Title: Angels on the Hellmouth
Chapter Title: Reunions and Revelations
Rating: PG
Spoilers: First five series of Buffy and the Dogma movie.
Summary: Buffy and Dogma Crossover. Set post series 5 of Buffy and after Dogma movie. An Angel shows up in The Magic Box as the Scoobies grieve the loss of Buffy. Why is he there and how does he know Xander?
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy or Dogma. They belong to their respective owners. I am making no money of this fic, so don't sue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The bone white light faded slowly, leaving Dawn staring at a very different scene to the interior of The Magic Box. Metatron was standing a few feet away, but Dawn could only stare at the scenery. To Dawn most of the buildings were brilliant white, sometimes hinting at other colours that she could not place. Very few buildings in Heaven are actually white; they are simply colours that are beyond the capacity of the human mind to handle.
Among what appeared to be palaces and auditoriums from a range of periods in history, seamlessly blending together into a breathtaking city, were many parks and fields that never looked out of place despite their bright colours. Everywhere walked the winged angels and normal humans, obviously those who had died and been admitted into Heaven. In the distance what looked like a normal human walked through the streets, however all the surrounding humans and Angels bowed to her.
"Is that God?" Dawn asked excitedly, felling wonder and awe at this place.
"Yep." Alex said.
"Can I talk to her?" Dawn said, her face beaming.
"Umm. No." Metatron said.
"You're not dead yet Dawn. If you heard her speak you're head would explode and you heart would implode." Tara quietly explained.
"Yah, we went through five Adams before we figured that one out." Metatron said rolling his eyes.
"OK. Where's Buffy?"
"This way Dawnie." Xander said leading the group through the streets.
********
Joyce Summers was cooking happily in the kitchen. She knew, of course, that there was no need to cook, there was no need to eat, but she had always found cooking both relaxing and fun. Buffy entered the house and came to help her mother in the kitchen. Buffy had just been out in one of the many parks having drinks with her friends. They both were very happy here in Heaven, however they both missed Dawn, and Buffy missed her friends, but most of the time the negative feelings were submerged in happiness, contentment and belonging. The house they occupied was an exact replica of the one they had occupied in Sunnydale. Once dinner was cooked and the table set, their meal was slightly delayed by three figures entering the house, two of them obviously Angels. Buffy and Joyce rose before Buffy recognised the human.
"Dawn! What are you doing here? How did you die?" Buffy asked anxiously.
"She didn't die." said a melodious female voice from one of the Angels that seemed vaguely familiar to Buffy.
"Calm down Buffster. She got special permission to come see you." said the male Angel stepping out of the silhouetting of the doorway.
"Xander! You're and Angel." Buffy said startled.
"As is Tara." Alex replied, as his mate move up beside him.
"Won't you join us? There is always plenty." Joyce said, motioning to the table.
"Thank you Mrs. Summers." Tara replied.
Discussion at the dinner table continued long after the meal finished. After several hours Dawn fell asleep and was carried up to a bedroom by Alex, before he returned to the table. The discussion ranged across a variety of subjects; from reminiscing about their lives (both human and Heavenly) and Dawn's future on earth, to the new Slayer and Alex and Tara's yet to be conceived baby. When Dawn woke in the morning Alex and Tara said goodbye to the deceased Summers women, leaving with Dawn to visit their Heavenly home. Before they left Buffy grabbed Alex's arm and pulled him aside.
"As to what you asked me last night. (Pause) I would be honoured." Buffy said.
Alex nodded and walked back to Tara, linking his arm in hers and whispering quietly in her ear.
********
Giles was going through his books, Anya was fondling the money and Willow was looking through a spell book. They were just passing time; it had been four hours since the Dawn had gone to visit Buffy. A brilliant white light flared out in the body of the shop leaving behind four figures. Dawn came running down to greet everyone while Alex, Tara and Metatron walked slowly down.
"Where have you been for the last four hours?" Giles asked.
"Visiting Buffy." Dawn said smiling.
"Actually it was forty-eight hours in heaven." Tara said.
