Celia, who's already running and prancing around, wakes him up. He yawns and stretches, reaching for his boots as he sits up. Rubbing the sleep away from his eyes he looks at Celia who's at the far end of the room jumping onto the wall over and over. A small grin graces his lips and he pulls on his boots and ties them before standing. Celia has seen him stand up and comes running at full speed to him. She leaps onto his shoulder, causing him to loose his footing a little. He staggers a step, grasping onto Celia's arm so she doesn't fall.
"Morning sleepyhead," she says with a smile. "Dream of anything cool?"
He smiles slightly at her but shakes his head to her question. He rarely dreamed of anything lately.
"You going back to the hole today?" She asked hopping to the floor.
He nods, and grins again as she pouts.
"You always go there," she says.
He sighs and grabs the little chalkboard he always wrote on.
'I have to,' he writes.
"Why?"
'To check for Vampires.'
"But there haven't been any in months," she says. "And it's daytime."
'That's why I have to keep checking,' he scribbles, showing it to her for a few seconds before erasing again. 'They're probably up to something. Day or not I know they have a nest somewhere.'
"Fine," she says folding her arms. "Go and get depressed like you always do."
He rolls his eyes at her and kisses the top of her head. He writes one last message on the chalkboard before heading to the door. It says, 'Be good.'
Outside of the building he squints his eyes against the few rays of sun that actually managed to break through the clouds. Adjusting the collar of his shirt, his fingernails brush the scar. He involuntarily shudders at the contact and quickly removes his hand. People have already taken to their daily chores around the base. A group of young boys are sitting next to one of the few trees left whittling stakes and makeshift crossbow darts. Some of the women are taking care of the animals, and others are making clothes with left over fabric from anything else. Most of the men are on guard duty somewhere, and a few women are on sniper points on the various roofs. He sees more children at play and makes a note to himself to keep an eye on little Mikey Myers.
As usual everyone he passes nods in respect or salutes. He politely nods in return. Chelsea Winters smiles shyly at him when he passes. She makes a move to approach him but declines on the idea awkwardly stepping back to her spot leaning against building A. He smiles to himself. She was a sweet girl, and had a crush on him for as long as he can remember. Though, she never did anything about it.
Once at the gates the two guards saluted as he went to pass by them when one called after him.
"Sir," he said. "Scouts have reported and unknown walking around the crater."
He nods and makes the letter V with his fingers.
"No sir, they don't think it's a vampire. It's too far past dawn and they say the unknown was not wearing enough fatigues to block against sunlight."
Xander nods and pats the man on his shoulder. He pulls a piece of paper from his pocket and scribbles a small note.
'Thank you Evans,' it says. 'I'll take care of it.'
"Sir," Evans responds, saluting again.
He pulls up his mask and adjusts his goggles as he walks. Looking up at the sky it was turning out to be a fairly decent day. Something he hadn't seen in quite awhile. His boots crunch against some pebbles as he walks and he looks at all the rustlings in the bush. The animals all are running away from him. His throat vibrates in quiet laughter. He reaches the crater fifteen minutes later and starts walking his usual perimeter around it. Circling around the crater usually takes one and a half to two hours if he runs. Three hours if he walks. He felt like walking today and starts off the to right. He keeps a sharp eye out for the unknown he was warned about. He wondered who it could have been. It was rare that anyone would come here with a purpose, and even rarer for someone to just happen to stumble upon it. Most of the outside world knew to stay away from Sunnydale. Anyone who came was looking for trouble.
Hours later he finished his second rotation around the crater. The only strange thing he'd seen was a bird flying overhead. It's been months since he's seen one. You know it's bad when even the birds stay away. He sits on a collapsed tree trunk and cracks his neck. Staring blankly in the distance he thinks it's time to head back to base and cook dinner for him and Celia.
