Then suddenly, Angel stopped chanting, and carefully stepped over the candles to kneel next to Xander's face. "Hiya rookie. Welcome to the team." He laughed, delighted he was so close to succeeding. "I'll see you on the other side." Then he sunk his fangs into Xander and began draining him. Xander felt colder, and he struggled to stay awake. He kept trying to think of Willow, Buffy and Cordy. If I can just hold on, they'll come for me, he thought. But the oppressive darkness came up and claimed him as one of its own.

Giles' car screeched to a protesting halt at the entrance to the alley next to the Bronze. It was just after two in the morning, and the parking lot was deserted except for Oz and Cordelia's vehicles. They all hopped out of the car, quickly, and while Buffy rushed into the alley, Giles opened the trunk for Oz and Cordelia. They grabbed their two bags of holy water and stakes and hurried to follow Buffy. Giles grabbed Buffy's crossbow and briefly checked to make sure it was loaded correctly. Willow scrambled from the back seat to the passenger seat and tried to peer into the alley. She could see Buffy, paralyzed, watching as Angel kneeled over Xander. Not good, she thought. Wait in the car, she cursed. Not likely... Not tonight anyway. She reached into the back seat for her bag and grabbed Giles' bag from the floor of the car.

Buffy's heart almost broke when she saw Angel leaning over Xander. Xander looked so white and vulnerable. I should have protected you better, she thought. I should have killed Angel when I had the chance. I'm so sorry Xander. Oh, please, please don't be dead. She couldn't see exactly what Angel was doing, but he wasn't drinking - his head was too far from Xander's neck for that. There were candles burning brightly around Xander, and she hastily tossed the book, matches and lighter fluid to the ground, knowing that Giles or someone would ignite them when they caught up. She was going to end this. Tonight.

Giles, Oz and Cordy got there just in time to see Buffy hurl herself at Angel, foot extended as she kicked him. She knocked him off of Xander, and rolled to confront him with another attack, but they all paused as they heard the worst sound in their lives. Angel was laughing. Deep, hearty, belly laughs.

Willow heard Angel's laugh. Her heart began pounding with fear and she scrambled out of the car. Then she quietly made her way over to the side of the alley. She could see Xander now, and she almost sobbed out loud. From her vantage point, she could see blood on his lips. Angel had done it! He had finished the ceremony and converted Xander. Her best friend. For many years, her only friend -- besides Jesse, who had died. Who had been turned into a vampire and died. She felt a sorrow bubble up from her heart so intense that she thought she might faint. Oh Xander, I'm sorry. But I'm still going to try and save you, Xander. I will free you.

"Buffy, so nice of you to drop by in honor of Xander's rebirthday!" Angel exclaimed. "You're too late, honey," his voice dripped at her. "He's mine now."

Buffy looked at Xander and realized with horror that there was blood caking his lips. Oh God. Oh Xander. Oh God. She looked back to Angel - NO -- only Angelus now -- and screamed an unintelligible battle cry. Angel let go of his own bloodied wrist he'd been holding and ducked her wild charge at him.

Cordy ran to Xander, and began blowing out all the candles with help from Oz, feverently hoping that Angel was wrong and it wasn't too late. Giles sprayed the lighter fluid all over the book and struck a match, dropping it on the book and watching as the flames caught and burned brightly, illuminating the alley. Then he spotted Willow, quickly unpacking her bag with the spell components as she sobbed brokenly. He rushed over to help her. She fought for control. I have to be able to speak, she thought. Xander NEEDS me. And a sudden calm came over her.

Buffy and Angel were trading blows at the end of the alley, evenly matched. Buffy hadn't yet had an opportunity to draw a stake from her stash in her pant leg. Cordy and Oz had blown out all the candles and were rushing to Xander's side to help move him away. "NO!" Willow screamed. "Get away from him!"

Cordy had just enough time to look up in confusion before Xander's arm shot up and grasped her by the neck. Her eyes widened in terror as she saw Xander acquire a game face. She'd learned in her research for the group at the library that the vampiric need for blood was strongest right after the transformation. Not my blood Xander! she screamed in her mind. She felt blindly for one of the small vials of holy water she had in her bag and emptied its contents onto Xander's arm. He howled in pain and let her go. Oz presented a cross to Xander and tried to reach Cordelia, who sat in shock too close to Xander for comfort. Xander recoiled from the symbol and hissed at Oz.

Willow took a bag of chalk and made a circle around herself. She intoned a few words and the powder began to glow white. Giles, standing just outside the circle, reached in to help her, but she waved him away. "I need Cordelia's necklace and Buffy's ring! Go!" Giles set the crossbow down on the ground beside her and moved to find Cordelia. Willow hurriedly set a small glass bowl in front of her. She made sure the two orbs were in easy reach and then poured some holy water into the bowl. This was followed quickly by some gold powder and she rolled the orbs in the liquid mixture quickly. The holy water to purify the blood. The gold powder to purify the soul. Now I just need symbols of love to call the soul home. She looked up. "Hurry Giles," she whispered.