Everone moved to the table at sat down.
"Here's a question. Which one of us is the Slayer and why now, Buffy's been dead for three weeks?" Anya said, motioning to herself and Willow.
"If it is alright, I'll answer the second question first." Metatron said.
Everone nodded.
"Two days ago, earth time, I visited Faith in prison."
Metatron explained that after Buffy had died at the hands of the Master, her call had been used and although she was alive, if she died again, no new Slayer would be called. On his visit to Faith, Metatron had convinced her to give up her call rights so that the world would have a Slayer to fight. The new Slayer would be called now, instead of at Faith's death. Faith seemed to think that her death becoming totally meaningless was ironically appropriate for a rouge Slayer on the path to redemption.
"That explains the why now question." Giles said
"I'm getting there Giles. The new Slayer is Anya. Called a bit late but never mind."
Everyone stared at Anya, then at Metatron.
"WHAT?!?" Xander said. "A bit late! She's been a demon for eleven hundred years, now we're recruiting Slayers from the enemy!"
"Calm down, honey." Tara said laying a hand on his arm.
"Anya was never supposed to become a demon, she cast the vengeance spell and got recruited one day before she would have been called, so we went with another candidate. Anya, you will have your Slayer powers as of now. Giles, I expect you will act as her Watcher?" Metatron asked.
"I guess." Giles responded.
"Good. I had hoped you would. I ask your help." Metatron said motioning to Giles, Anya, Willow and Dawn. "Help to raise and protect the baby the Alex and Tara will have, she will be important to the world."
"I'm in!" Dawn said instantly.
"Why not. We've saved the world before." Willow said.
"Yah." Anya commented.
"Of course." Giles said. "What's one more Apocalypse?"
"There'll be a few of those, but this will stop the final destruction of earth." Metatron said.
"Stop the End of Days before it begins." Tara said.
Giles raised one eyebrow.
"Cool." He whispered.
"We've corrupted him. He's speaking American." Xander laughed.
"Yes, quite. Some American colloquialisms are efficient in describing complex, abstract ideas in an economic use of words." Giles said.
"And we're back to stuffy British Watcher." Willow said.
Metatron chuckled then turned to face everyone.
"I must be going now. Any questions you have will be answered at a later date." he said before disappearing in his pure white glow.
Alex and Tara moved to a cleared space in the store.
"I guess we had better change." Alex said.
A Platinum glow surrounded Alex and a Golden glow surrounded Tara and when the glowing faded Xander the Zeppo and Tara the Witch stood where the Angels had been, back in their street clothes and with their regular hair. For a second Anya and Willow each thought that they had just had a long and involved hallucination, but then they noticed Xander and Tara holding hands.
Anya turned towards the back room, figuring that she could work off some of her anger at the Angels on a punching bag; she was quickly followed by Giles, who wanted to measure her skills. Willow, afraid that she would use magic against her former best friend and former lover, stormed out of the store hoping fresh air and a long walk would help. Willow was followed by Dawn, wanting to make sure the red haired witch was alright and eventually to tell her about the meeting with Buffy.
"You and me against the world again, huh?" Xander said to his eternal love.
"Always." Tara replied with a grin. "They just need some more time. It is hard to lose someone like this. It happened to me before I moved to Sunnydale."
"Least it is not as bad as dating a giant bug that wants to kill you or an Incan mummy who sucks peoples life force out." Xander said wrapping his arm around Tara's shoulders.
********
A Few Days Later
Still in their human forms, Xander and Tara finished their Tai Chi exercises. Deciding to get some heaver exercise, bowing they faced off against each other in fighting stances. Xander and Tara fought for almost an hour, not trying to hurt each other, but probing defences and remembering forgotten skills. They constantly changed styles, adapting for attack, defence or just for a change, and they were completely focused on the contest. Tara was always faster, with a more flowing movement, while Xander was stronger, with solid and accurate moves. When they finished they, again, bowed to each other.
"Wow!"
