1.1 DISCLAIMER: No es mio. I don't own nothing.
1.2 AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey, people! I'm ba-ack! Hope you enjoy this chapter, though I really think it's the worse yet.
FEEDBACK: Gimme gimme gimme! Thanks to everyone who sent me feedback. Continue telling me what you think. If you think it sucks, don't bother.
1.3
1.4 CHAPTER TWELVE
The room was large and dark. A thousand candles lit the room in its eerie light. The air was heavy with its musty, waxy smell. She paced up and down, her blonde hair flowing down to the middle of her back. Her black shirt hung loosely off her slender body. Her shoes made the only sounds in the room.
Suddenly the door burst open. A tall man with brown hair and a muscular build ambled towards her. He wore a black shirt and black pants. His hair stuck out in all direction. He looked to be in his late teens.
"Rath!" she exclaimed, running over to him. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close.
"Nice to see you, too," he said, trying to pry the woman off of him, "Cortenia, you can let go, now."
"What, I can't give my best friend a hug?" she teased in her Irish-type accent, "Heaven forbid, big army man gets a hug. Whatever will the other soldiers think?"
"Ha, ha. Very funny, woman." He smiled at her and led her to a bench. "So, what did you call me for?"
"Too good for me now, are ya? Well, fine. A girl can take a hint."
"Stop bein' so dramatic, Cort, what did you want me for?"
"Why, to complain to you about Zan, of course," she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"What did he do now?"
"Nothing! That's the problem. The city looks like crap and he does nothin'!" she said, exasperated. She started to pace, "Has the boy ever even been out of the palace walls?"
Rath said nothing.
"I tell ya, you would make a better king than he. He probably won't have a clue what to do outside the palace walls, in the city. No, don't want to get mud on the soles of his royal boots, oh god no. Smite me down for such a thought."
"Cortenia, you're over reacting. It can't be that…"
"Bad?" she said, cutting him off, "the roads are muddy, parts of the town in shambles. People are starvin' and it's not that bad? Do you see what I see?"
"Not really, considering I can only come out at night."
"And why is that? Can't be seen with me?"
"I have troops to train, strategies to develop. What, did you think I lie around all day, feeling up concubines and eating grapes?"
"Army boy jokes, what a day it is!" She put her hands on her chest and feigned surprise. Rath laughed at her expression. He pulled her down to sit next to him again.
"It'll be okay, Cortenia. You'll see. You have to give Zan a chance. He's only been on the throne for six months. Let him settle."
"I still say you'd make a better ruler."
"And not another word of that. I've told you a million times; I will not go against Zan, Cortenia. He's my best friend…"
"Ahem!"
"After you, of course."
"Of course."
"I'm not King, nor am I going to try to be King."
"But, lots of people would support you, they do support you!"
"I wouldn't support me. I'm happy being the general, Cortenia."
She sighed. "Fine…but you can't stop me complainin'."
"The day someone does will be a cold day in hell," Rath said, with a laugh. Cortenia smacked him on the arm.
"So, how's it goin' in the big fancy palace?"
"Boring as usual. Guess what," he said, dryly.
"What?"
"I'm betrothed, yay me."
"Betrothed as in they picked a wife out for you?"
"Unfortunately."
"So, who's the poor unfortunate soul that's stuck with ya for the rest of her life?"
"Lonnie."
"Lonnie? As in Princess Vilandra?"
"The one and only."
"Aw, poor baby."
Just then, they heard an excited squeal coming from the doorway behind them. Rath turned around just in time to see a small blonde girl launch herself into his arms. It was Cortenia's twin sister, Kaylanna. She'd had a crush on him since they all met on the beach when they were thirteen.
Rath remembered that day clearly. It was the first time he had ever snuck out of the palace. The Queen and her advisors thought it best if the royal children stayed within the castle walls, for Khivar was still an unseen threat. Although Zan and Vilandra had no problem with that rule, Rath was dying to go outside. He wanted to visit the beach that he stared at everyday from his balcony. He wanted to play with the other children he saw out there, children that were not specially chosen playmates. He wanted different scenery from what he saw everyday at the palace. That day on the beach was the best day of his life. It was the day that he found his very best friend in the world, Cortenia. He was closer to her than even Zan, and he was supposed to be his best friend. Sure, he liked Zan, loved him like a brother, but Zan was just too…old. Five years is a big difference when you're thirteen. After that day, Rath snuck out of the palace every week and met Cortenia at the beach. Up to now, nobody noticed.
"Rath! I haven't seen you in ages!" Kaylanna screeched.
"Hello, Kaylanna," Rath said. He grimaced as Kaylanna tightened her grip on his and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Cortenia stifled a giggle at the expression on Rath's face. It was a mixture of annoyance and fear. She knew that Rath didn't feel that way about either of them, but that didn't stop her sister from obsessing over him. If it weren't for the fact that he lived in a heavily guarded castle, she would damn near be stalking him. She was pretty sure her sister had a shrine of him somewhere around.
"Where's your boyfriend, Anna?" asked Cortenia, trying to distract her.
"Boyfriend? I do not love him, he is too…too…immature!" she said, "He's not a real man like you, Rath," she added seductively, batting her eyelids at him. Cortenia rolled her eyes.
"You do not love me?!" a voice shouted in disbelief.
"Nikaid!" Klyanna exclaimed, "What are you doing here?"
