Title: Calming the Beast
Rating: R
Chapters:6-8
Author:
White Werewolf
Category:Buffy/Xander
Spoiler:Takes off from "The Wish." Then it hit's AU.
Disclaimer:I don't own anything, but the ideas, my computer, and my website: http: makes a wish that traumatizes Xander, and he becomes something far from human.
Author Notes:This idea came from Mac's Defender of the Night. It's also my way to do a Halloween fic, but not do the challenge. Hopefully, this turns out good.
Dedication:Merlin
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Turning around, Buffy walked to where she dropped her belongings. Picking up her bag and pocketbook, she glanced at Angel. "I really appreciate you let him staying here."

He nodded as he approached her. "Anything else I need to know?"

She shook her head "I told you about his anger issues.
Which is why I want him to live here. The mansion can take damage. And since you're a vampire, you can handle his temper outbursts."

Angel asked, "Temper outbursts?"

Buffy clarified, "Now that Xander is Leatherhead, he has Leatherhead's anger issues. Basically, that means when Xander gets angry, he loses all self-control and goes completely wild animal."

Just as he was about to say something, Buffy heard a beeping. Looking down at her beeper, she said, "I got to go, Angel. Xander needs me. Xander and I'll be here after patrol tonight."

He asked surprisingly, "You don't want me?"

She immediately shook her head, "No, I do. But Xander needs me to help him through this."

With that said, she ran out of the mansion leaving a surprised Angel.

His eyes stared at the floor, "Treat her well, Xander."

Hanging up the phone, Willow returned to the book. She reread the spell carefully. Sighing to herself, she wondered if this was the right idea.

Placing the book down, she walked over to Xander and knelt down to him. Her hand very carefully touched his cheek, his scaled cheek. It was cold, and ridged.
It wasn't the white skin that she was so used to seeing. His now huge head only made her sad.

He didn't deserve this.

Her eyes started to moisten as her hand glided down from his cheek to his jaw line, fallowed by the neck, and shoulder. Her fingers traced down his humongous strong arms. She ran them till she reached his hand.

Placing both her hands around his large opened palm, she whispered, "I'm so sorry, Xander.

You don't deserve this. Nobody does. Cordelia's a bitch for doing this.

Forget her. Buffy, Giles, and I will find a way to bring you back."

Taking her face away from him, she looked to the door that Giles walked into.

The coast was clear.

Turning back to Xander, she whispered, "I found a spell, Xander. If I cast it, you'll become human again."

Taking a breath, she said, "I know. I know. You wouldn't want me to do it. But I know I can do this,
Xander. Just think, you'll be human again. All this will be over."

She kissed him on his hand. "I love you, Xander. You've been there for me for so much. This is my way to be there for you."

Releasing his hand, she got back to her feet and walked over to the book.

"Buffy's on her way, Xander. Seeing you human again will make her so happy. It will make us all happy."

Taking the book off the table, she walked over to Xander. Looking down at the book, she began to read,

"Au armipotens Proteus.
Anquiro inadfectatus recurro humanitas.
Transformo hic humanus acclinis artus.
Abigo hic animatio exsecror defigo."

Soon, bright light appeared around Xander. Her eyes widened as something started to happen.

"Willow, I'm here!"

Willow glanced up from Xander to see Buffy walking inside. She asked, "What's going on?"

The two of them watched as the light around Xander started to shimmer. His scales started to melt away as his white skin re-appeared. His size started to shrink into the normal humanoid shape of a young teenage male.

Hair started to grow and his eyes lost the cold blackness to return with the warm chocolate orbs that everyone loved to see. His snout split apart as his mouth and nose started to resurface.

Finally, his tail shrunk back into his rear as Xander fell to the ground.

Willow yelled, "Giles! Get in here!"

"What is it, Willow?" Giles asked as he got inside.

"Bloody hell." Giles said to himself as Willow and Buffy ran forward to the now nude human Xander laid on the ground.

"Xander!" The two girls yelled in delight as they wrapped their arms around him.

"What's going on?" Xander asked as he started to wake up.

Buffy grinned, "You're you again!" She couldn't stop the grin that was plastered on her face. Kissing him on the cheek. She couldn't help the tears that started to pour down her face. "You're you again." Buffy said with joy.

"What?" Xander asked.

Willow smiled, "I cured you!"

