Child of the Hellmouth

calikocat

My Girls

word count: 9514

XXX

"That's supposed to be masculine right?" Cordelia asked him as they went over one of the Spanish worksheets.

He glanced at the sentence. "Yeah...damn."

"At least we're doing better."

"Yeah. God I hate Spanish."

"Xander."

"What?"

"Your bag is beeping." He blinked, she was right; there was a beeping coming from it. "Is it a bomb?"

"Nah, it's my communicator." He reached inside and pulled the compact out.

"And here I thought you were carrying makeup around."

He snorted and flipped it open. Kurama appeared on the screen. "Hey Kurama."

"Xander, is this a bad time?"

Xander gave a sort of apologetic smile. "Er...sort of. We're studying for a final."

Cordelia blinked and moved so that she could see the screen, her chin resting on Xander's shoulder. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Kurama. "Hello."

"Oh. Cordelia-san?"

Her voice was almost frosty. "Yes?"

"Forgive my intrusion, are you well?"

"Perfect."

Xander started to sweat a bit and cleared his throat. "Was there something you needed?"

Kurama smiled sadly. "You might want to call Yusuke soon. He worries."

"I'll do that. Thanks Kurama."

"You're welcome. Take care." The screen went blank.

He closed the compact and glanced at her. "What was that about Cordy?"

"I don't like boyfriend poachers."

"But you like Spike."

She smirked at him. "You and Spike and I go well together."

Xander blinked. "Cor I love you, but sometimes your logic makes less sense than Spanish."

xxx

"Are you sure Buffy is here?" Larry asked him as they walked through the cemetery hand in hand.

Kyle gave him a little smirk, even as he tilted his head and listened. "Oh yeah, she's here. She's wailing on some vamps up ahead."

Larry looked ahead of them, listening carefully. "I can't hear anything."

"You will."

They walked a bit farther; the sounds of a battle were now within hearing range. Larry blinked at him in surprise. "Those hyena perks you have are pretty damn awesome."

"They have their moments." He tugged Larry along. "Come on."

When they finally saw her, Buffy was indeed wailing on some vampires, in fact it looked like they weren't even trying to fight back. Larry nudged him. "Is that one unconscious? He's not moving."

"Could be, she's been kind of testy lately."

Buffy still hadn't acknowledged them, she was too into the fight, one sided as it was. "Tell Angel I'm tired of waiting. I'm taking the fight to him." She hit him again, and then dusted him.

Kyle rolled his eyes, but kept their distance, it wouldn't do to sneak up on her. "You realize they can't deliver a message if you dust them. Right Larry—Larry!" With only that as a warning Kyle darted around his boyfriend and staked the vampire that had tried to sneak up on them. "You okay?"

Larry blinked, slightly wide-eyed and pale. "Yeah, thanks."

"Welcome."

"Hey guys." Buffy gave them a little wave, then staked the unconscious vampire laying on the ground. "Where's Xander?"

Kyle shrugged. "With Cordy, where else? They're hitting the books; he said they'd do a sweep later tonight."

She blinked. "Is there a new demon? Oh wait finals."

"Yeah."

She sighed and slipped her stake back up her sleeve. "We should probably do that too...hit the books. I have a French final tomorrow."

"I can help you with that." Larry offered, she gave him a confused face. "Oh, I'm in the French club."

"Wow. Neat. Let's go then. We're book bound."

xxx

His eyes snapped open. The lighting in the room was wrong; sunlight should be pouring in through the eastern window of his room. Xander sat up, blinking, and looked around. The heck?

A door opened and Cordelia came out, her hair damp from the shower, towel wrapped around her. It was a very short towel, a towel he could approve of. "Morning."

He blinked at her, forcing his eyes away from her legs. "Uh..."

"Don't worry; Gweny is making coffee, and breakfast."

"Uh...did we..."

She smiled at him, well it was more of a smirk really, and then she leaned down and kissed him. "If we did, you would remember."

He smiled back at her and kissed her again. "So...oh...damn. Finals start today." He gave her a hopeful look. "Did we get any studying done?"

"Some, before and after patrol."

"Well, let's hope something stuck." He looked around her room. "Do I have clothes here?"

"Yep."

"When did that happen?"

She grinned. "After your mom gave you the box of condoms."

xxx

Willow nearly ran into Rhonda as she exited the library, text books under her arm. "Oh hey. Did you need something?"

Rhonda steadied them both. "Just looking for Book Man. Everyone else is busy and I needed someone to go over my study sheet with me."

"Oh, Giles got a call early this morning from the curator of the museum."

Rhonda shifted, as if going into alert mode. "Another mummy?"

She smiled and gave Rhonda a comforting pat on her arm. "Nope, some sort of relic or something was found by the construction company that's building those new apartments."

Rhonda relaxed, almost instantly. "Huh."

"But I have some time before class, so I could help you...if you wanted."

"Cool. I'm pretty sure I know what I'm doing, just wanted a double check."

Willow took a step back and backed into the library. "Come on, let's look over those notes."

xxx

Kyle took his usual seat beside Xander, who spared him a glance and a nod before trying to become one with his notes once more. However his last moments of study were not meant to be.

Kyle shifted and focused his attention on Xander. "So I called your house last night to see how patrol went...and your mom said you didn't come home."

Xander shrugged, vainly trying to concentrate on his notes. "Fell asleep at Cordy's."

"Really."

Xander lifted his head and let his gaze fall heavy on his beta. "Any more questions Kyle?"

Kyle grinned, uncowed and unrepentant. "Nope."

Xander snorted. "So how'd patrol go?"

"Couple of vamps in a routine sweep. Larry staked his first one. We met up with Summers. She got two, I got one. Then we went to her house for a couple of hours to hit the books. You?"

