In Buffy's World

As the night passed into day, Alex found time to get some sleep on the couch of Willow's apartment. He was awakened by the smell of coffee emanating from the kitchen and looked up to see the redhead fixing breakfast. Alex got up, walking towards her. Upon seeing him, Willow offered him a warm smile.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked.

"Better than I have in months," Alex admitted with a deep sigh.

"And you?"

Willow paused, her smile fading slightly.

"Not so good... I was too worried about Xander." She lay her hands on the counter, looking sad.

"I hope he's faring well in your world... And I hope that when he gets back, we can work out our problems okay."

Alex perked up.

"You and Xander are having problems. What kind?"

Willow sighed, once more relating what Angel had done.

"And now, Xander's gone, and I have no way to reach him or convince him that our marriage really matters! I wonder if it might have been better if Angel had just let things take their natural course, that he hadn't tried to force the issue."

Alex paused, considering this.

"Where would you and Xander be if he hadn't interfered?" he asked seriously.

Willow froze, having not considered that aspect. If things had gone differently, would Xander have gotten involved with her? Or would he have spent the last two years continuing to see her as a friend? She remained silent for the longest time, then looked up at Alex.

"We'd be in the same holding pattern as before all this started," she answered in a near whisper.

"You're right! I guess I do owe Angel for something after all." Alex stood, walking around the counter to embrace her.

"In that case, all that's left is getting your husband to admit to the same thing. Xander would be a fool if he doesn't realize what a good thing he has... I wish you two the best, and I pray that you get to live the life that my Willow and I didn't get to live."

Her eyes flooded with tears that quickly spilled down her face. Alex moved to wipe them away, then, overwhelmed by the intimacy of the moment, he leaned closer and kissed her gently. Willow was surprised at first, but soon lost herself in it; this was Xander, in a manner of speaking. She wrapped one hand around the nape of Alex's neck, deepening the kiss that was anything but unfamiliar. What stopped it was the sharp pain that suddenly seized her deep in the pit of her stomach. With a groan, Willow took a step back and half bent over, one hand resting over her abdomen. Alex was at her side in a second, supporting her in concern.

"Willow, what's wrong?" he asked.

She took a moment to catch her breath, then said,

"Call my doctor. The number's by the phone."

Alex helped her to a chair, then went to do so. Once he was out of hearing range, Willow whispered,

"Oh, God, don't let something be wrong with the baby..."

***

Willow's fears were quickly put to rest moments after her physician arrived. Alex let him in, then stayed by her side and held her hand throughout it all, for which she was grateful. After asking her a few routine questions, Dr. Greenberg assured her that she wasn't having a miscarriage.

"Light cramping is fairly normal at this stage, and usually isn't something to worry about," he assured her.

"Thank goodness," Willow said with a sigh of relief, seeing him to the door.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice... I really appreciate it."

Dr. Greenburg offered her a warm smile.

"No thanks is necessary. Just remember I'm on call if you ever need anything else or have any other worries."

With that, he was gone, bidding her farewell.

A second later, Willow found herself back in Alex's embrace, just wanting to be held for a moment. Finally, she pulled back, looking up into his caring eyes.

"It's just been one surprise after another since you got here, huh?" she asked him.

Alex nodded absently, appearing deep in thought. After a while, he caught her staring at him curiously and said,

"Cordelia was pregnant once, with my baby. She planned to take leave from slaying until she gave birth, same as Buffy said she did... But she was driving home one night when Angelus found her and beat her badly enough that she went into premature labor. I'm surprised he didn't kill her also, or maybe he thought that would stop the pain too easily."

He bit his lip, swallowing back a few tears.

"She was six months along at the time." Willow's lips parted slightly in shock.

"Oh, Alex, I'm sorry," she said, reaching up to touch the side of his face.

"No wonder you hate him so much."

He seized her hand in his, pressing it closer to his face. Closing his eyes, he reveled in her warm touch.

"How I wish that this was my reality, that I could stay here," Alex said, his voice strained.

"I envy Xander for this life he has." He paused, then opened his eyes and looked at her.

"After you were changed, no matter how much time passed and even though Cordelia was there, I never stopped loving you, Willow," he said, the distinction between her world and his rapidly blurring.

