Part Four--Damn Civilians!
AUTHOR"S NOTE: This chapter contains a retelling of an episode of the second season. I have forgotten the name of the episode. [Archivist's Note: It's 'Lie to Me']
When they get back from the beach house Buffy and Xander sit on his porch. As Buffy recalls the events of the weekend she starts to cry. She has to get up. Xander goes to her. He tries to touch her.
"Don't touch me right now, Xander." He just stares.
"Did I do something wrong, Buffy?"
"Yea, sure…Xander, I never got use to my parents separation. It was bad, really bad. It use to be so warm and cozy with the both of them. When my dad left…But now I don't have to get use to it. The pain is over. It's going to be warm and cozy again. And…you did it."
He tries to touch her again. "Please, Xander, don't touch me."
"What's wrong here. Something good happens. You say I did it but I can't touch you?"
"Xander, will you be quiet." She buries her head in his chest. After a few minutes she breaks. She looks at him.
"I don't want to talk about it again, okay?"
"Okay, we won't." He shakes his head, knowing he missed the whole thing.
Willow comes up to them. "Hey guys. How did the weekend go?"
Xander answers. "We're not allowed to talk about it."
Buffy looks at Willow. "I'll tell you later, Will."
"Could I talk to you alone, Buffy?"
They both look at Xander.
"I get it. This is my cue to go in." He leaves.
"How was the weekend, Buff?"
"More Xander magic."
"Speaking of Xander, guess who's in town?"
"Daemon or other?"
"Well, Xander might think he's a daemon. It's your old flame from Hemery."
"Pike?"
"Yep. And, he wants to see you, of course.
"Oh, that does hurt. He's the only one who stood by me even after he learned my little secret. Willow, what do you think the chances are that Xander will go for my little reunion?"
"Come on, Buffy, he's paranoid even when there isn't somebody out to steal you. Haven't you ever wondered why nobody comes on to you any more?"
"Yea, you know, boys use to look at me all the time, even with my reputation….all that stopped."
"Hard Xander made the rules."
"That bum! All the girls and women he has chasing him. And, I'm nothing but nice to all of them."
Willow rolls her eyes. "Don't get ridiculous, Buffy."
"What, I'm nice." Willow stares at her. "Well, sometimes I am."
"Buffy, everybody knows they take their life in their hands just talking to Xander."
"It doesn't seem to stop them."
"That's because he's so cute and so…"
"Willow!" The redhead laughs. Buffy stares at her for a moment.
"You are over Xander, aren't you?"
"Yes, Buffy, I'm only kidding. I have my own sweetie pie."
"Anyway, if Xander can have groupies then I can go see an old friend."
"Good luck telling hard ass that. Pike said he would be at the Bronze tonight."
Willow leaves.
Buffy goes back to Xander. She sits on her hands next to him on the sofa.
"What did Willow want?"
"Xander, you know I can barely remember anything pre-Xander? He nods.
But, actually…there was a pre-Xander. Not an exciting pre-Xander…or a …soul mate pre-Xander but…you know…right?"
"Out with it, blondie."
"Pike is here." Nothing registers. "You know, my old school? The one person who didn't shun me?"
"Oh, that Pike."
"Yes." She waits to see his reaction. He briefly goes into the next room. He comes back.
"Where is he?"
"He's going to be at the Bronze tonight."
Xander slides a stake down from his sleeve. Buffy sees it.
"Xander!"
"I'm sorry, I have to kill him. That's my new way to handle the competition. It's direct. It's clear."
"Yea, that's not too far from the truth, is it?"
"What?"
"Willow told me. You have an unwritten rule for all the males of Sunnydale. Nobody is even allowed to look at me."
Xander is embarrassed. "Well…I'm flexible. They can pass you."
"Please get serious, Xander."
"Okay, he can walk with you, talk with you, even laugh over old times. But, no touching, no kissing and no him being adopted by your parents. They're my adopted parents."
"You're a maniac. Okay, I'm going to see him, probably dance a little, talk over the old days."
"All right, honey, I'll get serious. He accepted you. That makes him a brother. His memory is a good one for you. If he's here for good see if he wants to help. I guess we are getting a little lopsided on the women side."
"I'm glad you finally noticed that. Thanks, Xander."
