See Part 1 For Disclaimer and other details
Part II: Lovers Run
Sunnydale High, Sunnydale. Late November, 1998
Buffy Summers walked along the school corridor, with a troubled step and a troubled heart. And the cause of her anxiety was, in fact, Xander Harris.
It had all started that day when the guy had told her, Willow and Cordelia that he had been possessed AGAIN – what was that, the third time now? – and he had broken up with his girlfriend. And when the blonde had caught up with the brunette outside Xander's house, to her amazement, Cordelia had broken down and cried in her arms...
It was at that point that Ms. Summers had realized that what the other girl had told her during Slayerfest '98 hadn't been an exaggeration; she really had fallen in love with her boyfriend, and her ex had just completely shattered her heart.
And yet, as far as Buffy was concerned – all that had PALED in comparison, to the night when Xander had discovered that her beloved Angel was back.
Unlike what would have happened in a world where Ethan Rayne's actions had never come about, Xander had confronted both Buffy and Angel at the mansion, when he had caught them kissing that night. And what was more, he had pulled out a stolen Browning HP35 9mm handgun – and aimed it at them before saying, "Well now, isn't this a nice picture for the family photo album?"
Refusing to listen to Buffy's attempted explanations, he had simply escorted both of them back to the library at gunpoint, after taking possession of the Glove of Myhnegon – which Angel had found at the Von Hauptman family crypt, earlier that evening.
And Buffy still cringed whenever she thought of the look on Giles' face that night, when confronted by the fact that not only was Angel back from Hell – the nightmarish pain of what Angelus had inflicted upon him never far from the Englishman's thoughts – but that she'd deliberately kept that a secret from him. And THAT had really put a crimp in the trust for a while.
But that wasn't the worst of it: that stuck-up shrew Gwendolyn Post, who had supposedly come to town to become Faith's new Watcher, had turned out to be a bad guy in good guy's clothing. And while everyone had been arguing, she'd slipped the Glove on and tried to kill them all with those damned lightning bolts.
The library had been trashed – God only knew how Giles had later explained it to Snyder and the school board. However, the moment he'd had a clear angle of fire, Xander had deliberately taken aim with his pistol and shot Post three times in the head – injuring her despite her mystically enhanced resilience, and distracting the woman long enough for Buffy to hack off the arm containing the Glove with a sword, which had killed the ex-Watcher.
Well, Angel had saved Giles's life that night from a well-aimed lightning bolt, so at least now everyone was tolerating her honey's presence again – more or less. However, even the tiniest smidgin of trust was well and truly gone. And the Slayer could tell it was going to take a LONG time to ever build up again.
Still, all that didn't change the wiggy feeling she had whenever the Buff-meister encountered Xander these days. And the blonde girl now suspected that Harris had been right all along, wanting to distance himself from Cordelia that way, for all the reasons he'd explained...
Because the guy had changed a LOT in the last two weeks, and it wasn't just the whole gun episode thing. Earlier today, their little gang had been talking about their SAT scores, and where she had scored 1430 – Harris had scored 1510!
Willow had been amazed and delighted at first, but then her face had fallen as she'd realized just WHY their bud from the Y side of things had done so well. And in the ensuing conversation over how Xander could probably go to practically any college he wanted to, he'd just said that his parents couldn't afford it – and that he had other plans in his life, anyway.
( Like what? ) Buffy had thought to herself at the time. ( Becoming an international assassin? )
That possibility had bugged the Summers girl a lot. And it also explained why Willow had been willing to use her mojo and had gotten caught trying to inflict a memory erasure spell on Xander, less than a week after Ethan had done what he did.
That had been a dark time in everyone's lives, for sure. Xander had refused to speak to his former best friend for days, after deciding to go to LA to get an anti-magic protection spell cast on himself – so that the apprentice witch could never try to do that to him again.
But Giles had certainly not been shy about speaking to Willow about it...
