Title: Of Magic and Machinations
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Type: B/X, Sequel to "Rain Falls On The Just"
Description: The gang rejoices upon Xander's apparent return, only to find Wolfram and Hart is far from finished with them. Picks up immediately after "Rain..." ended.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but a bust of Bing Crosby and half a dozen licorice sticks. Buffy and all related characters are owned by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. They are the talent. I'm just a hack.
******************************************************************************
"Where?" I asked. "How?"
"Shh," Buffy said, kissing my forehead gently. "Rest now. I'll explain everything once you've rested. I promise."
"It was a powerful spell," Willow said, as she handed the baby in her lap to Oz and took my hand. "It drained you. Buffy's right. You need to rest, Xander."
"Xander?" I repeated.
"This all has left you quite shaken I'm sure," Giles said. "If you feel a bit disoriented, it is just a side effect of the process. It will pass with time, I am certain. For now, rest. Any questions you have can be answered when you awaken."
"But..."
"I'll stay with you," Buffy said. "You won't be alone."
"Okay," I said, though still not certain what had happened. Willow leaned over and kissed my forehead.
"You'll feel better tomorrow," she said with a smile. "And I'll bring you a double mint mocha."
I nodded and closed my eyes. I heard them whispering as sleep claimed me with ease.
"I can't believe we did it," Buffy said. "We brought him back."
She and the others had gone outside to let Xander rest. The whispering had grown old.
"He seems confused," Oz said. "How long will that last?"
"A few days," Giles speculated. "Weeks even. We have no way of knowing. As far as I know, we are the only ones to attempt that spell in nearly 600 years. There are no records of specific behavior changes or the effects on the personality of the reclaimed soul."
"He'll be fine," Willow said, taking Buffy's hand. "Back to silly old Xander in a few days."
"It'll be an adjustment," Buffy said. "It HAS been three years. He doesn't even know about you two."
"Or that Alex and I are staying with you," Anya said.
"We should break it to him slowly," Oz said. "He's already been through all things wiggins worthy."
"Oz is right," Giles said. "Let's give him a few days to recuperate before attempting to bring him fully up to speed."
"Right," Buffy said. "The important thing is that he's back. I won't let anyone or anything cause me to lose him again."
"It has happened," the oracle said. "He walks the earth again."
"Good," Lilah said, sinking down into her desk chair. "I think three years is long enough to wait. It's time to get this show on the road."
"She will conceive within a few months. The way will be made. The path of destruction set."
"You precognative types and your mumbo jumbo," Lilah complained. "Just tell me the plan will work."
"It will work."
"Good," the attorney said softly. "Now go and meditate somewhere. You annoy me."
I woke up with the sun shining in my eyes. It beamed through Buffy's window, warming my face. It was an odd feeling. I turned to my left, where Buffy lay sound asleep beside me. She was beautiful. All of my memories were of her. It was everything else that was a jumble. I knew even then, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
"Morning," Buffy mumbled, smiling at me though half asleep.
"Good morning."
"I have to say, I haven't slept that well since the last time we shared a bed."
Her comment caused a flash of memory. I stared at her blankly as it sank in.
"Did I embarrass you?"
"No. I just..."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"I didn't mean to... I mean... I enjoyed just sleeping with you. I know you're not up to anything else just yet."
I nodded.
"It's okay," she said. "I've waited three years to be back in your arms again. I can wait a while longer to... you know."
I smiled, but said nothing.
"You okay? Giles said you could expect to still be disoriented."
"I am," I admitted. "It... Things are coming back to me."
She pulled me close and kissed me gently. "It'll all fall in place. Just give it time."
"It's a shame we have to wait to tell him," Willow said, changing the baby's diaper. "About us. And Jenny."
"I know," Oz said, setting their breakfast on the table. "You think he'll be surprised?"
"That we got married and have a magically conceived daughter? Yeah. I'm thinking it'll be big news."
"Funny. To me it seems so normal."
"Well, our lives are different than other peoples."
He smiled at the recollection. He had said those same words to Willow the day they first made love. "I guess they are," he said with a smile.
"I hope Anya and Alex give Buffy and Xander a little privacy this morning."
"Anya used to be in love with Xander," Oz said. "I'm sure she understands that they want to be alone. And Alex is three. Buffy's gonna have to help Anya with him. One of the drawbacks of being intangible."
"I remember," Willow said. "I was a ghost for a night. No fun."
"Imagine how SHE feels."