Giles presented his own crucifix as he made his way around Xander to Cordelia carefully. Xander really had nowhere to go. He had Giles and one side and Oz on the other with alley walls in front and back. "Cordelia, I need your necklace. NOW!" Cordy ripped it from her neck and held it lovingly for just a moment before she passed it to Giles. Giles rushed back to Willow with the object. She grabbed it from him and threw it in the bowl, rolling it in the mixture. Then she began chanting in Romanian.

Buffy and Angel were still fighting. Buffy was absolutely enraged. Mostly at herself. If I hadn't loved you! KICK. If I hadn't made love to you. ROLL. If I had killed you last time. PUNCH. This is all my fault! DUCK. Giles would have to admit it was the fiercest he'd ever seen her fight, but the fact that she was crying the whole time belied her vulnerability at this moment. "Buffy, give me your ring. The one Angel gave you!" Buffy looked to him momentarily, and tried to loosen it from her finger while still defending herself from Angel.

Angel seemed to realize what was going on as he noticed the others in the alley. And then he saw Willow, sitting serenely in her circle, chanting. And a far-away memory of another spell in Romanian caused an incredible fury to build within him. He was not going to become that sorry excuse for a vampire again. He turned from Buffy and was about to charge Willow when Buffy freed the ring from her finger. "Here!" she shouted, tossing the ring to Giles. Angel saw the flash of gold in the air, and leapt for it. He managed to touch it, knock it off course, but couldn't grasp it. He landed with a thud against the alley wall as the ring clattered away. He seemed disoriented for a moment and just lay there.

Oz sprinted into action. He tossed Cordy his cross and lunged for the ring. Xander tried to dive after him, seeing he was now undefended, but Oz was faster. He grabbed the ring from the ground and looked up in time to see Buffy deliver a light kick to Xander's jaw, which was apparently about to close in on Oz's neck. "Thanks!" Oz said, and rolled away. He then shifted and stood, and ran to Willow's side. "Here!" he deposited the ring to her waiting hand. She removed Cordy's necklace from the bowl and plopped Buffy's ring in. She rolled the second orb in the mixture and chanted louder.

Buffy and Xander were now circling each other warily. Angel was fighting off Cordelia and Giles, who were holding him in place with their holy symbols. Giles had a stake ready, just in case. Oz hurried back from Willow to Giles and Cordy, handing Giles the crossbow again and uncorking a vial of holy water. He held it ready in case Angel tried anything. Xander rushed at Buffy, and she quickly side-stepped him, letting him run into the alley wall with all his force. She hoped he knocked himself out. I can't kill you Xander. This is my fault. I'm so sorry. He was getting up again. Buffy sighed, and choked a little on some tears as she raised her fists again in a defensive pose.

Willow felt the power surrounding her. She felt calm, masterful. She held up an orb in her hands. "I call to me the essence of Xander. I call you on behalf of those who love you, and those whom you love. Return to the home I offer you." Bright white light flowed around Willow and the orb for a few seconds, and then she smiled brilliantly. She could FEEL Xander in her hand. She'd know him anywhere. She kissed the orb and smiled at it. "We'll save you Xander, just hold on." She then held up the other orb. "I call to me the essence of Angel. I call you on behalf of those who love you, and those whom you love. Return to the home I offer you." She felt the power flow, and then she suddenly almost dropped the orb. She had never felt such sorrow and regret. Angel's soul knew of all the things Angelus had done. It brought tears to her eyes as she held the orb tightly in her now-shaking hands. She set it aside carefully. A sudden blinding pain flashed through her head. She brought one hand up to her throbbing temple and gritted her teeth against the pain. No! Xander needs me. It subsided and she again rolled Xander's orb in the bowl with the mixture at her feet. "I now remove the blood taint. Let the body be cleansed and purified with the sacred water. Be human once more!" She stood and looked at the sphere. It was covered in a wet gold powder, and she called to Buffy. "Bring Xander here!"

Buffy was tired of ducking Xander's blows and charges, and she lured him closer to Willow. "This better work Will!" she exclaimed as she delivered a strong kick to his midsection that left him on his knees in front of Willow.

"Xander's essence, I present to thee thy earthly form. You will make the form human again with the purity I have given you. You will live there for the duration of its lifetime. Go to your form now." She threw the orb to the ground, and watched as it shattered. A blinding white light erupted around Xander, and Buffy and Willow had to look away until it dimmed. Everyone else was stunned, watching the events take place.

When the light finally subsided, Willow was almost afraid to look. So she was surprised when she felt Xander's arms encircle her in a fierce hug. "Oh God. Oh Will, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU."

Willow collapsed in his arms and started crying with relief and happiness. "You're okay? You're alive?" she was afraid to ask, but had to.

"You should feel my heart pounding," he replied, bringing her hand to his chest. Sure enough, she felt the strong beating beneath her palm.

"Oh Xander…" Willow smiled through her tears, glad he was whole again.

Their hug was soon interrupted by Buffy, who squeezed her way in between them, also crying. "I'm so sorry Xander. I'm so sorry."

