12:30 pm
"Holy shit."
"Whoa."
"I have died and gone to heaven."
"Damn!"
"I gotta get me some of that!"
"HARRIS!"
"I'm dead."
Xander walked slowly towards the entrance to the construction site, hanging his head as the men around him continued to stare and mutter surprised, and not infrequently obscene, comments. Somebody on one of the higher levels kicked a bucket of bolts which fell clattering to the ground. Nobody noticed.
Xander got to the front of the site and took a good look.
Buffy was there, dressed in very tight, very shiny black leather pants that rode low on her hips and exposed the top of her thong. She was wearing a backless white shirt that was held together by two knots, one around her neck, and one at the small of her back. It left her midriff bare for all to see. Her shoes were black, and of the strappy variety, with 4-inch heels. She was, obviously, braless.
Faith was also there. She was wearing a black leather mini-skirt that could barely be considered more than a belt. This, combined with her tall black boots with 3-inch heels and a tube top so small that it left almost nothing to the imagination, completed a look that had the construction workers drooling.
And then there was Willow. Willow stood there in a blue and gray plaid skirt that came almost down to her knees, regular style ladies dress shoes, and a button-up white shirt that was tied off about three inches above her belly button, and unbuttoned from the top to just below her bra-line, exposing the black satin bra underneath. Her hair was up in pigtails, and she had a lollipop in her mouth which she was sucking suggestively.
Oz stood behind the girls with a camera and a smile.
As soon as they saw him, all three girls rushed up to Xander and draped themselves over him, playing with his hair and rubbing his chest.
"Steve."
"Mr. Harris. Is this what you said you had nothing to do with?"
"Yeah. This is exactly what I was talking about."
"I see. You didn't know this was going to happen?"
"This specifically? No. I thought something would."
"I see."
"Am I dead?"
"No."
"Fired?"
"Hmm. . . No."
"Do I get a raise?"
"Definitely not."
"Damn. So. . . what do you want me to do?"
Steve sighed and looked at his watch. "Lunch. Come back alone. I'll try to have them calmed down by then."
"Right. Sorry."
Steve grinned at him and shook his head. "Tell me what brand of cologne you wear."
"Just Old Spice deodorant."
Steve nodded. "I'm switching."
Xander walked off with one arm around Buffy, one around Faith, and Willow skipping happily ahead of him.
Raucous applause broke out as all four climbed in the back of Oz's van and drove off.
* * * * *
Inside the van, Xander was banging his head against the paneling.
"I cannot believe you guys did that."
Willow, Buffy and Faith were all grinning.
"And you!" Xander yelled, turning and pointing at Oz. "You're a guy! You're supposed to be on my side! We gotta stick together, man."
Oz stuck his thumb at Willow and shrugged.
Xander's shoulders slumped. "They will never let me live this down."
Buffy jumped in his lap and threw her arms around his neck, putting on her best pouting face.
"I'm sorry, sweetie," she said as she looked at him with big, round puppy dog eyes. "Forgive me?"
Xander rolled his eyes, wrapped his arms around her and gave her a peck on the nose.
"Of course," he said. "But please, for the love of God, don't do that again."
Buffy grinned at him.
"That goes for you two, as well!" Xander said, glaring at Willow and Faith. "Not that I didn't appreciate the attention."
Buffy leveled a disapproving look at him.
"No, see, that didn't come out like how I meant it. What I meant to say was that, well all guys would like the affections of three attractive young women."
Buffy tilted her head to one side, but maintained her scornful look.
"Right, um, see, what I mean is. . ."
"He loves you," Oz said.
"Yes! Yes, that is exactly what I mean."
Buffy grinned. "I love you too, sweetie," she said, giving Xander a quick peck on the cheek before she hopped out of his lap. "So, where to for lunch?"
* * * * *
Xander peeked his head around the fence. Seeing nobody, he moved quickly and quietly to the hardhat rack, grabbed the one marked "Harris" and moved back to where he was working. He picked up his measuring tape and started marking off distances, but his hardhat kept slipping over his eyes. Xander took off his hard hat and set it down next to him, figuring that it was pretty safe to measure lengths without protective head gear.