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF GOD ALMIGHTY, DID YOU THINK YOU WERE DOING!" the British man had literally screamed at the female hacker-turned-magic user, for maybe the first time in his life.
"I was just-"
"You were committing a CRIME – that's what you were doing, girl! Well? What have you got to say for yourself?"
"I was only trying to undo what was done to Xander, make him the person he was before he got possessed last week! I mean, haven't you noticed how...different he's become? He, like, never laughs or jokes around anymore. And the things he can do now...Xander scares the hell out of me, Giles! I was just trying to make things right again..." the child had quavered, on the brink of tears.
The Watcher had calmed down a bit and said, "I'll grant your motives were well-meaning, and yes – I have noticed the changes in him myself. But still – you had no right to try to alter Xander's mind and identity that way without his knowledge or consent, Willow. And if you ever try anything like that again, I'll call some people I know in England to bind your powers – to put a muzzle on all of your magic ability, for the rest of your life. Is that clear?"
Willow had just meekly nodded and left the library that day, trying to keep it together. And when Buffy had later spoken to her, the air of defeat and misery surrounding her redheaded best friend had shocked the young woman. Since Willow had suspected that deep down, Xander would never truly forgive her for this.
In trying not to lose a friend, she might just have guaranteed exactly that happening.
As Buffy got to the library, she came out of her reverie as she heard two male voices within the so-called Batcave. She then stopped outside the doors and listened, her Slayer hearing allowing her to eavesdrop effortlessly.
"So where exactly are you going on this little holiday trip, Rupert?" Xander said, as he saw the Watcher packing.
Giles glanced up at the casual mention of his first name like this; it was yet another example of how drastically different the boy's character was nowadays, he mused absently. ( Well, at least he's not calling me that confounded nickname anymore... )
"The retreat? Oh it's, um, it's at the clearing at the top of Breaker's Woods. It's the site of some fascinating Druidic rituals..." Giles then added.
"Well, I'm afraid those people are gonna have to wait a few minutes. Because we need to talk."
"Oh? Why?"
"I'm concerned about Faith," Xander said with a troubled look on his features, as he leaned against the book cage.
Giles grabbed a book from out of there. "Why do you say that?" he asked absently, preparing to pack a few more things.
"Her behaviour...well, it's troublesome to me. And my instincts on this are saying something needs to be done to help her, as soon as possible. Thing is – I only have bits and pieces of those memories, but I know Delta saw a lot of people in Medusa and elsewhere develop problems like hers; and that those types usually self-destructed in the end – if nothing was ever done to stop it."
Giles instantly stopped what he was doing, and turned around to face his young friend. "Go on."
Xander sighed. "Ever since that bitch Gwen Post-It came to town, Faith's been pulling away from the gang. And when I went to see her at her hotel room the other day, I finally understood why she's not exactly all with the deep bonding thing; given how the place she lives at, people only rent rooms by the hour. And some hooker turning tricks only a few doors down from her, really added to the place's ambience!"
Giles was shocked. "I, I didn't know..."
Xander didn't get it. "How could you..." Then the male teen's expression darkened. "She's been here for nearly two months – and you never even went over to see what kind of place she was staying at, did you? What kind of Watcher do you call yourself, Mr. Giles? Is Buffy the only Slayer you care about?"
Outside in the corridor, Ms. Summers cringed at that one. And inside the library, Giles stepped away from the cold mask Harris's face had become. "No, I...of course not! Well, obviously, from everything you've said, we'll have to find Faith some new accommodations..."
Xander dismissed that observation immediately. "Already done. Faith's moved in with me, as of yesterday."
The librarian looked astonished. "You, you persuaded your parents to allow her to stay at your house?"
Xander's eyes narrowed, and Giles involuntarily took a step back upon seeing the expression in them. But the boy simply said, "I don't live with those people anymore, by mutual agreement. And even though I turn 18 in a few months, they decided to sign the emancipation documents anyway."
"But you're a high school student, how can you afford-"
Xander exhaled sharply. "I had to dispose of a lot of my assets, but I scrounged together enough to at least cover the security deposit and the up-front rental money."
