Entropy

Sunnydale- A Cemetery At Night

Two vampires run through the cemetery- one blond, one dark haired.. One of the vampires is carrying a disc. Three all-terrain-vehicles equipped with large wooden stakes at the front chase them. It's Warren, Andrew and Jonathan.

A vampire pauses, jumps to grab a tree branch and breaks it- he swing at Andrew's ATV- causing him to crash, and the other two to swerve. A few tombstones get demolished and the other two ATVs crash too. Andrew runs up to the other two, and they watch as the vampires exit the cemetery. Jonathan looks serious and closed in on himself. "We need that disk."

The vampires exit the cemetery- and are jumped by Buffy. She starts to fight them. The lighter haired vampire gets thrown against the cemetery wall and Buffy moves to take on the dark haired one. Warren and the others pull back. They don't want to be seen. The blond vampire recovers and starts to get up- but suddenly lifts into the air. Spike is perched on the cemetery wall wearing his duster, black tee, and Docs. One hand on the wall, the other has the blond vamp suspended by his jacket- its feet dangling in the air. Something drops from the vamp's hand. Warren moves to the wall. A metallic disc lies at the hanging vampire's feet. Warren snatches it and withdraws. Neither Buffy nor Spike notice.

"How ya doin'?" Spike drawls.
Buffy's having a little difficulty with the dark haired vamp. She looks up, register's Spike's presence.
"Oh, fine. You know, same old same old."
Spike indicates the hanging vampire. "Here, I could take care of this guy if you want." Buffy kicks the vamp she's fighting off of her. He flies backward.
"Whatever." She grunts, "Your call." She flips to her feet.
"I mean, sure, he don't look like much--" Spike watches as she proceeds to pummel the dark haired vamp. The vamp he's holding struggles uselessly. "But I'd wager he could give you a bit o' nasty. Save you the staking." Buffy gets the dark haired vamp on the ground.
"All you gotta do is--" Buffy looks up from where she's holding down the vamp.
"I am not telling my friends about us." Spike looks petulant, tilts his head and narrows his eyes.
"Right. I'll just be dropping him down to you, then."
"You want to tell 'em so badly?" Buffy is still trying to keep the dark haired vampire down. "Go ahead." She raises the stake- and the vampire dusts. She gets up, walks over to the wall. Looks up at Spike. "You know why? I tried to kill my friends, my sister last week, and guess how much they hate me? Zero. Zero much. So I'm thinking, sleeping with you? They'll deal." She turns and walks away. Spike turns his head away, frustrated. He drops the vampire to the ground. The vampire rushes after Buffy. Spike turns back to her.
"In that case, why won't you sleep with me again?" The vamp stops suddenly, turns to look back at Spike. (WTF?)
"Huh?" Buffy turns as well, and stakes the vamp. Glowering, she turns again, and walks away.
"Because I don't love you." Still crouched on the wall, Spike watches her retreating back. He looks down, also glowering.
"Like hell." He mutters.

Xander's Apartment- Dining Room

Xander sits on the floor, his legs stretched out. He's wearing a white dress shirt with jeans. Leaning against a barstool, he slowly drinks a beer. Slow, sad music plays in the background. He looks at the beer bottle, then picks up the CD player remote- turns the music off. Xander looks around at the empty, quiet, apartment. Then, slightly unsteady, he gets up and walks out of the apartment. Outside, Xander walks the path out of the building. Anya watches him from behind some bushes. She's wearing a pink overcoat and a grey turtleneck. Her blonde hair is curly and a bit tousled. She looks focused and determined.

---
Credits.
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Sunnydale University- A Corridor

Willow waits in the corridor, watching students as they leave their classroom. She's dressed in a red long sleeved tee that has black piping, and a white logo across the front- "Chippewa Bay". Bouncy, and happy, Willow bounds up to Tara as she exits the classroom. Willow touches Tara's arm, getting her attention.

"Hey." Tara smiles, surprised and happy to see Willow.
"Hey, look at you, all coming out of class and everything." Willow says, gesturing.
"I do that sometimes," Tara nods, "usually at the end part of the class." Tara is wearing an ivory peasant blouse- covered by a very Spike-like (but not leather) long black coat.
"Right. Heh heh." Willow titters a bit, shows her nervousness.
"So how's your- you know, after the whole basement deal?" Tara asks, pointing to her own neck. Willow bushes her hair back, and rubs the right side of her neck.
"It's between a hitch and a kink, with a side of a twinge. It's ok."
"And Buffy's ok, too? Enjoying the refreshing sanity and so forth?" Tara asks, grinning a little. She seems to be flirting a bit.
"Yeah. Refreshing san--" Willow lets exuberance overcome her- and laughs a bit loudly, but tones it back quickly. "- that's funny. She's ok. A little freaked." She pauses, "I'm glad she didn't hurt you." Tara nods, "Me, too." They start to walk again. Tara gets serious.
"So, this is becoming kind of a regular thing, you and me after class." Willow look surprised, off guard. And suddenly nervous again. "Uh, I didn't--"
Tara continues, still serious. "Only this time, you stuck around." She smiles.
Willow looks up, embarrassed. "Um.. various sounds of hesitation." She says accentuating the syllables.
"She was just a friend." Tara explains. Willow is still jealous/embarrassed. "Heh. Friends are nice."
"You rushed off before I could, you know, explain." Tara says gently, but pointedly.
"Well, officially, I have to say, I have no idea what you're talking about." Willow playfully feigns ignorance, raises her head high.
Tara turns to her, conspiratorially. "Unofficially?"
Willow stop, faces Tara- eager but nervous. "We should have some coffee sometime. Maybe someday this week… after class?"
Tara smiles and tilts her head, "I'm free tomorrow."
Willow looks at the floor, still very nervous, and fishing for information.
"I--you could--you could bring your friend."
"I wasn't gonna--" Tara begins, concerned. "I mean, if you have a friend--"
Willow is adamant, gestures. "No. I'm--oh, uh, "I'm friendless…"
Tara and Willow talk over each other.. trying to assure each other that there are no other 'friends'- but they do have friends. They giggle a bit, both very happy and very tense.
"Coffee." Tara says, gaining control again. The two of them nod vigerously.
"With us, who are…" Willow begins, gesturing to Tara "..just friends."

