Angel looked awkwardly as Wesley continued to threaten the old married couple here in front of them in their motel room. He looks next door and saw the demon hatching from their eggs… Cordy gave them the wrong address, perfect. "Yup that's where you find termites, anywhere, like next door."

Wes looked at Angel nodding his head telling him that's the direction to go he looked at the couple one last time. "Sorry!"

The two ran up and broke open the door just in time to see the last baby skewered by a swordsman and trail of energy leave the demon and enter the sword and through the sword, to the swordsman in jeans and a leather jacket from the looks of it.

Angel's eyes lit up in shock mainly because he hasn't seen the swordsman in two years. He'll be damned he survived all time. "Xander!"

The swordsman turned around and had a crooked smile in disbelief seeing who it was. "Oh, hey Deadboy. What are you doing in LA, is Buffy here?"

"I live here now and Buffy, we broke up." Angel answered kind of in shock. When Xander disappeared after Halloween he just figured something ate him in his righteous knight get up. "And where the hell have you been for the past two years?"

"Sorry to hear about you and Buffy, and roaming demon hunter." Xander answered as he wiped his sword on the bed cleaning all the blood and guts off it. "You?"

"Detective"

"That's nice, got a gun?"

"Got fangs and a broad sword, not as nice as yours."

Xander looked at his sword, if he only knew. "Trust me, I'd trade mine for yours any day."

Angel looked at him. "So, you're a vampire."

"No"

"Demon"

"Sort of… didn't want to set Buffy's supernatural alarm off after Halloween." Xander replied. "So what's with the mini Giles? Are you two a dynamic duo or something?"

"I am Wesley Wyndham Price a former watcher actually, currently a rogue demon hunter." Wes replied.

Angel looked at him. "So are you in town for long?"

"I usually stay a week before moving on a weekend if I can't find a place to crash." Xander replied.

Angel thought it through this might be the most civil conversation these two have ever had. Also he's pretty sure Buffy will stake him if he lets him leave right away. "Well you can stay with me. I'm sure Cordelia would love to see an old friend."

Xander looked at Angel with a fascinated eyebrow. "When you say Cordelia… is there another Cordy I don't know about, because I can't picture Cordelia Chase working with you?"

"She's changed a lot in two years just like you have." Angel replied he hasn't exactly mocked him like he was prone to in Sunnydale.

Xander nodded following the two out as his sleeve seemed to just eat his sword. "Let's just say I've seen enough Angelus wanna bes to know the difference between Soul and Demon."


The next morning Angel was awake pacing the floor because Cordelia's late. He was taken back seeing Wesley run into the door flustered holding a book and an axe. "I knew it something happened to Cordelia."

Wes looked at him confused he barged in wielding an axe of course he assumes danger. "What, no it's this Xander fellow… I think he's here to kill you."

Angel looked at him well it would explain how the two are getting along. "Why?"

Wes opened his book to a certain page. "His sword it's called Kriss. It's a blade of redemption in a way, supposedly evil can use the sword to purify their souls by using it against something evil, to cleanse the wielder's soul, particularly vampires."

"And what better way to do that then Angelus." Angel realized.

"Tempting, but I'm not going to kill you. And if I was I'd do it in your sleep and be long gone by the time Giles Jr came back. Also I'm sure Buffy would track me down for it." Xander said as he stepped out with groggy eyes and headed to the fridge. "You got anything to drink besides B positive?"

Angel shrugged seeing his point. He senses power on him. "We'll stop and get coffee on the way to Cordelia's."

Xander nodded as Angel went for a coat and turned to Wes. "Where is Cordelia anyway?"

"She's on a date." Wes informed him.

Xander let out a smile he can't wait to see Queen C lay the smack down on Deadboy for this one.


The three quickly walked down to Cordy's apartment when to Wes and Angel's surprise Xander quickly sped up and ran into the apartment Angel right behind him.

Xander ran into Cordy's room and suddenly stopped with Angel. Wes joined the two in silence at the sight before muttering by god seeing the sight of a very pregnant Cordelia with a nine month stomach.

Cordelia looked at Angel in a bit of shock. "Angel, I'm ready to wake up now… I'm ready to wake up now. I - I don't seem to be - waking up."

Angel looked at her. "It's not a dream."

Cordelia looked at him. "Of course it's a dream dumbass." Cordy pointed behind him. "Not only has Xander been dead for two years, you two came in here buddy buddy, especially if he ever found out about Angelus' return."

Xander frowned seeing this is new and she had a flat stomach yesterday. "It's real Cordy… whatever happened last night… it's real… it's nice to see you again."

Cordy frowned and almost sunk into herself. "Oh god, help me."

Xander sat down on the edge of the bed he's wondering if Kriss can kill a god now. "We're going to, alright. What do you remember?"

Cordy shook her head almost in tears. "Well, we went to the club. And Wilson and I just sort of hid out on this couch and we talked and talked and then he drove me home and I asked him in. – He was really nice. And we ah, - you know? - It was normal. He was normal and it was safe, it was - it was all really safe!"

Angel did his best to calm her. "Shh, shh. It's okay. Have you talked to Wilson?"

Cordy shook her head. "No. I haven't talked to anyone. What would I say to him? 'I had a really great time. I think you left something at my place? I don't think this is right."

