Slayers and Mutants and Keys- Oh My!

by Wizard

Author's Note: the characters in this fanfic do not belong to me. They are the property of Mutant Enemy (Buffy and Co.), and Marvel Comics (X-Men/ New Mutants).

Buffy-wise: This story occurs during Buffy S5. The prologue is post "Triangle" but pre "Checkpoint", and the rest is post "The Body." May veer off into AU- in fact, it probably will.

Marvel-wise: Everything up to Uncanny X-Men #137 is canon. In this work, the Phoenix Entity left Jean after the battle in Uncanny X-Men #138. Also, this verse has been updated to 2000- well, this part of the timeline... you know what I mean. Also, the only other X- team at this time is the New Mutants. X-Men and the New Mutants- that's it.

Chapter One: Requiem for the Dead.

Salem Centre, NY. April 12, 2001

April was shaping up to be very sunny. In fact, it looked like it was going to be sunnier than it had been in years. It boded well for the big event. Of course, weather was not a problem when one was a weather witch, but Ororo Munroe far preferred to let nature take her course. Of course, that did not mean that she was about to have her best friends get married on a rainy day. She didn't mind the rain, but it put a bit of a dampener on things like outdoor weddings. A pun. Oh Goddess, she was spending too much time around Bobby. Ororo put all thoughts of jokes out of her mind and bent her energies to more pleasant thoughts. Let's see- she'd had her workout in the Danger Room, she'd watered her plants, and the students were Scott's for the day, so barring any sudden X-Men duties, that was it for the day. One of her light days.

"Hmm" she said to herself, "perhaps now is my opportunity to go into the city and see if my wedding present has arrived yet." It was difficult keeping a secret from a telepath. Thank the Goddess that the Professor was around to help with that sort of thing. In two weeks the need would be gone. Of course, very soon life in the mansion would be getting unusually hectic. Well, unusually hectic for an event that didn't involve a great deal of violence. She got her jacket, and headed out into the lobby.

She was shook out of her reverie by the ringing of the telephone. She quickly answered it.

"Hello, this is the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters. How may I help you?"

"This is Professor Xavier's?" The voice on the other end was a young woman. One that sounded troubled.

"Yes it is. How may I help you?"

"Is-is Scott Summers there?"

"Yes he is, but he's on a field trip to an art gallery in the city with our students just now. May I take a message?"

"Oh, I see. Is- is Jean Grey there?"

"I am afraid that she's on the field trip as well."

"Oh, they're both on a field trip" There was a silence on the other end of the phone, but she could hear speaking in the background. Then came the sound of the phone being handed over.

"Hello?" came another voice. This voice was older, male, and British.

"Yes," Ororo answered, "I'm here."

"Is there any way that we can reach Scott? It is very important."

"Well, I believe that he has his cell phone with him, but knowing Scott, he'd have it turned off in a place like an art gallery."

"Damn!" the voice cursed, quietly but emphatically.

"I could take a message, sir." Ororo wasn't psychic, but she didn't have to be to know that something was very wrong here. Let's see- Ororo thought about everything that she knew about Scott's family and friends, and decided to make a shot in the dark.

"Are you calling from Sunnydale?"

"What? How did- yes actually, I am. How did you know?"

"I took a guess. I take it that his aunt Joyce has taken a turn for the worse."

"You might say that. She died yesterday."

"Oh, goddess," Ororo breathed. She knew how Scott loved his aunt, and how exited Jean was to finally meet her. How was she going to tell them? "I am so, so very sorry."

"Thank you."

"Then I take it that the young lady that I spoke to was Buffy?"

"Yes, it was."

"I'll get in contact with Scott as quickly as I can."

"Thank you."

"No, sir. In a situation like this, it is the very least that I can do. Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Ororo hung up the phone, and closed her eyes. She tried not to remember her own mother's death.

// Rocks, lots of them, falling down on the two survivors of the plane crash. It was so hard to breathe. So hard, and the rocks were all around and it was dark and oh goddess I'll never do anything bad ever again just gets these rocks off just get these rocks off just get us out this dark scary place just get me to my daddy what's wrong with you mommy why can't you talk to me mommy oh goddess oh goddess ohgoddessohgoddessohgoddess-//

"Ororo!"

