"Urgh, guys make it quick, what's up?" Xander asked rubbing his head.

SG1 were in shackles lined up along a lake shore.

Teal'c was standing on the edge of a small jetty with a hood on his face, hands and feet bound and weighted.

A fat overweight man with more finery than any of the other people gathered seemed to have was speaking.

"Archangel, Saint Michael, defend us in battle. Thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl upon the Earth. Amen."

He then pushed him into the lake.

"Save Teal'c!" Daniel screamed.

As Xander vanished Michael appeared.

"Who called my name!" He demanded fiercely. He was in full heavenly garb and shining very brightly.

Needless to say the whole village dropped to their knees. Although the fat man just stared at him.

The next second Xander was standing next to SG1 in full armour holding up Teal'c.

He lay the Jaffa down and set up his healing generator. He then set about breaking the chains on SG1.

"DEMON!" The fat man screamed pointing at Xander.

"You dare accuse a holy warrior of the Almighty of being a demon!" Michael raged.

"But-but-but… look at him!" He screeched. "He looks like a demon!"

"And you look like a fat, greedy glutton. But you don't hear me shouting such accusations!" Michael retorted.

The fat man looked very insulted at that.

Michael ignored the man and turned to Xander and SG1. "Is Teal'c well?"

Xander banished his armour. "He'll be fine in a few seconds. Apparently he was beaten pretty badly."

"Lord Xander, I request that you take this planet under your protection." Michael requested formally.

"The Good Book speaks of no such being called 'Lord Xander'!" The fat man squealed.

"And just how old is the Good Book?" Michael demanded as he rounded angrily on the man.

"Many thousands of years." He said haughtily.

"Then don't you think, you moronic simpleton, that certain things might have happened since then? Something tells me you aren't in the book, and you certainly aren't older than 50 years at the most!"

"Erm… er… Lord Michael?" Jack struggled for the correct honorific.

"Colonel O'Neill, a pleasure to meet you again. It is always a heartache to find people such as this one who do evil in the name of the Almighty." Michael said with a sad smile.

"Having met the Almighty, I can definitely say that it is even more personal to me now." Jack agreed. "Just thought you should know that the Canon there, has a ring. Calls down lightning."

Michael spun back round.

"You stupid fool. You not only lead these poor souls in your heresy but you use the tools of demons to enforce your will." Michael had gone straight back up to livid.

"Your crimes are abominable. Your punishment is death. Hades will not have you. But Lucifer might." Michael swung his sword cleaving the mans head in two. From top to bottom.

Michael turned away from the corpse of the fat Canon and headed over to SG1.

"I expect this one will cause at least two jumps on Xander's score board?" Michael grinned.

"Oh har de har." Jack said scowling.

"Why is Xander looking so… green?" Sam asked.

"There were some problems back home. He will be fine in a week or so. Try not to get into trouble till then. I will see him back to Gaia. Please ensure that some of Xander's Jaffa come to help stabilize the locals." Michael said.

"Sure. Gotta plan a fight with an Unas first. Seems to be working for Sokar." Jack said.

"An Unas? You have access to your weapons?" Michael asked.

"Yeah." Jack said.

"Then it will be fine. Unas are relatively slow. Attack from medium range. That way you can chase it down if it runs." Michael advised. Then he vanished grabbing Xander for the ride.

SG1 just looked at each other.

Jack shrugged and wondered off to the villagers.

"Oh Simon!" He sang.

Xander was saved from minor call outs. There were a few early issues but once everyone was told Xander could now respond to a summons but needed to adjust first, they quickly calmed down.

The Scoobies and SGC were surprised to find out that God had activated Xander's ability to travel between dimensions.

She felt the Fallen required a little more of an example of how much they screwed up by giving Xander free reign throughout various dimensions. He had no authority, but he now had the ability and right to travel across dimensions as much as the heavenly host could.

Hades had taken up Xander's training in dimensional travel as his realm was a different dimension and he was very happy to have Xander visit.

It was a rather shell-shocked Xander that returned to the library one Thursday evening.

"Xander, you look like you've seen a ghost!" Giles commented, a little worried, the boy had just gotten to grips with being able to be summoned. "You emdidn't/em see a ghost? Did you?"

