The Devil Came Down to Sunnydale

By Gee

Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel characters are copyrighted ©20th Century Fox, Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and the WB, and are used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended

I wrote this for P. I think it's time you knew that when I'm kissing you, it's because I want to kiss you.

I wrote chapter one of my first fan fic, The Powers That Be Intervene, and had feedback from Scott Timms. Because of that I wrote Leaving Again and this.

Chapter 1
Willow Watching

Buffy watched in horror as Drusilla sank her fangs into Willow's neck. "No." She breathed, unable to believe her eyes. With a burst of strength she tore away from the vampire who was holding her. Too late! Dru dropped willow's lifeless body to the ground and licked her fangs, smearing Willow's lifeblood across her mouth. Dru smiled. "Now that was good."

Buffy threw herself down next to Willow. She smoothed her friend's hair back from her face and cradled her head in her arms. No, Willow, no, no no.." she moaned. Dru threw back her head and laughed insanely.

And Buffy sat up in bed, her face a study of terror, her body bathed in sweat. "Willow. She whispered.

Xander had to admit that he had seen Buffy look better. He took in the dark circles under her eyes and the downward turn of her normally perky mouth.
"What's happening, Buff?" he asked trying to keep his tone light and carefree.
"Huh? Oh. Xander." She muttered, distracted. "I'm on my way to see Giles."

She suddenly realised that Xander had been on his way to see her. "Sorry. Did you want something?"
"Will, Tara and me are going to the Bronze tonight to see a new band. Thought you might wanna come?"

Xander had been dropping in to see her every day since Angel had left. He knew how much she missed him. At times it half-killed him to see how much she longed for Angel. But he had made it his business to make sure that she was all right and it was his job to make her laugh and see her through her time of pain and loneliness. He would be there for her, to do what ever she needed, for as long as she needed. He loved her so much and he would prove it by not leaving her. Which was ironic, he thought, because Angel felt that he had proved his love by leaving her.

"Mmm. Right now I have to see Giles."
Xander could see how troubled she was. "Um, Buff, mind if I tag along?" He asked her.
She nodded. "Yes, I mean, no. What I mean is, I don’t mind."
Ok, thought Xander, I'm invisible man again.

Buffy tried the door and found it locked. Impatiently, she pounded on the door. Giles opened it, wearing a brown paisley dressing gown. "Where's the fire?" He demanded, looking still half asleep.
"Giles, I've had a dream. And it was a bad one." Buffy announced, flinging herself down on the sofa.
"Prophetic?" Giles asked, looking interested.
"I think so." She answered.

Xander followed her in, saying nothing. He sat down in a chair and listened.
"I saw Dru kill Willow, Giles. She drained her and I couldn't get to her in time to stop her."
Xander gasped. "Willow?"
Giles barely glanced in his direction before looking back at Buffy. "Even if this is a prophetic dream, it doesn’t mean that things will happen exactly as you saw them, Buffy. After all, the dream you had about the Master, you changed it, you stopped it."
"Yes. But it must mean that Willow is in some kind of danger."
Giles nodded. "Yes. It wouldn’t hurt to keep a close eye on her."

Xander stuck his hand up in the air and they both looked at him, puzzled. "Volunteer." He explained. "Willow watching."

Chapter 2
Joyce has a talk with Buffy

Joyce Summers looked up and smiled as she heard the sound of laughter. Sometimes she forgot that Buffy was just another college girl as well as being the Slayer, scourge of vampires. The door opened and the foursome breezed in, Buffy, Willow, Tara and, of course, Xander. Joyce was happy to see him. She had noticed how hard the boy tried to make Buffy feel better and was grateful to him.

"Hi Mom." Buffy greeted her mother. "I met the guys outside. We're going to the Bronze to see a new band. Tara said they're good."
"Yes." Tara said, shyly. "W-we heard them last week, d-didn’t we, Willow?"
Willow smiled at her. "Yes. They were good."
"Are you going straight away?" Joyce asked.
They nodded. "See you later. Have a good time." She told them as they left.

