Buffy, Dawn, Willow and Tara had agreed to help Xander cleanout his old things that Xander had brought over from the sale of his parents home. As Buffy carried the last of the boxes into Xander's apartment she noted." This is great, three weeks back and already I'm the pack horse again." She drops the box onto the coffee table and sees Willow going through some letters she found." Ugh, I really think its un cool to look through other peoples mail."
Willow blushes and tells her." Unless it's some really hot stuff!" She holds up the strange looking letter and tells her." Dear Alex I was sorry to hear of your leaving the Academy, I had thought we made a connection while you were here.." Willow looks up." Academy? And this sounds like he did more than breakdown in Oxnard."
Buffy grins and thinks.** Oh if you only knew the truth Wills! ** Her smile freezes.** Wait a minute. He made a connection! *** Willows voice brings her back." ... I said by the look on your face I'd say you were jealous."
Buffy shrugs." Of a stripp...Ugh.. He's not my boyfriend Wills so why would I be?"
Tara tucks a stray hair behind her ear and asks." So how come Xander never went to UCLA?"
Willow turns to her lover and tells her." You know. It was the whole ' not enough points on his SAT's' thing... Wait UCLA? Where did that come from?"
Tara holds up a letter of acceptance to UCLA addressed to Xander along with a student loan approval. Willow snatches it from Tara and Buffy grabs it from her. Buffy reads it and looks confused as she hands it back after reading it." Why the hell didn't he tell us?"
Willow tries to think of a good reason as she leafs through the other documents Xander had placed in the box marked Dump." Maybe he didn't want to leave?"
"So why lie about it? And why go from one dead end job to the next?" Buffy asks.
"And why take up with a skanky ex-demon?" Dawn mumbles. Buffy looks at her sister as Dawn is going through another box." what? Because he loves her Dawn." Buffy tells her.
Dawn's hand comes out of the box holding, what looks like a broken digital watch, and shakes it at Buffy." Maybe it was because the one he wanted didn't want him?" The glare from Buffy causes Dawn to examine the watch with intense concentration as Dawn says under her breath." If I were just four years older I'd give Anya a run for her money!" Her rough handling of it causes it to say." Greetings Star Fighter. Com unit is ready to transmit."
Dawn dropped it thinking it was a toy from '99 when Xander was deep into the Star Fighter game and all things Sci-Fi. She grinned as she remembered the Sci-Fi nights they had watching Babylon 5. She had always dreamed of being Dellen to Xander's Sheridan but he only had eyes for a certain 'blind' Slayer. She failed to notice it proceed to scroll a message across its screen.
*** RED ALERT! ZANDOZAN HIT BEASTS BELIEVED DESPATCHED TO YOUR LOCATION IN PREPERATION FOR SECOND INVASION OF RYLOS AND THE STAR LEAGUE***
The girls jumped as they heard the front door open. Buffy glared at Willow as she took her time putting the letters back in the box and closing the lid. They heard Anya's voice cry out to Xander." I don't care Xander! It's a great opportunity for the both of us, so why don't we take it?" They walk into the lounge and Anya's face drops as she sees Buffy." Oh.. Hello Buffy, you here again?"
Anya glares at Xander as he grins at the gang, then she growls and storms off into the bedroom." Don't mind her she's... She's just being Anya." They turn to the noise emanating from the master bedroom as Anya can be heard shouting and moving things around.
They all turn to look at Xander and he shrugs as he slumps into a chair." Some rich guy stopped by the Magic Box last week and he thought it would make a great ' Franchise Opportunity' In New York. So he hired her on the spot to run them."
Anya comes out of the room carrying two suitcases and she heads for the front door, stopping just before she leaves. She turns to Xander with a big smile on her face." So? Yours are packed lets hit the road Mack!"
Xander looks at her as he sinks further into his chair." I told you Ahn. I have a career here now and moving is out of the question." Anya glares at him then stares daggers at Buffy." I bet if she asked, you'd fly to the moon with her!" She looks at her watch." The limo's not going to wait forever, what's it to be then? A life of money and me in New York or a slow death here waiting for your precious Slayer to notice you, here in good old Dead Heart of America?"
Xander looks at his friends, and the Slayer, then he looks at Anya." Don't make me choose Ahn! You'll lose every time." Anya looks confused and hurt." You're choosing them over me? " She then gets angry." After all the Sex we had and you pick them over me? These people treated you like dirt for the past year and you still pick them over your fiancé?" She rips the door open and storms out." Well send me a postcard from Looney Ville, I'll be living the high life in the big Apple, Shmuck!"
They all sat quietly as the slamming of the door reverberated throughout the complex. Xander grins, nervously, so any word from Giles today?" The others tried to come up with something to say but Dawn just watched her sister as she took a good look at Xander.
Before anyone could say anything the doorbell rang and Xander opened it allowing the Buffy-Bot to enter." Buffy-Bot is online and awaiting an update on tonight's patrol."
Willow tells it." You are to patrol grid 1 through to 7 while Buffy takes the remainder. Ahh Run through your protocols again for me."
Buffy-Bot puts an inane grin on her face as she parrots her protocols." Buffy-Bot will not harm sentient organic life forms that have their souls intact. Buffy-Bot will defend the weak and helpless. Buffy-Bot will not cross species barriers in search of sex." The smile staid on her face until Willow told her to begin patrolling. She turned and suddenly asked." Is it permitted for the original to cross the species barrier?"
Buffy smiled as told her." No it is not permitted for the original to cross the species barrier either."
Xander mutters." Well Buff your about four years to late." He jumps up and tells her." I hope you need company on patrol tonight Buff." Buffy grins at him and his heart seems a lot lighter as she nods. He goes into his room to get his gear ready and she sees Dawn grinning at her." You Go girlfriend!"
Buffy shakes her head at her." We're just going on patrol Dawn so don't start picking out china patterns for me!"
Buffy kept sneaking glances at Xander as she tried to work out why Xander looked non plussed by Anya's departure and why he lied to everyone about his SAT's. She waited as he stopped by Jesse's grave and paid his respects to his dead friend before she started her quest for some answers." So, Xander, big shock about Anya hey?"
He glanced down at her as he scanned the area for any undead Americans." Not really, she's been kinda drifting away ever since... You know." He let out a breath then shook his head." I should have left then I guess. She told me to ask again after the fight, but when I saw you ... Leave, I lost all sense of there ever being a future for me or anything."
Buffy's brow furrowed." Asked her? Ask her what again?"
Xander kicked a rock and he blushed." I thought it was a good idea at the time. I loved her and she said she loved me, so I ugh, asked her to marry me." Buffy stopped walking and took her hands from her coat at the turn of events.
"You asked Anya to marry you?" Xander nodded." And she told you to wait till after the battle?" He nods again and places his hands in his pockets." And you never did?"
"Nope, I figured she would remind me and when she didn't I realized I doubted I would go through with it anyway." Buffy caught Xander staring at her out of the corner of her eyes." A lot of things died that day Buff... And something's were reborn the same time you were."
She turned away so he wouldn't see the look of joy on her face as he said those last words." I'd just like to say... Is that a demon going into Spike's crypt?"
Buffy looked up at Xander." You say what?"
Xander points to Spikes home." I thought I saw a Femoral Demon break into Spike's Crypt. Why would they want him?"
Buffy looked at the Mausoleum and shrugged her shoulders." I don't know Xander why don't you ask it? Maybe he'll give you a straight answer!"
Xander was ignorant to the way Buffy was feeling and so he headed off to Spike's place leaving an angry Slayer in his wake. She clenched her fists." Men! I swear to God they were put here to tick me off!" She heard the sounds of fighting coming from the crypt and then Xander's yelp of pain." XANDER!" She cried out as she ran towards him.
She entered the dusty building in time to see the beast throw Xander into Spikes open tomb and slam the top back into place." That's not the done thing around here creep!"
It looks at her in shock and says." Slayer? But you're dead!"
She places her hands on her hips and glares at him." Yeah well what can I say? I'm feeling much better now." She points at the tomb with her chin." Now then you have exactly five seconds to help my friend out our I'll use one of your horns to pry the lid off!"
She frowns when she hears a muffled scream followed by whimpering come from the tomb. She rushes over and as she does the Demon uses the break to make his escape. Buffy flips the lid off like it was made of foam only to see Xander curled up in a ball shaking in the corner." No! Not again." He pleaded.
She placed a hand to his face and Xander jumped as if she had sent a charge of electricity through his body. She began to stroke his cheek and whisper kind words to him until he stopped shaking. He took a deep breath and held it before releasing it in a long shaky gasp. He placed his hand over hers and snuggled into it." You ... You're real this time?"
Buffy saw the terror in his eyes and she felt a lump in her throat." Yes Xand I'm real." She stroked his hair." What's wrong?"
He had a wild look in his eyes as he told her." We had to transfer all power to the shields and main weapons, that included life support, which was all right for Grig seeing as how he can go into hibernation. But I...." He realized where he was at last and he shuffled away from her. He glanced around as if searching for a good explanation when he told her." Hah! Had you suckered in good that time Slayer!"
Buffy decided to play along until she could talk with Willow and the others about Xander's ' episode'." Yeah ya got me good Xander!" She helped him out and she was surprised as he clutched her body close to him, she could feel him calm down from his near hysterical state. She placed her arms around him and he drew deeper into her hug as she stroked his back." Shh Xand it's okay now."
Xander and Buffy staid like that for what seemed, to her, like an eternity before Xander broke it and moved away from her." We better get back to patrolling Buff or Willow will stop our pay!"
Buffy was at the breakfast table trying to work out what was up with Xander as she played with her Fruit loops when Dawn walked in." Hey Sis! What's the what?"
Buffy looked up at her and smiled." Nothing much, you know the same old same old." She noticed the new dress and the necklace Dawn was wearing." Say a girl your age shouldn't look so good! You make me feel real old!"
