A/N We're done with this reality for now and will be heading back to the main one, but we will revisit this Buffy, Willow, Giles and Agatha when we get back to the Justice League Xander and Cordelia.
######
Much to Willow's vocal displeasure, Xander took back the comic book. "I need that!" She insisted. "Without it I may never be able to save Xander!"
"He's doing a lot better there then he was here." Cordelia raised her eyebrows and gave a slight smirk. "Tell me, Willow, do you really think you can undo something a god has done? Xander was sent there either by the Powers that want to neutralize him or by one of the gods looking out for him or by another god with a different agenda. Do you really think you're capable of taking on any of them?"
"That Dawn girl in the story mentioned neutralizing Xander too, what does that mean?" Willow ignored Cordelia's question and asked one of her own.
"Where you're concerned, Willow, it means making you even more blind to Xander than you already are." Cordelia retorted.
"That's not true, no one knows Xander as well as I do!" The redhead insisted.
"That's what our Willow thought." Xander told her. "And every Willow we've met, it always comes as a shock to them when they discover that what they think they know, is actually only assumptions and not based on any facts."
"Like what?" Willow demanded.
"That we think of you as a sister because when we were little your red hair reminded us of Jessica?" Xander asked and Willow looked blank. "Or that we've been taking the same advanced classes you take and passing them for years without your help?"
"Ha! That's not true!" Willow pounced on what she thought was finally proof that these people were wrong.
"Mrs. Beakman's class, who sat behind you and to the right?"
"Xander - but no, he couldn't - I don't understand." Now Willow was confused and really didn't like the feeling.
"You decide something, you assume you're right and you never make any effort to verify. Not very scientific, Willow." Xander said softly. "And I really don't like the fact that every Willow, including the one we know, had that same problem and has to actually have the bandaids of assumptions ripped off before you see the truth that's always been right there in front of you. Once our Willow began facing the facts and discarding her assumptions she started becoming a much nicer person, I'd like to see if you can get there too. Most of your assumptions are in regards to me, to the version of me you know and most of them are wrong and always have been."
"Like assuming Xander didn't pass his SAT test?" Willow asked, remembering that conversation when she and Buffy had informed Xander and Cordelia they'd negotiated with the Council for them to go to college and hadn't included Xander, Cordelia and Oz in the negotiations. "And thinking he's ordinary and normal and should just accept it and have an ordinary, normal life."
"Basically that he shouldn't want to improve himself or his situation." Faith said flatly. "Have no ambitions, yeah I got that a lot too when I was growing up and then I was Chosen as the Slayer and found out Artemis, as in the goddess Artemis, has been looking out for me for awhile, that she considers me her daughter. Well all Slayers, but she doesn't take an interest in most of them while they're still Potentials, but Chiron said she's been looking out for me for a long time, even made sure I had a Guardian who loves me. I'd love to introduce you to a Xander we met who's got a Doctorate and is the Chair of his Department of the University he teaches at. 'Course, I'd also have to introduce you to the local Willow, a black Magic addict who tried to end the world and is a college dropout."
"You just like bragging about that Xander because your counterpart's engaged to him." Cordelia's smirk was full grown now. "But then I'm dead in that reality, so he had to move on."
"Engaged?" Willow could have doubled for an anime character now, her eyes were that wide. "Your taste in women is horrible! What were you thinking?! Cordelia's bad enough, but Faith -." She stopped as the words seemed frozen in her throat at the glare Xander leveled at her.
"Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again." He said firmly. "You do not get to insult either of them, do you understand me? I don't let anyone get away with insulting you, why would you ever think I'd ever let you get away with insulting them either? You think you have a bad history with Cordelia, but it's based on exaggerations and self pity on your part and you do have a bad history with the Faith you know, but that's based on the behind the scenes problems and now you know she wasn't responsible and needs help. You all do, because your Buffy is sliding down that dark hole herself. Whether or not Ms. Harkness and her Coven can stop Twilight your Buffy is still in trouble, she planned and attempted the murder of a human, the True Slayer, in order to feed her to a vampire. It all has to be investigated and a determination made as to how much was manipulation and how much was free will. How many of your choices have been your own or the result of Twilight and others whispering in your ear? Oh, while you're at it, give Amy to Ms. Harkness, I'm sure she can make her human again, hopefully before she ends up going crazy too."
"Something else you forgot to mention, Miss Rosenberg?"
