Inspired by a couple short religious Halloween stories, here's one from me…This one will be updated sporadically as I'm trying to keep up with my other story lines.
The Halloween 1997 Aftermath
Xander walked into school Monday morning, heading into the Library. It was only seven, but Xander knew he'd be able to find Giles there. The weekend since his Halloween experience had involved a lot of thinking and serious consideration as to his place in the scheme of things. Having been brought up early as a Catholic until his parents started their descent into unchristian parenthood, Xander had dressed as the Apostle Jesus Loved last Friday, always having appreciated the self-effacing nature of the man who'd written down his Lord's good news and wouldn't refer to himself by name. Clothed in dress pants, dressy-looking work shoes from his uncle, and a nice black dress shirt he'd bought on Saturday, Alexander Harris' attire was unusual for him to say the least and immediately drew Giles' attention as he entered, especially as Xander had avoided the gang since Friday night.
"Uhm, uh Xander," Giles began, pouring tea into a cup, "H-how are you? Uh, tea?"
"Actually yes, Rupert," Alexander replied, "That would be relaxing." He paused for a moment, then continued, "I suppose you have questions about Halloween?"
"Yes I do, if that's alright?"
"Go ahead."
"You went as an Apostle, John, I believe?" He waited for Xander to nod, then continued, "Any residual effects?"
"I can bless water and it seems to have even greater effect than that I've been sneaking at the churches, I can understand and read every language I've come across, I cross myself every time I pass a church in remembrance of Him, I have certainty in the Hereafter, I find it troubling that the Revelations may only have been a series of bad dreams by a dying old man rather than Scripture, and that if I touch a vampire I can cast its demon out." At this last of many unbelievable listings, Giles' jaw dropped in shock, it taking a minute to respond.
"How did you test this out?"
"I prayed over the water and threw two water balloons at vampires, and my holy water half-disintegrated one while the other was just suffering like he would from an acid burn, while being attacked by a vampire on the way home on Friday, a vamp jumped at me and I cast the demon out and it dusted. I'm having my robe redone as two tunics, 'cause when another vamp jumped me and touched it, he screamed and his arm looked like it had white phosphorus working on it."
"How do you account for that?"
"Well, the costume was the robe John was wearing at the Last Supper, and the course of the Passion of Our Lord, so the blessings and the contact with Him, and you end up with something that was in Blessed Presence and is worn by a believer who can remember three years with Him, and six decades after. That's gotta be powerful symbolism."
"That's incredible Xander, do you think anyone else would have the same result?"
"Only if they were a True Believer, Rupert."
"Why aren't you calling me that infernal nickname?"
"Because it really does seem to bother you, and because even though I it in our case was a sign of deep respect and filial affection, I'm trying not to make ou feel reduced in any way, especially as the girls aren't here."
"Does that make a difference?"
"They need the irreverence, Rupert, it's the breaking up of the gloom, even with inanity, that let's them remain sane with what we do. The only truly stupid thing I've produced was that 'cooking her a meal' remark back in September with regards to Cordelia."
"Y-yes, that was particularly painful…but how did you test your language skills?"
"I went online and went into about fifty different chat rooms, as they call them, and proceeded to engage in conversation for ten minutes each, successfully."
"I-I must say I'm at a loss for words, Xander, Watchers are trained for dealing with the darker side of things…"
"…and this is not only the opposite, but way bright. I got that. And I'm fairly sure this…reality…because of Hell Mouths and demons maybe being here first…is one of the central Hell/Heaven-only dimensions, but one of the myriad others that permeate and permutate the multiverse. But I do know that somehow the spell tapped one if not the one central reality…it certainly fits the fact that Janus as a trickster is more than just the generally believed basic god of portals and change in Roman life you learn in school. Though it's really all conjecture, I guess."
"Hmmm," the older man considered, overwhelmed a bit that Xander was seriously discussing a mixture of subjects from a position of…experience, "It bears consideration, and it will help in researching threats to us in the future. Be careful, just in case the effects are temporary."
"Thanks, Giles."
The rest of the day went by in a slight haze for most people, those that retained any hold over from Halloween quickly burying it in normalcy. Xander drew quite a few looks, his nicer attire drawing favorable looks from girls and generating positive feedback from faculty and staff.
Xander seemed to have picked up the serious and traditional valuation of his possessor for education, paying attention and asking serious questions in class. The math seemed easier, and the teachers seemed to stumble a bit from the surprise of Harris being the one that compelled them to think about their responses or move on to other topics. Even Nancy Doyle had been shocked rather than perturbed when Xander had asked a follow on question based on her answer to a teacher's assertion.
The day followed a similar pattern, and when Xander insisted on doing his homework and pining down Willow when help was needed. By the end of school his assignments were completed, and Willow was happy and bewildered at the Xander that was applying himself.
"So Xan," Buffy asked as she sat down next to him, "How is it that you're suddenly School Guy? Is this a Halloween something?"
"Yep, I need to use the gifts with which I've been blessed."
"Hmm," Buffy responded, not knowing how to respond to such a simple declaration, "Okay, I guess."
Xander got up from the table and started packing his books and such to put into his locker.