"Well, my so called girlfriend lives here and I came to see her," he said. There was a look of pure anguish etched on his face. The love of his life didn't love him back. The despair was quickly replaced by anger.
"So, what? You love him? You think he wants you?! News flash! He has his own wife back at the palace!" he smirked at her devastated face. "Didn't know that, huh? Did you think he would give up the good life for you? You're wrong. You probably disgust him…"
"Nikaid…"
"Don't Nikaid me, Kaylanna, I thought what we had was special. I thought we had a good thing. I thought you cared about me!"
"I do care, Nikaid…" she pleaded, but he continued as if she hadn't said anything.
"But I was wrong," he laughed, dryly, "Guess I won't be needing this anymore." He yanked a little box out of his pocket and slammed it on the floor at her feet. He stared at it for a moment before looking up at her with tears in his eyes, "Goodbye!" he stalked out of the room and slammed the door.
Rath and Cortenia glanced at each other, not sure what to do. They settled for wrapping the frail girl in their arms. Silent tears were running down her face as she stared at the box on the floor. It had cracked open with the force of hitting the floor. A small diamond ring sat in its home of black velvet.
Xander Harris sat in the TV room of their Council provided house in the desert. Roswell had to be the most boring place in the world. He and Anya were home alone. It was Monday morning, the third week of September, the second week of school. Willow and Tara had enrolled at the University of New Mexico, Giles got a job at the library at West Roswell High and Buffy and Faith worked the day shift at the Crashdown. He and Anya were left at home to do the housework, etc., in other words, they got housewife duty. Anya walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Xander?" she said, softly.
"Yeah?" he answered, not taking his eyes off the TV.
"Remember when Glory tried to end the world?"
"Kind of hard to forget, An," he replied. He pulled her into his lap and nuzzled her neck.
"Remember the nice pretty ring you gave me?"
Xander froze. She continued.
"I want to know when the wedding is…Xander, continue kissing my neck."
"Anya…"
"Xander, don't you still want to marry me? When do we get to tell everybody?" she asked, "You said after they got over Buffy dying, but she's been not dead for three months."
"An…"
"You don't want me anymore, I get it. Fine! I'll just cast a spell on you and…and…give you boils on your penis!"
"Anya! Shh, okay?" he said, softly, "Yes, I still want to marry you."
"When?"
"I don't know, but, you can tell everybody if you want, how's that?"
"Thank you, Xander," she said, "Now, let's go have sex!"
"Mom! I'm home!" Maria yelled as she walked into the new Valenti home. She dropped her bag on the couch and went to the kitchen to seek out her mother.
"Oh, hey honey," Amy Valenti greeted. She stopped chopping onions. "I was meaning to talk to you."
"Okay, what's up?" Maria asked. She grabbed an apple from the fridge and sat on the counter.
"It's about Michael," Amy stated. Maria almost choked on her apple.
"W-what about him mom?"
"Don't worry, sweetie, I just want you to bring him over for dinner tonight. He can bring his brother with him. I'm sure those boys don't eat properly."
"Sure, mom," Maria said, relieved. At least she didn't ask about their relationship.
"So, how's it going with you and Michael?" Amy asked.
Damn. "It's great, mom. We've really gotten closer over the summer. He's a lot happier now that he has Rath with him. Now, I'm dating a ten-year-old, I swear."
"That bad, huh?"
"Miss out on childhood, revert when you're older, I guess."
"Well, that's great honey. Go call him now. He better come over for dinner, even if you have to drag him."
"Fine, mom."
Maria hopped off the counter and ran upstairs to her bedroom. She had her own private line now, well, one she shared with Ava. There were some advantages to the new move. She quickly dialed Michael's number and waited for him to pick up. After about five rings, the phone was answered.
"Hello?"
"Michael?"
"Hey, baby. What's up?"
"Mom, wants you to come over to dinner," she said, bluntly.
"What?"
"She invited you and Rath to dinner. Attendance is mandatory. You have no choice."
"Aw, man. Is she going to grill me?"
"You better hope not."
"You owe me."
"We'll sort out the price later. Come over at six. I think she's making lasagna."
"See you then." Then he hung up.
Two hours later, Rath and Michael were standing at the front door of the Valenti house. Both were somewhat irritated for being pulled away from a hockey game on TV. Maria opened the door and let them in. Michael wore black jeans and a black T-shirt. Rath wore blue jeans and an army green T-shirt. They walked into the living room and sat on either side of Kyle on the couch. Luckily, Kyle was watching the hockey game and they were instantly entranced. Mrs. Valenti walked in and shook her head. Men. She stood in front of the TV with her hands on her hips.
"Aw, come on," the twins whined. Kyle stayed silent. He knew the wrath of the ex-Deluca. He was not getting that turned on him.
"Boys, you are here to eat dinner, not watch sports. This is family bonding," she said, turning off the TV. Rath and Michael looked at her as if they didn't recognize the term… which they probably didn't.
"Don't worry, I'm taping it," Maria said. She knew this would happen. It was twice as worse, because now Michael found a new hockey buddy. When Michael heard that Rath had never seen a hockey game he was horrified and immediately started training him on the ins and outs of the game. Now, they had two hockey loving-Metallica fanatics on their hands. They shouldn't have expected any less. Technically, they were the same person.
"Well, come on, dinner is ready," Amy said, ushering the boys to the kitchen. "Jim! Ava! Dinner!"
