Hi everyone! This is just my 'little' pet-project... I've been working on it for MONTHS and it has already suffered *many* revisions (Just ask Chloe!) but, well, my patience with this baby is wearing thin and I'm seriously wondering if I should continue it...
Are you there, Ali? If you are... ehhh... Don't Kill Me!!. I *know* you said I should wait to post this one until it was finished but I've passed the WHOLE week (i.e my October-break!) trying to write the fourth chapter and so far I *ONLY* have 4 short-fics with *nothing* to do with my baby (It was not that bad, I'm actually happy with them. Have you already read 'Sequences'? I'm quite proud of that one...) and some scattered notes... That was when I noticed that I *really* do need some encouragement to continue... or maybe some flames to stop once for all.
Read it and then tell me if it's worth our time.
FIRST WARNING: Very alternate universe fic.
SECOND WARNING: In this fic Darla is a good guy, though basically there isn't anything left from the Darla we all know and hate. I just needed the name.
AN: For those of you who have already read the first (and second and probably third) version of this fic: WARNING: Things change. Not many, but important ones.
AN2: For those of you who read this for the first time. WARNING: This is a *very* ALTERNATE universe fic (yeah, I know I already said that, I just want to make it very clear.)
DEDICATION: To my beta-readers, of course... I just don't know what would be of this fic without you. People would probably run away after the first line if you hadn't helped...
And this also goes to Chloe, whom I think I have disappointed enough. I'm *really* sorry, dear. I just couldn't let this fic stay as it was... it *demanded* a change and I only had to bow my head and go with the flow. (Until my AR-muse flew away and took said flow with her some weeks ago...)
TITLE: Complex Cycles. (also known as 'Alternate Reality [AR]')
AUTHOR: Leni
DISCLAIMER: *My* world, *my* rules, *his* characters. Life is SO unfair
DISTRIBUTION: All yours. Just tell me.
SUMMARY: Remember BtVS in the second season? Well, some things *still* stay the same...
RATING: I tried to maintain the whole story at a PG-13 level. But some scenes in the second and third chapter went a little bit further... I'll put a warning at the beginning of said scenes whenever it happens.
FEEDBACK: *Very* appreciated. Even flames as long as you're fair. dani_vasq@hotmail.com , a_d_v_v@yahoo.com.ar
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Prologue_____ *Who is the Slayer?*
She was lying peacefully on the bed, simply beautiful with her blonde hair contrasting against the dark covers. All about her spoke about light and innocence and yet...
He stopped brooding when she began to stir in her sleep. He sat at her side, on his bed, running his fingers through her hair. Finally she opened her eyes. Dark green. Beautiful. She stared at him silently.
He smiled softly.
She smiled back.
"You're awake. Good. I was beginning to worry about you." He kissed her quickly on the lips. "I love you, Buffy," he murmured.
She grabbed him and began to kiss him passionately. When they finally stopped she ran her tongue against her sharp fangs.
"I'm hungry, love," she stated softly.
"I know."
Angelus smiled.
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Another night in Sunnydale, and this one was as boring as all the past ones. She was standing in front of one of the newest graves. The tombstone read 'Steven Brown. Good Friend. We will miss you.' This was too much, she had been here for hours. She should have let Xander come along, then at least she could have someone to talk to.
"Come on, Steven, let's play."
As if obeying her, a dark figure came out of the grave. His face was the twisted one of a vampire. He glanced at her menacingly and growled. She stood in a defense stance, waiting for the expected dull attack. As always, the newbie lunged at her. She waited 'till he was in her range and swiftly staked him in the heart. The vampire disappeared in a cloud of dust.
"Well, there goes number five. I guess even Giles would call it a night." She left the cemetery. Her blond hair shone under the moonlight.
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He rubbed his eyes tiredly and sighed. There wasn't anything useful in this one, either. He put the book on the huge pile next to him and grabbed the next one.
He flipped the book open for some moments until his gaze fixed on a certain passage.
"Oh my God..." he whispered. "this is even worse than I thought..."
