Title: Up Over Everything (2a/?)
Author: Brooke
Email: yabbadabbadome13@yahoo.com
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I wished I owned the two Xanders' from "The Replacement" though. Buffy and friends are owned by Joss, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, The UPN and whoever else has rights to the show.
Summary: Part 2 in my "Romeverse". Can the Buffy, Xander and Willow put personal issues aside to fight and survive against a growing evil – one that can strike too close to home?
Distribution: I don't know why anybody would want this, but if somebody does…sure.
Feedback: Definitely!! Tell me if it sucked or if you liked it. Whatever. Just write back!
Authors Note: Takes place in an AU season 1 where Buffy and Xander are best friends and Willow is the new girl as Sunnydale High. It is the beginning of their sophomore year and, as 15 and 16 year olds, hormones and feelings are taking center stage.
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Oz had followed them at a distance as the two girls headed out of the gym and down the hall – keeping a safe distance while his mind worked over his opening line. He had succeeded with a strangled "Uh…" but that had gotten drowned out when the swing doors of the aquatics center shut behind them. So he had waited – sifting through his backpack and locker, meandering over to the various corkboards in the hall and glancing through the announcements, engaging in assorted trivial conversations with less enthusiasm than he usually did for about thirty minutes.
Then, as if she knew that he was waiting for her…or she had finished talking to her friend, he saw her head out of the pool area by herself and assumed that Buffy had stayed behind. Well, she had most likely done so since her boyfriend was on the team, luckily enough for him since now Willow was on her own – and not in a creepy way, it was just that first conversations tended to go easier if they were one on one.
He watched the redhead out if the corner of his eye while he pretended to organize his locker and started to stand when she hesitated a little behind him as if to speak, but she shook her head and kept moving down the hall. Oz stood to full height as studied her back as she continued down the hall and turned the corner out of his sight before he slammed his locker shut. "That went well," he murmured to himself and pulled his keys out of his book bag before heading in the opposite direction to the student parking lot. At least, he settled climbing into his van, the town was small and therefore, he saw her everyday…plenty more chances to stutter and make vowel sounds in her general direction.
**
"Are you hungry?" Buffy asked, hopping up the stairs of her porch with Xander trialing behind.
He shrugged and followed her into the house. "I could eat," he commented offhandedly while dropping his bags next to Buffy's at the side of the door before kicking off his shoes. His intended plan to have a sulking stroll to his house had turned into him going to Buffy's for homework, dinner and patrol, and he couldn't say that he wasn't looking forward to it. Well, the last two at least. Buffy's mom was the best cook this side of anywhere in his opinion, and it beat his mother's Wednesday staple of Chinese call out. Plus, the patrolling…he had gone out a couple of times with her and he always enjoyed putting his training into effect. It was minimal, but she had taught him a few basic punches and holds and he was working on his kicks – all in all his 'Jackie Chan Style', as they had dubbed it, was improving daily.
Xander followed Buffy into the kitchen and found her digging through the crisper drawer in the fridge. "So…" she trailed off when she heard a stool at the kitchen island scrap across the linoleum floor. "We've got carrots." She stood up defeated and faced him holding up a half bag of baby carrots. He sent her a skeptical look at the snack options and she tossed them back into the fridge.
"So no eats," he deadpanned and Buffy nodded in agreement. "Why don't we just do homework then," he added in a disappointed tone for effect and pushed himself off the stool.
"I could…" Buffy faltered as she considered what she had just thought to say and questioned herself, but he had already stopped and turned to face her again. "I could…make…something," she finished uneasily.
He quirked an eyebrow at her, "So you're telling me," she said steadily as he walked slowly back into the kitchen and approached her. "That you're a cheerleading, world saving, vampire slaying," he ticked off his fingers and kept his steady pace, "best friend being, girlfriendly…Chef," he added stopping just in front of her with a slight grin which only widened when he saw the completely innocent and vulnerable way she was looking up at him with.
"I can use the microwave," Buffy shrugged, her eyes darting around the kitchen nervously. "And I can do sandwiches alright…if you wanted something…"
Xander licked his bottom lip before pulling it into his mouth and chewing on it lightly. He slid his arms around her waist and backed them up until she was pressed against the marble counter behind them, smiling when Buffy relaxed against him and laid her arms atop his. Time was going to mean fighting an internal civil war. The classically altered ménage-chess match between his brain, his heart and his… "Sandwich?" he questioned hopefully while clearing his throat at the same time.
"Ok," she whispered up at him, but wasn't released to assume her task. "Then homework…" she swallowed and received a nod. Everything's always easier said than done, it seemed.
"Homework," he breathed out and dipped his head, acting on impulse more than actual thinking – his heart whispering moves to its conspirator and going for the checkmate. He brushed his lips chastely against Buffy's and pulled back with a small smile in place. He opened his mouth to speak again, but was cut off by the petite girl in his arms leaning up on her toes while her hands slip up his and wrapped around his neck, pulling his head down in a deeper, harder kiss – one which he willingly participated in… You're right. I want it like this. Xander's mind clenched and he pulled himself away, breathing hard and turned his back to her. He ran his hand through his hair and tried to still the shaking in his jaw and collect himself.