Angel reaches for her cordless phone and holds it out to her: "Whatever is happening to you, he may have some answers."

"I can't."

Angel kept the phone out. "Just dial his number and I'll talk to him."

Cordy takes the phone and dials: "Oh, God. I'm being punished."

Wesley shook his head trying to comfort his former crush. "You're certainly not being punished. This is... We'll get to the bottom of it."

Angel takes the phone and hears: "The number you have reached has been disconnected, there is no new number at this time."

Angel hangs up. "He's not answering right now. I want you to rest, and we're going to handle this."

Xander looked at her. "Yeah then we'll drag Wilson here so you can beat the hell out of him, you're not alone in this."

Cordy looked at her belly fearful. "That's sort of the problem, isn't it?" Angel, Xander, and Wesley look at each other. "Could you guys - just leave me alone for now?"

Angel gets up. "We're going to be right outside."

They leave and close the door. The box of tissues floats up from the night stand and one of the tissues floats over to Cordy who takes it, blows her nose and blots at her eyes. The blanket moves up to her neck and Cordy sighs.


Angel hung up the phone getting through with a contact. "Thanks."

Wesley looked at him. "Any luck with your contact?"

Angel shook his head. "Wilson's home and business phones have been disconnected, no unlisted numbers, no forwarding addresses, no criminal record."

"Well, that's something." Wesley quipped.

Angel sighed. "I'm guessing it's some kind of procrea-parasitic demon."

Wesley nodded in agreement. "Hmm, a demon who can only reproduce by implanting a human woman with its seed. Yes, I've heard of such entities."

Xander's eyes lit up in fear. "Oh god, I've been to the aftermath of one of these. The human mothers…"

"Rarely survive labor, and the ones that do, wish they hadn't." Angel finished.

Wesley looked at the door. "If she's that pregnant in one night, she could give birth at any moment."

"We have to move fast." Angel ordered. "You're gonna have to see what's inside her."

Wesley looked at him shocked. "I beg your pardon?"

Xander glared at him. "Prenatal exam you idiot."

Wesley looked at the two "Oh, of course. And what about you two?"

Angel glared at him. "I'm going to find Daddy."

Xander nodded. "I'll catch up to you Angel; there's someone I have to catch up with first. Might be able to tell me something."

Angel nodded. He's not even going to question it seeing this is almost a completely different Xander. Anything to help Cordelia and two people means it will get done twice as fast.


Xander looked to the skies in a forest and shouted. "WE HAD A DEAL YOU SON OF A BITCH! GET DOWN HERE!"

Xander backed up as lightning struck at his feet causing him to back up seeing a man dressed in white and blue with a stupid looking hat. "Perhaps you've forgotten but we hand an agreement."

"No, you were on the way to hell and I gave you an instrument to free yourself." The man corrected.

"Yes, and I told you to look out for my friends and I'd be your demonic bounty hunter." Xander countered as Kriss came down to his hand. "Cordy being full of groin spawn about to eat their way out of her stomach says you failed!"

The man looked at him with a fascinated eyebrow. "What do you intend to do attack with swords and chains, very metallic weapons?" Seeing that got Xander to back down for the moment he continued. "Cordy will only die if you let them be born. I suggest you find your friend with the gigantic forehead and save her."

Xander watched as the man disappeared Xander only muttered under breath. "Gods are dicks."


Xander walked the city it took him two hours but he finally found Angel along with another pregnant woman whom he is assuming is a friend of Cordelia's. She wasn't helpful so the two returned to the hotel lunch in hand.

Xander walked in and Angel separated to go for the phone book. Xander walked to Cordelia with a pizza in hand. "I come bearing cheese and bread, I really ought to patent this..." He looked at her. "Figured you could use something that wasn't pig's blood."

Cordelia smiled and took a slice. "Well you and Willow must be laughing hard now huh. Cordelia Chase, fresh out of high school already baby trapping a millionaire just as you guys said she would."

"I'm not laughing and if Willow is still anything like the Willow I remember she wouldn't be either. If not me and her are going to have some words next time I see her." Xander replied.

Cordy let out a smile and took a bite out of her pizza. "Could have used you last year. Buffy had this plan about gutting Faith and bringing her to Angel to feed off of."

Xander looked at her. "I'm kind of missing some chapters from that."

"Buffy tried to kill a human to save Angel." Cordy cut to the chase.

"Well I'm long over her now." Xander said bluntly he's not even sure he wants to go to Sunnydale to see Buffy after hearing that. but he's sure there's circumstances to it. "So anything else happen on the hellmouth when I was away?"

"I saved the world." Cordy offered.

Xander looked at her suspiciously. "Of course you did."

"I did." Cordy replied offended. She told the almighty Buffy and Faith, they didn't believe her either. Giles just laughed, and Willow went whatever. "How come no one believes that I saved the world? Well defenseless little Cordy saved everyone including your Willow."


Angel got the address and looked up with a smile seeing Cordy talking to Xander. She was so depressed earlier now she's talking to Xander like it's another day catching up with an old friend telling him the story of how she allegedly saved the world from zombies.

Angel came in breaking up the laughter for now though he hates to do it. "Xander, I got the address."