Sunnydale- Shopping District

The street is busy with people. Buffy and Dawn walk down the sidewalk. Stores line the street. Buffy wears a pink tulip-like short sleeve and blue jeans. Her hair is blonde with highlights and down to her shoulders. Dawn wears a purple sparkly top covered by a wine-coloured jacket and jeans.

Buffy gestures to a store as they pass it. "Ok, how about this one?" She asks.
Dawn looks at the store- bows her head as she remembers. "Ah. 3 pairs of earrings, a coin purse, and a toothbrush." She recites.
"You stole a toothbrush?" Buffy asks- a bit weirded out.
"A mother-of-pearl handle. Very fancy." Dawn explains.
"Yeah," Buffy shakes her head. "but you stole a toothbrush. As far as rebellious teenagers go, you're kind of square."
"Dental hygiene is important." Dawn smiles, embarrassed.
"Guess this was kind of a lame sisters day out, huh?" Buffy apologises, "I make up for trying to kill you by taking you to places you can't go in."
Dawn looks contrite, gestures to herself. "No, it's my bad. I'm the one that got caught taking stuff."
Buffy points across the street, a bit excited. "Hey, how about the pet store? You didn't take anything from there, did you?"
"A pocketful of goldfish. It didn't work out." Dawn says seriously. Then at Buffy's look, "No." She laughs.
"Ok, good. We can go, and we can look at all the puppies." Buffy says with purpose.
But Dawn looks appalled and a bit squeamish. "Eh...it's so awful. There's puppy mills and keeping them in cages and people poking at 'em all day."
She makes a poking motion with her finger.
"Yeah, but puppies--cute. Come on. You used to love the pet store." Buffy coaxes.
"Yes, when I was in my 5s and 6s." Dawn notices that Buffy is disappointed and changes track. "Come on, we'll go look." Then nods, "Besides, I don't think there's another store here where I can show my face."
"It'll pass. You've returned all the stuff that you still had, and we're paying for the rest."
"I'm paying for the rest." Dawn says quietly- determined.
"We'll figure it out." Buffy looks at her sister, searching a bit- not-happy, but satisfied.

The Troika's Lair

A silver coloured metal dist leans against a glass bottle. It's covered with symbols between near-concentric circles descending in a spiral. Jonathan sits in front of a mad scientist's array of tubs and vials and bubbling coloured liquids. He's stirring a container full of something.

Warren stands at his shoulder.

'Get back." Jonathan insists. "You don't want to make me rush this."
Warren at the equipment. "I'm not impressed, Padawan. When do we hit pay dirt?" He walks around behind Jonathan.

"If something goes wrong, it's gonna surge, and we'll be deader than an ex-girlfriend." Jonathan mutters- not looking up. He keeps stirring. Warren stops walking- turns quickly to face Jonathan. "What did you say?"
"Just let me work." Jonathan demands.
"All right." Warren nods. "All right. You do what you need to do. You get us the goods, and then watch out!" He says quickly, nodding faster.
"It'll be like-- it'll be like the whole world just spread open and gave it up for you, man."
Jonathan looks up, considering. "And then we're done, right? We each take our share and we call it a day." He looks hunted- he wants out.
"You that ready to get rid of us, huh?" Warren asks quietly, still nodding
"Don't worry. We pull this off, you can go buy any tropical island you want. But cheer up, short round. You're about to get us everything we ever wanted." Jonathan looks up, his jaw tense- nods.

Warren walks to the other side of the room where Andrew stands. Andrew comes over to him. They're not far form Jonathan, but Jonathan appears not to hear what they're saying.
"He's almost done." Warren says in a hushed voice.
Andrew looks over, "I sort of feel kind of sorry for him." he says hesitantly.
Warren looks at Andrew sharply. "That's a weakness."
"Um, ok." Andrew bounces a little- he's tense.
Warren looks over at Jonathan. "Look at him." he says quietly. "He's got that same look on his face-- the one that he had that time I highlighted in his Babylon 5 novels..." Andrew bounces again- then his face changes- he comes to a revelation. "Right before he told his mother on me! Warren, I don't think we can trust him."
"We don't have to, not for that much longer." Warren shakes his head- he's got a plan.
"Is it gonna be that soon?" Andrew looks both excited and scared.
Warren looks at him… "The milk in the fridge-- how long till it expires?"
"Uh, we got it on Friday, and I remember noticing there wasn't a full 2 weeks on it, but we did get it in the fridge pretty quick. Unless I'm thinking about the 2% milk." Andrew goes on until Warren interrupts him.
Exasperated- Warren sighs. "Forget it. It was a thing. It's gonna be soon."
"Oh. Wow." Andrew nods.
"Yeah."

Xander's Apartment

Xander enters his apartment- then stops. Anya is sitting at the dining room table. She rises.
"Oh, my god." Xander says softly- then walks over to Anya. "How are you?"

Anya walks away as he comes near- unconsciously tugging at her engagement ring finger. "Ducky. You?" She says with a bit of snark. She wrings her hands.

