Disclaimer: Buffy and company are property of Joss Whedon and Warner Brothers. I'm just borrowing them.
Note: I wrote this story before Faith turned against Buffy.
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Part One
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Willow walked into the library of Sunnydale High School and found Xander studying. She walked behind him and looked over his shoulder to see what book he was flipping through. "Geometry?" said Willow. "You studying for the test on Wednesday?"
"Yeah," replied Xander. “Amy said she'd tutor me tonight, but that I'd have to share her with some other student Ms. Bryan asked her to help out. They're suppose to meet me here in a few minutes."
"You still going to stop by Buffy's house tonight for our session on the history test tomorrow?"
"That’s tonight? I hate it when I do that, now my brain will be full before I even get there.”
“That mean you’re not coming?”
“No, my brain will just have to deal with indigestion. I need to not fail that test tomorrow. I'll be there right after I finish up here. Shouldn't take too long."
"Oh, I better give you this before I forget!" Willow took a simple thin golden bracelet out her pocket and handed it to Xander.
"Willow, this is great! exclaimed Xander as he appraised the bracelet. My mom will love this for her birthday!"
"It's not real gold or anything, but it looks nice."
"You sure I can have this?"
"Absolutely, I never wear it anymore."
"You're a life saver," said Xander as he put the bracelet in his backpack.
Buffy and Oz walked into the library as Giles stepped out of his office. Oz put his arms around Willow and squeezed her gently as Buffy walked over to her watcher.
"So Giles, any immediate danger that I have to snuff out tonight?" asked Buffy.
"Not that I know of," replied Giles. "Your usual patrolling should be sufficient."
"Great. Willow and I have a lot of studying to do."
"What subject?" inquired Giles.
"History," answered Buffy.
"Really? What era?" asked Giles.
“Well, we’re at the Renaissance in history class, but we have to make sure we know everything back to the Trojan War for the test,” replied Willow.
“That really is an important one,” said Xander. “Whether or not a person uses a Trojan can determine the outcome of that person’s whole life.”
“Xand, I think that’s a different war,” corrected Buffy gently.
“Oh, yeah, well, I knew that,” answered Xander as he rubbed his hands together nervously. “I was just giving you a subtle little pretest.”
“Yeah, so subtle that even you didn’t know you were giving it,” commented Oz.
Buffy glanced at the clock. "Shoot, 7:30 already. Willow, we've really got to motor. I want to get as much of that history studying done as possible before patrolling tonight."
"Okay," said Willow. She gave Oz a quick kiss on the cheek and walked out of the library with Buffy. "You're really getting into this studying thing lately."
"Yeah, I know. It frightens me too, but it's kind of nice to have something to concentrate on that doesn't bite or maim or kill or..."
"Buffy."
"Sorry."
"I was thinking that we could start with the Murphy text."
"The Murphy text, but we haven't used that one for weeks. I didn't even bring it with me," said Buffy as she halted her friend in front of the exit to the school.
"See, that's what the teacher is counting on. He assumes that we'll write off that book because we haven't used it for a while. Then when the exam comes around it's just a faint memory and POW, a possible 100 becomes an automatic 60."
"Wow, you've really thought this through."
"It's survival of the fittest, Buffy. Getting good grades is like going to war."
"Glad I'm not in the enemy camp. I'll go get it.”
“I’ll just wait here."
Buffy turned around to walk to her locker, but before she could move a step she realized that the school was in ruins. Fallen lockers littered the halls and the paint on the walls was chipping and peeling everywhere. Windows that were once in classroom doors were now only jagged pieces of glass and the ceiling in the hallway had partially caved in only a few yards away from where she stood. She turned back to face Willow and saw the silhouettes of two people behind her wearing hooded black cloaks. One was carrying a handgun and the other a sword. "Willow!" screamed Buffy as she threw her friend out of the way and kicked the figures behind her in the head. The low groans they made as they recovered from the blow revealed they were both men. The one with the sword swung at her and she ducked the blade replying with a foot sweep. The figure landed on his back and she kicked him in the head, knocking him out.
