Xander held on to Buffy just glad to be back home where he belonged. She kissed him afraid that any minute she would wake up and he would be gone. He was there though and he was real. She stepped back. "When did you get back? Are you still super powered? How long were you there?"

Xander laughed at her flow of questions. "I just got back and as for the other stuff I promise I'll tell you everything soon. For now I need to get a shower and cleaned up." He looked around seeing the torches and hearing the music, "What is going on?"

"It's the welcome bbq and party for the new slayers and watchers."

"Sweet. I'm starving but I have to get changed and."

She refused to let go of his hand. "Oh Hell no. I'm not ready to let go yet."

He laughed "You going to hop in the shower with me."

"Can't think of a better way to welcome you back."

A smirk spread across Xander's lips. "I love you so much." He pulled her "Come on let's go." As they ran off the playground slayer after slayer approached trying to get a word in, Andrew came to Xander practically knocking him over with a hug. As happy as he was to see all of them these were distractions between him a shower with Buffy Summers. Buffy finally stepped in front of him cutting Andrew off.

"Yes Xander is back and you will have your time to tell him how happy you are to see him but I get him first. Anyone have a problem with that?"

Xander groaned desperate. "You'll hear no argument from me." The two of them ran off together and went to locker room in the small gym. They figured it would be easier to use the shower banks rather than the tiny shower in there own bathroom. The last things Buffy did was lock the door. She didn't want any interruption from slayers, vampires or any one else who might spoil her reunion with Xander.

At the BBQ Angel took over the grill since Buffy was pre occupied. Oddly enough one of Angel's many hidden talents was that he was a Master of the grill. Willow brought a plate up to the grill requesting her 3rd bbq chicken wing. She bit in to the chicken and looked at Angel. "So where the hell did you learn to cook like this?"

"You know Willow you live 200 years and you pick up a whole lot of things. It gives you a chance to become a master of all trades."

"So where did you pick this up?"

"I spent a couple years in Louisiana and learned some good ole creole cooking"

Faith walked over with a Margarita in hand. "Just a word of a advice stay out of the south wing for the next hour or two?"

Angel looked confused. "What's wrong with the South wing?"

Faith took a big sip off her margarita. "I think Buffy is welcoming Xander home. She is welcoming him very loudly if you catch my drift."

Angel just closed his eyes and shook his head. "I'll be honest I didn't think he'd be back." Willow and Faith exchanged glances. "And before you two jump on me it wasn't because I didn't want him back. The odds were stacked against him. I don't think I could have beat those odds but some how he pulled it out."

Willow swallowed her bite of chicken. "I think at times we under estimate Xander. It's easy to look past him."

Angel flipped a hamburger and smirked. "Is this the whole no one sees me thing."

Willow shrugged. "I don't know about that but right now what I want to see is a jumbo margarita."

As Willow walked away Faith looked at Angel. "So you going to be okay?"

Angel laughed. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Angel you can put the tough guy act I have a heart made of stone on and most of the slayers here would would buy it but I know you better."

"Faith there isn't a lot to say."

"You know what I think?"

"I have no idea."

"It has to hurt you a little. It seems like everyone has been talking Buffy and Xander but I know you have to have feelings for her still."

Angel opened his mouth to say something but chose his words. "Sometimes it's hard. It feels strange being on this side. Watching her loving someone else when a part of me wants to be the guy who is with her but than I think back to the beginning."

"The beginning?"

"Buffy chose me and Xander was the one who had to watch from the outside. It had to be unbearable at times but he was still here for her. If he can have that kind of strength and grace well so can I."

Faith picked up a hamburger "That's very mature of you."

Just than a newly showered Buffy and Xander emerged. Xander was fresh and clean in a red and white Hawaiian shirt with tan slacks and Buffy was wearing a simple red dress. Angel saw both of them and started mumbling. "Strength and grace strength and grace."

Xander looked around whispering to Buffy. "There are more faces here than I am used to. People I don't know?"

Buffy nodded and whispered. "Expansion, Xander we are growing bigger every month."

Xander looked shocked. "Where exactly are all of them fitting?"

"Hope and I finished the last room 2 weeks ago?"

"You and Hope did it?"

"Don't look so surprised. We had a lot of volunteers. Even Giles helped with the rebuild."

