The New Adventures of Buffy and Xander

Episode Ten: "For the Best"

Summary: Whilst trying to prevent a baby napping, Buffy and Xander discover that trying to deal with your feelings is tough when you have a job to do.
Disclaimer: All BtVS stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, UPN et al and the Quantum Leap stuff belongs to Bellasarius Productions.
X-Over: Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Quantum Leap
Episode Rating: PG15 (Language).
Spoilers: None for this episode.
Author's Notes: 1. Series set after 'Crush' but before 'IWMTLY'. 2. Having decided that the Key didn't match any of her outfits, Glory gave it up and became and became editor of her own fashion magazine. 3. British spelling. *_*'s indicate word emphasis and //_//'s indicate direct character thoughts.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been two weeks since the leap from the Grantham House. In that time, Buffy and Xander had completed another three leaps and they'd been in their current hosts for a little over a day now.

The first leap after the Grantham House Experience as both Buffy and Xander had dubbed it, was a relatively simple one; save the damsel in distress. Or in other words, stop the wife of a rich banker getting kidnapped by leaping into the couple's children. It was 1994 and again Buffy and Xander got to play siblings and fortunately it was a straightforward money exchange and nothing like their second leap which was a set up that almost got Xander killed.

The next leap had Xander leapt into a High School track team member and Buffy into a cheerleader in the early Summer of 1992. They both had to convince the star athlete of the track team to quit taking steroids. Which they did and according to Sean the guy went on to great things.

The third leap had Xander and Buffy as siblings once more and had the tricky task of trying to get their already separated parents back together. Which they did. Well, Sean had said they'd sown the seeds for reunification, so they'd leapt on here.

And here was Miami, or at least the very outskirts and in a very downtrodden neighbourhood. It was August 1983, ninety degrees Fahrenheit in the shade and humid as hell.

And the air conditioning was broken. And the electric fan had just stopped working.

Buffy shifted the small weight in her arms and pushed back damp strands of hair off her face before walking over to the broken appliance on the kitchen table and used the universal method of repair by smacking the thing on the side.

"Stupid Goddamn piece of crap," she grumbled when it failed to start again. Buffy switched the fan off at the wall and then looked outside. "It's gotta be cooler in that shade than in the house," she mused, checking out the two metre squared area of shade of the small cemented patio that lay just outside the back of the house.

Buffy padded barefoot over the yellow and white checked linoleum towards the kitchen door and brushed back the beads that hung down in the open doorframe. She swore inwardly when her feet made contact with the baked cement and she gingerly made her way to the cooler spot in the corner of the garden. The tall fence behind her provided the shade as she sat down in the solitary rusted garden chair.

Buffy sighed and used one hand to wipe hair from her forehead again. //OK, so not a lot better// she thought, //But better than that oven inside.// Buffy sighed again and closed her eyes. //It's just too hot to do anything//. "I bet Xander's air conditioning is working."

She hadn't seen Xander since they'd both leapt; the only contact she'd had was via Sean. Apparently this leap might not even call for them to even see each other until the end.

//But then, I'm thinking that might be a good thing//.

To say that the last two weeks had been awkward would be an understatement.

//Painful, would be a more appropriate word// Buffy thought //At least for me anyway//.

It was like somebody had told you not to think of the colour red and then suddenly that was all you could think about.

Except in this case, Buffy wasn't supposed to be thinking about Xander and, more specifically, what it would be like to kiss him again. What it would be like to have the feel of his lips against hers once more as his hands…

"Oh for God's sake, stop it," Buffy berated herself. //Just keep thinking about this leap and how it brings you closer to getting back home//.

A sudden gurgling sound from a few inches below her broke Buffy out of her reverie. "Hey." Buffy looked down. "You're supposed to be sleeping."

The tiny, pink, cotton wrapped bundle in her arms merely gurgled again as it stared back up at her.

Buffy smiled. "OK. Looks like we'll have to try a different approach." She looked expectantly at the six-week-old baby girl in her arms. "Got any ideas?"

Then Buffy heard the slamming of a door inside the house and was quickly followed by a bellowed, "Susie!"

Buffy closed her eyes and sighed. "Great." Buffy got up, grimacing at the feel of her clammy bare legs against the metal chair and how damp her clothes, only a pair of shorts and a cotton vest top, felt against her skin as she made her way back inside.

She entered the kitchen to see a burly, bearded man in his early forties and dressed in overalls that were covered in dirt and grease, looking around at the kitchen. Most notably at the dirty dishes that spilled out from the sink and onto the Formica work stop.

Buffy forced a smile onto her face as he neared. "Hey, dad."

Graham Fredericks ignored the greeting. "I thought you were going to clean up in here?" he stated accusingly as he pointed back inside to the sitting room. "And I saw that pile of laundry still sitting where it was this morning."

"The laundry's done, OK?" she replied patiently. "I just didn't have the energy to take it upstairs, that's all." Buffy looked at him tiredly. "I was gonna start on the dishes when Lucy started crying again." Buffy started to move past Susie's father. "I'm sorry, OK? I'll do them later. But right now, I'm taking Lucy upstairs to see if she'll get back to sleep."

"What about dinner?" he called after her as she began to make her way into the hallway. "It's your turn."

"I'm not hungry," Buffy called back as she got to the foot of the staircase. "Just fix something for yourself."

Buffy heard him mutter something as she began to climb the stairs, but she didn't hear quite what. She wasn't really bothered. Buffy looked down at Lucy. "Just be real good for Buffy, OK?" she said softly. "She's real tired and she needs a bath."

Lucy just looked back up at her and gurgled again.

"Was that a yes?" Buffy nudged a finger against one of Lucy's palms and tiny fingers curled around it. "Do you even know I'm not your mom?" she then asked, remembering what Sean had told her about some young children being able to see who they really were.

Lucy just blinked.

"Maybe you're too little," Buffy wondered. "But anyway, your mommy's OK and she'll be back soon." Buffy placed a gentle kiss on top of Lucy's brow. "I promise."

Buffy got to the top of the stairs and headed into Susie's bedroom. She settled Lucy in the small crib that was set up next to the Susie's smallish double bed that sat in the centre of the room. Pulling back the thicker covers out of the way, she then prised her finger from Lucy's and sat back on Susie's bed. Buffy rested her forearms on the rail of the crib and looked down at the tiny little girl who was seemed quite happy as she lay on her back and made the occasional grab at thin air with her hands.

"Meanwhile," Buffy quietly continued her words from earlier, "You get someone, who, by the way," she added, "Has never had any childcare experience in her life, to look after you so that some nasty person doesn't take you away."

Buffy reached into the crib and brushed her fingers over the soft tuft of brown hair on Lucy's head. "And she has to do that without constantly thinking about cute, funny guys called Xander." Buffy sighed and rested her arm back on the rail of the crib. "I wonder which one's going to be the tougher job?"

-------------------

//And could I feel more uncomfortable?// Xander asked himself as he felt obliged to maintain the silence at the dining table he was seated at.

He prodded disinterestedly at the food on his plate with his fork and then glanced up at the other people that shared the table with him. The man who sat at the far end of the table to the left caught his eye and gave Xander an odd look before turning his attention back to his meal. The woman who was seated at the end of the table to his right had just finished knocking back her third glass of wine for that evening and was now signalling to the grey haired man (who was apparently the butler) who was hovering patiently in by the sideboard in the grandly decorated dining room.

Xander watched, as even the task of refilling a wineglass seemed to happen in silence. He gave a small shake of his head and dropped his gaze back to his plate again, spearing a piece of sirloin with his fork and then popping it into his mouth.

//Awkwardness aside// he thought as he slowly chewed on his food, //I wish Buffy was here… just so I had someone to talk to//. Xander put speared another piece of steak. //Of course even then all I'd be thinking about during the talking would be holding in my arms, hearing her laugh, seeing her smile, feeling her lips-//

"Oliver, would you *please* pay attention."

It took Xander a couple of seconds before he realised that the comment was directed at him. His gaze snapped up to the woman on his right. She had an impatient look aimed at him, and Xander thought it seemed so at home there, it was probably used on Oliver a lot.

Oliver Carson was the sixteen-year-old boy's that Xander had leapt into. He was about Xander's height with sandy, blond hair that was cropped close to his head, green eyes and a reasonably attractive face that was marred only by a few zits.

The woman who had spoken to him was Oliver's mother, Jocelyn Carson. She was an attractive, but stony faced woman in her late thirties with green eyes and shoulder length blonde hair. The man at the other end of the table was Oliver's father, Thomas Carson. He looked to be on his late fifties, with brown eyes and short dark hair that was greying at the temples.

There was also a Tristan Carson, Oliver's older brother by five years. He was due back from a trip to New York the next day.

He was also the father of Susie's baby.

And mom and dad were not happy about it.

"Oliver, if you're not hungry-" Jocelyn sounded as impatient as she looked, "-you could at least excuse yourself from the table."

Xander managed to give her an apologetic smile. "Sorry mom."

"So are you going to finish it or not?" It was Mr Carson's turn to speak.

Xander set his fork down and shook his head. "It's too hot to eat." It was a lie, but he wasn't bothered about skipping a meal. He knew for a fact that Oliver's parents were just waiting until he left so that they could start talking about Tristan. According to Mr Carson, the whole situation was too complicated to concern Oliver.

Xander pushed himself back from the table. "Maybe I'll see you later this evening, yeah?" He directed a look at both parents as he got up. He received only the barest acknowledgement. Xander sighed as he made his was to the door. //It's like being back with my parents. Only with less shouting//.

Once out of the dining room, Xander made his way down the equally as grand hallway and then ducked around a corner. He only had to wait another twenty seconds before he heard the door opening again.

"OK, Sean?" Xander spoke to thin air. "I think you're on any time now."

"Y'know, I can't see-" Sean started to speak as soon as he appeared before Xander "-why you can't just go and put your ear to the door."

"Because unlike you, Sean," Xander replied, "I'm not invisible to other people." Xander's thoughts then drifted back to Buffy for a few seconds //Not any more anyway//. Xander sighed as he leant back against the wall behind him. "Plus," he continued, his attention back, "You'll hear stuff a lot clearer than I will."

Sean sighed. "I know, I know." Then he shot a look at Xander. "And what are you gonna do, huh? Go check out the pool I suppose."

Xander pulled a face. "Actually, no. I was going to take a snoop around the place. See if I can't find something out." He paused. "And I was thinking I might call Buffy."

Sean raised an eyebrow. "Really?" He didn't sound too convinced.

Xander decided to ignore him for the moment. "Yeah, I mean she's only a couple of miles away, but it'd still be nice to hear her voice."

"Because you two have spoken so much lately?" Sean didn't try and hide the sarcasm.

Xander sighed. "It's… it's difficult."

"Only because you're making it so," Sean replied. "Why don't you-"

"Shush." Xander held a hand up to when he heard a door opening. Xander peered around the edge of the wall and saw the butler (who had also said barely two words to Xander) leave the dining room and then turn left, heading down another hallway.

Xander waited a little while longer and when satisfied that Oliver's parents were staying in there, he looked back to Sean. "Well, go on then. Do your eavesdropping thing."

Sean sighed and shook his head before punching a few keys on Gizmo and dematerialising infront of Xander.

Xander waited another couple of moments before he continued down the hallway and found himself in the main lobby. He looked at the marble columns that stood either side of the large, front door and then up at the high ceilings on which he had half expected to find frescos painted. There weren't, but that was the general atmosphere in the house.

//Scratch that. *Mansion*. This place is bigger than Doug and Rosa's place// Xander reflected as he climbed the sweeping grand staircase up to the next floor. //But at least that place felt like somebody's home…// Xander cast a look around as he ascended. //This place just feels cold//. Xander took hold of the front of his shirt and flapped it a few times to get some air against his skin when he reached the top of the staircase. //Even in this heat…//. He started across the landing. //Maybe the pool doesn't sound like such a bad idea after all…//.

-------------------

(An hour later)

Buffy slowly made her way downstairs. It was still humid, even this late in the day and she'd just managed to grab a quick shower, so she really didn't want to get anymore sweat on her than she had to. She'd wanted a bath, but it had taken her longer to get Lucy back to sleep than she thought and she still needed to clear up downstairs.

However, upon entering, Buffy found herself looking at a spotless kitchen. The dishes had been washed and cleared away, the counters had also been cleared and cleaned and the fan was back on the kitchen table in full working order.

"I made you a sandwich. It's in the refrigerator."

Buffy turned around to see Susie's father standing in the doorway that led to the hallway. He'd changed from his overalls into a pair of clean pair of jeans and t-shirt that Buffy had remembered being in the laundry basket. He'd also had a wash, but Buffy hadn't heard him come upstairs, so she figured he'd used the sink down here.

"Uh, thanks," Buffy replied, honestly surprised. She glanced back to the drainer and then back to Susie's father. "You didn't have to… I mean, I was going to-"

"I know." He gave her a brief smile before nodding his head to the refrigerator. "You'd better eat. If you're gonna look after a kid, then you have to look after yourself." Graham then shuffled back into the hallway. "Can't expect me to keep doing it."

Buffy decided not to take his comment too much to heart as she'd detected the lack of conviction that came with it. Tucking her hair back behind her ears, she went over to the refrigerator and took out the sandwich, revelling in the blast of cold air she got before she reluctantly had to close the door. Buffy sat herself down at the kitchen table and took a bite of the sandwich, now actually feeling hungry despite saying she wasn't earlier.

The gentle breeze of the fan cooled her skin as she continued to eat. She looked up and out of the small kitchen window and out at the garden. //I bet that lucky bastard Xander's having more than just a sandwich//. Then she mentally berated herself. //Of course he's still getting his share of the work. I get to play babysitter and he gets to snoop around the big ol' house and look for clues as to why Mom and Pop Carson want to take Susie's baby//.

Buffy sighed. "Poor kid," she whispered softly to herself. "They've got no right to take her away." She put the last piece of sandwich in her mouth and got up, taking the plate over to the sink and rinsing it under the tap. "She's too darn cute for one thing."

