Authors Note: Don't own anything, Joss, Marvel, Disney, and all sorts of those own this, so please don't sue. I'z broke.

So, this one is a bit darker than the others, and it is going to come across a bit as bashing Buffy and Robin. It isn't Buffy bashing, there is a reason behind why they are acting this way, and I swear it'll make sense in the end, just maybe not of this fic. Robin, yeah well, I don't like him, and have always had an issue with him dating any slayer because of the age difference, and well… it made for a better story. But still fun stuff and more Pepper, cause well Pepper rocks.

After that memorable Christmas morning, things settled back into place, though Xander kept feeling Natasha watching him, and Tony seemed to drop by more often. It was to the point that Jarvis started sending Xander extra groceries to feed all the people that just 'happened' to show up for meals. Not that Xander minded, but their apartment really wasn't big enough for as many as kept showing up.

Pepper seemed to throw herself into working again, and Xander felt like he never saw her. Of all his visitors she almost never dropped by, while Safira and Steve were all but joined at the hip. Bruce and Tony entertained Jolie as they waited for school to start by each trying to convince her to study in their fields of focus.

The new year approached, and Xander realized he had a visit from three of the most important women in his life looming ahead. They were due to arrive on December 30th.

"Jarvis, any chance of an apocalypse this week?"

"Not that I am aware of, Xander."

"Damn."

Xander sighed and put in a request for three guest rooms, and made sure he knew where his walking shoes were. He had not sent them their Christmas gifts, as he knew they were coming, but right now he just hoped they liked them, if his friends came through with them.

Pepper intercepted him as he headed to the airport to pick them up. Willow had been informed there was no teleporting unless lives depended on it, so they were traveling first class based on frequent flyer miles.

"Hi, Pepper." He gave her a serious look. "How are you adjusting to the changes?"

A bright smile wreathed her face and she pulled him into a sudden hug much to his surprise.

"Thank you so much for not avoiding the question, but actually asking me about it," she exclaimed as she released him.

"What do you mean?" He looked at her as she fell into step next to him.

"Oh lord, Tony just gives me a guilty look every time he sees me. Bruce just ducks his head as if he thinks I'll beat him. And it's taken me a week to just get to the point I could pick up cups and open doors without crushing them or rip them off the hinges."

Xander burst out laughing, and Pepper flushed and looked away.

"No, Pepper. I'm not laughing at you. That is common among slayers. The first month or so they don't have any idea how to handle their strength. I can't tell you how many things I repaired cause a new slayer miscalculated. It was more the familiarity of having someone talk about that." He assured her, smiling as they walked. Xander had the feeling she needed to talk, so he walked slow and took unnecessary hallways to give them more time.

"Oh, OH," she said looking suddenly thoughtful. "So, that isn't unusual?"

"For someone new to the whole superpowers gig? No. May I make a suggestion?" He offered, not wanting to overstep his bounds, not that he had any idea what they were.

"Please?" It almost sounded like a plea, which was so un-Pepper like it made him shiver.

"Train with Safira." He held up his hand at her instant nose wrinkling. "I'm not talking what you've seen her and Natasha do. I'm talking learning how to hit and how to defend yourself. If what you're saying is correct you're really strong. And Safira can withstand you hitting her. Once you learn to judge your punches, you'll find everything else is easier. After that, go learn the Japanese tea ceremony."

Xander smiled softly at her bewildered look.

"I know, weird right? But the entire ceremony is about precise measured movements with fragile china. It will teach you the delicacy you're used to. Try it."

"Ah," she fell silent after that sound until they reached the elevator. "Xander, you are a very peculiar man, but I believe you might be one of the best men I know. And that is saying something."

A spurt of panic rose up in his chest. "Trust me, I'm nothing special. You don't know the dark I've done," he protested.

"Maybe not, but I know the man you are. I rather like that man. I added to the gift you requested. They are waiting in the girl's rooms. I hope they enjoy. And please do bring them to dinner tonight, I'll order enough for three Thor's. That should solve the food problem."

"They'd like that. I'll see you tonight. You want Jolie too?"

"Of course. I like her. She is blunt and brilliant. And frankly she can keep up with Tony. If she was two decades older, I might be worried." She grinned, warmth spreading over her face. "But as it is, I just have an employment offer on constant update waiting for her."

