Chapter 7: Part 1
“This is really strange,” Xander admitted. “What is all this stuff doing in the back of a pet shop?”
Anya picked up another magic book and started looking through it.
“I don’t know,” Buffy admitted as she checked out another weapon.
“It’s like the workout room at the Magic Box only with what looks like the Magic Box inventory thrown in,” Willow said.
“It’s almost like the pet shop is a front for something,” Buffy said.
They all jumped when they heard the bell over the front door ring.
“At least we know this world has bells,” Xander pointed out.
Buffy shushed him and went to investigate.
“I know,” this realities Angel was saying. “I hate lying to them too, but I don’t know what else to do.”
“Here’s a wacky idea, we could just tell them and get it over with,” this realities Cordelia said. “It’s not like they’re totally stupid. One of them has to suspect that something is going on between us.”
“Who is it?” Willow whispered.
“It’s Angel and Cordy,” Buffy replied softly.
“Wait,” Xander said, a little louder than he had originally intended. He waited until his friends were though shushing him before he continued. “Are you saying that Angel came in through the front door?”
“Yes,” Buffy said. “Now shut up!” she whispered loudly.
“But,” Xander said. “It’s day and there’s sun. Raise your hand if anyone else is confused.”
“What are you talking about?” Buffy whispered, annoyed.
“Vampire?”
Buffy’s eyes widened in realization as she raised her hand.
“Shh,” Anya said.
“It’s not like it was sudden,” Cordelia went on, “It was bound to happen sooner or later what with all the times we’ve been thrown together and all.”
“We’ll tell them,” Angel promised. “We just need to find the right moment.”
Cordelia wrapped her arms around his neck and he leaned in to kiss her.
The couple parted a second later when a loud crash came from the back room.
“Oh no,” Cordelia said. “Do you think someone is back there?”
“Only one way to find out,” Angel said.
***
“Crap!” Xander cried in a loud whisper. “I can’t believe I did that!
Buffy bent down to help him pick up the shattered potion bottle.
“Do you think hey heard that?”
“Kind of hard to miss,” Angel said from the doorway.
Buffy and Xander turned to see Angel and Cordelia standing in the doorway.
“Sorry?” Xander asked.
“We weren’t intentionally spying on you,” Buffy said.
“So then I guess you know what’s going on,” Cordelia said grimly.”
“Look, Xander. I can explain,” Angel said.
“No need to man,” Xander said. “She’s all yours.”
“But,” Angel said. “What about...”
“We’re not exactly who you think we are,” Buffy said.
“What do you mean?” Cordelia asked.
“We’re from an alternate reality,” Xander said. “Our friend willow here cast a spell that backfired and now we are doomed to roam countless alternate realities til the end of time.”
“Xander,” Angel tried again, “this is no time to make jokes, even though you know that is what I loved most about you.”
“What?” Xander asked. “AM I missing something?”
“Ditto,” Buffy said.
“I didn’t think you’d take it this hard,” Angel admitted. “We never really said we were exclusive. I’m just sorry you had to find out about it this way.”
“Oh-Kay,” Xander said slowly. “Let me get this straight. Angel is dumping me for Cordelia.” He turned to Willow. “Now would be a very good time for you to work some of that mojo and get me the hell out of here!”
***
“You can stop now,” Xander said. “All of you,” he added, looking pointedly at Willow.
“It’s just,” Willow said, gasping for breath between giggles. “You and Angel...” She broke off, unable to control her laughter anymore.
“Yeah, right. Hardy har har. Let’s all have a good laugh at Xander’s expense. Tell me when you’re all done so we can figure out where we landed this time.”
***
INTERLUDE 4:
“We should split up,” Gunn said. “We’d cover more ground that way.”
“Good idea,” Fred said. “I’ll go with Charles, Dawn? Why don’t you go with Connor?”
Dawn’s eyes widened.
“Whatever,” Connor said and started walking off.
“Uh,” Dawn said.
Connor stopped and turned around. “Are you coming?”
“Yeah,” Dawn said and rushed after him.
“What was that all about?” Gunn asked when the kids were gone.
“Dawn has a little thing for Connor,” Fred told him.
“Oh,” Gunn said. “Have you told her who his father is yet?”
Fred shook her head.
“We should get going too,” Gunn said. “There’s no telling how many nasties are out tonight.”
“What do you mean by that?” Fred asked.
“There’s been no slayer for nearly a week. You do the math.”
Chapter 7: part 2
“Why do I even bother?” Xander wondered aloud while his friends continued to laugh at him. “You know,: he continued, “if you would quit laughing for like half a second I could tell you that... there was a large demon behind you!”
Buffy spun around and let her slayer instincts take over.
“There’s another one!” Willow cried, pointing.
“I got it,” Xander said, chasing the demon into the other room.
Buffy snapped the demons neck and smiled. “Not bad for no wepons, huh?” she quipped.
“We have to go,” Xander said.
“Why,” Buffy asked. “I got the demon. Can’t we stick around a minute so I can bask in...”
“No,” Xander said. “Willow, hurry!”
***
“What got into you back on that last world?” Buffy asked.
“There were more demons in the next room,” Xander said.
“Oh,” Buffy said, “how many?”
“At least seven.”
“Wow,” Buffy said. “I just barely killed that one. Imagine what would’ve happened if I had had to fight all of them at once.”
“I don’t have to,” Xander said.
“What do you mean?” Willow asked.
“When I chased that other demon into the other room, I saw...”
“What?” Buffy asked.
“Us,” Xander said. “Me, you, Willow. We were...” Xander paused.
“Dead,” Buffy finished.
“Well, are you sure?” Willow asked. “Maybe they were playing dead. Maybe we could’ve helped them.”
“They were dead,” Anya said.
Xander turned around and looked at her. “You followed me?”
Anya nodded.
Xander put his arm around her. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
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