Xander contemplated his relationship with Cordy as he selected his ensemble for the evening. He knew the wrong outfit could set the tone for hours of bickering. He grinned to himself - bickering usually let to more pleasant activities. Cordy was really beginning to open up to him. They still fought everyday like wildcats - but that was part of the relationship's charm. Now their make-out sessions were shorter, and they spent some of the time talking. Cordy told him of the pressure she felt to always look perfect, be accepted, and popular. But then right after that she was honest enough to be able to admit to him that she still LIKED looking perfect, being accepted and popular - she just didn't want those qualities to be influenced by other people anymore. He'd been proud of her. His feelings for her were still jumbled on occasion. There were so many layers to her personality. Every time he peeled back a layer, it was a surprise as to whether or not he'd like next one. One minute, he was sure it was just the thrill of dating the most popular girl in school that made him so interested in Cordy. And then the next, she'd do something really sweet - like bringing him food when he was guarding Buffy in the hospital - and he'd get this mushy feeling in his stomach. But he liked the mushy feeling. He wondered if it was love.

Finally, still slightly wet but dressed to his satisfaction, he bounded down the stairs of his house and headed for the kitchen. I know better than to even look for food here, he thought glancing at the cupboards and fridge with longing. He sighed at the blemish on his otherwise really good day and looked for a pen and paper to write his mother a note. He scrawled something completely unintelligible, signing it with "Don't wait up. Love, Xander" at the bottom. She wouldn't have a clue where he was, but she would be pleased he remembered to leave a note. Resuming his humming, he grabbed some cash from her cookie jar reserve and jogged out the door.

He considered dropping by Willow's house to see if she wanted to walk with him, but quickly discarded the idea. It was Friday, nearly 8:30, and Oz had probably picked her up already. Buffy would already be out and on the lookout for undead trouble. Of course, he still couldn't go anywhere near Cordelia's house - he didn't want to have to meet her parents. He turned on a darkened street and headed for the Bronze on his own. I'm a manly man, he thought, I don't need an escort. Still, precautions should be taken and he felt in his jacket pocket for his cross and small container of holy water, smiling slightly to himself as he touched them both for reassurance. As it turned out, his walk was uneventful except for a cat that insisted on rubbing against his legs when he stopped to pet it.

Xander glanced around the parking lot at the club as he headed for the door. He easily picked out Oz's crazy zebra van, but it took him a moment longer to find Cordy's car. Paying the doorman, he stepped inside the darkened nightclub and let his eyes adjust. He spotted Willow and Oz at a table near the dance floor, heads close together as they spoke over the loud music. Moments later he stood beside them. "Hey guys!" he exclaimed, "Break it up before you revive the lost art of conversation!"

Willow rolled her eyes as she straightened and grinned at him. "We're just trying to set an example for you and Cordelia."

"Examples like that, I don't need. Now, if you get into close contact together later, I'm gonna need a full report. If possible, illustrated with diagrams and pictures. That way I can check if Cordy and I have this necking thing down right or not." Oz snorted. "Where's Buffy?" Xander continued, scanning the room for signs of the slayer.

"She was going to check in with Giles before heading over. She should be here any minute," Willow replied. "Where's Cordelia?"

"I'm not sure. Her car's in the parking lot, but I haven't seen her yet."

"Well, she's probably in the little girls' room again, checking her hair and makeup," Willow suggested, giggling when Oz snorted again.

Xander rolled his eyes in silent agreement and nodded towards the bar. "I'm gonna grab some eats. You guys want anything?"

Oz looked to Willow and then shook his head, "No. We're good. I'm sure you'll eat enough to cover our share anyway."

While they giggled together, Xander turned in the direction of the bar and started weaving through the crowd, looking for Cordelia as he went. Still no sign of her. He saw Harmony and some of Cordy's friends lounging in a booth in the corner. Strike one on that count. She wasn't lined up at the bar either. Strike two. So he ordered a hot chocolate and a banana muffin and waited as they prepared his order.

Xander noticed it completely by accident as he was waiting. The guy sitting on the stool beside him didn't have a reflection in the mirror behind the bar. In the darkened room, he probably would never have noticed except that the guy smelled kinda bad and Xander was too polite to turn and directly stare at him to see what was wrong. He froze, considering his options. Well, find Buffy NOW seemed like a good plan. Only she wasn't here yet. He was contemplating a backup plan involving the contents of his jacket pocket when a woman approached the vamp. Xander swallowed as he noted her absence of reflection also. He overheard her say, "We've got her. Let's go." She began to move through the crowd towards the exit.