He jumps to his feet when he hears footsteps in the distance. He shoots a quick look to the sky; it's still too soon for any vamps to come out. He dives behind the tree and waits patiently for the unknown to pass him. His breathing is shallow, and his arms and legs are primed to attack, need it be necessary. The footsteps approach him at a casual pace, not to slow, not to fast. Someone who was is no hurry. The crunching becomes louder as it comes closer. From his crouched position his can see the unknown's boots from the gap between the tree trunk and the ground. He is shocked when it speaks.
"I know you're there," the voice says. "Unless you intend on sucking my blood I suggest you come out now."
He hesitates a moment, not sure if it's some demon bluff. The boots come closer and his fists tighten.
"Ollie, ollie, oxen free," the voice calls as it moves toward him.
The boots are right next to his eyes now and he looks up to see the unknown smiling down at him.
"I thought only kids played the hiding game," it said.
Without a sound he sends a swift uppercut to the unknowns jaw, sending it staggering back. He leaps over the tree legs poised in a thrust kick, which connects to the person's side knocking it to the ground. The unknown leaps to it's feet and he stops dead. She is in a fighting stance waiting for his next move but it doesn't come. Instead he slowly removes his goggles and gas mask. Her eyes grow wide with surprise when the recognition comes over her.
Cold.
That's the only thing she can think at the moment. Those once warm brown orbs of his were now ice cold. She stares into them a few seconds before turning away. He moves closer to her and she's surprised when he says nothing. She takes a few steps away before she feels his hands clamp onto her shoulder. It's harder than expected. She turns her head toward him but doesn't look into his eyes. She doesn't want to feel that small chill she felt creep up her spine by looking into them.
"How've you been Xander?" She asks.
He still doesn't say anything to her as he walks off a few feet, indicating with his index finger that she should follow. At this point she's not sure what to do or say around him. Avoiding a few of the bigger rocks on the ground she follows. His silence is something that's beginning to make her feel uncomfortable in his presence. A memory of the same man before her, laughing and smiling and having a hard time shutting up enters her mind. She catches up to him and looks into those distant eyes once again and has a hard time believing that this is the same man she once knew.
His hand clamping on her wrist snaps her out of the memory. He pulls her along and only lets go once they reach the trail that leads back to the base. They walk and say nothing. She's starting to get really uncomfortable with the silent treatment and shoots down the urge to scream at him to say something to her. Instead she just walks along side him, picking at the frayed ends of her jacket. He suddenly stops dead and she's a few feet ahead of him before she realizes he's stopped.
"Warn a girl will you?" She grumbles.
His index finger shoots to his lips, indicating for her to be quiet. She watches as he tilts his head slightly, struggling to hear something. She doesn't know what he's listening for, but a moment later she hears it. A subtle scuffling in the brush next to the trail. He turns slowly away from her, hand reaching for his knife. The scuffling from the brush stops and she watches as his body becomes completely still, like stone. She doesn't know how long they stand there before he gives up on whatever it was. He walks ahead of her and grabs her wrist again without looking back. She sighs loudly and grudgingly goes along.
They arrive at the base a few minutes before sunset and she stares at him strangely when the men guarding the gate salute him. He pointed at her and wrote something to them on a little piece of paper. She didn't fight them off when they went to search her, checking for anything dangerous to them.
"Is this the old Army base?" She asks when they pass through the gate.
He nods, and she smiles slightly, noting the first reaction she's gotten out of him. She looks on curiously as the other people occupying the base stopped whatever they were doing to salute him or nod their heads in respect. He stops her when the reach a giant tan building with a letter E painted on the side. The dust and wind had caused the paint to fade over the years. He opens the door and gestures for her to enter. Once inside she cranes her neck to the thirty-foot ceiling. She whistles softly.
"Nice set up you have here Xand."
She watches him put his mask and goggles on nails next to the door. She's about to ask him what all this was about when something came squealing out of a darkened corner of the room. She immediately jumps into a fighting stance.
"Xander!" Celia exclaimed, jumping into his arms as was her daily ritual. "Didja bring me anything?"
