Chapter 36: Doppelgangland

February 22, 1999 – Monday

Sunnydale High School

Lunch break outside, and Willow lay on her belly on the grass and propped herself up on her elbows, ankles crossed and swaying idly in the air. There was a light breeze, and it was slightly overcast but not depressing, perfect because she didn't have to squint against the sun as she focused her entire attention on the pencil a few inches in front of her fingers.

It rose, staying perfectly horizontal because she wanted it that way. When it got to nose level, she concentrated a bit harder, and after a moment it began to spin gently, like a child's pinwheel drawn through the air.

"The Watchers Council shrink is heavily into tests," Buffy said from a few feet away. She was lying on her back under one of the big shade trees and doing stomach crunches. "He's got tests for everything—TATs, Rorschach, associative logic." Finally, she stopped and sat up. "They have that test to see if you're crazy, the one that asks if you ever hear voices or if you've ever wanted to be a florist."

"Oh!" Willow said, turning her head toward Buffy. "I used to—wait. Florist means crazy, right?" She shook her head emphatically. "I never wanted to do that."

Buffy's gaze cut past her to the pencil still spinning lazily in the air. "Neat."

"Thanks," Willow said with a grin. "It's all about emotional control. Plus, obviously, magic." She perked up. "Hey, you want to go to the Espresso Pump and get sugared up on mochas?"

"Pass," Buffy answered. She started stuffing her things into her gym bag. "I'm going to hit the pool and do some laps."

Willow peered at her. "How come the sudden calisthenics? Aren't you sort of naturally buff, Buff?" She giggled, pleased at her little funny. "Buff, Buff!"

But Buffy's return smile was less than enthusiastic. "Well, they've really got us running around on the physical side, too. A lot of reflex evaluation and precision training. You know. I just want to… do…"

"Be kissing Faith?" Willow finished for her.

Buffy blushed. "You know me too well." She ran a hand through her hair, then pulled her gym bag toward her.

"I do," Willow agreed.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Willow sat on a chair facing Principal Snyder's desk. The chair next to her held a slouching example of one of Sunnydale High's premium basketball jocks, Percy West.

"As far as I'm concerned, this is a marriage made in heaven," Principal Snyder said to both of them as he hung his coat on the coat tree in the corner. "Willow Rosenberg, despite her . . . unsavory associations, represents the pinnacle of academic achievement at Sunnydale High. Percy West represents a devastating fast break and fifty percent from behind the three-point line." The ratty little man gave Percy a companionable slap on the shoulder as he walked around to his chair.

Willow swallowed and twisted her fingers together. "I'm… not sure I understand the marriage part."

The principal regarded her blandly. "You've got the brains; he's got the fast break. It's a perfect match."

"Match?" She glanced nervously at Percy, who only scratched at something on his temple. "You want us to… breed?"

Snyder ignored her. "I want you to tutor him. Percy is flunking history." The older man sat and folded his hands. "Nothing seems to be able to motivate him."

"Hey," Percy said, finally deciding to add something to the conversation. "I'm challenged."

Snyder was unconvinced. "You're lazy, self-involved, and spoiled. That's quite the challenge." Instead of answering, Percy wiped his mouth on one sleeve. "But we need a winning year," Snyder continued, "especially after last year's debacle with the swim team. Can't have our point guard benched." He turned his beady gaze on Willow. "So you are going to take on a little teaching job. I know how you enjoy teaching."

"But I have a lot of work of my own—" Willow began.

"You've gotten a letter of acceptance from every university with a stamp," Snyder interrupted. "I think your academic career is safe."

Percy found something interesting on the ceiling to stare at while Willow fidgeted. "Yes, but I still have classes, and I don't want—"

"Rosenberg, it's time to give something back to the community," Snyder said in a disgustingly sweet tone. He stood. "I know you want to help your school out here. Ask me how I know."

She knew it was useless, but she had to anyway. "How do y—"

Principal Snyder stared hard at her. "I just do."

It was just so totally unfair that Percy West could sit there and look completely and utterly bored, while she felt as if Snyder had just threatened to put her in detention for a month if she didn't do what he wanted.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"So, he threatened you?" Buffy asked incredulously. "With what?"

"It wasn't anything exactly that he said," Willow explained as she and Buffy came into the library. "It was all in his eyes. I mean, there was some nostril work as well… but mostly eyes."

Buffy sounded totally peeved Willow's behalf. "Snyder needs me to kick his butt."

"Oh, no, Buffy—don't get in trouble." Willow dumped her books on the library table. "I just hate the way he bullies people. He just assumes their time ishis."

"Willow," Giles said from behind them. She turned and saw him step out of his office, cherry-flavored sucker in one hand. "Get on the computer. I want you to take another pass at accessing the Mayor's files."

"Okay," she said, and slipped off her bag before going behind the counter and settling in front of the computer.

Faith breezed into the library with Wesley lurching along behind her. "Well," she said cheerfully. "That was a blast."

Giles regarded her, then looked at Wesley. "How did it go?"

"Princess Margaret here had a little trouble keeping up," Faith said with a sneer. She looked absurdly fresh, not at all like someone who'd just been put through a bunch of physical paces.

"How did it go?" Giles asked again. He stared pointedly at Wesley.

"Faith… did quite well on the obstacle field," Wesley finally said between gasps. "And her . . . reflexes are improving rapidly." He sucked in air, then, despite his discomfort, managed to look down his nose at the dark-haired Slayer. "Physically she's in good shape. Still a little sloppy, though."

Faith glared at Wesley, but before she could say anything, Giles asked, "Do you feel up to taking Buffy out, or shall I?"

"No, no," Wesley said between inhalations. "I'll be fine. Just give me a minute… and some defibrillators, if it's not too much trouble."

Faith grinned at Buffy. "You're going to love it, B. It's just like fun… only boring."

"Faith," Giles said sternly, "this evaluation is a necessary part of—"

"I know," she cut in, sounding contrite. "I'm on board here. Just… shooting my mouth off."

"That's the best part of you I love," Buffy said as she and Faith chuckled. "I'd better change," she added, and headed for the faculty bathroom while Giles and Wesley retreated into the librarian's office.

As Buffy passed Faith, Faith touched Buffy's shoulder. "Good luck."

Buffy leaned over and gave Faith a quick kiss before she kept going, then Faith turned and wandered over to the counter. She peered over to where Willow worked steadily on the computer's keyboard. "Whatcha doing?"

"I'm trying to access the Mayor's personal files," Willow answered.

Faith glanced at the office and then walked over to Willow. She knelt beside the redhead so she could speak quietly into Willow's ear without Wesley overhearing. She, Buffy and Giles had not told Wesley about her undercover. "I need a favor," she said.

Willow looked up at her friend. "What?"

"I'm undercover in the Mayor's office. I need a way to get information to Buffy and Giles," Faith whispered.

"Do you have access to a computer?" Willow wondered as Faith nodded. She pulled out a piece of notebook paper and wrote her email address on it. "Email me anytime you need me to get a message to Buffy and Giles."

"Thanks, Red," Faith said taking the piece of paper from Willow.

Penthouse

"Well," Mayor Wilkins said thoughtfully as he digested the information, she'd just given him. "That's very interesting."

Faith nodded. "Yeah, I thought so, too." She hadn't wanted to rat out her friend. But she also knew that if the Mayor found out that Willow was trying to hack in that it might actually go worse for the redhead. She tried to keep as much of the real details a secret as she could.

She took a moment to look at the apartment the Mayor had announced only moments before was… hers. "Are you serious about this place?" she asked with faked excitement.

"Of course, I am," he said emphatically. "No Slayer of mine is going to live in a fleabag motel." To sell the lie that she had switched sides Faith had moved out of the Summers home and back into the Sun Spot Motel against Joyce's objections. "That place has a very unsavory reputation. There are immoral liaisons going on there."

"Plus, all the screwing," Faith agreed. "This is the kick!" She strode around the oversized, great-room setup, noting the big stuffed sofa and chair in the living room area, the tiny dining set by the big curved window, lamps everywhere—there was even a heavy bag strung from a chain in the ceiling so she could work out. If she had gotten this herself instead of it being handed to her by her enemy, she might have thought it would be a perfect place for her and Buffy after Buffy graduated in a couple months.

"We'll keep your old place," the Mayor told her. "In case you need to see your friends there. But from now on—"

Faith spotted the bed—a queen-sized thing behind gauzy blue curtains—and ran to it, leaped up, and starting jumping up and down on it in fake excitement.

