FicWad

After returning to his lair and introducing Harmony to
Spike (and getting the former vamp not to ridicule the
latter so Spike had no reason to dust her), Xander sent
them to collect some meat.
If his live changed, he figured, why not the others' as
well? Being a murderous demon had some advantages, like
great sex and grabbing for power.
And he could get Buffy. Fuck the others, he really could
get her. If Spike had more than a century with his Dru,
why not the same for him?
That meant the whitehats had to be destroyed. They knew
far to much that he could go about his work with them on
his heels or to fight him for HER.
What did they ever do for him, really? Willow had lost
Oz and, wonder why, went for a woman but not for him.
Cordelia had dumped him in a second, twice, and Buffy
never even looked at him without magic...his whole
live sucked. Oh, and don't even remember Faith! She had
been one of the better memories anyway...it sucked.
Giles was his usual watcherly self and Xander did not
see any reason to spare him. He HAD shot Drucilla in
the back, tried to kill him, too.
That made the watcher his enemy, them all.
Best of all, Xander could finally get what he had wanted
all along! Finally get up and get HER. Why kill Buffy
when he could make her his consort and be with her
forever? He saw no real reason why he should go for the
kill like all the other idiot villains they had seen. Or
why Sunnydale couldn't be HIS town for a change. After
tasting power once in life he decided he liked the
feelings it gave him.
Xander felt a little bit sorry about Willow but he knew
her, she was such a believer into order and right and
all, she was no fun. And after meeting VampWillow he
didn't even want to see her as a consort, just thanks.
With Anya it was different.
She looked up when he entered her place, a little bit
disturbed and then she looked him right in the eyes.
Without any real fear in there but acceptance. "Neat.
Takes a lot of power for a vamp to go around that
little invitation thingie."

"Yeah, well, I never payed much attention to the
rules anyway," Xander laughed and knew it was true.
He had survived for years where he should have died
soon, hearing how Riley and his Initiative kept to
loose people he knew he had had some major luck.
"Hello Anya. Long time no see."

"Forgive me for not exactly flowing over with joy.
You here to kill me?" she answered.

"Actually I wanted to offer you a little change,"
Xander replied casually while mentally unclothing her.
"I mean, you're mortal and you don't get any younger."

"So you want to turn me and make me your queen?"

Xander laughed at her, annoyed. Reminded her that she
was a skank, a real bitch. Cheating on him with Spike
and others - and she paled a bit. "Hey, don't worry,
it turns me on, but you know...I never loved YOU."

"So this is about HER?" Anyanka complained in her best
annoyed vengeance demoness posure. "Damned. I just
knew I couldn't trust you, White Knight!"

"Mhm, did I ever tell you I love you? And I was not
the one to fuck around," Xander said, without being
angry, "even if I had anyone to do so."

Anyanka conceded the point. "So, why turn me?"

"'Cause you're a smart girl and I can use such. Plus
I really like to fuck you again," Xander said. "If you
say no, I can kill you right now and get on with my big
bad masterplan. As soon as I get one."

"You always were so charming," Anyanka giggled as she
presented her troath. "Say, can I fuck around as one
of your lieutenants? Vampires do either feed or fuck,
you know, I kinda like that."

"Jeez, you really got into the habit, did you?"

"What can I say, man? I never got any dick, I mean, as a
vengeance demoness...simply was no opportunity," she
sighed sexyly and came near him, touched him. Kissed his
chin and licked her way to his lips. "Humans really know
what live is about."

Xander seriously doubted it but didn't mind, he flashed
fangs and she bared her throat. An invitation he took to
bury his teeth into her and nearly drain her before
slitting his wrist and letting her drink. She looked
into his eyes as without any fear she died, then he
flipped her body over his shoulder and smiled. Strength
definitely had it's andvatages! He left her house. The
first step on his road to happyness was taken with that.

