Author: Charlie Timeline: Post BtVS S7 & AtS S5. Sequel to "Best Laid Plans" and "A Fair Exchange.
Summary: The face we see isn't always the one that is visible?
Feedback: Coin of the realm.
Author Notes: Round and round, the ship goes. Where it lands, the Author doesn't know. Will it be (A)my, (B)uffy, (C)ordelia, (D)awn, (F)aith, (F)red, (H)armony, (K)ennedy or (W)illow that wins the Xandman? Vote now.
Angel caught up with Xander as he was reaching the parking lot. The vampire noted the purposeful stride in the other man's as he reached him.
"Xander, WAIT!"
The former carpenter paused by a nearby dumpster as Angel approached him slowly.
"You mind telling me what that was all about back there?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about you going in there systematically ripping people you know and love to shreds without any reason."
"I have my reasons."
"Then let's hear them."
"Why the hell should I tell you? It's not exactly like we're buddies."
"No, But I thought we could have a man to man talk."
"Except you're not a man either."
The two stared hard at each for long minutes before Xander looked away and let out a sigh of resignation.
'The amulet."
"What?"
"The amulet, you know what I'm talking about."
"The one Spike wore... that destroyed the Sunnydale Hellmouth."
"Yeah except that's not really destroyed now is it? Anyway, the amulet... it wasn't supposed to go to him. It was meant for someone else."
"I gave Buffy a choice Xander it wasn't my decision to leave. I-"
Angel looked up to see the other man glaring at him. "What?"
"Not everything in life revolves around you Pulse-less or around the bleached wonder," Xander practically snarled at him. He took a deep breath before continuing, "The amulet... it was meant for me."
The former Scourge of Europe blinked, "You? But I was told that-"
"That the wearer had to have a soul and be stronger then a man. I know. The morning after you left...Buffy and I were talking and she called me 'her strength'."
"So how did..."
"I don't know. All I do know is that I was the one that wore the amulet into the Hellmouth. And that because it was me, the Hellmouth was totally and irrevocably destroyed. Not to mention the fact that fewer people would have died."
"But you would have died instead."
"Don't you think I don't know that, Deadboy? But... Anya... My family would have been safe. All it would have taken was the sacrifice of one good man." Xander punctuated that last part by punching the dumpster, leaving a fairly large dent in the side of it. Angel looked on, noting the size of the dent in the wall of the dumpster at the same time as he ran Xander's words thru his head.
"It doesn't really matter now does it though? I can't change the past and nothing will bring them or it back." Xander stuck his hand in his coat pocket then pulled out his would have been wedding band and looked at it.
"She's not totally gone if you can remember her."
"You mean like how your son isn't dead either?"
Angel stiffened slightly at hearing that, "How did you..."
"Whistler remember? He showed everything that happened with you, Jasmine, Connor, Cordelia..."
"That wasn't her."
"No, not all of it. You're really lucky for a corpse. You get all the breaks. Us normal guys still have to make rent. Come on let's go find us a killer."
Angel said nothing as he got into the car with Xander and they drove off.
The Library
Buffy was on her knees tears silently streaming down her face. Deep inside, she had always entertained the possibility of having a family, with one or two children. It was a dream she had since childhood, and while the identity of her husband had fluctuated the idea itself never died. Until now, she bowed her head as she fought to keep her sobbing at bay.
"Buffy..." Travis was by her side, gently holding her as her whole body shivered.
"Buffy," Dawn was by her sister's side, taking her hands in her own.
The soft sound of weeping drew Travis's attention back to the table where Fred was still crying into Cordelia's shoulder. Faith was checking on the still unconsciousness Robin.
"Not to trouble anyone but would someone mind giving me a little bit of help here?"
He growled briefly at the downed vampire, "Andrew please assist Spike. Take him back to his room and lock the door."
The young man nodded and went to assist the fallen vampire.
"Why bother? I say let him stay there until Robin wakes up and stakes him."
"Kennedy!"
"What? Don't tell you don't think the son of a bitch doesn't deserve it."
"That wasn't him... that was the demon within him."
"Yeah well from where' I'm sitting Willow, it doesn't look like there is a lot of difference between the two."
"Now is not the time for such comments." Travis's deep voice cut through the arguing lovers. They blanched and turned their attention to him. "Dawn, take your sister to her room. Ms. Chase I suggest you do likewise with Ms. Burke."
Andrew struggled as he drew the paralyzed vampire to his feet and draped his arms over his shoulders. Cordelia meanwhile was walking her friend out the door.
"Fred..."
The women stopped and looked back at the vampire, "Fred... I didn't know."
The former physics student looked at him with dead, sad eyes while Cordelia merely glared at him. Spike sighed, then watched as Dawn and Buffy made their way out of the library as well with the younger brunette supported her elder sister. Just before they left the building, Buffy gave him a last look over her shoulder.
"All right Andrew... let's go boy."
Travis watched them leave before returning his attention to where Faith was kneeling over Wood.
"YOU STUIPID BITCH!"
That got his and Faith's attention and they turned to the table where Amy was standing and yelling at Willow. Kennedy had left her seat and was interposing herself in front of her girlfriend. The brunette witch was shaking with anger as she ignored the younger girl and glared at Willow.
"Amy!"
Travis strode closer to the girls, "What are you doing?"
"I'm not doing anything. It's what SHE did."
He turned his attention to the other witch, "Willow, what is she talking about?"
"The spell."
"What spell?" even Kennedy turned and was looking at her.
"I cast a spell," the red head hesitated, "I cast a spell on Xander."
He fought to keep his face impassive, "What sort of spell?"
"When Xander was in his coma, I went inside his mind. To try and wake him up. I couldn't but he asked for me to help him. That's all I was trying to do..."
"SOME HELP..." Amy practically growled at her.
"What exactly was the spell you cast Willow?"
"I was trying to use Cole like a battery to give Xander a jumpstart."
Inwardly Travis groaned, raged and screamed. He had gone to a great deal of trouble to use that poison on the boy and this young woman had undone his work in less than a fortnight.
"All right then Ms. Rosenberg, I suggest you figure out what exactly your spell did. Because it appears young Mr. Alexander is not the same man as he once was."