"Oh, hey—hey!" Mayor Wilkins said sharply. "Shoes—shoes!"

She hopped down, bouncing to a stop directly in front of him. With an fake smile, she stepped up close and placed her hands on either side of his lapels. "Thanks, Sugar Daddy."

He frowned at her. "Now, Faith, I don't find that sort of thing amusing. I'm a family man." He stepped away, and so did she, relieved. That feeling, however, turned to hesitation at his next words. "Now," he said calmly, "let's kill your little friend." He held up a hand when he saw her expression.

"Don't worry—I wouldn't ask you to do it, not this early in our relationship. Besides, I think a vampire attack would look less suspicious, anyway."

Faith nodded, she had to get to her computer and warn Willow.

"In the meantime," Mayor Wilkins said with a smile, "let's take a look at the rest of the apartment, huh? If I'm not mistaken, some lucky girl has herself a PlayStation."

Sunnydale High School

"Percy—hey," Willow said when he realized she was there and decided to slow down a bit. "Listen, I thought we could get together today at lunch and go over your Roosevelt paper, what books you'll need and stuff—"

He gave her a disbelieving glance, then picked up his pace again. "What are you talking about?"

"Tutoring you," Willow reminded him. "Your history paper?"

"Oh, yeah," Percy said carelessly. "Snyder said you were going to do it."

She would have stopped cold, but then he would have just kept going. "He never said that."

"What meeting were you at?" he asked with a smirk.

"Look," Willow said, trying to be firm. "I'll get the books you need. Just meet me at lunch, and we'll—"

"I don't have time at lunch," the jock interrupted. "Got to hang out."

"Oh. Well—"

He finally stopped and faced her. "What?" he demanded rudely. "You got something better to do? Just type it up and put my name on it." He started to waltz off, then paused one last time. "And don't type too good—dead giveaway."

She stood there as he left, speechless, then stomped over to a bench and dropped onto it. Cranky, Willow shook off her backpack, then rummaged around in it until she found her lunch bag. Feeling rebellious, she dug into it and pulled out the banana. "I'm going to eat this now," she said in a low voice. "It's not lunchtime, I don't even care."

"Hey."

Before she could peel it, Willow raised her head and saw Buffy standing there with Xander. Xander was obscenely happy in contrast to the way she felt. Buffy on the other hand was pretending to be happy, but she knew her friend was sad and scared underneath it all because of Faith being undercover with the Mayor.

Xander leaned toward her. "Willow, did you remember to tape Biography last Friday?"

She clenched her teeth. "Uh-huh."

"See," Buffy said smugly to Xander. "I told you—Old Reliable."

Willow's fingers tightened around the banana, bruising it. "Oh, thanks," she said bitterly.

"What?" Buffy asked, taken aback.

"Old Reliable," Willow grumbled. "Yeah, great—there's a sexy nickname."

Buffy immediately looked apologetic. "Oh, Will, I didn't mean it as—"

"No, it's fine." She stared at her half-crushed banana. "I'm Old Reliable."

Xander gave her a goofy smile. "She just meant, you know, the geyser—you're like a geyser of fun that goes off at regular intervals."

"That's Old Faithful," Willow said.

Xander looked puzzled. "Isn't that the dog that the guy has to shoot—"

Willow grimaced. "That's Old Yeller."

"Xander," Buffy cut in. "I beg you not to help me." She turned to Willow. "Will, I didn't mean it in a bad way. I think it's good to be reliable."

Willow grabbed her backpack and stuffed the lunch bag haphazardly into it. "Well, maybe I don't want to be reliable all the time," she snapped. "Maybe I'm not just some doormat… person. Home-work Gal."

Xander gulped. "I'm thinking nerve strike."

Willow stood and jerked on her pack, then stopped, even angrier, for one last comment before leaving. "Maybe I'll change my look," she said hotly. "You don't know." She brandished the banana. "And I'm eating this banana—lunchtime be damned!" She took off but hadn't taken three steps before she realized Buffy was following her.

"Wait," Buffy said. "I'm really sorry. I'm just bad moody girl—"

Willow stopped and took a deep breath, which was enough to silence Buffy as she waited for Willow to speak. "Buffy," she finally said quietly, "First, I know. Faith told me about what she's doing so she could keep in touch with you and Giles. So, I know your kind of sad at the moment and a little scared because she's not beside you. Second, I'm storming off. It doesn't really work if you come with me."

"Okay," Buffy said. "If you need me…"

"I know," Willow said as she walked away.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Willow was headed up the stairs to class when an unfamiliar voice called out to her. "Uh… Willow?"

She stopped, but the girl standing at the bottom of the stairs wasn't someone she knew. "Hi."

"Anya," the girl said, indicating herself. "I'm sort of new here. I, uh, know Cordelia?"

"Ooh," Willow said, intentionally keeping her face expressionless. "Fun."

Anya wasn't dumb. "Yeah, uh—listen," she said, hurrying past the awkwardness. "I have this little project I'm working on, and I heard you were the person to ask if—"

"Yeah, that's me," Willow cut in, her mouth twisting. "Reliable dog geyser person. What do you need?"

Anya smiled confidentially at her and gave a furtive glance around, as if to make sure no one was close enough to overhear. "Oh, it's nothing big. Just a little spell I'm working on."

Willow perked up. "A spell? Ooh—I like the black arts."

Anya nodded. "I just need a secondary to create a temporal fold. I heard you were a pretty powerful Wicca, so . . ."

Willow grinned. "You heard right, mister," she said brightly. "I'm always ready to work some dark mojo. So, tell me," she asked slyly, "is it dangerous?"

"Oh, no," Anya assured her quickly.

Willow was disappointed. "Well… could we pretend it is?"

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

They'd waited until later and slipped into one of the empty classrooms, and now they were almost ready to go. Everything seemed in order—candles, bones, herbs, blessed stones, and dried chicken feet arranged just so on the floor around the object that was the center of the spell, a white china plate with a color rendition of a necklace carefully painted on it.

"The necklace was a family heirloom passed down for generations, then it was stolen from my mom's apartment," Anya told Willow as she carefully funneled colored sand into a small glass jar.

Willow made the final adjustments to the wide line of bones and charms. "How does the spell work?" she asked.

"We both call on Eyrishon, the endless one," Anya said matter-of-factly. The candles flickered in the room, creating the perfect atmosphere for magic. "Offer up the standard supplication. Then there's a teensy temporal fold—we hope. Then I pour the sacred sand on the representation of the necklace, and Eyrishon brings it forth from the time and place where it was lost."

"Cool," Willow said. She liked the way Anya talked to her as if she knew everything. While she'd never done a temporal fold before, she was fairly certain of what to expect and couldn't imagine there would be any problems.

"Of course," Anya added, "there's a lot of theory there, but I figure it's worth a shot. Are we ready?"

Theory? That cast a shiver of doubt over things, but then again, it was only a necklace they were trying to get back. "I think so," Willow said.

Anya settled comfortably onto the floor across from her, separated by the line of candles and charms. At her reassuring smile, they both let their eyes close nearly all the way, and she extended her right hand with the palm up."Eyrishon. K'shala. Meh-uhn," she intoned.

Willow followed suit, holding up her left hand and turning it so that their fingertips met. "Diprechat," she said. "Doh-tehenlo Nu-Eyrishon."

Anya opened her eyes. "The child to the mother," she said to Willow.

"The river to the sea," Willow responded solemnly.

Anya held out the jar, and Willow wrapped her hand around Anya's, and they both closed their eyes again. "Eyrishon, hear my prayer," she whispered.

For a long moment there was nothing. Then light streamed from somewhere near the ceiling and enveloped them both in an electric-looking swirl. They jerked beneath the power of something unseen in the room, and—

Willow's eyes jolted open.

Images zinged past. People fighting in a huge room filled with broken crates and wood—Giles, a female demon whose face she didn't recognize, Dawn fighting vampires that looked way too much like herself and Xander, Dawn ultimately staking her into a doubled-over pile of dust. She saw the Master, with his hellishly shriveled face and red, tooth-filled mouth, and, yes, there was a necklace… Anya's? …big and glowing where it lay on a table as someone brought a heavy rock down on top of it—

Caught between the place in her vision and the real world, Willow felt her body shake violently as Anya tried to turn the jar of sand over. She felt herself instinctively resist but couldn't. Somewhere in her consciousness she knew the sand was falling toward their hands as a thunderclap boomed through the classroom. The sound was huge and jolting, and they both jumped, and for a moment—

—just

—one

—moment

—their fingertips parted.

