TITLE: Who shall stand?

DISCLAIMER: Nothing belongs to me. Buffy the vampire slayer and characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Charmed and all of its characters belong to spelling entertainment.

SUMMARY: The charmed ones meet the Scooby gang, but everything happens for a reason. Together they have to fight an evil they never expected to face.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: This takes place after the charmed episode scry hard. Assume spoilers for everything up to that episode. For Buffy its post chosen possible spoilers for all seven seasons. There is a lot of talking in this chapter, the rest of the story should have more action in it.

I would also like to say a big thank you to definity, Paige Master, JewWitch and Piper-Leo-alwys for their reviews, it good to hear that people are enjoying my story.

Buffy paced the length of the room, her agitation rolling off her in waves. She hadn't taken her eyes off 'Giles' since he had appeared in the manor. This wasn't the man she loved like a father; he looked too old, too worn by tragedy. The knife in her hand was making her feel better, but she hated the idea of Paige being so near this impostor. The feelings coiling within her when she looked at Paige, feelings she shouldn't have for a stranger were only adding to her annoyance. Buffy twirled the knife between her fingers, its speed and direction shifting at random.

Piper was torn between shouting at Buffy or joining the young woman on her trek across the carpet. She was still rattled by the sudden appearance of the man and the effect it had wreaked on their guests. The most worrying thing was that Buffy had recognised him and then denied the evidence of her own eyes. Xander stood to the side, surprise clearly written across his face, a crossbow resting comfortable in his hands. She couldn't bring herself to look at him to often; the parallels between him and her youngest son were too many. They shared a haunted look in their eyes, a look she was too familiar with from her own eyes. She had hated seeing it in Chris's eyes and was thankful she had grown up without her powers, not knowing the truth. She wished it was an option with Wyatt and Chris, but knew it wasn't.

"Leo, where's this healer of yours?" snapped Paige as he helped her exchange the bloody bandages she had been pressing to his chest. The new bandages soaked through just as quickly as before.

"He'll be here."

"If he's not here soon it's a priest we'll need."

"…No we've got it in hand just now, I'll call back in the morning," Willow flipped her phone shut and brought her attention back to the room, "It's definitely not Giles."

"But we knew that all ready," said Xander, tightening his grip on the crossbow slightly.

"The point will be moot unless I help him." The clipped, precise tone sliced through the room.

Buffy moved, driven by instinct, before she truly heard the words. Two paces had her across the room the knife, ready to strike a stake almost flying into her empty hand. She smashed the speaker against the wall; knife racing towards his throat.

"Buffy, don't!" Leo's words rushed from his mouth, as the slayer became a blur of movement.

Buffy heard the shout and changed the angle of the knife, missing the man's throat and embedding half of the blade in the wall. She moved a small step back, still within striking distance, and took in the man's appearance. He was tall and thin, but not so much that he would stand out. He was dressed in a black suit that he was slowly smoothing out.

"I will need to pass if I am to help that man."

Buffy moved out the way, every muscle taut, ready to fight.

"You keep interesting company Leo," said the man as he took in the sight of Buffy.

"Don't worry he's a friend," said Leo looking at Buffy, but addressing the whole room.

The man glided across the room, kneeling down next to the Giles look a like. Paige backed away from the man, something about him made her uneasy. Paige took a few more steps back; Buffy glided across the room to take a new position between the stranger and Paige.

"He is badly injured," the man moved his hands across Giles chest, a soft red glow pulsing from his palms, "Lost a lot of blood. I believe only his own will power is keeping him alive. I do not often see bullet wounds. Let us hope my time is not being wasted." He pressed his hands on to the wounds, the glow changed becoming steadier and brighter.

Chris shifted in Piper's arms letting out a few gurgles as he found a comfier spot. "Paige, honey could you do me a favour and put Chris to bed?" She watched her sister leave, hoping a few minutes away from Leo's strange friend would calm her down a little. Piper felt a little of the tension leave the room with Paige as Buffy relaxed a few notches. The Slayer still resembled an attack dog waiting to spring, but she didn't seem to be holding herself back anymore.

