The Assassin And The Sorceress – Epilogue
(One week after last chapter)
Jenny took slow steps towards her door, pushing her body to rebuild the muscle that had atrophied while her spine had been severed – it was a slow, and would continue to be slow, and painful process, but it was one she was going to complete, if for no other reason than Xander had gone out of his way to find her a magical cure for her spine. The reason she was walking this time, though, was that someone had knocked on her door and had patiently waited for her to arrive – it was the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday, so it wasn't a vampire, but Jenny wondered just who it could be as she arrived and peered through the peephole.
The man on the other side, for it the person was definitely male, was dressed in a dark suit of what appeared to be silk, and was facing away from her – he stood at just over six feet tall, had long dark hair in a tight ponytail, and from what she could see of his neck, a dark tan; she went through her memories of anyone she knew like that, but came up blank as she opened the door, safety chain locked into place, "Yes?"
"Jenny Calendar?" The man's voice was as dry as the desert and carried to her ears, but no further, and he also didn't turn around, which aroused her suspicions even more.
"Yes, I am. Who are you?"
The man chuckled dryly and continued to not look at her, "An acquaintance of an acquaintance of a friend, Jenny. I have been asked to deliver to you a message and an item – I will leave it on your doorstep and depart, but all I ask is for you not to ask any questions or to try and follow me, for it would be fruitless." Jenny frowned – she knew that voice from somewhere, but couldn't place the name.
"Very well, stranger – leave your item, note and depart." She watched the man kneel down and leave a package wrapped in a yellowed-with-age piece of silk and straighten, bow away from her and depart for all of six feet before he ... disappeared into thin air. She hissed with surprise, not even feeling any magics used, and closed the door before undoing the safety chain and opening the door to retrieve the package.
Back in her kitchen, she placed the item down and slowly began to open it, finding that it was what looked like a silk scarf or a head wrap that had been well used over a great period of time and been cared for. This puzzled her even more as she saw the dark piece of fabric that it held – it was about three and a half inches wide on both ends and swelled to seven inches in the middle, but she could also feel the magic within the cloth even as her mind brought up a memory of a similar piece of cloth as she reached for the note.
It was written upon an aged piece of paper, papyrus by the looks of it, and it was also written in a flowing script that was legible yet not ... normal; 'Hello, Jenny. If you are reading this then something has happened and I am no longer there. Do not worry, I can find my way back home. In case you're wondering, this is Xander.'
Jenny dropped the note as her eyes finished the name and began to tear up – she missed her young acquaintance and if this was his note, then he had possibly found a way to return. She wiped her eyes and picked up the letter again, but this time her legs were shaking a little and her hands as well, 'Alright, I think it's time that I told you a little about what's happened so far – Sasha and I made it down to the inactive Hellmouth and she got home, as I am sure that Whistler has told you, but after that things get ... fuzzy for a little while on my end of things. Actually, I don't remember anything for about six months, but let me assure you that I am well as I write this. Now, I am going to end this letter, so I want you to call the others, if they are still alive, and call them over – this letter has been enspelled to continue once they are all there. Love, Xander.'
Jenny wasn't sure what happened next, but the phone was there in her hands and her fingers were dialing up a familiar number, which was answered after a short time, "Rupert, this is Jenny – gather the others, Xander has contacted me."
{35 minutes later}
Willow was almost bouncing in her seat, Buffy almost as bad, Rupert was impatiently pacing and Oz ... was Oz – Jenny figured that nothing short of God coming down and demanding him to act was going to change that. She had recited the letter thus far and had the rest of it in her hands, a letter that had now expanded over the rest of the paper, a piece that was nearly a foot long and covered on both sides, "Ready?" She got an affirmative nod and she began to recite again, "Alright, if you're reading this part now, they are all there – good, because I don't want to tell this story more than once.