And the sacred sand cascaded not through their touching hands but only through Willow's outstretched fingers.

—but the vampire who could have been her twin and Dawn's twin disappeared.

Then the light was gone, and the sound was gone, and Willow and Anya broke apart, each gasping.

Willow scrambled backward. "That was—what was that?" She got to her feet, more than a little freaked, but Anya didn't answer.

Instead, the other girl went to her knees and searched frantically among the items on the floor. "It's not here—it's not here!"

Willow backed up, her breathing still coming fast and frightened. "Okay… that's a little blacker than I like my arts."

Still kneeling, Anya only glared at her. "Oh, don't be such a wimp."

"That wasn't just a temporal fold, that was some weird… Hell place," Willow protested shakily. "That looked eerily like the one Dawn said she remembers. I don't think you're telling me everything!"

"I swear," Anya said through clenched teeth, "I'm just trying to find my necklace."

Willow scowled at her. "Did you try looking inside the sofa from Hell?"

Anya sat back and took a breath, then gave her a tentative smile. "Look, we'll try it again, and if—"

"No! I think emphatically not!"

Anya's expression went indignant. "I can't do it by myself!"

"That's a relief," Willow snapped. She picked up her backpack and shoved her notebooks into it. "I'm out of here."

"Fine—go!" Anya spat. "Idiot child."

Willow leaned down. "I believe these chicken feet are mine," she said, insulted. "Magic is dangerous, Anya. It's not to be toyed with." She turned away huffily. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have someone else's homework to do."

She wasn't quite out the door when she heard Anya's furious voice. "Nothing!" the other said.

"Nothing!" Willow glanced over her shoulder, then decided it was best just to keep going when she saw Anya pick up the hand-painted plate and smash it to bits against the floor.

Sun Spot Motel

Faith pulled the laptop computer that Joyce had let her borrow from where she had hidden it. She plugged in to the phone lines and connected it to the internet. "Red," she typed. "You're in danger. Mayor has ordered a hit on you for trying to hack into his computers. Be careful, Faith."

The Factory

Slayer Dawn and Vamp Willow came to with a hiss of pain and found themselves on the floor. They both knew this place, had been here just a few moments before, but… where were all the people? The vampires and the humans had been fighting, there'd been blood and vamp dust everywhere. This was empty.

There wasn't anyone around other than the two of them, and everything was peacefully quiet. Different and…

"This is weird," Vamp Willow said.

"You can say that again," Slayer Dawn agreed looking around the room. She looked back at the vampire. "How about we call a truce to figure out what happened?"

Vamp Willow stood and smoothed her clothes—tight red satin corset trimmed with black lace, tighter black leather pants, and heeled platform boots. "Then we get to play?" she asked when she returned her attention to Slayer Dawn.

"Once we figure out what happened, I am in agreement," Slayer Dawn answered.

The Bronze

"Hey!"

Vamp Willow jerked to a stop as a tall, dark-haired boy bumped full force into her, then looked at her in amazement. "Rosenberg? What are you doing—trick-or-treating?"

Instead of answering, Vamp Willow looked him up and down, amazed at how much foolish nerve one small human could have. Somewhere off to the side, her sensitive hearing caught someone call the kid by name—Percy. The name meant nothing to her.

The teen lifted his chin and looked down his nose at her. "You're supposed to be at home doing my history report," Percy said. He pointed a finger at her and swaggered slightly. "I flunk that class, you're in big trouble with Snyder. Until we graduate, I own you."

"Bored now," she said sweetly. And rammed the heel of her hand into his sternum.

Percy-who-thought-he-owned-her went flying backward, end over end like a spinning beach ball. He came down hard on the floor at the other side, gasping and groaning as he tried to push himself back to his feet.

"I'm having a terrible night," Vamp Willow said in a pouty voice as she ambled over to him. Percy still hadn't made it up—obviously she'd have to help him. She reached down and wrapped her black-nailed fingers around his throat and pulled him upright, balanced him in front of her while she gave him a seductive smile. "Want to make it better?" she cooed.

The boy's left hand automatically closed over the one she had gripped around his throat, and he tried to take a swing at her on the right. Useless—she easily blocked it, then only smiled wider as he opted for attempting to choke her in return when his punch fell short. Stupid human child—didn't he know she didn't need air anymore?

"What's going on?" asked a familiar voice from a few feet away. "Is there a funny thing?" Was that her beloved Xander? There was a pause, then she heard him say, "Whoa!"

Percy's hold—puny to begin with—began to weaken as his oxygen-starved lungs tried futilely to work.

She was trying to decide whether to continue choking Percy or bite him when someone else leaped into her field of vision and broke their dual hold, sending Percy-boy sprawling and saving him from unconsciousness.

"Back off!" the new arrival growled at the cowering Percy. "Stay the hell away from her!"

"Okay," Percy croaked from floor level. "Sure." He scuttled away through the crowd like an oversized crab.

His rescuer turned to face her, and Vamp Willow smiled in delight, her first real happy since she'd found herself in the empty plant. "Xander…"

Xander's eyebrows rose as he looked at her, then gestured at her clothes. "Will—changing the look not an idle threat with you."

Pleased, Vamp Willow stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, felt him automatically hug her in return. He felt good and familiar, and she let her hands move down his back and—

He jerked a little. "Uh, Will… this is verging on naughty touching here. We don't want to fall back on bad habits." Without warning, he yanked out of her embrace and grabbed her fingers. "Hands!" he exclaimed. "Hands in new places!"

Her smile went upside down then, and she leaned forward enough to sniff at him. Frowning now, she pulled away and back-stepped. "You're… alive."

Xander stared at her. "Aren't I always? Will, are you okay?"

"No," she said miserably. She looked around, but she was still stuck in this nightmare place. "Everything's… different."

"Xander, there you are."

A girl's voice, someone else familiar and not at all welcome. Vamp Willow hadn't thought she could get any unhappier, but un-life was obviously full of surprises.

"Hey, Buff," Xander said.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your new—holy God, you're Willow!"

Vamp Willow didn't know this one, but she recognized her all the same from descriptions vampires that had given of the Slayer who had killed herself in Cleveland. Her eyes narrowed. "Your… alive?" she said in a low voice in surprise. How could this Slayer be alive when the one that almost killed her had been called?

"You know what?" Buffy said with false brightness. "I like the look. It's, um, extreme, but it's—it looks good, it's a leather thing, and it's very . . ." She glanced at Xander a little desperately before looking back at Vamp Willow. "I said extreme already, right?"

"I don't like you," Vamp Willow hissed.

Weirdness abounded—Buffy actually looked hurt. "Will, I—I'm sorry about today," she offered.

"Leaving now," Vamp Willow said. She turned her back and started to walk away.

"Willow, got to say I'm not loving the new you," the dreadfully alive Xander called after her. She ignored him and kept going.

There were quick footsteps behind her, then the Slayer actually had the gall to tug on her arm.

"Willow, wait—"

Vamp Willow spun and let herself change into her natural form, relished the thickening of her brow, the tightening of the skin around her mouth as her teeth elongated and sharpened. "Get OFF me!" she snarled.

She left them standing there, staring after her as she stalked away into the comforting blackness of the night.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Vamp Willow felt better outside. Although she was still grouchy, still peeved by this whole backward turn of events, the dark sky was like an old friend, the shadows inviting as she strode briskly down the alley beside the Bronze.

She didn't even mind it when she realized she was being followed.

"Willow Rosenberg?" asked a gravelly voice.

She stopped but didn't turn, although it was a shame the two—yes, there were two—vampires behind her couldn't see the wicked smile that spread across the deep red gloss of her lips. "I'm not supposed to talk to strangers," she said in a little girl voice.

"Then we won't talk," he growled.

They rushed at her, but they never really had a chance.