Phoebe stood at the back of the room, keeping an eye on Wyatt as he played. She was happy Paige was getting a few minutes out of the room, because Leo's friend was creeping her out as well. She watched as Paige slipped back into the room and Buffy returned to her pose of barely leashed aggression. Phoebe had to work hard to suppress the smirk fighting to appear on her face, failing completely when she caught Willow's eye and saw the tiniest hint of a smile playing across her lips.

"He is healed or will be when he awakens in the morning. Now I must take my leave." The healer got to his feet and shook Leo's hand.

"Can I contact you in the usual way? We might need your help,"

"The slayer is working with the charmed ones. Trouble is coming, I think I shall be quite unreachable for the foreseeable future, goodbye Leo." The healer disappeared in a shimmer of blue light.

"Now what do we do with him?" asked Phoebe.

"We watch him until he wakes up and if he twitches in a way we don't like, we kill him." Buffy's voice was cold and hard, leaving no doubt that she wouldn't hesitate to kill the man.

"What about Marcus?" asked Willow, her concern about Buffy clearly showing.

"This is more important."

"Who's Marcus?" asked Phoebe, noticing the strange dynamic between the two friends.

"He's a loud mouth that pushes around a gang of vamps. They move their nest a lot and we know where the new one is going to be. We were going to hit them tonight as they moved in." Buffy's voice cracked a little as the though of leaving those demons alive disturbed her.

"We could move him up stairs and put him in a crystal cage. He won't get out until we let him out. You can vanquish your vamps and we can play prison guard," said Piper.

"Prison guard, is that anything like naughty school girl." Xander's smirk didn't fade, even after every woman in the room throw him a dirty look.

Willow checked her watch and looked out the window. "If we're going to get them we need to move soon,"

"Your right. Are you three sure about this?" asked Buffy, worry colouring her voice.

"We can handle it," said Phoebe, fighting to keep the grin off her face, as Paige quickly hid her disappointment that they were leaving.

"Okay. We'll be back in the morning."

Phoebe took a sip of her tea and snuggled into the chair. The manor was cold, but she found the quite relaxing so accepted the trade. She did her best to try and clear her mind, knowing she would need the rest for the coming days. What Leo's friend said was true, if the charmed ones and the slayer were together trouble was bound to be following soon. She had never needed much sleep it had helped when she lived in New York and with being a charmed one, but now all she wanted was the peace of sound sleep. A light clinking noise brought Phoebe back to the present, someone was in the kitchen and trying not to wake people.

Paige looked up as Phoebe slipped into the kitchen, "Hey Phoebe."

Phoebe smiled as she looked at her sister. She was so adorable, with her hair a mess and her eye's wide and blinking. It was so easy to see the little girl she had been, the innocent girl Phoebe would never meet, instead of the woman her sister was. "Couldn't sleep?"

"No, I managed to sleep, but woke up again. So hot chocolate," said Paige holding up her mug. "What about you?"

"I tried, but my mind wouldn't stop going."

Paige grinned at her sister. "Well since Piper isn't here I'll have to say it. We didn't know it ever started."

"Ha Ha."

"Really what's wrong?"

"It's just everything that happened today. I guess I never thought there was other people like us. Having their lives turned upside down in order to fight evil."

"Yeah it couldn't have been easy for her to find out at fourteen you're destined to fight demons." Paige took a drink of her chocolate trying to not get lost in thoughts of Buffy.

"I know I found it hard enough at twenty two. So what did you think of her?"

"She's cool. A little intimidating, I mean you saw the way she went after that guy."

Phoebe smiled as she saw her sisters eyes light up when talking about Buffy. She was happy to see any type of joy from Paige, she had been so sad and distant since losing Kyle. "You like her don't you?" she asked finally verbalising the though she had been having all day.