When Buffy got home her mother was sitting in the kitchen, drinking coffee. Hearing the front door closed she called "Buffy. I'm in the kitchen. Can you come here please, honey?" Buffy obediently made her way to the kitchen. Uh oh, she thought when she saw the serious look on her mother's face and frantically tried to think what she might have done wrong.

Joyce indicated one of the chairs. "Sit down, honey. I need to talk to you."
"Ok Mom. What have I done?" Buffy asked, sitting down.
"Buffy, I probably should have said something to you before. I need to speak to you about Xander."
"Xander?" Buffy was surprised. She shook her head in puzzlement. "What about Xander?"
"Honey, the boy is crazy about you, you have to know that."
"I know he.. well, once he asked me for a date. " She made a face. "I turned him down because I just wanted to be friends, and, of course, I was seeing Angel."

Joyce's face became stern. "Yes. Angel." "Oh, Mom, I know what you're going to say.." "Yes." Said Joyce, interrupting. "I expect you do. But I want to talk about Xander, not Angel." Buffy looked distraught. "What am I supposed to do? He's my friend. I don't..I can't…"

Seeing that she had tears in her eyes. Joyce grasped her daughters' hands. "I know you can't make yourself feel something you don't. What I'm trying to say is that Xander is a very special young man who cares for you a great deal. He's been through a lot lately, with Anya leaving him and, well, Angel.."

Tears began to run down Buffy's face. Joyce jumped up and cradled her daughter to her. "Oh, honey, I'm doing this all wrong. I just want you to be careful. You could hurt him so easily. Just be careful."
"Mom, I didn't choose to love Angel." Her voice cracked. "I wish I could stop, I really wish I could stop."
"I know, honey." Joyce held her daughter while she sobbed. I really made a mess of that, she thought to herself.

Chapter 3
Buffy messes up

Xander and Buffy were alone in the house that evening. Joyce had gone out to visit a friend and Willow and Tara were trying out a new spell.Buffy threw herself down on the sofa next to Xander.
"Hey. Watch it, Buff." Xander warned. "Major popcorn spillage."
"OK, Xand. Bring that popcorn over here."
"Hey." He protested. "Get your own."

Buffy grabbed the bucket on popcorn and setting it down on the table, away from Xander's grasp, began to tickle him, mercilessly.
Xander yelled. "Ah. No. No fair." He tried to roll himself into a tight ball but it didn't work and she kept on tickling.

Suddenly, the tickling stopped and Xander was able to breathe. He was only able to breathe for a second because, when he opened his eyes to look at Buffy, the way she was looking at him took his breath away. He had seen that look in her eyes before but then it had been Angel she was looking at.

Slowly and deliberately she leaned towards him. Xander was puzzled for a moment, then he got up from the sofa. She jumped to her feet and put her arms around him. Taken by surprise, he wrapped his arms around her. "What is it, Buff?" He asked gently. "What's wrong?"
She looked up at him. "Kiss me."
"What?"
"Kiss me." She repeated.

Xander swallowed hard. "No. He whispered. He tried to make himself let go of her, but he wasn't strong enough.
She looked up at him and cupped the back of his head with her hand, bringing his lips down to hers. Their lips met and Xander thought he'd die from the want of her. He pulled his mouth away from hers and whispered again. "No."
Ignoring him, she pulled his head down to her again.

"Buffy. Please. No. Don't." He pleaded.
She looked at him, puzzled. "But I thought…"
"I know what you thought." He answered. "You're sad, lonely and missing Angel and, if you can't have him, I'll do as a substitute." There was no anger in his tone, only sadness and resignation. His words cut through Buffy like a knife. "If you're gonna kiss me, it has to be because you wanna kiss me, not just because you can't kiss Angel."

Ashamed, she broke away and began to sob. He took her in his arms and held her, gently. "Oh, Xander, I'm so sorry."
"Forget it. It never happened. Now come dry your eyes and let's watch the rest of the movie." He led her to the sofa and fished a tissue from his pocket.