She opened her eyes to see the concerned face of Charles Xavier staring up at her.

"Professor, I'm sorry, I was remembering-"

"I know, Ororo. I felt it."

"Sir, I just got a telephone call from Sunnydale." She didn't finish. Judging by the Professor's face, she didn't have to. He apparently picked up the cause of her flashback when she started to tell him.

Professor Xavier sighed and hung his head for a moment. Ororo had rarely seen him look so old.

"I'm going to contact Scott right now, Ororo." Her beloved leader had seldom sounded more tired than he did at that moment.

"Yes, Professor."

Xavier closed his eyes.

*Scott*

*Professor?* came Scott's voice through their bond.

*I have terrible news for you, Scott.* In another part of his mind, he felt Jean gasp. That Jean should pick up on his thoughts was no surprise- the bonds between the professor and his first student ran very deep indeed.

*Jean? Sir? What is it?* Scott was suddenly uneasy. He apparently sensed Jean's reaction, if not the cause, so he knew that something was wrong.

*I'm sorry Scott. Your aunt Joyce is dead.*

*NO!*

*I'm afraid so, Scott.*

*What? But she was getting better- how did this happen?*

*I don't know Scott. When you return, you must call your cousins.*

*Yes. Of course. Thank you, Professor.* Xavier could feel the pain of Scott's grief wash over him, and Jean's attempts to comfort him before he could leave contact with Scott's mind.

Charles Xavier sighed. Having to relate news of a death was one of the worst parts of any teacher's duty, and this time was no exception, especially because of the happiness that Scott was finally feeling.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

A couple of hours later, the students, plus Scott and Jean, returned. The New Mutants, plus Kitty Pryde of the X-Men, were unusually quiet and sombre. Scott's tension and sorrow were obvious, even if they hadn't been told the reason. The Professor and the rest of the X-Men were waiting for the party in the lobby. They all appeared sombre.

"Professor-" he began.

"Please, use the phone in my office."

"Thank you. Does Alex know?"

"I contacted him just as he was being told. He and Lorna have already left for Sunnydale."

"Oh. Good."

"And Scott? I'm so sorry."

"Thank you Professor." Scott headed off in the direction of the office, followed by Jean. The other X-Men, minus Kitty, followed. Each of them gave Scott their condolences. This left Xavier alone with the students.

Danielle Moonstar stepped forward.

"May I ask what happened, Professor," she asked, obviously not wanting to pry, but also needing to know what happened that would so affect the usually unflappable Scott.

"Scott's aunt died yesterday."

There was a small gasp from each student.

"But Scott said that his aunt was getting better!" Kitty, the youngest X-Man, exclaimed.

"I know, Kitty, but I suppose there were complications. We should know what happened when Scott returns."

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

When Scott and Jean reached the office, they closed the door for privacy. Scott appreciated his friends' condolences, but some things needed to be done in private. Everyone understood that.

Scott picked up the phone, and looked down to dial. For a wild moment, Scott forgot the number, but then he saw it, written down on a piece of paper beside the phone. He shared a look with Jean. Charles Xavier knew his X-Men so very well, bless him.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

Sunnydale, CA.

The phone rang in the house of mourning. All in all, Rupert Giles concluded, a telephone's ring was possibly the most unwelcome sound in existence. He answered it, and hoped that it was Buffy's cousin. If it was some salesman or some bloody thing, Giles would give that person what for.

"Hello?" he asked the person.

"Oh, I'm sorry; I think that I have the wrong number." The voice on the other end belonged to a young American male.

"Not if this is Scott," Giles quickly replied before the young man could hang up.

"This is Scott. Who is this?" the voice now sounded vaguely suspicious, obviously over what a middle aged voice would be doing answering the Summers' phone.

"My name is Rupert Giles. I'm a friend of the family."

"Oh, I see."

"Would you like to talk to Buffy?"

"Oh yes, please."

Giles looked up, and signalled Buffy, who was watching him. He handed her the phone.

"Scott?" she asked.

"Buffy?" came the reply.

"Oh, Scott, I'm sorry that I have to tell you, but Mom's dead," was all Buffy could manage before she started to cry.

