Destiny Lost
#2: In the Space of Desire
Authors: Sonya and Erin
E-mail: sonyajeb@swbell.net OR carynsilver@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-13
Category: B/X, O/Other, AU, action/adventure, romance
Summary: This is a sequel to our epic saga "In the Space of a Heartbeat," which is a story about what would happen if Buffy had never gotten the Slayer powers.
Disclaimer: We do not own Buffy or any of the original characters or ideas from the show. They all belong to Joss, Mutant Enemy, etc. All we own is our own creative genius (unless that's too strong a word :) and any characters we make up.
Distribution: Regulars... SURE!!! Newbies... ask and you shall recieve!
Feedback: Love it! We want to know your likes AND dislikes. Flames are the only thing we do not accept.
Spoilers: None much for the shows, but heavy spoilers for the earlier installments of this fanfic series!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter Eight
Sal's Diner
"What is it with you and the hot fudge sundaes?" Sonya asked Xander that evening.
After her second doctor's appointment, he'd been more than willing to go out to dinner again. That surprised her, but this time Sonya promised herself that she was not going to spoil it by mentioning Buffy. Even so, she was hard pressed not to ask why Xander had been avoiding her all day. She was a little surprised when she brought the subject up herself.
"A sweet tooth, I guess," Xander said. "You know, Parker, this has been a really great day. No Buffy to worry about."
Sonya's mouth dropped open. "Now I know that doctor is doing something weird to me," she said. "I must be hallucinating. You're dissing on the perfect Buffy Summers?"
"She's not perfect," Xander said. Sonya had never heard quite that tone in his voice before. "She's really big into the pouting. She's probably still pissed that I didn't call her last night. She kept giving me these looks all day. I just pretended not to see her."
"What is with you tonight, Xander?" Sonya demanded, laying her spoon down on the table with a clatter. "I mean, I'm having fun and all, but you're starting to be very strange."
Xander leaned over until his face was right up to hers. "What do you mean strange?"
Sonya leaned back out of reflex. "I never before in my life heard you say anything about Buffy that wasn't moony and complimentary. And what are you doing all up in my face?"
"Umm... I dunno." Xander looked at her for a minute longer and then sat back down on his side of the booth.
A thought popped into Sonya's head, and try as she might she couldn't get it out of there. Finally, she asked, "Are you and Buffy breaking up?" After she said it she realized how out of context that sounded, so Sonya tried to make up for it. "I mean, it's just that you're being so blase about Buffy. That never happens. Maybe you've decided that you and she don't make sense together?"
Xander seemed to ponder what she said while Sonya took out her pill. The doctor had been very specific -- three times a day. Before she'd completely swallowed it, Xander replied, "You know, I think you're right. Buffy and I don't make any sense at all. It's like I've had blinders on these past few weeks."
Sonya's heart caught in her throat. Was he saying what she thought he was saying? "Are you serious? You're going to break up with Buffy just like that? Why?" A small part of Sonya felt a little bad for Buffy, but most of her was more intent on what Xander would say next.
"I think I got into the whole Buffy thing way to hastily," Xander said. "I think it was more hormones and lust than real love."
"Wow!" Sonya couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You know, I thought that at the time, but you wouldn't have listened to me. You were way too hung up on her."
Xander reached across the table and took Sonya's hand in his own. For a second, Sonya stopped breathing. It was like her dreams were coming to life. It was amazing! She was afraid if she moved it would stop. Xander squeezed her hand and looked deeply into her eyes.
"Since we've been spending all this time together these past couple of days, I realized something, Parker. You're the girl I'm in love with. Not Buffy -- you."
A tear escaped from the corner of Sonya's eye. "You'd better really mean this, Xander," she said, smiling through her tears. "If this is your idea of a joke..."
"No joke," Xander interrupted her. "I'm serious. I know the truth now. You and I are meant to be together." He leaned forward as if to kiss her, but Sonya pulled back.
"Even though I'm in this thing?" Sonya hit the arm rest of her wheelchair with her free hand. "I always swore that I would never get involved with anyone while I'm in this. I wouldn't want to curse anyone to living with only half a person."
"You've never been half a person to me," Xander said softly. "If this is half of you, I could never handle all of you."
"You could be right about that," Sonya said, laughing again with sheer delight. After all, how often did one's dreams come true? This time when Xander moved to kiss her, she did nothing to stop him. Instead, she gave herself up to the sheer enjoyment of the moment.
"Ug..."
Xander's grunt made Sonya open her eyes. Another laugh bubbled out of her throat when she saw that Xander had put his hand in the remains of their hot fudge sundae.
"Yuck," she said.
"Wanna get out of here?" Xander asked, wiping his hand off on a napkin.
"Yeah!" At that point, Sonya would have agreed to do anything Xander asked.
Xander was paying the bill, and Sonya was getting her things together when she looked up and saw Oz standing in the aisle watching her. Sonya swallowed nervously.