"I see..."
"I doubt it, given how you've never met my parents, but that's neither here nor there right now." The youth's tone was completely cold and impersonal when he replied to that comment.
Giles couldn't help it; he flushed in embarrassment as Harris went on, "Important thing is, I told Faith I needed a roommate to help pay the rent, and to keep the place safe at nights; the neighborhood isn't exactly prime real estate. That way, she was convinced it was a no-strings-attached sort of deal; well, that and I mentioned that if I ever tried anything, what with her Slayer strength...she'd kick my ass into next week."
Giles smirked a little. "Very clever of you, I must say."
Xander shrugged. "Slayers are teenage girls, Rupert. Super-powers or not, all you have to do is just find the right buttons to push – the same as for every other human being in this world. And I should know – I mean, how else do you think Bourne blackmailed his way into getting over 20,000 francs in one afternoon, from a cheating husband?"
The Watcher stared at his companion carefully. "Xander...I'm definitely going to have to find the time to read that book, very soon. This, this Jason Bourne chap sounds like quite the character..."
Xander smiled, but only VERY slightly. "Not that I can remember it – but Webb was the best at what he did, Rupert. North Vietnamese intelligence had one extraordinary price on his head, because of all the...acts...he committed. I've read how Delta knew how to handle people, even the scum that became part of Medusa. He knew how to keep his men alive in the jungle, and he could kill without mercy if it became necessary. The original Jason Bourne, the slave trader, he sure as hell learned that when he betrayed his unit near Tam Quan..."
Unable to stomach hearing anymore, Buffy came in at that point to join into the conversation. And soon, after Giles had finished packing and left for the retreat, the Slayer invited Xander to train with her for a while.
"I don't know..."
"Please? Just hold the punching bag, that's all I'm asking!"
But later, after Xander had acquiesced, Buffy also couldn't help asking, "So, wanna spar with me?"
"I don't think that's a good idea," Xander said at once.
"Why not?"
"Well, I know that you were listening outside in the corridor while Giles and I were talking. And to the casual observer, it looks like you might want some payback for that whole 'pushing her buttons' thing..."
Buffy dropped the happy Slayer act and stopped punching and kicking the bag, as Xander lowered it to the floor. "If this is gonna be honesty time – you're really starting to worry me, Xander. The way you act and talk, the way you love using guns, and the way you're still being so cold to Willow..."
Harris thought about it for a few moments, and then started to speak. "Okay, Buffy, here's a scenario for you that you might be able to relate to, in order to better understand; the Council suddenly decides it won't tolerate your relationship with Angel anymore. Which is a legitimate concern you must admit, what with the threat potential and all. SO, they decide to get...pro-active-"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ms. Summers asked at once.
"Say they order Giles to do a memory erasure spell on you, to make you completely forget who Angel is. Despite his personal feelings, Rupert obeys orders like a good soldier, and the next time you see Deadboy on the street...Mr. Pointy sends him into oblivion, before he even knows what's up. And here's the kicker – at this point, the spell ends, and everything comes rushing back. How do you feel?"
Buffy looked at Xander in sick horror. "That's not...Giles would never do something like that!"
The male teen replied, "Fine, then imagine that the Watchers send someone else to do it without his knowledge. But either way, Buff, the point is, if someone tries to violate you like that...you don't exactly get over it in a hurry. Willow is my case in point."
The Slayer shot back, "You wouldn't be acting this way if Ethan Rayne hadn't done that spell on you-"
He interrupted, "Probably not, no. But he did, and it happened. Buffy, I've had some time to come to terms with who I am nowadays...and despite all the baggage, the nightmares and flashbacks...bottom line is that the new and improved version of Xander Harris has a lot more to contribute to the cause than going to get the donuts, and providing a well-timed quip when you go out to Slay. So, if I had the chance to do it all over again – I wouldn't change a thing, even if I could."
