Ch 4

He's awake

The sun rises Monday morning on Sunnydale.

Joyce walks into Buffy's room. "Buffy, you need to get up, it's time for school."

"Just a few more minutes mom," Buffy grumbles.

"Buffy, if you wait any longer you're going be late. Now rise and shine. You really should get to bed earlier." Joyce leaves the room.

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Buffy walks into the library before heading to class. "How's she doing?"

Giles looks over at Buffy, "I talked to her briefly, naturally she's pretty upset."

"I can't believe it happened again, he's taking my friends away one by one," Buffy says.

Giles puts his hand on her shoulder in means of comfort when the bell rings abruptly.

Buffy pulls away, "I better go."

Buffy backs away and leaves the library.

Upon entering her classroom Buffy hears the voice of her teacher. "You're late, again."

"Sorry," Buffy mutters as she sits down at her desk. The teacher continues with the history lecture but Buffy doesn't hear any of it. She stares helplessly at the two seats where Willow and Xander once sat. "I'm sorry," she says softly.

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Deep in underground sewers, Luke and his vampire minions are still resting as the sun finally begins to set, all of them except Willow. The redhead sits patiently across from Xander watching, waiting for him to wake. It is then that she sees his lip begin to twitch. Willow leans in. "He's waking," she says with excitement.

Xander opens his eyes to see his sire kneeling next to him. He feels exceedingly drawn to her as his past feelings for her begin flooding in. The feelings he felt when he was human but kept suppressed. " Willow." He says with a smile. The two then begin to kiss passionately.

"It's good to see you again," Xander says.

"What took you so long, I waited forever," Willow pouts.

"Sorry to keep you waiting baby," he says with a smirk.

"Now we're a family," Willow says eagerly.

Xander begins to stand but falls back to the couch as he crosses his arms across his stomach, trying to suppress the pain. "I need something to eat," he moans.

"You are too weak to hunt alone, I'll come with you, I could use a snack," Willow says as she helps Xander to his feet.

The two lovers leave the sewers and begin on they're prowl for dinner.

"How about her," Willow says pointing to a girl walking alone.

"She looks perfect, a brunette sounds rather tasty," Xander says hungrily.

The girl continues walking, unaware of the two vampires watching her. Xander casually walks up to her, blocking the girl's path.

"Hi there, where you headed," Xander says with a grin.

"Home," the shy girl says, "I really should be going." The girl tries to walk around but Xander again blocks her.

"Hey, don't I know you?" Xander asks.

"Yes, that's right, we have history class together."

Xander laughs, "Small world isn't it."

Willow casually walks over to join Xander in his game, leaning her head on his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his waist.

"I really need to get home, I have lots of homework to do."

Xander knocks the books out of her hands. "You'll never have to worry about homework again." He then morphs to show his vamp face. "Kind of hard to do homework when your dead," he grins, showing his fangs.

The girl tries to run but Willow grabs her before she can get far. With the girl kicking and screaming while willow held her Xander bites down on the brunette's neck. After he is done Willow finishes, then dropping the girl to the ground. Willow cheerfully wraps her arms around Xander, and kisses him. Xander lifts her up in his arms, as he now reaches full strength, relieving any trace of pain.

"You and me are going to show this town what fear really is." An evil grin spreads over his face.

Willow giggles with excitement.

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In Giles apartment the librarian is busy studying book to book on vampire history. Anything on Luke's past history and the accounts of how he prefers to toy with his victims. Giles doesn't want to be hit with anymore surprises.

With a startled jolt the doorbell rings. Careful not to be too off guard, Giles approaches the door and calmly asks, "Who is it?" It then occurs to him that vampires usually don't knock.

"Rupert, it's me," Jenny says in a soft sweet voice.

Giles lets out a sigh of relief and lets her in. "Hello Jenny, what brings you here?" he asks when a smile.

"I couldn't sleep, with everything that has gone on, so many losses. I'm afraid... I'm afraid I might lose you too." She looks up at him and her eyes begin tearing up. "I don't know what I would do if anything ever happened to you. I just had to come see you."

Giles offer's Jenny a seat as they both sit down on the couch. Giles gently takes her hand and holds it. "You don't have to worry about me jenny, nor do you have to worry about anything else. I assure you, nothing will happen to me, and I would never allow anything to happen to you." Sliding his fingers through her hair, the two move in close and begin to kiss.

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In the library, Buffy trains alone, practicing her kicks on a punching bag, relieving all her stress and anguish as she punches it harder and harder. Buffy then throws one final kick, causing the supporting chain to break and sending the punching bag flying across the room and slamming into the wall.

Xander who has just entered, watches without her knowing. "Wow, you sure did teach that punching bag whose boss." He smirks, crossing his arms across his chest.

Buffy snaps around coming face-to-face with her dead friend Xander.

"What are you doing here," she says, softly.

Xander walks across the room, sliding his finger tips lightly across the books on the shelves.

"Can't I see what ole Buff is up to?" he says grinning.

Buffy eyes him carefully. "Where's Willow?" she asks curiously.

"She's out, probably feeding on some helpless victim that you should be protecting. But, I don't know why I should think you would protect someone you don't even know, when you couldn't even keep your two best friends from being killed," Xander says eyeing her directly, trying to make her cry. Come on, Cry. He thinks to himself. Oh, how I would just love to see you cry.

"I'm so sorry Xander," she says looking up at him sadly. "I didn't mean for this to happen," Buffy whimpers, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"It's a little late for that don't ya think?" Xander says sarcastically with a smile as he sees the slayer begin to break down, enjoying every minute as he toys with her. Xander then walks up to her and slides the back of his hand down her cheek. Buffy stands there frozen staring up at him. Slowly he looks her over. "It's a shame," he remarks. "It's just a shame that someone with such a beautiful face is going to end up dead. Probably buried in the same place you patrol." An evil grin spreads across his face as he backs away from the slayer, now laughing at his own comments, leaving, as soon as he came.

Buffy stands there watching as Xander leaves.