Driving home he thought about the incident that night. You fool, he thought, what you always wanted happened tonight and you pushed her away. Idiot Jed. He suddenly felt guilty for even considering taking advantage of her. This was Buffy and he would never do anything to hurt her.

Buffy was laying on her bed, thinking and feeling very ashamed. After all her mother had said to her about Xander, the way she had treated him was shameful. She had just felt so alone and desperate. Even so, she flinched when she remembered the look on his face and the words he had spoken.

It was then that the telephone rang. Picking up the receiver, Buffy said "Hello?"
Willow's voice answered her. "Buffy, Giles called and we have to go see him."
"Tonight?" Buffy asked, looking at her bedside clock.
"Now." Said Willow, adamantly. "Xander's gonna pick us all up and drive us to Giles."
Sighing, Buffy replaced the receiver and went to the wardrobe to get her clothes.

Chapter 4
Giles calls a meeting

. "Thank you all for coming. I thought it would be best if we were all assembled together so that we could work out some kind of plan." Giles looked around at Xander, Willow, Tara and Buffy. They were seated in the living room. Buffy noticed that Giles had brought in extra chairs. It seemed that Giles was expecting more guests.
"Why so late, G-man?" Xander asked.
"So that we could be here." Said a familiar voice.

Buffy's heart stopped for a minute and, when it started beating again, she thought it would burst from her chest. "Angel." She breathed, as he entered the room, accompanied by Wesley and Cordelia.
Angel glanced at her for a second and then looked towards Giles. "Gunn will be along later." He told Giles.

The three sat down at the table in three of the four empty chairs. Buffy noticed that Angel choose the seat furthest away from her.
"Ok, Giles. Spill." Said Xander.
Giles sighed. He took off his glasses and rubbed at his temples. "As you probably know, it's millennium year and…"

"Uh, Giles, that was last year." Buffy interrupted. "You're just a little behind the times here." "No, actually, Buff, it wasn't. The millennium began on New Year's Day this year." Willow said, helpfully.
"That can't be right." Said Xander, frowning. "I mean the year two thousand. There's a nought there, isn't there?"
"Yes but there is no year nought in our calendar system. It started at 1AD."

Xander shook his head. "I still don't get it." He said.
"We use the Gregorian Calendar and there is no year zero. It went from 1BC to 1AD. So the third millennium and twenty first century began on January 1st. People just got it confused because of the Millennium bug." Willow explained.

"CAN YOU PLEASE JUST SHUT UP AND LISTEN!" Giles shouted.
They all looked at him, shocked.
"OK, Giles, no need to go all pyscho on us." Buffy admonished. "Go ahead."
"Right. Well, there is a prophecy.."
"There just had to be one, didn't there." Xander muttered.
If looks could kill, the one that Giles gave to Xander would have killed him on the spot.

With a withering glance at all seated around the table, Giles continued. "I have been advised by the Watcher's Council that, during the Millennium year, the devil, who was cast out of heaven and imprisoned, will be able to rise and that this will probably take place at the Hellmouth."
"Right." Said Buffy. "so we're gonna kick some demon ass."

"No." Giles said firmly. "Not demon. Devil. The Devil."
Xander looked aghast. "The Devil. You mean, the big guy, the one with the horns and the pitchfork?"
Giles nodded.
"Oh, man. This is not good." Xander looked around at the astonished faces of his friends. Friends and Angel, he amended to himself.

Buffy spoke, choosing her words carefully. "You are talking about the actual devil here? Hold on, Giles, I didn't sign up for this one. Vampires, yes. The occasional demon, OK. Dracula, I came, I saw, I kicked his ass. The big, bad, devil person. I mean, I gotta have a close look at this whole Chosen One contract."

"The Council are going to send someone who has some experience with this type of thing. And Angel, Wesley, Cordelia and Gunn are here to help."
Giles looked around at the group. "We have no choice in this matter. We have to stop this from happening."

Chapter 5
Hearts and swords

After well over an hour of talking the group broke up for refreshments, provided by Willow and Tara, and got up to stretch their legs. Cordelia walked over to Xander.

