Xander on Safari

Part of the Omniverse Project

By Benji: The Vampire Confuser

Xander Harris and all related Buffy characters belong to Joss Whedon. Bill Weasley and all related characters belong to JK Rowling. Annie and all related characters belong to Sam Raimie.

Chapter 1

From:

To:

Subj: Here I am.

Well Buffster, our plane landed this morning in Cape-town, and we've still got quite a ways to go yet. We're taking a bus to…somewhere, I forget. Then we're loading into a bunch of jeeps to go out to the building site. I've sent word to G-Man, who tells me that the one I'm looking for should be somewhere in that vicinity. But honestly, who knows how much time I'll have to look for her? We're not just building a few houses here, we're building an entire village.

Hope all is well with you and Dawnie. You learn Italian yet?

Your friend, Xander.

Dear Buffy,

Well, we've arrived. Depending on the speed of the mail delivery service, by the time you get this we should be well set up. The plans for the buildings are already laid out, tomorrow we get right to work digging the foundations. Some of the locals have insisted on lending a hand. It's gonna be their village after-all. Seems the missionaries have taught them that whole, God helps those that help themselves routine.

I think I may have found our girl. Young kid, about maybe eight. She seems to fit the profile, so I'll be keeping an eye on her. (no pun intended)

I'm getting along okay with the rest of the crew, so far no holier than thou types, though maybe if I mention my best friend the Witch they'll go running for the hills.

Well, I hear the dinner bell, so I'd better finish up. Write back and give me the 411 on everybody, and in return I'll tell you about the cute chef they've got working with us.

Sincerely,

Xander.

"Evening Annie," Xander said, sidling up to the counter. "What've you got for us tonight?"

Annie, a tall brunette with cat-eye glasses that didn't seem to suit her (Xander thought she was wearing them because they seemed cooler than regular glasses), smiled at him as she answered. "I decided to give everyone a taste of home." She said. "You want a burger or a hotdog?"

Xander chuckled, and shook his head. "I'll have a burger thanks." Burgers and Hot Dogs? Cooked in the grand old American fashion, on a bar-b-que. That was a nice touch, though pretty simplistic for her. Annie was the first person he'd ever known who literally could trip over her own feet. She'd first signed onto the crew as one of the construction detail, but that had ended in absolute disaster. Fortunately she'd managed to not be sent strait back to the states by demonstrating that there was one place where she had the grace of a ballerina. The kitchen.

Annie was possibly the greatest cook Xander had ever seen, and was quickly becoming quite charmed. Not just from her cooking, but from the conversations they'd had. Both had taken a while to find their niche. Annie finally found hers as a chef and a hostess, though she still liked to try things a bit more grandiose, like building a village for instance.

Xander could relate. He'd tried to save the world by standing shoulder to shoulder with Buffy. He'd dreamed of being the big hero. But what he'd come to realize was that sometimes, it was the little people who made the biggest difference.

To Be Continued...