Ms. Summers looked at him carefully. "So, does that mean you and Cordelia-?"
Harris instantly shook his head. "We're over, and she's moved on. In fact, I heard recently that she's now dating your old boyfriend, Scott Hope..."
Buffy grimaced. "Yeah, like those two are gonna last long!"
Xander stared at her, and raised an eyebrow. "This, from a Slayer involved with a vampire? Someone who'll never grow old with you, never be able to give you children or take you out into the daylight?"
The female Champion glared at him. "God, Xander! I shoulda known that your petty jealousy of him would rear its ugly head again, soon enough-!"
But the X-man looked calm and unaffected by her accusation. "The old Xander was jealous of that guy, I'll grant you that. But the person I am today...Buffy, I remember what it was like truly being in love with a woman, I remember...him...and Marie eagerly sharing each other's bodies at night; and never having to worry about soul loss-age and becoming a monster. No...trust me, Slay-gal – if there's anything I feel for Angel now, it's just a mild splash of pity – with a bit of disgust thrown in for good measure, of course."
Buffy just turned around and left, obviously not wanting to hear this any longer. Xander simply started to put things away, getting ready to lock up for the night...when the telephone rang.
"Hello?" Harris answered it.
#Xander? Oh, hello dear. Is Buffy there?# Joyce's voice came over the phone, now sounding a lot more grown-up than when she'd been stuffing her face with the band candy.
"No, Mrs. Summers," Xander replied politely. "She left a while ago, and I guess she's probably on her way home."
#Oh, I see. Well, thank you for telling me – I was hoping to get a chance to talk to her tonight, discuss where my little girl is going to go for college-#
#Hello, Joyce.#
Xander's eyes widened with recognition at the British male background voice. Primarily because he'd had nightmares about the vampire it belonged to, after Angel had offered him to that bloodsucker as a snack during Parent-Teacher Night last year.
Spike was back in town.
Harris dropped the phone and tore out of the library as fast as he could go.
The Girls' Locker Room, Sunnydale High, Sunnydale. A few minutes later
Cordelia Chase was not in a good mood, and the rest of the cheerleaders all around her knew it too.
Her so-called best friend named Harmony Kendall stared at her hero, her role model, and wondered what was wrong with the newly-reinstated leader of the pack. Then with an uncharacteristic burst of insight the busty blonde thought to herself, ( Oh, please! It's like, so obvious – she still hasn't gotten over that loser Xander Harris! )
A moment later, the stunned Ms. Kendall wondered if she had jinxed herself – as the doors slammed open, and Xander burst inside. Some of the girls screamed and tried to cover themselves up, but the male teenager paid them no attention; he just ran over to Cordelia.
"What the hell are you doing in here?" the brunette girl demanded. "You-"
"I need your car keys!" Xander cut her off at once.
Cordelia just glared at him. "No way!"
At once Harris yelled, "Joyce's life is in danger – give me your damn keys. NOW!" And the look on his face was enough to scare Harmony out of her wits. ( Wow, all those rumors are true...? )
Luckily Cordy instantly complied, then grabbed her bag and started to follow Xander out. As they headed for the doors he snapped at her, "Stay here!"
"And leave my car in YOUR hands? Think again, you loser!"
Xander didn't have time to argue with her, and as they ran out of the locker room – all the sheep instantly started to gossip about why Queen C was again consorting with her "psycho ex", of all people.
Hadley Street, Sunnydale. Ten minutes later
Ms. Chase briefly screamed in fear, over the rate of speed at which Xander was driving her car as he turned the corner.
After regaining her composure, she tried to focus and be objective again. But in Cordy's mind it just felt so...weird, being back together with her former boyfriend like this. From a certain point of view, it also felt kinda nice, all sexy and stuff from the blood-pounding excitement of...
( No! That way lies badness, and-and extreme heartache. It's OVER, between you and the damn dorkhead! )
All of a sudden Cordy heard the howl of a police siren, and as Xander abruptly slammed down on the brakes she felt herself getting really annoyed. "Well, now you've done it! Look, lemme try to sweet-talk our way outta this..."
