Xander thrust his hands deep into his pockets as he stalked down the street, quickly walking away from the loud strains of music from the Bronze.
�*Oh, I love the way you play the guitar, Oz. I love the way you have no personality, Oz. Can you turn into a werewolf for me, Oz?* Lousy canine.�
The dark streets were illuminated only by the filtered moonlight from the cloudy night. Tall trees lined either side of the footpath, creating pockets of shadows for figures -especially demonic figures- to hide in.
He didn�t hear the light footsteps following him. As he turned the corner to pass by Geraint Cemetery, Xander felt cold hands come towards his face, covering his eyes gently.
�Guess who.� A familiar voice sang with whimsy. He knew who it was immediately and all his feelings of anger were calmed by her sweet voice.
He turned around to face her. �Willo- whoa!�
The leather clad girl smiled her wicked curve, as her white hands left his eyes and ran down to his chest. His heart jumped into his mouth and he quickly swallowed.
�Xander, you didn�t follow me...� Her smile turned into a pout.
�Ooops, can I make it up to you?� Xander couldn�t take his eyes off her limber body cover in black leather and laced with crimson silk.
�You can bring me somewhere safe. Then I�ll give you something...� she let her arm slide down until he pulled away.
�Sure, you can come to my house, but you don�t have to- you *shouldn�t* do-� He gestured to what she was doing before. �Just- let�s talk.�
Willow made a long, happy sound and slipped her arm around his waist and Xander slid his arm protectively over her shoulders. He repressed any of those annoying, logical questions in his mind asking him to comprehend the fact that there were two Willow�s. Think about it later.
* * *
In the darkness they snuggled tightly, each absorbed in the closeness they shared. Xander relaxed while trying to come up with an idea as to why two Willows were here. Maybe some good fairy decided to grant his wish. Mind you, a selfish wish, that Oz never participated in, and there wasn�t a naughty Willow, and. . .well, forget that theory. Maybe a spell? Maybe.
Or maybe Willow finally realised that they belonged together. Maybe she realised Oz had no personality and decided to choose her one true-
Four shadowy growling figures suddenly leapt out of the shadows in their path. Xander inhaled sharply, detaching himself from Willow to reach for his crucifix inside his jacket.
�Willow Rosenberg?� one of vampires asked with a sneer. His yellow eyes flashed as he recognised the two teenagers. �Ah, friends of the Slayer.�
�Leave her alone,� demanded Xander, drawing his cross and presenting it to the pack of vampires. He grasped at a stake tucked in his pocket. �Unless you want to give my dust buster a working out.� He tried to pull Willow behind him, but she shook his arm away casually.
�We�ll do what we want, boy.� And they advanced.
The leader rushed forward to grab Willow away from Xander, but she delivered a well-practised roundhouse, sending him flying backwards. Another vampire tried to throw a punch at Xander, but Willow hit him with the back of her arm and tripped him with her left foot. The third managed to land a punch on Xander, knocking his stake out of one hand, but the teenager grabbed his arm on the way down, trying to roll on top of him.
Willow knocked a stray vamp into the brick wall with a sickly thud, cracking his skull and leaving him bleeding. She intercepted a kick from the leader with her strong arm and threw him backwards with her unnatural strength, landing him on the ground. She let her booted foot come down hard on his neck, holding him still. Xander had wrested his attacker and after pressing the crucifix down on his face, the vampire fled with a trail of smoke.
�Who sent you?� Willow asked with childish innocence, yanked the leaders arm upwards. Xander stared at her with amazement.
She wore a game face.
�Willow! You�re....a vampire,� he said brokenly. She morphed out of her demonic features and looked hurt.
�Later, Xander,� she softly insisted, gesturing to the vampire attacker. She twisted his arm, making him shout in pain. �Who sent you?�
�The Mayor. He wants Willow Rosenberg dead.�
�Why?� She twisted his arm even more, causing the vampire to gasp in pain.
�He wants her to stop snooping.�
Willow growled and broke one of his fingers. He screamed.
�What doesn�t he want me to find out?�
�Faith. Faith works for *him*-� His confessions were stopped short as Willow plunged Xander�s stake into his heart. She was left in a cloud of his ashes.
�He told us nothing,� she shrugged carelessly. �Unless the local Church is under his influence.�
Xander shook his head in confusion. �No, not religious faith. He meant the second Slayer, Faith.�
�Two Slayers? This isn�t good.�
�Not from your point of view, being a vampire and all. And about that-� His head swam. Xander stumbled over to the sidewalk. �Hang on, just let me sit down for a moment...�
She walked over to him, her boots silent on the pavement. An expression of sympathy comforted Xander where he sat on the curb. The night suddenly felt a lot like breathing inside a plastic bag. She sat beside him. Looking up at the night sky, she felt herself drawn into a thousand starry eyes.
�In my world, you and I rule the entire district. We are the Master�s favourites. We can have anything we want. But in my world, you were killed seconds before I was transported here. I don�t want to go back. There�s nothing. . . there�s no reason for me to go back there.� Her beautiful purity was untainted, even by the killings she relished in the past. The sorrow in her eyes showed emotion a normal vampire would be incapable of having. But here she was, unliving proof. She blinked quickly.
Xander watched the infinite innocence of the vampiric Willow, and his heart was touched by her honesty. She was still Willow, and he comforted her with a gentle hug.
�Don�t be afraid of me. I love you. I will always love you. Please take me home, Xander.�
He pulled away from the embrace and stood up. Xander offered his hand and she took it gratefully.
* * *