You had to be cautious on a Hellmouth.

"Xander?" Buffy asked.

He was just sitting there.

"Yo Xan!" Faith said lobbing a book at him.

"OW!" It got his attention.

"Thank you Faith." Giles sighed.

"You ok Xander?" Willow asked.

"I suppose." Xander sighed. "I met someone today. A reunion of sorts." Xander said leaning back. He was still trying to wrap his mind around it. "Jesse."

Now Willow went white.

"He's a back as a vampire?" She asked in horror.

"What? No!" Xander exclaimed. "I was training with Hades. He took me to his realm. Where the dead go that don't deserve heaven or hell." He exclaimed.

"Jesse didn't make it to heaven?" Willow asked, tears in her eyes.

"Don't worry Wills, heaven is for people like… I dunno, the Saints like Peter and John. But Hades realm is… he called it a better version of Utopia." Xander smiled as he remembered. "Jesse is very happy. Says that if you make it to Heaven to come visit him."

"The Realm of the Dead is a lot like Earth. Just no disease, no hunger, no money… Star Trek without the Klingons and Romulans." Xander tried to explain. "Let me put it to you this way. If you feel you need to fear dying, that is fine. But you have no need to fear death."

"Then… why do we need to worry about the Hellmouth opening?" Faith asked.

"Ah! Let me answer that!" Gaia said as she suddenly appeared in a surprised Xander's lap. "If the Hellmouth opens, then all of my domain, across all realities, will become a part of Hell. All current residents of my domains will become tormented souls of Hell… there is no escape, no fighting back… even a glimpse of Hell would drive you completely insane, just as sure as hearing God's voice would kill you.

"And, no. You can't die in Hell and then wind up in the underworld. There is no death in Hell, only torture beyond imagination." She finished with a shudder causing Xander to pull her against him in a hug.

"Right… death good… Hellmouth bad." Buffy said with a shudder.

Xander and the gang were pensive over the next few days. The realization that the afterlife was waiting for them, and that it was a good thing, was kind of hard to swallow.

They were jolted out of their funk one Saturday when the Scoobies and SGC… and a rather shocked Queen of England and President of the United States found themselves in the Bronze.

The SGC was quick to surround the Queen and President and assume a defensive zone.

The only attack was the combined cries of 'surprise' from Gaia, Hades, Michael (and pitiful moan) the Metatron.

This earned a smack from the Almighty as everyone dropped to their knees.

"Oh pack it in." The Voice moaned. "Won't be much of a party with you all on the floor."

"Party?" Cordelia perked up.

"It is Ale-OW, I mean Xander's birthday." The Voice reminded them as he was 'corrected' by God.

"It is?" Jack asked.

Willow was mortified. "It is! I can't believe we forgot!"

"We have been busy, Wills." Xander assured her.

"We've been twiddling our thumbs for the past two weeks whilst researching the Mayor." Giles exasperatedly.

"See, busy. Takes a lot of work to move those thumbs correctly." Xander remarked.

"Enough talk. Dancing time!" Gaia cried as she grabbed Xander and danced to the music that suddenly began.

"Do you have to sound like Caboose when you say that?" Xander grinned.

"I do not! You take that back." She said in mock horror.

God meanwhile had grabbed a stunned Willow and was dancing into a frenzy.

General Hammond had assured the Queen that she was perfectly safe and that it was unlikely that her presence would be missed. God had arranged the party after all.

Joyce was very flustered at being in the same room as the Queen of England and the President. But Jack O'Neill pointed out that she had already been in the same room as God. She felt a bit silly after that. Although the Queen chastised him for being mean. Then went off snickering with the rest of the ladies.

"Congratulations Jack." Daniel said slinging an arm around his friends shoulder. "You've gone from starting intergalactic incidents to incidents in our own back yard."

"What's next for our intrepid leader?" Sam quipped.

"Knowing my luck, inter-dimensional incidents." George muttered as he headed over to the buffet God had made.

Much dancing was had by all. Everyone danced with everyone… of the opposite sex. Except the girls who don't seem to have the same inhibitions as guys when it comes to dancing.

