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Changing Hearts Series - Set In Motion -- by Ruby
Rating: PG-13
Description: Anya sets Spike's plan in motion, sequel to Accomplice.
Note: Spoilers -- Wild at Heart, The Initiative.
Disclaimer: Joss owns all.
Anya had skillfully steered the topic of conversation around to Oz and was now sitting comfortably against Xander's arm, listening intently and biding her time.
"I don't know. I'm kind of starting to feel sorry for him," Xander admitted.
"Don't waste the energy. He was the one who left, remember?" Buffy replied.
"Yeah, but it's pretty clear he's sorry about it."
"And that changes--what? He broke her heart. She's happy now, at last."
"With Spike," he added.
"So what? I don't like him, but who says I have to? He cares about Will. He's been as good to her as he promised he'd be, and she wants to be with him," Buffy argued.
"Hello? Reality check, here. Spike--remember? Evil, soulless, homicidal vampire Spike?"
"Who couldn't hurt a living human if his unlife depended on it," she said. "He's the one who pulled Will out of a very deep hole while we were all too busy trying to ignore her to help. Ever stop to consider that may be the reason you hate him so much? He was there for our best friend when we weren't."
"No, actually, I hadn't thought of it that way. But now that I have, I still hate him," Xander answered.
The slayer refused to back down, "That's beside the point. He's crazy about Will, and you know she feels the same way toward him. If Oz would just stop shoving himself in her face, everything would be fine."
Anya saw her opening and quickly jumped in, "Maybe he's being so persistent because we're all so against him. I mean, he must feel like no one's on his side. Maybe he'd back off if he felt more like he belonged."
"I don't want him back in Will's life," Buffy responded. "He had his chance. Even after he took off, he could have at least gotten in touch with her. She doesn't want him, and he doesn't deserve her."
"I'm not saying he does. But you were all friends, once," the former demon said. "He has to feel completely alienated. You've all made it very clear that you don't want him around. You're ignoring his pain the same way you ignored Willow's."
"That's different. We weren't fair to her. She wasn't to blame for her misery. Oz brought his on all by himself."
"Okay," Anya sighed. "This is a circular argument. The bottom line is, you want him to leave Willow alone, right?" Buffy and Xander nodded and waited for her to continue. "That isn't likely to happen when she's all he has to focus on. Maybe if he felt that his old friends were willing to at least try to include him back in their lives, he wouldn't feel so compelled to chase after Willow."
"Maybe," Buffy conceded hesitantly.
"I guess if he were spending more time with us, he couldn't spend it trying to get to Willow," Xander said.
"Kind of a distraction, you mean?" the slayer asked.
"That has possibilities. Might be worth a shot."
"When did you get so smart?" Xander smiled and gave his girlfriend's shoulders a quick squeeze.
"I've always been smart," she answered casually.
"You've just been too stupid to notice. It's okay, though. I love you, anyway."
"I probably shouldn't say thank you for that," he said, looking to Buffy.
She laughed softly and shook her head, "Probably not." Satisfied that she had accomplished what she had set out to do, Anya hid a smile and scooted slightly closer to Xander.
The End
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