She suddenly heard a gunshot as the other figure opened fire on Willow who was now madly dashing towards the library. Buffy kicked the figure with the gun in the back and he dropped the firearm as he fell forward from the force of the kick. He rolled on the ground and jumped back to his feet. Buffy swept him and he jumped over her foot and kicked her in the head. She staggered backward, but quickly regained her balance. The figure suddenly rushed her and both of them fell to the ground. Buffy used her momentum to roll so that she landed on top of the figure and she belted him in the head with the back of her fist twice. She was about to attempt a third hit when the figure grabbed her arm and butted her in the head then tossing her off of his body. He was about to follow up his attack when he felt the touch of cold steel on his neck through the thin fabric covering his head.
"Put your hands where I can see them!" ordered Willow as she pushed the gun into the figure's neck.
He slowly put up his hands as Buffy walked over to him and removed the hood from his face. She took a step back as she saw the man's face in the street light. "Xander?" she muttered.
"What are you waiting for? Finish me!" ordered Xander.
"Xander, what's going on? What happened to the school? Why did you attack us?" demanded Buffy.
"I'll attack anyone who mocks my friends," sneered Xander.
"What are you talking about?" asked Willow.
"Don't play dumb with me. Buffy and Willow died 10 years ago! You think I'll just turn a blind eye because you look like them? I might be a little crazy, but I'm not stupid! Now kill me!"
"You that anxious to go?" asked Buffy.
"If it means I won't have to become one of you then I welcome the opportunity."
"And what are we?" asked Buffy.
"Demons," replied the other figure as he rose from the ground and removed his hood. "Shape shifters to be precise. We see a lot of them lately disguised as fallen allies."
"Giles?" muttered Willow.
"What the hell is going on here?" asked Buffy.
"You really don't know, do you?" replied Giles as he removed his hood.
"Duh!" replied Buffy.
"You aren't seriously buying this are you?" asked Xander.
"Why else would Willow have run off like that? You think a demon would fear those bullets?" asked Giles. "And you know their orders, kill us. We're still alive."
"So we do get points for that. How generous of you," added Buffy dryly.
"Buffy, can I put the gun down now?" asked Willow.
“Sure, Will, but first," said Buffy as she walked over to Willow and took the gun out of her hand. She bent the barrel and handed it to Xander. "Not that I don't trust you Xand, but you were acting just a little too Arnold Schwarzeneggerish for me."
"Okay, so you do talk a lot like they did. Big deal, that doesn't prove jack. You know I think..." began Xander.
"Hey!" interrupted Willow as she gently grabbed Xander's wrist. "You're wearing the bracelet I gave you to give to your mother!"
"This help convince you any, Xander?" asked Giles.
"A lot of people know that," answered Xander.
"It was a piece of jewelry I didn't want anymore and I gave it to you to give to her because you were broke," added Willow.
"Okay, nobody else knew that," said Xander sheepishly.
"If you are quite convinced, then I suggest we make haste and leave this place immediately," said Giles.
"Why?" asked Buffy.
"We were fighting with a group of vampires a minute ago. They could still be around," explained Xander.
"So where are we going now?" asked Willow as they started to walk away from the school.
"Remember that old mansion Spike and Angel used as their base for a while?" replied Xander.
"We've used it as a base of operations on several intelligence missions since the world fell into chaos," explained Giles.
"Fell into chaos?" asked Willow.
"That’s what we called it when the Hellmouth was opened partially by a group of particularly powerful vampires." explained Giles.
“Partially? Why just partially?” asked Willow.
"The vampires who did the deed wanted to make sure that they didn’t raise any demons who could pose a threat to their own power,” replied Giles. “By opening the Hellmouth in part only minor demons were allowed to enter this world, but that was more than enough to tip the scales in favor of the forces of evil."