//And aren't I just getting the tiniest bit attached?// Buffy smiled as she dried the plate and then put it away. //Never thought I'd be the 'mom' type//. Buffy's smile faded a little. //Scratch that. Never thought I'd *get* to be a mom//. Buffy sighed again as she sat back down at the table. //Life of a Slayer and all that… and now this…// Buffy glanced around the strange kitchen and then her eyes came to rest on the calendar hanging by the kitchen door. //I think my life might just be complicated enough at the moment//.

-------------------

"Ookaay." The word came out as sigh from Xander. "If I was a piece of incriminating evidence…" Xander's gaze began to roam Mr Carson's study, "… where would I be…?"

Xander made sure the door was closed behind him then went to sit behind the desk. He picked up each individual document that had been left lying on top of the desk and scoured them for anything that might give a hint towards the Carson's dealings with a private adoption agency.

//Or look under 'Black market Adoptions' in your phone directory// Xander added grimly as he picked up a folder marked 'Confidential'. He pulled out the contents and sat back in the high-backed, leather chair. //Why couldn't they just let Susie bring up the kid?// Xander mused quietly to himself as he began to read. //She wasn't asking anything of Tristan//.

Finding nothing in the papers, Xander returned the folder to it's spot. "More like they didn't want anyone coming back to make a claim on their millions," Xander guessed, opening one of the drawers on his left. "I mean who wouldn't want to come into this warm and loving family?" Xander laced his words with sarcasm as his rummage around the sparse contents of the drawer turned out to be in vain.

"Except of course if you're Tristan," Xander mumbled as he started on the second drawer. "And mom and dad apparently think the sun shines out of your ass and uh huh could be something here." He pulled out a black, hardbacked diary. "And it's this years." Xander sank back in to the chair again and began flipping through the pages. After a couple of minutes he realised that this search it would take him a lot longer to go through than he probably had time for right now. Dropping the diary on the desk to take back with him, Xander looked at the number he had scribbled on the inside of his palm that Sean had given him earlier. Susie's number. Or moreover, Buffy's number.

Chewing thoughtfully on his bottom lip for a moment, it took Xander a couple of hesitant attempts before he picked up the receiver and cradled it between his shoulder and ear as he dialled.

-------------------

"*Susie*"

Buffy started when she felt someone grab her shoulder. There was a slight stinging pain in her cheek as her skin peeled away from the plastic coating on the tabletop.

"Wha'?" Buffy rubbed at her cheek. //I can't believe I fell asleep at the table//.

Susie's father looked passively down at her. "Phone call. Some guy says you've won a competition or something."

Buffy pushed her hair back behind her ears. "Huh?" she yawned as she got up. "Competition?"

Mr Fredericks just shrugged. "I wouldn't have woken you, but y'never know, there might be money in it." He walked back out into the hallway. "QL2 sounds kinda classy."

"Oh yeah. I remember that." Buffy fought back a smile as she followed Graham. "You had to name something in so many words."

Mr Fredericks turned to her as she picked up the receiver he'd left laying down on the hall table. "If there's money, take it."

Buffy smiled and gave a shake of her head as he walked back into the sitting room. She trailed the phone cord through the banister and then sat herself about halfway up the stairs, her back against the thankfully cool wall. "OK, so what's my prize?"

There was a soft chuckle on the other end of the line. Vampire free week on the Hellmouth?

"Make it a month and you've sold me." Buffy glanced down at the hallway just to make sure Susie's dad wasn't in earshot. "Found anything yet?"

I got a diary. Might be something in it. Haven't had a chance to look through it yet. Xander paused. Everything OK your end?

"Actually it's been fine," Buffy replied. "No major tantrums or anything."

And the baby?

"Can your hear me sticking my tongue out at you?" Buffy then smiled when she heard Xander laugh. That particular sound had been few and far between in the last two weeks. "Y'know," she continued, "-it's weird having to talk to you on the phone like this. We're gonna have to try as find a way to meet."

Well, Oliver's parents don't seem to be too bothered about tracking his movements. I'll ask Sean. Maybe he can suggest somewhere. Xander paused. Of course we'll have to bring along a big ol' knife to cut the tension.

Buffy smiled ruefully. "You don't think we can stretch to a couple of hours?"

Without resorting to small talk? Eh, well we are mature, responsible adults, I guess.

"Mature and responsible? Xan, I don't know about meeting you if you're delusional."

Ha. Xander paused. But, seriously Buff? I would like to see you.

"Xan," Buffy sighed, "I just wish I didn't feel… //like I have a gaping hole 'cos I'm too much of a coward to say I wouldn't mind illicit smoochies with you// … like we have to make small talk."

This weirdness is gonna go, OK? It's… it's just a-a thing. In a few weeks we're gonna be wondering what the hell we made all the fuss about... OK?

Buffy began picking at the hem of her shorts. "I guess."

Look… I'll talk to Sean about tomorrow. He should be back soon anyway.

"'kay." Buffy closed her eyes and let her head settle back against the wall. "I miss you, Xander."

I miss you too, Buffy.

Buffy allowed herself a small smile. "Look, I'd better go. I should check on Lucy anyway."

"Tell her I said 'Hi'."

"Will do." She sighed. "Bye Xan."

"Bye Buff."

Buffy waited for the soft click on the other end of the line before she dropped the receiver into her lap. She took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly. "Too much of a coward."

-------------------

"Just a thing? And didn't that just sound *so* convincing?" Xander let his head drop onto the desk as after he'd ended the phone call with Buffy. Her words echoed in his brain //"I just wish I didn't feel like we have to make small talk." //

"Me too, Buffy," he mumbled to himself. //Why can't it be like the way it was? Just us hanging out, having fun… just friends//. He sighed heavily. //Without all that 'Maybe' crap thrown in//.

Xander clasped both his hands across the back of his head. "Buffy," he muttered, "Why can't I just get you out of my head?"

"You called her didn't you?"

Xander didn't look up. "Sean, if you're about to impart some pearls of wisdom, can you just not?"

"Fine. So, do you wanna just brood or listen to what I found out?"

Xander raised his head a little so he could look at Sean. "I can't do both?" Xander sighed and sat upright when Sean just looked at him. "OK, so what did they have to say?"

"It was mostly Mrs Carson bitching about how Tristan's life was going to be ruined because of, and I quote, 'downmarket, gold digging little tramp.' Mr Carson just let her get on with it, but I still thinks they are both mightily pissed off about it. Mr Carson is still threatening to pull back Tristan's trustfund if the guy so much as goes to see the kid."

"Nothing mentioned about them snatching Lucy?"

Sean shook his head. "Just references to, and I quote again, 'getting it dealt with.' No names." Sean looked expectantly at Xander. "You?"

Xander got up, taking the diary, as he moved from behind the desk. "I haven't looked through this yet," Xander held up the black book to Sean. "Figured I'd do that now."

Sean glanced down at Gizmo as it beeped. "Well, you'd better take it to Oliver's room. It looks like Mr Carson is headed back here."

"Sure." Xander nodded once in acknowledgement and started for the door.

Sean frowned as he watched him leave; he saw the despondent sagging in Xander's shoulders. He shook his head. "Of course," he stated softly when Xander was just out of earshot, "My pearls of wisdom would be, is to tell you that I think you're both idiots… and that you're probably made for each other."

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(Next morning)

Xander was quite happily asleep; one arm was casually flung across the bed whilst the other was tucked underneath the more than comfy pillow that he had his face buried in. He stirred slightly when he felt the bare skin on his back grow warm. Xander opened his eyes and blinked blearily at the sunlight just beginning to stream in through the window. He was about to close his eyes and go straight back to sleep when he heard a movement from across the other side of the room. Xander tensed and turned his head slowly to the source of the noise.

What he saw was another guy in blue jeans and a faded black t-shirt sitting in the recliner in the corner of the room. He had shortish, slightly curly blond hair and looked very much like Oliver probably would at twenty-one.

The guy was also skimming through the diary that Xander had taken from Mr Carson's desk drawer.

//Shit// was Xander's first though of the day.

The other guy then noticed he was awake and looked up from his reading and towards Xander. "Y'know dad'll kill you if he thinks you've been snooping around his study don't you?"

"Tristan," Xander murmured as he pushed himself up from the bed. "Thought you weren't getting in 'til later."

Tristan got up; snapping the diary closed with one hand as he did so. "Y'know me, can't keep away from the old homestead." He stood infront of Xander as the latter swung his pyjama-clad legs over the side of the bed. "So, tell me Olly, what's it gonna take for me not to tell dad?"

//Shit// Xander groaned to himself again. //It's way too early in the morning for this//. Xander ran a hand through his hair and looked up at Tristan. "What d'ya want?"

Tristan just grinned and smacked Xander lightly on the head with the diary before heading over to the bedroom door. "Don't worry about it, squirt. I'll put it back. The old man'll never know."

Xander rubbed at his head and looked back at Tristan, a little taken aback. "Why?"

"To make up for the fact that I didn't get you anything in New York," Tristan replied, opening the door. "Go back to sleep. I'll tell mom and dad you weren't up yet." He grinned again. "They're used to that anyway."

"kay." Xander blinked as Tristan left. "Well, that could've been worse," he said to himself a moment later. "He actually seems OK." Xander paused. "Apart from the whole abandoning Susie and her baby thing." He yawned then and stretched. "Hey, Sean?"

"Yes?"

Xander blinked at the sudden appearance of the hologram, who looked about as half asleep as Xander. "That was quick."

"A half naked cute guy by a bed always usually makes me com-"

"You just do that to annoy me now, don't you?" Xander cut him off, shooting a tired look at Sean that might just have been ever so slightly amused as well.

"Pretty much," Sean replied with a shrug. "It's not nearly as much fun if I don't get a rise out of you."

"You're not getting any kind of rise out of me," Xander shot back before yawning again.

"Not even a little one?" Sean pouted exaggeratedly.

Xander rolled his eyes. "No," he replied as he stood up, then continuing in an all too put upon distracted tone with, "And it's not little."

Sean smirked silently and raised an eyebrow. "Can I check?"

Xander raised an eyebrow back at him. "Do you wanna know what I found in the diary?

"You didn't get me all the way down here to trade barbs?"

"Strangely enough, no," Xander replied with a hint of a smile. "And the answer to my question was 'nothing'."

Sean frowned. "There wasn't anything?"

Xander shook his head. "Nothing I could link up to what we already have… which is not a lot."

"This isn't good. We need something that we can use to prove their involvement. I know Buffy's got Lucy under close watch, we need to stop it before it even gets to that stage."

"We've got another two days, haven't we?"

Sean nodded then glanced down at Gizmo. "Oh. Apparently we could try the safe in their bedroom." Sean looked back up at Xander. "They're going to run off a list of the most likely combinations."

"How long is that going to take?"

There were a few more beeping sounds from Gizmo. "Maybe a few hours," Sean replied. "I'd go have breakfast with the folks in the meantime. You might be able to pick something up."

"Fine." Xander headed towards en-suite bathroom. "Maybe now that Tristan's back, they might be a tad more open."

"Let's hope so," Sean replied. He paused. "Need a hand in there?" he asked as the bathroom door closed behind Xander.

"Go and annoy Buffy," was the muffled reply.

-------------------

"Sean, why are you here exactly?" Buffy tried not to sound impatient as she tried to put the small cloth diaper on a crying Lucy. "I'm kinda busy and not with the interesting news, except that I've found out that a six week old's lung capacity far exceeds my own."

"Xander's busy. He said to go and annoy you."

"Great," Buffy muttered as she continued to try and change Lucy. "Come on sweetie, stop crying for Auntie Buffy." Lucy ignored her. Buffy sighed exasperatedly as she let the ends of the cloth diaper fall to the sides of the changing mat on the kitchen table. "Busy doing what?"

Sean leaned over Lucy and waggled his fingers infront of her face. "If I told you that," Sean directed his words to Buffy as he continued to try and amuse Lucy, "Then you'd only end up imagining something you don't want to."

Buffy picked up the ends of the diaper again and Lucy's cries subsided, as she seemed distracted by Sean's face pulling. "Imagining what?

"Him naked with water running and glistening all over his body."

"OK, I don't know what's weirder. You saying that in baby talk, or the fact that I'm too tired to imagine it." Buffy paused. "For long anyway." She finally managed to get Lucy's diaper done up. "See Lucy?" Buffy smiled as she picked the little girl up. "Auntie Buffy can cope."

Lucy started crying again the moment Buffy cradled her in her arms. "Se-an," Buffy whined, shooting an imploring look at the hologram. "Make her stop again."

"I thought I was annoying 'Auntie Buffy'," Sean replied, sticking his tongue out at Lucy.

"Yeah, but Lucy likes you so it's all evened out. See?" Buffy cooed at Lucy. "Uncle Sean's gonna make it all better, he's gonna look after you, yes he is."

Sean just looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "You remember that I'm a hologram projected through your brainwaves and not a glorified babysitter?"

Buffy continued in baby talk, speaking to Sean but directing it at Lucy. "OK, if Uncle Sean wants to do his proper job, then maybe he can tell me if he's found out anything new."

Sean pulled another face at Lucy. "There's nothing new." He smiled sadly at the baby. "Sorry kid."

Buffy sighed. "Damn."

"Xander's still gonna keep snooping. Tristan's back now, so hopefully we can get something out of that."

"Did Xander ask you about the both of us getting out to meet?" Buffy asked. "Despite the awkwardness, I still wanna see him."

"I think we should wait to see what Xander finds out first," Sean replied. "And you still have to be careful about taking Lucy outside."

"Sean, I'm hardly gonna leave her on a bench with a sign saying 'free to good home'."

Sean grinned. "Just checking."

Buffy rolled her eyes then looked back at Lucy. "Y'know I think she really likes you," Buffy said quietly as Lucy seemed to be quietening down again. Buffy moved Lucy so she was holding her against her chest with one arm as she used the other to clear away all the changing paraphernalia from the table. "Ever think about switching jobs?"

"QL2 pays more," Sean told her with a smile. Then he shrugged. "And I get to look after my sister's kids for free, so it kinda evens out."