Xander suddenly had a jealous look to his face. "You got to see Giles in a construction hard hat?' Tell me you took pictures."

Xander felt a hand on his shoulder. "Welcome home son."

Xander turned around to find Giles standing there. He opened his arms to Giles in a hug. "It is so good to see you."

Giles looked at Buffy. "If I can borrow Xander for a minute I think it's time we welcome him back properly."

Buffy just smiled. "You can take him with but where ever he goes I go with."

Xander looked confused. "What is going on?" Giles went to Andrew and who was working the music. He handed Giles a microphone and brought down Lady Gaga Poker face. Giles tapped the mic. "Excuse me everyone. Excuse me. If I can have your attention." Andrew quickly turned on a spotlight focusing on Giles standing close to the dj table. Giles was on the right of Xander with Buffy on the left. "I want to thank all of you for coming tonight. You have earned this celebration. I know how very hard all of you work and all you give to this school. To those who have been here from the beginning I say you are family. To those new to our family I say welcome. In the spirit of welcome back it's time we welcome home a man I am proud to call friend, son, he is family." Giles looked at Xander who still had his hand on his shoulder. Buffy was on Xander's other side holding him in a hug. "This place has not been the same with out you Xander. Welcome Home."

Everyone cheered and clapped. A few of the A squad yelled and cheered. Xander smiled and felt his heart swell with pride. Xander reached out taking out the microphone from Giles. He looked out at the crowd of people waiting for him to say something. "Well it looks like I picked the right night to come back. No one loves a party more than me. I know all of you have questions. I'm going to keep it basic. I am back to the old Xander Harris. So A squad if you run in to a nest of Monsters who bleed fire or something the best I can offer you is tactical strategy. I know a lot of you kind of wondered why I would give it up but standing here now I can tell all of you I know I made the right choice. I can say with confidence I have everything I need right here." He squeezed Buffy's shoulder. "Okay now I'm starving so Andrew spin some tunes and I'm getting my grub on."

Andrew took the cue taking back the microphone. "Okay you heard him. I say we spin some jams and welcome him back the right way." With that Andrew cued up the next song playing Bon Jovi's Who says you can't go home. Xander looked at Buffy and smiled. "What do you say we get a bite and than maybe some dancing."

Just than Xander felt someone jump on his back from behind piggy back style. Dawn squealed like a little girl happy to see him. "My sister has been hogging you the entire night I think it's time she learns to share."

Xander just laughed hearing Dawn as she clung to him. "Dawn patrol!."

Dawn hopped down and spun around in front of Xander. "I knew you'd be back."

"I'm like a bad penny. I will always turn up."

Dawn hugged his side and laughed. "You know you owe me big time."

Xander laughed "How so?"

Dawn smirked and looked at Buffy. "Who do you think it was that kept Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum away from Buffy."

Buffy interjected. "Wait wait wait. So my whole waiting for Xander had nothing to do with a faithful loving heart."

Dawn just teased. "You said it not me."

Buffy pulled on Xander's arm. "And with that I am going to get a bite to eat and maybe a dance."

Dawn looked at her sister. "Okay but I expect at least one dance before the nights out."

Buffy just laughed. "Maybe I'm not the sister with the cheating heart."

Xander and Buffy had found a picnic table some burgers and cold beers and Xander told Buffy everything. He told her about Cordeila and the Powers that be. He told her about the ice cream shop and even the cameo appearance by the former principal Snyder. As soon as he finished telling the story to Buffy they were joined by Giles and of course he had to tell the story again. Before the night was out he must have retold the story a dozen times. People gathered around listening hanging on his every word.

Angel had pretended to be uninterested. He stuck by the grill playing the James Dean too cool to care routine. That was until he over her name. Emma one of the newer slayers to the academy was standing with in listening distance. She was talking to her watcher Rebecca.

"So I don't know a lot about her. I've just heard bits and piece but I guess this Cordeila girl was one of the Scoobies but now she is like super in charge."

Rebecca nodded. "It just goes to show you we never know. The slayer you are fighting along side today might be the game changers of tomorrow."

When all the food was cooked Angel shut the grill down and looked around for Xander. He found him dancing with Dawn. Buffy in turn was dancing with Beck. Angel just stood from the sidelines watching. As the music ended Xander hugged Dawn and walked to get another drink. Angel reached in to the cooler and tossed him a cold beer.

