Title: Tales of the Lost Warrior: Book Four - The Road Less Traveled
Author: Michael Wilson
Email: wyrdradio@yahoo.com

Rating: PG-13 to R
Disclaimer: Joss, Mutant Enemy, and a lot of other people own the characters from Buffy. The Highlander immortality theory and Richie Ryan are owned by Rysher. "One on One" is owned by Hall and Oates. Roswell is owned by Fox Studios and the WB Network. The people in the diner are from a semi-famous TV show that I have nothing to do with. I can get no money whatsoever for even mentioning them.. so don’t even bother worrying, ok. I get nothing by writing this except maybe some kind words of encouragement and a few cheers... at least I hope.
Spoilers: Halloween, AU - Post final episode of Roswell.
Summary: Xander's life has drastically changed and after a wondrous journey, he has returned a new man with his own destiny... these are his tales...
Author's Notes: This fic is a Buffy/Angel/Roswell crossover with the setting being a few months after the final episode of Roswell. " " as always means talking while * * means thoughts. / / means speech from another entity. # # is telepathy or a being speaking to Xander from inside.
Feedback: Yes please!!!!!
Distribution: If you like it... please feel free to place it on your site... but please tell me first.

The road was empty and lonely at 3 am. Xander had been riding for a good 10 hours straight and the lines on the road were beginning to put him to sleep. If it wasn’t for the hard driving rain pounding on him... he would be fallen asleep hours earlier.

*Damn it! I need to find a motel before I get myself killed.. or worse.*

He looked desperately for road signs... but he hadn’t seen anything for the last 50 miles... ever since he took a wrong turn back a few hours ago.

*I am really beginning to hate rain...*

Xander reached up and wiped his visor clear and then shook his head, trying to wake himself up. The rain was making his visor fog over and it was getting very hard to see; so much in fact that he didn’t see the road curving ahead... right next to the embankment of a deep gully.

*Can’t see worth shit..*

Xander squinted through the rain and his eyes widened in shock and fear as the edge of the embankment appeared... only 4 feet away.

"Shit!"

Xander hit the brakes and his bike skidded and flew off the edge. He hung in mid-air as he was launched out over the gully and then down into it.

*Oh God.. Oh God.. Oh God...*

Xander came crashing down and was thrown forward off of his bike... and onto the wreckage of a semi-destroyed car. He slammed into the hood and was impaled on a large spike of jagged metal... through the heart.

He died... instantly... and didn’t even feel the explosive flames that engulfed his body.....

*****

Lightning crackled across the sky about M-Xander, Jim and Richie... and then everything went black.

"He has been killed. Things will return in a few moments."

They waited... and waited... and waited.. yet nothing. Richie began to pace back and forth in the dimly lit room.

"What the hell is going on?!"

Jim looked around and shrugged.

"It wasn’t dark this long the last time he got killed."

M-Xander began to frown and shake.

"This.. this isn’t good..."

Richie and Jim looked at him... then at each other.

"Oh shit... we’re screwed..."

*****

Days passed and still nothing. No word was sent. No one knew where Xander was. It was as if he had vanished off the face of the earth.

*****

The darkness was driving them slowly insane.

"It’s been over a week! What the hell is going on!"

M-Xander shook his head.

"He is dead.. and it must be a wound that is keeping him from awakening. We have no choice other than to wait until someone finds him and buries him."

Richie frowned and sat down.

"Great.. just when I almost had the 1993 playmate convinced she was falling for me."

Jim laughed.

"She’s a hologram.. you made her, you can do what you want."

Richie smirked.

"You’d think.. but no.. Xander here has this morality no one told me about. She said no."

Jim laughed so hard he fell to the ground and as he rolled around, Richie walked off in a huff...

*****

The barking was what drew her to the gully. Amos had been barking non-stop for almost 2 days and when finally released.. had run off before Helen could stop him.

*Damn dog.. I knew I should have leashed you.*

She walked down the road and stepped up to the edge of the gully. As she looked over the edge, the site below made her scream... then moments later lose her breakfast.

"Oh god.. what the hell happened?"

She looked down at the wreckage and the corpse of a young man, impaled through the heart. Helen shook her head and moved down to get a better look. As she neared the body, she got the feeling she needed to go get help.

*He doesn’t deserve this... he deserves a proper burial.*

She turned an climbed back up the gully.. then ran home to get her father. He would know what to do...

*****

Jeb stared at the young man and shook his head.

"Poor boy.. looks like he was lucky about one thing, though. A wound like that... he didn’t feel much."

Helen looked up at her father and frowned.

"How do you know?"

Jeb squinted at the body and spat out his wad of tobacco on the ground.

"Saw a few guys die like this in the war. They died within seconds of their hearts being punctured."

Helen looked at her father and finally began to understand why he sometimes woke up screaming at night.

*The thing’s he’s probably seen... I think I understand now...*

"Can we bury him, papa?"

Jed nodded and moved over to carefully lift the body off the spike, wincing as the chest was ripped open.

*Damn.. sorry kid.. but there’s no other way...*

He pulled the body all the way off and then lowered it to the ground.

"Hand me that sleeping bag, honey. I need to use it to carry him home."

Helen nodded and climbed back up the gully for the sleeping bag.. then returned minutes later.

"Here papa."

Jeb nodded and slid the body into the bag.. then zipped it all the way closed.

"We’ll drag him home and place him in the barn. We’ll call Father Green and hopefully he can come take care of the body tomorrow."

Helen nodded and moved to take one side of the sleeping bag... her father taking the other.. and then both of them slowly dragged him the 4 miles home...

*****

Light returned to the realm slowly and everyone looked up at the sky in wonder.

"Someone has found him..."

Richie smiled and let out a yell.

"About damn time!!"

He danced across the room and then stopped.

"Is Xander going to be ok.. I mean, he was out for what.. almost a week and a half?"

M-Xander shrugged.

"I don’t know... we will have to wait and see."

They all looked up at the lightening sky and waited...

*****

Helen and Jeb carried the body into the barn and set it down in the corner. Jeb moved some hay over the body and then turned to look at the confused Helen.

"It will help to keep the body cool."

Helen nodded and then walked with her father back toward the house... not noticing the light glow that was coming from the sleeping bag...

*****

Xander’s body jerked once... twice.. then three times.. before he gasped and screamed.

*SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!*

Xander opened his eyes and saw darkness.

*I’m blind.. oh shit!*

Xander reached out and felt fabric.

*What the...?*

Xander felt his way along the side of the fabric until he found a zipper. He followed it up to the top and found the zipping mechanism. He grasped it with stiff fingers and pulled it down... gasping in the air as his head cleared.

Xander looked out into the room and blinked at the light. He could see wood plank walls and lots of farm tools. He could also see hay.. and a ton of it.

Xander pulled his stiff body out of the sleeping bag and crawled into the middle of the room. He knew he had to get up and away before someone came back and wondered why a dead man was suddenly up and walking.

*I need to go find my stuff.. if it is still there...*

Xander climbed to his feet and felt the room spin.

*Whoa.. being dead for...*

He looked at his watch and checked the date.

*... 10 days, can make you woosy.*

Xander rubbed his eyes and then moved to the door. Opening it carefully, he peeked out. It was clear.. so he opened the door the rest of the way and then ran off into the forest.

*****

Xander ran the 4 or 5 miles to where he crashed.. as if drawn there by some instinct he couldn’t explain. He looked down into the gully and winced.

"My bike.. it’s totaled!"

He crawled down and dug through the wreckage. He found his backpack.. ruined.. but discovered, to his delight, that his sword and lightsaber had somehow survived.

"Thank God!!"

Xander grabbed the sword and slung it over his shoulder.. then slid the lightsaber into his pants.

"Better get moving.. before someone comes back to salvage this stuff..."

He took one last look at the twisted burnt metal and winced.. then climbed back up the embankment slowly.

*Damn.. I’m going to miss that thing...*

He stood at the top of the embankment and then smiled.

*I had forgotten..*

He closed his eyes and summoned all his weaken power.. and a matching bike materialized before him. Xander opened his eyes and then fell onto the bike, his energy drained.

*Whoa.. note to self... no magic when you have been dead a while..*

Xander climbed into the bike and started it up.. then rode away... hoping that the rest of his trip home would be much more peaceful...

*****

There are times in your life that you know someone up there hates you. When you lose a pet... when your favorite television show is cancelled... when your best friend moves away... all of those pale to what Xander felt when he arrived back in L.A. The site before him was something that he would remember and cringe over for the rest of his Immortal life - a slightly pregnant and showing Cordelia kissing "Deadboy" Angel himself ... out in plain view of everyone and getting pretty into it.

*Damn...*

Xander stared at them and flashed back to earlier that afternoon...

*****

Xander pulled into the outskirts of L.A. and stopped to get some gas. He had been driving pretty much non-stop ever since the crash. He still shuddered when he thought about it. Xander ran his fingers over the large bloodstained gash in his t-shirt and sighed.

*I need to get a new one before this thing starts smelling any worse than it already does.*

Xander set the pump to fill the tank and then walked inside, nodding hello to the clerk.

"Filling the tank..."

The clerk, a teenage boy who was playing a handheld video game, nodded and mumbled something unknown. Xander just shrugged and walked through the aisles... looking for anything useful.

*Chips... nope, Cookies... only as a last resort, Ah... Twinkies, perfect.*

Xander grabbed about a dozen Twinkies and then headed to the cooler.

*Cola or Root Beer.... choices.... hmmm.*

Xander reached in and grabbed a few random cans then headed up to the front. As he neared the register, something he needed desperately became visible... t-shirts.

*Thank God!*

Xander dropped everything on the counter and as the clerk began ringing it all up, Xander sifted through the t-shirts.

*Pink... no, White... no, Yellow... God no, Blue... maybe, Green.... ah.. Black.*

Xander grabbed the t-shirt and tossed it on his pile on the counter. He knew he could create a shirt magically.. but after the whole bike thing, he still felt a little tired.

"How much?"

The clerk entered the amount for the t-shirt then glanced over at the gas meter, which had just stopped. He rang everything up and then turned back to Xander.

"38.40"

Xander nodded and handed over two 20’s.

"Keep the change."

