Xander didn't know if he should laugh or cry when his brothers told him about the Ghost Facers. Sure he knew people like that existed but really. Sadly they learned the hard way about dealing with ghosts, and it cost the life of a young man. He supposed he lucked out in Sunnydale that most of the people there were too deluded and ignorant to try and help. Though when he thought about it a surprising number turned into villains. Probably a side effect from the mayor's spells.

Currently they were off trying to find out what was killing random people for body parts. It reminded him of the time Chris brought his brother Daryl back and tried to build him a girlfriend. The mere memory made him shudder.

Meanwhile he had to work on their 'secret weapon' against the demons. Needless to say he had serious doubts about it. Dean agreed with him, which made him feel better. Sadly Sam had looked so hopeful about it that neither could disagree to at least try.

Not that Xander didn't think it was possible, he'd pulled off stranger things. But would he be able to control it in the end? Or would his brothers end up hunting him?

If he was honest with himself that last thought probably held him back the most. One of his greatest fears in Sunnydale was becoming the thing he hunted, especially after what happened with Jesse. He still had nightmares about waking up with sickly yellow eyes and a ridged forehead.

It probably didn't help that he already had some experience with this particular issue.

With a heavy groan he flopped back onto the hotel bed, wishing for all the world he didn't have to do this.

"What's with the suppressive depression?"

The sudden voice had him jumping to his feet with a yelp.

"Whoa! Calm down there kiddo," Loki stated, hands up in a placating manner. "If I was gonna attack you I'd have already done it."

"Not exactly reassuring but I'll take it," Xander groused at the being. "What are you doing here?"

Loki out on ever present chocolate bar and bit off a piece. "Call me curious. I want to know what you yahoos have come up with to defeat the big bad prophecy."

One brow rose up. "That so? I thought you said nothing could stop it?"

"Well… things change. Especially when there's a chaos child involved." The other shrugged outwardly looking as if the topic didn't bother him, but his eyes told a different story.

"Uh huh. To answer your question we have a plan. It's not a great one but it will work," he advised.

"Okay… so what's the plan?" Loki looked much like a kid waiting to be told that Santa didn't exist.

"I need to channel Nala and kill Lillith before the Hellhounds take Dean," he stated calmly.

Loki blinked. "Who the hell is Nala?"

Xander snorted. "I figured for an angel you'd be more 'knowing'. Nala is a primal spirit that possessed me back in sophomore year of high school."

Another blink of the eyes. "You were possessed by a primal?" A nod. "And you weren't catatonic afterwards how?"

"Don't know. The others that were possessed by the rest of the pack were in therapy for a long time, but Nala decided to hang around, so maybe that's why."

"Wait. She's still in you?" Loki gave him a disbelieving look. "And you're actually in control?"

"We made a deal. I wouldn't keep her locked in the back of my mind, I'd hunt from time to time and she lets me stay in control. I think the fact I hunt demons also helps. She really dislikes most of them," he explained.

Loki sat heavily into one of the chairs by the table. "This…this could work. Even Mikey wouldn't mess with a primal. So a demon shouldn't be a problem." He trialed off when he saw Xander's frown. "What is the problem?"

"I'm… well worried that if I do call her forward I won't be able to get back in control. Not because I don't trust her per say, but I might not be strong enough," he admitted softly.

"No problem. If it seems like you can't get control back, I'll pop in and help give you a nudge."

It was Xander's turn to blink. "You'd do that? Help me I mean?"

"Sure." The entity shrugged as if it was no big deal. "You'd be doing the world a favor by not letting Deano get taken to the pits. And any wrench into the big guy's plans makes me happy."

"You do know the prophecy wasn't His plan," Xander said gently.

"What do you mean?" Loki looked confused and more than a bit flustered.

Xander sighed heavily leaning on his knees as he told Loki all they had learned from Kasha had told them. The explanation left one very upset Trickster, or should he say Angel as the man's grace started to get brighter in his anger.

"You're saying it was all set up by this Deihok asshole and that's why Dad created you guys?" A hesitant nod. "No wonder he made it a clear order to protect you all! I thought he did it to test us! That stupid old…" Thankfully he broke into a language Xander had never heard before, though the teen guessed the sentiment didn't contain any niceties.

However, the continued brilliance of the glow started to hurt Xander's eyes. "Loki! LOKI! TURN IT DOWN!"

The slightly pained cry managed to brake through the Angel's tirade and he instantly forced himself to calm, controlling his grace once more. "Sorry kid. Got a little upset."

"Hey, no problem. I'd be the same in your position. It sucks learning about the things people hide from you to 'protect you'. When in reality if they had just told you the truth, you'd have a better chance of actually protecting yourself."

Loki eyed him for a moment as if searching for any deceit, but in the end just nodded. "You got that right. And now that I know the truth you can defiantly count me in. I like this world, no way am I gonna let some half bit prophecy made by the enemy ruin everything!"

"Now you know how I feel about it." The two shared a smirk.

Silence filled the room for a bit before Loki let out a long sigh. "So all this time Dad wasn't trying to replace us?"

"I'm not that best person to understand parents. Mine seemed to either hate me or not care. But watching Mrs. S I realized that parents that really love their kids, would move Heaven and Hell if they could in the hopes of keeping their kids alive, safe and happy. I think maybe your Dad was trying to do that, but he didn't know how to tell you," Xander murmured softly. "Sometimes they can't because it's something you need to learn on your own."

"Shame most of us are too hardheaded to learn," Loki snorted.

Xander grinned. "That's when you knock some heads together."

Loki laughed. "The looks on their faces if I did! That'd be priceless!"

Once he managed to get his humor under control he turned back to the teen. "Okay kid. Let's work on your control."