"So. Xander." Said Cordelia, casually. "So how are things?"
"Well, same old, same old, Cordy. And you?"
"Oh, fine, thanks." She looked at him. "Xander, this whole situation, I know it's kinda strange, but, well, I still have feelings for you, you know. Not smoochie type feelings, friend type feelings. I wanted you to know."

To her surprise, he hugged her. "Yeah, I know. Me too, Cordy."
"My God, Xander. You actually said something nice. You wanna watch that. Could be habit forming."
Xander smiled. "I'll try not to let it get a hold, OK."

"So.." said Buffy. "How's L.A.?"
Angel looked extremely uncomfortable. "Same as usual."
"Oh." She said, raising an eyebrow. "Must be good. You couldn't wait to get back there." Her voice had a hard edge to it and Angel tried not to flinch under her gaze.
"Buffy, now is not the time." Angel pleaded.
"It never is the time." She spat, moving away.

Angel followed her with his eyes, watching as she moved towards Xander and Cordelia. She always goes to him, he thought jealously, she knows how much I hate it when she does that.

Buffy slipped her arm around Xander's waist. She knew, without looking, that Angel would be watching her. Xander stiffened. He looked up at her and she saw the hurt in his eyes. He knew what she was doing. Instantly she remembered what her mother had said, and what had happened at the house, and her cheeks reddened with shame. Cordelia's eyes widened.
"'Scuse me. Gotta talk to Giles." She said, walking hurriedly away.

Buffy dropped her hand to her side. "Xander.." She began.
"Not now, Buff. Too public. We can talk later."
She nodded. "Guess we need to clear the air."
Xander nodded. "Yeah. Major air clearing needed."
Seeing the stricken expression on her face, he instantly regretted his words. He put his arm around her waist. "Hey, Buff. It's OK. Really. Best buds, right?"
She smiled at him with gratitude. "Yeah. Best buds."

Angel watched them carefully. There is something going on there, he thought. Before he could think any more about it there was a knock at the door. Giles went to open it and Gunn walked in, carrying a large holdall.
"Hey, Angel." He said. "Good directions. I got it and I got here."
"This is Gunn." Angel announced. He introduced Gunn to Giles, Buffy, Willow, Xander and Tara.

"So." Said Xander, eyeing the holdall. "I see you brought goodies."
"What? Oh, yeah." Said Gunn, and he opened the holdall and took out a large sword. "It's the sword used to kill Acathla."
Buffy looked at it, horrified. And the sword I used to kill Angel, she thought. She licked her lips. "Why do we need that?" She asked.
"Because it's the only thing that will kill the Devil." Giles answered.

Chapter 6
Making Up

After the meeting Tara, Willow, Cordelia and Buffy got into Xander's car to be driven home. Cordelia was staying the night with Tara and Willow. It was going to be crowded at Giles home with Gunn, Wesley and Angel staying there.

Xander dropped the others off first and then drove Buffy home. Buffy was aware of an awkward silence between her and Xander and was desperately thinking of something to say when Xander looked at her.

"Buffy. I don't want things to be awkward between us." He said.
"I wish I could take it back. I'm so sorry. I really don't know what got into me."
"Buffy. Can you please just…" Xander banged his hands on the steering wheel and brought the car to a sudden halt.

He turned to look at her. "Please don't make this any harder. I just want to forget it happened."
"But…"
"Buffy. Please don't do this. Forget it, just forget it."
Buffy nodded, mutely.

She was glad when the drive was over and Xander dropped her off at her home. Maybe tomorrow things will be better, she thought. Then she remembered the meeting. OK, probably a lot worse, she amended.

The following morning, Buffy decided to call to see Willow. It was only when she turned up at the apartment that she remembered Tara and Cordelia. Cordelia had taken over the bathroom and Tara was making breakfast when she arrived.

Buffy took Willow to one side. "Will, I really could do with a quiet talk. I've done something, something really bad."
Willow was intrigued. "Really bad? She asked.
"Tara, Buff and me are going for a walk." She called out. "Be back soon."