The comment, made by Dawn, caused Xander and Tara to turn and face the Scoobies. Dawn looked at them in awe. Willow and Anya had mild looks of shock on their faces while Giles had a look of surprise and interest.
"We were just practicing. You learn a lot of things when you live as long as we have." Tara said slightly guiltily.
"Umm. Food." Xander said spotting the Chinese food on the table. "I'm starved."
They all sat around the table, Xander and Tara were using chopsticks like the hade used them for years, which they probably had. This surprised the others, considering Xander never used to be able to handle them. Everyone sat quietly eating for a while, with Willow occasionally glancing at Xander.
"I know what you are thinking Will. No we couldn't have, and she is in a better place." Xander said, seemingly out of the blue.
"You could have and she wouldn't have died." Willow shot back at Xander.
"We did not have the ability then. Relax Willow, you will all get to see Buffy in a few days." Tara said soothingly.
A shocked silence descended over the table.
"We'll get to see her?" Giles said.
"Yah. What, you think she would miss the wedding?" Xander replied.
Willow and Anya stared at Xander trying to process what he had said.
"God would get extremely angry if I got pregnant before we were married. Trust me you do not want to see God angry." Tara said.
"Nuclear PMS." Xander whispered to Giles.
Tara elbowed Xander in the side, making him grunt.
"We could teach you what we know. Improve you're fighting skills." Tara suggested.
This statement was greeted with unanimous consent.
"I think this could wait till after the wedding?" Xander asked.
*******
Two Days Later
Buffy and Joyce Summers, along with Metatron, Gregory and God, had appeared about an hour ago, joining Dawn, Willow, Anya and Giles for the wedding. The Scoobies had spent considerable time talking to Buffy and Joyce while Metatron, Gregory and God had stood apart, speaking occasionally with Alex and Tara. Metatron, Alex, Tara and Gregory were all dressed in their Angelic clothing. The female Scoobies, Joyce and God were all in formal dresses and Giles was in a tweed suit (AN: big surprise there).
Alex and Tara knelt before Metatron, with their wings folded behind them, in the middle of The Magic Box. Tara's right hand resting on top of Alex's left, with a red ribbon resting over their wrists.
"We are here to bond Loyalty and Tenderness. Through this bonding the parts become whole, never to be separated again. What are the parts alone?" Metatron asked.
"Loyalty without Tenderness can never be more than friendship" said Tara.
"Tenderness without Loyalty is destined to end in hatred and pain." Alex responded.
"In union what do they become?" Metatron said.
"Tenderness and Loyalty, eternally entwined will always produce Love and Hope. Love to counter Hatred, Hope to counter Despair, with balance achieved then piece shall forever be." Tara and Alex recited together.
Intertwining the ribbon between their hands, placed on atop the other, Metatron recited the last portion of the ritual.
"Joined eternally, Body to Body, Soul to Soul and Heart to Heart. May Love and Hope spread form this union and forever bring piece."
Alex and Tara rose, kissed each other and turned, hands still bound, to face the group behind them. Buffy and Joyce, with Dawn, stood on the left, on the right stood Willow and Anya, with Giles in between them. In the centre, directly in front of the newlywed couple stood Gregory and God. After a few minutes of congratulations and hugs, Buffy, Joyce, Gregory, Metatron and God all disappeared in a flash of light, returning back to their homes in Heaven.
"You know, the words of that ceremony sounded familiar, I think I have read them somewhere." Giles said.
"I'm not surprised. They were used for the first two weddings ever." Alex said.
"Yes, although Adam and Eve just copied the wording of our Angelic wedding. It did not have the same significance as ours." Tara responded.
"What was that about balance and piece?" Willow asked.
"Our firstborn daughter will be the Angel of Love and Hope. Her destiny is to win the heart of Lucifer and end the war between the Angels and the Fallen Angels by bringing him back to God, along with the other Fallen." Alex explained.
The wedding party quickly broke up, Anya and Willow going off to do a quick patrol, Giles, who had officially become co-guardian of Dawn with Willow, escorted his charge home to bed while Alex and Tara retreated to Xander's apartment, after changing back into human guise, for some alone time.