Xander shrugged, and closed his notebook; obviously he wasn't going to be looking at it anymore before the final. "One vamp, one demon, the demon was Clem so we hung out for a bit." He gazed at Kyle for a moment. "I'm glad you're getting Larry some slaying experience, since he's in the know it's better for him to be prepared. But Heidi and Rhonda aren't taking their boyfriends on patrol are they?"

Kyle smirked. "Nah. Rhonda's got Owen cured of his danger fetish, and Ben has no idea about our night life." He blinked. "You didn't ask about Tor's girl."

"Teresa? I don't think she wants to take part in our extracurricular activities. She's just happy knowing enough to stay safe."

They both shifted, coming to attention when their teacher walked in the classroom, stack of finals in her hand. Kyle put his books away and grabbed a pencil. "Ready?"

"Ugh, no." He gave a heavy sigh and did the same. "I hate finals week."

xxx

Five of them were sitting at a table in the cafeteria. Willow was happily perched in Oz's lap, Buffy was sitting in her own chair beside them, and Cordelia was sitting beside him. Xander sat with his head laying heavily on the table's surface.

"I don't know if I'll survive finals week. I mean I only had the one today...but it pretty much fried my brain."

Cordelia gave his shoulder a comforting pat. "Poor baby, but you know, when we studied last night you knew most of the material."

He caught her hand with his and pressed a thankful kiss to her knuckles. "Cordy, sweetheart. I don't even remember what final I just took."

That got a round of giggles from the girls, and a mild smile from Oz. Kyle sat down on Buffy's other side. Willow gave him a wave and Kyle waved back. "It was Spanish." He supplied helpfully, obviously referring to their conversation.

Xander let his head hit the table top again. "Oh god."

Cordelia rolled her eyes, her hand still in his. "You did fine. Your B-C average will remain intact."

Willow wrinkled her nose, as if trying to puzzle something out. "How come you picked up Japanese so easily and Spanish gives you so much trouble?"

He shrugged, not bothering to sit up, and ignored Kyle's smirk. "Kind of hard not to pick it up when everyone around you is speaking the language, and my sister-in-law is brilliant and helped me out."

"How is she by the way?" Cordelia asked. "Its Keiko right?"

He nodded, finally raising his head again. "I haven't heard recently. I figure things are stressful enough without me calling and bugging."

Buffy frowned. "Something wrong?" Kyle used the distraction to steal one of her fish sticks.

"Huh? Oh, no. She's expecting...you know...a baby." He grinned. "I'm gonna be an uncle."

Willow perked up. "Really?"

Buffy showed a bit of excitement as well, a spark coming into her eye that he hadn't seen in a while. "Have you gotten her anything?" She smacked Kyle when he tried to steal a second fish stick, Kyle pouted.

He blinked, distracted by Kyle's antics. "Uh..."

Cordelia saved him. "I've already been shopping. I'll send the presents with him when he goes back to Tokyo this summer. Unless of course I go with him."

"Huh?"

She smiled at him. "Gotta keep Kurama from getting his claws back into you."

Oz raised a hand. "I think I missed some part of this conversation."

Willow snuggled into him a bit, while handing Kyle a slice of apple. "Kurama is one of Yusuke's friends, and he and Xander dated some."

"Yusuke?"

Buffy nodded. "Xander's brother."

Oz was putting the pieces together. "Who lives in Tokyo."

"Yep, half brother." Xander confirmed. "Good old Tony Harris slept around, before and after marriage. He was in the Navy before he married Mom and was stationed in Tokyo."

"Ah."

Buffy moved her tray further away from Kyle, but did hand him a roll. "Speaking of Tokyo and trips there, how about you Will? Are you going to go hang with Kagome this summer for some miko training?"

Willow huffed. "My parents are being difficult, but I think I've just about got them talked into it." She smiled. "In the meantime Kagome has been translating some scrolls to help me with my training. Now, are we on for our study date after school? Chemistry waits for no one."

Buffy nodded. "We'll rock it."

Cordelia grinned. "Wow Willow, you're really getting into this teacher gig. First filling in for Jenny and now tutoring."

Xander snorted. "Willow's been tutoring since elementary school. Otherwise Jesse and I would have flunked out."

"Its not that they were bad students precisely." Willow added. "The teachers just had trouble explaining a lot of things to two little boys who were constantly on sugar highs."

"You were the one always bringing brownies." They grinned at one another.

"But yeah, I really like teaching. I might even make a career of it."

Cordy nodded. "It's good to think ahead. Most of the class doesn't even think about life after high school."

"Some of us do." Kyle added.

"Yep." Xander smirked. "Kyle's thinking about being a Spanish teacher, or a magazine editor."

Buffy nearly slumped in her seat. "Meanwhile the rest of us are lost."

He rolled his eyes. "Don't say that Buff, you have plenty of time to decide what you want to do."

Willow patted her hand. "You just haven't found what you're looking for yet."

Xander straightened and looked up. Snyder was across the room and coming toward their table. Kyle noticed his change in body-language and became alert, glaring at the troll as he approached.

Snyder sneered at Xander and pointed to his hand that was still clasped with Cordelia's. "What's this? Hand holding? This isn't a picnic people, and you!" He glared at Willow who immediately slipped from Oz's lap to her own chair. "These displays of affection have no place in my school!"

Cordelia tried to slip her hand from his but he squeezed it gently, even as he glared at Snyder. "Principle Snyder. Is there something you wanted? Besides taking your uber repressed teenage angst out on us?" He smiled and bared his teeth, his eyes flickering. Kyle did the same, growling as he bared his own pearly whites. Oz even shifted to look at the little man, his eyes turning solid black.

Snyder gulped at the new development and backed away before turning tail and not quite running away. Kyle snickered. "I love doing that."

Willow slipped back into Oz's lap. "Oz?"

