Chapter 3

"Xander?" Buffy called, looking around for her friend. The last thing she remembered had been meeting him in the library, offering him a chance to take back his vow. Then she had fallen apart in his arms, the emotional stress of the last several days finally taking its toll on her. She must have fallen asleep. She stood up from the bench where she had been laying, massaging her neck as she looked around the library for her friend. She could see from the light outside that it was late afternoon or early evening. Looking at the clock on the nearby wall, she saw that it was 6:30. She had been asleep for at least two hours. Given that breaking down in Xander's arms was the last thing that she remembered, he must have put her on the bench. She smiled slightly as she looked back at the bench. Xander's jacket was underneath where her head had been.

He had given her a makeshift pillow.

She picked up his jacket and put it on over her own before walking through the library to search for him.

"Xander?" She called out, feeling her heart clench inside of her chest. What if something had happened to him? What if Angelus had-

No. She wouldn't think like that. She couldn't think like that. He was alive. He was okay. But then, why wasn't he here? Why had he left her asleep in the library? Had he decided that her latest breakdown was too much, that he didn't want to wait for her? Had he decided that she wasn't worth piecing back together? She shook her head, trying to dispel the thoughts that had just crossed her mind. Xander loved her, was in love with her. He would never abandon her. He had proven that time and time again. He had broken who knew how many laws to get her a rocket launcher. She still wasn't sure how he managed to do that without winding up in jail, but she was grateful. He had gone to Angel, who he hated more than anyone and all but dragged him down to the sewers so that Buffy wasn't alone in fighting the Master. Then he had saved her life, breathed air into her lungs and acted as though it was nothing. He had simply done it because it was the right thing to do.

"DAMN IT!"

"Whoa Buf, where's the fire? Did Angel-"

Xander's breath was knocked out of him as Buffy ran over and embraced him, nearly knocking the bag he was carrying from his hand.

'You're back! I woke up and you were gone and- Oh what the hell is wrong with me? DAMMIT!" She screamed again.

"Buffy, let's sit down and eat. I'm sorry I left without telling you. I was here for a while but then I saw the time and thought you might be hungry." He said, holding up the bag. Buffy took it from him and they sat down at a nearby table. The slayer reached inside and pulled out three containers of food, and looked at Xander. He reached over and took the top one, placing the other two in front of her.

She opened the containers and smiled.

"You went to Jason's." She said, referencing a small hole in the wall burger joint that the gang had found when they were out and about one weekend. They made what Buffy thought was the best bacon cheeseburger on the planet. They were also thirty minute's outside Sunnydale.

She opened the second box to reveal another burger and fries, raising an eyebrow at Xander.

"Are we expecting someone else?" She asked, and Xander shook his head, swallowing the bite of burger in his mouth before he answered.

"No. They're both for you." He said, and she glared.

"Xander, you didn't need to-"

"Yes I did." He said, cutting her off. "You're the Slayer, and part of that means you burn calories like crazy. You have to make sure you're eating enough."

"A burger and fries is enough. I don't need two." She said, and he shook his head.

"Okay then. You can just take the second one home and eat is as a snack." He said, giving her a look. He knew that she snacked frequently, her Slayer metabolism meaning that she consumed five or six thousand calories a day.

Buffy glared at him again, but there was no anger in it. She knew that he was right. She had to eat more than most people would, but she tried not to be obvious about it. She would bring snacks to school or go grab a large meal on the way back from her solo patrols. But she didn't want to eat like this in front of her friends. In fact, she went to great lengths to see to it that they didn't notice, so that they didn't think of her as a pig. But apparently Xander had noticed.

"You sure you don't mind?" She asked, and he smiled.

"My Slayer needs to eat. She eats." He said, and she smiled.

"Thank you Xan for everything. I-" She stopped talking, and Xander put down his burger, looking at her in concern.

"Buffy, are you okay? Have I done something wrong, have I-"

"No Xander, you've been perfect. I just, I'm so angry right now. I'm so mad at myself. Here I am the Slayer, the Chosen One, the person who gives vampires and demons nightmares and,,,and I feel like I should be doing more, holding it together better. All I've been doing is dumping on you and-"

"Stop. Buffy you stop that right now. You are the strongest person I know. That will never change. You have also been put through the emotional wringer. You are allowed to grieve, and maybe you grieve for a while. You take whatever kind of time you need. Please, allow yourself to process this, to deal with this."