Xander grabbed his stuff and headed back to his bike, noticing the clerk grin for a second before going back to his game. Xander put away the pump and then shoved all of his stuff in the storage areas scattered all over the bike.

*Glad I added those last time.. they sure come in handy.*

He pulled off his jacket and dropped it on the seat, then peeled off his shirt. He looked down and was surprised to see that his skin was completely smooth. He was expecting a large scar... considering his past... but hey... he wasn’t complaining.

Xander pulled on the t-shirt and then the jacket and was ready to go.

*Another few miles and I’ll be back amongst people who actually care about me...*

He was looking forward to seeing Cordelia again. He missed her.

*I’m sure that whole Angel thing was just a fluke. I must have misunderstood her last time... that’s it... yeah.*

Xander got back on his bike and headed back down the road. He admired the building that soon appeared and began working his way through the 5 o’clock traffic... which was making a 20 minute drive last more like an hour and 20 minutes. He was so slowed by the traffic, he failed to notice the sun had gone down until he had pulled alongside the curb across from Angel’s hotel.

He had been about to get off and go inside when they had appeared... and then did what they did... and it was too much for Xander to take....

Xander blinked as his mind came back to reality. They were still standing there, locked in a kiss... their tongues obviously wrestling each other... or why else would the kiss last that long.

*God... she HAS fallen for him... and I don’t matter at all to her. I was right... I hadn’t misunderstood that call at all. She really is letting him think its his kid.*

Xander sat back down and fumed.

*I know I said it was ok... but this is rediculous. It’s my baby... and she wont’...*

Xander watched them from the shadows as they broke their kiss and then climbed into Angel’s car. As they sat there, Xander stared and shook his head.

*But its plainly obvious that she really does love him... and if I do anything... I’ll only make thing complicated and make her mad at me. I... I can’t do that. My... feelings... in this matter don’t count, I guess.*

Xander wiped a tear that had formed and then revved his engine.

*Better get out of here before they see me.*

Xander popped the clutch and started to turn the bike...

*****

Cordelia stared into Angel’s eyes and smiled. She was so happy. She was going to be a mother... she was in love.. and she was making good money - all was right in the world... until it all came crashing down.

She heard the engine revving and she instantly recognized that sound.

*Xander...?*

She turned her head in time to see Xander... staring at them... a pained and shattered look on his face. It broke her heart. She started to say something... call out to him... when he turned and rode off.

*Oh God... Xander... I’m so sorry... but I love him. I hope you can understand this... someday.*

Cordelia wiped her eyes and felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Delia.. everything ok?"

Cordelia nodded and smiled.

"Everything’s fine, Angel... just getting moody. Pregnancy hormones and all.. no need to worry."

Angel nodded, smiled, and started up the car. He turned to Cordelia and took her hand in his.

"I love you, Delia."

Cordelia smiled and felt her heart soar.

"I love you too."

*****

Xander rode and rode... making the couple hour or so trip to Sunnydale in a little over an hour, breaking who knows how many speed laws in the process. He just wanted to get away... away from the pain, away from the people who didn’t love him anymore... away from it all. Funnily enough, he returned to a place he never figured he would see again.

The sigh read "Welcome to Sunnydale"... and Xander was surprised to see someone had written something at the bottom. It read... "Abandon hope all who enter here..."

*Hmm.. pretty fitting... I wonder who did that...*

Xander shook off his mood and headed in the direction of Giles’s place. He knew he might run the risk of running into Buffy... but after seeing Angel and Cordelia make out... he really didn’t care much about what Buffy felt right now... he just wanted to decompress some with the people he grew up with... in other words, hang with HIS Willow.

He turned the corner and pulled into the parking lot. Grabbing his things, he put on his weapons then placed a "If you touch me you will die a long and horribly agonizing death" spell on his bike.

Feeling ready, Xander took a deep breath... coughed from the smog a few times... then walked up to Giles’s door.

*****

Giles sat at his table, researching, while Willow, Tara, and Dawn sat on the couch. It had been a long and tiring day searching for the strange Demons Buffy had seen. Buffy... he paused as he thought about her and how she had been very scattered for the last few months.

*Xander leaves so long ago... then when Buffy began focusing on him so much, Riley got mad and left.. which made things even worse for Buffy. She’s all alone now...*

Giles looked over at the girls and smiled.

*No.. not alone.. she has them... and me... but there is a hole in her that all the patrolling in the universe won’t fill... a Xander-shaped hole.*

Giles removed his glasses and smiled.

*At least one good thing came out of this... she finally staked Spike. I still smile when I look over at his ashes in that glass jar on the bookshelf.*

Giles glanced over at the glass full of ashes and grinned... a soft giggle escaping his lips.

From the couch, the girls turned around and stared at Giles.

"Did he just giggle..."

"No way.."

"Impossible.. we must have imagined it.."

They looked in the direction Giles was looking... at Spike’s ashes.. and understood.

"Ah.. I see... ok then."

They then went back to sorting through the books again... that is, until the knock at the door was heard.

"I’ll get it."

Dawn hopped up and walked to the door. As she opened it, she felt something pass through her and she knew, even without seeing, who it was. she flung the door open and then flung herself into the arms of a very surprised... Xander.

"Xander!!!"

Dawn kissed his face a few times and then locked him in a death-grip hug, a contented smile plastered on her face. Xander smiled as he looked down at her and then carried her, still locked onto him, into the room.

"I missed you too, kiddo."

On the couch, the girls jerked their heads up at Dawn’s outburst and then began to cry in joy when they saw Xander walk into the room. Willow jumped to her feet and launched herself at Xander... barely giving Dawn time to shift around his body.. before Willow too plastered herself to Xander.

"XanderohXanderImissedyousomuch..."

Xander grinned down at Willow and kissed the top of her head.

"I missed my Willow too..."

He looked over at Tara and smirked.

"Don’t just sit there, blondie, get your ass over her... I want a hug."

Tara, who had been debating whether to do just that, grinned and ran over... joining the hug. Xander grinned, laughed, and then looked over at Giles.

"Hey, G-Man, I’m living every guy’s fantasy right now... three girls all hugging me at the same time..."

Xander wiggled his eyebrows and heard the girls moan in response. Giles shook his head... but smiled anyway.

"It is good to see you, Xander, but if you ever call me G-Man again... I shall be forced to thrash you."

Xander looked at the gleam in Giles’s eyes and grinned.

"Sure thing, G-Man, I won’t call you G-Man anymore... G-Man."

He grinned at Giles as he began to growl.. then whispered under his breath.

"Noble Watcher...

Firey heart...

Calm yourself...

Don’t fall apart...

Ease your mind..

Let Ripper sleep...

It’s much too late...

He is counting sheep...

It is his fate..."

As Giles prepared to release Ripper on Xander, he realized that... he couldn’t.

*What the..*

Willow and Tara both felt magic being cast and leaned back away from Xander.

"Xander...?"

Xander looked down at them and smiled.

"What, Willow?"

Willow frowned.

"Did you just do magic?"

Xander grinned and nodded.

"Yup.. I’m a mage now. Certified and everything."

Willow and Tara’s eyes widened in shock... as did Giles’s who realized what had just happened.

"Who taught you?"

Xander looked at Giles and smirked.

"The Charmed Ones, Giles. I now have all of the knowledge of the Book of Shadows inside my head."

The girls gasped and backed away from Xander in fear. Dawn looked at them and frowned.

"What’s wrong? What’s the Book of Shadows?"

Willow looked at Dawn and explained.

"The Book of Shadows is owned by the Charmed Ones... the most powerful good witches there is. The Book of Shadows is the most powerful good spellbook that ever existed."

Dawn nodded.

"And Xander has this book in his head... I see... cool."

Xander smiled down at Dawn and rubbed her hair.

"Thank Dawnie.. I’m glad you’re not scared of me.. like some women I know."

He turned to look at the two witches and frowned.. then gave them the patented puppy dog eyes.

"Oh no.. no.. Xander... you can’t do that.. you promised when we were 11 that you wouldn’t... use.. those.... "

Willow smiled at Xander and shook her head.

"Fine.. fine.. just turn off the eyes, Xander.. or else I will bring out Resolve Face."

Xander laughed and nodded.

"Sure thing, Willow.... sure thing."

He walked over to the couch and sat down, the girls piling on all around him.

"So.. what’s the what?"

Dawn grinned and shoved a book in Xander’s lap.

"Research party!"

Xander groaned and shook his head.

"I knew there was a reason I left in the first place."

The girls laughed and punched Xander in the arms... then went back to researching.... with Xander joining them.

*****

A few hours had passed and Xander was in the kitchen getting a soda. He heard someone walk up behind him and then smelled a soft flowery perfume. He recognized it from earlier.

"Hey Dawnie.. can I get you anything?"

Xander turned around to see a smiling Dawn staring at him.

"I’m ok... thanks. I just wanted to thank you... for what you did."

Xander frowned, confused.

"What I did?"

Dawn nodded.

"Warning them... about me. I was on a date... and my date turned out to be a vampire. If you hadn’t warned us... well, I wouldn’t have been carrying a stake and holy water in my purse. You saved my life..."

She smiled and leaned closer to Xander, kisisng him on the lips before he could back away.

"Thank you, Xander... my protector."

She then smiled and skipped back into the living room leaving a stunned Xander behind.

*She’s a kid... but she is growing up fast. Some teenage guy is going to be very happy in a few years...*

Xander smiled and then turned back to the fridge...

*****

The front door opened and in walked a tired Buffy Summers.

"Hi honey.. I’m home."

The room was empty and this worried Buffy. She turned to look around when she was suddenly face to face with someone she thought she would never see again.

"Xander...?"

Xander nodded and smiled.

"Hey Buff... looking good."

Xander looked Buffy up and down and for a moment... felt something stirring within him.

*Damn.. she is looking very good...*

His thoughts hit him like a brick and he shook his head.

*I must be way tired... or else not as mad as I was...*

He smiled at Buffy and leaned in to kiss her cheek.

"Have a busy night?"

He walked over to the couch and sat down, leaving a stunned Buffy standing where she was...

*****

Buffy blinked in shock.

*Xander... it’s Xander... he’s here.. and he’s not mad at me...and he kissed me...*

Buffy eyes glazed over and when she blinked again and looked around, she panicked.

*He’s gone.. where did he... oh.. there he is..*

She turned and joined Xander on the couch.