Xander nodded and got back to his feet. "We'll be back when this is over."

"Xander"

The Sunnydale teen turned around. "Yes"

Cordy looked at him. "I never thanked you for saving my life with Daryl and everything…"

"Save it for later OK." Xander told her leaving right behind Angel.

Cordy nodded and seeing the two off before Xander stuck his head back in.

"Oh, and I believe you about Jack and the other zombies." Xander said with a smile before leaving pulling a smile out of her.


Wilson shot a pistol at the gun club. They got the money. Now they just have to lay low until tomorrow morning and begin again. He takes his ear protection off and turns to find Angel and Xander standing behind him.

Wilson takes off the safety glasses: "You shouldn't sneak up on people like that in here." He dropped out the empty magazine and puts in a new one. "That's how accidents happen."

Angel looked at him in anger wondering how much Xander will let him get away with. Xander looked at him and wondered what was Cordy thinking. This idiot, she could do better. "Speaking of accidents. We're friends of Cordelia Chase."

Wilson looked at the two. "This is a private club. Featured word – 'private'."

Angel glared at him. "You don't talk to me, I'll kick your ass. Featured word - 'ass'."

Wilson let out a little laugh "Angel, right? Her boss? " He turns and points his gun at Angel's neck. "She told me all about you, man."

Angel grabs his gun hand, making him drop the gun, then twists him around and wraps one arm around his throat. "Yeah, well, somehow, I doubt that." Angel throws him against the wall. "You're human. Then you can't be the father." Wilson tries to get past Angel. "So you and your friends are just a link." He grabbed Wilson by the front of his shirt and pushes him up against a pillar.

Xander looked at him he was hoping for more of a fight but he's only human. "Well this was disappointing…" Angel glared at him. "What? I wanted to kill him."

Angel glared at him and turned back to Wilson. "How does it work? Those things come to term, she'll die. You do know that?"

Wilson looked at him. "So? I'm not telling you anything."

Angel had a bit of a smile. "Was so hoping you'd say that."

Angel hauls back and hits Wilson with a hard right. Wilson hits back, Angel blocks and hits him again, knees him in the stomach, then drops him on the floor with a left hook. Wilson's buddies come in just as Angel gets down to pull Wilson up and hit him again.

Wilson's friend looked at Angel. "Hey! Uhmm, - someone's mommy didn't teach him to play nice."

Wilson picked himself up: "You two have no idea what you're dealing with."

Xander rolled his eyes getting the story from Cordelia about evil Angel. "No I got it, everyone but me is a sad little eunuch."

Angel looked at the collective group. He'll deal with Xander later for that eunuch comment later. "You know, I'm starting to get the big picture here. You guys proxy for big daddy demon, he imbues you with his life force or whatever it is you're implanting in these women."

One of them smiles. "He has trouble finding his own dates. We just - help him out a little, that's all."

Xander had a smile of his own a telepathic link. "Oh good, so we can save the girls by killing daddy."

Wilson glared at his friend. "Shut up, Jason."

Angel looked at the group "And you get what in return, fame, money, success? That's it, isn't it? How else would losers like you get ahead? I mean, you'd have to become procreative surrogates for a vile demonic entity."

Jason with a smirk: "Well, mostly, I do it for the sex."

Jason's response was met with a cold right hand from Xander that did a lot more damage then Angel thought it would as three of his teeth went flying out and scratch marks appeared over his face like he got clawed.

Xander was pushed away by Wilson and held back by Angel. Wilson looked at him and smiled as he said. "Welcome to Los Angeles. There are worse things to be in business with."

Angel gets right into Wilson's face: "Where is he? Where is this demon you worship?"

Wilson smiles as one of his friends pulls a gun from under his sweater. "Even if we did tell you where to find him, it wouldn't matter, since you're both about to have an accident."

Wilson pushes Angel back into Xander, catches the gun Nick throws him and shoots Angel three times in the chest. Angel doubles over groaning as Wilson passed the gun to Jason.

Jason looked at him and asked. "Any las word smart s!"

Xander acted like he was thinking before replying. "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!" Jason shot him three times as he doubles over falling to one knee.

Angel watched in morbid curiosity as Xander's seemingly now green blood pushed the bullets out in mere seconds and healed him. What is he part mohra demon now?

The guys' smirks disappear when Angel straightens up in vamp face. Followed by Xander whom is not even scratched.

Angel kicked the gun out of Wilson's hand: "I really don't like it when people shoot me."

"Right there with you buddy." Xander replied standing up straight.

Angel proceeds to beat the crap out of the two guys. Xander grabbed one and threw him at the wall face first knocking him out. He looked at Jason and smiled doing the same punch again knocking two more teeth out. At the end Angel kicks Wilson backwards through a glass door when to the surprise of Angel and Wilson a chain wrapped around Wilson's neck and pulled him to Xander.

Xander looked at him with a bit of a creepy smile. "Now you're going to tell us what we need to know."

The two listened as Wilson ran down the address and Xander simply flung him away as the chain went back to hiding seemingly in his jacket. He turned around and was greeted by a punch to the face by Angel.

Xander held his face. "What was that for?"

"Not a eunuch." Angel replied.

Xander walked out of the building with Angel right behind him and sees him going to the payphone. "What are you doing?"

