Title: Best Laid Plans.
Author: Charlie
Timeline:Post BtVS S7 (initially), later on Post AtS S5.
Summary: Xander begins a new chapter of his life.
Author Notes: Round and round, the ship goes. Where it lands, the
author doesn't know. Will it (B)uffy, (C)ordelia, (D)awn, (F)aith,
(F)red, (H)armony, (K)enndy or (W)illow that wins the Xandman?
They arrived at the school after a long, tedious drive. A quick conversation with the office secretary and they were buzzed through the gates. Riley pulled into the nearly empty parking lot, noting nothing had changed since last time. As they went about the process of extracting themselves from the car, a van pulled into the parking lot beside them. The van's driver got out and opened the back doors. He emerged with a wheelchair, which he brought up to the passenger door and opened it. Quietly he assisted Quentin Travers into it. The head of the Watcher's council nodded at the others and spoke to his driver, instructing him to remain with the vehicle. He moved towards the group with his motorized wheelchair.
"Well, shall we?"
Riley and Alex nodded and led the group onto one of the walkways.
"Where are we going?"
"The library, they're always in the library."
As they reached the building, Travers pulled off to the side.
"Please go on ahead, I'll join you when it's time."
Alex nodded ad Finn led the group to the building. As before when they entered, the others were congregated in the back away from the doors. He spared a glance at the floor and noted the hole had been repaired although the differences in the wood used made it easy to see.
"Nice to see you again Riley". Buffy's voice was cold and harsh.
As before he and Alex ignored her as they moved towards her group. Buffy's annoyance grew and then she noticed that they weren't alone this time.
"Sam."
"Buffy."
Willow stared past Xander in surprise, beside her Kennedy let out an audible growl. Amy ignored the youngest slayer, stepped closer and touched Xander's arm. Reflexively he placed his arm around her waist, a move that sent feelings of shame and sadness across Willow's face as she slumped down. Cordelia reacted similarly to his actions and greeted him in a voice tinged with sadness, "Hey Alex."
"Hello Cor."
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Faith demanded, remembering the last time Riley and Xander had been present. The soldier casually tossed the folder he had been carrying on to the table. It landed in front of Wood who opened it and started looking through.
"What is it?" Giles asked the other man, clearly attempting to avoid a confrontation. The black man leafed through the contents with a confused look on his face as he read. Robin looked up at Giles, answering "They look like satellite reconnaissance photos."
"They are." Riley told them and then continued, "Did you notice what they are of?"
Wood looked down again, "It looks like a hole filled with rubble." His facial expression changed as he realized what he might be looking at. "This is Sunnydale, isn't it?"
Riley nodded and the room's tension instantly increased. Hesitantly Wesley picked up one of the photos and examined it. "This appears to have been taken by a different kind of camera then the first, an infrared one perhaps?"
"I'm not at liberty to say what kind of camera took that photo but yes it was a different camera then the first. NSA noticed something odd when they were sweeping the area and called in an outside expert to examine the photos. The expert determined through that the strange energy was a result of mystical energies coming together in a focal point. Through analysis, he and the NSA reached only one viable conclusion: The Hellmouth is still active."
All the air seemed to leave the room taking with it Buffy's anger. She and the others were caught off balance by the news.
"BOLLOCKS" Spike was indignant at hearing the news. "I bloody well sacrificed myself to seal that thing. I know for a fact it's slammed shut."
"And yet here you are." Amy fired back at him.
Buffy looked incredulous at the news, "No that's not possible, we. I saw the Hellmouth collapse. Spike did destroy it."
"Not according to the NSA test results."
"NSA?" Buffy asked.
"National Security Agency. You know like the CIA."
Buffy's eyes narrowed, "More government hacks."
"Not hacks, professionals. They have been monitoring the hellmouth since it's discovery early in the 1900's."
"You said an outside expert was asked to examine these photos. Who may I ask is qualified to do so?" Wesley inquired.
"Why I am Mr. Pryce" an oddly familiar voice echoed through the room. Everyone turned to see Quentin Travers roll into the room on his wheelchair. He maneuvered himself beside Riley and addressed the two former Watchers.
"Hello Wesley, Rupert."
"H-hello Quentin." Giles managed to stammer out, as did Wesley.
"Now Rupert, you seem surprised to see me."
"I had thought you dead, killed in the explosion."
"Somehow I am not surprised. Tell me Rupert, the Watcher's council predates civilization, as we know it. It has survived countless attempts to destroy it and you think a crude bomb destroyed us all?" Shaking his head, Travers continued, "Why am I not surprised at your thinking. You remain as ever a great disappointment."