"Of course I like her, she's a nice person and saved my life which is a plus point."

"I mean you like her like her. As in you want to get sweaty and naked with her."

"Phoebe!" Paige wanted to be outraged, but a part of her could help giggling at the way Phoebe had put the question.

"What? It's true isn't it? I saw the way you looked at her today."

"And it doesn't freak you out?" Paige barley made eye contact, afraid at what her sister's reaction would be.

"Of course not," began Phoebe, shocked by how vulnerable Paige looked. "You're my sister and I love you. Anyway I always figured you were the type."

"The type!" Anger was showing in both Paige's voice and eyes.

"Yeah, the type not to care," said Phoebe quickly, cursing herself for not being clear. "Honey you could have told us."

"I know, but when we first met I wasn't sure about you two and I don't feel the need to let people know. You don't have to tell everyone your straight, why should I have to say I like woman sometimes. Then after a while it wasn't that I couldn't tell you, but I already kept it a secret and I didn't want you to think I didn't trust you."

"No its our fault I forgot your new to the sister thing," said Phoebe pulling Paige into a hug. "We should have made you fell like you could tell us everything."

"It's okay Phoebe, I've not ignored anyone I've really liked," said Paige hoping to make her sister feel better.

Phoebe smiled; fairly sure Paige was lying or at least bending the truth, but she decided to leave it alone. "So are you going to try anything?"

"I don't know, I would like to, but something big is coming. I'm not sure we could survive any distractions. And I don't even know if she likes woman, lusting after a straight girl is no fun." Paige's voice was full of sadness.

"I think you should," said Phoebe deciding she would help her sister by subtly grilling Willow and Xander. "Do you want me to talk to Piper and Leo?" Phoebe was hoping to remove any excuses Paige might create. They all had too many regrets when it came to love because of the life they lead, she didn't want her sister to have more than necessary.

"No I'll do it, but would you be with me?"

"Of course," Phoebe's heart was breaking at the uncertainty on Paige's face. "Look it's late. We should go to bed, I think we'll need the sleep."

"Yeah your right." Paige pulled Phoebe into a hug, "I love you sis."

"Love you too sweetie."

Phoebe dropped into the chair with a complete lack of grace. Cursing Leo under her breath of being in the shower. She found the energy to lift her head, but that just made her feel worse. Piper was moving around the kitchen wide-awake, alert and worse of all she was cheerful.

Piper looked up as a groan escaped Phoebe's lips. "Hay Phoebe, you look like crap."

"Thanks for your compassion Piper. I didn't get much sleep, I need a shower and coffee."

"Then why are you down here?"

"Because you husband is in the shower. Now get me some coffee woman," Piper raised an eyebrow and flexed her fingers. "I mean could you please get me some coffee sweet sister of mine."

"Sure," said Piper smiling at her sister. "I didn't think you and Paige had stayed up that late."

"Oh, honey did we wake you?"

"No he did," Piper said pointing at Chris. "What were you two talking about anyway?"

"Paige just needed to work through some stuff."

Piper nodded in understanding feeling a slight twinge of jealousy that Paige had went to Phoebe. "Anything I can help with?"

"No I think we're okay," Phoebe sighed as she sipped her coffee, "But I think she's going to want to talk with you and Leo later."

Paige appeared, a few minutes later, looking just as tired as Phoebe, but Piper only smiled at the familiar image of her youngest sister. While Phoebe usually had the energy of a sugared up eight-year-old Paige needed coffee and a head start before she was ready for the day. "Coffee?" asked Piper knowing what the answer would be.

"Yes please." Paige poured herself into a chair next to Phoebe.

"Good morning!" said Leo as he strode into the kitchen with a huge smile.

"Leo, I swear if you don't stop being so cheerful I'm going to orb this coffee wear the sun don't shine." Paige finished her tirade by glowering at Leo.

Phoebe elbowed Paige. "Go on."

"Not yet."