He shook his head and she sighed. Buffy looked on questioningly at the little girl so lost in Xander's protective hold that she hadn't noticed someone else was here. Xander's eyes turned to Buffy and Celia's followed.
"Who's that?" She asked.
"I'm Buffy," the slayer replied when Xander didn't.
"Buffy?" She questions, looking back to Xander.
He nods.
"Thee Buffy?"
He nods again.
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer?"
Another nod.
"Wow," Celia breathed looking back to Buffy. "I thought you were just a fairy tale."
Buffy laughing softly at the little girls awe. "I'm real as far as I can tell," she said. "What have you been telling her Xander?"
He merely shrugs as Celia lets him go and runs at Buffy grabbing her hand.
"My name is Celia," she says politely. Then squeals, "We have so much to talk about! Xander will make dinner while we chat."
Buffy looked to Xander who simply nods his permission.
"Come on!" Celia shouts, tugging her toward a corner of the room. Buffy laughs and let's herself be dragged.
"Xander's told me so much about you," she says excitedly, pulling Buffy toward some cushions set on the floor.
"He doesn't say mu..."
"So you're the slayer?" Celia interrupts plopping down on one of the cushions. "That's so cool! How many vampires have you killed?"
"Well I don't really keep..."
"I bet it's a lot."
"I..."
"I bet it's even more than Xander!"
"Has Xander killed a lot of Vamps?" Buffy asks.
"Oh yeah," Celia replies with a hint of pride. "Over a hundred I think."
Buffy smiles when the girl begins to count her fingers.
"I don't know exactly," Celia sighs. "I kind of lost count."
"I think it's sweet that you try," Buffy replies.
Celia beams at her, a slight blush creeping into her cheeks. The two sat there a moment using the silence between them to grow used to each other presence.
"He used to talk about you all the time," Celia said. "He told us that if you ever came back we'd have you to thank for everything you taught him."
"He said that?" Buffy asked.
Celia nods, smiling brightly. "He used to tell me bedtime stories of all your adventures in High School. I used to love it when he did that," she sighs wistfully.
"He doesn't tell you stories anymore?"
"He can't," Celia replies shaking her head.
"Why?"
She looks up to Buffy, green eyes searching hers. "You don't know do you?" Celia says more to herself than to Buffy. "'Course you don't. He wouldn't just show you..."
"Know what?" Buffy inquires.
"He can't talk," Celia states matter-of-factly. "Hasn't been able to for a whole year."
Buffy's mouth hangs open as the realization dawns on her. The silent treatment Xander had been giving her wasn't out of any kind of anger he would have had toward her for leaving. She feels so stupid. She looks over to Xander at the other end of the room, tinkering with the propane stove.
"How?" She asks, aware that her voice is shaking a little.
"McRae," Celia replies with as much venom as an eight-year-old girl could muster.
"McRae," Buffy whispers to herself, the name sounding vaguely familiar. "The fire chief?"
"Yeah," Celia says quietly. "He wanted to be the leader here. Because of him being the fire chief and all I think he thought he'd be better at it than Xander. But he didn't know anything about Vampires or Demons or other slimy gross things and stuff. Xander did, and when they would attack, Xander taught us all how to fight and kill them. McRae sat on his old wrinkly butt and did nothing. He still wanted to be leader so he..."
"It's okay," Buffy said placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You can tell me."
"One day he ambushed Xander. It was right after some big battle and we were all tired and he just jumped him. He took his knife and he..."
Tears began to flow down Celia's cheeks and Buffy pulled her into a hug, letting the little girl gently sob on her shoulder.
"He slit his throat," Celia whispered. "So no more bedtime stories."
Buffy sat in shock, knowing that something that horrible had happened to one of her oldest friends. She couldn't believe that after all this catastrophe people could still be capable of such malice.
"Doc Wilson got to him quick enough," Celia continued. "Saved his life."
