"Dawnie?" a voice called from outside.
"Tara," Dawn cried and ran out to embrace the witch.
"Dawn, please do stay in the house," Giles told her, trying to hold on despite his bubbling sense of sadness.
"It's okay Giles, I'll take good care of her," Tara teased as she showed the two in the house her true face, snapped her fingers, and the girls were gone.
Giles face fell in shock and fear, "Xander and Tara," he said, the weight of it all pressing on him like a rock.
"It's not too late to save Xander. I don't have these visions for the fun of it," Cordy demanded. She was in shock, but she knew that the PTB sent her this vision for a reason. "It may be dangerous, but if I had a vision, then there's something we're supposed to do about it."
"Yes, keep Xander away and stop any damage he might do to his friends," Giles said defeated.
"NO! I found this spell. You know what it is, we can do it. We're going to the factory, I bet that's were Tara took Dawn." That snapped Giles out of his depression.
"Right you are," he said and grabbed a crossbow from the weapons chest, thinking that he would kill Xander so Buffy wouldn't have to send a love of her life to hell again.
FACTORY
"Release my mistress, or I'll kill her," Tara called, ringing Dawn's neck.
"No you won't, you need her for your damn ritual," Faith cried.
"If you kill my mistress then there's no ritual. So I kill this one," Tara tightened her grip on Dawn.
"Tara, please," the girl squeaked. She tried to reach her, drum up something of the old Tara, but nothing of this creature resembled her Tara.
"Shut up!"
Buffy glared at her former friend, prepared to kill her sister. Buffy knew if she killed Amy, there would be no ritual and many lives would be spared. But she couldn't handle Dawn's death too. Not on top of Tara's and Xander's. She got off of Amy.
"Buffy, what are you doing?!" Angel called. He was afraid Amy had cast another spell. Buffy would definitely be prone to magic in her current state. He briefly wondered if she had been like that after she had sent him to hell to save the world. She's not going to sign her sister over to the same fate, he thought.
"This isn't the time," Buffy said, staring hatefully at Amy as she crawled towards Tara. Amy then snapped her fingers and Tara, Dawn, Amy, and Xander were gone. Buffy slammed her fist into the wall. It shook the whole structure.
"Damn you B, you should've killed her," Faith yelled, the depression of the whole situation hitting her. They were going to lose. Xander and Tara were gone, and Amy now had Dawn. We're in big trouble, she thought.
"And lose Dawn too!"
"You've already lost her," Faith snapped back, letting her anger come full force. Buffy may have lost everything, but other people still had things to live for. She had William. In an instant Faith found Buffy's hands around her neck.
"Buffy," Angel and William tried to separate the two, neither of the former bads knowing what to do or say to calm the women they loved down.
"HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT!" Buffy screamed.
"Buffy," a weak voice called from the floor. "Xander? Buffy, where did Xander go?"
Buffy released Faith's neck and threw herself into her best friend. "Willow," she sobbed. It was too much for her. She was losing it. Worse than she had ever lost it. If killing Angel had been bad, watching as the man she loved gave his own life for hers only to be turned into a thing that would seek to kill her, was unbearable.
"What's going on?" Willow asked weakly. She was confused, disoriented and had a possible concussion, but she knew from Buffy's sobs and Xander's absence that something bad had happened.
"Amy turned Xander," Cordelia said as she and Giles clambered down the stairs.
"How did you know that?" William asked, shocked to see the pair.
"She had a vision," Angel explained.
"Of course," William muttered to himself.
"Dawn, how did she get Dawn?" Buffy said between sobs.
"Tara," Giles said sadly. "She appeared outside and Dawn went to give her a hug."
"Then she went all poof," Cordy said.
Buffy and Willow were crying. Faith and William held each other. Angel just stared at the floor.
"Do any of you want to know why I came here? You should all know I don't have these visions unless I'm supposed to help."
Buffy and Willow stopped crying so they could listen. They needed something to grasp at, some light of hope.
"I found something, it's called the Heart to Heart spell," Cordelia began. Angel gasped.
"You've heard of it I suppose then," Giles said.
"When I first got my soul back and realized my purpose. I was trying to find a way to return my humanity," he said quietly.
Buffy and Willow's heads sprung up. "We can unvampire a vampire," Buffy asked full of hope, maybe I can still save him, she thought.