"I gotta call Wes see what we're dealing with?" Angel pointed out.

Xander looked at him. "We don't have the time!"

Angel looked at him. "I'm not going in half cocked, especially with Cordy's life in danger."

Xander glared at him. The images of several woman with ripped open stomach flashes through his mind. "Fine, then you call watcher Jr. and I'll kill the demon."

Angel looked at him as he ran off. "Harris get back here! If you get Cordelia hurt I'll hunt you down to the day you die!"


Xander walked into the 'oh blessed' birthing room. He looks over and sees the girls all now dressed in ceremonial robes with the last one robing up for the ceremony. He makes a motion with two fingers making a tiny circle. "Dang, missed it by that much." He kept walking knowing the demon is controlling the women with a telepathic link.

He walks over and holds his breath at the brownish yellowish… he's going with stuff he doesn't want to know what that is. "Cordelia" He walks over to the edge of the concoction. "I think it's time for you girls to go home."

Cordy looked at him with submissive eyes. "We don't expect you to understand."

Xander looked at her. "No, I understand you're being brain washed by demons attached to your placenta." That is not Cordy's baby. He walks up the steps to stand on the wide concrete rim of the vat, and crouches down beside Cordy. "You'll die unless you come with me, you all will and, what the hell is that? I've traveled three countries and never smelled anything that bad. Now don't make me come in there after you because no one's going to leave happy if I lash out."

Cordy looked at him. "We serve our master."

Xander rolled his eyes "Fine!" A chain shot out of his arms and grabbed Cordy but before it could go tug the ground began to shake with thundering footsteps. They all look at the huge twenty feet Hacksaw demon stepping through a hole in the wall with a pure demonic look of rage.

Xander gave an innocent shrug. "You're a big one… no wonder you need losers to pick up chicks."

The demon looked at him. "Who is the interloper to think you could disturb the birth of my children? Who are you?"

Xander looked at him, "Xander Harris, rogue demon hunter for Raiden god of thunder." He pulls out his sword. "Now kill your kids or I'll kill you."

The demon pointed at him "That sword! You!?" He let out a low laugh. "You have no idea what you wield."

Xander smiled holding the blade. "Supposedly Kriss the soul purifier. Also known as Datusha the vampire slaughterer, it's sort of a win win for me."

The demon growled. "You said you came here to do battle, then lets fight and be done."

"OK." To Cordelia's shock Xander ran like Angel could and jumped onto the demon's stomach repeatedly stabbing it in the stomach.

The Hacksaw groaned in pain but grabbed him and pulled it off. "You think you could kill me. Even a sword as powerful as that is a mere needle to me. Now let us end this."

Xander shouted in pain feeling his insides being squeezed. "Come on ribs stay together."

Cordelia's eyes could only widen in fear seeing Xander pulled ever close to the demon's mouth but she remained silent. The Hacksaw's mouth began to close but a series of spikes came out through the top of his head as he shouted in pain and was forced to spit his meal out as Xander rolled along the floor dropping his sword.

Xander looked at himself covered in hacksaw saliva. "Eww!"

The demon roared at him. "So you are more then a mere mortal with a sword."

Xander nodded as his eyes were seemingly replaced with glowing orbs. "Yep, on Halloween I went as someone with more problems then even me." Xander eyes turned into green orbs as he stretched stretched his arms out as a black shadow materialized from his jacket seemingly overcoming him as complete body and face armor, red gloves and bracers appeared on his hands arms legs and knees followed by spikes Xander waited as a white mask with devil horns as the top covered the rest of his face making him look like a demonic knight with green eyes as a red cape draped over his back.

The demon looked around and saw a fallen pillar and threw it at the Sunnydale Teen. Xander acted quick as the cape closed around him and hardened to steel as the pillar just split in two around him on impact.

Xander stood up as the steel became a cape again and chains shot out of his arms. He threw the chains upwards from his arms wrapping around the Hacksaw demon's neck. The chains grew spikes as he manipulated them like a chainsaw cutting into the demon's neck and his head fell clean off and the body fell. "Chump" He looked over at Cordy and saw she and the others were still pregnant. "What the?"

He turned around and saw the Hacksaw beast's body getting back up. Much like with Jason earlier spikes came out between Xander's knuckles as he went to punch the head but Xander was smacked away by the body. Xander flung his wrist as a chain wrapped around a pillar and he pulled himself to it. Spikes came out of Xander's fingers allowing him to land on the pillar and climb up to the roof of the shrine.

The demon's head looked around for him. "You flee from our fight! Are you a coward!"

Unseen to the Demon's head Kriss floats up to the roof in a green glow.

"Hey!" The demon looked up and saw Xander behind his body as the Sunnydale native smiled. "Goodbye daddy demon."

Xander jumped down as green energy coursed through Kriss overtaking the sword but still growing until it was long enough to cut through the demon at the shoulder cutting him in half starting with the heart as the two pieces of Hacksaw body hit the floor. Xander let the hellspawn armor recede to his lower back where he keeps it. He's not a fan of it and hates using it.

The women in the vat scream, their bellies slowly deflating. Cordy looks around then walks up the steps out of the vat.

Xander watched as the energy went from the demon's body into Kriss then into him. He looked up and saw Cordelia walking to him. "Cordy?"

