AN: This chapter was a little short because I couldn't really think of much to add after the end of the chapter between Anya and Xander and I felt that I was gravitating away from Tara too much. I hope you guys like this chapter anyway. Review and let me know what you think or if you want me to add more to it with some of your suggestions or ideas. Love you all for the reviews.

-fromlightintodark06

Chapter 3

Awakened From it's sleep.

Long ago in Xander's memories.

Willow, Anya, and the rest of the Scoobies were gathered around the sacred circle. Willow had been sitting across from her vampire counterpart who had been sent to their realm on accident as a result of careless magic she and Anya had preformed. She looked exactly like Willow in every way except for the fact that she was wearing a touch of makeup and a nice leather outfit that fit her body well. The live Willow could never wear such a binding outfit, but then again the other Willow didn't need to breathe. Xander's curiosity got the better of him and he walked over to the vampire version of Willow and sighed out loud.

"So in your world, I'm this bad ass vampire."

Willow scoffed and walked away from him and had a look of disgust on her face as she did so.

Back in the real world; the cemetery.

Willow and Anya walked into the crypt and laid Xander down on the concrete floor of the cage Oz had built. Anya watched in silence as Xander's body was undergoing the effects of the siring process. Willow punched in the automatic lock combination, sealing Xander for the time being.

"Willow?"

Willow turned around to face Anya.

"Yes."

Anya began to tear up, and broke into sobs.

"Will we have to kill him? I don't think I could."

Willow frowned at the thought of having to kill Xander. He had been her first love, her first friend, and the first to make the world they both lived in much less painful.

"Honestly, if this cage can hold him, then we won't have to right away."

"But eventually, you mean…we will have to…"

Willow nodded and placed her hand on Anya's shoulder. I shock of the idea, Anya placed her hand over her mouth to cover the sobs that she could no longer control. Willow quickly took hold of her and held her close. Anya turned her head slightly and began to cry louder as thought of Xander.

"But Willow…wh…what if I can't do it. I…I thought of killing him a thousand times over since he left me on our wedding day and now that he is gone just when I had forgiven him inside, for everything he had done to me…he…just…oh god why?"

Willow closed her eyes and remembered the day of the wedding as she saw Anya walk down the aisle with tears flowing down her face, the look could have made the world itself weep with sadness.

"Willow, I love him and I never got the chance to tell him."

Just then a familiar voice filled the room.

"Aw…you love baby? That's sweet."

Anya turned around only to be greeted by a now vampiric Xander whom stared idly at the air around him. He licked his fingers and waved them in the air somewhat in the same way that Drusilla did many times before.

"Now that's sweet…almost like the taste of fruit rollups and fruit punch."

Anya slowly stirred from the arms of Willow and towards the cage. Willow grabbed hold of Anya's arm and shook her head.

"Anya…remember that it's not Xander anymore…it's the thing that killed him."

Xander chuckled and grimaced at Willow.

"Aw come on Will, don't go all Giles on her…I'm all Xander. From the spunky yet quirky attitude to the very same amount of humor all packed into one lowly coward."

Anya shuddered at him and crossed her arms at the sight of his cruelty.

"Xander…please don't make this harder than it is going to be."

Xander paced the cage as Anya spoke to him and then in a sudden moment slammed against the cage. And with a false sense of sadness he reached out for Anya and said, "So you are going to kill me? Just a minute ago…you said you loved me."

Anya whimpered but stood firm.

"I do love you and that's why I have to."

Xander paced backward sarcastically placing his hand over his heart and then smiled. He reached down when he saw an old branch that had strayed into the cage from a seemingly long while ago. He removed his shirt to reveal his deathly pale skin on his chest. His body was covered in blue veins that no longer pulsed with life. He walked up to the bars of the cage holding the makeshift stake and pressed his chest to the bars as he presented the weapon to her.

"Then do it…kill me."

Anya took hold of the stake and looked at him. With growing impatience, Xander slammed against the bars.

"Do it! Kill me!"