It was then that he noticed the quiet. Xander looked around and saw nobody. At all. This was odd, because it was 1:45 in the afternoon, and the crew wasn't set to get off before 5:00. Xander heard a sound from above him and looked up. . . just in time to see construction workers on crossbeams four stories high pour bucket after bucket of water on him.
As the guys on the crew broke up laughing, Xander stood there, drenched, with a grim look on his face. He waved up at the crew, saying "Thanks guys. Thank you. Thanks."
Steve poked his head out from above, his face red from laughter, and yelled, "All right guys! Fun's over. Back to work."
Xander stood there with a grimace, nodding as he wiped off his face, and then shook himself and splashed water everywhere, thanking his co-workers as they returned to ground level, all of them grinning.
Steve came up to him. "Back to work, Harris."
Xander nodded. "Yes, sir," he said, flicking one of his sleeves at the older man, spraying him with water. "Thank you very much, sir."
Steve let out a hearty laugh, slapped Xander on the back and walked off to his own work.
* * * * *
"So, what did you two find out last night?" Giles asked.
"Well," said Xander, "we found the factory just fine, but it was pretty dead looking. No guards, no patrols, nobody looking out or anything like that. We couldn't really tell if anybody was there."
"And, how many vampires did Willy say were involved?"
"Thirty, give or take," answered Buffy.
"Right. Well, what say you three take another look at the factory, do a quick sweep, and if nothing shows up, turn in for the night."
Xander and Buffy nodded. Faith looked up from where she was whittling a stake.
"Three?" she asked.
Giles looked at her. "Yes. Why, do you not feel up to going?"
"Nah, I'm ready, Jeeves."
"Oh, Giles, one more thing," said Buffy.
"Yes?"
"We saw some guys last night, dressed in Army camouflage and carrying some odd guns. About five people. Know anything about it?"
"No, I've not heard of anything like that. Perhaps another visit to Willy, soon?
"Sounds like fun."
"Good. Then be careful. I shall see you later."
"Told you it would be today at the latest, Faith," Xander said.
"And the latest it is," she replied. "Well, stop sitting around, let's go kick some undead ass!"
Buffy and Xander laughed at the Dark Slayer's enthusiasm and followed her out the door.
* * * * *
"Where's all the undead ass?" Faith asked on their second time through the graveyards.
"It's not around so much, anymore," said Buffy. "Went away for the summer and never came back."
Xander had gone home after the first sweep, since he was the only person in the group who had to get up early the next day. Buffy assured him she would be joining him later.
"So, you and X shackin' up, or what?"
Buffy laughed at the bluntness of the question. "Define 'shackin' up'," Buffy said.
"You know, are you two gettin' horizontal?"
"Well, we sleep together, and technically that is horizontal, but to answer your question, no. Why?"
"Just wondering how long till you get to his goods."
"And you have something to say about his goods?"
"B, I ain't tryin' to say I want him or nothing, cuz you two got somethin' special. But X-man. . . well, he'll take care of your needs."
Buffy smiled at her, then frowned.
"Uh. . . why with the sad all of a sudden?"
"Well, last night. . ."
"Last night what, B?"
"I wanted to. . . you know, with him."
"Something go wrong?"
"I don't know. I don't think so. I mean, he said he wanted to, and. . . you know, with me. But he said it wouldn't be right."
"Well, I'm sure he had a good reason. Xander's not the type to make shit up."
Buffy looked at her.
"What? I can use people's names when I want to. Buffy."
"Whatever you say. . . F."
* * * * *
"So what should I do, Will?" Xander asked his best friend at lunch the next day. Buffy had a test to study for, so couldn't join them.
"I don't know, Xan," Willow said. "I mean, you love Buffy. Everybody knows that. Once the thing about soul mates came out, it just seemed to fit you guys. I can't imagine you and Faith ever being as happy as you and Buffy. And I'm not just saying that because I don't like Faith, I really mean it."
"You see? Me too. But I can't help but think 'what if,' you know?"
"I do know. I mean she's a. . . well, she's nice enough, I suppose, once you get past that whole 'she tried to kill us lots' thing, which I really am trying to do because I see that she's trying to be better and I know she can be good and I know she's a good fighter and I realize that we need her for back up even if it has been really quiet these past few weeks even though that really isn't the point because the forces of darkness always need to be pushed back but I really don't think that she can make you happy, Xander."