"I didn't make it out of that place in one piece, guys – somehow I was pulled into Sasha's own dimension and along the way I ... well, I was changed in that the Hyena and the Soldier, both of whom were still with me at the time, were merged with me in ways that I had never hoped or dreamed about. As I write this, I have the Hyena's senses, reflexes and his laugh while I have the Soldier's mind, conditioning and instincts to kill and complete the mission, but I am still myself to an extent. Now comes the hard part – while I am not sure exactly how long it has been since we have left your world, I have been in this dimension for nearly fifty years." Jenny's voice faltered even as Willow gasped, Buffy choked, Rupert muttered 'Good Lord' and Oz grunted out a 'Harsh'. "I am not sure how you've all reacted, but remember to give me ten brownie points if G-man muttered, exclaimed or otherwise voiced out 'Good Lord'." Willow giggled through some tears, as Jenny found herself chuckled and Buffy was mute while both Rupert and Oz were silent as well.
"Alright, more news – in Sasha's world, I am still an assassin, but here we are more of a police force for magic users in that if one crosses the line, we cross them and one of us don't come out of it alive. I've learned to deal with some of the things that I've been forced to do in my new profession, so please, don't try and rationalize it any further than I have. Now, another bit of news that I am sure will strike some of you as good, some of it as bad, and some of it as 'what the hell happened' – I am a husband a father now for nearly forty-five years. Willow, breath, do NOT enter hyper-Willow-babble mode and let me finish – Sasha and I became friends over the few days that we knew each other in your world, but while I am sure that she and I could have made beautiful music together, we never got married, but rather we did stay very good friends until her death a few months ago. No, I married a former Paladin in Lut Gholein named Fara – Fara is a beautiful woman to this day, even at nearly eighty years old when she passed, and while she pulled the wise and fair thing back then, we didn't get off on the best footing at all. Now that I think about it, it was kind of funny at first, we hated each other like Cordy and I used to, but after a while that wore off. We eventually became friends and after a short courtship the Prince Jehryn, who has actually been my employer on more than a few occasions - married us in front of Sasha, her family and a man named Deckard Cain, whom was the companion and advisor to the Slayer of Diablo.
"I find it my duty to inform you all that Fara and I have been blessed with several children of varying occupations – our eldest is Jennifer, who has taken up her mother's profession as a Paladin and to this day doe her job with great pride and zeal." Jenny found tears in her eyes as her voice broke up again but pushed past it, "Jenny, you were a friend when I needed one, and for that, I thank you. Rupert and Daniel were born next, twins, and while Daniel takes after me in the respect that he has a bit of a smart mouth and a sweet tooth, Rupert is just like you, G-man, in that he's a touch British at first, but a pretty good guy when you get to know him – both are business men in the world and do rather well for themselves. Willow as born next and she is our youngest and much like her namesake – red hair, green eyes, has the tendency to babble and is, surprisingly, the blacksmith of the Prince and his royal family. Buffy, I'm sorry that Fara and I never got around to having another child to name after you, but if it helps, there are a sea of Buffy's in the camel herds of the Prince." Willow joined Jenny in a surprised outburst of laughter, Rupert snorted politely, Oz even snickered, but Jenny was surprised to see that Buffy had taken it all in stride, though her eyes were a little damp as well.
"As I have stated, I have been here for a half of a century and I have come to a conclusion – it is time for me to move on in that with my wife and friend dead, and my children grown. For now I leave this letter with two things – first off, love is a gift, treasure it always, and Jenny, go and open the front door." Jenny dropped the letter and was struggling to get to her feet, but found that Buffy and Willow both vaulted the couch they had been sitting on and were in a dead heat for who was going to reach the front door, which they reached at the same time and began shoving one another.
"Back off, blondie! I've known him longer."
"Move it, tree-girl, he's my friend too!"
Jenny made it to the door with the help of Rupert and Oz and casually reached between the pair of struggling teenagers and opened the door to reveal the same man who had delivered the silk-wrapped bundle nearly 50 minutes earlier, "Xander?"
The man laughed, still looking away from them, "No, but I can see where that assumption would be made. Alexander is waiting for you at the Library, but do not be surprised at his appearance." With that, the man again disappeared into thin air and Jenny blew out an exasperated breath.
"I hate it when a man comes and goes as he pleases."
{Sunnydale High School Library}
He watched them enter the book-filled room with an urgency that he had not seen in many years, but then again he had not seen them in many years, so that could be why – Buffy and Willow were engaged in what amounted to be a hair-pulling contest over who was going to hug him into pieces first, Oz was watching the pair with a fascinated look of a guy who was waiting for the clothes to come flying off and mud to be mixed for wrestling in, Giles was helping Jenny and the both of them were looking around expectantly, but saw nothing ... which was the point.