In that moment Rupert Giles, current Watcher and school-librarian, just knew sleep wouldn't reclaim him for a long time.
Day 1: Wednesday_____*The Scooby Gang. Where's the witch?*
School hadn't yet started and they still had some minutes to talk.
"Don't you think she knew what he was?"
"I guess so." She tucked an escape curl behind her ear nervously. Xander had caught her at the entrance and had asked her about the news in their friend's life.
"I still don't understand. Why would she let him do it?" Xander asked, confused.
"'Cause she LOVED him, you fool. Why else?" She was getting tired of this argument and she wanted to leave, too.
Xander just ignored her and went on with his tirade. "How could she love him? He should be... scratch it, he IS everything a Slayer should hate!"
"Just because you two don't get along doesn't mean..."
"Don't 'get along'. Oh please, Cordy. You know I hate that CREEP and he sure as hell hates me too."
'Any guy would hate the one who has a crush in his girlfriend', she thought. "I still think you're being overprotective, Xand. You and I know that Darla can defend herself pretty well."
"I'M NOT BEING OVERPROTECTIVE!" He was just... worried about her friend. He would be even if he weren't in love with her.
"Sheesh... Cool it, Xander. You don't need to scream. I'm sure our Slayer wouldn't want her little secret out there," she pointed to the rest of the schoolyard. Fortunately there weren't many students there yet. If someone saw her with Xander... she had already told him *repeatedly* not to come anywhere near her at school but of course the jerk didn't seem to get the idea. Damn him! If this had *any* consequences for her reputation he would wish that Darla hadn't stopped that vampire draining him last week.
Of course, Xander was totally unaware of Cordelia's murderous thoughts. "Come on, Cordy. You should know it isn't a secret anymore. Everybody knows that it's over between her and Devon."
"Uhm, yeah, I guess you're right. I myself saw Oz telling Anya this morning."
"Oz?"
"Yeah, his best friend. You know, the guitarist in that band of theirs, the one with a passion for strange hair-colors." Cordelia shuddered at the thought of the green streaks Oz had displayed last week. Didn't that guy have any sense of fashion?
"Oh, THAT Oz. He's a nice guy, pretty weird, but a nice guy all in all. You know, I still don't get how two persons so different could become best friends. It's like... like Darla and you."
"Hey! Darla and I are not THAT different!" Xander stared at her intently. "Ok, so maybe a little... But we've been friends since primary and we've passed through boyfriends, and school, and her Calling being friends."
"Yeah, I guess..." He said absently. "Hey, why don't we go to the library and see how is Giles managing with a very angry Slayer?" 'and ask her how is she coping like the good friends we are.' He added to himself. "It will be funny. I bet Giles will have some sore spots by the end of the session. Angry Slayer and all that. Come with me?" He didn't know why he asked her. He already knew the answer to that. Right now she would wrinkle her nose in disgust...
Cordy wrinkled her nose. She wouldn't be to the library, not even if her own life depended on it. Which is very probable to happen. , she thought with dismay.
...next she would raise her eyebrows in annoyance.
She was positively annoyed with this guy. Wouldn't he learn for once and all that she, Cordelia Chase, self-proclaimed SH Princess, *wouldn't* go to that center of losers? She didn't notice her eyebrows rising lightly.
...and then she would say:
"Are you kidding? ME? To the library? That's SO not happening"
Yup, it worked as clockwork. Only this time he had still something to say. "And whatever happened with that 'We're best friends since forever' stuff?" he asked, amused.
"I've already said this, Harris. I'm not exposing myself to be a joke between the students. It's enough that my best friend is the weirdest girl at the school... at least she HAS a good fashion sense. I'm NOT going to the library. I have a rep to care for."
It was his cue to initiate their *other* diary argument. "Look at me. I'm happy, I'm free and I don't care about my rep."
"That's because you don't have one. You only are the King of the Computers."
"And you're queen of what, your Majesty?" he mocked her.
"Of fashion, of course! Now, go. People are starting to notice us together." She could see Harmony and Anya looking at them open-mouthed. She would need a good excuse for this one!
