Disclaimer: As if I hadn't beaten it into your heads enough, Joss owns all the cannon stuff. The only thing that's mine is Morgan.

Chapter Six

Sunnydale, California

Spring 2003

"Anya, I've got to make this clear. You're the woman I love with all my heart. It's because of you that I am the man I am today. I know the chances of living aren't that great in Sunnydale, but if I can't be with you, then I might as well go to the cemetery in the middle of the night and stay there. Anya, I love you with all my body and soul. You make life worth living. Inside you, there's a small part of me. I need that for the rest of my life," Xander said as he gazed lovingly into Anya's brown eyes. "I love you," he added again as he slipped the ring over Anya's finger.

"And no, by the power vested in me, it brings me great pleasure to introduce to all of you for the first time-for real this time- Mr. and Mrs. Alexander LeValle Harris," the minister announced proudly. The wedding hall was the same as their previous one, same guests, same minister even. The only major difference was that this time Anya and Xander were really married. "You may kiss the bride," he added.

Xander smiled as he pulled Anya into his grip and kissed her passionately, dipping her down slightly. The two of them kept kissing for the next two minutes while the various wedding guests starting applauding wildly and taking photos. "I love you, sweetie," Xander whispered as he pulled away from Anya. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and smiled proudly as the two of them began walking down the aisle together, their first steps as husband and wife.

Sunnydale, California

February 2012

"Apparently not enough," Anya mumbled to herself angrily. Anger and fury filled her entire body. After all she and Xander had been through, it must not have been good enough for the carpenter. Various thoughts raced through her mind. Was it something I did? Why? She dabbed at the forming tears in her eyes with a tissue she had pulled from beside the answering machine. Who is this "Beverly woman"? What does she have that I don't?

She sighed as she looked down at herself. She did not think she was unappealing. Sure she was not going to be featured in the next issue of Playboy for her radiant hotness, but still. She groaned in anger, flopping down onto the couch before dabbing at her eyes again.

Morgan and Matthew emerged from the bathroom after brushing their teeth. Matthew was dressed in a blue sweat suit and Morgan had on some cartoon character nightgown. Anya honestly could not remember which. She looked over at the two of them, standing there looking so innocent. They had no idea how cruel the world out there could be.

"Why are you sad, Mommy?" Matthew asked as he walked over to Anya. He noted the tears in his mother's eyes and wanted to do the best he could to help her. "Morgan's gonna be ok. See, she's right there?" he pointed out as he pointed at Morgan.

By that point, the young girl had crawled up into Anya's lap. "Don't be sad," she rasped as she kissed Anya's cheek lightly.

Anya tried to gather the courage to convince her children she was fine. They did not need to know what a harsh man their father was. She put on a phony smile. "I'm fine," she lied. "These are happy tears. Happy that we're all together."

Matthew shrugged and looked over at Morgan. His sister gave him a look filled with the same amount of confusion. The two of them kissed Anya goodnight then walked over to their room. "Grown-ups are weird," Matthew whispered once they were out of hearing range.

Morgan nodded as she crawled towards the top bunk of their bed. "Night," she whispered as she lay down.

"You too," Matthew replied as he pulled the blankets over his body.

Xander opened the door to their apartment casually, totally unawake of the event happening only minutes ago. In one hand, he had the keys to the car and apartment. In the other, he had a black briefcase. "Sorry about that," he apologized.

"You're apologizing to me?" Anya asked, almost sarcastically. "Oh, than I suppose that makes it all better then!" she yelled.

Xander was taken aback by her rage. He knew she hated when he would leave the house at night, but this was a bit extreme. "Ahn, I was only gone for five minutes maximum."

"What about the hours you were gone this afternoon into evening?" Anya accused as she crossed her arms across her chest. "I really needed you!"

"Ahn, honey, I told you I had to be at the site," Xander tried.

"Right," Anya shot out sarcastically. "'Cause what's more important: your daughter's health or cheating on your wife?" she yelled.

Xander's mouth dropped open in shock. His face flushed with embarrassment. Just the expression on his face was enough to make Anya's heart break even more.

"So it's true?" she asked, her voice softer and with more pain in it.

"H-how did you know?" Xander asked, avoiding the question.

"Give me a little credit!" Anya screamed at him. "The woman who left you a message didn't sound like she wanted to meet you for work-related things. Dinner at the fanciest Japanese place in town? Surely the story of how she went backpacking in Western Europe is work related! Surely you would just have to go to her place and hear all about it afterwards!"

"Backpacking in western Europe?" Xander questioned.

Anya nodded. "The magical sex story? I'm sure you've told her that many times! What's the matter, Xander? I'm not good enough for you anymore? Is it because my boobs are too small or something? What is it, Xander? Surely there has to be some reason you would lower yourself to sleep with this woman?" Anya was livid and it was becoming more obvious with everything Xander said and did not say. She stood up and turned away from him. "I can't even look at you!"

"I can't sleep," Morgan rasped as she crawled back down the ladder. She sat down in front of Matthew's bunk, noting that her brother was also awake.

"What do you think they're fighting about?" Matthew asked as he sat up on his bed, carefully though as to not hit his head.

Morgan shrugged.

"Wanna thumb wrestle?" Matthew asked as he extended his right fist towards his younger sister. Morgan thought it over for a moment than began thumb wrestling against Matthew.

"Ahn, this has nothing to do with you," Xander began as he approached her. He placed one hand on her shoulder.

Anya responded by moving further away. "There has to be something," she argued. "I gave you two children, Xander Harris, and then the second you get an opportunity to, you leave me for the next slut that crosses your path. For god's sake, why don't you just run over to LA and sleep with Cordelia? And what about Willow? Why not try and rekindle things with her? Or all the demon women in this crappy town? I'm sure there are numbers of them who need a good lay!"

"Anya, this has nothing to do with you. It's all my fault. I was weak, I couldn't help myself," Xander tried to explain. "She means nothing to me."

"Different she and you've made that pretty clear," Anya said as she reached for her coat and car keys. She walked over to the closet and grabbed Morgan and Matthew's coats as well.

"What, where are you going?" Xander asked.

Anya stormed over to her children's room. She knocked twice then walked in. She noted that the two of them were still awake. "Come on, we're going on a vacation," she told them. "Get your coats on," she told them.

Morgan and Matthew exchanged perplexed looks, but they did as they were told for fear that if they did not, Anya would get mad at them.

"Ahn, what are you doing?" Xander asked.

"I'm taking what's mine and we're out of here," Anya shot at him as she goaded her children towards the door. "You have some thinking you need to get done," she added before slamming the door behind her.