She took the first one—the one who had yet to open his mouth—out with a perfect side kick to the gut that knocked him back and off his feet. The second one—the talker—tried to grab her while his friend clambered up again, but Vamp Willow tossed him over her shoulder as though he weighed no more than a small sack of potatoes. Then the other guy was up, but she caught him with a spinning back kick and blocked the pathetic punch he tried to aim at her and sent him flying again. When the talker leaped at her a final time, she gave him a roundhouse kick that would have broken all the ribs in a human; a punch and a couple of blocks, then she snagged his arm and twisted it hard enough to flip him to the ground. While his buddy lay unconscious in a pile of trash, Vamp Willow pinned the talker to the ground with one leather-clad knee and gripped his hand in a vicious wristlock.

"You made me cranky," she purred.

"There's been a mistake," the vampire protested. His voice was thick with pain. "We were sent after a human!"

"Really?" Still holding on, she stroked his fingers idly. "Whom do you work for?"

The vampire's face hardened. "I'm not telling you a thing—"

The sentence ended in a cry of pain as Vamp Willow suddenly yanked one of his fingers backward and broke it. "Whom do you work for?" she asked in a sugar-coated tone.

"Wilkins," the vampire gasped. "The Mayor."

Crack. Another finger broke, and the vampire screamed and contorted on the ground. "Whom do you work for?" she asked again. Her fingers gently crawled around yet another of his.

"You!"

She let him go and watched disdainfully as he picked himself up. A few seconds later, his companion crawled stiffly out of the trash and joined them. "Get your friends," she said coldly. "Bring them here. The world's no . . .fun anymore, so we're gonna make it the way it was." She let an icy smile slide over her features. "Starting with the Bronze."

Sunnydale High School

The walk from the Bronze to the library was made in silence—along with a big piece of her heart, the ability to express her pain and sorrow had been torn out of Buffy at the sight of Vamp Willow. At her side, Xander just seemed like a tall and gawky primitive robot—a machine with no speech center, no grace or fluid movement… just one jerky step after another as he tried to get from one place to the next.

So many times, in the past the library had been a place of comfort and refuge, but tonight it gave neither. Even the familiar sight of Giles as he stepped out of his office to greet them didn't help.

"Ah, Buffy," he said. "I thought you were going out tonight, didn't expect…" His voice trailed off as they stood by the door, still unable to speak. Buffy could feel the wetness of tears on her cheek, and she knew by Giles's expression that he'd just noticed. She saw Giles's fingers tighten around the book he was holding until his knuckles went white. "What is it?"

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The three of them sat on the library stairs, shoulders slumped, expressions blank and shocked.

"This isn't real," Xander said dully.

Buffy blinked, but even her eyelids were slow and unresponsive. "I can't feel anything. Arms, legs, or… anything."

Giles hung his head and stared at his feet. "She was truly… the finest of all of us."

"Way better than me," Xander put in.

Giles nodded. "Much, much better."

Buffy's fingers twisted together. "We just saw her at lunch. How could—"

Xander looked up. "It's all my fault."

Giles frowned. "What makes you say that?"

The teenager shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. Statistical probability?"

"No," Buffy said suddenly. "It's me—I'm the one who called her reliable. She must've gone out and gotten attacked, which she never would have done if I hadn't called her reliable, and now my best friend is—"

"What's going on?"

All three of them jerked as they looked up and saw Willow—the one they'd last seen at school wearing a pink sweater trimmed with white flowers—standing right in front of them.

"Jeez, who died?" Willow asked jokingly.

They were all staring at her as if she was a walking, talking ghost or something, or as if—

All the funny went running out of her. "Oh God," Willow said, distressed. "Who died?"

Xander leaped to his feet, then rushed at her with a cross waving wildly in one outstretched hand. "Back!" he shouted. "Get back, demon!"

Willow just stared at him, at the cross, then back at him. Thrown, he looked at the cross, then shook it as if it was a can of spray paint with a clogged nozzle. He tried again, shoving the holy object energetically at her face.

She simply stood there, wondering what the heck was going on.

"Willow?" Buffy rose from her spot on the library stairs and came slowly forward. "You're alive?"

"Yes, she is," came a voice from the doorway.

They all turned to see Slayer Dawn standing in the door to the library.

"Dawn, what are…" Buffy started.

"B—Buffy," Slayer Dawn's lip quivered and her eyes glistened as she saw her sister for the first time in a year and a half.

"What's the matter?" Buffy said as she walked toward Slayer Dawn.

"You're alive," Slayer Dawn said in surprise as she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around Buffy.

Buffy grimaced at the strength of her sister's embrace. She glanced toward Giles with a tear in her eye. "Faith's dead."

"What?" Giles asked surprised by the statement.

"The Mayor must have found out that Faith's undercover and killed her. Dawn's a Slayer," Buffy informed her Watcher.

"I'm not your Dawn," Slayer Dawn said, her voice muffled in Buffy's chest.

"What do you mean," Buffy said as she pushed Slayer Dawn back away from her.

"Apparently there are now two of me here," Slayer Dawn said as she turned to look at Willow. "And there are two of you here." She glanced back toward Buffy. "I believe I have crossed over from my world into the world Cordelia Chase was from when she made her wish."

Buffy's eyes went wide in realization as she looked back at Giles. "She's from the world that Dawn remembers. The one where I died because I couldn't accept the way people saw me."

"You're right," Slayer Dawn said. "And I've lived for a year and half without you and without mom."

"Without mom?" Buffy asked in confusion.

"I take it Dawn didn't tell you everything she remembers?" Giles questioned his Slayer, who shrugged. "According to Dawn, after your death in the other world. Your mother blamed herself and she drank herself to an early grave. This Dawn was left in the care of her Watcher."

"What?" Buffy yelled looking back at Slayer Dawn. "Is that true?"

"It is, Buffy, I'm sorry," Slayer Dawn answered sadly.

"Hey, I don't mean to break up this, but what do you mean there are now two of you and there are now two of me?" Willow asked.

"Whatever brought me over, also brought your vampire counterpart as well," Slayer Dawn answered. She looked back at Buffy. "I take it in this world you guys are friends."

"Yeah," Buffy said. "Have been since your counterpart and I moved here with mom. Took me a few months to tell them that I was trans though."

"You came out to me and Chloe and that was it," Slayer Dawn said sadly.

"Chloe Payne?" Giles asked as Slayer Dawn nodded. "I know of her."

"So where did you see the vampire?" Slayer Dawn wondered.

"At the Bronze," Xander answered.

The Bronze

It had been so much more exciting, more enticing, when she had slid through the world of humans as Anyanka, delivering retribution to unfaithful lovers and misbehaving men. Now, that had been a life. Now all she had was—

This.

Anya sighed and settled onto one of the stools at the Bronze's bar, turning up her lip at a rack of postcards on the counter. Useless scraps of paper—mortals wasted their time on the most ridiculous things. Behind her the jukebox pounded out some alternative music tune, a half-dollar's worth of numbers on the list to fill the gap between the band that had just left and the one that was setting up. The failure of her temporal fold spell earlier in the day and having Willow bail on helping her with a second attempt—well, that just figured.

"What a day," she said grumpily, then realized the bartender, a young guy with a buzz cut and a yellow T-shirt, was standing there. "Give me a beer."

"ID," he said with absolutely no inflection in his voice.

She scowled at him. No effect.

"ID"

Anya felt her temper boil over, and she balled up her fists. "I'm eleven hundred and twenty years old!" she railed. "Just give me a friggin' BEER!"

He just stood there, and absolutely nothing in his expression changed. "ID."

She gave up. "Give me a Coke."

On the stage, Oz grunted as he and Devon struggled to move a heavy amp a little more to the left.

"Man," Devon panted. "We need a roadie. Other bands have roadies."

Oz straightened and wiped his hands on his pants. "Other bands know more than three chords," he pointed out. "Your professional bands can play up to six, and sometimes seven, completely different chords."

Devon made a snorting sound. "That's just like . . . fruity jazz bands."

"Oz."

He turned and saw Angel climbing the steps to the stage. "Hey, man. You looking for Buffy?"

The tall vampire inclined his head. "As always."

Oz picked up some of the wires puddled on the stage and began tying them out of the way. "No sightings as of yet, but I think she said she'd show."

Next to him, Devon got that look on his face when he thought—key word, thought —he'd just gotten a great idea. "Hey, man, how'd you like to be our roadie?"

"Less than you'd think," Angel said dryly.

"Well, stick around," Oz told Angel thinking Angel was wanting to give Buffy some information. "I'm sure Buffy'll—" He broke off as he followed Angel's suddenly fixed stare to where the back door was just visible from the stage.