"You look like you could use this."

Xander smiled catching the can. "It is hot out there and dancing builds up quite a sweat."

Angel cracked open a beer for himself. "Yeah well I'm a vampire I don't really sweat anymore."

Xander laughed taking another sip. "Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining. I mean to be honest I missed all of it. I missed my legs hurting after a long day on my feet. I missed that feeling of sweat on your skin on a humid night. I miss all the little things that make.." He suddenly realized what he was going to say and stopped.

"It's okay you can say it. You missed all the things that make you human." He pulled another drink off the can. "All the things that I don't have."

"Angel if this is about the argument we had and the whole idea that maybe I could have restored your humanity."

He just shook his head. "It's not about that. I've had time to think and maybe I'll be human some day. If it happens it will because of fate or destiny or something I've earned."

"So we are good?"

Angel laughed taking another drink from his beer. "I don't know if we've ever been good" He smirked "But we are at least back to where we used to be."

Xander held up his beer clinking it to Angel's. "Well that I can live with." Xander looked over at Buffy "And now I have to get back to Buffy so if you don't mind." Xander started walking his back to Angel.

"Actually there was one other thing."

He didn't turn around he just started ahead. "What's on your mind?"

Angel looked down reluctant to bring it up. "I heard you saw. What I mean to say. Some of the girls were talking and they said that."

"Cordeila" Xander turned around looking at him. Angel didn't say anything he just nodded. "I saw her."

"How was she? Was she happy. Was she content or at peace."

"She was Cordeila Chase times ten."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning she loved where she was. She was happier than I had ever seen her. She glowed Angel. I mean she really really glowed."

"In life we have regrets. We blame ourselves for a lot and."

"And you blame yourself for Cordeila."

Angel looked up at the stars. "In LA I should have sent her away. I should have told her to get a life. A real life. Not one with vampires or demons. If I hadn't brought her on to Angel investigations all those years ago she'd be alive right now. She'd have gone down a different path. Maybe she would be an actress now or have a family or."

Xander looked down and shook his head. "Oh God don't make me be the one to defend you." Xander put his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "Angel we all have a path in life that we walk. If you want to call it fate or destiny or God even."

"Come on Xander of all the people to sell me on that concept. You were the one that the powers that be gave you a path and you changed it. So are you really going to tell me that I couldn't have sent her away."

"Maybe you could have. Maybe she would be here."

"She'd be alive."

"She is alive Angel. She is alive and I've seen her with my own eyes. She is doing amazing things and the pride I feel in her makes me swell. You have this concept in your head that because she's not here physically that she's gone. You are wrong Angel."

"But."

"Man you are really going to make me say this. Angel if you hadn't been there for her from the beginning. She wouldn't be in the place she is right now. She wouldn't be the woman who I watched put a fear like I've never seen in the powers that be. I'm here and back because Cordy is up there and Cordy is up there cause of you. She's a Herald man. You should take pride in that."

Angel just laughed "So if I hadn't intervened all those years ago you might not have made the long trek back. Seems like you kind of owe me one."

"I wouldn't get too carried away with that line of thinking, if anything we might now be even for the whole firing a rocket launcher at my head."

Buffy had seen Angel and Xander talking and approached. She looked at her former lover and her current and asked uneasily. "I'm not going to have to separate you two am I?"

Angel put his hands up in a surrender motion, "You know we were just discussing the usual stuff. Xander is a jerk."

Xander grinned looking at him. "And Captain Forehead is a tool. You know Grrr."

Angel responded "Argh."

They were both interrupted by Andrew on the speakers. "We are winding the night down boys and girls. This will be the last song of the night. So make it count."

Xander looked at Angel. "Sorry Angel but I want one more dance before the night is out."

Angel shook his head no. "Yeah well I don't dance."

Buffy grabbed Xander's side puling him away. "Pretty sure he was talking to me."

Xander stepped out to the makeshift dance floor. He took her hand in his as the song began. The Christina Perri song 1000 years played. Buffy just rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes swaying to the song as Xander held her. He smiled hearing the lyrics. He whispered in to her ear changing the lyrics a little to fit his situation.. "I'll loved you for 10,000 years I'll love you for 10,000 more."