That and the Almighty dragged them all out.

She somehow managed to convince the Queen to dance to a ballroom tune once. But then… who exactly is going to deny the Almighty?

Eventually the party died down. On advice from Hades, Gaia and Xander. The Queen was to contact the President the next day and ask to meet with General Hammond and himself. The explanation being… God said to.

The party guests were sent home to resume whatever they were doing.

All that was left were the Scoobies, two gods, two angels and the supreme ruler of all existence… and then some.

"I err… have to steal Xander." Gaia said blushing slightly as she vanished grabbing his hand.

"Well it's about bloody time." The Metatron groused.

"Problem?" Oz asked.

"No, our dear Gaia is about to confess her feelings and the future to young Xander." Hades explained.

"Ah." Oz said.

"About bloody time." Giles concurred.

Gaia had brought Xander back to the river where she had first brought him. They hadn't been back in ages.

"Ok, so there are some things I have to tell you." Gaia said as she turned away from Xander. Nervous would be an understatement.

"I love you." She said bluntly.

Xander just stared at her.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" She demanded eventually.

"I love you too?" Xander asked with a smirk.

"I'm serious Xander." She said tiredly as she plopped down on the grassy floor.

Xander sat down opposite her.

"I know. So am I." He told her with a small smile. "Didn't at first. Found you attractive and very much had you on top of my 'wish I could date you list', but I figured you were… out of my league." Xander told her.

"What changed?" She asked.

"I'm not really completely clueless about women. You have a body that is pretty much human. You cry when you're sad. Your heart races when excited. Your pupils contract when you look at a light. So I knew you liked me when your heart sped up when you came near me. You'd sigh contentedly when we touched. Your pupils dilated when you looked at me. If you could love me, then why shouldn't I be allowed to love you?"

Gaia just stared at him. Mouth hanging open.

Xander smiled and lifter her jaw to close her mouth. "I know that you're a goddess and I'm just a mortal champion. But I figured that if Hades felt it necessary to threaten me with his own personal torments if I broke your heart then I was probably allowed to try and make it work with you." He grinned.

"THAT LITTLE FINK!" Gaia screamed.

Xander just chuckled.

"When did he tell you?" She demanded.

"Last week. Said I wasn't allowed to do anything till you made the first move." He said scratching his ear.

"I'm gonna kick his but." She growled. "So that's how you knew?"

"Nope, known for a while. He just confirmed it." Xander said. "Oz was the one who convinced me with logic."

Xander held out his arms and Gaia moved to sit back into them as Xander hugged her.

"You know there are more things I need to tell you?" She told him.

"There always is." He muttered.

"Xander, I've been waiting for you since before time began. That is when She pointed you out to me. You already know that as a goddess I don't exist in time the same way mortals do. So I have seen some of the future. And you were the future I saw.

"You aren't destined to be just my Champion. You are destined to be my partner. My husband. As an equal."

Gaia took a deep breath and moved around to look at him.

"You are destined to become a god."

Xander hadn't been expecting that.

He had hoped there might be a way for him and Gaia to be together. Maybe even forever. But the fact that he was due to become like Gaia and Hades. It was confusing.

"What does that mean?" He asked.

Granted Gaia had amazing powers. She was close to God. She could enter Heaven at will. But what did it mean for him.

"From your point of view? Not much of an improvement. The more powers that are unlocked, the less you will be allowed to take direct action.

"It's one of the reasons we encouraged you to build a following. The Jaffa warriors will eventually have to do most of the work on your behalf."

"In other words, I'm going to experience what you did?" He asked glumly.

"Not quite." She said with a soft smile. "You will always have your armies. I had nothing, until I had you, just a few scattered practitioners."

Xander hugged her tightly. There always seemed to be a downside.

"When will this happen?"

"No idea. It could be within the next ten years, a century, a thousand years… no idea. She isn't sharing on the timetable."

"We don't have to hold off… dating… till then do we?" Xander asked suddenly very worried.

Gaia giggled. "No, it has no bearing on us. You will now experience a few… passive changes. You are more indestructible than Oz, but still killable. But you can outlive your armour now. You'll just need it for things like additional strength and invisibility."