TBC.
Chapter Title: Reunions and Revelations
Rating: PG
Spoilers: First five series of Buffy and the Dogma movie.
Summary: Buffy and Dogma Crossover. Set post series 5 of Buffy and after Dogma movie. An Angel shows up in The Magic Box as the Scoobies grieve the loss of Buffy. Why is he there and how does he know Xander?
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy or Dogma. They belong to their respective owners. I am making no money of this fic, so don't sue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The bone white light faded slowly, leaving Dawn staring at a very different scene to the interior of The Magic Box. Metatron was standing a few feet away, but Dawn could only stare at the scenery. To Dawn most of the buildings were brilliant white, sometimes hinting at other colours that she could not place. Very few buildings in Heaven are actually white; they are simply colours that are beyond the capacity of the human mind to handle.
Among what appeared to be palaces and auditoriums from a range of periods in history, seamlessly blending together into a breathtaking city, were many parks and fields that never looked out of place despite their bright colours. Everywhere walked the winged angels and normal humans, obviously those who had died and been admitted into Heaven. In the distance what looked like a normal human walked through the streets, however all the surrounding humans and Angels bowed to her.
"Is that God?" Dawn asked excitedly, felling wonder and awe at this place.
"Yep." Alex said.
"Can I talk to her?" Dawn said, her face beaming.
"Umm. No." Metatron said.
"You're not dead yet Dawn. If you heard her speak you're head would explode and you heart would implode." Tara quietly explained.
"Yah, we went through five Adams before we figured that one out." Metatron said rolling his eyes.
"OK. Where's Buffy?"
"This way Dawnie." Xander said leading the group through the streets.
********
Joyce Summers was cooking happily in the kitchen. She knew, of course, that there was no need to cook, there was no need to eat, but she had always found cooking both relaxing and fun. Buffy entered the house and came to help her mother in the kitchen. Buffy had just been out in one of the many parks having drinks with her friends. They both were very happy here in Heaven, however they both missed Dawn, and Buffy missed her friends, but most of the time the negative feelings were submerged in happiness, contentment and belonging. The house they occupied was an exact replica of the one they had occupied in Sunnydale. Once dinner was cooked and the table set, their meal was slightly delayed by three figures entering the house, two of them obviously Angels. Buffy and Joyce rose before Buffy recognised the human.
"Dawn! What are you doing here? How did you die?" Buffy asked anxiously.
"She didn't die." said a melodious female voice from one of the Angels that seemed vaguely familiar to Buffy.
"Calm down Buffster. She got special permission to come see you." said the male Angel stepping out of the silhouetting of the doorway.
"Xander! You're and Angel." Buffy said startled.
"As is Tara." Alex replied, as his mate move up beside him.
"Won't you join us? There is always plenty." Joyce said, motioning to the table.
"Thank you Mrs. Summers." Tara replied.
Discussion at the dinner table continued long after the meal finished. After several hours Dawn fell asleep and was carried up to a bedroom by Alex, before he returned to the table. The discussion ranged across a variety of subjects; from reminiscing about their lives (both human and Heavenly) and Dawn's future on earth, to the new Slayer and Alex and Tara's yet to be conceived baby. When Dawn woke in the morning Alex and Tara said goodbye to the deceased Summers women, leaving with Dawn to visit their Heavenly home. Before they left Buffy grabbed Alex's arm and pulled him aside.
"As to what you asked me last night. (Pause) I would be honoured." Buffy said.
Alex nodded and walked back to Tara, linking his arm in hers and whispering quietly in her ear.
********
Giles was going through his books, Anya was fondling the money and Willow was looking through a spell book. They were just passing time; it had been four hours since the Dawn had gone to visit Buffy. A brilliant white light flared out in the body of the shop leaving behind four figures. Dawn came running down to greet everyone while Alex, Tara and Metatron walked slowly down.
"Where have you been for the last four hours?" Giles asked.
"Visiting Buffy." Dawn said smiling.
"Actually it was forty-eight hours in heaven." Tara said.
Everone moved to the table at sat down.
