Starting Over 13 - A Glorious Homecoming
"You're quiet hon."
Xander glanced into the back seat at his girlfriend, sat beside Spike. How could he explain the maelstrom of emotions assaulting him? The last time he returned he'd been so scared and angry at what Finn had done to Faith he'd barely given the past a second thought. But now. He glanced at his girlfriend's worried face again and realised he probably didn't have to explain his feelings, she almost certainly felt much the same. "Just scared is all."
"We could always turn back man."
Xander smiled gratefully at his bud. "No Gunn. Much as I'd like to, people need our help. Worlds to save."
"Usual shit then."
He laughed at his friend's comment. "Yeah. I can't let anything happen to Dawn."
"Oh yeah," Faith's voice broke in, a note of humour bubbling through the nervousness. "Wonder if she's still got that crush on you."
Xander chuckled. "I'm sure she still has. After all I'm irresistible."
"Bloody Summers women have lousy taste," Spike groused, "first the Slayer falls for the galloping poofter, then Nibblet falls for the whelp."
"Spike what have I told you about calling Dawn that?"
"How about Cell."
"Faith?"
"Ow!" Spike let out a yelp as Faith slapped the back of his head. "That's right pick on the defenceless vampire!"
"Works for me," replied his girlfriend.
"So," Gunn broke into the bickering, "do I smell some scandal?"
"Oh you have no idea. See, Dawn's B's fourteen year old sister. She'd had a jones for Xand since forever. Man, the looks she used to send him. Talk about X-Rated! I remember this one -."
To save himself from further embarrassment, Xander tuned out of the conversation. Instead he consumed him thoughts about what was awaiting upon his return. Distinctly unhappy ones.
* * *
"You ready for this boytoy?"
Xander turned from his inspection of the Summers house to his girlfriend. Angel's car was already there, so everybody was waiting for their grand entrance. Another comforting thought. "No, but let's get it over with."
They were half-way up the driveway when the door flew open and a small figure charged out of the house and into Xander. For the first time since hearing Buffy's phone call, Xander felt truly happy. A grin on his face, he lifted the girl up and whirled her round before putting her down on the ground. "Hi Dawn Patrol, miss me?"
"You bet!" Dawn stared suspiciously at Spike. "Is he still neutered?"
"We prefer the term impotent but yeah." Xander grinned at the scowling vampire.
"Good." Xander's eyes widened as Dawn turned and launched a kick at Spike's shin that the vampire wasn't quick enough to dodge. "That's for kidnapping me two years ago!"
Xander and Faith dissolved in laughter as the limping vampire disappeared into the house, muttering curses about little brats to a highly unsympathetic Gunn. Their laughter died as Dawn turned her gaze from Spike's retreating back to Faith. "You still psycho?" she demanded.
Faith looked nervously at him. "Uh, no," she finally replied.
"Good." Dawn threw her arms around his girl-friend and began hugging her. After a second, Faith returned the hug, a look of delight on her face. "Missed you Faith."
"Ditto, pip."
Xander smiled at the scene before him. Consumed with his own dreads of his return to Sunnydale he'd forgotten how close Faith had been to Dawn before her descent into darkness. The younger girl had idolised Faith as an older and wilder sister and in turn, Faith had revelled in the role. His smile died as he noticed the figure watching them from the doorway. "Let's go in."
* * *
Buffy let her sister and fellow Slayer into the house before stopping Xander with a hand on his chest. "Thanks for coming Xander." The look her former friend gave her cut her heart in two. "Just remember I'm here for my friends and not for you. My only concern is making sure none of them get hurt and that nothing happens to Dawn."
The Slayer fought back tears as Xander brushed past her and walked into the lounge. She'd thought things had mended a little after their meeting in L.A. and Giles' return, but obviously not. Forcing her pain down, she followed him into the crowded lounge and started talking. "Giles, you take Wes, Cordy, Will, Tara, and Amy around to your place and research Glory. Angel, you and Spike go to Willy's and see if you can find out anything about Glory's plans. Faith, you and me are patrolling."