Cordelia took the sword off him and repeatedly stabbed the Hacksaw in the head just to make sure.

After the tenth swing Xander grabbed her gently by the shoulder. "It's OK."

"No duh dumbass." Cordy replied knocking Xander down a peg. She's not a little cry Buffy "I just really hate dating, so do you mind."

Xander shrugged. "Have at it."

Xander let her go as he led the other women out and back to their cars. Xander turned around and saw Wesley with Angel holding a giant canister of liquid nitrogen.

Angel looked at him. "We're… here to save you."

"Thanks" Xander replied.

Cordelia came out and handed Xander his sword back. "Thanks for that."

"Yeah, no problem." Xander replied sheathing Kriss back in his jacket.

Angel looked at the two in utter confusion. "Cordy, exactly what happened in there?"

Cordy rolled her eyes. "Xander cut the demon in half." She turned to him with a smile. "So, you mind staying at my place tonight so we can catch up?"

"Sure"

Angel looked at her. "Are you sure that's a good idea. I mean I'm worried about your safety."

Cordy looked at him. "Well, my place wasn't an invitation so he can't get in if he's a vampire which he isn't, I'm no longer a demon mama because of him and oh yeah… Harris just made the fifty foot demon his bitch! I'll be fine."

Xander looked at Angel. "Decapitation"

Angel looked at him. "What?"

"Decapitation, It's pretty much the only thing that will kill me." Xander clarified. "So, if I pull anything tonight Angel will kill me tomorrow. Probably have a battle axe waiting for me."

Angel let out a bit of a smile. Yeah they're different from what they were in Sunnydale but he can just put his sixteen year old face on the body. "I'm going to go sharpen it. Come on Wes"

"But shouldn't we…"

"She can take care of herself."


Xander walked Cordy to the door and to his surprise it opened for them. Xander looked at her, "I thought you lost all your money how can you afford a doorman?"

"That's not my doorman, that's my ghost." Cordy answered. "Thank you Dennis."

Xander looked up now that she's not in danger he can look around. "Huh well, it's nice to see you still live in style."

Cordy nodded. "A good friend helped me get this place at a steal. With Dennis even so do you want to shower first or should I?"

Xander looked at her. "You, nothing personal but I can still smell that yellow brown stuff on you."

Dennis seemed to agree as they heard the shower running. Cordy smiled and went to get changed with Xander watching her till the door closed to make sure she was OK. Xander turned around and smiled seeing the butcher knife at his throat. "If I take advantage of her after the day she's had, feel free to use it."

He watched as the butcher knife went back into the kitchen as he sat down on the couch and watched TV as the remote floated to his hand.


An hour later they were both showered as Xander came out in the same clothes. Cordy caught two bottles of beer Dennis floated to her and sat down on the couch in a grey shirt and jean shorts. She looked at him and waved a spot for him to sit down. "So, where were you before LA?"

"Last week I was at a strip club in Mexico. You'll be happy to know there's a lot less vampire like creatures out there now."

"I mean since Sunnydale." Cordy asked. "Why did you run?"

Xander leaned back against the couch. "My whole world changed. Do you remember Halloween?"

Cordy nodded and leaned back with him. "Yeah, you went as Saint John or something right? Because Buffy went as lady helpless."

Xander shook his head. "Close I went as a knight to match Buffy, Sir John of York. And Sir John of York had his own share of problems."

"Like being a demonic knight." Cordy pointed out.

Xander nodded. "Something like that. You see the armor I wear it was made in the world's it came from Hell. And if I die with this thing still attached odds are I'm going to be dragged to hell with it."

Cordy looked at him. "So you travel the world killing every demon in sight with that blade trying to destroy the armor."

"Pretty much" Xander answered.

"That sounds… very lonely." Cordelia summed up her idea on Xander's life.

Xander shrugged. "I got used to the feeling after a while besides, it's not exactly like I had this great social life in Sunnydale."

"Hey, you got no one to blame but yourself on that one." Cordy replied having a laugh. "Anytime anyone attacked Willow you were like a pit bull with a bone."

Xander tilted his head and laughed. "Did you just call Willow my bone?"

"I had a rough couple days OK." Cordy finished. "Besides, half the school thought you and Willow were boning anyway."

"And the other half?" Xander asked.

"Jessie then Buffy" Cordy quipped.

Xander looked at her and laughed. "OK, so what did you think?"

Cordy shrugged well he did ask. "I honestly think you were just too stupid to realize a girl liked you when she did."

"Hey!" Xander protested but was quickly punched in the arm by Cordelia.

"Hey yourself" The cheerleader replied. "I practically threw myself at you after Daryl and you were oblivious to it, honestly I was waiting for the day you realized Willow was a friend with boobs." Cordy looked at him. "And yet at the drop of a hat you picked a fight with a fifty foot demon to save me."

"I couldn't let you die Cordy. I might want to kill you myself sometimes but we're still friends." Xander replied as their two heads moved closer together.

Cordy looked at him and regained her focus. "So where you heading to next?"

"I don't know." Xnader replied.

Cordy looked at him trying to figure this out. "Well you don't have to leave there are always demons here. And Angel Investigations could always use another fighter."