Buffy stared at his back with eyes wide with confusion. She made move to say…something…anything to comfort him – to get him to be able to face her the way he just had. She stood up and approached his back, reaching up with one hand and almost resting it on his shoulder, and all that came out was… "Ham and Cheese, lite mayo and lettuce, right?"
Xander let his head drop and watched her feet as she stepped around him and opened the fridge again. "Yeah," he husked out.
"Easy enough," she turned with a light tone and a forced grin. "I can do that."
Xander nodded minutely and the looked at her as she set about making his snack. "Sorry," he mumbled and she hesitated in her preparations, but soon resumed her task.
"Why for?" she shrugged her shoulder. "I mean," she cut him off when she heard his disbelieving exhale of breath. "Just…no apologies, you know…Not necessary." Buffy wanted more than anything for him to believe her when she said that, but when she turned to him and handed him the sandwich, she could read the look in his eyes and tell that he didn't.
Xander focused on the food in his hand, but then snapped his gaze up when he felt her hand slide up his cheek, drawing him out of his reflective silence. Buffy grinned up at him through peering eyes – searching his until she knew that he was completely back from wherever he had banished himself to and there with her. "It's accepted," she whispered to him in an earnest tone and he nodded. If Xander needed her forgiveness then she could give it, even if she didn't think that it was needed.
"Oh my God!" The booming voice that followed the opening of the front door caused Buffy to snatch her hand away from Xander's face and hop back from him. Xander couldn't help the flinch not only at the loudness of the familiar voice, but also at Buffy's reaction to it – getting away from him as quickly as humanly possible…which was probably for the best because had she hesitated a moment longer he probably would have shoved her across the room in utter horror that, this time, would not be derived from his own flashbacks.
"That's not the one and only Xander Harris' stuff piled up by my front door is it? Finally found time to grace the Summers' residence with his presence."
Xander put on a wide smile despite his falling mood and faced Hank Summers when he came into the doorway behind Dawn, both carrying paper grocery bags. He moved and took the one Dawn was carrying and she made a show of pretending to faint against the counter. "One in the same, Mr. Summers," Xander beamed while setting his bag down on the counter.
"Are you staying for dinner?" Dawn asked hopefully, her eyes lighting up as she cut her father off before he could speak and drawing an eye roll from her older sister.
"Of course he is," Hank spoke up after setting down his bags and extending his hand to Xander, who took it and was pulled into a hug. "Boys gotta eat," he glanced down at the sandwich in Xander's hand and then grinned at him.
"Hey," the he defended whole heartedly. "I had swim practice. I haveta keep my strength up."
"I'm not judging," Hank held up his hands before starting to unpack the bags. He noticed that Dawn seemed to see him start and fled the room to avoid doing any work. "Especially with States coming up…are you guys ready for it? Competition's looking pretty stiff – rumor has it that Hemrey recruited Stephen Morris from Denver…"
"How'd they do that?" Buffy asked in her 'daddy's girl' voice while she snatched up a Sunny Delight juice from the table. "He can't go to school in Denver and swim in LA."
"I know," Xander told her over his shoulder but still facing Hank. "That's why recruiting's illegal."
"They probably have him set up at the coach's house for the year so it won't look too suspicious. Plus, kids a senior," Buffy's father spoke to Xander, both as if they were the only two people in the room. "College scouts'll probably snap him up after that…"
"Yeah," Xander snorted. "But I'm not worried," a smile broke out on his face. "Sunny D's got the X-man; Razorbacks are gonna clean up the conferences."
Buffy finished her juice and glanced back at the other contents still in the bag before starting to put them away since her father seemed to have forgotten. "What's for dinner?" she asked over her shoulder, breaking into the conversation again.
"Well," Hank regarded his daughter for a moment. "What do you kids want? Pizza?" he asked not really paying attention, but instead refocusing on his conversation with Xander. "Before you know it," he said with raised eyebrows, "The scouts'll be there for you."
Xander looked down and blushed slightly. "I dunno," he shrugged, "I just…it's just fun, you know."
"Fun that'll get you into USC or UCLA," the older man pointed out. "I only wish my girl would get a scholarship like that. A free ride to any school in the country. But she likes to cheerlead…"
Xander glanced at Buffy's back while she stretched to put a box of cereal on a high shelf, but heard her sigh at her father's comment. "She's good at it," he pointed out brightly. "Makes me wanna play football even." Xander said the last part with a smile and slight wiggle of his eyebrows, but then choked when Hank fixed him with a withering look. "Yeah…" Xander breathed uncomfortably and shifted on his feet. "But hopefully," he tried to change the subject. "USC would be great."
"Please talk to Buffy about that." Hank exasperated. "Somebody's got to get through to her."
"Alright," Buffy said with a false enthusiasm and turned to face the two men. "I don't really want pizza. We need to look our best for the Winter Fest game, so strict cheerleading diet. Mom's not cooking?"
Hank narrowed his eyes at her while she leant back against the counter. "I guess she could. Is that alright with you Xander?"
Xander swallowed and let his eyes dart back and forth between Buffy and her father. "Yeah," he said nervously after reading a distinctive look from his friend. "That would actually be great, if it's not a problem."
Hank smiled warmly and gave him a hard slap in the arm. "Not at all. Spaghetti? It's your favo…"
"I actually don't like spaghetti," Buffy tossed in from the side of the room and Hank's smile faltered once again.