"Like hell."
Buffy turned to Xander, her never-long temper close to snapping, she accepted she'd hurt him in the past but that didn't give him the right to question her every move. "Why not?" she asked through gritted teeth.
"Because there's no way I'm risking my girlfriend getting a stake in the back."
Xander's coldly-delivered answer rocked her back on her heels. Did he think so little of her? "How dare you?" she snapped.
"It's for your own good."
"And how do you work that out?" she demanded.
Buffy paled as Xander raised his shotgun, pointing its gaping muzzle at her. "Because if you come back without her I won't wait to hear what happened. I'd just blow your head off. Angel and Spike I trust, you I don't."
Buffy scowled. Nobody threatened her in her own home. She turned at a touch on the arm to see Angel next to her, his face taut with tension. "Both of you calm down. We're on the same side," he ordered. "Buff, you and I will go to Willy's. Faith and Spike can patrol."
"Fine," she turned back to Xander. "This isn't over."
Xander smiled coldly. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
* * *
"How dare he!"
Angel winced as yet another tombstone cracked under a single punch from his ex. Somehow he guessed Willy wasn't going to enjoy their visit at all. "Calm down."
"Calm down!" Angel winced, vampire ears weren't built to take sound at that pitch. "After what he did in my own home? He's lucky I didn't take five seconds to kick his ass."
"I would take a hell of a lot longer than that."
Buffy snorted. "Don't make me laugh, he's just -."
Angel felt rage overwhelm him. Grabbing the Slayer's arm he spun her round to face him. "There you go again demeaning him. Have you any idea how much you hurt him?"
"No," Buffy shouted, her eyes flashing angrily. "Why don't you tell me Mr. Xander Expert?"
He took an uneeded breath. Maybe if he was really lucky she'd just stake him. No, still here. "His mother and father weren't interested in him, never missed an opportunity to tell him what a worthless piece of shit he was," Angel paused, unwilling to recount such painful memories. "Once, and Xander himself doesn't know this, when I was Angelus, the night after you were released from hospital, I went round to Xander's house to get him for saving you. Instead," his voice shook with the memory. "I watched as his own father beat him into unconsciousness while Xander just took it. In the end I just left him, figuring that he'd suffer more if I left him where he was."
"No," he barely heard Buffy's shocked whisper as he recalled that night. The drunk's look of sadistic glee as he beat Xander, his friend's look of pained acceptance, and his inner demon's rejoicing.
"He never had the usual parents. The sort a child grows up idolising. He was directionless, Willow and Jesse his only anchors. Then this beautiful warrior for good arrives in town. As well as falling for her in a big way he also hero-worships her. He saves her life, risks his own for her, because his doesn't matter anyway. Yet despite all he does, none of it matters to the girl, she still treats him like a no-body. Doesn't give him the respect he craves."
"That's so not true," Buffy protested weakly.
"Then this kindred spirit arrives in town. Another beautiful warrior for good, but with a similar and even worse background to the boy. The girl tries to fit in but the others don't let her into her gang, no respect for this kid either. The girl goes off the rails but the boy knows the pain she feels and decides to stand by her, even when his friends order him not to. Boy leaves town with girl to work for a devastatingly handsome champion for good."
"You finished?" Buffy's tone was dismissive but her complexion had paled considerably. At least some of what he'd said had hit home, maybe some of the wounds could begin to heal. "Cause Willy is waiting."
* * *
"It's pretty bad between you and Buff?"
Xander stared at Dawn's pale face. For once he was unable to decide what to say. The teen hadn't spoken since his confrontation with her sister. He really wished she hadn't had to see that but Faith was his priority. "Pretty bad, yeah."
"W..will you ever come home?" she asked hopefully.
"My home's in L.A. with Faith now," he replied.
"B..but can I come visit?"
He ruffled Dawn's hair before hugging her. "If big sis gives you the okay, sure." He kissed her on the head. "Weekends, holidays. Heck, I might sue for joint custody."
"So kiddo I'm sure you've got plenty of stories about Xander that you'd just love to share with his new friends."