Dawn span around and then took a bowl down." The dress was a gift from Giles before he returned to England and this." She held the necklace out for Buffy to see properly." Was something Xander gave me."
Buffy held it in her hand and she felt the weight of it as she examined the intricate patterns on its surface." These squiggly things look like some kind of writing." she looked closer and gasped." These rocks look like precious stones!" She looked up at Dawn's face." Dawn! This must have cost him a fortune! When did he give this to you?"
Buffy was now very worried about this." Dawn men don't give little girls things like this for nothing! What did you do?"
Dawn turned red with rage." Xander's not like that! And I'm not a whore Buffy!" She dropped into her seat after grabbing her present back from Buffy. She swirled her spoon around the bowl before she told her." It was just after you ... Left us. I was like a living dead person, we all were, and Xander kept telling us you'd be back. He found me crying in his room one day and he looked like he remembered something." She took a spoonful of fruit loops and continued." He went into his drawer ... You know the one he keeps locked.. And he dropped this into my hands and said...' Someone gave me this by mistake, I think you deserve it far more than I do'."
Buffy gazed off into the distance." He's really starting to get my attention now!" She dropped her spoon into her dish." You know at one time 'mystery men' really got me going. Now they just make me worried!"
Dawn tapped Buffy's hand to get her attention." He's been through a lot lately Buffy, so maybe we should cut him some slack?"
Xander is going through his things, sorting Anya's knick knacks from his, when he comes across the flashing Com-Unit.**** REPEAT... PLEASE CONTACT RYLOSIAN STAR COMMAND RE-ZANDOZAN HIT SQUAD... ALEX GROGAN ASSASINATED WE BELIEVE YOU ARE NEXT!!****
Xander slumped against his bed." Alex dead?" His face went white as he tapped the unit." Alexander Harris calling Centauri. I'll be standing by for further transmissions." He tapped it again and his message scrolled across the screen as the unit sent both sound and text to Rylos. Xander then placed the unit on his hand; the symbiotic adhesive would make sure it would stay there until he removed it. Xander stared at the wall and tried to fight back the tears as he remembered his friend from two years ago. He only knew him for the short time he was on Rylos but they had become fast friends." War does that to you."
The knocking on his door snapped him from his thoughts and he walked over to open it. He stopped and looked through the peephole just to make sure it wasn't one of the beasts." He remembered his training and sniffed the air before opening the door." Hey Buff! Is it that time already?"
She hefted up the bag and he heard the clinking of weapons." Yep! The undead wait for no slayer, or Slayerette."
Xander looked terrible, if she had to guess Buffy would say he hadn't slept since she left him the night before." Hey Xand, maybe you should cool it for tonight and I'll fly solo tonight?"
Xander slipped on a jacket and grinned at her." And miss out on all the fun? No way José. This is one mean cream fighting machine."
Buffy couldn't help grinning at her friend." You mean green Xander."
He locked the door behind him and shook his head." Nah! Green doesn't match my eyes."
They were almost to the end of their routine, patrolling Happy Acres Cemetery and Buffy had noticed Xander was more watchful than ever tonight. " Hey Xand, what's with the Terminator impression? If there's anything out there I'll sense it way before you do."
Xander faces her but before he can give her a snappy comeback he hears her stomach rumble causing Buffy to blush." Excuse me, I kinda skipped dinner tonight so I could have a long talk with Dawn."
Xander pats his pocket to check he had his wallet." Ah! This explains the furtive glances all night! " Xander sniffs the air." Mickey D's is still open and money is no barrier for Paycheck guy!"
Buffy giggles." How do you do that? How do you know MacDonald's is open?"
Xander does his best impression of Giles." In every generation one is chosen to fight the evils of hunger and with the aid of heightened gastronomic skills , and a hefty paycheck, I will destroy your hunger Miss Summers!" He strikes a pose like some old cheesy super hero then points towards the fast food outlet." Come! To the fat cave where we will satisfy our cravings!" He looks sexily at her." Well some of our cravings, after all it is a public place."
As Xander walked in he saw Willow, Tara and Dawn sitting at one of the cubicles. He was going to stop but Buffy just pushed him over to them then forced him to sit between Dawn and Tara.
"Okay... So is this some sort of girl thang?" His mind went back to Buffy's Intervention and he tried to get up but Tara grabbed his arm.
Willow tells him." Right then I think its time you came clean Xander."
Xander smiles and shrugs." Okay." He looks deep into Willow's eyes." I am Kaiser..." Willow slaps his arm." Okay.. For a long time now I've kept my feelings to myself and I think it's time we told them." He looks at Willow." Tara and I have been having a passionate affair.." Tara slaps his arm." Willow and I have..." Willow slaps his arm." Dawn.." Buffy glares at him and Dawn grins nodding her head.
Buffy leans in." Listen sport you either tell us the truth, the whole truth, or we cut you off. No more Scooby meetings, no patrols no visits." She sits back." In fact you will have no contact with anyone in the group!" As she says this Xander sees her nose wrinkle." What is that smell?"
Dawn grimaces." Yeah that's bad.. Even for Mickey D's!"
Xander's eyes go wide as he searches the restaurant for the hit beast. He remembered everything he was told of the Zandozan, and watched each person carefully." Buffy! There is ah... A demon in here but you can't use a bladed weapon against it. Its blood is like some kind of fast acting toxin so DON'T get any on you!"
Buffy scans the occupants of the diner and uses her 'spider senses' to try and work out who is the demon. She sees the cleaner lift some thing out of her bucket and point it at Xander. She dives over the table top and lands on top of her sending both of them sliding over to the wall. They begin to roll around, each trying to get the upper hand, when the demon kicks Buffy across the room and onto her Weapons bag.
As she shakes her head to relieve the fog that was descending over her she sees Xander dive onto the beast, for it had shed it's disguise and was now in it's true form, and try to take the weird looking gun from its hand. She sees the creature grin as it tells him." You will now join the war criminal Grogan in hell!"
Xander tries to turn the gun away from him but Buffy looses sight of it as it moves between their two bodies. She hears a high-pitched whine and sees them both jump as they are lit up by the blast. Buffy and the others race over to him but before they get there he stands up, holding the gun in his hand, and blasts the beast till its just a puddle of organic material.
Buffy glances at the remains then at Xander before telling him." Okay, I give up, what the heck was that?"
Dawn shouts out." Xander you've got green goop all over your jacket!"
Xander goes pale as he frantically opened his jacket. They can all see the demon blood has soaked into his shirt, he rips open the buttons and he closes his eyes as he sees the blood absorbing into his pores.
Buffy, and the others, speed him from the fast food restaurant and are on the way to the hospital when he suddenly stops them." NO! Take me home, there's only one thing that can help me now!"
By the time they get to his apartment Xander seems almost like he's drunk. He leans against Buffy and smells her hair." Mmm! You shmell nice.. Like apricots in summer time." He drapes an arm over her shoulder as the others open the door and she helps him inside." I know you like apricots an Jasmine bath salts. Your favorite color is blue and you love CK ONE."
Buffy is shocked that he knew all this about her and as she laid him down on his bed she asks." And what do you love Xander?"
He looks at her and grins drunkenly." Me? I love Buffy!" He pulls her down and kisses her before she can break away. At first she just let him kiss her to get it over with but then she felt something deep down, so deep she had almost forgotten it even existed. She felt a heat blossom in her, starting at her toes and working its way to her very soul. She deepened the kiss until Willow coughed and Dawn told her." Hey sis! Way to take advantage of the sick!"
Buffy broke the kiss, reluctantly; her body craved his lips like a junkie craved another hit. The tip of her tongue ran around her lips trying to taste the last of him. She began to bob down to kiss him again until her mind took control of her body again *** Hey! This is a friend! Remember your promise? No more dipping your pen in company ink?***
She coughed and brushed a lock of hair back behind her ears as she straightened up." So uhh, what's next?" Xander smacked his lips and smiled at her and she blushed." I mean for your condition..." His grin widened and he patted the empty space next to him, she blushed even deeper." NO! I mean for the toxins in your blood!"
He frowned and pointed to the locked drawer." In there, a black case marked Exeo-Biological First Aid. The key.." His words were drowned out by Buffy smashing open the drawer." Oops!" She told him as she searched for the box coming out with it as she raced to the bedside." I'll fix it later."
She opened the kit and handed it to Willow who then looked at the contents." Some of this stuff is pretty weird Buff! Where the heck did he get it from?"
Xander reached out and took the kit from her, his hands scowered the contents for the small green bulb. When he found it he held another small black box next to his skin and waited till it beeped before he held the bulb to his neck and pressed it, sending the contents pulsing through his veins. He held the box next to him again and waited for the green light, instead a red one appeared and he threw the box away." Not enough!" he began a coughing fit that lasted several seconds then tapped the Com-unit again." Centauri... Zandozan Blood has infected me. The anti-Toxin isn't strong enough to deal with it! I need help..NOW!"
He began to shake." Why is it so ccccold?" He gathered the blankets around him and they could see the swear build up on his brow. Xander we need to get you to the Hospital!" Buffy told him.
"Why so they can bury me?" He shook his head." Centauri will be here soon and he'll have more of the anti-toxin... God Why is it so damned cold?"
Dawn looked at Xander then at Buffy." He's going to make it.. Right?"
Buffy looks at Willow who shrugs, she then hugs Dawn." of coarse he will! Then he'll tell us what this is all about!"
Xander is now shaking like a leaf in a summer storm as they pile more blankets on him. Willow and Tara leave to get a spell book on medicinal remedies leaving Buffy and Dawn to deal with Xander. Buffy lies next to Xander and hugs him, trying to make him a swarm as she can, while Dawn searches for some answers in his broken drawer.
Xander is deep in a restless sleep and she catches pieces of broken memories as he relives them." Maybe I can't stop you from going in to see her but then maybe neither can the orderlies, or the security guards or the nurses but I'm betting you can't, are you willing to try?"