"How long have you been here?"
"Long enough," Oz replied.
A hot blush covered her cheeks, and Sonya didn't reply.
"Yeah," Oz said, "I've been here *that* long." His hooded gaze flitted from her to Xander and back again. "I can't believe you two."
"Hey," Sonya protested, "I didn't start it."
"But you didn't stop it, either."
A stab of guilt hit Sonya, but she didn't want to feel guilty. She wanted to enjoy this time with Xander. When Sonya felt guilty, she lashed out. And Oz was the one standing in the way.
"Well you know what, Oz? This is none of your damn business!" Sonya yelled. "I think you should just get yourself out of here."
Xander, who had just finished paying, came over to her and took stock of the situation. "Yeah, Oz," he said in a threatening tone. "Quit messing with Sonya, or I'll have to do something about it."
For a split second, Sonya thought they were going to fight. Oz had an unusually angry gleam in his eyes. But then the gleam snuffed out, and Oz turned to leave.
"Do you think he'll tell Buffy?" Sonya asked. "I mean, you really ought to be the one to do that."
"I'll call her later," Xander replied in a casual tone. "C'mon. Let's book." He headed for the door, and she followed. As Xander helped her into the jeep, Sonya saw the zebra-striped van pulling out of the parking lot. She wondered if Oz was running over to Buffy's to tell her about this...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Buffy reached into her backpack and pulled out a stake which she quickly secreted in the front pocket of her sweatshirt. She scanned the empty, residential street again, but still could find no reason for the weird feeling creeping up and down her spine. She had been patrolling for an hour and found nothing untoward.
"All the creepy-crawlies must be staying in tonight," she said to herself.
"I guess so."
Buffy jumped and spun, stake at the ready. Then she relaxed when she saw who it was. "Angel."
The tall, dark, brooding vampire fell in step with her and they continued patrolling together. "My watch has been pretty empty these past few nights, as well," he said.
"I hope that doesn't mean that something apocalyptic is coming," Buffy replied with a sigh. "That's all I need."
Angel looked closely at her. "Are you all right?"
"Mostly," Buffy answered. But she couldn't meet his dark gaze. Finally she admitted, "Xander and I have hit a rocky patch."
"What happened?"
Maybe it was just that she needed a listening ear, but somehow, Buffy found herself telling the vampire everything. He listened to the whole story without saying anything.
"...so now I don't know why he's avoiding me, and it's driving me crazy," she finished.
"Do you want me to talk to him?" Angel asked. "I don't know if it would do any good, but I'd try."
Buffy smiled. "Thanks, Angel, but I think this is something we've got to figure out on our own."
They turned the familiar corner that would take them past one of Sunnydale's leading cemeteries. "Care to patrol in here with me?" Buffy asked. It was kind of nice to have a semi-friend along for awhile.
The Slayer and the vampire made a circuit around the cemetery. Nothing seemed to be out of place. Buffy was just about to suggest they head on to the next stop, the park, when she heard a suspicious rustling sound behind a nearby grouping of headstones. Looking up, she saw that Angel had heard the same thing. Buffy gestured for him to go around the left side, and she circled over from the right.
Buffy almost laughed when she sprang around the headstones to see a couple making out in the grass. The guy was laying all over the girl, and he didn't have a shirt on. The girl underneath him, still in most of her clothes though her top was unbuttoned, gasped.
"I'm sorry," Buffy said, and was about to turn away, but something stopped her. Something incredibly familiar that she just couldn't believe. Then her eyes landed on the wheelchair sitting nearby. "Oh, no," Buffy whispered.
The couple sprang apart, and her worst fear was confirmed. Xander and Sonya!
"So this is why you've been avoiding me?" Buffy demanded between the sobs that were ripping her apart. "You're having an affair with *her*? How could you, Xander? How could you?"
Angel appeared on the other side, and looked from one to the other with an expression of extreme distaste. But he didn't say anything.
Xander reached for his shirt and put it back on. "Look, Buffy, I was going to drop by your place after you patrolled. I've been meaning to tell you that I think we should see other people."
Buffy tried to think of something witty, biting and hurtful to say, but she couldn't come up with a single thing. The only thing running through her mind was "how could they, how could they, how could they...?"
Sonya looked up from buttoning her shirt. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Xander," she said, "maybe you and Buffy should go talk or something."
Still silent, Buffy started to back up slowly. Angel moved toward her, as if sensing that she might need help. The vampire gave Xander a look of loathing and disgust.
"This is wrong, Xander," Angel finally said. "You know that, right?"
Xander glared at Angel. "Stay out of this, Dead Boy! It's none of your business." Then he looked down at Sonya. "Don't worry, babe. I know what I'm doing."
His eyes lifted to meet Buffy's as he spoke. Each word he said felt like another dagger thrust into her heart. "Buffy, it was fun, but I realized today that I have to move on. My future is with Sonya."