"Just like always, Buff, be careful. Just one thing. Do you want me around?"
"Well…"
"Okay, I'll visit Rebecca and Giles."
"Xand, it's not that we're going to be doing anything…it's just…well Pike is a real nice guy. He isn't exactly aggressive. If you look at him like I know you would…"
"Hey, remember, I use to be a nice guy, too."
She kisses him on the cheek. "You're still nice, honey. It's just you're only nice to me."
Xander is without his main squeeze tonight so he is….well, actually he doesn't know what to do. He doesn't particularly like research mode but he decides to see how the smart half of the Scooby gang is doing.
He goes to the library. As he arrives Giles and Rebecca are leaving. "Hey, G-man, Out of the goodness of my heart I've come to do some research."
Rebecca looks at him. "Buffy is with her old friend, huh?"
"How come everybody always knows everything?"
"Willow stopped by."
"We will be back in a little while, Xander. Make yourself uncomfortable."
Rebecca looks at Giles. "Why, Rupert, you made a joke."
"Yes, well I've been known to do so on occasion."
They leave. Xander just sits, bored out of his mind. In a few minutes somebody emerges from the stacks. It is Monica. Xander did not want to face her right now. He really feels uncomfortable around her, especially since his torture incident.
Monica doesn't see him at first. "Giles, it says here…oh, hi Xander. Did Giles leave?"
Very uncomfortable. "Yea…he…they'll be right back." Monica comes to sit down beside him. "How was it with Buffy's parents?"
"Oh…ah…okay."
"I understand you told them?"
"Yea…listen, Monica, I…I have to go."
He starts to leave but Monica questions him. "Xander?"
He sighs. "What, Monica?"
"What are you doing?"
"I have to go."
"No you don't and you know it." Xander freezes for a moment. Monica goes to him.
"Xander, what's going on?"
Xander stands there with his eyes closed.
"Will you turn around and face me, Xander."
He does. "Can you come here and sit down and talk to me, please?"
He slumps down in the chair.
"What's the matter, Xander?"
"I'm confused when I look at you, okay!"
"Don't you think I feel the same way, Xander?"
"You don't have a soul mate you sweat blood to get. One you live your whole life for?"
"What the hell does that mean, Xander? I know you're with Buffy. I called Buffy when you were falling apart, remember?"
"So what the hell do you want, a medal?"
"You bastard! You came into my life. We had an instant bond. We work well together. I helped nurse you back from your terror. What's the problem, Xander?"
Monica begins to cry. Xander goes to her. "I'm sorry, Monica. I'm sorry." He holds her head in his hands.
"Monica, please…"
"Please what, Xander? You don't think I'm confused? You've been in this stuff a lot longer than I have!"
"What do you want out of me?"
"Help, sharing, all those things you said we would do."
"Monica…I…can't."
"What the hell are you afraid of, Xander?"
He doesn't answer. "You're afraid so you're going to let me out in the cold?"
"Will you stop it. I'm not going to leave you out in the cold." He goes to her. He grabs her by the shoulders. She pulls away.
"Don't touch me, Xander! You're not going to pacify me. I'm not one of your groupies, Xander!"
Xander can't handle it. "I'm leaving."
As he is going Monica says one last thing.
"You can leave but I'm not going away and what you are isn't going away, either."
"Is this something you planned to do? A little mind torture."
"You're pathetic, Xander."
"Thank you for this Sunday get together feel bad session. Maybe we can do it again, sometime."
"Just get out of here, Xander."
Monica is very upset. She didn't mean to sound that desperate. She knows he's with Buffy. She is loyal to Buffy and to him. But, she knows that she and Xander are the same. Rebecca told her as much. Why is he afraid of it? Why is he afraid of her?
Xander starts to leave but as he does a gun-toting teenager ushers him back in. The teenager is wearing a Dracula vampire costume.
The youth points the gun at Xander. "Get back in there!" He does. Monica sees him.
"I thought you were leaving?"
Xander points behind him. The kid comes in. "Get over there with her and put your hands up, the both of you."
Xander can't believe it. "You're going to rob the school?"
The youth has no such intention. "No, I don't care about money. I want blood."
Xander and Monica look at each other. "You're a vampire?"