Xander wants to get closer to her- but stops as he sees that she is moving away from him. He gestures toward her. "An...please… Let me, uh, explain. I know there's nothing that I can say or do to make up for what I did. I can't. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I'm, like, "oh, god, "is this my life? Was that me?"

Anya looks like she understands, she looks ready to cry. "Me, too."

"But you gotta believe me, please." Xander continues. "I want to make up for it. I want to take away the hurt. I love you so much." He says earnestly- then stops and smiles self-deprecatingly. "I- I may have practiced that a couple times in front of the mirror." He explains. Anya looks ready to listen- she flutters her eyelids, doesn't know what to say. "Just--I don't understand what happened."

"I do." Xander ventures. He's being very candid. "I'm an idiot. All I had to do was say something earlier. I could've spared you from that-- that nightmare."

Anya's expression changes to confusion- and then a bit of anger. "Said something about what?"

Xander realises he's stepped wrongly- back-pedals a bit. "No, no. I mean, you know, if I were, like, more self-aware-- because with the whole idiot thing." He smiles, gestures.

Anya isn't having it- she's getting more angry. She folds her arms- no longer wrings her hands. "If you had been more self-aware, you would have what?" She pauses- Xander looks more nervous. "Been able to stop the wedding?"

"No, no, it's not like that. That's not what-- ok, see, I didn't practice this part." He stops, very uncertain of himself.

Anya looks at him closely him, says forcefully. "Do you still want to get married?" Xander is struck dumb. He just stares at her. It's obvious that he does not want to get married. Anya's face changes- she really didn't expect that he wouldn't. She looks ready to cry again for a moment. Xander seems to wants to explain- but he doesn't have the words. "An, it's a very complicated question."

Anya is still near tears- but she says firmly, "No, actually, it's really not. It's kind of an either/or deal. Do you want to get married?"

"Someday, yes, very much. When we're ready." Xander tries to explain. I don't want you to take this as a bad thing. It's good. I love you. I love you so much. I'm just trying to be honest with you."

With each word, Anya gets angrier. "Yes." She spits out. "Honesty. Now. Congratulations, Xander, on being honest now. I wonder what the medal will say." She sneers.

"Ok, clearly, I'm not handling this well." Xander gets defensive, doesn't know how to react.
"Well, duh!" Anya shouts- getting into his face. She turns away from him.

Xander makes a step toward her. "All I want is for us to be together. I love you. I wish we could just go back to the way things were before."

Again, each work makes Anya more angry- she takes a deep breath. Her face changes- morphing into that of a Vengance Demon. "And I wish you were never born."

---
Commercial
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Xander's Apartment

Anya still faces away from Xander. He stands behind her- still talking.
"I know this is all coming out wrong." He says.

Anya's face changes back to human. She looks confused- and peeved. She turns around to face Xander. "I wish you felt the pain of a thousand searing pokers boiling your heart in its own juices."
"I know, honey. I totally deserve that." Xander nods, placating.
Anya continues, her frustration growing- nothing is happening. "I wish you had tentacles where your beady eyes should be. I--I wish your intestines were tied in knots and ripped apart inside your lousy gut."
"They are." Xander says, wincing a bit.
"Really? Right now? Does it hurt?" Anya asks eagerly.
"God, yes. It hurts so bad, it's killing me. Anya, I love you. I want to make this work." He pleads.
"Those are... Metaphor intestines. You're not in any real pain. What's wrong with me?" Anya gestures. She's confused and angry- pretty much ignoring Xander now.
"Honey, it's not you. It's me."

Anya pushes Xander aside and leaves the apartment. Xander follows, calling after her.

Sunnydale- A Café

Halfrek and Anya sit in a café. Anya studies her hands-plays with a paper flower. She's not paying attention to Halfrek.

"No child support in, like, 11 years, not a single check. So now every time he touches a piece of paper that isn't a check for the child-- paper cuts. Oh, you know how I hate to toot my own horn, but now his hands are just covered in all these tiny little bandages, like a quilt. You know, made of bandages." Halfrek notices that Anya's not paying attention. "Ok, do they not teach listening skills in human world?"

"Sorry. I know. I'm just distracted." Anya puts down the paper flower.
Halfrek looks at Anya, "What, about this thing with Xander? Don't worry. You'll figure out a way to-"
"No, that's just it. I've tried everything. I tried every curse I knew. Nothing's worked."
"Wait, did you try to curse him yourself?" Halfrek asks.
"Yeah. I am the wronged party here. Of course--"
"You can't exact justice against someone on behalf of yourself, silly."

Halfrek looks at the passing waitress, mutes her voice. "How long you been away?"
"I haven't been scorned by a man in, like, 1,000 years. I never had to make a wish for myself. There has to be some way around that." Anya explains.
"Well, you could try getting someone to make the wish for you... I suppose." Halfrek shrugs.
Anya smiles softly- thinking.

Summers' Residence. Morning.

Dawn enters the kitchen. The counter island has a number of bottles of syrup on it. Buffy stands at the stove- flipping pancakes.