When the song was done they walked hand in hand planning to call it a night. She looked at him. "So you'd really love me for 10,000 years?"

He just smiled. "10,000 years isn't enough time for me to love you. I need more like forever."

They walked through the halls and Xander covered his mouth yawning. Buffy laughed. "Wow Xander Harris is tired. I haven't seen that in a while."

"I think I might sleep for the next 3 days." He turned the final corner but heard Andrew calling out his name.

"Xander wait."

Buffy and Xander stopped looking at them. Buffy looked slightly annoyed. "Andrew what's wrong?"

Andrew looked at Xander. "I was kind of hoping Xander I could get you to look at the costume I made."

Xander looked confused than suddenly remembered. "You mean the superhero thing?"

Andrew nodded. "When you left I wanted to have it ready for when you got back."

Buffy yawned and covered her own mouth. "Andrew can't this wait till morning. I mean it is late and."

Andrew interrupted. "I just need 5 minutes."

Xander sighed and nodded. "Okay I'll check it out Andrew. Kind of seems pointless now though I mean I'm not really super powered anymore."

Andrew smiled and tugged both of their hands practically yanking them down the hall. "Come on guys. I can't wait to show you this. By the way Buffy I never got my copy of Spiderman back from you last week."

Xander cocked his head looking at Buffy. "So you are reading comic books now?"

Buffy stammered. "Well I was doing it for you. I mean I figured you would want to know what was going on in the time that you were gone so I read every week just for you."

Andrew rolled his eyes. He knew Buffy was a new born comic book fan girl. "Don't you buy it Xander. She's one of us now." Andrew unlocked the door and turned the lights on to his room. "Okay so I am so glad you sent me back to the drawing board cause this new concept I have you are going to love."

Xander stepped inside the room. Buffy leaned on Xander. Xander just looked at Andrew. "So this concept what is it."

Andrew started pacing back and fourth as he tried to sell his idea. "So I kicked around the idea of the Carpenter or even the Architect cause of your building background but like the Hammer I felt it was cheesy. So I started think about who is Xander Harris? I came up with the concept the Guardian and that was okay but wasn't in love with it. For a while I thought the White Knight was good but I knew I was close to perfection so I just had to just keep working."

Buffy looked at him curious. "What did you come up with?"

Andrew went to his closet and pulled out a large long box. He handed it to Xander. "Go ahead. Open it up Xander."

Xander set the box on the bed and lifted the lid. Inside the box was a one piece body suit. The base color of the suit was white but there was silver bands up and down the legs and arms. Xander pulled it out of the box and as he unfolded it found one more Silver X on the chest. Andrew quickly went to work explaining his work.

"I chose the white color scheme cause the good guy always white. You have something that Angel or Spike don't have. You don't live in the world of gray. You aren't a vampire with a murky past. You've always been the good guy and everyone knows the good guy wears white."

Buffy smiled at Andrew "And the Silver?"

Andrew smirked. "Well that was kind of from the whole white knight concept. The silver is your modern day armor."

Xander ran his fingers over the X. "So I'm an X- Men. Might be some trademark infringement there."

Andrew shook his head. "You aren't an X-men. You are Factor X."

Xander looked confused. "Factor X?"

Andrew nodded. "Before you say anything just let me tell you why it works. In math X can be anything. It can be the most inconsequential variable or it could be the game changer that turns everything on it side and takes it in an entirely new direction.

Buffy smirked. "Got to give it to Andrew that does sound like you."

Andrew just kept pushing. "X is also the symbol for limitless. It's endless which works on the concept of you are never going to give up. As long as you have a breath in your body you will keep fighting."

Xander just laughed and shook his head at all the thought Andrew had put in to it. "Andrew that's."

Andrew cut him off wanting to get it out before Xander shot him down. "And it all fits good because you are Xander. I mean the first letter of your name is X so it fits."

Xander could see Andrew had put a lot of thought in to this. "Andrew it's."

Andrew looked at him pleadingly. "I know it's probably not perfect and the costume might not be what you were thinking."

Xander put his hands up. "Andrew STOP." He looked at him and sighed. "It's perfect. You did really good. I asked you to make me a super hero the world could be proud of and you went above and beyond."

Andrew let go of a deep breath. "You like it? Really? You aren't just saying?"