"What did you say?"

Xander smiled.

"I said.. have you had a busy night?"

Buffy shook her head.

"No.. not really... just looking for a few Demons I ran into a few days back."

Xander nodded.

"I know.. I found them earlier for you."

Buffy’s eyes widened as Xander placed a book in her lap.

"Gregoral Demons. They’re supposedly not too hard to kill... as long as you use a sword and hit them here and here..."

He pointed to the picture and showed Buffy their weak spots. Buffy nodded her thanks and then rested her head against his shoulder.

"Oh Xander... I’m tired.. I’m so tired..."

Xander felt her leaning on him and tensed for a second... then relaxed when he heard the exhaustion in her voice.

"Get some rest, Buffy. I’ll wake you up in a few hours and then walk you home."

A very tired Buffy, who was already almost asleep, smiled and curled up on the couch against Xander.

"Thanks Xander... you’re the bestest...."

Xander smiled and giggled.

"Thanks Buffy."

Buffy mumbled something and Xander frowned.

"What?"

Buffy lifted her head slightly and whispered.

"I love you Xander..."

She then dropped her head and was asleep... leaving a very stunned Xander sitting there staring at her.

"She loves me......?"

*****

"She loves me......?"

The whole idea was so mind-numbingly shocking that Xander just sat there and whispered it over and over for close to an hour. If it hadn’t been for someone opening the door and snapping him out of it, Xander probably would have sat there all night long.

The gang entered and then smiled at the site before them. Buffy was stretched out on the couch with her head in Xander’s lap... fast asleep... and Xander was staring off into space. Willow walked over and wiggled a hand in front of Xander’s face... causing him to blink and jerk in shock.

"Wha?"

Willow smiled.

"You ok?"

Xander nodded and then looked down at the sleeping Buffy. She had her head in his lap and the most peaceful smile on her face. Willow noticed the smile and grinned.

"That is the most peaceful I’ve seen her in months."

Xander stared at Buffy and then brushed away a strand of hair that had fallen into her eyes.

"She told me she loves me."

Willow sat down next to Xander and nodded.

"Of course she does... we all do."

Xander shook his head.

"Not that kind of love... it looked and felt more like the ‘I love you and want to have hot naked sex with you’ kind of love. The emotion in her voice..."

Xander let his voice fade into a whisper as he felt Buffy stir against him, her hands roaming into places they shouldn’t. Xander winced and then looked at Willow.

"See.. told you. Can you explain her hands going... there?"

Willow snickered at her best friend and shook her head.

"Nope.. can’t say I can... but she sure looks happy, like she’s enjoying it greatly."

Xander glared at her and then jerked as Buffy’s hands brushed something they shouldn’t. Willow, who had been trying to hold off laughing, ran from the room... laughter echoing down the hall.

*Very funny... see how you’d like it if you had the hands of a beautiful woman rubbing against a place that is getting tighter by the second.*

Xander rolled his eyes and pleaded with everyone in the room... but just got smirks in response. Giles walked over and grinned.

"You make her feel comfortable... at peace. I would be honored to have her do that... um.. well.. feel comfortable enough to sleep peacefully around me."

Xander stared at Giles and then looked down at Buffy.

*I get it... she’s been having nightmares or something... and its probably all my fault.*

He sighed and looked at the clock. Xander grinned and moved his mouth down to Buffy’s ear.

"Buffy... Buffy... Buffy... time to wake up..."

Buffy’s eyes wiggled and she rolled her head to the side, her mouth moving closer and closer to Xander’s. She then opened her eyes and looked up into the face of a smirking Xander... and in that moment, all was right with the world. Buffy grinned and then reached up to pull Xander’s head down... into a long and deep kiss, catching Xander by surprise.

*What the... mmmm, she tastes good...*

It was then that Willow returned and gasped in shock at seeing Buffy trying to lick Xander’s tonsils.

*God.. I knew she missed him and was all worked up over it.. but come on, Buffy... doing that... so soon after his returning...*

Buffy broke the kiss, slowly, her mouth sucking on Xander’s lower lip for a few more seconds before she released it.

"Hey.. thanks for being my pillow. I feel great."

She smiled and sat up, squirming her body against his... causing Xander to gasp for air in shock.

"N.. no problem, Buff."

Buffy smiled and curled up next to Xander, resting her head on his shoulder as she looked at the group.

"Anything up?"

She looked at Willow and grinned.. then mouthed over Xander‘s shoulder..

"He tastes amazing!"

Willow smiled, then nodded and mouthed back...

"Lucky you..."

She then shrugged and sat down at the table.

"Nope.. every place we checked was empty.. except for some weird girl who kept saying something about this being the wrong world because she wasn’t getting her sex 5 times a day anymore..."

Xander spun his head around at that remark and grinned.

"5 times a day... wow, lucky guy. Hmm.. what did she look like?"

Buffy slapped his shoulder and pouted.

"No way, Xander... you’re staying right here..."

Xander smirked at her and laughed.

"And how will you stop me?"

Buffy grinned evilly and crawled onto Xander’s lap... sliding her legs around his body, locking him between her legs. She grinned and rocked her body from side to side.. getting comfortable... then bat her eyelashes at him.

"Like that. You’re mine now..."

Xander swallowed and began reciting baseball stats in his head... trying to ignore the feeling of a very warm Buffy in his lap... and her wiggling wasn’t helping any...

*Oh shit... stop it already!*

Buffy giggled as she squirmed... knowing what it was doing to Xander... and she loved every minute of it.

*You’re mine, Xander, and I’m not letting you go... ever.*

As she squirmed, she could feel something... very...

*Oh dear lord... I’m feeling.... oh boy...*

Buffy blushed and stopped wiggling... then leaned in and whispered.

"You ok, Xand?"

Xander’s eyes were glazed over and he could only shake his head. He leaned in and whispered back to her...

"No.. I’m not.. you little minx..."

He then titled his head and nibbled on her earlobe... listening as she gasped in a breath and then let out a soft moan.

*That will show her..*

Buffy’s eyes flashed open... only to close moments later as the feelings washed over her body.

*Oh yes... oh god.. oh god yes....*

Buffy was so turned on by the small nibble on her earlobe that she wrapped her arms around Xander and leaned in to squeeze him tightly.

"I wish we were alone..."

Those words... whispered into his ear... drove Xander wild. His blood was racing and his head was pounding. All of the anger and hurt feelings he had been feeling before seemed to be gone... all what had replaced it was a resurging of the love her felt for her... and had felt for so long.

Xander ran his hands along her back and then slid them down to cup her ass... squezing it quickly before he returned his hands to her shoulders.

"Me too, Buff, me too..."

The cough they heard next was what broke them out of the trance they had been in. Giles glared at them and shook his head.

"If the two of you would stop your foreplay... we could get down to business."

Xander blushed and noticed Buffy do the same.

*Definately need to rethink this not liking Buffy thing. She feels so good.. and smells so good.. and I remember so much good stuff now... I just don't know what to think anymore...*

Xander released his hold on Buffy’s ass and placed his hands behind his head.

"Right.. work... check. Do you need my help?"

Giles nodded.

"Yes.. your skills in swordplay and your newly acquired magic would be useful."

Buffy looked at Giles then looked back at Xander.

"Magic... what’s he talking about, Xander?"

Xander grinned.

"I’m a Mage now."

Buffy frowned.

"Why do I get the feeling that you mean Mage with a Capital M..."

Xander smiled.

"Cause I DID mean it that way. I know hold all of the knowledge of one of the most powerful spellbooks in my mind. I am a certified badass now.

The girls giggled at Xander’s comment and Xander smiled.

"If you want me full title.. I’m a sword-wielding, magic-casting, long-lifed, no-dying, wild-man badass. You wouldn’t believe some of the things that have happened to me lately..."

The girls grinned and ran to the couch. Willow took the seat vacated by Buffy when she crawled into his lap and then waited as Tara and Dawn joined her.

"Spill."

Xander nodded and smiled.

"Ok.. after I left San Fran.. I ran out of gas and had to stop at this gas station somewhere in the middle of nowhere along the Oregon coastline. I got there and felt another Immortal. He came out and I told him I didn’t want to kill him... I just wanted some gas. He agreed to a truce and we talked while I got my gas. Then, another Immortal showed up and the new guy was after both of us.. I guess... but the guy I was talking to told me to get lost. I did.. then came back to help him. I arrived just as the new guy took the other guy’s head."

Xander paused remembering.

"I was mad. I mean, the guy had been nice to me.. to I went in there and took the new guy’s head..."

He heard the girls gasp and then look at him with terror in their eyes.

"You took a life?"

Xander looked at Buffy and nodded.

"He had just killed the other guy.. in cold blood. I knew he knew that I was Immortal to and he saw which way I went. He would have followed me and killed me eventually. I did what I had to do so don’t get all high and mighty on me, Buffy.. you don’t know how my life works anymore. You don’t fight and you don’t live very long."

He saw the confused faces on the girls and explained.

"I was told by a few Immortals that if you don’t fight.. they come hunting for you. They challenge you and if you don’t fight.. the bad ones tend to kill off your family and friends... with some of the evil male immortals raping and killing every woman you know."

Xander saw the look of fear that crossed over the girls’s faces and he shook his head.

"I have been careful. I don’t think anyone knows about you. I protect MY girls."

His remark brought smiles to their faces and Xander continued.

"Well.. afterward.. I threw up for what felt like an hour... then headed on to Seattle. When I got there I realized that I had something weird going on in my head. It turns out the Immortal I killed was named William Parker. He knew a lot of languages and fighting styles... and the Immortal he had killed... was... Jim Morrison."

Giles jumped up from his seat at the table in shock.

"The Jim Morrison! You have his... what did you call it... Quickening?"

Xander nodded.

"Yup... only more so. He’s sentient... inside my mind... as are a few other people."

Buffy glared at Xander and gave him the ‘you had better explain now’ look.

Xander nodded and sighed.

"Ok.. from the beginning... I have the Hyena, a group of microscopic machines called the Hive, residue of my girlfriend - Kitty Pryde, Jim Morrison, and Richie Ryan."

Buffy gasped.

"You still have the Hyena!"

Xander winced and nodded.

‘Yeah.. and I’m sorry, Buff, for trying to rape you back then."

