Inell's Fanfiction Archive

Xander made it two blocks from the park before he started feeling guilty. He could remember the tears in Willow's eyes and could hear her soft words of apology. He was acting like a jerk. She'd made a promise to Jesse. To Willow, promises meant something. How could he condemn her for not breaking her promise? With a sigh, he turned around and headed back to the park. He needed Willow in his life. In fact, he couldn't imagine living without her. Over the past week or so, he had begun to realize that he cared about his best friend. He'd known that she had had a bit of a crush on him for years, but had never really considered her anything but a friend. Lately, though, his feelings had begun to change. And now he found out that she was not only in love but that it was with another woman. He had a feeling that he was about to get a hard lesson in unrequited love.

He has just entered the park when he heard it. A loud scream. Willow's scream. He began to run, freezing when he found her. She was fighting off a monster. An honest to goodness, real life monster. The thing was at least six feet and had scales and horns. Xander shook his head, his eyes disbelieving. This couldn't be real. He was dreaming. That was the only explanation. He was going to wake up and find out the entire afternoon had been a nightmare. Just a really vivid, bad nightmare. He flinched when he heard Willow scream again. He saw the lizardy thing grab her, could see blood on her shirt. He couldn't move. He looked around, not seeing anyone. It wasn't even dark but the park was deserted. Where the hell was that dark weird guy now? He looked back at Willow, saw her kicking at the monster, fighting for her life.

With a wave of courage, he moved forward. He grabbed a small tree branch off the ground, wishing it were a baseball bat. Then maybe he'd feel a bit more brave. He hit the thing on the head, watching as it dropped Willow to the ground, turning to face him. "Why don't you try fighting someone your own size, or do you just like picking on girls?"

"Idiot," the demon snarled, easily dodging the tree branch the human wielded.

"Oh yeah, that's a snappy comeback," Xander said, his eyes looking around for anything more substantial to use against the monster. Seeing nothing, he began to back up, trying to at least get it away from Willow. Maybe as he was getting ripped apart, she'd be able to get to safety. Shuddering at that thought, he turned around and began to run.

The demon followed him towards the playground. Xander tossed the tree branch back, seeing it hit the monster but not phase him. He leaned over and picked up a handful of sand, tossing it in the creature's eyes to try to blind him momentarily. He looked on in surprise as the monster yelled and clutched its head. Xander looked at the sand then back at the creature. With a smile, he picked up another handful and threw it, watching as the monster's skin began to bubble. It was dying, he realized. With a laugh, he began to toss sand at it until it finally collapsed in a sopping mess. Xander kicked it, making sure that it was dead. With a burst of energy, he ran back to Willow, finding her laying by the bench, deep scratches on her throat and chest. There was so much blood and she wasn't moving.

He listened to her heart, hearing the faint beat. He brushed her hair from her face, "Willow, I'm here. I killed that thing. You're going to be fine. I'm not going to let anything to happen to you. I'm gonna take you to the hospital now. They'll fix you."

"Xander?" she said softly, drifting in and out of consciousness. "No hospital."

"Wills, honey, you're dying," he whispered, holding on to her hand.

"Take me home," she asked, squeezing his hand.

"I love you, Willow," he said softly as her eyes shut. He stood, holding her tightly in his arms as he obeyed her wishes and carried her home.