"What?" Xander asked again.

Xander immediately pulled away from the girls and grabbed the mirror that was left on the table. Looking into it, he couldn't help his smile forming.

"I'm me again." He said with pride. Glancing down, realized something. "And I'm naked!"

He ran into Giles' office. "Sorry, G-man. Need some clothes!"

Xander closed the door, and thought, (Thank god. I got some spare clothes in here.)

Watching the door close, Giles turned to the two teenagers, "What happened?"

Buffy answered honestly, "Dunno, Giles. Willow called my pager, and I came here. Next thing I see, Xander became human."

Nodding, Giles turned to Willow who had a book in her hands. "Did you cast a spell?"

She didn't say anything.

"Willow. It couldn't be Buffy because she just got here, and I just started to find something about the pendent. Next thing I know, I come in here when you call me and see Xander become human again."

The Witch gulped, "Well…"

Buffy glared at her, "Willow."

She sighed, "I cured him, Giles." Shaking her head.
She had nothing to be afraid of. "I found a spell. I made Xander Xander again."

"Buffy, can you go see if Xander is alright?"

Knowing the tone in his voice, she nodded. "Sure." She walked over to Giles' office and knocked on the door. "You decent?"

"C'mon in." She heard him say as he opened the door.
Walking inside, she closed the door.

Seeing the door close, Giles said, "You immature irresponsible child."

"Giles." Willow said to try and calm him down.

"Do you realize what you did?" He asked as he approached her.

She said in her defense, "I turned Xander back into a human."

Sighing, "Yes, you did. But at what cost? I'm sure Jenny taught you never to cross magiks."

Her eyes sank, "Crossing magiks." She couldn't believe she forgot about that.

"Xander was changed because of a demonic curse. Then you cast a spell and target Xander. Xander is human now, but we don't know if it will be permanent. There are certain to be side-effects."

Glancing at the book, "What was the spell exactly?"

Bringing him the book, Giles read it. "You do realize you asked for Proteus?"

"Yeah, I do." Willow said with confirmation. "Proteus was a friend to humanity in Greek Mythology."

Sighing, "That's Prometheus. Proteus was a deformed god who had the power to change appearance. We don't know what or if anything will happen to Xander."

"You're you again." Buffy said to her friend as she closed the door behind her.

Xander sat down at the edge of Giles' desk, "Yeah, I guess I am."

She approached him and pulled him into a hug, "I can't believe it, Xander. I thought…we thought you'd be stuck that way forever."

Wrapping his arms around her, he grinned, "Apparently not, Buff. I'm me again."

She pulled away from him till she reached Giles' chair. Sitting herself down, she said, "And I just arranged it for you to stay with Angel."

"All I can say is, thank god!" He exclaimed aloud.
Getting closer to her, he wiggled his eyebrows,
"Perhaps now I can move in with you? I mean, you have that big bed all to yourself. It could use another person to satisfy its bed filling obligation."

She slapped his arm, "Bed filling obligation? You pig."

He crossed his arms as he sat back down at the edge of the desk, "So what do you think Giles is asking Willow about?"

The blond answered honestly, "I think Willow performed a spell and brought you back. I recognized the tone in his voice when he asked me leave. He isn't too thrilled with Willow."

Xander sighed, "I can understand, I guess."

Glancing up at the clock, it was getting a little late, "You want to patrol?"

"Sure. Then we can talk about what you were about to before you went full Leatherhead mode."

Nodding to her, "Alright. But promise me, no arguing. I feel a little tired."

Buffy nodded, "No arguing."

Willow looked at the door that led to Giles' office. She could only imagine the happiness her two friends felt with Xander having his body back.

Giles continued, "Imagine this, Willow. Xander now has his body back, but think how he would feel to loose it again. Think of that, Willow. When you crossed magiks with the wish Cordelia made, you put Xander in terrible jeopardy." When you crossed magiks with the wish Cordelia made, you put Xander in terrible jeopardy."

Willow tried to speak in a way that would make her feel better. "I only did it to find a way to help Xander."

Giles nodded as he crossed his arms. "I know your heart was in the right place. Xander is your best friend. He is all our friend, but I do not know how I am going to resolve this. I think it may be best that you no longer dabbled in magic."

Willow shook her head, "You can't mean that, Giles. I'll be careful, I promise."