"Buffy?" Anya whispered.
"Shh. He's asleep again."
"No he isn't. He's in the shower."
Buffy looked to her right to find the bed empty. "Oh. What is it?"
"It's Alex. I think he has a fever."
Buffy climbed out of bed and jogged toward the child's room. "Lex, you okay honey?"
"Aun'Buffy, my tummy hurts," the child said from his bed.
Buffy sat next to him and felt his brow. "You're warm, too. Aunt Buffy will take your temperature. Can you hold it under your arm like last time?"
"Uh-huh."
"Good. Does anything else feel bad but your tummy?"
"No."
"Then it may just be a virus. Ms. Patterson at daycare said one was going around."
"But he'll be okay?" Anya asked.
"He'll be fine. If he isn't better tomorrow, we'll take him to the doctor."
Anya smiled. "Thank you. You're a good mother."
"No. You're a good mother. I'm a good Aunt Buffy. He needs you. Right, Lex?"
"Mommy,"Alex said. "Can you snuggle with me?"
"Sure, baby," Anya said, settling in next to him. "But you know I can't hold you."
"Like it when you're here," he said, closing his eyes. "Need Mommy loving."
Buffy smiled as she left to find the thermometer.
I stepped out of the shower and let the coolness of the air wash over me. There was a knock at the door. It was Buffy.
"You okay in there, Xander? You've been in there a while."
"I'm fine," I lied. "Be out in a minute."
"Good. I need the thermometer. I think it's in the medicine cabinet."
I wrapped a towel around my waist. "Come on in."
She gave me a good once over. "I like the outfit."
"Thanks."
She noted the steam on the mirror. "You leave me any hot water?"
I smiled and nodded. "Someone sick?"
"Alex may have a little fever. There's a virus at daycare. Just a 24 hour thing."
"Oh."
She kissed me gently. "Get dressed. Giles and the others are coming over. Everyone's so exited that you're back."
"I'll be out in a minute."
She smiled at me and left, closing the door behind her. I stepped over to the mirror and raked my fingers across it. I stood there for a long while staring at the face that I found there. A familiar face. Unfortunately, it didn't belong to me. "Xander Harris," I whispered to myself. "How the hell did I end up with your face?"
To Be Continued....
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Type: B/X, Sequel to "Rain Falls On The Just"
Description: The gang rejoices upon Xander's apparent return, only to find Wolfram and Hart is far from finished with them. Picks up immediately after "Rain..." ended.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but a bust of Bing Crosby and half a dozen licorice sticks. Buffy and all related characters are owned by Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. They are the talent. I'm just a hack.
******************************************************************************
"Where?" I asked. "How?"
"Shh," Buffy said, kissing my forehead gently. "Rest now. I'll explain everything once you've rested. I promise."
"It was a powerful spell," Willow said, as she handed the baby in her lap to Oz and took my hand. "It drained you. Buffy's right. You need to rest, Xander."
"Xander?" I repeated.
"This all has left you quite shaken I'm sure," Giles said. "If you feel a bit disoriented, it is just a side effect of the process. It will pass with time, I am certain. For now, rest. Any questions you have can be answered when you awaken."
"But..."
"I'll stay with you," Buffy said. "You won't be alone."
"Okay," I said, though still not certain what had happened. Willow leaned over and kissed my forehead.
"You'll feel better tomorrow," she said with a smile. "And I'll bring you a double mint mocha."
I nodded and closed my eyes. I heard them whispering as sleep claimed me with ease.
"I can't believe we did it," Buffy said. "We brought him back."
She and the others had gone outside to let Xander rest. The whispering had grown old.
"He seems confused," Oz said. "How long will that last?"
"A few days," Giles speculated. "Weeks even. We have no way of knowing. As far as I know, we are the only ones to attempt that spell in nearly 600 years. There are no records of specific behavior changes or the effects on the personality of the reclaimed soul."
"He'll be fine," Willow said, taking Buffy's hand. "Back to silly old Xander in a few days."
"It'll be an adjustment," Buffy said. "It HAS been three years. He doesn't even know about you two."
"Or that Alex and I are staying with you," Anya said.
"We should break it to him slowly," Oz said. "He's already been through all things wiggins worthy."
"Oz is right," Giles said. "Let's give him a few days to recuperate before attempting to bring him fully up to speed."
"Right," Buffy said. "The important thing is that he's back. I won't let anyone or anything cause me to lose him again."