"Okay, my queen, I shall go to the library ALONE once more and tell YOUR best friend that you didn't want to come along." He bowed mockingly and Cordelia let out an exasperated sigh. This boy was too much! She spun around and went to meet her friends at the cafeteria.
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Two blonde heads lifted when Cordelia entered the cafeteria. They waited until she was seated with her tray in front of them. Anya was the first to speak. "Was that Xander Harris we saw you hanging with?"
Cordelia sighed. She knew they had been watching her. Oh great! Before the end of the day everybody would know about this... But not if she could help it. "Yeah. It was Harris." she said indifferently.
"What where you doing with him?" Harmony piped in. "Isn't that kind of..." She continued scrunching her face in disgust to give more emphasis to her next words. "...totally *uncool*?" She stressed the last word, making sure Cordelia knew what she meant.
"Well, It would even more *uncool*," she mimicked Harmony's exaggerated expression. "if I have to come here in the summer because I failed the computer class." Cordelia answered as if not giving it any importance.
"So what does it have to do with that clown?" Harmony asked.
Cordelia stared at her. The girl could be really dense sometimes. She only was her 'friend' because it was better than having her as an enemy. Even so, she knew that this Queen-wannabe was the responsible of many gossips surrounding her and Darla. What would happen if she were her declared foe. "Harmony dear, don't tell me you don't know who the best at that class is?"
"Of course. It's Larry."
The brunette laughed. "Are you kidding, Harm? It's ok if you're all head-over-heels in love with him but pleeease... that guy doesn't even know how to turn on a computer!"
"Oh yeah, but he really knows how to turn on other things, isn't it the truth, Harm?" Anya said.
Harmony had the decency to blush. "Shut up, Anya."
Cordelia raised her eyebrows. She didn't know Harmony and Larry had gone that far and... how came Anya knew it first? She always managed to obtain the best gossip from the most reliable sources and she had no qualms in saying what she really felt about the others. That's why she liked the girl. As long as those 'talents' weren't directed against her, Cordelia could consider the girl a good ally.
She coughed lightly to attract the attention of the two glaring girls. It was a miracle that these two were in the same room together without a MAJOR bitching contest. Anything to obtain a good gossip on the *real* queen. Cordelia assumed. Sorry to disappoint you, girls. "Well, Harm, Larry is certainly a better choice than that cheating-pig you were dating not so long ago. It's good to know that my friends don't go around with *that* type of losers."
"Like Darla is doing now?" Harmony asked with a saccharin smile, trying to appear innocent.
Innocent? Ha! When Hell freezes over maybe. Before Cordelia could think of an appropriate answer Anya was already talking.
"Harm! Don't tell me you still don't know the news!"
Harmony raised her head and looked at her curiously. "Huh?"
"Devon is history in Darla's life," Cordelia said matter-of-factly. She certainly didn't want to discuss her friend's private life with these girls. Darla deserved that. But obviously Anya didn't share her thoughts.
"Yeah. It was yesterday. You really hadn't heard about it? It's all over the school! Word is she found him with that exchange student." She whispered signaling to a brunette sitting among the Sunnydale swimming-team at one of the tables. "She comes from the Caribbean or one of those little islands over there, and is staying here for the remainder of the year. She certainly
is fast, isn't she?"
Cordelia nodded absently. The girl sure was beautiful, with that long dark hair and shapely figure. The clothes were ok if a bit on the *way short* side. Too much leg and cleavage for Cordelia's taste. It was no wonder that Devon had gone after her. She didn't seem to remember Devon, though. Actually, she was being *very* friendly to two of the guys. One of them was Robert. Single guy, reasonably good-looking, very muscled and not so intelligent. Had asked her to go out five times. No thanks, sir, single-ness is WAY better . The other one was... Wait.
"Hey, Harm, isn't it Larry over there?"
She turned to her friend. Harmony had obviously already noticed her boyfriend with the cheat-inducing new girl. Cordelia's answer was the expression on her face. Red face, gritting teeth... She smiled. Harmony wouldn't have time to form new plans against her if she was fighting with Larry for the rest of the week. Life was perfect.
