March 20, 2001

Logan looked at his watch again. 5:00 AM. Fourteen minutes until the equinox officially took place and until he was "officially" stuck in Sunnydale - at least, until the next equinox. Technically, it was already too late for him to leave since time travel spells required about three hours of preparation, but there was something about having an actual time to mark the occasion.

He'd been awake for most of the night. His fight with Max kept playing through his mind. He just couldn't get her eyes out of his head. The hurt, the disbelief, the distrust, the fear…all directed at him.

Logan sighed and closed his eyes for a second. He didn't know how he could have been so stupid. She'd lost everything and, by not telling her about the prophecy and the spell the instant he knew, he was helping take it all away from her. Her voice rang through his head, something she'd said a long time ago, a future away.

I've spent the last ten years looking for him, and Brin, and the others. It's what's kept me going.

It's what's kept me going.

Logan knew she didn't even have that now. It was all gone. He honestly knew that what he'd had in the future Seattle, he could mostly recreate in the present time Sunnydale. But Max had everything torn away from her, faster than a bullet ripped through flesh. She would never be able to get any of that back.

He felt like he was the one wielding that gun.

Before he could sink any further into his introspection, he heard light footsteps padding behind him and turned. "I didn't think you'd come."

She shrugged, but her eyes stayed lifeless. "I came." She looked at the view from the front porch. The stars were beginning to vanish in the approaching twilight. "Last chance."

He shook his head. "No. I've made my decision already."

She didn't say anything, just watched with him. 5:14 came and went. They both stayed where they were for a long time and watched the sun slowly rise over the quiet neighborhood. In spite of the situation, he thought it was one of the most beautiful sunrises he had ever seen. "Max…" Anything he could think of to say sounded lame. He turned to look at her.

She was already gone.

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They met again later that day in the Magic Box. They barely spoke to each other as they slowly cleaned up Max's "wallpaper" from the day before. Logan kept the stack of paper, hoping to get a better understanding of the Chimera prophecies. After all, they would be living with this hanging over their heads.

They didn't speak much - Logan knew Max was still quite upset over the whole deal. He really couldn't blame her, but he knew they'd have to start talking to each other eventually. They walked in silence back to the Summers' home. As they approached the door, Logan broke the quiet. "Here's to day one of a new life."

Max stilled with her hand on the doorknob. A few seconds passed before she finally said, "Hope it'll be better than the old one."

Logan smiled, accepting that first step. They went inside together and both stopped short at all three of the Summers' women sitting in the living room. Joyce nodded. "It's good to see you two…together." Both Logan and Max had the feeling she had been about to say, "not trying to kill each other." "Buffy explained your situation," she began. "The three of us have been talking."

Logan hadn't even begun thinking of those first steps yet. "Joyce…"

She held up a hand, warding off anything he could have said. "Before you start saying things we'll regret, I should let you know we've made a decision."

"Yeah," Dawn added. "We decided that since you guys are like dirt poor and have no life or anything…"

"Dawn," Buffy hissed.

"What?"

Buffy rolled her eyes as she picked up the thread. "We figured you'd probably be thinking of trying to leave right away, build something for yourselves here. But since you don't have even identification, let alone pesky little things like credit references and very few personal references for things like jobs and houses…"

"We'd like you to stay here," Joyce finished. "And before you say no, we know how self sufficient you two prefer to be. Xander's already come by. He's said that with a minimal amount of drywalling and duct re-arrangement, he can have the garage refurbished into a small apartment of sorts for Logan. Max, I know you don't sleep much, but figured you'd still want some personal space. There's room in the basement to setup something small for you."

Max and Logan could only look at each other.

"Of course, I'd still expect you to pay rent and help out like you have been. I figure this would be just for a few months or so, until the two of you can get on your feet and become more…established in our time." The three women looked at the displaced people expectantly.

They stared at each other, questions in their eyes, before Logan finally nodded. "Just until we can provide for ourselves. I really don't think we can refuse your offer."

Dawn squealed in delight. "This is going to be great. It's going to be like having family! More family. And the two of you can decorate…"

Joyce and Buffy looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Logan looked at Max, and saw that even she had cracked a small smile. Maybe it really would work out.

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Max sat on the roof of the Summers' house, staring at the stars and thinking.

Here I am. Starting over again. I never thought I'd be doing that again, but I guess Fate has other ideas. I'll miss my old life. My brothers and sisters…I never really had them in the first place. Even when I did find a couple of them, they were already lost. Still, I don't think I'll ever stop wondering about them. At least, this time, I'll know. Eventually.

For now, at least, it seems evil has been conquered, and good taken over again…

ooooo

Glory stomped around her grand home, screaming at her minions. "Why do I even bother? I mean, I go to all the trouble to find an animation spell, and we waste it on that tub of mismatched lard! I swear, if that witch hadn't dropped me from about fifteen stories up, I would be out there kicking the Slayer's ass myself, instead of depending on you pathetic trolls." The god ignored the rushed platitudes of her minions and poked one in the chest. "And if we ever do something like this again, you will find something more mass-homicidal! Understand?" She speared the minion again and gasped as her fingernail cracked. Her eyes filled with tears.

"Well, shit…"

ooooo

I'm not exactly sure what to think of this Chimera thing, though. It was hard enough being one, and now it seems the world is going to make me be something bigger. Prophecies? Predictions? I don't know much about those. All I really understand is the here and now, and that's confusing enough at the moment. But with this town, who knows what'll happen next?

ooooo

An exotic-looking brunette in a long flowing dress boarded a train. She carefully eased her way down the aisle and daintily took a seat. She smiled at the woman next to her. The woman smiled back. "Are you going to Sunnydale, dear?"

The woman almost shivered as the brunette smiled in return. "Why, yes I am." Her thick, cockney British accent seemed out of place among the chatter of the other passengers. She looked down at the doll she was carrying. "Miss Edith and I are very much looking forward to seeing some old friends…"

ooooo

The only real problem I've got right now is me and Logan. I've got no idea what's going to happen there. I mean, on one hand, it's Logan, right? We've been through a lot together, including getting sucked through time. On the other hand, with all that's happened, I feel like we're back at square one - no better or worse off than when we first met. I'm just not sure…I'm not sure how I can ever trust him again. Perhaps it's best that we're not cut loose straight off - gives us time to adjust to this dealio.

"Dawn!" The shrill yell echoed clearly through the air. "Give me back my sweater!"

"I don't have your ugly sweater! I wouldn't even want it. It probably smells like demon guts!"

"Dawn, I swear if you don't give it back to me now, I'll—"

"You wouldn't dare! No Slayer powers in the house!"

"Mo-om!" Even more shrill, in unison.

Max couldn't help but laugh.

Maybe we won't stay here so long after all. I'm not sure Logan and I could adjust to "family" as Dawn so easily put it. But even I have to admit it's nice to be part of something for a change. Even here.

Here's to day one of a new life.

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A/N: Thanks to all who have read and reviewed Chapter 8, especially after the long hiatus PL had. It has been very much appreciated. Again, many thanks to Alaidh and Tallera for their help in prettying up this chapter. Chapter 9 – Crushed will be along in its own time. Unfortunately, real life has a tendency to take over, so it's going to be slow, and happen when it happens. I hope you'll all be able to join me again when the next chapter comes around. - DN