"Well, in a way," Giles began to try and explain the spell. "It has only succeeded twice. It is the only record of anyone ever having been turned and then becoming human again. With the exception of William," Giles waved at him
"Get on with it, time is short," Faith spoke.
"Yes. Well, it has only been done twice because there are a number of things that must exactly line up. It was created many centuries ago by a warlock. A vampire clan had attacked his village. He watched as the people banded together to stop them. One man, traded his life that his wife be spared. The wife was heartbroken but at the same time she knew he had only done it to save her. The warlock was so touched, that he conjured up a very powerful spell to return the man's humanity. But he placed a great deal of restrictions on it so that it could not be used at will to disturb the balance between good and evil," Giles told them the story.
"That's all great Giles," Buffy said. "But what are the restrictions?"
"Oh, yes of course. First, the person who is turned must have become a vampire to save his true love. Second, the person who sacrificed their life must be the true love of the one he saved."
"So, they have to be each other's true love?" Faith interjected.
"Yes. Third," Giles went on despite the interruption. "and most importantly, the spell must be cast as the vampire feeds on the one he saved. But the blood of the one he saved must be the first blood he takes, or it cannot be done."
"So, if we get to Xander before he feeds, and he drinks my blood while Willow does the spell, we can reverse the transformation?" Buffy asked, full of hope.
"I suppose so," Giles concurred, amazed at how his slayer had once again boiled a complex situation into it's simplest form.
"Buffy," William said gently. "I like Xander as much as the rest of you, but there are a number of problems with the spell. First, we have to find them before he feeds. We'll have no idea if he has fed or not. Second, they have Dawn, focusing all our energy on Xander is just what Amy wants."
"A location spell. I could find them," Willow spoke, determined. "Chances are Amy will keep them together. And far away from her. She may be powerful, but Buffy kicked her ass," Willow blushed as they gaped at her words. "Hey, she took my girlfriend and my best friend, I can use mean words." She was trying to hide her feelings, but she was a wreck inside. She was sure Tara had fed, so the ritual was out for her, but Xander could still be saved. And she was sure Dawn would be with him.
"Okay, even if we find them and can get them together, are you sure about this Buffy?" Angel asked, looking at her for the first time. He couldn't even imagine what she was going through.
"What, you mean the part where I offer my blood to the person I love to save their life?" Buffy asked, her voice dripping with a venom Angel had rarely heard. And she was right. She had let him drink her blood when Faith had shot him with a poison arrow that only slayer's blood could cure during the mayor's ascension.
"I hate to be the one to bring this up," Faith said, looking at the floor. "But, if you are going to do this, you need to be sure he is your true love. That's what the spell says, right?"
"Yes," Giles replied.
"He is," Buffy said, not leaving room for debate. Faith wouldn't be put off.
"So, if Angel was alive, right now, and you two could be together you would still choose Xander. Because that's what it comes down to."
Buffy barely hesitated. "Maybe once it was Angel, but I love Xander now. Heart and soul. He gave his life for me, how can that not spell true love."
"For him maybe, but for you?" Faith pressed.
"Yes for me," she looked at Angel and went on, "Even if Angel were human, he would still be full of guilt. All that baggage and brooding. I just want to be have a baggage free love that makes me feel good not bad."
"Then why the hell did you kiss Angel?" Faith demanded. She wasn't about to lose Buffy. She was needed in the fight and as her friend. Faith knew she would want to do the same if William was in Xander's place, but she had to make Buffy see.
"Oh God," Willow whispered.
"I know, I don't know," Buffy muttered.
"I do," Willow replied. "Amy, Tara, and um, me, cast a relive spell so you would relive a moment of your past lives. I'm so sorry."
"It wasn't your fault, you were under her control," Buffy said weakly. It wasn't her fault, but that didn't take the pain away that Xander would think she betrayed him. He would take that thought into his grave. She was almost in tears again.
"He knows," Angel said, somehow reading her mind. "If he was willing to give his life for you, he knows that you love him."
"Angel, thank you," Buffy replied. "Willow, cast the location spell for Dawn and Xander. If they are in separate places, we'll go for Xander first, then Dawn. Dawn will be kept alive until Amy's ready for the ritual. We need to stop Xander from feeding."
"Buffy, I must object," Giles spoke. "This is very dangerous spell. If Xander has fed, he will kill you."
"That's a chance I have to take."
"No, you don't," he said roughly. "Buffy, this is exactly why Amy turned Xander instead of just killing him, she wanted you to do something stupid and rash."