Xander checked his watch. "Impressive length on that one."
"I've been practicing."
"It shows. Anyway, I agree with you. So I've just been going by the notion of, 'Xander love Buffy. Xander and Buffy together. Xander happy.' But. . ."
"But there's a part of you that says you need to know.
Xander nodded. "And it keeps getting louder and more insistent. I don't know how long I can take it, Will. I just need to be sure."
"Well, I guess you've gotta have. . . er, you have to trust that it will all work out for the best."
"I guess. Kinda sucks, though."
"It really does."
* * * * *
"Hey, Faith."
"Boytoy. How's building stuff?"
"It's good work, not horrible pay, and can keep me interested, so not bad."
"Killer."
"Buffy not around?"
"Nope. She and Red had some stuff to do at the dorm, said they'd show around six."
"Cool. Hey, I need to tell you something."
"Go for it."
"Well. . . I wanted to apologize to you. . . for the way we all used to treat you."
"Whoa, whoa. You're apologizing to me? Somehow that doesn't mesh with my worldview of this whole 'repenting for my sins' deal."
"Yeah, I know, but look. We treated you like crap. I mean, you showed up, and instead of treating you like a person, we kind of. . . tried to make you into a new Buffy, which you are definitely not."
Faith's eyes dropped.
"That's not a bad thing, Faith. I love Buffy, but if everybody in the world were like her it would be a pretty boring place. Or maybe I'd have a lot of girlfriends. . .hmm. . .."
Faith rolled her eyes.
"Anyway," Xander continued, "the point is, you're your own person, and we treated you like you were a stand-in for her, which you aren't. You're a Slayer, which means you're a champion, and not a stand-in for anybody. You've got your own destiny and stuff. It was unfair to you, and I'm sorry."
Faith smiled. "Well thanks, X. And I'm sorry I tried to choke the life out of you when you came to reach out to me. It was shitty of me."
Xander laughed. "Yeah, it was, but I forgive you."
He held out his hand to her. "Friends?"
Faith rolled her eyes and smacked his hand away. "Yeah, whatever."
"Great," Xander said. "All that being said, I have a favor to ask that might sound contradictory to everything I just said, but it really isn't intended as such."
"What is it?"
"Can you take over patrolling tomorrow night? It's my one week anniversary with Buffy and I want to take her out somewhere special."
"A week!? A fucking week? You're shitting me on many different levels here, aren't you?"
"Um. . . what?"
"Oh come on, X! There's no way even you are cheesy enough to do the one- week anniversary."
"You'd be surprised at the levels of cheesiness I can attain."
"Not only that, but no chance in Hell do I believe you guys just got together a week ago. You guys are way too lovey-dovey for that. Makes me sick."
"Well, believe it Faith. We're that much in love," Xander said, grinning.
"Christ, X. You already follow her around like she's a Goddess or something, and you know you're her White Knight. Why don't you just dedicate a religion to your perfect little princess and name yourself her frikking Paladin!?"
Xander froze. "What did you just say?"
Faith looked at his face and frowned. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean. . ."
"No, Faith, I don't care about that. What did you just say?"
"Um. . . you should dedicate a religion to her and name yourself her Paladin?"
Xander grinned, leapt out of his seat, grabbed Faith by the shoulders and kissed her full on the mouth. "HA!" he yelled. "I knew it! Faith, you're fantastic! You're great, I love you!"
"Jesus, X, you don't have to go psycho. I'll take the fucking patrols. Have your little night off."
Xander wasn't listening. "Giles!" he yelled. "Giles, where are you?"
Giles poked his head out from the top of the stairs. "Xander?" he asked. "Is something wrong?"
"No!" he yelled "Everything is great! Faith called me a Paladin! I have to find Buffy!"
Xander ran to the door and tried to open it. It wouldn't move. Then he turned the knob and pulled, instead of pushing. "Ha ha!" he yelled, turning to look at Faith. "It opens inward!" Xander ran off, slamming the door behind him. Giles walked down the stairs with an amused look on his face.
"Jeeves, what the hell was that all about?"
Giles looked over at Faith, smiled at her and said, "You just reassured him of something that, really, he already knew. Here, let me show you this book. . ."