Jim Valenti walked into the kitchen, cheerfully greeting the guests, while Ava shyly and silently sat at the table. Rath sat next to Ava and Michael sat opposite to Rath. Maria sat next to Michael, Kyle sat next to Maria and the two adults sat at the head and foot of the table.
"So, kids," Amy started, "How's school going?"
"Fine," Michael, Maria and Rath answered at the same time. Kyle rolled his eyes.
"Nothing exciting happen?" Jim asked.
"Not really," Michael and Maria said. Amy looked between them strangely.
"Actually, coach said something interesting yesterday at practice," Kyle said, quick to diverge attention from them.
"Yeah? What's that?" Amy asked.
"Well, two of our players got injured in the last game and will be out for the next two months or so…"
"Oh, that's too bad."
"Yeah, well, he said he had two new recruits in mind," he said, grinning, somewhat evilly. Rath regarded him suspiciously.
"Who's that?" asked Amy, "Anyone I know?"
"Yeah," Kyle paused, getting ready to drop the bomb; "He wants Guerin and O'Connor."
Michael and Rath choked on their lasagna.
"Say what?!" they screeched.
"Welcome to the football team. Coach said to tell you that you start on Monday."
Michael stared at him in shock and utter disbelief. Then he started laughing; he was bordering on hysterical, really.
"You want me to join the football team?" he choked out between chuckles, "I'd like to see you try. Ain't no way I'm joining the football team."
"Actually," the sheriff said, "You are on the football team. You and Rath."
Michael's jaw dropped.
"Wha-wh-how…why?!"
"Because, due to some absences," he said. Maria snorted. "Your credit isn't that good. Your other classes are somewhat balanced, but the fact that you've been to, and I quote: 'I about had a heart attack when he showed up for the second time while pigs were still on the ground'. Let's just say that joining the team is the only way to redeem yourself."
"B-But…the football team?!" he whined, "Can't I do extra detention or something, more Bio homework…clean the damn school with a hairbrush?"
"Sorry son, no can do. Miss class, do the time," he said.
"You know that didn't rhyme right?" Maria commented.
"I get A's and B's, what the hell!"
"You have to actually go to class, son, not just show up and ace tests after skimming through the books the night before."
"Why do I gotta do it? I'm new, I don't got no records," Rath complained.
"Sorry, buddy, you and Michael are considered the same person," Kyle said, double meaning not lost on him, "he does it, you do it. Accept it and move on. Buddha says…"
"Quote that bald guy and I swear I'll kill you," Rath all but growled at him. He turned to Michael. "Thanks a lot, bro, now I gotta be a jock. Can't wait for Faith to hear about this."
*~*
Two streets over, at the Whitman dinner table, the newly adopted Faith Whitman burst into hysterical laughter. Mr. and Mrs. Whitman, and Alex looked at her strangely.
"What's so funny?" Alex asked his new sister quietly.
"R…Rath and Michael…ha ha…football team," was all she could choke out between giggles.
"What? They blew up the football team?"
"No they're on it!"
Alex was stunned until he got a picture of the two in their football uniforms prancing around with cheerleaders in his head. His imagination was way too warped. He started to laugh.
* ~*
In a house on the other side of town, a blonde alien started to crack up in the kitchen while doing the dishes with her brother. He stared at her in confusion. Was she going crazy?
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Mi…Mich…football team!"
"Huh?"
"M-Michael and Rath are on the football team," she choked out. Her face was turning red, she was laughing so much.
"Izzy, I think you're delirious," he said, feeling her forehead.
"No, it's true, Alex just told me. He heard it from Faith, who heard it from Rath," she said, calming down. A mischievous grin spread on her face. "Oh, I am going to have so much fun with this."
*~*
"Great! Faith knows," Rath groaned.
"Damn it! That means Alex knows, which means Izzy knows which means we're screwed," Michael complained.
"Damn it Kyle, I'm not joining the football team!"
"Me neither!"
"Boys! Boys!" Amy yelled, playing mediator, "You can kill Kyle on your own time."
"Mom! Don't give them ideas!" Kyle blurted out. Amy looked at him in shock before engulfing him in a tight hug. She was crying. "What?" Kyle asked, confused.
"You called me mom!" she said, excited.
Kyle glanced at Michael and Rath over her shoulder. They shrugged. How should they know what was up with her. She was a Deluca, you don't ask, your brain stays intact.
"I think this calls for a celebration," Jim Valenti said, touched by the scene of his wife and son, but feeling sorry for the poor confused boy. Kyle hadn't had a mother in ten years. This was new to him. "Let's go get ice cream, kids."
The seven of them finished their dinner and then walked to 'The Milky Way' ice-cream parlor. The boys were still clueless, but, hey! It's free ice cream, who the hell cares! They went up to the counter and ordered their ice cream. Rath got Pistachio, Kyle got chocolate, Ava got orange pine, Amy got caramel and Jim got butter pecan. Michael and Maria got pistachio and mint chocolate chip mixed. Amy looked at her daughter strangely when they sat down.
"Since when do you like Pistachio?" she asked. Maria shrugged and took a big bite. Michael, Rath and Ava drowned their ice cream in tobasco sauce.
"What's with the tobasco?" Amy asked, cringing as her daughter's boyfriend ate a spoonful.
"Tastes good, wanna try?" Rath asked, waving the spoon in front of the woman.
"No thanks," she said in obvious disgust. Kids today. No sense of taste!
"This needs something," Maria said, half to herself. Michael nodded. "Something chocolate."
"M&Ms," Michael said, pulling a pack from his pocket.