"So I don't have to keep putting it on all the time?" He asked.

"Nope, bullets will now just bounce off of you, but you are technically human, so drugs and other stuff might affect you… just not magic." She grinned.

"Thank goodness. It gets a little dicey when doing a first contact and they see me in my armour!" Xander griped. "Is that it?"

"Your memory will be improved slightly. You need to be able to remember and differentiate between the various realities and dimensions. That's about it."

"So basically I just keep doing what I've been doing but be slightly more active acquiring the armies and whatnots of the guys I defeat and helping them as they need it?" He asked.

"Yes. You don't need to be anymore active in governing them but adding to their numbers would be good."

"Is any of this… secret? Ya know, classified?" He asked.

Gaia smiled. "No, none of what we discussed is secret. Some is private, but your goals and mission are not. Neither is your future god-hood."

"Well, that will make it easier." Xander sighed.

Xander pushed Gaia away slightly so he could her in the eye.

"So, would you go on a date with me?" He grinned sheepishly.

News of Xander's impending god-hood was met with shock.

Jack at first had to quell his own reactions. He had to explain it wasn't Xander becoming a god that troubled him, but the fact that it emsounded/em like someone claiming to be a god. Part of his own hatred for the Goa'uld.

Jack assured him that he had no problem with Xander becoming a god. He just had to deal with his own instinctual responses.

The Queen having had a full tour of the SGC and some of Xander's ships and worlds was not surprised.

She said it was a simple and logical progression.

"Having met both Gaia and Hades, not to mention the time I spent with your friends and Archangel Michael, it seemed obvious that you would one day join either the ranks of the gods or ranks of the angels.

"I am mildly surprised that you didn't become an angelic warrior. Having seen and heard of your work, it seemed more likely. I think though, that it might have more to do with your role of gathering followers that is pushing you to godhood."

During her tour, Jack had asked how she got past her security detail.

"I asked Lord Xander to collect me from my office and employ the same security details as when he first approached me. Only my personal assistant and head of my guard know I am gone. Sometimes secrecy is the best protection."

This was something the Colonel could understand. No one knew when the President visited the SGC.

Having spoken with Sayel about his impending godhood. The loyal Jaffa was overjoyed, wanting to declare a holiday and celebration.

They already felt they served a true god through Xander in the service of Gaia. But the fact that Creator was due to elevate his status was even better.

The Tok'ra, however, were much more wary when he met with their council to inform them. Like Jack they had huge reservations regarding anyone calling themselves a 'god'. They were used to Gaia, but still had to fight hundreds of years of instincts and thought of her as just a powerful being.

"Do the same for me." Xander suggested after Martouf had explained. "Don't think of me as a god. Just the same ol' Xander. Besides, the way Gaia tells it, I'll have more restrictions as a god. I can't interfere personally. I will need my people to work for me. Kinda why I want to get as much done as possible so they don't have to do much."

Martouf promised to remind the Council that he would still be Xander.

Garshaw approached Xander after the Council meeting.

"I seem unable to make any progress with Liam. His attitude is such that I can not in good conscience ask a Tok'ra to blend with him, even temporarily."

"He's that bad?" Xander asked in shock.

"We had to place him in a guarded cell." Garshaw said as she led him to Liam.

Liam, it seems, was not happy to Xander.

"What do you want boy?" He growled.

"You are aware that I'll have to kill you if you can't change your attitude?" Xander asked.

"We both know you won't touch me. Not whilst I'm human." Liam scoffed.

Xander didn't bother correcting him. He indicated Garshaw should follow him. They stopped once they were round the corner.

"He seems worse than Angelus, and nothing like Angel." Xander mused.

"He is worse than most Goa'uld." Garshaw noted.

"Hold him for now. I need to go and seek advice from Gaia, and possibly the Almighty." Xander said.

Garshaw nodded and Xander vanished.

Xander managed to teleport into the white space, or holy place as Xander though of it. God and Gaia were waiting for him.

"I'm guessing there was a catch with making Liam human?" Xander asked.

"It's not really Liam." Gaia said.

"They stuck Angelus in a human body with a soul?" Xander asked.