"Oh, Buffy," her cousin said from the other side of the phone, "I'm so, so sorry." He sounded like he was about to cry himself.

"I know, I know, thank you." Buffy was starting to slow her sobbing down, at least to the point where she was coherent.

"If there's anything I can do for you-"

"The funeral's in a couple days. Come out here. Please."

"Done," he said without any hesitation.

"And if you can, please bring Jean. I'd like to meet her before the wedding. Don't worry, I have room."

"Oh." Scott was silent for a moment. When he continued, he said, "Look, about the wedding- Jean and I are going to postpone it."

"WHAT!" Buffy exclaimed. That brought everyone in the house- all the Scoobies- to her side.

"Uh, Buffy-" Scott's voice came from the other end of the line. That was clearly not the reaction that he expected.

"Look, Scott. Mom wanted to see the two of you get married. And I want it too. If you feel that you have to postpone because of this, then fine, it's your wedding. But don't let it be because of Dawn and I."

"Buffy-"

"Please Scott! We couldn't stand it!" Buffy started to cry again.

"We'll talk about it after the funeral. Okay?"

"Okay."

"If you want, we'll be on the next flight to L.A."

"Please. And before you say anything, you're staying here."

"I wouldn't want to intrude-"

"It's not intruding. You're family. Besides, I already went through this argument with Alex and Lorna."

"Then I guess we're staying there." Scott's voice went silent. "I know that there's a nightly flight to L.A., so if there's any room on it, I guess I should be getting ready to be on it."

"Yeah."

"Okay. I'll see you soon, Buffy."

"Okay. Oh! Can you phone me when you arrive so I can pick you two up?"

"No need. We'll take a cab." Silence again. "'Bye, Buffy."

"Bye Scott. It was good hearing from you again. I just wish-" Buffy stopped, feeling so very frustrated.

"I know. Me too, Buff. Bye."

"Bye."

Buffy hung up the phone, and turned to her friends.

"I think they'll be here in a few hours. Depending on if they get a flight tonight or tomorrow."

"Buffy, about the wedding," Giles hesitantly began.

"I want it to go on. I think Mom would too."

"Yeah she would!" Dawn added. The youngest Summers went silent for a moment. "Mom wouldn't want the wedding to be postponed because of her. She couldn't stand it. Neither can I..." Dawn began to cry. Again. Buffy held her.

"Uh, Buffy, what about Angel, Cordy and Wes?" Willow asked over Dawn's crying. "They're coming out here too, remember. I don't think your house can hold them and your cousins and their girlfriends, and I think that all of Angel's old places have been occupied by now."

"Oh. Ummm-" Buffy thought for a moment. "Angel can stay here. I'll give my bed up, and sleep on the couch- no, on a cot in the living room. Angel, Cordy and Wes can take the basement, Scott and Jean can take Mom's room, and I can try to fit Alex and Lorna into mine."

"Will everyone fit?" Xander looked dubious.

"It will. Don't worry Xand." Buffy gave a slightly strained smile. "If it doesn't, would you and Anya mind taking Cordy?"

Everyone laughed at that. Xander and Cordelia had buried the hatchet by the time that she went to L.A., but their relationship was still in many ways unresolved, and having Cordelia stay under the same roof as Xander, her ex, and Anya, the now ex-Vengeance Demon that Cordelia inadvertently summoned to take revenge upon Xander, made for an interesting- and potentially explosive- situation.

Tara discretely pulled Giles aside.

"When do you think she's gonna fall apart? She has to, you know," she quietly asked.

"I know. And I suspect that whenever it is, I suspect that it's not going to be soon."

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

Salem Centre, N.Y.

Scott hung the phone up. He looked at Jean.

"Well," Jean said, "I guess we better start packing."

They left the office. Jean went to start the packing, and Scott went to find the Professor. He, along with the others, was just sitting down to dinner.

"Professor," he asked when he found his mentor, "Jean and I'd like to ask for a couple days off. Starting now, if that's okay."

"Of course," Xavier answered. He gave Scott a look. "You have a very selfless cousin, you know."

"You monitored the conversation?" Scott couldn't believe it.

"Not of my own free will." Xavier smiled. "You do have a tendency to psychically shout when you're surprised."

"I'll work on that."