-----------
End Chapter 19
"Holy shit."
"Whoa."
"I have died and gone to heaven."
"Damn!"
"I gotta get me some of that!"
"HARRIS!"
"I'm dead."
Xander walked slowly towards the entrance to the construction site, hanging his head as the men around him continued to stare and mutter surprised, and not infrequently obscene, comments. Somebody on one of the higher levels kicked a bucket of bolts which fell clattering to the ground. Nobody noticed.
Xander got to the front of the site and took a good look.
Buffy was there, dressed in very tight, very shiny black leather pants that rode low on her hips and exposed the top of her thong. She was wearing a backless white shirt that was held together by two knots, one around her neck, and one at the small of her back. It left her midriff bare for all to see. Her shoes were black, and of the strappy variety, with 4-inch heels. She was, obviously, braless.
Faith was also there. She was wearing a black leather mini-skirt that could barely be considered more than a belt. This, combined with her tall black boots with 3-inch heels and a tube top so small that it left almost nothing to the imagination, completed a look that had the construction workers drooling.
And then there was Willow. Willow stood there in a blue and gray plaid skirt that came almost down to her knees, regular style ladies dress shoes, and a button-up white shirt that was tied off about three inches above her belly button, and unbuttoned from the top to just below her bra-line, exposing the black satin bra underneath. Her hair was up in pigtails, and she had a lollipop in her mouth which she was sucking suggestively.
Oz stood behind the girls with a camera and a smile.
As soon as they saw him, all three girls rushed up to Xander and draped themselves over him, playing with his hair and rubbing his chest.
"Steve."
"Mr. Harris. Is this what you said you had nothing to do with?"
"Yeah. This is exactly what I was talking about."
"I see. You didn't know this was going to happen?"
"This specifically? No. I thought something would."
"I see."
"Am I dead?"
"No."
"Fired?"
"Hmm. . . No."
"Do I get a raise?"
"Definitely not."
"Damn. So. . . what do you want me to do?"
Steve sighed and looked at his watch. "Lunch. Come back alone. I'll try to have them calmed down by then."
"Right. Sorry."
Steve grinned at him and shook his head. "Tell me what brand of cologne you wear."
"Just Old Spice deodorant."
Steve nodded. "I'm switching."
Xander walked off with one arm around Buffy, one around Faith, and Willow skipping happily ahead of him.
Raucous applause broke out as all four climbed in the back of Oz's van and drove off.
* * * * *
Inside the van, Xander was banging his head against the paneling.
"I cannot believe you guys did that."
Willow, Buffy and Faith were all grinning.
"And you!" Xander yelled, turning and pointing at Oz. "You're a guy! You're supposed to be on my side! We gotta stick together, man."
Oz stuck his thumb at Willow and shrugged.
Xander's shoulders slumped. "They will never let me live this down."
Buffy jumped in his lap and threw her arms around his neck, putting on her best pouting face.
"I'm sorry, sweetie," she said as she looked at him with big, round puppy dog eyes. "Forgive me?"
Xander rolled his eyes, wrapped his arms around her and gave her a peck on the nose.
"Of course," he said. "But please, for the love of God, don't do that again."
Buffy grinned at him.
"That goes for you two, as well!" Xander said, glaring at Willow and Faith. "Not that I didn't appreciate the attention."
Buffy leveled a disapproving look at him.
"No, see, that didn't come out like how I meant it. What I meant to say was that, well all guys would like the affections of three attractive young women."
Buffy tilted her head to one side, but maintained her scornful look.
"Right, um, see, what I mean is. . ."
"He loves you," Oz said.
"Yes! Yes, that is exactly what I mean."
Buffy grinned. "I love you too, sweetie," she said, giving Xander a quick peck on the cheek before she hopped out of his lap. "So, where to for lunch?"
* * * * *
Xander peeked his head around the fence. Seeing nobody, he moved quickly and quietly to the hardhat rack, grabbed the one marked "Harris" and moved back to where he was working. He picked up his measuring tape and started marking off distances, but his hardhat kept slipping over his eyes. Xander took off his hard hat and set it down next to him, figuring that it was pretty safe to measure lengths without protective head gear.