"There had to be a balance." God said. "And they had no right to remove Liam and place him unwillingly back in the body of a vampire, Hades was very upset when the Gypsies did it the first time."

"And even Hitler had a soul." Xander mused. "Is there any solution beyond locking him up or killing him?"

"You could ask Liam to return. He would need to be a vampire. And he would once again answer to the Fallen." God suggested.

"Is he needed? I don't like the guy, but I wouldn't want to pull someone from their rest." Xander said with a grimace.

"I can't tell you that." God said with a small smile.

"Could we at least lock his soul in place?"

"Of course. It is only the Gypsy magic that made the souls hold so tenuous." Gaia said.

"I assume the decision is down to me?"

"You have full authority to do as you feel is necessary." God said with a firm nod.

Xander ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

"Ok, I assume Liam is actually in Hades' Realm?"

"Yes, he was not destined for Hell, and certainly not for Heaven." God told him.

"Right, I better go see Hades and we can have a talk with him." Xander said as he waved goodbye and vanished.

He reappeared a second later and planted a kiss on Gaia's cheek. "Don't forget our date tonight!"

And vanished again.

"So." God said with a huge grin. "Date?"

"So Angelus is out there now in my old body, using my name?" The real Liam asked as Hades and Xander spoke to him.

"Pretty much." Xander said.

The real Liam was much more like Angel. Which made sense as he was Angel.

"And you are offering me the chance to leave here and become a vampire, still not be with or see Buffy and be in the service of the angels who joined Lucifer in rebelling against God?"

"Not much of an offer, but yeah. That's the deal." Xander confirmed.

"Ok, I'm in." He said with little pause.

"Are you nuts?" Xander asked.

"You really think I'll let that asshole mess with what little reputation I have?" Liam asked incredulously. "I know it's not the most ideal solution. But you said my soul will be anchored properly, right?"

"Yep, God's going to use the Holy Super Glue." Xander grinned.

Liam rolled his eyes whilst Hades snorted a laugh.

"Anyway," he said tiredly. "It's not like I'm going to be denied some happiness. But I will be working on making up for getting turned in the first place."

"Ok, well, lets get this done. Just so you know. I'll be sending some of my warriors with you to keep an eye on things and assist you. I'll refrain from sending Gary with you for now." Xander said. "Oh, and I'll be having words with the Fallen about making sure they treat you right."

The switch was seamlessly made. Angelus was sent to hell. Liam was returned to the 'living' in his vampire body.

Xander was now standing in the Holy Place addressing the Fallen. Gaia, God and Hades were present.

"Liam is back on Earth and under your charge. You will make sure to support him properly and ensure that he is informed of his duties. If you fail, I will deal with you myself." Xander said fiercely. "I'll not have you making another debacle like the Slayers."

"We will not be spoken to in this manner!" The lead male said. "We are the Powers That Be. We decide what is best for our Champions, not some mere mortal with delusions of grandeur!"

"Lord Xander, as has been told to you before, is no mere mortal." God said. "He is only mortal now. But he holds the authority of a god. In the coming days he will take up the full mantle of godhood."

The Fallen were shocked. No one had ever been made into a god. Not even angels. And this mortal not only was going to become one but knew it too. This was a whole different matter. They had already lost any chance for manipulation.

"As far as the rest of us our concerned," Hades added, "Xander is one of us. He need only ask, and he will have myself, Gaia and the entire Host of Heaven at his back. So try and remember your place."

Nothing more was said by the Fallen as God sent them away from her presence.

Xander was having a hard time with something God had said. He would take up the full mantle of godhood in the coming days.

Coming days.

That did not sound like a long time off. His people weren't ready for him to leave them yet. The Slayers especially.

A hand suddenly came to rest on Xander's shoulder, breaking him from his pondering.

"Don't worry, you have plenty of time. Coming days is just a phrase." God assured him.

"Still, I'm going to make sure that the tech divisions get to work a lot harder. They need to fill the gap when I leave." Xander said.

"Well, you have plenty of time. For now you and Gaia can go and enjoy your date. Jack and his team will let Garshaw know what has happened." She said sending them off.

After leaving the presence of God, Xander headed down to Los Angeles where Liam was currently waiting for him.