"Go on," said Phoebe giving Paige's shoulder a hit.

"Not yet!" Hit.

"Now Paige." Hit.

"No, Phoebe." Hit.

"Would you two stop that!" snapped Piper.

Phoebe gave Paige a quick hug. "It's going to be okay Paige."

"There's something I need to tell you two. I like Buffy." Paige became interested in her coffee not wanting to see the looks on Piper and Leo's faces.

"What's not to like she's a nice girl."

Paige gritted her teeth as the confusion in Piper's voice told her she would need to explain. "No I like her, as get 'sweaty and naked' like," said Paige borrowing Phoebe's phrase.

"Oh, you were worried about telling us?"

Paige gathered up her courage and looked up. She was afraid she would see revulsion, but the only thing she could she see was the smile on Piper's face.

"Come here," said Piper gathering Paige into a hug. "We don't care as long as you're happy." Piper broke the hug and walked over to Phoebe and gave her a slap to the back of the head.

"Piper!" yelped Phoebe rubbing her head. "What was that for?"

"Corrupting Paige. What sort of thing is 'sweaty and naked' to say?"

"Well first off, Paige has orbed home for lingerie and keeps handcuffs in her room, so not much corrupting going on, and second how do you know I said it."

"I've known you for your entire life and that phrase as your fingerprints all over it."

"Okay you got me. And on that note, I'm off for a shower." Phoebe ran out the room with Paige a few seconds behind once her words had soaked in.

After a lot of crashing and banging, Paige walked back into the kitchen and slumped on her chair. "I could have beaten her, but I decided to let her win."

Piper and Leo both burst out laughing at the air of self-sacrifice in Paige's voice.

Phoebe sauntered into the kitchen feeling more alive after her shower. She would have preferred a longer shower, but Paige would want to be ready before Buffy arrived. It took her a few seconds to notice that the person working in the kitchen wasn't Piper, but Willow. "Oh Hay Willow." She did a quick scan of the room and found Buffy exchanging glances with Paige. "Hi Buffy." A couple of smiles lit up the room coaxing one from phoebe in the process. "Where's Xander?"

"In the living room playing with Wyatt and Leo," said Willow.

"Well I hate to leave, but I need to have a shower and get dressed," said Paige, she throw a dark look at Phoebe on her way out of the room.

"I'm not really hungry, so I'll just go check on Xander." Buffy walked out a mixture of disappointment and relief momentary showing on her face.

Willow smiled as her friend left the room and finally gave into the urge to laugh.

"What's so funny?" asked Phoebe.

"Them two. You should have seen them before you came in, barely looking at each other. I swear they are both acting like eight year olds with a crush."

"What makes you say that?"

Willow smiled, "I know you saw the same things I did yesterday."

"And it doesn't bother you?" asked Phoebe hoping she had asked in the right tone.

"Is that your subtle way of asking if I'm interested in Buffy?"

"Yeah."

"Well I won't lie and say I've never noticed how good looking she is, but we've never connected like that."

"So do you think Buffy likes Paige?"

"Definitely, I think the only time she stopped talking about her was when we were dusting vamps."

A huge smile spread across Phoebe's face, "Good, I've never seen Paige act so shy before. This should be fun."

The next few hours past at a crawl, everyone was on edge waiting for Giles to wake up. Phoebe had needed to make a huge effort not to smile or catch Willow's eye when Paige walked in after her shower. She had obviously dressed with Buffy in mind, the blonde couldn't look at Paige with out turning red, while Xander had sat with an expression a awe clearly written on his face. Leo had chosen to wait in the attic.

"He's awake." Leo's voice pushed the entire room into motion. It only took a few minutes for everyone to arrive in the attic and watch as the groggy man come to his senses.

They weren't taking any chances, Xander held a crossbow ready to fire, Buffy had a short sword at her side and Piper was keeping her hands clear to either freeze or blast.

The man pulled himself together with remarkable composure, since he was trapped in a strange place with seven people staring at him.