Giles grew cold at that remark, "Now see here Quentin, I am not one little lackeys. I have seen more glimpses of the evil we fight then you could ever hope to. And furthermore, I have stood quite well on my own without any assistance from the council and we have done quite well."
The handicapped man looked at him with pity on his face. "No, Rupert. You have done nothing that we have not allowed you to do."
The man once known as 'Ripper' removed his glasses, "What?"
"Come along now Rupert, you didn't honestly think you survived all this time with the council being ignorant of your actions. We were very much aware of what was going on in Sunnydale until the attack. And it was a good thing too as you desperately needed the help."
Giles stood there, surprised etched on his face as Travers spoke; "You were given great leniency in dealing with your slayer because we were surprised she had survived her initial foray against the Master when she was supposed to have died. Afterwards the council was even more interested in what was going on so surveillance was increased and better records were kept not only of Summers and yourself but also of her friends. When it was appropriate, we intervened such as when the slayer's witch friend fell to darkness."
All the color drained out of Willow and Giles's faces. The former librarian started to speak only to be cut off his one time superior. "Now Rupert, tell me you honestly didn't think you, a disgraced Watcher, could go to a coven of that power and gain their assistance without our allowing it AND arranging it? Or that you could find the potentials? Or gain access to one of our many bank accounts?"
Giles's body seemed to sag as Quentin continued speaking. "It was only because of your family that you were allowed to become a Watcher after that disgraceful period when you fled your responsibilities."
He looked over as the former Watcher slumped down in his seat.
"Excuse me, Mr. Travers."
"Patience, Wesley, patience. All in good time."
Quentin looked at Buffy, "Hello Ms. Summers."
"What are you doing here?"
"And still rude I see. I am here to do what should have been done some time ago. I am correcting some problems and seeing to it you do no further damage."
"You don't have any power over me. Or over any of the new slayers." She looked over at Faith and Kennedy who nodded in response to her words.
"I see, you saw the box then?"
Buffy was caught off guard, "Box?"
"The box that was in Nikki Wood's possession when she was killed by William the Bloody."
She nodded.
"Tell me something Ms. Summers, if that box were so important and so vital, why would the Watcher's council have left in the care of her young son and former Watcher?"
There was an uncomfortable silence before Robin spoke, "because it wasn't important at all, was it?"
The head of the Watcher's council turned and addressed him, "Correct, Mr. Wood. The box was something created by the council as a means of answering questions by the earlier slayers. It does nothing more give the answers the slayer in question seeks."
"You mean, what I saw and did."
"Was precisely what you wanted to see."
Buffy's face fell at that news.
"But that is irrelevant. What is important now is the future of this training facility."
"What?"
"We had hoped to avoid doing this for another year but with the recent reactivation of the Hellmouth in Sunnydale, we must accelerate our plans."
"Plans? What plans?" Faith was instantly on the defensive.
Quentin looked around at the group before speaking; "We have decided that in good conscious that Buffy Summers can no longer be allowed to lead this group. She poses too much of a risk of corrupting the younger slayers. "
"WHAT!"
Angel interrupted before Buffy could get going, "Not that's my area of expertise but if you remove Buffy as leader, who will replace her?"
Travers looked at the vampire before replying, "We have a pair of candidates that we feel can do the job and do it better then her."
"I ain't doing, screw you Q."
"You were not and never considered a candidate Faith."
The other slayer was thrown, "Who then?"
He gestured at Alex, "They are."
There was quiet in the room before Spike burst out laughing. "Oh this is rich, Droopy a leader? Now I've heard it all. He couldn't lead a goldfish to water."
Alex's face took on a serious tone as he stepped to the forefront. "You don't know me Spike. You have no idea what I'm capable of."
Spike didn't even look at him as he replied; "Oh I think I know what you're capable of droopy. Fixing windows and cutting boards but I reckon there isn't a market for a carpenter who can't bloody well see."
"He's right you know."
Alex turned and looked at Faith. She stood there shaking her head, "Sorry Xan but you ain't got what's needed to do this gig."
"And how would you know Besim"
Faith's eyes widened and her lower lip started trembling. She spoke in quiet unsure, "How did you?"
"Here's a little surprise for you Faith, you don't know ME. You don't know anything about me; you don't know what I can do. Or what I did."
Cordelia leaned over and asked Wesley "What did he call that's got her in a tizzy?"
Without looking at her, he replied "Her name."
Wood watched with interest what was going on. He lightly tapped the table to get Alex's attention. "Not that I agree with Buffy, Alex but this would require a little bit more then what you're used."