"I will be. What the hell are you looking at me like that for?"
"I just never saw a vampire who looked quite like you, before."
"What do you know about vampires?"
Xander doesn't answer. The youth continues. "Vampires are real, just like you and me. Soon I will join their minions. Let's go outside."
Xander and Monica decide to go along, mostly to see what is happening. They walk about six or seven blocks. They meet up with about ten other youths dressed similarly. Boys and girls, they float around and between Xander and Monica.
Monica looks at Xander. "Xander, what the hell are these people doing?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, Monica."
They all stop to look at Xander and Monica.
"I think we're about to find out."
"Is that your intuition, again?"
"Very funny, Xander. You think that stuff inside you is going to go away? It's not."
A girl dances close to our pair. "How do you feel on this glorious night?"
Monica answers. "It's not so glorious for us. Your friend is holding a gun on us."
"You two have been chosen as the offering to buy our immortality."
Xander reacts. "What?
They are taken to the basement of an abandoned factory. It is decked out like a fantasy vampire liar.
A girl comes up to them. Monica addresses her.
"Whoever you people are, you are very sick."
Xander asks her. "Do you have a leader?" The girl leaves to get him. Xander turns to Monica. "Either these people think they're vampires or else…"
He is interrupted by the presence of an outrageously costumed young man. He is obviously the leader. He addresses our duo.
"Welcome to our humble liar."
Xander cuts right to the chase. "Who the hell are you people?"
"We are Satan's chosen minions."
Monica looks at him with disdain. "You're not a vampire."
He looks at his watch. He states with pride. "In two hours and forty seven minutes I will be."
"What happens then?"
"The people you see here have been chosen to join the ranks of the glorious immortal."
"Who chose them?"
"Fate."
"Does that mean you choose them?"
"I was chosen…"
Xander is really getting impatient.
"Who chose you?"
"One of Satan's top representatives." Monica and Xander just look at one another.
Now, Xander is actually getting amused. Monica is not.
"You are crazy, kid! Where do we fit in?"
"You are the blood offering. Unfortunately, we need to buy our immortality."
Xander thinks he gets it now. "I get it. You give us to Satan's top representative and in return you get turned into vampires."
He nods. Xander breaks out laughing. Monica gives him a dirty look. But, he continues to talk to the leader.
"Look, pal, this is all hysterical and everything but you're nuts."
He stares at the headman. Monica addresses Xander. "Are you going to do something, Xander?"
"Yes, Monica." He looks back at the head guy. "First of all tell your boy here to get that gun away from us."
Xander doesn't wait. He kicks it out of the boy's hand and grabs it. He grabs Monica's hand and heads for the door.
"I hate to mess up your plan but we're leaving
It won't open. Xander looks back at the leader. "Open the fucking door or I'll bust your ass in front of all your flunkies."
"We can't open it. It can only be opened from the outside."
Monica and Xander can't believe it. "You stupid son of a bitch!"
Monica runs to the leader. "What happens in two hours and forty-seven minutes?"
"We become immortal."
"You want to spell that out a little clearer?"
"Our representative to the sire will arrive. He will present us."
"Xander asks. What is the representatives name?"
"Pike."
Xander breaks out laughing again. Monica is disturbed.
"You want to share your sudden source of mirth, Xander. I for one find nothing funny here."
"Pike, that's Buffy's old boyfriend. That's who she is out with tonight."
Xander gets the whole thing now.
"Is there another blood sacrifice?"
"Yes, Pike will bring her."
Xander laughs again. This is too funny.
"Listen, head guy, tell me I'm wrong. Your sire's name, it wouldn't be Spike by any chance, would it?"
"Yes, Spike and his night queen, Drusilla."
Monica and Xander shake their heads at the idiots in front of them.
In the mean time Buffy meets Pike. They hug very warmly.
"It's really good to see you, Pike."
"How have you been, Buffy. I see you're still alive, at least."
"Well, it gets close sometimes."
They dance. They talk over old times. Buffy introduces him to Willow and Oz.
Pike wants Buffy to visit someplace with him. They leave the Bronze.
Back inside the factory, Xander is lecturing these crazy people.
"All you people are crazy. We know Spike and Drusilla. The only thing that's going to happen when they come is a blood bath. They don't choose vampires like this."