She remembers that they were the words Angel had told her Xander used to keep Angelus from turning her the night she was in hospital all those years ago. She wipes his forehead and is shocked at how clammy and cold it felt." Damn you Xander! You're always pulling this crap! Jumping in and saving people when you should just leave well enough alone."
His eyes snap open as he relives another memory." NO! Hold the line! I'm not letting these things anywhere near Earth!" He looks like he's listening to someone then he angrily replies." Well then we DIE! But so do they! The way I look at it it's our lives in exchange for stopping them destroying everything that means anything to us! " He snickers." What's the life of one less Zeppo in the scheme of things?. Hell I didn't want to live forever anyways!"
He then curls into a ball and for a second Buffy thought he had stopped breathing. " Xander!" She shook him and felt his pulse." Don't you leave me! Not now.. Please not now!"
Buffy's hand felt for Xander's pulse and she breathed a sigh of relief as she found it, as she did she felt her own heart slow down from the rapid beat it had reached when she thought she had lost him. She got up and peeled back the bedclothes then climbed in next to him. She pulled the covers back over them and spooned up to his fevered body, resting her head in the crook of his neck.
Dawn looked over at her sister from the now broken drawer and was about to tell her something but when she saw them she smiled and continued with her quest. She scavenged through his things with a purpose, trying to solve the mystery that Xander had become. She found his bank statements and thought nothing of them till she came across a statement from a strange bank. She glanced at her sister again before she opened it and discovered Xander had an untouched account that had a small fortune paid into it on a monthly basis. The payments went back to the summer of '99 and the transferring bank looked like some off shore deal.
Her teenage imagination ran wild with ideas, first she thought of him as a spy then discounted the notion. She looked at how he slept and her cheeks reddened." Xander a gigolo? In my dreams maybe." Then her fingers found a small case. She took it out of the drawer and opened it, inside was a space that would have held the necklace she wore. Her hand went to her neck and held up the bejeweled necklace and then she tried to read the funny words inscribed on the box." It looks like hieroglyphics?"
She dropped the box and screamed when she heard o voice say." It says ' FROM A GREATFUL LEAGUE IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR DEEDS' and if you're wearing it you must mean a lot to him."
Buffy was up and out of the bed in a defensive posture before the stranger could move. He smiled at the two girls and introduced himself." Hello, my name is Centauri!" He held out his hand." I', Alex's ... Ahh Uncle." He looked around the apartment as Buffy and Dawn eyed him suspiciously." He looked at Buffy for the first time and his grin widened." And you'd be Buffy! I see Alex wasted no time when he got back."
Buffy saw him take in the ruffled bedcovers and blushed." I'm not... We're not... Who are you again?"
He plastered the cheesy grin back on his face and shook her hand." Centauri's the name..." As soon as his hand touched hers Buffy's senses went haywire. She jumped back and glared at him." What are you?"
His smile froze." ugh.. Xander hasnt explained?"
"Explain WHAT!" She stomped her foot like a petulant child." For the past 24 hours we've been trying to find out what's been going on with him and now he's lying there dying because some demon poisoned him!"
Centauri reached into his coat and pulled out a device, he then went over to Xander and held it up to his arm. The mechanism beeped and whirled, its lights slowly changing from red to green then it shut down." There problem solved." He sat up then moved the bed clothes down so he could see Xander's back. His fingers traced a small ragged scar down Xander's back and he muttered." Almost good as new!"
He replaced the covers and stood up." Have there been any other attempts on his life?"
Buffy's brow furrowed." No.. What do you mean by that?"
Centauri huffed." They would send a lot more than just the one Zandozan after him." His chest puffed out in pride." After what he, and a few others, did the Kodan and Xurian alliance have a huge bounty on his head!" He looks at Xander." He must be a great leader here by now."
Buffy shakes her head." No just a carpenter and very good friend."
Centauri was shocked." You mean he gave up all that to come back here and work for a living?" He shakes his head." If I live another thousand years I'll never understand humans! He had riches beyond avarice and more fame than any creature had a right to and yet he came here to Jerkwater USA on a piece of rock even the Kodan don't want!" "
Dawn interrupts." Back the bus up Mister! You mean the Kodan like in the game?" She looks at Buffy and sighs." You remember Buff, just before the Graduation thing that game that everyone was into.. The Last Star Fighter!" She sees her sisters blank expression and shakes her head." The one that Xander broke... He scored like a Zillion points and the machine went schitzo."
Buffy grinned." Oh Yeah! And Xander got banned from the arcade for it! Now I remember."
Dawn turned back to face Centauri." So are you going to spill or does sis have to make you?"
Centauri's fake smile is back but his brow is beginning to perspire. He takes out a hanky and dabs his brow." I.. ugh.. If Alex hasnt told you maybe I should..." Buffy takes a step towards him and Centauri holds up a hand." Hold it now! I'm no fighter, I just find them!"
He glances at Xander then shrugs. "Well I don't suppose it would hurt him, but we had better do this in the lounge out of range of him hearing."
They get into the other room just as Willow and Tara arrive. Introductions are made and Centauri tries to stall until Buffy glares at him." Okay..." He temples his hands." Where to start.." He smiles at them." At the beginning I suppose.....
It was the day after the great Xander Harris banishment from the one and only arcade in Sunnydale and the day before Graduation. Xander has left the Scoobys, with Oz's help. To try and get the explosives he's need to make the 'cake' for the Mayors surprise coming out party. As the two graduates loaded the C4 and detonators into the van Xander glanced around the road next to the National Guard Depot. He sensed someone was watching but couldn't see anything. Oz taps his shoulder." Lets book!"
As the van drove off a strange vehicle followed them, the registration plates read. RYLOS.
The mayor was just so much charred snake meat and the old High school would never look as good again as Xander waived goodnight to his friends and made his way home. As he walked down the familiar street he sensed the car following him and turned to face the danger. The door whined open and a man stepped out. Xander held up a cross and prepared to run until the man said.
"Hello son! Would you be Alexander Harris, the boy that broke my game?"
Xander went cold *** Great I help defeat a monster and destroy a school only to get in trouble for breaking a game!***." Ahh.. Yeah sorry 'bout that but I think it was.."
Centauri waived his hands." Never mind about the toy son. I saw the job you did on the big snake today."
"Not just me! I was just a cog in the system..."
"Son, never try to con a conman! I saw everything and you were better than we hoped for!" He motioned to the car." Come in I'll take you to my office and then we'll talk about your new job." Xander moved close and pressed the cross against Centauri's skin." What's this? Some new kind of greeting?"
Xander shook the cross and tried it again." Okay I'll buy it. What's the catch?"
Centauri waited till Xander was seated in the back and he waived his hand again." No catch my boy just do like you did on my game and we'll make a fortune!" He glanced at Xander in the mirror and saw his worried face." Now Centauri has seen 'em come and seen 'em go but let me tell you this you're the best I've seen, in this worlds or any other!"
Xander was stung by something sitting in the back with him. Then the creature left the car and the door closed.
"I don't know about this... What's going to happen?. Where are we going... What was that thing?"
"Now, now! You don't seem the type to read the last page of a mystery first? Do as I say and Ill?. We'll be rich beyond your wildest dreams!" Centauri pressed a few buttons on the dash and the car sped up, going faster and faster without Xander even noticing.
"I'm just a nobody from Zips Ville going nowhere!" Xander mumbled.
Centauri shakes his head." If that's all you think you'll be then that's all you ever will be!" He turns in his seat." I can't promise you a smooth ride but you'll come out of this a true hero.. If you survive."
"This isn't the destiny I had planned. I had thought there would be someone for me but she ... Doesn't think of me as her hero!"
Centauri pushes a lever and the car lifts off. Centauri then turns back to him and grins." If there's one thing I've learned in my long life kid it's that.. Hero's don't choose their Destiny, Destiny chooses it's own hero's." He turns back and tells him." Buckle up kid you're in for a bumpy ride. As Xander snaps his belt in place he can hear the car count down to zero then say." Star drive engaged." The car lurched and Xander felt a severe case of vertigo then blacked out.
Xander awoke as Centauri was exiting the craft. He shook the cobwebs from his head and scampered out to join him. A strange woman approached him and directed him into a room." Pritana denachi.. Pritina."
Xander stood on the moving sidewalk and mimicked." yeah right Pritana to you too." He was moved off into the room and was bombarded by lights and then moved off to another section where they issued his uniform and sidearm. " Hey how do you know my size?" The being behind the counter looked blankly at him." Ishtaer nebisec aramia."
The escalator moved him away from the clerk and took him back to the strange female. She had a small skin colored device in her hands and moved to place it in his ear." Inaki volami ensig.. Should help you understand us better." She finished placing the device and then smiled at him." You remind me of the Commander, Alex Grogan, he too came from Terra. If you're half as good as he is we should end this latest attack on the League before it gets to bad." She suddenly snaps to attention as another human approaches.
"You giving him the same speech you gave me Anreski?" The man asked her with a smile. He pressed a few buttons on the pad in front of him and smirked." I see Centauri's up to his old tricks again ugh.. Hey same name as me!" He held out his hand and Xander shook it." Welcome to Star Command Alexander or do you prefer Alex?"
Xander shrugs." I kinda like Xander but it seems so childish now." He looks around at the other trainees and tells him." I'm not so good at the book learning stuff. In fact my SAT's sucked big time."
Alex smiles and tells him." Well it's a good thing we don't use books then huh!" Alex hands the pad to Anreski and pats him on the back as he leads him away." First thing though you do know what this is about and the danger you're in?"
"No ones told me yet but I guess if there's a war going on and you need to recruit from Earth things arent going so hot."
"You're right Xander, on all accounts." He turns on a screen that shows him the present state of the war." We're currently facing an enemy that knows no fear, and never backs off." The screen is filled with the war like atrocities of the Kodan Confederacy." The Kodan treat other races as sources of labor and how good they taste!"