A vampire, full vamp face, was blocking the door, clearly intent on keeping everyone in. Like Angel's, Oz's gaze immediately went to the other exits, then the front door. There was a vampire guarding every single one.

"That doesn't look good," Oz said in a low voice.

As if to confirm his words, some guy tried to push past what looked like the ringleader at the front door, and for his trouble he got tossed, hard, on top of the nearest pool table. His date screamed, and voices started rising, then the main vamp stepped forward. "Everybody, shut up!" he bellowed.

Oz and Angel exchanged looks and decided to do a wait-and-see right now. "All right," continued the head guy in a harsh voice. "Nobody causes any trouble or tries to leave, and nobody gets hurt."

Angel shifted slightly. "Why don't I believe him?"

"Well, he lacks credibility." Oz raised an eyebrow. "Can you get out of here?"

Angel tilted his head upward briefly. "Skylight in the roof—I can make it."

"I think we need some backup."

Angel didn't look convinced. "I think I'm needed here."

Oz shrugged. "Ten to one—could get pointless." He started to say something else, then shock ran through him, through all of him, paralyzing him for one seemingly forever moment. A foot to his right, Angel looked as appalled as Oz felt. Were they seeing what he thought they—? "Get Buffy," he managed to say to Angel. "Do it now."

With a last horrified glance over his shoulder, Angel slipped into the shadows behind the amps and began a hand-over-hand climb up the rope that hugged the wall.

"Dude," Devon said from behind him. His voice was very, very quiet, but Oz still could tell his pal was smiling and thought this was mega-cool. If he only knew. "Check out your girlfriend."

Vamp Willow glided into the Bronze. "Look… everybody's all afraid," she said with a sly grin at the humans around her. "It's just like old times." She moved forward, savoring the smell of fear saturating the air. Near the center of the room, she stopped at a table where a pretty girl with dark blond hair sat on a high stool. She smiled at her. "What's your name?"

What a pathetic, scared thing she was, barely able to answer, her eyes huge and wide with terror.

"Sandy," she finally got out.

Still smiling, Vamp Willow ran her fingers down Sandy's arm, then took her hand and pulled her to her feet. Too intimidated to resist, Sandy followed where she was led, as though she were Vamp Willow's baby sister. Still holding Sandy's hand, Vamp Willow addressed the crowd as though she were talking to a group of preschoolers. "You don't have to be afraid… just to please me. If you're all good boys and girls," she told them, "we'll make you young and strong for ever and ever. We'll have fun."

She pushed Sandy slightly ahead of her, then gave her a playful lick on the side of the neck. Her eyes narrowed. "If you're not…" Vamp Willow whipped her head side-ways, morphed into vampire mode instantly, and sank her teeth into Sandy's neck.

Enjoying her feast, she was still well aware that someone onstage… one of the band members? …started for her when she bit down, but one of her boys handily stepped into the guy's way and put an end to that idea. The girl spasmed, but Vamp Willow held on easily until she was as empty as one of those foil packs of fruit punch, then let her meal drop to the floor like so much discarded trash. She shuddered momentarily then looked at the crowd from beneath half-closed lids. "Questions? Comments?"

Dead silence.

Then, "Willow—you don't want to do this."

It was that guy, the cute one with the spiked-out red hair who'd been up on the stage. He'd made it as far as the bottom of the steps, so now she tilted her head and sidled up to him. "I don't?" she asked. "But I'm so… good at it."

But he only stared at her, his expression full of pain and dismay. "Who did this to you?" he demanded.

Now it was Vamp Willow's turn to frown. "I know you," she said. "You're a white hat—how come you're talking to me like we're friends?"

"Because he thinks you're someone else."

Vamp Willow spun and found a pretty young girl with dark hair walking fearlessly toward her. Good old broken-fingered Alphonse started to grab for the stranger, but Vamp Willow stopped him with a slight wave.

"He thinks you're the Willow who belongs in this reality," the girl continued.

Vamp Willow considered this. "Another… me."

"I'm Anya," the girl said. "You know this isn't your world, right? I mean, you know you don't belong here."

"No… this is a dumb world." Vamp Willow scowled at the crowd in general. "In my world there are people in chains, and we can ride them like ponies."

"You want to get back there."

"Yeah," Vamp Willow said with a pout.

Now Anya's grin was dark and calculating, and Vamp Willow liked that. A lot. "So do I."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Standing at the far end of the library counter, Willow pressed herself against the wall. This whole herself-as-a-vampire situation made her want to scrunch down and hide—of all the things she'd imagined seeing, had actually seen, herself as a bloodsucker was not on the I-want-to list.

A shudder worked its way up her spine. "This is creepy," she said. "I don't like the thought that there's some vampire out there who looks like me."

"Not you like—is," Slayer Dawn said. "She's exactly you, in every detail."

"Except for your not being a dominatrix…" Buffy hesitated. "As far as we know."

Willow smiled ruefully. "Oh, right. Me and Oz play Mistress of Pain every night."

A few feet away, Giles frowned, and Slayer Dawn, Buffy and Xander looked disturbed. "Did anybody else just go to a scary visual place?" Xander asked slowly.

"Oh, yeah," Buffy and Slayer Dawn said as Giles raised his eyeglasses in agreement.

Willow started to remind them that this was ridiculous when Angel burst through the library doors and hurried up to Buffy. "Buffy, I…" He faltered, apparently trying to find the right words. "Something's happened that… Willow's dead."

Xander and Buffy both nodded agreeably, then Angel glanced over at her. "Hey, Willow," he said automatically. He turned back to Buffy, then jerked and looked back at Willow, then turned back to Buffy again. "Wait—"

"You think that's weird," Slayer Dawn said and Angel turned at the sound of her voice. "The vampire you saw, Angelus, is from my world."

Angel looked at Buffy confused. "What is Dawn talking about? And why did she call me Angelus. I thought Dawn had put what happened behind her?"

"That's not our Dawn," Buffy informed him. "She's from the same world that the vampire you saw is from."

"And I've only known you as Angelus," Slayer Dawn said. "I met you for the first time tonight. Anyways where is the vampire, now?"

Angel tried to regroup. "Okay. Well, she's at the Bronze—with a cadre of vampires looking to party."

Buffy got hastily to her feet. "Then we can worry about who she is after we stop the feeding frenzy."

It took only a few minutes for everyone to get their coats and weapons and head out. "How many were there?" Slayer Dawn asked as the group strode out of the library.

Angel glanced at Buffy with a raised eyebrow. "In the world she's from, she's a Slayer. Short of the story she's Faith's replacement."

Angel nodded in understanding. He then thought about Slayer Dawn's question for a moment. "Eight or ten."

Buffy looked to Giles. "Should we call Faith?"

The librarian gave an emphatic shake of his head. "We don't want to risk her blowing her cover. We don't know how close he's watching her."

Xander looked at Giles puzzled. "Her cover?" he asked.

"Sorry, Xan. We wanted as few of people to know as possible," Buffy informed him. "Faith's gone undercover at the Mayor's office."

"Uh, guys?" Willow said and her friends and Slayer Dawn turned and looked at her expectantly. "The…" She swallowed. "What are we going to do with… me? The… other me?"

No one answered, then Buffy stepped forward and touched her arm. "I don't know, Will," she said gently. "We just have to stop them."

"I get that," Willow said unhappily. "I just kind of wanted to know—oh!" A thought jumped into her head. "Hey—go! I'll catch up."

She let them start moving away and headed back to the library. Inside, she leaned over the counter, trying to see. It hadn't been used since the last time Oz had broken out on one of his werewolf nights, but if she remembered correctly, what she wanted ought to be right here somewhere—

A cold hand closed over her mouth and yanked her back as an arm, even colder, wrapped around her waist and held her tight. A silky voice, achingly familiar but with an undercurrent of darkness that Willow found completely petrifying, spoke into her ear.

"Alone at last . . ."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Well, look at me. I'm all . . .fuzzy."

Vamp Willow let go, then spun Willow to face her. Horrified, Willow stared at the darker side of herself and tried to find something coherent to say. "What do I want with you? Uh, I mean—"

Vamp Willow regarded Willow from beneath half-closed lids. "Your little schoolfriend, Anya, said that you're the one who brought me here. She said that you could get me back to my world." She smiled darkly. "But I don't know…" She circled, her movements slinky and confident. When she was standing behind Willow again, she continued. "I kind of like the idea of two of us. We could be quite a team… if you came around to my way of thinking."