Buffy kept her in the hug and Celia stopped talking for a few minutes. They sat and listened to Xander messing around with the dinner things.
"Celia?" Buffy asks.
"Hmm?"
"Does Xander take care of you?"
"Uh huh," she replies still sniffling. "Ever since mommy and daddy got killed."
"When was that?"
"Um, I don't know. Maybe a year, I try not to think about it. It makes me sad..."
"Vampires?"
"Demons," Celia replied. "Jeez, you'd think with the hell mouth blowing half the town to bits all the mystical convergence junk would just disappear."
Buffy blinked at how old Celia suddenly sounded. She was still only a little girl and had probably seen enough horrible things to haunt her for the rest of her life.
"Do they have to fight vamps a lot?" She asked.
"Um, not in a month or so. Not as much as they used too," Celia said. "Xander thinks they're all up to something. Building forces or something like that."
"He's probably right," Buffy says.
"He missed you, you know," Celia whispered.
Buffy's brows furrowed in confusion. "What?"
"Oh, he never said anything like that even when he could talk. But I think... It was the way he talked about you. It seemed... I dunno, like he loved you or something. Like Prince Charming and Sleeping Beauty in my storybook."
Buffy once again stares blankly at the insightful little redhead sitting in front of her, exuding wisdom and perception beyond her years.
"How'd you get so smart?" She asks.
Celia blushes and giggles and looks in Xander's direction. "I had a good teacher I guess," she says.
Xander bangs on a pot with a big wooden spoon telling them both that dinner is ready.
"Ooh, food!" Celia screams, jumping from her cushion and grabbing Buffy's hand.
"What's for dinner?" Buffy asks.
"Well, since he didn't bring anything home tonight it's probably beef or chicken broth. We found a crate full of those little bully cubes awhile ago."
"Bullion," Buffy corrected.
"Huh?"
"The little cubes," Buffy continued. "They're called bullion cubes."
"Bully cubes," Celia repeated. "That's what I said."
"Nevermind," Buffy grins. "So it's only broth?"
"It's a little bleh, yeah," Celia says. "But on the plus side it tastes like an old dirty sock and if you're lucky it'll fill you up."
Buffy laughs lightly.
"Xander is definitely raising you."
"Morning sleepyhead," she says with a smile. "Dream of anything cool?"
He smiles slightly at her but shakes his head to her question. He rarely dreamed of anything lately.
"You going back to the hole today?" She asked hopping to the floor.
He nods, and grins again as she pouts.
"You always go there," she says.
He sighs and grabs the little chalkboard he always wrote on.
'I have to,' he writes.
"Why?"
'To check for Vampires.'
"But there haven't been any in months," she says. "And it's daytime."
'That's why I have to keep checking,' he scribbles, showing it to her for a few seconds before erasing again. 'They're probably up to something. Day or not I know they have a nest somewhere.'
"Fine," she says folding her arms. "Go and get depressed like you always do."
He rolls his eyes at her and kisses the top of her head. He writes one last message on the chalkboard before heading to the door. It says, 'Be good.'
Outside of the building he squints his eyes against the few rays of sun that actually managed to break through the clouds. Adjusting the collar of his shirt, his fingernails brush the scar. He involuntarily shudders at the contact and quickly removes his hand. People have already taken to their daily chores around the base. A group of young boys are sitting next to one of the few trees left whittling stakes and makeshift crossbow darts. Some of the women are taking care of the animals, and others are making clothes with left over fabric from anything else. Most of the men are on guard duty somewhere, and a few women are on sniper points on the various roofs. He sees more children at play and makes a note to himself to keep an eye on little Mikey Myers.
As usual everyone he passes nods in respect or salutes. He politely nods in return. Chelsea Winters smiles shyly at him when he passes. She makes a move to approach him but declines on the idea awkwardly stepping back to her spot leaning against building A. He smiles to himself. She was a sweet girl, and had a crush on him for as long as he can remember. Though, she never did anything about it.
