I really hate to say this, but the next chapter won't be up until Wednesday, August 6. If it's not up then check back on Sunday the tenth. I'm getting to the good stuff in my Harry Potter fic and my muse only wants to write it. Plus, Mark Anthony's new book comes out this week and I have to reread the first four to refresh my memory before I read it. Sorry, I'll try to have it ready by the sixth.

SPOILERS: Go through season four of Angel. I don't mention anything definite in this chapter, but I do allude to things that have happened and things that have changed in the year since those events.

Dark-English-Rose, fyrechild, Plato, SerinityRules, Makura Koneko, Thought, criket, Claddagh, Reese, pay-day1999, Lisette, Sterling-Ag, miz, Bashful C, Shadow, Belladonna, Violet Star, Thank you guys so much for your reviews.

Catlimere, boy you have a lot to look forward to, I hope I don't disappoint you.

Kristy Marie, I just adore Nightcrawler, and lucky you getting to spend time over there. Sigh, poor me stuck in my small town.

Erro, yes darn us writers wanting to know why you like the story. Curse us all. Hee hee. And yes I get the keeping the exotic events matter of fact. And don't worry about spelling, I'm just thankful I have spell check.

Blake, as for Angel you'll just have to see.

Kida, after I had posted the previous chapter I realized that I hadn't really explained why she had told them so much. I'm right there with you when people have her saying too much. I keep seeing her in this part saying things cause she's used to not having company and then suddenly realizing that it's too late to take things back.

My reviewers just kick ass!!! I love you all.

A few more author notes before you begin. I'm open to any suggestions on how to write Kurt's German accent without making it hard or annoying to read. Plus, I've never written any of the Angel characters before, so they may be a bit off.

Chapter Eight

After lunch, Storm gave Buffy and Kurt a tour of the mansion and grounds. They were even shown the hidden facilities underground.

Buffy got a chance to learn more about the two mutants. Ororo, or 'Ro, was able to control the weather and was able to use the wind to make herself and others fly. The blond slayer instantly felt at ease with the white haired mutant. She carried herself with a calm and confident air, but didn't seem aloof.

As for Kurt, she cemented her friendship with him by linking her arm with his during the tour. She never hesitated or flinched away from looking directly into his yellow eyes. She was pleased to see that Ororo never hesitated either.

When the tour was over, Buffy found Clem. He was preparing to go back to his place in town.

"How long are you going to be staying?" He asked.

"Depends on if there is a hellmouth here or not."
"A hellmouth? Here?"

"Can't you feel it?"

Clem thought about it for a moment before saying in surprise, "Now that you mention it, I was kind of drawn here. This place does have a Sunnydale feeling to it. What are you going to do about it?"

"Angel's group is coming to check it out. If there is one I'll have to stay until it's permanently closed. I can't wander the world knowing that there's the possibility of some demon ending the world here."
"Where will you stay?"

"Don't know. I have plenty of money to buy a house or something."

"How? Last time I remember, you were barely scraping enough to make ends meet," Clem said curiously.

"The scoobies had wills. Anya had quite a bit tucked away. Spike had left me access to his demon account. And for someone who lived in a crypt and begged money for cigarettes, he was loaded. I don't have to worry about money for at least a century."

"Wow, I had no idea."

"Me either." They were both quiet for a moment before Buffy said, "I'm glad you're here, Clem. I've missed you."
"Missed you too."

"You got a telephone number that I can reach you at?"
"Sure do."

*********

While Buffy and Clem were saying goodbye, the x-men were having a meeting in the Professor's office.

"What do you have for us, Jean?" Charles asked.

"Neither one of them are mutants," she began.

"She told you so," Logan snorted.

"Clem's DNA isn't even human, it contains proteins that I have never seen before. I've never seen anything like it."

"And Buffy?" Charles asked.

"She's human, but her DNA has been modified. She has extra proteins that are similar to Clem's."

"Could someone have genetically altered her?" Ororo asked.

"Not to this extreme."
"Supports her story of the demon essence in her," Charles mused.

"But even her normal human DNA is slightly altered," Jean said.

