"So there we were," Xander began excitedly as he sat with Anya. "It's just me and Willow. Buffy and Spike have already run off after Angelus. Willow takes one look at that vampire's deadly fangs and nearly faints. God, she's so afraid-"

"This doesn't sound very realistic," Anya comments.

"Well it is alright." Anya puts up her hands in a surrender.

"So, I grab my stake and I lunge forward only I hadn't accounted for my own strength and we both go down! I'm right on top of him and he's trying to throw me off. He just barely manages it-"

"Oh, I'm sure."

"Would you be quiet. I'm trying to tell a story. So, I leap up onto my feet and we're staring each other down. He lunges at me! But I'm too quick. I side step and stick my leg out to trip him and he goes down. Then, I'm on top of him and rolling around fighting for control and Willow's yelling "Xander! Xander be careful!" and of course I don't want her to worry."

Anya's eye rolled could be sensed by Xander's parents upstairs. If they'd had any sort of intuition that is.

"I realize I can't keep this going any longer. Buffy's gotta need my help by now."

"Doesn't she have Spike with her? Why would she need you?"

"Anya! Can you not?"

"Sorry," she said insincerely.

"So, I raise my stake. He makes a grab at it, but there's no stopping me. I bring it down and poof! He's nothing but dust!"

"Great. Can we watch the movie now?"

"You don't want to hear about how I took out Angelus while Buffy was unconscious?"

"No one wants to hear that, Harris." She picks up the remote and hits play. Xander doesn't shut up until the opening credits end and Anya has jabbed him in the ribs with the remote.

"So there we were," Willow began excitedly as she sat with Tara. "Buffy and Spike have gone after Angelus and it's just me and Xander alone with this vamp."

"Ooh," Tara says. "I bet that was scary."

"Oh, it was." Willow nods. "But and Xander have killed vampire's before. Never without Buffy, but I knew we could do it. So Xander punches him! But then I realize, I recognize this guy. 'Cause you know, he didn't go all bumpy face."

"They really do that? Th- the weird demony face," Tara says nervously.

"Oh, yeah and it is ugly."

"So wh- what did you do?"

"Well we talked. For a minute. About how we knew each other. Xander knew him a little bit too, but of course, that's not going to stop a vampire. We stop talking and he goes right for Xander's throat!"

Tara is wrapped up in the excitement of Willow's story.

"Xander holds him back just before he sink him fangs in. I run up behind him and force my stake right through his back and into his heart! Which is a lot harder than Buffy makes it look."

"Wow. What about that Angelus guy?" Tara fiddled with a stalk of lavender.

"Well, me and Xander went after Buffy. To make she was okay. So, we climbed down this old dusty ladder. And downstairs the room was pitch black, but we could hear fighting as we came down. So we knew something was happening. Luckily I mixed up one of those vials like you showed me. I broke it and yelled the incantation and I lit up the whole room!" Willow smiled proudly.

"Wow, really?"

"Well, I couldn't have done it if you hadn't taught me."

"I taught you tiny tinker bell light, but you really light up the whole room?" Tara was obviously impressed.

Willow shrugged. "I just made a few little improvements."

"What happened then?"

"I could see Buffy standing a few feet in front of us. Angelus had Spike, he's kind of our ally now I guess, pinned down on this really ornate bed. He was about to stake Spike-"

"Wait. Spike's a vampire too?"

"Yeah, only he can' t bite people. He's got this chip thing. It hurts him when he tries. Like a shock collar."

"That sounds awful. Well good, 'cause he can't hurt you but..."

"I know what you mean," Willow said. "Once Buffy could see what was happening, she grabbed her stake and put it right through Angelus's heart!"

"Wow," Tara said in awe.

"I know," Willow agreed.

They were quiet for a while. "I kind of stinks though," Willow said.

"Vampires?" Tara asked.

"No. Well sometimes. I mean. Angelus, he sort of had a soul once. Only then we called him Angel. He was really good and he helped people. He's saved all our lives. He was Buffy's boyfriend, too."

"I'm sorry."

"It's kinda hard knowing he's gone now. It's gotta be worse for Buffy though, knowing she was the one who killed him."

"I can't even imagine that." Tara shook her head.

"Some times I'm really glad I'm not the chosen one."

"So there we were," Buffy began slowly as she sat with Giles. He'd only heard the punch line so far. No one had the heart to talk about it before. "I left Willow and Xander and headed downstairs. He was expecting me. He..." Buffy it hard to speak as she thought about Angel. "He'd killed all the lights. I couldn't see anything."

"How did you resolve that?" Giles was in Watcher mode. He knew that anything less would be too emotional and he didn't want to do that Buffy. She'd been having enough trouble with her own emotions as it was.

"I didn't. Not exactly. I closed my eyes and let my ears do all the work. Spike did most of the fighting."

"And he didn't betray you?"

"I don't think it even crossed his mind."

"Of course it did. You were vulnerable. At any point he could have simply stepped aside and let Angelus have you or even killed you himself."

"What should I have done then? Turned and ran? I trust Spike. Not completely, I'm not an idiot. He does for himself before anyone else. But that's what I trusted. I knew he wanted Angelus dusted more than he wants me dead."

"I didn't mean to upset you," Giles said, cleaning his glasses.

Buffy let it go, eager to move on. "In the end it was Willow who saved the day."

"Willow?"

"Yeah, she had this magic light. It lit up the whole room. I was able to st- to take care of him before he easily after that."

"That's impressive."

"I'm just glad she showed up when she did."

Giles nodded. "Indeed. She was certainly a necessity."

Buffy rolled her eyes at his coldhearted Watcher act. She finished off her tea in silence.

"How long until your brace comes off?"

"Another week or so. To be safe, the doctor said."

Buffy nodded. "Make sure you wear it." She stood and left without another word.