"No, that's not it," Willow spoke up, a strange look on her face. "My whole, in captivity thing is a little hazy, but I remember her calling Xander her biggest threat on several occasions. That's why we cast the relive spell, to get Xander to leave the group."
"Xander!" the group all said at the same time.
"Then we have to get him back," Buffy said, more determined then ever.
"I won't let you. It's my book and you can't have it," Giles said, giving it one last weak effort.
"Sorry G-man," Cordy said, using Xander's favorite nickname for the watcher, "but I got your book, and I want Xander back. We win," she flashed a big smile at Buffy, who mouthed a thank you.
Willow cast the location spell. It showed that Xander and Dawn where indeed being held together. Then Willow found Amy. She looked for the biggest source of mystical energy other than the hellmouth itself. When the spell was over, Willow looked over the group, pleased.
"Well, good news and bad news. Good news is Dawn and Xander are being held together, and I found them. Plus, Amy isn't with them, she's far away."
"Bad news?" William asked.
"I was getting to that. They're in the Sunnydale sewer systems. It will take a while to make our way through the maze."
"I will make a call to take care of the vampire army if they interfere," William said.
"They won't. Amy is probably at her own lair and sent the others away. The army would attract attention, revel their location. She would keep them hidden. But I found them. We may only have to deal with a small band," Willow argued.
"If you say so," he conceded. "What about cursing him with a soul to assure he won't feed?"
"No time, if we wait any longer, we'll be out of luck," Angel said simply.
"Okay, then let's move out," Buffy ordered. "Cordelia, could you get Oz home safely, I know you want to help but there's nothing more you can do right now. Getting Oz back would be great."
Cordy nodded and helped the human Oz on his feet.
"How did you get here anyhow?" she asked.
"Long story, which I'm not sure I know any of," he replied and they headed out.
SUMMERS HOME
PRESENT
"So, we worked our way through the sewer system, following my guiding spell," Willow added. "We fought a few vamps along the way, but I was right Amy wanted to keep her army elsewhere, thinking that would be where we looked for them. Well, you know the rest," she finished quietly.
Alexander Lavelle Harris, was speechless. After about ten minutes of silence, he spoke up. "Buffy, I can't believe you would risk your life like that."
She smiled tiredly, "How could I not, when you did the same for me?"
"And you guys, how the hell could you let her do that?"
"Giles tried to stop us, but how could he? We need your horrible jokes to remind us just how clever we all are," Cordelia told him.
"Thanks Cordy. I mean it, for everything," he said sincerely. He could barely wrap his mind around the fact that not that long ago he wondered if he even had a place in the scooby group. Now, the gang had risked their lives to save his.
"Sure," she blushed slightly. Cordelia knew that Xander was with Buffy and it was true love. She just couldn't shake the feeling that Xander would have been her true love if things had gone differently. She sighed, her mind bringing up pictures of Doyle, who had sacrificed his life so that humanity could live. Doyle and Xander had a lot in common. Maybe that was why she fell for both of them. It had also been Doyle that had given her the gift of the vision, if you could call it a gift considering it left her with splitting headaches, that had allowed her to save Xander. Payback, she thought to her dead friend.
"Glad to have you back on our side," Faith said from the door. She was more relieved than anything. Relieved to have Buffy safe, Dawn safe, and Xander back. On the way into the sewers, William had told his love of how much he liked Xander and how he understood Buffy's quest. Faith would have done the same if William was in the situation, and was glad it had worked out for Buffy.
Xander leaned in and gave Buffy's forehead a kiss. He couldn't believe how everything had happened. She was his true love. She had risked her own life for his. And her so-called betrayal was all Amy's doing. To think he actually did have the perfect relationship, even on a hellmouth. Anya was probably going to be all right, and they had managed to all escape alive. Except for Tara.
"Willow, I'm so sorry about Tara," he said, regarding his best friend since childhood. "We could curse her. Stop the ritual."
"No," she said sadly. "Even if we cursed her, the hold Amy has over her, she would still serve her. She spied on us for weeks. That's how she knew all our plans. She knew where Anya would be. Amy knew that we all thought she was after me and we completely ignored the fact that Tara was a witch too. She even captured me so she could turn Tara without arising suspicion."
"I'm so sorry Wil," Xander offered. There were no words he could say, no spells they could cast, that would bring her love back or take away her pain.
