Title: Of Magic and Machinations (9/?)
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Type: B/X… finally.
Description: Xander is frantically trying to find a way back into his own body, while Angel appears to be playing both sides of the street.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but an empty can of Raid and a swarm of dead insects. Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own Buffy and all related characters. I just make stuff up about them… like my ex does about me.
"I'm nervous," Xander said, resting his forehead against Buffy's front door. "What if she hates me?"
"How could she hate you?" Buffy asked. "She's three. She likes everybody."
"That's mildly comforting."
"I told her all about you. I said that you're an old friend of mommy and daddy's who's in town for a visit."
He smiled at her.
"What?"
"Nothing," he said. "It's just that… you said mommy… and you were talking about you. It was cute."
Buffy blushed. "Ready to go in?"
"Or have an elephant sit on me… I'm trying to decide."
She leaned forward and kissed him gently. "Let's go."
"I'm worried about Xander," Anya said, watching Giles set a plate of food in front of Alex.
"We all are," Giles said. "But he seems to be adjusting well, given the difficulties he's endured."
"How did he come back?" Alex asked.
"The how is still unknown," Giles said,. "but I have my suspicions that our spell may have played a part."
"Then why wouldn't he have come back three years ago?" Anya asked.
"Maybe someone didn't want him to," Alex said matter-of-factly.
Giles dropped his plate.
"What is it?" Anya asked.
"I just… remembered something that Lindsay said to Buffy when we had stormed Wolfram and Hart. He said that the power of Xander's love brought her back from the dead. We counted on the same thing to bring him back, but…"
"What?"
"Never mind. I want to check with the Watcher's Council to verify something first. I'll leave in the morning."
"What? You're going? Welcome to the age of phones, Giles. You can call. You run the joint for crying out loud!"
"Yes, but… I think it best if I do this particular research on my own."
"You're scaring me," Anya said, hovering closer to him. "This is bad isn't it, this thought you had?"
"Possibly. But please do not tell Buffy or Xander. Not just yet, anyway. I want to be certain I am correct before I worry anyone."
"A little late for that," Anya mumbled.
"You're happy," Oz said, setting the table.
Willow smiled. "Yeah. For so long, I knew something was wrong. It was hard thinking I would never have OUR Xander back again. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that he would never be the same."
"Little did we know it wasn't Xander at all."
"Grumble, grumble."
"You think we'll ever forgive Angel for this?"
"Doubtful. What are you cooking? It smells great."
"Grilled salmon with a cilantro and lime vinaigrette. Some veggies. Nothing special."
"Says the guy who stayed up until one watching Emeril Live."
"I wanted to be helpful."
"You are," she said, grabbing his shirt and pulling him down for a kiss. "In all sorts of ways."
He kissed her again. The passion was intense. "Same here."
"I love you," she said simply.
"I love you, too."
"Love you, mommy," Jenny said.
Both parents turned their attention to the little girl sitting in the floor with her toys.
"Love you too, baby," Willow said.
"Love you, dad," the little girl said.
"Love you, Jenny." He turned to Willow. "You notice it's dad now instead of daddy. I'm feeling considerably older."
"You wear it well."
"Thanks. So Xander was going to meet Dawn?"
"Yeah. He figured it was time since the withdrawal symptoms subsided. He was scared, though."
"Can't say I blame him. This whole situation is rather freaksome."
"She'll love him," Willow said confidently.
Xander picked at his food. The evening was not going at all as he had hoped. He cast a glance to Buffy. She was frantically trying to salvage the night.
"Did you know that Aaron builds things for a living like daddy used to?"
The little girl just looked at him blankly. He didn't expect a hearty conversation from a three year-old, but he had hoped to at least get a laugh or two. Unfortunately, Dawn seemed put off by his presence.
"I once built a daycare where lots of children get to play," he said, hoping for a sign that she cared. Instead, she played with her mashed potatoes. She was building a mountain. That's when it him.
"You're a builder too. Aren't you, Dawn?"
She looked at him, puzzled.