"You don't mean that," Buffy whispered. (How could you, how could you, how could you...)
"Xander!"
Sonya's piercing shriek brought all eyes down to her. She pointed at her legs. She'd removed her sandals during their makeout session, and now her feet were bare. In the clear, clean moonlight, they could all see the same thing -- her toes slowly wiggling back and forth.
"Oh, babe, that's wonderful!" Xander cried, and swooped down to give her another long kiss. "Long live Dr. Keller!"
That was all Buffy could take. She turned and began to run, oblivious to everything but her own pain. With one last glance at the couple on the ground, Angel followed her. Buffy ran and ran and ran -- out of the cemetery and several blocks down the road. Angel kept up with no effort. Finally, she stopped as the sobs got the best of her. When Angel walked over and put his arms around her, she didn't resist. Instead, she cried on his shoulder, using his shirt for a Kleenex.
Angel smoothed her hair while she cried. He murmured comforting words to her. "It's OK, Buffy. It will be all right. Let it all out. Don't worry."
When she had calmed down a little, Buffy suddenly thrust herself from Angel's grasp. "What do you mean, 'it will be all right'? It will never be all right again!" She paused, and gave him a bitter look. "You don't know what it's like to have the person you love tromp all over your heart like it's their own personal punching bag. You have no idea at all!"
She turned away from him and started walking away, this time with purpose -- to get away from Angel.
Angel watched her go, his eyes filled with sadness. "That's where you're wrong, Buffy. I do know how that feels. I know very well."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Buffy roamed the streets for awhile, and then she decided to head home. She wanted her mother to hug her and tell her it was all going to be all right. Angel, Buffy wouldn't believe, but somehow her mother could make the lie sound convincing. And her mother knew how it felt...
(How could he, how could he, how could he do this to me...)
"Oh, look, a lonely little girl. Hello, little girl."
The voice came from behind her. Buffy turned and saw a thin, willowy young girl with long, dark hair and lots of dark eyeliner. As Buffy watched, the girl's luminous face changed shape, revealing the hideous visage of a vampire.
Buffy pulled her stake out of her pocket, and dropped the backpack where it would be in easy reach if she needed it. Then she planted her feet firmly on the ground and waited for the vamp-chick to come to her.
"C'mon," Buffy challenged, "I'm dying for someone to pound on." She tried to keep her voice down, since they were in someone's front yard. The lights in most of the houses were off, so Buffy assumed most people were asleep.
The vampire girl ran straight for Buffy.
"The direct approach," Buffy remarked with a nod. "I like it. It's refreshing." She angled her body and when the vamp was close enough she threw her over her hip. "Refreshing, but not exceptionally challenging."
But the girl was on her feet again quickly. Buffy punched her, and the girl staggered back. Then the vampire skipped in and landed a kick on Buffy's knee. Buffy yelped in sudden pain, but kept fighting. She lunged with the stake, but the vamp-chick danced out of the way. Buffy tried to follow, but the pain in her knee forced her to limp.
"If you broke something I'm really going to make you pay," Buffy grunted, grabbing the girl's long sleeved shirt and ripping it as the vampire moved quickly away.
"I'd like to see you try," the girl said with a laugh.
Deciding to go for it, Buffy braced herself against the pain and let loose a flying kick. The kick struck home on the vamp's chest, but Buffy hit the ground wrong and agony flared in her knee. A wave of dizziness overcame her and she fell to the ground. The vampire was on her in seconds. Buffy thrashed, but the girl pinned her arms to her sides.
"Now who's going to pay?" the vamp-chick hissed in her ear.
Buffy heard a crashing sound behind her, and her heart sank. There were more...
"Let her go!" The voice was familiar, but waves of dizziness and nausea kept Buffy from placing it. Then she heard some words in another language -- Latin she thought hazily. And suddenly she was free.
Dragging herself to a sitting position, Buffy looked up and saw Amy standing there pointing toward the vamp-chick who floated several feet above the ground.
"Go for it, Buffy," Amy said with a grin. "She's all yours."
Buffy got to her feet, wavered a little, and then got her balance. It took most of her remaining strength, but she thrust the stake through the vampire's heart, and both she and Amy were showered in dust.
"You're a witch..." Buffy murmured to Amy as she sank back down to the soft grass.
Amy walked over and put an arm around Buffy's shoulders. "Yeah, well, I told you I did a lot more in Europe than visit museums. Now, let's get you home."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Somehow, Amy managed to get the semi-conscious Buffy home. Amy didn't have all the pieces of the puzzle, but she was starting to understand more and more about Sunnydale and its protectors.
When Joyce answered Amy's knock at the door and saw Buffy, the two of them got Buffy upstairs and cleaned up.
"What happened?" Joyce demanded as she wrapped Buffy's swollen knee in an Ace bandage and a cold pack.
"A girl tried to... uh... steal her purse," Amy said, a bit proud of the fact that there was a little truth in the statement. "I'm Amy Madison, by the way."