Buffy turned to him as she ran water into the sink. "You have a sister?"

Sean nodded. "Caroline. Lives out in Dallas with her husband and their two little boys… what?" he said when he saw Buffy smiling oddly at him.

"Sorry," Buffy said as she turned off the faucet and began to put the dirty breakfast dishes into the water. "It's just a little weird thinking of you having this other life outside the project."

"Well, it's not much of one, admittedly," Sean answered. "I'm on call twenty four seven. Not much point getting the money if I can't spend it."

"Bummer." Buffy said quietly, so as not to disturb the now quietly gurgling Lucy. "Hey. Maybe you could put it on one of those high yield savings things. You could retire and open up your own day-care centre then."

"Maybe after the world cruise," Sean replied as he followed Buffy into the sitting room. "Y'know, I wonder how much your Slayer gig would pay if you went on the open market?"

"Well, first of all it's not a 'gig'," Buffy informed him as she sat down with Lucy in one of the easy chairs. "It's my destiny." Buffy ran a hand through her hair and then looked thoughtfully at Sean. "How much would you think I could earn?"

"Depends." Sean shrugged. "You could get per demon or charge a standard fee per night."

"Or I could charge per *type* of demon, y'know, like, a hundred bucks for a vamp and say, five hundred for something with spikes or horns or more than one head. If it's an apocalypse, then I'm charging a million. Plus expenses."

Sean just grinned and Buffy smiled back. "Do you get *any* perks?" he asked as Buffy cradled Lucy in her arms again.

"We save the world," Buffy said simply as Lucy grabbed hold of one of her fingers. "What more do you want?"

-------------------

"Well that was a great help," Xander muttered to himself as he trudged up the grand staircase. He'd just sat through a family breakfast in the hope that now Tristan was back, more information about Susie and the baby would be volunteered. Unfortunately, he was out of luck. Oliver's parents did their damnedest to ignore him as they listened with rapt attention as Tristan described his vacation. In fact the only one that did talk to him was Tristan, who actually kept trying to include 'Oliver' in the conversation, but when Xander did respond he just got talked over by either Jocelyn or Thomas.

It was quite obvious to anyone who was at that meal this morning that Tristan was the favourite child. Apparently not even the fact that he'd fathered a child that belonged to a girl they despised could affect his parents' opinion of him and it was enough that they were apparently prepared to rectify the situation by any means possible.

As Xander reached the top of the staircase, he came to the conclusion that, right now, it didn't matter about Oliver's relationship with his parents. It wasn't gong to be in his best interests to push them, and if they weren't paying him any attention anyway, it would be easier to snoop around the house without having to worry about them looking over his shoulder. It was Xander's decision to try and play on Oliver's relationship with Tristan. Xander had already seen that morning that Tristan seemed to have a soft spot for his little brother, and that maybe Xander could try and subtly slide in a few well placed questions about Susie and the baby in the hope that Tristan might let something slip.

As Mr and Mrs Carson were entertaining some friends of theirs that had dropped and had told 'Oliver' to go and amuse himself, Xander had decided to do exactly that. As Tristan was in his room unpacking and then planned to go out to meet some friends, Xander was going to take another snoop around Mr Carson's study. He hadn't had a chance to finish reading through the diary he'd taken the previous night and he still hoped he could find something that would stop Susie losing Lucy.

Sean had just buzzed in and told him that he thought it would be better if they could find something that would give them a lead on the planned abduction before Buffy should take Lucy out anywhere. Even with Buffy and Xander there, and with the knowledge they had, it could still go pear-shaped.

Sean told him that, originally, Susie had been out in the park with Lucy when she'd been purposely distracted - enough so that someone could get away with the baby. The police duly followed up all the leads they had but when Lucy was found, she wasn't 'Lucy' anymore - she was a Carolyn Marlow and there were papers to prove it. Adoption and legal papers that Susie *and* Tristan had apparently signed. A desperate Susie had gone to Court but her lawyers couldn't prove that she hadn't signed them. Susie, deeply despaired about her loss, sunk into a depression and a couple of months later she was found by her father after she'd taken a fatal overdose.

At least this time around, Buffy and Xander could try and stop the abduction that was to take place in a couple of days. But they also needed to have evidence that the Carson's were involved in case it happened again. Susie made claims they the Carson's were behind it all, saying that they were the only ones with any reason, money or connections to pull it off, but when the police investigated, there was no evidence to be found. When Xander had queried that maybe they hadn't, Sean informed him that the number of scenarios they'd run at QL2 all ended up pointing to Mr and Mrs Carson.

On approaching the study however, Xander discovered that the snooping he wanted to do, might have to be put on hold. There was a muffled voice coming from inside the study. Xander quietened his step as he made his way to the only slightly ajar door. Pressing his ear to the door, he recognised that the person speaking was Tristan.

As he listened further, it became evident that he was having a conversation with someone on the phone. Xander's brow crinkled a little. //Why is he using the phone in here? Nearly every room has one and if he was unpacking he could use the one in his//. Xander strained to make out the conversation, all he could pick up was that Tristan was just trying to get hold of someone who didn't seem to be there.

"No, I told you she doesn't know," Tristan was saying. "He's the only one that does… But it's nothing to do with my father's business … No, it's personal. He knows what it's about … Fine." Tristan sighed. "Can you just let him know that I called? … He has? Tell him I need to speak him." There was a long pause before Tristan spoke again. "Harold. I was just about to give up on you … No, I'm back home … No, they haven't said anything. It's creepy … I don't know. That's why I'm calling. I just wanted to check on how far you've got … I just need to speed this up, it's driving me nuts … You have?!" Tristan sounded pleased. "Harold-" Tristan laughed, "Yeah, don't you just know it … And it'll all be sorted and legal by the end of the week? … *Tomorrow*?" Tristan laughed again. "She's going to get the shock of her life … Thanks Harold. I'll call you again when it's all gone through."

Xander hung back from the door as Tristan ended the phone call. //Just exactly *who* is going to get the shock of her life?//. Xander frowned again and stepped to the side so he could peer through the gap in the door. Tristan was sitting back in the large leather chair behind the desk with a huge grin spread over his face.

Xander's frown deepened. The possibility that Tristan could be involved with the abduction had come up, even though he had denied that he'd signed the papers, and Xander knew he shouldn't be too surprised to discover something that could confirm his involvement.

Taking a deep breath, Xander squared his shoulders and pushed open the door to the study. He satisfied himself with a smirk when Tristan visibly jumped.

"Shit, Olly-" Tristan put his hand on his chest and took a deep breath. "Christ, I'm too young to die of a heart attack."

"Ain't my fault if you're creeping around dad's study," Xander replied. "At least I made sure I wasn't making any noise. I could hear you halfway down the hall."

The smile that had appeared on Tristan's face quickly fell and he narrowed his eyes at Xander. "You were listening?"

"Not really," Xander lied. "Who were you talking too?"

"No one." Tristan got up from behind the desk.

Xander could tell by the look on his face that Tristan knew 'Oliver' hadn't bought it, but Xander knew full well he couldn't use the 'I'll tell dad' ploy because of Tristan finding him with the diary. "Yeah, well, why couldn't you talk to 'no one' on your phone?" Xander asked as Tristan started to head past him.

Tristan stopped and turned around to face Xander. "Olly, it's none of your business."

Obviously the glowering look Tristan was shooting at him usually worked to make Oliver scamper away like a good little brother because the look changed to one of annoyance when Xander just levelled his gaze right back him. "Seems to be the story of my life in this house," Xander replied.

Tristan's look then changed from annoyed to something Xander couldn't quite make out. "I guess you'll find out soon anyway," Tristan said, hitting Xander lightly on the arm before then walking out of the study.

Xander watched him go with confusion. Tristan had sounded almost apologetic as he'd spoken his last words. He'd expected something a little bit more menacing if he'd just walked in on a conversation that he obviously wasn't supposed to hear. Xander ran a hand through his hair and hesitated for a moment before walking over to the desk. He picked up the phone and hit redial.

"Johnson, Neal and Smith," a friendly female voice on the other end of he line answered after a couple of rings.

"Oh, sorry," Xander said. "Wrong number."

"Law firm?" Xander wondered to himself as he hung up. Then something on the desk caught his eyes. It was an address, laying open at a page of contact address and numbers. Sure enough, at the top of the list under 'J' was 'Johnson, Neal and Smith' and 'Harold' was scribbled underneath with a different number by the side of it.

"Sean?" Xander whispered skyward. "Sean, you about?"

Sean materialised infront of him; standing in the middle of the desk. "Just a sec," he said and then he was gone again.

Xander rolled his eyes at the now empty again space in front of him. He sat down and sank back into the large, leather chair. "Great," Xander muttered to himself. "I finally think I've found something and nobody wants to know."

"On the contrary," Sean replied, materialising in the desk again. "It was just that I just had to hear Buffy finish singing if not I would have regretted it forever."

Xander wasn't quite sure he'd heard him right. "Singing?"

Sean nodded, seemingly nonplussed. "'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' to be exact."

"Singing?"

"Lucy seemed to like it."

"Si-"

"If you say 'singing' again, I will hit you… or possibly glare at you," Sean corrected himself when Xander pointedly waved a folder through his midriff. "Anyway, weren't you just muttering about finding something?"

"I just overheard a conversation Tristan had with someone called Harold who works for these guys." Xander pointed out the listing in the address book. "I think it might be a law firm." He looked back up a Sean. "Can you check it out?"

Sean tapped the info into Gizmo, waited for a couple of moments, and then looked back at Xander. "OK. It was a law firm here in Miami." Sean looked back down and began to read off the information. The practice broke up in nineteen ninety. It's also pretty certain that the Harold Tristan was talking to, was Harold Neal, a senior partner in the firm."

"Is there anyway we can find out if they had anything to do with putting those fake legal papers together?" Xander asked. "Get into their computer files or something?"

"We can try," Sean replied, tapping it in. "But, remember, it is nineteen eighty three. I seriously doubt their computer system is anything more expedient than a Vic20. That's if they have one at all."

"A Vic what?"

Sean stared back at Xander's 'Huh?' face and then closed his eyes and shook his head lightly. "I'm really getting old," he muttered to himself. Sean opened his eyes and looked back at Xander. "OK, so we're checking these guys out," he clarified. "So what exactly was Tristan saying?"

"He seemed to be finalising some kind of arrangement with this Harold guy. Something that'll be final at the end of the week." Xander paused. "He also said 'She'll get the shock of her life.'"

"And we're thinking Susie here… OK," Sean scratched at his chin. "I'll let Buffy know what we've got so far." He grinned. "Maybe I'll get back in time to hear her singing along to Sesame Street."

Xander grinned too. "At least she seems to be coping."

"Yeah, she is." Sean paused, looking at Xander for a moment before he sighed. "Go on. I'll let you tell her instead."

Xander hesitated. "You think that Harold guy is enough to go on?"

"For now," Sean replied. "It could take a few hours and we're still trying to run off a list of combinations for the safe as well." Sean glanced around the room. "I don't think we're gonna find much else in here unless it wants to be found." He looked back at Xander who was now on his feet. "Take a couple of hours, OK? I heard Mom and Pop say they were going out this afternoon, so you can take that chance to snoop in their room."

"Fine," Xander agreed. He was halfway to the door when he looked back to the telephone on the desk. "Maybe I should call her first?" Xander looked back to Sean. "Y'know, just in case it's a bad time or something."

Sean sighed. "Xander, either you want to see her or you don't."

"I do. I just… just-" he broke off and looked at Sean hopefully. "You wanna play gooseberry just in case it gets too awkward?"

Sean just looked at him blankly. "Because that sounds like so much fun?" Sean then rolled his eyes. "Xander, just go already, OK? Go see your *friend*."

Xander acknowledged Sean's emphasis. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry," Xander said. "I'm being an idiot, I know."

Sean smiled wryly. "Yes, you are."

Xander looked at him oddly. "Uh… thanks?"

"Welcome." Sean replied ambiguously. "Have a nice time."

-------------------

(A short while later)

Buffy held Lucy against her with one arm while she used the other to quietly open the door to Susie's room. As she passed the mirror hanging on the closet door, she stopped to have a look at herself. Or moreover, at the reflection of the other woman who stood holding a sleeping baby girl.

Susie had a young looking, pretty, almost impish face that was framed by a mass of unruly loose dark brown curls. But she did look tired and Buffy had no doubt that the established bags under the young woman's were also underneath her own as well.

Buffy looked down at Lucy and smiled. "But you're worth them, right?"

Buffy walked over to the crib and eased Lucy gently down into it, pulling up just one of the covers around her. "OK," she said softly. "Auntie Buffy's just gonna finish cleaning up downstairs," Buffy reached down and brushed her fingers gently through the small tuft of fluffy hair on Lucy's head, "and then she'll be back up here to nap with you."

Buffy stepped back and grabbed a hairband off Susie's dressing table. She'd just tied her hair back in a ponytail, when she suddenly started at the sound of a knocking at the door. Buffy sighed and had just gotten as far as the bedroom door when Lucy started crying.

Just stopping short of stamping her foot in frustration, Buffy took Lucy back out of the crib and started rubbing soothing circles on the little girl's back as she took herself and Lucy out of the bedroom and started down the stairs.

There was another knock at the door just as Buffy reached the bottom of the stairs. "This had better be good," Buffy mumbled to herself as she pulled back the door, leaving the screen door closed.

"Hey."

Buffy blinked, even though it wasn't the last person she'd expected to see standing there. "Xan?"

Xander smiled and then looked at the still crying baby in her arms and then back to Buffy. "I knew I should have called first."

"I think that would have woken her too," Buffy said with a smile, opening the screen door and stepping aside to let him through.

"Oh sorry," Xander gave her an apologetic look as he passed her. "I didn't mean-"

"I know," Buffy cut him off. She closed the door behind him. "C'mon," Buffy nodded in the direction of the sitting room. "I know it's not exactly the place you are at the moment…"

"At least it looks like a home," Xander commented, glancing around. He looked back at Buffy and saw she was distracted trying to soothe Lucy. He noted she looked tired but didn't seem to be saddened by it. He smiled warmly at Buffy when she caught him studying her. "And you seem to be doing OK."