Xander smiled a reassuring smile at his newest pack member. "Easy Oz, the danger is past. Take a deep breath, let it out slow."

He did and his eyes cleared. "Thanks."

Xander nodded. "You should probably have Willow help you meditate."

"Will do."

"You know." Buffy started. "That was the most fun I've had today."

Cordelia laughed. "Amen sister."

xxx

Spike watched them in mild amusement. Sometimes Angel was just so damn gullible, it was fun to watch Dru lead him on a bit.

Angel circled around her, all curious eyes and eager steps, like a demonic spaniel. "Did you have a vision?"

"Hmm." She smiled prettily at him...funny; it no longer even stirred his own demon when his sire acted like this anymore. Not when he had two other brunettes that were very much interested in him.

"Is something coming?" Angel whispered against her ear.

"Yes." She hissed back. "Something so terrible, it whispers Daddy. My Angel, it whispers so many wonderful and dreadful things."

"Where is it? This terrible and wonderful thing?"

God it was like a crappy American soap opera, their antics nearly made his stomach roll.

"The museum." She giggled. "There's a stone, a tomb. With a pressie inside."

"Really?" Angel asked, a look of wonder on his face. "You can see all that in your pretty head."

Spike snorted. "No you ninny, she read it in the morning paper."

Angel gave him a put-upon look, like it was his fault Angel had been led on, and snatched the paper from him. His eyes lit up like a demented two-year old on Christmas Morn when he saw the picture of the tomb. "Oh yeah."

"That's it. That's what I've been hearing. Isn't it pretty?"

"Oh yeah."

Spike felt a chill go through him. Angel and Drusilla both had that suicidal-apocalypse gleam in their eyes. He only hoped he'd be of some use to Xander and Cordelia. The last thing he wanted was the world to end or those two beautiful brunettes to end up dead.

xxx

Cordelia's hand tightened on his sleeve as he stared in shock at Buffy and Willow. The others were in much the same state. He swallowed. "You found what now?"

To her credit, Buffy looked a little shell-shocked herself. "The curse, for Angel's soul."

Willow was almost jittery in excitement. "Jenny was able to translate the curse, the one that her ancestors used to restore his soul."

Giles looked like he was having trouble breathing. "She...she said it couldn't be done, that those magics were lost."

Buffy handed him the translated pages. "She didn't give up."

Kyle's shock had worn off some, as he growled a bit. "And now she's in a coma."

Buffy nodded. "I know."

Cordelia tugged on his sleeve. "This...this is good though, right? We...well not me obviously, I don't have mojo powers, but he can be cursed again, right?"

Giles looked over the spell. "Perhaps, but something like this is very dark...and very much beyond my capabilities. None of us are well versed in the darker magics."

Xander cleared his throat. "There is someone." That got several stares. "Amy."

"That is true...but this is..." Giles seemed to search for an answer. "Very, very dark Xander."

He shrugged. "Amy is already delving into the dark stuff, and to be honest I don't want Willow to corrupt her miko powers. And Tor is just starting to use magic."

Giles nodded, though it was a reluctant nod. "I hate to agree, but Ms. Madison does seem to be the most experienced witch we know."

Xander leveled his gaze on Buffy. "What do you want to do?"

She bit her lip. "I don't know."

"We're actually considering this?" Kyle asked.

Giles gave a sigh and slipped his glasses off. "It was what Jenny wanted." He looked thoughtful. "She'd been working on a project, but didn't want to discuss it with me until she had something concrete. This must have been the project."

There was silence for a moment, and then Buffy seemed to hug herself, as if she were cold. "I need to think."

Xander nodded, and gave her what he hoped was an encouraging smile. "Okay."

xxx

He held Cordelia's hand in his as they walked through Sunnydale. Luckily there was little to no activity as his heart just wasn't in it.

"You've been really quiet tonight." She stated, sidling closer to him.

"Yeah."

She tried again. "What do you think? About recursing Angel?"

"Truth?"

"Why else would I ask?"

He sighed. "Part of me wants him out of the way so he'll stop hurting her."

"And?"

"And part of me is wracked with guilt for keeping so many secrets."

There was a moment of silence, and then she squeezed his hand, gently. "Kyle seems against it."

"Kyle doesn't like it that I let my guilt influence my decisions. Pack safety should come first."

Cordelia changed their course. "Come on; let's go see Spike before we meet up with Rhonda for our study date. That will cheer you up."

He smirked. "You just want to get Spike kisses...and watch me get Spike kisses."

She flashed a mischievous grin at him. "Duh."

xxx

They were a few blocks from the mansion when Xander stopped and lifted his head to scent the air. Leather and tobacco, hint of smoke. Spike.

"What is it?"

He gave her hand a squeeze and smiled. "Hey Spike."

The vampire slipped into view, a smirk on his face. "Your sense of smell is better than a vampire's whelp."

Cordelia approached Spike, not bothering to release Xander's hand, merely tugging him along with her. When they reached him she pressed her lips to his in greeting. Spike tugged her closer to him and deepened the kiss gaining entry to her mouth and caressing her tongue before pulling away and smirking. "Good evening to you too Miss Chase."

Xander smirked at them, then eeped a bit as they both pulled him toward Spike and the next thing he knew Spike's tongue was in his mouth. Spike tasted like he always did, which was divine, but there was a hint of Cordy there too, the tastes complimented one another nicely. And just knowing that Cordy would taste like Spike made his head swim.

"Some night we seriously need to lock ourselves in a room with a do not disturb sign on the door because we are hot."

Cordelia's comment had him breaking the kiss and gazing at her, Spike nibbled at his jaw. "That would be..." Xander swallowed as his imagination dived into the gutter.

Spike chuckled. "A lot of fun."