"I knew I loved you for something," Maria said as she coated their ice cream in the candy goodness. She tested and approved. Amy watched as her daughter ate the exact same concoction as her boyfriend…well, sans Tobasco sauce. It was strange, but she didn't comment.
After they had finished their dessert, they walked home. The night was calm. The moon was full and a cool breeze blew about their skin as they cut through the park. Michael and Maria were holding hands as were Jim and Amy. Kyle, Ava and Rath walked slightly behind them, feeling kind of left out, though Rath seemed to be having a conversation with Faith through their link. Their link had grown almost as strong as Michael and Maria's. They could communicate telepathically and could feel each other's presence. They weren't talking in unison or sharing powers and personality, though. It was the same for Alex and Isabel as well. Liz figured it was just a prophecy thing since she and Max hadn't experienced it. Kyle could tell that there was some jealousy behind that, though.
Suddenly, a shrill scream pierced through the dark night. Kyle looked up to see a demon standing in front of them. It was huge. About seven feet tall and…sharp looking. He had horns coming out of his ears and teeth the size of Mount Everest. From where Kyle stood, he could tell that his breath smelt like a rotting corpse buried in the sewer. The demon snarled at them. Amy buried her head in Jim's jacket. She was scared stiff, in fact, Jim looked almost as scared as she was, but not scared as much as he was shocked. Oh, yeah. He's never seen one before, Kyle thought.
Immediately, Michael, Maria and Rath dropped into a fighting stance. Kyle looked across to Ava. She looked pale and she was trembling in fear. Kyle pulled her into a comforting hug. Well, one demon couldn't be that bad, Kyle thought. Within seconds, ten more demons surrounded them. Great.
"Can't these demons look anything besides big ugly and stupid?" Maria asked Michael.
"Guess not, baby," he replied.
"Damn, and me without my battle ax, this won't be the same without it," Rath said, sarcastically. Maria looked around at the other demons. There were about fifteen in all. Most of them had weapons. Not good odds. She glanced at Rath. He nodded reassuringly. Faith was on her way. The three of them glared menacingly at the demons, daring them to attack.
"Having a party?" Faith asked as she ran a sword through one of the demons. Green blood oozed from his wound as she shoved him off her sword. He fell down, dead.
"Don't mind if we crash, do you?" Alex asked, beheading another.
"Come on, Whitman, don't hog all the fun," Maria said as she punched one of them in the face. He growled and went to punch her. She ducked and tripped him. She grabbed his leg and twisted it the wrong way until she heard a satisfying crack and a howl of pain. Then, she snapped his neck.
She got up and dusted off her jeans. "Any takers?"
Alex tossed Kyle a set of keys.
"My car is right at the end of the park, get them out of here," he said as he joined the fight. Kyle nodded and dragged the stunned adults and Ava towards the car. They drove off, unharmed.
Alex swung his ax around and beheaded another demon. He blocked a punch from another and kicked him in the face. The demon's tooth broke and he howled in pain, but he kept coming at Alex. Another one snatched his ax from him and broke it in half. He then tripped Alex with a long stick and he landed flat on his back. Alex flipped back up and started punching and kicking with all his might, but the demons were too strong. All of a sudden one of them exploded. He looked past the falling slime to see his girlfriend standing there, smirking.
"Need help?" she asked, pulling out a sword from god knows where. She'd brought reinforcements in the form of Buffy and Spike, which was a good thing since about ten more demons came out of nowhere and started attacking. They must have stumbled onto a nest.
Isabel and Alex worked as a team fighting off the beasts, but somewhere along the line they got separated and Alex was cornered by an especially huge demon. He lost his weapon minutes ago and now had to fight with his bare hands. He tripped the demon and then broke his neck.
"Alex! Look out!" Faith screamed.
He spun around just in time to see a demon lowering a sword to his head. He closed his eyes, awaiting the pain of being beheaded that never came. He cracked one eye open and saw the back of one extremely confused demon standing before him, sword in hand. Quickly, he snatched the sword from him and ran it through his chest. He dropped to the floor.
Alex sighed and looked around. He watched as Michael and Maria killed the last two demons. The park was now littered with dead bodies. He had no idea how they were going to explain this. At least with vampires, they clean up after themselves, but these demons didn't look like they were going anywhere.
Suddenly, he was on the ground, flat on his back while a blonde girl kissed him frantically all over his face.
"Oh, Alex, I almost lost you again!" she cried.
"I'm okay, Izzy, I'm okay," he said, softly, stroking her hair.
She smacked him on the arm. "Don't ever do that to me again."
"I promise."
Alex sat up with Isabel on his lap and looked around at his other friends.
"Did anybody see how I did that?" he asked, " 'Cause that was cool as hell."
"You were going to get your head chopped off and all of a sudden, you disappeared and then reappeared behind that thing," Faith said, amazed.
"New wacky power for Geekman, huh?" Michael joked.
Alex put his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest.
"Never fear, Geekman is here!"
The teens laughed and walked to the Valenti household. They had a lot of explaining to do. Buffy and Spike went back home. They were not needed anymore, nor did they want to face explaining to parents.
**********************************************************
The old warehouse was being used once again. The candles burnt high and the silence was deafening. Lilah stood at the far end of the room as the first of many soldiers walked through the swirling vortex. The war would start soon. Khivar would soon kill the Royal fours, or what was left of them, and their various mates. She looked forward to that day. Maybe then she would be free of that royal pain in the butt.
