*~*~*~*

Willow and Xander sat outside on the balcony, watching the sun coming up. They wanted to talk and didn't want to have to deal with any of the vampires. They knew that out in the sun was their best bet of having time away from them.

Xander cradled his cup of hot cocoa. "Are you ok?" he asked softly. "I know Xand is coming on strong. . ."

"It's. . .difficult," Willow whispered, sipping her own cocoa. "I mean, I'm over you. We went through the fluke, I got Oz back, and then of course, there was Dog-girl. . .and that one moment, walking in and seeing them together, that hurt more than anything and everything you've ever done to me. That morning was the morning I realized that I was over you and I was in love with him. He shattered my heart into so many pieces." She sighed, looking away. Tears filled her eyes.

Xander knew she was still talking, she was just trying to gather her emotions. He glanced down, swishing his cocoa in his mug, waiting silently.

"And you know, what hurt me worse than Oz breaking that trust. . ." She sighed. "I couldn't come to you and have you help me with the pain."

"Oh, god, Willow, you could have come to me!" Xander cried. "I've always been here. . ." He reached out, touching her shoulder.

"No, Xander. Not this year. You had Anya, I had college and break ups and it's ok. We grew apart. That's fine. It was bound to happen eventually."

Tears filled Xander's eyes. "No, Willow," he said, wiping his eyes with his sleeves. He grabbed her arm and turned her, so she was facing him. "No! I refuse to believe that. So we've had a couple of bad years. That happens to every friendship. I am *not* losing you. I lost Jesse, I can't lose you too. You know me so much better than anyone else, and no one can ever replace you."

Tears spilled on Willow's cheeks. "God, Xander, I love you," she whispered, wrapping her arms around his neck. The two best friends clung together, crying softly, whispering words of comfort.

*~*~*~*

"Look at them, Peaches," Spike said, nodding out the window.

Angel glanced over. "This is good for them. They haven't been friends for a while, I think. They were so close before they kissed at Homecoming, and oh, god, before Buffy? They were inseparable."

Xand frowned. "How do you know that, Puppy?"

Angel turned dark eyes to the vampire. "I was here before Buffy was. I was waiting for her. I saw the three of you, I followed you, made sure you were ok. Something about Willow's innocence made me want to be near the three of you."

"Three?" Spike asked.

"Jesse," Xand murmured. "The third musketeer. He died here, from what Willow told me. If you were watching them, they why did Jesse die?"

"I was saving Willow," Angel said softly. "She never knew she was in danger. Everything would have gone fine, but while my attention was away from Jesse, they got him. Look guys, don't say anything to either of them. They never knew, and I know Willow wouldn't hate me, but I really don't want them to know that if I'd of been faster, Jesse could have lived." He started pacing.

Xand sat up on the bed, leaning against the headboard. He shrugged. "I won't say anything. I really don't want to have her cry to me about him anyway." He crossed his arms. "You know, all of this is stupid. Willow and I belong together. There's no question, no doubt in my mind. Doesn't matter if it's here or in my universe. She makes me a better vampire, and I know that that slip of a girl out there would make Xander a better man. However, I figure he's messed up his chance. She's mine now."

"Don't you even care that she's shagging a fellow witch?" Spike asked. "She *does* have a girlfriend."

Xand thought about that. "I guess we'll just have to kill the girl." He shrugged.

"You can't just go *kill* Tara!" Angel growled.

Xand's eyebrow rose. "I can do whatever the hell I want. You can't stop me, Puppy." He chuckled.

Angel stood up, using his menacing height to scare Xand. "I most certainly can."

In the blink of an eye, Xand had flown off the bed and slammed into Angel, knocking him down with a groan. His game face slid out as he pressed Angel's wrists into the floor. He straddled Angel's chest. Xand looked down at him and grinned around his fangs. "You can't, Puppy. Just admit that I am a bigger vampire than you."

"I am *Angelus*," Angel growled. "I could kick your ass. . ."

Xand leaned down and licked his cheek. "You've lost your touch, old man. You've had your soul for a century and you aren't who you used to be. If you were the Angelus you say you are, I wouldn't be sitting on your chest right now."

"He's got a point, Peaches," Spike said from his perch on the bed. "Normally, you would have sank your teeth in his neck by now."

"Spike," Angel growled. "I don't need your help."

"Admit it, old man," Xand leered. "You can't handle me. I'm too much of a vampire for you."

Angel glanced up, seeing Willow and Xander walk in. Willow stopped, her eyes wide in shock. A small grin curled his lips. There was no way he'd let this whelp of a vampire beat him, not in front of Willow.

Willow was shocked. Xand was stronger than Angel? She had previously thought that no vampire was ever stronger than him, including Spike. As strong as Spike was, Angel always had the upper hand. And now, Xand, the demon in her best friend's body, had him pinned down to the ground. That scared her. < If Angel can't stop him, then he will turn me! > She looked up at Xander, fear in her eyes. Her best friend took her hand and squeezed it, trying to assure the redhead that he wouldn't let any harm come to her.

Angel closed his eyes, tilting his head in submission. Everyone in the room gasped, including Spike. He'd *never* seen his Sire submit to anyone, including Darla. "Holy shit," Spike whispered.

Xand grinned. "Glad you know your place, Puppy," he purred, leaning down to sink his fangs in the older vampire's neck.

*~*~*~*

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