"Buffy mentioned that when she was brought back the second time that she was different," Scott pointed out.

"I'm not sure if I believe that she has died and been brought back, but her DNA has been fortified."
"Did you read her last night as she talked?" Ororo asked.

"I tried a light scan on both of them," Charles said.

"Tried?" Scott asked.

"I couldn't get in."

"Could they be telepathic also?" Scott asked.

"No. These weren't telepathic shields. I can sense that Clem is there but nothing else. As for Buffy, I sense more from her, but not like everyone else. There is something blocking me." Charles thought for a moment before adding, "It is the same problem I had with sensing those at the factory."

"Do you think it could be the demon aspect?" Scott asked.

"It's very possible."

"Are you saying that you believe her?" Jean asked.

"Oh come on Jeannie," Logan said. "You've got the evidence in front of you. You said it yourself, he ain't human and she's more that human."

"And you didn't see those guys in the factory turn to dust like we did," Scott said quietly.

"Dust?" Ororo asked.

"Whenever she decapitated the vampires or staked them, they turned to dust," Logan explained.

"What did the rest of the tests show?" Charles asked.

"She has a high metabolic rate, heals as fast if not faster than Logan, and is extremely strong. So strong that I was unable to test her full strength."

"Did you test her fighting skills?" Ororo asked.

"No. I figured it would be better to test them in the danger room."
"She's fast," Scott said. "I had problems following her last night."

"So if demon's and vampires are real, what do we need to know and do?" Ororo asked.

"Buffy's friends from L.A. will arrive here tonight. We can ask them and Buffy then," Charles answered.

********

Buffy pushed her food around on her plate. She was sitting at one end of a table with Kurt and Logan for dinner. The blond kept nervously eyeing the setting sun.

"Do you miss your friend, Clem?" Kurt asked in his soft voice.

"A little," she replied with a small shrug. "It had been over a year since the last time I saw him so I'll live."

"Then why ain't you eating?" Logan asked.

Buffy glared at him and took a bite of her chicken. "I'm eating."

"That's the first bite you've taken in ten minutes. What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she said as she glanced out the window.

Logan's intuition took a leap forward. "Nervous about your friends coming?"

She suddenly turned her attention back to the food on her plate and took another bite of her chicken.

"Who all is coming?" He pressed.

"Um...Wesley. He used to be my watcher."

"One of those guys who trains slayers?"
"Yeah, he wasn't my first one though."
"Why?"
"My first watcher, Merrick, died shortly after I was called. When I moved to Sunnydale, Giles became my new watcher." She had a distant look on her face as she remembered. "He was uptight, loved tweed, and followed the rules. I brought him around though."
"How did Wesley become your watcher?"
Buffy's body tensed. "When I was eighteen, the Council performed a test on me. They took away my powers and locked me up in a house with a deranged vampire. I was supposed to fight him alone, but Giles broke the rules and helped me. So, they fired him."
"And then Wesley..."
"Became my watcher. He was useless. A pompous bore with no people skills. He left after I graduated and blew up the school."
"You blew up your school?" Kurt asked.

"Mayor became an ascended demon, trapped him inside, and boom. Anyway, he left and eventually went to work for Angel in L.A."

"Angel?" Logan asked.

Buffy kept talking as if she hadn't heard him. "Then there's his girlfriend Fred. She's a literal genius. She got sucked into this portal to another dimension and was there for five years until Angel saved her. She ended up staying and working for him."

"Angel is?" Logan asked again.

"And Gunn grew up on the streets of L.A. fighting demons. Can't quite remember how he ended up working with Angel."
"And Angel is?" Logan asked, slightly irritated that she was avoiding the question.

"Lastly there's Lorne. He's from that dimension Fred got sucked into. He's a demon, but real friendly like Clem is. He reads peoples auras, intents, and even futures when they sing. He ended up working with Angel when they blew his bar up."
"Buffy," Logan said, forcing her to look at him. "Who is Angel?"
"A vampire. Their boss," she said before she began shoveling food in her mouth so she couldn't talk.

Logan reached out and stopped her. "Something tells me he's a little more than that."