The vamp guy finished his drink before he hopped off his stool and began to follow. Got her? Got who? Xander thought quickly as he abandoned his post to follow the guy. It couldn't be Buffy -- she would have dusted them already. Unless she was drastically outnumbered. That thought made his blood run cold. Or they might have Cordelia. She was known now to be a 'friend' of the slayer. That would make her of interest to the vampiric community. This idea didn't calm him any. He glanced to Willow and Oz's table, but Willow's back was to him, and Oz was nowhere to be seen. At least I know they don't have Willow, he thought, amazed at the relief he felt. As long as I live, they will never get Willow, he vowed.

He considered grabbing Willow for help and following the vamps, but the woman was out the door and the guy was almost gone from sight too. He wouldn't have time to cross the room and go back without losing them. He tried calling her as he moved to the door, but the music was too loud for her to hear him. He swallowed as he exited the door and realized that for the time being, he was on his own.

Oz was talking to the bassist of another band near the stage when he saw Xander trying to get Willow's attention. He sure is in a big hurry, Oz thought, sensing from the look on Xander's face that trouble was about to erupt. He quickly excused himself as Xander disappeared out the door. He was at Willow's side in an instant. "Trouble," he said, cocking his head towards the door. "Xander just split in a big rush, and he was trying to call you the whole time."

Willow didn't wait for more. "Let's go," she said shortly, jumping off her chair and grabbing her jacket in one swift, fluid motion. Again Oz was momentarily stunned by her grace and beauty in the action, but he managed to follow her closely as she hurried for the exit.

Xander had just caught a glimpse of the second vamp turning the corner of the building as he burst though the door of the Bronze into the night. Great, he thought. Another alley showdown. Can't these guys come up with something more creative? He reached into his jacket pocket and touched the vial of holy water and his cross as he prepared to follow. He went to the edge of the building and listened carefully without looking down the alley.

"She's still struggling." A female voice said.

"Then knock her out." Was the masculine reply.

The next sound stopped Xander's heart. The captive, apparently not liking the idea of an imminent whack to the head, began protesting. And even though she was gagged, it was unmistakably Cordy's voice whining out the muffled plea. A second later, the plaintive noise was followed by the sound of a thump, and then silence.

Xander was prepared to enter the alley and kick some serious vampire butt when he felt a hand on his arm. "What is it?" Willow whispered softly.

"Vamps got Cordy." Xander answered shortly, before turning the corner into the alley and preparing for a fight. He wasn't used to fighting vampires without Buffy around, but Cordy's life was in danger. He couldn't let them take her away. He figured they could hold their own until Buffy showed. He expected to find two vampires and an unconscious Cordelia. Instead, he found a trio of vampires. He instantly recognized the two vamps from the club - the man and the woman - they were leaning over Cordelia. What he was unprepared for was the sight of Angelus also leaning over Cordy. He came to an abrupt halt and felt Willow crash into his back. In a moment she and Oz fanned out on either side of Xander. Angel didn't even look up as the three slayerettes stood there. "Hey Harris. Willow. Oz, was it? Long time no scare."

Deciding that a fight with Angel was definitely not an option, Xander decided to try bluffing. "You forgot to say Hi to Buffy." He began boldly.

Angel straightened and smiled as he met the gazes of the little group. "I didn't forget. She's not here." Xander tried again. "Let Cordelia go. Buffy wouldn't care if you did anything to her - she doesn't even like her. Hell, she'd probably thank you."

Angel completely ignored him. He turned to the other two vampires and said something to them softly. They all laughed and then the two disappeared into the darkness at the other end of the alley. "What's going on?" Xander asked nervously. Oz, thinking the two vamps were circling the building, returned to the entrance of the alley and prepared for an ambush from behind, keeping an eye on the activities in the alley as well.

"You were right, Xander," Angelus laughed. "Buffy would be upset if I killed Cordelia, but she'd get over it. Now Willow on the other hand - we're talking life-scarring trauma here. Thank you for leading her outside for me. " He chuckled softly and began moving towards them.