"But what happens when you finally get fed up with it? What happens when you finally realize that all I've been doing is taking from you and not giving you anything in return? I just I...I'm-"

"Don't tell me you're sorry. You have nothing to apologize for." Xander said, but she shook her head.

"But friendship is supposed to be a two-way street. Forget a relationship if I can't give you-"

"How many times have you kept me safe?" He asked, cutting her off.

"I don't know. You've kept me safe too." She shot back and he smiled.

"If we're keeping score, then you've saved me a lot more than I have saved you. I mean, sure I helped with the Master, but you're still ahead by what 150 to 1?" He asked with a laugh.

"That's bullshit. You have saved me more than that. Besides, you're my friend. Since when do we keep score?"

"I don't know Buffy. Since when do we keep score?" He asked, and she sighed, realizing what he was doing. He was telling her it was okay to unload, that he would still be there for her. Just like he said he would. She picked up her burger and began eating in earnest while Xander finished his own.

However, while he kept his face calm, his mind was another story. He was imagining every possible way he could kill Angel, each one more violent and brutal than the one before it. He hated what that piece of shit had done to Buffy, He hated that she had been used, abused, shattered in this way. And once more he swore Angel would die.

7PM-Summers Residence

"Thanks again for dinner Xan." Buffy said as she stopped outside of her house.

He nodded, smiling and giving her a hug before getting into his car.

Buffy watched him turn the corner before walking inside her house.

"Hey Mom, sorry I'm late I was out with Xander."

"No worries Buffy. Your friend and I were just having a chat." Her mother called back, and Buffy walked into the kitchen. She had thought that Oz and Willow were out on a date tonight, but she supposed they could have changed plans. Then she froze.

"Hi Buffy."

Sitting in her kitchen as though he had not a care in the world was Angel.

No, not Angel. Angelus. The animal. The monster responsible for so many deaths he was called the Scourge of Europe.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, trying to keep her voice even. On the one hand she wanted to tear his throat out, but her mother was less than three feet from him, and she knew how fast he was. He would kill her mother before she could get to the stake she kept in her pocket.

"Waiting for you. Your mother was nice enough to listen while I explained our situation."

"Situation?" Buffy asked, feeling fury rise in her throat begging to be released.

"Oh you know fight. How I forgot to tell you about the new car I bought. You were mad because I bought Dru and took her for a ride without telling you. My cousin Spike told me you'd be pissed, but I didn't listen. I'm so sorry." He said, standing up and walking over to her.

"Now I love you, but I should get going. I've got a late evening at work. Lots of position's to fill." He said, turning his head and smiling at Buffy's mother.

"Thanks for listening Joyce. Walk me out sweetheart?" He asked with a grin.

"Sure. Be right back mom." She said, following Angelus outside the house.

"You son of a bitch. I should kill you right here." She hissed, glaring at her ex-boyfriend.

"Good to see you too Buffy. Spike and Dru send their regards."

"Maybe I'll send mine back...without you. Kind of hard to deliver a message when you're dead." She replied, pulling out her stake.

"I wouldn't. Dru and Spike have eyes on your friends. I don't come back...well like I said, I've got lots of positions to fill. But we'll have our dance, when the time is right. Just promise me you'll wear something nice." He said with a smirk before turning and walking away.

Buffy was sorely tempted to call Angelus bluff and stake him as he walked away. But Angel was unpredictable on his best day. Angelus was a complete unknown. If he wasn't bluffing...No, she couldn't afford to take that chance. Especially if Spike and Druscilla weren't alone. But she also couldn't have the people she loved be vulnerable like that.

Right now, she felt like her hands were tied. For all she knew, if she tried to warn her friends they could be killed. Or her mother could be. Angelus could have brought backup and kept them hidden.

"Damn you. Damn you to hell." She whispered darkly. Whether she was blaming Angelus for putting her in this situation or blaming herself for not anticipating his tactics she wasn't sure. But Buffy did know one thing. This was far from over.

A/N: So I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I'm sorry for the long wait, but I've got one of those jobs that doesn't stop because of Covid. Add in writer's block, and it's taken me awhile to get this chapter done. But I hope it was worth the wait. I hope you all stay safe, and thank you for reading.