Xander released Willow to grab Buffy by both arms and stared deeply into her eyes. "I FORGIVE YOU. NONE of this was your fault. We all know that. You have to know that. Now forgive yourself. Please. For me." Her mouth gaped open once, then twice, so he pulled her to him and kissed her on the forehead. "I SO forgive you, Buffster." Willow's tears subsided and she hiccuped as she let out a laugh. She hugged Xander's back as Buffy held on to his front for dear life. Buffy let her tears begin to wash away all the guilt she'd been feeling.

Finally, Buffy pulled away and began wiping the tears from her face. "Thank you," she said softly.

"Um... Willow," Giles interrupted. "Angel's still -"

"Right Giles," Willow let go and met Xander's eyes. She smiled brilliantly. "I'm glad you're back."

"I missed you too," Xander replied, returning her smile. "I knew you'd come-" He was interrupted from saying more by Cordy throwing herself into his arms and kissing him intensely.

"I love you!" Willow heard Cordy's fierce whisper when she finally released Xander's lips. "Don't ever die again. EVER." Willow moved to her circle as she looked at her bewildered friend hugging his girlfriend. She was still smiling when she heard his whispered "I love you too, Cordy..." This was how it was supposed to be. She could feel it. She met Oz's eyes across the alley and grinned at him.

She returned to her spot in the circle. "Uh, Buffy, I kinda need Angel in front of me to do this." Buffy advanced on her former flame with a vengeance. She spun-kicked him and knocked him to his knees. Then she took Oz's holy water and threw it at him. Angel screamed in pain and grasped at his face. She took that opportunity to grab her stake and haul Angel to his feet. She dragged him across the alley, stake pointed at his heart, until he was standing in front of Willow.

Willow looked at Angel, who was glaring at her with such venom that it would have caused almost anyone to run away and seek shelter. Willow just smiled. She was going to destroy Angelus. She picked up the orb with Angel's soul trapped in it and rolled it in the bowl one last time. "I now remove the blood taint. Let the body be cleansed and purified with the sacred water. Be human once more!" She flinched momentarily as Angel struggled against Buffy's grip. "Angel's essence, I present to thee thy earthly form. You will make the form human again with the purity I have given you. You will live there for the duration of its lifetime. Go to your form now." Again, she threw the orb to the ground and was blinded by a startlingly bright white light. When the light dimmed, she saw Angelus' game face was gone, replaced by a remorseful looking Angel. Buffy still had a stake to his chest. She retreated slightly, seeing the threat was over.

Angel had known somewhere the demon couldn't reach that they were trying to restore him, to help him, but he wished as he looked at the group around him that he was dead. He couldn't face Buffy, not after all he'd done. She would never forgive him. And he had no right to ask her to. And Giles, he would be lucky if Giles didn't just tear his heart out right here. THUMP. A startled look sprang to Angel's face. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. He fell to his knees and clutched at his chest. He began to sob as he felt a heartbeat that had been dead for over two hundred years begin to sing inside him. He looked up at Willow in surprise, "Thank you," he mouthed through the tears that prevented the sound from reaching his lips. Willow regarded him grimly and nodded once, stepping out of her protective circle.

Oh, my head hurts, Willow thought, feeling the bump on the back of her head gingerly. Oz came up to her and enveloped her in a strong hug. She leaned on him for support.

"You never gave up, did you?" he asked.

"I couldn't," she replied seriously.

"Did I ever tell you that you are the best human I've ever met? And that I worship you?" he asked softly. Willow giggled into his chest. She turned her head and snuck a peek at Xander and Cordy. They were standing, close together, forehead to forehead, speaking quietly to each other. Willow sighed. And to think, tonight started out with Xander giving Oz and I grief for doing the exact same thing. She searched for Buffy.

She was standing a few feet away from Angel, who was still on his knees, tears slowly making their way down his face in the moonlight. Buffy was regarding Angel with an odd expression. Part of her wanted to throw herself into his arms and try to find the love they'd had before. But the bigger part of her still couldn't forgive him like that. He had killed Ms. Calendar and tried to do worse to Xander. She didn't know if she even had enough forgiveness in her heart. Angel raised his eyes and looked at her. Briefly she allowed herself to examine the regret and longing she saw in them. He wants my forgiveness. I can't. Not yet. Maybe not ever. And then she turned away from him and ran to Giles. She collapsed in his arms. He rocked her back and forth slightly as she gasped for breath, fighting tears. He murmured soothing sounds and stroked her hair. He was glad the ordeal was finally over. Now he had to help Buffy heal. Giles watched as Angel slowly got to his feet and looked at him.

"I'm sorry," Angel said simply. Giles stared at him, his expression dark. Angel looked at the people around him and saw the small groups of two comforting and reassuring each other that they had survived their latest trial. He didn't belong here, with them, anymore. At one time, he would have, but too much had happened. They all needed time to get over the reign of terror Angelus held over them. Even Angel himself. So Angel repeated his apology and fled into the night.