The younger man looked at him for a few seconds before replying, "And how would you know what I'm used to? Buffy's second day in Sunnydale I had to pull her out of a sewer or she would have been killed by vampires. When she went to face the Master, it was me who forced Angel to go after her and use CPR to bring her back. When the Judge was reassembled, it was me who thought up the plan to kill it. So don't tell me what I'm used to."
Wood was about to respond when Angel interrupted him, "He's right. Any man that can scare off Angelus unarmed can handle running this place."
All eyes shifted to Angel and Alex at hearing that.
"He stopped Angelus?" Giles inquired.
"Not stopped. He scared him into leaving."
"What? How? When? Why?"
Angel paused before answering studying the man in front of him. "When Buffy got sick with the fever and had to be hospitalized, Angelus came to see her. Xander was there. He scared him into leaving."
"How?"
"If you have to ask, then you wouldn't understand."
Buffy was feeling lightheaded as she spoke in a quiet voice, "Why?"
"Because he loved you. And he wasn't going to let anything happen to you."
Spike stared at Alex with his mouth hanging open. "What's wrong Spike? Surprised or ashamed that a seventeen year old kid could do in one night what you never could and face Angelus face to face."
The vampire's mouth snapped shut as he hissed, "Sod off."
"Enough." They turned to see Giles looking at them and Alex with a newfound respect, "Even with this newfound information, I do not believe that Xander is capable of -"
"Capable of what?" The former construction worker cut him off. He leaned in closer to Giles as he spoke, "Because you know," Xander's face changed becoming that of Cole, "There is two of us here."
Giles took a deep breath before answering, "And what makes you capable?"
"Because Cole is also Chosen."
Everyone looked up and saw another man walking towards them. There was a sense of unease towards him until Angel spoke.
"Hello Whistler."
"Hey Fang. Nice to see you've kept that soul of yours still."
"I beg your pardon but who is this person." Travis said speaking for the first time.
"He's Whistler, a balance demon. He got me started as a champion." The souled vampire turned and spoke to the new arrival, "What do you mean 'Chosen'?"
Whistler picked up an apple from the fruit bowl and rubbed it on his coat while he answered.
"What's wrong big guy, you never heard of Alternate realities?"
The former detective blinked, "Yeah I've heard of them."
"Good because that's where Cole is from." Saying that Whistler took a bite from the apple.
"Say WHAT?" Buffy demanded.
After chewing and swallowing the balance demon replied, "Look different realities have different rules. Not every reality has a chosen that's female and is called the slayer. In Cole's case, the chosen line runs through men and they're called-"
"Hunters." Cordelia spoke.
"That's right princess. Cole is the latest in a long line of chosen ones, the Hunters."
"And what's that supposed to mean." Kennedy asked tersely.
"He's a mirror image of the slayers." Cole glared at him and Whistler added, "With some improvements."
"What sort of improvements?" Wesley was curious.
"Well I don't sleep with the things I hunt. As for the rest that's for me to know and you not to find out." He told the former watcher.
"I don't get it." Dawn spoke quietly but got everyone's attention nonetheless. "Why is Cole here though? You say he's chosen like that's the answer but I don't see what that changes."
Cole thought before he answered her, "You're right kid. Me being a champion means absolutely nothing in this whole thing. See what matters more is being human and loving your humanity. And that's where your sister and the rest of this bunch have messed up. They lost touch with their humanity," His eyes turned and raked over them, "with their heart. I can't say everything is going to be fixed but we're gonna damn sure try."
He turned and looked over at where Riley, Sam and Amy stood and saw each of them nod their head slowly. Giles opened his mouth to speak but Travers spoke first.
"Don't say anything Rupert, you no longer have a vote in this matter."
"What?" He turned and stared at the other man.
Travers continued, "It has been determined that you will return with me to the Headquarters of the Watcher's council to answer questions about your actions and those of your slayer. Please do no cause a scene Rupert."
The former librarian rose from his seat, anger evident in his voice, "And just who the hell do you think you are? Barging in here, making demands of me and people you refused to help?"
Travers looked amused at him, "Demands? Rupert this isn't a demand, this is an order and you shall obey it or there will be consequences."
"Such as?" 'Ripper' snarled.
"Such as, all financial access and aid to this school being cut." That slowed him down. "Not to mention the deportment of yourself as well as having everyone taken into custody by the US government for various crimes ranging from escape from prison to attempted murder to theft, child endangerment and so on."
His words seemed to drain the anger out of the former watcher. Giles looked around at the others seeing matching looks of concern and resignation on everyone's faces. All save for Cole's whose indifference threatened to become a smirk. "And you must be overjoyed at this series of events."