Xander held the costume in front of him looking at how it would look in the mirror. "Unfortunately I'm not really a super hero anymore. So I feel like it was all for nothing."

Buffy shook her head. "You were always a hero Xander."

Andrew's eyes went wide. "Oh I have one more surprise. I" He quickly ran to his desk and pulled out a comic book. "I made this for you."

Xander looked at the comic book The books title was Factor X. It had a glossy cover and looked like something you would see on a news stand. Xander looked amazed. "Wait a minute you actually made a comic book?"

Andrew nodded. "The costume only took me a few weeks. When I designing the sketches for the costume I also started sketching out a few illustrations. A few illustrations became a few pages. A pages became a story and a story became." He pointed to the comic book in Xander's hand.

Buffy looked at the comic in Xander's hand. "Andrew this is super impressive. I mean this looks professional."

Andrew nodded. "That's cause it is. Starting October Factor X will be a regular monthly comic."

Xander looked confused. "What are you talking about?"

Andrew shrugged. "Well I went to comic con and showed a few people my work and I have a 6 issue commitment. If it takes off. Than it will be a regular thing."

Buffy laughed and looked at Xander "Oh my God Xander you are an actual comic book hero."

Xander quickly opened the comic book wanting to see the inside. As he opened the cover he quickly flipped through finding a panel with the hero Factor X. Xander almost dropped the comic when he saw who's face was used for the hero. "That doesn't look like me. It looks more like."

Buffy quickly pulled the comic out of Xander's hands and examined the face. He than held it up against Andrew. "You made yourself Factor X?"

Andrew quickly started back peddling trying to defend himself. "Well I figured I was the one who made the costume and I was the one who did all the work and I should be able to play the hero."

Xander tilted his head skeptically. "So is my face actually any where in this comic?"

Andrew quickly flipped to mid way through the book and showed Xander the bottom panel. Xander's could clearly be seen wearing glasses with tape on the bridge and a white lab coat. Xander looked at him. "You made me a nerd?"

Andrew shook his head. "No I made you the lovable ever loyal tech engineer. He's the faithful assistant to Factor X."

Xander laughed but Buffy suddenly looked worried. "Wait if Xander isn't Factor X but you are does that mean that." She cringed wondering if Buffy and Andrew were romantically linked in comic book form. "I mean is Factor X dating."

Andrew cut him off "Factor X only has one true love. His passion for justice and making the world a better place. He doesn't have time for something as silly as a relationship."

Xander just laughed. "So how much money are you making off this thing?"

"Well I will be getting a weekly stipend as creative director and 38 cents for every comic sold."

Xander looked at him crossing his arms. "You realize this is my story. I mean you kind of ripped off my autobiography and profited from it."

Andrew nodded. "Yes but I did the work of getting it published." He looked at him "I'll give you 7 cents out of my 38 for every issue sold."

Xander crossed his arms. "20"

Andrew went up a little. "10"

Xander stepped to him "15 and that's my final offer."

Andrew sucked in a breath and nodded "Okay 15 cents is fair." They shook hands on it.

Xander picked up the box with the costume in it. "I guess I won't be needing this anymore. So I appreciate it but."

Andrew shook his head. "Keep it as a souvenir."

Xander was about to object but Buffy cut him off. "I think you should keep it Xander. You know it could be fun to put on some time," The visions of a little super hero fetish played rolled through Buffy's head as she played the helpless damsel needing to find some way to repay the ever heroic Factor X.

Xander looked confused for a second but then recognized the look on Buffy's face. "OH. Yeah I guess uhm." He quickly held the box back. "So thanks again Andrew."

Buffy yawned "It's has been a long night though so I think we are going to hit the hay." Andrew nodded. "Xander it's great having you back."

"Thanks Andrew." Xander stepped out of the room carrying the box with the costume in it. "So you know I'm probably never going to wear this."

"Never say never Xander. I mean maybe every once in a while you could put it on for a special occasion."

"Special occasion?"

Buffy's mind started to wander "Buffy Summers is dating Xander Harris but at night is having a secret affair with Factor X. Never knowing the two are one in the same."

Xander laughed. "How kinky are you?"

Buffy just blushed. "You going to tell me it doesn't do anything for you?"

Xander suddenly got an idea "Maybe I could get Andrew to make something tight and spandexy for you."

She smiled holding his hand "Harris I love the way you think."