Xander had quizzed Giles and was just dumbfounded. He had done so all day and there really was just nothing else too it. He was dumbfounded, he was stupefied, this was just a wacky weird thing.
There were other types of vampires out there. It was a shocking realization but to be fair the Scoobies were getting reports of such. He was going to start researching caves in Africa in three weeks, to see if the ancient spots had any substantial information.
It was also shocking that Buffy had more family than her sister and an absentee dad out there. The dad was the same but it seemed he'd have to wait at least another year, maybe two to see Dawn again.
Xander had nearly interrogated Giles on the twins, the information he was getting just didn't make any sense. Even on the hellmouth other worlds didn't really just spit out people. Especially other worlds that apparently had no magic.
Xander was a bit alarmed that his new self had a girlfriend. That was something he was dreading breaking off. He didn't want to hurt the girl, but he was a twenty-three year old man, dating a teenager was just plain wrong. Criminal even.
No Xander would have to abstain from any contact with high school girls. As it was he was trying to find out how to graduate early, but every path led him to taking at least three months of courses to pass out of high school, and even then he'd have to go to college it seemed.
Giles had explained to him that as his father, Giles was more than happy to pay for college and that before this had all happened, his other self had expressed his fondness for buildings and the designs. Apparently he had expressed interest in creating the blueprints for building buildings and structures.
Xander had a little chuckle at that. It would seem that he was destined for building in someway or another, least this way he'd get more money to start out with.
The idea had merit though, and with Giles paying for it, it could happen. That was another unusual occurrence. On Giles's list of people he most cared for, Xander was sure he was placed right before Spike but well after Willow. He was pretty sure it was Dawn, Buffy, Willow, him, Spike and then Andrew. Though Andrew might jump spots every now and then to before him on that list. Asskisser.
So for Giles to adopt him, like legally changed his name and adopt him was something Xander wasn't ever sure he could fully understand. Ever.
But remembering how bad Jessica and Anthony where when he was in school he could see how it came about. And in the end he couldn't be any more thankful for this new situation and the possibilities now open to him.
He'd have to figure out a way to get Willow out of the town, but without Buffy there, there was little reason for a lot of things to work out as it had. Except of course the whole Mayor thing. He had explained that to Giles-who was having just as hard of time understanding Xander's point of view on things. Giles had informed the Watcher's Council, and seemingly against their wishes, a few others that though the council had worked with often but not actually part of the council.
Turns out one of the twins hates the council and exposed their faults to the G-man and he was already looking for other ways to build up his finances for when the Council notices his disloyalty and boots him from it.
It was something in the favor of the weird twins.
Xander had found that a lot of what he used to wear seemed upgraded and that he was actually able to look like a kid who didn't have to shop at just thrift stores.
He wondered what he should do. He didn't have the witchy mojo to send himself back, and even then he wasn't all too sure he was ready. He had just the barest interaction with the rest of the Scoobies, the most been texting to Dawn, and even those were more of a check in to see if he was alive and sober enough to use his phone.
The gang there didn't need him, and it could be nice to start over and make better choices.
But then he had to deal with more magic and not just demon's anymore, but actual humans who died and then turned off their emotions? Briefly he wondered if Jesse could have stuck around if he were to have been changed by one of those types.
Xander looked at the clock, Giles was sipping another cup of tea, his millionth of the day and reading a huge book. It was close to when Giles said the group would be here. And man did he have questions!
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"You're mother's name was Isobel Flemming?" Mr. Saltzman asked, "wa-was she around often?"
Lynnie tried to rationalize telling him but her big mouth already gave the game away, "No. She left us with her mother-our grandmother to take care of."
"What did, your um, mother do for a living?" he asked, starting to look a little clammy.
"I think she was a professor or something. She kinda had us and took off for college."
"College?" he asked, "Which one?"
"Duke," Lyn stated, nearly in awe at the shades Alaric Saltzman turned upon hearing that.
"Lyn, we gotta go," Ros came forward and urged her sister along.
Mr. Saltzman turned to Ros and his eyes widen and that sick look turned a bit greener. He coughed and then cleared his throat three times before he stiffly looked at Lyn, "I'll um, speak with you after class tomorrow, Lyn," he said almost woodenly. "And uh, please be careful?"
Ros looked at him with confusion evident. "Uh both of you," he stated his eyes moving to Ros's neck and the scarf covering it, before turning around and nearly running to his classroom.
"Weird," Ros whispered as the girls moved forward. "What'd he want."
"I'm apparently going to start tutoring for like three nights a week."
Ros nodded, "Should look good for college applications."
"You know I was going to say no, when I realize it would do wonders for my transcripts."
Ros shook her head, "You were wanting to get actually paid, huh?"
"I am not just going to do something for nothing, Rossy." Lyn snarked back, "I just hope they bribe me with candy or something."
Ros snorted and walked on, it was time to get things cleared up with Xander now.
