A/N: okay this is me groveling for forgiveness over how long this took to update I sent out a fresh batch of updates on my stories today and two new stories have been started. I even had to take out a story because I knew that I'd never get around to updating it. And yes, I realize that putting up two new stories is probably not a good idea, but I had to. Anyway enough of my rambling here you go. ENJOY!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters so far. Eventually there will be some of my own. Wish I had Spike, but that's a whole thing all together.

Distribution: If you actually think that it's good enough to go anywhere, but here, then by all means. Just ask first.

Spoilers: None

Chapter 20:

Buffy and Wesley rolled down the streets of Sunnydale to the mansion on Crawford Street. It had been awhile since Buffy had been back to the mansion she had spent a good deal of her teenage years in. That was all behind her now and she had moved on with her life. It still made her slightly antsy.

Wesley seemed a little jittery about going to back to the mansion as well. For him it had been the place of his first huge failure and his second huge failure. There he had taken Faith away incidentally pushing her farther away and that's where he had been fired from the council. The place was filled with bad memories for the ex-watcher.

"Well here we are." Wesley said turning off the car.

"Well don't just sit there let's go." Buffy said throwing her door open and running to the mansion.

"Yeah, let's go." Wesley said as he climbed out of his door and jogged to catch up with Buffy.

When he got inside the mansion he heard Buffy yelling for Spike. Wesley followed her into the living room area and saw Angel and Spike sitting on the floor growling and Lorne looking utterly confused.

"What the hell's going on here?" Buffy asked to no one in particular.

"I have no idea, Sweetcakes. They were taking about Xander being inside their brains, then they got quite and just a little while ago they started growling at each other. It's very weird." Lorne said.

"Yeah it is. Spike! Hello what's the matter!" Buffy screamed.

Spike's head shot up at Buffy's voice. "Oh hello luv." He said to her with a smile on his face.

"Okay that was just weird." Wesley said.

"Why were you growling at Angel?" Buffy asked.

"He wasn't. He was growling at something Xander said. He thinks he's really funny." Angel said.

"Right the spell." Buffy said.

"No you're not." Spike said out loud. The group turned to look at Spike strangely.

"Sorry, but the little bugger said that he and this is a direct quote 'am too funny'." Spike said.

"Right well that remains to be seen." Angel muttered under his breath.

"Okay are you to going to be like that all the time. You know hearing each other's thoughts and stuff like that." Buffy said.

"Well supposedly the spell wears off when it wants to. No counter spell or anything like that." Angel said.

"Yeah well that would make sense considering it is already a counter to a counter." Wesley said.

"Was that English?" Lorne asked.

"Unbelievably, yes it was." Wesley replied.

"Okay well let's get the growl-y twins back to the house." Buffy said.

"Good let's get closer to Xander, that outta make thins' a whole lot better." Spike said.

"Oh just be quite. Yes, I was talking to you." Angel said.

"This spell better work itself out fast because I don't think I could deal with a day of Touretes."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Well if you would just listen... ... ... oh right like you ever listen... ... ... that's not even right." Xander said as he paced across the living room.

"Okay this can't be good. He sounds like a raving loony." Anya said watching in fascination like the rest of the group.

"Keeps things interesting if you ask me." Faith said.

"Yeah better then watching TV." Gunn said.

"And a bit funnier." Fred said.

"Yeah but he sounds like a schizophrenic. That can't be good. I mean what if we go out in public." Cordy said.

"Cordelia may have a point. Are you sure there's not some other spell you can do to fix this." Giles said.

"No, I'm positive. Don't worry it should wear off once Spike and Angel get here." Maddy said.

"And what if it doesn't." Dawn said.

"I'd say things could get pretty interesting." Anya said.

"I wonder what the other half of the conversation is. Weird to only here one part of the conversation." Connor said.

"Well Spike's probably spouting off 'bloody hell's and 'sod off's while Angel is probably sitting there listening and brooding." Cordy said.

"This could be bad. Spike and Xander already fight like cats and dogs." Dawn said.

"Yes and now they can fuel there conversation even more." Anya said.

"Gah, I don't even no why I... ... ... right this is all my fault... ... ... you know I believe that's the first time you said it was someone else's... ... ... oh didn't you tell him that's a jinx... ... ... well be reasonable, Angel, he's never... ... ... no, I do, but... ... ... can I get a sentence in edgewise." Xander said.

"Okay Xander. Xander!" Maddy said. Xander turned to face her immediately.