Buffy paled.

"You remember?"

Xander nodded, a sad expression of his face.

"Yeah..."

Buffy shook her head and pulled Xander into a hug, her head resting on his shoulder. Willow took this moment to tap Xander’s arm and get his attention.

"Who is Richie Ryan?"

Xander sighed.

"He’s Duncan’s student. I was training with another Immortal names Methos. We were so into it we lost our connection with reality... we couldn’t hear anything. I swung at Methos’s head and he ducked.. but neither of us knew that Richie was there and had been watching... and was, at that moment, too close. I.. I accidentally took Richie’s head. I didn’t mean to! I tried to stop my arm.. I even let go of the sword... but I had too much speed going. It was no use..."

Xander had begun shaking as he talked and was now trembling. Buffy ran her fingers through his hair and pulled him against her tighter.

"Hey.. shhh... it’s ok... you didn’t know... you didn’t know..."

Xander nodded and slowly began to calm down.

"... and now he’s in my head as well."

Giles walked over, a concerned look on his face.

"In your head... you mean you can speak to them?"

Xander nodded.

"Yeah.. I can talk to both of them.. whenever I want.. and I talk to the Hive as well. Jim is happy to be where he is.. and Richie isn’t too mad at me about my killing him... and no, I’m not psycho... I got tested. I passed."

Giles nodded and removed his glasses.

"I see... anything else to add?"

Xander smiled.

"Well.. I was dead for 10 days and just awoke this morning."

The gasp that echoed in the room was deafening.

"You what!"

Xander winced at the scream and giggled.

"Rain plus bike plus late at night equal a slippery road. I went off into a gully and got killed. I didn’t wake up immediately because I landed on a jagged spike of metal... right through the heart. Didn’t know I had been dead for 10 days until I woke up in someone’s barn. I’m guessing someone found me and either wanted to eat me, use my corpse in a spell.. or someone nice wanted to give me a burial."

Buffy stared at Xander and shook her head.

"Ok.. too much information right now.. why don’t we come back to this later."

Xander nodded.

"So.. what now?"

The girls looked at each other and grinned.

"The Bronze!"

Xander winced and groaned.

"I stepped into that one... didn’t I?"

Giles nodded, smiling.

*Better you than me, my boy.*

Giles snickered and walked off, leaving Xander in the clutches of a group of girls who hadn’t see him in a long time... knowing the boy was in for a very interesting night...

*****

The pounding music of The Bronze was like a splash of cold water to the face. Xander stared at the rhythmically dancing teens in shock and just shook his head.

"I can’t believe we used to be them."

Willow giggled and shook her head.

"You were never them , Xander, you couldn’t dance."

Xander nodded, remembering.

"Guilty feet have got no rhythm..."

The girls stared at Xander with a puzzled expression... all except for Tara, who was giggling.

"Nice... "

Xander smiled.

"You recognize it?"

Tara nodded.

"I used to be a fan."

Xander grinned.

"I knew there was a reason I like you... other than the fact that you make my Willow happy... and it doesn’t hurt that you’re hot."

Willow grinned proudly at Xander’s comments while Buffy slapped him in the arm.

"Hey.. no hitting on the lesbians."

Xander smirked.

"I wouldn’t do that, Buffy... even if I AM manly enough to get her to switch teams."

The girls groaned and Tara snickered.

*He likes me... that’s good... I was afraid he might not.*

She snuggled up against Willow and smiled. Xander saw the snuggle and grinned.

*She’s good for her... never seem Willow this happy.. not since we were 7.*

Xander looked down at his drink and saw it was empty.

"I’m going on a drink run. Anyone want anything."

Dawn and Willow both nodded. Xander stood and headed toward the bar.

"Three soda... 2 cola - 1 root beer."

The man nodded and grabbed the drinks, handing them to Xander. Xander paid for them and then turned around to see a smiling Buffy.

"Hey Buff.. you need something?"

She smiled and nodded then slid her hands into his front pockets.

"Take the drinks back then meet me in the balcony..."

The then leaned in and kissed Xander before she turned and walked upstairs... leaving a very stunned Xander standing there.

*Whoa.. still not used to that yet... but I’m liking it.*

He walked back to the table and found the girls talking about spells to Dawn. He set the drinks down and then leaned in to whisper in Willow’s ear.

"I’m going to wander around a bit. Want to check the place out... that and Buffy wants to talk to me. I’ll be back later."

He then kissed her cheek and walked toward the stairs. As he walked up them, he began to wonder just what he was going to do about Buffy.

*I still feel for her, that much was obvious earlier... I just don’t know if I am in love with her again. She hurt me... so much.. and then didn’t even care... but she is different now, I can clearly see that. Maybe I need to just let go of everything and go for it.. see where things go and if all goes bad.. I still have family at the Mansion... at least the Proff told me I’m family.*

He reached the balcony and looked around. Over in the corner was Buffy, looking down at the people dancing. Xander walked over to her and smiled at her.

"They seem so happy... having no worry about whether or not they might live to see tomorrow..."

Xander wrapped his arm around her waist.

"That’s because they have you. You protect them from the things that go bump in the night. You’re like their mom... always there to save them from the monster. You’re their hero."

Buffy turned to Xander, tears in her eyes, and smiled.

"That’s the nicest way anyone has ever put it. Thank you."

Xander grinned.

"Hey.. its my job, remember."

Buffy laughed and wiped her eyes. Suddenly the music changed to an old 80’s song and Xander grinned.

"I love this song... it’s how I feel about you, Buffy."

She looked into his eyes as the song began...

///I’m tired of playing on the team

Oh it seems I don’t get time outs anymore

I think it’s time that we set the pace

Face to face

No one even tries to score

Oh oh I can feel the magic of your touch

And when you pull me close a little bit means so much

Oh yeah yeah you’ve got to understand baby

Time out if what I’m here for.

One on one I want to play that game tonight

One on one I know.. I want to play that

One on one I want to play that game tonight

One on one so slow

Oh you can’t tell me you don’t miss me girl

Oh I think I might know you too well

What would you say if you knew that I was coming tonight

I want you can’t you tell

One on one I want to play that game tonight

One on one I know.. I want to play that

One on one I want to play that game tonight

One on one so slow..

That’s all you need to know...///

As the music played, Xander watched as Buffy’s eyes widened and tears began to form in them.

"You.. you mean it?"

Xander nodded and leaned in to kiss her, slow at first and then with an ever deepening passion. His hands trailed through her hair.. running slowly down her back... pulling her against him. She was so close, Buffy could feel Xander’s heartbeat as it pounded in his chest.

*He DOES love me...*

She relaxed her body and dove into the kiss, letting all of her pent up emotions flow out of her body and into his... through that kiss. The intensity was so much it almost sent Xander into shock...

*****

"Whoa!"

Jim and M-Xander looked over at Richie.

"What?"

Richie pointed at the big screen that was showing what Xander was doing and grinned.

"She slipped him the tongue. Damn.. it’s too bad we can’t feel any of that."

Jim grinned... deciding to not tell Richie about the sensory room.

*No need letting him in there or he would never come out.*

"She’s quite beautiful."

Richie turned to look at Jim.

"Beautiful... beautiful.. are you blind! She’s a 30 on a scale of 1 to 10. Hell.. I if had known she was alive.. back when I was alive.. I would have asked her to marry me."

M-Xander laughed and then winced in pain. Jim and Richie noticed this and rushed over to him.

"You ok? I’ve seen you do that before."

M-Xander nodded.

"I do not know what it is... it has happened a few times, since the merger, and many before that."

He looked off into the distance at a dark jungle that hadn’t been there moments before.

"It’s back..."

Jim and Richie looked in the direction M-Xander was looking and blinked in shock.

"When did that arrive? Did you make it, Jim?"

Jim shook his head.

"Not me.."

M-Xander shook his head.

"It was here before I was made.. WE do not know what it is."

Just then a booming voice came out of the jungle...

#WILL YOU ALL PLEASE KINDLY SHUT THE HELL UP I’M TRYING TO SLEEP!!!!!#

The three men jumped in shock and looked at each other.

"Who the hell is that?"

M-Xander shrugged.

"I do not know...."

*****

Buffy ran her hands down Xander’s back to cup and squeeze his ass as she deepened the kiss... only to jerk in shock when a gunshot rang out in the club.

"Everyone Freeze! This is a robbery!"

They broke the kiss and turned to see three men armed with Uzi’s standing at the front door. As they watched, the bartender went for a gun.. or an alarm, they couldn’t tell.. and was gunned down by one of the men.

As the people screamed in horror, something in Xander’s mind snapped to attention...

*****

Gunfire echoed in the air as the three men dove to the ground.

"Shit.. they’re shooting!"

Jim looked around and shook his head.

"It’s not here.. it’s with Xander."

Richie nodded and stood slowly. As he got to his feet, he saw a man in army fatigues running out of the forest toward them.

"Time to party boys!!!"

He ran past them and into the sensory room, slamming it shut behind him. Richie turned to Jim and frowned.

"Who was that?"

Jim shrugged.

"Don’t know... do you big guy?"

M-Xander nodded.

"I thought he was gone... but he’s real."

The two men looked at M-Xander and frowned.

"Who?"

M-Xander swallowed and smiled.

"The Soldier is alive!"

*****

Xander watched the bullets fly into the bartender and he began to growl.

#It’s time to party, son.. let’s kick their asses.#

Xander remembered that voice and he smiled.

"Yes Sir."

Buffy looked at Xander and saw the dark gleam in his eyes. What he did next would amaze her to her final day. Xander grabbed onto the railing and vaulted over the edge of the balcony... flying toward the three men, a good 20 or so feet below...

*****

Xander came flying down at the robbers, a look of resolve on his face, and kicked the first man in the head. They both tumbled to the ground and Xander rolled to his feet, kicking out at the second man, hitting him in the groin. Xander felt something break from the impact and he grinned.

#Now.. rabbit punches to the breadbasket then a spin kick to the third man. Hurry.. before they pull their guns on us!#

Xander nodded and did as he was told. He fired his fists over and over into the groaning man and then spin kicked his foot into the jaw of the last man, hearing his jaw shatter from the impact.