Xander grinned his thanks at Gunn for the diversion. As the others talked he looked round the lounge, it was much the same as it had been the last time he'd been there. His smile faded as he noticed the family photographs on the mantelpiece. He'd wanted to come back for Joyce's funeral six weeks ago but she didn't deserve her memory to be tainted by a scene. In the end he'd sent a wreath that read 'To the only real mom I ever had'.
Unable to cope with the memories he glanced out of the windows and tensed. "Gunn, get Dawn and go to the basement."
"What's up man?" already his friend was moving.
"Glory's minions outside."
"Shit, you coming with us?"
"Nope," Xander grinned as he lifted his shotgun. "Got some excess aggression to work off. Haven't single-handedly saved the world in what, oh 48 hours. Don't unlock the door for anyone who isn't witty and handsome."
"Just Angel then?" Gunn nodded. "Good luck man."
* * *
Xander didn't have to wait long for the attack. The demons came crashing through the window. He met them with blast of consecrated ammo from his shotgun as he crouched behind the hastily over-turned sofa, taking three down in quick succession, his shots tearing their unfortunate recipients in two. The fourth got close enough to grab at the shotgun but Xander drove its barrel into its face before blowing its head off.
Dropping the shotgun he drew his pistol and began firing at the remaining demons. He took out another three before one, braver or dumber than the others, launched himself over the sofa and onto Xander. Cursing, he drove the butt of his empty automatic into the beast's forehead. The creature's eyes glazed over but it continued its attack, its scaly hands choking the life out of him even as its fangs got ever nearer to his throat. In desperation he drew his combat dagger and thrust it repeatedly into its chest. Eventually the beast crumpled to the rapidly bloodying carpet.
Xander rose slowly, his lungs greedily taking in air, combat knife in one hand and double-bladed axe in the other. To his surprise the expected demons had left, leaving behind a pretty blonde woman perhaps five years his senior dressed in a fashionable black dress. "You killed my minions."
"I try." Xander blinked, this was Glory? She wasn't quite what he expected. "After all they were trying to kill me."
The goddess stamped her foot. "I want the key!"
"As big bads go you ain't shit." Xander advanced warily on the hellgod. "The Master, Angelus, Spike, the Judge, and the Mayor all way scarier." He launched a two-pronged attack, thrusting upwards with his combat knife at her stomach and swinging at her neck with his axe.
"Of course I could be wrong," muttered Xander as the goddess effortlessly grabbed both of his wrists stopping his inches from the target. Thinking quickly, the young man stepped forward and slammed his forehead into the goddess' face, only for his legs to buckle with the pain that resulted from his action. A second later and his hands were twisted violently, snapping his wrists like twigs, causing his weapons to drop to the carpet.
"Where's my key?"
He was helpless to prevent the shrieking goddess lifting him by the front of his shirt and slamming him into the wall above the mantelpiece, sending framed photographs flying. "I hear the Bahamas is good this time of the year," he gasped, ignoring the pain roaring through his body. "Maybe she took a jet?"
The goddess let out a scream of fury before throwing him headfirst at the patio windows. "Oh boy," Xander muttered, "this is going to hurt." The glass shattered with a mighty crash, a dozen or so shards slicing into his body. Such was the power of the goddess' throw he didn't come to a landing until he nearly the top of the garden.
Xander moaned in agony, his entire body felt on fire. He was fairly sure he had several cracked ribs, his vision was blurred, never a good sigh, and his body was covered in cuts. He wanted nothing more than to just lie on the damp lawn, to never move again, but - he knew he couldn't. Screaming with the pain he forced himself to his knees and pulled out his back-up gun, a Walther PPK, out of the back of his trousers and aimed at the advancing goddess.
"Things just keep getting better and better," he slurred as he watched through half-swollen shut eyes as the bullets bounced off the goddess.
Laughing the goddess grabbed him by his throat and lifted him off the ground. "Where's my key, monkey?"
For once in his life Xander hadn't got the energy for a witty reply. Instead he spat in the blonde's face. "Eat shit." And then his world went black.