"I just want to be the one to kill her," Willow said. "Avenge the real Tara, before Amy destroyed her. I'm so stupid, if I had managed to resist her before, I should have figured that she would go after Tara. Her mind was weak after what Glory did to her last year." Willow was crying now. Xander threw an arm around her.
"You couldn't have known Willow," Dawn said, getting up to join them. Her family. Tara had been part of that, and now she was gone. I have to be strong for them, Dawn thought, they don't need to worry about me too. "I didn't until it was too late, and I almost ended up dead."
Willow cried for a little longer, but it passed. "Only one thing left to do," she sighed.
They were silent for a while before Dawn spoke up, "Being bit sure does hurt, doesn't Xander," Dawn joked as she rubbed her neck in soreness, trying to change the subject.
"You were bit?" Buffy asked concerned. She had faded in and out of Willow's story, but her slayer healing powers were beginning to kick in. She'd be good as new in an hour.
"Yeah, Tara bit me once we got back to the creepy sewer. I was really out of it, but I was sure I heard my own voice talking," she chuckled.
"Wait, Tara bit you and then you heard your own voice?" Angel asked. He had a bad feeling.
"Yeah, stupid huh? Like I said, I was really out of it," Dawn laughed again, much more nervous about how they had all taken an interest in her story.
"Or, Amy taught Tara how to use your blood to open the dimensional portal and brought another Dawn out," Willow said, kicking herself. "Amy has the one thing none of the other big bads we've faced had, smarts. She knew we'd find Dawn so she had a backup one. Of course, it all makes sense."
"So we cast another location spell and set Dawn number two free," Xander said.
"Wait, there's two of me now?" Dawn demanded. This was way too much for her. Tara was a vampire, Xander had been but they restored him, and now there was another one of her.
"Great," Faith muttered from the door. "So she won't even bother with us again until the ritual."
"Location spell?" Xander repeated.
"And take on the whole vampire army, not a good bet," Buffy said, sitting up.
"William keeps saying he has that under control, let's take him up on that offer," Angel replied.
"Still no good. It's not our Dawn, without a personal connection or something that belonged to her, I can't do the location spell," Willow said.
"So we need to find her before you can do a location spell," Cordelia moaned.
"First we need to find out all that we can about this ritual. As soon as Giles and William get back, full research mode," Buffy commanded. She had just got her boyfriend and sister back, no way in hell Amy was going to do her ritual. She had been through the most trying time of her life, even worse than when Angel had been sent to hell, she was determined to come out on top.
"What happens as soon as we get back?" Giles asked as the two watchers entered the room.
"We find out about the binding ritual," Angel told them. He was having a hard time dealing with the fact that Buffy was no longer his true love. He had always thought that they would be together if he got his redemption. Not this time. She had chosen Xander over him, and her love had done for Xander what it could never do for him. Her love restored Xander. It had destroyed Angel. He was anxious to finish the job and return to LA, where he had his own problems to deal with that would allow his mind to push Buffy to the back burner again.
"About bloody time," William said as he embraced Faith. They hadn't had a chance to say much to each other since their confessions of love, but enough had been communicated without words. They would have passed the Heart to Heart spell test.
"You told me there is some blood sucking," Xander said.
"Yes," William began. "All that I know is that the key must have her blood sucked out by a lesser vampire witch, and then Amy simultaneously feeds on the second vampire witch. Only Amy is alive at the end," he finished quietly. He was very worried about protecting everyone. The PTB had restored him to help stop Amy he couldn't fail.
"So, let's hit the books to find out whatever we can," Buffy said, hopping off the couch and glaring at her boyfriend who was about to object. "I'm fine. Do we have a name for the ritual?"
"Afraid not," William admitted.
"Then we look for the icky blood sucking ritual book," Xander joked. They all gave him a, we're glad your back but don't push it look, and he threw his hands up innocently. "What?"
SEWERS
"Mistress," Tara whispered as she entered Amy's room. Amy was the picture of death, and not in the way all vampires dreamed.
"I already know my pet. Good of you to escape, I need you for the ritual," Amy sighed. Talking was difficult for her. She had healing abilities but the slayer had put a hurt on her like she never dreamed of. Both physically and magically. She had healing spells, but she needed her to save her strength.
"How, do you know?" Tara asked, clearly in awe of her mistress' uncanny ability to know all around her.
"I felt the magical disturbance, I just knew deep down that they returned my greatest threat," Amy muttered. Just thinking about it increased her anger. These people continued to cheat death like it was just a game. "One of these days they are going to stay dead!"