Buffy looked at the still crying Lucy and then back at Xander. "Ya think?" Buffy sighed. "She likes Sean. She goes to sleep for Sean." Buffy looked thoughtfully at Xander then back at Lucy. "You wanna see if you like Uncle Xander?"

"Uh… Buff, you sure about this?" Xander said dubiously as Buffy offered up Lucy for him to take.

"Xander, she won't bite," Buffy assured him with a smile as she helped adjust Lucy in his arms.

"Well, she's still crying," Xander pointed out as he gingerly cradled the little girl in his arms. "Maybe I should try 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'." He looked back at Buffy and grinned.

"Sean." Buffy rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well you can try singing if you want," Buffy continued. "Personally, I'm beginning to think the little madam just wants feeding again. I've got some formula made up, I'll go get it."

Xander watched Buffy head off, presumably to the kitchen. He looked back down at Lucy and gently rocked her. "Hey, c'mon kid. We're trying our best here, OK?"

"Y'know, I've just realised something," Buffy said as she came back into the room. "You're here. That means you must have found something."

"Yeah," Xander replied, his tone becoming more serious. "We think Tristan maybe a little more involved than we thought. Sean's checking it out at the moment."

"So long as it's something," Buffy replied, looking at Lucy sadly.

"Yeah." Xander then looked at the bottle Buffy was holding out to him, then at Buffy, then back at the bottle. "You, uh, want me to-"

"Yes," Buffy replied with a smile. "Just because you're not snooping at the moment doesn't mean you can stop pulling your weight." Buffy smiled again when Xander took the bottle from her. "I'm gonna finish clearing up in the kitchen."

When she got into the hallway, Buffy stopped and peered back around the door. She smiled when she saw Xander attempting to get Lucy to feed. Buffy then grinned sheepishly when Xander caught her watching him. He held out the bottle towards her, as Lucy seemed reluctant to take it from him. Buffy sighed and headed over to him.

"I'll go tidy," Xander said as he handed Lucy and the bottle back to Buffy. "I don't think she likes me."

"Sure she does," Buffy replied, catching his eye. "I'm sure she's glad you're here."

Xander held Buffy's gaze for a moment. "Well, if you think so, I'm glad I came."

The corner of Buffy's mouth twitched into a smile then she gave him a mock stern look. "Now, go clean."

Xander matched her look and saluted her. "Pulling my weight sir."

Buffy laughed and they exchanged warm smiles before Xander headed off. Buffy watched him go, the smile still on her face and then she looked down at Lucy's scrunched pink face. "Well," Buffy said softly, "I think that went OK, don't you?"

In the hallway, Xander smiled to himself as he just over heard Buffy's words. //Yeah, I think it did Buff//.

-------------------

Outside, in a car parked on the opposite side of road from Susie's house, sat a young blonde man. A couple of empty cans of soda on the dashboard indicated a period of time sat stationary, as did the half read magazine on his which had fallen there when he'd seen his little brother enter Susie's house.

-------------------

After managing to hold a conversation with Buffy whilst drying up the last of the dishes and putting nearly everything away, Xander took the two glasses he'd left out and filled them with orange juice before heading back to the sitting room. Just before he reached the doorway, Xander stopped for a second and then peered around the edge of the doorframe.

He smiled to himself as he watched Buffy as she was settled back in the easy chair by the window. Lucy was cradled in her arms, quite happily suckling on the now almost empty bottle that Buffy was holding for her.

Xander's head rested lightly against the doorframe as he continued to watch Buffy in silence as she fed Lucy the rest of the formula, cooing softly at the little girl as she did so. He couldn't help but keep smiling. It wasn't often that he got to see Buffy out of her natural habitat - or as natural as a Slayer's life could be - and seeing Buffy like this, sitting peacefully with this tiny little girl, like it was the most ordinary thing in the world, was probably one of the weirdest things he knew he was going to see for a while.

//Or is it weird at all?// Xander then wondered to himself. //Why shouldn't this be ordinary for her?// Xander sighed and Buffy's attention was drawn up to him as he pushed himself away from the doorframe.

"What are you looking at?" Buffy asked with a smile.

"Just wishing I had a camera," Xander replied, grinning back. He held out one of the glasses of juice as Buffy rolled her eyes. "Here," he said. "Seeing as it's still as hot as hell, I thought you might like refreshment."

"Thanks." Buffy took the glass and set the now empty bottle of formula down on the small table beside the chair. She then looked at Lucy and smiled as the baby yawned and blinked sleepily. "Finally."

Xander sipped at his drink and sat down in the chair next to Buffy. "Y'know, I think you have got the magic touch," he remarked quietly.

Buffy turned to him and smiled. "Y'think?"

Xander nodded. "Definitely."

Buffy smiled wider as Xander got up and then crouched down infront of Buffy, raising his hand to take Lucy's tiny fingers in his. She allowed her gaze to linger on Xander, smiling as she freeze framed the scene and added it to the one of him trying to feed Lucy from a little while earlier, filing them both away in a now rapidly filling drawer in her mind that was labelled 'Why I now find myself looking at Xander's ass and contemplating different urges other than to kick it'. It was a long label, she knew that, but she'd made it look pretty by putting glitter around the edges.

//And I'm thinking that little statement might be indicative of my recently turned over and dumped on it's head life?// Buffy took a big gulp of her juice as she tore her gaze away and turned her attention back to the small child in her arms. //Glitter? Why don't I just wear a sign around my neck saying 'I have unresolved romantic feelings towards Xander Harris'?// Buffy took another gulp of juice and then set the glass down on the table. //But then it'd probably end up engraved in gold leaf-//

"Y'know, she looks a little like you." Xander's voice interrupted Buffy's musings.

Buffy raised an eyebrow, as Xander turned to look at her, her expression saying "Oh, really?"

Xander gave her a small grin. "She does, I'm telling you," he insisted.

"What? Small, pink and noisy?" Buffy rolled her eyes, thinking she'd second-guessed Xander's next words.

"I was gonna say gorgeous."

Buffy blinked. "Oh." She hoped her cheeks weren't going as red as she thought and cleared her throat, turning to Lucy and breaking the eye contact she had with Xander.

Xander didn't know whether to be secretly pleased he'd finally managed to be able to say that to Buffy after all this time and managed to fluster her, or whether he should be smacking himself on the forehead for finally getting them to the awkward part of today's proceedings.

Xander settled for a mental smack on the forehead just as Buffy seemed to brush his remark off.

"Well, in that case, I'd agree with you," she said, smiling as she looked back at Lucy. "Does she look like that Tristan guy?"

"Uh…" Xander studied Lucy, albeit a little more intently than he needed to but it did mean that he wasn't thinking about the fact that he'd just gotten away with looking like a complete idiot. Well, almost. "I don't know," he said finally, after struggling to find any likeness. "Maybe… I'd probably need to see them together, I guess."

"Probably not such a great idea, y'know," Buffy looked at him, "Considering."

"Point well made," Xander acknowledged, nodding his head toward her and offering her a small smile before adding, "Well, whatever. You're a natural anyway."

Buffy looked back at Lucy. "She probably likes my funny faces." Trying to test her theory, Buffy stuck her tongue out at the little girl and crossed her eyes. Lucy gurgled and Buffy uncrossed her eyes and smiled back at her before turning to Xander. "See?"

"Yup. Natural."

"Maybe," Buffy said with a small shrug. "I just remember doing some of this stuff with Dawn." Buffy paused, then added with a smile and looked thoughtfully back at Lucy. "Or when Mom would let me and then still hover over my shoulder anyway and don't think I can't see that look on your face." Buffy turned back to him, an eyebrow raised slightly. "I know I didn't *actually* do anything with Dawn when she was this small, I just…"

"Remember?" Xander finished for her. Buffy nodded and Xander mirrored her sad smile back to her. He looked at Lucy and reached out his hand to grab the little girls smaller one. "Well at least you've got memories, even if they were implanted. And you've got her now." Xander added with a smile, turning his gaze to Buffy as Lucy curled her fingers around his once more. "So kind of a bonus."

"Hmm, sometimes I wonder." Buffy raised an eyebrow again, a small grin on her face. Then she looked a little more serious. "But she's a good kid. The whole Glory thing was tough but she got through it." Buffy cracked a smile again. "Now she just has to live with me."

Xander laughed. "Is she ever going to get to date?"

"Not until she graduates," Buffy replied. Then she grinned a little evilly at Xander. "She'll just have to make do with having a crush on you."

Xander just grinned back. "I'll cope."

"So modest." Buffy rolled her eyes. Then she looked a little contemplative and said with a slight shake of her head, "What is it with us Summers women?"

Feeling a little easier in himself, Xander shrugged. "You're just so darned cute," he answered, deliberately misinterpreting Buffy's question.

Buffy's lips twitched into a smile. "I was being rhetorical. And, I meant," she continued. "About liking you."

"Oh." Xander paused. "OK." He hesitated then flashed Buffy a grin. "Then maybe it's 'cos I'm so darned cute."

//Well, duh. That's why the glitter//. Buffy checked herself from saying it out loud though, but she did smile. A genuine one.

"Bit more to it that that, Xan," she replied, and almost instantly felt the need to roll her eyes at the shy 'who me?' look that settled on Xander's face before his smile slipped back in his more normal lopsided one. She resisted however. //Y'know, you'd think he'd get it by now//. Buffy then paused. //OK. Sensing the irony there//.

"Well, that kinda goes for you too," Xander told her after a pause from him. "I mean, the bit about there being more too it."

"I kinda guessed."

They both shared a slightly embarrassed smiles for a few seconds before a quiet yawn from Lucy ended the moment.

"I know sweetie," Buffy said softly to the little girl. "But you'll do less of that if you *actually* *go* to sleep."

"Think if I bribed her with a twenty it might work?" Xander suggested.

"You mean you don't want to hear me sing?" Buffy grinned and gave him a challenging look.

Xander blinked. "Uh… sure?"

"Is that a 'sure' for the positive or the negative?" Buffy asked.

"Positive?"

"Don't sound too convincing." Buffy rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Don't worry," she continued, taking pity on him, "I'm gonna take her up now anyway. Hopefully she'll go off this time."

"Well… maybe I should get going anyway." Xander stood as Buffy did. "Sean must have something by now."

Buffy frowned a little. "Wouldn't he have told us?"

"Uh, good point." Then Xander hesitated and glanced once at the door before looking back at Buffy. "But, I should still… I mean, I'm probably wasting valuable snooping time."

"Oh. OK." Buffy's frown disappeared but she knew she sounded disappointed. "Well, I guess if you think you can still dig something up…" Buffy looked down at Lucy. "And think that this little one will thank you if you can."

Xander smiled at the baby that was blinking tiredly at him. "Let's hope I can, huh Luce?"

"I think she smiled back," Buffy said, still looking at Lucy, so she was then unable to stop herself jumping in surprise when she felt Xander's hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at him and found him smiling warmly at her. He didn't say anything for a moment and Buffy's brows furrowed a little in confusion. "What?" she asked.

"Just look after yourselves, OK?"

Buffy just looked back at him for a moment then nodded, her lips forming a smile. "Always."

Xander gave her shoulder a squeeze and then let his hand drop. Buffy followed him out to the hallway, leaning with her back up against the pillar of the banister at the foot of the stairs as Xander pulled back the screen door. As his hand reached around the handle of the second door, he turned back to face her.

Xander looked hesitantly at her before speaking, "Buffy-"

"It's 'cos I said I would sing, isn't it?"

Xander just looked at her and then saw her eyes crinkling into a smile before her lips did. Xander laughed, having to put his hand to his mouth to stifle himself so as not to disturb Lucy. "Guess you'll never know, Buff," he said, flashing her a grin as he opened the door.

Buffy sighed in mock exasperation as she followed him out. "Go on, go," she said, shooing him out with her one free hand. "At least Sean appreciates me."

Xander just grinned back at her again. "See ya later Buff."

"Bye Xan." Buffy leant against the doorframe as she watched Xander walk down the path, waggling her fingers in a wave as he glanced back over his shoulder at her. "Well, that wasn't too bad," Buffy said softly to herself as Xander reached the sidewalk. "It could've been better, but-" she looked down at Lucy, who now seemed to be asleep. Buffy smiled. "Overall, not bad."

-------------------

Still parked across the other side of the street, Tristan kept himself slouched down in the driver's seat of his car as he watched the parting scene between his brother and mother of his child through the front window.

A deep, angry frown settled on his face as his gaze followed his brother down the sidewalk as he left Susie's house. "What the hell are you playing at Olly?" Tristan muttered darkly as his brother disappeared from his line of sight. He looked back at Susie's house and saw the dark haired young woman in shorts and t-shirt standing in the doorway also watching his brother walk away.

Tristan's attention then settled on the small child in her arms. His daughter. She'd named her Lucy. After shifting forward in his seat to get a better view, Tristan kept watching for a few moments more as Susie seemed to say something to Lucy and then she turned and headed back inside. Once the doors were closed, Tristan folded his arms across the steering wheel and rested his chin on them.

"Not long now," he whispered to himself. "Then I won't have to pretend anymore."

Tristan sighed and closed his eyes for a second and then turned and looked down the road in the direction in which his brother had gone. "But I think I'm gonna have to find out what that little squirt is up to." Tristan started the engine and began to pull away from the curb, making a u-turn

-------------------

The echo of the large wooden door closing behind him reverberated around Xander as he stood in the large lobby of the Carson's house.

"Home sweet home," Xander muttered as the lobby descended into silence again. "Yup. This place is real homey." Xander sighed and glanced around, straining to hear signs of life. He hoped he'd made it back after Oliver's parents were supposed to be out. Starting to hum something tuneless, Xander began an exploration of some of the ground floor rooms, checking to make sure that he was parent free and Sean had said that Tristan would be out for the majority of the afternoon with some friends.