Once at the gates the two guards saluted as he went to pass by them when one called after him.
"Sir," he said. "Scouts have reported and unknown walking around the crater."
He nods and makes the letter V with his fingers.
"No sir, they don't think it's a vampire. It's too far past dawn and they say the unknown was not wearing enough fatigues to block against sunlight."
Xander nods and pats the man on his shoulder. He pulls a piece of paper from his pocket and scribbles a small note.
'Thank you Evans,' it says. 'I'll take care of it.'
"Sir," Evans responds, saluting again.
He pulls up his mask and adjusts his goggles as he walks. Looking up at the sky it was turning out to be a fairly decent day. Something he hadn't seen in quite awhile. His boots crunch against some pebbles as he walks and he looks at all the rustlings in the bush. The animals all are running away from him. His throat vibrates in quiet laughter. He reaches the crater fifteen minutes later and starts walking his usual perimeter around it. Circling around the crater usually takes one and a half to two hours if he runs. Three hours if he walks. He felt like walking today and starts off the to right. He keeps a sharp eye out for the unknown he was warned about. He wondered who it could have been. It was rare that anyone would come here with a purpose, and even rarer for someone to just happen to stumble upon it. Most of the outside world knew to stay away from Sunnydale. Anyone who came was looking for trouble.
Hours later he finished his second rotation around the crater. The only strange thing he'd seen was a bird flying overhead. It's been months since he's seen one. You know it's bad when even the birds stay away. He sits on a collapsed tree trunk and cracks his neck. Staring blankly in the distance he thinks it's time to head back to base and cook dinner for him and Celia.
He jumps to his feet when he hears footsteps in the distance. He shoots a quick look to the sky; it's still too soon for any vamps to come out. He dives behind the tree and waits patiently for the unknown to pass him. His breathing is shallow, and his arms and legs are primed to attack, need it be necessary. The footsteps approach him at a casual pace, not to slow, not to fast. Someone who was is no hurry. The crunching becomes louder as it comes closer. From his crouched position his can see the unknown's boots from the gap between the tree trunk and the ground. He is shocked when it speaks.
"I know you're there," the voice says. "Unless you intend on sucking my blood I suggest you come out now."
He hesitates a moment, not sure if it's some demon bluff. The boots come closer and his fists tighten.
"Ollie, ollie, oxen free," the voice calls as it moves toward him.
The boots are right next to his eyes now and he looks up to see the unknown smiling down at him.
"I thought only kids played the hiding game," it said.
Without a sound he sends a swift uppercut to the unknowns jaw, sending it staggering back. He leaps over the tree legs poised in a thrust kick, which connects to the person's side knocking it to the ground. The unknown leaps to it's feet and he stops dead. She is in a fighting stance waiting for his next move but it doesn't come. Instead he slowly removes his goggles and gas mask. Her eyes grow wide with surprise when the recognition comes over her.
Cold.
That's the only thing she can think at the moment. Those once warm brown orbs of his were now ice cold. She stares into them a few seconds before turning away. He moves closer to her and she's surprised when he says nothing. She takes a few steps away before she feels his hands clamp onto her shoulder. It's harder than expected. She turns her head toward him but doesn't look into his eyes. She doesn't want to feel that small chill she felt creep up her spine by looking into them.
"How've you been Xander?" She asks.
He still doesn't say anything to her as he walks off a few feet, indicating with his index finger that she should follow. At this point she's not sure what to do or say around him. Avoiding a few of the bigger rocks on the ground she follows. His silence is something that's beginning to make her feel uncomfortable in his presence. A memory of the same man before her, laughing and smiling and having a hard time shutting up enters her mind. She catches up to him and looks into those distant eyes once again and has a hard time believing that this is the same man she once knew.