"Here's a question. Which one of us is the Slayer and why now, Buffy's been dead for three weeks?" Anya said, motioning to herself and Willow.
"If it is alright, I'll answer the second question first." Metatron said.
Everone nodded.
"Two days ago, earth time, I visited Faith in prison."
Metatron explained that after Buffy had died at the hands of the Master, her call had been used and although she was alive, if she died again, no new Slayer would be called. On his visit to Faith, Metatron had convinced her to give up her call rights so that the world would have a Slayer to fight. The new Slayer would be called now, instead of at Faith's death. Faith seemed to think that her death becoming totally meaningless was ironically appropriate for a rouge Slayer on the path to redemption.
"That explains the why now question." Giles said
"I'm getting there Giles. The new Slayer is Anya. Called a bit late but never mind."
Everyone stared at Anya, then at Metatron.
"WHAT?!?" Xander said. "A bit late! She's been a demon for eleven hundred years, now we're recruiting Slayers from the enemy!"
"Calm down, honey." Tara said laying a hand on his arm.
"Anya was never supposed to become a demon, she cast the vengeance spell and got recruited one day before she would have been called, so we went with another candidate. Anya, you will have your Slayer powers as of now. Giles, I expect you will act as her Watcher?" Metatron asked.
"I guess." Giles responded.
"Good. I had hoped you would. I ask your help." Metatron said motioning to Giles, Anya, Willow and Dawn. "Help to raise and protect the baby the Alex and Tara will have, she will be important to the world."
"I'm in!" Dawn said instantly.
"Why not. We've saved the world before." Willow said.
"Yah." Anya commented.
"Of course." Giles said. "What's one more Apocalypse?"
"There'll be a few of those, but this will stop the final destruction of earth." Metatron said.
"Stop the End of Days before it begins." Tara said.
Giles raised one eyebrow.
"Cool." He whispered.
"We've corrupted him. He's speaking American." Xander laughed.
"Yes, quite. Some American colloquialisms are efficient in describing complex, abstract ideas in an economic use of words." Giles said.
"And we're back to stuffy British Watcher." Willow said.
Metatron chuckled then turned to face everyone.
"I must be going now. Any questions you have will be answered at a later date." he said before disappearing in his pure white glow.
Alex and Tara moved to a cleared space in the store.
"I guess we had better change." Alex said.
A Platinum glow surrounded Alex and a Golden glow surrounded Tara and when the glowing faded Xander the Zeppo and Tara the Witch stood where the Angels had been, back in their street clothes and with their regular hair. For a second Anya and Willow each thought that they had just had a long and involved hallucination, but then they noticed Xander and Tara holding hands.
Anya turned towards the back room, figuring that she could work off some of her anger at the Angels on a punching bag; she was quickly followed by Giles, who wanted to measure her skills. Willow, afraid that she would use magic against her former best friend and former lover, stormed out of the store hoping fresh air and a long walk would help. Willow was followed by Dawn, wanting to make sure the red haired witch was alright and eventually to tell her about the meeting with Buffy.
"You and me against the world again, huh?" Xander said to his eternal love.
"Always." Tara replied with a grin. "They just need some more time. It is hard to lose someone like this. It happened to me before I moved to Sunnydale."
"Least it is not as bad as dating a giant bug that wants to kill you or an Incan mummy who sucks peoples life force out." Xander said wrapping his arm around Tara's shoulders.
********
A Few Days Later
Still in their human forms, Xander and Tara finished their Tai Chi exercises. Deciding to get some heaver exercise, bowing they faced off against each other in fighting stances. Xander and Tara fought for almost an hour, not trying to hurt each other, but probing defences and remembering forgotten skills. They constantly changed styles, adapting for attack, defence or just for a change, and they were completely focused on the contest. Tara was always faster, with a more flowing movement, while Xander was stronger, with solid and accurate moves. When they finished they, again, bowed to each other.
"Wow!"
The comment, made by Dawn, caused Xander and Tara to turn and face the Scoobies. Dawn looked at them in awe. Willow and Anya had mild looks of shock on their faces while Giles had a look of surprise and interest.