It was Willow who won the match with a dirty trick that she had once pulled on him as children, "Xander? Where are you?"
"Maybe I'm here." He allowed the spell he had over himself drop for a second but then put it back up to full strength and moved across the room, where he did the same thing again, "Or maybe I'm over here."
"Damn it, Twinkie boy, stop screwing around and show us where you are!" Everyone blinked in shock, Xander himself included, as Oz stood flush-faced next to Jenny and had a look of expectancy on his face.
"Oz, no more outbursts like that – you're scaring me." He allowed the spell to drop completely and stood equidistant from both groups of people, "Hi guys, miss me?"
AN: Alright, I think I'll ... (sees glares from readers and muse) continue with this fic.
{Jenny's POV}
Jenny couldn't believe her eyes – standing not twenty feet away, wrapped in a black cloak and smiling innocently, as Alexander Harris, but if he was a day over thirty she would convert to Christianity and enter the convent. His face was tanned and weathered by time and the sands, but it still held that boyish look that came with a youthful spirit, his eyes were still light and the grin that quirked his lips was classic Xander, but his hair was loose and long, curling into rings and waves as it spilled over his shoulders, and one could see the plated boots on his feet as he stood there.
"Xander?" Willow carefully approached the figure, as if moving too quickly would shatter the illusion that it might have been.
"In the flesh. Well, in the cloak, armor, weapons and flesh, Willow."
"Prove it." Willow's demand was apparent to all and Xander's look of incredulousness was there in spades.
"You're kidding, right? You want me to do THAT in front of THEM? Gingi, have you lost what little is left of your mind?"
Willow scowled a little more and stomped her foot, "DO IT."
Xander, or the being that was supposed to be Xander, sighed, and relented, "Fine, but if they laugh at me, it's on your head." He drew himself up and then did something that Jenny had never seen anyone do – the Snoopy Dance, in all of its glory, head tilted back and all. After about five seconds, though, he stopped and looked right at Willow, "There, happy?"
Willow didn't respond – she merely bolted forwards and slammed into Xander's chest to hug him into tiny pieces, a place she didn't stay too long as she then was shot back by an unseen force and deposited right back on her buttocks about ten feet away. "What?"
"Sorry – my armor's enchanted." He removed his cloak to reveal plate-mail armor in the deepest of black colors, plate boots and chainmail gloves that seemed to have an energy pouring off of them as he chuckled at their looks – Jenny knew she was gaping but couldn't tear her eyes away from the figure to look at the others. "So, what do you think?" He spun around and smiled, "Is it me?"
"Explain. Now!" Jenny, hearing the tone in Rupert's voice, would have told anyone her darkest secrets, but she was shocked to see Xander merely shrug and move to lean against the closest table, removing his chainmail glove and flexing his fingers as he did.
"Not much to explain – I go dragged along for the ride, stayed as an assassin, got married, had children, and now I'm here to restore the balance in their world." He stood up again and walked over to where she was standing, Oz having moved away to pick up Willow, and smiled as he got closer, "Jenny."
"Xander." She reached out and stroked his weathered cheek, "You must give me the name of your doctor – you look so young."
"An illusion, I assure you, Jenny. Besides, with as beautiful as you are, you'll never need any work." His voice and words were as smooth as the silk the cloth, the balaclava, her mind finally supplied, had been and Jenny felt a blush tinge her cheeks as he walked behind her, only to place his hands on her shoulders and begin to massage, "And to answer your unasked question, time flows differently between the two worlds, so it took a while for my body to adapt, as it will do so again here."
"So you'll get younger?"
She could only guess that he shrugged, "Probably. Still, for a sixty seven year old man who can walk in the sun and not turn into a flaming ball of dust, I'd have to say I look pretty damned good."
Buffy completely ruined the moment and asked, "So what are you going to do now?"
Xander walked back around her and merely shrugged, "I'm not sure, Buff, but I have a line on some old business of mine that needs to be finished. Angelus needs to be dealt with and dealt with he shall be."
Jenny felt a chill go down her spine as Xander began to cackle and darkness began to envelop the room and, for a split second, she felt sorry for Angelus. That moment soon passed.
Alright, now I'm finished. There will be a sequel to this, a short one, later on, but I want to finish some of my other things first. Peace.