"You have to calm down. Learn how to block things out a bit. You can argue in person in a few minutes so just try to cool it till then." Maddy said.

"I can't. Even as we're talking right now I can hear Spike saying 'Just wait until I get there Harris' and Angel saying 'Well maybe if your sentences made any sense I would'." Xander said.

"Just sit and relax. Everything will be just fine." Maddy said.

Xander complied and took a seat next to Anya on the couch.

"This is so not going to work. It's going to be total hell." Xander said.

"Oh, Xander, don't be so melodramatic. It won't be that bad. Sure you'll be able to hear Spike and Angel's every thought, but how bad could that be." Fred said.

Dawn, Xander, Cordelia, Anya, and even Giles flinched at Fred's choice of words.

"What?" Fred asked truly confused.

"That was a poor choice of words, Fred. Not good at all." Cordy mumbled.

"What?" Fred asked again looking to Dawn for some help.

"Well, you see to say what you just said is like the worst jinx ever. When you live on the Hellmouth you shouldn't say things like that. It ends up in more bad stuff that you thought couldn't possibly have happened." Anya explained.

"Yeah I learned the hard way with big warrior dudes on horses out for blood." Dawn said.

"What is it with you out of towners. First the big green guy Lorne. Now Fred. This is a sign. This is a sign that Spike is going to have sex thoughts and Angel is going to do nothing but brood just to piss me off." Xander said burying his head in his hands.

"Again stop being so melodramatic. I'm sure that everything will turn out just fine." Fred said slightly miffed at Xander's comments.

"Fred, I'd listen to them. They may be a little overcautious, but when it comes to the myths and sayings of the Hellmouth, these guys know what they're talking about." Faith said.

"It's just a saying." Fred said still trying to defend herself although she saw the logic in Faith's statement.

"Yeah, but a very, very bad one when dealing with the Hellmouth. It isn't your fault though. You didn't know any better." Cordy said.

"Yeah isn't that right, Xander." Anya said giving Xander a nudge.

Xander lifted his head, looked around and said, "Yeah sure."

"Hey guys." Everyone turned to the hallway to see Angel, Spike, Lorne, Buffy and Wesley standing there looking exhausted. "Hey dad, you okay?" Connor asked.

"Just fine son. Didn't get hurt, just a little tired from running around. Spike insisted that we run around in the sewers just in case the Initiative had those and I quote 'nifty vampire catchin' gadgets they had the last time they were in town'." Angel said doing a bad imitation of Spike's accent.

"'S possible that they did. You never know. They prolly did." Spike said.

"That's not the point Spike. The point is that you said nifty. I have Lorne as my witness." Angel said a real smile gracing his face.

Everyone in the room stifled their laughter remembering that Spike was not chipped and not looking pretty scary.

//hehe Spike said nifty. If I could laugh I would but he looks ready to rip out someone's throat and I like my throat where it is.// Xander thought.

"I heard that whelp." Spike muttered.

"Oh right the whole we can hear each other's thoughts. Damn it I can't even think things without people interfering in that." Xander grumbled.

"As great as this conversation is I think that everyone here is more then just a little tired. I vote we go to bed." Cordy said.

"But it's not even passed midnight." Dawn complained.

"How about we watch a video." Fred said.

"Yeah and eat some food." Faith said.

"Is that all you ever think about, Faith." Gunn asked. "Well, food is essential to the Slayer process, although I haven't kicked any butt yet." Faith replied.

"If it's not problem, I think I'm just going to go sit down on that couch and maybe pass out for a little while. Seems appropriate." Lorne said shuffling over to the couch and plopping down on the seat Xander no longer occupied.

"Yes, a movie sounds great, but I really think that we should research some more." Giles said. "Well you guys can do the research thing, I want to just snuggle with Spike and watch a movie." Buffy said pulling Spike over to the chair next to the couch and seating him in it.

"So it's agreed. The Watchers do the research while everyone else relax and watches a nice action packed movie." Xander said.

"Action. Xander I was thinking something along the lines of comedy." Dawn said.

"Yeah a comedy. Lighten the mood a little." Buffy said from her place on Spike's lap.

"I'm with Buffy and Dawn. A comedy sounds good." Anya said.

"What about a drama. Drama's are good." Cordy said.

"Yeah something sad a tear-jerking." Fred said.

"I'm going to have to go with Xander on the action. Something with things that explode." Gunn said.

"Yeah and maybe a car chase." Connor said.

"And lots of fake blood." Spike said.

