Disclaimer: Joss, WB, UPN et al. own Buffy. I do not.

Title: The Prices We Pay: Chapter 2

Author: Paradigm Shifter

Rating: R

Feedback: Yes please! Is it good? Is it bad? Should I continue? Tell me!!!

Pairing: Xander/Darla

Notes: I know, there are a lot of plot holes that could conceivably give me major headaches fixing. I'm trying, honest…

Thanks: VegaKeep, for betaing this monkey God knows how long ago… Why did it take me so long to post it? I have no idea…

*

Xander knew that his day now officially was the worst on record. Willow seemed to be obsessed with getting him to come to the Bronze with her and Buffy, and while Xander would never turn down a chance for Buffy staring, he couldn't. His father had woken up sober that morning, and had promised him that if he weren't at home all evening to do the chores he so often skipped when both his parents were in a drunken stupor, he would be thrown out. And to make it worse, because of that little encounter, he had been late, and had the wonderful misfortune of encountering Snyder in the corridor. Hence, tardy: detention.

He had also spilt something on one of Giles books during lunch, and as such had been banished from the library, forced to go outside. So, he got another detention when the bullies decided to use him as their new punch bag.

*

Xander got out of the detention as the sun was going down, it was near mid winter, and daylight hours were slim. "Shit, I'd better hurry, I don't want to be vampire bait." He muttered to himself as he walked alone along the road. In fact, he was so preoccupied with not becoming a vamp happy meal that he didn't notice the one that was tailing him.

It wasn't Darla.

The vampire followed at a discrete distance, planning to get Xander on his doorstep. The nameless vampire in turn, was so busy with tailing Xander that he didn't notice his own tail.

That one was Darla.

She didn't want anything happening to Xander. Well, unless it was her doing it to him. And Darla had no desire to hurt Xander, that wouldn't be any fun. No, the fun would start when he could fight back, and help her hurt her lost Angelus. Darla knew after he tried to stake her that she would never have the old Angelus back.

That time was gone, now she just had to make sure that Xander stayed alive long enough to fall for her. It wouldn't be too difficult, if watching him with the Slayer were any indication; he was a sucker for blondes. Especially natural blondes, which the boy would discover that the Slayer wasn't if he ever got lucky. Anyway, the Slayer was mooning over Darla's broken and shudder souled ex.

 The possessive feeling that Darla got when even thinking about the boy, Xander, worried her in the back of her mind. She might get so caught up in the boy that when the time came, she would not be able to turn him, or worse, she might actually grow to love the boy. That would be disastrous. Demons couldn't love. Could they?

Angelus proved he could, but that had been because of his… soul…

"Look out, kid!" shout Darla as the vampire that was trailing Xander caught up and lunged at him.

*

Xander turned at the sound of the shout. It was from a blonde vision in red and black leather, and…

…Oh shit! There was a vampire diving for him. Too late to run, Xander stood his ground and watched the vampire come at him. The end was coming…

*

Darla started forward as the boy; Xander stood and watched death embrace him. The vampire had reached Xander and was a bit taken aback when he didn't run screaming. He punched the kid in the stomach to see if that would provoke a response, and again was shocked to see the boy go down, staring not at him, but behind him.

"Huh?"

Darla stood behind him, without her game-face on, exuding power. Darla had chosen not to display her power to Xander by vamping out, as that would make him scared and wary of her. Nevertheless, the vampire that she was about to dust felt the tremendous power of a master vampire, and cowered away.

He didn't have time to mouth anything more than, "NO…" when Darla pulled a stake out of her red leather jacket and trust it through his unbeating heart. He burst into dust.

Darla secreted the stake inside her jacket once more. Fighting back the need to feed, Darla reached down to Xander. This close to a human, the feeling was almost overwhelming.

"Come on, kid. Lets get you home." Darla tried to smile disarmingly at him, but as soon as the expression reached her face, realised it held the ever-present seductive, untouchable look that she had perfected over so many years. She could see by Xander's face that shock; surprise, fear and lust were all warring for dominance.

"Gnrr…" Xander seemed insensible. He couldn't get his mind working again. He was so sure that he was about to meet his death, and them this vision steps into his life and saves him. Now that he was out of danger, he had time to look at her properly. His first impression had been right. A vision in red and black leather: black leather skirt, black PVC top with a red leather coat over the top. Nearly opaque black stockings and calf length leather boots with spiked heels.

She certainly beat any of Xander's 'Buffy, Buffy, rescue me' fantasies.

Xander took the offered hand and let her help him to his feet. He smiled at her, but still felt like Stan Laurel trying to chat up Marilyn Monroe.

Darla realised that unless she spoke, he wouldn't. "Don't you know it's not safe to be out at night by yourself. You could have that happen." She smiled privately to herself. Buffy had died, so that meant a new Slayer would be activated. She could play that role for a while. "You really need a Slayer with you if your going to pull stupid stunts like this."

Xander recovered some of his mental faculties. "Slay… err… Slayer? You a Slayer then?"

Darla smiled and nodded. "Yes."

"That explains the dress then. Y'know, if you weren't a Slayer, I'd think you were a vampire."

Darla had another private smile. "I think I'd better get you home. Where do you live?"

"A few blocks from here. Oh, by the way, my name's Alexander, but my friends call me Xander."

"OK, Xander. I'm Darla."

"Pretty name…" Xander whispered. Darla knew an ordinary human would not have heard and so didn't say anything.

The two walked in silence to Xander's house, at which point Xander turned to her apologetically. "I really would ask you to come in, but I don't know what my parents are gonna do. I'll see you around; you'll have to check in with Giles tomorrow. At the school library.

Darla smiled at him, and Xander felt his knees growing weak. "Certainly. I'll see you tomorrow then?" Darla stepped forward slightly and placed a gentle kiss on Xander's cheek.

Xander swallowed hard and said with difficulty, "sure."

*