Harmony raised herself from her seat with as much dignity as she could muster. "I have to go to my next class, girls. If that *loser* asks for me tell him to go to hell."
Cordelia shuddered slightly. Harm's choice of words wasn't the best one to use in the Hellmouth. She would tell Darla to check on Larry tonight. Just in case. You never knew... Oh god! Now I'm just as paranoid as the others! Next thing I know I will be *willing* to go to one of those 'research parties'. I swear, if this damn Hellmouth damages my image in any form *I* will be the one closing it forever. Uhmm... I like the sound of it... maybe there's a spell somewhere... Gotta ask Giles if-
"Wasn't that great?" Anya's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Cordelia blinked. "Huh?"
"Harmony, I mean. That was a great show, don't you think? Larry's got a HUGE problem now. It's not like Harm will forgive him so quickly and it'll be really funny to watch what she'll do to him in the meantime. Bad thing she can't just dump him, she wouldn't be able to get a date for next week. Poor Harm. She doesn't seem to be able to find a good boyfriend. You just mentioned her last failure and it seems that Larry is just another one. Gotta pity that girl for her bad taste." She shook her head as if to stress her last words
"Yeah, I guess." Cordelia answered carefully. You never knew when your own words would come back to haunt you, especially if Anya or Harmony had heard those words... The last thing she needed was Anya going round telling that she had been badmouthing Harmony. It would do a huge dent to her reputation and she CERTAINLY didn't need that. As if her secret struggle against the undead wasn't enough!
Anya took Cordelia's silence as a tacit permission to speak freely. "I can't believe she actually wants to have your position. She is delusional if she thinks she can do it. She is nothing like you."
Oh great. Here we go again. Cordelia thought dismayingly. Not that some diary praise is not good for my ego but I actually thought Anya had some brains. Guess even I can be wrong, too.
Anya went on unaware of the brunette's line of thought. "And you actually do have some taste. Even if the guy is a perfect geek and doesn't know how to match his clothes properly." She sighed. She glanced at Cordy reproachfully. "I don't know why you try to give us that 'He's only my tutor'-line. I bet that even Harmony didn't fall for it."
Cordelia's eyes widened. Had this little girl said what she thought she had said? "W-what?!" She managed to stutter.
Anya looked at her as if being after Xander were the most normal thing in the world for Cordelia Chase. "What? Isn't it truth, Cordy? I mean, this is not the first time I've seen you two together and even if it were, why would you be talking to him at the entrance of the school?" Anya raised her eyebrows and waited patiently for an answer.
Cordelia was left speechless. Anya thought that she and... *Xander* were. Ugh. *together*. Oh no! And she had said that this was not the first time she had seen them together. Knowing Anya the entire school should have heard of it already. No wonder Harmony was behaving so smugly in front of me the other day. She knew. She breathed deeply. I'm SO going to kill Xander. She saw Anya's expectant glare. But first things first. she decided. Well, there was only a way out now. To lie.
"Well, we were deciding on a new date for my classes. Things just couldn't go on as they were, you know. The last classes had been interfering with my hairdresser appointments and even a *shopping spree*!" She sighed exasperatedly. It was not a difficult thing to do. "I swear it, Anya, I won't miss one more sale for those *boring* classes... even if I fail that damned course" Yeah, there it was. Now Anya sure could see the importance in talking with Harris, even if it was in front of the whole school.
"Yeah, well..." Anya didn't seem as convinced as she should be. Indeed, Cordelia's sincerity was something rarely seen and in Anya's mind this was just another proof to that statement. "I still don't know why you are denying it." She said finally. "I mean, it's not as if it were a bad thing, you know. I'm certainly not condemning you, Cordy. I would be doing the same if I were in your place."
"You would?" Cordelia asked incredulously. Then she realized that with those words she had practically accepted Anya's accusation. "I mean..." she hurried to say.