"You're quiet hon."
Xander glanced into the back seat at his girlfriend, sat beside Spike. How could he explain the maelstrom of emotions assaulting him? The last time he returned he'd been so scared and angry at what Finn had done to Faith he'd barely given the past a second thought. But now. He glanced at his girlfriend's worried face again and realised he probably didn't have to explain his feelings, she almost certainly felt much the same. "Just scared is all."
"We could always turn back man."
Xander smiled gratefully at his bud. "No Gunn. Much as I'd like to, people need our help. Worlds to save."
"Usual shit then."
He laughed at his friend's comment. "Yeah. I can't let anything happen to Dawn."
"Oh yeah," Faith's voice broke in, a note of humour bubbling through the nervousness. "Wonder if she's still got that crush on you."
Xander chuckled. "I'm sure she still has. After all I'm irresistible."
"Bloody Summers women have lousy taste," Spike groused, "first the Slayer falls for the galloping poofter, then Nibblet falls for the whelp."
"Spike what have I told you about calling Dawn that?"
"How about Cell."
"Faith?"
"Ow!" Spike let out a yelp as Faith slapped the back of his head. "That's right pick on the defenceless vampire!"
"Works for me," replied his girlfriend.
"So," Gunn broke into the bickering, "do I smell some scandal?"
"Oh you have no idea. See, Dawn's B's fourteen year old sister. She'd had a jones for Xand since forever. Man, the looks she used to send him. Talk about X-Rated! I remember this one -."
To save himself from further embarrassment, Xander tuned out of the conversation. Instead he consumed him thoughts about what was awaiting upon his return. Distinctly unhappy ones.
* * *
"You ready for this boytoy?"
Xander turned from his inspection of the Summers house to his girlfriend. Angel's car was already there, so everybody was waiting for their grand entrance. Another comforting thought. "No, but let's get it over with."
They were half-way up the driveway when the door flew open and a small figure charged out of the house and into Xander. For the first time since hearing Buffy's phone call, Xander felt truly happy. A grin on his face, he lifted the girl up and whirled her round before putting her down on the ground. "Hi Dawn Patrol, miss me?"
"You bet!" Dawn stared suspiciously at Spike. "Is he still neutered?"
"We prefer the term impotent but yeah." Xander grinned at the scowling vampire.
"Good." Xander's eyes widened as Dawn turned and launched a kick at Spike's shin that the vampire wasn't quick enough to dodge. "That's for kidnapping me two years ago!"
Xander and Faith dissolved in laughter as the limping vampire disappeared into the house, muttering curses about little brats to a highly unsympathetic Gunn. Their laughter died as Dawn turned her gaze from Spike's retreating back to Faith. "You still psycho?" she demanded.
Faith looked nervously at him. "Uh, no," she finally replied.
"Good." Dawn threw her arms around his girl-friend and began hugging her. After a second, Faith returned the hug, a look of delight on her face. "Missed you Faith."
"Ditto, pip."
Xander smiled at the scene before him. Consumed with his own dreads of his return to Sunnydale he'd forgotten how close Faith had been to Dawn before her descent into darkness. The younger girl had idolised Faith as an older and wilder sister and in turn, Faith had revelled in the role. His smile died as he noticed the figure watching them from the doorway. "Let's go in."
* * *
Buffy let her sister and fellow Slayer into the house before stopping Xander with a hand on his chest. "Thanks for coming Xander." The look her former friend gave her cut her heart in two. "Just remember I'm here for my friends and not for you. My only concern is making sure none of them get hurt and that nothing happens to Dawn."
The Slayer fought back tears as Xander brushed past her and walked into the lounge. She'd thought things had mended a little after their meeting in L.A. and Giles' return, but obviously not. Forcing her pain down, she followed him into the crowded lounge and started talking. "Giles, you take Wes, Cordy, Will, Tara, and Amy around to your place and research Glory. Angel, you and Spike go to Willy's and see if you can find out anything about Glory's plans. Faith, you and me are patrolling."
"Like hell."