Cole grunted before he responded, "Yeah I'm pleased as punch to be in this twisted world where vampires are considered champions, nobody pays a damn bit of attention to the normal people and everyone I love and hold dear is viewed as a monster."
"Why you?" Giles stopped, studying the young man more closely then he ever had before, "There is something familiar about you."
The Hunter tilted his head slightly and spoke, "Is that so Ripper?"
Giles eyes went wide in surprised, as Cole's features suddenly made sense and a single word escaped his lips, "Ethan."
The male chosen nodded, "Ethan Rayne is my father."
That revelation seemed to complete let the air out of Giles who sat back down.
Cole turned his attention back to the group. "Now that the intro's are out of the way, it's time to get to work."
"Work?"
He ignored Kennedy's comment and spoke, "Well seeing as how Alex and I are going to be in charge of reorganizing this place into an effective school, I'm thinking we'll need a place to stay to stay on campus. I know, on the top floor, we'll take one of the corner apartments, the one on the right hand side."
"Hey, That's mine and Spike's place." Fred interrupted.
"Not anymore. But cheer up, you can always stay with one of the other girls."
"What about me?"
"You shut up or your next resting place will be an ashtray."
"It's MY apartment." Fred practically growled.
Cole sauntered up to her, and got right in her face "And I said 'not anymore'. See here's the thing, little girl. The second you took that THING into your bed, your opinion ceased to matter. As a matter of fact, you ought to be grateful that I don't dust him and ship you off to a mental ward. Because right now, you're days of having a cozy love nest with him are done. As is your relationship."
Spike grew incensed at that, "Now listen here mate-"
"Sam."
Casually, Sam flipped open her coat and revealed the handheld crossbow, which was pointed at Spike. She spoke in a flat voice; "I have a very beautiful little girl at home and having read up on your activities, don't think I won't dust you to protect her, vamp."
Spike wisely said nothing and backed away from her.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Buffy spoke at last; she had enough of what was going on. "And what makes you think you can just barge in here and force everyone to follow along with whatever you plan on doing."
The hunter turned and walked confidently towards her, speaking as he did so, "Who am I? Well I think we've more then answered that question. As for the second, No one is forcing anyone here to stay. You want to leave? Go ahead, you'll get a nice one way bus ticket out of here to the city of your choice. After that you're on your own. No money, no info, no contact with anyone here. As for what I'm doing," he paused and his face shifted becoming that of Alex again, "I'm clearing up your mess again Buffy."
"Xan-"
"Don't 'Xan' me Buffy. All I ever was to you was the cleanup crew. I fixed your windows when they broke. I made you laugh when no one else could and I let you lean on me when you had no one else. And in the end, you picked the vampire that tried to rape you over me. When I was strung up and bleeding like a stuck pig, you didn't bother to check on me, the first thing you did was check on Spike. Not me. "
Her voice was trembling as she asked her question, "Why are you doing this?"
"Because you wouldn't. You forced hundreds of thousands of young girls to follow in a lifestyle that you HATED from the beginning. You raped them of their innocence as much as any monster. You took away whatever choice they had and you don't give a damn that you did it. That's why I'm doing this Buffy, not for you, but for them. Now you can make a choice, either it's our way or the highway."
Silence settled over the room. Abruptly, Robin Wood stood up and walked away from the group with Faith staring after him. Wood walked up to the other group and introduced himself, "Robin Wood."
"Riley Finn."
They shook hands and Finn continued with their introductions, "This is my Sam"
"Pleased to meet you."
Cordelia and Dawn looked at each other, then at Andrew and nodded. As a group the three stood up and left. "Hey Amy."
"Hey Queen C."
The former high school classmates embraced.
"Dawn."
"Amy, this is Andrew."
"Hello."
Angel looked at Buffy and Xander standing near each other. He considered how much had changed from the girl he loved and the jealous young man he had met in Sunnydale. Then he walked over and grabbed Fred by the elbow. Dragging her behind him he made his way to where Wood had gone. Harmony smiled and followed them. Buffy watched them walk away in shock.
"Angel"
He didn't answer her as he turned to face the dwindling group. There was an audible gasp as Kennedy stood up from the table and walked away from Buffy to take a seat by the others.
Willow paled as she watched her girlfriend's actions, "Kennedy."
"I'm sorry Willow but those two are really screwed up."
Willow faltered and her gaze began alternating between Buffy and Kennedy.
"Don't move Willow."
She looked up in surprise at Xander. Without looking at her, he continued, "You're part of the problem that needs fixing too. Come hell or high water. This job will get done."
