Dark Past
By Dave Mycock
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy or any of the other characters except those I have created, they belong to Joss Whedon.
Pairing: Xander/Laura:
Summary: Set ten years after season five or maybe six. Xander and the remainder of the Scooby gang must prepare for a battle against old enemies.
I'd like to thank my beta Grossclout for all his help with this story.
Laura watched as Xander walked away deeper into the cemetery with Faith trailing behind looking confused about what the discussion they had just had meant.
She turned to look at Tara and noticed she had a sad look on her face as she watched them leave while also looking at her every now and then, enforcing the belief that what ever had happened to make Xander not want to face Buffy had something to with her.
"You won't tell me what he did will you?" she asked as they began the walk back to the library
"I can't Laura" Tara answered "It's not for me to say, in time he might tell you" she added with a sad smile
As Laura moved ahead she thought she heard Tara whisper the words "I hope" and she wondered more and more about what her friend had done and it's connection to her
Sunnydale:
Angelus sneered at the vampire who had reported that the barrier that had kept them inside the town for the last four months had finally collapsed; he kicked the vampire clear across the room in his eagerness to get out of the town and locate Buffy and find out what had happened to her. And if indeed she had found Harris or something else far more dangerous
"Darla gather as many vampires as you can and a truck to transport them we're heading for New York" he ordered with a grim smile
"Finally" the blond vampire hissed "if she or that childe or hers is responsible for that barrier I am going to rip them to pieces" she swore as she left the chamber
Angelus smiled as Darla worked herself up for a fight, it always made him desire her more when she got worked up. And he had to agree with her sentiment, well he would defiantly kill Harris no matter what but Buffy he would make sure she survived so she could be made to suffer for a while. He loved the screaming.
"We will see others there as well the stars say" Drusilla's voice suddenly broke into his thoughts
"Others?" he asked as he moved towards his demented childe
"The stars say old friends await us" she answered "Old enemies, a battle, blood and death" she continued
"Sounds like my kind of fun" Angelus smirked as he led his childe to the bedroom to continue this conversation in a more fun setting.
Xander looked out across the dark city of new york as his feelings continued to rage an internal war within him, he now knew without a doubt he loved Laura and it was this fact that was keeping him from even trying to face the now souled Buffy Summers.
He turned quickly as he felt someone approche but relaxed when he noticed it was Tara, she seemed troubled and sad.
"How is it going?" he asked as his friend came to a halt next to him and leaned against him as if she was tired but he knew she needed a friend right now
"She won't listen to us, however she has calmed down a bit" Tara answered "Alex are you sure of your feelings towards Laura?" she asked quitly
"I am now, I think I've been ignoring it for a while but now I realise exactly what I've been feeling towards her" he answered
"This will make things harder but it is your heart" Tara whispered
"I never meant for it to happen but I guess it was bound to happen after spending so much time with her huh?" he half asked
"You still care for Buffy Alex but you also hate her for turning you into a vampire and destroying your life" Tara told him bluntly "Whilst Laura has become your best friend and something more" she continued
"Everything is wrong Tara, it has been since me and Buffy were turned" he looked down at his friend "I miss Willow" he whispered
Tara gave him a small smile to let him know she hared the sentiment concerning their lost friend. She looked back towards where the school sat and prayed things would begin to get somewhat better after tonight.
Buffy sat at the table and listened half heartedly to the others as they sat and discussed options concerning the coming fight with Angelus when he arrived, she could barly concentrate on the here and now as her memories continued to haunt her and the absence of Xander confused her.
She wanted her friend by her side like he had always been when they were alive, but something was wrong Xander would not come and she knew one of her old friends must know why he wouldn't help her.