Buffy turned to Xander, her never-long temper close to snapping, she accepted she'd hurt him in the past but that didn't give him the right to question her every move. "Why not?" she asked through gritted teeth.
"Because there's no way I'm risking my girlfriend getting a stake in the back."
Xander's coldly-delivered answer rocked her back on her heels. Did he think so little of her? "How dare you?" she snapped.
"It's for your own good."
"And how do you work that out?" she demanded.
Buffy paled as Xander raised his shotgun, pointing its gaping muzzle at her. "Because if you come back without her I won't wait to hear what happened. I'd just blow your head off. Angel and Spike I trust, you I don't."
Buffy scowled. Nobody threatened her in her own home. She turned at a touch on the arm to see Angel next to her, his face taut with tension. "Both of you calm down. We're on the same side," he ordered. "Buff, you and I will go to Willy's. Faith and Spike can patrol."
"Fine," she turned back to Xander. "This isn't over."
Xander smiled coldly. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
* * *
"How dare he!"
Angel winced as yet another tombstone cracked under a single punch from his ex. Somehow he guessed Willy wasn't going to enjoy their visit at all. "Calm down."
"Calm down!" Angel winced, vampire ears weren't built to take sound at that pitch. "After what he did in my own home? He's lucky I didn't take five seconds to kick his ass."
"I would take a hell of a lot longer than that."
Buffy snorted. "Don't make me laugh, he's just -."
Angel felt rage overwhelm him. Grabbing the Slayer's arm he spun her round to face him. "There you go again demeaning him. Have you any idea how much you hurt him?"
"No," Buffy shouted, her eyes flashing angrily. "Why don't you tell me Mr. Xander Expert?"
He took an uneeded breath. Maybe if he was really lucky she'd just stake him. No, still here. "His mother and father weren't interested in him, never missed an opportunity to tell him what a worthless piece of shit he was," Angel paused, unwilling to recount such painful memories. "Once, and Xander himself doesn't know this, when I was Angelus, the night after you were released from hospital, I went round to Xander's house to get him for saving you. Instead," his voice shook with the memory. "I watched as his own father beat him into unconsciousness while Xander just took it. In the end I just left him, figuring that he'd suffer more if I left him where he was."
"No," he barely heard Buffy's shocked whisper as he recalled that night. The drunk's look of sadistic glee as he beat Xander, his friend's look of pained acceptance, and his inner demon's rejoicing.
"He never had the usual parents. The sort a child grows up idolising. He was directionless, Willow and Jesse his only anchors. Then this beautiful warrior for good arrives in town. As well as falling for her in a big way he also hero-worships her. He saves her life, risks his own for her, because his doesn't matter anyway. Yet despite all he does, none of it matters to the girl, she still treats him like a no-body. Doesn't give him the respect he craves."
"That's so not true," Buffy protested weakly.
"Then this kindred spirit arrives in town. Another beautiful warrior for good, but with a similar and even worse background to the boy. The girl tries to fit in but the others don't let her into her gang, no respect for this kid either. The girl goes off the rails but the boy knows the pain she feels and decides to stand by her, even when his friends order him not to. Boy leaves town with girl to work for a devastatingly handsome champion for good."
"You finished?" Buffy's tone was dismissive but her complexion had paled considerably. At least some of what he'd said had hit home, maybe some of the wounds could begin to heal. "Cause Willy is waiting."
* * *
"It's pretty bad between you and Buff?"
Xander stared at Dawn's pale face. For once he was unable to decide what to say. The teen hadn't spoken since his confrontation with her sister. He really wished she hadn't had to see that but Faith was his priority. "Pretty bad, yeah."
"W..will you ever come home?" she asked hopefully.
"My home's in L.A. with Faith now," he replied.
"B..but can I come visit?"
He ruffled Dawn's hair before hugging her. "If big sis gives you the okay, sure." He kissed her on the head. "Weekends, holidays. Heck, I might sue for joint custody."
"So kiddo I'm sure you've got plenty of stories about Xander that you'd just love to share with his new friends."