"Are you sure you want me so close to Sunnydale? Aren't there other hotspots worse than LA?" Liam asked as Xander appeared.

"Consider this me trying to show you an element of trust." Xander shrugged. "The only reasons I don't like you are because of the lies you told about what happened in the Master's cave, the fact that you refused to actively help out and that you slept with an under-aged girl."

"Yeah, not exactly proud of those myself." Liam muttered. "Some thing's different though, I feel… lighter, like I can actually be happier. Also, I can't feel the evil in me."

"Yeah, that's because the gypsies shoved you into the vampire body with the blood demon, they didn't remove it. The blood demon is currently receiving some very personal attention in Hell." Xander smirked. "Well, I am off. The Jaffa will be down in about an hour to take you to your new digs. They have been setting it up and getting used to life on Earth since… the demon was sent back. Call if you need me."

It was a warm night. The moon was full and reflected perfectly off Lake Superior. The food was delicious. It was the perfect midnight picnic.

Gaia was radiant as usual. But she had been done up by the girls especially. Xander had also been dressed up… by the girls. They had refused to entertain the idea of him dressing himself for this date. Everything was perfect.

Except for the water demon that decided to try and snack on them. Some kind of bi-pedal creature with tentacles instead of arms and lots of fins. It lasted about 6 seconds from the time Xander saw it to its head rolling from its slimy shoulders. But the mood was ruined.

The girls were livid. Cordelia forbade either of them from arranging a date. She just demanded Xander's credit card for the next time and told them she'd have the AI's transport them when necessary.

On the heels of the date of doom, disaster struck.

Buffy and Oz had run into some sword wielding vampires. Clearly out of towners.

Faith and Church had also encountered the sword wielding vamps. But during the battle some civilian had approached Faith and touched her.

Faith's survival instinct kicked in.

He died with a look of shock on his face.

Faith was devastated. She ran off leaving Church with the body.

"Church what's up?" Jack asked as he beamed in from the SGC.

Church and Jack were soldiers. They knew that accidents happen on the battlefield, Church was pretty much a prime example thanks to Caboose, Sheila and poor understanding of the IFF Friend or Foe system.

He hadn't bothered calling Giles. He had gone straight for the military.

"Some dumbass civilian entered an active battle, actually touched Faith and wound up dead." Church bit out. He was majorly pissed. He was considering asking Xander to head over to the underworld and kick his ass.

"Damn." Jack exclaimed. "Where's Faith?"

"Ran off, dropped this." He said showing the wrist communicator she had ditched.

"Xander it's an emergency!" Jack called out into the air.

"Jeeze Jack, no need to shout." The Champion said as he appeared. "Whoa, dead guy."

"Idiot decided to try and talk to Faith in the middle of a fight. Faith reacted naturally." Church said.

"She's scared and upset and ran off?" Xander asked.

Church just held up the communicator.

"Right. I'll just go see if I can sort her out." Xander said as he disappeared.

"You're not going with him?" Jack asked.

"Me? The poster child for Friendly Fire incidents?" He asked incredulously.

"Point."

One moment Faith was running through the back streets of Sunnydale. The next she was confronted by four more sword wielding vamps. But Faith didn't have the will to fight. In her eyes she was a murderer. She slumped. Ready to accept her fate.

The vampires had seen her in action earlier. They knew she was a vampire slayer. She would be a good kill. This would bring them much honour from their master.

There was a sudden flash of steel and the Slayer was gone.

A second later the heads of the four vampires hit the floor in an explosion of dust.

Faith looked around in shock. Wherever she was it was daylight. Some sort of river by a forest, lots of mountains visible nearby.

"Hear you had some trouble."

Faith spun around to see Xander standing there.

"Where are we?"

"Tonane's world." He told her as he sat down on a nearby rock. "Figured a change of scenery might do you some good."

"I killed a man." She said in defeat.

"Yeah, but having heard the situation from Church, guy was an idiot who got what he deserved."

"I killed HIM!" She screamed.

"Yeah, he died at your hands." He said as he got up and pulled her into a tight embrace.

Faith broke at that. She burst into tears. Xander just held her, lowering her to floor to sit in his lap as she cried herself to sleep.