As he left one of the rooms, he caught sight of himself in a mirror hanging on the wall in the connecting hallway. Xander stopped and stared back at his reflection, always finding it disconcerting to look back into somebody else's eyes. Xander was never sure if he could see himself or not; just a shade of who *he* was, not the person he found himself in.

Sometimes he thought maybe he caught a glimpse, but then it was gone before he had time to make sure. It bothered Xander a little, and not just being only able to peek at himself now and again. It was that he'd been self-conscious for most of his life. Well, OK, more like all of it. And he knew that most of it didn't all come from within; that it wasn't just the small amount inbuilt insecurity that any person had - Xander had to couple his with outside influences that told him he wasn't good enough. Usually to his face.

Xander raked his fingers through his hair and smoothed his own longish locks back while the shorter hair on Oliver's head stayed pretty much the same. He guessed it was only during the last few years that he'd gotten over his 'Oh God, no girl will ever find me attractive' phase. I mean, look at the girls he'd dated. Look at the girl he's dating. Look at the girl he'd cheated on his girlfriend with and who he'd just left, literally holding the baby.

No, repulsive to the opposite sex he was not. And apparently not to the same sex either. Sean's less than subtle remarks had left no doubt about that. And it didn't bother him as much he appeared to make out; it was just strange to think about as now it was 'Cool, the cute girls like me' coupled with 'Hey, is that guy checking out my ass?'.

No, it was the part of his mind that went 'want me, 'need me' that demanded an answer of some kind. An answer to what exactly Buffy meant when she said there was 'a little bit more to it than that.".

But he knew he didn't have time to try and puzzle that little gem out right now, Xander closed his eyes, sighed and scrubbed his hands over his face before running them through his hair. He looked back at Oliver's reflection in the mirror for a moment. //I think I'd better leave the introspective stuff 'til after we get this leap over with//. He sighed again. //Or maybe 'til we get home//.

Once upstairs in Oliver's room, Xander flopped back onto the bed, resting his hands on his stomach as he gazed up at the high ceiling.

"OK, I need a plan of action," Xander murmured to himself, thinking out loud . "Sean's going to come back to me when he'd got those numbers for the safe in the bedroom, but Mr Carson's study seems to be another likely place to hide information, though the diary I found seem like a dead end." Xander sighed. "I'm also undecided on what Tristan's role is in all of this. Does he know what his parents have planned?"

Xander sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. "Of course," he mused, "If he's out, then his room is available to snoop in."

Xander headed out into the hallway again, only having to walk a short way before he came to Tristan's room. Just as he was reaching for the door handle, Xander stopped and frowned when he heard the muffled sound of a song playing on a radio or stereo coming from inside the room. Xander snatched his hand back and took a step away from the door.

"Crap," he sighed in frustration. "He can't be back can he?"

"Olly."

Startled, Xander's head snapped around to his right to see Tristan about twenty feet away at the top of yet another flight of stairs. It was the sharp tone in his voice that made Xander realised that it was a statement rather than a question and he noted something unreadable in Tristan's face as the other man headed towards him.

"Hey." Xander made his tone light. "I was just wondering if you were back." Xander gestured towards him. "Obviously you are."

"Yeah." Tristan's gaze hardened as he got within a few feet of Xander.

Xander didn't drop his gaze though, even though he was slightly confused by Tristan's change in mood from this morning. "So…" Xander searched for something to say, "…have fun today?" //Lame//.

Tristan was leaning against the doorframe now, one hand on the handle, but Xander could tell from experience that the stance was just a little too relaxed. Xander tried not to frown. //OK, what the hell is going on with him?//.

"Not really," Tristan replied, his hand dropping from the door handle to his side. He looked at Xander in silence for a moment, as if contemplating his next words. "What about you?" he said finally. "Noticed you'd been out too."

//Oh, and there's the all too casual tone// Xander remarked in his head. "Just went out for a walk," Xander replied, managing slightly better with his casualness as he let a grin slip easily into place on his face. "So," he nodded towards Tristan's door, "Gonna go in or what?"

Tristan seemed to be measuring him up again and, sensing a great deal of irony at the thought of it, Xander realised he was lucky to have been attacked enough in his time to be able to sense Tristan's arm moving as the other man's hand shot out towards him.

"Now what the hell was that for?" Xander asked as he caught Tristan's wrist before it got anywhere near to him, noting a look of surprise on the other man's face as Xander held him firm.

"How the-?" Tristan stopped short though and his expression soon turned from surprise to one of anger as he struggled against Xander's grip. "What the hell are you playing at Olly?" he spat out. "What the hell did you think you were doing?"

"Uh, stopping your fist connecting with my jaw?" Xander replied, his sarcasm falling somewhat short as he noted, with confusion, the undertones of hurt in the other man's voice.

"Don't fucking play with me." Tristan stepped back and just glowered at him as Xander let go of his wrist.

"Then what are you talking about?"

Tristan's arms hung by his sides and hands clenched into fists but he made no move towards Xander again. "You know dam well what I'm talking about," Tristan bit out. "I *saw* you."

The hurt hidden in Tristan's voice was still confusing Xander. "Tristan," he said calmly, hoping it would rub off on the other man who still seemed twitchy. "I *really* don't know what you're on about, OK?"

Tristan opened his mouth to say something, but his jaw just rose and fell a couple of times in silence before he turned and stormed into his room, the door banging shut in Xander's face.

Xander just stared at the closed door, a perplexed look on his face. "Well… that was interesting." He took a breath and took a step forward. "And certainly not over."

Tristan whirled around in surprise as Xander came into the room after him. "Olly-"

"Shut it," Xander snapped, jabbing a finger in Tristan's direction. "You don't just try to land one on me for no good reason Tristan, so why don't you tell me why you tried to rearrange my youthful good looks."

"Well it wouldn't talk much to do that," Tristan retorted, reverting to familiar mocking of his brother and taking his turn to match a glare thrown in his direction. "And don't you point your finger at me, 'cos next time you won't catch my fist."

"I wouldn't bet on it," Xander replied evenly.

"You know, they must've finally dropped into view," Tristan sneered. "'Cos this is the first time I've seen you with any balls."

"People change. And talking about change, that seems to be what you're doing with the subject. I wanna know why you tried to hit me."

Tristan turned away from Xander for a moment before looking back at him, the hurt expression floating on top of the angry one. "Susie."

A confused frown settled on Xander's face. "Susie?"

"Yeah. I *know*. I saw you, OK?"

"Saw? What… oh." Xander gave a small nod of his head in realisation. "You were there."

"Saw you go in." Tristan began to pace. "I was watching."

"Watching huh?" Xander crossed his arms infront of his chest. "Binoculars over a hedge kind of deal was it?"

"Why were you there?!" Tristan stopped and turned to face him. "You had no right to be!"

"No right?!" Xander exclaimed. "She's *family*. Lucy still happens to be my niece, OK?"

"Olly-"

"You might not want to know your daughter, but *I* do!"

Once again Xander intercepted Tristan's arm as the other man lunged towards him, but he took a blow to the shoulder as Tristan hit out with his free arm. They struggled for a few moments before Xander managed to get hold of both his arms, but Xander found it hard to keep hold of him firmly.

"You're going to ruin everything!" Tristan yelled right into Xander's face.

"Me?!" Xander yelled right back. "I'm not the one watching my daughter in secret!" Xander struggled to keep Tristan at arms length. "And that whole *secret* bit begs another question as well. Planning something I should know about?"

Xander saw something spark in Tristan's eyes as he spoke those last words and the other man drew reserves from somewhere and shoved Xander backwards and let go. It was with enough force that Xander's legs came into contact with the bed and he fell backwards, landing with a resounding thump on the mattress.

"I can't have you ruining this Olly!" Tristan shouted at him. "You stay away from her! You stay away from them both!"

Looking up, Xander stared after Tristan as the other man stormed from his room then, with a sigh, Xander dropped his head again and closed his eyes. "Well that went well."

"Hey what did I miss? I heard shouting."

"Hey Sean," Xander said with another sigh and pushed himself up. "The shouting was me and Tristan."

"Ah. Ordinary sibling row or something I need know about?"

"He knew I went to see Buffy, well Susie," Xander corrected himself. He stood up and faced Sean. "He was watching her, or Lucy, well whatever, he was *there*."

Sean's face fell. "Shit, we shoulda tracked him." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "What did he say?"

"Well, he's definitely pissed about it. Enough to take a swing at me." Xander began to straighten his clothes. "I was thinking maybe if I goaded him enough he might make a slip, y'know, say something that'd give us a clue as to what we're supposed to be looking for to solve this thing."

"And did he?"

"He said didn't want me to ruin things. Said it twice, in fact."

"OK, that sounds a little too ominous for my liking," Sean remarked. "So I guess this means we're still ruling him in."

"Well, I wasn't actually planning on ruling him out," Xander replied. "But I guess you're right…" Xander trailed off, a little thought tugging at his brain. "Even though…"

"What?"

"I don't know. It's just he seemed… I mean-" Xander stopped and started again, rubbing at his shoulder where Tristan had managed to hit him. "I just wasn't expecting him to get that angry about it. He seemed almost… upset."

"Well, we'll keep an eye on him," Sean said, tapping away on Gizmo's keypad. "He takes on anymore spying missions and we'll know about it." He looked up, "We'll make sure Buffy knows about it too," Sean then added, knowing he'd pre-empted Xander.

Xander gave him a nod in thanks. "So, I'm guessing you didn't just drop in to say 'hi' either."

"Nope." Sean gestured towards the door. "Step to it Xander, we got a safe to open."

"Y'know, I've been thinking," Xander said, quietly, just in case Tristan was still hanging around. "This agency would've been named when the whole thing went to court, right?"

"I know what you're thinking Xander," Sean replied as he followed Xander along the hallway. "But we need to know who they subcontract to." On Xander's puzzled looked, he continued. "That's who we think the Carson's are dealing with. These guys don't just do adoptions for themselves, sometimes they auction up to the highest bidder."

Xander felt sick. "And I thought we had enough trouble dealing with demons."

"I know."

Xander turned to him as they walked. "And, honestly? What are the odds that we'll actually find something in this safe?"

Sean paused. "Slim," he said finally.

Xander looked ahead again. "Thought so."

They continued in silence for a little while before Sean spoke. "But, on the bright side, at least you and Buffy seem to be getting on better."

"Well, if you mean we talked with out having to remove feet from mouths every so often, then, yeah. Getting better."

Sean smiled a little and they walked another few steps in silence before he then cast a sideways glance at Xander. "Still wanted to jump her didn't you?"

Xander paused and then sighed before looking at Sean. "Yeah."

"Thought so."

They walked in silence again until they reached the master bedroom whereupon Xander sighed again. "On with the job, huh?"

"That's what we here for."

-------------------

Buffy ignored the slight ache she was beginning to feel in her arms and settled back against the pillows she'd arranged against the headboard of the bed. She looked down and smiled softly at the little girl that slept in her arms. Buffy had tried putting Lucy down in her crib but she'd stirred and Buffy could see the threat of tears in the little girl's face so she'd ended up still in Buffy's arms.

"Y'know this doesn't meant to say I'm a soft touch," Buffy whispered softly, reaching out and stroking the small tuft of downy hair on Lucy's head. "Xander may say different, but you can just ignore him." Buffy paused. "Which, OK, is easier said than done. Trust me, I know."

Buffy ran her finger down Lucy's arm and then over her curled up fingers. "And sometimes you're gonna have to ignore stuff because in the end it'll just make it harder." Buffy paused again and then smiled wryly. "Especially if their girlfriend can summon the power to make things go green and drop off." She sighed. "Sometimes you have to think about what'll be best all round."

Buffy sighed again as Lucy just slept through her words. "Guess you'll figure that out by yourself, huh?"

-------------------

(Somewhere else…)

Jack Simpson had just sat down and was about to start reading his paper when his phone rang. Sighing, he put his paper to one side and got up to answer the call.

"Hello?"

"It's Miller. We're switching locations."

"Switching? Why?"

"Park's gonna be too open. Too risky."

"Fine. Where?"

"Rosterson suggested somewhere closer to home. I call again later."

Jack looked at the receiver in his hand as Miller hung up. "That guy just gets off on being mysterious," he muttered before going back to his paper.

-------------------

For the rest of the afternoon and into the early evening, Xander sifted through the various items he'd taken from the safe in Oliver's parents' bedroom. So far he'd separated it into piles; one called 'Maybe' and one called 'Why'd I bother taking this out?'. As yet, he'd not found anything that could go into a pile called 'Thank God, this is it, now we can all go home.

In his 'Maybe' pile, Xander had placed a business card that just stated the name 'Rosterson & Co.' and their telephone number, but no actual mention of what their business was. Also in the pile was a bunch of receipts that he'd found clipped together. Receipts for establishments that he didn't think it would be normal for Mr and Mrs Carson to visit - several from fast-food chain outlets and a couple from what Xander knew, from outward appearances anyway, was a downmarket bar as he'd passed it as he'd made his way to Susie's that afternoon.

The only other thing was a strip of from a photo booth of Tristan and Susie; two of them sitting side by side, their faces squashed together and one with Tristan behind Susie, his arms wrapped around her. But, Xander noticed, the top edge of the strip was slightly jagged as if it had been cut or torn, which in turn made Xander think there was a photo missing. There was nothing written on the back of the photographs, nothing that would denote a reason for the photos or when they were taken.

On the bed, Xander laid on his stomach, the two piles infront of him. He pushed the 'Why'd I bother?' pile to one side and brought the much smaller 'Maybe' pile closer.

Xander had tried calling the number on the business card, but had gotten an engaged tone the first few times and then it had gone through on to an answerphone when he had called since - the last time being all of three minutes ago. As Xander was reluctant to leave a message without knowing more, Sean was now checking the company out.

Xander looked at the photographs again. He had the niggling feeling that something wasn't right. The photos showed a couple that seemed extremely happy and contented with each other, it seemed strange that after Susie announced her pregnancy, she'd been dropped by Tristan in the next couple of weeks after he'd told his parents about the baby.

