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In Alex's World
Moments after entering the apartment, Darla had laid Cordelia in her bed to rest, then took Willow from Spike and told him to leave in her fiercest tone. As weak and feeble-minded as he may be, Darla still knew he was a threat, and one she didn't want to deal with right now. And, whatever fate had in store for him from this moment forward, she could care less.
Darla took her time cleaning and dressing Cordelia's injury, then gently mopped the Slayer's face with a wet washcloth. Xander looked on as she did this, surprised at how tender the blonde vampire was being. "She's lucky to have an ally like you," he told Darla. "You do so much for her."
Darla looked up, biting her lip. "Cordelia's been like a sister to me these past few years," she said ruefully. "She and Alex had a way of making me feel special, feel needed. Something I could never get from my vampire children... I would trade what happened this evening for anything! God, I can't bear this, can't bear watching her slip away!"
There was so much grief in Darla's voice that it brought tears it Xander's eyes. He took a step forward, laying one hand on her shoulder comfortingly. Darla lay her hand over his, then abruptly turned to embrace him, remaining in his arms until she pulled herself together enough to step away.
"You alright?" Xander asked her, studying her face. Darla simply nodded, hugging herself. Just then, they heard Willow groan in the corner of the room, saw her stirring slightly.
Darla's eyes hardened, and she marched over to the redhead, hauling her up and placing her in a chair. Willow opened her eyes at the sudden motion, growling in frustration when she realized she was being held captive. Glaring up at Darla, she said, "Angelus will be here for me soon!"
"No, he won't," Darla replied coldly. "He's dead... And you are going to return Xander to his own world and bring Alex back right now!"
Willow sneered. "You lie!" she screamed. "Angelus would never leave me! He promised!"
Darla growled, lunging forward and seizing Willow by the hair, yanking her head back. "Now, what could I hope to gain by lying!?!" she snarled. "Your lover is dead, Willow! Now, break the damn spell!"
Willow howled, struggling against her bonds. In retaliation, Darla slapped her roughly against the side of the face, making Xander wince. "The longer you make us wait, the harder it will be on you, Willow," Darla threatened.
Willow smirked. "Forget it! Alex will never be coming back. I won't allow it!"
Angered, Darla wrapped one hand around Willow's throat, hauling her to her feet. "So be it," she said slowly, forcing Willow to look at her. "However, don't forget for one moment that I'm stronger than you are!" Darla paused, then pulled Willow closer, so their eyes were just inches apart. "Be in my eyes," the blonde vampiress said, drawing Willow deep into the blue depths.
After a moment, Darla released her hold on Willow, pleased when she saw the younger vampiress was making no move to fight or flee. "Angelus taught you many things, but not how to withstand being hypnotized," she said triumphantly. "Now, Willow... I command you to revoke the spell and bring Alex back..."
Alex remembered nothing of being returned to his own world. Just one moment, he had been in the library with Buffy and her friends, distraught over the knowledge that his wife was dying (he'd been able to witness the event through Xander's eyes). The next moment, he experienced a wave of dizziness and passed out.
When he awoke, Alex was surprised to find himself in the same school library, only now, it was dark and deserted. Standing, he rubbed at his head, looking around at his surroundings in confusion. "Wow," he said, eyes widening in realization. "It transported me to the same location I had been."
He marveled over it a minute, then remembered Cordelia. Abruptly, Alex went to the swinging double doors, only to find they were locked. He stepped back, pulling out his gun, loading it, and shooting the lock, thus providing an easy means of escape. If the police should come, he planned to be long gone before they arrived.
He shot open the main doors as well, stepping out into the night and running away from the school before he attempted to get his bearings. He stopped at the nearest signpost, trying to think if either of the street names sounded familiar.
After a moment, Alex dug a slip of paper from his jacket pocket, where he had written Cordelia's new address. However, knowing it would waste more time than he had to try to find it, he went searching for the nearest gas station to buy a map of Sunnydale...
In Buffy's World
Like Alex, Xander awoke to find himself in the very location he had left, only he wound up in a charred, burnt apartment that looked vaguely familiar. Stepping out into the night, he turned to get a better look at the building, finding it to be the place where Angel had once lived a few years back. "Figures!" Xander muttered in annoyance.
Xander started off in one direction, then froze, realizing he had no clue as to where Willow or anyone else might be. With a sigh, he headed for the nearest phonebooth, making calls to the homes of all his friends before trying the library. He struck gold there, at least, as Giles picked up after two rings. Quickly, Xander told the Watcher his location, then hung up and waited for someone to come and get him.
Willow pulled up in her car some minutes after the phone call, stepping from the driver's seat and rushing over to embrace him. Xander nearly fell over under her assault, then hugged her as well, glad to finally have the real Willow back, rather than the savage vampire Willow.
After a moment, his wife pulled away, her hand automatically going to the welts at his neck and rubbing them gently. "Are you going to be okay? She didn't... I didn't... hurt you too badly," Willow said in a rush, her eyes drinking in the sight of him.
Xander's eyes widened. "How did you know?" he asked. "I mean, that the other you did this? You couldn't have..."
Willow broke in. "Miss Calendar did a spell to bind Alex's mind to yours temporarily. He saw it all through your eyes, even gave you a few pointers on how to get out of it... And he was there for Cordelia's accident. He knows he's losing her," she informed Xander. With a sigh, she stepped away, going to sit on the curb. "Wherever Alex is now, whatever happens, I hope he fares okay," she finished quietly.
Xander went to sit next to her, taking one of her hands in his. "So do I," he answered, pausing a moment. "I guess all that's left is trying to figure out where we stand... I suppose you know by now what Angel did to..."
Willow nodded. "Yes, I know," she said with a deep sigh. A pause, then, "And I don't care." She looked up at Xander's startled expression, smiling in spite of herself. Reaching up to touch his face, she said, "The past few years have been the greatest of my entire life. I'd loved you for so long, and I had given up hope that I would ever have you... Then, Angel finally had the courage to step in and offer you to me as a gift... I wouldn't trade our time together or our marriage for anything, Xander. I love you so much. And, however this night turns out, I'll never stop. Whether you decide to leave me or not..."
Xander cut in, moved to tears by her words. "Willow, I couldn't even if I tried... Thanks to this whole spell, being in another world... I got a crystal-clear sense of what my life would be like without you. Whether you're a demon or whether we're simply separated... I don't think I could live either way. When this whole mess started, I was too confused, too angry, to think straight. But now, I know exactly where to go from here." Xander paused, looking up into her eyes. "I love you, Willow. Not because of some suggestion that was planted in my head or for any other insignificant reason. I love you because of who you are and what you've come to mean in my life. And I wouldn't dare think of ending our marriage over this either!"
Willow's eyes flooded with tears at his heartfelt words. She leaned forward so her forehead was leaning against his, then moved to kiss him lovingly. Xander returned the kiss with everything he felt for her, truly happy to be holding her in his arms like this.
After a long while, the two of them separated, just gazing into each other's eyes a moment. Finally, Willow said, "This feels like a miracle. I can hardly believe this is happening."
"Believe it," Xander answered. "Angel didn't create my love for you. It was always there, buried deep inside."
Willow nodded, a small smile playing at her lips. "Do you know what else is amazing?" she whispered secretively.
Xander shrugged. "Now, what could possibly make this moment any better?" he asked.
Willow leaned closer to whisper in his ear. "The fact that sometime early next year, you're going to be a father," she answered, startling him beyond belief...