His hand clamping on her wrist snaps her out of the memory. He pulls her along and only lets go once they reach the trail that leads back to the base. They walk and say nothing. She's starting to get really uncomfortable with the silent treatment and shoots down the urge to scream at him to say something to her. Instead she just walks along side him, picking at the frayed ends of her jacket. He suddenly stops dead and she's a few feet ahead of him before she realizes he's stopped.
"Warn a girl will you?" She grumbles.
His index finger shoots to his lips, indicating for her to be quiet. She watches as he tilts his head slightly, struggling to hear something. She doesn't know what he's listening for, but a moment later she hears it. A subtle scuffling in the brush next to the trail. He turns slowly away from her, hand reaching for his knife. The scuffling from the brush stops and she watches as his body becomes completely still, like stone. She doesn't know how long they stand there before he gives up on whatever it was. He walks ahead of her and grabs her wrist again without looking back. She sighs loudly and grudgingly goes along.
They arrive at the base a few minutes before sunset and she stares at him strangely when the men guarding the gate salute him. He pointed at her and wrote something to them on a little piece of paper. She didn't fight them off when they went to search her, checking for anything dangerous to them.
"Is this the old Army base?" She asks when they pass through the gate.
He nods, and she smiles slightly, noting the first reaction she's gotten out of him. She looks on curiously as the other people occupying the base stopped whatever they were doing to salute him or nod their heads in respect. He stops her when the reach a giant tan building with a letter E painted on the side. The dust and wind had caused the paint to fade over the years. He opens the door and gestures for her to enter. Once inside she cranes her neck to the thirty-foot ceiling. She whistles softly.
"Nice set up you have here Xand."
She watches him put his mask and goggles on nails next to the door. She's about to ask him what all this was about when something came squealing out of a darkened corner of the room. She immediately jumps into a fighting stance.
"Xander!" Celia exclaimed, jumping into his arms as was her daily ritual. "Didja bring me anything?"
He shook his head and she sighed. Buffy looked on questioningly at the little girl so lost in Xander's protective hold that she hadn't noticed someone else was here. Xander's eyes turned to Buffy and Celia's followed.
"Who's that?" She asked.
"I'm Buffy," the slayer replied when Xander didn't.
"Buffy?" She questions, looking back to Xander.
He nods.
"Thee Buffy?"
He nods again.
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer?"
Another nod.
"Wow," Celia breathed looking back to Buffy. "I thought you were just a fairy tale."
Buffy laughing softly at the little girls awe. "I'm real as far as I can tell," she said. "What have you been telling her Xander?"
He merely shrugs as Celia lets him go and runs at Buffy grabbing her hand.
"My name is Celia," she says politely. Then squeals, "We have so much to talk about! Xander will make dinner while we chat."
Buffy looked to Xander who simply nods his permission.
"Come on!" Celia shouts, tugging her toward a corner of the room. Buffy laughs and let's herself be dragged.
"Xander's told me so much about you," she says excitedly, pulling Buffy toward some cushions set on the floor.
"He doesn't say mu..."
"So you're the slayer?" Celia interrupts plopping down on one of the cushions. "That's so cool! How many vampires have you killed?"
"Well I don't really keep..."
"I bet it's a lot."
"I..."
"I bet it's even more than Xander!"
"Has Xander killed a lot of Vamps?" Buffy asks.
"Oh yeah," Celia replies with a hint of pride. "Over a hundred I think."
Buffy smiles when the girl begins to count her fingers.
"I don't know exactly," Celia sighs. "I kind of lost count."
"I think it's sweet that you try," Buffy replies.
Celia beams at her, a slight blush creeping into her cheeks. The two sat there a moment using the silence between them to grow used to each other presence.
"He used to talk about you all the time," Celia said. "He told us that if you ever came back we'd have you to thank for everything you taught him."
"He said that?" Buffy asked.
Celia nods, smiling brightly. "He used to tell me bedtime stories of all your adventures in High School. I used to love it when he did that," she sighs wistfully.
"He doesn't tell you stories anymore?"
"He can't," Celia replies shaking her head.
"Why?"