In fact, Tristan's behaviour was pretty strange, Xander reflected. The whole time he'd been yelling at him earlier, Xander had thought he could detect something else in the Tristan's tone. The guy had sounded hurt as well as angry. Although hurt about what, Xander had yet to determine.

Xander placed the photos back on the small pile before propping himself up on his elbows, dropping his head forward and then clasping his hands over the back of his head. //Yeah. The guy has a great relationship and then something happens that throws it all up into the air. Wonder where I've seen that before? Twice//.

Xander sighed and closed his eyes, letting his forehead drop completely onto the bed. //Xand, man, I thought we'd agreed about not thinking about that, OK?// he told himself. //Job to do remember?//

And as if the fates had suddenly decided to remind him of that fact too, there was a knock at the bedroom door. "Master Oliver?" came a voice from the other side of the door.

Xander raised his head and looked at the door with a puzzled frown. "Uh, yeah?"

"Your parents requested that I call you for dinner," the voice replied.

Xander rolled his eyes. "Sure. Thanks. Tell them I'll be down in a minute."

"Very good, sir."

"Great," Xander muttered. "Send the butler up rather than give Oliver a shout themselves." //These people can have servants coming out of there ears, and I know where I'd rather be right now even if it did mean changing dirty diapers//.

Xander pushed himself up so he was sitting and began to gather up his booty from the Carson's safe. Looking once more at the strip of photos of Susie and Tristan before he stashed everything on top of the large wardrobe in the corner of the room.

Heaving a deep sigh, Xander began to head downstairs. Even though he really wasn't that hungry and the company wasn't going to be scintillating, Xander knew that he had to do this as it was the only chance he'd get to know more about the rest of Oliver's family and hope against hope that one or more of them would give him some clue about the little Lucy's kidnapping.

And, it would seem that after interrupting him from his musings only minutes before, the fates had decided to come through on that hope against hope.

As Xander reached the bottom of one of the side staircases that led down to the ground floor, he slowed when he heard Mr Carson's muffled voice floating down towards him from the other end of the dimly lit hallway. Xander couldn't see him and guessed he must be stood just around the corner and in the next hallway, but knew he must be talking to someone else as he then heard another muffled voice as well.

Quietly, Xander took the last few steps down and then glided over to his left. Keeping to the shadows he began to stealthily make his way another twenty yards further up the hallway until he could hear the voices clearly.

"I thought you understood the ramifications," Mr Carson was saying. "You're not to see the girl."

"How did you know?" came the reply. It was Tristan. "How the hell did you *even* *know*?"

"You're my son and heir. I make it my business to know what you're doing."

"You were *watching* me?" Xander heard Tristan reply incredulously. "I can't believe you."

"What you'd better believe, son, is that that girl is nothing but trouble." Mr Carson sounded smug. "It would appear that she seems to have put you from her mind."

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

"She was seen with someone else. Didn't you know? You must have seen him. After all, he was there this afternoon as well."

There was a long pause and Xander realised that Tristan was probably just as confused as he was. Didn't Mr Carson know it was him, 'Oliver', that had been there?

"But… but you… you didn't see who it was?" Tristan asked finally.

"I was told it was another young man. They thought it was you at first, but then they spotted you in the car opposite the house."

There was another long pause and then Tristan and Xander spoke at the same time. "They?"

If either Mr Carson or Tristan had heard Xander, they didn't acknowledge it. Then Tristan spoke again. "Are you watching me?" he asked slowly. "Or are you watching Susie?"

"I just want to make sure you know what's best for you, son," Mr Carson replied, the threat in his voice not even hidden. "This family is your future and Susie Fredericks is most definitely not going to play any part."

"Don't worry, *dad*. I know what's *best* for me."

"That's my boy. Now, come on, let's have dinner shall we?"

"You go on," Tristan told him. "I'll be there in a minute."

Xander didn't hear anything from Mr Carson in reply and after a few moments, he assumed the older man had probably left. Xander waited a little while more, and, not hearing anything from Tristan either, began to walk along the hallway again, still keeping to the shadows as much as he could in case either one was still lurking about, which was difficult as the light was brighter at the end of the hall where the conversation had taken place. Still hearing nothing as he neared the end of the hall, Xander approached the corner wall quietly and peered around the corner, only to immediately draw back when he saw that Tristan still stood there; the older boy leaning against the wall, hands in his trouser pockets and his head hung low.

"I wonder what he's thinking."

Xander visibly started as someone spoke into his left ear. With his hand clutched over his heart and feeling his now perkier than normal heartbeat, Xander turned to glare at the dark haired man beside him. "Don't *do* that," Xander mouthed silently.

Sean rolled his eyes then moved to stand infront of Xander and grinned. "Come on, tell me you aren't pleased to see me."

Xander gave him a bored look. "Ecstatic," he mouthed back.

Sean retaliated with an exaggerated pout. "But I have good news."

"What?" Xander mouthed, looking expectantly at the hologram.

"He's gone," Sean informed him, nodding over to where Tristan had stood. "You can lose the mime act."

"I was just being cautious," Xander replied softly, peering around the corner to see Tristan about halfway along the other hallway. Xander walked around the corner and then stood still, watching the Tristan walk away from him. "So what have you got?"

"Well, we're still searching for something on this 'Rosterson' thing. We couldn't find a company registered in this period with that name. But that could be a good thing, because-"

"-it means they probably don't want to be in the limelight," Xander finished.

"Exactly," Sean agreed. "If these *are* our guys, then they wouldn't want to attract any unwanted attention."

"What about the phone number?" Xander asked.

"We're running it through our systems," Sean replied. "Nothing yet."

Xander nodded. "So what about him?" Xander gestured towards Tristan who had just disappeared through a set of double doors into the dining room. "There's something I don't get." Xander looked back at Sean. "One minute I think he knows what's going on… the other…"

"Well, I don't think he's in with whatever his parents have planned," Sean replied. "I think that conversation you just witnessed it testament to that."

"Whether he knows about it or not, Sean, he's up to something," Xander muttered. "What about what he said to that lawyer guy? Y'know, 'She'll get the shock of her life'." Xander began to head towards the dining room. "I wanna know what that's supposed to mean."

Sean followed him. "We'll do some more digging. Maybe there's something we missed."

"OK. In the meantime, I'll keep my ears pinned back here. Maybe now that something's come out in the open, other stuff'll start to slip."

"Let's hope." Sean nodded towards the dining room doors as they approached them. "Remember to eat your greens."

Xander pulled a face. "Do your job and I'll do mine, OK?"

"Ooh, and authoritative too. Tell me, do you cook?"

"Two words Sean," Xander replied softly just as he had his hand on the door handles. "Losing battle."

"Yeah, I guess two women are more than enough to deal with, huh?" Sean flashed a grin at Xander before he tapped a few buttons on Gizmo and disappeared, leaving Xander glaring at empty space.

"I'm gonna get to hit that guy one day," Xander mumbled to himself before heading into the dining room where upon he was greeted with disapproving stares from both of Oliver's parents, with Jocelyn also tapping her watch.

Xander groaned inwardly. //There'd better be something good to eat//.

-------------------

Of course it was typical that just as Buffy had been partaking in the first decent rest she'd had that day, Lucy decided that she didn't want to sleep after all and had in fact been fooling Buffy all along with the ruse that she was content in her crib all tucked up.

And of course Buffy's dream had just been getting interesting. Or rather it involved a certain person she wasn't supposed to be thinking about in a certain way, so she certainly shouldn't have been dreaming about him kissing her again and especially dreaming about him kissing her the way he was. At least she was sure she hadn't moaned a certain person's name out at any stage during the proceedings.

Pretty sure.

Buffy was beginning to dislike her subconscious.

//Because it's quite obviously your fault// she said to her inner self, //that there is a glitter decorated drawer with the words 'Looking', 'Xander' and 'Ass' on it's label somewhere in my head//.

"And you think you've got problems." Buffy looked down at Lucy who now lay back in her arms. The little girl's face was beginning to turn red from the effort of crying and her tiny arms and legs struggled with nothing in particular. "You just wait 'til you grow up and puberty hits." Buffy let out a heavy sigh. "I'm beginning to think that I should just let you cry. That's supposed to work sometimes, right?"

"My God, that kid's got a set of lungs."

"Gah! *Sean*." Buffy turned around to glare at the hologram. "Can't that little gizmo of yours ring out a little tune before you just suddenly appear?" Buffy held Lucy close against her chest. "I've got enough things on my mind without having to worry about having a heart attack."

"What is it with you and Xander?" Sean shook his head. "You two should be used to me doing that by now."

"Sean, I'm tired, I have a gigantic headache and it doesn't help that my stress level has pretty much hit 'Annoy Me and Die'."

"Point taken," Sean conceded. "Want me to just tell you the latest news?"

Buffy waited until Lucy paused for breath between her crying. "Please."

"Well, Xander pulled some interesting stuff from the Carson's safe. There's a so called company called 'Rosterson' that we're trying to find the low down on at the moment and there were some photos of Susie and Tristan together in there as well."

"Well I don't see how that's supposed to be suspicious," Buffy replied as she began to head downstairs, still holding Lucy. "But whatever floats your boat, I guess."

"And we found out that the Carson's have somebody watching the house."

Buffy turned mid descent down the stairs and gave Sean a look. "You couldn't have said that bit first?"

"Yeah, well, dramatic finish and all that. You just let us do our bit and you..." Sean nodded towards Lucy. "You do yours."

"Gee, thanks," Buffy replied dryly as she gently rocked Lucy. "Y'know, I'm gonna remind you of that someday." As she descended the final step of the stairs, Buffy's sigh was drowned out by Lucy's crying. "Someday real soon."

"Have you tried singing again?" Sean asked, trying to get Lucy's attention.

"Singing, talking, pleading, begging… Whatever I do she ignores me. I think she's beginning to suspect that I'm not actually her mother." Buffy looked down at Lucy who seemed to be doing her utmost to ignore Sean as well. "So much for Xander thinking I was a natural."

"Buffy, you can't help it if she's getting vibes that you're not who you're supposed to be," Sean told her. "It's just one of those things."

"Maybe she needs some fresh air," Buffy suggested. "I know I could use some," she added before expelling a puff of air in order to rid herself of a stray lock of hair that had fallen across her face. "Maybe a walk wouldn't be so bad." Buffy stepped over to the window and looked out. "Just a couple of blocks or so."

"Um, excuse me?" Sean waved his hand infront of her face. "People watching the house, remember?"

"You are such a spoilsport." Buffy sighed her umpteenth sigh for the day then pouted at Sean. "Not even once around the block? You could keep watch."

"OK, I'm reiterating the people watching the house fact. I'm also pointing out the fact that I'm not going to be much good to you in an emergency, because, *hello*-" Sean waved his hand straight through the window, "-hologram?" Sean then pointed to the sky. "Plus, there's the fact that it looks like it's going to rain." He looked back at Lucy. "Maybe she's hungry."

"Sean, she's eaten more than I have today." Buffy walked away from the window and began to pace the length of the room, gently rocking Lucy. "Come on sweetheart," she cooed to the little girl. "You slept earlier. What's so wrong with sleeping now?"

Sean watched Buffy pace for a moment or two more before he shook his head and sighed. "Well, as much as I'd like to stay here and be deafened by a small child, Buffy, I'm going to head off."

Buffy turned to face him and nodded tiredly. "Tell Xander I said 'hi'."

Sean gave her a sympathetic smile. "Will do. See you later." He nodded towards Lucy. "Good luck."

Buffy nodded tiredly again and began to walk towards the kitchen as Sean disappeared behind her. Buffy continued to try and soothe Lucy as she now held the little girl with one arm while she reached out with the other to the fan that still stood on one of the counter tops. Buffy closed her eyes as the cool breeze began to waft around her and for a moment she could have sworn Lucy' became more subdued. Until the fan stopped and Buffy's groan could be heard above Lucy's cries.

"I don't believe this…" Buffy hit the fan but it failed to respond. She sighed and then jumped again when she heard a noise from behind her. Buffy spun around to find nobody there but then she heard the noise again and realised that it was the back door slowly swinging in what breeze there was outside. Sighing, Buffy padded over barefoot and went to push the door shut, but then on second thought, she opened the door further and stepped outside.

The breeze that greeted her wasn't quite as cool as the short burst from the fan, but it seemed to be less humid outside and the air felt less stuffy. Yawning, Buffy began to walk up and down the patio that was more weeds than paving slabs. "See?" she said to Lucy, who thankfully seemed to be actually running out of steam, "We can go outside… just not that far." Buffy after a couple of laps when she caught sight of her reflection in the kitchen window. "Although looking like I do, I don't think venturing further than this would've been a good idea unless I wanted to scare the entire neighbourhood." Buffy lifted a handful of hair away from her face that had fallen from her ponytail and pulled it behind her ear, watching the reflection of a stranger do exactly the same thing.

"I think at this point I'm gonna say rather you than me," Buffy spoke to the reflection. "Motherhood is not one job I want right now." Buffy sighed as she started pacing again. "Of course neither is quantum leaping or actually slaying vampires, but at least I've had some time to get used to those and my God, how insane did that last part just sound?" She looked down at Lucy who just stared right back at her and made a few half-hearted cries. "You don't care really do you?" Buffy smoothed her fingers softly over the little girl's forehead. "You just want your mom."

Buffy yawned again and headed over to the rickety and rusty garden chair in the corner of the garden by the house. Sitting down, she arranged Lucy in her arms, the baby finally seeming to have cried herself out, and then Buffy settled back against the pleasantly cooling metal of the chair. Looking up, Buffy watched the grey clouds gathering on the horizon. "Maybe it is going to rain." Buffy yawned once more. "Might even storm." Her eyes drifted half closed as she absently played with Lucy's fingers. "Best if you get some sleep kid, just in case it does."

Buffy sat and watched Lucy as the little girl began to drift back off to sleep again, too tired to question why Lucy'd woken up or why she'd decided to settle back down. And too tired to question why the back door had been banging in the breeze when it had been closed since Xander had left earlier that day.