Xander felt Willow tense beside him. "Run." He whispered, nudging her.

"No." she said firmly. "I can't leave you and Oz here."

Xander inwardly sighed and looked at Angel, approaching them lazily. He grabbed the cross from his pocket and presented it to the demon. Instantly Angel's game face appeared, and he flinched away from the object. "Now run." Xander repeated to Willow. "And find Buffy. Oz and I will hold him off."

Willow looked from Angel to Xander and turned to run. Xander's distraction in watching her make her decision was a costly error. Angelus blindly kicked at his hand and knocked the cross out of it and into a nearby row of garbage cans. A second later, Xander was pinned in Angel's grasp, and Angel was poised above his neck.

"NOOOO!!!" Willow screamed. "Wait! Angel, you wanted me! Take me!" Angelus looked at Willow with amusement. She was truly terrified he would kill Xander. Her best friend almost since birth. Such a loss would take years to overcome. Tears were forming in the corners of her eyes. Her breathing was quick and light. His heightened senses could hear the pounding of her heart from several feet away. He could SMELL her fear. And Angelus was inspired. He thought about the thrill the kill would bring him. He thought about how Buffy would blame herself for not being present to stop him. He thought about how Willow would cry herself to sleep tonight, and many nights in the future. The friendship between Xander and Willow was so deep and so rare that his death would destroy her. And in destroying both Willow and Xander, he would ANNIHILATE Buffy. The very idea made him eager with anticipation. And then he thought of an even more prefect revenge.

"I don't want to kill him Willow," he laughed. "You see, killing him would be too easy. Like that Calendar woman. You guys are all healing from that blow already." Willow flinched and paled visibly at the memory of her friend and teacher. "I want to torment you all forever. I want to make him into what he despises - ME." And then he tried to lower his fangs into Xander's neck as Xander struggled against him.

Oz saw Willow immediately charge Angel, and cursed their lack of weapons. She'd decided that the undead activity was so light lately that they didn't need to bring any stakes or holy water with them tonight. At the time, Oz had made some flippant comment about her being in denial. Now he wished he had insisted. Oz knew Willow would try to tear Angel apart with her bare hands before she'd let him hurt Xander. He quickly grabbed a piece of wood from a nearby garbage can and prepared to bludgeon Angel with it before she got hurt. Willow had already launched herself at Angel, however, and was hitting him in the face. Some of the assault was actually landing on Xander, but Oz noted that at least Angel couldn't sink his fangs into Xander while he was ducking Willow's blows. Then Angel got a hand free and managed to land a solid punch to Willow's jaw. She was thrown back from the force of the punch into the side of the building. She reeled momentarily, disoriented, and then fell to the ground in a heap.

Oz lost it completely. The sight of his Willow, crumpled and wounded, caused a rage to take over. At that moment he had no other goals in life other than obliterating Angel from the face of the earth. He now moved in and smashed the piece of wood into Angel's back with all his might. This however, didn't have the desired effect, for Angel just leaned in closer to the struggling Xander and sank his fangs into the skin. The sucking sound made Oz's blood run cold, and it was quickly joined by a scream that tore from Xander's throat.

Oz tried bashing Angel again and again with the wood in an attempt to make him let Xander go, but Angel was intent on his purpose. Damn Blood Token. It was going to slow him down. He had to drain Xander enough to leave him weak, but still alive. Of course, if that stupid boy would stop pounding on my back, I could concentrate a lot easier! When Angel had Xander drained to his satisfaction, he let his body fall to the ground. Then he turned to Oz. "Too late." He murmured, licking the blood from his lips. "He's dead." There. That look. That look of grief and horror on Oz's face was what he lived for.

"I-I thought you weren't going to kill him." Oz stammered.

"He tasted so good I changed my mind." Angel watched the look of absolute horror cross Oz's face and he smiled. He loved the power of fear. He reached out and took the wood out of Oz's hands, greatly empowered by his recent feed. He grabbed Oz by the neck, intending on a repeat performance, but stopped after sinking his fangs through the skin. "Dog-boy" he spat with distaste. He merely knocked Oz out cold with a strong blow to the head with the wood.

Angelus looked at the carnage around him with satisfaction. Now for the real fun, he thought, picking up Xander's body and disappearing into the night.