"Uh, did we open a chain? Are we the 'International House' of something?" Dawn asks.
Buffy stacks up a pile of pancakes. "Nope. Got up early and it felt like a breakfast kind of morning. Ok, what kind of syrup do you want on your pancakes?"
"Syrups have kinds?"
Buffy puts the frying pan into the sink. "Oh, also, you know, I was thinking, after the mall yesterday, that maybe we shouldn't go out tonight, you know? Maybe we could stay in and, uh--ooh. Own. Um, you know, get a pizza or rent a movie. Also, I didn't know if you had plans this weekend, but I thought maybe we could-"
Dawn looks uncomfortable, senses that Buffy is maybe trying too hard. "Hey, Buffy, I'm gonna be ok with the basement thing. Really. You weren't you."
Buffy stops. "This isn't guilt. I want us to spend time."
"Ok, good. I love spending time-"
"But I'm cramping your teenage style." Buffy interrupts- looks around herself. Dawn says no, but Buffy sees what she's doing. "Yes, I am. I'm the embarrassing mom who tries too hard. When did this happen?"
Dawn smiles, amused and reassuring. "No, you're not. It's not that. It's just... What if, instead of you hanging out with me, maybe I could hang out with you. Why don't I come patrolling with you tonight?"
"Oh! And then maybe we can invite over some strangers and ask them to feed you candy." Buffy says perkily.
"Well, you guys went out patrolling every night when you were my age." Dawn reasons.
Buffy's not moved. "True, but, technically, you're 1 1/2." Dawn slumps a bit- put out by the comment. "See, I thought a little levity might-- but, ok, also, no."
"I just--I just think I could help."
"I'm sure you could, but it's a little more dangerous than I had in mind."
Dawn tries to interrupt, but Buffy continues. "Dawn, I work very hard to keep you away from that stuff, ok? I don't want you around dangerous things that can kill you."
"Which would be a perfectly reasonable argument if my sister was chosen to protect the world from tax audits, but, see, my sister is you, and dangerous things that want to kill me seem to find me."
Buffy remains firm. "But you don't need to go looking for them. Now, eat up. You're gonna be late for school."
Dawn is disappointed, but not too upset. She sits down and watches as Buffy returns to preparing breakfast.

The Espresso Pump

Willow and Tara sit drinking coffee and talking.
"Ok, wait, it was under her wig?" Tara asks.
Willow gestures, into the story. "Well, it was, like, this thing, and it just came out from inside her head."
Tara grimaces, but is enjoying the story. "Ew. That's disgusting. What did it look like?"
"Well, let's put it this way-- if I wasn't gay before..." Willow says.
Tara laughs. "God- and this was after the invisible ray?"
"Yeah."
"Ok, I'm gone for a couple months…"
Willow remembers something, and leans forward, excitedly. "Oh, did I tell you about the demon eggs?"
"See, now I know you're just trying to make me jealous."
"What, no rollicking adventures in the dorm?" Willow asks.
"It's not the same. It's not like living with a house full of family.."
Tara pauses, "Or sharing a room with someone you-"
Willow finishes, smiling. "are friends with?"

Abruptly, Anya walks into the café and up to their table. "Hi." "Oh, my god." Willow says, jumping up. "You're back." She grabs Anya into a hug.
Tara clasps Anya's hand. "We've been so worried."
Anya is a bit jittery. "Sorry. I--I, um, needed to, you know... I couldn't stay here, not after everything that happened."
"No, no, no. We totally understand." Tara says, nodding.
"But you're back now, right?" Willow says eagerly and with cautious optimism.
Anya takes a seat, becomes more comfortable, "It's complicated. You know, and there's a lot to deal with."
"Well, if there's anything we can do, just let us--" Willow starts.
"Actually, um, there's an eensy something I could use a little help with. You're lesbians, so the hating of men will come in handy. Let's talk about Xander." Anya says brightly.

The Magic Box

Dawn stands in the Magic Box with Anya.
"He feels awful." Dawn says.
Anya is insistent. "You think it's anywhere close to what I feel?"
"No, but--"
"What if it were you, Dawn. What if all you dreamed about was that magical day, the day when the one person you loved with all your soul would promise to cherish and protect your heart for the rest of his life, but instead, he shatters it into a million jagged pieces."
__

…The Espresso Pump.

Continuing from before the Magic Box scene.
"Well, it's not really so much about hating the men." Tara explains. We're more cantered around the..." Willow pauses, a nauty look flashes between herself and Tara. "Girl-on-girl action."
Anya won't be put off. "And men really like to watch that kind of stuff, don't they? Men like Xander."
__

Summers' Residence- The Front Porch

Buffy leans against one railing, facing Anya who leans against the other.
"I don't think he could feel any worse." Buffy says, her arms folded.
"Let's test that theory." Anya suggests.
Buffy shakes her head. "Anya, Xander's my friend. I know what he did was wrong, and if it happened to me, I'd-"
"Wish his penis would explode?" Anya suggests cheerfully.
__

…The Magic Box

Dawn shakes her head. "I never use that word anymore."
"Coagulate?" Anya asks, confused.
"W. I. S. H." Dawn spells out.
"Oh, wish-- as in, I wish Xander-"
Dawn interrupts- clearly wary of the word. "Right. That word. There's vengeance demons out there that are still active, remember? Any "I wish" can totally end in horrible grossness."
"Give me a for-instance?"
__

…Summers' Residence- The Porch.

"I don't really think I should." Buffy says.
"Did I mention the whole left-at-the-altar thing?" Anya says quickly- getting frustrated. "Didn't leave that out, did I?"
"No. No." Buffy shakes her head. "Look, I know what he did was wrong. God, if it happened to me, I--I--it must.. have been torture."
"Ok!" Anya claps her hands together. "Let's talk about torture!"
__

…The Magic Box.

Dawn is looking spaced. She just stares at Anya.
"So, tell me more about wishing Xander's brains and guts would go blooey." Anya tells her.
"I didn't say that."
"Yes, you did. I heard you." Anya insists rapidly.
"No, I didn't. I swear I didn't say that." Dawn retorts.
"Didn't say what?"
Dawn sees that it's useless and tries to change the topic. "Um, I just saw you were back, and wanted to talk to you about working off my debt. You know, my whole sticky-fingers, grabby-hands thing."
"Oh, right. The mad thieving. Good. Yes. There's much to do. Gonna put you to work, missy…" Anya laughs. "So back to Xander's brains and guts."
__

…Summers' Residence- The Porch.