Joyce nodded distractedly. "Buffy mentioned you. Did this girl hit Buffy on the head? Should we be worried about concussion? Maybe we should take her to the emergency room!"
The woman started to stand, but Amy put a calming hand on her arm. "I didn't see all of the fight, but from what Buffy said in the car I think it's just shock that made her faint, and the pain from the knee. And from what I can tell, the knee's just badly twisted and bruised -- no broken bones." Amy had checked Buffy out magically in the car, and been relieved at the results. The girl was already healing, much faster than a normal person would have.
"You seem to know a lot about this," Joyce said.
"I've taken first aid classes," Amy invented quickly. "Sleep should do her wonders."
Joyce seemed to accept that, and soon Amy found herself being escorted to the door.
"Let me know if I can do anything," Amy said. "Buffy has my number."
"I will," Joyce said, "and thank you."
Joyce closed the door, and slowly walked back upstairs to her daughter's room. There, she pulled out the big rocking chair and a quilt and settled in for another night-long vigil by her daughter's bed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After Buffy ran away from him, Angel turned and went back to the cemetery. He walked straight to the same patch of grass behind the same headstones, and lo and behold they were still there.
Angel reached down, grabbed Xander by the shirt collar and hauled him up to his feet. "What the hell are you doing, Xander?"
Sonya shrieked, and Xander wrenched himself free of the vampire's grip. "What the hell are you doing, Angel?" he mimicked, falling into a slaying-stance. "Think you can take me?"
"I'm not here to 'take' you. I'm here to try and get through to you," Angel said bluntly. "You're making the biggest mistake of your life, and you've hurt Buffy more than anything I've ever seen. Maybe even more than her accident!"
Xander sneered at Angel. "What are you now, her knight in shining armor, here to save the damsel in distress? Because let me tell you, Buffy is not a damsel in need of saving. She's the Slayer. She can slay anything that hurts her."
"Even you?" Angel asked in a biting tone.
The boy paused for a moment, and then his sneer came back. "Even me, but I doubt she'd go that far."
"If she did," Angel said, disgust evident in his tone, "I wouldn't stop her."
"Oh, really?" Xander shot back. "You must be in love with her! You've been in love with her all this time, haven't you? You were just waiting for us to break up so you could make your move! Well, go ahead, Romeo. Nothing's stopping you!"
Angel looked at Xander, really looked at him. Sweat glistened from Xander's forehead, and soaked into the collar of his white T-shirt. His skin glowed palely in the moonlight, and his eyes were wild. It was the eyes that commanded the vampire's attention. The pupils were extremely dilated, and they rolled and darted every which way, as if Xander couldn't stay focused on one thing very long. As Angel watched, he thought he saw a flash of blue-violet in their dark brown depths.
"Sonya!" Angel snapped, suddenly ignoring Xander. "Has anything odd happened to Xander tonight? Anything that would denote demon possession?"
The girl on the ground glared up at Angel. "Aside from Xander declaring his feelings for me?" she demanded. "What... do you think that him loving me over Buffy is so impossible that only demon possession would make it happen?" Her scowl went from angry to furious, and she lunged at Angel. Of course, she got nowhere near to grabbing the vampire who stood a few feet away.
"If I were still the Slayer, Dead Boy, you'd be ash by now," Sonya threatened, unconsciously using Xander's pet name for Angel.
Angel was about to reply to Sonya when a punch to the jaw from Xander caught him off guard. He staggered backwards. "Xander, what are you trying to prove?"
"You doubt my love for Sonya!" Xander cried wildly. "I'm proving it for you!" He swung again. Angel avoided the blow easily now that he was watching, but he didn't fight back.
From her place on the ground, Sonya watched the men as she tried to fight back tears. "He does love me," she whispered to herself. "Xander wouldn't lie to me. He wouldn't. Angel's just trying to ruin it! I hate Angel!"
Suddenly, Xander managed to connect another punch, and Angel actually lost his balance and hit the ground. Xander was on top of him in a second, pummeling and hitting the vampire everywhere he could reach. Angel managed to get his arms up, and he grabbed Xander by the torso and threw him off. Xander landed a couple of feet from Sonya -- just out of her reach -- dazed and moaning.
"Xander!" Sonya cried. Maybe it was the emotion of the situation and her fear for the boy she'd loved for years, but Sonya found herself on her stomach, dragging herself across the ground toward him. Then suddenly, she felt an abrupt push from behind and she was there next to him.
She glared up at Angel. "Call a doctor or something and quit staring at me!"
"You moved your leg," Angel told her, stunned. "You pushed yourself over to Xander by moving your leg."
Sonya caressed Xander's face with her fingers. "That doesn't matter! What matters is getting him to the doctor."
Angel glanced at Xander. "He'll be fine when he gets his wind back. And when he does, you'd better tell him to stay the hell away from me." Then Angel vanished back into the shadows, leaving Sonya alone with her man.