1.2 AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey, people! I'm ba-ack! Hope you enjoy this chapter, though I really think it's the worse yet.
FEEDBACK: Gimme gimme gimme! Thanks to everyone who sent me feedback. Continue telling me what you think. If you think it sucks, don't bother.
1.3
1.4 CHAPTER TWELVE
The room was large and dark. A thousand candles lit the room in its eerie light. The air was heavy with its musty, waxy smell. She paced up and down, her blonde hair flowing down to the middle of her back. Her black shirt hung loosely off her slender body. Her shoes made the only sounds in the room.
Suddenly the door burst open. A tall man with brown hair and a muscular build ambled towards her. He wore a black shirt and black pants. His hair stuck out in all direction. He looked to be in his late teens.
"Rath!" she exclaimed, running over to him. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close.
"Nice to see you, too," he said, trying to pry the woman off of him, "Cortenia, you can let go, now."
"What, I can't give my best friend a hug?" she teased in her Irish-type accent, "Heaven forbid, big army man gets a hug. Whatever will the other soldiers think?"
"Ha, ha. Very funny, woman." He smiled at her and led her to a bench. "So, what did you call me for?"
"Too good for me now, are ya? Well, fine. A girl can take a hint."
"Stop bein' so dramatic, Cort, what did you want me for?"
"Why, to complain to you about Zan, of course," she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"What did he do now?"
"Nothing! That's the problem. The city looks like crap and he does nothin'!" she said, exasperated. She started to pace, "Has the boy ever even been out of the palace walls?"
Rath said nothing.
"I tell ya, you would make a better king than he. He probably won't have a clue what to do outside the palace walls, in the city. No, don't want to get mud on the soles of his royal boots, oh god no. Smite me down for such a thought."
"Cortenia, you're over reacting. It can't be that…"
"Bad?" she said, cutting him off, "the roads are muddy, parts of the town in shambles. People are starvin' and it's not that bad? Do you see what I see?"
"Not really, considering I can only come out at night."
"And why is that? Can't be seen with me?"
"I have troops to train, strategies to develop. What, did you think I lie around all day, feeling up concubines and eating grapes?"
"Army boy jokes, what a day it is!" She put her hands on her chest and feigned surprise. Rath laughed at her expression. He pulled her down to sit next to him again.
"It'll be okay, Cortenia. You'll see. You have to give Zan a chance. He's only been on the throne for six months. Let him settle."
"I still say you'd make a better ruler."
"And not another word of that. I've told you a million times; I will not go against Zan, Cortenia. He's my best friend…"
"Ahem!"
"After you, of course."
"Of course."
"I'm not King, nor am I going to try to be King."
"But, lots of people would support you, they do support you!"
"I wouldn't support me. I'm happy being the general, Cortenia."
She sighed. "Fine…but you can't stop me complainin'."
"The day someone does will be a cold day in hell," Rath said, with a laugh. Cortenia smacked him on the arm.
"So, how's it goin' in the big fancy palace?"
"Boring as usual. Guess what," he said, dryly.
"What?"
"I'm betrothed, yay me."
"Betrothed as in they picked a wife out for you?"
"Unfortunately."
"So, who's the poor unfortunate soul that's stuck with ya for the rest of her life?"
"Lonnie."
"Lonnie? As in Princess Vilandra?"
"The one and only."
"Aw, poor baby."
Just then, they heard an excited squeal coming from the doorway behind them. Rath turned around just in time to see a small blonde girl launch herself into his arms. It was Cortenia's twin sister, Kaylanna. She'd had a crush on him since they all met on the beach when they were thirteen.
Rath remembered that day clearly. It was the first time he had ever snuck out of the palace. The Queen and her advisors thought it best if the royal children stayed within the castle walls, for Khivar was still an unseen threat. Although Zan and Vilandra had no problem with that rule, Rath was dying to go outside. He wanted to visit the beach that he stared at everyday from his balcony. He wanted to play with the other children he saw out there, children that were not specially chosen playmates. He wanted different scenery from what he saw everyday at the palace. That day on the beach was the best day of his life. It was the day that he found his very best friend in the world, Cortenia. He was closer to her than even Zan, and he was supposed to be his best friend. Sure, he liked Zan, loved him like a brother, but Zan was just too…old. Five years is a big difference when you're thirteen. After that day, Rath snuck out of the palace every week and met Cortenia at the beach. Up to now, nobody noticed.
"Rath! I haven't seen you in ages!" Kaylanna screeched.
"Hello, Kaylanna," Rath said. He grimaced as Kaylanna tightened her grip on his and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Cortenia stifled a giggle at the expression on Rath's face. It was a mixture of annoyance and fear. She knew that Rath didn't feel that way about either of them, but that didn't stop her sister from obsessing over him. If it weren't for the fact that he lived in a heavily guarded castle, she would damn near be stalking him. She was pretty sure her sister had a shrine of him somewhere around.
"Where's your boyfriend, Anna?" asked Cortenia, trying to distract her.
"Boyfriend? I do not love him, he is too…too…immature!" she said, "He's not a real man like you, Rath," she added seductively, batting her eyelids at him. Cortenia rolled her eyes.
"You do not love me?!" a voice shouted in disbelief.
"Nikaid!" Klyanna exclaimed, "What are you doing here?"
"Well, my so called girlfriend lives here and I came to see her," he said. There was a look of pure anguish etched on his face. The love of his life didn't love him back. The despair was quickly replaced by anger.