Xander laughed as the elevator doors slide open. "Then tonight."

"Thank you again, Xander."

"Door is always open if you need to talk. I'm a good listener, and I get the weird aspects of super herodom."

"Oh, I'm no hero," she protested.

"I wouldn't be too sure of that." He laughed again as the door slid shut on her confused face.

"I have a car waiting for you, Xander." Jarvis smooth voice informed as the elevator slid downward. Each time he responded something in Xander relaxed to know he was okay, that nothing bad had happened to him.

"You know I regard you as a friend, right?" He said, his mouth per usual activating without thought.

"You have mentioned that before, however I am not sure how the friendship works, when I am not real."

Xander snorted. "You're real enough, trust me. You've got lots of friends. Humanity isn't an advantage in that area, in fact most of the time it might be a disadvantage."

"Interesting view point. But what prompted that comment, Xander?"

"Buffy, Faith, and Willow are coming to visit. They are my friends. For all that they may not always act like it, trust me on this, and don't over react to anything they might do."

Two of the three had not been happy when he stayed after the invasion and they had been even less happy when he was stationed here permanently. Though in his darkest of dark spots Xander suspected at least part of it on Buffy's part had been the whole New York thing and she wasn't stationed here.

"Is there a reason to suspect your friends may cross parameters I have set to define friendship?"

Xander shrugged, hunching a little bit. "Maybe. Look, I've known these women a long time, just accept certain things may not be as they seem, and ask me about them first, okay?"

"Very well, Xander. I will not act without querying you first. But I must point out, your warning me has raised my concern level."

He sighed a bit. "Family knows how to hurt you the best. It is a long-standing tradition. Don't worry about it."

"As you wish."

Before Xander could make a Wesley reference, his phone rang. He glanced at it and grinned.

"Hey, Maria. You enjoy your Christmas present?" She had sent him a collection of books all about myths, old stuff that he had, but still he enjoyed the thought.

"I did. I think I actually quit breathing I laughed so hard at some points. And I plan on taking you up on the tickets you sent. Am I allowed to share the video?"

"I gave it to you, so it is up to you to do with as you wish. And any time. Well, any time after this next week. Family coming in from out of town." He said as he leaned against the wall in the garage, not getting into the car just yet. Her Christmas present had been a collections reel of all his interactions with Fury. At this point the man got aggravated just looking at him. It was amusing. That and some tickets to go ice skating.

"Awesome, I know a few people I can bribe with getting to watch that. Fury is pretending it doesn't exist." He could hear the smirk in her voice as she talked. "But I wanted to say thanks. Call me when you're free."

"Will do." He hung up and got in the car, taking a deep breath to steel himself, then drove out into New York traffic, wishing he had caved and gotten a driver, but there was one major advantage to him being the one driving. It lowered the assault level until after they arrived.

Parking, he headed into the terminal, waiting near the baggage claim, as he had little doubt they all had bags. He could see them coming by the hole in the crowd headed his way. The hole that surrounded three striking women.

Buffy had matured and it looked damn good on her, though he didn't even feel a shred of arousal there. She'd allowed her blond to darken and her clothes spoke of style but comfort. She moved with the assurance of a tiger and took the lead even now.

Faith had just gotten hotter, and Xander swallowed hard. She still stirred him, but that ship had long sailed, no matter that her wardrobe had only become harder, sharper. He paused at that thought. After being around Pepper and Natasha for the first time he recognized that armor, and he wondered what was wrong, that she was shouting a warning to the world. That bit of information he filed away, unsure if maybe he was misreading it.

And Willow, was his bestest friend and sister. Still adorable and more like a hyper active child, regardless of the power that flowed through her veins. She still saw brightness in the world, and way down deep he hoped she never lost that, because he knew damn well he would be the one they called to make everyone else safe.

"Hello, gorgeous ladies," he said in a voice they wouldn't miss, but not so loud everyone in the area would stare at him.

"Xander!" Came from two voices who launched themselves at him, and he found himself in a

Buffy/Willow sandwich as Faith came strolling up behind.