Monica adds. "Everybody is going to get killed!"
The head guy responds. "You don't understand."
Xander grabs him very hard. "You're a moron. It's you who doesn't understand. We deal with these monsters every day."
Just then the door opens. It's Buffy and Pike. When Xander sees them he runs up the steps.
"Don't let the door…? It's too late. It slams behind them.
Buffy looks. "Xander?"
Xander looks at Pike he grabs him and slams him up against the wall.
"Are you Pike?"
Buffy tries to intercede. "Xander, we didn't do anything!"
"Your asshole friend here has a plan." Some of the kids try to rescue Pike. Xander backs them down.
"Anybody comes anywhere near me I'll break his neck and yours!"
They believe him. Monica disarms one of them. She takes the bullets from the gun.
Buffy looks around. "What the hell is going on?"
Monica answers. "We were abducted from the library at gun point. These people here are waiting for Spike and Drusilla to come to make them immortal."
"What?"
Xander adds. "Your ex here is their leader!"
"Buffy can't believe it. "Pike?"
"I…" He can't speak. Xander is practically choking him.
"Xander, let him go." He does.
"What's going on, Pike?"
"I'm sorry, Buffy."
"Sorry about what, Pike?"
"Buffy, I have cancer. I only have about six months to go."
"I'm sorry, Pike, but what…"
Xander interrupts. "So you made a deal with Spike for the slayer?"
"Pike…" Tears come to Buffy's eyes.
Xander goes on. "Did you tell these people Spike would turn them into vampires?"
"He said…"
Monica interrupts him. "Jesus, Pike, do you know what they're going to do to them?"
Xander runs half way down the steps.
"You people have been misled. You think the vampires are coming to initiate you. They think they're coming to McDonalds."
They all look to the headman. Xander grabs him roughly.
"Tell them you asshole!"
He doesn't say anything. Buffy recovers. She grabs Pike.
"Tell them, Pike!"
"She's right."
Monica grabs the head guy. "Were you told to get us particularly?"
"No, you were the first people we saw."
Xander picks up on it. He talks to Buffy. "Buffy, they know they have you but not us. We'll try to jump somebody, make a trade."
Buffy looks sadly at Pike. "I thought we were friends, Pike, maybe even more than friends."
"I'm sorry. I freaked out when I learned about the cancer."
"I trusted you." She gets angry. "Okay, I can see you but why involve all the others?"
Just then Spike and Drusilla bust in the door. They have at least ten vamps with them.
Spike sees Buffy. "Slayer, you have the worst luck with ex boyfriends."
He addresses the others. "Okay, five on her, the rest on the others. Have fun and…share people."
All the morons scatter in terror. Spike moves away from Drusilla. When he does Monica jumps her. Xander gives Spike a couple of punches then joins Monica on Drusilla. He holds a broken chair leg to her heart.
"You just make one fucking move, Queenie, and I'll have my wet dream staking your dark ass!"
Drusilla is petrified. Monica stares at Xander. The boy addresses Spike.
"Spike, call off the dogs on Buffy or you're one lonely ass vampire!"
Spike can't believe Xander is here.
"Harris, how the hell did you get here?"
"These idiots picked us for the blood offering."
Knowing that Xander means business. "Alright, boys, leave the slayer for another time."
Xander laughs. "Spike, how the hell you ever get these people to think they're chosen?"
"We owe it all to Ann Rice."
In the mean time Buffy gets the door. Xander tries to save the others.
"Listen, Spike you owe me one, right?"
"Bloody well not, mate. Your slayer got that back."
"Hey man, I'm talking about Angel." He releases Dru. She hides behind Spike.
The vampire thinks for a minute. He calls to the other vamps.
"People, people…our supper's been cut short. Let's roll."
"Come on, Spike wasn't this a little too easy, anyway?"
"Harris…that torture thing…not my style…We're all even now. Tell your damn slayer. Have something next time or don't bother me!"
As Spike is leaving. "Harris, how's Rachel?"
"How would I know Spike?"
Spike laughs. "You're funny. You know, she won't go down for anyone else. I actually think she's better for you than the slayer. She is sweeter, right?"
Xander looks at Buffy. "You catching all this, Dru?"