"So, what? You love him? You think he wants you?! News flash! He has his own wife back at the palace!" he smirked at her devastated face. "Didn't know that, huh? Did you think he would give up the good life for you? You're wrong. You probably disgust him…"
"Nikaid…"
"Don't Nikaid me, Kaylanna, I thought what we had was special. I thought we had a good thing. I thought you cared about me!"
"I do care, Nikaid…" she pleaded, but he continued as if she hadn't said anything.
"But I was wrong," he laughed, dryly, "Guess I won't be needing this anymore." He yanked a little box out of his pocket and slammed it on the floor at her feet. He stared at it for a moment before looking up at her with tears in his eyes, "Goodbye!" he stalked out of the room and slammed the door.
Rath and Cortenia glanced at each other, not sure what to do. They settled for wrapping the frail girl in their arms. Silent tears were running down her face as she stared at the box on the floor. It had cracked open with the force of hitting the floor. A small diamond ring sat in its home of black velvet.
Xander Harris sat in the TV room of their Council provided house in the desert. Roswell had to be the most boring place in the world. He and Anya were home alone. It was Monday morning, the third week of September, the second week of school. Willow and Tara had enrolled at the University of New Mexico, Giles got a job at the library at West Roswell High and Buffy and Faith worked the day shift at the Crashdown. He and Anya were left at home to do the housework, etc., in other words, they got housewife duty. Anya walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Xander?" she said, softly.
"Yeah?" he answered, not taking his eyes off the TV.
"Remember when Glory tried to end the world?"
"Kind of hard to forget, An," he replied. He pulled her into his lap and nuzzled her neck.
"Remember the nice pretty ring you gave me?"
Xander froze. She continued.
"I want to know when the wedding is…Xander, continue kissing my neck."
"Anya…"
"Xander, don't you still want to marry me? When do we get to tell everybody?" she asked, "You said after they got over Buffy dying, but she's been not dead for three months."
"An…"
"You don't want me anymore, I get it. Fine! I'll just cast a spell on you and…and…give you boils on your penis!"
"Anya! Shh, okay?" he said, softly, "Yes, I still want to marry you."
"When?"
"I don't know, but, you can tell everybody if you want, how's that?"
"Thank you, Xander," she said, "Now, let's go have sex!"
"Mom! I'm home!" Maria yelled as she walked into the new Valenti home. She dropped her bag on the couch and went to the kitchen to seek out her mother.
"Oh, hey honey," Amy Valenti greeted. She stopped chopping onions. "I was meaning to talk to you."
"Okay, what's up?" Maria asked. She grabbed an apple from the fridge and sat on the counter.
"It's about Michael," Amy stated. Maria almost choked on her apple.
"W-what about him mom?"
"Don't worry, sweetie, I just want you to bring him over for dinner tonight. He can bring his brother with him. I'm sure those boys don't eat properly."
"Sure, mom," Maria said, relieved. At least she didn't ask about their relationship.
"So, how's it going with you and Michael?" Amy asked.
Damn. "It's great, mom. We've really gotten closer over the summer. He's a lot happier now that he has Rath with him. Now, I'm dating a ten-year-old, I swear."
"That bad, huh?"
"Miss out on childhood, revert when you're older, I guess."
"Well, that's great honey. Go call him now. He better come over for dinner, even if you have to drag him."
"Fine, mom."
Maria hopped off the counter and ran upstairs to her bedroom. She had her own private line now, well, one she shared with Ava. There were some advantages to the new move. She quickly dialed Michael's number and waited for him to pick up. After about five rings, the phone was answered.
"Hello?"
"Michael?"
"Hey, baby. What's up?"
"Mom, wants you to come over to dinner," she said, bluntly.
"What?"
"She invited you and Rath to dinner. Attendance is mandatory. You have no choice."
"Aw, man. Is she going to grill me?"
"You better hope not."
"You owe me."
"We'll sort out the price later. Come over at six. I think she's making lasagna."
"See you then." Then he hung up.
Two hours later, Rath and Michael were standing at the front door of the Valenti house. Both were somewhat irritated for being pulled away from a hockey game on TV. Maria opened the door and let them in. Michael wore black jeans and a black T-shirt. Rath wore blue jeans and an army green T-shirt. They walked into the living room and sat on either side of Kyle on the couch. Luckily, Kyle was watching the hockey game and they were instantly entranced. Mrs. Valenti walked in and shook her head. Men. She stood in front of the TV with her hands on her hips.
"Aw, come on," the twins whined. Kyle stayed silent. He knew the wrath of the ex-Deluca. He was not getting that turned on him.
"Boys, you are here to eat dinner, not watch sports. This is family bonding," she said, turning off the TV. Rath and Michael looked at her as if they didn't recognize the term… which they probably didn't.
"Don't worry, I'm taping it," Maria said. She knew this would happen. It was twice as worse, because now Michael found a new hockey buddy. When Michael heard that Rath had never seen a hockey game he was horrified and immediately started training him on the ins and outs of the game. Now, they had two hockey loving-Metallica fanatics on their hands. They shouldn't have expected any less. Technically, they were the same person.
"Well, come on, dinner is ready," Amy said, ushering the boys to the kitchen. "Jim! Ava! Dinner!"
Jim Valenti walked into the kitchen, cheerfully greeting the guests, while Ava shyly and silently sat at the table. Rath sat next to Ava and Michael sat opposite to Rath. Maria sat next to Michael, Kyle sat next to Maria and the two adults sat at the head and foot of the table.