The second one was to get Harmony to assemble what had
remained of Dru's old following and to make them attack
the Bronze tomorrow. It was part of the plan that Spike
would "return" to the Scoobies and tell them before of
the impending (and thus doomed) attack, as well as that
Anya and Harmony would remain out of the direct line of
fire. Should keept the commandos busy, though.
Xander did not care shit about any minions lost.
But during the day they stayed inside of Harmony's lair,
Xander thought about preparing some other place for his
own use.
Anya really was a demoness - she woke up completely at
ease with her new identity and just threw herself at
the meat they had assembled before. She was just the
normal vamp...albeit pretty powerfull. And she had a
working mind - something the others lacked.
After she tore out the petty mortal man's throat and
drained him, she got up and looked at them. "Now, can
we fuck?"

"Let's fuck," Spike said as he stepped towards her.
Xander just sat back and watched as his first childe
went to do Harmony and Spike and looked invitingly to
him. He didn't mind to get some ass, but he was busy
planning. Not good to fuck up for some pussy, even if
it was one as great as Anya's.
He had to make sure Willow was doing her best cursing,
not that she could change anything. He felt it happen
during the evening and then he smiled.
"Showtime," Xander said and looked at Anya. "Remember,
it has to look like a mortal did it. No feeding!"

"I can follow," Anya promised and took Spike with her.
Spike and the dagger.

"And you, Harmony, better get our people going...and
keep out of the mess!" Xander said as he left her.
Now, all he needed was a phonecall...and one little
talk with Joyce Summers later he went to the old
factory to meet with Buffy. He wondered how long it
would take beefstick and company to show up there.



Giles didn't know what to make out of the phonecall,
but he could figure it out well enough. Spike was
certainly about to lure Buffy into a trap at the
Bronze. So instead of telling her he rang up Riley
Finn and told him he'd gotten a tip that some undead
would attack the Bronze tonight.
So a full three teams of black clad commandos were
waiting when the hostiles appeared and had some big
battle after which some vampires escaped, some of
the soldiers were dead and most of the vampirs were
either dust or captured and about to moved into the
Initiative's base.
Overseeing the operation Riley Finn felt pretty much
at odds that Buffy did not show up herself. And
especially after he'd heard of what Xander had done
to his parents he considered Buffy to be his prime
target - that meant he placed her under surveillance,
as well as her mother and known friends.
His concerns proofed usefull after Buffy's mom did
ring up her daughter a little time ago and some of
their observers told him that Buffy had left the
dorm for an abandoned ruin of a factory in the bad
part of town to meet with Alexander Harris.
Ever the efficient soldier, Riley at once sent a
full team of commandos over there to grab Harris.
He'd feel a lot safer once this insane creature had
been neutered - lately Riley had come to understand
that some of the Hostiles (or vampires, as Buffy and
her friends insisted them to be) were not quite as
dumb and predictable as the rest of them. He'd had
the nagging suspicion that the Harris boy was one
of these terror cases. Convinced that his people
could deal with the situation at the Bronze he got
into his car and ran for the factory himself.
At least until some news came in from HQ, then he
changed destinations and clenched his teeth. This
looked to be baaad!



Buffy entered the burned out shell of the factory from
the north side and made her way across the wreckage and
debris quickly. She was not unarmed but she was not here
to fight.
She was a bit concerend about her mom, Xander ringing
her, but after Willow had done the curse this evening
she supposed he was really willing to talk.
And she didn't even have to search for him for long,
he was in what remained of the great hall in which she
had faced the Judge and so much else...so long ago.
He was wearing a new wardrobe, all black, and it did
remind her of Angel a bit. Well, the duster was Spike.
And he was not wearing leather pants (major plus, he
wasn't the type for it, but what was she thinking
there about his butt?). He looked a bit worn and really
upset as she neared him and he heard her come close
despite her efforts to the contrary. He still kept
staring at the ruins, though.
Buffy was impressed, and not only at his senses. Her
spider-sense was yelling at her that Xander was a big
mojo type of a fiend. Last time she'd felt vibes this
strong was when facing the Master.
"Hi there," she said, deciding that she should not
show how torn shew as in herself. "You okay, Xand?"

"Yeah, Buff, just peachy," Xander humored her with a
pained glance. "Jesus, you know damn well I...I am not
exactly...oh shit."

"The curse worked?" she inquired.

"Good enough," Xander said gravely. "I was about to
lead some army to the Bronze tonight, Buffy. Can you
imagine that? ME, leading an army of vampires?"