He sighed, "I know you mean well, Willow. But you have to remember, all magic comes at a price. You must balance every aspect of the spell before you cast it, or you will be forced to live with the consequences."

The redhead looked at the door again, "I'll be careful, Giles." He suddenly remembered something, "You can't tell me not to study magic. You can't tell me how to live my life."

The Watcher sighed, "I know I can't, Willow. I am not your father. But, I'm looking out for you. I care for you a great deal. I just don't want to see you go down a road of magic overuse."

Her eyes widened, "Magic overuse? I only know how to float a pencil."

"And yet, you re-ensouled Angel and turned Xander into human form again. Two powerful spells that are not meant for any beginner. I think you have better go home and think about what you done. Like I said, I am not your father, and I can not control you. I can only try and guide you in the right direction. Everything else is up to you."

She nodded. She knew he was right. But she'd never be addicted to magic. That's insane. Either way, she needed to get out of the library and do some thinking.

Maybe she could talk to Oz. He might be able to help her. That is if she was able to work things out with him. "Alright, Giles." Suddenly, she remembered something, "Didn't you just say you found something about the pendent?"

He sighed, "Willow, please. Can you just go home? I will call you if anything comes up."

"Alright, Giles. I'll go." Willow then left the library. Her mind saddened, (Great. Now, I'm with Cordelia. Xander can't hate me for doing this, can he?)

Going to the office door, he opened it, "You two can come out now."

Buffy and Xander walked outside and went to the table.
Leaning against the edge of it, Xander asked, "Where's Willow?"

Giles told them, "She went home, Xander. She had some things to work out."

"Oh," Buffy said in realization.

"How do you feel, Xander? Do you feel anything left from your Leatherhead problem?"

He shook his head, "Don't think so, Giles. I feel pretty good."

(That's not good,) Giles thought.

Buffy asked, "Didn't you say you found something out about the pendent?"

Her question brought him to the subject in hand, "Apparently, the pendent serves as a power source for vengeance demons. This Anya Cordelia told us about could very well be linked to the pendent. My book refers to this pendent as the power source for Anyanka."

"Anya...Anyanka." Xander said. Then in sarcasm, "Gee, I can't see a connection there."

He rolled his eyes, "I can't believe I never made that connection."

Buffy said, "Take it easy, Giles. We've all been stressed today. Xander and I want to patrol tonight."

Her Watcher nodded, "Not a bad plan, Buffy. You two patrol, I will conjure this spell in calling Anyanka. Meet me back here after patrol, and then we'll talk living arrangements."

Willow sighed as she fell on her bed. "What am I going to do?" She asked herself.

Glancing at the picture of Xander next to her bed. She saw his usual happy self with those brown eyes. His head was lying on Buffy's lap. Her eyes looking down at him. Willow was sitting next to Buffy, her arm wrapped around Buffy's shoulders.

They were all happy. The picture was taken last year when they were all juniors. Before Oz and before Cordelia. Just the three Scoobies. Damn Xander and that name he chose. Her smiled lifted into a half-way grin.

But now look at them. Just a few hours ago, the three of them were close. Xander broke up with Cordelia, and she broke up with Oz. Buffy and Angel were at a difficult stage too. They didn't know if they were back together or not. All three of them were unattached.

And now? Was she gone from the group?

She practically kicked Cordelia out. Well, more like Buffy did. And now? Willow might as well take her name away from the Scooby list.

All that was left for sure were Buffy, Xander, Giles, and maybe Faith. She sighed, she's going to miss them.

But maybe she didn't have to be gone? After all, she didn't know that her spell wouldn't make Xander's situation worse. The same could be said about Cordelia and her wish.

The two of them didn't know what they were doing, and now they were paying the price. She could only imagine what would happen between Buffy and Xander. With all their time now together, things could happen. She knew Buffy wasn't totally blind about him. It was her own fault that she kept going on and on about how much she was in love with Xander.

She was sure that Buffy didn't totally like Xander in that way.

"Great." She whispered to herself, "I'm like Cordelia. Both of us are kicked out of the Scooby Gang."

Buffy and Xander walked down the sidewalk to Restful Cemetery. Buffy had her stake in her right hand. She began playing with it while the two of them walked.

Xander did just as much. He kept tossing his stake from hand-to-hand.

The wind howled slightly as the two friends walked.
The road was pretty calm as it was getting late.