#2: In the Space of Desire
Authors: Sonya and Erin
E-mail: sonyajeb@swbell.net OR carynsilver@yahoo.com
Rating: PG-13
Category: B/X, O/Other, AU, action/adventure, romance
Summary: This is a sequel to our epic saga "In the Space of a Heartbeat," which is a story about what would happen if Buffy had never gotten the Slayer powers.
Disclaimer: We do not own Buffy or any of the original characters or ideas from the show. They all belong to Joss, Mutant Enemy, etc. All we own is our own creative genius (unless that's too strong a word :) and any characters we make up.
Distribution: Regulars... SURE!!! Newbies... ask and you shall recieve!
Feedback: Love it! We want to know your likes AND dislikes. Flames are the only thing we do not accept.
Spoilers: None much for the shows, but heavy spoilers for the earlier installments of this fanfic series!
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Chapter Eight
Sal's Diner
"What is it with you and the hot fudge sundaes?" Sonya asked Xander that evening.
After her second doctor's appointment, he'd been more than willing to go out to dinner again. That surprised her, but this time Sonya promised herself that she was not going to spoil it by mentioning Buffy. Even so, she was hard pressed not to ask why Xander had been avoiding her all day. She was a little surprised when she brought the subject up herself.
"A sweet tooth, I guess," Xander said. "You know, Parker, this has been a really great day. No Buffy to worry about."
Sonya's mouth dropped open. "Now I know that doctor is doing something weird to me," she said. "I must be hallucinating. You're dissing on the perfect Buffy Summers?"
"She's not perfect," Xander said. Sonya had never heard quite that tone in his voice before. "She's really big into the pouting. She's probably still pissed that I didn't call her last night. She kept giving me these looks all day. I just pretended not to see her."
"What is with you tonight, Xander?" Sonya demanded, laying her spoon down on the table with a clatter. "I mean, I'm having fun and all, but you're starting to be very strange."
Xander leaned over until his face was right up to hers. "What do you mean strange?"
Sonya leaned back out of reflex. "I never before in my life heard you say anything about Buffy that wasn't moony and complimentary. And what are you doing all up in my face?"
"Umm... I dunno." Xander looked at her for a minute longer and then sat back down on his side of the booth.
A thought popped into Sonya's head, and try as she might she couldn't get it out of there. Finally, she asked, "Are you and Buffy breaking up?" After she said it she realized how out of context that sounded, so Sonya tried to make up for it. "I mean, it's just that you're being so blase about Buffy. That never happens. Maybe you've decided that you and she don't make sense together?"
Xander seemed to ponder what she said while Sonya took out her pill. The doctor had been very specific -- three times a day. Before she'd completely swallowed it, Xander replied, "You know, I think you're right. Buffy and I don't make any sense at all. It's like I've had blinders on these past few weeks."
Sonya's heart caught in her throat. Was he saying what she thought he was saying? "Are you serious? You're going to break up with Buffy just like that? Why?" A small part of Sonya felt a little bad for Buffy, but most of her was more intent on what Xander would say next.
"I think I got into the whole Buffy thing way to hastily," Xander said. "I think it was more hormones and lust than real love."
"Wow!" Sonya couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You know, I thought that at the time, but you wouldn't have listened to me. You were way too hung up on her."
Xander reached across the table and took Sonya's hand in his own. For a second, Sonya stopped breathing. It was like her dreams were coming to life. It was amazing! She was afraid if she moved it would stop. Xander squeezed her hand and looked deeply into her eyes.
"Since we've been spending all this time together these past couple of days, I realized something, Parker. You're the girl I'm in love with. Not Buffy -- you."
A tear escaped from the corner of Sonya's eye. "You'd better really mean this, Xander," she said, smiling through her tears. "If this is your idea of a joke..."
"No joke," Xander interrupted her. "I'm serious. I know the truth now. You and I are meant to be together." He leaned forward as if to kiss her, but Sonya pulled back.
"Even though I'm in this thing?" Sonya hit the arm rest of her wheelchair with her free hand. "I always swore that I would never get involved with anyone while I'm in this. I wouldn't want to curse anyone to living with only half a person."
"You've never been half a person to me," Xander said softly. "If this is half of you, I could never handle all of you."
"You could be right about that," Sonya said, laughing again with sheer delight. After all, how often did one's dreams come true? This time when Xander moved to kiss her, she did nothing to stop him. Instead, she gave herself up to the sheer enjoyment of the moment.
"Ug..."
Xander's grunt made Sonya open her eyes. Another laugh bubbled out of her throat when she saw that Xander had put his hand in the remains of their hot fudge sundae.
"Yuck," she said.
"Wanna get out of here?" Xander asked, wiping his hand off on a napkin.
"Yeah!" At that point, Sonya would have agreed to do anything Xander asked.
Xander was paying the bill, and Sonya was getting her things together when she looked up and saw Oz standing in the aisle watching her. Sonya swallowed nervously.