"No time." And with that, Xander grabbed her into a headlock.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing?" Ms. Chase yelled, as she tried to get loose.
"Just play along, and pretend I'm a vampire..."
A few seconds later, the Sunnydale PD patrol officer came up to the car. ( Damn stupid kids! What do they think they're playing at, speeding that way? Why, I oughta... )
But then the cop stopped, as he saw a teenage girl in a cheerleader's uniform struggling with the driver. The young man in question turned around and said with a smirk, "Evening, officer. Sorry about the rush, but then I'm late for a party with my date here! What do you say...wanna join us?"
The girl screamed incoherently and struggled pointlessly as the gang member high on PCP – there was no doubt in the policeman's mind that that was what he was, there was utterly no humanity in those eyes at all – just kept smirking at him. The patrol cop thus instantly started to back away, and then ran for his car and quickly disappeared into the night.
Xander hadn't waited long before he'd started the convertible and roared off towards Buffy's house once more. Cordelia just glared at him, "What did you think you were DOING, just now?"
"Testing a theory," Xander replied absently, his eyes on the road.
"What theory?" the cheerleader demanded, calming down a little.
"That the police in this town are not only criminally corrupt and criminally negligent – they know what's going on. Someone high up in the food chain must be giving them their orders to cover up all the vamp-related murders as 'wild animal attacks', or whatever. It's not just the Hellmouth energy making people blind and deaf about what's really happening in this town..."
Cordy just stared at her ex, not quite sure what to say as the houses flew past her in a blur.
1630 Revello Drive, Sunnydale. A few minutes later
Contrary to what one might have expected, Spike hadn't come to Buffy's house to kill her mother.
No, after arriving in town in a drunken stupor, he'd killed the proprietor of the local magic shop after she wouldn't help him cast a curse on his sire, Drusilla; and THEN come here for a sympathetic ear, for someone to listen to his problems and maybe offer some helpful advice.
And oddly enough, that was exactly what the poor misguided woman was doing after hearing what William the Bloody had gone through with his undead paramour.
As Joyce went to make him some hot chocolate Spike said, "So I'm strolling through the park, looking for a meal, and I happen to walk by, and she's making out with this Chaos demon! And so I said, 'You know, I don't have to put up with this'. And she said, 'Fine!' So I said, 'Fine, do whatever you like!' I mean, I thought we were going to make up, you know..."
Joyce sat across from him at the table, serving him the chocolate. "Well, she sounds very unreasonable."
Spike nodded. "She is. She's out of her mind. And that's what I miss most about her!"
Joyce tried not to sigh. "Well, Spike, sometimes even when two people seem right for each other, their lives just take different paths. When Buffy's father and I-"
William interrupted at once, "No, this is different. Our love was eternal. Literally!" Then he calmed down a bit. "You got any of those little marshmallows?"
Buffy's mother wasn't sure. "Well, lemme look..."
She got up to go check, when suddenly the kitchen door blasted open; and Xander came through, with Cordelia right behind him. The boy then quickly aimed his Beretta at William the Bloody.
Spike never hesitated. The platinum-blonde vamp instantly grabbed Joyce, and used her as a shield. The middle-aged mom squawked in confusion before Spike went into game face and said, "Well, if it isn't Droopy Boy come tryin' to play hero! And the dumb cheerleader with huge tits as well. Come to rah-rah us with your pom-poms, have you?"
"HEY! Watch it, you peon!" Cordy spat out indignantly.
Xander could see Joyce was terrified, but still said coldly, "You made a big mistake coming back to Sunnydale, Spike."
The vampire replied with a grin, "Yeah? How do you figger that, mate?"
"Because the only way you're leaving this house, is in a Dust Buster."
Spike lost the smirk. "Drop the bloody gun, before I break her neck!"