"Xe-ls said you were out here." Tonane said as he approached the pair some time later. Faith still sleeping.

"Yeah. Had a bit of an incident back home. There was a battle. A civilian… villager decided to try and talk to Faith whilst she was engaged in armed combat." Xander said.

Tonane had a look that could only be described as 'Are you serious!'

"Yeah, I mean, who does that? Not like they weren't being obvious about being in a fight… there were swords and everything." Xander griped.

"She is strong, she will come to terms with it." Tonane said firmly.

"I hope so."

Tonane left and reappeared in a flash sometime later with Xe-ls.

"I brought some supplies from the village." He said as he unrolled a sleeping mat.

Xander lay the sleeping Faith down.

"I'm going to go and get Church and Giles. Stay with her for me?" He asked.

"Of course." Xe-ls said. Tonane was already starting a fire.

Faith woke sometime later with sleep-encrusted eyes.

It was nighttime and a fire was burning.

"You're awake." Tonane noted.

"Hey hun." Church said as he knelt beside Faith.

Church led the sleepy and very depressed Faith over to the fire. Xander had moved logs to sit on, he and Giles were on one whilst Tonane was on another.

Faith sighed. She was a murderer. All those big stories she made up. Now she had true ones. And they weren't entertaining.

"What… what's going to happen to me now?" She asked, not looking up.

Giles and Xander looked at each other.

"We'll head back home in a bit. You'll take the week off from school. George has arranged a councilor for you to talk to. After a week we'll see how you're feeling and go from there." Xander said with a shrug.

"What about a trial? Won't there be prison time?" Faith asked in confusion.

"Hell no!" Church exclaimed.

"Faith, the fight you were engaged in would be under the jurisdiction of the Council. But, Slayers are now under the command of Xander, Oz and Gaia.

"Any investigation would be conducted by someone Xander chose. I have, however, spoken to her Majesty and she is in full agreement." Giles explained.

Xander took over. "As Church was your partner, I don't need to do much investigating into your actions. Church's body is equipped with sensors both audio and video. I already saw exactly what happened.

"As someone who has memories of a man who was shot in the back by his partner… I can say you are not guilty.

"The only investigation I need to do, is to find out why the jackass decided to endanger one of my slayers!" He said angrily. "He could have gotten you killed by distracting you. If he hadn't died, I might have killed him myself."

"But I still killed him." Faith said morosely.

The four men sighed.

Giles decided to respond.

"Yes, he died on the end of a weapon wielded by you. Yes, you will always hold the horror of that moment.

"But that is why George set up the councilor for you. To help you deal with what happens.

"You need to remember something very important. No one, not the Queen, the President, Gaia or even God, holds you responsible for that mans foolish actions."

"I'll say, I heard what happened. I may have got carried away and laid into him a bit when he reached my realm." Hades said as he appeared by the fire.

"Cool, I was gonna ask you to do that anyway." Church grinned.

"Oh, Tonane, this Hades, God of the Underworld, where the dead go. Hades, this is Tonane, a good friend of mine." Xander introduced.

"Always good to meet new people." Tonane said. He had been a little shocked at the titles. But he seemed to like Xander and Faith, so he didn't think it was a big deal.

"Always good to meet a friend of Xander's." Hades returned with a bright smile.

"Xander, you need to head off to the SGC. It's time for you to get me that justice I've been after. They have the details." Hades said. "I'll stay here with this bunch till you get back or someone relieves me."

Xander grinned a little maniacally. "Cool!" He said. He got up and walked around the fire to Faith.

"Come with me a moment." He said.

Xander led a curious Faith a few meters away from the camp.

"Your going to be fine. Buffy and the others are worried about you, so they are waiting eagerly for word. I figure you're not going to accept it wasn't your fault for a while, so I wanted to tell you the first thing that God ever told me personally. She said 'I'll still love you, even when you make mistakes. I'll be waiting for you.' She feels that way for all of us. So, if you feel you made a mistake, just remember we all still love you."

Xander kissed her forehead and vanished.

Faith stood there for a minute. Thinking about everything.

She suddenly felt a small pair of arms wrap around her. She looked up into sad smile of God.

She cried.