Immediately they were outside Willow turned to Buffy. "OK. Spill." She demanded, her eyes glinting.
"Willow, please don't be mad." Buffy put her head down in shame. "I came on to Xander." She admitted.

"What?" Willow didn't know whether to be pleased or mad.
"It was last night, before the meeting. We were watching a movie and..and I asked him to kiss me."
"What?" Willow said, again.
"And he said he wouldn't and I kissed him. Twice, I think."
"What?"
"Willow. Please stop saying that."

"Why wouldn't he kiss you?"
"Because he said that I only wanted to kiss him because I couldn't kiss Angel."
Willow nodded. "And was that true?"
"Yes." She admitted. Then she shook her head. "No." She looked up at Willow. "Oh, God, Will, I don't know."

"Sooo. Let me see if I got this right. You came on to Xander who has been in love with you for, oh about a hundred years, and you don't know if you did it because you wanted him or not." Willow sounded angry. "How could you do that? Don't you know what you did?"
"Yes." She said, miserably. "And I've tried to tell him I'm sorry but he told me to forget it. Oh God!" She wailed. "I really messed up, didn't I?"
Willow had no sympathy. "Yes, you really messed up."

"Will, there wouldn't be a spell or something you could do, would there? To make him forget it, I mean."
"I'm not putting a spell on Xander just to make you feel better. You're just going to have to live with it." Willow said, sternly. Then she relented. "Come on. Come back with me and have some breakfast. It'll take time but Xander'll be alright."

Chapter 7
Always

They all called to see Giles after breakfast. Giles and Wesley were sitting down and reading, surrounded by a large pile of books. There was no sign of Gunn and Angel.
"Where are the others?" Buffy asked.
Willow looked at her. Angel, she means where's Angel, she thought.
"Angel's in the shower and Gunn has gone out somewhere with Xander." Giles replied.

"Xander was here?" Buffy asked.
"Yes." Giles evidently heard something strange in her voice because he looked oddly at her. "Is anything wrong?"
Buffy shook her head and changed the subject. "Any news from the Watcher's Council?"

Giles looked worried. "They rang me this morning. It seems that it may be too late for us to wait for someone to come from the Council."
"Too late?"
Giles nodded. "They think that the manifestation may already be underway."
"And that means?"
"They think that the Devil has begun to take on a tangible form in which he may release himself from the non-corporeal plane in which he currently exists."
Buffy looked at Willow. "Please?" She asked.
"He's changing into a body so he can walk about." She explained.

Buffy shook her head. "This Devil business, it's kinda hard to take."
Giles looked at her. "And vampires, demons and witches aren't, I suppose."
"It's just that I didn't really think about there being a sort of number one evil guy, you know." Giles shook his head in despair and returned to his reading.
"Tea? Giles? Wesley?" Willow offered.
Both the ex-watchers nodded and Willow went off to the kitchen, followed by Buffy.

They were in the kitchen when Angel came in from the shower. Buffy smiled at him and he smiled back. Neither of them said a word.
Willow went to the refrigerator and pulled out a mug. She placed it in the microwave for a minute, then pulled it out and passed it to Angel. "Breakfast." She said happily.
Angel took the mug of blood and gave her a strange look. "Uh, thanks." He said. "I'll just take this.." His voice trailed off and he looked embarrassed. Willow nodded at him and he walked quickly out of the kitchen.

Buffy looked at her, amazed. "How do you do that?"
Willow looked puzzled. "What?"
"The whole blood drinking thing. Doesn't it give you the wiggins?"
"No. It's just a weird diet kinda thing. I mean, some of the things Xander eats. Gross. Besides, Angel's not my boyfriend. It's no biggie to me."
Buffy looked sad. "I don't think he's my boyfriend any more. I think he's moved on."
"Always with the thinking. Never with the talking. Go. Talk." Willow shooed her out of the kitchen.