Xander shakes his head and mumbles." Just once I'd like to fight something that doesnt consider me as a snack!" He looks at Alex and asks." So I'd need a lot of training before I get in one of your star fighters?"
Alex smiles at him." Not at all! I flew one within minutes of sitting in the control chair..."
"And then he destroyed the Kodan Armada that was attacking our base!" Grig finished for him. The reptilian scurried over to Xander and grasped his hand.
Alex told Xander as Grig pumped Xander's hand." And this is Grig. He'll be your navigator/tech/pain in the butt during your stay here."
"How do you do?" Grig annunciated.
"I do fine, yourself?" Xander asked.
"I'll let you know when we've won." He moved Xander across to another screen and brought up the new Gun star." This is the new model 'Grogan' Class Gun star. It has all the features of the prototype Alex and I flew plus a few new wrinkles."
Xander suddenly had a thought." Hey won't my friends miss me? I am supposed to go on a cross country trip but.."
Alex tells him." It's been all taken care of Xander. A Simuloid, a robot, was put in place as a courtesy to you. He'll tell you everything that happened to him when you get back to earth."
Grig cleared his throat." Now getting back to where I was. The Kodan have managed to break down the energy shield once more and have attacked along the main frontier, taking by force the few small planets there. Our plan is to bring their fleet to task here at the apex of our supply line and hold them till the heavy cruisers can deal with them." He looks at Xander." Now then, and here's the hard part, you and your fellow Star Fighters will have to catch them and hold them in place for the time needed for the main ships to arrive."
Xander thinks about his favorite TV show, Babylon5, and remembers the Earth/Minbari war." You mean we have to hold the line and not let them through till the big guns can engage them?"
Grig shrugs and nods." Basically, yes. However I cannot express the danger you will be in. This isn't like the game, there's no ' new game' in this war! When you loose.. You die!"
Alex shakes his head." Way to encourage new recruits Grig!" Alex looks at Xander." Xander do you know what will happen if the Star League falls? The Kodan will conquer this Universe then expand into yours. Can you see Earth putting up much of a fight?" Xander shakes his head." So do I need to tell you how important it is we stop them here?"
Xander shakes his head." Nope! There's enough evil on earth without the need to import more." He holds out his hand and Alex shakes it." Consider me in!"
"Grig will give you a rundown on your ship. Let you get accustomed to it then you can take it for some practice flights. " He watches them leave." Better make it quick and make me proud Xander, we don't have much time!"
As they leave Centauri comes into the room and hefts the large bag of jewels, his reward for finding another star fighter. Alex asks him." Is he as good as you say?"
Centauri smiles." He's good, perhaps the best these old eyes have seen Alex, but will he be enough?"
Alex sighs." God in heaven I hope so old friend, I hope so!"
Grig was nodding in the rear seat of the advanced Gun star." Excellent Xander, Excellent! A few more centars and you will be the best of the best." An alarm goes off on his consol. and he frowns." Unfortunately we appear to have run out of time. The Kodan armada is attacking outpost 15 on the outskirts of the Rylos Prime!"
The command chair spins around so Xander can see Grig." Are the others ready?"
Grig shrugs." We will soon find out... Setting course for Rylos Prime outpost 15."
Xander spins his seat around and imitates Captain Picard." Make it so!"
"I just did. Why tell me to do something Ive already done?"
"Its from a TV show Grig, you know I told you about it."
"Ah yes the classics, how did we become so advanced without TV?" Grig replies sarcastically.
"Hey! Don't knock it. I saw more of that box than I ever did of my parents."
Xander had a question nagging him from the very beginning." Grig, if the Star League is so advanced why don't they take the fight to the Kodan? I mean why didn't they follow through after the victory?"
"Well it's because the Star League is basically a defensive amalgam of planets and a prolonged war couldn't be sustained. And the Rylosians have been a peaceful race for so long their mentality is directed to a defensive posture."
Xander shakes his head." As Giles would say the best form of defense is a good offence. If they dealt with them once and for all you wouldn't have them keep coming back every couple of decades."
The console beeps and Grig informs him the rest of the Star Fighters are in position." Now Alex, remember we are supposed to try and hold them only until the main cruisers arrive to deal with the mother ships."
Xander looks out the ships window and sees the other nine Gun stars join him." I hope there are enough of us to hold them. I hope this is over quick."
Grig tells him." Careful of what you wish for Xander...Look!"
Xander looks out the front of the ship and sees the sky full of Kodan attack ships." Dear God! I wish Buffy was here!" Xander looks at the photo of Buffy he has attached to his heads up display." Better still I wish I was there!"
The Kodan ships began to engage the Star League forces and Xander was suddenly in his element. All fear and doubts were pushed aside as he maneuvered his ship through the first line and spun it around taking out a squad of enemy ships. He runs his ship down the line and blasts one after the other before rejoining the fleet. " Come on what are you waiting for?" He yells at them.
Two of the Gun stars turn and run as one says." I signed on to fight a war not be massacred!"
Xander slams his hand on the com button." NO! Hold the line! I'm not letting these things anywhere near Earth!"
One of the remaining pilots tells him." But if we stay and hold them we'll die!"
Xander powers up his weapons board again as the second wave arrives." Well then we DIE! But so do they! The way I look at it it's our lives in exchange for stopping them destroying everything that means anything to us! " He snickers." What's the life of one less Zeppo in the scheme of things?. Hell I didn't want to live forever anyways!"
Xander sent his craft speeding towards the enemy, not waiting to see if the others follow." What's our best plan Grig?"
Grig shrugs." Fight and live? Just do your best Xander, let the others do, as they will. At least we will die doing what's right." Grig saw Xander's eye twitch. Grig points to the main battleship." Or you could do as your predecessor did and take out the fighter control dome on the underside of that ship?"
Xander grinned." Okay any of you guys that are left cover my tail while I go in and take out the control whatsit!" Xander plays an end run around the fighters and as he does he asks Grig." Did any of the others stay Grig?"
"Yes Xander, and they're doing fine, now lets kick some Kodan Butt!"
"You my friend have been hanging around me for too long."
The ship is rocked by enemy gunfire, as they get closer to main battle ship. An alarm goes off and Grig tells him. "Shields are down 25% and power to the main guns are at 55% . Xander I don't think we have enough power to take it out!"
Xander is wending his way through the ridges and valleys of the giant warship trying to use it as cover." Is there anything you can shut down and divert to the guns?"
"Life support I suppose... But that means we will have only a short window before..." He sees Xander's resolve and just makes the adjustments." Life support diverted to main guns Xander."
Xander saw the dome fast approaching and he hoped for an Obi-Wan to guide his hand but the only voice he could hear was Buffy's." Make your life count Xander." He held off and then fired all weapons till he saw the dome evaporate in a cloud of fire and debris. A large chunk of it hit his ship and caused it to spin uncontrollably. Sparks shot up from the consol and alarms rang out in the confined space.
Xander was suddenly very short of breath and felt the front of his chest soaked in sweat. " Grig are you all right?"
Grig was punching fire control buttons and trying to stabilize the crippled ship." Alive Xander, for now. The other ships are engaging the rest of the fleet and doing admirably thanks to your efforts." Grig looked at another alarm." Jump gate forming to their rear." He clenched his fist and yelled." Star League Heavy cruisers to their rear! We've won Xander.... Xander"
The alarms died as the ship ran out of power and Grig snapped a med-kit from the bulkhead and placed it to Xander's neck." I'm applying a hibernation drug to your system Xander. I will go into one naturally but you..." The kit beeped and flashed red." By the Lords of Koball! " Grig tried to turn the control chair manually and cried out when he saw the front of Xander's suit covered in blood.
"Why didn't you say something?"
Xander shrugged, his movements slow like he was bathed in molasses." Doesn't matter Grig. As long as they're all right... As long as she's all right I don't care what happens to me."
Grig activates the emergency beacon but he realizes search and rescue wont be able to help till the battle is over. Xander could feel the air start to become foul." I don't think I have much longer to wait Grig.. If I... Don't make it could you tell Buffy ... I loved her from the first second I saw her till the day I died...."
Grig felt for a pulse and re-checked the read outs and sighed." Come on and kick their Asses all ready!"Chapter 4
The three women sat dumbfounded by Centauri's revelations. Buffy looked back to the bedroom and asked him." But he told me that he spent his road trip stripp... Exotic dancing. And if he had contacts of world why didn't he organize for Dawn to be taken off planet till Glory was dealt with?"
Centauri just shrugged." He lied.... Live with it and move on. He contacted us and we tried to land but there was some kind of barrier surrounding this world." He looked at them then shook his head." Would you have believed him if he told you he spent that time fighting beyond the stars? Or that it took three days before we could get to him and Grig? Or that he spent three weeks in a Medi-Crib, immersed in its healing liquid and knowing everything that he sensed? Or that these Medi-Cribs, for those encased inside them, feel like a coffin!"
The strange man had up till then exuded the air of a kindly Uncle but the way their conversation was heading he could see they were about to come down hard on his friend and supplier of the fortune currently in Centauri's bank. Buffy's eyes went wide." That explains why he freaked out when that demon sealed him in Spikes tomb!" She looks back at the bedroom then back at Centauri. "But he's out of danger now though? I mean we took care of the bounty hunter thing in Mickie D's."
Centauri looked unhappily at them." Would that it were Buffy. You see I havent told you how Alex Grogan was murdered. He was tricked out of the safety of Rylos and Xur personally supervised his death. He watched while they tortured him and then beheaded him, Alex's head now resides on a pike in front of the Kodan Hall of Justice."
Willow asks him." And you think this Xur won't give up till Xander's head sits along side Alex's?"
Centauri nods." It has too or else Xur's will be forfeit."
Buffy stands up." That's not going to happen! Because you're taking him back to Rylos right now and no matter what happens you're not leaving there till this Xur freak is a head shorter! Get me?"
