Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story. If I did I wouldn't be going nowhere in a dead end job, barely able to pay my rent. Please don't sue.
Author's Notes: Feedback please. It makes me feel noticed and less invisible.
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The Bronze. Willow and Oz. Xander and Buffy. Yes - Xander and Buffy. With Angel gone and Xander being the only guy besides Oz and Giles who really knew what it was like for her to be the Slayer, they'd naturally grown closer.
Suddenly, a familiar face. Cordelia Chase, dressed stunningly, walking proud, strode into the Bronze like she owned it. She stopped for a moment, stunned, and - even though she wouldn't ever admit - mildly hurt by what she saw. Xander, Buffy, smoochies. "What?!"
She regained her composure and started in with the insults. "You all still hang at the Bronze? You're in college now. Get lives."
Buffy looked up at her. "I thought you said you were never coming back to Sunnydale."
Cordelia raised an eyebrow, sat down on the arm of a chair. "Angel sent me - with a message."
Xander shot up. "What does he want?"
"He said... prepare to die. He's lost it again Buffy. He's Angelus." Cordy looked momentarily frightened.
In the shadows someone watched, listened, wondered. When exactly had Angel lost his soul again? Did it have anything to do with Dru?
Buffy was walking down the street, thinking hard. How had Angel lost his soul again? It was only supposed to happen if he had a moment of complete happiness - and she was the only one who'd ever given him that. Buffy was startled out of her thoughts by a hand on her shoulder. She spun around, stake ready.
"You're losing your touch Slayer. If I'd wanted to kill you, you'd be dead now."
Buffy glared. "Spike. What do you want? You said you'd stay away this time."
Spike looked pained. "I meant it when I said it. I really did. I tracked Druscilla down again, and for awhile things were going well. Then Dru started having bad dreams. Nightmares so bad they scared her. And Dru wasn't scared of anything. Silly girl. Finally she couldn't take it anymore. Last week she stepped out into the sun. She's gone Buffy. I came here to remember her. We had some good times in this town, me and Dru. I heard about Angel. That's why I came to you. I wondered if they were linked. You know those two always had a connection. You find out for me, I promise I won't fight you."
Buffy gazed at Spike blankly, turned and walked away home. Towards Xander and comfort.
* * *
Everyone gathered in Giles' living room. Giles poured tea. While he poured he spoke. "Druscilla dead. Angel bad. Interesting I grant you but I can't see how one would have anything to do with the other. Still, it bears looking into. I'll see what I can find out."
Xander spoke up. "Tell me again, why do I care? Deadboy comes to town, we fight him, we kill him. Problem solved."
Buffy nodded sadly. "And Spike? I say for now we leave him be. He's not causing any trouble at the moment, and I don't feel right attacking him when he's in such a pathetic state."
"I agree." Giles looked serious.
* * *
Willow and Oz were asleep, cuddled close, when a noise startled Willow awake. Something scratching at the door of her apartment, maybe a cat. She pulled away from Oz and swung her feet to the floor. Straightening the oversize t-shirt she slept in she walked out to the front door and opened it. She didn't see anything and stepped outside to peer down the hall. Angelus grabbed her.
Oz jerked awake. Willow! Something was wrong. He got out of bed and went looking. Angelus stood in the hallway outside the open door, holing Willow. He snarled at Oz. "Invite me in."
Willow struggled and quipped sarcastically, "What? You can't just kill me in the hall?"
"Oh no. I want this to be special. Invite me in."
Angelus and Willow sat on the couch, Oz perched tensely in a chair. Angelus held Willow's neck with one hand, stroked her hair with the other." You know I always liked you Willow. So sweet. I've wanted to bite you for a long time."
Willow shuddered. She looked at Angelus, spoke softly, "Was it Druscilla? When she died, did you change?"
Angelus grinned, showing gleaming white fangs. "I felt it. I knew it was Dru. I felt how she was dying. The agony was exquisite. The moment she died - a thrill of ecstsy. I was changed. For the better. Now... Your turn to die."
Willow gazed at Angelus. "You don't have to kill me. You could change me. I've always wondered what it's like - to hunt, to kill, to feed. Change me Angelus. Please."
Oz looked on in wordless horror. This couldn't be happening. Not his Willow.
Angelus smiled, stroked Willow's back and leaned in to kiss her. Softly, sweetly, tongues barely touching. Angelus pulled away and moved his lips to her neck, ready to bite. Willow held on to Angelus, held on tight. Concentrated. The stake she kept on the bookshelf, the stake Buffy made her keep for protection, wobbled, rose and turned. It headed for Angelus, plunged into his back, through his heart. Angel crumbled into dust.
* * *
Buffy was in shock. She knew what Angel was like when he was evil. She knew he'd had to die. Hell, she'd even killed him herself once. But that didn't make it any easier. Angel. Her first true love. Her fisrt lover. She loved him in ways she'd never loved Xander. Still it was a surprise when Xander had approached her hesitantly, after hearing about Angel's death, telling her they needed to talk. Buffy recounted every word he'd said.
"I always liked you Buffy, and I do live you, and I don't want to hurt you...but I always was in love with Cordelia. And with her back in Sunnydale...well I can't stop thinking about her. Buffy I respect you too much to be with you when I'm thinking about someone else. I'm sorry." Xander had kissed Buffy and walked away.
Xander had said he didn't want to hurt her, but Buffy was hurting. She sat on her bed crying helplessly. There was a knock at the door. Buffy tried too pull herself together, wiping away tears. Maybe it was Xander. "Come in."
Buffy looked disbelieving at the man standing in her bedroom. "What are doing here?"
He spoke. "I saw what happened with Xander. I could kill him for you."
Buffy shook her head. "No. No killing. Not for me."
He sat down next to her. "Buffy, he wasn't right for you. You deserve someone who sees who you really are. You deserve so much better."
He leaned to kiss her. Softly, sweetly, tongues barely touching. He pulled away and moved his lips to her neck, ready to bite. Buffy held on to him, held on tight. His teeth pierced her skin, her blood flowing into his mouth. Buffy felt her life draining away and sagged in his arms. He sliced open his wrist and put it Buffy's mouth. She drank.
With new life (or un-life) flowing through her, Buffy opened her eyes and smiled up at her saviour, breathing his name. "Spike."
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