But the human said coolly, "We both know the bullets won't kill you – but they WILL make you feel pain, vampire. And believe you me, I know exactly where to aim to make it hurt you the most..."
Spike was pissed by now, as well as annoyed at Xander's attitude...just as the boy had intended. "Enough talk, you bleeding wanker! And I told you, lose the pistol!"
"And then you kill Mrs. Summers before you try to escape? I don't think so!" Cordelia suddenly yelled.
"Oy, now I resent that! 'Cause I like the lady!" Spike shot back, offended.
Then in a split second, with supernatural speed, the vamp threw Joyce at Xander and jumped out of the nearest window, shattering the glass on his way out.
Spike ran for it, tearing along Revello Drive – only to encounter Buffy and Angel heading for her home. "Oh, bollocks!"
Cursing, the undead version of Sid Vicious ran the other way – only to encounter a vampire welcoming committee sent by order of the Deputy Mayor, Allan Finch. "Bloody hell! I don't believe this..."
It was at this point that Buffy and Angel caught up with him and then stared at the group of growling undead. "Friends of yours?" Angel asked his grandchilde.
"Hello, Spike," the leader of the gang spoke up.
"Lenny? Is that you, ya miserable sod?" Spike demanded, his hangover not allowing him to be completely sure.
"Guess that answers that," Buffy commented to her soul mate.
Lenny looked at Buffy and Angel. "You two can walk away from this. We're just here for him-"
"What? You used to work for me, you little pissant!" William the Bloody interrupted, as he unconsciously stood alongside Buffy and Angel.
"That was then, this is now. You shoulda stayed gone, Spike! What the hell, I heard you've gone all soft these days-" Lenny started to say.
Well, that did it. With a bestial roar Spike threw himself at the other vampire, and as the other undead got moving – the Slayage machine got into gear.
Buffy and Angel started ducking, punching and kicking as the fight really began to get going. Spike seemed to be having a grand old time of it too, beating up Lenny and yelling, "Gone soft, have I? Like baby food? Well, have a taste of this!"
All of a sudden, the sounds of several muted spits could be heard as some of the vampires started shrieking in pain. Both Buffy and Angel took advantage of it to stake them; and after Spike dusted Lenny, the leftover minions lost heart and ran away into the darkness.
"Thanks," Buffy heard Angel say to someone, and whirled around to see Xander lowering his silenced weapon, Cordelia of all people right beside him.
"You're welcome. Where's Spike?" Xander replied.
The Slayer looked around, but that vamp was nowhere to be seen. "Damn it! Another time," she promised herself with a mutter.
At that moment Joyce showed up – and as soon as she saw Angel, she screamed. "Buffy! Get away from him!" the parental unit's protective instincts kicking into high gear.
"No, Mom, it's okay! Angel's not...he, he's one of the good guys again," Buffy tried to explain.
"He's crazy! He'll kill us all!" Joyce insisted.
"Mom..." Ms. Summers was now starting to get exasperated. "Look, let's just all go back to the house and I'll explain everything, okay?"
Xander put away his firearm and checked his watch, "I can't, I've got to get going – Faith and I were gonna patrol, and she's probably wondering where I am. Not to mention, eating us both out of house and home!"
Buffy, Joyce and Angel moved off towards the house, while Cordelia just stared at him in incredulity. "Are you telling me that you're now living in the same house as that...that skanky 'ho?"
"Don't call her that," Xander scowled at her.
"Why not?" Ms. Chase got right in his face. "Because let's face it...deep down, that is pretty much what she is, isn't she?"
"You know, I'd almost forgotten – but you really can be such a complete and utter bitch when you want to be!" Xander growled at the female teen.
The reaction was automatic; Cordelia slapped him, hard across the face.
The pain and momentary darkness were enough to induce a memory flashback. There was a sensation of falling and brilliant blinding flashes of light; then men all around him, jabbering in an incomprehensible language...