"Xander?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah?" He questioned back.

"Do you mind talking about what you were about to tell earlier?"

Xander sighed, "I know I promised, Buffy. But I don't want to talk about in the open?"

She nodded, "I understand, Xander. We could talk about on one of the benches that are in the cemetery. The only people that usually come out during that point are vampires anyway."

He considered it briefly, and nodded. "Not a bad plan."

As they reached the cemetery, Xander opened the gate. Allowing Buffy inside, he closed the gate behind him.

The two of them walked over to nearest bench, both of them sat down. Xander sat at one side and took a deep breath. He never told anyone about his homelife, and part of him still didn't want to.

But what was he going to do? He didn't have a home anymore, and he needed to explain why. So, telling her about it was necessary.

Buffy looked at him, and could tell he was having a hard time. She needed to know what was going on with him. He was Xander after all. Her best friend.

She took her hand, and placed it on top of Xander. Giving him a smile, she said, "Go ahead."

Nodding, he said, "Alright, Buffy. My homelife…well my homelife isn't all that good. It hasn't been for a long time."

"What happened?"

"Well, they…" He stopped. Taking his free hand, he ran his fingers down his hair. Bringing his hand back to his lap, "They…they…are quite fond of the drink."

Her eyes widened getting an idea. Sure, she heard about people having a bad homelife. And she wondered if Xander was a person like that. Of course he was, he just admitted that he had a bad homelife. But how bad, she wondered.

"How fond?"

He sighed, "Let's just say a lot. Never really had a definite number. Anyway, they often got drunk, and well, one thing would lead to another. Sometimes I ended being in the way, other times my dad got some bad news, and took it out on me. Sometimes, they never liked a grade I got in class. Sometimes they weren't happy when a chore wasn't done. Sometimes—"

She cut him off, "Xander."

Her mentioning his name brought him back to the conversation. "Yeah?"

Buffy gulped, "Are you saying that they hit you?"

Xander didn't respond.

"Xander…"

Taking a breath, he said quietly, "Yes."

She couldn't help her eyes getting wet. "So they hit you?"

"Yeah, they do. My parents are ashamed of me, Buffy. They think I don't respect them. They think I don't respect anyone. That's why Cordelia broke up with me.
That's why I don't get good grades. I don't do anything right. And then everything this year started to fall apart. I mean, I know you had your own problems, and that I wasn't really worth your time. Then throw in my turning into Leatherhead. My life is shit. I ain't worth shit."

"God no!" Buffy said aloud as she pulled him into a hug. "Don't ever say that about yourself, do you hear me? You're not worthless, you're not a geek, and you're not a lost cause. Xander Harris, I want you to hear something right now."

"And that is?" He said with a stern voice.

"I love you, Xander." She pulled him out of her hug.Holding her hands on his shoulders so she could look at him.

"You are not worthless. You are one of the best people I know."

He shook his head, "No, I'm not."

Tears were starting to drip out of her eyes. "Listen to me, Xander Harris." She said to him directly.

"You are one of the best people I know. You have an incredible heart. You always make me see and hear what I need to. You brought me back to life when Angel and Giles thought I was doomed. You, Xander Harris, are my best friend. You're always there for me. You saved my life from Theresa, you saved my life when I was in that hole with the swim team."

He was silent.

"Xander, how you survived with your parents for all this time is truly amazing. You're one of the strongest people I know. I love you, Xander."

Taking a breath, she said, "You're staying with me tonight, Xander. We'll deal with your parents after.After patrol, we'll meet up with Giles. Tell him everything that we discussed, and we'll come to a solution."

He nodded, "Alright, Buffy."

He got up to his feet, Buffy followed shortly. She caressed his cheek, "You know it's amazing, Xander.It's amazing how two complete assholes could create such a loving, heartfelt, beautiful, human being."

Xander grinned, "Thanks, Buffy."

She was about to say something when she was pulled away.

He growled, "Buffy!"

Buffy struggled, but the vampire was too strong. "Looks like I gotta slayer."

Xander growled, "Leave her alone!" He took his stake and launched himself at the vampire.

The vamp holding Buffy moved to reveal three more of vampires. "Take him." The leader said.

One of the vampires grabbed Xander by the arm and flung him across the cemetery, "Pathetic mortal."