"Well," he sighed and Xander could tell that he was trying to keep his temper in check. The only reason Xander knew that was because Buffy did the same thing. It was probably why she and her father were always at odds with each other. "Mom'll make what she wants when she gets off work," he told her sternly while looking into her eyes – daring her to keep contradicting him. "And if you don't want it, or can't eat it, or whatever you're doing this week then you can make yourself something different, alright."
It wasn't a question and Buffy knew it, so she let the topic drop with a humble bow of her head. Xander knew something else too, something Buffy had never said out loud to him personally throughout their whole friendship, but was easy enough to pick up especially after hanging out with her and her family for the better part of his whole life. Xander was everything Hank wanted – he loved him like a son, and sometimes that included talking down to or about his daughter in the process. Hank had two girls, but he seemed to love the fact that his oldest had brought him a pseudo son…come to think about it, it was probably the reason Xander had so much of Buffy's father's trust in the first place.
"Are you kids going to watch some TV or something?" Hank asked again, his voice calmer despite, or probably because of, Buffy's continued silence.
"No," she said finally pushing herself up from the counter and heading towards an uncomfortable Xander. "We're going to do some homework then probably go to the Bronze after dinner."
"Oh," her father sounded disappointed. "There's this special on World War I on Discovery tonight…"
"And I assure you, we'll be long gone before it even starts," Buffy interrupted louder then necessary and took Xander's arm and pulled him towards the door.
Xander let himself be lead out of the door with a shrug, but then had both his and Buffy's book bags thrust into his arms. He caught Hank watching him with a weary smile as he was led dutifully around by his little girl. "Sorry Daddy," Buffy sent him a sweet smile, that never failed to patch up bridges between her and her father, "But I'm going to have to take the Xander away now. Think you'll make it till dinner?"
Hank smirked at her sarcastically and answered as she and Xander disappeared up the steps, "I'll try. I'll always have my other little girl." He nodded at the silence in the room and leaned against the island listening to the faint sound of the TV coming from the living room. He remembered the day when Buffy didn't talk back – when she was his little princess who just knew that her Daddy could do no wrong… "Hey Dawn, Sweetie!" he called and followed the sound out of the room.
~*~*~
Buffy let out an exasperated sigh as she shut the door behind Xander and leaned back against it, her eyes closed so that she missed the comforting smile he tried to send her. "Why don't you talk to Buffy…" she imitated in a deep voice, "She needs the direction."
Xander dumped their bags on the floor and dropped into a reclined position on her bed, still facing to see her standing on the other side of the room. "He didn't mean it like that."
"Oh really?" Buffy raised an eyebrow. She stood up and moved to her dresser, pulling out her ponytail on the way. "Then how did he mean it other then you're gonna be this huge success and his daughter is going to be a massive sucking cheerleading failure?"
Xander pushed himself up on is hands and regarded her for a minute. Buffy was confident lots, but mostly in specific situations. Her façade crumbled in the face of guys and questions about her self adequacy. "He doesn't think that Buff, and you know it."
Buffy sighed and took in his serious tone. "Don't mix up how you feel with what he does," she turned towards her dresser and reached for the silver cross necklace that Angel had given her what seemed like a lifetime ago. She locked eyes with Xander in the mirror while she pulled her hair over one shoulder and fastened the chain around her neck.
"I'm not," Xander denied and dropped back into a reclined position on the bed. "You're his daughter. He's always going to be proud of you."
"Only as far as he needs to be," Buffy said solemnly. She stalked towards her dresser and pulled out a pair warm up pants before heading into the bathroom.
He rolled his eyes at her back, "You think my father is throwing out the compliments?" he asked her honestly. "Cuz believe me, he'd rather have the basketball forward or the quarterback, than the guy with the fastest 400 meter freestyle…"
"You mean the swim team captain?" Buffy asked skeptically, walking back in the room and tossing her practice uniform into the hamper by her door.
"Co-captain," Xander corrected. "And it doesn't matter," he shrugged and rolled to his left so that he could reach his bag. He tugged it open and pulled out a stack of books and tossed them onto the bed next to him. "The Harris clan goes to more Homecoming games than swim meets…they've seen you do your thing more than me."
Buffy watched him and his demeanor while he refused to meet her eyes. That may be true…she had been at every swim event that didn't conflict with her cheer schedule and she had spent most of that time sitting next to Willow or sandwiched between her Mom, Dad and Dawn; all four of whom were Xander's second biggest fans since she was first. But she had rarely seen Xander's father present. Sometimes his Mom would show, but his Dad was another story all together.
She pouted while approaching the bed and turned to flop melodramatically on its edge, her back to him. "But your dad knows that swimming'll get you somewhere…cheerleading's just…it's a waste of time to him."
"So quit." Xander shrugged, glancing at her back before darting his eyes back to his math book. "If you feel like he does, don't do it anymore and focus on 'something that'll get you somewhere'," he mimicked.
Buffy turned to face him with an annoyed pout in place at his flippancy, "It does mean something to me."
"So don't…"
"It's just Dad and Giles and…" Buffy pulled her leg up and folded it under herself so that she could see his face. When she noticed that he was actively engrossed in whatever problem was on the page she reached out and flipped the book shut.