"You don't want to watch a comedy?" Buffy said pouting slightly.

"Oh balls. Fine a comedy sounds good." Spike said.

"Whipped." Gunn and Xander muttered.

Spike growled at them.

"Yeah Connor don't you wanna watch a comedy. I mean our lives are action packed enough as it is." Dawn said batting her eyelashes at Connor.

"Sure why not." Connor said smiling slightly at Dawn.

"Great sit here with me on the floor." Dawn said taking Connor's arm and sitting him on the floor.

"That's pathetic man. Mere hours and the boy's already whipped." Gunn said.

"Yes, sometimes I wish there were more guys in the group." Xander said.

"Angel, man, come on say you want action." Gunn begged. "I really don't care. Whatever Cordy wants." Angel said waving his hand at them as he sat next to Lorne.

"Lorne, come on you want action." Xander said.

"What about a musical?" Lorne said. The group groaned.

"Well, Moulin Rogue is a musical and a drama. How about that?" Cordy said.

"Yeah that sounds good." Dawn said.

"Okay I'm puttin' my foot down. I don't care how bloody cute that pout is. I am not watchin' Moulin Rogue. I change mine back to an action movie." Spike said.

"Welcome back, man." Gunn said.

"What's everyone talking about?" Faith asked as she came back to the living room with food in her arms.

"What movie to watch." Dawn said.

"Action." Faith said.

"Well let's vote." Buffy said.

"That's not fair. There's more girls then guys." Xander whined.

Arguing began over which movie to watch and the group was almost screaming at the top of their lungs. Giles shook his head in dismay.

"No wonder I feel so old. Wesley let's go do research." Giles said.

"Um, can it be a dark comedy." Wesley said purposefully not looking Giles in the eye.

"Sure, but it's between Moulin Rogue and Lethal Weapon." Dawn said.

"Oh well Lethal Weapon then." Wesley said in that fake low baritone voice. Wesley walked into the living room and thus into the pit of arguing.

"Jesus, I don't even know why I bother." Giles said throwing his hands up in frustration.

"I'll help you research." Giles turned around to see Maddy standing there in a somewhat shy manner.

"Wouldn't you rather watch a video?" Giles asked.

"I'm not exactly wanted there. Besides someone's gonna have to help you with languages." Maddy said.

"You know different ones?" Giles asked.

"No, well one or two here and there." Maddy said.

"Well then let's get started."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "Where were you at all night, Brian." Willow asked the young man standing in front of here.

"I was just out scouting for information. Nothing new." Brian said lying as if it was the truth.

A year or so being on the dark side can teach you how to lie very well. Brian absently thought about how well he'd be able to lie in a few years.

"Really so you didn't talk to that little witch friend of the do gooders." Willow said.

"Of course not. Why would I talk to her." Brian said not at all fidgeting at the mention of Maddy.

"Because I had you checked out. Have to do that with all me people. I mean you just waltz in here and expect not to get a past check. Anyway it turns out you and she were in the same coven. Very interesting coincidence." Willow said looking at him with black eyes.

Brian noticed they'd been like that ever since they sent the rock demon after the LA vampire. They had never gone back to their normal green. It was going to happen soon.

"Yeah, I knew her. So what?" Brian asked with all the false bravado he could muster.

"Oh not just knew, Brian. Turns out you knew her really well. Well, enough to oh say marry her." Willow said pushing the desk forward and knocking Brian out of his seat.

"You think she'll come and rescue your sorry ass if I torture you so you scream loud enough all of Sunnydale would hear." Willow said turning her back to Brian.

"I'm not very excepting of those that betray me Brian. In fact, it makes me cranky." Willow said turning around. Brian saw the magical energy surrounding her in green light.

"Now, wait. I know her. Yeah it's been awhile though. Divorce isn't final, but it should be in a little while." Brian said.

"So you don't deny knowing her. I thought at least you might deny it for a little while. No fun in torturing someone when I already have the information I want." Willow said the energy dying a little.

"I went to her tonight. Tried to figure out what they knew about this prophecy."

"Through your wife."

"Yeah, she didn't tell me much of anything just that they were getting close to figuring out what it was about and that they need a few more days before they find all the missing pieces." Brian said.

"So you didn't tell them anything?" Willow said.

"You can brain suck me if you want to find out. I didn't tell them anything about the prophecy. Hell, I don't even know anything about the stupid prophecy. All I told her were my good-byes. Figured I owed her that much considering how I just left her. She wouldn't follow me to the dark side. That was all I swear." Brian said.

