Xander set his book back on the shelf, they weren't finding a whole lot on this new threat, this Judge, just basically what Angel had said, no weapon forged, it took an army. Something about that phrase was niggling at his awareness. He'd figure it out eventually.

"So you're really over Buffy?" Cordelia asked, not quite casually.

"Yes, for quite awhile." He looked at her out of the side of his eye. "Since the talent show, I've been wondering something."

"What?" She asked, trying to concentrate on what she was reading but the proximity of his body was distracting. He was dressing alot better these days. Oh it was still cheap clothes, but the loud colors and loose clothes were gone. And she knew from their makeout sessions, he had a firm body under there.

"Whether snarky bitch is in there or if mean bitch is all that's left. Since Marcie, I've been happily surprised to find snarky bitch is alive and kicking. Welcome back Cordy, I've missed you."

"Snarky bitch? Mean bitch? Most girls would get pissed if you called them a bitch."

"Yes, but you're the self proclaimed Bitch Queen of Sunnydale High. To you, it's a compliment. And I really did miss snarky bitch. Popularity came to mean more to you then real friendship. And we were friends Cordy. I know, from Day of the Nightmares, that you're afraid of losing your popularity. But why? There's so much more to you. You're smart and clever. You're sarcastically funny. High School will be over in a year and half, we'll probably never see any of these people again, so why does it matter? I think we could have something amazing, something real, if you're willing to give us a chance. Think about it, okay?"

"Okay, I'll think about it. You make some good points. You really think there's more to me then just being popular?"

"Yes. I don't care about your popularity, I'm not interested in it or being with you because you're popular. I also don't give a damn about your family's money. Some day, I'll graduate, get a real job, not a temp summer job and have money of my own. Just because it'll never equal what you have doesn't matter."

"Good to know. Want to make out?"

"Gods, yes. You're driving me nuts. You smell incredible."

After several minutes of making out, they pulled back and saw Willow watching them with a stricken expression on her face, she turned and ran.

"Damn. I was hoping she'd get over her crush. I even told her I think of her as a sister, always have."

"You knew about her crush?"

"Yes, just because she never mentioned it, doesn't mean she wasn't obvious about it. I better go talk to her. Better to clear the air or it'll cause problems."

"Okay."

Xander caught up to Willow in the courtyard.

"I knew something was going on. I just didn't know what. Why her? You remember the We Hate Cordelia Club?"

"I never hated her Willow, you did. And you assumed because you did, everyone else must too."

"You'd rather be with her then me?"

"You're not an option, Willow, even if Cordy wasn't in the picture. I really do see you as a sister. Always have, that's not going to change. Look, Oz likes you, he seems like a nice guy. You were willing to try with Malcolm before he turned out to be a demon. Who knows, maybe you two could be happy together. Something to think about anyway. I do love you, Willow. Just not the way you want me to."

Later, Xander and Willow were walking back to the library when the lights went out. A shadow at the end of the hall cause the wiggy feeling in Xander's stomach to come back. There was a vampire in the shadows.

"Willow, go to the library, now." Xander ordered.

"Why? It's just Angel."

Xander looked closer and realized, no it wasn't Angel. Angel caused a low level wiggins, this was the intense kind all vampires cause.

"No it's not, Willow. That's Angelus."

"What are you talking about Xander? If that's Angelus that would mean the curse has been broken."

"Yes, exactly."

"How'd you figure it out, boy?" The shadow hissed.

"Angel and Angelus are two different people locked up in the same body. You're different then he is. Everything from the way you stand to the way you're looking at us, says you're someone else."

"Very good. You're smarter then I thought. I've got a message for Buffy."

"Why don't you give it to me yourself." Buffy said from behind him.

He turned to look at her. "It's not really the kind of message you can read. It kinda of involves you finding the dead and mangled bodies of your friends."

Xander saw Ms. Calender nearby holding a cross. He held his hand out for it and she handed it to him. He eased up behind Angelus and slapped it against the side of his face. Angelus howled and ran.

"Are you sure it was Angelus?" Giles asked.

"I'm sure. His entire demeanor was different. The curse has been broken." Xander answered.

"When did this happen? Last night, he was still Angel. Buffy, you were with him, did something happen?"

"I, I can't." She turned and ran.

Willow, realizing what had happened, told Giles to shut up.

"What do we do now? We have an unkillable demon in town and Angel's joined team Evil." Cordelia asked.

"I'm leaning toward blind panic, myself." Giles said.

"I'll hold off on the 'I told you so's'." Xander said, having figured out why the phrase 'it took an army' niggled in the back of his mind, he knew alot about the army, thanks to Ethan Rayne and Halloween. "On account of, I have a plan for dealing with the Judge."

"How?" Giles asked.

"Modern weapons aren't forged, they're machined. Totally different process. And I know where to a find a really big one that can do alot of damage."