"But you ending up here could have just put a 300 pound weight on the good side of the scales," said Xander.
"Quite right. If we can send you back to your own time with the knowledge of how to prevent your deaths then we stand a far better chance of defeating the fiends who are keeping the Hellmouth open now. It'll be impossible to shut it again until they've been terminated," explained Giles.
"Who are these vamps?" asked Buffy.
"They...they didn't exist in your time," replied Xander.
"So how is everyone on our team?" inquired Willow.
"Pardon?" replied Giles.
"You know, Cordy, Oz, Faith," said Willow.
"We'd rather not go into that," answered Giles.
"Why not?" asked Buffy.
"Yeah Giles, why not?" repeated Xander with an edge in his voice.
"Well...uh...tampering with the time line is tricky business," replied Giles. "The more you know the more likely you are to change events in the past that perhaps shouldn't be changed."
"So, it's a Back to the Future thing," said Xander. "I guess making it so you two are alive again will mess things up enough."
"Nuff said," answered Buffy.
“We’d better get going,” directed Giles as he led them away from the school.
About ten minutes later the foursome arrived at what had once been the hideout of Spike and Drucilla. The large stone building looked exactly as it had when Buffy had last visited it, with vines and small bushes adding flavor to an otherwise drab building. They walked into the room in which Buffy had met Angel on so many occasions in the past and sat down on the couch in front of the fireplace.
“It’s getting rather late. I think it would be best for you two to get some sleep,” recommended Giles. “We’ll have to get the ingredients from our base of operations to assemble the return spell, which is further then I care to travel tonight. It’ll be safer to proceed during the day.”
“Great!” exclaimed Buffy.
“Great?” said Willow.
“Well, yeah. Think how rested we’ll be for studying when we get back.”
“Hey, you’re right. I hadn’t thought of that!” exclaimed Willow suddenly bubbling.
“You don’t suppose you two could do this again say, next week before our geometry exam, do you?” asked Buffy.
Xander started giggling as Giles said, “I’d have to say the probability of that happening is rather slim.”
Then Xander noticed that Willow was staring at him with a warm smile. “What?” he asked.
“It’s just the bracelet. I can’t believe you’re wearing it after all these years.”
“It’s all I have left of you. But you know what,” said Xander as he took it off his wrist, “I’d like you to take it back.”
“Why?”
“If this works I shouldn’t need it anymore,” replied Xander.
She put it on her wrist. “Thank you.”
“Please, don't thank me. Look, I've got to go get some supplies for us tonight. I'll be back in a few," said Xander as he walked into the next room.
"Is he okay, Giles? He looked a little pale," observed Buffy.
"It's been a rather trying day, that's all. I think I'll go help him with the supplies. You two just rest and I'll be back in a moment," said Giles as he followed Xander.
* * *
Giles walked into what appeared to have been a study at one point. Tombs of books lined the walls and faded red tapestries hung across the windows. Xander was staring at the sky through one of them as the watcher approached. Giles looked at his friend. They had been through so much together. Physically he had not changed much from when he had met him, which could probably could be attributed to the fact that he needed to stay fit in order to continue his line of work. But there was a change none the less. The wise cracking boy from his memory had turned quite somber in recent years with deep worry lines punctuating his forehead.
"I thought the supplies were upstairs,” said Giles.
“Probably, but this is the best place to look at the stars," answered Xander. "Cordy would have loved it. We spent a lot of nights like this trying to quiet Jesse down when he woke up at night."
Giles chuckled slightly. "I remember how she would ask me for information on the constellations and planets and what not. She wanted Jesse to know them all by the time he was one."
"Seeing our Buffy and Willow again...it just makes me think of her."
"I know."
"I had forgotten how young they were."
"They're the same age as the vampire versions of them appear to be."