The End.
Author: Charlie
Timeline:Post BtVS S7 (initially), later on Post AtS S5.
Summary: Xander begins a new chapter of his life.
Author Notes: Round and round, the ship goes. Where it lands, the
author doesn't know. Will it (B)uffy, (C)ordelia, (D)awn, (F)aith,
(F)red, (H)armony, (K)enndy or (W)illow that wins the Xandman?
They arrived at the school after a long, tedious drive. A quick conversation with the office secretary and they were buzzed through the gates. Riley pulled into the nearly empty parking lot, noting nothing had changed since last time. As they went about the process of extracting themselves from the car, a van pulled into the parking lot beside them. The van's driver got out and opened the back doors. He emerged with a wheelchair, which he brought up to the passenger door and opened it. Quietly he assisted Quentin Travers into it. The head of the Watcher's council nodded at the others and spoke to his driver, instructing him to remain with the vehicle. He moved towards the group with his motorized wheelchair.
"Well, shall we?"
Riley and Alex nodded and led the group onto one of the walkways.
"Where are we going?"
"The library, they're always in the library."
As they reached the building, Travers pulled off to the side.
"Please go on ahead, I'll join you when it's time."
Alex nodded ad Finn led the group to the building. As before when they entered, the others were congregated in the back away from the doors. He spared a glance at the floor and noted the hole had been repaired although the differences in the wood used made it easy to see.
"Nice to see you again Riley". Buffy's voice was cold and harsh.
As before he and Alex ignored her as they moved towards her group. Buffy's annoyance grew and then she noticed that they weren't alone this time.
"Sam."
"Buffy."
Willow stared past Xander in surprise, beside her Kennedy let out an audible growl. Amy ignored the youngest slayer, stepped closer and touched Xander's arm. Reflexively he placed his arm around her waist, a move that sent feelings of shame and sadness across Willow's face as she slumped down. Cordelia reacted similarly to his actions and greeted him in a voice tinged with sadness, "Hey Alex."
"Hello Cor."
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Faith demanded, remembering the last time Riley and Xander had been present. The soldier casually tossed the folder he had been carrying on to the table. It landed in front of Wood who opened it and started looking through.
"What is it?" Giles asked the other man, clearly attempting to avoid a confrontation. The black man leafed through the contents with a confused look on his face as he read. Robin looked up at Giles, answering "They look like satellite reconnaissance photos."
"They are." Riley told them and then continued, "Did you notice what they are of?"
Wood looked down again, "It looks like a hole filled with rubble." His facial expression changed as he realized what he might be looking at. "This is Sunnydale, isn't it?"
Riley nodded and the room's tension instantly increased. Hesitantly Wesley picked up one of the photos and examined it. "This appears to have been taken by a different kind of camera then the first, an infrared one perhaps?"
"I'm not at liberty to say what kind of camera took that photo but yes it was a different camera then the first. NSA noticed something odd when they were sweeping the area and called in an outside expert to examine the photos. The expert determined through that the strange energy was a result of mystical energies coming together in a focal point. Through analysis, he and the NSA reached only one viable conclusion: The Hellmouth is still active."
All the air seemed to leave the room taking with it Buffy's anger. She and the others were caught off balance by the news.
"BOLLOCKS" Spike was indignant at hearing the news. "I bloody well sacrificed myself to seal that thing. I know for a fact it's slammed shut."
"And yet here you are." Amy fired back at him.
Buffy looked incredulous at the news, "No that's not possible, we. I saw the Hellmouth collapse. Spike did destroy it."
"Not according to the NSA test results."
"NSA?" Buffy asked.
"National Security Agency. You know like the CIA."
Buffy's eyes narrowed, "More government hacks."
"Not hacks, professionals. They have been monitoring the hellmouth since it's discovery early in the 1900's."
"You said an outside expert was asked to examine these photos. Who may I ask is qualified to do so?" Wesley inquired.
"Why I am Mr. Pryce" an oddly familiar voice echoed through the room. Everyone turned to see Quentin Travers roll into the room on his wheelchair. He maneuvered himself beside Riley and addressed the two former Watchers.
"Hello Wesley, Rupert."
"H-hello Quentin." Giles managed to stammer out, as did Wesley.
"Now Rupert, you seem surprised to see me."
"I had thought you dead, killed in the explosion."
"Somehow I am not surprised. Tell me Rupert, the Watcher's council predates civilization, as we know it. It has survived countless attempts to destroy it and you think a crude bomb destroyed us all?" Shaking his head, Travers continued, "Why am I not surprised at your thinking. You remain as ever a great disappointment."