(One week after last chapter)
Jenny took slow steps towards her door, pushing her body to rebuild the muscle that had atrophied while her spine had been severed – it was a slow, and would continue to be slow, and painful process, but it was one she was going to complete, if for no other reason than Xander had gone out of his way to find her a magical cure for her spine. The reason she was walking this time, though, was that someone had knocked on her door and had patiently waited for her to arrive – it was the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday, so it wasn't a vampire, but Jenny wondered just who it could be as she arrived and peered through the peephole.
The man on the other side, for it the person was definitely male, was dressed in a dark suit of what appeared to be silk, and was facing away from her – he stood at just over six feet tall, had long dark hair in a tight ponytail, and from what she could see of his neck, a dark tan; she went through her memories of anyone she knew like that, but came up blank as she opened the door, safety chain locked into place, "Yes?"
"Jenny Calendar?" The man's voice was as dry as the desert and carried to her ears, but no further, and he also didn't turn around, which aroused her suspicions even more.
"Yes, I am. Who are you?"
The man chuckled dryly and continued to not look at her, "An acquaintance of an acquaintance of a friend, Jenny. I have been asked to deliver to you a message and an item – I will leave it on your doorstep and depart, but all I ask is for you not to ask any questions or to try and follow me, for it would be fruitless." Jenny frowned – she knew that voice from somewhere, but couldn't place the name.
"Very well, stranger – leave your item, note and depart." She watched the man kneel down and leave a package wrapped in a yellowed-with-age piece of silk and straighten, bow away from her and depart for all of six feet before he ... disappeared into thin air. She hissed with surprise, not even feeling any magics used, and closed the door before undoing the safety chain and opening the door to retrieve the package.
Back in her kitchen, she placed the item down and slowly began to open it, finding that it was what looked like a silk scarf or a head wrap that had been well used over a great period of time and been cared for. This puzzled her even more as she saw the dark piece of fabric that it held – it was about three and a half inches wide on both ends and swelled to seven inches in the middle, but she could also feel the magic within the cloth even as her mind brought up a memory of a similar piece of cloth as she reached for the note.
It was written upon an aged piece of paper, papyrus by the looks of it, and it was also written in a flowing script that was legible yet not ... normal; 'Hello, Jenny. If you are reading this then something has happened and I am no longer there. Do not worry, I can find my way back home. In case you're wondering, this is Xander.'
Jenny dropped the note as her eyes finished the name and began to tear up – she missed her young acquaintance and if this was his note, then he had possibly found a way to return. She wiped her eyes and picked up the letter again, but this time her legs were shaking a little and her hands as well, 'Alright, I think it's time that I told you a little about what's happened so far – Sasha and I made it down to the inactive Hellmouth and she got home, as I am sure that Whistler has told you, but after that things get ... fuzzy for a little while on my end of things. Actually, I don't remember anything for about six months, but let me assure you that I am well as I write this. Now, I am going to end this letter, so I want you to call the others, if they are still alive, and call them over – this letter has been enspelled to continue once they are all there. Love, Xander.'
Jenny wasn't sure what happened next, but the phone was there in her hands and her fingers were dialing up a familiar number, which was answered after a short time, "Rupert, this is Jenny – gather the others, Xander has contacted me."
{35 minutes later}
Willow was almost bouncing in her seat, Buffy almost as bad, Rupert was impatiently pacing and Oz ... was Oz – Jenny figured that nothing short of God coming down and demanding him to act was going to change that. She had recited the letter thus far and had the rest of it in her hands, a letter that had now expanded over the rest of the paper, a piece that was nearly a foot long and covered on both sides, "Ready?" She got an affirmative nod and she began to recite again, "Alright, if you're reading this part now, they are all there – good, because I don't want to tell this story more than once.
"I didn't make it out of that place in one piece, guys – somehow I was pulled into Sasha's own dimension and along the way I ... well, I was changed in that the Hyena and the Soldier, both of whom were still with me at the time, were merged with me in ways that I had never hoped or dreamed about. As I write this, I have the Hyena's senses, reflexes and his laugh while I have the Soldier's mind, conditioning and instincts to kill and complete the mission, but I am still myself to an extent. Now comes the hard part – while I am not sure exactly how long it has been since we have left your world, I have been in this dimension for nearly fifty years." Jenny's voice faltered even as Willow gasped, Buffy choked, Rupert muttered 'Good Lord' and Oz grunted out a 'Harsh'. "I am not sure how you've all reacted, but remember to give me ten brownie points if G-man muttered, exclaimed or otherwise voiced out 'Good Lord'." Willow giggled through some tears, as Jenny found herself chuckled and Buffy was mute while both Rupert and Oz were silent as well.