Actually she could, he had the soldier knowledge. Had
demonstrated he could do battle at graduation. And he
had the power of a master vamp, so he could do it.
Somehow she didn't even want to think how events would
have worked out if they had met at the Bronze and he
had been evil guy number one. "I'm glad you didn't do
it after all."

"I did enough!"

"It wasn't you, Xander. It was...the demon," Buffy
croaked. Just like Angelus, that wasn't really him.
"You know how it is." She was a bit astounded he
hadn't killed himself yet. "Xand? I...I really did
miss you...when you went...you know."

Xander looked in her green eyes and gave her a small
smile. "The worst is...I enjoyed to kill my parents,
Buffy. I really enjoyed it."

"I know they were not exactly nice to you," she said
faintly. Not nice? Quite the understatement. If there
was any contest of worst parents of the year, they
would be on the top spot. Neglect was just one of the
minor things they did to him. "It's over, Xander. You
know you don't have to kill anymore."

"I do!" Xander nodded strangely sober. "Buffy, I have,
I mean...I never had to admit it...but I...I cannot...
oh my god, I killed her, I killed Anya...can you ever
forgive me?"

"I can," Buffy said. Not that she really like the demon
girl herself that much, she was a nympho slut and mean,
but she was his girlfriend. "Xand, Spike said something
about you - and when you died I...I just realized I
never ever said thankyou...or what you mean to me."
Damn, girl, she said to herself, what was it? She had
known him for years and been with him often enough, but
she never felt drawn to him like that. Maybe it was the
vampire that attracted her - didn't speak well for her.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there."

"It's okay," Xander smiled weakly. "It wasn't your fault
and never think different! I should know better than to
be out after dark alone!" He shook his head about his
own stupidity. "Buffy, I need you now...I just need some
help, you know, to deal with this and I...I love you..."

"I know," Buffy said. She really did, now. She was not
sure what she should say next as he appeared deeply
disturbed and so confused, so unsure of anything. So
uncertain he actually confessed feelings to her. "I'm
there, Xand." And she really was, she reached out for
him. Uncertain they touched - first a finger, then a
hand and then...more.

He got closer and hugged her, then she found herself
kissing him. Really kissing him, with all the longing
she had felt for Angel over the last months - and it
was all for him. She had her eyes closed and had him
in her embrace. If he tried something, he would get
her. Same for him, there. Neither of them planned on
killing the other, though.
Buffy breathlessly broke the kiss and stepped back,
eying him. This was JUST peachy, just Angel! Was she
falling for any souled vampire she came across? "God,
Xander, I...we...we know this must not lead anywhere!"

"I...I know," he said, spooked. And reluctantly he
let go. "Oh god, was it...like that for...Angel?"

"I think so," Buffy whispered tormented. "Why didn't
I realize before? Why did you have to DIE before?"

"I guess it was fate," Xander gloated at that. "I mean,
I never got noticed...anyone just thought I was playing
at a crush...but I didn't, never. If not for you I'd
already have dusted myself but I...I cannot...leave
you alone."

She reached out for him and he raised his hand to take
hers, they just exchanged feelings by looking at each
other. And Buffy thought about how it would feel to be
in his embrace again. A tender gesture in the midst of
their mutual desperation, and then something happened
in the back of the factory. It was only a minor noise
to her - a small mistake, but she didn't react so fast.
Xander looked at the dark and screamed, then he ran for
it. Buffy was lost to concentrate he senses on him and
not her surroundings, he was so confused and vulnerable
now. She wanted to give him reassurance he could go on,
she did not want to loose him again, she really did not
want to go through it all again. Angel was bad enough.
Then there was a commando team running into the area.
She saw how he evaded one commando, threw the second to
the ground as he jumped him and kicked another one out
of his way with brutal force as he vanished into the
night. She tackled one other and scared of two more with
her angry words: "Leave him alone you idiots!" she had
screamed, and then they had raised her weapons at her
and she had stood frozen. "I'm a friend of yours!"
Obviously the commander of this team wasn't about to
believe that, but he sticked to his orders - and the
next moment he and his men got up and ran after the
fleeing vampire into the night.
Leaving a very angry Slayer to stand alone and look
after them, sure that Xander would escape them. So she
had no reason to do anything except wait for someone
to show up. Riley Finn was in line for a big chewout.
And she was no well-meaning drill sergeant, oh no.
Buffy returned to her dorm room and spoke a message
to Riley's machine, then she showered and went to
bed.
She barely had to wait another hour until Riley came
in, and against her better judgement she let him in.
He did not look that happy.
"Hello Buffy."