"Do that. Oh, I called the airline- there are seats available for a flight to Los Angeles with a connector to Sunnydale leaving tonight. Would you like me to book you two seats while you get packed?"

"Please."

"Consider it done."

"Thank you." Scott turned to leave.

"Look, Cyke," Scott turned back around when he heard Logan's voice. "I'm sorry. About yer aunt. We all are."

Scott gave his sometime rival a smile. "I appreciate that, Logan." Addressing the others, he said, "Well, I better get packing," and left.

"How very tragic," Peter Rasputin said after Scott left the room.

"Ja," Kurt Wagner agreed. "And just when he was getting so very excited about the wedding."

"Those poor girls," was all that Rogue could say. "Ah bet they were gettin' ready for it themselves when this happened. Those poor girls."

"You may have a chance to tell them that yourself, Rogue," Xavier said. "I believe that the wedding will be going ahead as scheduled. Young Miss Summers was, ah, quite emphatic about that."

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

Sunnydale C.A.

It was about 8:45 when Scott and Jean arrived at the Summers house. They paid the cabbie, and looked out at it before they went to the door. It was a nice looking place, very homey- and radiating sorrow. It was so powerful that Scott could feel it through his rapport with Jean.

*Alex and Lorna are here* she told him as they approached the door.

*Good* was all he could say.

*Would you like a moment?*

*No. I want to do this now. I don't think I could, if I waited.*

Jean took his hand and squeezed it, not even needing to express her confidence in his strength. Scott rang the doorbell. It was answered by a pale young woman about a foot shorter than Scott.

"Scott?" she asked him.

"Hi Buf-" was all Scott could manage before she proceeded to give him a hug so strong that it would have done the Beast proud.

"I'm so glad to see you," she whispered.

"Likewise," he said. Or rather, he tried to. Buffy got the hint and let him go.

"And this must be Jean," Buffy said, turning to his fiancée. She hugged Jean, not waiting for an answer.

*She IS strong!* Jean mentally exclaimed. Buffy quickly let her go.

"It's great to finally meet you. I just wish-" Buffy didn't finish the sentence.

"I know." Jean smiled at Buffy. "I also know that we'll be friends."

"Not just friends," Buffy managed. "Family. Won't you come in? Oh, let me get those." Buffy picked up their suitcases and entered the house, and Scott and Jean followed. Buffy set the suitcases down by the foot of the stairs, and beckoned the couple to follow her into what had to be the living room. There were a lot of people in the living room, strangers mostly, except for Alex, Lorna, and a young woman running at him that could only be-

"Dawn!" he exclaimed as she embraced him- just about tackled him, actually. She almost knocked his glasses off! At least she wasn't eating her spinach, like Buffy apparently was.

"Oh Scotty, I'm so glad you're here," she babbled. Well, she babbled other things as well, but that's all he understood. She finally let go of him, and hugged Jean.

"You must be Jean! I'm so glad I finally met you! You're even prettier than you were in your engagement picture! Thank you for coming!" Dawn exclaimed. Either she was slowing down, or Scott was suddenly able to understand HyperTeenagedGirlese.

Alex came over to him. The brothers simply hugged.

"Not too hard," Scott whispered.

"I know," Alex whispered back. "She hugs like Hank. Talk later." The two broke up the embrace.

Scott turned to hug Lorna as Scott went to Jean.

"Could Buffy be a mutant?" Lorna whispered. "She hugs like Hank and earlier I saw her lift something really heavy like it weighed nothing."

"Possibly. We know it runs in the family." They broke off their embrace as Jean and Lorna hugged. Finally, they all looked at the others in the room, who were watching them. Buffy began the introductions.

"Guys, this is my cousin Scott Summers, and his fiancée Jean Grey. Scott, Jean, these are my friends." Buffy started to point them all out.

"Over there's Xander Harris and Anya Jenkins," she pointed to a dark haired young man and a young blond woman standing together in a corner. They waved.

"On the couch is Willow Rosenberg-" a cute redhead, "Tara Maclay-" a shy looking young blond, "and Cordelia Chase," and attractive brunette. All three waved and said "Hey."