His eyes closed, and when they opened, his brown orbs turned pith black. His skin became green and scaled. His size grew huge and muscular. With a roar, he growled, "Get away from her?"

Buffy managed to pull away from her captor as she quickly turned around and jammed he stake through the back of the vampire. "Now, I have to take a shower."

"What the hell are you?" Another vampire asked.

Buffy grinned sadly, "He's Leatherhead."

The vampire showed a confused look, "Leatherhead?"

Before the undead attacker could say something, his neck started to feel a strong rupture. Powerful muscles clenched shut, snapping the neck in half. Soon, burning flesh disintegrated, and the vampire's body turned to dust.

The nostrils of the attacker blew the remaining dust from Xander's snout. Turning his head, Xander saw Buffy staking the last vampire.

As Buffy pulled her stake back, she looked at Xander, fully in Leatherhead mode. Placing the stake firmly in her grasp, she walked over to her friend, "Xan, please calm down."

His breath was raging with heat, and his eyes were narrowed tight. He raised his claws forward, and put himself into a stance that only Leatherhead could perform. His two feet planted firmly on the ground, and his tail straightened outward, stiffly with tightened muscles.

He had his mouth opened slightly, and his tongue poking out a little. His eyes glaring at Buffy.

"Xander…" Buffy said slowly.

She walked toward him. Her hand gently raised to his cheek. Caressing it, feeling the cold scales that recently became his skin.

"Calm down, please." She begged with concern.

His eyes relaxed as his breathing cooled down. He said, "Buffy."

His friend nodded, "Xander,it's me. Calm down."

"I'm sorry."

She shook her head, "Don't be sorry, Xander. It looks like Willow's spell didn't work the way we wanted."

He nodded as he looked at his claw. "I guess not." Turning around he sat back down at the bench. Breathing easily, he thanked himself for not breaking it. Glancing at the ground, he said sadly, "So, I guess I am stuck like this."

Shaking her head, Buffy sat down next to him. Raising his head so he can look her in the eyes, "We'll fix this, Xander. We will."

Releasing a breath, trying to remain calm, "How Buffy? Willow's spell did nothing. Just gave me a short time to be human again." He could feel his eyes turning warm, as they released hot tears. "I hate this, Buffy."

Buffy moved closer to him, both her hands clasping onto his head. Stepping away from the bench until she was standing to her full height. "I know, Xand. I know."

He sighed, "What am I going to do? I thought that Willow helped. Well, actually, I was kind of thinking that it would backfire. But, part of me hope, that I was back." His tears started to cascade down his cheeks.

Buffy pulled him to her. His head rested on her shoulder. His strong arms wrapped her. She could feel her bones starting to crunch a little, "Xander?"

Sighing with a slight smile, "Yeah?"

"You're hurting me."

He chuckled a little, "Sorry. Now, you know how I feel sometimes when you hug me."

Feeling him release a little, "I guess I do."

But there was something that she never felt before with him. Well she did feel protected with him before when he was human, but this time, she felt like she was in a cocoon. Like she was protected from the whole world, and all she felt was the strength of Xander's arms, and she could hear the beating of his heart.

"Why am I always dealt a bad hand, Buffy?"

"Huh?" She asked as she started to come back into reality.

Looking up from her spot within his chest. She gazed at his eyes as she listened, "Why is my life so complicated? Why couldn't I have been born to parents who love me? Why did I have to be changed into Leatherhead when I had nothing to deal with it? At least during Halloween, I dressed as something I liked, and became soldier boy. Now, because of Cordelia's wish, I'm stuck as Leatherhead."

His eyes started to get warm again, as his tears began to resurface. Clear liquid cascaded down his reptilian cheeks. To Buffy, this was a shocker. She never seen him cry. Xander was always strong and determined when it came to dangerous matters, he was her rock, her one constant that she could always count on.

But, here? Right in front of her? He was a mess. He was frightened, scared, confused, and teary-eyed. He was human, just like her.

They may now have two different appearances. She was the slayer, the vampire slayer. A girl who was chosen by the powers that be to fight vampires and demons to the death. And he? He was an alligator—a whole other species. His heart, brain, and soul were human, but his body was alligator.

He was like her, a freak. But in his case, it was worse. So much damage was dealt to him, and he basically felt like no wanted him. After listening to him talk about his problems, about finally letting her in, she made a vow. She vowed that she would always be there for him. He needed someone in his life like that, and she wanted that someone to be her.