As Centauri makes plans to spirit Xander away the man in question is struggling to get dressed. Anger burning in his veins and revenge smoldering in his heart. He had heard everything from his fevered bed and cursed them for trying to keep him from danger. Xander crept over to Centauri's jacket and fished around for the remote to his 'car'. He then clambered down the drainpipe and made his way to the Rylosian craft and opened it. He searched through the rear locker and removed a doll like object. Xander tried to remember his training in Simuloid programming as he reprogrammed the beta unit and then activated it.
The Simuloid rose to its full height and awaited the sensory contact that would pass on genetic coding and appearance of the subject to be replicated. Xander touched it and within seconds the creature took on Xander's appearance and body language. Xander then looked for the back up weapon he knew Centauri kept there." Beta unit.." The bot blinked and looked at Xander." Your orders are to replace me and protect the members of the Scooby Gang. Do not reveal yourself and for Gods sake do not strip this time no matter what happens!"
Xander gives it Centauri's keys." You know where to place these?" Xander2 nods and Xander tries to formulate a plan as he moves off." Oh before I forget... a massive electric charge will kill Zandozan but only incapacitate Rylosians right?"
Xander2 nods then tell him." But it's more than enough to fry a human. YOU remember that." It pulls at the collar of the shirt and tells Xander." Don't get yourself killed Harris! I don't want to be on this planet too long. Its yellow sun has a degrading effect on my servo motors." He smiled at him then made his way back up the drainpipe.
Xander hails a cab and tells the driver." 23rd and Main."
The cabbie drops the flag and tells him." Hey Xander! Remember me?"
Xander looks a bit worried then smiles." Yeah! Hey Larry long time no see."
"You still working on that machine shop on Main?"
"Yep! I have to do a quick inspection tonight before the weekend. Then we start bringing in the heavy machinery to bed in for final inspection."
The driver slows for a red light." Yeah I saw Bud the other day that place must be going to use one hell of a lot of power! He says its got three transformers and a humongous backup generator."
Xander's mind is running through his plan as he mutters." God I hope there's enough!"
There's a knock at the door and Buffy lets Dawn and the Buffy bot inside. Dawn tells them." I've brought the B-bot like you asked." She looks at Xander's door." Is he all right now? Can I see him?"
Buffy nods." But take it easy. Centauri says he'll be out of it for a while, but as soon as he's able I want him heading for Rylos!"
Dawn nods and Buffy walks over to the Buffy-bot." Buffy I have a change of orders for you." The Buffy-bot looks at her and her command mode cycles through." Ready for change of protocols."
"You will defend Xander with your life. This order over rides your self-preservation protocols until further notice. You will stay here with him till we return."
The robot looks at her and suddenly she stands straighter and holds out her arms." BuffyBot is on line!"
Buffy grins and shakes her head." Only Xander could have programmed that last bit."
The Bot tilts her head." Is it permitted to ask a question so as to update my files?" Buffy nods." Is Harris, Alexander.L? Now your significant other?" Buffy blushes." Its just that I have recorded an increase in heart rate, heat and an increase in pheromones, every time you mention his name or look towards his current abode."
Buffy's blush deepened as she saw the look on Willows face." NO! I just want him safe... That...Oh never mind, just go and do your job." The bot makes its way to Xander's bedroom and Buffy looks at the others." Right! Now while he's resting the four of us are going to make sure this Xur gets nowhere near my... Xander."
Dawn is sat on the edge of Xander's bed as the Buffy bot enters the room." Hey Xand its your life size Barbie doll come to protect you." She gets up and pecks him on the cheek." Get well soon Xand." She walks over to the bot and warns her." Remember ' you can look but if you touch its back to Circuitry City for you!"
Buffy looks at her." I understand the program Dawn. I must not stray from my species in regards to the matter of sexual activity." She looks at Xander and both his and Buffy's files flash across her eyes." Permission to ask a question? Both the organic life forms known as Buffy and Xander have a compatibility quotient of 99.95% why have they not mated?"
Dawn blushes and then gets angry." Because my sister is a blind, blond moron. If she had half a brain they'd have three kids and be living in a condo by now!"
Buffy watches Dawn leave and she stares at Xander's form as she sits on the edge of his bed." You can open you eyes now, not Xander! And if you value your parts I suggest you tell me everything!"
As the beta unit explains how he came to there the Buffy bot began to feel strange responses coming back from her neural net. She had not felt a thing when Spike had made love to her, she was just following a preset program, but now she felt a strange tightness around her energy source. A wonderful lightheadedness over came her and she asked Xander2." You.. Are a robotic copy like me aren't you? Of my species is what I mean."
Xander grinned at her." We prefer to be called Simuloids actually." He watched her face and his grin froze." Umm what are you doing?"
Xander had erected the do not enter sign after ha had taken the necessary tools he needed for the nights work into the sealed construction site. He set about securing the chain mesh fencing across the floor of the sunken section of the main floor of the building. The heavy machinery was to be set into the depression on Monday but till then Xander had good use for it. He then hooked up the switching device to the control panel on the wall behind the depression. Xander looked at his work and removed the heavy electricians gloves from his hands grinning as he did so. He slapped the gloves against his legs and looked over to the drums of oil. "I sure hope José was right about this crap being conductive."
He looked at the raised dais, where the panel was located, and checked that the thick rubber boots were in place. He mentally runs through his plan then grins." Xur baby, are you in for a surprise!"
Buffy and the others are returning from a fruitless search as they enter Xander's apartment. Buffy tells them." I'm glad Dawn's safe at home. There were a lot of dead men walking around tonight."
Willow nods." It must be that big old full moon...." She stops as she hears noises coming from Xander's bedroom, her face blushing as she realizes what the noises entail.
Tara coughs and says." I.. Ugh guess Anya must have come back."
They turn to leave; Buffy's face was crestfallen at Tara's words, when they heard a familiar voice cry out in passion. Buffy glares at the door." DAWN! If that's you Xander had better get ready for some hard jail time!"
She kicks down the door and sees a blond writhing on top of Xander as she makes love to him. Buffy's, and the other girls, mouths drop open in shock. Buffy pulls at the Buffy-Bots hair, yanking her off an excited Xander." What you can't understand English all of a sudden!" She throws her off the bed and glares at her.
Willow shouts at the bot." I distinctly remember ordering you NOT to cross species again!"
Buffy glares at Xander as he tries to cover himself." And you! What you couldnt have the real thing so you went for the blow up doll?" She raised her hand to strike him then froze as tears began to form in her eyes." If you had waited you could have had.."
The Buffy-bot stood up and ran over to Xander's side, hugging him." I, unlike YOU, did not cross the species barrier!" She kissed Xander's crown and told her." He is of my type a robot.. Sorry honey, a Simuloid!"
Buffy called out to Centauri who, wanting to have nothing to do with the strange mating habits of these humans, had stayed outside the bedroom. He slowly came into the room, unsure of whether he wanted to see this particular sight." Please leave me out of your mating rituals."
Buffy pointed to Xander and told him." The bot says he's a robot..." Buffy-bot interrupts her." SIMULOID!" And Buffy turns to glare at her as she snuggles into Xander's arms." Simuloid then, is she right?"
Centauri looks over to Xander and Xander wiggles his fingers at him in a wave." Hey Centauri, I can explain the whole thing."
Centauri blanches then takes out a device from his inside pocket and activates it." DAMN!" He turns around and holds it out in front of him." That sneaky glibfarb!" He then turns to the others." He must have heard what we were talking about and decided he would take revenge on Xur for what he did to Alex!"
Tara exclaims." But that's madness! He'd be safer off on Rylos, surely he must know that?"
Willow grips her lovers hand." Yes he does Tara but Xander values his friends above his own life." She looks at Centauri." He'll try to kill Xur for what he's done wont he?" Centauri nods." He'll also plan a way to take out the Zandozan as well."
Buffy thinks for a second." He won't kill Xur! He'll try to capture him and take him back to Rylos for trial!" She turns to Centauri." Xur knows this doesn't he? That was part of his plan, separate Xander from his friends. Knowing Xander wouldn't want us involved and risk us being hurt may just have sealed his fate!"
Centauri points behind him." He's about five miles in that direction."
Buffy looks at the device." How do you know?"
He places the device in his jacket and tells her." Every Star Fighter is implanted with a tracking and vitals device to enable Star Command to keep track of them during a battle. This device taps into that and it tells me he's exhausted and still fighting off the effects of the Zandozan toxin but he is still alive."
Xander rolls the empty drums out of the way and covers them with the drop cloth. He then wipes his hands in the cloth and surveys his handy work." They'll see me over there by the door and chase me here. I'll look all frightened and be begging for my life. They'll call up Xur so he can be in on the kill." Xander walks over to the switch box." I have to be here when he joins them on the mesh then no matter what I.." Xander jumps out of his skin as Buffy shouts at him.
"You stupid, inconsiderate asshole!" His eyes grow full of fear as he watches her stride over towards him. He was prepared to face an unknown number of hit beasts and possibly his own death without missing a beat. But when Buffy's angry glare hit him he turned to jello!
He waved a shaky hand at them." Hey Buff, Wills, Tara and Centauri. How are things?"
Buffy pushed him up against the wall of the building. She prodded his chest with her finger marking each point she made with a painful jab of her finger." You freaking, lying ... Piece of crap! I thought you were dead! I thought this Xur had taken you already! Well he's just going to have to get in line cuz..."
Xander's pale pallor had nothing to do with her assault but it was the final dregs of the toxin as they worked their way through his system. Buffy's anger turned to fear for his life as she held onto him like grim death." oh Xander you me so worried I.." She kissed him for the first time. Timidly at first. The fear of rejection pulsed through both their bodies, but when that passed they opened up to each others passion and untapped love.
Xander had to force her away from him and when he saw the hurt look on her face he panted." Breath! Needed to breath." He then reconnected their lips and their souls.
They heard Willows cough but chose to ignore her until Willow placed her mouth to Buffy's ear and told her." If you're quite finished giving him CPR Buffy we do have to stop Xur and the hit men."