"Surprisingly enough, I believe you. Just wanted to give you the chance to tell me yourself. Now, I have a slight problem. It seems that the Initiative is back in town. They want to take me down. I need you to make sure that that doesn't happen. Assemble the troops. Make sure they know exactly what to do. I planned to attack the Initiative at full force in a few nights. Go!" Willow said dismissing Brian.

Brian stood up and walked briskly out of the door. So it was really beginning. Willow's downfall and whoever's accession to the top. It was all just a matter of who got there first. Whoever it was who was supposed to rise would rise. Whether it was Brian or another one of Willow's little flunkies, it was beginning.

"Sir, there is important news about the prophecy." Brian looked over to see Amy standing behind him.

"Go on in and tell the Dark Mistress yourself, Amy. I'm too tired to deal with anything at this point." Brian said.

"Okay whatever you say." Amy said an evil smile gracing her face.

At this point it didn't matter whom it was. All that matter was that it was starting. And lord, someone should stop it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Almost everyone was asleep. Spike and Angel were up quietly discussing the third movie of the night, something to do with a dog, while everyone was sleeping soundly curled up next to someone else. Buffy had fallen asleep curled in Spike's lap and her head resting on his shoulder. Cordelia was snuggled against Angel's side with her head resting peacefully on his shoulder.

Dawn and Connor lay on the curled close to each other. Fred was leaning against Gunn's chest as Gunn slept in an awkward sitting position that Lorne was also sitting in on the couch. Anya and Xander were leaning against each other. Even Faith who was sharing a chair with Wesley was sleeping against him.

"We're missing something. I know we're missing something, but we're so close." Giles said slamming his fist as quietly as he could on the dinning room table.

"Well, we'll just have to keep looking." Maddy replied as she flipped the pages to the book that she was reading.

"Does this look like this symbol?" Giles asked handing Maddy the book he was using to translate the prophecy and the prophecy itself. They had found the scroll that was needed for the prophecy from the coven.

"Yeah, what does it mean?" Maddy asked.

"It means, roughly translated, the relative. More like the closest person to whomever it is the prophecy is mentioning." Giles said.

"And in the context of the prophecy that would be helpful because?" Maddy asked.

"Well, it means that the savior is the closest person to Willow." Giles said.

"Okay so the savior is the closest person to Willow. Does that translation help any?" Maddy asked.

"Well, yes if we use this language it makes more sense then what we've come up with." Giles said.

"What did you come up with?"

"Well, the language we were using said that the savior was the brother of the tree. Then it went on to talk about some ritual used to invoke the spirit of the dead using the blood of the something or other. We weren't able to translate that part." Giles said.

"Maybe it's in an encrypted language like Dru's cure was." Spike said loud enough so the two humans and the table could hear, but it wouldn't walk up all the sleeping people.

"That's quite possible, Spike. We'd need a decoder though and there isn't any mention of one. No, I think this language makes sense. It says the savior is the closest person to the tree and that... ... ... cheese is good." Giles said in a defeated voice.

"Well, at least those ancient guys knew what they were talking about." Maddy said jokingly.

"Well, I don't understand why that other translation couldn't work. If you've gotten so far wif' it, was wrong." Spike asked.

"Yeah, I don't get why you are trying to find another translation if you think that that one would work." Angel said.

"Because, you morons, Willow doesn't have a brother." Giles said.

"But she does have a Xander Harris. Couldn't there be someway that maybe Willow and Xander are tied to each other some other way, but it's like a brother sister bond. Perhaps soul or blood wise." Angel said.

"By, Joe, Peaches actually had a thought that made sense." Spike said.

"So that would mean that Xander is the savior. And the weight of the world rests on him." Maddy said.

"The earth is definitely doomed." Giles said.

//Xander Harris is gonna save the world. I'd like to see that. The whelp can't even manage to tie his shoes wif'out tripping. Watcher's definitely right the earth is doomed.//

//I have to protect Xander Harris from the wrath of Willow. Because he's the savior and the only one that can save the world. I should have never come to the Hellmouth.//

"I'm the WHAT!"

A/N: sorry I just couldn't resist Xander being the guy that saves the world. Contribute that to my new favorite shipper if you want, but I had this planned out long before that. Don't worry it will be good. I promise you that much. So please review and tell me how much you love this story, or hate it whatever. I love reviews and I'm not above begging for them or bribing with no more chapters. Want the next one, review and I'll update much sooner I promise.