She looks up to Buffy, green eyes searching hers. "You don't know do you?" Celia says more to herself than to Buffy. "'Course you don't. He wouldn't just show you..."
"Know what?" Buffy inquires.
"He can't talk," Celia states matter-of-factly. "Hasn't been able to for a whole year."
Buffy's mouth hangs open as the realization dawns on her. The silent treatment Xander had been giving her wasn't out of any kind of anger he would have had toward her for leaving. She feels so stupid. She looks over to Xander at the other end of the room, tinkering with the propane stove.
"How?" She asks, aware that her voice is shaking a little.
"McRae," Celia replies with as much venom as an eight-year-old girl could muster.
"McRae," Buffy whispers to herself, the name sounding vaguely familiar. "The fire chief?"
"Yeah," Celia says quietly. "He wanted to be the leader here. Because of him being the fire chief and all I think he thought he'd be better at it than Xander. But he didn't know anything about Vampires or Demons or other slimy gross things and stuff. Xander did, and when they would attack, Xander taught us all how to fight and kill them. McRae sat on his old wrinkly butt and did nothing. He still wanted to be leader so he..."
"It's okay," Buffy said placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You can tell me."
"One day he ambushed Xander. It was right after some big battle and we were all tired and he just jumped him. He took his knife and he..."
Tears began to flow down Celia's cheeks and Buffy pulled her into a hug, letting the little girl gently sob on her shoulder.
"He slit his throat," Celia whispered. "So no more bedtime stories."
Buffy sat in shock, knowing that something that horrible had happened to one of her oldest friends. She couldn't believe that after all this catastrophe people could still be capable of such malice.
"Doc Wilson got to him quick enough," Celia continued. "Saved his life."
Buffy kept her in the hug and Celia stopped talking for a few minutes. They sat and listened to Xander messing around with the dinner things.
"Celia?" Buffy asks.
"Hmm?"
"Does Xander take care of you?"
"Uh huh," she replies still sniffling. "Ever since mommy and daddy got killed."
"When was that?"
"Um, I don't know. Maybe a year, I try not to think about it. It makes me sad..."
"Vampires?"
"Demons," Celia replied. "Jeez, you'd think with the hell mouth blowing half the town to bits all the mystical convergence junk would just disappear."
Buffy blinked at how old Celia suddenly sounded. She was still only a little girl and had probably seen enough horrible things to haunt her for the rest of her life.
"Do they have to fight vamps a lot?" She asked.
"Um, not in a month or so. Not as much as they used too," Celia said. "Xander thinks they're all up to something. Building forces or something like that."
"He's probably right," Buffy says.
"He missed you, you know," Celia whispered.
Buffy's brows furrowed in confusion. "What?"
"Oh, he never said anything like that even when he could talk. But I think... It was the way he talked about you. It seemed... I dunno, like he loved you or something. Like Prince Charming and Sleeping Beauty in my storybook."
Buffy once again stares blankly at the insightful little redhead sitting in front of her, exuding wisdom and perception beyond her years.
"How'd you get so smart?" She asks.
Celia blushes and giggles and looks in Xander's direction. "I had a good teacher I guess," she says.
Xander bangs on a pot with a big wooden spoon telling them both that dinner is ready.
"Ooh, food!" Celia screams, jumping from her cushion and grabbing Buffy's hand.
"What's for dinner?" Buffy asks.
"Well, since he didn't bring anything home tonight it's probably beef or chicken broth. We found a crate full of those little bully cubes awhile ago."
"Bullion," Buffy corrected.
"Huh?"
"The little cubes," Buffy continued. "They're called bullion cubes."
"Bully cubes," Celia repeated. "That's what I said."
"Nevermind," Buffy grins. "So it's only broth?"
"It's a little bleh, yeah," Celia says. "But on the plus side it tastes like an old dirty sock and if you're lucky it'll fill you up."
Buffy laughs lightly.
"Xander is definitely raising you."