"Well, hey, boytoy. You're looking damn fine." Her husky voice drawled, and Xander was glad he was being hugged by the two women, or he might have flinched. She sounded wrong, like each word was being said over broken glass, and he couldn't tell why. Nothing on her face gave it away and when Buffy and Willow pulled back, he didn't see any worry in their faces.

What happened? I knew she broke up with Robin, but I've never seen her this raw.

"Why thank you. You ladies ready to go to your accommodations?"

"Luggage first!" Buffy chirped looking like she and Willow were about to be bouncing off the walls.

"Um, how much caffeine have you two had."

"Three mochas, each." Faith said, right next to his ear, so close he could feel her breath.

This time he did flinch, but covered it up by moving towards the belt that just started moving.

"We'd better grab it and head out. You ladies get to ride in style."

With teasing and joking, they got their bags, Xander carrying Willow's while Faith and Buffy had their own with no issue at all, they headed to the car. There was collective oohing as they saw the SUV he drove. Getting them in and settled he drove back, stress gnawed at him as he watched Faith.

All of them had been so busy talking, something about a store they had each visited in England at one point, they didn't notice him turning into the garage. While they could be pains, all of them had enough sense to realize he needed to focus with only one eye when driving, especially in New York traffic.

Xander ushered them into the elevator, his smile only partially forced. As soon as they got in, it started gliding upwards and Buffy looked around curious.

"Where is it going? You didn't push anything."

Willow lit up. "Wait, Jarvis?"

"Yes, Miss Rosenberg?"

She squeed so sharply that the other three in the car all winced.

"We're staying at the Avenger's tower?!" Her voice was at least three octaves higher than normal.

Xander blinked at them a bit confused. "Yeah. I've got a suite for you. I do live here."

"You what?" Came from all three women who fixed their eyes on him.

He found himself pushing back against the wall of the elevator as the force of their glare hit him and they all moved forward a bit.

"Yes? Didn't Giles tell you?"

Buffy's eyes narrowed. "No. He told me you had become friendly with Stark and one of the Avengers, and that you had a good deal on a place for you and the slayers, but not that you were staying here."

Dammit, Giles.

This explained why they had been so patient, expecting to be put up in a motel, or sleep on the floor.

I'm going to kill you

"Well, yes. Here, I got you a suite." Jarvis either had excellent timing or took mercy on Xander by making the elevator go a bit faster and the door chimed and slide open revealing a hallway, with a door one down clicking open. "Here, let's go see it."

He scurried out the elevator, and yes he fricking scurried, anything to get their irate focus off of him. Pushing through the door, he stopped and blinked and then looked again.

"Jarvis, is this the right place?"

"Yes, Xander. Ms. Potts organized it herself."

I owe that woman a basket of the most decadent food ever.

The suite was a large living room with a mini kitchen on one side, and four doors. Three of the doors had a name on them. It was elegant, simple, and screamed money.

He turned to see the women walking through the door and the smirk drop off their faces as they looked around.

"We're staying here?" Faith asked, for a second seeming young and fragile.

Xander forced calm cheer on his face. "Yep, and I do believe your Xmas presents are in your rooms."

He got three wide eyed looks, then they tore towards their rooms, each door had a name on it. The squeals of joy made him sag in relief. Even as they came out of the rooms, the looks on their faces matching astonishment.

Buffy held two pairs of Jimmy Choo's in her size, and an envelope.

Willow held a first edition of Pride and Prejudice, and an envelope.

Faith had custom biker boots, with daggers on the sides, and an envelope.

They all looked at him demanding an answer.

"Well, the gifts are from Giles, me, and the other slayers. The envelopes are thank you's from us and Tony and Pepper. Um, I'm not positive what they are though." He admitted.

Buffy spoke, her voice a whisper. "Xander, these are appointments with the stylist for Pepper Potts and a fifteen thousand dollar budget."

"That is good right?" He'd known all his ladies loved clothes and looking good, and Pepper just always seemed to radiate taste, so when he'd asked her she'd set this up. But that budget was significantly more than he had provided.

Faith looked at him, the attitude faded. "Xander, that's incredible. And the appointment is tomorrow."

The other two nodded in agreement.

"Well, cool. Um, you've been invited to dinner tonight. So, want some time to unpack and relax? The fridge is fully stocked and if you need anything just ask Jarvis. Speaking of which, when is dinner?"