"I will, my mistress," Tara offered.
"Of course love," Amy offered, reaching her hand to take Tara's. "Rest. They will be prepared for another attack, thinking we will try and get the key again. But we will take our chances with the alternate key."
"Your wisdom is great my mistress," Tara praised.
"Go and rest. I must do the same. The slayer will not succeed, nor will Harris."
SUMMERS HOME
They had been at the books for hours and nothing had come to pass. Not even Giles in all his watcherly ways could offer anything on the ritual. Buffy was beginning to get frustrated. Her nerves were frayed, and nothing could calm them. Well, almost nothing.
"Hey you," Xander said as he stood up behind her and started to rub her shoulders.
"Hi," she mustered. His hands felt so good, words weren't enough to tell him. Buffy couldn't find the words to say a lot of things to Xander that needed to be said. Saying, thanks for saving my life, yet again, just didn't seem enough.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear.
"I love you too," she replied. Not even those words seemed adequate to express her heart.
"We'll find a way to stop her, I promise. And Buffy, thanks for making all my dreams come true. You really came through for me." Buffy sighed. Xander's promises were always so full of hope. Even after death itself had claimed him, he was still an optimist. He amazed her. Thank God he doesn't give up or you wouldn't be here right now, she told herself. He should have given up on you long ago and he didn't. Why I don't know, but be grateful. I am, she told herself.
She turned herself around to look into his eyes. "Xander, I can't believe how lucky I am to have a great guy like you."
"I never, ever get tired of hearing that," he offered, grinning that stupid lopsided grin of his that made her knees weak.
"You certainly know how to ruin a moment, don't you?" she laughed at him.
"Wouldn't have it any other way," he returned.
William was asleep. He didn't realize that his vision of Amy snapping Faith's neck was a dream until he jumped up, only to find Faith standing next to him, running her hands through his blond hair.
"Faith, you all right pet," he asked worriedly.
"Fine William, are you?" she teased, tousling his hair even more.
"Just a nightmare. You were in it," he added quietly. Despite the fact that they hadn't been able to be alone since their declaration of love, it seemed to William that their bond had grown. Words can often times get in the way, he though philosophically. So can death, Spike replied. William sighed.
He had come to accept, after his strange half memories about Amy's want spell, that Spike was a part of him. He was probably the source of his extra strength. And it was a constant reminder to him of what he was, and what he still had left to make up for. It didn't eat away at him, but it was there. The dull ache and low ringing that he constantly felt and heard. It was what allowed him to know completely what Faith was dealing with.
Faith stared lovingly at her blond guardian. She, yes Faith, was infatuated. It was also much deeper than that, but she couldn't shake the infatuation feeling. Whenever William walked into a room, she just felt her head go a little light. He was so smart and intelligent, without the baggage of physical age that it usually took to achieve it. And he was so damn hot. She imagined them doing all sorts of fun things. But not yet, she reminded herself, stop apocalypse first then jump his bones.
"What was I doing?" she asked casually.
"Dying," he said quietly.
"Oh, well, I've had that one too," she tried.
"Not like this. It's like watching your guts ripped out, and then having them sowed back in wrong. It's always with you, not being whole, just, wrong."
"Okay, I have to say, what's up with the graphic metaphor. I get it, you like me," she said, grinning.
"Yes, sorry, still some Spike left in me," William chuckled at his own words. It was an accurate description of his feelings, but a little too gory to impress the ladies.
"That's okay. Actually, it was kinda hot" Faith said, and leaned down to kiss him.
Angel and Cordelia were in the living room, each with a volume of ancient lore and both doing some major brooding.
"I wish you could just turn feelings on and off. It's be so much easier," Cordelia whined.
"Careful, remember the last time you went making wishes in Sunnydale," he chastised. She remembered the alternate universe her wish had created. The one where Buffy never came to Sunnydale that Anya had created.
"How is our little ex-vengeance demon?"
"Giles said she'd be fine. He was about to send some of the gang to visit her, but she said that stopping Amy was more important. Giles said she sounded more mature than ever," Angel relayed to Cordelia.
"Good." They went back to the books, neither really reading both just thinking.
"Angel, how do you do it?" she asked finally.
"Do what?" he tried to play dumb. It didn't work.
"Do I have to spell it out. Deal with watching your first love move on and become completely happy, while we sit stuck in relationship hell. Some of us much more literally," she added.