Close- up on Anya. "Squish. Squish. Squish." She says in a soft voice.
"Guys have been running roughshod over you for years-" Buffy looks thoughtful, considers as Anya continues. "torturing that perky little ticker. Aren't you sick of it? Don't you wish guys like that--" They're sitting on the steps now, Anya perched over Buffy a bit. Buffy looks a bit overwhelmed.
"Whoa." Buffy's eyes get wide- defensive. "Guys? There have only been four. Three! Three. Three guys. That's barely plural."
"And didn't each of them rip your heart out? Don't men like that, as to pick an example, Xander, deserve to be punished?"
__

…The Espresso Pump

Willow looks thoughtful. "Well, Xander is a guy, so it's kind of not the surprise that he likes to watch girls-" Tara kind of glares/looks in confusion a bit and Willow changes course. "Why are we talking about this?"
"We're comforting me." Anya insists.
Tara misunderstands, tries to reason. "Well, I guess it's natural for guys to be interested in--"
"God, what kind of lesbians are you?! If you love men so much, go love men!" Anya picks up her coffee and stalks off in frustration.
__

…Summers' Residence - The Porch.

Anya starts to walk away from the porch. Buffy still sits. "Anya, I know you're hurting, but--"
Anya turns, her arms folded. "What? Xander doesn't deserve to suffer for what he did 'cause he's your friend and I'm not, right? I get it." She's angry and frustrated.
"No" Buffy says coolly. "That's not what I'm saying at all. What he did was wrong. He knows that."
"It's just, it hurts. He hurt me so much. He really did." Anya face changes to sadness- she gets close to tears.
"Look, I wish that--" Buffy gets up, touches Anya's shoulder.

Xander enters the front yard. "Anya?"
She turns to confront him- unfazed. "Well, congratulations. They all still love you, even after what you did to me." She turns and walks away.
Xander goes to follow. "Anya, wait."
Buffy stops hip, pulls Xander back to the steps. "Ok, not crazy about that idea. What are you doing?"
"I have to go after her." He insists.
"Or in the land of the sane, you could give her some space, let her cool down." Buffy replies.
"That's not proactive guy. That's sit-around-and- watch-the rest-of-your- life-turn-to-crap guy." Xander stalks to the tree. The camera moves to show a pudgy lawn gnome sitting amongst the foliage.
"True, but at least crap guy gets to keep all of his appendages." Buffy explains pointedly.
"And I'm supposed to, what, walk away? Shouldn't be too hard. It's what I'm good at, right?" Xander viciously kicks the lawn gnome- smashing it.
"Ok, see? That's exactly why a heart-to-heart is probably not your best course of action right now."
"When you're both angry and upset and…" Buffy notices the lawn gnome. She walks over to its smashed head... segues into a critique of the nasty lawn ornament. "What the hell is that creepy little thing doing in my yard? Did Willow put that there when I was dead? 'Cause if I'd have known, I would have crawled out of the grave sooner--"
She and Xander lean to investigate the smashed head. A black piece of electronics is visible. Xander picks it up. "Buffy."
"Oh, my god."
Xander moves the little camera back and forth. "Looks like someone's been keeping an eye on all your ins and outs."
Buffy's looks at the device. "What the--who?"
"Well, now, let's see. Who's obsessed with Buffy? Who likes to hang out in her yard and keep an eye on her? Who's in love with you and not getting any?" Xander reasons. Buffy looks thoughtful.
__

Spike's Crypt

Spike turns the camera over in his hands. He's wearing the black patterned shirt from "Dead Things". "What's this?" He huffs.
Buffy looks at it. "It's a camera."
"Yeah, I got that part." Spike blinks, maintains his patience. "Why am I holding it?"
"Someone was using it to spy on me, on my house. Xander thinks it's you." Buffy explains softly, steadily.
Spike sniffs. "Oh, the great Xander thinks so?" He lowers his hand holding the camera. Disgust fills his voice. "Shudder, gasp, it must be true."
Buffy tries to get a word in but he continues. "That ponce has always had it for me. Every chance he gets, he sticks it to-" He stops. Buffy is just staring at him- her arms crossed. "You believe him, don't you? You think I'm spying on you. You think I could do that?" He looks hurt- but not surprised.
"Because you don't lie or cheat or steal or manipulate..." Buffy rolls her eyes a bit as she lists.
"I don't hurt you." His voice low and firm, Spike hands the camera back to Buffy.
She takes the camera as he walks away- like he needs the space. He picks up something from the table. She turns to him, hesitant- her voice soft.
"I know."
"No, you don't." His head down, Spike looks at the thing in his hands (we don't see what it is- he just uses it as a distraction for himself- I think it may be his cigarettes.). Spike looks up. His face is open and sincere.
"I've tried to make it clear to you, but you won't see it. Something happened to me. The way I feel, about you... It's different. And no matter how hard you try to convince yourself it isn't, it's real."
"I think it is." Buffy agrees. Spike's face opens up- like he senses hope- and then abruptly closes down as Buffy continues. "For you." She says honestly, turns and walks to the door.
Buffy stops, turns back to Spike. She takes a deep breath. "I know it's not what you want to hear. I'm sorry. I really am. But, Spike, you have to move on, ok? You have to get over--"
Spike's face is hard. "Get out." He whispers.
Buffy stops, looks around. Then exits. Spike looks down- his jaw tightly clenched.
__