"Six pm, Xander." Jarvis replied smoothly.

"So, we good?"

After a minute of glances, which worried Xander, they finally chimed yes, and he fled again, not speaking until the elevator doors slid shut.

"Jarvis, is Natasha here today, and would she be willing to talk to me?"

There was a moment of silence, which he knew meant Jarvis was communicating with Natasha, but it still made him nervous.

The elevator started to move even as Jarvis replied. "Yes, Ms. Romanoff will see you. She asked that you come to her apartment."

For a second Xander thought about bailing, what was it about this woman that scared the daylights out of him not on a physical level but something deeper, more primal? Even his hyena bowed before her.

No, it had to be done. She was the only woman he knew who could go toe-to-toe with Faith both physically and with attitude. Faith acted the ultimate bad ass, Natasha was.

He got into the elevator and tried to piece together exactly why he wanted to talk to Natasha and explain what bugged him, but he figured he was going to make a fool of himself. Walking out one of the two doors visible from the elevator opened and Clint stepped out.

"Xander, come on in," Clint's voice was friendly as he waved him into the apartment. He tried not to be obvious, but while all of them had been up in his for various meals, he'd never been into theirs. The layout was similar to his place, but all the colors were darker, muted, and he could smell gun oil, cinnamon, and sweat through the apartment. The cinnamon smell at least was explained when Clint led him over to the kitchen where Natasha was pulling out a tray of cinnamon rolls.

"Want one?" She offered and Xander had to blink, even as he took the proffered roll.

"I never had you in mind as a baker," he said, then stuffed a bite in his mouth wondering if this would be his last meal.

Clint snorted. "She isn't. I made them, she was just pulling them out of the oven. Her skills set doesn't really run to the kitchen."

Natasha shot him a mock glare. "I'll have you know I'm very skilled with a frying pan."

"Yes, killing people with them." Clint shot back, completely unrepentant as he helped himself to a cinnamon roll.

They were really good, Xander noted. He'd have to get the recipe.

Natasha leaned back and looked at him, her eyes that flat hardness that always made him want to duck and cover.

"So, what brings you here? I haven't heard of anything that would require my skill set. Has Maria mentioned something to you?" Her voice was quiet even as she delicately lifted a piece of roll to her mouth.

Xander tried to figure out how to phrase his question. He just knew he needed to talk to Natasha about this, but not really how to explain why he thought something was wrong.

"My friends are here for a short vacation, a week in New York, and Buffy and Willow are happy and excited. They're normal, with everything that includes." He took another bite of the cinnamon roll aware of Nat and Clint both watching him, their faces giving nothing away. "Faith is here, and something is wrong. I mean she looks the same, acts the same, but it's like she is brittle. I feel like she is about to shatter and cut everyone, but I can't tell you why I think or feel that. "

Xander broke the roll into bits as the two spies waited. "Natasha, you are the only person I know who can be blunt about sex and violence and understand how the two of them can go together. Faith has always been gung-ho, all about the sex, the violence, the violent sex. But she needs help, but I can't even figure out what is wrong, much less how to help. Would you be willing to at least talk to her, to see if you can tell me what is wrong?" He knew he didn't have any right to ask that, but the ticking bomb that was Faith echoed in his head in a way that he couldn't shake.

"Jarvis, are the girls going up to have dinner with Pepper and Tony tonight?"

"Yes, Ms. Romanoff, they are."

"Excellent, please let Pepper know that Clint and I will also be attending."

A moment's pause, during which all three of them tensed slightly and he came back. "She says you are more than welcome, and Bruce will also be attending, if nothing else to occupy Jolie."

Xander had to flash a smile at that. His tiniest slayer was blossoming, and he thought he had even heard her laugh when talking to Bruce in his lab as he walked in.

Natasha turned cool eyes on him. "I'll have dinner with you. I don't promise anything else."

Xander shrugged. "Even that is more than I had a right to expect. Thanks." He stood and nodded at the rolls. "Those are damn good, Clint. Feel free to bring them with you next time you decide I should make you breakfast."

Clint laughed at that and Xander headed out to tell his slayers about dinner tonight and to see if he had a decent pair of jeans to wear tonight.