Giles grew cold at that remark, "Now see here Quentin, I am not one little lackeys. I have seen more glimpses of the evil we fight then you could ever hope to. And furthermore, I have stood quite well on my own without any assistance from the council and we have done quite well."
The handicapped man looked at him with pity on his face. "No, Rupert. You have done nothing that we have not allowed you to do."
The man once known as 'Ripper' removed his glasses, "What?"
"Come along now Rupert, you didn't honestly think you survived all this time with the council being ignorant of your actions. We were very much aware of what was going on in Sunnydale until the attack. And it was a good thing too as you desperately needed the help."
Giles stood there, surprised etched on his face as Travers spoke; "You were given great leniency in dealing with your slayer because we were surprised she had survived her initial foray against the Master when she was supposed to have died. Afterwards the council was even more interested in what was going on so surveillance was increased and better records were kept not only of Summers and yourself but also of her friends. When it was appropriate, we intervened such as when the slayer's witch friend fell to darkness."
All the color drained out of Willow and Giles's faces. The former librarian started to speak only to be cut off his one time superior. "Now Rupert, tell me you honestly didn't think you, a disgraced Watcher, could go to a coven of that power and gain their assistance without our allowing it AND arranging it? Or that you could find the potentials? Or gain access to one of our many bank accounts?"
Giles's body seemed to sag as Quentin continued speaking. "It was only because of your family that you were allowed to become a Watcher after that disgraceful period when you fled your responsibilities."
He looked over as the former Watcher slumped down in his seat.
"Excuse me, Mr. Travers."
"Patience, Wesley, patience. All in good time."
Quentin looked at Buffy, "Hello Ms. Summers."
"What are you doing here?"
"And still rude I see. I am here to do what should have been done some time ago. I am correcting some problems and seeing to it you do no further damage."
"You don't have any power over me. Or over any of the new slayers." She looked over at Faith and Kennedy who nodded in response to her words.
"I see, you saw the box then?"
Buffy was caught off guard, "Box?"
"The box that was in Nikki Wood's possession when she was killed by William the Bloody."
She nodded.
"Tell me something Ms. Summers, if that box were so important and so vital, why would the Watcher's council have left in the care of her young son and former Watcher?"
There was an uncomfortable silence before Robin spoke, "because it wasn't important at all, was it?"
The head of the Watcher's council turned and addressed him, "Correct, Mr. Wood. The box was something created by the council as a means of answering questions by the earlier slayers. It does nothing more give the answers the slayer in question seeks."
"You mean, what I saw and did."
"Was precisely what you wanted to see."
Buffy's face fell at that news.
"But that is irrelevant. What is important now is the future of this training facility."
"What?"
"We had hoped to avoid doing this for another year but with the recent reactivation of the Hellmouth in Sunnydale, we must accelerate our plans."
"Plans? What plans?" Faith was instantly on the defensive.
Quentin looked around at the group before speaking; "We have decided that in good conscious that Buffy Summers can no longer be allowed to lead this group. She poses too much of a risk of corrupting the younger slayers. "
"WHAT!"
Angel interrupted before Buffy could get going, "Not that's my area of expertise but if you remove Buffy as leader, who will replace her?"
Travers looked at the vampire before replying, "We have a pair of candidates that we feel can do the job and do it better then her."
"I ain't doing, screw you Q."
"You were not and never considered a candidate Faith."
The other slayer was thrown, "Who then?"
He gestured at Alex, "They are."
There was quiet in the room before Spike burst out laughing. "Oh this is rich, Droopy a leader? Now I've heard it all. He couldn't lead a goldfish to water."
Alex's face took on a serious tone as he stepped to the forefront. "You don't know me Spike. You have no idea what I'm capable of."
Spike didn't even look at him as he replied; "Oh I think I know what you're capable of droopy. Fixing windows and cutting boards but I reckon there isn't a market for a carpenter who can't bloody well see."
"He's right you know."
Alex turned and looked at Faith. She stood there shaking her head, "Sorry Xan but you ain't got what's needed to do this gig."
"And how would you know Besim"
Faith's eyes widened and her lower lip started trembling. She spoke in quiet unsure, "How did you?"
"Here's a little surprise for you Faith, you don't know ME. You don't know anything about me; you don't know what I can do. Or what I did."
Cordelia leaned over and asked Wesley "What did he call that's got her in a tizzy?"
Without looking at her, he replied "Her name."
Wood watched with interest what was going on. He lightly tapped the table to get Alex's attention. "Not that I agree with Buffy, Alex but this would require a little bit more then what you're used."