Buffy broke the kiss and licked her lips with the tip of her tongue. She sighed like a child suddenly dragged from a candy store, then stroked his face downwards till her hand rested on his chest. She pecked his lips once more then told him." We will finish this at a later date Alexander Harris."
Willow looked at her lifelong friend and asked him." So Xand what were your plans?"
Before he could answer the air between them glowed with a myriad of tiny lights. Then the lights joined together and formed the face of Xur." Ahh, Harris! I thought it time we talked." He looked at the others and grinned." This is all you have? My, my, I had expected at least some struggle before I took you home to Kodan to face your justice!"
Xander looked him in the eye and tried to find the words." Xur.. Look I... Agh screw it. Why don't you just come out and face me man to bald headed freak?"
Xur grinned." Just you against me? Hmm, sounds interesting but I think I'll pass for now." He nods to someone off screen and suddenly Dawn is dragged into view." I have someone here that I think you know. Unless you meet me, alone, she will meet an untimely, and slow, death." He grinned at Xander.
He looked at the others and shrugged." I've had a good life. Mine for hers is okay by me but if you harm one hair on her head I will hunt you down no matter where you run to!"
Xur frowns." You're no fun! So be it! I'll expect you here at.." He motions to someone out of sight and they tell him." Midnight in Henderson Park."
Buffy strode in front of the group." Right what we'll do is this.. Willow you and Tara create a magical diversion, but nothing that would endanger yourselves, Xander you will stay here with Centauri and prepare your trap. Meanwhile robo Xander will trick Xur into handing over Dawn to me." She grins." Hopefully he wont know his mistake till Dawn and I are far away."
She notices the look Xander gave her and she looks at him." Something to say flyboy?"
Yeah! Two things wrong with your plan. The first is Xur will know the Simuloid ain't me before you get within hailing distance." Buffy nods and narrows her eyes." And the second thing is?" Xander raises himself to tower above her." I lost you once before and I'll be damned if I risk losing you again!"
Buffy both blushed and grinned at the same time." So what's your idea?"
"We give him what he wants," Xander turns to Centauri and nods. The last thing Buffy hears is a high-pitched whine then she feels a dark blanket cloud her mind. Xander eases her to the ground, moving a lock of hair from her face as he does. He kisses her sleeping form then stands up. He looks at an angry duo of witches and tells them." I'll need you two to cloud the power source leading into this place. But most of all I need you to protect her from my own stupid mistakes." He looks at Centauri and tell them." I had a chance to end all this, if I had taken it Alex would be alive and Dawn wouldn't be in danger."
Centuari raises his voice for the first time he had known him." Stop that talk right now young man!" He grips his shoulders and shakes him." Get that idea right out of your head! If you had have gone through with it your ship may have caused Xur's destruction but we'll never know. What I do know is the Kodan have been stopped once and for all and when we have dealt with Xur the Star League will know peace for the first time in a Millennia."
Willow asks." What where you going to do Xander?"
Xander's face was set in stone, he showed no emotion at all when he told her." I had told Grig to bring the cold fusion generators to overload and rig the Star drive to implode. i was then going to ram the Kodan flagship."
Willow's face showed her shock." But you would have died!"
He looked at her and shrugged." Dying is easy Will... It's the living that's hard!" Xander's voice began to crack." Out of all the friends I made during my training all but three died holding the line. Anreski, Grig and Alex are all that survived that battle from the sixty beings that went in. My big mouth and me caused the others to give their lives halting the Kodan invasion. Anereski never made it out of her Medi-crib after a Gun Star accident; Grig died several months later trying to free his family from slavery. Alex was the last of the so called Star fighters and because I didn't kill Xur , now he's dead as well!"
Willow shakes her head." No Xander, we studied this just after Buffy died. It's called survivors guilt. You believe you shouldn't have survived while they died. We can help you Xander, just trust us... Please."
Xur has Dawn tied to a tree whilst he, and the Zandozan hit beasts, prepare for Xander's arrival. Dawn sees movement on the hilltop and it looks like Xander. She struggles with her bonds and cries out as the others see him." No Xander don't! Please don't die for me.. Not another death that I caused."
Xur scowled at her." Shut up Human! " He holds out his arms as he moves towards Xander. He motions his head and the Zandozan move out to surround Xander. As they move away from Dawn she feels her bonds being cut away by someone behind her. As they fall away the Buffy-bot places a finger to her mouth then points to the tree line behind her." Buffy and the others are just over there , come on lets boogie!"
Xur tells him." I'd have thought the great Alexander Harris would have put up more of a fight than this." Xur gets closer to Xander, as does the hit beasts, but as he does Xander stops and laughs." PSYCH! Beta units are not permitted to fight!" The smile on Xur's face froze. One of the Zandozan turned to him." It's a Simuloid!"
Xander2 dives out of the way as they open up on him. Xur yells at them." Get the girl!" The ten Zandozan turn and run back to the tree but they see Buffy and Centauri run to the cover of the trees with her. The first one fires, hitting Centauri in the leg and causes the trio to duck for cover.
The Buffy bot makes it around them and goes to where Xander2 dived. She finds him thrashing on the ground, a burnt patch over his chest where the power source is contained. His struggles slow until the light in his eyes dim and then the struggles stop." NO!" Buffy-bot cries out. She feels a sharp pain in her chest and an uncontrollable urge to destroy something. A feeling that is only stopped as she feels something running down her cheek. She places a finger to it and it comes away glistening.
"Why am I leaking lens cleaner?" She curls up next to the dead Simuloid and begins to weep like a human.
Meanwhile Buffy, Dawn and the injured Centauri are pinned down by the Zandozan as Xur makes his way closer to them." So he's not as courageous as the stories say. If you're the female he talked about to his friends then he WILL give his cowardly self up for you."
Suddenly an energy weapon strikes two of the hit beasts down. Xur looks behind them and sees a shadow over by the hill. " So the great Xur is actually dumber than we thought!" Xur growls and shoots back but the shadow easily moves out of the way." Nugh ugh Xur baby! If you want me ya got to be up close and personal like you were with Alex!"
Xur points to two of the beasts." You two kill them then follow us!" He fires at Xander then yells out." Your heads going to make the perfect partner for Grogan's stupid human!"
Xander gets on the motorbike he stole and yells out to them." You have to catch me first baldy!"
Xur and the other six beasts race of to their transport as Xander zooms away leaving Buffy and the others pinned down by just two of the Zandozan. Buffy yells to Centauri." Tell me this was in the plan you worked out while I was asleep!"
Centauri shrugs." It's a work in progress." He takes a metal sphere from his pocket and says." Close your eyes and cover your ears girls!" He depresses a button then pitches the ball into the air above the two hit beasts. As soon as it reaches it apex the grenade explodes scorching the area around them and vaporizing the two beings.
Dawn ties off the makeshift tourniquet and Centauri, with the aid of the slayer, makes his way to their transport. As he starts the vehicle up Buffy searches Centauri's pockets for a weapon. She comes out with his gun and she has a resolved look on her face. Centauri grins and says." You two will are going to make me even richer than I am now! Think of the warriors you will have." He tries to work out the value each one will bring." How many litters can human females have?"
Dawn tells him." There was this one woman in Indiana that had ten!" Buffy glares at her." I am not having ten kids in one go Dawn!"
Centauri winks an eye at Dawn." We'll make it an even eight then shall we?"
Buffy smiles." We'll make it three." She glares at Dawn." Only because I KNOW two are pains in the butt! I figure the middle child will be the peacemaker."
Centauri smiles and says." Three it is then!"
While Dawn grins and says." I wonder if Xander knows he's going to be in worse trouble when the dust has settled?"
Centauri was fit enough to drive the vehicle back to the construction site, while Buffy sat next to him worrying about Xander. Centauri glances at her." So, all joking aside, you really feel for him don't you?"
"Yes I do." She moved in her seat and bit her bottom lip." I'm worried he won't love me back."
He waived a hand at her and snorted." A little late for that don't you think? Has he ever done anything that has left a shred of doubt in your mind that he doesn't?" He returned to her." Buffy he gave up so much to come back to you. Does that sound like some one that no longer loves you?"
As they talk Dawn is watching the night sky." Which star is Rylos?"
Centauri smiles and points to one." The third brightest star from the big dipper's cup...." He looks confused as one of the lights moves across the sky then dips down towards the ground. He touches a few buttons and a schematic appears on the screen. " Kodan scout ship. Damn!" He hits his hand against the steering wheel." That's all we need." He picks up a device from the dash and speaks into it." Pritina... Pritina dabrochek?" A voice answers back and Centauri has a rapid conversation with it in a strange language before he places the device back in it's holder.
"Well that's set the cat amongst the pigeons as you humans say." He checks to see how much further they have to go then tells them." The Kodan have halted the peace talks and now we know why. They will only talk when 'the arch criminal' Alexander Harris is in their custody!"
Buffy has her resolve face on as she tells him. "That's not going to happen!" She plays with the I.D. bracelet Xander had given her when she had tried out for the cheerleading squad." When we get him you should take him back to Rylos and keep him there. I'd rather he be a Galaxy away and alive than risk his life just to have him next to me."
Centauri patted her hand." There, there. Things have a way of working out for the best, he'll come out of this and the two of you can get back to your safe and happy lives here."
"Safe? And Happy? You havent been in Sunnydale very long have you Centauri?" He pulled the car up and they saw Willow and Tara waiving their arms at them. Willow ran panting to the passenger side door." They arrived just after Xander and followed him in. There's one standing over by the main doors."
Xander drove the bike through the small gap in the fencing and right up to the trap he had set. He hopped off the bike and raced up to the thick rubber electricians boots and swapped them for the runners he was wearing. As he did them up he heard the unmistakable sound of a ground car smash through the front gates. He hurried over to the main power box and tripped the switch that fed power to the Xander's little surprise.
