Author note.

This is the first of what I hope to be many fun little interludes between episodes. They don't really fit anywhere so don't try wracking your brain figuring out where they go chronologically in the story. Mostly I just write them for the exercise. Anyway enjoy.

Interlude 1

Hawaiian Prints

The shirt was ugly and Buffy couldn't stand it anymore. Sitting across from her in the Sunnydale High library, completely oblivious to the crime of fashion he was wearing was one Xander Harris, a.k.a. the Slayer. Today Xan had chosen a particularly horrendous and bright Hawaiian print shirt to anchor his outfit. Unable to keep her yap shut any longer Buffy took a deep breath and decided to ask her best friend what appeal there was in wearing something so hideous?

"Xander, I've just gotta ask. Why do you wear those?"

"Wear what now?" Xander replied with a bewildered expression.

"That," Buffy said pointing at his shirt "it looks like a box of neon colored crayons threw up on it."

Looking down at his brightly colored apparel Xander just smirked. "All right Buff, I'll tell you not one, not two, but three reasons why I wear shirts like these." Xander said leaning forward and cleared his throat and then held up his hand with three fingers up. "Reason numero uno," he ticked down one finger "Hawaiian prints are cool," Buffy snickered unimpressed "and if you don't believe me just ask Elvis and Tom Selleck." He dropped another digit and said "Reason deuce, they're perfect vampire bait. Fang-faces are really attracted to bright colors and this shirt's like a neon sign saying "Bite me" they just can't resist."

"Really?" Buffy asked in mock surprise "and here I thought you wore those as a form of preemptive birth control."

"Ouch, " Xan answered feigning hurt "you certainly know how to verbally kick a man in the coconuts there Buffster."

"Sorry," Buffy apologized "didn't mean to pull a Cordelia there. But you still owe me a third reason."

The dark-haired slayer took a deep breath and let out a sigh, his expression darkening, and then began. "Willow always liked them, she always use to say that they were very Xander-ish."

"Oh...um..." She stammered as the smirk fell away from her face and she looked down feeling horrible. "I'm sorry Xander, I didn't know."

His expression softening slightly Xander reached across the table taking one of Buffy's hands in his own and smiling sadly. "It's okay Buff, it hurts a little to talk about her but it's still good to talk about her. She wasn't always a..." He floundered a bit trying to describe they're current situation with his former bestest bud.

"A raving hell bitch intent on destroying your soul." Buffy supplied instantly feeling guilty about being so blunt.

"Yeah." Xan agreed sadly but then smiled just a little. "Almost makes her sound like she's trying to muscle Cordy out in that department doesn't it?"

Buffy smiled too. If Xander could still joke about it than she hadn't offended him too much. "I know, where does she get off trying to take Cordelia's job away like that?"

fin.

And just to let you guys know that I am actually working on this thing again here is a little preview of the next installment. Also keep in mind that this is just part of my first draft and still very rough.

Next time on Xander the Vampire Slayer...

"NOOO!" Lothos raged as he listened to the screams of his children burning alive trapped inside the inferno formerly known as the Hemery High Gymnasium.

"This just ain't yer day is it?" Oliver Pike mockingly asked of the Master Vampire who was currently watching all of his plans literally go up in flames. With a snarl and full game face on Lothos turned to confront the young slayer that had all but defeated him.

Pike set himself for the fight of his life. A fight he wasn't all that certain he would win. He wasn't in the best shape right now. After tangling with Lothos' lieutenants he was fairly certain that he had at least two broken ribs and his right shoulder was definitely dislocated. Add in all the cuts and bruises on top of that and he was in a sorry state. Still this wasn't quite over yet.

"You have robbed me of what I love slayer." Lothos growled "I'm going to take my time killing you."

Pike readied his favorite stake in his good hand. They moved in a slow circle about the area the light from the burning gym casting long shadows on the ground as they sized each other up both looking for an opportunity to strike. Pike was just about to make his move when the worst possible thing happened.

"Pike?" Buffy called as she came running around from the opposite side of the burning building.

'What the hell is she doing?' Pike thought frantically as the cheerleader came into view. He'd told her to get away from here as soon as she finished making sure all the exits to the gym were locked. Seeing the girl in the white evening gown come around the corner Lothos smiled cruelly.

"Then again," The master vampire said with a sadistic edge to his voice "maybe I'll just take away the thing you love instead." He turned his attentions to Buffy and made to charge her. In the space of a micro second Pike flung himself into action as well, his injuries forgotten. Never in his life had he moved so fast. With the exception of himself and Lothos the whole world seemed to have slowed down to barely a crawl. Lothos was almost to Buffy and Pike was only a fraction of a second behind. He willed himself to go faster. He had to get to her first. Pouring on just a little more speed he pulled ahead just barely and knew that he was going to beat the bloodsucker to the punch. He also knew that his options were going to be limited. In fact there was really only one thing he could do.

With a sickening squishy crunching sound the world moved back into regular speed again. There was a look of surprise on Lothos' face as well as one of cruel triumph as he noticed that slayer had somehow put himself between the old demon and his intended victim. "Impressive boy. I didn't think even a slayer could move that fast. Too bad I just put my fist through your chest. Kinda hard to save the girl when you're dead."

Looking down Pike saw Lothos' fist was indeed buried in his chest up to the wrist but still the vampire slayer smiled. Lothos seemed confused at the action, where was the fear and defeat that should be on his enemy's face? Pike coughed, blood running over his lips and with his last breath he said "Got you too asshole."

Now it was the vamp's turn to glance down. The look of alarm on Lothos' face when he noticed the stake protruding from his chest would have been almost comical if the situation weren't so dire. Lothos exploded into dust a moment later and Oliver Pike's world started to turn black as the pavement rushed up to meet him. He heard Buffy scream as he fell. Then he never heard anything again.

XXX

"Ahhh!" Xander shouted as he sat bolt upright in bed his hand clutching at his chest. Breathing hard Xan tried to tell himself that it was just a dream, just another memory that wasn't his. God this was getting old.

He'd talked to Giles about it. Explained that he was having some pretty vivid flashes of Pike's life night and day. Giles had assured him that although it was rare it was also not unprecedented for a slayer to experience some of their predecessors memories, especially when that slayer had been interacting with individuals that their predecessors had known. It would pass. At least that's what Giles had told him. Well that had been a couple of weeks ago and Xander was pretty sure it was getting worse not better.

It was 5:46 in the morning, which meant there really wasn't much point in trying to go back to sleep. School would be starting in little over an hour anyway so Xan got himself out of bed and shuffled down the hall to bathroom to start his morning rituals.

Stepping in front of the bathroom mirror Xander flipped on the lights and was momentarily blinded. So he nearly jumped out of his skin when he noticed in the mirror's reflection a person standing over his shoulder. And not just any person but one Oliver Pike.

"I want my life back." Pike said staring angrily at Xander in the mirror. Turning around quickly Xander was again surprised to find no one standing behind him at all. Blinking his eyes hard the slayer looked again in the mirror and saw only himself looking back.

"Damn dreams." Turning on the taps Xander splashed some cold water on his face and wrote the whole experience off as just not being fully awake yet. If only it were that simple.