Xander nodded in agreement. "So what are your plans for the night?" He batted his lashes playfully.

"Tempting Pet, either of you would be enough to tempt a Saint; together you could bring the world to its knees."

"Of course." Cordelia grinned as she snuggled closer to Spike.

Xander pouted. "But?"

"Angel and Dru are out on an errand." A shadow passed over Spike's face. "They're up to something again, something big."

Cordelia shifted a bit and looked up as Spike, a worried expression in her hazel eyes. "How big?"

He ran a cool hand through her hair. "Bigger than the Judge."

Xander let out a sigh and let his head thunk gently onto Spike's shoulder. "Oh for the love of Twinkies. Seriously?"

"Unfortunately." Spike grimaced. "They're getting the main ingredient for their little apocalypse now. However Angel doesn't know much about magic or rituals, should take him a while to figure out how it works. Bloke's bloody insane and not thinking too clearly."

"So we've got a little time, small relief I guess." Cordy shivered. "The Judge was bad enough though. Xander was out of it for a long time; he had a fever, chills, and nightmares. It was horrible."

Spike gave him a look and he shrugged. "It's of the past. This thing, that's worse. What's it called?"

"Acathla."

xxx

Cordelia didn't bother pulling into the drive; instead she stopped her car on the street in front of his house. "You want to call Giles now? About Acathla?"

"I'll call from inside. Its late and you need to go home." He smiled. "Sorry we couldn't study."

"That's okay, we'll manage somehow." She smiled back and leaned toward him for a kiss; he accepted it and cupped her cheek in a caress. Their lips moved slowly, not having a reason to rush the goodnight kiss, they'd already had their fill of frenzied kisses before, with, and after Spike. When she pulled away there was a pink tinge to her cheeks that he could just see in the dim light.

He smiled at her. "Good night Cordy." He pressed his lips to hers again, chastely, and pulled back. "See you in the morning."

"Want a ride to school?"

"Sure. Thanks." There was another chaste kiss before he got out of her car. He waved as she pulled away and drove off.

iAbout time./i

Xander looked toward the front porch and rolled his eyes before walking toward Marshal. "And what were you doing while I was out patrolling? Catching catnip mice?"

Marshal's glare turned into a wide eyed look. iWatch out!/i

The spirit beast needn't have warned him. He'd already sensed the vampires, and the first was dusted the moment it was within reach of his ever present stake. Another tried to grab him from behind but Xander slammed the back of his head into its face, forcing it to let go of him. It scattered to the ground like the first once his stake slammed home. The third was hindered by Marshal, who had launched himself onto its back, carrying enough force to knock it to its knees, and then the vamp grabbed him and flung him away.

"Marshal! Get out of here! Get Botan!" There was a squealing of tires, and someone, most likely a bad guy hit him on the back of the head. Shit...there was just too many of them. Then the world went black.

Marshal landed on his feet, looking back at the chaos, Xander was already unconscious and the vamps were shoving him into the trunk of an old car. There was no way he could take on the remaining vamps by himself. Marshal snarled and his eyes glowed an eerie green as he began to run. iBotan better be home./i As he ran he let out a series of yips, putting a bit of power into each one, letting that power carry the sound to the ears of those who needed to hear him.

It worked.

By the time he threw himself onto Botan's front porch the Feral Four were already there, all of them breathing heavy, having ditched their patrol routes to answer the call. Botan knelt down and scooped him up. "Marshal?"

iVampires took Xander, they were Angel's./i

Wicked snarls filled the air around them, accompanied by four sets of glowing green eyes. Botan held up a hand as if to calm them down. "Where would they take him?"

iThe Crawford Mansion./i

She nodded. "Let me make a call."

xxx

Spike and Drusilla were in the main room with the statue of Acathla when Angel came in, two lackeys following behind him carrying a bound and shirtless Xander. An unconscious Xander from the look of it. Spike stared at the scene, waiting for the punchline, hoping that it would start making some sort of sense. Why the hell would Angel bring the boy here as a sacrifice? Bloody hell, had he found out?

Drusilla let out a low, but alarmed moan. "You brought the Prince?" She bit her lip, a hopeful gleam entering her eyes. "Is he to watch the show?"

Angel smiled cruelly as the lackeys dumped the boy to the floor. "Hardly. He's one of the ingredients."

Dru gasped. "That's...bad. Bad Daddy! Killing the little Prince will anger the King. He will find us, even in hell." Spike stared at her, nothing was making any sense.

Angel smirked. "Let the King come."

"Oh Daddy." She started to sway a bit, and Spike wasn't sure if was due to worry or excitement...it was hard to tell sometimes.

Angel moved toward the boy, pulled a leg back to kick him, and Xander moved, rolled really and managed to get to his feet. Though his wrists were still bound behind him. Angel merely grinned. "I thought you were awake."

Beautiful brown eyes smoldered in hatred at the older vampire. "So..." The casual tone did nothing to lighten the glare. "What's going on? Usually you bug Buffy not me."

Angel moved a bit closer in an attempt to cup the boys face, Xander of course stayed out of reach. "I wanted something special for Acathla's coming out party."

"Acathla?" Xander's eyes darted toward the statue. "Eww. So what? I'm some sort of gift? I've been reduced to a party favor?"

Angel sneered. "No boy. You're the key to ending this world."

Drusilla tittered nervously, and Spike had to agree with the sentiment. Angel was bloody off his rocker. Xander just cocked his head to the side and said; "How do you figure that?" Boy had stones, more than he had sense really.

"I thought maybe a virgin would do the trick."

Xander actually had the nerve snicker. "Then you've got the wrong guy."

Spike blinked...when had that happened? Angel merely continued in a conversational tone. "Right, you had that orgy."

Now he had to say something to that, he raised a brow and smirked at Xander. "Really now?"