"We used to date," she said quietly. "He was my first love."
The two mutants looked at her for a moment before Kurt asked, "What happened?"

"Same old story. Girl falls in love with two hundred year old vampire cursed with a soul and he falls in love with the girl. They make with the smoochies and more; vamp has moment of perfect happiness and looses soul. Vamp goes on killing spree, girl has to kill said love and send him to hell."
They stared at her in shock.

"Obviously he came back, girl nurses him back to health, saves him from poison, they date, breakup, and he leaves her. You know same old, same old."

"I'm sorry. We shouldn't have pried," Kurt said softly.

Buffy's head jerked up and Logan could smell her slayer side. "He's here ain't he?"
She just nodded and stood. "Have Scott or Storm meet me at the door. Angel will need an invite."
Scott and Logan caught up with Buffy just before she opened the door. Standing in the deepening twilight was five figures of varying heights and builds.

The smallest figure bounced in and enthusiastically hugged the slayer. "Hi ya Buffy. It's so good to see you again."
Buffy hugged the girl back and said with a grin, "It's good to see you too, Fred." She turned to a nice looking man with a long scar across his neck. She gave him a small hug and said, "Hi Wesley. Thanks for coming."
"It was no problem."
Buffy shook hands with a dark skinned man. "Hey Gunn. How's Gwen?"
He laughed and said, "Still shockingly beautiful."
A green skinned guy with horns and red eyes gave Buffy a kiss on the cheek. "Hey there sweet cheeks, still gorgeous as ever."
"Thanks Lorne." She then turned to the last figure. "Angel," she said flatly, her smile leaving her face.

"Buffy."
"Any change with Cordelia?"
"No," he answered and then a tense silence fell over them.

Logan studied the one she had addressed as Angel. So this was the guy who broke her heart and nearly killed her. He wasn't sure of their full history, but it was obvious he had hurt her horribly in the past. Logan decided then and there he didn't like him.

He had to resist the urge to growl when he caught a whiff of Buffy's pain. The bastard was still hurting her and probably didn't know it, the prick.

Scott cleared his throat, jolting Buffy into introductions. As she introduced Logan to Angel she could see the hint of a sneer on the mutant's face. She rolled her eyes. She knew she shouldn't have told him about Angel. Now she was going to have to put up with their male posturing.

When the introductions were finished, Wesley said, "I would like to speak with you first, Buffy, before we meet Mr. Xavier. Is there someplace we could meet?"

Before she could respond she saw Scott tilt his head slightly and then say, "The Professor said you could use his office."
Wesley looked at him questioningly until Scott explained. "The Professor is telepathic."

"Ah," the former watcher said. "Shall we then?"

They started down the hall until they heard Angel call out, "Um, Buffy."

She turned to see Angel waiting on the other side of the door for an invite. "Oh Angel, I forgot." She turned to Scott and said, "You need to invite him in."
"Why don't you?" Scott asked curiously.

"I don't live here. An invitation only works from someone who lives in the building."

"Oh. Angel, please come in."

The vampire nodded his thanks and walked into the mansion. Logan couldn't stop the smirk that appeared on his face. He had a feeling she hadn't forgotten.

"Wow," Gunn said as they headed to the office. "Check out this place. It's a sweet setup."

After they reached the office, Logan and Scott left them alone, although Buffy had a feeling that Logan didn't go far.

They all found a place to sit and then Wesley began, "I had the researchers at the firm look into this. It seems there has been an increase of demon activity in this area. But what they found wasn't conclusive."

"Which is why you came here," Buffy said.

"Yes. Once we arrived Angel and Lorne both commented on the evil vibes this place has. We're going to have a look around town over the next several days. My question is, if we do find a hellmouth, what do you want to tell Mr. Xavier?"
Buffy thought about it for a moment before saying, "Everything. I think he can handle it. Plus, he needs to know so that the x-men won't be letting demons go free thinking they're mutants."

"Very well. As for the other thing you wanted me to look into, Fred."

The young Texan stepped forward and handed Buffy a large thick manila envelope. "This is everything that we could find. I warn ya, it's not pretty."