( Almanac to Delta, Almanac to Delta! Abandon, abandon! That is final! )
( Delta to Almanac. You're final, brother. Go fuck yourself. Delta out, equipment damaged. )
Xander came out of it a second later, only to find himself pointing his gun at his now-frightened ex-girlfriend. Somewhat in shock he quickly retired the weapon and asked, "What happened? I think I blacked out for a moment..."
Cordy said shakily, moving away from the armed man in evident apprehension, "You, you started mumbling something about Charlie, and Gordon, and your brother...but Xander, uh, aren't you an only child?"
"Yeah. Look, I'm sorry about that, my aiming a gun at you just now...but God damn it, I warned you something like this might happen right from the start! And you don't need to know details regarding Medusa and Treadstone," Harris said firmly. "Just go home, Cordelia."
Without another word, the Chase girl left the scene, and with a mental sigh the young man quickly headed for home himself.
Somewhere in Sunnydale. A while later
( Well, that was a complete waste of time – apart from making me feel a bit better, from a good spot of violence, ) Spike thought to himself, as he finally slowed down and started walking towards his car. ( Eh, never mind. Guess if plan A was a bust, I'll just go on to plan B – find Dru, tie her up, and torture her until she likes me again... )
That thought cheered William the Bloody up immensely, as he arrived back at his '59 DeSoto. He opened the door, and found a bottle of whiskey; with a grin, Spike was about to take a big gulp...
When he stopped, laughed, and threw the alcohol away. "Don't need this – I'm the Big Bad, I am! Oh yeah, baby, I'm back!"
The ancient vehicle then quickly roared off, heading south.
Angel's mansion, Crawford Street, Sunnydale. The next day
The Irish-born vampire was waiting for someone, and had been for some time. Finally, he heard her footsteps and saw his beloved Slayer stop some distance away from him.
Angel said simply, "Hey. I was wondering when you were coming...uh, how did it go with your mother?"
"Not good. She was very...it was almost as bad as when the rest of the gang found out that you were around again, that night," Buffy replied, still visibly upset.
Angel moved towards her, but Buffy stepped back. "Angel, I've thought about it; about what Mom, and Xander, and Giles, and all the others have said. And I've decided...I'm not coming back here again."
Angel just looked at her as the blonde girl went on, "Look, I-I can't fool myself about it any longer; what I want from you, I can never have. We both need to accept that. And you don't need me to take care of you anymore. So I'm just gonna go."
Angel didn't want to accept this. "There's gotta be some way we can still see each other-"
Buffy looked lost, alone, and oh-so-very young. "There is: just tell me that you don't love me."
Knowing in his heart that saying those words would be a lie, Angel decided to say nothing instead and simply stared at her. After a long moment, Buffy turned around and headed back towards the mansion's front door, trying to make it out of there before bursting into tears.
No. 4 Parkview, Sunnydale. Later that night
It had been a very bad day for her at school. And so Cordelia Chase was doing something that she felt she should have done long ago.
She finished cutting up the pictures of her and Xander Harris together, and with a determined look in her eyes the young woman started burning them in a bowl in her darkened bedroom. ( That's it. We're done, mister! )
And yet, somehow, deep in her heart of hearts...Cordelia wasn't sure if she completely believed that.
The Bronze, Sunnydale. The same time
Willow Rosenberg watched her boyfriend Oz playing a set on stage with his band, "Dingoes Ate My Baby", before she turned to see Xander playing pool with Faith – and her eyes started to get indescribably wet.
( You're never going to get over what I did, are you? ) she thought to herself, as the redhead thought of the way Xander had blown her off after they had arrived at the club tonight.
Still...maybe there was a SLIGHT chance she was wrong.
Somewhere in southern California. The next day
Spike's car sped along the empty highway, and in its interior the male vampire smoked slightly from the deadly beams of sunlight trying to make their way through the blackened windows.
But William the Bloody didn't even seem to notice, as he sang along with Gary Oldman's version of 'My Way' blaring on the radio: "And more, much more than this – I DID IT, MY WAYYYYY!"
To Be Continued In Part 3