-------------------

As before, the dinner had been eaten in silence except this time, Xander wasn't the only one casting furtive glances at the elder Carson's. It seemed that everytime Xander looked up from picking at his food, Tristan was shooting questioning, almost anxious looks at his parents - his father in particular - and if he wasn't looking at them, Tristan was staring down at his plate seemingly deep in thought. He'd once looked across and caught Xander watching him, but after giving Xander an unreadable look, he went back to his thoughts.

Xander had no question in his mind that the other young man was thinking about the conversation he'd had with his father as Xander was trying to puzzle it out too. But then there was also the fact that Xander now had to try and figure out what Tristan was up to if he wasn't involved with his parents' plans. Xander was still intrigued by the conversation that he'd overheard between Tristan and Harold the lawyer.

Xander sighed. Maybe a little too heavily. There was a clearing of a throat to his left and Xander looked up and across to meet the gaze of Mr Carson.

"It's been that hard a day for you has it?" Mr Carson said, not hiding the sarcasm in his voice. "Something pressing heavily on your mind maybe?"

Xander didn't drop his gaze. Instead he quirked one eyebrow slightly and his lips slid into a sort of half smile. "Nope. Anything heavy on yours?"

Mr Carson blinked and Xander could see the look of a double take on his face even if the man didn't show it in his movement. Then Mr Carson's jaw set firm. "No." was his single utterance before he concentrated back on his meal again.

Xander felt his smile widen just a little before he let it slip back and, ignoring the glare he didn't even need to see from Mrs Carson, he went back to his meal. But he didn't miss the curious look from Tristan - the other man's brow furrowed in puzzlement.

//Yeah, well, now it's time for you to work out what *I'm* up to instead// Xander thought. //I'm getting tired of having to do all the figuring out//.

The rest of the main meal passed in silence, but by the time dessert came, it seemed that Tristan had had enough and with a clatter of cutlery against china, Tristan pushed himself back from the table. "I'm finished," he said, getting up.

"Fine." Mr Carson gave his son a brief look before digging back into his crème brule.

Tristan ignored him. "If any one wants me, I'll be in my room."

Xander had no doubt that that last sentence was aimed at him if the look in Tristan's eyes was anything to go by in the glance that he gave Xander before he left. Xander eyed his own desert before setting down his spoon and getting up from the table. "What he said," Xander offered without any airs or graces before he headed out of the dining room after Tristan.

Tristan wasn't anywhere to be seen in the hallway outside the dining room and nobody had decided to follow him out, so he began to make his way back along the hallway to the stairs he'd come down earlier only to find Tristan sitting midway up the steps.

Xander stood and looked up at the other man for a moment, holding Tristan's gaze before he began to climb the stairs. "Hey," Xander said simply.

"Hey," Tristan replied, standing as Xander reached the step he'd been sitting on. "I think we need to have a little talk."

Xander nodded and then began to follow Tristan up the rest of the stairs. They walked in silence until they both stood outside Tristan's room then suddenly Tristan spoke just as Xander went to open the door. "Sorry," he said quietly. When Xander looked at him with a confused expression, he added, "About trying to hit you. Y'know… before."

Xander studied him for a moment then sighed, knowing the other man was sincere. "Yeah, well, don't try it again." Xander entered Oliver's room. "I don't really want to have to apologise to you for hitting you back." He turned around and threw Tristan a grin.

"Yeah, yeah." Tristan managed a small smile in return. He closed the door behind him and then looked around the room before his gaze settled back on Xander. "So…"

Xander rolled his eyes. "Look. Why don't we just start in why you knew that in the first place, huh? I mean, why were you even hanging around? I thought you didn't give a damn."

Tristan's expression settled into a frown. "You don't know what you're talking about," he replied, trying to hold back the angry tone.

Xander spread his arms out wide. "Then enlighten me, big brother."

Tristan began to pace. He sighed. "It's just… complicated."

"Complicated," Xander repeated flatly. "Yes, it's so obvious now." Xander ignored the angry look that Tristan gave him and continued. "Is that what you told dad?"

Tristan's eyes flashed. "Dad can go to hell." He stopped pacing and stood by the window and looked out. "It's his fault it even got to this state in the first place." Tristan turned and looked back at Xander. "And you…" he pointed an accusing finger at Xander, "*You* *know* something, Olly. I know you do. Why go to see Susie, huh? I mean, you were never interested before. You've kept out of this since day one and now suddenly…" he trailed. "What the hell are you up to, Olly?"

"I'm not the one up to anything," Xander replied. "I'm just in the right places at the right time."

Tristan gave him an exasperated look. "Right time for what?"

Xander hesitated. Would the truth be the best idea? Xander realised it could cause Tristan to do something drastic that might put both Lucy and Buffy as Susie and in danger and that wasn't high on Xander's agenda. And there would be too many questions and Xander didn't fancy having to bluff his way through the reasons why he knew everything that he did. //This sucks// Xander grumbled to himself. //Why couldn't I have leapt into Susie? I think I could have dealt with the diapers and the sleep deprivation instead of doing all the detective stuff. OK, maybe not the women's clothing… 'Cos there's no way I could have looked better in shorts and t-shirt than Buffy did this afternoon. I mean that tee just clung so much better to her chest than it could've to mine//.

Xander then stopped. Blinked. "I think I need to sit down," he groaned.

"Sit down?" Tristan looked at Xander incredulously as Xander sat down on the edge of the bed. "Olly, I wanna know-"

Xander held up his hand, interrupting Tristan. "Just… hang on," he said. "I need to get an image out of my head first."

"*Olly*!"

"Hey! It's a very distracting image," Xander replied. "Good," he then added, a thoughtful flitting across his face. "But distracting." As Tristan rolled his eyes Xander took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I have really got to stop doing this to myself," he muttered.

"*Olly*" Tristan was standing infront of Xander now. "Right. Time. For. *What*?"

"Tell him everything," another voice said.

Xander's gaze flicked to Sean who'd just appeared behind Tristan's left shoulder. He quickly gave the hologram a sceptical look.

"Trust me," Sean assured him. "It'll be OK."

"It's better," Xander muttered. He looked back to Tristan and sighed. "Tristan… I think you'd better sit down."

-------------------

(A little while later…)

Tristan sat stock still on his bed, a dumbfounded expression on his face, whilst Xander stood a few feet away and watched him anxiously. Xander glanced at Sean and mouthed, "Trust me?"

"He'll be fine," Sean replied, ignoring the cynical look from Xander. "He's just processing it."

"Hmm." Xander sounded dubious. He stepped over to Tristan. "Hey… uh, you OK?"

"What do you think?" Tristan looked up at him. "I don't even know where to start with how I'm not OK." He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "You're *sure*? I mean-"

"Sure as I can be," Xander replied. He sat down next to Tristan and sighed. "Look, we can fix this, Tristan. We can. We just-"

"Xander, I think we should do this on the move."

Xander stopped mid-sentence and he turned to the hologram; ignoring that Tristan was still in the room. "What is it?"

"We have to go," Sean replied, looking up from the device he held in his hand. "*Now*."

"Now?" Xander frowned. "Where?"

"Olly," Tristan looked at his brother oddly, "Who in the hell are you talking to?"

"I'll explain on the way," Sean answered Xander and then nodded towards Tristan. "Grab him and let's go."

Xander's attention snapped back to Tristan. "What's the fastest car in the garage?"

-------------------

Lucy had fallen back to sleep a short while ago and now the little girl was cradled in Buffy's arms as Buffy still sat outside, enjoying the breeze that was growing cooler by the minute. Buffy shifted in her seat and realised that she was probably going to pay for sitting in the uncomfortable chair later, but for now, Buffy was too tired to care. She'd fallen into somewhere between a daydream and a doze and her subconscious had decided to take the hint and had stopped bombarding her with dreams about a certain Mr Harris. Instead she was now dreaming about home and her family and friends that she'd left behind and wishing she was out patrolling and undertaking those activities she was destined for.

Almost wishing, anyway, as even half asleep her arm instinctively tightened around the small child in her arms when Lucy moved in her sleep. Buffy sighed softly and shifted again in her seat before letting her head fall against her shoulder as a vampire turned to dust in her head.

-------------------

(Not too far away…)

Karl Miller climbed into the passenger seat of the car belonging to his partner, Jack Simpson. "She's still there," he informed Jack who was sitting in the driver's seat.

"Y'know I don't think this is any better than the other plan," Jack grumbled. "In fact, it's the *same* plan."

"Look, she broke from the routine, OK?" Karl replied. "If she wants to sleep outside then I say let her. Y'know? Take the opportunity if it's there."

"Hmm." Jack still didn't sound convinced.

"Well, we're going to have to wait for Chris anyway."

"What? Why the hell do we have to wait for Chris?"

"Because he's driving the car."

Jack looked at his companion incredulously. "*I'm* driving the car!"

"No," Karl said slowly. "*You're* trashing the house."

"Not the robbery thing again," Jack groaned.

Karl sighed. "It's not difficult, Jack. You just knock a couple of things over, that's all." Karl then looked over at Jack. "You didn't have to come on this job, y'know. I could've asked Macy. I just thought you needed the cash more."

"I do," Jack replied tightly. He turned away from Karl and looked out of the driver's side window. "I just…"

"Just what?"

Jack turned back to Karl and smiled thinly. "I hope that kid throws up on you."

-------------------

"I just don't understand this," Tristan stated as he pulled out of the long driveway and onto the main road. "How can you know all this?" He glanced across at Xander who sat in the passenger seat of the Ferrari. "You said you overheard stuff, but even you don't sneak around that much."

"Well, why do you think dad's got her house being watched?" Xander replied. "Watching *her*?"

"Plus these guys who are sitting outside the house right now," Sean added; his image was projected in the middle of the windscreen. "They've been there way too long for my liking."

"I- … I don't…" Tristan trailed off. He took a hand off the steering wheel and ran a hand through his hair before putting his hand back. "I just can't believe that… that they'd *do* something like that. Something so *drastic*." Tristan thumped his hand against the wheel. "I know they weren't happy about it… Jesus, everybody knew that. But… it's their *grandaughter*. I'm their *son*. They're supposed to care."

Xander smiled ruefully. "Tell me about it."

"Y'know, I don't think you know how lucky you are little brother," Tristan responded. "I'd stay out of their way if I could too…" he trailed off and shrugged. "But that's not really an option for me is it? I'm the first born. I've gotta be the star student, the star athlete, provide mom and dad with those certificates and trophies so they can show their friends that they've done alright with their kid." Tristan paused for breath. "I gotta be smart and charming at all their stupid dinner parties and tell them all about how well I'm doing at college. And you… you don't have to do any of that because I do. You have no idea what I'm saving you from. You got to skulk about and get low grades because I was out there letting them think that the sun shone from my ass. And you know what? I didn't even mind that because I had Susie. And mom and dad didn't even mind Susie because to them it was just a stupid phase and they were still able to tell their stupid friends that I was still doing so well. So God forbid I should fall in love. God forbid that I get my girlfriend pregnant. I *wanted* to take care of her." Tristan sighed. "I *loved* her."

"Then why leave her?" Xander prodded. "If you loved her, then why-"

"Because I was gonna lose any means I had of looking after her." Tristan turned to Xander. "I'd have no money, no prospects… I wouldn't've been able to stay in school." Tristan turned his concentration back to the road and sighed again. "I had to think of something… I had to wait… Mom and dad… they couldn't know." Tristan then looked at Xander. "And I didn't know where you'd stand." He sighed. "I guess I know now, huh?"

"Yeah, you do." Xander sighed. He looked out of the window at the scenery as it flashed by and then a thoughtful look crossed his face and he turned back to Tristan. "You said you had to wait. Wait for what?"

"My trust fund," Tristan replied. "If I kept away from Susie then I'd still have it. I-I didn't know if I could risk being seen with her… calling her." A sad look passed over his face. "So I didn't give them a chance to be suspicious. I did everything they wanted me too." Tristan then did something that threw Xander a little. He smiled. "But not anymore," Tristan continued. "It doesn't matter anymore."

"What do you mean?" Xander asked, confused.

"I've got money," Tristan replied, still smiling. "Enough to get us through school, I mean if Susie wants to. And there's enough to get a house-"

"Enough to take care of them…" Sean finished at the same time as Tristan. "He's been setting money up for them. But-" Sean looked at Xander then down and tapped some keys on Gizmo. "But Susie doesn't know."

"She'll get the shock of her life," Xander muttered softly.

"I've been working with Harold Neal," Tristan carried on. "He's sorted it… managed to siphon off money from my trust fund without it looking suspicious." He was still smiling. "Dad can't touch any of it; it's all in stocks and bonds." Tristan then shook his head. "But, y'know, I think we can have this little chat later. Let's just check up on my kid first, OK?"

"Sure." Xander glanced across at Tristan and then smiled at the determined look on the other man's face. "Sounds like a plan."

Sean then swore as 'Gizmo' beeped at him. "Uh, Xander? I think you should remind him we're in a Ferrari." Sean looked back up at Xander. "Like *now*."

-------------------

The air was getting cooler and the breeze a little stronger as Buffy felt stray wisps of hair move a little more earnestly against and across her face. She'd made her way through two of Sunnydale's graveyards and had dusted fourteen vampires and decapitated one Fyral demon and was now pounding on her fifteenth vamp when she realised she was feeling more tired than usual after a good nights slaying. Then Buffy realised that she wasn't actually slaying at all and the tiredness and aches were quite real. With a sleepy groan, she moved restlessly in the chair; first stretching out her legs one at a time then rolling her head and neck as she could feel the beginning of an ache. Shifting Lucy so the baby laid in the opposite crook of her arms, Buffy stretched her arm out to try and ease the cramp.

And she hit something solid.

And the solid something swore.

Buffy's eyes flew open and she caught sight of the stocky looking black man who was looming over her. "Wha? *Hey* let go of me!" Buffy exclaimed as the man grabbed hold of her wrist. Clasping Lucy as tight as she could against her, Buffy struggled against the grip the man had on her as he pulled her up.