The Magic Box

Anya stands behind the counter at the Magic Box. Halfrek sits on a stool opposite.
"No. They're all, 'oh, poor Xander. It took so much out of him, all that running away he did.' I just don't understand what's wrong with these people." Anya rants.
Halfrek tilts her head, peers at Anya. "Did you really think they were the ones who would help you?"
"Well, but--"
Halfrek is insistent. "Do you want retribution, Anyanka?"
Anya looks petulant. "I want Xander good and cursed."
Halfek nods. "Then you know what you have to do."
"Get a wish from someone who doesn't freaking love him."
"Exactly."
"Yeah, but my social circle is a little limited here. I mean, what am I supposed to do, just stumble upon someone who doesn't give a fig's ass if Xander gets hurt?"
The Magic Box's bell chimes as Spike walks in. He stalks up to the counter.
"Hey. I need a thing."
Anya smiles.

---

Commercial

---

The Magic Box

Anya greets him cheerily. "So, what's your pleasure?"
Spike walks up to the counter beside Halfek. He acknowledges her with a quick glance. (Absolutely no recognition here- from either of them.)
"Fresh out of pleasure. That's why I'm here. I need something. Numbing spell, maybe."
"Uh-huh. Hang on." Anya nods and gestures for Halfrek to come with her to the other side of the shop.
"Oh, my god." Anya says happily. "Spike hates Xander. Maybe I could get him to wish-- damn it. If only he were a woman. Oh, got it. If I can somehow get someone to wish that Spike were a woman, then I could go to him-- well, he'd be a her by then. But then I could go to her--"
Halfek interrupts. "Anyanka, there's an easier way. Now, I know you have this whole female power, take-back-the-night thing-- I think that's cute. But I've been telling you for decades, men need a little vengeance now and then, too." Anya looks dubious, but nods. "Maybe this is a good chance to try that out." Halfek wishes Anya a good night and waves goodbye to Spike (again, no recognition.).
Spike watches Halfrek leave, and then turns to Anya. "Sorry to bust up the little girls night out." He shrugs- seems a bit out of it.
"That's ok." Anya says, "I'm ready to do some business."
"All right, then." Spike says, gesturing to the wall of ingredients. "Got something that'll dull the ache a bit?"
Anya moves to the back of the counter and leans down. "Actually, yes. Um, Giles left a couple of supplies here that I think just might help. Eases the hurt, makes the sun shine a little brighter. Even makes boring people seem more interesting."
She pulls out a mostly full bottle of Jack Daniels and sets it on the counter. Spike smiles/grimaces. __

Summers' Residence- The Dining Room

Willow is hooking up various wires to the gnome camera. She's got her laptop attached to it. Buffy sits across from her. Xander stands at Buffy's elbow.
"How's it coming?" Buffy asks. "Can you see who's getting the camera signal?"
"Should have something once I get tapped into the fibre-optic network. We're gonna use the feedback relay to get their signal routed into our system." Willow explains.
"Ok, if it's not Spike, and I'm not saying I believe him, but if it's not Spike, I think we already know who's behind this." Xander reasons.
"Makes sense." Willow mutters- immersed in the computer's readout.
Buffy is determined. "I want to find these guys." She says, accentuating each word.
__

The Troika's Lair

Jonathan stands by the potion apparatus. On the table he has the metallic disc set before a flame. A map lies on the floor a few feet away. Andrew and Warren stand near the map, watching.
Jonathan sprinkles some powder over the disc. "Uncover." he says softly. The disc glows. A blue/purple light emits form the disc- beaming down onto the map. "There. That's it. That's where we have to go."
"Well, now that we found out where we're supposed to go…" Warren looks up a Jonathan. Menacing. "maybe we can--aah!"
Suddenly the beam of light flares- and the map catches fire. They all scream. Jonathan runs out of the room.
__

The Magic Box

Anya and Spike stand at the counter downing shots.
"So, then, this girl says, 'real for you.'" Spike explains, falling back onto the barstool.
"Right." Anya says distractedly. "But getting back to Xander--"
Spike furrows his brow. "Xander--let's not waste any more breath on that wanker." He gestures with contempt.
"But he made a fool of me, and nobody seems to care enough to do anything."
Spike leans back. "I care. What he done to you." He huffs. "I'll never stoop that low. And I'm an evil, soulless thing. According to some people." Spike scoffs.
"But shouldn't he pay?" She asks. "Don't you wish he had to pay in some horrible way?"
"Absolutely." Spike gets up, taking the bottle of JD. He walks over to the research table. Anya follows. "Take him on myself if it wasn't for my little handicap." He gestures to his head.
"Right." Anya sets down her shot glass. "So, hypothetically, what do you wish you could do to him?"
Spike pours out the liquor. "You name it, pet. You're the wronged party… Something, uh, gruesome, how about?" He raises his glass to Anya and then downs it. He smirks 'evilly' behind the glass.
Anya smiles and flutters her eyelashes, then downs her own shot.
__

The Troika's Lair

Jonathan returns to the room with a fire extinguisher- Warren and Andrew are stomping on the fire.
"Hey! That's my blanket." Jonathan protests.
"Well, makes sense. It was your fire." Warren retorts. Both he and Andrew glare at Jonathan.
__

Summers' Residence- The Dining Room

Willow looks at her computer screen as Xander and Buffy watch. "Hey, hey. I think I've got something."
__