Willow cringed. "Would that mean we have to snuggle?"

"What do you say?" her vampire twin asked, then unexpectedly licked Willow's neck. "Want to be bad?"

Willow tried to scrunch up her shoulders. "This just can't get any more disturbing!"

Behind her, Vamp Willow growled playfully.

Willow ducked out from under the vampire's hold and whirled. "Okay—ick! Ick! No more—you're really starting to freak me out!" She tried to sidestep in the direction of the library doors, but the vampire moved with her, as if she instinctively knew what Willow would do. But she didn't know everything—

Willow snatched Xander's cross off the counter and brandished it, but her efforts got her only a vicious growl from her leather-clad twin. Before she could react, Vamp Willow reached out and slapped it out of her hand, then in one move lifted her and hurled her over the library counter. Willow landed in a heap on the other side, with probably two dozen places in her body screaming in pain.

"You don't want to play," Vamp Willow said poutily. "I guess I can't force you." She stepped through the doorway and started toward Willow. "Oh, wait—I can."

There—the thing she'd come back to the library to look for! Willow lunged forward and snatched the tranquilizer gun from its spot beneath the counter, aimed it at herself—her other self—and squeezed the trigger.

Vamp Willow looked at her in astonishment, then down at the dart embedded in her stomach. "Bitch," she said nastily.

She collapsed.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"It's extraordinary," Giles said.

Willow had caught up with Buffy and the others outside and called them back, and now she watched Angel drag the vampire version of herself into the cage. "It's horrible," she said. "That's me as a vampire? I'm so… evil. And skanky." She glanced at Buffy in dismay. "And… and I think I'm kind of gay."

Buffy gave her a look that tried to be comforting. "Just remember—a vampire's personality has nothing to do with the person it was."

Slayer Dawn looked over from where she, Angel and Xander were standing at the now-locked door of the cage. "Well, actually," she began, then her words sputtered out at Buffy's hard look and Willow's wide eyes. "Uh… that's a good point."

"What do we do now?" Xander asked.

"We still have to get to the Bronze," Giles noted.

Angel nodded. "Even if they're supposed to wait for her, they might start feeding—vampires are not notoriously reliable."

Xander gave them all a lopsided grin. "So, we charge in, much in the style of John Wayne?"

Giles clearly wasn't big on the idea. "High casualty risk. I haven't any other plan, though."

Slayer Dawn chewed on her lip, a habit she had picked up from her Buffy, for a second, then held up her hand and gave Willow a little I'm-sorry-in-advance smile. "I have a really… bad idea."

The Bronze

Angel jumped down from atop the Dumpster where he'd been peering through a high window and into the Bronze. "They're still in a holding pattern." He looked at Willow. "That's good—it means they must really be afraid of you."

"Who wouldn't be?" Willow indicated her outfit and tried to smile, but this… thing she was wearing—corset, piece of torture clothing, whatever they called it—seemed bent on curbing most of her muscular abilities. Never in the world would she have imagined herself in black leather and red satin.

Slayer Dawn and Buffy must have picked up on her discomfort. "You okay in that?" Buffy asked.

"It's a little… binding," Willow said. A corner of her mouth lifted. "I guess vampires really don't have to breathe." She squirmed, trying to get the folds and curves properly in place, then glanced down automatically. Yikes… cleavage. "Gosh," she said without thinking. "Look at those."

For a moment they all froze, accidentally doing exactly that. Then Giles cleared his throat. "Willow, you go in and defuse the situation as best you can. At least get some of them to come outside, even the odds a bit."

Willow nodded hesitantly, and Buffy put a comforting hand on her arm. "First sign of trouble, you give us the signal. We'll come in hard and fast."

Xander glanced from Buffy to Slayer Dawn to Willow. "What's the signal?"

"Me screaming." Willow found a sickly smile.

Angel stepped forward. "Giles, you and Xander wait by the back entrance."

"Right." The two of them moved quickly into the shadows.

Buffy and Slayer Dawn studied Willow. "You sure you're up to this?" Slayer Dawn asked.

"Don't worry," Willow told her friend's counterpart. "I won't do anything that could be interpreted as brave."

"We'll be right outside," Buffy assured her.

By all accounts that should have made Willow feel better, but that disappeared as soon as Buffy, Slayer Dawn and Angel faded back and into the darkness. She took a deep breath, then knocked on the side entrance. It was opened by a vampire, big and super ugly enough to shoot fear through every nerve in her body.

"Hi," she said. "I'm back."

Her tone was a little on the cutesy edge, and he looked at Willow doubtfully but moved aside as she stepped forward, struggling mightily not to trip in the high-heeled platform boots and nearly doing so anyway on the door-jamb. Then he was closing the door behind her, cutting off her escape route. She glanced around the room, trying to look convincingly evil, then saw another, bigger vampire approach… along with, wonder of wonders, Anya.

"Did you find the girl?" the vampire grated.

"Yep," Willow said. "I did." Hmmm, her tone was still perhaps a little too bright here, not nearly mean and nasty.

"Where is she?" Anya asked eagerly.

What was Anya's part in this—had she sent Vamp Willow after her? Of course, she had, but why? "I… killed her," Willow said, then hesitated, trying to figure out why the other girl looked so distressed. "And sucked her blood, as we vampires do." She peered around, then glided up to the vamp who'd let her in a few seconds ago. "You know, I think maybe I heard something out there. Why don't you go check?"

He obeyed as Willow turned her attention back to Anya and the vampire who was apparently, next to Willow herself, the one in charge. "How could you kill her?" Anya demanded now. "She was our best shot at getting your world back!"

Willow pasted on her best scowl and circled Anya the same way Vamp Willow had circled her. "I don't like that you dare question me," she said ominously. "Maybe I'll… have my minions take you out back and kill you horribly." She came back around, locking eyes with Oz as she passed, then chancing a tiny smile and hidden wave. Relief flashed across his expression, and warmth filled her—he must have been scared plenty earlier when he saw Vamp Willow.

"Vampires," Anya said in disgust. "Always thinking with your teeth."

Willow glowered at her and made her expression petulant. "She… bothered me," she said, slowly working her way toward another of the guard-type bloodsuckers stationed here and there. "She's so weak and accommodating. It's pathetic… she's always letting people walk all over her, and then she gets cranky at her friends for no reason." She shrugged, momentarily enjoying the role of spoiled royalty. "I just couldn't let her live."

She stopped by another young vampire and patted him on the shoulder companionably. "You know, he's been gone for a while," she noted with a nod toward the side door. "Why don't you check on him?"

With luck, he'd end up staked by Buffy, Slayer Dawn and Angel, as the first one had no doubt been. When she turned back, Anya was watching the guard leave with a perplexed expression, and the ringleader vampire was facing Willow. "Well, boss," he rasped. "Since that plan is out, why don't we get on with the killing?"

Sunnydale High School

Vamp Willow came to lying on the floor, as though she'd had nothing better in the world to do than take a nap. For a second, she stretched, then realized that something was wrong—really wrong—with what she was wearing. And when she looked down… Pink and fuzzy.

"Oh," she growled softly. "This is like a nightmare." And it got worse when she realized she was inside the library cage—locked inside.

"Hello—Giles?"

Vamp Willow jerked, then rose to see who was calling out in that sugary-sweet voice. A girl—tall and dark-haired, dressed to kill in a tight black and silver sparkling dress and high heels the way human women sometimes did. Wait… she knew this person—

"Wesley?" the teenager asked with considerably more hope in her tone. Vamp Willow saw her look toward the librarian's office and quickly pat a stray curl back into place. "I just happened to stop by… for books."

Vamp Willow eyed the girl from behind the metal gate. "Hey, you."

The teenager whirled in surprise, then saw her and came forward. "Hey, me?" she repeated, obviously insulted. "Hey, me, what? I have a name, you know."

Vamp Willow searched her memory. "Uh… Cordelia."

The other girl looked at her disdainfully. "What'd you do—lock yourself in the book cage?"

"Yeah," Vamp Willow said. "Let me out." She hesitated, trying to find the right act. "Cuz I'm so… helpless."

Cordelia looked at her blankly, then shrugged. "Okay." She went over and started hunting around behind the library counter. "I think Giles keeps a spare—ah." She picked up the set of keys lying next to the computer. "How'd you manage to lock yourself in, anyway?"