Spike looks at Buffy. "Oh, I see. You're settling down and all that rot. You had quite a run, Harris. Aren't you a little young to be packing it in, already?"
"Goodbye, Spike!"
Pike runs to the vampire. "What about me?"
Spike looks back at Xander. "Now you owe me one." He puts his arm around him.
Buffy reacts. "No!" Two vamps stop her.
Spike talks to Pike on the way out. "So you want to be a vampire?"
Monica was staring at Xander the entire time he was speaking to Spike. She goes up to him.
"You are too scary, Xander!"
Buffy joins in agreement. "Monica is right. When did you get on speaking terms with Spike?"
Xander defends himself. "Excuse me, did I save these people or what?"
Buffy is disgusted. "Thanks for defending me. Was that a moment of male bonding between rival studs?"
"Ah, why don't we see how many casualties we have?"
"We're going to have a meeting about this."
Monica talks to Buffy. "Buffy, I don't know how you can stand it. He scares the hell out of me."
Miraculously no one was killed. Buffy gathers everyone together.
"Now, all of you. "Take all that ridiculous Halloween stuff off. Don't play around with this kind of thing ever again."
She looks at all of them individually. "If any of you have anything more to do with vampire costumes, vampire masks, vampire teeth or even vampire movies I'm going to have that nasty (pointing to Xander) mean looking, scary man up there beat your ass!"
"Take a good look at him as you get the hell out of here!"
They all heed Buffy's warning as they sneak past Xander. He stares at Buffy.
After they leave. "Wasn't that a bit harsh?"
"Stupid ass civilians! No it wasn't. You are mean and nasty. You're scarier than the vampires."
Monica adds. "I'll second that. Is this Star Wars? Are you on the verge of joining the dark side? Hell, Drusilla was scared shitless. A vampire scared shitless of you."
Buffy walks away shaking her head. Xander answers Monica. "Is this a little over reaction because of our earlier discussion? Come on, this was almost comical compared to most of the stuff we face."
"The presence of all that evil in one place is never comical, Xander."
"Come on, Monica, we got out of it." He goes close to her.
"I'm sorry about earlier, Monica. I want to be friends." They hug.
Buffy is very sad. She really liked Pike. She really trusted him. Xander sees her just sitting on the steps, staring. He goes to her.
"I'm sorry, honey."
"I really trusted him, Xander. How many people can we really trust?'
He embraces her. "Not many, Buff, not many."
They walk out.
They head back to the library. The whole gang is there.
They run down the whole story. Giles is unsure of the ending. Buffy goes over it.
"Spike, Dru and the boys walk in. They surrounded me. Monica jumped Drusilla."
Giles interrupts. "Didn't she fight back, Monica?"
"She did at first but then bad ass over there put the fear of God in her. Giles, she was terrified to move."
Giles looks at Xander. "Drusilla is afraid of you, Xander?"
"It probably has to do with that torture thing, Giles."
Monica jumps right in. "It has to do with his bad ass attitude. And, what he said to her… something about the thought of killing her being his wet dream."
Xander sinks down in his chair. "Alright, Monica, let's move on."
Buffy continues. "Spike knew he meant it. He called off the dogs on me. Then Xander and Spike have this buddy-buddy talk. Spike owed him one for Angel or something so he lets the idiots go, too."
Monica speaks up, again. "Then Spike and Xander have this discussion about who's sweeter in bed, Buffy or Rachel!"
Buffy glares at Xander. He slides further down in his seat. "Then Xander lets Spike take Pike. When Buffy tried to stop them the vamps held her back."
"Monica, that's enough. I did not allow Spike to take Pike. I had nothing to do with it."
"Then how come Spike said you owe him one now."
"That is one thing I do want to talk about. Who the hell used up my favor with Spike?"
He looks at Buffy. She answers. "What, the pirates favor? Excuse me. We were looking for you one time. One of the many times you were missing in action."
"If you want something from Spike you have to bring something for him."
"Oh, well, goddamn, string me up! I was worried about you. I forgot all about the thieves code of honor."
Xander goes to Buffy. She is still upset about Pike. He fondles her face. "I'm sorry, honey."
He turns around to face the group. "I apologize to you, also, Monica."
Giles goes back to business. "So we are to presume that we now have to deal with Pike and it is as a favor to Xander?"