Upon exiting the vehicle Ros was somewhat assaulted when Bonnie grabbed her arm and held onto it for dear life. With a sigh the curly haired girl accepted the circumstances and walked with her friend to the house.
The house was far different than Giles' apartment from the show. The walls were a slate grey color, and though Ros and Buffy had been there before, Ros couldn't help but note that the color was stunning strong neutral. The decor was drenched in history, with books being the overlapping theme.
However, in the center of the room there was a nice television with a gaming system underneath it. It would seem that Xander had a touch in the scheme after all.
Giles was sipping tea while Xander simply read from a few books. It was such an unusual sight that Bonnie, Buffy and Ros were brought short. This wasn't something the goofball would do willingly, at least not without prodding.
"Uh, Xan?" Buffy asked, her worry evident.
"BUFF!" he cheered happily. "Okay so I got something to talk to you and your extra dimensional relatives!"
"Extra-dimensional?" Bonnie asked.
Lynnie actually threw her face into her hand, just completely amazed at how quickly and simply a withheld secrete is lost. Course it was all Ros's fault.
"What?" Xander yelped, his eyes shooting toward wide eyed distressed looks everyone but the confused Bonnie had on her face. "I didn't say that?"
"What do you mean-"
"Lynnie and I were actually born in a different universe, much like this but with only a hint if any of magic and other powers. We physically died in that world and woke up in these bodies." Ros stated with a sigh, cutting off the questions and more importantly the lies Lynnie was going to try and push.
Lynnie glared darkly at her sister, and Bonnie wasn't all too happy about it either, but Ros just shrugged.
"Foot, mouth extraction," Xan said with an apologetic smile, "um,um um, ooops?" He sighed and rubbed his hand over his left eye, "I didn't mean to spill the cheese dip on this one, but I really do need to get some info."
"What do you need?" Ros asked sitting across from him.
"Are you the show fan?"
"Show fan?" Bonnie asked.
"Lynnie can you explain things with her while I talk to Xander?" Ros asked, but it was apparent she wasn't going to wait for her sister to agree.
"Buffy can-"
"Actually, Lynnie, I'm going to sit in and listen too," Buffy interrupted, with a sigh.
Lynnie sighed and pulled the brunet witch aside and began to explain her and Ros's origin.
"So what do you need to know?" Ros asked Xander with what she hoped was an encouraging smile.
"Let's start from the beginning," he actually pulled up a notepad, "Was the show any good?" he asked with a severe disposition and manner.
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Eventually Bonnie and Lyn joined the group and Bonnie started asking pertinent questions regarding her world. This added to the discussion as now everyone was involved.
With most everything answered Ros took note of everyone's expressions. Buffy seemed to understand and maybe even accept things the way they where now, only expressing a wish to find a way to permanently soul Angel. Lynnie looked flustered with just a hint of exhaustion, as if she were accepting this but wasn't pleased. Ros figured that was exactly how she felt.
Xander was looking pensive, it almost creeped her out with the far away thinking look he had. Unnatural.
Bonnie however had gone through a myriad of emotions fear confusion sadness and seemed to finally surpass acceptance straight to anger. Her dark glare was the most obvious clue to her mood.
"Anything else you wanna keep from your supposed best friend?" Bonnie asked her irritation at the apparent limit.
"You mean other than me being a thirty year old lady in the body of a teenager?" Ros asked in a syrupy sweet tone. "Nope pretty much just that." She gave a hard smile and tried not to lash out further.
"You aren't though," Xander spoke up causing the girls to nearly jump in surprise.
"What?" Buffy asked with confusion.
"They aren't thirty or however old. They're teenagers now," he stated with a sigh rubbing his left eye. "This is their second chance, our second chance to do better, be better."
"Xander, are you feeling okay?" Buffy asked with concern on her face.
"Yeah, but like, I'm still me, 'cept I have two eyes and no longer have my six pack." Xander gave a huge goofy grin.
"Six pack?" Bonnie whispered in disbelief.
"Two eyes?" Buffy asked with worry.
"Yeah, this is my redo. I've already made some awful mistakes, I'm not going to try and live out my life again, but go better than before." The pensive look was back on his face, "Maybe we can just crater Sunnydale?"
"I don't know," Ros butt in, "There are like a crap ton of big bads in your universe."
He turned to her and gave an eyebrow waggle, "Even worse than preacher boy and his psycho girlfriend?"
"Psycho girlfriend?" Bonnie asked.
"Preacher?" Buffy asked, "I thought they were good, little creepy but did the whole preacher thing?"
Ros chuckled but otherwise ignored the girls. "Who do you think she works with? There's a whole big company of demons intent on world chaos, then their are other hell mouths just oozing with nasty energies."
Xander looked uncomfortable, "More?" he squeaked. He cleared his throat, "You mean there are more evil big bads?"