Xander rushed over to the dais and smiled as he heard the doors smash open." I love it when a plan comes together!" He had made it to the mesh and oil filled recess when the first bolts of energy singed the air above his head." Time to stop running and face the music Harris!" He dove for the dais and felt the wind knocked out of him as a bolt hit him mid air. He crashed to the floor his hand inches from the switch.
"Ten points for difficulty I think." Xur explained to the Zandozan that moved forward to pick up the prize. Xander dragged himself to the wall then turned to face his enemies. He looked down and saw the bunt patch on the side of his shirt. His mind told him the bolt had caused no serious damage but he still cried out in pain when he sat up. He watched as Xur staid away until the beasts had subdued their prey." Closer.. I need you closer..." He mumbled.
"What's the matter Xur? Scared of one unarmed human? I'm laughing at your superior intelligence, your so called bravery." He saw the arrow strike home so he sent another." Just how many times did you run away from us was it two or three times? I bet the Kodan are real proud to have you as a puppet!"
Xur growled and aimed his gun at Xander as he strode towards him." We'll see how brave you are when your time comes Human!" Xander saw Xur's plush leather boots splash into the oil filled trap. Xander looked around to check on the Zandozan but saw one standing over by the doors. This one yelled out." Some one's coming!"
Xur pointed his weapon at Xander's chest." Too late for you!"
Xander grinned." My sentiments exactly baldy!" He stood up and flipped the switch and prayed he'd survive.
Buffy fired Centauri's gun at the big ugly standing by the door. She looked at the beast as she kept firing until it was safe to pass it. As they entered the force of Xanders trap lighted up the whole factory. The displaced air sent them sprawling backwards.
Xander opened his tightly closed eyes and breathed out a sigh of relief." Nice to know I can do some things right." He pushed off against the wall and surveyed his handy work. Seven bubbling pools of green goop were all that remained of the Zandozan hit beasts and Xur was out for a nine count at least. Xander limped over to him, favoring his injured side as he did.
He tied up Xur's legs and felt him begin to stir as he finished. Xur felt for his gun but couldn't find it, he then hefted his scepter and spoke groggily to him." You'll pay for this Harris!"
Xander smirked." I know my boss is going to can my ass for this mess!" He moved towards Xur intending to finish his work when he heard a 'snick'.
"Oh he's going to be disappointed then!" Xur swung the blade and narrowly missed Xander's head. Xander grabbed Xurs Scepter as it passed him and wrestled it out of Xur's hand.
"Xander!" He turned and saw his friends heading towards him. His eyes went wide when he saw Xur had the bottom part of his scepter and grinned at him." Say goodbye to your little friends!"
Xander's mind screamed out as time seemed to slow down. He dived at Xur just as the Rylosian traitor threw the device. Xander clipped him just as the grenade left his hand, throwing it off course and causing it to strike the support beam of the factory. Xurs glee turned to terror as he saw the grenade bounce back towards him.
Xander knew his luck had finally run out this time he was dead meat only now he was going to take his friends with him. He saw them running towards him and he grabbed Xur." It's a bomb DUCK!"
He threw Xur, hoping he landed on top of the grenade and smothered it enough to save Buffy and the others, then dived towards the other beam.
The silver tube landed and bounced until Xur fell onto it, it then exploded sending out 3,500 steel balls packed into the plastic shell caseing. The blast expended itself on Xur's body and the empty building. Xander scrabbled towards the small hope of safety behind the beam. Moving at about sixteen hundred meters a second four of the steel balls ripped through the soft flesh of his calf, pulling an agonizing shout from Xander's lips. The force of them hitting him spun his body causing his head to strike the metal beam making him blackout briefly.
With the sound of the explosion still ringing in her ears Buffy staggered up and then ran towards Xander's prone body. She slowed down as she saw him shaking on the floor, the blood fanning out from both his leg and his head. She brought a fist to her mouth and choked back a scream at the sight of his lifes blood as it made insane patterns in the oil on the cement floor.
The others made it to them and Centauri hobbled over to Xander and knelt down next to him. He slipped the Medi-kit from his pocket and moved it over the wounds, sealing the artery in Xander's leg and skull. He then looked at the read outs." Skull fracture, the Pod can fix that, cracked Tibia and his knee's shattered."
Buffy's voice sounded stilted almost robotic like in its lack of emotion." But you can fix him right? You and your damn machines can make him better so he can be blown apart again, and again and again!" Her emotions building as she finished her words.
Dawn came racing in." Hey guys! There are storm troopers coming!" She then saw the damage to the building and grinned." Guess Xander's party trick worked then." He grin froze as Willow moved aside and Dawn caught sight of Xander." Nooo!"
Centauri stood up and motioned for them to try and move him, as they did he cried out in pain and came to." What... Xur?" He looked at Buffy and smiled when he saw she, and the others, were uninjured. Buffy told him. Centauri told him." Xur has gone on to be judged by a higher court than any we could have taken him to Xander. But we have to move. Kodan warriors are coming and we need to get you away from here."
Xander shook his head." No! You go now before its too late!" Buffy knelt down by him and looked into his eyes." Its already too late Xander. If you die I die along side you."
She saw the pain in his eyes, even through the drugs the Medi-kit had injected into him his nerves cried out, and she repeated the words he had said." Its easy to die, Xander. Its much harder to live."
Xander smiled and closed his eyes. At first Buffy had thought he had given up but then his hand gripped hers and he re-opened them." And you know I just love the hard life!"
They helped him into a travois but as they turned to leave the warriors stormed the building guns pointed at the group. The leader marched over and checked on Xur then laughed." The great Xur! Leader of the Universe tricked and butchered on a piece of worthless dirt in the middle of a backwater Galaxy!" He turned to Xander and saluted him." It is an honor and a privilege to meet you Alexander Harris. "
He leader has a hard time separating Xander from his friends but eventually Xander persuades them to move away from him. All except Buffy, he smiles at her and tells her." Hey Buff I'm just going on another plane ride. I promise I wont be long, the Rylosians are an honorable people they will move heaven and hell to get me back." He looks over at Centauri." Wont they?" He glares at him and Centauri puts on a happy front." Yes Miss Summers! He'll be treated right then released when the Kodan realize its in their best interest to let him go."
Buffy kisses Xander and she moves to join the others, not caring that they snap some kind of restraint over her hands.
The leader grins. "Unfortunately we don't have much time." He glared at Centauri." It appears a Rylosian Battle Cruiser is currently in orbit and detachments of Colonial Marines are heading this way.
He kneels down to Xander and gives him a drink of water and another painkiller then motions to his men and they move Xander towards the door then place him against the wall. The leader turns to the gang and tells them." He was well treated, given aid and supplements then shot for the criminal he is!"
Buffy saw the beings form a line and raise their weapons." No! You bastards! I'll see you all rot in hell!" Buffy struggled against her bonds and two of the warriors point their weapons at her. Xander cried out." No! Buffy please don't!" He is close to tears." Don't let them kill both of us! You have to live remember. Its easy to die..." Buffy saw a warrior out of the corner of her eye and felt the butt of his rifle hit the side of her head. The last sounds she heard were." For crimes against the Kodan people we sentence you to death!" She then heard the sounds of energy weapons as they ended her lovers life then a black cloud sucked her into a dark place. END OF 7
It had been three weeks since that fateful day, 21 days since the day Xander went calmly to his death. Buffy lay on her bed thinking about that day and the hours following her regaining consciousness. Her first thoughts had been to rip the heart out of everyone of the Kodan assault force and offer him or her up to any god that would return her Xander. ' HER' Xander. Even now the thought brought a smile to her face. All the years of ignoring her feelings towards him and basically treating him like one of the girls and she chose the few days before then to finally fall for the big dork.
She remembered the terrible sense of loss, like someone had ripped her soul from her body, when she woke and cried out his name. Dawn walked into her room and sat on the edge of her bed and pulled at the necklace till its glittering ornament lay in the palm of her hand. She laid back on the bed, using Buffy's stomach for a pillow, as she watched the jewels glitter and sparkle in the California sunshine. She felt Buffy breath in and out as her head raised and lowered with her sisters breathing. She watched the medal that Xander had received twist and twirl as she turned it and then asked Buffy.
"Do you remember that time he dived in front of the demon as he fired that staff weapon at you and we ended up with two Xander's?"
Buffy grinned." Yeah I remember we had a hard time convincing Anya we couldn't let her take both of them home with her.. Why bring that up?"
Dawn bent her head back so she could look at her sisters face." I was just wondering if there could be another Xander out there." She blushed." A younger version though."
Buffy looked at her little sister and grinned." You still have that crush on him don't you."
Dawns eyebrows rose and she let out a sigh." Yeah but its pretty much a mute one now though don't ya think?"
Willow came to the door and tapped her watch." If you don't move we'll be late!"
Buffy moved her sister from her and they both sat up." Okay Willowzilla we're coming."
Dawn giggled and told her." yeah its not like he wont wait another few hours for something he's waited six years for." She suddenly turned to Willow." Any sign of the Buffy-bot?"
Willow shook he head causing the ring of flowers perched there to go askew. She straightened them and told her." Nope, we havent heard a peep from her since Xander's Simuloid got hit." She walked over to the bed and hefted Dawn up and straightened her gown." We can't have creases in this or we won't get our deposit back and remember to be careful with the red wine." She sees the grin an Dawns face." So don't get any on the dress and don't have more than two glasses. Remember I am a witch and have ways to punish you that even the wicked witch of the west hadnt thought of."
They heard the blast of a car horn and Buffy lent out the window." Giles is here!"
Willow grins." You know I thought he'd never leave 'Livia and his kid not after the way he pinned for them the last time he flew back here from the Watchers Council."
"Yeah but its not like he's coming back for the second coming of Saint Buffy this time." Dawn tells her with a grin.
Buffy looks at the ring on her finger and grins as she whispers." No this time its something much more important!"
Buffy-bot is pacing up and down the hallway till the door opens up and a man comes out wiping his hands. She turns to him then looks in the room." Is it done Warren? Its been three weeks did it work?"
