Dark Choices 30

Author: Dave Mycock

Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy or any of the other characters in this story they belong to Joss Whedon.

Pairing: Faith/Xander Romance, Xander/Amy friendship

Summary: Set around early season three. Xander suffers for lying to Buffy about the soul spell. After a nearly been beaten almost to death by her whilst Willow, Cordelia and Oz watch with no emotion, only Giles arrival saves his life. With no option but to leave Sunnydale he heads to Boston to stay with his cousin only to meet the new slayer and her watcher.

The next day came quickly although for the group it seemed to have been only seconds ago that they actually had gotten to sleep, they quickly met up at Buffy's as they had planned quickly reporting the amount of cops, ambulances and fire engines around the school.

"So do you think they will find anything that could lead to us?" Buffy asked somewhat nervously

"I doubt it unless we left something behind which I made sure we didn't" Giles tried to assure her

"So now what happens?" Willow asked

"We take a break right?" Cordelia questioned

"Maybe" Xander said as he stood up and walked to the window

"Meaning?" Buffy asked with narrowed eyes hoping there wasn't something else to deal with

"I'm talking about the distance that still exsists between our two groups" he answered "We may have sorted out some of the problems which started this but not everything so I was thinking that maybe me and the others should go somewhere for a month or so and let things settle here then we'll know if the steps we've taken under pressure will hold" he added as he faced the others

Buffy looked confused for a few minutes as to why Xander would say this when she realised that she still hadn't put everything behind her even though she was trying as hard as she could. Willow was upset that Xander wanted to leave so soon after they had put their friendship back on track.

Cordelia and Oz didn't really give anything away by their expressions whilst Giles looked somewhat resigned to the fact that his friends would be leaving again even if it was for a short space of time.

Jessica and Faith seemed surprised at Xander's suggestion but quickly realised that maybe Xander wasn't ready to resettle in Sunnydale anymore than they were.

Amy just nodded her head prepared to follow her friend to help him whenever she could now that she had decided to put her feelings behind her.

Janna also nodded and was actually happy that Xander wanted to leave Sunnydale for a while as she was still getting used to been back and that she was also not comfortable around Giles and the others just yet.

"Are you sure Xander?" Giles asked

"I think it's the best thing to do Giles, we need time to put everything that's happened in perspective and really think about where we want to go from here" Xander replied as he sat back down next to Janna

"I agree with him, both groups need time Rupert" Jessica spoke up "If were are to have any hope of intergrating both groups then this is the best course of action" she added

"But" Willow started to argue

"Willow please don't try and argue the point" Amy interupted the red head "We need to let things settle down and then when we come back we'll know if we have any chance of pulling both groups into one" she contined

"I'm sorry Willow I have to agree" Buffy finally spoke up trying to ignore the hurt look Willow sent her way "I managed to put quite a bit behind me and even realise somethings in the last month or so but there are still somethings I need to work out" she added "I think Xander's suggestion is the best thing for all of us" she gave Xander a small smile which he returned if somewhat still strained

"Where will you go?" Oz asked as he watched his girlfriend try and resolve some inner struggle

"I was thinking of going to San Francisco for a while" Xander answered

"Why there?" asked Amy

"I've always heard it is a nice city and I've always wanted to visit it" he replied

The others in his group nodded in agreement with his suggestion although Janna knew there was more to Xander's suggestion that he was saying, she could feel something else was on his mind something to do with something he had read in one of Jessica's books back in Boston.

"When will you go?" Willow asked sadly

"Day after tommorow just to make sure the cops don't come after any of us" Jessica was the one who answered that question

The day after tommorow arrived quicker than some of the group would of liked espcially Willow was regretting her mistake more and more with time, but she knew Xander was right about the groups needing time apart.

The cops had filed their report on the destruction on the school the day before and had blamed it on a gang war over turf and had ruled them as the same gangs responsilble for the mayor's demise.

The group was now standing outside of Giles's place as Xander and Faith finished packing the four by four Jessica had brought.

"It's been good to have you back here Xander, and you Amy" Giles told the two teens as he stepped forward and engulfed them both in a strong hug surprising some of the others with his show of emotion

"It's been nice meeting you B even if we got of to a rocky start" Faith said shaking her sister slayer's hand

"I have to agree Faith and I hope when you come back we can start fresh" Buffy replied to which Faith nodded

Jessica had spent most of the last day with Rupert discussing a lot of things including what may happen in the future and she was glad that they would be returning as she hoped her renewed friendship could lead to something more.

Willow spent a few minutes crying on Xander's shoulder as they shared a brief hug before they parted

"I'll see you again Willow I promise but for now we need some space" Xander told her with a small smile as he got in the car as did the others.

He gave Buffy and her group one last look before the four by four pulled out of the driveway and headed towards the interstate he grasped both Janna's and Faith's hands in his and hoped the future would be brighter from here on out.

The End

Author's notes: I want to thank everyone who had reviewed this story and I am glad that you have enjoyed reading it was much as I enjoyed writing it.

I have quite a few ideas for a sequel which I am sure some of you can guess from the ending what it may entail but I need help to bring the charmed ones and their world into this story as I have no real experience in wring about them any help would be appreciated.

David