"We'll get through this, Xander. I promise you. Maybe Giles found something."

He sighed, "Maybe, you're right. C'mon, let's go."

With that said, the two friends walked out of the cemetery, and headed back to the library.

Giles placed the last bowl on the library table. Across the table was several other bowls with powders and herbs. He took the large golden goblet which already was smoking. Adding the final herb, he began the ritual.

"Oh, Anyanka. I beseech the. In the name of all women scorned. Come before me."

He searched the room for any appearance of Anyanka. Seeing no one, he sighed and went back to the passage.

Soon, Anyanka walked out of the shadows, "Do you have any idea what I do to a man that uses that spell to summon me?"

"The wish Cordelia made. Reverse it." He said, feeling the old Ripper side of him starting to get lose.

She grinned, "I had no idea how her wish would split up your white hats. Not to mention the boy's temper problems. It's a Brave New World, or a cataclysmic one."

His eyes glared at her, "You're gonna change him back."

The vengeance demon walked toward him.

He backed away a little, not wanting Ripper to emerge. "I'm not afraid of you. Your only power lies in the wishing."

She grabbed him by the collar and pinned him to the wall. "Wrong."

Taking a deep breath, he released some pent up anger. Crossing his arm forward, he punched the demon across the face, "You reverse the wish now."

"Never. You fool!" Anyanka argued as she launched the watcher across the room. "The Witch made it better. When she cast that spell, she not only changed the wish's outcome, she changed the boy's life permanently."

Giles got to his feet as he noticed the pendent on the table. Grabbing it, he lifted a paperweight that was next to it. He knew if he destroyed the power source,
he'd end the wish.

"No!" Anyanka growled. "You trusting fool! How do you know that breaking that will restore the boy!"

He shook his head, "It's got to be the answer."

"Giles!"

The two of them look toward the door as Buffy walked in, followed by Xander.

Noticing the demon, Xander ran passed Buffy and grabbed Anyanka by the arm. "You change me back!"

Anyanka grinned, "Don't think that's possible. The Witch ruined your chance of being normal again."

He growled as he felt his anger soar. "No!"

He threw Anyanka over his head as she landed by a bookcase. He leapt on to her and opened his mouth, "You're lying!"

She cackled, "Are you so sure?"

He couldn't deal with this. His anger has raised so much within the last few minutes. Opening his mouth further, he bent down and took a chomp out of Anyanka's neck. Her head rolled off the shoulders and down her limp body. It rolled futher until it was stopped by Giles' foot.

Turning around, Xander looked at his two friends, his anger diminishing. "Sorry."

Giles leant down and picked up Anyanka's head, "Well, it appears she will no longer torment men."

Glancing at the pendent in his hand, "According to my research on the other hand, her power lies within this. Destroy it, and the wish will be reversed."

"Wait Giles." Xander said to his friend.

"Yes?"

He walked over to him, "Do you think she was right? Did Willow's spell make things that much worse?"

Buffy approached them, "Don't lie to him, Giles."

Her watcher nodded as he placed Anyanka's head back on the floor, "When Willow cast the spell, she called upon Proteus. Proteus is a deformed god that had the power to change his appearance. She thought she was calling upon Promotheus—a friend towards humanity. What happened, she did make you human again, but the pricing was far worse. Proteus and Anyanka's curse mixed and more than likely will make you stay as Leatherhead permanently."

The Slayer shook her head, "But her pendent? Breaking it will reverse the wish."

Giles nodded, "Normally, you're right, Buffy. But we have to remember. Willow's spell changed everything."

Xander asked, "Will it make it any better?"

Their elder friend looked at the pendent, "That's hard to tell, Xander. We are going to have to destroy the pendent."

Xander grinned, "Can I?"

Giles placed the pendent down on the table. "Be my guest."

He grinned his thanks as he clenched his claw shut, raised his arm, and then smashed the pendent into little pieces. "Gotta admit one thing. Being strong kicks ass."

Releasing his fist, Xander asked, "Now what?"

Just as Giles was about to answer, light emerged from the broken pendent and surrounded Xander. It turned yellow as it circled Xander's forehead. Within five seconds, the light dissipated and the pendent was gone.

"Feel any different, Xander?" Buffy asked him.

TBC