Anya didn't leave her time to defend herself. "Of course I would! Have you seen that six-pack? And all those other veeery well developed muscles? Yummy! I would jump his bones if I knew there was a chance he would accept me. Bad thing he is so smitten with you and Darla. What I wouldn't give to be a mouse in one of your trio-meetings." She sighed wistfully.
Cordelia had heard enough. "Hey! It's not what you are thinking! What kind of perverts do you think we are?" She glared at the blonde girl sternly.
Anya smiled unrepentant. "Jeez, Cordy. No need to take it so seriously." Cordelia just raised her eyebrows. "Yeah, well, maybe I was exaggerating a bit but can you really blame me? I mean, you three are always together in that lonely library... What else do you want me to think?"
"Maybe that we are *studying*." Ugh. *This* was exactly why Cordelia didn't like going to the library. And to know that Anya had seen her just the few times she had agreed to. Damn.
"Uh-huh. Ok." Anya responded in a tone that clearly said: 'I'll let you know when I believe you.'
The bell rang. Anya walked leisurely to her classroom leaving an open-mouthed Cordelia at their table. Some moments later an only thought crossed her mind. Did she just say *six-pack*?
She nearly laughed aloud. Anya has to be blind. The mere thought of it was ridiculous, laughable and... utterly interesting.
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"Hi, Xand."
"Hi, Darla." He noticed the librarian lying exhausted on the floor. "Aren't you being a bit harsh with the Watcher?"
Darla smiled sheepishly. "Well, it wasn't my fault. He decided I should fight at my best."
"Um-hum." Xander mock-glared her, "and since when do you obey him?"
A grunt interrupted their conversation. Darla helped Giles on his feet and then sat on one of the many chairs.
"And may I know what brings my friend here?" She started, pulling her blonde hair into a ponytail.
"You offend me, Darla! Does a good friend like me need a reason to be here? I only wanted to see you." Darla glared him. "Oh well... I was wondering if... I wanted to know... As your friend I..." He sighed. "How are you doing?" he finally said. "I mean, I heard some things and I thought that maybe..." he strayed off. And maybe what? Maybe she would like to be my girlfriend? Keep dreaming, Harris, and don't forget that you are here to be a good friend and not a stubborn suitor.
"You know, don't you?" It was more a statement than a question. He was surprised at the bitter tone.
"Well, it's pretty easy to guess since you two haven't been seen together holding hands, kissing and whatever you tended to do every hour of every day." Yeah, *every* hour of *every* day, even at the Bronze where she was supposed to maintain a coherent talk with her single friends and not to make out with her boyfriend like there was no tomorrow... "And, well, if you add the rumors about Devon kissing that brunette at the Bronze...." If the rumors were correct maybe she would let him punch Devon. He had staked vampires before, how strong could a musician be?
"Yeah, I know."
"Excuse me? You *know*?" She was strictly *not* supposed to know. The school gossip-mill assured that the brunette was the last secret affair of Devon, the last of the many. It was a common knowledge that 'fidelity' was not one of Devon's virtues; but Darla had not wanted to hear any of it without proofs, so Xander and Cordelia had had to remain silent and wait for the truth to reveal itself.
"Well, I found them so I guess that makes me know about it!" the angry Slayer snapped. For the first time in his life Xander kept quiet. Darla stood up from her seat and began to pace. "You see, I was chasing this vampire near the Bronze when I saw him leaving an alley. I was going to greet my *love* when suddenly this... 'girl' was at his side and next thing I know they were KISSING. Can you believe it? That son of a..." she ranted..
"Don't yell here, Darla. It's a library." The annoyed voice of the librarian came out of his office. By now he should be accustomed to Darla's outbursts, Xander mused.
"Sorry, Giles." she said apologetically and then returned her attention to her friend. "I don't know what's happening with him. He's been like that the whole week. I'm afraid something big is coming... again. Well, back to the story, five minutes later I had broken up with Devon calling him a pig and a loser and I think I even said I wished a vampire would suck him dry... "
"You said it?" He laughed.
"Guess so. Now he must think I'm a loony." She lamented.
"Don't worry about it. You will find someone better." Such as me. A dream or two wouldn't hurt, would they?