Xander shrugged as much as his bounds would allow. "Eh, it was a thing. It was better than letting a bunch of hyena kids terrorize the populace."

Drusilla move forward and leaned on his chair a bit. "You're Laughing Dogs are ferocious."

"Focus Dru." Angel snapped his fingers to get their attention. "Back on topic. Since you're not a virgin, you're still the next best thing. I figure Demon Kin like you will be the perfect offering."

Xander blinked. "Huh?"

Dru's voice was a bit husky now. "We're going to change things."

Xander shook his head and looked at Spike, as if asking for clarification. Spike snorted. "They're talking about sucking the world into hell."

Angel practically skipped a step. "Not just any hell. A demon dimension." He batted his lashes at the boy. "Be just like going home for you."

Xander had the gall to roll his eyes. "You do realize that Makai isn't a hell dimension...and that the demons who live there are as varied as humans. Also there's no barrier separating that realm from this one anymore. It was taken down a few years ago."

Angel paused, as if shocked, Spike knew he was. Xander had ties to the Makai? Bloody hell. Angel got over his shock quickly though. "Doesn't matter. I'm still using your blood."

Spike wheeled forward a bit, he had to do something. "The boy is Demon Kin and you're going to sacrifice him? And not just any bloody demons, but Makai demons! You know what those things are capable of?" Angel just grinned as he picked up a knife, motioning the lackeys to take hold of the boy again.

"Tell me if it hurts White Knight." Angel chuckled as he approached a now struggling Xander.

Spike rolled his chair forward again, but Drusilla stopped him and held firm. "Dru." He whispered. "Please."

She shushed him. "Your boy is strong William. He'll not die from this." She moved her hands to his shoulders and held him in place. "Watch."

Xander continued to struggle and growl, right up until Angel drew the knife back and plunged it into his stomach. His growl turned into a scream as the blade was twisted and then pulled back out. The lackeys dropped him and he curled up into a ball, shielding the wound as best he could.

Spike started to move again, this time he tried to stand, Drusilla had already forgotten him, watching Angel walk towards Acathla. Xander met his eyes and shook his head and mouthed two words to him. 'Not safe.' He glared at the boy; if something wasn't done he'd bloody bleed out.

But Xander's eyes held and they were steady. Finally Spike sighed and nodded before they both turned to watch Angel...to witness the end, both glad that their girl wasn't here to see it.

Angel approached Acathla, Xander's blood dripping from his hand. "Bear witness as I ascend. As I become everything that I am. Everything that I have done has led me here. I have strayed. I have been lost. But Acathla redeems me. With this act we will be free." His hand touched the sword and he pulled. The sword did not move, though there was a flash of white light from the blade. Acathla's eyes blinked and their gaze roved around the room, skipping over Angel to land on Xander before glowing green. Another flash from the sword sent Angel flying backwards a good twenty feet.

Spike watched, with a bit of amusement. "Well. That made my night."

Xander cackled weakly from the floor, it sounded a bit hysterical. Angel scrambled to his feet. "Dammit!" He stomped toward a still snickering Xander, probably to kick the poor boy.

Drusilla cried out. "It's opening...a portal." Everyone froze and looked at Acathla, who remained dormant. Dru tsked at them. "Not his, not ours."

Angel glared at her. "What are you-"

A bloody portal opened right beside the bastard and a chit with blue hair stepped out of it. She held a jeweled staff in her hands and knocked Angel away from her with very little effort. Four other figures slipped from the portal after her, all of them teens, Xander's age. Spike recognized Kyle. It seemed the rescue party had arrived, and none too soon. The children scooped Xander up and dragged him through the portal. Angel made a move to follow and the mystery woman pointed her staff at him and zapped the twit with a bolt of lightning. Bloody priceless is what it was. She smiled at Spike and winked one of her pink eyes at him before slipping back through the portal...it disappeared without a trace.

Angel was still lying on the floor, twitching a bit, but otherwise not moving. He put a cigarette to his lips and lit it, somehow keeping his hands steady. "You sure the boy is Demon Kin? Because that didn't look like a demon to me."

Drusilla sort of hummed and giggled. "What a pretty fairy."

Angel just growled...and twitched some more. Spike snorted and hoped that Dru was right, that Xander wouldn't die.

xxx

Cordelia paced from room to room of Tor and Botan's home. No one else was there; the house had been empty since she'd gotten there. Granted she hadn't been there long as she'd driven as fast as she could since Rhonda had called her cell phone and told her what had happened.

God! What if Angel had found out about Spike helping them? What would he do to Xander? Or Spike? She paced some more, a flash of light in the kitchen sent her running toward the room, a mace in her hand.

"Easy Cordy." Rhonda motioned to the weapon. "Just us."

Cordelia put the mace on the counter as Kyle and Tor placed a bleeding Xander on the kitchen table. "Oh god." She was across the room before she even realized she was moving, putting her hands on his face. He was unconscious. "What happened?"

Botan placed one of her hands over the wound on Xander's stomach. "Looks like he was stabbed. Tor, take my hand." She held up her hand Tor gasped it. "Now put your other hand on the wound. We're going to heal him as much as we can." Tor nodded and began to concentrate; the hands they kept on the wound began to glow in soft white light. Tor's hair changed from blond to light blue, with a few darker blue strands here and there...and his eyes became the same shade of pink as Botan's.

Cordelia however didn't care about any of that. All she wanted was for Xander to open his eyes let her know he was okay, that he was going to make it. She kept her hands on his face, smoothing his hair away from his forehead, noticing for the first time how long it was starting to get. "Xander?"

His lashes fluttered and she pressed a kiss to each eyelid. His lips twitched, either in a grimace or a smile, it was hard to tell. More hands became visible as Kyle, Rhonda and Heidi each touched his arms or chest in a show of support. All of them shivered as Botan pulled a little bit of energy from each of them and gave it to Xander.

