A/N: I realize that I may have blurred Xander/Cordelia's relationship. Obviously Willow would know about them kissing because she discovers them right before Angel changes back to Angelus. So for the sake of this story the Scooby Gang knows about the secret kissing, but Xander/Cordelia haven't actually admitted to being a couple, couple yet. *nods* Okay, I think that should cover it.

* * * * *

"I'm terribly sorry about hitting your father, Xander," Giles said. "There wasn't any other way."

"Are you kidding?" Xander asked with a short laugh. "Don't worry, Ripper. He won't even remember it in the morning."

"Don't call me that," Giles said seriously, "And I hardly hit him that hard!"

"No. I mean he doesn't remember much the morning after..." Xander twisted in his seat uncomfortably. "So! What the hell was that thing? And why is it after me?"

"It's called the Walken demon. It hunts vampires."

"Yeah, and me. Not a vampire last time I checked."

"Well...yes, we've established that. Though why it is hunting you I'm not sure. Buffy said it didn't seem interested in Willow and her."

"It's a female demon, isn't it?" Xander asked with a sigh.

"At one time it was female, yes. But..."

"I knew it! My demon mojo is out of control, Giles! It's like I'm covered in whipped cream with a cherry on top, but instead of wanting to lick it off they really want to eat me."

"Good God where do you come up with these analogies?"

"I've been reading Cordy's Cosmos. I'm telling you, Giles. Those women know exactly what they are doing with those short skirts and..."

"As I was saying," Giles said, cutting him off. "It was female at one time, but it is so ancient that it most likely doesn't have a sex now. It only concentrates on the kill."

"How does it hunt? I mean how did it find my house after we left it in the sewer?"

"It followed your scent, I imagine."

"Won't it follow my scent to...where are we going?"

"The Library. I can't fathom why it is after you. It would have had to mistaken you as a vampire, somehow. Or something has gone terribly wrong and it's begun attacking humans. In which case, no one is safe."

"Man," Xander said slapping his forehead. "The sewer!"

"What?"

"Tonight in the sewer...I tripped and fell into what was left over from one of it's kill. I got it on my hands and then I wiped them on my pants..."

"And it thought you were the vampire it killed."

"I told Buffy I had a bad feeling about this," Xander said.

"This isn't good, Xander. The Walken demon is notorious for always getting it's prey."

"Okay. So I change pants as soon as I can, burn these and vampire scent is gone. Then I live out the rest of my days under house arrest by my parents but with all of my intestines intact, right?"

"Not quite," Giles said. "It won't stop hunting you. Though it originally smelt the vampire scent on you, it would have picked up your scent by now. It won't be able to determine the difference."

Xander sighed, "So what do we do?"

"It's quite simple," Giles said pulling into the deserted parking lot.

Xander gave a sigh of relief. "Good, what's the plan?"

"We research," Giles said getting out of the car.

Xander frowned as he stepped out of the car and followed Giles to the Library door. "Why was I hoping you'd have a better plan?"

* * * * *

"Xander's parents must have been having major wiggins," Buffy said. "Though they were hiding it well under their brave yelling at each other in the face of danger."

"Yeah," Willow said kicking a rock as they walked down the empty street. "They have a love/hate relationship. They love to hate one another."

"Oh," Buffy said surprised that Willow seemed completely serious. A car came speeding down the street, zoomed past them, stopped abruptly amidst the sound of squealing tires and reversed until it's driver was right beside them. "Cordelia?"

"What are you doing in this part of town?" Willow asked bewildered.

"Looking for you!" Cordelia said. "What's going on? Is everything okay? Is it the end of the world....again?"

"About average on the Hellmouth," Buffy said. "Somewhere between 'Not Right' and 'Armageddon' on the scale of danger."

"Where's Xander?" Cordelia asked, almost as if she was bored, but Buffy saw real concern under her almost flawless performance of cool.

"At the Library. He's fine, for now."

"Oh," Cordelia said taking in a breath. "Okay then. See you there." She shifted the gears.

"Uh, Cordelia..." Willow said annoyed. "Do you think maybe you could give us a ride?"

"Oh, I guess," Cordelia said rolling her eyes. "Just don't get used to it, all right? Last I checked my car didn't have Taxi written all over it."

* * * * *

"Oh no!" Willow said shutting the large book in front of her.

"Do I really want to know?" Xander asked raising an eyebrow at her. They had all been researching the Walken demon for over an hour and every detail unearthed just seemed to make his case look more hopeless.

"I completely forgot about Oz playing tonight!" Willow said frowning over at him. "He was going to play a song he wrote for me."

"He wrote a song for you?" Xander asked. This was getting serious.

"Yes," Willow said pouting in Willow fashion. "Now he's going to play it and look all sad because I'm not there to hear it and before you know it some blonde groupie will be all over him and then he'll write her a song!"

"The Dingoes don't have groupies," Cordelia said. "I don't even know if they have fans."

"They have fans!" WIllow said angrily, "They have tons of fans. Besides, it wasn't too long ago when you were drooling over Devon."

"That's different!" Cordelia said. "He's the lead singer. And I thought he had a car."

"Will, we've got things under control here if you need to go," Buffy said patting her hand. "You should be able to catch their last thirty minutes."

Willow frowned and glanced over at Xander. He shot her a grin that he hoped she would buy. "Go on. You've got better things to do than research blood thirsty demons."

The guilt in her eyes immediately made him feel bad for trying to make her feel bad. "Really," he said smiling at her. "Go on, it's okay."

"But..."

"Go!" Buffy said handing her the coat draped on the back of Willow's chair. "Have fun. Tell Oz we said hello."

"Are you sure?" Willow asked, still frowning at Xander.

"Just go already," Cordelia said.

"Boyfriend stealing groupies...remember," Xander said. "I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Willow nodded, "Tomorrow." He watched her as she walked out the swinging doors and wondered if she missed the way things used to be between them the way he did.

* * * * *

Willow stepped out into the cool evening air and shivered. She felt horrible. Here Xander was being hunted by a vicious demon and she was on her way to watch her boyfriend play in his band. When had she gotten so shallow?

Things had just become so complicated lately. She felt drawn towards Oz, and she knew he really cared about her. But a part of her still ached for Xander to notice her. Wanted him to realize that she was more than the little Jewish girl who used to share her Twinkies with him during recess. Mostly she just wished these conflicting feelings would just disappear. Disappear?

She stopped abruptly an idea hitting her suddenly. Then making a decision she turned and made her way back towards the Library. Oz would just have to understand.

* * * * *

A/N: Thanks to the reviewers. Feedback is always loved and appreciated.

Bolo, good point. Hope this helps. :)