"Hey!" Xander protested when the textbook was taken from him and tossed to the head of the bed.
"You think I'm making the right choice here?" she pressed ignoring his minor complaint and fixing him with pleading eyes. "I mean, I told Giles I wanted to keep doing it because I wanted to have a normal life…as much of a normal life as I can get – that it was all I am…"
"Buff," Xander sighed pushing himself up to face her.
"No." she shook her head so that he would stop talking. "And Dad's right…there're no cheerleading scholarships, no chance of getting into USC for normal girl… I know my grades aren't going to do it. Maybe all I am now is Slayer," she deadpanned while focusing away from his eyes and on the stripped wallpaper opposite her.
Xander moved his hand up to rest on her knee, rubbing in light strokes and drawing her attention away from her headboard. "First off," he started making sure she was looking him in the eyes. "You're more than just any of those things. More than cheerleader and definitely more than Slayer." He knew that that was her new biggest fear – beyond being buried alive, dummies and mimes, Buffy was now afraid that she wasn't going to be herself anymore. That she would somehow transform into some sort of mystical being that would be the death of her figuratively long before it made good on its more literal claims. "Second," he started again. "We're in the tenth grade. Do you have any idea how much stuff is going to change between now and then time we even have to think about college? I mean, look at the last few months – nothing is the same…"
"And it's only going to get worse," Buffy frowned and fell to her side so that she was leaning awkwardly across Xander's lap.
"I dunno," he looked down at her sullen expression and moved his hand up to brush some of her loose hair out of her face. "I don't think it's been all bad…" his intent lost when she fixed him with a disbelieving look. The Slayer, the Hellmouth, Jesse, the Harvest, Angel, the possession…"Fine, a lot of it has."
"See…"
"But some of it has been good." He insisted and trued to give her a reassuring smile. "Like I get to love you."
Buffy's eyes snapped open again, but when they found his she could see him sputtering for a comeback to his last statement. "Some of it has been pretty ok, I guess," she shrugged and hoped that some of the pressure was off him. "It's just…if everything is going to keep changing, what promises do we get for the future," she asked him philosophically. "If Jess can be here one day and gone the next and there're demons running around trying to take everything I love away from me…then how do we know…"
"We don't," Xander sighed. "But that's normal, right? You can't read the future."
She opened her eyes and locked onto his while his fingers slid down from her hairline and to the thin silver chain around her neck which he traced lightly. "That doesn't scare you? The not knowing."
"Sure it does," Xander sighed. "But I'm here right now. That's all anybody has control over, so I've just gotta live for the day, seize every opportunity…"
Buffy regarded him in silence for a moment before raising her hand and grasping his lightly from her neck. She pulled it down and to her chest until their joined hands rested over her heart and his eyes locked with hers. He could feel her heart beating the faintest bit, but knew that it had to be hard because he could feel it at all. "So you don't believe in destiny?"
"I dunno," he shrugged. "Destiny seems a little complicated for me," he grinned down at her while speaking in a quieter tone.
Buffy bit her lip and her brow furrowed as if in thought. "I think that there is."
"Oh yeah?" he pressed matching her grin.
"Yeah," she nodded. "There's a plan."
"Who makes it?"
Buffy hummed while apparently thinking about an answer. "I think a lot of people make it. Somebody made me the Slayer…" she swallowed and looked away, "I think that somebody gave me you."
Xander couldn't keep his cheeks from reddening and he slipped his hand out of hers and moved it behind him to help prop himself up. "So what's the destiny there? My parents having unprotected sex and yours deciding to copy? You Summers' are such pousers…"
Buffy didn't laugh though; she just kept her eyes trained on his. "I think that I was meant to have you as my best friend. You don't think that?"
He swallowed nervously again. "I think that if you believe it then it's true. I think that you'll make it happen…"
"I need you to make it happen too," Buffy shifted while Xander readjust his legs, but made no move to get up.
"Tell you what," he narrowed his eyes at her deceivingly relaxed form – her tension betraying her demeanor and literally leaking out of her pours.
"What?"
"I don't believe in destiny because that means that it's predetermined that things will happen and change and we have no say over it…and innocent people will die no matter what any of us can do and everybody is going to suffer horrible fiery deaths," he managed a small chuckle, but then it faded. "That we might not, despite my necessity in your life and your in mine, be together in the end. Not as best friends, not as anything because something out there has it written that we move away or break up or die or something else…" he took a deep breath and regarded an anxious Buffy confidently. "And I think that's bullshit," he bit out nonchalantly. "You can save people. Everybody can act in one moment that'll change the course of the world in ways that can't be predetermined. And…I'm not going anywhere, I know that. You don't know things with destiny, but I know that and nobody and nothing can change it."
He was being so serious that her eyes stung with the tears that were tittering at their edges. "Promise?" she whispered, finally pushing herself up into a sitting position, her arms locked behind her in support as Xander's were.
She was sitting so close to his face when the breathy plea came forth – so close that he couldn't do anything but stare into her clear grayish eyes and wish that he couldn't see the slight redness appearing as she attempted to hold back tears. "I promise, Buff. Forever."