Magic Box

"Thing about it is, none of this was my idea. I didn't ask to be human." Anya complains.
"Right. And I didn't ask for this bloody chip in my head." Spike agrees, pointing to his head again. His eyes are a bit red.
"To tell you the truth... All I wanted was to use him and lose him. I hadn't had a good tumble in 1,000 years." Anya sighs, downs another shot.
Spike looks up, shakes his head and smiles. "Me, too." Then pauses. "The using part… I just wanted to know what I was missing, move on."
Looking introspective and suddenly more serious, Anya continues. "Yeah. And he was... All bumpy… in the right places, and nice to me." She bites her lip.
Spike looks up, his eyes red. "She was so raw." He says softly. "I've never felt anything like it."
"Next thing you know, I'm changing to please him." Anya rants again. Spike nods in agreement, smiling ruefully. "I care if he cares."
"Right."
"And I'm off my guard. Happy. I'm singing in the shower and doing my sexy dance?"
"Exactly." Spike nods. Then stops, looks at Anya. "I have no dance." His eyes widen a bit like he'd opened up too much.
__

Summers' Residence- The Dining Room

The computer action continues. Buffy prompts Willow for information. Willow is impressed by the security in the system.
Willow delves deeper into the network- finds that there are additional cameras in use.
__

The Magic Box

Anya sits on the table. She raises her glass. "Screw 'em!" She and Spike hit their glasses together. "To the rafters." He adds. They down the shots.
Anya starts a rant again. "I did everything for that man. Was it ever enough?"
"Never." Spike agrees, waving his hand. "I was always going above and beyond… I saved the Scoobies how many times." He grimaces in distaste. "And I can't stand the lot of you."
"Me, either." Anya makes a similar expression. "I hate us. Everybody's so nice. Nobody says what's on their mind."
"You do." Spike points to her. "That's why you're the only one of them I wouldn't bite if I had the chance."
"Really?" Anya brightens and laughs.
"Absolutely. I have nothing but respect for a woman who is forthright. Drusilla was always straightforward. Didn't have a single buggering clue about what was going on in front of her, but she was straight about it. That was a virtue."
"Mm..." Anya looks up, then leans forward- confiding further. "Xander didn't think so. He thought I was rude."
Spike leans closer too. "That's because he's one of them. Uptight and repressed." Spike makes a upward motion with his index finger."
"You think?"
"Please. It's no wonder they couldn't deal with the likes of you and me, love. We should have been dead hundreds of years ago. And we're the only ones who are really alive."
They smile at each other softly. Bonding.
__

Summers' Residence- The Dining Room

Willow finds the other camera locations. The Troika has been observing the Double Meat Palace, The Bronze, UC Sunnydale, Xander's work site, and others.
Willow continues her attempt to track the feeds.

__

Magic Box

Spike pours the last drops of JD into a shot glass. Smiling, he offers it to Anya. "Here. Ladies last."
"Thank you." Anya says- not reaching for the glass.
"Take it quick or my chivalry will run out."
Anya puts her hand on Spike's. "No. Thank you. This is... The first time since..." Spike sets down the glass. "It feels good to be with someone who understands."
Spike looks down, feeling the hurt. "Intimately." He says very softly, then looks up at Anya.
"This whole time, I've been coming on all... Hell-bent and mad... Wanting his head, you know?" She continues. Spike nods, agrees. "When really, I... Can't sleep at night... Thinking it... Has to be my fault somehow. I... What if it's just pretending? What if he -never- wanted me the way I wanted him?" She starts to cry. Spike looks at her with gentleness. "Ohh..." She shakes herself. "I'm sorry."
Spike reaches up, caresses Anya's hair. "Now, now..." He leans forward.
"Hey… Look... He would have to be more than just the git he is, Anya. He'd have to be deaf, dumb, and blind not to want a woman like you."
"Then why?" She says- her voice full of anguish.
Spike looks around- thoughtful. "The two of them...They're weak, is all."
He smiles sadly. ""I'll tell you what, though. They'll, uh, miss the water now that the well's gone dry." He gazes at Anya, cups her chin in his hand.
She looks at his hand. "Too hot to handle." She says breathlessly.
"Too hot?" He looks at her, leans closer- puts his forehead against hers.
Anya breaks away slowly. "Just--just... One question."
"Hmm?"
"Can I see your sexy dance?"
Spike smiles glowingly. "I'll show you mine..." moves in for a kiss.
Anya breaks away reluctantly. "Wait. Wait. "What are we doing?"
"Moving on." He's resolute.
They kiss- grabbing at each other slowly, but with desperation.
__

Summers' Residence- The Dining Room

Willow still works on the computer. Xander and Buffy look on.
"Here, I--I think there are a couple more transmitters on the network. I just... Oh, I've almost got a picture on them."

Magic Box

Anya and Spike continue to clutch at each other.
Anya moves away. Needs further clarification. "You know I'm only doing this because I'm--I'm lonely and drunk and you smell really good." She gasps.
Spike smiles again. Wholeheartedly. "See? Forthright."
They go back to kissing.

The Troika's Lair

An red light flashes and an alarm goes off. The Troika clue in that someone is hacking their system. They rush to stop it.