"I'm not talking about their looks, Giles. It's just the hope in them that nobody seems to have anymore."
"Perhaps innocence is a better word."
"Maybe. Tell me, was I ever like them?"
"Yes, probably more so when I met you."
"Do you think they figured out what's going on yet?"
"No, I was just relieved that we managed to cover it up so effectively."
"Especially since we haven't seen any shape shifters for months."
"Yes. Buffy could have posed a serious problem if she had discovered what we were planning."
"I still don't feel right doing this. They haven't done anything wrong."
"Xander, please, we've gone over this before. They won't remember anything when they return to the past. My research has confirmed that the spell will erase all their memories of the future when we send them back to their own time. We can't afford to send something with them that they might not understand or not take seriously. This is too important."
"But Giles, she was my best friend. There was nothing on earth that I wouldn't have done to keep her safe and the idea that I've brought her here to kill her makes me want to curl up and die myself."
"You think I don't know that! Willow is the sweetest, most loyal girl I have ever met. When I look into that Willow's eyes I don't see the demon she's become. I see the friend I knew who trusts me with her life. And now I have to break that trust. But I will not allow her to become the monster she is now. Need I remind you, she opened the Hellmouth enough to make it almost impossible for humans to survive. She took Buffy, Joyce and Oz away from us. Do remember the day you had to stake Cordelia after you realized she had killed Jesse in his crib? "
"Alright!" exclaimed Xander. "We do it tonight while she's asleep."
"It'll be easiest that way."
"Yeah, might as well stab her in the back since we have to kill her anyway."
"Xander, it's not as if I..."
"I know. It's just part of the game that nobody enjoys like that rule in Monopoly where you can only sell your houses back for half the money you paid to put them up."
"I hardly think that metaphor is appropriate."
"Me neither. Willow always wins at Monopoly."
* * *
"This is so weird," said Willow. "This bracelet was in mint condition when I gave it to him a few hours ago and now it's all chipped and worn out."
"I know, and they seem so much older. Not that Giles was ever a spring chicken or anything," replied Buffy.
"They looked tired."
"Yeah, they did seem a little dead on their feet, didn't they?"
"You got that right," said a familiar voice from the entrance of the room,
"Faith?" asked Buffy as she walked towards her voice.
"Hey B, how's it going?" asked Faith.
"Did you come to meet up with Xander and Giles?" asked Willow.
"No, I'm here to tell you that you've been fed a crock of shit by those two."
"Come again?" said Buffy.
"Look, I don't know how to break this to you, but they brought you here to kill you," explained Faith.
"Wh...why would they do that?" asked Willow.
"Cause they're demons," replied Faith. "
"What?" asked Buffy.
"C'mon, it was no accident that they attacked you in front of the school. We tried to stop them, but they kept us busy with a bunch of demons. You guys must have been moving cause you were all gone by the time we got there. You were really pissed about it when you found out, Buff."
"I was pissed? But they said we don't exist now," explained Buffy.
"Oh, you exist," replied Faith. "I'm here to take you back to yourselves."
"If I'm alive why didn't I come with you?" asked Buffy.
"You're patrolling. Someone had to if I was going to be here rescuing you guys. Truth is even two slayers can't seem keep the monster level down ever since the day the world fell into chaos. And we have a lot more help then back in the old days because people can't make the bad things away anymore by pretending they don't exist."
"They said that a group of strong vamps opened the Hellmouth," said Willow. "Is that true?"
"Mostly true. Vamps, which includes Giles now, and then there’s whatever Xander is," replied Faith.
"Don't listen to her!" exclaimed Xander as he walked into the room from the opposite side Faith had. "She's lying."
"Oh really? Then why don't you take off your glove, Xander?" taunted Faith.
"What are you talking about?" asked Xander.
"You know exactly what I mean, or are you too afraid to show them what you are now?"
"I don't have to prove anything to you, Faith!"