#Finish them off... a swift kick to the ball-busted guy, a kick to the head of the first guy you hit.. then step on the last man’s nuts... hard!#

Xander grinned and launched a side kick at the temple of the second man, seeing him fall to the ground unconscious. He then turned and kicked the first man in the head as he was beginning to get back up.. then jumped over and crushed the last man’s balls.

The entire fight took less than a minute...

Xander looked at his carnage and smiled.

#Don’t get cocky.. remember.. you’ve got a man down!#

Xander jerked. He had forgotten the bartender.

*Shit!*

Xander jumped over the bar and placed his hands on the man’s stomach. The man gasped for air and blinked.

"Hold on..."

Xander concentrated and felt a warm silver glow envelope his hands. He concentrated and focused on healing all of the bullet wounds..

#Remove the bullets too or the wounds will get infected...#

Xander nodded and heard a dozen tiny "plink" sounds as the bullets were expelled. Slowly, he closed up the man’s wounds once he was assured that everything was healed.

#There... good.. you got him back... good work son.#

*Thank you Sir... and Sir.*

#Yes?#

*It’s good to have you back, Sir.*

#It’s good to BE back, son. You’ve made me proud tonight#

With that said, the presence faded and Xander looked around in shock. People were screaming and he could hear them running to the bar. He grabbed a clean apron and tied it to the man’s neck.

"The bullets missed you... understand. If anyone asks, you dove down when the bullets started."

The man stared up in shock at the young man who had just saved his life and nodded.

"I understand, son."

Xander nodded and climbed to his feet. As his head popped over the bar, he came face to face with a very worried Willow, Dawn, Tara, and Buffy... who were all staring at him in shock.

"What the hell happened, Xander!"

Xander looked at Buffy and smiled.

"Remember Halloween?"

They nodded.

"I still have the Soldier in me.. only I didn’t know till now."

Xander hopped over the bar and wiped his blood-covered hands off on a rag.

"How did you do that?"

Xander looked at Dawn and smiled. The look of amazement in her eyes felt nice.

"From what I remember.. it was something you learn in Special Ops training. I just did what was needed."

Buffy grabbed his arm and began running her hands over his body.

"Are you ok?"

Xander nodded.

"Yeah.. and so is the bartender... now. I got to him in time to heal the dozen bullet holes. He’ll be fine now."

Buffy smiled at Xander and pulled him into a hug... then was joined by the rest of the girls. Xander sighed happily then realized that things weren’t over.

"We have to get out of here.. before someone begins to ask why a teenage kid could take out three heavily armed men. I don’t want the SDPD on my ass."

The girls nodded and dragged him out the door. As they were leaving, Xander noticed the man get up and give Xander the "ok" symbol. He knew that the man would come up with a plausible explanation. Xander smiled and nodded... then went outside with his girls.

*****

The Soldier exited the room and stepped out to talk to the others.

"Boys.. everything is under control. I’ll be going back to my place now."

He started to walk away but was stopped by M-Xander.

"Why were you not here for the mergence?"

Soldier stared at him and shook his head.

"The boy wasn’t ready for me. He’s still not ready... but I’ll be around, if I’m needed."

He waved a hand and a red telephone appeared.

"Call me.. if I’m needed."

He then saluted and walked off into the jungle... disappearing.

Richie watched the man leave and then turned to the others.

"He was here the whole time?"

The two men nod. Riche looked back at the jungle.

"I wonder why you guy never noticed him... he’s cool."

The guys just stared at Richie and then laughed... realizing that he was right... Soldier was cool...

*****

Xander smiled at Buffy as they all walked back to her place. He had both of her arms around his waist and it felt really good. He looked ahead at Willow and Tara walking hand in hand with Dawn ahead of them and smiled.

*This feels... nice. I think its time...*

Xander smiled at Buffy and kissed her.

"Buffy... I.. I love..."

Just then.. a vision flashed before his eyes, bringing him to his knees.

He saw a van with a group of teenagers inside. They were running away from... something.. and whatever it was was close behind them. Suddenly the van exploded and they were thrown from it... body parts flying in all directions.

"Oh god.. no... this can’t happen..."

Xander stared in horror as he watched them all die... and knew he was seeing this for a reason. He knew he had to find them... before it was too late.

As he stared, his eyes glazed over, he couldn’t hear the yells of a very terrified Buffy as she kneeled next to his motionless body......

*****

"Xander... Xander.... Xander... XANDER!!"

Buffy was shaking Xander, trying to snap him out of the vision that had seized him... but it wasn’t working. Her screams brought the girls running.

"Oh god.. Xander... Buffy what happened?"

Buffy, openly crying, shook her head.

"I don’t know.. one minute he was fine. He was... he was telling me he loved me... but then he stopped and fell to the ground.. talking about not letting something happen to someone... oh god, Will.. what am I going to do... I can’t lose him.. I love him so much!"

Xander began to tremble then and then shake... his body writhing on the sidewalk. He then gasped and flung his arms out and screamed.

"NO!"

Buffy grabbed Xander and pulled him against her.

"Oh god, Xander.. you’re ok... you’re ok.."

Xander blinked his eyes and looked around franticly.

"I have to stop it.. I have to..."

Buffy frowned and looked Xander in the wide with fear eyes.

"Stop what? What is it Xander?"

Xander turned to look at Buffy more closely and swallowed.

"In a little less than a week... about 6 teenage kids will be killed."

The girls gasped in shock and frowned.

"How do you know?"

Xander reached up and rubbed the back of his head.

"I saw it... in a vision... I get those now, for some reason."

He climbed to his feet, dislodging the startled Buffy, and dusted himself off.

"They’re near Vegas.. if I drive all night and don’t stop to sleep... I can get there and have a day or two to search for them before it’s too late..."

He turned to walk back to Giles’s place then he was tackled from behind by a very worried Slayer.

"You’re leaving!"

Xander nodded.

"I have to... I think it’s my job... or something... otherwise I wouldn’t have had the vision. I HAVE to do this."

Willow stepped forward and put on Resolve Face.

"We’re coming with you."

Xander turned to her and frowned.

"No! It’s too dangerous."

Willow shook her head.

"Dangerous.. Xander... we face danger every night."

Xander glared at her.

"Oh yeah? Can you die and come back to life? Huh.. answer me that?"

Willow gasped and slowly shook her head. Xander nodded.

"Didn’t think so.. well, I can.. and that is why I’m going alone... cause if I die.. give me a few hours and I’m back up and kicking."

Xander started walking again and was once again stopped.

"I’m coming with you, Xander."

Xander looked at Buffy and sighed.

"Please don’t do this to me, Buffy. It would kill me if you died... cause then I would have to mope and brood for a good 100 years. You mean that much to me."

Buffy saw the look in his eyes as he spoke and began to cry. The love she saw was overwhelming.

"You... you had just better come back to me.. you hear.. or else I’m going to hunt you down and kill you myself."

Xander nodded. He leaned in and kissed her on the lips... then he looked down at his hand and squeezed his fist tight. He focused his mind on one of the rings he had held for Amanda so long ago and pictured it in his mind. He then added two smaller diamonds to either side of the solitaire and shaded them slightly canary.

Buffy stared at the look on concentration on Xander’s face and then looked down at his hand. A soft blue glow was emanating from it and then she gasped then he opened his hand to reveal... a diamond ring.

*Oh my god..*

The girls gasped as Xander got down on one knee.

"Buffy.. you have been the one person, besides Willow, who has lived in my heart. You are the light that shines and drives away the darkness. You are my life and my soul. This isn’t a proposal.. this is a promise..."

He slid the ring onto her finger.

"... this is me, promising you, that I will return to make the rest of you life a happy one... either as a permanent lover.. or as a husband... whatever you decide. This is my vow to you.. on everything I see as holy. I Alexander Lavelle Harris hereby vow to return to you, Elizabeth Anne Harris..."

He caught himself seconds too late.. then corrected himself..

"... Summers, sorry, and to stay with you forever."

When he stood back up, he was looking into the teary eyes of his... almost fiance... and smiled. Buffy stared at the ring and was so shaken she couldn’t speak. She turned to look at Willow who was also crying. Tara and Dawn, who were standing behind Willow, were sobbing too.

"I love you Xander..."

Xander smiled at Buffy.

"And I love you too, Buffy."

He then wiped his eyes and ran to Giles’s home... leaving the girls behind.

*****

Buffy watched Xander go and then then turned, shaking, to the girls.

"He just proposed... didn’t he."

They nodded and grabbed her up in a hug. Willow smiled and laughed.

"I know Xander. Even though he said it wasn’t... he really was. He just didn’t want to scare you. You’re not.. are you?"

Buffy shook her head. She was happy.. very happy.

"No.. I’m not scared... I’m getting married!!!"

She laughed and was suddenly overcome with the need to do Xander’s Snoopy Dance. the girls all laughed and then joined in.. making a very unusual sight for anyone watching...

*****

Xander ran into the courtyard and started prepping his bike. The noise drew Giles’s attention and he stepped outside.

"Xander.. what is going on."

Xander nodded at Giles as he strapped his backpack down.

"Vision.. Vegas... kids getting killed... I’m on my way to stop it."

Giles frowned then ran inside... only to return a few minutes later.

"Did you visit Cordelia?"

Xander stopped. He turned to look at Giles and nodded.

"Yes.. why?"

Giles nodded and turned a page.

"Did you have sex with her?"

Xander nodded, slowly, and frowned.

"Don’t tell me... I did something wrong.. again."

Giles nodded.

"By having sex with her.. you agreed to a small unknown clause in her powers. You agreed to take them yourself."

Xander’s jaw dropped.

"What.. how.. why don’t I get the monster headaches from hell then?"

Giles rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"I am not sure.. it might be because you are Immortal.. or it might be the fact you were overdosed with that mind altering drug.. or any other number of things. Just be grateful you DON’T get them."

Xander nodded.

"So I actually really DO have to go save this kids?"

Giles nodded.

"Yes.. and with this being your first vision.. its bound to be a big one."

Xander shook his head.

"It’s not my first.. Dawn was my first..."

Giles smiled.

"Ah.. but you told us.. you didn’t cover it yourself.. so it didn’t count."

Xander grimaced.

"Shit! So I’m in deep, huh?"

Giles nodded.

"Very."

He smiled.

"Good luck, Xander."

He then grinned and walked back inside, leaving a grumbling Xander to finish his preparations...