Buffy followed Angel into the living room. He was drinking from the mug and Buffy saw a smear of blood on his mouth. Seeing her, he tried guiltily to hide the mug and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "It's all right, you know. I mean, I know what you live on." She said, softly.
"I'd rather you didn't see." He mumbled.
"Go on." She urged.
Turning his back to her, he brought the mug to his mouth and drained it. She saw his hand come up to wipe his mouth again before he turned to face her.
"I know what you are, what you do. I love you." She said, gently touching his face with her hand. "Always."
Willow passed them, head down, deliberately not looking at either of them. She was carrying a tray with cups of tea on and grabbed Angel's mug from him, setting it down on the tray.

"I thought you might not feel the same." Angel said.
"Every time you leave me, something dies and I think that's it, he's gone, for good. Then you come back and it comes back to life again. I don't want it to happen, but it does."
He flinched at the look of pain on her face as she spoke, knowing he had caused it. "I want to stay with you, but I can't. Look at what happened between us, how I hurt you."
"Stay or go. You hurt me anyway, every way."
"Buffy. When the demon rules me I'm a danger to you. I couldn't risk that happening."
"Perhaps Willow could find a spell?" Buffy asked hopefully.
"Buffy, if it were possible for me to be with you, without the risk of hurting you, I would be, and if it ever becomes possible, I will be with you. Always, remember?"
Buffy nodded. "Always."

Chapter 8
Willow gets mad

It was then that Giles jumped up from the table. "Bloody Hell." He exclaimed.
Willow frowned. "I didn't think the tea was that bad, Giles."
"What? No. Look at this Wesley. See if you think it means, well, what I think it means." Giles pushed his book towards Wesley, pointing out the relevant chapter.
Wesley read, then re-read the chapter. "Hmm. See what you mean."

"Well, will somebody please tell the rest of us?" Willow asked.
"It would appear that it is not the actual Devil that is rising but a series of major demons. They, when all have achieved their corporeal state, will be empowered to raise the Devil." Giles explained.

"According to some of the passages in this book it would seem that some may have already arisen." Wesley said.
"But wouldn't we have known if that had happened? Wouldn't there have been some kinda sign?" asked Buffy.
"One would think so. I would not have thought that something like that could have gone unnoticed." Giles said, looking puzzled.
"There's been quite a lot of activity here later though, hasn't there?" Wesley asked. "The business with Willow, Xander and Angel. Could that have been some sort of distraction?"
"It's possible, I suppose." Giles said, thoughtfully. He hit the table with his fist, making everyone jump. "Of course. Bune must have been one of the major demons set to proceed the Devil."
Giles was back to reading the book. "Uhh, Giles. I think we'd better start making plans to visit the Master's old lair. Tonight."

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly as everyone prepared for the night ahead of them. Willow telephoned Tara and told her to come to the apartment and to bring Cordelia. Gunn and Xander returned from their walk and Giles explained the situation to them. Buffy and Angel were in the kitchen, heads close together, talking. Willow saw Xander glance towards them and she saw the hurt in his eyes. She left the explanations to Giles and went into the kitchen.
"Buff, we need to talk." She said, bluntly.
Angel and Buffy looked up, surprised. "I have to speak to the others. Make a plan." Angel excused himself.

As soon as he left Willow exploded. "How could you?"
Buffy put her hands up in defence. "Whoa, Will. How could I what?"
"You know what. Xander. Forgotten him already?"
Buffy was stunned. She couldn't remember seeing Willow this angry. Then the shame kicked in. "Oh. I didn't think."
"No." Willow hissed at her. "Angel shows his face and that's all you think about. Well, get over it, Buff. He walked. The rest of us stayed. Xander stayed." And she spun around and walked out, leaving Buffy speechless.
Seeing her leave, Angel went back in to Buffy. "Hmm. Was it me, or was she mad?"
"Oh she was mad, all right. At me. And I deserved it." Buffy pushed past him, tears in her eyes.