"Honestly Cordy, I don't," he muttered. "It isn't fun, and I really haven't dealt with it. I just try to think about all the work I need to do, and love," he stopped and sighed. "Love is still always present. It's the only thing to brighten this world. It is so hard to live without it," he finished.
"Great pep talk boss," she retorted. "There's other types of love you know. Friendship and companionship, that isn't necessarily physical."
"I guess," he said, clearly unconvinced.
"Well, if it helps, I love you Angel," she said. "I mean, in a friendly companion kind of way, not in the make with the happy and have children that could destroy the world way."
"Thanks. I think. You know what drew you to Xander was that you both have a great knack for ruining perfectly nice moments," he laughed.
"You should talk mister "wow that was an incredible night of passion, so let me kill all your friends," she pouted back, with no trace of malice. Angel smiled bittersweetly, and went back to his book.
Things came in pieces over the next few hours. Cordelia found a reference to a ritual and its name: Vessel of the Balance. It basically allowed whoever completed the ritual to be able to destroy the balance between good and evil.
Next, Willow found a cryptic message that described the ritual as taking place "on the day darkness was at its length." After a great deal of debate, Giles finally came to the decision that the ritual would take place on the winter solstice, in three days.
Xander found out what exactly Amy would be able to do if she accomplished the ritual. Create demons from thin air, melt humans with a touch, turn anyone she bites into a vampire immediately, and command the loyalty of ever creature of evil.
"Sounds like a walking carnival act," Xander had joked.
Buffy then came up with the breakthrough: The prophecy of the vessel.
"Listen to this," she started, then read from the book. "On the witching hour of the day darkness is at its length, one who walks in the world of the living dead can become the vessel of balance. The blood of the key must pass through one of the chosen, a living dead but inferior to the vessel, to weed out the humanity of the key so that only the power can come to the one designed to become the vessel. After the vessel has reached its peak, it will be transformed. It will no longer follow the rules of its kind. Demons are its to command, its touch is that of the sun to humans, and nothing impure will stand against the vessel. Its army will grow to be like the air, until the balance has been destroyed. Once the transformation has been completed, no warrior or one separate from humanity in anyway can kill it. Humanity itself must strike the blow."
"Okay, what the hell does that mean?" Faith asked. "Damn prophets, why couldn't they just spell it out, no need to be so damn cryptic."
"I understand it," Giles said from the table. "Allow me to translate, since you don't seem to speak cryptic," he said wryly. "Tara will drink Dawn's blood, filtering out her humanity. Amy will drink Tara's blood, receiving only Dawn's power not her humanity. Once the transformation is complete, well we all heard Xander's descriptions of her powers. She will become invincible to anyone who is not completely human and or called to the fight against evil. Meaning, no slayers, souled vampires, witches, watchers werewolves or visionaries can kill her."
The impact hit them all. The chosen warriors in the fight against evil couldn't stop her. Most of them were sitting in the room right now. The only one not called to fight evil was.
"Xander," Willow exclaimed. "That's it."
"Care to fill me in?" Xander asked.
"Are you dense or stupid?" Cordelia asked.
"Maybe both, still doesn't clue me in at all."
"Xander," Buffy said softly. "That's why you are Amy's biggest threat. If she completes the ritual, no one else in this room can stop her. Willow's a witch, William and Giles are watchers, Faith and I are slayers, Angel clearly isn't human, Oz is a werewolf, Dawn is the key, and Cordelia has the power of vision. That leaves you."
"Crap, that's what I was afraid. If she transforms, only I can kill her. I really wish I had powers right about now."
"Wait, is Xander even still human?" Cordelia asked. "I mean, he was a vampire for like a day, and it said he couldn't be separate from humanity at all," she tried to add tactfully.
"Yes, but the way the Heart to Heart spell works, it's like he was never a vampire at all," William explained. "The spell was performed on him, not by him. And since it left him completely human it was like he was never separate. I still have residual strength and an annoying Spike presence in my mind. Any super strength or demon's in your head?" he asked Xander.
Xander tried to lift the kitchen table up and grunted. "No, no super strength. And I'm pretty sure it's empty up here," he said, purposely leaving himself open.
No one took advantage.
"Why Xander?" Dawn asked. "I mean, no offense, but couldn't we get like a champion kickboxer or something to try and kill Amy?"
"And how would we explain vampires to them in time to stop the ritual?" William asked. "And even if we could, there's no guarantee that they would fair any better than Xander."