Xander smiled at her. "Is that you giving me a reason to stay?"

"I don't know." Cordy replied as they got closer again. "Just trying to figure it…" this time they kissed and it quickly deepened as unknown to those two a blue energy left Cordelia and entered Xander.

'When I get that feeling, I want sexual healing.'

When that music hit Cordy quickly shot off the couch. That's gotta be the first time Marvin ever killed a mood "Well, I'm going to go to bed, goodnight."

"Good night" Xander replied as Cordy bolted for bed. What the hell was he thinking. She's been through enough for one day. The armor is still a ticking time bomb. He'll leave at sun rise before she wakes up. "Thanks Dennis."


The next day Xander was outside of Angel Investigations at the crack after dawn even Angel will be asleep. He walked up and collected his motorcycle not the fanciest way to travel but it works for him as he drives out of LA. He comes up to the now leaving sign as his eyes glow green. "What the fu…"

He proceeds to hold his head with both hands and falls off the bike as an almost like a video of a teenage girl being shredded by a demon hits him. Xander looked around and saw the vision has stopped but it was about ten blocks back. Xander quickly hopped on his bike and went in the other direction. It took him two minutes to get there and saw the demon chasing the girl down. He grabbed Kriss and wasted no time throwing it into the demons stomach killing it as the energy left Kriss and went to Xander.

"Well, you are predictable."

"And you're…" Xander turned around and saw a metallic demon and red eyes. He was undoubtedly the coolest demon he's ever seen not that he's keeping score. "…The Terminator…"

"The name's Skip, and sadly I'm here to kill you." The demon replied.

"What did I kill your evil wife or something?" Xander asked.

Skip shook his head. "You took something that didn't belong to you. Now I got nothing against you kid. But I gotta crack open your skull to take it back."

Xander closed his fist as the hellspawn symbiote surrounded him turning him into the demonic knight. "Sorry, I don't die that easily."

Skip tired to rush him but five chains quickly snatched him up wrapping themselves around his arms legs and neck as the chains started to glow green melting through his steel hide. "Oh sh…" The demon's arms legs and head were all swiftly removed killing him instantly.

Xander looked at him as the symbiote peeled off and back to his spine. He watched as a bolt of lightening struck revealing Raiden. "Oh yeah, now that the fight is over. What the hell are you doing here?"

"I must work quickly hold still." The thunder god ordered as he put his hands on each side of Xander's head as bits of lightning coursed through causing him to groan in pain as the god chanted.

Xander held his head groaning in pain and kneeling on the floor. "Ok seriously ow, what did you just do?"

"I have binded the visions to you. So they can not be transferred to another." Raiden replied.

Xander looked at him with a glare usually saved for demons. "Why would you do that? I had one and I'm not exactly fond of them."

Raiden looked at him. "Because that was my plan all along."

Xander looked at him, he planned this. "What the hell are you talking about? What plan?"

"I will tell you everything, but you will not like everything I tell you. Maybe even hate me." Raiden warned.

Xander nodded, everyone has an alternate motive anymore. "I'm not that fond of you as is, so let's hear it."

Raiden looked at him and prepared himself for what was coming. "You're not cursed. You never were."

Xander's eyes lit up as he quickly punched Raiden in the face with a spiked fist. "You son of a bitch I'll rip your lungs out." Xander went to rush the thunder god but someone ran up and grabbed him.

"Easy kid, he's on your side."

"Like hell!" Xander shouted at the man… well semi demon. "Now let go!" He looked at him. And He thinks calling him badly dressed would be an understatement. Even by his standards that shirt is awful not to mention the hat.

Raiden got to his feet and held his arms together as lightning surged through. "I do not want to hurt you! Please! Just remain calm so I can talk to you."

Xander shouted as the symbiote came out and he became the medieval hellspawn. Easily knocking the semi demon off him and almost growling at Raiden with Spikes and chains.

Raiden held his finger up showing lightning coursing through it. "You're a living lightning rod… Look how I quiver in fear."

Xander looked at him as the symbiote receded he's fought side by side with Raiden more then once these past two years against Oni and vampires. Not only would he conduct electricity, Raiden could fry him enough till his head pops killing him. "So what's this explanation?"

The half demon got up and dusted himself off and stood next to Xander. "No offense Sparky, but I think it will be easier to just tell all three at once."

"I agree"

Raiden grabbed the two and all three disappeared in a flash of lightning.


Cordy sat in Angel Investigation playing with her breakfast. Angel's the best cook she knows and even this food can't cheer her up. "Can't believe the dweeb just bailed like that, you know for someone whom he hated, he certainly picked up a lot of your moves."

Angel looked at her Harris is dead next time he sees him. "I'm sure he had his reasons."

The two watched as lightning struck the floor revealing to Cordy Xander, and two other people. One kind of reminds her of Doyle.

Angel looked at them and instantly recognized one of the new guys. "Whistler, what are you doing here?"

"This is Raiden, god of thunder, guardian of earth, we have to tell the three of you a whole lot of things." Whistler replied. "And you're not going to like a lot of it. You mind if we sit down and join you?"

Angel shook his head and quickly whipped up a breakfast plate for Xander and Whistler.

Raiden looked at them. "Now before I begin let me start by saying my actions saved millions perhaps billions of lives." He pointed at Xander, Angel, and Cordy. "And the three of you were the key."