Buffy nodded slightly and let her eyes shut. She wanted to kiss him then and knew, she just knew, that he wanted the same thing, but didn't press it. He would do it in his own time and she would still be waiting…hoping that when it happened he would scare himself off. "Quiet, huh?" she asked after a drawn out silence and heard his chuckle in response.
"Sometimes that's nice," he shrugged and reached forward again to tuck her hair behind her ear.
"Yeah," Buffy agreed. "Good for homework?"
"Sure," Xander licked his lips and stretched out to retrieve his forgotten math book. "Then," he added with a bright smile and settled the book in his lap, "After you Mom feeds me, I'm gonna go out and give those vamps a Judo chop!" Xander's smile widened when Buffy let out an unrestrained laughter when he pretended to karate chop her in the thigh and then poked her in the stomach. She grabbed his wrist and held it lightly, but Xander couldn't free himself despite his efforts. "Now you're playing dirty," he grinned and shifted over on the bed so that she fell back off his lap. Buffy gasped when she tumbled off of his legs and read her friends next move before he leant over her, using her loss of coordination to try to capture her wrists. She squirmed away from him, her laughter bubbling up as Xander tried to match her movements, but eventually just settled on grabbing her around the waist and pulling her back from the pillows she was planning to use as a weapon at the head of the bed. "Oh no you don't!" he laughed and dragged her down to the foot of the bed.
Buffy pouted as she couldn't fight him. She may have super strength, but the comforter offered no grip, and Xander was still bigger than her. He quickly replaced her at the head of the bed, both messing up the neatly placed covers in their pursuit of the pillows. He made a grab for one, but found his movements hampered when a hundred pounds of blonde fury launched at his back and shoved him face first into the mattress. Xander tried futilely to swing his wrist up to push the tiny girl off of him. He was already laughing so hard that he couldn't breathe and the fact that he was now face down in blankets wasn't helping the situation. The Slayer felt her hair falling loosely around her face, messed up by their impromptu wrestling match, but she simply blew it up and sat up in a straddle on Xander's back. She felt him struggling beneath her and pinned both of his arms to his side on the bed.
"I win," she panted with a triumphant smirk that Xander could just hear. She was expecting a defiant retort, but all she heard was a muffled mumble into the mattress. She giggled again "What? I didn't catch that."
Xander's smile was bright when he pulled his face back from the mattress marginally and took in a deep breath, briefly distracted by her scent that was embedded in the covers and surrounding him completely. "I said," he set himself discreetly and knew that Buffy wouldn't see his next move coming. "That's what you think."
Before the Slayer could react Xander had rolled over hard onto his back, effectively tossing her from her perch and to the side of the bed…well, almost the side of the bed. Buffy hit the side of the bed before she landed on the floor with a dull thud and a startled grunt. Xander laughed out loud when he felt her weight slip from beside him and again when he heard her hit the floor and then fought to get his breathing under control.
"Buff," Xander called and leaned over the bed, his smile bright and victorious. "Are you alri…" He trailed off when he saw the vacant carpet on the right of the bed where he heard her land. "Buff?"
"I don't think. I know."
The statement came from the opposite side of the room and Xander jumped to face her teasing voice. "How'd you do that?" He saw her briefly standing with her hands on her hips, face red, hair mussed, and grinning like the Buffy of old…right before she jumped him. He couldn't get his arms up fast enough before Buffy leapt onto the bed and grabbed his right arm and forcing his to roll half way over as his lower body was pinned beneath her. He, with a little trepidation, recognized that Buffy was using a little more strength – holding him in place a little more securely…
"That doesn't sound like studying in there, kids." Hanks voice preceded him cracking open the door and poking his head in.
Buffy immediately released Xander's hands and sat back with wide eyes, while her victim rolled over partially to meet her father's gaze.
"What subject is this?" Buffy's father asked with an incredulous smirk.
The Slayer slid off her friend to stand at the foot of the bed and straightened out her clothes a little before offering a weak smile. "Ummm…Political Science?"
"Yeah," Xander nodded and pushed himself into a sitting position. He missed Hank's laughter at the ruffled mess that his hair had become. "Peace Studies in the Western Hemisphere."
Buffy smiled and nodded in agreement. "Like a case study."
Hank shook his head at the teenagers while his daughter stooped to pick up a book. He just barely caught a look…one he didn't necessarily like coming from Xander when her back was turned, and he narrowed his eyes. From where Hank stood it looked like the boy had just…checked his little girl out… He quickly shook off the feeling and his smile fell back into place with a little effort. "Well," he directed at Xander, "You're a quick study. Always give up. It saves Advil later."
Buffy scowled and slit her eyes at her father, but the whirled on Xander when he heard his breathy chuckle, that in her mind, signaled agreement. He felt her disapproving gaze before he saw it and sucked in a breath to stop his laughter immediately.
"Good boy." Hank congratulated again. "Just hit the books you two," he continued under his daughter's withering glare. She had once told him that she was slightly wigged that Xander's worst influence was a middle aged man. "If you can't study up here, you can come downstairs and I'll put in the Civil War Series…"
"We're good, now." Buffy interrupted. Her father's idea of bonding time was watching old men fight wars told through drawings and black and white photos, and she hated it. She thought that maybe it was the reason that she hated history with a white hot passion as it was.
Hank's smile died and he watched Xander's eyes dart around the room. "Well, if you need any help…"
"We don't." Buffy beamed back at him. "Got it under control."