Brown eyes opened and Xander blinked rapidly. "Ow."

Cordelia snorted and slapped his forehead gently. "Quit scaring me like that you jerk."

"Sorry." He shuddered. "Wake me when the pain stops." And he passed out again.

"Botan?"

"It's okay Cordelia. We're almost done. He'll be fine in a few hours...a little tender but he'll be fine."

They all let out a sigh of relief.

xxx

"This is the second time I've had to help you hobble around school." Cordelia griped, as she kept an arm around his waist to help him.

He rolled his eyes. "Sorry for getting kidnapped and stuck with a big knife." Xander didn't really need her support; he was healed enough to walk on his own...though he wouldn't be doing any running for a few days. Botan and Tor had done wonders for his injury, his stomach was still tender, but he was in no danger of dying. Still, Cordelia was being extra touchy feely after the close call...her helping him was more for her own peace of mind and he let her do what she wanted.

The library was all but empty when they finally got there...except for Giles and Kendra. Cordelia tensed just a bit, probably because of his one night with the foreign Slayer. He hugged her closer and pulled her along with him. Giles stared at them in worry, and Kendra gave him a brief nod, her eyes flicking to Cordelia in understanding.

"What happened?"

They made their way to the table and he settled himself in a chair, Cordelia sat in his lap. "Angel's lackeys grabbed me last night."

"What on earth for?"

"I asked him the same thing. Crazy guy decided my blood was the key to ending the world. He wanted to use my blood to open a portal to a hell dimension by offering it to this big stone demon called Acathla."

Giles slipped his glasses from his face and pinched the bridge of his nose. "I suppose this would be why your watcher sent you Kendra."

"It sounds about right."

"It's good to see you Kendra."

She nodded at him. "You too Xander." A light blush flushed her cheeks. "I am glad you are happy. You are happy?"

He grinned. "Very." The tension drained from Cordelia at his words.

Giles slipped his glasses back on, his face filled with concern. "How did you escape?"

"Marshal witnessed the snatching of me and went to Botan."

"And she saved you? How?"

Xander shrugged. "How else? A portal, probably the most awesome rescue ever."

"Try scariest moment of my life ever." Cordelia scowled at him. "You lost a lot of blood."

"But I can make more...especially if you feed me."

"Heavens, he bit you?"

"Now that would have been the scariest thing in my life if he had. Yuck, Angel's mouth anywhere near me. Eww." Xander shuddered. "I'm almost glad that he stabbed me instead...granted I'd have rather not gotten stabbed at all."

"Should you be here?" Kendra asked. "Since you're injured."

"Botan and Tor healed me, I'll be okay." He gave a heartfelt sigh. "I guess we can't put it off any longer."

Kendra gave him a confused look. "Can't put what off?"

Cordelia leaned against him in shared misery and they moaned together. "Finals."

xxx

Xander was halfway through the test, and he felt pretty good about it, he knew the material thanks to all the study sessions. He had just turned a page when a woman started speaking. The heck? They were supposed to be quiet during...

"Holy crap!"

The woman...female vampire burst into flames as she spoke and gave Buffy, who just happened to be beside him, Angel's warning. When she poofed, there was an overwhelming silence. Then he turned to Buffy.

"He really knows how to personalize an invitation...which cemetery do you think he meant?" Buffy glared at him, Cordelia just at the corner of his vision didn't look amused either. "What? It's a legitimate question!"

xxx

They were all gathered in the library, even Amy since she was the only witch they knew. Most of them were sitting, though everyone had been on edge since Angel's flame-o-gram that day, even now Buffy paced along the upper level in front of Giles.

"She said more would die, I have to go."

Kendra placed a sword on the table; one that her watcher had sent with her...it was their ace in the hole against Acathla. She stared up at Buffy and Xander watched the byplay. "You should not go alone."

Buffy shook her head. "It would be better if I did. I'll need you here in case...in case I can't stop him." She took a breath and focused her gaze on Amy. "Amy, do you really think you can do this?"

Amy looked up from the curse, her teeth worried at her bottom lip, but she nodded. "I think so...I'll do my best."

"Thank you. Now as long as I keep Angel busy he can't suck the world into hell."

Kyle snorted. "Not for lack of trying."

Xander glared at his beta. "Kyle."

Kyle flicked his eyes to Xander's before looking away again. "She should know."

Buffy leaned on the banister, her hands clenched tightly on the wood. "Know what?"

Xander sighed. "He did the ritual last night."

Willow blinked. "How do you know that?"

"He used my blood."

Buffy's eyes widened. "What?"

Xander held up a hand to calm them. "Obviously it didn't work."

Willow was glaring at him now. "I thought something was wrong. You were moving really slow today."

Buffy made her way down the steps, her hands fidgeting, as if she wanted to reach out to him, but not sure if she should. "Xander."

"His guys jumped me before I got in the house. I managed to call the pack to me before they knocked me out."

Giles looked thoughtful, though he knew the truth. "And they tracked you, like they did before, when all of you were possessed."

Breathing a sigh of relief Xander nodded. "Yeah."

Kyle however was still sitting tense. "We were lucky to get him out."

Buffy stopped and knelt in front of him. "What did he do to you?"

"Not much-"

"Truth Xan."

He huffed. "Knife to the stomach. It's mostly healed." She reached for his shirt and he lifted it up for her to see. "Gotta love those hyena perks...Tor helped too."

She touched the new and tender pink scar on his stomach and grimaced. "Kendra should definitely stay here then since you're hurt."

He grabbed her hand and held it in his, pulling his shirt back down. "Buff...you know it's some sort of trap."

She smiled sadly at him. "Yeah, but our pack is bigger now. We stand a chance."