The younger man looked at him for a few seconds before replying, "And how would you know what I'm used to? Buffy's second day in Sunnydale I had to pull her out of a sewer or she would have been killed by vampires. When she went to face the Master, it was me who forced Angel to go after her and use CPR to bring her back. When the Judge was reassembled, it was me who thought up the plan to kill it. So don't tell me what I'm used to."
Wood was about to respond when Angel interrupted him, "He's right. Any man that can scare off Angelus unarmed can handle running this place."
All eyes shifted to Angel and Alex at hearing that.
"He stopped Angelus?" Giles inquired.
"Not stopped. He scared him into leaving."
"What? How? When? Why?"
Angel paused before answering studying the man in front of him. "When Buffy got sick with the fever and had to be hospitalized, Angelus came to see her. Xander was there. He scared him into leaving."
"How?"
"If you have to ask, then you wouldn't understand."
Buffy was feeling lightheaded as she spoke in a quiet voice, "Why?"
"Because he loved you. And he wasn't going to let anything happen to you."
Spike stared at Alex with his mouth hanging open. "What's wrong Spike? Surprised or ashamed that a seventeen year old kid could do in one night what you never could and face Angelus face to face."
The vampire's mouth snapped shut as he hissed, "Sod off."
"Enough." They turned to see Giles looking at them and Alex with a newfound respect, "Even with this newfound information, I do not believe that Xander is capable of -"
"Capable of what?" The former construction worker cut him off. He leaned in closer to Giles as he spoke, "Because you know," Xander's face changed becoming that of Cole, "There is two of us here."
Giles took a deep breath before answering, "And what makes you capable?"
"Because Cole is also Chosen."
Everyone looked up and saw another man walking towards them. There was a sense of unease towards him until Angel spoke.
"Hello Whistler."
"Hey Fang. Nice to see you've kept that soul of yours still."
"I beg your pardon but who is this person." Travis said speaking for the first time.
"He's Whistler, a balance demon. He got me started as a champion." The souled vampire turned and spoke to the new arrival, "What do you mean 'Chosen'?"
Whistler picked up an apple from the fruit bowl and rubbed it on his coat while he answered.
"What's wrong big guy, you never heard of Alternate realities?"
The former detective blinked, "Yeah I've heard of them."
"Good because that's where Cole is from." Saying that Whistler took a bite from the apple.
"Say WHAT?" Buffy demanded.
After chewing and swallowing the balance demon replied, "Look different realities have different rules. Not every reality has a chosen that's female and is called the slayer. In Cole's case, the chosen line runs through men and they're called-"
"Hunters." Cordelia spoke.
"That's right princess. Cole is the latest in a long line of chosen ones, the Hunters."
"And what's that supposed to mean." Kennedy asked tersely.
"He's a mirror image of the slayers." Cole glared at him and Whistler added, "With some improvements."
"What sort of improvements?" Wesley was curious.
"Well I don't sleep with the things I hunt. As for the rest that's for me to know and you not to find out." He told the former watcher.
"I don't get it." Dawn spoke quietly but got everyone's attention nonetheless. "Why is Cole here though? You say he's chosen like that's the answer but I don't see what that changes."
Cole thought before he answered her, "You're right kid. Me being a champion means absolutely nothing in this whole thing. See what matters more is being human and loving your humanity. And that's where your sister and the rest of this bunch have messed up. They lost touch with their humanity," His eyes turned and raked over them, "with their heart. I can't say everything is going to be fixed but we're gonna damn sure try."
He turned and looked over at where Riley, Sam and Amy stood and saw each of them nod their head slowly. Giles opened his mouth to speak but Travers spoke first.
"Don't say anything Rupert, you no longer have a vote in this matter."
"What?" He turned and stared at the other man.
Travers continued, "It has been determined that you will return with me to the Headquarters of the Watcher's council to answer questions about your actions and those of your slayer. Please do no cause a scene Rupert."
The former librarian rose from his seat, anger evident in his voice, "And just who the hell do you think you are? Barging in here, making demands of me and people you refused to help?"
Travers looked amused at him, "Demands? Rupert this isn't a demand, this is an order and you shall obey it or there will be consequences."
"Such as?" 'Ripper' snarled.
"Such as, all financial access and aid to this school being cut." That slowed him down. "Not to mention the deportment of yourself as well as having everyone taken into custody by the US government for various crimes ranging from escape from prison to attempted murder to theft, child endangerment and so on."
His words seemed to drain the anger out of the former watcher. Giles looked around at the others seeing matching looks of concern and resignation on everyone's faces. All save for Cole's whose indifference threatened to become a smirk. "And you must be overjoyed at this series of events."
