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Cordelia glanced up. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. "Xander?"

Xand chuckled to himself, keeping his face serious. "Hey, Cordelia."

"Oh, my god. You look. . ." She was amazed. Xand was radiating sexuality, with his tight leather pants, and the dark red velvet shirt he wore. A leather jacket completed the outfit. She'd never seen him look as good. Except for the time she went to the alternate universe and met the vampire. . . Her eyes widened in shock. The outfit *was* something that Angelus would wear. . . "You are a vampire?" she whispered, tears coming to her eyes. She wasn't in love with Xander, far from it. But the thought that her first love was now a member of the walking undead. . .and that he was here in LA with her, alone in the office. . .

Cordelia jumped up, pulling her chair in front of her. She stepped back, towards the corner, where she had a stake and a cross hidden behind the plant. The fear rolling off her body was palpable. She pulled the cross out, holding it up. Xand smirked as he watched the cross tremble under the stress Cordelia's body was feeling. "I'll use this! I swear to god, I'll stake you in a heartbeat, Xander! I don't care who you are, or how I felt about you!"

Xander stalked towards her, wide grin on his face. "Come on now, Princess," he purred. "Don't be scared of your Xander. . .I won't hurt you. Too much. . ." His eyes flashed yellow.

Cordelia jumped at the door slamming. She glanced up and paled even further. Spike was standing there, looking like the predator he was. He licked his lips. "Well, well, if it isn't the smashing Cordelia."

Cordelia put her hand over her heart, which was beating erratically. "Please. . ." she begged. "Please don't kill me. . ." Tears filled her eyes. She blinked, then almost fainted when Willow walked in. "No, no, god, no. . .not you too," she sobbed. "Please. . .I promise, I will never ever power shop again, if you let me live. . ."

Willow looked at Cordelia strangely. "Cordelia? Are you ok?" She glanced at Spike, who looked hungry enough to eat Cordelia. Then she turned to Xand, who had the same look on his face. Willow noticed the former May Queen's white knuckled grip around the cross. She realized at that instant what happened. She reached up and popped Xand on the back of the head. "Xand! I swear to *goddess*! Stop scaring Cordelia! Go sit down. Angelus is going to kick your ass when he comes in here and realizes that you scared her."

Cordelia felt faint. "Angelus?" she whispered.

Spike looked at Willow. "I can't play either?" He licked his lips.

Willow sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Spike, sit down, before I stake the both of you myself."

Spike joined Xand on the couch. Willow turned to Cordelia. "Now, Cordy. . ."

"No, no, please. . .I know how evil you can be. . ." Cordelia whimpered.

Willow opened her mouth to correct the former cheerleader's idea of her when the door opened. She looked back, smiling at Angel and Xander. "Hey, guys. Xand and Spike scared poor Cordelia half out of her wits. I think she thinks that I am a vampire."

Angel looked at his assistant in alarm. "Cordelia!" he cried, rushing around the desk to her. He growled when she pushed the chair against him, keeping him away from her. She held the cross out. "Don't," she said, her voice steel. "I've dealt with you before, I'll deal with you again."

Angel looked at Willow in alarm. "Who. . .what does she think I am?"

"Oh, don't play games with me, Mr. Big Bad Ass No Soul Vampire. I heard Willow call you Angelus to Xander," she said, nodding to the vampire on the couch. She blinked in shock, turning to see Xander standing at the door, leaning against the frame. "And. . .just who the hell are you?"

"*I'm* your ex-boyfriend. He's the one from the Wish universe," Xander replied, nodding to his vampire counterpart. "I'm Xander, he's Xand. I'm human, he's not. Angel still has his soul, and Willow's just as warm as she was when you two talked three days ago. Spike still has the chip, and no one is gong to hurt you. Xand and Spike just like to cause trouble."

Cordelia, who was still trembling, shook her head. "No," she whispered. "I don't believe you."

Willow held out her arm. "Here. Test my pulse."

Cordelia narrowed her eyes at Willow. She slammed the cross down on Willow's arm, thankful that it didn't burn her. She reached out, checking for a pulse. When she was satisfied that the witch was human, she yanked her around the desk, hugging her tightly. "Oh, god, Willow! I thought you were a vampire!" She looked up at Willow with big eyes. "Is everything Xander said true?"

" 'Fraid it is, Cor," Willow sighed. "It's a long story."

Cordelia looked from vampire to human, amazed at how much alike the two Xanders looked. "Somehow," she murmured, "I don't doubt it."

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