"Riley," she just said. "I don't know if I should
simply tell you to sod off or kick you out. What in
god's name were you thinking?"

"What _I_ was thinking?" Riley exploded and gaped at
her. "Buffy, your ex-friend organized an attack on
the Bronze! Three of my people died there tonight and
eight civilians. He is responsible for that and at
least two murders, maybe three more, four after...
well, his girlfriend was not to be seen since
yesterday...and..."

"She's dead," Buffy coldly stated. "Damn you, Riley,
you scared him away!"

"From all I gather, you were just about to get killed
by that monster," Riley snapped at her, nervously.
"Buffy, what are you thinking? He's a Hostile! You can't
TALK to these things. It's not as if they are anything
besides vile beasts...just because he was your friend
before doesn't mean he'd spare you!"

"There never was any danger," Buffy retorted. "He would
never try to kill me, Riley. Not him." Not after he got
his soul back, he'd sooner kill himself. He was that
confused he even admitted to being in love with her. He
had been reaching out for someone to hug him, make him
feel better, wanted. For a friend. For HER. "He'd rather
kill himself than see any hurt come to me." She was as
certain of that as of the next sunrise, now.

Riley looked at her, spooked and then he reached into
his jacket and angryly pulled out a few polaroids. "There
was someone in your friend's house this night, Buffy. Your
friend Willow," Riley said. "She and her parents are
DEAD - whoever did it took them down hard and slow.
And he scribed a message to the wall of her room!"
Riley clenched his teeth as he searched for the picture
of the writ on the wall. Written with little nice
Willow Rosenberg's liveblood was written: *Miss me, B?
See you around. Love, X.*

Buffy stiffened as she held the picture and tried to
wring out any word - not Willow, no, not that. "How?"

"Someone stabbed and cut them with a heavy dagger,"
Riley explained. "We saw no sign of a struggle or a
forced entry, so..."

"It wasn't him!" Buffy insited aggressively. "Not him."
There was someone else who wanted to play with her.
Some unknown X of a man.

"Buffy, stop to deny the truth, he's a monster...we
have to neutralize him, one way or the other," Riley
burst out. "If you can't accept that, you might be next!
I won't permit that he harms you. I will not!"

HE would not? Buffy laughed, mockingly, as she took him
by the collar and lifted him into the air with one hand.
She threw him across the room against the wall, with the
disgusting ease her power gave her. "YOU want to protect
me, Riley?" Buffy sneered. "That's a sick joke. HE tried
that and if he said it, I might believe it a bit, Riley,
but you? Get lost before I loose my temper!"

Riley struggled to regain his control as he gaped at her
and saw the anger in her eyes. The murderous glint. "You
make a big mistake, Buffy. You need me!"

"Riley, _I_ am the one protecting others around here,"
Buffy told him full of determination. "You cammandos may
do good with a surprise attack, but in a regular fight
without your little guns you're lost." She nodded to
confirm that point. "Get it into your head, beefstick,
HE is no danger to me! And if your commandos harm him,
I swear I will break every bone in your sorry body!"

"Buffy!" Riley coughed, shocked. "I am your friend, I
am your lover...you would choose a VAMPIRE, a MURDERER
to that - over ME?"

She had chosen a souled vampire over a boy who loved her
more than she ever realized, who would do anything for
her. And one who meant more to her than Riley did, even
now that they had been intimate. What was so important
about a guy and his dick into her? She remembered Xander
going to help her when everyone else just thought she
was going to die...
She hesitated to say it to Riley, just in time she got
to shake her head and told him it was about friendship
and she knew she was lying. As did he, although he did
not say so. They pretended and they knew the other knew
as well. It was sick.
"Just get away, will you? I...I need some space right
now," Buffy said. And pray she never got to choose like
that for Riley would loose the decision in a second.