"Sweetheart, you ain't going nowhere," the man growled back as he tried to pull her towards the house

"Yeah, nowhere with you!" Buffy managed to hold herself back long enough so she could kick out at the back of his knee. The man stumbled forward and Buffy mustered the rest of her strength and wrenched herself free of his grip. She ducked under his arm as he attempted to grab her again and ran towards the house.

"Sean!" Buffy cried out as she flung open the kitchen door as forcefully as she could with one hand. "A little help here?" The small sense of satisfaction Buffy felt when she realised her door flinging had produced the desired effect and had rebounded on her attacker, was short lived because as soon as she darted through the kitchen she ran straight into the arms of another man. Buffy looked up and fund herself staring back at a large white man who would have given any professional wrestler a run for their money.

"Hey lady, what's the rush?" the guy grinned down at her as he grabbed Buffy by her shoulders.

"You're not taking me anywhere!" Buffy hissed back into his face. She arranged a now heartily crying Lucy as best she could so she was holding the baby with both hands. "You picked on the wrong woman."

"Bitch slammed the door in my face." The black guy appeared from behind, rubbing his nose. "Shit, Jack, I'm bleedin' here."

Jack glared at Karl as he pushed a struggling Buffy backwards and pinned her shoulders against the wall. "Hey, asshole, why don't we just give out our addresses' as well?" He turned back to Buffy. "And who said we was taking you anywhere anyway?"

Karl shot a filthy look at Buffy before he walked past and into the sitting room. "Guess I'll just knock the place over huh?" Karl grumbled as he held his nose; blood trickled out past his fingers.

Jack started to grimace as Lucy's crying went up another few decibels. "Can't you shut that kid up?"

Buffy glared back at him. "Not for you, you fucking bastard." Buffy stopped on his foot hard and although she was barefoot, it was hard enough to make Jack swear.

And it was also hard enough to make Jack reel back and deliver a sharp slap to Buffy's left cheek. "Try that again," he hissed" and it'll be my fist next time." He went to slam his hand back into her shoulder to pin her again, but Buffy twisted out of the way and brought her knee up hard into Jack's groin.

Jack howled; loud enough so that Buffy heard him over Lucy's screaming. As Jack moved backwards, Buffy ducked quickly and twisted out of his grasp and underneath his arm. Tucking Lucy securely under one arm, Buffy used her free hand to grab the phone and wielded it over-arm and smashed it hard onto the side of Jack's head as he went for her again.

"That's for slapping me, you bastard!" Buffy spun on her heel and didn't waste a second when she came face to face with Karl; this time bringing the phone up underarm and slamming it hard into his already damaged nose.

As Karl's hands flew up to his face, Buffy threw the phone over her shoulder at Jack and ran for the door. Wrenching it open, Buffy held Lucy in both arms again and ran outside. She was greeted by the feeling of water under her bare feet and all around her, as the dark clouds that had finally come through on their threat to rain.

As the rain began to pour, Buffy ran down the path and onto the sidewalk. She risked a glance over her shoulder as she continued to run and saw that Jack had followed her out of the house and was shouting at someone in a car that was parked only yards away. Buffy swore and clutched Lucy closer to her chest and carried on, ignoring the stabs of pain in her feet as they hit rougher patches of pavement.

-------------------

"There she is!" Xander exclaimed, pointing out the window at a figure in the distance as they drove down Susie's block. "They're after her!"

Tristan narrowed his eyes as he saw one man follow her out of the house and another get out of a car. "Well they ain't gonna get her." Tristan wrenched the steering wheel over to his left. "Hang on Olly!"

They were still some distance behind Buffy as Xander suddenly found himself flung back into his seat as Tristan swerved abruptly and mounted the pavement. "Tristan!" Xander braced his hand against the door. "You're insane!" He then winced as the Ferrari went straight through somebody's garden wall, but thankfully screeched to a halt. Xander then looked out of the window, his gaze locking on to the figure of a large white man who was trying to come to a halt from a sprint. But didn't. And with a thump the man rolled on to the hood of the Ferrari.

"You OK?" Tristan turned to Xander who nodded dumbly, still slightly in shock. "OK. One down," Tristan continued before removing his seatbelt and throwing the car door open, immediately jumping out and grabbing the man who'd hit the front of the car and was now trying to get away.

Xander stared at him in disbelief for a moment before shaking himself back, his gaze flicking up in the rear view mirror as he did so. "Dammit!" Xander swore as he saw another man running past the back of the car. "Tristan!" he yelled. "Him!"

Tristan had just landed a jarring punch on his guy's jaw and then turned to where Xander was now pointing. He threw the man down the ground and half hurdled half clambered over the hood of the car and began to sprint after the other man.

Xander mean while had gotten out of the car and was chasing after the guy that Tristan had hit. But the rain wasn't helping and he slid on a wet patch of grass and had to put his hands out as he fell to stop his head making contact with a large rock. Xander felt his left wrist twist painfully as he landed and knew it was going to be badly sprained at least. Slicking his soaked hair back and out of his eyes, Xander got as quickly to his feet as he could and started off after the other man, but his heart immediately sank as he saw his quarry scrambling into the passenger seat of a car that already contained a large black man who was clutching his nose with one hand.

Holding his damaged hand to his chest, Xander could only watch and do nothing as the car then screamed past him off into the distance.

-------------------

(About thirty seconds earlier…)

Buffy heard a crash behind her and automatically she stopped and turned around to see what the commotion was. Blinking the rain drops out of her eyes, she stood slightly open mouthed as she saw the guy who'd slapped her hit then roll over on the hood of a red sports car that had crashed into a low wall. A blonde guy had then gotten out of the car, but Buffy's attention was then drawn to another man who'd run past the car and was now headed towards her. Buffy turned and started to run again, looking around desperately for somewhere where she could seek refuge, knowing it was futile for her to keep running.

Just as she'd spotted movement in the driveway of a house across the street and about to head over, she heard someone calling her name. Her *own* name. Buffy blinked away rain again to see Sean hovering infront of her, keeping up with her as she moved.

"Hey Buffy, you wanna slow it down a bit?"

Buffy came to a halt, wincing as she stubbed her toes on the edge of the sidewalk. She turned in time to see the blonde man who'd first gotten out of the crashed car, tackle the man who'd been chasing her.

"That's Tristan," Sean pointed out helpfully.

Buffy squinted through the rain at the two figures wrestling on the ground. "Which one?" she asked distractedly as she rubbed soothing circles on Lucy's back. Buffy then jumped back suddenly as a car careered along the road in her direction and kept moving backwards until she felt a hedge behind her back, but the car just drove past her and off into the distance.

"Don't worry, we've got the plates," Sean told her. Then he turned to where Tristan had landed a knockout blow to the remaining kidnapper. "And hopefully we've got ourselves some information about these people too."

"OK, OK," Buffy sighed. She went back to trying to soothe Lucy. "I need to get her inside. After all this I'm not gonna let her get sick."

"You want my jacket?" a voice to her left said suddenly. "I mean, to wrap her up in?"

Buffy turned to see the blonde guy now standing and looking awkward as he held out his jacket towards her. "Thanks," Buffy said, taking the jacket. She looked down at the ground where the kidnapper still laid. "And, uh, thanks for him too." Buffy looked back up at Tristan and smiled. "That was some tackle."

"Star of the team, remember?" Tristan smiled back. "A-and you're OK? Both of you?" He looked anxiously at Lucy as she cried. "She get hurt?"

"No," Buffy replied as she tried to wrap Lucy as best she could with the jacket. "She's wet and tired, that's all."

"Oh. OK." Tristan then stood silently; wrapping his arms around his chest as the rain began to pelt down on him, and watched as Buffy struggled to cover Lucy by herself. "Do you, uh, need a hand?"

Buffy stopped for a moment and studied him. "Well, I guess tackling a guy to the ground to try and save her gives you some good grace I suppose," she reasoned. Buffy then shot him a steely look as she laid Lucy in his arms and could now use both her hands to pull the jacket around her. "Guess it was lucky you finally decided to stop by."

"Susie, I'm sorry," Tristan apologised earnestly. He then looked down at the heavily swathed baby in his arms. "I'm so sorry, Lucy"

"Yeah, well, I think we can talk about this later, don't you?" Buffy replied, but with no hint of harshness in her tone. "Mainly because I think those are police sirens I can hear," she then added, looking up the road before looking back at Tristan. She smiled fondly as she saw him staring intently at the tiny amount of Lucy's face that was showing. "Come on," she touched his arm. "You can look all you want in the dry."

"What about him?" Tristan indicated the man still lying on the ground.

"I'll deal with it," Xander said as he walked up to meet them. He shoved his hands in his jeans pockets and shivered. "You two get inside."

Tristan smiled gratefully at him and began to head back towards the house. Buffy started off too, but caught Xander's arm as she past and the two silently exchanged glances and warm smiles before Buffy carried on after Tristan.

Xander slicked back his rain soaked hair off his face and watched them go; Xander only dwelling for a second on just exactly how wet Buffy's clothes were before his thoughts were interrupted by a crash of thunder. He sighed. "I've really got to stop my brain engaging in thoughts like that. It can't be healthy."

-------------------

A few minutes later and Susie's sitting room was full; with Buffy, Xander, Tristan and Lucy taking up some of the space and a handful of police officers took up the rest. Tristan helped Buffy put Lucy into some dry clothes and one of the officers helped Xander bandage his wrist. Each of them managed to dry off a little before answering questions about the afternoon's events.

Neither Tristan or Xander indicated directly that Mr and Mrs Carson had been involved, but it didn't stop Xander mentioning that they might be worth investigating as their behaviour recently had been suspicious and that was what had caused him to be wary of Lucy and Susie's well being. The police had given him and Tristan dubious looks but nevertheless had written everything down.

"I don't think you're going to face any charges for reckless driving," one of the officers told Tristan. "Most likely it'll be a caution. You might, however, want to offer to pay for the damage you caused to someone's wall out there."

"No problem," Tristan replied. "Least I can do for providing me with something to crash into."

"Just don't make a habit of it," the officer informed him, either missing or ignoring the light humour in Tristan's voice. "And don't go anywhere either. We'll be round again tomorrow."

As Tristan dealt with the remaining officers showed the remaining officers to the door, Xander looked around for Buffy who seemed to have wandered off somewhere. He found her in the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe of the backdoor, looking out of the open doorway into the garden.

"You OK?" he asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah." Buffy put one of her hands over his and then dipped her head and pressed her cheek against it. "Just gonna miss her, that's all."

"She'll be fine," Xander assured her. "And whatever happens between Susie and Tristan, she's gonna be looked after. Tristan'll make sure of that."

"He seems OK," Buffy agreed. She let go of Xander's hand and turned to face him as he leant against the other side of the doorframe and then looked at him oddly as he seemed to avoid looking at her. "What? Why aren't you looking at me?"

"Your top is still kinda wet," Xander replied, looking embarrassed. "And therefore still kinda see through."

Buffy looked down and swore, immediately crossing her arms across her chest. She cleared her throat. "So, um, do you think we're out of here then?"

"I guess," Xander replied. "I think Sean's still having problems with Gizmo. Says the storm is putting it on the fritz and he can only seem to send stuff but not get a lot back."

Buffy chuckled. "And this is the technology we rely on."

"Tell me about it," Sean commiserated with her as he appeared beside them. He stood on the patio and looked up at the raincloud-darkened sky whereupon it then thundered loudly again. "Boy am I glad the rain's going right through me." He then looked Xander up and down. "After all, wet only goods on some people."

Xander sighed. "It's pointless me even telling you to stop doing that, isn't it?"

"Ignore him, Xander," Buffy added, looking pointedly at Sean. "He's just pissed 'cos he can't touch."

Sean narrowed his eyes as Buffy smiled sweetly back at him. "Thought you weren't doing that either."

If Buffy was planning a retort, anytime after she'd stopped blushing at least, it was going to be cut short by Tristan entering the kitchen; Lucy still in his arms.

"What are you two talking about?" he asked, looking at them curiously.

"Just about to sing your praises," Xander told him. "But maybe you should do it."

Tristan looked hesitantly at Buffy. "Susie? You going to give me a chance to explain?"

"I think she'd like to hear it," Sean advised.

"Well I guess you're still in good graces here," Buffy replied. "But for Lucy's sake, this had better be damn good."

A grateful smile broke out on Tristan's face, but his words of thanks were drowned out by another roll of thunder and then Buffy and Xander couldn't see him at all as they both became engulfed in the bright white light that they were now accustomed to as a sign of their exit.

This also meant that they missed the single stroke of lightening a split second later that was attracted to their slightly electrifying departure.

-------------------

Xander blinked a couple of times once the light had disappeared, not just because it seemed to take a couple of seconds for his eyes to adjust, but also because he was looking through a high powered telescope into somebody's bedroom.

Xander pulled back and automatically looked around to survey his surroundings. He'd just taken in the bank of four black and white monitors on the table directly next to him when he noticed that Sean was sitting in the chair infront of said table.

"OK guys, was that trip extra crackly or what?" Buffy's voice suddenly rang out across the room. A puzzled look fell on her face when both men turned to face her and their eyes widened. "What?"

"Um, you're still wet," Xander informed her. Then he coughed. "And still slightly see through."

"Well stop looking!" Buffy exclaimed, crossing her arms infront of her chest again.

"And you're also standing in the middle of that bed," Sean added.

Buffy stared back at him for a minute before she looked down and found that her legs appeared to be half submerged in the middle of a queen sized bed that was strewn with empty take out boxes. "Huh," she said simply after a moment then took a step forward and back, finding that she could still move quite easily. "This is new."

Xander turned to Sean. "This isn't good… is it?"

Sean looked uneasily at the computer device he held in his hand. He tried tapping a few keys but it refused to respond to his touch. "Huh," he said in the same tone that Buffy had. Sean reached out and tentatively went to poke the other man in the shoulder with a finger.

Sean's finger hit solid Xander.

Sean groaned. "Oh boy."

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to be continued soon…