Xander grinned his thanks at Gunn for the diversion. As the others talked he looked round the lounge, it was much the same as it had been the last time he'd been there. His smile faded as he noticed the family photographs on the mantelpiece. He'd wanted to come back for Joyce's funeral six weeks ago but she didn't deserve her memory to be tainted by a scene. In the end he'd sent a wreath that read 'To the only real mom I ever had'.
Unable to cope with the memories he glanced out of the windows and tensed. "Gunn, get Dawn and go to the basement."
"What's up man?" already his friend was moving.
"Glory's minions outside."
"Shit, you coming with us?"
"Nope," Xander grinned as he lifted his shotgun. "Got some excess aggression to work off. Haven't single-handedly saved the world in what, oh 48 hours. Don't unlock the door for anyone who isn't witty and handsome."
"Just Angel then?" Gunn nodded. "Good luck man."
* * *
Xander didn't have to wait long for the attack. The demons came crashing through the window. He met them with blast of consecrated ammo from his shotgun as he crouched behind the hastily over-turned sofa, taking three down in quick succession, his shots tearing their unfortunate recipients in two. The fourth got close enough to grab at the shotgun but Xander drove its barrel into its face before blowing its head off.
Dropping the shotgun he drew his pistol and began firing at the remaining demons. He took out another three before one, braver or dumber than the others, launched himself over the sofa and onto Xander. Cursing, he drove the butt of his empty automatic into the beast's forehead. The creature's eyes glazed over but it continued its attack, its scaly hands choking the life out of him even as its fangs got ever nearer to his throat. In desperation he drew his combat dagger and thrust it repeatedly into its chest. Eventually the beast crumpled to the rapidly bloodying carpet.
Xander rose slowly, his lungs greedily taking in air, combat knife in one hand and double-bladed axe in the other. To his surprise the expected demons had left, leaving behind a pretty blonde woman perhaps five years his senior dressed in a fashionable black dress. "You killed my minions."
"I try." Xander blinked, this was Glory? She wasn't quite what he expected. "After all they were trying to kill me."
The goddess stamped her foot. "I want the key!"
"As big bads go you ain't shit." Xander advanced warily on the hellgod. "The Master, Angelus, Spike, the Judge, and the Mayor all way scarier." He launched a two-pronged attack, thrusting upwards with his combat knife at her stomach and swinging at her neck with his axe.
"Of course I could be wrong," muttered Xander as the goddess effortlessly grabbed both of his wrists stopping his inches from the target. Thinking quickly, the young man stepped forward and slammed his forehead into the goddess' face, only for his legs to buckle with the pain that resulted from his action. A second later and his hands were twisted violently, snapping his wrists like twigs, causing his weapons to drop to the carpet.
"Where's my key?"
He was helpless to prevent the shrieking goddess lifting him by the front of his shirt and slamming him into the wall above the mantelpiece, sending framed photographs flying. "I hear the Bahamas is good this time of the year," he gasped, ignoring the pain roaring through his body. "Maybe she took a jet?"
The goddess let out a scream of fury before throwing him headfirst at the patio windows. "Oh boy," Xander muttered, "this is going to hurt." The glass shattered with a mighty crash, a dozen or so shards slicing into his body. Such was the power of the goddess' throw he didn't come to a landing until he nearly the top of the garden.
Xander moaned in agony, his entire body felt on fire. He was fairly sure he had several cracked ribs, his vision was blurred, never a good sigh, and his body was covered in cuts. He wanted nothing more than to just lie on the damp lawn, to never move again, but - he knew he couldn't. Screaming with the pain he forced himself to his knees and pulled out his back-up gun, a Walther PPK, out of the back of his trousers and aimed at the advancing goddess.
"Things just keep getting better and better," he slurred as he watched through half-swollen shut eyes as the bullets bounced off the goddess.
Laughing the goddess grabbed him by his throat and lifted him off the ground. "Where's my key, monkey?"
For once in his life Xander hadn't got the energy for a witty reply. Instead he spat in the blonde's face. "Eat shit." And then his world went black.