"That's a fine looking mountain. Do you have a sandbox?"
Buffy watched as her daughter shook her head.
"Sandboxes are fun for building things. Maybe… if your mom says it's okay… I could build one for you. I like to help future engineers. Would you like a sandbox?"
She smiled and nodded.
"You think, I might get to build stuff in it, too?"
Again, she nodded.
"Cool. I even have some special sandbox tools to share with you."
"Tools?" the little girl repeated.
"Oh yeah. You gotta have the right tools. I have a little pail that is perfect for sandcastle construction. There's a little shovel, a rake… I can hook you up with some tools of your own."
"They can be mine?" the girl asked in amazement.
"Sure. Provided your mom says it's okay."
"Can I mommy? Can I have a sandbox?"
Buffy smiled at her daughter and then at Xander. "I think that would be nice. You need to thank Aaron."
"Thank you," she said, turning back to her mashed potatoes.
"You're welcome," Xander said with a smile. "You're very welcome."
Angel watched from the shadows as Giles threw his suitcase into the back seat of his car. He stepped out quietly and made his way to the Watcher.
"Going somewhere?" he asked. Giles nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Dear God, Angel. You scared me to death."
"Sorry. Not my intention, I promise."
"Where have you been? It's been weeks since you disappeared. We even sent Anya out to look for you."
"I needed to get lost for a while," Angel said flatly. "What's your excuse?" He pointed to the bag in the back seat.
"Oh… that. Well, I have some Council business to attend to in England. I'll only be gone a few days."
"Something big going down?"
"I… I'm not certain. Are you here to stay this time?"
Angel gave him an odd smile. "I figured Xander might like his body back."
"Yes. I suppose he would."
"Well," Angel said, backing away, "I don't want to keep you. Take care of yourself."
"Yes… ah… You too." Giles got into the car and pulled away. As soon as he was out of sight, Angel pulled a cell phone from his coat. He dialed a number and put it to his ear.
"We've got a problem," he said. "But I think I have just the solution."
To Be Continued…
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Type: B/X… finally.
Description: Xander is frantically trying to find a way back into his own body, while Angel appears to be playing both sides of the street.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but an empty can of Raid and a swarm of dead insects. Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own Buffy and all related characters. I just make stuff up about them… like my ex does about me.
"I'm nervous," Xander said, resting his forehead against Buffy's front door. "What if she hates me?"
"How could she hate you?" Buffy asked. "She's three. She likes everybody."
"That's mildly comforting."
"I told her all about you. I said that you're an old friend of mommy and daddy's who's in town for a visit."
He smiled at her.
"What?"
"Nothing," he said. "It's just that… you said mommy… and you were talking about you. It was cute."
Buffy blushed. "Ready to go in?"
"Or have an elephant sit on me… I'm trying to decide."
She leaned forward and kissed him gently. "Let's go."
"I'm worried about Xander," Anya said, watching Giles set a plate of food in front of Alex.
"We all are," Giles said. "But he seems to be adjusting well, given the difficulties he's endured."
"How did he come back?" Alex asked.
"The how is still unknown," Giles said,. "but I have my suspicions that our spell may have played a part."
"Then why wouldn't he have come back three years ago?" Anya asked.
"Maybe someone didn't want him to," Alex said matter-of-factly.
Giles dropped his plate.
"What is it?" Anya asked.
"I just… remembered something that Lindsay said to Buffy when we had stormed Wolfram and Hart. He said that the power of Xander's love brought her back from the dead. We counted on the same thing to bring him back, but…"
"What?"
"Never mind. I want to check with the Watcher's Council to verify something first. I'll leave in the morning."
"What? You're going? Welcome to the age of phones, Giles. You can call. You run the joint for crying out loud!"
"Yes, but… I think it best if I do this particular research on my own."
"You're scaring me," Anya said, hovering closer to him. "This is bad isn't it, this thought you had?"
"Possibly. But please do not tell Buffy or Xander. Not just yet, anyway. I want to be certain I am correct before I worry anyone."