Magic Box

Spike clears off the research table- brushing everything off onto the floor. He lies Anya down on it. Her shirt's gone. Spike gets on top of her.
They continue…
__

Summers' Home- Dining Room

Willow patches into the feed. She suddenly stands. "Whoa." __

Troika's Lair

The trio try to shut down the system. But. They see what's on screen.
Warren: "Holy crap."
Jonathan: "Oh, my god."
Warren: "What is that? P-porn?"
Jonathan: "Oh, my god."
Warren: "Is that the cam in the Magic Box?"
Jonathan: "Oh, my god."
Andrew: "What are they.. Oh."
Warren: "Is that..."
Jonathan: "Spike?"
Andrew: "He is so cool..." Pauses. Quickly looks at the other two. "And--I mean, the girl's hot, too."
Warren: "Dude."
__

Magic Box

Spike and Anya continue… Just under the camera- hidden in a skull on the shelf beside them. __

Summers' Residence- The Dining Room

Willow tries to stop Xander from seeing the feed.
Xander and Buffy stand staring at the screen.
Dawn arrives- and Willow is quick to cover her eyes.
Dawn and Willow notice that Buffy seems a bit overly affected by the scene.
Buffy leaves. Dawn follows her.
Xander leaves. Willow goes to follow- but is too late. She finds Buffy's weapons chest open. The front door left wide open.

Cut to Xander stalking down the street- axe in hand.

Commercial

Summers' Residence- The Backyard.

Buffy retreated to the backyard- she sits in the lawnchair. Dawn stands nearby.
"So, this is it?" Dawn asks, her arms folded. "This is the stuff you've been protecting me from? You and Spike?"
"And a lot of monsters." Buffy says quietly. "But it's over... Spike."
"I wish you'd told me." Dawn sits down opposite Buffy, leans forward.
"I kind of didn't want to admit it to myself." Buffy says.
"I get that." Dawn looks down. "I know it must hurt.. To feel like you have to hide... And to keep secrets from everybody."
Willow appears at the back door. "Buffy. Xander's gone. He took your axe." __

The Magic Box

Anya and Spike get dressed quietly. It feels like they don't need to talk.
Spike walks to the door- turns to Anya. They share a look- and then Spike nods. It's like a thank you.
Spike exits the shop- closes the door behind him- is surprised to sees someone there- and he quickly jumps back as an axe smashes into the wall beside him.
Xander pulls at the axe, but is unable to get it free form the wall. Spike looks on in confusion.
Xander gives up on the axe- and pulls Spike up- throwing him into a wall.

Cut to Buffy running towards the Magic Box.

Xander punches Spike a few times, then stops. Spike glares as Xander yells at him to get up. "You just gonna sit there? Do nothing? Hunh! Is that the kind of man you are?"
Spike slumps back into the wall. "I'm not gonna fight you... Chip."
Xander knees Spike in the stomach. "Too bad!" He pulls a stake out from his back pocket.
Anya exits the Magic Box- runs toward them. "Xander, no." She yells at Xander to stop.
And Buffy arrives- she pulls Xander away from Spike.
They all stand together. Anya facing Xander. Buffy facing Spike.

"Xander, I--I--" Anya begins.
"Don't even try to deny it. 'Cause I saw it all. The whole beautiful show." Xander sneers.
"How?" Anya looks confused- realises that that isn't the issue. "It was just--it-- it was just a thing. I-- I felt bad and he was just there. I-"
"Didn't take long, did it?" Buffy says, gritting her teeth- unnoticed by Anya or Xander. Spike just leans against the wall- seemingly unable to rise. Spike looks up at her- his expression is unreadable
Xander glares at Anya. "Oh, oh, oh, ok. You had to do it. Because he was there. Like Mount Everest. Like I used to be."
Anya doesn't back down. "And then you weren't. You left me, Xander, at the altar. I don't owe you anything."
"So you go out and bang the first body you can find? Dead or alive?" He gestures at Spike.
"Where do you get off judging me?" Anya squeaks, seething.
"When this is your solution to our problems. I hurt you and you get me back. Very mature."
"No. The mature solution is for you to spend your whole life telling stupid, pointless jokes so that no one will notice that you are just a scared, insecure little boy."
Xander shakes his head slowly. "I'm not joking now. You let that evil, soulless thing touch you. You wanted me to feel something? Congratulations. It worked. I look at you... And I feel sick... 'Cause you had sex with that." Anya looks down, Buffy looks at Xander- appaled, ashamed, and hurt.
"It's good enough for Buffy." Spike mutters, drawing himself up.
"Shut up and leave her out of..." Xander sees Buffy's face. She's staring at the ground- a very hurt look on her face.
"Buffy?" Anya says-looks at Buffy, questioning. Xander clues in.
"Xander, I--" Buffy starts, but is unable to speak.
Xander is beyond talking. "I don't want to know this. I don't want to know any of this." He throws down the stake and walks away.
Buffy watches him walk away. She looks between Spike and Anya- a mix of emotions fills her eyes. Spike nods slowly. She glares at Spike for a moment, then walks away.
Spike watches her go. Anya and Spike are left alone. "You know, I wish--"
Anya stops him. "Don't." She says. They look at each other- then turn away- go in opposite directions.
A soft, sad song in the background. Buffy walks down the street alone. Anya enters the Magic Box- looks at the mess left from being with Spike- starts cleaning up.
(Tara. Voiceover)"Things fall apart. They fall apart so hard."

__

Summers' Residence- Willow's Room

Willow is laying on her bed studying- she turns to see Tara at the door.
"Tara?"
"You can never... Put them back the way they were." Tara grimaces, smiles sadly.
"Are you ok?" Willow asks.
"I'm sorry, it's just..." Tara comes into the room. "You know... It takes time. You can't just... Have coffee and expect-"
"I know." Willow interjects- looks pained and uncertain.
"There's just so much to work through. Trust has to be built again, on both sides. You have to learn if... If we're even the same people we were, if we can fit in each other's lives. It's a long and important process, and... Can we just skip it? Can--can you just be kissing me now?" Tara pleads.
Willow smiles and stands- embraces Tara.

They share a very long and passionate kiss... into the credits.

__

The End.

**

-Cath

CathJoudrey@hfx.eastlink.ca

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