"So, kids," Amy started, "How's school going?"
"Fine," Michael, Maria and Rath answered at the same time. Kyle rolled his eyes.
"Nothing exciting happen?" Jim asked.
"Not really," Michael and Maria said. Amy looked between them strangely.
"Actually, coach said something interesting yesterday at practice," Kyle said, quick to diverge attention from them.
"Yeah? What's that?" Amy asked.
"Well, two of our players got injured in the last game and will be out for the next two months or so…"
"Oh, that's too bad."
"Yeah, well, he said he had two new recruits in mind," he said, grinning, somewhat evilly. Rath regarded him suspiciously.
"Who's that?" asked Amy, "Anyone I know?"
"Yeah," Kyle paused, getting ready to drop the bomb; "He wants Guerin and O'Connor."
Michael and Rath choked on their lasagna.
"Say what?!" they screeched.
"Welcome to the football team. Coach said to tell you that you start on Monday."
Michael stared at him in shock and utter disbelief. Then he started laughing; he was bordering on hysterical, really.
"You want me to join the football team?" he choked out between chuckles, "I'd like to see you try. Ain't no way I'm joining the football team."
"Actually," the sheriff said, "You are on the football team. You and Rath."
Michael's jaw dropped.
"Wha-wh-how…why?!"
"Because, due to some absences," he said. Maria snorted. "Your credit isn't that good. Your other classes are somewhat balanced, but the fact that you've been to, and I quote: 'I about had a heart attack when he showed up for the second time while pigs were still on the ground'. Let's just say that joining the team is the only way to redeem yourself."
"B-But…the football team?!" he whined, "Can't I do extra detention or something, more Bio homework…clean the damn school with a hairbrush?"
"Sorry son, no can do. Miss class, do the time," he said.
"You know that didn't rhyme right?" Maria commented.
"I get A's and B's, what the hell!"
"You have to actually go to class, son, not just show up and ace tests after skimming through the books the night before."
"Why do I gotta do it? I'm new, I don't got no records," Rath complained.
"Sorry, buddy, you and Michael are considered the same person," Kyle said, double meaning not lost on him, "he does it, you do it. Accept it and move on. Buddha says…"
"Quote that bald guy and I swear I'll kill you," Rath all but growled at him. He turned to Michael. "Thanks a lot, bro, now I gotta be a jock. Can't wait for Faith to hear about this."
*~*
Two streets over, at the Whitman dinner table, the newly adopted Faith Whitman burst into hysterical laughter. Mr. and Mrs. Whitman, and Alex looked at her strangely.
"What's so funny?" Alex asked his new sister quietly.
"R…Rath and Michael…ha ha…football team," was all she could choke out between giggles.
"What? They blew up the football team?"
"No they're on it!"
Alex was stunned until he got a picture of the two in their football uniforms prancing around with cheerleaders in his head. His imagination was way too warped. He started to laugh.
* ~*
In a house on the other side of town, a blonde alien started to crack up in the kitchen while doing the dishes with her brother. He stared at her in confusion. Was she going crazy?
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Mi…Mich…football team!"
"Huh?"
"M-Michael and Rath are on the football team," she choked out. Her face was turning red, she was laughing so much.
"Izzy, I think you're delirious," he said, feeling her forehead.
"No, it's true, Alex just told me. He heard it from Faith, who heard it from Rath," she said, calming down. A mischievous grin spread on her face. "Oh, I am going to have so much fun with this."
*~*
"Great! Faith knows," Rath groaned.
"Damn it! That means Alex knows, which means Izzy knows which means we're screwed," Michael complained.
"Damn it Kyle, I'm not joining the football team!"
"Me neither!"
"Boys! Boys!" Amy yelled, playing mediator, "You can kill Kyle on your own time."
"Mom! Don't give them ideas!" Kyle blurted out. Amy looked at him in shock before engulfing him in a tight hug. She was crying. "What?" Kyle asked, confused.
"You called me mom!" she said, excited.
Kyle glanced at Michael and Rath over her shoulder. They shrugged. How should they know what was up with her. She was a Deluca, you don't ask, your brain stays intact.
"I think this calls for a celebration," Jim Valenti said, touched by the scene of his wife and son, but feeling sorry for the poor confused boy. Kyle hadn't had a mother in ten years. This was new to him. "Let's go get ice cream, kids."
The seven of them finished their dinner and then walked to 'The Milky Way' ice-cream parlor. The boys were still clueless, but, hey! It's free ice cream, who the hell cares! They went up to the counter and ordered their ice cream. Rath got Pistachio, Kyle got chocolate, Ava got orange pine, Amy got caramel and Jim got butter pecan. Michael and Maria got pistachio and mint chocolate chip mixed. Amy looked at her daughter strangely when they sat down.
"Since when do you like Pistachio?" she asked. Maria shrugged and took a big bite. Michael, Rath and Ava drowned their ice cream in tobasco sauce.
"What's with the tobasco?" Amy asked, cringing as her daughter's boyfriend ate a spoonful.
"Tastes good, wanna try?" Rath asked, waving the spoon in front of the woman.
"No thanks," she said in obvious disgust. Kids today. No sense of taste!
"This needs something," Maria said, half to herself. Michael nodded. "Something chocolate."
"M&Ms," Michael said, pulling a pack from his pocket.
