Continued...

A golden tanned burly man, who must have been in his late twenties to early thirties asked. Anya looks down, speaking what was inside.

"I want you to help me get over Xander, I mean who is he to think that I¹m indispensable? I¹m veryŠnot dispensable~"

The man stops her, before she made any more a fool of herself.

"No, I meant coffee-wise, they don¹t train us to be super-sympathetic and listening like, heck, we only get a twenty minute break every five hours. And working in a coffee shop can make me a little high strung."

Anya liked this man, and she hadn¹t met him before now, which she found odd; she was there almost everyday. She smiles coyly.

"Your new?"

He clears a table near the counter and replies by talking loudly over his shoulder. Anya was admiring his behind, for a good few seconds, before she pulled her gaze away.

"Yes Ma¹am, actually, I started yesterday. Stu¹s the name, Stu Cross, Stuart¹s my given name, but I¹d sure like it if you called me Stu."

He smiled showing his pearly white teeth; he then walked over to the front counter, putting cups and mugs into the soapy sink that was half filled with water. He then turned and smiled once more; Anya enjoyed his company.

"Well, Stu Cross, I hope you enjoy your time here."

They both smiled once again, he gave her a "What-will-it-be?" look. And she knew the conversation was over, she had to get back to the magic box soon anyway.

"A six shot cappuccino, to go, please."

She handed him exact change and watched him put it in the till.

"A woman that knows what she wants."

He smiles this smile, that was huge and nice, but wasn¹t the kind of smile that creased to his eyes. But it was a smile that Anya had enjoyed. He turned around the Espresso machine and made Anya her drink, while she watched him, still admiring his behind. As soon as he turned around, she quickly moved her gaze to his face, and smiled mischievously. He put a top on the coffee and handed it to her.

"Here you go ma¹am."

She took the coffee with a smile that did crease to her eyes. "My name is Anya, a name I think you¹ll be speaking often."

He took it good-humouredly, and she turned to leave, she spots Willow and Tara, and considers leaving them alone, but she may need one of them afterwards.

"She¹s just a friend."

"OhŠdid you make any other friends?"

Willow asks in her curiously sad way.

"A few others, they¹re so nice, but you know, not a friend I¹d rather be withŠwhat about you, any new friends?"

Willow smiles coyly.

"Nah, I¹m more of the indoor-sy loner type. We should do this again sometimeŠwith our friends too, or just us?"

Willow looks panicked; I can¹t believe I said that.

"Just us."

Anya walked over to where Willow and Tara were sitting, they hadn¹t noticed her at first, not until Willow glanced to her left and finally become aware of Anya. How long was she there? Willow thought.

"Hey Anya."

Tara frowns and follows Willows gaze to Anya. How long was she there? Tara thought.

"Hi."

Tara waves a little hello with a smile. Anya looks from Willow to Tara, shifting on the balls of her feet, feeling a little uncomfortable. But still as tactless as ever.

"So, are you two back together?"

Both Tara and Willow look at each other and than at the table, blushing. They then return their attention to Anya as she continues talking.

"~Because after what Willow did, using black magic to make you forget a fight, and then the whole debacle with Amy. And getting Dawn in a car accidentŠ which I frown upon, by the way. I think it¹s a brave risk, not one to be taken blindfolded."

Tara and Willow share a look, Tara raises her eyebrow, Willow smiles slightly and then, again, she turns her attention to Anya.

"Was there something you wanted?"

Anya sighs, They¹re too much into each other to worry about my petty problems. Petty? that¹s not the word I¹d use. Anya thought. But that didn¹t stop her from rambling about her displeasure in Xander.

"Well, I just wondered whether you both hated Xander with a fiery vengeance that I doŠright now."

Tara just shook her head in disagreement, and turned her head towards the street, watching people pass by. Willow frowns and replies.

"Well, sure, what Xander did wasn¹t the ethical thing to do, but I think what motivated this move, was his parents. He didn¹t want you and him to turn out like them; so, he took a step back and said, "I wan¹t to go right by Anya." I¹m sure he was thinking of you, A-and no, I don¹t hate him with a fiery vengeance."