"We were just practicing. You learn a lot of things when you live as long as we have." Tara said slightly guiltily.
"Umm. Food." Xander said spotting the Chinese food on the table. "I'm starved."
They all sat around the table, Xander and Tara were using chopsticks like the hade used them for years, which they probably had. This surprised the others, considering Xander never used to be able to handle them. Everyone sat quietly eating for a while, with Willow occasionally glancing at Xander.
"I know what you are thinking Will. No we couldn't have, and she is in a better place." Xander said, seemingly out of the blue.
"You could have and she wouldn't have died." Willow shot back at Xander.
"We did not have the ability then. Relax Willow, you will all get to see Buffy in a few days." Tara said soothingly.
A shocked silence descended over the table.
"We'll get to see her?" Giles said.
"Yah. What, you think she would miss the wedding?" Xander replied.
Willow and Anya stared at Xander trying to process what he had said.
"God would get extremely angry if I got pregnant before we were married. Trust me you do not want to see God angry." Tara said.
"Nuclear PMS." Xander whispered to Giles.
Tara elbowed Xander in the side, making him grunt.
"We could teach you what we know. Improve you're fighting skills." Tara suggested.
This statement was greeted with unanimous consent.
"I think this could wait till after the wedding?" Xander asked.
*******
Two Days Later
Buffy and Joyce Summers, along with Metatron, Gregory and God, had appeared about an hour ago, joining Dawn, Willow, Anya and Giles for the wedding. The Scoobies had spent considerable time talking to Buffy and Joyce while Metatron, Gregory and God had stood apart, speaking occasionally with Alex and Tara. Metatron, Alex, Tara and Gregory were all dressed in their Angelic clothing. The female Scoobies, Joyce and God were all in formal dresses and Giles was in a tweed suit (AN: big surprise there).
Alex and Tara knelt before Metatron, with their wings folded behind them, in the middle of The Magic Box. Tara's right hand resting on top of Alex's left, with a red ribbon resting over their wrists.
"We are here to bond Loyalty and Tenderness. Through this bonding the parts become whole, never to be separated again. What are the parts alone?" Metatron asked.
"Loyalty without Tenderness can never be more than friendship" said Tara.
"Tenderness without Loyalty is destined to end in hatred and pain." Alex responded.
"In union what do they become?" Metatron said.
"Tenderness and Loyalty, eternally entwined will always produce Love and Hope. Love to counter Hatred, Hope to counter Despair, with balance achieved then piece shall forever be." Tara and Alex recited together.
Intertwining the ribbon between their hands, placed on atop the other, Metatron recited the last portion of the ritual.
"Joined eternally, Body to Body, Soul to Soul and Heart to Heart. May Love and Hope spread form this union and forever bring piece."
Alex and Tara rose, kissed each other and turned, hands still bound, to face the group behind them. Buffy and Joyce, with Dawn, stood on the left, on the right stood Willow and Anya, with Giles in between them. In the centre, directly in front of the newlywed couple stood Gregory and God. After a few minutes of congratulations and hugs, Buffy, Joyce, Gregory, Metatron and God all disappeared in a flash of light, returning back to their homes in Heaven.
"You know, the words of that ceremony sounded familiar, I think I have read them somewhere." Giles said.
"I'm not surprised. They were used for the first two weddings ever." Alex said.
"Yes, although Adam and Eve just copied the wording of our Angelic wedding. It did not have the same significance as ours." Tara responded.
"What was that about balance and piece?" Willow asked.
"Our firstborn daughter will be the Angel of Love and Hope. Her destiny is to win the heart of Lucifer and end the war between the Angels and the Fallen Angels by bringing him back to God, along with the other Fallen." Alex explained.
The wedding party quickly broke up, Anya and Willow going off to do a quick patrol, Giles, who had officially become co-guardian of Dawn with Willow, escorted his charge home to bed while Alex and Tara retreated to Xander's apartment, after changing back into human guise, for some alone time.
TBC.