"That's a bit harsh, Giles."
"Monica adds. "Yea, but it happened!"
I think Spike did a little thinking on his feet. He knows it will bother Buffy to have to face him."
"Yes, I agree. That is a much more feasible explanation."
Xander sticks his tongue out at Monica.
Giles continues. "I will not comment on the other matter. Buffy, I am very sorry about your friend."
Everyone chimes in with his or her condolences.
"Did you reprimand the individuals?"
Monica answers. "Buffy told them if they ever have anything to do with vampires again she would get bad ass after them. They were scared stiff when she made them all walk past him"
Xander responds. "Yes, I resent the use of me as a threat to scare kiddies to death."
Everybody starts laughing.
"It's not funny. The slayer princess is the scary one. I'm the adorable, funny one, remember?"
Buffy gets into it. "Sure, we didn't know if you and Spike were going out for a beer afterwards or not."
Monica adds. "Yea, to compare she-goddess bedding."
Everybody is rolling on the floor laughing. "I resent something here!"
Willow agrees with the others. "I'm sorry, Xander but the new you deserves it all."
Part Five-Nothing Heavy
After the meeting Buffy and Xander stroll home. Buffy is still upset. Xander puts his arm lovingly around her.
"I'm sorry it turned out like this, honey."
"I let my defenses down."
"I know you did. I bet it really killed him to do that to you, Buff. He was in a really bad situation."
After a few minutes of walking Buffy looks up at Xander.
"Can I tell you something without you getting angry?"
"I won't get angry at you tonight, Buff."
"You are unbelievably jealous."
"What, I didn't go to the Bronze."
"Yea, but it drove you crazy, I know it did. You were almost happy when you found out what Pike was doing. It meant you could attack him with a clear conscience."
"I think you're reading into this, Buffy."
Xander knows Buffy caught him at something he was hoping he could keep under wraps.
Buffy doesn't make him suffer long, however. She leans up giving him a very nice kiss to the lips.
"I'm sure glad I'm your honey."
"Okay, you found me out. But, I paid dues for you. I paid dues to get your smile in my direction." He kisses her. "I paid dues to be able to do that."
He looks at her hair. He runs his hand through it.
"I paid dues to be able to have you fix your hair like that for me."
"Okay, Xander, I get it. You paid dues."
She continues. "You know, I paid dues for you, too. I still am. Monica thinks she's your wife."
"What?"
"She tells you off like she's your wife. I have to hurry up and say things before she does."
Xander doesn't comment. They walk a bit more. Buffy has something else on her mind. She stops, looking at him with furrowed brow.
"Xander, am…am I good in bed?"
"What?"
"How come you didn't say anything when Spike said Rachel was better than me?"
"You want me to talk over our sex life with Spike?"
"Well, is she?"
"Buffy, we're going to stop right here." He grabs her by the shoulders.
"What we do, alone, behind close doors is sacred to me…and private. It is between you and I. It involves you and I. I don't talk about the private matters between you and I with anyone. It is not open for discussion with anyone."
He continues. " I'm in love with you. My life began when you started to love me. Everything else I did with anybody else is irrelevant now. The subject is closed!"
"Xander, I'm sorry…gees."
"I don't want any of that kid shit of comparing this woman or that woman. All that stuff with Spike is just locker room banter to throw the daemons off their game!"
"Okay, Xander, calm down. I…I feel the same way. God, every time I think I know everything about your love for me you show me something else. I'll never bring it up again."
Xander feels bad about getting mad. "Hey, you had a rough time tonight. I'm sorry. Honey."
"Believe it or not, Xander, I actually like the things you say. They're romantic and…neat…and very loving. They make me feel all safe and secure."
They walk some more. Xander has something to tell her.
"Buffy."
"Yes, sweetie?"
"I have to tell you this. I really feel strange in front of Monica now. I just get this funny feeling."
Buffy gets a serious look on her face. "In the pit of your stomach, Xander?"
"No, Buff, not the same feeling I get when I'm around you."
"She is different and very strong."
"She scares me."
"Why, Xander?"
"Because I think she's "One Of Them" also."
"She scares me, too, but for a different reason."
"I told her we would talk about it and teach each other and be good friends."