*****

As Xander rode out of town, he passed the girls and waved.. a silly smile on his face. As he watched them wave back, he saw the sparkle of the ring on Buffy’s finger and sighed happily.

*I’m returning to you, Buffy.. I promise...*

He then revved the motor and disappeared into the darkness...

*****

Xander barreled down the highway, his mind focused on one thing... getting to Vegas in time to save those kids.

*Can’t let them die... can’t let them die... can’t let them die...*

Xander had been riding for hours... so long they had blended together. About 3 hours earlier, he had cast a few spells to remove his tiredness and energize himself so that he could continue onward.

*Not much time...*

As he turned the corner in the road, he spotted a small diner with 4 cars in the parking lot... and the van the kids were driving.

*Got them!*

Xander tapped his brakes and slowly came down from the 120 he was currently doing. As he came to a stop and pulled into the parking lot, his tires screeched and left a black trail. He could see a few heads turn inside through the windows.

*Shit.. not much for a low profile, Xander.*

*****

Isabel toyed with her fries as Liz and Maria talked. They had been in the diner for almost an hour and she was bored out of her skull.

*God.. we stop to grab a bite to eat and the boys find that stupid pinball machine... and now we’ve been here for almost an hour!*

"... and we have to see the fountains they have.."

Liz nodded.

"Yes.. that should be a cool place to visit."

Just then, the sound of screeching tires echoed from outside and they turned to look out the window. A guy had just ridden up on a motorcycle and was climbing off.

"Oh my god.. look at him.."

"Maria! You have a boyfriend... but.. you’re right... wow."

Isabel turned and looked and her jaw dropped.

*Oh my god...*

The guy was wearing tight jeans and a blue shirt that was stretched tight over his heavily muscled chest and arms. He looked... well.. amazing... and he was walking toward the door.

*****

Xander entered and smiled when the blast of cool air hit his face.

*Oh god that feels good...*

He entered and looked around. Three of the kids were over in the corner playing with a pinball machine while the other three were sitting in a booth... staring at him.

*Great.. big entrance got me some attention. Better act calm..*

He ran his fingers through his long hair and then walked toward the girls... sitting in the booth next to theirs.

*****

As the hot guy entered, Isabel sucked in her breath and whispered.

"My god.. he’s gorgeous..."

Maria and Liz smiled and nodded, momentarily stunned as well.

"Yeah.."

When the guy ran his fingers through his hair, Isabel suddenly wanted badly to do the same.

*Oh.. I bet it feels like silk...*

The guy then turned and walked toward them. The girls tensed and then watched him as he came closer... then walked past them, sitting in the booth next to them.

Liz smiled at the girls and giggled. She mouthed.

"He’s hot..."

The girls nodded and then tried to come up with an excuse to talk to him. Minutes later, the waitress came over to take his order.

*****

Xander looked up from the menu as the waitress arrived.

"What can I get you, sweetie?"

Xander smiled.

"Double Cheeseburger, large order of fries, a piece of whatever kind of pie you have, and a large chocolate milkshake."

The woman smiled.

"Healthy appetite.. I like that. Most of the people we get in here don’t eat enough to keep a canary alive. Now.. for your pie.. we have apple, cherry, peach, and pecan. Which would you like?"

Xander thought about it. He was pretty hungry... might as well enjoy himself.

"How about a slice of each? I’m pretty hungry."

The waitress grinned even wider.

"Why honey.. you just made my day. Haven’t had anyone eat as much as you since my late husband, Harry... lord rest his soul. I’ll get your food and be right back in a little bit, sugar."

Xander looked at her nametag and smiled.

"Thanks Flo."

Flo smiled and walked back to the kitchen, handing off the order to a bald man who looked like Telly Savalis. Xander watched her leave and then grinned.

*God.. this place smells great.. I hope the food in good.*

*****

Maria stared at the back of the guy’s head and shook her head in disbelief.

"Did you hear what he ordered?"

Her whisper brought the attention of Liz and Isabel.. who both nodded.

"I know.. he eats more than Michael."

Isabel turned to look at the guy and felt something odd about him. She scanned him using her powers and the energy she felt nearly scared the shit out of her. She tensed and gasped in shock...

*****

Xander looked at his hands and saw dirt and grease under his nails.

*This is gross.. better go wash up before my food comes.*

He stared to stand up when he felt someone scan him. He went on the defensive and raised his internal shields.. blocking off the intruder... then hurried to the restroom.

Inside.. he stared in the mirror and shook his head.

*Damn it! Someone scanned me here. Shit! Now I have to figure out who.. and why?*

Xander grabbed the soap and began scrubbing his hands.. using the time to think...

*****

Isabel watched the man go into the restroom then told Liz and Maria everything.

"He’s not normal.. he had power!"

They stared at her.

"Like what?"

Isabel shook her head.

"I don’t know, Liz, I don’t know.. but he’s strong. We have to get out of here."

Maria shook her head.

"Hold on.. we don’t know he is a bad guy. He might just be some hot looking good guy who stopped in to eat. We need to learn more before we jump to conclusions."

Liz nodded.

"Maria’s right, Isabel. No need getting paranoid. No one has tried anything on us in almost a month. We’re ok.. and if he does try anything.. you know that Max, Michael, or I can fry him in under a minute."

Isabel nodded and began to calm down. She still got jumpy ever since being kidnapped just weeks after they fled from Roswell. She still had nightmares about what they did to her.

"Fine.. but get the guys back over here.. I’m nervous."

Liz nodded and slid out of the booth.. then walked over to get Max, Michael, and Kyle to come back. They all returned moments later.

"Ok.. where is he?"

Just then, Xander emerged from the restroom and walked back to the booth. Maria nudged Michael and motioned toward Xander with her eyes. Michael nodded and stared at him... following him with his eyes as Xander walked back and sat down...

*****

Xander saw the guy staring at him and knew that something was up.

*They’re nervous... with good reason... I bet one of the girls scanned me and freaked.*

He sat down and tried to act as normal as he could... which was hard for someone who was an Immortal Mage/Jedi...

*****

"Shit.. I don’t like that guy.. he reminds me of one of the guys in the gang I used to be in. He would stab you in the back if you even so much as looked at him wrong."

Richie paced back and forth.

"This sucks.. I don’t like it.. if something happens.. we fade away..."

M-Xander nodded from his chair at the table and sighed.

"Xander knows what he is doing. we have to trust his judgment."

Jim nodded.

"He’s right, kid, he has to do this... you know what the vision said. We have to be here to stop whoever or whatever is going to kill those kids in the next 2 days."

Richie nodded and sat down.

"I know.. I know.. I just don’t like it."

He stared over at the Soldier and titled his head.

"You’ve been quiet.. what do you think?"

Soldier shook his head.

"The situation is bad. He has his back to them.. very sloppy.. he’s been scanned and has done nothing in retaliation... again, very sloppy... and he is completely unprepared for an assault by them. If that should happen.. he’s toast."

Richie nodded.

"You going to go tell him?"

Soldier shook his head.

"Nope.. I’m going to sit here and wait... until he needs me.. then I will advise. I suggest you all relax and enjoy the show.. cause that’s all we can do."

They stared at the man and slowly nodded... the turned back to watched what unfolded...

*****

Xander stared at his hands as he waited, preparing himself for any possible attack. He could feel the animosity flowing off of at least three of the people behind him and he didn’t like it.

*This really sucks.. I don’t like it, not at all.*

Just then, Flo appeared at his elbow and placed his meal in front of him.

"Here you go, sugar. now you eat up and if you need anything, you just yell for me.. ok. Now I’ll let you eat a bit before I bring out your pie.. so that it don’t get cold."

Xander looked up at her and smiled.

"Thank you, Flo, that is very kind of you."

Flo winked and nodded.

"Anytime sugar.."

She then turned and moved on to her next table leaving Xander to eat his lunch.

*Well... better get eating... don’t know how long I have before they decide to leave, and I still have to figure out just who it is that is following them... and why.*

Xander smiled and dove into his food, a smile crossing his face as he did so.....

*****

A good twenty minutes later, Xander stared at the last bite of his pie and frowned.

*It’s all gone... and it was so good... but I’m sure if I eat any more I’m gonna puke.*

He stabbed the bite with his fork and devoured it with a satisfied smile on his face. The sigh of joy he gave then echoed throughout the diner...

*****

Maria giggled at the guy’s sigh and poked Michael in the ribs.

"It’s official... he ate more than you."

Michael frowned then nodded reluctantly.

"I don’t see how he did it..."

Max looked at them and then frowned. He had been writhing in his seat for the last 10 minutes.

"We should have left 10 minutes ago. We need to get out of here before he tries something."

They all stared at Max and then grudgingly agreed. They nodded and got to their feet.. then walked outside to the van as Kyle paid their bill... then joined them. Xander watched them leave out of the corner of his eye then waited a few minutes before he followed them. He walked over to Flo and grinned at her.

"That was the best food I have ever eaten. I want to thank you for such a wonderful meal."

Flo grinned and blushed.

"Shucks sugar.. it was my pleasure."

She turned over her shoulder and giggled.

"Hey Mel.. you got a fan out here.. come say hi."

The bald man moved to the window, a large grin on his face, and looked around eagerly.

"A fan.. where?"

Xander waved and the man smiled.

"It was the best thing I have ever eaten, Sir."

Mel nodded and smiled.

"About time someone appreciated my cooking... thanks kid."

He then turned and walked back into the kitchen. Xander smiled at Flo and paid his check. Flo grinned and leaned in to kiss his cheek.

"You be good now, ya hear."

Xander nodded and smiled...then walked back out to the parking lot. As he climbed on his bike, he could see the van driving off into the distance. Xander squinted and magnified his vision.. bringing the van into perfect clarity.

*Hmm... about 5 miles away and moving rapidly... 60... 70 mph at least... damn.. better get moving or else I’ll lose them.*

Xander revved the engine and sped off.. following them toward Vegas..

*****

Back in Sunnydale...

Buffy stared at the ring and smiled. She had been enjoying it for a day or so now and it still shocked her to her core.

*I’m engaged... to Xander of all people.. this is unreal.*

She smiled wider and then felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Honey.. I know you adore the ring.. but of you are going to help with the dishes.. you need to actually get your hands wet."