"I don't know, I just want to help," Dawn muttered.
"I know lil bit, I know," William said gently.
"I can do it," Xander said determined. "I'll do it. But maybe we could stop her before she ascends so I don't have to," he added.
"She'll need to do the ritual on the hellmouth itself," Giles said. "She will need some preparation time just before the ritual begins at midnight. So that would be our best chance."
"The sewers system isn't good for fighting, plus easy ambushes," Buffy agreed.
"Back to high school once again. Boy, I thought I hated it before," Xander quipped.
"William, can you really take care of the vampire army, because Amy will want us out of the way," Willow pondered.
"Yeah, especially when I explain what the ritual does," he confirmed.
"William, just what exactly is your plan?" Giles questioned, still questioning his true credentials as a watcher. Though, it was clear to Giles he was fighting with them not against them.
"You'll see," he replied.
"You'll see isn't really good enough," Buffy said forcefully, letting the whole days frustrations out.
"Back off B, he said he'll handle it," Faith stepped in.
"Okay, okay, before we come to blows, it's been a really really long day, let's just get some rest and regroup," Xander tried to mediate.
"You're right," the slayers said in unison. "Sorry B," Faith said, "just sticking up for my guy," she said as she nudged William in the ribs.
"I'm sorry too, I'm just on edge a little," Buffy admitted. "Please, stay here tonight," she offered as a sign of peace. "It's not safe to stay at the hotel or go walking all that way at this time of night. You can stay in the fort," she teased.
"Sounds like a plan. Forts are quiet right?" Faith asked.
"Eww, I'm going to bed now," Dawn said.
"Right there with ya Dawnie," Willow chimed in and they headed upstairs.
"We'll be fine in the living room," Angel said as he and Cordelia each took a couch and pillows.
Faith and William called a goodnight and headed downstairs. Giles took up in the lazyboy. Buffy and Xander quickly climbed the stairs into their room.
Once they closed the door, they sat on Buffy's bed. It had become their bed in the brief time Xander had been living there. Buffy flung herself on his legs and he held her for the longest time. Their hearts seemed to beat completely as one.
"How do you deal with the pressure Buff," Xander asked after a while.
"What do you mean?" she questioned.
"I mean, you're the chosen one, the fate of the world rests solely on your shoulders more times than there are Rocky sequels. How do you stand the pressure?"
"That's a really stupid question," she said, slightly annoyed. "You know how I do it, the same way you're going to do it, with a group of people that pull you up just when you need it most," she finished, looking him deeply in the eyes.
"I love you so much," Xander murmured, drawing a moment of peace from her assurances.
"I never, ever get tired of hearing that," she teased, using his words.
"Buffy, I owe you an apology," Xander said seriously.
"What for?"
"For overreacting about the Angel kiss. I should have known that your feelings for him were gone, and I just let the one eyed monster get the better of me," he said.
"Xan, I think you mean the green eyed monster," she laughed.
"Whatever, the one eyed green monster," he said, then paused, "that's either something we've killed before or a really gross disease that I promise I don't have."
"I know, I've seen," she cooed at him. "Unless that's a side effect of the spell."
"I sure hope not," he said concerned. But he wanted to finish his apology. "But, when it has come to Angel, I have a lot to apologize for. Not saying that I want you to go running back to him or anything, but I was really harsh on you guys. I guess I just never knew the lengths that love could drive a slayer, and I'm really glad I found out," he finished.
"You've grown so much since then, so have I, and it's all forgotten. It helped get us to this point, and that's something I would never trade," she smiled at him. The mood shifted. Their serious confessions were over. Buffy decided that it was a good chance to make up for lost time.
She slipped her slender hand down around Xander's waistband and pulled his pants away from his hips long enough to catch a glimpse of him.
"Hey there grabby hands," Xander said, mocking offense.
"Just checking to make sure it wasn't green," she replied, kissing him deeply. When they broke she whispered in his ear, "Not that it would have made a difference, but nothing quite like the original."
"Are you sure I'm not dead and this is heaven?" he cried as she licked his ear and moved her way towards the rest of his face.
"Yup, I've been to heaven, remember?" she mumbled with a mouthful of Xander's lips. "This is so much better," she said and continued her trail of kisses down to his chest and lower.