"This world was run by demons, literal demons, that scythe was just the last tool through the slayer blood that slain a pure demon. You also have insanely powerful witches with insane spells, gods and beings that consider themselves such. There are people from here trapt in other dimensions." Ros stopped and turned a bit green, before looking at her sister with pleading eyes.
Lynnie, thankfully saw Ros's problem and started to try and figure some out herself, "We have time Ros."
"Time?" Xander asked worry building up.
"Yeah, you know time," Lyn stated dismissively.
"I'm more confused about preachers who are bad?" Buffy asked, her tone confused and concerned.
"And don't preachers abstain from girlfriends?" Bonnie asked with confusion as well.
"I think we missed far too much in this conversation, can we go back a couple of places?" Buffy asked tilting her head to the side.
"I lost an eye," Xander stated, rubbing his left eye. "An evil preacher crushed it out and his psycho untouchable girlfriend just chuckled at it," he gave a good sigh and then a reassuring smile at the two now fully terrified girls. "Not a good time, don't recommend."
"Crushed?" Bonnie asked.
"Crushed your eye out?" Buffy asked both girls going a bit green.
"Yep and his psycho girlfriend is just an entity of pure evil, predating man and demon." Ros stated with a nod.
"You are really proud of yourself," Lyn stated with disgust.
"Hey!" Ros snapped, raising her hands in a defensive manner. "It's finally my time to shine. I just hadn't thought back to how damn scary Buffy's uni was."
"Is Ros, this is the here and now," Lyn chided.
"Right, we'll I'm like eighty percent sure that as long as nothing overturns the balance of good vs evil in the world, the First won't be able to do much more than manipulate."
"What?" Xander asked.
"Basically, if I remember this right, the first just wanted to be corporeal."
"Real?" he asked, confusion evident on his face.
"Yeah, like it wanted a more active part in the world."
"And it gets that how?" Xander asked, a bit urgently.
"By tipping the balance of good and evil and if tipped enough it could enter anyone's body."
"I-" he paused and closed his eyes tight, "I'm not going to bother with this right now."
"Probably a smart idea," Lyn gave him a sad nod.
"I'm not going to forget," he stated, with gusto as if wanting to prove it somehow, before his shoulders sagged and he closed his eyes again, "I just can't right now."
"Yeah, totally get it."
"So," Xander dragged the word out, "anybody got any twinkies?" he asked with a hopeful smile.
Bonnie smiled too, "Oh good he's back."
Xander gave a heavy sigh, "Um Buffy, could you show the twins Giles's books."
"Books?" Buffy asked with utter confusion.
"Yeah, Giles's books." Xander stated with a hard look in his eye, something Buffy wasn't used too.
"Oh!" she flinched and winced, "Right Giles's books." She motioned to the twins who got up and left.
"Bonnie," Xander sighed as tears pooled in her eyes. "I'm not the same guy you knew. Similar, but no where near the same." He sighed and looked up before again rubbing his left eye. "Not only am I not who I was before, but I can't-" He gave a heavy sigh and stood up, "I can't date teenagers."
"But you said this was a doover thing? That you are a teenager?" Bonnie spoke up, tears threatening to fall.
Xander shook his head, "In body, but mentally I'm an old guy who just can't connect to teens anymore."
"Ros dated and she's older than your supposed age."
"And obviously that didn't work out for her," Xander sighed and gave the girl a sad smile, "I'm just not comfortable dating someone underage and even more importantly I'm not ready to date yet, period." He looked down to the ground, "The last battle I was in, I lost someone who meant the world to me."
Bonnie gasped, but Xander continued. "She was cut in half by a monster just minutes before the town cratered in."
"Really?" Bonnie asked, her voice shaky and unsure.
"I get this is hard to understand, but yes," he smirked, "She died protecting some little man instead of running," he sat down with a plop, "I'm still not over her."
Bonnie sniffled, but nodded, turning her head to the side and wiping her eyes discreetly. "I'm gonna go home, tell Ros I'll text her later."
Xander nodded, "It was nice meeting you Bonnie."
She gave him a nod back, tears already bursting through her eyes. She had seen it coming but it hurt.
"I'm sorry," he said as she left the house. He leaned back and marveled his depth perception, trying not to think too much about the heartache of young love.
"Are you okay?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah," he sighed and again rubbed his eye, "How do you girls handle it?"
"What?" Lyn asks, hoping for some clarification.
"The whole," he began to motion lively with his hands, "Groundhog day thing?"
"How'd you come up with Groundhog day?" Lyn asked
"Well you know," he responded with all seriousness, "the redo thing."
"He redid the same day, we're not even reliving our lives, we're living out someone else's in two different worlds that we loved dearly." Ros answered with an exaggerated sigh.
"Tomato potato!" he said dismissively, causing Lyn to shoot triumphant daggers at her sister, she isn't the only one to say it.
AN- So good news guys, the end is in sight. Chapter 58 will be the end chapter of this story. I'll mark it complete and everything. Thanks for reading following and favoriting.