"Who are you?" Piper's voice sliced through the room's atmosphere easily.

"My name is Rupert Giles."

"Try again. Giles is in England rebuilding the Watchers council." Buffy's voice was cold and hard.

"I am Rupert Giles. I'm just not the Rupert Giles from this dimension."

"And why should we believe that?" asked Piper

"I think the way I arrived shows I didn't come from the corner shop," snapped Giles irritation in his voice.

"Okay if that's true, why are you here?" asked Leo.

"I'm here in the hopes that things happened differently in this world and that she can be stopped."

"What things and stop who?" Buffy's voice was still filled with suspicion.

"Where I come from the greatest evil that exists is Buffy Summers. I hope that isn't true here."

"That's not true, Buffy could never be evil," snarled Paige.

"It started with Dawns death. It was a few weeks after her mother died; the Order of Byzantium killed Dawn to stop Glory. Buffy didn't take it well; she tracked them down and slaughtered them all. I didn't she her again for months. When she did return to Sunnydale she had changed, cold and distant. I though with time she would heal and reconnect with her friends, then Tara was killed. Willow went to kill Tara's murderers and Buffy helped her. That was the last time I saw either of them in the flesh,"

"I stayed in Sunnydale with Xander and Anya: we tried to keep the worst of the demons at bay. It was three years until I heard anything about Buffy and Willow again. A man I had never seen before Orbed into my home with two children told me his name was Leo and that he was an Elder, one of the powers that be. He told me that the Heavens had been invaded and most of the Elders and Whitelighters were dead. The assault had been led by Buffy, Willow and The Charmed ones."

"Nobody knows how Buffy convinced them to join her. Wars for control of earth started soon after, sixteen years of non-stop brutal fighting. After it all Buffy was at the top of the pile, most of the world under her control or of demons and humans loyal to her through blood oaths. The charmed ones aren't interested in territory, but were given San Francisco and the power of the Source was split them and Willow. They became Buffy's top enforcers, on a strictly mercenary basis."

"Okay so it all went wrong and we're the scourge of humanity. Why are you here?" Interrupted Phoebe, too afraid to hear anymore after her own brushes with evil.

"I'm here because Buffy is planing to invade your world. I don't know why, some say she wants enough power to become a god others think she's bored and wants something to do."

"She's bored so she'll invade a world?" asked Piper not being able to wrap her mind that concept.

"The reason doesn't matter, what matters is that she is coming. She is ready with an army of millions, demons vampires, witches, warlocks and humans."

"Then what chance do we have?" Xander was the first to get his voice back.

"It takes a lot of power to send people to a different reality, she's going to send a small number through first, it will be their job to set up an anchor, of sorts, in this reality. That will enable a permanent connection to be made between the worlds. That is what we need to stop."

"Do you know who is being sent though?" asked Piper trying to get some idea on who they would be facing.

"Yes. She's sending the general of her assault troops, Faith. Now if you will let me out we can start preparing."

Glances and nods flitted about the room showing everyone's agreement to release Giles. The next few hours passed swiftly, as they talked about the differences between the worlds.

"So do you have any idea where faith will be?" the question had been running around Willow's head for awhile now.

"We know the spells are being targeted at the Hellmouth, but you say that's closed now."

Buffy nodded, "Without a doubt, Sunnydale is now a huge crater."

"Then my guess is they will come here for the nexus."

"Where's this nexus, in the city?" asked Buffy.

"No. Actually it's in the basement." Paige had a huge fake smile plastered to her face as she delivered the news.

"Well that's…." Buffy's voice trailed off as she began thinking of how beautiful Paige looked when she smiled, "not good."

Buffy was snapped back to reality by two strange noises, her slayer instincts already putting her in motion. She looked for the noises, but could only see Giles, silhouetted in the doorway. He gasped before jerking as if he'd been hit hard from front and back at the same time. He dropped to the floor lifeless, two arrows sticking from his body.