Disclaimer: See Chapter 1…

-

Xander and Ace stepped out of the police box, and over the three dead Haemovores. The two Slayers were on full guard and turned to them as the entered the alleyway. Xander waved them down as he held his hand out to help steady Ace, which got him a shy smile from the woman. Vi and Rona smirked at each other and then at Xander.

Xander's face went from one normalcy, to his business face. At which point Vi's and Rona's smirks disappeared. "I try to take a weekend off and this happens. Things like this are why I don't take too much time off, right, ladies?"

The two Slayers nodded and sighed. "Furthermore we have four vampiric entities that are not vampires as we know them. I want the scenes cleaned up and I want a full report about them on my desk Monday morning. I want both of your after action reports filled out filed and ready with the reports on my desk." Xander glanced up at the other two with the Slayers. He smiled, "Duggan, I know I don't have to worry about you getting your report to me," he said to the black clad operative. "Alaisdaire, if yours isn't the bottom one on my desk, I WILL make sure you are signed up for hand to hand combat lessons," he said as he grinned an evil grin to the mage in the leather long rider.

"Clean up is already in route, Director Harris, and I will make sure all reports are ready for perusal at your leisure," spoke the man that Xander had called Duggan.

Xander nodded and turned to Ace. "I was going to go to a pub, get a drink, and find someone interesting to talk to. If you would like to come with me, then the last thing would already be handled." His head turned a little to the side and smiled a hopeful, yet goofy smile.

He was greeted with a sardonic half smile. "You're buying, right?"

"Well, since this is an after situation talk, I am going to expense it."

A truly wicked smile crossed her lips, "You don't know what you just said."

He grinned and held out his arm for her, "Oh, I do believe I do. Shall we away?"

Ace took his arm and they left the alley, leaving the team from the Council to clean things up.

-

"You burned down a house?" Xander asked incredulously. Ace shushed him down in the crowded pub. "That's nothing, senior graduation we had to blow up the school to take out the mayor that had ascended to a demon lord status," Xander countered in a stage whisper.

"Wicked!"

"Nah, just plain evil, but the type of evil that is dangerous, the type of evil that people will follow because until it gets to the end, it looks like it is going to help others out… That is the type of evil that will suck people in that are looking for meaning in their life." Xander got a far away look in his eye before he shook his head and finished off his pint. Xander saw a gleam in Ace's eyes and smiled back at it. "So, what about scars, we've been talking for a long while about fights and battles, you have to have scars. I'll show you mine… I got some doozeys."

"Mm, I bet you do have a doozey. But, I don't scar, or well, I do, but I've got this regenerator that puts everything back right," said Ace getting more animated. "No scars or anything. If I can get someone fast enough it can even reattach limbs, or even re-grow…" she suddenly got quiet. "Sorry, sometimes I let the coolness of the tech get in the way of… You must think that I am a bloody wanker," Ace said dejectedly.

"S'alright, I've gotten used to it. Didn't know you then, but I wouldn't mind getting your number in case something like this happens to someone else."

"Well, I'll give you my number, but I am hard to reach sometimes."

"Yeah, that also is contingent if I let you out of my sight."

"So, you think I'm going to let you stay around me?"

"Hope so," mumbled Xander as he leaned in, pressing his lips to hers.

-

Xander moaned softly as he twisted in the silken sheets. 'Silk sheets?' his mind asked. 'The hotel didn't have silk sheets. Xander, my boy, what have you gotten us into THIS time?' Xander groaned at his mind for talking so loud.

One may wonder how Xander knows what silk sheets feel like. Not satin sheets, which can be purchased at a large chain outlet that ends in Mart. No, these were true silk sheets. Anya had a set that she fully enjoyed from time to time. Well, enjoyed them as she enjoyed Xander. At the happy memories in the back of his mind made themselves known, Mister Happy did also.

Xander growled again as he tried to will his eyelids up and when nothing happened he sighed and tried again, this time for real, and nothing happened again. He started to let out a scream when he felt a soft hand on his cheek.

"Shush, what's the matter?" an equally as soft voice lilted to his ears.

"Can't see, my other eyes is blind…"

Then light came into his world as his eye patch was slid from his right eye to his left. In his vision, as it cleared, was Ace, a terry cloth robe covering her body as she gazed down at him. She lowered her head to his chest and sighed contently. "Coffee should be ready in a few minutes."

Xander could feel her nails on his skin softly scratching him like a cat would do. Xander stopped trying to fight it and wrapped his arms around her and held her tight as a tear escaped his eye.