It was then that he noticed the quiet. Xander looked around and saw nobody. At all. This was odd, because it was 1:45 in the afternoon, and the crew wasn't set to get off before 5:00. Xander heard a sound from above him and looked up. . . just in time to see construction workers on crossbeams four stories high pour bucket after bucket of water on him.
As the guys on the crew broke up laughing, Xander stood there, drenched, with a grim look on his face. He waved up at the crew, saying "Thanks guys. Thank you. Thanks."
Steve poked his head out from above, his face red from laughter, and yelled, "All right guys! Fun's over. Back to work."
Xander stood there with a grimace, nodding as he wiped off his face, and then shook himself and splashed water everywhere, thanking his co-workers as they returned to ground level, all of them grinning.
Steve came up to him. "Back to work, Harris."
Xander nodded. "Yes, sir," he said, flicking one of his sleeves at the older man, spraying him with water. "Thank you very much, sir."
Steve let out a hearty laugh, slapped Xander on the back and walked off to his own work.
* * * * *
"So, what did you two find out last night?" Giles asked.
"Well," said Xander, "we found the factory just fine, but it was pretty dead looking. No guards, no patrols, nobody looking out or anything like that. We couldn't really tell if anybody was there."
"And, how many vampires did Willy say were involved?"
"Thirty, give or take," answered Buffy.
"Right. Well, what say you three take another look at the factory, do a quick sweep, and if nothing shows up, turn in for the night."
Xander and Buffy nodded. Faith looked up from where she was whittling a stake.
"Three?" she asked.
Giles looked at her. "Yes. Why, do you not feel up to going?"
"Nah, I'm ready, Jeeves."
"Oh, Giles, one more thing," said Buffy.
"Yes?"
"We saw some guys last night, dressed in Army camouflage and carrying some odd guns. About five people. Know anything about it?"
"No, I've not heard of anything like that. Perhaps another visit to Willy, soon?
"Sounds like fun."
"Good. Then be careful. I shall see you later."
"Told you it would be today at the latest, Faith," Xander said.
"And the latest it is," she replied. "Well, stop sitting around, let's go kick some undead ass!"
Buffy and Xander laughed at the Dark Slayer's enthusiasm and followed her out the door.
* * * * *
"Where's all the undead ass?" Faith asked on their second time through the graveyards.
"It's not around so much, anymore," said Buffy. "Went away for the summer and never came back."
Xander had gone home after the first sweep, since he was the only person in the group who had to get up early the next day. Buffy assured him she would be joining him later.
"So, you and X shackin' up, or what?"
Buffy laughed at the bluntness of the question. "Define 'shackin' up'," Buffy said.
"You know, are you two gettin' horizontal?"
"Well, we sleep together, and technically that is horizontal, but to answer your question, no. Why?"
"Just wondering how long till you get to his goods."
"And you have something to say about his goods?"
"B, I ain't tryin' to say I want him or nothing, cuz you two got somethin' special. But X-man. . . well, he'll take care of your needs."
Buffy smiled at her, then frowned.
"Uh. . . why with the sad all of a sudden?"
"Well, last night. . ."
"Last night what, B?"
"I wanted to. . . you know, with him."
"Something go wrong?"
"I don't know. I don't think so. I mean, he said he wanted to, and. . . you know, with me. But he said it wouldn't be right."
"Well, I'm sure he had a good reason. Xander's not the type to make shit up."
Buffy looked at her.
"What? I can use people's names when I want to. Buffy."
"Whatever you say. . . F."
* * * * *
"So what should I do, Will?" Xander asked his best friend at lunch the next day. Buffy had a test to study for, so couldn't join them.
"I don't know, Xan," Willow said. "I mean, you love Buffy. Everybody knows that. Once the thing about soul mates came out, it just seemed to fit you guys. I can't imagine you and Faith ever being as happy as you and Buffy. And I'm not just saying that because I don't like Faith, I really mean it."
"You see? Me too. But I can't help but think 'what if,' you know?"
"I do know. I mean she's a. . . well, she's nice enough, I suppose, once you get past that whole 'she tried to kill us lots' thing, which I really am trying to do because I see that she's trying to be better and I know she can be good and I know she's a good fighter and I realize that we need her for back up even if it has been really quiet these past few weeks even though that really isn't the point because the forces of darkness always need to be pushed back but I really don't think that she can make you happy, Xander."
