Xander woke from the brief nap he had taken at Willow's, mentally thanking himself for calling in sick. Rolling over looked into his best friend's eyes as she peaked out from behind a large text. "At least it wasn't one of the bad ones."
Willow made her way to his side at the couch. "We're going to find out why you keep having these dreams. Its possible they mean something."
"The First trying to communicate with me?" he asked.
"Or something else trying to warn you," she replied straight-faced.
Looking around Xander noticed the others absent. "Where is everyone?"
"Dawn's at school, Kennedy's shaking up some demon bars, and Andrew's picking up some books," she replied.
"Just the two of us than, eh?" Xander noted.
"Like old times," she replied.
"But its not like old times, is it guys?"
They both turned in unison to find a ghost-like image standing before them as they whispered to themselves, "Jesse?"
A bar full of demons all back away from their seats in shock as the body of the bartender hit the floor.
"So here's the thing, and I know you'll all want to listen up," Kennedy started, "The Hellmouth seems to have a new guest in town. The First. As in the Evil."
"I dunno nothing about it. Honest!" the bartender plead.
"And that's where I find it hard to believe you," Kennedy replied. "Now, I'm trying hard. But its not coming to me."
"I'm small time! What do I know about the First Evil?" he replied, "That's way outta my league."
"Damnit!" Kennedy yelled turning to the rest of the bar, "Well, anyone know anything?"
The few demons sitting and avoiding the daylight just stared, giving no info.
"Fine!" Kennedy yelled making her way out the door.
"Miss me?"
"It's the First, Xand," Willow told Xander without taking her eyes off her departed friend.
"I know," Xander replied.
"You guys even remember me?"
"We remember you, Jess," Xander said, "Just a lot of things have change since you…"
"Since I changed… Or since you killed me?"
"It wasn't you anymore," Xander rationalized, "What you had become… I had to do it."
"You didn't have to do anything!" Jesse yelled. "You could've joined me. We were buds… and you killed me."
"I had to," Xander stated.
"You really believe that? I know it eats at you. You can't stand what you've done to me. Its because you I'm even here. You and the bitch. She made all those slayers. And I can't abide the shift in power. She will have to pay… But it's not too late for you. Come with. It'll be like old times."
"Xand…" Willow started before she was cut off.
"Shut up, Willow," Xander ordered to the glee of a smiling Jesse. "…Leave Jesse. I'm not joining the First. I'll die fighting beside Willow if that's what it takes."
"Than that's what it'll take," Jesse said with glee as he disappeared in a snap of light.
Willow quickly moved to put her hand on Xander's shoulder, but he jumped up at the moment of even the slightest contact.
"Listen Will, I gotta go for a walk," he said making his way towards the door, "If you need me… just invade my thoughts."
"Wouldn't be the first time," Willow said faking a smile as Xander left."
"Its time."
"For what?" asked Amy fed up.
"Their alone," replied the First in Willows form.
"Who?" asked Amy.
"The Slayer."
"So Buffy's here too? Amy asked shocked.
"Not that Slayer. She's not the one threatening my existence. The Slayer you have to worry about is on these streets tonight."
"Where is she?" asked Amy, ready.
"Don't worry about that right now. You have more important issues to deal with… And you'll deal with it right now," the First ordered as it disappeared.
"Yes Sir," Amy mocked as she disappeared, herself.
"So…"
"Yes?" Dawn asked Alex as her home.
"There's been something I've bee meaning to ask you," he responded.
"Yes?" she questioned.
"Well, its just that…" he started.
"Go on."
"There's this party Friday," he began.
"Uh huh?" she asked.
"I was wondering if you wanted to… you know…"
"I know?"
"Go with me?"
"Go with you?"
"You don't have to," he quickly defended, "Its okay."
"Of course I'll go, Alex," Dawn responded.
"You will?" he asked surprised.
"Yep!"
"Well okay than," Alex turned to notice they were at his house, "I guess I'll see ya tomorrow."
"Tomorrow it is," Dawn smiled back.
Xander found himself in a local demon haunt; ironically the only place felt comfortable these days. "Gimme a Moosehead."
"That Canadian beer'll kill ya," the bartender replied as he handed him the glass."
"I'll keep that in mind," he replied, looking up. "Something happen to your face, pal?"
"Ya!" the bartender replied angrily, "that damn slayer happened!"
"Yeah, she'll do that," Xander said smiling.
The bartender just shrugged walking away as Xander continued drinking.
After sitting there, hours having passed, Xander turned towards the door to a find a man that can only be described as 'tall, dark, and handsome.' "Angel…" Xander breathed in a heavily drunken breath.
"Willow?" Andrew yelled as he entered her home. "Where are y…" he questioned walking in further to the home to find Willow and Kennedy making out in the kitchen. "Willow? Why are you doing that? We have work to do!"
The girls quickly pulled apart, blushing slightly. "Andrew… Just show me what you've got," Willow requested.
Handing her some books Andrew said, "Nothing you don't know already. But I did find some cool demon summoning stuff."
Willow and Kennedy both frown at him.
Noticing their looks, he tried to cover up saying, "…not that anyone would ever want to summon demons."
"Something's happening…"
"Something's always happening," Xander said turning back away from Angel.
"This is different, Harris," Angel scolded, "The First Evil is back."
"Tell me something I don't know," Xander said taking another sip.
"Alright, Boy, How about it not just here. L.A.'s feeling it too. So is New York."
"Buffy?" Xander said, Angel's words finally sinking in. "So what do you expect me to do? Buffy can take care of herself."
"Alone?"
"Faith and Robin are there," he replied.
"Faith is dead, Xander. And Wood's only a matter of time."
As Xander held back the tears of losing someone whom has re-earned his friendship, he turned to angel, "If Faith can't even fight it, how am I gonna do much better than a Slayer?"
"The First use evil. I can't trust Willow to hold herself together. I need your help. I need you to come to New York with me. Now."
"Okay, Willow," Kennedy said, "We know Xander's not back yet. But it's only been a couple hours."
"He's been gone too long."
"Wouldn't be the first time, Willow," Dawn stated.
"Dawn, this isn't the same situation with Anya," Willow tried to rationalize. "We were visited by the First."
"Why are we all just sitting?" Andrew cut in. "We need to help Xander, he could be anywhere."
"Okay, so I'm going to New York… So let's leave already."
"Come on, I've got a car waiting," Angel said gesturing towards the door.
"Fine, fine," Dawn announced, "So we go to find Xander. "Where do we start?"
"I can try a location spell, I suppose," Willow said.
"So tell me why I'm driving your car," Xander demanded.
"Forget why. Just know that we're heading north and your taking us there."
"You always were the chatty one," Xander mockingly replied.
"And you always were a damned fool."
"What?" Xander questioned turning to Angel and than back to the road to find Amy standing there. In his shock he quickly slammed on the breaks. "Alright Angel, you got some…" Xander was cut off when noticing that he was now alone in the car.
"Xander, remember high school when you wouldn't go out with me?" Amy asked sarcastically.
"You were under a spell!"
"Either way! Its time for payback!"
"Well no good can come of that."
Without warning a huge light overtook the entire car and Xander found himself in a cave with Amy standing there, her eyes black. "Sh…"