The man looks at her and shrugs." We wont know till later on, you have to remember his circuits are a lot more advanced than anything I have ever seen. Much more advanced than either yours or Aprils, Buffy."
Buffy grips his shirt and lifts him up the wall." Listen, friend, just remember if he doesn't make it then neither do you!"
Suddenly a voice cuts through the anger filled air." Put Mr. Mears down Buff." Xander staggers out of the room rubbing his chest and grimacing." What the heck did you put in me doc?"
"We havent yet mastered cold fusion so I had to replace your damaged power source with one of Buffy's spares."
Xander shrugs and then burps." God! It feels like its powered by the gastric juices of a Denovian ground worm!"
Buffy looks concerned and she places her hand over his power center." Does it hurt?" She then glares at her creator." 'Cuz if it does I'll..." Xander places a hand over hers then runs his thumb over her lip." Shh honey it doesn't matter. There's an emergency repair depot close by to this vicinity. Well swing by and have it replaced by the Auto-Docs. I'll have them replace yours as well." He nibbles her ear lobe and huskily whispers." Can't have you powering down at inopportune moments can we."
Buffy giggles like a schoolgirl and kisses him, bringing him into a hug that would have crushed a human and she felt the cleaning solution leak from her eyes again. She wipes them away and tells him." I'm so happy you're back!"
Warren looks shocked and he leans in to take a sample of the liquid on the tip of his fingers." This is impossible! I didn't program you with emotions? It's impossible for a machine to have true emotions."
Xander turns to him as they begin to walk away." Life happens Doc. When you create life, be it flesh and bone or metal and synthetic flesh, you give it life."
They begin to walk out the door when he calls after them." So are you going back home?"
Xander slips his arm around Buffy's waist." Nope! They'd just re assign me somewhere else and I wouldn't like leaving here now, ever!"
Giles pulls up in his rented car and Buffy steps out into the brightest day she has ever known. She swishes her train out of the way as Dawn shuts the car door. Dawn looks nervously at Buffy and grins half-heartedly. Buffy wipes the palm of her hand down the side of her dress." I've faced monsters and Vampires and uncountable other things that go bump in the night yet I'm terrified of what's going to happen in there!"
Dawn hands her the bouquet and she moves the center flowers to one side. "I hid Mr. Pointy in there just incase you don't want to go through with it." Dawn smiles at her." But don't hurt him to much cuz I may want him later on."
Buffy grins at her." Dawnie if I even think you're coming on to my husband I wont need to be a God to open up a portal!" As the car glides along the street she thinks back to the moments she had thought she lost him.
RYLOSIAN BATTLE CRUISER GROGAN-(SCOUT SHUTTLE MEDI BAY)
Buffy is floating back to consciousness her mind fixed on her last known memories. She heard whisper like voices and broken conversations as her mind replayed, what she thought were Xander's last moments... She heard the leader say.." For crimes against the Kodan Confederacy you are to be executed.." She then heard Xander's painful reply." Bite me pizza face!" The sound of energy weapons...
Her eyes snapped open and she sat up in the Medi-bed." Xander!" She fought the restraints and tried to snap the arm off the Auto-Doc before Willow calmed her." Buffy.. Buffy! Its okay... He's okay!"
She struggled with Willow for a second." No! Its a trick! I heard him DIE!"
Willow put on her resolve face and told her." Buffy Have I ever lied to you? He's going to be fine. " Her struggles slowed then stopped and she looked into Willows eyes. Willow nodded and told her." He's in the Medi-Crib... Boy did they have to sedate him to get him in there... But he's in there. " Buffy started to get up and the Auto-Doc tried to stop her till a human tech cancelled its orders and helped Buffy to her feet.
The strange looking man told her." Your friend is right Miss Summers. Mister Harris is safe in the 'crib letting it fuse his bones and fix his ills." He helped her down the hallway and into the sealed section of the sick bay. As they walked he told her." I was the tech that picked him up the last time and he's in a lot better condition than he was then let me tell you!"
Buffy turns to him." Will he be all right?"
"Well the knee was a bit of a worry, as was the skull fracture, but as he said the last time' He's got a thick skull, Olaf proved that!'." He sees her laugh and he asks." We were all wondering if you're THE Buffy Summers he was talking about during the Second Kodan Incursion War?"
Buffy blushes." It depends.. What did he say?"
"That you were a summers morn' given form, with the sunlight for hair and the dawns heavenly gleam for a smile. When you cast your smile on a man he has no choice but to go weak in your presence."
Buffy blushes deeper and she coughs." Um I think he was talking about someone else."
He shakes his head as they enter the room." No Mam, they were his words spoken in truth just before the battle." He holds the door open then tells her." He said' If I have half the courage and a third of the guts she has we will come through this to victory.'" He guides her to the 'crib and then salutes her." Mam I'd just like to say its a privilege to meet the person that our hero thinks of as his hero!"
She looks into the view port and sees Xander submerged in a thick clear liquid, somehow breathing through the liquid. Centauri tells her." Its the same substance all living creatures breath during their gestation period.. Trust me he's quite safe."
"But what about the broken bones? And how the hell did we survive?"
"Bones are easily fixed and we survived because the gods divined it that way. The gods and a detachment of Marines arriving just in the nick of time!" Buffy sees Xander begin to struggle against his confinement and she tells him.
Xander, take it easy, itll be fine honey. She places a hand to the glass and Centauri was about to tell her he wouldn't know about it due to the drugs, when Xander's eyes opened and he placed his hand against the glass." Well he's a man of many surprises." Centauri tells her.
She grins." Yeah and it's taken me six years to finally notice him!" She looks over to his friend." Will he be going back with you? It must be safer for him if he's on Rylos?"
Centauri scratches his head and sighs." I'll let him argue that one with you... We've exhausted that conversation before he went into the tank."
Xander swallows the last of his pills and grimaces." God that tastes like a five year old Twinkie!" He gulps down the glass of water and turns as Buffy says.
"How would you know what a five year old Twinkie tastes?"
"Ah you seem to forget my years of study on the whole' How far out of date is a Twinkie still edible' debate."
"And what were your findings?"
"42." He looks at her." Hell it worked for Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy!"
She sits real close to Xander and rubs her hand on his good knee." This is going to hurt!" He exclaims.
Buffy looks shocked." Why did you say that?"
"'Cuz the last time you were all 'touchy feely' you told me not to patrol with you guys because you were afraid I'd get hurt."
She grins and tells him." You know me I try never to make the same mistake twice... Have you thought about moving to Rylos?" She sees him start to get up and she places her hand on his shoulder." Because I have.. I thought it would be a good idea if the two of us went there."
Xander's heart speeds up at his first thought but he tries to down play it." As a kind of school excursion... Best friends exploring a new world....."
Her lips play across his as she punctuates each word with a butterfly kiss." No .. More like two lovers exploring each other." She ends her speech with a deep and sensuous kiss that curls Xanders, and her own, toes.
After several minutes they separate and both exclaim." WOW! That was... WOW!"
The tip of Buffy's tongue licks her lips and her body craves another when she tells him." Besides if we stay you'll be in danger and..."
Xander shakes his head." NO! Buffy I'm not going to have you leave everyone you love and leave the place that depends on you for survival just because I'm in danger!" He runs a hand through his hair and winces when he touches his wound. " Jeez Buff! When have you ever known me to do the safe thing? Or for that matter the smart thing?" He holds her hand and tells her." I will stay here because you are here. And nothing, no creatures from this world or any other, will ever make me leave you."
He kisses her and then tells her." Remember the Fear demon? Remember I swore to you that no power on earth would ever make me leave your side? Well nothing you have done, or could ever do, has changed that."
Buffy sighs realizing a lost cause and nods then he hugs her." Hey! We're the survivors of the class of 99, Buffster! If we can survive Principle Snyder and the whole ' evil mayor's ascending' gig on top of high school. Hell we can survive any damned thing!"
She sighs, again and tells him." God I love Xander Harris!" She realizes she spoke the words out aloud and covers her mouth.
Xander grins and points to her." Aha! You said it and you can't take it back. Ever!" He places his arms behind his head and grins." I figure four kids, girl, boy, girl, boy. And not one of them will have my fashion sense if I can help it."
"Whoa! Back the school bus up stud! I'm not having four kids and thats final! Besides Dawn and I already settled on three!"
"Eew! You and Dawn are having kids.. Thats.."
Buffy hits his arm." No doofus! Dawn and I already decided how many kids the Harris's would have."
"When the heck did this happen? I only decided to risk yet another rejection this morning."
"Well that's because you're just a man and don't have the forward planning of the Summer's women." She waived her hand at him." Dawn and I had worked everything out days ago." She counted off on her hand." First I go back to college while you build up your own business for our kids. Then we have the kids ... Kinda 'build it and they will come ' sort a deal, then we hand it over to them and retire to Acapulco."
"Wait a minute, wouldn't being married slip in there somewhere?"
Buffy sighs at him like she was explaining this to a child." Of course silly! " She gets on her knees." Alexander LaVelle Harris.. Would you do me the honor of taking me for your wife?"
Xander smiles at her and bats his eyelids." Nah you snore!"
Tara comes running up to them and hustles them inside." Come on! He's having kittens in there and Wills videoing it for latter blackmail attempts."
Buffy grins and walks up to the large oak doors. Dawn grins back at her." Come on sis before he thinks this is a dream again and tries to pinch himself."
Buffy walks down the isle to stand by HER chosen one. She turns to him and tells him." I only wish Mom could have been here."
Xander grips her hand." She is Buff. All our friends both the living and the dead are here today." He touches her chest above her heart." As long as we keep them here they never leave us."
A strong beam of sunshine streams into the church bathing the couple in its heavenly light and for just a moment Buffy could have sworn she saw Miss Calendar, Jesse, Riley and last of all Her mother standing amongst the guest, their love pouring out to her on this glorious day.