For Good or Bad, The Memories Remain.
Chapter 41
Xander sat on the grass in the cemetery, one of over 70 in Sunnyhell. He was staring in the direction of a particular tombstone. He came here sometimes to think and work things out in his head. He came to talk to Jesse. He knew better than anyone that he wasn't there, at least in body. Xander remembers the night he had to stake him. No, it's more a symbolic connection to him. He never told anyone in the group that he came here. He figured they would not know what to do with "goofy Xander" being all serious and introspective. He, Willow and Jesse had grown up damn near joined at the hip. They were the best of friends, inseparable. Inseparable at least until their eyes were opened to the real nature of Sunnyhell and Jesse got turned. Willow and he had grown closer in their grief and they poured themselves into helping their new friends Buffy and Giles fight the evil in the town that had claimed their childhood friend. He periodically would come here to update Jesse on the entire goings and the talking would help him put things into perspective. This time though, he was still confused. Giles had explained the whole thing to him, including the conversation he had with Tara and her fears about Willow's condition. He didn't know what to think. He didn't see evil, he saw hurt and distraught. He was beginning to question Tara's clarity and reasoning. She was new to the group, and he remembered the freak out in the dorm a scant 12 hours after Tara wanted to move heaven and earth to help Willow. She went from that to plotting her demise without even talking to her much less trying to help her.
"Jesse, in the end, I love her. She's our Wills. Willow isn't evil. You know that just as well as I do. It might come to a point that Tara may be the one that needs to be stopped"