She knew where Willow would be, and followed her outside, where her friend was dabbing at her face with a tissue.
"Will, I'm sorry." She said.
"Tell him that!" Willow spat at her.
"Will, what I said to you before, I meant it. I really don't know how I feel." Buffy sobbed.
Willow turned around and hugged her friend. "Oh. Don't. I was mad. I'm sorry."
"I'm all mixed up. Angel goes and I think, OK, it's over. Then he comes back and I think, he's come back to me. Isn't there a spell to stop me loving him?"
Willow looked at her, sadly. "I don't think there's anything that could stop you loving him."

Chapter 9
Demon goop and spider webs.

When Willow and Buffy walked back into the apartment, everyone looked at them expectantly.
"Well?" Cordelia asked. "What's going on?"
"Nothing for you to worry about, Cordy." Buffy said, dismissively. "Right, Giles, what's the plan?"
Basically, we go in, we kill it, we go for pizza." Xander told her. "Right, Giles?"
Giles cleared his throat. "Put rather simply, but yes."

"Right. Let's go. Everybody grab a weapon. I'll lead the way." Said Buffy, taking charge. Buffy led, followed by Angel and Gunn, then Giles and Wesley, Cordy and Xander, with Tara and Willow bringing up the rear.
"Ugh" said Cordy, trying to drag a spider's web out of her hair. "Why is it that the places where demons live are so damn icky!"
Xander looked at her and picked the web out of her hair. "Never mind, Cordy. When we get out of here you can get your hair done again." He looked at her clothes. "I think it might be hard to get the demon goop out of that top though."
"Demon goop." Cordelia looked down at herself, horrified. "Ugh."
"Guys. Trying to sneak up quietly here." Buffy scolded.
"Sorry, but honestly, demon goop." Cordelia whispered, then quieted as Giles gave her a withering look.

There was a pulsating green light ahead of them and, as they rounded the corner they had a clear view of a large pit in the middle of the floor. The light was coming from it and, as they watched, a figure began to climb up from it. Suddenly, sensing them there, only half emerged from the pit, it turned to look at them.

It had the semblance of a human being but it's skin was grey and leprous and coated with red slime. It's eyes were dark green and multi-faceted, like those of a fly, and there were three of them, the third in the centre of it's forehead. It was hairless and there were a multitude of small, red spikes protruding from it's head.

"Hello, Slayer." The creature greeted her, it's voice was harsh and grating. "Brought some friends, I see." It’s eyes flickered over the others, then widened in recognition. "Well, it's my old friend Ripper, I see."
Buffy whipped around to look at Giles. "Friend of yours?" She asked him.
"Giles. The company you keep." Xander scolded him.
"This is hardly the time for explanations." Giles muttered.
Buffy nodded. "OK, Giles. But I look forward to hearing it later."
"Later!" The demon laughed. "Oh, but there's not going to be any later for any of you."

There was a flash of light and something hit Buffy hard. She crashed into the wall. Looking up, dazed, she could see her friends lying on the ground, unmoving. By an enormous act of will she forced herself up and ran towards the creature. There was another flash of light and once again Buffy was flung against the wall, hitting her head hard against it. She passed out.

Chapter 10
Dreams come true

She awoke to a scene straight from hell. She was held by a male vampire. Angel , no it was Angelus, she realised, was standing over Xander's body. He held a sword in his hand, stained with the boy's blood. Xander's eyes were open but unseeing and glazed with death. Dru was holding Willow, her fangs grazing her neck. Tara was already dead, on the floor at Dru's feet, a male vampire sucking the last drop of her blood from her veins.

Giles, Wesley and Gunn were chained to the wall and Buffy could see that Giles and Gunn were already dead. There was a female vampire draining Wesley and, when she glanced in her direction, Buffy was horrified to see that it was, or had been, Cordelia.

Angelus looked up at her. He ran his finger along the sword and licked the blood from it. "Hello, lover. Come to join the party?" He looked over at Dru. "Do it now, Dru." He commanded.
Buffy watched in horror as Drusilla sank her fangs into Willow's neck.

"No." She breathed, unable to believe her eyes. With a burst of strength she tore away from the vampire who was holding her. Too late! Dru dropped Willow's lifeless body to the ground and licked her fangs, smearing Willow's lifeblood across her mouth. Dru smiled. "Now that was good."