Vamp Willow paced restlessly behind the locked door. "I was… looking at the books." What else should she say to keep up the charade? "I like books, because I'm so… shy."

"Yeah, right," Cordelia said sarcastically. "The famous shy girl act all the boys fall for." She came back to the door and sorted through the keys until she found the right one.

"Open the cage," Vamp Willow coaxed, ready to—

"Wait," Cordelia said.

Vamp Willow froze. Uh-oh… had Cordelia realized that the Willow she was talking to wasn't the Willow she thought she knew?

Cordelia stepped back; keys still annoyingly separated from the lock. "It occurs to me that we've never really had the opportunity to talk. You know, woman to woman." She arched an eyebrow. "With you locked up."

Vamp Willow ran a hand down the cold metal of the door mesh. "Don't want to talk," she said slowly. "Hungry."

But Cordelia only ignored her. "What could we talk about?" she said thoughtfully. Suddenly, she put on an expression of exaggerated brightness. "Hey—how about the ethics of boyfriend stealing?"

The Bronze

"I don't know if I… feel like killing anymore," Willow said, trying desperately not to sound nervous.

This leather corset was so tight she could barely breathe, which was probably a good thing since she was supposed to be masquerading as her vampire self, and vampires weren't supposed to hyperventilate when they were afraid. "I'm so bored," she continued. She passed a girl sitting at a table and ran her hand through the girl's hair, trying to act like Vamp Willow would. Instead of looking sensuous, her fingers got stuck in a tangle and pulled; the poor girl was so petrified she didn't move a muscle while Willow freed her hand and moved on. She ambled through the crowd, trying not to feel self-conscious beneath Oz's penetrating gaze. "It would be like… shooting fish in a barrel," she finally said. "Where's the fun?"

The ringleader vampire lifted his chin. "With all due respect, boss—the fun would be the eating."

She floundered for a moment, trying to think of a comeback. "Maybe we should let everyone go and… give them a thirty-second head start—"

"Wait a minute," Anya said. Realization slid over her features.

"No," Willow interrupted, trying to put anger in her voice. "I like my plan!"

Anya rolled her eyes. "Oh, nice try."

"Okay," Willow said hastily. "Let's get to the killing." She pointed at Anya. "Why don't we start with her?"

Anya wasn't the least bit intimidated. "Why don't we start with you?" She glanced at the vampire standing next to her, then sneered at Willow. "If she's a vampire, I'm the Creature from the Black Lagoon!"

Sunnydale High School

"And okay," Cordelia continued, "it isn't even as if I was that attracted to Xander, it was more just that we kept being put into these life-or-death situations, and that's always all sexy and stuff. I mean, I more or less knew he was a loser, but that doesn't make it okay for you to come along and—what?"

Vamp Willow said nothing, just stared longingly at the girl's neck from where she was, still, imprisoned in the book cage.

"Do I have something on my neck?" Cordelia demanded.

"Not yet…" Vamp Willow said tiredly.

Cordelia strained to look down at her shoulder. "Am I getting a zit?"

"Cordelia," Vamp Willow said, and this time she didn't have to act to sound as if she was pleading. She was ready to say anything if it would just get her out of this little jail… or at least get this girl to be quiet. "I'm very sorry—I realize I was wrong. I'll never steal your boyfriend again."

"As if you could." Cordelia pressed her lips together but finally came forward with the key. "I should just leave you in there. But I'm a great humanitarian, and you'll just have to think of a way to pay me back sometime."

At last Vamp Willow heard the tumblers turn over, and the hateful door swung open. "Okay," she said happily as she stepped out and faced her rescuer. She raised her head and let her face slide into natural vampire mode, then gave Cordelia a nice, toothy smile. "How about dinner?"

Cordelia screamed. She careened out of the library at full speed, with Vamp Willow right behind her. Down the hall, turning here, through a doorway there, another hall, then she was in a classroom and weaving through the desks, turning them over behind her in a desperate effort to slow down the creature that followed her.

Vamp Willow moved like a cat, or maybe a snake—easily slipping past whatever Cordelia tumbled into her path.

"I—I didn't mean all that stuff I said before," Cordelia cried. Her words tumbled out. "I want you to have Xander. My blessings on you both—"

Vamp Willow grinned at her, showing sharp white teeth that were surprisingly clean and well cared for. "I'm so over him. I need fresh blood." She lunged forward, but Cordelia dodged, screamed again, and barreled through the exit door at the other end of the classroom.

More headlong rushing through the halls of Sunnydale High—jeez, it seemed they were forever running around in here, for one reason or another. Then—

She was trapped.

Cordelia spun back to find Vamp Willow striding around the corner. "No more hiding," the vampire said evilly. She didn't even hurry as she moved forward and reached out—

—and Wesley stepped between her and Cordelia.

"Back!" he yelled. He pushed a wooden cross toward Vamp Willow's snarling face. "Creature of the night, leave this place!"

Vamp Willow back-stepped, but only a little. "Don't want to," she said in a sulky voice. Her gaze flitted hungrily between the cross and Cordelia.

For a second Wesley looked confused, then he pressed his lips together and dug a vial of holy water out of the inside pocket of his suit jacket. He raised it threateningly, and this time Vamp Willow looked as if she was reconsidering. "Whatever," she finally said, obviously ticked off. She turned and stalked away.

The Bronze

Anya and the vampire—Willow had heard someone call him Alphonse—were slowly converging on her.

"I am just so tired of being around human beings and all their garbage—I don't care if I ever get my powers back." Anya hugged herself and sent Willow a cranky glance. "I think he should eat you."

"This girl has a history of mental problems dating back to early childhood," Willow said hotly. "I'm a bloodsucking fiend!" When they still didn't seem convinced, she gestured at the black and red getup she was wearing. "Look at my outfit!"

Alphonse shook his head. "A human—I should have smelled it right away."

Uh-oh. Time for drastic measures. "A human?" Willow demanded. "Oh, yeah? Could a human do this?" She screamed as loud as she could.

Anya and Alphonse looked at each other. Alphonse shrugged. "I'd say yeah, a human could do that."

"Uh-huh," Anya said at the same time. "Most humans could, yeah."

They turned to look at Willow. The hulking Alphonse started forward, then—thank goodness—Buffy, Slayer Dawn and Angel burst through the front door and the battle began.

Slayer Dawn and Alphonse went at it, exchanging vicious blows as Buffy and Angel began pummeling the vamps by the counter. An instant later Giles and Xander crash through the back entrance; Xander grabbed the nearest bloodsucker, and the librarian lunged in for the kill with a handy swipe of his stake.

Customers ran in every direction, some fleeing out the now unguarded entrances, others cowering beneath the pool tables.

Anya must have decided it was time to leave, too, because she turned to run, then jerked to a stop directly in front of Willow. Willow glared at her, then drew her fist back and punched the girl solidly in the nose.

Anya crumbled, then Willow realized just how badly that had hurt. "Ow—ow! It's all happy but ow!"

Suddenly Oz was there and pulling her up onto the stage, where Devon had abandoned his hiding place behind the drum set and was now trying to climb the ropes to the skylight as he'd seen Angel do. "Come on," Oz urged. "Devon, let's go!"

Realizing he wasn't going to make it, Devon half fell to the floor, then scrambled after Willow and Oz toward the back door. They'd almost gotten there—

—when the Vamp Willow marched through it and tossed Oz into Devon as if Oz was a bowling ball and his band partner was the pin.

Slayer Dawn spotted Vamp Willow and nodded. "Buffy," she called. "Switch. I have a date."

Buffy looked at Slayer Dawn and then followed her gaze to Vamp Willow.

"Please," Slayer Dawn pleaded. "She and I have a truce and now that we know how we got here. The truce is off."

Buffy reluctantly nodded as she raced over to Alphonse as Slayer Dawn turned and ran toward Vamp Willow.

Willow faced the darker version of herself and swallowed. "No more snuggles?"

Vamp Willow tackled Willow, and Willow went down. She tried, but her struggles were pretty useless against the strength of her darker self—in less than two seconds the vampire had wrapped her hands around Willow's throat and was trying to strangle her.

"Hey, Willow," Slayer Dawn said and the vampire looked up at her. "Truce is off. We both know how we got here now." She pulled out a stake and went to plunge it into Vamp Willow.

"Dawn, no!"

Slayer Dawn stopped it an inch away at Willow's cry. She hauled the vampire up and arm-locked her. Vampire Willow started to struggle, then realized that what was left of her mini-army was either dead or had hightailed it. Defeat flashed across her face.