"How long have you been here?"
"Long enough," Oz replied.
A hot blush covered her cheeks, and Sonya didn't reply.
"Yeah," Oz said, "I've been here *that* long." His hooded gaze flitted from her to Xander and back again. "I can't believe you two."
"Hey," Sonya protested, "I didn't start it."
"But you didn't stop it, either."
A stab of guilt hit Sonya, but she didn't want to feel guilty. She wanted to enjoy this time with Xander. When Sonya felt guilty, she lashed out. And Oz was the one standing in the way.
"Well you know what, Oz? This is none of your damn business!" Sonya yelled. "I think you should just get yourself out of here."
Xander, who had just finished paying, came over to her and took stock of the situation. "Yeah, Oz," he said in a threatening tone. "Quit messing with Sonya, or I'll have to do something about it."
For a split second, Sonya thought they were going to fight. Oz had an unusually angry gleam in his eyes. But then the gleam snuffed out, and Oz turned to leave.
"Do you think he'll tell Buffy?" Sonya asked. "I mean, you really ought to be the one to do that."
"I'll call her later," Xander replied in a casual tone. "C'mon. Let's book." He headed for the door, and she followed. As Xander helped her into the jeep, Sonya saw the zebra-striped van pulling out of the parking lot. She wondered if Oz was running over to Buffy's to tell her about this...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Buffy reached into her backpack and pulled out a stake which she quickly secreted in the front pocket of her sweatshirt. She scanned the empty, residential street again, but still could find no reason for the weird feeling creeping up and down her spine. She had been patrolling for an hour and found nothing untoward.
"All the creepy-crawlies must be staying in tonight," she said to herself.
"I guess so."
Buffy jumped and spun, stake at the ready. Then she relaxed when she saw who it was. "Angel."
The tall, dark, brooding vampire fell in step with her and they continued patrolling together. "My watch has been pretty empty these past few nights, as well," he said.
"I hope that doesn't mean that something apocalyptic is coming," Buffy replied with a sigh. "That's all I need."
Angel looked closely at her. "Are you all right?"
"Mostly," Buffy answered. But she couldn't meet his dark gaze. Finally she admitted, "Xander and I have hit a rocky patch."
"What happened?"
Maybe it was just that she needed a listening ear, but somehow, Buffy found herself telling the vampire everything. He listened to the whole story without saying anything.
"...so now I don't know why he's avoiding me, and it's driving me crazy," she finished.
"Do you want me to talk to him?" Angel asked. "I don't know if it would do any good, but I'd try."
Buffy smiled. "Thanks, Angel, but I think this is something we've got to figure out on our own."
They turned the familiar corner that would take them past one of Sunnydale's leading cemeteries. "Care to patrol in here with me?" Buffy asked. It was kind of nice to have a semi-friend along for awhile.
The Slayer and the vampire made a circuit around the cemetery. Nothing seemed to be out of place. Buffy was just about to suggest they head on to the next stop, the park, when she heard a suspicious rustling sound behind a nearby grouping of headstones. Looking up, she saw that Angel had heard the same thing. Buffy gestured for him to go around the left side, and she circled over from the right.
Buffy almost laughed when she sprang around the headstones to see a couple making out in the grass. The guy was laying all over the girl, and he didn't have a shirt on. The girl underneath him, still in most of her clothes though her top was unbuttoned, gasped.
"I'm sorry," Buffy said, and was about to turn away, but something stopped her. Something incredibly familiar that she just couldn't believe. Then her eyes landed on the wheelchair sitting nearby. "Oh, no," Buffy whispered.
The couple sprang apart, and her worst fear was confirmed. Xander and Sonya!
"So this is why you've been avoiding me?" Buffy demanded between the sobs that were ripping her apart. "You're having an affair with *her*? How could you, Xander? How could you?"
Angel appeared on the other side, and looked from one to the other with an expression of extreme distaste. But he didn't say anything.
Xander reached for his shirt and put it back on. "Look, Buffy, I was going to drop by your place after you patrolled. I've been meaning to tell you that I think we should see other people."
Buffy tried to think of something witty, biting and hurtful to say, but she couldn't come up with a single thing. The only thing running through her mind was "how could they, how could they, how could they...?"
Sonya looked up from buttoning her shirt. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Xander," she said, "maybe you and Buffy should go talk or something."
Still silent, Buffy started to back up slowly. Angel moved toward her, as if sensing that she might need help. The vampire gave Xander a look of loathing and disgust.
"This is wrong, Xander," Angel finally said. "You know that, right?"
Xander glared at Angel. "Stay out of this, Dead Boy! It's none of your business." Then he looked down at Sonya. "Don't worry, babe. I know what I'm doing."
His eyes lifted to meet Buffy's as he spoke. Each word he said felt like another dagger thrust into her heart. "Buffy, it was fun, but I realized today that I have to move on. My future is with Sonya."