"Alright, more news – in Sasha's world, I am still an assassin, but here we are more of a police force for magic users in that if one crosses the line, we cross them and one of us don't come out of it alive. I've learned to deal with some of the things that I've been forced to do in my new profession, so please, don't try and rationalize it any further than I have. Now, another bit of news that I am sure will strike some of you as good, some of it as bad, and some of it as 'what the hell happened' – I am a husband a father now for nearly forty-five years. Willow, breath, do NOT enter hyper-Willow-babble mode and let me finish – Sasha and I became friends over the few days that we knew each other in your world, but while I am sure that she and I could have made beautiful music together, we never got married, but rather we did stay very good friends until her death a few months ago. No, I married a former Paladin in Lut Gholein named Fara – Fara is a beautiful woman to this day, even at nearly eighty years old when she passed, and while she pulled the wise and fair thing back then, we didn't get off on the best footing at all. Now that I think about it, it was kind of funny at first, we hated each other like Cordy and I used to, but after a while that wore off. We eventually became friends and after a short courtship the Prince Jehryn, who has actually been my employer on more than a few occasions - married us in front of Sasha, her family and a man named Deckard Cain, whom was the companion and advisor to the Slayer of Diablo.
"I find it my duty to inform you all that Fara and I have been blessed with several children of varying occupations – our eldest is Jennifer, who has taken up her mother's profession as a Paladin and to this day doe her job with great pride and zeal." Jenny found tears in her eyes as her voice broke up again but pushed past it, "Jenny, you were a friend when I needed one, and for that, I thank you. Rupert and Daniel were born next, twins, and while Daniel takes after me in the respect that he has a bit of a smart mouth and a sweet tooth, Rupert is just like you, G-man, in that he's a touch British at first, but a pretty good guy when you get to know him – both are business men in the world and do rather well for themselves. Willow as born next and she is our youngest and much like her namesake – red hair, green eyes, has the tendency to babble and is, surprisingly, the blacksmith of the Prince and his royal family. Buffy, I'm sorry that Fara and I never got around to having another child to name after you, but if it helps, there are a sea of Buffy's in the camel herds of the Prince." Willow joined Jenny in a surprised outburst of laughter, Rupert snorted politely, Oz even snickered, but Jenny was surprised to see that Buffy had taken it all in stride, though her eyes were a little damp as well.
"As I have stated, I have been here for a half of a century and I have come to a conclusion – it is time for me to move on in that with my wife and friend dead, and my children grown. For now I leave this letter with two things – first off, love is a gift, treasure it always, and Jenny, go and open the front door." Jenny dropped the letter and was struggling to get to her feet, but found that Buffy and Willow both vaulted the couch they had been sitting on and were in a dead heat for who was going to reach the front door, which they reached at the same time and began shoving one another.
"Back off, blondie! I've known him longer."
"Move it, tree-girl, he's my friend too!"
Jenny made it to the door with the help of Rupert and Oz and casually reached between the pair of struggling teenagers and opened the door to reveal the same man who had delivered the silk-wrapped bundle nearly 50 minutes earlier, "Xander?"
The man laughed, still looking away from them, "No, but I can see where that assumption would be made. Alexander is waiting for you at the Library, but do not be surprised at his appearance." With that, the man again disappeared into thin air and Jenny blew out an exasperated breath.
"I hate it when a man comes and goes as he pleases."
{Sunnydale High School Library}
He watched them enter the book-filled room with an urgency that he had not seen in many years, but then again he had not seen them in many years, so that could be why – Buffy and Willow were engaged in what amounted to be a hair-pulling contest over who was going to hug him into pieces first, Oz was watching the pair with a fascinated look of a guy who was waiting for the clothes to come flying off and mud to be mixed for wrestling in, Giles was helping Jenny and the both of them were looking around expectantly, but saw nothing ... which was the point.