"Nice reflexes," Willow said to Slayer Dawn as she got up.

Slayer Dawn glanced over at Buffy as she dusted Alphonse and smiled. "I learned from the best."

Willow turned to her dark twin, who just looked morose.

"This world's no fun."

Incredible as it might seem, Willow could relate. "You noticed that, too?"

The Factory

Dawn stood looking at her counterpart. "It's weird," she admitted.

"I have to agree," Slayer Dawn admitted. "Are you sure you don't want me to go back?"

"It means, certain death for you," Dawn informed her sadly. "I don't mind having a twin. I think it could be fun."

Slayer Dawn nodded as she turned toward Giles who was keeping a watchful eye on Anya as the girl was finishing preparations for the return spell. "And your sure I won't be sent back if I'm not in the circle?"

"Not one hundred percent, no," Giles admitted. "But I should…"

"Your Dawn says I die anyways. If the vampire goes back it gives her a chance at life and if I stay it gives me the same," Slayer Dawn said.

"It is your choice in the end," Giles admitted. "That said I would be lax if I didn't mention without you there your world will have no Slayer."

"We don't know that for sure," Dawn said as she moved beside her counterpart. "After all, according to my memories she did die. Wouldn't my memories change if she didn't?"

"One would think so," Giles admitted.

"I want to stay," Slayer Dawn insisted. "I want to stay in a world where not only my mother and my sister are not only alive but Buffy has finally become the person she always dreamed of."

Giles nodded. "Very well."

Willow smiled to herself as she saw Xander sidle up to Vamp Willow. "So," he said in a gloating tone, "in your reality I'm like this bad-ass vampire, huh? People are afraid of me?"

Vamp Willow gave him a withering look and said nothing.

"Oh, yeah," Xander said, and swaggered away. "I'm bad."

"I'm not sure about releasing this thing into the wild, Will," Buffy said at her side. "It is a demon."

Willow knew this—oh, how she did. "I just can't… kill her."

Buffy was silent for a moment. "No," she finally said. "Me, neither."

"I could," Slayer Dawn admitted as Willow, Dawn and Buffy looked at her. "But that's only because I don't have any emotional attachment like you guys do."

Willow studied herself from across the circle of magic being worked out on the floor. "We send her to her world, without Dawn there she has a chance. It's the way it should be, anyway."

"I think we're about ready here," Giles said from the floor. Oz leaned over and added something to the circle, then scooted back. He gave Anya a sharp look. "Don't you try any tricks, Anyanka, dear."

"I don't need tricks," Anya said sullenly. "When I have my powers back, you will all grovel before me."

Willow made a dismissive sound, then realized Vamp Willow had made exactly the same noise, at the same time.

"If you Willows would complete the circle…" Giles instructed. "And the Dawns remain outside of it."

Willow started to sit where she'd been told, then she turned back to her twin. "Good luck," she offered. "Try not to kill people." They stared at each other for a second, then Willow gave in to the impulse to hug her—after all, she was kind of like a sister, only the bad one in the family. After a moment's hesitation, the vampire returned the embrace. Willow jerked. "Hands!" she admonished. "Hands!"

Before joining the magic circle, Vamp Willow only gave her a sweet and wicked smile.

February 23, 1999 – Tuesday

Sunnydale High School

Slayer Dawn looked at Giles and Wesley and smiled. "So how are we working this?"

"I've spoken with the Council and I have been assigned as your Watcher," Wesley said. "They decided that the best thing would be to insert you into your family as your own twin. If anyone asks you were with your father till recently when he sent you to live with Buffy, Dawn, Mrs. Summers and Faith. All that is left is to choose a new name so they can get you a birth certificate and the related government documents."

Slayer Dawn thought about it for a moment and then nodded. She knew the perfect name. A name that honored those that she lost in her world. "Elizabeth Joyce Summers," she answered.

"I understand the middle name," Giles admitted. "Why the first name?"

December 24, 1996 – Tuesday

Summers Home Los Angeles

Buffy sat on her bed with a notebook open in her lap. She looked at Dawn, who stood by her side, offering support and encouragement. "I've been thinking a lot about my name, Dawn," she said uncertainly. "Rutherford doesn't feel right anymore. I want something that reflects who I truly am.

Dawn nodded understandingly. "I understand," she said as she leaned in. "It's an important decision. Let's work together to find a name that feels perfect for you."

Buffy smiled gratefully and opened the notebook, revealing a list of potential names. "I've been brainstorming some ideas, but I haven't found one that really clicks. Can you help me?" she asked.

"Of course!" Dawn said, energetically. "I'm here for you. Let's dive into these names together."

They both settle down on the bed, the notebook placed between them.

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Buffy and Dawn went through numerous names, crossing some off the list and adding new ones. The notebook was now filled with scribbles and notes. "I thought this would be easier, but none of these names seem right," Buffy said with a sigh. "I want something unique, but still something that feels like me."

"Don't worry, Buffy," Dawn said supportively. "We'll find it. Let's try a different approach. Instead of focusing on specific names, tell me about the qualities you want your name to reflect."

Buffy looked thoughtful, her eyes lighting up with an idea. "I want a name that represents bravery, strength, and resilience," she said resolutely. "Something that captures the essence of a warrior."

Dawn smiled. "I love that. A name that embodies your fierce spirit. Let's keep that in mind."

0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0

Dawn held a book of baby names, flipping through the pages. She scanned the words, looking for inspiration. She came upon the listing for Elizabeth and noticed it listed Buffy as a nickname. She flipped through the book back to Buffy and smiled. "How about 'Buffy'? It means 'bringer of joy' or 'bringer of light.' It has a strong and positive energy to it. And it's close enough to Rutherford that it should make it easier for people to associate the two when you start your transition."

Buffy's eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat. "Buffy..." she whispered. "I really like that. It feels right, like it aligns with who I am and who I want to be."

"I thought you might," Dawn said excitedly. "It's a name that reflects your courage and the light you bring into the world."

Buffy smiled; her uncertainty replaced with newfound confidence. "Yes, Dawn," she agreed. "Buffy. That's my new name. Thank you for helping me find it."

Dawn grinned. "It was my pleasure, Buffy. I'm proud of you for embracing your true self," she said as she wrapped her arms around her big sister in a heartfelt embrace, celebrating the discovery of Buffy's new name.

February 23, 1999 – Tuesday

Sunnydale High School

"After Buffy came out to me, she wanted my help in finding the perfect name," Slayer Dawn explained as she remembered the day Buffy had asked for help in picking a new name. "She hated Rutherford with a passion. But she wanted a name that matched who she was inside. We went through a lot of names. I happened upon the name Elizabeth in a baby name book and saw that a nickname for it was Buffy. Flipping back the page on Buffy I showed it to her. Coupled with the meaning of the name and the fact it was similar to Rutherford… so that it would be easy for people to put two and two together when she came out to everyone else. I suggested Buffy and she agreed. So, by taking the name Elizabeth Joyce I am honoring both my mom's and my sister's memories."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Want to go the movies tonight?" Buffy asked Willow, Dawn and Elizabeth.

They were sitting on a bench outside the high school.

Willow, however, didn't feel happy at all. "Strangely, I feel like staying at home. And doing my homework. And flossing. And dying a virgin."

"I know how you feel, Willow," Elizabeth said as she looked at her twin. "I admit it's weird to think that someone led a totally different life based on different circumstances."

"Between me and my evil self, I have double guilt coupons," Willow admitted. "I see now where the path of vice leads—she messed up everything she touched. I don't ever want to be like that."

"And you won't," Elizabeth insisted. "Because you have three friends who are Slayers and fourth who is a Potential who will always watch your back."

"She's right, Willow," Dawn agreed as she smiled at her twin.

They sat there without speaking for a few moments. Finally, Buffy asked, "You want to go to the movies with us tonight?"

Willow looked at Elizabeth, Dawn and Buffy for a moment and then nodded. "Nine sound good? Oh, by the way," she said looking at Buffy. "I got an email from Faith yesterday. She told the Mayor about my hacking; you know to get on his good side as part of her cover. She told me that he sent some vampires after me to kill me. I expect the reason they didn't try is they mistook vampire Willow for me."

"Very likely," Elizabeth agreed.

"Which means there must be something pretty important on his computer," Willow added.