He pulled her toward him and kissed her forehead. "Be careful sister-mine."

She wrapped her arms around him, careful not to crush him. "I will."

When he released her Kendra stepped forward and helped her up. "Here. In case it is your only option." She held out a uniquely carved stake and offered it to Buffy. "This is my lucky stake...I call it Mr. Pointy."

Buffy blinked. "Really?" But she smiled and accepted the offer. "We have got to get you a stuffed animal."

Kendra smiled. "Watch your back."

xxx

"We'll have to take wards down." Giles murmured as he looked over the notes Jenny had made about the curse.

Xander nearly shot up and out of his chair. "How about no."

"Do you lot recall the young man who performed the love spell?" Giles asked, as if Xander hadn't spoken.

Amy wrinkled her nose at the memory. "Andrew Wells."

Kyle looked up from the knife he was sharpening. "What about him?"

Xander sighed, and it wasn't a happy gesture. "I get it. His spell couldn't go through our wards, so for Amy's mojo to work its gotta be able to get past the library."

"Precisely. We don't want any interference."

Cordelia seemed to share Xander's opinion. "Do we really?"

"I like the wards." Willow added.

Amy raised her hand to get their attention. "Uh...guys. This is my first gypsy curse. The last thing I want is it to blow up when it hits your wards. Magical backfire can get messy."

Xander grimaced and stood. "Right then. Everybody needs to be armed. Kyle, get the weapons passed out. Everyone gets a stake and I mean everyone."

Kyle stood as well, putting away his tools before heading towards the weapon cabinet in the book cage. "Daggers too?"

"Whatever you're comfortable with. Wills you and Cordy help Amy get set up." He sighed; he was probably going to regret this. "I'll take the wards down." No one said anything as he headed toward one of the paper talismans. He reached for it...and removed it. The circuit was broken...and the magic dissipated.

"Did you learn about these from the miko who trains Willow?"

Xander turned to face Kendra. "Yeah, after a kitsune gave me a few pointers."

"Xander."

He held up a hand. "I'm dating Cordelia. I'm pretty sure I love her."

She smiled and nodded. "I understand, but I...what we did...it was nice."

"It was, and I hope you find someone that completes you."

Kendra ducked her head in a pleased sort of embarrassment. "I suppose Willow is also dating?"

"Yep. His name is Oz. He's a werewolf."

"I remember him. He was the one who saved her from the assassin." Her eyes turned thoughtful. "Your pack is very accepting." He just smiled at her. Finally she nodded at him, as if coming to a decision. "I'll follow your orders as if they were my Watcher's."

That...was probably the greatest honor she could have given him. "I want you and Kyle by the main doors." She nodded and drifted off, collecting Kyle as she headed toward their post.

He took a breath and took his place overlooking the main table. Kyle and Kendra stood guard by the main entry, he with a spear and Kendra with a stake. Rhonda and Heidi moved passed him toward the back door and the hidden entrance. He wasn't sure where Heidi had found a saber, but Rhonda was handling her mace with confidence. Tor positioned himself at a window, to keep watch, a short sword clutched in his hand.

Cordy was beside Amy and Willow at the table, in one hand she held the burning incense, in the other a stake. Willow's stake was stuck in her back pocket, in her arms a book of Latin. Amy sat on the table, Jenny's translation in her grasp.

Giles was standing guard like him, a crossbow armed and ready in his hands. They shared a look and Xander nodded. "Let's do this."

Amy nodded back and looked to Willow. Willow gulped and spoke. "Quod perditum est, invenietar." Cordelia swirled the incense.

He watched the smoke as Amy began. "Not dead nor not of the living. Spirits of the interregnum I call..." Xander blocked out the rest, and for a moment a feeling of unease settled over him. Something...something was wrong and he really wished he'd called Botan before giving the girls the go-ahead and rushing into this.

He shook off the feeling and focused on Amy again. "Let him know the pain of humanity, gods. Reach your wizened hands to me. Give me the sword..."

He felt it then, several vampires were approaching. Rhonda's voice rang out in a chorus of yips of warning as the vampires burst through the back door and overtook her position. Heidi's howl joined the fray, but it was one of victory, probably meant there was one less vampire to deal with. But they were still under attack and that was not a good thing.

The racket distracted Kendra, who was unused to fighting with a group, especially their pack. In hindsight he really should have taken her hunting with the pack the last time she'd been in town, but it was too late and now vamps were coming in through the main doors. The bloodsuckers got some cheap shots in, Giles shot one before it managed to snap Kyle's neck, it screamed, clutching at the bolt sticking out of his eye socket. Damn G-man had good aim.

"Damn. I was aiming for the heart." Giles muttered oh so casually as he reloaded, though there was a satisfied smirk on his face.

Kyle let out a whooping battle cry as he threw himself at the vampires that surrounded Kendra. He managed to get to her, placing his back to hers so they couldn't sneak behind her again. Kendra managed to go with the flow, and moved as though having Kyle at her back was an everyday occurrence.

Giles had to dodge suddenly when a vamp tried to make a grab for him, luckily Tor had moved from the window and tackled it to the ground. The distraction allowed Willow and Cordelia to drag Amy away from the table in the hope of finding a safe way out.

Xander moved forward, intent on providing that safety. It was hard, making that choice as he kept the vampires off their backs as they ran for it. Heidi was down, hopefully just unconscious but there was no time to check. He could see Rhonda in the fray, still fighting; Giles went down, the now one-eyed vamp dragging him to the floor.

Tor came out of nowhere, and zapped the vamp...with fire? That was new...and the vampire lit up like a Christmas tree soaked in gasoline and then was gone. The other vamps converged on Tor, now considered the bigger threat. He went down fast, evidently tapped from his use of magic. Shit.