"I hope so. You're a good friend, Xand." Scratch that. It hurt like hell. She hugged him and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Thanks a lot." She released him. "Tell Giles I actually have other classes. See you soon."
Xander stood there and slowly touched his cheek. "Yeah, friend..." He murmured.
He approached the office to find Giles between dozens of books. "All of them old and in dead languages," he mumbled.
"Hey, Giles."
The librarian, startled, dropped a book. "Oh, good morning, Mr. Harris."
"How many times do I have to tell you?" Xander said, a bit impatiently "I Xander, you Giles. No Mr. Harris." Even after so much time of knowing the teenagers the stuffy librarian insisted on calling them those stuffy names. It made him seem older and more mature... He shuddered at the thought.
"Alright," Giles said absently and returned to the reading the annoying boy had just interrupted. There was this prophesy coming soon... *click* Darla would be angry when she found out... *click* He had to be prepared... *Click-click-click* What the Hell was that noise?! The Watcher raised his head just to see Xander drumming his fingers on a table. *click-click-click* He cleared his throat rather loudly. *click-click-click* What do teenagers use their brains for? Giles wondered idly. "Do you need anything else, Mr... uhm... Xander?"
"See? Calling me that wasn't that difficult. Was it, G-man?" Giles knitted his brows. Xander gulped at the angry expression in the Watcher's face. Uh-oh. Seems the Watcher is pissed off. Wonder why. Too much caffeine maybe? Couldn't be. Brits are never into caffeine. Brits are weird. Definitely. And Giles is still pissed off. Better ask now and hope he will agree. "Well I was wondering if I could go patrolling tonight with you both..." Xander blurted out.
The librarian raised his eyebrows. How many times had he said that slaying was a *Slayer's* work? "I appreciate your offer... uhm...Xander; but I'll have to refuse it. If you want to help Darla you can do it with that computer of yours." In reality the computer was school's property but after all this time it really felt like Xander's alone, especially considering that the Watcher considered it a danger for his mental health. "I really think it wouldn't be wise for your safety, Xander."
'Not wise for your safety.' True, but not enough to stop him. "Come on, Giles. You yourself taught me how to use a stake and I'm good at it, you know. And it isn't as if I have never done it." So far he had staked his share of vampires, of course the total number was the same Darla staked in one week but still...
"Fine," Giles snapped. He was really tired. He had been researching this prophecy for days. There was no time for such a futile discussion. "Go if you want, but don't blame me if you get hurt."
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They were at the graveyard. The mausoleums creating weird shadows above them. Darla guided them to the oldest part of the cemetery.
"Ok, here is where we split up," she decided. "I'll go alone and you two stay here. Try and make sure nothing kills you, okay? "
Xander stopped in his tracks. Had he heard right? She wasn't leaving them *here*, was she? He had come with an only intent and she was going to spoil it. "But, Darla. There's nothing here and you know it. Nobody is buried here now," Xander complained. He wanted a bit of action. Even if it meant some pretty bruises to explain to his mom.
Darla seemed a bit exasperated with the boy. "No questions, Xander. I should have left you at the library. But you are here, so now you will do as I say." And with that the Slayer ran away.
Damn it! Though his fury Xander still stared wistfully after her. For him she was the symbol of perfection, always so calm and collected. Being a Slayer had made her mature fast and he couldn't help but compare her to the other vain and fluffy girls and find her just... perfect.
He had fallen in love with Darla the first moment he had seen her sprawled on the floor, victim of his careless skating. He smiled at the memory. Luckily she was not a first-impression kind of girl and had allowed him to make amends by being her Computer-tutor. He had considered himself more than lucky when this beautiful girl had accepted him while others -namely Cordelia 'BITCH' Chase and her clique- treated him like trash. They had started studying together and he had rapidly realized that she was the strangest yet sweetest girl on earth, but that was part of her charm, wasn't it? Nonsensical excuses for broken study-dates and odd attitude vanished in front of her beauty and cheerful character, and well, if anyone could carry a horseshoe for luck, why couldn't she carry one -or many- stakes for the same mean?