"NO!" Buffy shouted. "NO! That is SO NOT how it's is!"
The scene in front of her melted away and the creature that replaced it looked at her in astonishment.
She looked at her friends on the ground around her and found what she was looking for. She picked up Angel's sword and advanced towards the creature. Instead of being frightened, the creature began to laugh at her. "You can't kill me, Slayer." It taunted.
She stopped and forced herself to think. Then she looked back at her friends.

"No." she murmured. "I can't do this. I'm not supposed to."
Giles lifted his head off the ground and called to her. "Remember Acathla!"
Her forehead creased in thought. Then the solution dawned. "Acathla. Of course."
She went back to her friends and pulled Xander to his feet. "You have to do this, Xand. But I'll be with you, OK?"

Xander staggered, holding on to her. "Buffy?" He asked. "Buffy, you're alive?"
Suddenly she was aware that all of them had experienced some kind of waking nightmare. "Yes." She told him, gently. "And you have to come with me and kill the demon."
"Kill the…?" Xander looked at her, stunned. "Anything you say, Buff. But I think you might be crazy."
"Take the sword in both of your hands." She instructed.

He tried to hold it but it was too heavy so she grasped his hands in hers, helping him to hold it. They walked up to the creature together. It's eyes narrowed and she knew that it was trying to use some kind of magic against them. She also knew, as the creature did not, that it wouldn't work. Xander and Buffy raised the sword high and brought it down, severing the head from the body.

The force released from the body flung them down onto the ground. She felt someone touch her arm and looked up to see Giles. "You did it." He told her.
"Xander?" she asked.
"Yes. He'll be fine."
"And the others?"
"Buffy, everyone's fine. Now let's get you out of here." Giles tried to lift her but someone pushed him aside. She found herself looking up at Angel.
"I've got you." He said, lifting her up into his arms. She closed her eyes, unable to look at him, while he carried her.

Chapter 11
The Aftermath

Giles busied himself, fetching bandages and hot water. His living room looked like a war zone, albeit a victorious war zone. Cordelia and Tara were making hot drinks and sandwiches and chatting like old friends. He didn’t think he had ever heard Tara talk so much.

Willow was looking after Xander, Gunn and Wesley and Angel was, of course, with Buffy. Giles looked over at them. He knew that Buffy had been heart broken when Angel had left her on the last occasion. He suspected that Angel had been equally heart broken. He was sure that Angel would be leaving again, as the reason that he had to distance himself from Buffy still existed, and he wondered how much more pain the lovers could take.

And, of course, there was Xander. His admiration for the boy had increased in leaps and bounds. His devotion to his friends, and, of course, to Buffy, appeared to be limitless. Giles knew how Xander felt about Buffy and he was aware that, although Buffy loved him as a dear and precious friend, Xander's love for Buffy was not reciprocated. He sighed and went to help Willow with her bandaging.

Buffy looked up at Angel. "I wish you hadn't come." She whispered.
He looked at her with a hurt expression.
"Because you'll be going again, won't you?"
He looked down. "Nothing's changed, Buffy." He said, gruffly. "You know that."

Buffy looked across the room at Xander. He had been watching them but dropped his gaze when she looked in his direction. "Yeah. Nothing's changed." She answered him.
Angel followed her gaze. "Why did you choose Xander to kill it?" he asked.
"Giles gave me the clue. Acathla."
Angel still looked puzzled.
"He was killed by a virtuous knight."
"Xander? A virtuous knight?"
"Well, it was Angelus who made him a knight. And the virtuous part, let's just say that I can testify to that,"
"Oh. Right." Angel answered. He was having problems imaging Xander as a virtuous knight but he suspected that was down to jealousy. "Anyway, it worked."

Receiving no answer he looked at her to find that her eyes were closed in sleep. He allowed himself the luxury of watching her face relax and settle in what he hoped were pleasant dreams.

FIN

Return to Gee’s Archive

Return to the Authors Archive

Send the author Feedback