Buffy blushed and nodded.

"Sorry mom.. off in dreamland again."

Joyce smiled. Xander was a good young man, in her opinion... so much better for her Buffy than that horrible Angel and the army idiot Riley.

*I am so glad she finally realized how much she cared for Xander. I mean, all those times she was with him and the looks they gave each other. Anyone would have to be blind not to see the sparks those two had been giving off each other.. for so long... and then Xander left...*

Joyce paused. She had been told what had happened.

*They have it so wrong. Xander didn’t leave on his own... from the way they described that night... it sounds more like Buffy drove him away. The things she said to him... I’m surprised the boy didn’t go try to kill himself...*

She shook her head, trying to remove the negative thoughts from her mind.

*That is all in the past... and Xander is her future. She finally realized she loves him.. and he has loved her for like.. forever. I’m sure they will be a beautiful couple and will spend the rest of their lives together...*

Joyce grinned and smiled at her daughter. She knew she would be loosing her to Xander soon... no, not losing... gaining a son.

"Buffy.. why don’t you just go ahead and go see Willow or whatever it was you were going to do today. I’ll finish up and then head on over to the gallery."

Buffy blushed and nodded.

"Thanks mom.. I love you."

Joyce smiled.

"I love you too, sweetie.. no scoot."

Buffy nodded, giggling, and ran to get her purse... then ran out the door. Joyce watcher her go and just sighed.

"Oh to be young and in love..."

*****

Buffy ran over to Giles’s place and found Willow and Tara already there... researching.

"What’s going on?"

They looked up and frowned.

"Big nasty thing coming..."

Buffy scowled.

"No.. not fair.. I deserve to be happy and carefree for at least a few more days.. I just got engaged!"

Giles sighed and removed his glassed, polishing them. The idea of Buffy getting engaged just terrified him.

*A Slayer.. getting married.. this is just wrong...*

He replaced his glassed and sat down.

"It’s nothing you can’t handle, Buffy, so no worrying. We will research what we are dealing with and then we will deal with it."

Buffy smiled.

"Ok.. time to find this baddie and introduce him to Mr. Pointy."

The girls giggled and nodded. They were glad to see Buffy so happy. Who would have known that a proposal of marriage from Xander would be enough to do it.

"Yes.. then you can go back to dreaming about Xander."

At the mention of his name, Buffy grinned and her eyes glazed over. Willow snickered.

"I bet she’s picturing him naked... all hot and sweaty.. his muscles rippling as he poses in front of her..."

Buffy snapped out of it and frowned.

"Hey.. that’s none of your business you.. you... gay girl who shouldn’t be thinking about my man..."

Buffy smiled.

*My man... MY MAN...*

Even the thought of it sounded good and a goofy grin crossed her face as the mental image of a very hot and sweaty naked Xander crossed her mind.

*Oh wow... now that is good...*

Willow saw the far away look in Buffy’s eyes and laughed.

"We pushed her over the edge.. she’ll be like that for a while."

As Tara giggled, Giles sighed and shook his head.

"Children.. I’m dealing with children."

He then sighed and went back to his book...

*****

Xander stared down the road and saw the van on the side of the road. One of the boys was outside changing a tire. Xander was about to speed up to help them when he spotted a figure hiding behind some brush in the distance.

*What the...*

Xander modified his vision and saw something that bothered him. The figure was a small man who actually looked younger than the others... and in his hands was a weapon of some kind...

*****

"A weapon... this is your territory. You going to do something now?"

Soldier nodded and smiled.

"Yup.. going to lean back and watch the show."

He kicked his feet up on the table and smiled.

*Come on kid... you know what you have to do... eliminate the target before he hits the kids.*

*****

Xander watched as the young man aimed at the kids.. then readied himself to fire.

*No.. this.. this can’t be it.. but maybe I’m seeing it wrong...*

He knew it wasn’t going to go down as he planned. With his arm raised, Xander readied a lightning bolt spell and pointed at the young man.

"Here goes..."

He took a deep breath and yelled at the kids.

"GET DOWN!"

He then fired... the lightning jolting across the sky, moving through the air toward the young man... striking his chest just as he was pulling the trigger. The blast from his own weapon went off to the left and made a large cactus explode....

*****

Kyle rolled the spare tire over to the side of the van and frowned.

*Why is it I’m the one who always changes the tires.. I mean.. I don’t even have my powers yet and they could do it just by waving their hands and yet they have me.. me the normal guy doing all the grunt work...*

He was about to bend over to replace the tire when he heard someone scream...

"GET DOWN!"

Kyle hit the dirt, as ordered, and was just in time to see a bolt of lightning come flying overhead... only to come crashing down about 200 feet away in the bushes.

*Shit!*

Kyle rolled onto his back and looked back the direction the bolt had come from and saw the guy from the diner... speeding toward them on a motorcycle.

"Holy shit!"

The door to the van opened and as a few heads appeared, Xander raced past them... his hands and eyes glowing.

"What the hell?!"

As they watched... Xander rode to the bushes and leapt off into a run. He neared the bushes and a figure stood, half its body blackened.

"You can’t protect them forever... we will see them dead!"

Then.. to the amazement of them all... the young man exploded into dust. Xander came to a halt and looked around in shock... then slowly turned to see the teenagers staring at him.

*Oh crap... how do I explain this...*

He walked over to his bike and turned off the engine... then sat down on it. As he looked back at them, he smiled and waved.

"Hi.. name’s Xander... I come in peace....."

*****

"Hi.. name’s Xander... I come in peace....."

The words took them all by surprise. Isabel’s eyes widened and she stepped forward out of the van.

"Xander... as in Alexander?"

Xander winced and nodded.

"Yeah.. but only my mom and dad call me that. Why do you ask?"

Isabel swallowed nervously and then fainted. Xander watched her falling and, moving faster than a normal human should, he shot past Kyle and caught Isabel seconds before she crashed to the ground... then lowered her gently the rest of the way.

"Did I say something wrong?"

He looked up at the faces of the people in the van and pleaded to them with his eyes. Liz stepped down and shook her head.

"No.. she was just stunned. We lost a friend, named Alexander, a while back. She was in love with him..."

Xander nodded, understanding.

"I see.. I’m sorry."

They nodded and motioned for Xander to step back. He nodded and walked back to his bike while they took care of Isabel. As he walked away from them he berated himself mentally...

*Great.. nice way to start Harris... shit!*

Xander grabbed his bike and walked it back to the van, then leaned against it as he waited for them to say something.

*****

Max nealt down next to his sister and while the stranger, Xander, was not looking.. he used his power to awaken her. Isabel shook and then woke up, her eyes blinking in shock. Just then, Xander had turned around and was returning. Max motioned, with his eyes, for Isabel to pretend to be asleep again... and she nodded, closing her eyes.

When Xander arrived and leaned on his bike, Max cleared his throat, softly, and Isabel fluttered open her eyes... then sat up, moaning.

"Oh.. what happened?"

Xander stared down at her and blushed.

"It’s my fault... you fainted. I’m sorry.. I didn’t know about your... friend."

Isabel looked at Xander and nodded.

"It’s... ok.. you’re right... you didn’t know."

She climbed to her feet and walked over to Xander.

"My name is Isabel... Isabel Evans."

Xander nodded and smiled.

"Nice to meet you...."

*****

"... so you’re saying this guy was going to kill us... and you saw it in a dream?"

Xander shook his head.

"A Vision.. I get them. They tell me what is going to happen... but now I’m thinking I managed to stop it. You were in the same location as what I saw... but yet you’re still alive. I’m guessing my coming here caused you to leave a day or so early.. and the guy decided to attack now instead of later."

Max nodded.

"We had planned on staying another night.. the food at that diner was amazing."

Xander grinned.

"I know.. I haven’t had anything like it in my entire life.."

Maria frowned.

"Whoa.. so you’re saying that you changed the future?"

Xander turned to look at her and nodded.

"Yes.. and now I can go home... until the next vision that is.."

Isabel frowned.

*He’s leaving... no, he can’t...*

"Where is home?"

Xander smiled.

"Sunnydale, California... home of the Hellmouth."

The looks he got from them said volumes.

"Hellmouth???"

Xander laughed and began explaining everything....

*****

"... and you live over that thing?"

Xander nodded.

"Been there my whole life... probably explains why I’m kinda weird."

The Roswell gang stared at each other and all thought..

*Kinda Weird...*

Xander smirked and laughed.

"All part of the territory when you happen to be a hero on a 24/7 basis. I’m in even a book of prophecy.. or so I was told."

They nodded, not quite following. Xander saw their expressions and tried to explain.

"There are these books... in them, all kinds of things were foretold... and I’m in one of them. Someone knew I would be born and would do all of the things I have done so far.. and some I haven’t done yet. It’s really cool."

Xander smiled. As he sat there, on his bike, a strange feeling of dread washed over him. A frown crossed his face and he wondered what was going on. Isabel caught the frown and became worried.

"Are you ok?"

Xander shook his head.

"I... I don’t know... I just have this feeling... that something is wrong.."

He closed his eyes and tried to figure out what was going on...

*****

Richie looked at the others and frowned.

"What is he talking about?"

M-Xander walked over to a large crystal sphere and looked into it. He could see a misty image of a woman... walking next to another woman... inside a cave or cavern... they were walking... walking... then they ran into a large demon... they fought the demon.. then... then....

"Oh my god.."

Jim and Richie rushed over and looked at the sphere.

"What... what is it?"

M-Xander shook his head.

"I just witnessed 2 women dying to a demon. I believe this what Xander felt..."

Soldier stepped forward then, a frown on his hardened face.

"A feeling.. not a true vision?"

M-Xander nodded.

"I beleive that someone... or something is blocking Xander from receiving this as a full vision. I believe it might be the demon’s magic."

Soldier nodded.

"Then we need to warn him... and fast.. so he can haul ass back home before something bad happens to those women."

Richie looked confused.

"Why home?"

Soldier sighed.

"Because there he can ask the Watcher.. and the Watcher can cast a blocking spell to remove the interference."

Richie nodded, understanding.

"Oh.. ok."

Solider nodded and walked off to warn Xander...

*****

Xander stared at the group in the van ahead of them as they drove back to the diner. He had offered to treat them to a early dinner and they had eagerly agreed.