"Oh my god." Xander said as he turned to Cordelia. "These eggs are amazing. How is someone without any taste buds such a good cook?"

Cordelia smiled. "I know right, especially for someone on the liquid diet."

Angel glared at the two. "Children!"

Whistler let out a smile. "Let's try this stop me when it sounds boring. There was once a vampire with a soul, cursed for all the bad things he did, but destined to become a hero. Boring right? Like all hero stories it needs a girl, vampire slayer by trade."

"Not boring but you are at dull." Xander pointed out.

Whistler nodded in agreement. "Well much like most superheroes you need a certain tragedy to strike that final cord. So, the vampire slayer drowned, leaving Angel to suffer extreme guilt when he realizes what happened and that it happened because he was a coward. He no longer cared about what's right or wrong, he just wants several pounds of flesh from the vampire that did it. He slaughters the vampire's cult and in a grief stricken rage kills the Master and vows to honor Buffy by being the champion for the innocent in Sunnydale with Xander, Cordelia, Willow, and Giles at his side. Two of his childes find out that he's usurped the master and come to Sunnydale only to find out the truth about the soul. Spike doesn't mind because it will help him cure Drusilla. However while the curing is going on the Scooby gang as they often do break up the ritual. Cordy not feeling anywhere near what Buffy felt for Angel having those feelings for Xander decided not to cut Angel free but to simply stop the ritual by staking Drusilla right then and there setting her free from her madness. Having lost Dru Spike loses his passion for the world and decides everyone dies. He fails with the judge, and Angel's big day comes when the two clash with the swords of Acathla, Angel scoring his big day by sending Spike straight to hell. Does any of that sound familiar?"

Cordy looked at him. "Are you high, except for the drowning that's not how any of it happened!"

Whistler shrugged in acceptance. "I know, but that's how it was supposed to happen." He turned to Xander. "Until Fate's sledgehammer over here showed up and destroyed everything. He showed the powers that the grand design can be changed by free will." He turned to Angel. "He chose to shame you to help and chose to go down to save Buffy."

Raiden picked up the story from here. "And when one of the higher powers realized the grand design could be changed she made her own plans for the grand design. One that would ensure her, her own reign on earth, and millions lost even if she had failed."

Xander looked at Raiden and had a good idea how this went from his time with the Thunder god. "I take it you being the guardian of earth objected to this higher being's plan?"

Raiden nodded. "She quickly put her plan into fruition by moving you and Cordelia closely together after Daryl. However, the power seeking this planet is an immature petulant child. I would not let her take earth without a fight. I sought out the assistance of the elder gods and they told me the keys were the heart, the seer, and the vampire with a soul. So when she made her plan for earth. I made plans of my own. Starting with Halloween."


October 1998

Raiden looked his clothes over the purple shirt the khaki pants… he hates masquerading as a mortal. Ethan looked at the customer and saw the faintest trace of power on him. "May I help you sir."

Raiden looked at him and knew he was a chaos mage. He looked at the suit of armor. "Yes" He handed a wad of money to Ethan and pointed to Xander. "I'd like to buy that suit of armor for that boy."

Ethan looked at him. "I'm pretty sure he just brought a toy…"

Raiden's eyes flickered with power as Xander's toy gun exploded.

Xander looked at the broken mess. "Ok, that was defective." He looked over at Buffy and Willow stopped in their tracks by an old dress. Xander rolled his eyes. Walk around as Angel's version of dinner wonderful idea if he ever heard it.

He sees the shopkeeper sell Buffy the dress and he rolls his eyes. Great Buffy's going like that… sexy and wild my ass.

Xander looked up and rolled his eyes seeing the knight's costume. He watched as the shop keep came up to him.

Ethan looked at the suit of armor, it seemed kind of different. "You know that blond just brought a dress that goes with this."

"That obvious huh?" Xander asked and looked at the name tag. "Sir John of York… well maybe G-man can give me a sword to use. So how much?"

"Free, provided you tell no one that the gun that exploded came from here."

Xander smiled. "Throw in the two bucks from the gun and you got a deal."


Back in the present Xander shot a glare at the thunder god. "You've been planning this thing for two damn years now? Why the hell did you trick me into leaving Sunnydale with that cursed soul crap?"

"I needed you off the hellmouth." Raiden answered. "So the higher power couldn't use your love for Buffy and turn it into jealousy against Angel. So she couldn't take the love you and Cordelia had and used it against you."

Cordy's eyes widened at that revelation. "Wait, you mean to tell me that, me and him, we were supposed to be a thing."

"Is that a shocker to you cheerleader?" Whistler asked.

Cordy looked at Xander and can see it. He's a genuine demonic hero like Doyle was and she was ready to give him a chance. "Not anymore."


Wesley came into the office with a smile seeing Cordelia. "Cordelia it's a pleasure to see you back so."

"Wes sit down!" Cordy practically barked and Wes took a seat.

Xander turned back to Raiden never getting an answer. "So why send me away why turn me into well…"

Xander let the symbiote took over and spread creating the red footwear and armwear followed by spikes at certain areas. He almost growled as his eyes turned green and the armor covered his face followed by the white mask that resembled a helmet with devil horns. "This"

Wesley looked at him and did what he could to speak. "No wonder you showed no fear fighting the Hacksaw."