Willow stared at him in silence, her heart breaking to hear how much he had suffered. However, she had no idea what to say in response, and so she merely took him into her arms, holding him tightly as his tears soaked through the fabric of her shirt. Out of all her options, it was the absolute best one she could offer...

***

Willow received a call from Giles later that day to arrange a research session in the library. The whole group gathered at the school after dark, mostly as a courtesy to Buffy, Angel, and Cordelia, where they proceeded to look through books for a way to reverse the spell from this world instead of Alex's as a backup plan. After a while of looking, Alex sat back in his chair, rubbing at his eyes and the back of his neck. He wasn't used to all this book-reading; that part had usually been left to Ethan and Darla. Sighing, Alex let his thoughts drift to them, hoping that they were surviving alright without his help. At this, Alex leaned forward and looked around at everyone in the room, still unable to get past how different they all were, particularly the ones he knew. Who would have thought he would be seeing Cordelia as a fashionable, conceited vampiress? Angelus as a good vampire with an undead-slaying fiancee and child? Or Willow as a soft-spoken, gentle mortal woman? It was utterly unbelievable, but nevertheless real. Alex was disturbed from his thoughts when the Watcher (Giles?) emerged from his office, saying,

"I think I may have found a slight answer to our problems."

Giles walked over, setting the book on the table and allowing everyone to move in behind him to look.

"I haven't found a spell to send Alex back exactly, but I may have found a way to temporarily link his mind to Xander's."

Buffy looked up at her mentor.

"Well, what good would that do? It wouldn't set things right."

"Perhaps not, but it would give us a look into how events are unfolding in Alex's world," Giles replied, turning to look at the young man in question.

"You'd be able to tell us what's happening. And if... if it's bad, you would have the ability to telepathically advise Xander on how to get out of it. He'd only perceive your thoughts as a sort of inner voice though."

Alex contemplated this, then smiled, leaning back.

"Sounds good to me. What do we do?"

Giles looked round at his wife, Jenny, addressing her instead.

"You'd have to be the one to perform the spell," he said, knowing she was the most magically inclined to do so.

He handed the book to her, pointing to the right incantation. Jenny skimmed through it quickly, then said,

"Yeah, I can work this, no problem. All I need is some white candles and chalk to make a circle... And, I'll need a personal object of Xander's."

"But how?" Willow asked.

"Everything personal to Xander would be with him."

Jenny took a step towards the redhead. "Not necessarily... It doesn't have to be something he'd wear, it would just have to bear some special significance... Like your wedding ring, Willow. It should do the trick."

Instinctively, Willow looked down at the thin gold band on her finger, remembering that magical night in Las Vegas when she and Xander had eloped. How long ago that was, she mused, but I still recall every moment like it happened yesterday. Smiling slightly, she gently removed the ring, hesitating a moment before handing it to Jenny. Then, she turned away slightly, looking up at Angel after a moment.

"I never would have stood a chance with Xander if it hadn't been for you," Willow told her vampiric friend.

"And I wouldn't trade the last two years for anything. I know that now... So, I just want to say, thank you for giving him to me. I'll never in a million years be able to repay you."

Angel bit his lip, touched by her heartfelt words. But, he was at a loss of what to say in return, so he merely nodded, stepping forward to give her a slight hug. Following this, the gang waited and watched while Jenny performed the spell to bind Alex's mind to Xander's. It was completed in no time, which became abundantly clear when Alex gasped and opened his eyes, looking around the library in fear. A moment later, Alex stood, stumbling towards the table and hanging on it for support.

"It worked," he told the group of friends breathlessly.

"I can see through his eyes... He's with Willow! Vampire Willow, I mean... Oh, God! She's torturing him, saying..."

Alex broke off, a look of pain crossing his face.

"She and Angelus are going to use him as a means to kill Cordelia. Once she's out of the way..."

At this, Alex looked up at Willow, exchanging a frightened look with her.

"Once Xander's proved his usefulness to them, they're going to kill him as well..."

Part 9

In Alex's World

Xander bit back a scream as Willow raked her nails across the side of his neck, drawing a small amount of blood. It had been nearly an hour since Angelus had delivered him into her hands, and he was definitely not holding up well under the torture. And to top it all off, the more he squirmed, the more pleasure she got. Willow laughed, clutching his jaw firmly in one of her hands and forcing him to look at her.