Anya sighs, disappointed. You can¹t blame me for trying. Anya thought. "Ok, thenŠI¹ll just be goingŠnow."

Anya exits the Espresso Pump very disappointed, both Willow and Tara watch Anya cross the road, with fascination. Tara turns back to Willow.

"Xander still hasn¹t talked to her?"

"Negatory on that front. I mean, I feel sorry for Anya, who wouldn¹t? But, I don¹t think she¹s goingŠthe right way about thingsŠ"

Xander smashes into Spike¹s crypt, standing still for a moment, he has a look Around. Moonlight streams inside from the open door, it flows onto Xander¹s Back, and with that fierce look on his face, you could have sworn that he was a hatchety-murdery type stalking his victim. Only Xander didn¹t have a hatchet in his right hand, like your typical hatchet murderer, in place of the hatchet was sharp wooden stake. He kept his hand tense, just in case he was crept up on, and he knew with certainty that it was a possibility. Xander stands in the doorway for a good few minutes, very disappointed that he didn¹t find his prey. Damn, I was hoping to kill him now! He thought, amused in the fact that Spike wouldn¹t live for much longer.

He walked into the crypt, closing the door behind himself, after all, if Spike returned; he at least wanted the element of surprise. He took a seat in Spike¹s chair, fully wanting to kill Spike the instant he saw him. He waits patiently for Spike to return, well that was for the first five minutes, after that he was in a deep sleep.

"You know Spike can¹t hurt them."

Spike turns to Harmony and gives her a "shut-up" face. Warren continues walking in the shrubs of the park, trying to be incognito, while Spike tries to cover.

"They¹re like family, we¹ve been through a lot."

Warren kicks a coca cola can along the ground and laughs.

"Oh, I know about your chip Spike."

Spike stops walking and frowns.

"But at the crypt, you-you, you were scared of me!"

Spike says angrily, he wants to know why Warren deceived him. Warren keeps walking, only he¹s walking along a path now, if the slayer wanted him she¹d get him, no matter where he stood; Spike, in his own time, walks and catches up to Warren and Harmony. Warren keeps a straight face.

"I am afraid of you, and I also know that if you do this job for me you will find that it is very rewarding."

Warren stops at the curb and looks both ways, he then crosses the road, with Spike and Harmony closely following.

"RewardingŠPftt. I doubt it."

Warren sits on a wooden seat at the bus stop, and waits, he checks his watch, and then pulls a small piece of paper out of his pocket, which were pulled from black jeans, and raises his arm up to Spike, who is behind Warren, Spike takes the paper. Warren tells Spike what he has to do.

"Harm has her paymentŠ"

Warren looks over to Harmony, she smiles happily. He returns the smile, fearfully. Warren then returns his gaze to Spike.

"ŠAnd now you have yours. Do you know what you¹re going to do?"

Spike smirks at what he had read on the piece of paper.

"South America?"

"Yes."

Spike raises his eyebrow, while Harmony pulls out a Smith and Wesson. "I have a pretty good idea."

She says while playing with the weapon of destruction; Spike quickly snatches it out of her hands and puts it the pocket of his leather jacket. Harmony looks as if she is about to cry, Spike looks at Harmony and sighs.

"Remember what happened; the last time you had a weapon that could kill?"

Harmony stares at Spike blankly, he sighs louder this time and gives her the gun, she jumps up and down with joy. Spike retorts.

"Just don¹t point it at me."

A bus pulls up at the curb, and Warren gets up and enters it, he turns around.

"Good luck."

"Same to you."

Spike replies as the doors to the bus close, and it pulls away. Spike doesn¹t care to watch it, but instead starts to rapidly walk towards Ravello drive, with Harmony close beside him.

"Could you do it for me? Please Hallie!"

Halfrek paces in front of the checkout counter of the magic box, while Anya stands behind the counter pleading for her friend to do her a favour, Halfrek stops pacing and smiles.

"Then I¹ll need your power centre."

Anya thankfully takes off her amulet and hands it to her friend, Anya then sells A customer some chicken feet, while Anya runs up the bill, she hears Halfrek make a wish, although, she couldn¹t really understand it herself. Anya had granted the wish in front the customer, once it was cleared, Anya was herself again, the customer, gratefully took the feet, not at all caring about what he had saw.