"And standing over there is Rupert Giles," a tall man with slightly greying hair and glasses, "Wesley Wyndham-Pryce," a man in his early thirties with black hair and glasses, "and that's Angel," a tall young man who didn't look all that much older than 18, unless you looked at his eyes, which seemed far far older. They responded with a nod or wave.

"Well, Buffy said finally, that's everyone."

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

The gathering lasted into the night. It was a bit like a wake. When it broke up, the Sunnydale people went to their homes, Buffy's L.A. guests repaired to the basement, and the Summers', minus Buffy, went to their rooms upstairs.

On the upper level of the Summers home, a four way conference was taking place from the separate rooms each couple took, thanks to Jean's telepathy.

*So what were you saying about Buffy lifting something heavy, Lorna?* Jean asked her green haired friend.

*Well, shortly after Alex and I got here, Buffy was getting her basement ready for her other guests. We went down there to help her, and I saw her moving a heavy looking chest from one side of the basement to the other. I don't think she saw us.*

*So she lifted a heavy looking chest.* Scott sent. *Why do you think she might be a mutant?*

*Scott, after she noticed us she asked us to help her out. We did, and when it came time for us to get the bedding, Alex stayed down for an extra moment and tried to lift the chest.*

*Scott, I couldn't lift it* Alex sent, before Scott could say anything. *But Buffy was moving it around like it weighed nothing.*

*Do you know what was in it?* Scott asked.

*She didn't say, and I wasn't about to pry.*

*Are you sure you're not overreacting?*

*You felt her hug you, Scott. What do you think?* Lorna sent before Alex could say anything and possibly start an argument.

*It's certainly possible, Scott,* Jean added. *Mutation runs in the family.*

*Yes, but usually the powers are related. Alex and I absorb and convert solar energy into other forms of energy.*

*And Banshee and Siryn are both sonic-screamers, and Black Tom has that energy blasting power,* Alex added, conceding his brother's point.

*It's just a rule, but there are exceptions.* Jean put in. *What about Peter and Illyana? Being able to turn yourself into organic steel and being able to teleport aren't exactly my idea of related powers.*

*Don't forget Magneto and his children* Lorna added. *His magnetism, Quicksilver's superspeed and the Scarlet Witch's power to affect chance aren't exactly related either.* That was an example that none of the others would have brought up, because Lorna thought that she was Magneto's daughter for a time, due to her own magnetic powers.

*I don't know.* Alex sent slowly. * I think that she's probably a mutant, but I thought that the Prof was monitoring all of our families, checking for mutants. I don't think that he'd miss a strongwoman, for years, no less, and pick up on someone like that Ramsey kid you've got at the school, even if the boy was living right in your backyard.* Doug Ramsey, aka Cypher, had the mutant power of languages. He could quickly understand any language or code that he encountered. He lived in town of Salem Centre, not far from the mansion, when he was discovered.

*I say we should watch her, just in case* Lorna concluded.

*I agree* Alex said. As if there was any doubt.

*So do I* Scott added. *Jean?*

*Oh. Uh, yes. We should watch her.*

*Something wrong, Jean?* Scott felt concerned.

*Well- this is going to sound crazy.*

*What is it?* asked Alex.

*Ever since I've gotten to Sunnydale, my powers have been acting strangely.*

*What do you mean? You're using them now, and everything's okay.*

*That's why I wasn't going to say anything. With you three, everything's normal, but not with anyone else.*

*It's like some kind of energy is affecting them, isn't it?* Lorna enquired.

*Yes! That's it! Ordinarily, even when I try not to, I receive little snippets of peoples' thoughts, but ever since I got here, all I get is static. I can hear words, but I can't make them out. How did you know?*

*I've been feeling odd since I got here, too. On edge. There's some kind of energy permeating this town, and for the most part, I don't like it.*

*What do you mean?* a concerned Alex asked his love.

*Most of the time, it's like I feel, I don't know, dirty. But since I've gotten into this house, I feel, I guess you'd say, clean. It's the same type on energy, I know that for sure, but there seem to be at least two different forms of it. It's driving me wild, that's all I know. But it doesn't affect my powers at all. I checked- I think I bent every spoon in this house into and out of shape.*

*What about you Jean?* Scott asked, a little concerned himself. *What do you feel?*

*I don't feel clean or dirty, but I think I can tell what this energy does to my powers- it blocks them somehow. I don't know why they're not affected where you're all concerned. Maybe it's because we're from out of town, or maybe it's because I have an established tie to all of you. Maybe both.*

*What do other people feel like?* Lorna asked her.