"You're so much more fun to play with than Alex. If he were in your shoes, he'd have taken all this without flinching once!" she said.

"And to be honest, I'm glad the spell worked out this way, sending you here in his place."

Xander let out a soft moan as a sharp stab of pain overtook him. More than ever, he wished that either Cordelia would come for him or he'd be transported back to his own world. Anything to end this nightmare... Just then, Xander had an interesting thought come to him. *Mention her former relationship with Alex,* some inner voice was telling him. *That will really rattle her and may even get her off your back.* Xander opened his eyes, looking at Willow calmly.

"Cordelia tells me you were once in love with Alex. I guess old habits die hard. Otherwise, why else would you be so hellbent on torturing him or even someone who looks like him?"

Willow reeled back slightly, looking totally peeved. Then, without warning, she struck him hard across the side of the face, causing his nose to start bleeding.

"You would do well to keep your mouth shut about me and Alex!" she threatened, letting Xander know he had hit a sensitive spot.

"Unless you want me to stop holding back with what I do to you."

Xander would have kept quiet at that but that his "inner voice" was egging him on.

"Why don't you tell me? What makes Angelus better than your former boyfriend?" he pressed.

Angrily, Willow went in for another backhand.

"Shut up!!! If you dare say another word..."

"Why so angry, Willow? Why can't you just answer the question?" Xander dared, challenging her even further.

"Of course I can! I'm not stupid...like some people. Angelus is smarter, stronger, and just better, and that's all you need know."

"He'll only ditch you in the end," Xander replied, listening to his inner voice (where was this coming from?).

"He only wants you with him now to spite Alex and Cordy. What do you think will happen when they're both gone?"

"He'll stay with me," Willow growled.

"He told me he will. You're lying!" "You can't know that for sure..."

"Of course I can! Just quit talking to me, and stop trying to confuse me! I won't let you!" With that, Willow stood and raced out without another word.

Xander fidgeted uncomfortably, once more testing the ropes holding him and trying to figure a way out of this. Then, Angelus walked in and said,

"What have you been telling Willow?" Xander gazed steadily at the angry vampire, even though he was shaking inside.

"I'm telling her the truth as I know it..."

"You know nothing and if you worry her again, I'll kill you myself!" Angelus snarled, taking a step closer.

"Interesting how similar you are to Alex. He would have done the exact same thing, used the exact same words in your postion... But I'm willing to bet you don't have the same steel jaw."

Just to put his point across, Angelus struck Xander across the face before turning to walk away.

However, Spike appeared in the doorway a second later, blocking Angelus' exit.

"It's time," the blonde vampire told his elder.

"Cordelia's read the note Dru left her, and she's on her way as we speak."

Angelus grinned smugly, casting a brief glance at Xander.

"Guess we'd better prepare then," he said calmly, his next words sending a chill down his captive's spine.

"And come morning, we'll be feasting on the Slayer's blood, just like old times..."

***

The minute she finished reading the note, written in Willow's tiny scrawl, Cordelia let out a stream of curses for a moment. Then, calming herself, she grabbed her portable phone from the counter, dialing Ethan's number.

"Xander's gone," Cordelia informed her Watcher hurriedly.

"They've got him!"

She paused, waiting for a response that wasn't forthcoming, then added,

"I'm going to the factory, and I want you to meet me there."

"Cordelia, no," Ethan protested.

"You know that's exactly what Angelus expects you to do. He'll be ready, and he'll kill you!"

"Ethan, Xander will be killed if I don't go!" Cordelia said sharply.

"He has a world and a life to get back to, and I will be damned if I don't try to save him!" She sighed deeply, rubbing at one eye.

"We knew this day was coming, Ethan," she added in a quieter tone.

"We knew I was going to die. I just didn't expect it to be so soon... Tell Alex I loved him, when you see him next, and tell him I'm sorry it had to be this way."

Without giving her Watcher a chance to respond, Cordelia broke the connection, biting her lip gently.

A moment later, she threw her weapon-filled backpack onto her shoulder, casting one last glance around her home and all her memories before departing for the final time...

To Be Continued.