Xander sighed. Life had been so easy at that time. He had never pictured himself in a cemetery, late at night, waiting for the 'sweetest girl on earth' to come back. He really wanted to stake some bad guys tonight. Darla always said slaying served her to vent off some frustration and he really was in need of some 'venting' tonight. Life was unfair! Why couldn't she see he would be a perfect boyfriend? He had waited for months for this day, for Devon to disappear from Darla's life... and now that the moment finally came he was just 'Her Good Friend' again... yeah, frustration was definitely keeping him company tonight.
...and it was not the first time...
After meeting her he had struggled for weeks just to ask her out but couldn't find the courage to do so. It didn't matter how many times he rehearsed his speech, he had always been a shy guy and that had been his undoing. Sigh. Meanwhile Darla had remained unaware of his daily torture, chatting amiably about anything and actually learning something about 'those blasted machines', as she called his dear computers. Later he found out that Giles used the same words. If the Watcher taught Darla that expression or the other way round would be always an unanswered question... Ok, now he was digressing. Going back to the important stuff... They had been seeing each other for weeks, strictly as friends. Until one day she had shyly confessed that he had become one of her best friends... Shit!... almost like an older brother... Shit! shit! shit!... He had smiled keeping the sudden urge to bang his head against the table at bay... until he had nearly broken the table of his room at night. Metaphorically speaking, of course.
...two weeks later she began dating Devon Shields, the singer of his favorite local band, which, he abruptly realized, was simply awful. He remembered painfully when she had happily announced her newest relationship. He had barely stopped himself from screaming in rage while Darla and Cordelia made incoherent giggling sounds... Yup, frustration certainly was an old friend of his.
Xander sighed. Again. Introspection wasn't meant for guys like him, he realized. It had given him a slight headache and no answers. When had he started doing it? Loneliness and silence made odd things to his brain, he decided. And it was time to end it. "Guess we're stuck together till Darla stops playing, aren't we?" he said, trying to start a talk.
"Shh. I think I've heard something."
He had heard a strange sound before, too, but had dismissed it as a rabbit or something. After all this was the *oldest* part of the *oldest* cemetery in Sunnydale. No future vampire was buried here, and the risen ones were busy catching their preys in populated places like the Bronze or the m-
A strong grip on his arm didn't let him finish his thoughts. He tried to loosen the vampire's grip and managed to elbow him weakly on the stomach. Apparently it hadn't been that weak because the vampire released him momentarily. Xander took advantage of it and took the stake from his pocket. After some struggle he managed to dust the vampire. Must be a newbie. , he thought, Thank God. Had it been an experienced vampire... he shuddered at the thought. The sounds of a nearby battle reached him and Xander remembered that he was not alone.
'Giles!'
He found the Watcher gripping a large cross like a lifeline and showing it to five or more vampires. The creatures hissed angrily but none of them dared to go near the holy object.
"GILES!"
"Xander, go get Darla!" Giles yelled while trying to reach his bag of weapons.
"But... but you can't fight all of them!" Xander reasoned.
"GO, GET DARLA NOW!" Giles growled.
Xander doubted it an instant and then began to run in the direction Darla had taken. She was the only one who could help the Watcher now.
Just a little more. Giles thought. Just one meter and he could take his crossbow and finish this battle.
"The Master will be unhappy if you fail," a strange voice said. A tall figure appeared from behind the bushes. Apparently it was the leader of this pack. "Do you really want to know what he does to those who make him unhappy?"
A shudder ran through the vampires' dead bodies. They wanted to be complete for the rest of their unlife, -or at least have one. A third-degree burn couldn't be that bad, could it?
At least the kid is safe. was Giles' last thought before a vampire snatched his cross away and darkness engulfed him.
(AN: Ok, ok, I *know* 'Shields' isn't Devon's last name; but I can't remember it and I've been reading too much SM fanfiction lately. Forgive me and e-mail if you know the real name, please.)
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Should I send the next two prepared chapters in? dani_vasq@hotmail.com , a_d_v_v@yahoo.com.ar
