Title: Matters of Death
Author: Caliadragon
Fandom: Buffy/Highlander
Disclaimer: None of the characters of Buffy or Highlander belong to me. I am merely enjoying the situations and ideas that come to me to write.
Warnings: Unbeta'd, Angst, Age Regression
Feedback: Is appreciated, you can do it here or at
Part: 1/1

The harshness of the weather pounding down outside the window of a small room barely touched the young man lying still in the hospital bed. At his bedside sat a beautiful brunette, with blue eyes and a face made red from crying. Sitting in various places in the room were more young people, all of them in various states of upset.

They looked up as the door opened and an older, handsome gentleman walked into the room. "How are they?" The brunette asked tightly.

"I'm sorry Dawn, neither Buffy or Willow made it through surgery." Rupert Giles said softly. Dawn buried her face in her hands and wept.

That morning Willow, Buffy, and Xander had left the slayer central to have breakfast together just the three of them. When they reached the dinner it was being robbed. The robbers shot Willow first. Xander moved forward to protect Buffy only to be shot next. They shot Buffy in the head, now Willow and Buffy were dead and Xander was in intensive care.

Rupert moved to her and turned her in his arms, holding as she sobbed out her heartbreak. His face was ravished by grief and loss. Three men hyped up on drugs killed two of his children and may have killed a third. Spike and Faith sat snarling softly, "I want those bastards dead G." Faith growled, feeling helpless by the knowledge that she couldn't kill them.

As her words died a figure appeared. They all shoved to their feet at the sight of D'Hoffryn. Dawn stared at the elder demon and began to gather magick about her, just as Kit and Carlos began as well. Giles stepped away from Dawn and did the same. "Relax little witchlings, I am not here to cause damage to Alexander. The Powers have done enough of that on their own." D'Hoffryn rumbled out as he walked to Xander and placed a hand on his chest.

"All over the world we felt the mortal demise of the Immortal Witch and the Immortal Slayer. We have come to transport their bodies to the Council before the Mundane World learns of the supernatural." D'Hoffryn said calmly.

"What about Xander?" Dawn asked, shocked to hear about Willow and Buffy's immortality.

"I can do nothing for Alexander, no one of power can. The Old Ones have cursed him. If we do anything for him, he will be returned to childhood. He will be three mortal years old. This would give him new parents of course." D'Hoffryn said looking straight at Giles, giving the older man a hint.

Dawn grabbed Giles's hand and gasped. Faith looked at her father figure and down at the man dying on the bed. "Do it Rupert." Spike urged fretfully, Methos eyed the elder demon and then looked to Rupert and nodded his agreement.

Rupert looked at his children and friend and nodded. "D'Hoffryn I am formally wishing for you to help my son Alexander heal from his injuries."

D'Hoffryn smirked and nodded, "Wish Granted. Good Luck."

Seconds later the group was away from the hospital and standing in slayer central with Willow and Buffy staring at them in confusion and a three-year-old Xander hugging his Mommy. "Joyce." Rupert breathed out. Joyce Summers-Giles smiled widely as she was mobbed by her family and children.

Methos looked at Duncan who was staring at Willow and Buffy with a troubled look on his face. Duncan looked at Methos and then smiled, "You do realize that you won't be able to get away from Buffy now don't you?"

Methos grinned widely. "I'd have it no other way Highlander."