"Actually you do," said Faith as she rushed at Xander and punched him in the head.
"Xander!" cried Willow as she started to move towards the fray.
"Willow, no!" yelled Buffy as she grabbed her friend's arm. "We don't know who to help!"
Faith punched Xander in the stomach, raised her hands and then hit him over the head with them. Xander fell to the ground. She kicked him in the side twice when he suddenly rolled out of the way. He jumped back to his feet and wiped a trickle of blood from the side of his mouth. She kicked at his head and he grabbed her leg, stopping it in mid kick. He pushed it towards her and she lost her balance and fell backwards. She managed to roll to her knees and Xander tossed a punch at her. She dogged the blow and grabbed the leather glove that he wore on the hand. It slid off as Xander brought his hand back to wind up for another punch. He stopped as he felt the air brush against his now naked hand. Faith ran back to Buffy and Willow as they looked on in horror. Xander's hand was glossy green and scaly. His fingernails contrasted with the rest of his hand glowing a soft yellow.
"See demon," said Faith.
"You say that as if it were a bad thing," said another familiar voice as the form of Spike walked around the corner from the same entrance that Xander had come from moments ago.
"Spike, what are you doing here?" asked Xander.
"Saving your ass, that's all. We can take 'em between the two of us."
"W...where's Giles?" asked Xander flustered.
"He'll be along in a moment. He wanted to get some weapons to help make this go quicker," replied Spike.
"You ass hole," cursed Buffy.
"Buffy, it's not how it looks," said Xander.
"Don't talk to me," replied Buffy.
"Faith," cried another familiar voice as the figure of Oz came into the room from same direction that Faith had.
"Oz!" exclaimed Willow as she ran to him. He gathered her in his arms and she looked up at his face. "You grew a beard!"
"Yeah, you like it?" replied Oz with a smile.
"Willow! Get away from him!" snapped Xander.
"Yeah, let us kill you like a good girl," added Spike.
Willow held Oz close to her as she buried her head into his chest, then she suddenly pushed herself so she was an arm's length away from him. "Something wrong?" asked Oz.
"No, I'm just...I'm just not used to seeing you like this. The beard and all."
"You'll get used to it. Faith!" yelled Oz. "You hold them off and I'll get these two out of here!"
"Sounds good to me," replied Faith as she rushed Xander and pinned him to the floor again. Buffy saw Spike kick Faith off Xander as she ran out the door with Willow.
Outside they found a black convertible waiting for them. "Wow, this is your car!" exclaimed Buffy as she walked down the stone steps of the mansion. "I never would have thought of you driving a car like this."
"That's funny, neither would I," muttered Willow as she sat in the passenger's side of the front seat. Buffy jumped into the back seat and Oz was about to get in the driver's seat when Willow blurted out, "Oz, wait! A book must have fell out of my backpack on the steps. You've got to find it before we leave!"
"Are you kidding me?" replied Oz.
"No, you have to! Uh, we need it or there's, um, a possibility that the time line might change!"
Oz sighed loudly and answered, "I guess you're right, I'll get it," as he ran out of the car.
Willow scooted over to the drivers seat and put the gas petal down to the floor. The tires squealed as they left a long trail of black rubber on the road behind them. Buffy was tossed to the opposite side of the back seat as the car raced away from the mansion. She quickly regained her balance and looked out the rear window of the car in time to see Oz futilely race to catch them. "What are you doing?" shouted Buffy.
"There's something wrong with Oz!"
"What makes you think that?"
"When he held me, he was cold. When I put my head on his chest I couldn't hear a heartbeat."
"That means...I mean, if Faith trusted him."
"They're all demons, Buffy. What are we going to do?"
"I...I don't know," said Buffy as she climbed into the passenger's seat of the car.
"We can't drive around forever."
"You're right, we've got to hide before they come looking for us."
Willow shook her head in agreement. " Any thoughts on where?"
"Just one."
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