Cole grunted before he responded, "Yeah I'm pleased as punch to be in this twisted world where vampires are considered champions, nobody pays a damn bit of attention to the normal people and everyone I love and hold dear is viewed as a monster."
"Why you?" Giles stopped, studying the young man more closely then he ever had before, "There is something familiar about you."
The Hunter tilted his head slightly and spoke, "Is that so Ripper?"
Giles eyes went wide in surprised, as Cole's features suddenly made sense and a single word escaped his lips, "Ethan."
The male chosen nodded, "Ethan Rayne is my father."
That revelation seemed to complete let the air out of Giles who sat back down.
Cole turned his attention back to the group. "Now that the intro's are out of the way, it's time to get to work."
"Work?"
He ignored Kennedy's comment and spoke, "Well seeing as how Alex and I are going to be in charge of reorganizing this place into an effective school, I'm thinking we'll need a place to stay to stay on campus. I know, on the top floor, we'll take one of the corner apartments, the one on the right hand side."
"Hey, That's mine and Spike's place." Fred interrupted.
"Not anymore. But cheer up, you can always stay with one of the other girls."
"What about me?"
"You shut up or your next resting place will be an ashtray."
"It's MY apartment." Fred practically growled.
Cole sauntered up to her, and got right in her face "And I said 'not anymore'. See here's the thing, little girl. The second you took that THING into your bed, your opinion ceased to matter. As a matter of fact, you ought to be grateful that I don't dust him and ship you off to a mental ward. Because right now, you're days of having a cozy love nest with him are done. As is your relationship."
Spike grew incensed at that, "Now listen here mate-"
"Sam."
Casually, Sam flipped open her coat and revealed the handheld crossbow, which was pointed at Spike. She spoke in a flat voice; "I have a very beautiful little girl at home and having read up on your activities, don't think I won't dust you to protect her, vamp."
Spike wisely said nothing and backed away from her.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Buffy spoke at last; she had enough of what was going on. "And what makes you think you can just barge in here and force everyone to follow along with whatever you plan on doing."
The hunter turned and walked confidently towards her, speaking as he did so, "Who am I? Well I think we've more then answered that question. As for the second, No one is forcing anyone here to stay. You want to leave? Go ahead, you'll get a nice one way bus ticket out of here to the city of your choice. After that you're on your own. No money, no info, no contact with anyone here. As for what I'm doing," he paused and his face shifted becoming that of Alex again, "I'm clearing up your mess again Buffy."
"Xan-"
"Don't 'Xan' me Buffy. All I ever was to you was the cleanup crew. I fixed your windows when they broke. I made you laugh when no one else could and I let you lean on me when you had no one else. And in the end, you picked the vampire that tried to rape you over me. When I was strung up and bleeding like a stuck pig, you didn't bother to check on me, the first thing you did was check on Spike. Not me. "
Her voice was trembling as she asked her question, "Why are you doing this?"
"Because you wouldn't. You forced hundreds of thousands of young girls to follow in a lifestyle that you HATED from the beginning. You raped them of their innocence as much as any monster. You took away whatever choice they had and you don't give a damn that you did it. That's why I'm doing this Buffy, not for you, but for them. Now you can make a choice, either it's our way or the highway."
Silence settled over the room. Abruptly, Robin Wood stood up and walked away from the group with Faith staring after him. Wood walked up to the other group and introduced himself, "Robin Wood."
"Riley Finn."
They shook hands and Finn continued with their introductions, "This is my Sam"
"Pleased to meet you."
Cordelia and Dawn looked at each other, then at Andrew and nodded. As a group the three stood up and left. "Hey Amy."
"Hey Queen C."
The former high school classmates embraced.
"Dawn."
"Amy, this is Andrew."
"Hello."
Angel looked at Buffy and Xander standing near each other. He considered how much had changed from the girl he loved and the jealous young man he had met in Sunnydale. Then he walked over and grabbed Fred by the elbow. Dragging her behind him he made his way to where Wood had gone. Harmony smiled and followed them. Buffy watched them walk away in shock.
"Angel"
He didn't answer her as he turned to face the dwindling group. There was an audible gasp as Kennedy stood up from the table and walked away from Buffy to take a seat by the others.
Willow paled as she watched her girlfriend's actions, "Kennedy."
"I'm sorry Willow but those two are really screwed up."
Willow faltered and her gaze began alternating between Buffy and Kennedy.
"Don't move Willow."
She looked up in surprise at Xander. Without looking at her, he continued, "You're part of the problem that needs fixing too. Come hell or high water. This job will get done."
The End.