Angel looked at Xander but looked away. "It's not that impressive."

Xander smirked as the symbiote receded. "Not that I'm complaining but what was the point of that?"

Raiden looked at him. "Because of the three you were the only one that was negligible,"

Xander glared at him as his eyes turned green. "Screw you Thor wanna be,"

Raiden took a breath. "I meant you were negligible until today. You needed to learn how to fight for today… although admittedly I thought the fight with Skip would last longer… but I'd like to think those two years gave you plenty of time to master your powers."

Angel turned to Whistler. "Not that it's not an interesting story, and I'm guessing some sinister plan but, how do I factor into it?"

Whistler looked at him and explained he always was impatient. "It takes a lot of stars to line up for a higher power to give birth to itself. No human can even handle a preg…"

Cordy's eyes lit up cutting him off. "Oh come on! How many things want to impregnate me with it's mystical offspring! And no way on earth, would I ever be stupid enough to give him a happy!"

Whistler looked at her. "Trust me princess you don't want to know who you did… would have done."

Xander looked at the god of thunder. "Skip said I stole something that I shouldn't have. I went through all my pockets, I don't have anything that wasn't mine to begin with except for a slight migraine that started off much much worse."

Whistler looked at him with a smile the crazy hat bastard pulled this off. "That's what Skip wanted. I'm guessing you saw someone in trouble this morning."

Xander gave a weak nod not sure what that meant but it was Cordy whom was laughing. Xander turned to the Sunnydale mean girl. "What's so funny?"

Cordy stopped and smiled her brain is thankful. "You took my visionity."

Xander looked at her. "As I heard it from anyone whom Tom was willing to brag to that ship sailed fresh… Ow!"

Wesley looked at him rubbing his side. "Are you OK Xander?"

Xander nodded. "Yeah I fell kidney first into Cordy's elbow." He turned to the girl. "And for the record if you think last night was that you have worse parents then I do."

Cordy glared at him. "Visionity dumbass, not virginity, you took my visions when you kissed me."

Angel looked at his employee. "You kissed her."

"She kissed me." Xander countered.

Cordy smiled with a cup in hand. "Do know one thing for sure not gonna miss having my skull ripped open and hot lava poured in."

Xander glared at her now he's got it. "Yeah, you're welcome."

Raiden cleared his throat getting their attention. "The fact of the matter was this thing intended to use the three of you to crawl it's way into the world using the visions. That is no longer a possibility. The visions are yours to bear now Xander, until you die. I doubt the other powers would want you people flying blind."

Xander looked at him given what he's walked away from for the past two years. "And how long is that?"

Raiden looked at him. "While you're not likely to die a violent death save for one way, the armor only extends to outside your skin you can still age and be afflicted with human diseases."

Xander looked at the god. "Just one last thing, why Kriss?"

Raiden let out a small smile. "That armor you wear drains the users life force. The blade draws energy of the demons it vanquishes. That's what you're tapping into instead of your own life force whenever you use that armor. I had to make sure you'd be alive long enough So Cordelia could pass the visions onto you."

Angel looked at the two. "So that's it then."

Whistler nodded. "You three still have great destinies ahead of you. Especially the princess here, her whole life is hers now."

Raiden looked at Xander for which will likely be for the last time. "The rogue power has been stopped and the millions of lives she'd have ended, and the souls she would have devoured have been saved. "This concludes the business between us Mr. Harris. I thank you for everything you've done and sacrificed. You've saved millions farewell."

Xander looked at the departing trail of lightning as Raiden and Whistler disappear. He lost out of two years with his friends because of him. "Don't even think of calling me again! Manipulative bastard."

Xander sat down with everyone there taking some time for all of that to register. "So apparently we saved millions of lives go team us."

Angel leaned back he has a feeling that was more about Cordelia and the two of them just played a part. "So what happens now?"

Cordy looked at him and realized he might just leave again like he planned to. "So what's next for you?"

Xander thought about but drew a blank. "You know for the first time in two years… blue eyed slimey thing."

Wes looked at the teen. "Blue eyed slimey thing"

Xander held his head as his eyes glowed green and slammed it into the table as the vision hit him. "Oh god, Cordy wasn't kidding about the lava thing." Xander took a couple calming breath's as the hellspawn armor did it's job and fixed his headache right up. "I can figure that out later. Right now there's a girl at a place called Rodbell's that needs our help."

Angel led the way followed by Xander, Cordy, and Wesley. He has a feeling as to what Xander is going to choose to do with his life. Now, how will Cordy react to the pay cut.


Xander hit the pause button before the next story started. "Well that was weird."

Willow nodded. "You mean the guy in the tiki hat stopping Cordy from becoming the vessel for Jasmine."

Xander looked at his best friend."No, I actually meant me and Angel as a Lethal Weapon like team but that too.

Buffy snagged the remote from her best friend's hands She wishes Xander and Angel had that much respect for each other in this world. "And next chapter"


Author Notes

I wanted to try something different then X kicks Spike's ass.

Spawn is owned by Todd Macfarlene so I'm assuming that goes for the medieval version too. Raiden is owned by the WB.