"It has happened," the oracle said. "He walks the earth again."
"Good," Lilah said, sinking down into her desk chair. "I think three years is long enough to wait. It's time to get this show on the road."
"She will conceive within a few months. The way will be made. The path of destruction set."
"You precognative types and your mumbo jumbo," Lilah complained. "Just tell me the plan will work."
"It will work."
"Good," the attorney said softly. "Now go and meditate somewhere. You annoy me."
I woke up with the sun shining in my eyes. It beamed through Buffy's window, warming my face. It was an odd feeling. I turned to my left, where Buffy lay sound asleep beside me. She was beautiful. All of my memories were of her. It was everything else that was a jumble. I knew even then, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
"Morning," Buffy mumbled, smiling at me though half asleep.
"Good morning."
"I have to say, I haven't slept that well since the last time we shared a bed."
Her comment caused a flash of memory. I stared at her blankly as it sank in.
"Did I embarrass you?"
"No. I just..."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"I didn't mean to... I mean... I enjoyed just sleeping with you. I know you're not up to anything else just yet."
I nodded.
"It's okay," she said. "I've waited three years to be back in your arms again. I can wait a while longer to... you know."
I smiled, but said nothing.
"You okay? Giles said you could expect to still be disoriented."
"I am," I admitted. "It... Things are coming back to me."
She pulled me close and kissed me gently. "It'll all fall in place. Just give it time."
"It's a shame we have to wait to tell him," Willow said, changing the baby's diaper. "About us. And Jenny."
"I know," Oz said, setting their breakfast on the table. "You think he'll be surprised?"
"That we got married and have a magically conceived daughter? Yeah. I'm thinking it'll be big news."
"Funny. To me it seems so normal."
"Well, our lives are different than other peoples."
He smiled at the recollection. He had said those same words to Willow the day they first made love. "I guess they are," he said with a smile.
"I hope Anya and Alex give Buffy and Xander a little privacy this morning."
"Anya used to be in love with Xander," Oz said. "I'm sure she understands that they want to be alone. And Alex is three. Buffy's gonna have to help Anya with him. One of the drawbacks of being intangible."
"I remember," Willow said. "I was a ghost for a night. No fun."
"Imagine how SHE feels."
"Buffy?" Anya whispered.
"Shh. He's asleep again."
"No he isn't. He's in the shower."
Buffy looked to her right to find the bed empty. "Oh. What is it?"
"It's Alex. I think he has a fever."
Buffy climbed out of bed and jogged toward the child's room. "Lex, you okay honey?"
"Aun'Buffy, my tummy hurts," the child said from his bed.
Buffy sat next to him and felt his brow. "You're warm, too. Aunt Buffy will take your temperature. Can you hold it under your arm like last time?"
"Uh-huh."
"Good. Does anything else feel bad but your tummy?"
"No."
"Then it may just be a virus. Ms. Patterson at daycare said one was going around."
"But he'll be okay?" Anya asked.
"He'll be fine. If he isn't better tomorrow, we'll take him to the doctor."
Anya smiled. "Thank you. You're a good mother."
"No. You're a good mother. I'm a good Aunt Buffy. He needs you. Right, Lex?"
"Mommy,"Alex said. "Can you snuggle with me?"
"Sure, baby," Anya said, settling in next to him. "But you know I can't hold you."
"Like it when you're here," he said, closing his eyes. "Need Mommy loving."
Buffy smiled as she left to find the thermometer.
I stepped out of the shower and let the coolness of the air wash over me. There was a knock at the door. It was Buffy.
"You okay in there, Xander? You've been in there a while."
"I'm fine," I lied. "Be out in a minute."
"Good. I need the thermometer. I think it's in the medicine cabinet."
I wrapped a towel around my waist. "Come on in."
She gave me a good once over. "I like the outfit."
"Thanks."
She noted the steam on the mirror. "You leave me any hot water?"
I smiled and nodded. "Someone sick?"
"Alex may have a little fever. There's a virus at daycare. Just a 24 hour thing."
"Oh."
She kissed me gently. "Get dressed. Giles and the others are coming over. Everyone's so exited that you're back."
"I'll be out in a minute."
She smiled at me and left, closing the door behind her. I stepped over to the mirror and raked my fingers across it. I stood there for a long while staring at the face that I found there. A familiar face. Unfortunately, it didn't belong to me. "Xander Harris," I whispered to myself. "How the hell did I end up with your face?"
To Be Continued....