"A little late for that," Anya mumbled.
"You're happy," Oz said, setting the table.
Willow smiled. "Yeah. For so long, I knew something was wrong. It was hard thinking I would never have OUR Xander back again. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that he would never be the same."
"Little did we know it wasn't Xander at all."
"Grumble, grumble."
"You think we'll ever forgive Angel for this?"
"Doubtful. What are you cooking? It smells great."
"Grilled salmon with a cilantro and lime vinaigrette. Some veggies. Nothing special."
"Says the guy who stayed up until one watching Emeril Live."
"I wanted to be helpful."
"You are," she said, grabbing his shirt and pulling him down for a kiss. "In all sorts of ways."
He kissed her again. The passion was intense. "Same here."
"I love you," she said simply.
"I love you, too."
"Love you, mommy," Jenny said.
Both parents turned their attention to the little girl sitting in the floor with her toys.
"Love you too, baby," Willow said.
"Love you, dad," the little girl said.
"Love you, Jenny." He turned to Willow. "You notice it's dad now instead of daddy. I'm feeling considerably older."
"You wear it well."
"Thanks. So Xander was going to meet Dawn?"
"Yeah. He figured it was time since the withdrawal symptoms subsided. He was scared, though."
"Can't say I blame him. This whole situation is rather freaksome."
"She'll love him," Willow said confidently.
Xander picked at his food. The evening was not going at all as he had hoped. He cast a glance to Buffy. She was frantically trying to salvage the night.
"Did you know that Aaron builds things for a living like daddy used to?"
The little girl just looked at him blankly. He didn't expect a hearty conversation from a three year-old, but he had hoped to at least get a laugh or two. Unfortunately, Dawn seemed put off by his presence.
"I once built a daycare where lots of children get to play," he said, hoping for a sign that she cared. Instead, she played with her mashed potatoes. She was building a mountain. That's when it him.
"You're a builder too. Aren't you, Dawn?"
She looked at him, puzzled.
"That's a fine looking mountain. Do you have a sandbox?"
Buffy watched as her daughter shook her head.
"Sandboxes are fun for building things. Maybe… if your mom says it's okay… I could build one for you. I like to help future engineers. Would you like a sandbox?"
She smiled and nodded.
"You think, I might get to build stuff in it, too?"
Again, she nodded.
"Cool. I even have some special sandbox tools to share with you."
"Tools?" the little girl repeated.
"Oh yeah. You gotta have the right tools. I have a little pail that is perfect for sandcastle construction. There's a little shovel, a rake… I can hook you up with some tools of your own."
"They can be mine?" the girl asked in amazement.
"Sure. Provided your mom says it's okay."
"Can I mommy? Can I have a sandbox?"
Buffy smiled at her daughter and then at Xander. "I think that would be nice. You need to thank Aaron."
"Thank you," she said, turning back to her mashed potatoes.
"You're welcome," Xander said with a smile. "You're very welcome."
Angel watched from the shadows as Giles threw his suitcase into the back seat of his car. He stepped out quietly and made his way to the Watcher.
"Going somewhere?" he asked. Giles nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Dear God, Angel. You scared me to death."
"Sorry. Not my intention, I promise."
"Where have you been? It's been weeks since you disappeared. We even sent Anya out to look for you."
"I needed to get lost for a while," Angel said flatly. "What's your excuse?" He pointed to the bag in the back seat.
"Oh… that. Well, I have some Council business to attend to in England. I'll only be gone a few days."
"Something big going down?"
"I… I'm not certain. Are you here to stay this time?"
Angel gave him an odd smile. "I figured Xander might like his body back."
"Yes. I suppose he would."
"Well," Angel said, backing away, "I don't want to keep you. Take care of yourself."
"Yes… ah… You too." Giles got into the car and pulled away. As soon as he was out of sight, Angel pulled a cell phone from his coat. He dialed a number and put it to his ear.
"We've got a problem," he said. "But I think I have just the solution."
To Be Continued…