"I knew I loved you for something," Maria said as she coated their ice cream in the candy goodness. She tested and approved. Amy watched as her daughter ate the exact same concoction as her boyfriend…well, sans Tobasco sauce. It was strange, but she didn't comment.
After they had finished their dessert, they walked home. The night was calm. The moon was full and a cool breeze blew about their skin as they cut through the park. Michael and Maria were holding hands as were Jim and Amy. Kyle, Ava and Rath walked slightly behind them, feeling kind of left out, though Rath seemed to be having a conversation with Faith through their link. Their link had grown almost as strong as Michael and Maria's. They could communicate telepathically and could feel each other's presence. They weren't talking in unison or sharing powers and personality, though. It was the same for Alex and Isabel as well. Liz figured it was just a prophecy thing since she and Max hadn't experienced it. Kyle could tell that there was some jealousy behind that, though.
Suddenly, a shrill scream pierced through the dark night. Kyle looked up to see a demon standing in front of them. It was huge. About seven feet tall and…sharp looking. He had horns coming out of his ears and teeth the size of Mount Everest. From where Kyle stood, he could tell that his breath smelt like a rotting corpse buried in the sewer. The demon snarled at them. Amy buried her head in Jim's jacket. She was scared stiff, in fact, Jim looked almost as scared as she was, but not scared as much as he was shocked. Oh, yeah. He's never seen one before, Kyle thought.
Immediately, Michael, Maria and Rath dropped into a fighting stance. Kyle looked across to Ava. She looked pale and she was trembling in fear. Kyle pulled her into a comforting hug. Well, one demon couldn't be that bad, Kyle thought. Within seconds, ten more demons surrounded them. Great.
"Can't these demons look anything besides big ugly and stupid?" Maria asked Michael.
"Guess not, baby," he replied.
"Damn, and me without my battle ax, this won't be the same without it," Rath said, sarcastically. Maria looked around at the other demons. There were about fifteen in all. Most of them had weapons. Not good odds. She glanced at Rath. He nodded reassuringly. Faith was on her way. The three of them glared menacingly at the demons, daring them to attack.
"Having a party?" Faith asked as she ran a sword through one of the demons. Green blood oozed from his wound as she shoved him off her sword. He fell down, dead.
"Don't mind if we crash, do you?" Alex asked, beheading another.
"Come on, Whitman, don't hog all the fun," Maria said as she punched one of them in the face. He growled and went to punch her. She ducked and tripped him. She grabbed his leg and twisted it the wrong way until she heard a satisfying crack and a howl of pain. Then, she snapped his neck.
She got up and dusted off her jeans. "Any takers?"
Alex tossed Kyle a set of keys.
"My car is right at the end of the park, get them out of here," he said as he joined the fight. Kyle nodded and dragged the stunned adults and Ava towards the car. They drove off, unharmed.
Alex swung his ax around and beheaded another demon. He blocked a punch from another and kicked him in the face. The demon's tooth broke and he howled in pain, but he kept coming at Alex. Another one snatched his ax from him and broke it in half. He then tripped Alex with a long stick and he landed flat on his back. Alex flipped back up and started punching and kicking with all his might, but the demons were too strong. All of a sudden one of them exploded. He looked past the falling slime to see his girlfriend standing there, smirking.
"Need help?" she asked, pulling out a sword from god knows where. She'd brought reinforcements in the form of Buffy and Spike, which was a good thing since about ten more demons came out of nowhere and started attacking. They must have stumbled onto a nest.
Isabel and Alex worked as a team fighting off the beasts, but somewhere along the line they got separated and Alex was cornered by an especially huge demon. He lost his weapon minutes ago and now had to fight with his bare hands. He tripped the demon and then broke his neck.
"Alex! Look out!" Faith screamed.
He spun around just in time to see a demon lowering a sword to his head. He closed his eyes, awaiting the pain of being beheaded that never came. He cracked one eye open and saw the back of one extremely confused demon standing before him, sword in hand. Quickly, he snatched the sword from him and ran it through his chest. He dropped to the floor.
Alex sighed and looked around. He watched as Michael and Maria killed the last two demons. The park was now littered with dead bodies. He had no idea how they were going to explain this. At least with vampires, they clean up after themselves, but these demons didn't look like they were going anywhere.
Suddenly, he was on the ground, flat on his back while a blonde girl kissed him frantically all over his face.
"Oh, Alex, I almost lost you again!" she cried.
"I'm okay, Izzy, I'm okay," he said, softly, stroking her hair.
She smacked him on the arm. "Don't ever do that to me again."
"I promise."
Alex sat up with Isabel on his lap and looked around at his other friends.
"Did anybody see how I did that?" he asked, " 'Cause that was cool as hell."
"You were going to get your head chopped off and all of a sudden, you disappeared and then reappeared behind that thing," Faith said, amazed.
"New wacky power for Geekman, huh?" Michael joked.
Alex put his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest.
"Never fear, Geekman is here!"
The teens laughed and walked to the Valenti household. They had a lot of explaining to do. Buffy and Spike went back home. They were not needed anymore, nor did they want to face explaining to parents.
**********************************************************
The old warehouse was being used once again. The candles burnt high and the silence was deafening. Lilah stood at the far end of the room as the first of many soldiers walked through the swirling vortex. The war would start soon. Khivar would soon kill the Royal fours, or what was left of them, and their various mates. She looked forward to that day. Maybe then she would be free of that royal pain in the butt.