"You don't mean that," Buffy whispered. (How could you, how could you, how could you...)
"Xander!"
Sonya's piercing shriek brought all eyes down to her. She pointed at her legs. She'd removed her sandals during their makeout session, and now her feet were bare. In the clear, clean moonlight, they could all see the same thing -- her toes slowly wiggling back and forth.
"Oh, babe, that's wonderful!" Xander cried, and swooped down to give her another long kiss. "Long live Dr. Keller!"
That was all Buffy could take. She turned and began to run, oblivious to everything but her own pain. With one last glance at the couple on the ground, Angel followed her. Buffy ran and ran and ran -- out of the cemetery and several blocks down the road. Angel kept up with no effort. Finally, she stopped as the sobs got the best of her. When Angel walked over and put his arms around her, she didn't resist. Instead, she cried on his shoulder, using his shirt for a Kleenex.
Angel smoothed her hair while she cried. He murmured comforting words to her. "It's OK, Buffy. It will be all right. Let it all out. Don't worry."
When she had calmed down a little, Buffy suddenly thrust herself from Angel's grasp. "What do you mean, 'it will be all right'? It will never be all right again!" She paused, and gave him a bitter look. "You don't know what it's like to have the person you love tromp all over your heart like it's their own personal punching bag. You have no idea at all!"
She turned away from him and started walking away, this time with purpose -- to get away from Angel.
Angel watched her go, his eyes filled with sadness. "That's where you're wrong, Buffy. I do know how that feels. I know very well."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Buffy roamed the streets for awhile, and then she decided to head home. She wanted her mother to hug her and tell her it was all going to be all right. Angel, Buffy wouldn't believe, but somehow her mother could make the lie sound convincing. And her mother knew how it felt...
(How could he, how could he, how could he do this to me...)
"Oh, look, a lonely little girl. Hello, little girl."
The voice came from behind her. Buffy turned and saw a thin, willowy young girl with long, dark hair and lots of dark eyeliner. As Buffy watched, the girl's luminous face changed shape, revealing the hideous visage of a vampire.
Buffy pulled her stake out of her pocket, and dropped the backpack where it would be in easy reach if she needed it. Then she planted her feet firmly on the ground and waited for the vamp-chick to come to her.
"C'mon," Buffy challenged, "I'm dying for someone to pound on." She tried to keep her voice down, since they were in someone's front yard. The lights in most of the houses were off, so Buffy assumed most people were asleep.
The vampire girl ran straight for Buffy.
"The direct approach," Buffy remarked with a nod. "I like it. It's refreshing." She angled her body and when the vamp was close enough she threw her over her hip. "Refreshing, but not exceptionally challenging."
But the girl was on her feet again quickly. Buffy punched her, and the girl staggered back. Then the vampire skipped in and landed a kick on Buffy's knee. Buffy yelped in sudden pain, but kept fighting. She lunged with the stake, but the vamp-chick danced out of the way. Buffy tried to follow, but the pain in her knee forced her to limp.
"If you broke something I'm really going to make you pay," Buffy grunted, grabbing the girl's long sleeved shirt and ripping it as the vampire moved quickly away.
"I'd like to see you try," the girl said with a laugh.
Deciding to go for it, Buffy braced herself against the pain and let loose a flying kick. The kick struck home on the vamp's chest, but Buffy hit the ground wrong and agony flared in her knee. A wave of dizziness overcame her and she fell to the ground. The vampire was on her in seconds. Buffy thrashed, but the girl pinned her arms to her sides.
"Now who's going to pay?" the vamp-chick hissed in her ear.
Buffy heard a crashing sound behind her, and her heart sank. There were more...
"Let her go!" The voice was familiar, but waves of dizziness and nausea kept Buffy from placing it. Then she heard some words in another language -- Latin she thought hazily. And suddenly she was free.
Dragging herself to a sitting position, Buffy looked up and saw Amy standing there pointing toward the vamp-chick who floated several feet above the ground.
"Go for it, Buffy," Amy said with a grin. "She's all yours."
Buffy got to her feet, wavered a little, and then got her balance. It took most of her remaining strength, but she thrust the stake through the vampire's heart, and both she and Amy were showered in dust.
"You're a witch..." Buffy murmured to Amy as she sank back down to the soft grass.
Amy walked over and put an arm around Buffy's shoulders. "Yeah, well, I told you I did a lot more in Europe than visit museums. Now, let's get you home."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Somehow, Amy managed to get the semi-conscious Buffy home. Amy didn't have all the pieces of the puzzle, but she was starting to understand more and more about Sunnydale and its protectors.
When Joyce answered Amy's knock at the door and saw Buffy, the two of them got Buffy upstairs and cleaned up.
"What happened?" Joyce demanded as she wrapped Buffy's swollen knee in an Ace bandage and a cold pack.
"A girl tried to... uh... steal her purse," Amy said, a bit proud of the fact that there was a little truth in the statement. "I'm Amy Madison, by the way."