He nodded. "Well, I'll call you guys for dinner."
"Thanks," Buffy tossed her book onto the bed beside Xander and stepped towards the door. "We're going to get back to work." Her father nodded and she pushed the door shut with a soft click. She turned back to the bed and saw Xander settle back in a reclined position against her pillows by the head board. "I can't wait to get out of here tonight."
"I can't wait for a Joyce cooked meal," Xander licked his lips back at her.
"You eat like you're about to about to be sent to Somalia or something." Buffy's face turned into an observational frown. "You're going to be so saggy and gross when you're old." She crawled back onto the messy bed and sat cross-legged to face her friend.
"By that time I'll have already married a model and trapped her by impregnating her with Harris spawn," he nodded through his plan and spoke emotionlessly while thumbing through a textbook. "It won't matter how I look then."
She pulled her book into her lap and opened it, "That's some plan."
"I'm a dreamer."
"No kidding."
"What does that mean?"
Buffy didn't look up from the math problem she was working on when she answered. "That no self respecting woman will ever be duped into carrying Harris anything, let alone a model. They have so much going for them…"
He narrowed his eyes at her for a moment, but only let her see his shrug when her eyes darted to his to gauge his reaction. "I guess I can settle for someone like you then."
Her head darted up to face him, but found him engrossed in whatever was on the page in front of him. He was mirroring the lack of concert that she had just shown him. "Someone like me?"
"You know," he shut his book, and Buffy didn't like the grin that graced his features. "Somebody who has no self respect left." He should have seen it coming that time, but he was caught of guard just as much as he had been previously. The Slayer grabbed her book off her lap and swung it at his shoulder, her face in a tight frown that made him think that maybe she didn't think that he was joking around. But before he could apologize for his faux pas Buffy's bright smile erupted again and he was covered, this time, by tickling Slayer.
**
"That was great Mrs. S," Xander exhaled a deep breath and sat back in his chair.
"Really?" Buffy asked sarcastically. "I wouldn't have guessed after your third helping."
"I helped," Dawn beamed at him and Buffy rolled her eyes at her younger sister.
"Thank you Xander," Joyce smiled. "It's more than a pleasure to have a child who appreciates my cooking." She shot a glare at Buffy who was still in the process of shifting her spaghetti around her plate.
"I like it," the Slayer tried to smile, scooping up a few strands and shoveling them into her mouth. "Mmmm."
"It was delicious, Honey." Hank smiled and pushed himself up from the table. "Wanna help me wash the dishes Dawnie?"
The youngest Summers' shook her head, her eyes focused intently on Xander where he sat next to her sister. "Wanna watch a movie Xander?"
Joyce rolled her eyes and stood up to clear the table. "I don't think Xander wants to keep you from your homework, Sweetheart."
"Mommmm…"
"We're going out," Buffy shoved her plate away while kicking Xander under the table. "And even if we weren't he wouldn't hang out with you," she added to Dawn.
"Yes he would. Right Xander?" she sounded unsure, and her pout made Xander smile.
"Sure I would D-miester." He answered while following Buffy's hint and standing up next to her. "I love movie nights with the Summers' ladies."
Dawn stuck her tongue out at her sister. "See," she said in a snotty tone. "Xander's my friend…"
"Don't be ridiculous Dawn," Buffy tossed over her shoulder as she headed upstairs, "You won't ever have any friends."
"And you won't ever not be ugly and stupid, so I guess we're even."
Buffy turned and slit her eyes at her sister. She wasn't really bothered by the lame putdown, but she couldn't resist getting the upper hand on the little girl. She glanced into the kitchen and saw her parents smiling as they washed and dried the dishes in the sink. "Ugly and stupid, yet, oddly enough with Xander." She knew she won by just implying that Dawn would be jealous over that concept; just suggesting that her little sister might have crush like feelings for the dark haired teen right in front of his face.
Dawn's eyes darted from her sister to her friend, who was standing stock still and blushing slightly. "MOM!" she girl yelled and ran around the room into the kitchen. "Buffy told Xan…"
"Get you stuff," the Slayer shook her head and told Xander while Dawn hurriedly tried to plead her case to her confused parents. "I'll be right down."
"BUFFY!" the obligatory reprimand meant to placate volatile sibling situations echoed through the house after her. "DON'T EMBARRASS YOUR SISTER!"
**
Xander fidgeted from his position near the mausoleum that Buffy had left him by. He fiddled with his stake while he watched her in awe, and not for the first time. She was seriously in her element, and loving every minute of it.
Buffy's fist rocked the fledgling vampire and his head snapped back with the force of it. She didn't give him time to recover but instead jumped into a side kick that caught the demon in the chest and sent him to the ground before she let up. "Okay, Xan!" she turned to face him with an adrenaline fueled smile in place.
"Okay, what?" he question unsurely. "Was I supposed to be able to do any of that?"
"Oh no," she denied simply. "That was just for me." The Slayer sensed the vampire getting shakily to his feel behind her, but he was struggling enough to not pose a serious threat to her…at least not yet, anyways. "I'm going to do some stuff you know now." She saw Xander nod, before gesturing her to turn around again with his hand.