Buffy has to swallow her jealousy. The fact Xander is bringing it up to her means he would like her help as a friend. He values her opinion. She needs to use some of her wisdom as a slayer rather than her possessiveness as his soul mate.
"Xander, I think most of the reason Monica scares you is because she is scared herself. I didn't tell you but when you were missing Monica almost lost it. She was as upset as I was. She can't help it. This is all new to her. She really needs you."
Xander can't believe what he is hearing. He looks at Buffy with his mouth open.
"Xander, close your mouth." He does. "Xander, deep down inside I trust you. It might not show all the time but I do. Don't let her down as a friend, Xander, we need her."
"Did all that just come from you?" She nods.
"Wow! Are you, like trying to get me to fall in love with you all over again?"
"An interesting side benefit."
They kiss very passionately. Xander puts everything he has in it. Buffy gets the message.
"Wow, Xander. What the hell was that?"
"Stick with me, kid, I got a whole ton of that at home."
She grabs his hand, pulling him along at slayer speed. Xander knows he has Buffy turned on.
"Hormones on parade. Who would have thunk our so together slayer could exhibit such unbridled…Ugh!" Buffy clamps her hand over his mouth.
"Be quiet, Lavelle. This is serious business. Now come along with me and be your romantic self. I mean, pure libido on the beach stuff! I want to hear all those flowery, corny, romantic Things you say about our love."
She has to stop to partake of another piece of the boy's wondrous lips.
"I surely have no idea what you are talking about. I'm just this high school nerd who has been bewitched by this powerful blonde super slayer."
Buffy is desperate now. There are times when she just gets completely carried away with her feeling for this boy/man her heart has chosen. It builds up inside of her, overtaking all logic and reason and…
They burst through Xander's door. Buffy immediately jumps his bones. It is not a sight for the uninitiated. The slayer knows what she needs to live.
"God, Xander, I have never felt like this before."
"Not even with Angel, Buff?"
"Are you kidding, honey, this blows away anything I have ever felt. And, it just keeps getting better. Now, can we please stop talking?"
It's a good thing nobody else was around. Few could have survived the torrid sweep of love led gale and fire. Gusts of passion blow the drapes off the windows and topple the furniture. Xander's house is hit with a whirlwind of heavy soul speaking, an explosion of deep unbridled conversation between two very hot individuals.
In the calm after the storm all manner of life lies still. Xander has no idea where he is. He is unable to move a muscle. All he can do is stare into space. Buffy is no better. She is sprawled out somewhere between the overturned love seat and the thankfully cold fireplace.
Whatever happened was above and beyond them. It was much more than the sum of it's parts.
It registered on a plain neither understood. All our heroes know is that it felt really, really good.
Madre de Dios!!
Sleep comes quickly. Neither wakes until the sun pours through the bare windows. Somewhere in the middle of the night they found each other. They bask in the hold of one another. Xander sighs.
"What happened last night?"
"I have no idea, lay back down."
Xander looks at the clock.
"Shit, Buff, we have to go to school!"
"School? We don't go to school. We're on this cloud…"
He shakes her out of her fantasy.
"Buff, we'll be lucky if we graduate as it is. We have to go."
"Oh, party pooper."
"I hope we didn't burn up our clothes or anything."
Buffy practically crawls upstairs. She goes into the bathroom.
"Oh, my god, Xander, get in here!"
Xander rushes to her side. "What's the matter, Buffy?"
She is really upset. "Look what you did to me."
She points to her neck. There, in bright living color, are two very dark love marks.
"Oh, shit."
Buffy can't believe it. "Are you crazy, Xander?"
"Buff, I…I…" He has to suppers a laugh.
She stares at him. "I'm not even going to look anywhere else. This is you and all that crap you talk…and all that X-rated stuff you do!"
"I'm sorry, Buff."
"No you're not. You're not sorry. You can't control yourself. You're out of control."
"Buff, you asked me…"
"Get out of here, Xander!"
"Buff…"
"Get out of here, now."
Xander goes downstairs. In a few minutes he comes back up. Buffy is still in the bathroom.
"I thought I told you to leave, Xander?"
"Buff, ah…we're in my house."
"See what you do to me. I don't even know where I'm at."
She yells at him as she is going down stairs.