""Xander, wanna come over to my house for dinner some time this week?" Willow asked, "My folks are back for a little while, I guess."
"Sure, Wills, let me know when."
Sunnydale Park after dusk.
The carousel in the deserted playground slowly turns, and the swings move in the light evening breeze, a boy sitting on the jungle gym, waiting for his ride home the only person around.
"C'mon, Mom," the boy urges, "She's always late."
"Are you lost?" Drusilla asks as she slowly walks toward him from behind, "Do you want me to walk you home?"
"No, thank you," he replied, "I'm not supposed to talk to people."
"Oh. Well, I'm not a person, see, so that's just..." she says, stopping as Angel suddenly steps between her and the boy.
"Run home," Angel tells the boy, who quickly does, passing another man on the way out of the park.
"My Angel!" Drusilla croons.
"Hello, Drusilla," Angel quietly replies, trying to hide his concern over the approaching human behind Drusilla who is coming close to the ensouled vampire.
"Do you remember the song mummy used to sing me?" she asked, "Pretty."
"I remember."
"Yes, you do."
"Drusilla, leave here," Angel urges, "I'm offering you that chance. Take Spike and get out."
"Or you'll hurt me?" she responds then turns toward the human, "Or you, White Bishop?"
"Hold her, Angel," Xander orders loudly as Drusilla begins backing away, into Angel's reach. The souled vampire, expecting to defend the annoying boy holds her tightly, but in amazement watches as Xander advances without a stake in a blindingly white tunic and his hand outstretched toward the vampiress. "I bind you, demon, I bind you in sleep to this body, So It Shall Be!" Xander directs loudly as he touches the terrified, writhing vampiress, "The soul be restored to control! So It Shall Be!" The young man staggers as if from blows and exhaustion, but keeps contact, hands moving to her head, "Let your mind be restored! All Sins Are Forgiven! Let the Evil Be Forgotten! So It…Shall…Be!"
From the roof across the street, Buffy walks along the edge and sees them standing close together. She can overhear, and watches in frozen amazement as Xander causes Drusilla to writhe and then collapse in quiescence. As Xander falters, and falls to the ground, Buffy works her way down, hearing Xander tell Angel to get him and Drusilla to the library, alive and undusted.
Sunnydale High School, Half Hour Later
The doors of the library burst open, Buffy carrying Xander and Angel carrying an oddly dressed woman into the room. Giles moved swiftly to retrieve his first aid kit while a visiting Jenny Calendar cleared the table to set the two unconscious people upon.
"What happened?" Jenny asked, checking on Xander for head trauma and other wounds. Buffy hurriedly explained things from her viewpoint as Angel seemed in shock over the event.
"So Xander and Angel tortured this vampire and you brought it back here why exactly!" Giles asked in exasperation as he stepped away from Drusilla and checked over Xander, finding no injuries.
"Because he told Angel to carry them both back here Giles!" she snapped, then turned on her sorta-boyfriend, "Right!"
"Uh, yeah," Angel replied, "But before that he touched her and commanded her demon to sleep…and to give back the control of her body to the soul."
"He knows gypsy magic!" a surprised Jenny Calendar gasped, "How!"
"It didn't feel dark…" Angel began, Buffy interrupting.
"How do you know about gypsy curses!" the girl snapped at the teacher.
"I've only been around you guys since the Moloch thing, remember?" Jana of the Calderash deflected, "and you do hang around a vamire with a soul…"
"What else did he do?" Giles pressed, ignoring the side conversation for the moment.
"He placed his hands on her head, order her mind restored, and told her her sins were forgiven and to let the evil be forgotten," Angel sighed, having felt both comforted and uncomfortable at the same time his demon was desperately trying to flee." He seemed about to say something further when both Drusilla and Xander began to stir.
"Man, I'm not going to be able to do that very often," the young man said as he lightly rubbed his eyes and face with a hand, then rolled into a sitting position. He looked at the confused Drusilla, who edged away from Angel. Xander saw this, "Miss? I'm Alexander, how are you?"
"I-I'm confused, Mister Alexander, I guess I should thank you," the lucid vampiress replied softly, "Though perhaps simply destroying the demon might have been better."
"I'm new to this myself, and it's just Alexander, I'm not a hair dresser."
Drusilla's full laughter broke the tension in the room, and Angel's face showed complete shock as the Dru before him emoted as he'd never seen her.
"So what do you remember, child?" he asked with a very slight accent as the others looked on, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Everything but the acts themselves," she whispered back, "I know what happened, but as it was the demon responsible, the memories aren't there, but why didn't you just kill me?"
"I wasn't sure what I was reading in your aura, and if you hadn't been there, the body would have become dust. Now I know for sure after watching both Angel and yourself that it was the soul presence I saw."
"Y-you can see souls?" Giles asked, receiving a nod, "And did you curse a soul into the body?"
"No, it was trapped and insane in the body, it never left, Giles," the young man replied, nodding thanks when Jenny handed tea to both Drusilla and himself, "And if Angel hadn't held her, I wouldn't have given her this choice."
"Some choice," Buffy remarked.