Buffy turned and faced the vampire before falling into a fighting stance. "I'm sorry this is taking so long," she sounded sincere, but it was lost on her opponent who simply growled before lunging at her. Buffy side stepped his grab and used his momentum to stop his forward movement and slam his chest down hard into her knee. She heard the dull crack and guessed that it was one of his ribs breaking at the contact, but she didn't let him fall. Instead she pulled him upright again and flung him into a standing position. "Cross!" she called out punching the vampire in the face again. "Cross! Front snap!"
Xander shadow ducked with Buffy's simple punches and kicks and the vampire backed up and tried to unsuccessfully to doge her aggressions. "Got it!"
"Okay!" she called back again and gripped her stake tight in her hand. "Now you want him to go down…this is going to be a low blow."
Xander winced and watched Buffy grab the vampire's shoulders and draw him in while bringing her knee up to his groin hard. For the first time in the fight he heard the demon bite back a scream of discomfort, and despite the whole evil thing, Xander felt for the guy. The vampire crumpled out of the Slayers grasp and fell back into the damp grass and Xander watched Buffy drop to one knee while twirling the stake in her hand before thrusting it down hard into its chest.
Buffy pooped up and faced him with a confidently joyous smile in place while the dust cloud dissipated. "That's how you do it."
Xander started from his position and started over to her, matching her grin. "Am I supposed to do that twrilly thing too, Showoff?"
Buffy laughed and watched while Xander attempted to mimic her hand work: tossing the stake in the air a couple times and tossing it back and forth between his hands.
"Think you can handle the next one?" she asked once he reached her and they fell into step with each other. "I'll have your back."
"Oh, I think I got it." Xander was concentrating hard on trying to spin his stake in the palm of his hand. "I've learned from you Sensei…" He spun his stake in a hard circle back into the empty air, but then bit his lip when he felt it slide from his grasp.
"GRRUH!!!" the muffled grunt of pain drew both his and Buffy's attention and they turned to see Angel emerge from the shadows. The souled vampire bit his lip and Xander scanned his limping form, his stake protruding from his left thigh. "Ow. Ow. Ow."
Buffy bit down a giggle and watched Angel pull the stake out of his leg and hold it up incredulously. "Nice shot," she nudged Xander with her shoulder before approaching the vampire. "Higher next time."
Angel rolled his eyes. "I didn't know slaying was a date activity now?" he asked when Buffy stopped in front of him.
"You'd be surprised at what you don't know."
Angel laughed and nodded. "Always have a comeback. Cute."
"I know." Buffy smiled. She held out her hand expectantly. "Stake."
"Yeah right," Angel scoffed and eyed Xander where he stood behind the girl. "I'm not putting this back in his hands. He could have killed me," he glanced down to where the stake had hit him. "Or caused lasting serious damage."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Just give it back," she demanded.
"Yeah," Xander agreed. "I can't be out here all defenseless."
"You've got me and Buffy now, Champ. You're off the clock." Angel assured him and slide the weapon into the pocket of the long duster that he was wearing.
"Don't call me Champ, Deadboy." Xander fired back, but kept his position behind Buffy.
"Don't call me Deadboy, Sport."
"Boys," Buffy interrupted, but aimed most of her tone towards Angel. "We're patrolling here," she spoke to the vampire. "I kinda just want to get it done. Not make an epic out of a Cliff note, you know?"
"He's still not getting it back."
Buffy rolled her eyes before turning to Xander. "Here," she said handing him her weapon. "Now give it."
Angel narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "No dice."
"Don't you have an elsewhere to be?" Xander asked him. The way this 'superior' being was acting, he seemed like he was one second away from pulling Buffy's hair and saying that she had kooties.
"I have to make those," Buffy ignored him and pouted at the other man.
"Not really," Angel answered Xander. "I just go where I'm needed."
"Which isn't here, coincidently," Xander shot back.
"So I can walk out here all night and you'll not make a noise, but the moment I bring him out with me, you're all Batman Returns?" Buffy sounded upset, but Xander had no idea why. She wasn't facing him and he couldn't see her eyes to read however she might have meant by her tone.
Angel turned his war of words against Xander to lock eyes with the Slayer again. "Well, you're usually competent on your own, but when you bring the kids your attention wanders. I don't want you getting hurt."
Buffy narrowed her eyes at him. Her hand shot out and she shoved the vampire hard in the chest with her right hand and reached into his pocket and retrieved her stake with the other when he stumbled back. "I won't get hurt…"
~*~*~
"There they are," Jesse locked his eyes on the Slayer, Xander and Angel through the bushes. They had no idea that he was there, and that would be a problem for them. Even the vampire was too enthralled in his verbal sparring with the teenagers to sense the danger that was so close by.
Jesse turned and brushed past Darla who stayed watching the scene before her. He cared – or thought he did – that she seemed so drawn to his former flames pissing contest over the Slayer. He thought that he should feel just a little jealous…fell something. But all he felt was an almost giddy anticipation. "Dave, Randall, Jeremy" he called the three minions that were restraining the Varcilus demon. "Get in position."
The three vampires struggled to lug the bulky heavy demon to the edge of the bushes. They had put a burlap sack over its head so as to placate it for the journey through forest, but guiding the demon was proving to be more trouble that any of them thought it was worth. They would have voiced their opinion on the matter, too, if their sire hadn't been dead set on having the Slayer ripped to pieces by the inter-dimensional hell beast.