He pushed Cordelia further ahead and yelled at the girls. "Run and don't stop!" And then he went back, throwing himself onto the mob that had downed Tor. He sent them flying, managing to stake one...but another hit him in the stomach...in the very place Angel had stabbed him the night before.

Xander saw stars, but gritted his teeth through the pain and knocked it away from him. Then he grabbed Tor by the arm and tried to drag him away, a scream from the upper level distracted him and he gaped in horror as the stacks fell domino style. He wasn't sure which girl was trapped under the bookcases, but whoever it was Rhonda was crawling towards the pale arm he could see under a pile of books.

He swallowed his fear and grief and looked toward where Kyle and Kendra were still fighting. Kyle could barely keep up with the slayer as she danced around her opponents; his movements were more like a wild animal's more feral than graceful.

"Tor, can you move?"

Tor blinked at him, his eyes not quite focused, but he nodded and used Xander to climb to his feet. "I can make it."

"Good, Get Rhonda and Heidi out. I'll get Giles." Tor nodded again and headed toward the upper level, his steps shaky and a bit wobbly. Xander made his way toward Giles, his own breath coming in gasps as pain lanced through his stomach. He'd just made it to the man's side when Drusilla made her entrance. "Oh shit."

Giles struggled to sit up. "What?"

"We're gonna die."

"Glad we had this chat Xander." Then he caught sight of the vampiress. "Blast."

Drusilla moved towards Kendra, and the other vampires switched their focus to Kyle. That...that was not a good thing. Drusilla was old, a master...and crazy. He made a move towards Kendra and Drusilla, at the corner of his vision he saw Kyle go down with a blow to the head.

He almost made it to Kendra's side just inches away from tackling Drusilla, but the group that had taken out Kyle converged on him. Xander snarled, and struggled at the hands that held him back. He bit and kicked at them, only able to watch helplessly as Drusilla be-spelled the young slayer. The last thing he saw before his world went black was blood dripping down Kendra's throat.

xxx

Footsteps.

His eyes didn't want to work quite yet...but he could hear just fine...and he couldn't sense the vampires anymore. He breathed in, catching familiar scents...Giles' was faint, Kyle was close...Kendra's blood was the heaviest smell. Oh god Kendra. Xander opened his eyes, everything was blurry, but he could just make out Buffy in her flashy blue coat kneeling beside Kendra's body.

More footsteps...and Xander's blood ran cold when someone appeared behind Buffy in a dark colored uniform...gun cocked and ready. Figures his eyes would start working right when someone decided to aim a gun at his friend...and since when do the cops show up on time?

"Freeze! Put your hands up and back away from the girl...slowly." The first cop looked like he was about to go into hysterics, his eyes wide and wild from the state of the room. Wonderful.

Another officer entered the room behind the first as Buffy stood up and backed away from Kendra's body...and right past the dead girl's soul as it stood staring down at her corpse. Oh god. Kendra was crying as she stared at herself. He wondered if there were therapists in Reikai, because Kendra was gonna need one. The second cop checked Kendra for a pulse and shook her head.

"This one's dead."

Buffy gulped. "I didn't do anything. I just got here."

Both ignored her and the one with the gun pointed at Buffy grimaced but nodded his head in Xander's direction. "That one keeps twitching, better check on him."

"Xander!" She took a step toward him.

"Don't." The cop kept his gun on her. "Come with me."

Xander started to sit up. "Buffy."

She shook her head as she allowed the first cop to lead her away, her hands behind her back. "I'll be okay Xander."

"Buffy!"

The woman officer tried to shh him. "You're fine, she can't hurt you now."

He shrugged her off. "You don't understand. She just got here."

"Shh, we'll figure this out. I need to check on your friends." She left him where he was, using her radio to call for paramedics.

Stupid woman. He crawled to the nearest bookcase and used it to pull himself up. By the time he was steady on his feet there was a commotion in the hallway...and then the sound of someone running.

"Stop!" And then a gun went off.

Xander froze for a second; the sound sent an unfamiliar fear through him. When the second shot went off he moved, faster than he thought possible, the edges of his vision tinged with an all too familiar green. He ignored the pain and ran into the hall.

"What are you doing? She didn't do anything!" He skidded to a stop in front of the cop that had shot at Buffy.

Snyder stood to the side, a smirk on his face. "Harris. Another trouble maker."

Xander whirled on him, eyes glowing and slammed Snyder into the lockers. He moved in close and whispered in the little man's ear. "You remember the guy who scared you last year? The one who made his finger glow with unidentified power? That guy could destroy this school with one attack. And he happens to be my older brother...and a demon king. You keep your mouth shut."

Snyder paled and swallowed. "You're..."

"Demon Kin and my pack is badly injured. You say one word against Buffy in this and I will eat your heart and use your head for a doorstep. Got it?"

"Got it."

The first cop had finally holstered his gun. "Is there a problem?"

Xander turned on him. "Yeah. You shoot at another unarmed and terrified teenager again and I will slap you with a law suit so fast your grandkids will be paying for our retirement funds. Buffy just got here, she's innocent you cops don't speak to any of us minors without a parent or lawyer present."

Leaving the shocked adults behind him he stalked back into the library, glaring and growling at the woman officer, who at least looked ashamed now as she hurried past him.

Kendra was still there. His face softened and he touched her shoulder. "Hey."

She blinked, surprised at the touch. "Xander...you...how can you..." She swallowed. "I'm dead."

"Just a little talent of mine." He blinked away the tears. "I'll keep you company until Botan comes to take you."

"Botan? The one who saved you last night?"

"She's a spirit guide assigned to the Hellmouth. She'll take you to be judged. Don't worry. I know the guy doing the judging. I'll make sure she puts in a good word for you."

She gave him a small smile. "Why would you?"

"Cause you're one of my girls."

XXX