It was Willow who won the match with a dirty trick that she had once pulled on him as children, "Xander? Where are you?"
"Maybe I'm here." He allowed the spell he had over himself drop for a second but then put it back up to full strength and moved across the room, where he did the same thing again, "Or maybe I'm over here."
"Damn it, Twinkie boy, stop screwing around and show us where you are!" Everyone blinked in shock, Xander himself included, as Oz stood flush-faced next to Jenny and had a look of expectancy on his face.
"Oz, no more outbursts like that – you're scaring me." He allowed the spell to drop completely and stood equidistant from both groups of people, "Hi guys, miss me?"
AN: Alright, I think I'll ... (sees glares from readers and muse) continue with this fic.
{Jenny's POV}
Jenny couldn't believe her eyes – standing not twenty feet away, wrapped in a black cloak and smiling innocently, as Alexander Harris, but if he was a day over thirty she would convert to Christianity and enter the convent. His face was tanned and weathered by time and the sands, but it still held that boyish look that came with a youthful spirit, his eyes were still light and the grin that quirked his lips was classic Xander, but his hair was loose and long, curling into rings and waves as it spilled over his shoulders, and one could see the plated boots on his feet as he stood there.
"Xander?" Willow carefully approached the figure, as if moving too quickly would shatter the illusion that it might have been.
"In the flesh. Well, in the cloak, armor, weapons and flesh, Willow."
"Prove it." Willow's demand was apparent to all and Xander's look of incredulousness was there in spades.
"You're kidding, right? You want me to do THAT in front of THEM? Gingi, have you lost what little is left of your mind?"
Willow scowled a little more and stomped her foot, "DO IT."
Xander, or the being that was supposed to be Xander, sighed, and relented, "Fine, but if they laugh at me, it's on your head." He drew himself up and then did something that Jenny had never seen anyone do – the Snoopy Dance, in all of its glory, head tilted back and all. After about five seconds, though, he stopped and looked right at Willow, "There, happy?"
Willow didn't respond – she merely bolted forwards and slammed into Xander's chest to hug him into tiny pieces, a place she didn't stay too long as she then was shot back by an unseen force and deposited right back on her buttocks about ten feet away. "What?"
"Sorry – my armor's enchanted." He removed his cloak to reveal plate-mail armor in the deepest of black colors, plate boots and chainmail gloves that seemed to have an energy pouring off of them as he chuckled at their looks – Jenny knew she was gaping but couldn't tear her eyes away from the figure to look at the others. "So, what do you think?" He spun around and smiled, "Is it me?"
"Explain. Now!" Jenny, hearing the tone in Rupert's voice, would have told anyone her darkest secrets, but she was shocked to see Xander merely shrug and move to lean against the closest table, removing his chainmail glove and flexing his fingers as he did.
"Not much to explain – I go dragged along for the ride, stayed as an assassin, got married, had children, and now I'm here to restore the balance in their world." He stood up again and walked over to where she was standing, Oz having moved away to pick up Willow, and smiled as he got closer, "Jenny."
"Xander." She reached out and stroked his weathered cheek, "You must give me the name of your doctor – you look so young."
"An illusion, I assure you, Jenny. Besides, with as beautiful as you are, you'll never need any work." His voice and words were as smooth as the silk the cloth, the balaclava, her mind finally supplied, had been and Jenny felt a blush tinge her cheeks as he walked behind her, only to place his hands on her shoulders and begin to massage, "And to answer your unasked question, time flows differently between the two worlds, so it took a while for my body to adapt, as it will do so again here."
"So you'll get younger?"
She could only guess that he shrugged, "Probably. Still, for a sixty seven year old man who can walk in the sun and not turn into a flaming ball of dust, I'd have to say I look pretty damned good."
Buffy completely ruined the moment and asked, "So what are you going to do now?"
Xander walked back around her and merely shrugged, "I'm not sure, Buff, but I have a line on some old business of mine that needs to be finished. Angelus needs to be dealt with and dealt with he shall be."
Jenny felt a chill go down her spine as Xander began to cackle and darkness began to envelop the room and, for a split second, she felt sorry for Angelus. That moment soon passed.
Alright, now I'm finished. There will be a sequel to this, a short one, later on, but I want to finish some of my other things first. Peace.