*Well, it's like their thoughts are- staticky, and the effects of this energy aren't consistent. In this house alone, I could sort of read some people, but others not at all.*

*Which ones?* Alex this time.

*I can pick up some kind of thoughts from Buffy and Dawn, and from that Mr. Giles, and from Wesley, Tara, and Anya. I couldn't understand what they were thinking, but they were thinking. From Cordelia, Willow and Xander, all I got was static, and lot's of it. And from Angel, I couldn't get anything.*

*Couldn't get anything?* her friends asked her.

*Nothing at all. It was like he wasn't even there.*

Silence for a moment. And then:

*What do you think we should do?* Alex asked.

*We watch Buffy,* Scott concluded. *Jean, Lorna, try to get to the bottom of what this energy is.*

*Gotcha,* Lorna sent.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *

Meanwhile, downstairs, another meeting was going on.

On the porch, Buffy sat with Scoobies past and present. Angel had approached her during the gathering, and they planned a small meeting afterwards.

"So, Angel," Buffy began, "what's the problem?"

"Your cousins don't know that you're the Slayer, do they?"

"No. Why?"

"Because when Scott and Jean first got here, and Scott and Lorna were hugging, I heard Lorna ask Scott if you might be a mutant."

"What?" That question was asked by more than just Buffy.

"I heard them whispering. Vampires have really good hearing, remember?"

"No," Giles said firmly, "She's the Slayer, not a mutant."

"Although it is possible that the Slayer does have qualities similar to a mutant," Wes said, and all eyes turned to him. "Well, a couple of years before I was fired, there was a conference held on how the Watchers would deal with mutants. The Watchers noted a number of similarities between the two, including manifestation occurring at or shortly after puberty. The major difference is that the Slayer's powers are supernatural, and mutant abilities come from their genetics."

"When was this?" Giles asked. "Oh, never mind. Just what did they- we, decide." Giles had a history of being snubbed by the Council of Watchers, even before he was fired and later forcibly reinstated.

"We- they decided to treat mutants as they would treat demons-"

"You mean they'd kill them on sight?" Xander exclaimed. "That's nuts! Mutants are people too!"

"The Council doesn't kill all demons, Xander," Wes responded a little annoyed at being interrupted. "Some demons are neutral, or even good, as we all have cause to know."

"I know I'm sitting to an unliving example of that," Cordelia said, grinning at Angel. That brought a laugh from all present.

"Anyway, the Council decided to observe and monitor known mutants. And yes, kill them if necessary."

"Isn't that a little of the Council's field?" Tara asked. "I know they're creeps, but I thought they only dealt with the mystical."

"As a formerly 'ex-creep,' Tara, I'll tell you that the Watchers believe that they have jurisdiction over whatever they decide to have jurisdiction over," snarked Giles.

"Ooh, a bit of snark from the G-man," Xander smirked.

"He's right though." Wesley said firmly. "The thing is, they aren't exactly wrong most of the time. But come to think of it, that's a large part of the Council's problem."

"Forget the Council," Willow said, "but what are we going to do about this? If the Summers' are mutant haters, they might try take Dawn away from Buffy, or worse."

"I don't think there's much chance of that," Angel said. "You see-"

"And why do they think that I'm a mutant?" Buffy asked him.

"Well, Lorna said she saw you lift something really heavy on your own, and-"

"Heavy? I haven't been lifting anything really heavy all day!"

"Are you sure, Buffy?" Giles asked.

"Yes! Well, there was that one chest of Mom's in the basement. A normal person would think that it's really heavy. And come to think of it-" Buffy's eyes widened, "Alex and Lorna came down to help me get the basement ready right after that. They might have seen me. Oh, God!"

"It's okay, Buffy," Willow said comfortingly.

"We won't let them take Dawn away," Xander added.

"Like I've been trying to say," a frustrated Angel said, "I don't think that they hate mutants. When Lorna asked Scott if you were a mutant, he said, and I quote, 'Possibly. We know it runs in the family.'"