Joyce nodded distractedly. "Buffy mentioned you. Did this girl hit Buffy on the head? Should we be worried about concussion? Maybe we should take her to the emergency room!"
The woman started to stand, but Amy put a calming hand on her arm. "I didn't see all of the fight, but from what Buffy said in the car I think it's just shock that made her faint, and the pain from the knee. And from what I can tell, the knee's just badly twisted and bruised -- no broken bones." Amy had checked Buffy out magically in the car, and been relieved at the results. The girl was already healing, much faster than a normal person would have.
"You seem to know a lot about this," Joyce said.
"I've taken first aid classes," Amy invented quickly. "Sleep should do her wonders."
Joyce seemed to accept that, and soon Amy found herself being escorted to the door.
"Let me know if I can do anything," Amy said. "Buffy has my number."
"I will," Joyce said, "and thank you."
Joyce closed the door, and slowly walked back upstairs to her daughter's room. There, she pulled out the big rocking chair and a quilt and settled in for another night-long vigil by her daughter's bed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After Buffy ran away from him, Angel turned and went back to the cemetery. He walked straight to the same patch of grass behind the same headstones, and lo and behold they were still there.
Angel reached down, grabbed Xander by the shirt collar and hauled him up to his feet. "What the hell are you doing, Xander?"
Sonya shrieked, and Xander wrenched himself free of the vampire's grip. "What the hell are you doing, Angel?" he mimicked, falling into a slaying-stance. "Think you can take me?"
"I'm not here to 'take' you. I'm here to try and get through to you," Angel said bluntly. "You're making the biggest mistake of your life, and you've hurt Buffy more than anything I've ever seen. Maybe even more than her accident!"
Xander sneered at Angel. "What are you now, her knight in shining armor, here to save the damsel in distress? Because let me tell you, Buffy is not a damsel in need of saving. She's the Slayer. She can slay anything that hurts her."
"Even you?" Angel asked in a biting tone.
The boy paused for a moment, and then his sneer came back. "Even me, but I doubt she'd go that far."
"If she did," Angel said, disgust evident in his tone, "I wouldn't stop her."
"Oh, really?" Xander shot back. "You must be in love with her! You've been in love with her all this time, haven't you? You were just waiting for us to break up so you could make your move! Well, go ahead, Romeo. Nothing's stopping you!"
Angel looked at Xander, really looked at him. Sweat glistened from Xander's forehead, and soaked into the collar of his white T-shirt. His skin glowed palely in the moonlight, and his eyes were wild. It was the eyes that commanded the vampire's attention. The pupils were extremely dilated, and they rolled and darted every which way, as if Xander couldn't stay focused on one thing very long. As Angel watched, he thought he saw a flash of blue-violet in their dark brown depths.
"Sonya!" Angel snapped, suddenly ignoring Xander. "Has anything odd happened to Xander tonight? Anything that would denote demon possession?"
The girl on the ground glared up at Angel. "Aside from Xander declaring his feelings for me?" she demanded. "What... do you think that him loving me over Buffy is so impossible that only demon possession would make it happen?" Her scowl went from angry to furious, and she lunged at Angel. Of course, she got nowhere near to grabbing the vampire who stood a few feet away.
"If I were still the Slayer, Dead Boy, you'd be ash by now," Sonya threatened, unconsciously using Xander's pet name for Angel.
Angel was about to reply to Sonya when a punch to the jaw from Xander caught him off guard. He staggered backwards. "Xander, what are you trying to prove?"
"You doubt my love for Sonya!" Xander cried wildly. "I'm proving it for you!" He swung again. Angel avoided the blow easily now that he was watching, but he didn't fight back.
From her place on the ground, Sonya watched the men as she tried to fight back tears. "He does love me," she whispered to herself. "Xander wouldn't lie to me. He wouldn't. Angel's just trying to ruin it! I hate Angel!"
Suddenly, Xander managed to connect another punch, and Angel actually lost his balance and hit the ground. Xander was on top of him in a second, pummeling and hitting the vampire everywhere he could reach. Angel managed to get his arms up, and he grabbed Xander by the torso and threw him off. Xander landed a couple of feet from Sonya -- just out of her reach -- dazed and moaning.
"Xander!" Sonya cried. Maybe it was the emotion of the situation and her fear for the boy she'd loved for years, but Sonya found herself on her stomach, dragging herself across the ground toward him. Then suddenly, she felt an abrupt push from behind and she was there next to him.
She glared up at Angel. "Call a doctor or something and quit staring at me!"
"You moved your leg," Angel told her, stunned. "You pushed yourself over to Xander by moving your leg."
Sonya caressed Xander's face with her fingers. "That doesn't matter! What matters is getting him to the doctor."
Angel glanced at Xander. "He'll be fine when he gets his wind back. And when he does, you'd better tell him to stay the hell away from me." Then Angel vanished back into the shadows, leaving Sonya alone with her man.