"More than what Angel gave me, isn't that right, Liam?" the lucid Drusilla said in defense of Xander's action, "At least Alexander gave me that, even if I can't eliminate myself."
"Why's that?" Jenny asked as Angel dropped into a chair emotionally pole-axed.
"When I was turned, I'd just taken the initial rites of Holy Orders, so the idea of even ending this half-life is anathema."
"Oh," Jenny responded in understanding as Xander again placed a reassuring hand on the Victorian lady's shoulder.
"Oh?" Buffy asked.
"She was not only a seer, Buffy, but had just begun the process of becoming a nun, taking the initial vows," Xander explained, "But we'll take a trip to the Bishop over in Santa Barbara and discuss the matter with him and clear the obligation until a full decision can be made."
"Why would it matter?" Buffy asked, "And how do you know all this about her?"
"Because in theory a nun is as a bride in Christ, and the Church might look with a frown at a vampire novitiate being so described," the weary man replied, "And in the last few days I've been reading on all of Angel's friends since with Darla and Spike having shown, I wanted to be prepared for any one wayward relatives, and also because I wanted to learn more about how his soul and the demon affect auras and readings. I found out about Drusilla an hour before we met."
"You're studying magic, Xander?" Jenny asked.
"No, just trying to understand my recent…blessings a little better, and how they can apply to our situation on the Hell Mouth," he said, then paused, looking at Angel.
"What?" the vampire asked in growing confusion.
"I want to try something, and please don't be offended," Xander said as he pricked a finger and waved at it with his other hand, "Take a drop and tell me if it seems normal." With discomfort, Angel touched it and did.
"Normal," he replied.
"Good," Xander replied, "I didn't know if I'd managed to become an icon myself, and I'm glad I'm still me."
"What did you expect, Xander?" Giles asked.
"I don't know, but I wanted to know if the blood would burn a vampire, make him queasy, act like a cross, I'm still getting a handle on this."
"W-well, uhm, what now?" Giles asked, "It's not everyday we find ourselves with a new souled vampire, not to mention your own situation."
"She can stay with me," Angel offered, slightly embarrassed, "Until she can find her own place."
"Only if Alexander is there," Drusilla insisted.
"Xander has his own place," Buffy responded, though happy Angel might not be alone with an old flame, "But why would you want him there?"
"I owe him my sanity and my soul, Miss Summers," Drusilla replied, "And in my visions I know how it is in Alexander's home." She turned to Angel, "Even worse than your own…Liam." Angel started at the thought of that and looked at Xander closely, remembering how it was for him, and now recognizing the signs in another. "And until I'm comfortable being 'alive' again, the presence of my…protector…when around others would reassure me."
"What do you mean by that?" Jenny asked.
"Which part do you mean? The part regarding my needing a comfortable presence, or the unpleasantness of his household."
"Let's skip that discussion for now," Xander interrupted, "That situation is my own business, but I don't know that Angel's apartment will hold us all, Drusilla. And I'm still praying on trying to get over the anger I feel toward Angel and it would make for an uncomfortable stay."
"Why are you angry at Angel, Xander?" Buffy pressed, "He hasn't done anything."
"He's a vampire, his 'mom' Darla turned Jesse, who was a brother to me, that I ended up staking the night of the Harvest to save Cordelia who was alive but in no way even a friend; his…vampire 'grandpa' killed you and I had to force him off his broody rear to lead me to you, then proved useless in helping with CPR…though that might have been from shock… then instead of joining in the fight, he urges you to 'kill them all' but almost never showed up except to give cryptic and usually not very helpful messages. I know he's been slowly improving and maybe part of the broody near-cowardice is the curse, so I'm trying not to obsess. I've seen how intertwined the demon and soul are, probably from the curse, so I'm trying. His 'son' Spike shows up a few weeks ago and starts with trying to kill us, and I'm exhausted right now so I'm a little peevish."
The group listened as Xander half-vented but definitely explained his feelings toward Angel, Buffy's eyes widening as Angel turned away in embarrassment over the events of the Master's lair took place, and even Angel accepted the reasons.
"I'm sorry, Xander," the vampire addressed him, "I don't know what else to say."
"I know you're not the demon…Liam, but if you'd join us instead of hovering at the side lines…"
"Alright, I'm in, all the way, I'll try to overcome the habits of a century."
"Fair enough, and I'll attempt to restrain my jibes at your expense as long as you're not backsliding."
"So you'll stay over?"
"How about the two of you staying at my place Alexander?" Jenny offered, "I have separate spells on the different rooms just in case."
"Does that work?"
"I hope so, but I really don't know, as they're more consecration spells than barrier spells."
"Acceptable, Dru?"
"Yes, Alexander."
"Ange—Liam, do you have a couple hundred or even a thousand dollars?"
"I guess, why?"
"I think Buffy and Jenny should take Drusilla clothes shopping in LA tomorrow night at the mall, and I'm willing to bet you're feeling guilty enough to fund it, and perhaps even act as load-bearer."
"Um, Xander," Jenny interrupted, "Can we make it the next night? Rupert and I have a date…"
"Alright, we can figure it out tomorrow."