"You did it."

Anya said happily, Halfrek replies with an ear-to-ear smile.

"But I don¹t get it. Why does he want one turned? And why the hell am I turning a woman!?"

Harmony complains while trying to walk along side Spike, which proves to be difficult, but than again, he is a difficult beast. He secretly wished that if he walked fast enough, he could lose her. They pass a street sign ŒRavello Drive¹.

Spike stops and grabs Harmony roughly by the arms.

"Because, you silly git, she¹ll have to kill her friend. And that¹ll just cut BufŠ the slayer up inside. And who would you rather bite? A member of the same sex, or bloody, Xander Harris?"

Spike pushes Harmony away from him, a little roughly, only she doesn¹t complain, she only smiles mischievously. He walks off again, Harmony shrugs and follows him.

"Point taken."

Spike walks up the step to the Summer¹s home and rings the doorbell. Harmony takes a hiding place beside the door, so whoever looks out cannot see her. At least, that was her theory. Spike rings the doorbell again, becoming very impatient. There¹s no answer, he walks around to a window, and puts his head against the glass, peeking through. He then takes a step back and looks over to Harmony.

"Look¹s like no one¹s home."

Harmony shakes her head in disappointment and in her shrill voice, she replies.

"Great! Now what are we going to do?"

"You really think he¹ll suffer like I have? Y-you didn¹t word it any differently than I had asked?"

Halfrek takes a seat at the table, near the stacks.

"You don¹t have to worry."

Anya nods in agreement; she walks over to the main entrance stairway and suddenly gets a rush. Anya almost falls to the floor, but steadies herself and takes a seat on one of the steps. Halfrek had seen this, and asks.

"What happened? Are you alright?"

Halfrek walks over to her friend, hoping that she¹s ok. Anya still sits, and shakes her head.

"I cast a spell hereŠtoday?"

Halfrek kneels beside her friend and then takes a seat beside her. Curiously, she asks.

"And what was the spell?"

Anya frowns and shakes her head, trying to remember.

"IŠdon¹t know. A time loop. It mayŠhave been a time loop, or déjà vu?"

"You don¹t remember?"

After a long pause, Anya replies.

"No."

Spike immediately stops in his tracks, almost causing Harmony to crash right into him, but she was fortunate to avoid that.

"Wait a minute."

"What is it?"

They stand in the middle of a kindergarten playground; swings and sandpits are surrounding them. Harmony looks around guardedly, fearing something is there with them. Spike takes a whiff of the air.

"I smell something~"

"Is this a gameŠnew car smell?"

Harmony enquires, ridiculously. Spike gives her a "You¹re-an-idiot" face. Harmony quietens down and decides to go on the swings while Spike stood there, smelling the dull air. While Harmony swings, Spike tilts his head to the sky and smells it again. He then points to his right; something like Babe Ruth would do before he hit a home run. Harmony stops swinging, and her fun, and walks a few steps over to Spike.

"Willow¹s down that way."

He starts walking at a brisk pace. Leaving Harmony standing in the sandpit, dumbfounded.

"I so don¹t want to know how he knows her scent."

Within a few minutes, they had got to their destination. Harmony again, almost bumping into Spike. He¹ s hiding in the shrubs, looking across the street, Harmony stands behind him and peers into the same direction.

"Good work KojakŠ"

Spike looks at her angrily.

"ŠSpike."

They watch silently as Willow follows Tara into a building, Harmony looks over to Spike and asks.

"Shouldn¹t we kill them before they get inside?"

Spike tuns and faces Harmony, thinking, I don¹t play this game anymore. He puts on a fake smile.

"Now what¹s the fun in that? Anyway, we want them to be less prepared. So let¹s just wait for a bit."

Xander jumps out of Spike chair and falls to the floor, dazed.

"That wasn¹t just a dream."

He composed himself, and left Spike¹s crypt.

Anya flips the closed sign towards the street and sighs, relieved that the day is over. Friday nights are usually busy, tonight was average. She walks over to a seat and plops herself into it.