William and Faith set their cots up next to the fort. Faith had suggested they share one, but William, ever the gentlemen, which managed to turn Faith on even more, declared that they would wait until it could be a perfect event. Faith had let a giggle escape her lips, then quickly shut it down. She relented and settled for kissing him. He had lost the glasses and wore a strange combination of tweed and leather that Faith was sure only he could pull off.
"Hey there sexy," she purred at her lover.
"Hey there yourself," a new voice called out and stumbled into view.
"Oz, how did you get here?" William asked.
"Cordy just kinda took me down here and told me that I could stay in the corner. It felt strangely okay. Too much wolf in me right now."
"I see," William said, not sure what to say next.
"So, you two are together. And not evil?" he made sure.
"Nail on the nose," Faith replied. The added, "And yes, I know it's not right, my own invention." The only thing that William ever did to annoy her was to correct her speech.
"I said nothing," William pleaded.
"You were going to," she retorted.
"Was not."
"Were too."
"I was not bloody going to say anything!" She leaned in and kissed him. She just liked it when he got a little huffy. It was more of a Spike reaction than the usual watcher/Giles type responses he sometimes gave. He's still getting used to being back, she reminded herself. Plus, she didn't want Spike, but William the book nerd wasn't him either. Her William was a combination of William the book nerd, Spike, and something that only a century's worth of living could create. And she loved him for being all of those things.
"Hey, anyway, I'm just going to go upstairs and grab a sofa," Oz said, interrupting their kiss.
"Watch out for Deadboy and Cordy," Faith told him as he wandered up the steps. Oz nodded.
"Alone at last," Faith said and wrapped her arms around William.
"But not for the last, I will not let anything happen to you," William told her. They kissed and held each other for a longtime. Things needed to be said, but not tonight, Faith decided. She wanted it to be in a perfect setting. If the words didn't get said, they would know in each other's hearts, and that would be enough. But if she was going to say the words she was going to do it right, not in a life or death crisis.
"I know you'll protect me. Isn't that in the watchers hand book or something," she told him. He smiled at her. "Come on loverboy, let's get some rest, busy time ahead of us."
"I love you Faith," he smiled.
"Thanks," she returned.
"Thanks?"
"Yeah, I don't usually get to hear that, and I love you too is just such a typical response."
"You are nothing if not atypical," he quipped. She punched him lightly.
"I am not nothing," she complained.
He rubbed his arms, "No definitely some muscle there, that's for certain," he teased.
"Go to sleep before you get yourself deeper in the doghouse," she ordered. They both turned in and dreamed of the other.
STREETS OF SUNNYDALE
The night air was quiet. The usual batch of demons and vampires that patrolled the streets were deep within the ground, hiding at Amy's not so subtle request. The residents of Sunnydale were also absent. They had learned over the years: Streets plus alone plus dark equals dead.
So no one was around when the air rippled. The earth trembled. The wind howled. The night air was swirling around, kicking up dust until there was a figure standing where the mini tornado centered. The winds died and the earth was still again. The figure stepped through the cloud of dust that his arrival had kicked up. He looked around.
Sunnydale, California. Wow, he thought, what a difference a dimension can make. He had come to know the city as hell on earth. Which he imagined it still was, but at least they kept up outward appearances here. He knew the reason for the difference between his Sunnydale and the one he had just come from. Nevertheless, he had to wonder if this Sunnydale would be doomed to follow his suit with own.
Not my concern, he told himself. I have one task and one task only, retrieve my love. I cannot interfere with this dimension's conflict. It was a simple find and recover mission. He had a pretty good idea of what would happen to his love in this dimension. But he had to wait it out. He would probably have to watch her come to the brink of death. But that's what he was here for, to save her.
His first thoughts had been that this city was doomed to become like his own. Now he wondered if he wanted to return to his dimension. It may still be the hellmouth, but things were different. He sensed that it was a presence of evil containing the vampires and the demons, but he also sensed the thing that had been so absent in his own Sunnydale, hope. There was a presence of good in this hellmouth that he had never felt on his. It permeated his being. Perhaps we can stay in this dimension when it's all over, finally live in peace.
No, I must simply retrieve my love and return to my own world. Nothing more, nothing less. He continued walking the streets, searching for her presence. He found her easily. He would always recognize her feeling. He decided that he would have to wait out the fight that was upcoming. He knew for a fact that his love would find her way to the hellmouth in the next few days. He would simply have to go there and wait for her.
Good luck my freedom fighting friends, he thought. You will need it.
TO BE CONTINUED
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