"I don't even know where my clothes are!"
Xander gets dressed. He goes down stairs. Buffy is sitting, pensively on the sofa. He goes to her.
"Are you okay, Buff?"
"No I'm not. Not while you're around. You're dangerous."
"Buffy, they're only…"
"They're hickeys, Xander! I can't go out with these. I can't leave your house."
Xander gets Buffy a turtle neck shirt he had. She puts powder and make up on her marks then puts the shirt on. As she is leaving she turns to her honey.
"Xander, we are officially broken up. In fact, I don't even know you. You have to stay completely away from me forever!"
"Buffy, will you cut it out."
"Xander if you try to come anywhere near me I'll use my slayer strength to beat you up."
She storms out.
As mad as she is Xander can't take it seriously. She had no problem with it while he was doing it. He has to laugh to himself as he is walking to school.
Buffy meets Willow in school. The Witch sees her somber mood.
"Did you and Xander do anything exciting last night?"
Buffy grasps at her neck. "Why, does it show?"
"What?"
The slayer doesn't answer. Willow stares at her.
"Come out with it, Buffy. What did our dear brother do now?"
Just as she is about to answer Oz joins them. They both look at him. The kind of look that says; "Girl talk about to happen, go away"
He doesn't get it. Willow addresses him. "Oz, could I talk to you later."
The wolf is angry. "What the hell is this? Everytime you and her get together I have to take off? If you're ashamed of me, Willow, have the guts to say it!"
He storms away. Buffy starts to speak.
"Will, we can talk later."
Willow shakes her head. "He's not mad because of that."
"Maybe I'm not the only one with something for the vault today."
"We were over his house last night…alone."
"Yea, Will, remember we knew that? In fact we almost planned that."
"I know…but…but he started doing things. He sang me the 15th song that he wrote for me and he was being funny and charming and romantic."
"But?"
"We started kissing and he started doing things he's never done before and…."
"So when all the laughing and singing and talking was over you…"
"I freaked out."
"How bad?"
"I hit him."
"Oh, Will."
"I know I said I was ready but then all of a sudden it was just me and Oz. I just couldn't do it."
"You probably didn't shut him down soon enough. If you don't shut them down soon enough things can fall off them. They can blow a gasket or something."
"We stayed up all night talking. He was very understanding but…"
"But he was upset, too?"
"Yes."
"Will, the only thing I can say is that he certainly loves you. And the fact that he was willing to stay even after you said no. That's a big thing."
"We were in his house."
"Oh, yea, I forgot. But, still, he could have kicked you out."
"That's true. Now, what about the Xander front?"
"Well, I might reconsider this, but I split up with him."
"You did what?"
"Willow, I'm going to show you something then you have to forget you ever saw it, do you understand?"
"Even if they send a herd of wild horses on top of me I'll never reveal what I see."
"Buffy pulls the turtle neck down."
"Oh, my god, Buffy, they're hickeys!"
"Not so loud, Willow."
"Buffy, I never thought I would ever…"
"I know, Willow."
"But, you let him do it?"
"I didn't even know he did it."
"What?"
"Willow, Xander is…he's…I told him I had never felt the way I felt last night. He asked me if that included the time with Angel. When I said yes he sort of got…you know, intense."
"Is that when the never to be mentioned again neck incident happened?"
"I think so."
"Girl, you have it really, really bad for that boy. He has you all flustered."
"Will, sometimes with him, I don't think my life is so bad, after all. He can take me to a nice warm, soft place and, I can relax because I know he'll see any danger coming long before it gets to us."
Willow sees Xander coming toward them. "Speaking of warm and soft."
He approaches them. "Good morning, Will." He looks at his honey. "Hello, my sweet."
"Willow, he must be talking to you. We're not even together anymore."
"Buffy, will you stop it?"
"Keep your hands and your feet and everything else away from me."
"Buffy, if you don't stop it I'm going to tell every one why you're mad at me"
"You better not, Lavelle."
Xander leaves.
Willow looks at Buffy. "You like torturing him, don't you?"
"I love it. I'll let him tell me he's sorry, later." They enjoy a good laugh.
Go on to Part Six
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Buffy and the Slayerettes are Property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the WB. No Copyright Infringement is Intended.