"Do it," Jesse ordered in a dark voice and let his game face fall into place. He took his place beside Darla and watched as Dave unclasped the lock that was holding the Vardilus' arms together behind its back and the demon immediately started its struggle for freedom. This would have to be quick because any increase in noise in the quiet area would undoubted draw the white hatter's attention. Randall dodged a flat palm aimed at his chest, just missing the six inch long talon that shot out from the monsters wrist – its primary weapon that injected a stream of poison into the victim. He was able to grab the mask from the creatures face while he deftly ducked under a heavy fisted punch and Jeremy pushed the demon though the bushes. All five of them watched with a morbid fascination at the startled expressions of the Slayer and her companions when the demon crashed into the quiet cemetery and immediately charged the three.
~*~*~
"DUCK!!" Buffy moved with wide eyes and a lighting fast quickness to shove Xander to the ground just as the thing that broke through the bushes charged them with an exceptional speed for its size. He rolled on contact with the soft ground and scrambled to his feet. Internally he wanted to rush in to Buffy's defense but when he saw her then jump to the opposite direction, colliding with Angel to get out of its way, he knew he would have to rethink his strategy.
Buffy rolled off of Angel and got quickly to her feet. She glanced over to Xander to make sure that he was alright, but saw that he was watching the demon with wide eyes. I f she hadn't been the Slayer, she would be doing the same thing. She had never seen anything like it. Huge: tall and wide and heavy looking with various spines that only meant she would have to be careful of how she went about her attack. Angel got to his feet beside her and she turned to face him. "Get Xander out of here."
Angel shook his head, "You can't…"
"Do it," she ordered before launching her attack. Buffy's first punch landed hard and turned the things head with its force, as did its follow up. The Slayer had a small stature compared to most people, but when standing face to face with a seven foot monster it was so much more drastic, but despite that she landed a severe side snap kick that caught the demon in the chin. She placed her next grab carefully to avoid the spines and wrapped her small hands around its wrist, pivoted on her hip and hefted the massive demon off of its feet and sent it crashing into the ground.
Jesse leant forward from his hidden location and watched with wide eyes.
"Did you just see that?!" Dave asked excitedly. "She lifted him righ…"
"It's not fighting back." Jesse ignored and snarled. "It's not killing her! Why isn't it killing her?!"
"I need a weapon!" Buffy said hurriedly while the demon clambered to its feet.
Xander watched the fight, but Buffy's voice shook him out of his trance. He saw Angel searching the area to fulfill Buffy's request, but then glanced over to a freshly dug grave. He sprinted over to it and pulled the forgotten shovel from the mound of dirt beside it. "Here!" he called, running hard to Buffy and tossing her the shovel.
The Slayer smiled and caught it, but her distraction was picked up by her opponent. Even Angel missed the creature launching itself at Buffy's opening and swinging a heavy fist at her head. Buffy spun around at the force of the blow and her world momentarily went soundless and black before she was able to focus through the stars clouding her vision. She righted herself and swung desperately with the shovel, but her blow was blocked and the wooden handle splintered in her grasp. Buffy eyes went wide and she dropped the remains of her weapon and fell into a leg sweep. She needed time to regroup, and she needed to get Xander out of there. She could tell by his incessant shouting of her name that his protective nature was winning in the battle against his common sense, and she was lucky so far that he had stayed out of the fight so long.
She pushed herself off the ground and ran at him. Angel could fend for himself – hopefully buy her some time to get them well on there way. "Move, Xan! Run!"
"Buffy!" Angel Called out from behind her. The demon's speed again took all by surprise when it was back on its feet and charging the young Slayer again, this time from behind. "Look out!" He tried to move, wanting to tackle the thing before it could reach her, but the spines would make that action the one that took him out of the game for the count.
Xander reacted at Angel's shout though and he reached to shove Buffy to the side just as the demon moved to punch her in the back. He thought it was trying to punch her in the back at least, but it missed and he saw Buffy's wince of shooting pain that accompanied her scream of pain when the monster's claws dug into her left shoulder. He thought it would have been just a simple scratch, but Buffy seemed to be pinned in horror in front of him.
Buffy watched Xander with wide eyes and felt the demons claws dig into her back – then there was something more. A sharp stabbing pain in the middle of the triad of curved nails. Something this thing shot out of its grasp and embedded in her back and it hurt. A screaming blinding pain that was so intense that she couldn't even collect her functions enough to fall to the ground.
~*~*~
"Did he get her?" Darla asked hopefully, fixated on the Varcilus' extended contact with the Slayer and the look of painful dread that was easily distinguished on her features. "Did he?"
Jesse ignored her hopeful tone and knew it was less because of the thrill of the kill, and more because she didn't like Buffy. "I don't know," he murmured, a spark of optimism in his voice while he watched. His face fell though when he saw the Slayer gather herself and whirl on the demon, landing a double swinging backhand to it face with a scream and a grimace.
"Dammit!" he cursed and saw the demon stumble back into Angel while the Slayer and his former friend ran hard towards the exit. "Call it back!" he ordered Randall and turned away from the fight that his primary target had just fled. "We need to try it again!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The End Part 2a