Buffy was walking Willow home and the two of them were talking as well.
"Xander thinks of me as a sister, that's why he's never seemed interested in me."
"And apparently he's moving on from me to Cordelia. I thought they didn't like each other, given how much they fight."
"Both Alexander and Corda, as well as Giles, said that, they're not actually fighting they're bickering and it's a form of flirting. Xander and Cordelia just didn't realize that's what they were doing. Gods what could he see in her? She's so skanky. She never keeps a boyfriend more then a week and treats people like crap. She made my life Hell for years."
"I guess all Xander sees is her outside, like most guys."
"Buffy, there has to be a way to fix this! This isn't how it's supposed to be. Even if Alexander is a past life and not a ghost possessing Xander, it's Xander's life now, not Alexander's! There has to be a way to put Alexander back in the soul."
"I don't know Will, Giles was pretty sure there isn't."
"He's not an authority on Magic, he doesn't know everything. I'll do some research, I'm sure I'll find a way to save Xander. I have to."
"How weird is it that their names are so similar?"
"Maybe they like those names and the soul was able to influence their mothers into picking similar names."
"That doesn't explain your name or my name."
"It does if we didn't like what we were named in other lives we had."
"True. I'm sorry Xander couldn't see the possibilities of you two."
"And I'm sorry Angel's dead. While I research a way to help Xander, I could also research soul curses in general and see if Corda was right and he was suffering."
"It would help to know if he was at peace now. Thanks, Willow."
"No problem. Thanks for walking me home." Willow said, as they arrived at her place.
"See you tomorrow." Buffy answered and headed home herself.
The next morning brought a new school day and a surprise for Buffy.
"Everyone, this is Ford. He and I went to Hemery together. He just transferred here."
"Nice to meet you all. I've got to go, Buffy. I'll see you later."
"He's cute." Willow observed.
"He was my fifth grade crush, trust me, I know he's cute."
Alexander and Corda laughed softly and went onto their next classes. Thanks to Xander and Cordelia's memories, the only difficulties they were having was in refraining from correcting the teachers.
Ford walked into the lair of a vampire nest he'd discovered. It was time to put his plan in action.
"I want to be a vampire, I can give you the Slayer, if you make me a vampire."
A lovely woman in an old fashioned dress stood up and moved towards him.
"I don't want the Slayer. I want the Captain and his heart. Deliver them to me, the ones who took both Spike and not Daddy from me and I'll give you what you want."
"Who are the Captain and his heart?"
"The Slayer's friend, the dark haired boy, the Defender of Man and the jewel that sparkles at his side."
Ford was confused and left. Later after Buffy had shown him around they ended up at the Bronze with her friends. "I forgot to ask your friends names." He said, spotting the dark haired boy from earlier and wondering if this was boy the vampire was referring to. The girl standing beside could definitely be called a jewel, she was that beautiful.
"Oh, this is Xander and Cordelia. And that's Willow."
"Xander? Is that short for something?"
"Alexander."
"Oh, like Alexander the Great. I always wondered, does the name have a meaning?"
"Yes." Willow piped up. "Alexander means protector or defender of mankind."
'Yeah, he must be who the vampire wants and the girl with him is the jewel, his heart. How to work this?"
The next day, after another visit to the vampire nest, Ford made his move.
"The Bronze was kind of boring. I heard there was a new club just opening, you want to check it out?" Ford asked Buffy.
"Sure, why not? You all in?" The others agreed and they headed off to the Sunset Club.
"That name, in this town, doesn't make me very comfortable." Alexander murmured to Corda.
"Nor does it me."
They soon figured out why.
"A vampire worshipping cult?" Willow asked, stunned when she saw the interior.
"The Lonely Ones are elevated, above us. We hope they will Bless us." Ones of the girls said.
"They're not from above us, they from below us. Literally." Alexander told her.
"Other opinions then yours may be valid." She answered, offended.
"It's not an opinion, it's a fact." Corda said. Just as the lights dimmed and the door slammed shut.
"There you are, kitten. Just who I've been looking for. But not the kitten , not anymore. Now you are the Lion that roars across the sky. What kitten could have become without the Slayer."
"Blood daemona." Alexander looked disgusted. There were several of them. "What's going on?"
"This lovely lady agreed to an exchange. I give her the Captain and his jewel and she'll make me a vampire." Ford answered.