Xander checked his watch. "Impressive length on that one."
"I've been practicing."
"It shows. Anyway, I agree with you. So I've just been going by the notion of, 'Xander love Buffy. Xander and Buffy together. Xander happy.' But. . ."
"But there's a part of you that says you need to know.
Xander nodded. "And it keeps getting louder and more insistent. I don't know how long I can take it, Will. I just need to be sure."
"Well, I guess you've gotta have. . . er, you have to trust that it will all work out for the best."
"I guess. Kinda sucks, though."
"It really does."
* * * * *
"Hey, Faith."
"Boytoy. How's building stuff?"
"It's good work, not horrible pay, and can keep me interested, so not bad."
"Killer."
"Buffy not around?"
"Nope. She and Red had some stuff to do at the dorm, said they'd show around six."
"Cool. Hey, I need to tell you something."
"Go for it."
"Well. . . I wanted to apologize to you. . . for the way we all used to treat you."
"Whoa, whoa. You're apologizing to me? Somehow that doesn't mesh with my worldview of this whole 'repenting for my sins' deal."
"Yeah, I know, but look. We treated you like crap. I mean, you showed up, and instead of treating you like a person, we kind of. . . tried to make you into a new Buffy, which you are definitely not."
Faith's eyes dropped.
"That's not a bad thing, Faith. I love Buffy, but if everybody in the world were like her it would be a pretty boring place. Or maybe I'd have a lot of girlfriends. . .hmm. . .."
Faith rolled her eyes.
"Anyway," Xander continued, "the point is, you're your own person, and we treated you like you were a stand-in for her, which you aren't. You're a Slayer, which means you're a champion, and not a stand-in for anybody. You've got your own destiny and stuff. It was unfair to you, and I'm sorry."
Faith smiled. "Well thanks, X. And I'm sorry I tried to choke the life out of you when you came to reach out to me. It was shitty of me."
Xander laughed. "Yeah, it was, but I forgive you."
He held out his hand to her. "Friends?"
Faith rolled her eyes and smacked his hand away. "Yeah, whatever."
"Great," Xander said. "All that being said, I have a favor to ask that might sound contradictory to everything I just said, but it really isn't intended as such."
"What is it?"
"Can you take over patrolling tomorrow night? It's my one week anniversary with Buffy and I want to take her out somewhere special."
"A week!? A fucking week? You're shitting me on many different levels here, aren't you?"
"Um. . . what?"
"Oh come on, X! There's no way even you are cheesy enough to do the one- week anniversary."
"You'd be surprised at the levels of cheesiness I can attain."
"Not only that, but no chance in Hell do I believe you guys just got together a week ago. You guys are way too lovey-dovey for that. Makes me sick."
"Well, believe it Faith. We're that much in love," Xander said, grinning.
"Christ, X. You already follow her around like she's a Goddess or something, and you know you're her White Knight. Why don't you just dedicate a religion to your perfect little princess and name yourself her frikking Paladin!?"
Xander froze. "What did you just say?"
Faith looked at his face and frowned. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean. . ."
"No, Faith, I don't care about that. What did you just say?"
"Um. . . you should dedicate a religion to her and name yourself her Paladin?"
Xander grinned, leapt out of his seat, grabbed Faith by the shoulders and kissed her full on the mouth. "HA!" he yelled. "I knew it! Faith, you're fantastic! You're great, I love you!"
"Jesus, X, you don't have to go psycho. I'll take the fucking patrols. Have your little night off."
Xander wasn't listening. "Giles!" he yelled. "Giles, where are you?"
Giles poked his head out from the top of the stairs. "Xander?" he asked. "Is something wrong?"
"No!" he yelled "Everything is great! Faith called me a Paladin! I have to find Buffy!"
Xander ran to the door and tried to open it. It wouldn't move. Then he turned the knob and pulled, instead of pushing. "Ha ha!" he yelled, turning to look at Faith. "It opens inward!" Xander ran off, slamming the door behind him. Giles walked down the stairs with an amused look on his face.
"Jeeves, what the hell was that all about?"
Giles looked over at Faith, smiled at her and said, "You just reassured him of something that, really, he already knew. Here, let me show you this book. . ."
-----------
End Chapter 19