"It's not for me, it's for Logan."
Fred's eyes went wide as saucers. "You mean that guy we just met?"

"Yeah, why?"

The brunette just shook her head and said, "Didn't realize that you knew him, and that he was the one they...I just didn't put two and two together..."

"It's okay, Fred. I'll make sure he gets this."
"Are you going to read it?" Angel asked.

"No, it's not my business. He deserves to know what happened to him. If he ever wants me to know, he'll tell me," Buffy said, closing the matter to discussion. "Anything else?"

"No."

"I'll get the others then," Buffy said as she rose and crossed to the door. As she had suspected, Logan was leaning against the wall a few doors down, smoking a cigar. She wrinkled her nose as she approached him. "That's a disgusting habit."

He shrugged as he put it out in his hand. "Everyone needs one."

"Can you get everyone to meet in the office?"

Logan grimaced and said, "No need. On the way already. Damn strange, him in my head."

"Better yours than mine. Can you make sure Kurt comes too?"

He tilted his head for a moment then nodded. "He's coming."

"Good." She paused before saying, "Might as well go back into the office. Coming?"
The mutant pushed himself off the wall and indicated with a hand for her to lead. He followed her into the office and hovered protectively behind her. If she noticed, she didn't say anything.

While they waited, Fred just stared at Logan with wide eyes. He tried his best to ignore her, but he finally asked, "What?"

She smiled and stammered, "I didn't realize you were who you were earlier. And now that I know it's like wow."

He narrowed his eyes. "What is wow?"
The rest of the x-men and Kurt entered before she had a chance to answer. Buffy did a quick introduction and then stepped back so Wesley could talk.

"Mr. Xavier...."
"Please, call me Charles."

Wesley nodded and continued. "Charles, before I explain our presence here, I would like to ask you and your faculty some questions."

"Go ahead."

"Has there been an increase of unusual deaths and disappearances around here?"

Charles contemplated the question and then answered, "Now that you mention it, yes. I just assumed it was mutant related."

"When did you notice this increase?"
"Almost a year ago."
"Shit," Buffy muttered.

"How much did Buffy tell you about her past as the slayer?" Wesley asked.

"Just what she did and that she had died twice." Scott said.

"She didn't mention anything about Sunnydale?"
"The hellmouth," Logan growled.

"Heard of it?"
"Just what little she had mentioned earlier today," he said.

"A hellmouth?" Jean asked.

Wesley gave them a brief description of what it was before saying, "Sunnydale had one until it was permanently closed a year ago."
"And now you think there is one here, right?" Logan asked.

"Yes. Buffy called me saying she was receiving some strange vibes from this place, just like Sunnydale used to. When we arrived, Lorne and Angel sensed the same vibes."
"Clem said he felt drawn here," Buffy added.

"How do you propose we find out if there is a hellmouth or not?" Charles asked.

"My crew needs to patrol and feel it out. Once we think we've found the general vicinity there is a spell we can do," Wesley explained.

"A spell?" Jean asked.

"Well, yeah," Fred said. "How else are you going to test for a magical convergence besides magic?"
"I don't believe in magic," Jean replied.

"I used to say the same thing. Course, I used to believe vampires weren't real either," Gunn said.

"I don't believe in vampires either," she said evenly.

"Oh for goodness sakes. We don't have time for this. Angel, put on your game face," Buffy ordered irritably.

All the x-men turned to Angel in time to see his demon visage come forward. Ororo let out a small gasp, while Kurt crossed himself.

"Everybody happy? This is what a vampire looks like in its demon form," Buffy said.

Angel's face reverted to its human form. "But not all of us walk around like that. We prefer to mask ourselves to blend in. Makes it easier to lure the innocent," he said softly.

Charles nodded his head. "When will you begin your research?"

"Tonight," Wesley said.

"Do you have a place to stay?"

"No, we haven't checked into a hotel yet."
"You are welcome to stay here. I would like to learn more about your world," Charles said.

Wesley looked at his companions, then said, "Thank you. I believe we'll take you up on that offer."