"Hallie, could you just repeat what you said, I just want to be sure."

She had been arguing with Halfrek to tell her about the specific words she used in her wish.

"But you don¹t need nor do you love him."

Halfrek replied, Anya nodded in agreement, but was thinking, What have I done?

Halfrek finally relents.

"To keep your soul at restŠexactly like thisŠ"

She said, and Anya knew her friend would tell her.

"ŠI wish that Xander Harris will suffer the things my friend Anya feelsŠand that was it."

"Halfrek you give in too easilyŠyou did what! Oh, Hallie, you didn¹t?"

Anya pleaded that what Halfrek had said was only in her head, and that Halfrek hadn¹t said it at all, but she knew that wasn¹t the case. Fear plagued Anya. Anya prayed that what Halfrek he said wasn¹t what she meant, or even the truth, unfortunately, that wasn¹t the case.

"Yep, why? Is that a problem?"

Anya rushes out of her seat and grabs her coat.

"You can bet your bottom dollar it is!"

Spike stops at the entrance of the building and looks up, considering what he¹s doing.

"Harm?"

She stops, just as she was about to enter the building, she turns around and sighs, aggravated.

"You are such a chicken, Spike!"

She half yelled this at him, his eyes flared up in anger.

"I know what¹ll happen, and I don¹t want that. SoŠare you coming with me?"

Harmony stood there for a minute, she tapped her foot, she was torn between killing and not killing, but when it came down to it. She was a killer.

"No."

"I¹m going to be sleeping like a rock tonight, I don¹t think I¹ve ever done so much shopping in my entire life."

Dawn laughed in agreement, the bags she was holding felt like bricks, she had to get home before her arms fell off, but she couldn¹t very well do that with ten vampires standing in her way, now could she?

"Buffy?"

Dawn said fearfully. Buffy followed Dawn¹s gaze to the vampires.

"Oh, fooey, and I was having a lovely eveningŠand you guys had to come and ruin it, didn¹t you."

The vampires slowly advance on Buffy and Dawn.

"Ok, Dawn, when I say "GO" you run like hell until you get home, got it?" Dawn nodded.

"Got it."

Buffy faced the vampires.

"Come on, rush me, it¹ll be fun."

All ten vampires rushed at Buffy, the first to get to her, got a swift kick to the chest, sending him back into three other vampires.

"GO!"

Dawn jumped and ran as fast as she could, not looking back, not wanting to. While her sister improvised, using tree branches as stakes, and snapping a mailbox apart, she staked seven vampires, and that left three. These guys were big and strong, she was tired, so being a heroine, she did something that didn¹t come naturally. She ran, she ran until it felt like her legs were going to fall off, she was gaining distance, she could tell, but to be safe, she wanted to be inside her home.

"Did you hear something?"

"Just you."

Tara purred like a kitten, neither her nor Willow could hear Harmony knocking at the door. They were in their own private world.

Harmony stood at the door to Tara¹s, very frustrated that she wouldn¹t get a kill. So, she leaves in a huff.

Anya wanders around Sunnydale, trying to find Xander, she then realises where he may go to firstŠespecially if he got a rush, like she did when she was in the magic box. She runs as fast as she can back to the place she had just left, she saw Xander crossing the road. She ran to him and tried with all of her might, to get him out of the way. Instead, she was hit by the bus with him.

A few moments later Anya regained consciousness, she thinks, okŠwhat happened? I feel like I¹ve been hit by a bus...Xander!

"Xander?"

Anya crawled over to Xander and sheltered herself across his chest, she screamed.

"Somebody! Somebody, please help us!"

She caressed Xander¹s face, urging him to wake up and not be dead. Long after, when Anya had almost lost hope, he awoke, gasping for air, so she got off his chest immediately.

"Anya?"

"Xander, I¹m here."

She kneeled right above him.

"AnyaŠI can¹t see youŠ"

Anya placed her forehead against his.

"XanderŠI¹m sorry."

She kissed his forehead, and for the first time that night Xander was happy, he was happy his loved one was by his side, and he died a happy man. Silver lights surrounded Anya and Xander, and time is overturned.

ŠTo be continued.