All were silent for a moment.

"So does this mean that your cousins are mutants? They don't have blue fur or anything." Anya said.

"Not all mutants appear inhuman, Anya," Wesley said.

"Yes," Giles agreed. "In fact, most of them appear fully human."

"Oh God," Buffy whispered, after a moment. "Giles, do you think that-"

"Buffy, I've managed to identify everything that you've killed. They've all been demonic, well, except for the robots."

"Thank God."

"Indeed."

"So what are you gonna do about them?" Anya asked.

"Well, it's not like I can just go up to them and ask them if they're mutants."

"Well, you can prove who you are. You can take them out to the Bronze, and pay Spike to lure something evil out for you to kill. Then you can tell them that you're the Slayer, you're the only one blah-blah-blah-, and that'll be that. And when they use their powers to help you out, you'll have leverage so you can drag the fact that their mutants right out of them."

"What if they're not mutants, though?" Willow asked. "And what about all of the innocent people that'll be at the Bronze?"

"It's a good plan, Anya," Xander said quickly, "but it's not exactly something that we can do."

"Events may well turn out much as Anya described," Wesley said. "This is the Hellmouth, after all. Anything can happen, and usually does."

"We should have a plan," Giles added.

"This is ridiculous!" Buffy exclaimed. "Mo matter what they may be or what I am, they're my family, and that's all that matters!"

"I realize that Buffy," Giles said calmly, "but what if we're right, and they start to dig?"

"If they pry, you might have to tell them that you're the Slayer, Buffy," Angel put in. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, and in a place like Sunnydale, it won't be hard to prove- just take them out on patrol with you."

"And they might not even be mutants," Willow added. "I mean, all we know for sure is that you have mutant relatives. It might not be them."

"Well, I think that they're probably mutants." Xander muttered. "I mean, Buffy's got a very small family. And just look at Lorna's hair."

"That's peroxide Xander, not genetics," Cordelia told him, a trifle snidely.

"How do you know?"

"Well, for one thing, take a look at her hair. The dye job is good, and I can't believe that she dyed her eyebrows, but if you look closely, you can see the roots. Oh no, you can tell that's it been a while since her last trip to the stylist." Everyone gave her an amused look.

"What? You didn't look at Xander like that when Xander channelled Military-Guy. Why can't I bring out the Queen C if I don't start channelling Joan Collins? Too much, anyway."

"I missed you, Cordy," Buffy smiled.

The meeting broke up shortly after. Giles and Wesley talked for a while, Wes asking Giles to tell him again how Buffy humiliated Quentin Travers. Cordelia, Willow, Xander, Anya, and Tara were talking about Cordelia's visions, and Angel was standing off by himself. Buffy went over to him.

"Thank you for coming," she whispered.

"Anytime," her ex replied. "Joyce was one of the strongest women that I knew. Her daughters take after her a lot." He smiled at Buffy, and they hugged.

"I could stay for a while after the funeral, if you want me too," he told her. "As long as you need. Just say the word."

"Could you stay forever?" she whispered back. "'Cause that's how long I think I need you for. But you can't, and I can't ask you to. You're a Champion, and you have to save people now. I've got Sunnydale covered. It's lives that need saving here, not souls."

"There's room in L.A. for a Slayer. You'd make a great member of my team, but I can't ask you to either. A town on a Hellmouth needs a guardian. Lives need saving. Besides, I've royally pissed off a bunch of lawyers. More than once. They would take Dawn away from you if they thought it would get to me. I can't ask you to risk that."

They remained in their embrace for a while, Buffy thinking about Glory and how much help Angel could give her, Angel thinking about how even Wolfram & Hart might think twice about getting into it with a non-rogue Slayer that had an active Watcher. Buffy also thought about the night they made love. Her 17th birthday, which seemed an eternity ago. Angel thought about their one perfect day together. The day that only he would remember, the sacrifice that he had made to protect Buffy and the world. They finally broke apart, and looked into each others eyes. They knew that things could never be the way they were. Too much had happened to both of them for that to ever happen. But they also knew that they were bonded, soulmates, and come high water or Hell itself, either one would come to be with the other in a time of need. It wasn't much, but it was their fate, and at that one moment, it was enough.