*Got to be nice to them.. in case I need to stick around a while..*

It was then that he heard something that nearly ran him off the road.

#Xander... ten shun!#

Xander sat up straight in the seat and nodded.

*Yes Sir!*

#We have a situation... you got a vision.. but it is being blocked by the magic of a demon. Head home pronto... and then get the Watcher to run interference for you... then you can try again on the vision.#

Xander grimaced.

*Yes, Sir. What was the vision, Sir?*

#Two woman in a cave or cavern being killed by a very large and ugly demon.#

Xander nodded and sighed.

*I understand, Sir. I will get on my way as soon as I tell them I’m leaving.*

#Understood.. #

Xander felt the Soldier leave and shuddered. The Soldier had the strongest presence of anyone in his mind.. and it sometimes scared him.

*****

They pulled into the parking lot and Xander motioned for Kyle to roll down the window.

"I’ve been called on another mission. I’m sorry.. but I have to go."

Kyle nodded.

"I understand. Hey.. be careful."

Xander nodded.

"I will."

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small scrap of paper. He handed it to Kyle and smiled.

"My cell phone number... in case you guys need me."

Kyle nodded and placed the paper in his pocket. Xander nodded and then turned his bike around.

"Bye.. be careful."

He then burned rubber.. heading back to Sunnydale....

*****

Buffy looked at the hole and frowned.

"I do not want to go in there.."

Dawn smiled at her sister and giggled.

"Come on.. you know that if Xander were here HE would want to go."

Buffy thought about Xander and smiled.

"Yeah.. he would.. just like he did when he brought me back in the Master’s lair."

Dawn nodded, remembering. Buffy had ALMOST died that night... thank god Xander had gotten there in time.

"So.. are we going in or are we standing here?"

Buffy grinned.

"We’re going in... come on."

They laughed and then climbed down into the cave opening... dissapearing into the darkness....

*****

"I can’t see anything... I thought it was supposed to be down here. Can’t you feel anything, Buffy?"

Buffy shook her head. He slayer sense wasn’t telling her anything.

"Nope.. nothing. Maybe we have the wrong cave..."

Just then they turned the corner and entered a large cavern. In the center of the cavern was a large throne made of what looked like strange leather. As they got closer.. they could see that it was human skin.

"Ewww..."

Buffy nodded and looked around for the Demon.

"It has to be here... somewhere.."

They wandered around the cavern for a few minutes... but found nothing. They couldn’t see or feel the Demon as he watched them... completely hidden under a web of spells.

*Come closer.. my pretty human... and you will meet your doom...*

*****

Xander barreled down the highway.. cranking the bike up to 100... then 120.. then miraculously he managed to crank it over 150... but the dial wouldn’t register it.

*Got to get home... now...*

*****

Inside Xander’s mind, the Hive appeared and formed in front of M-Xander.

/We have completed repairs to the bracer. Xander can now power it through his magic. Do you wish us to report in to him now?/

M-Xander shook his head.

"No.. he is busy right now... it.. it can wait. Thank you."

The Hive bobbed up and down and then dispersed throughout Xander once again...

*****

The Demon watched his prey and then decided to have some fun. The younger woman was before him and he knew it was time. He materialized behind her and reached out to grasp her head... but something went wrong.

*****

Buffy turned around and looked at Dawn just in time to see the Demon appear behind her.

"DAWN!! DOWN!!"

Dawn dropped to the ground and rolled to the side... just missing being hit by the Demon.. and then a jump kicking Buffy seconds later.

*Whoa.. that was close..*

Dawn climbed to her feet and watched as Buffy and the Demon fought. They were exchanging blows right and left.. but something looked wrong. The Demon looked stronger... and for some reason, Buffy looked like she was growing weaker and weaker each time she connected with a punch or kick...

*****

The Demon laughed as his life-drain spell took effect with each punch and kick he received. He was in thrall... in esctasy.. as the essence of the Slayer flowed into him.

*So strong... so powerful... so delicious...*

He watched at slowly, punch by punch, the Slayer grew weaker and weaker...

*Almost time...*

Just as Buffy threw a sloppy punch, the Demon reached out and caught her by the neck... and then with a grunt... twisted her neck, breaking it... killing her instantly...

*****

Dawn watched in horror and screamed as she saw her sister’s head spin almost completely around. She watched as Buffy’s body fell to the ground... dead... and something inside her snapped.

With a feral growl... Dawn ran at the Demon and launched herself at him... kicking and biting anything she could touch.

The Demon just laughed and backhanded her across the room. Dawn flew through the air and then landed against a stalagmite.. landing on it... impaled.

As the Demon stared at the death before him.. he laughed evilly... then vanished into thin air...

*****

As Xander sped down the road.. something came over him.. a flash, a feeling... and it threw him from his bike.

*Something... something is wrong... oh god.. what is it...*

He climbed back onto his bike and sped off back down the road... now juicing his bike with magic.. easily reaching a speed of 250 mph...

*****

Giles turned to Willow and Tara and pointed at the ground.

"They came in here..."

They followed the footprints and came upon the cavern... and the carnage. The wail of agony that came out of Willow was deafening as she looked upon the dead and mangled bodies of Buffy and Dawn.

"No.. No... NO!!!"

Willow collapsed to the ground and cried... while a stunned Giles stared on in shock.

*No.. it can’t be... my Slayer... my girls... dead... oh god no...*

They walked over to the bodies and carefully picked them up... then carried them back outside... taking them to the morgue...

*****

Sometime later...

Xander pulled into town and was instantly hit with a strong feeling of dread. He rode over to Giles’s place.. but found it empty. He then checked the Buffster’s house.. but it too was empty.

It was then that he got scared.

*No.. please... not this...*

He began to wonder if the woman in his vision had been Buffy. With a stifled cry, he sped off to the hospital.

*****

Xander ran down the hallway and found a group of crying people. He stared at them and then ran down the hallway to the morgue. As he entered, he saw Buffy and Dawn lying on the tables.... dead.

*No.. this can’t... no... oh god no...*

He heard people run up behind him.. but at this point... he didn’t care. Something inside Xander was broken.

"No... No... NO!!!!!!"

As everyone watched, lightning began crackling around Xander’s body. A warm blue glow apeared at the bracer and spread to engulf Xander. As he turned to look at the others, they gasped at the sight before them... for Xander’s eyes had gone jet black.. with no white at all showing.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

With a primal scream that echoed inside the small room, lightning blasted off of Xander’s body making a halo of light around him that grew brighter and brighter until it was too bright to see.

*Oh god.. no.. what’s happening.. Xander... no!*

Willow shaded her eyes to look at Xander and then screamed as he disapeared... leaving behind a burnt and cracked hole in the floor as a reminder of the power he had used.

The light faded and they looked around in shocked horror.

"Xander!"

Willow ran to the hole and stared at it. It was almost a foot deep and the edges appeared to have been melted... from the heat of the lightning and the power.

"Oh god.. Xander... where did you go?"

They took one last look at the hole... then one at Buffy and Dawn.. and then turned and walked back outside.... not noticing the soft blue glow coming from their bodies from under the sheets....

Not seeing the blue lightning that cascaded across their bodies as slowly.. two new Immortals awakened.....

*****

Buffy jerked upright with a scream and looked around in fright. She didn’t know where she was.. and she was cold.. so cold.

"Wha.. what... where am I?"

She looked around the room and noticed Dawn lying on the next table over.

"Dawn.. oh god.. no..."

Just then... Dawn gasped and jerked upright... screaming in shock and terror. Buffy jumped off the table and pulled Dawn into her arms.

"Shh.. it’s ok... it’s ok...we’re alive... we’re alive Dawn.."

Dawn looked at Buffy and slowly her eyes focused.

"Buffy..?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes.. it’s me.."

Dawn frowned.

"But.. but you’re dead... and I’m dead.... oh god.."

Buffy leaned back and nodded.

"I.. I know... but I don’t think we’re vampires... I think... I think we’re like Xander."

Dawn listened and realization hit her. A smile crossed her face and she laughed.

"We’re Immortal... then we can live with Xander... forever!"

Buffy smiled.. understanding it herself.

"Hey.. that’s right... just wait till we tell him..."

It was then she felt the chill and looked down.

"I’m naked!"

Dawn lifted the sheet covering her and blushed.

"We’re both naked. I guess our clothing was covered in blood or something... or else something very ewww happened."

Buffy shook her head.

"Don’t even want to think about it. I just want to get some clothes, find Xander, and then live the rest of Eternity with him."

Buffy helped Dawn off the table and they then spent the next 10 minutes finding some clothing... then headed outside... just in time to see Giles leaving.

"Hey.. wait for us."

*****

Giles thanked the orderly and took the girls’s clothing. He then turned to leave... but stopped when he heard a voice cry out. He froze and turned slowly.. then broke down in tears at what he saw... Buffy and Dawn... alive.

"Buffy... Dawn...?"

They nodded and ran over to him... engulfing him in a hug. As they did so, they looked around to see anyone else.

"Where is everyone... we’re Xander? Is he back yet?"

Giles paled.

*How do I tell them... oh god..*

He pulled them over to a chair.

"Sit... please.. there is something I have to tell you......"

*****

Meanwhile... far away...

Xander sat on the edge of the tower of a large castle. It was covered in a blackened marble that appeared to have been fried over and over. A strong wind was blowing across the tower and it made Xander’s hair writhe as if alive.

Far below.. people ran in fear as lightning cascaded down from the dark man above. Already, those who ran, knew to fear him... for his power, for the terror he brought with him... and for one other reason... the millions who died upon his arrival.

As they ran in terror... then ran to the giant eye.. hoping at least one of them would be able to escape... and bring back help... to save them from the Dark God who had invaded their world....

And so they ran... and reached the eye.. and then waited, dying one by one from bolts of lighting, as the seven markers locked in place... then when the eye opened... the remaining person still alive on the planet screamed and jumped into the eye... disappearing, headed to the one place that might help... and the people who were their only hope.

A bolt of lightning followed the woman as she jumped into the eye and then the eye itself closed... leaving behind a now dead world... except for one person... a broken and completely defeated Xander Harris, who wanted nothing more than to make everyone and everything be in as much pain as he was in right then... and was oblivious to the destruction around him All in all... he just wanted to be alone.....

The End