(I wanted to get this chapter done by Christmas…. But apparently this year, "tis the season to be sick" is more applicable. So I couldn't concentrate."

Xander staggered out of the bedroom Logan had put him in. As he walked down the hallway, he was still feeling slightly punch drunk. Which was why it wasn't until he opened the door to the bathroom that he realized someone was in it.

"You know, you really ought to warn a girl."

His eyes widened, and he slammed the door.

A minute later Max walked out. Xander stood ten feet away in silence. He looked up.

"Sorry."

She shook her head. "I'm used to Logan knocking when I'm here…"

Xander nodded. "Not to mention that it's tactically sound to leave yourself a quick exit."

Max smiled. "That too. All yours."

He nodded and walked in, making sure to lock the door behind him.

When he finished, he walked back to the bedroom.

- - - - - -

Max, Logan, Sketchy, Cindy, Alec, and Mole sat in the room waiting. Joshua had wanted to come, but he was working on a new art project. And the city art galleries were clamoring for it.

Mole scowled. "I don't see why we should trust him."

Max sighed. "One, he saved my life. Two, Logan has undoubtedly been monitoring him for any secret transmissions."

Xander walked in. "And of course three, Logan checked me over for any hidden devices, and I left the communications that he saw me use with him. Not only that, but I doubt Max is a slacker in the department of finding out secrets."

Mole glared then sighed.

Xander grinned. "You remind me of an overprotective friend in high school. And almost all of it was justified."

Alec looked at him. "To clear the air, the fact that Mole has a reptilian genetic make-up among other things…."

Xander shook his head. "Doesn't bother me."

"Why not?"

"I've seen people who are worse looking come to my aid. There were others that society saw as normal like you or Max, even Sketchy…. And tried to kill thousands of people."

Xander paused then spoke again. "Normal has nothing to do with looks. I try to keep an open mind, and it doesn't have room for prejudice."

Mole opened his mouth, then closed it and looked at Max.

She smiled. "What, you can be blunt with me and most all of us, but you can't with him?"

He glared for a second, then smiled back ruefully. "I'm just wondering if his friends will be scared of me."

Xander smiled. "Want me to ask?"

Logan looked at the clock. "Maybe Mole should wait in another room. Then you can warn your friends… it is almost time after all."

Xander shook his head. "They tend to use me to test the waters these days, but if you wish…"

Mole stood and walked to another room as a bright light appeared on the opposite end. From within, voices could be heard.

"Willow! I told you to seal the container up tight!"

"I had other things on my mind so I gave it to Dawn!"

"DAWN?!"

A loud voice could be heard giggling.

When the light vanished, three people stood there with some kind of thick soup on them.

Xander put his hand over his eyes.

Max and her friends watched the blond haired woman glare at him. "One word Xander, one Word."

One of the other two spoke up. "Relax B, it's not like you haven't been decorated by worse in the past."

"Shut up Faith!"

Willow started laughing. Buffy glared at her too.

Xander grinned. "Everyone, these are my friends." He proceeded to introduce Buffy and crew to Logan and the rest. "There's one more, but he seems to think that his looks might have required an armed response from you three."

Buffy sighed. "Oh?"

"Yes. So I'll tell you before he comes in, he's human. The fact that he was experimented on doesn't change that."

Faith looked around. "Where is he?"

Mole walked out with his hands in his pockets.

Faith walked up to him and started walking around. "Hmmm…."

Xander spoke. "Faith, this isn't the time to pick up men… besides I thought I was yours."

"Doesn't mean I can't look."

Mole looked at the two in confusion.

Xander nodded. "She and I are engaged."

Faith grinned. "And he's my boy-toy."

"FAITH!"

Everyone laughed.

After it died down, Logan gestured to a hall closet. "I don't have much to offer, but there are some things you can wear while your clothes are being cleaned."

Buffy nodded. "Thanks."

Faith looked herself over then grinned at Xander. "I don't know… Xander and I…"

He groaned.

Willow and Cindy went into the kitchen to start setting up for dinner. As they did, they both appraised each other.

"Well, Original Cindy knows what to ask for in her stocking."

Willow blushed.

Buffy walked by in the outfit she'd chosen. She grinned to herself as she heard Cindy's comment.

Everyone sat down to eat. Mole opened his mouth, then closed it when Buffy glared at him.

"No shop talk at dinner unless the world is ending."

Faith smiled.

Buffy glared at her too. "And I know what's on your mind. None of that either."

- - - - - - - -

Logan and the rest moved into the living room after eating. He looked around. "Well, shall we?"

Xander nodded. "We've done the unofficial introductions. Now it's time for the official." Xander straightened. "But by no means will this be a stuffy meeting." Then he slouched.

Max smiled. "That's good to know."

Xander grinned. "Ok… let's start from the top. I've already told you about Slayers. Buffy is the first one that Willow and I ever met. We were in high school at the time. The short story is, during one of our several battles… Buffy drowned. I revived her. But she'd been under just long enough for a second Slayer to come into her powers. That one was killed by, a friend. Her death brought Faith. Then things got interesting."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"I said the short story Faith."

She grinned.

He blinked, then smacked his head. "Moving right along. Rupert Giles was…" Then he looked at Logan. "Somewhat similar to Eyes-Only. Though, not with the information network."

Then Xander continued. "After we started work on rebuilding the Council… we looked back on the past and realized something. Without any bragging… the relationship between Watcher and Slayer changed when Buffy met me and Willow."

Willow spoke up. "More specifically him. I was too timid."

Xander smiled ruefully. "That doesn't mean that I didn't screw up. For awhile there it was more luck that I saved the day than anything. Except for rare occasions, I had to trip over something or someone to do something about it. One of those rare ones was when I revived Buffy."

Then he shook his head. "However, that wasn't what we were looking closely at. What we did look at was the fact that Buffy, then Faith, and now all the other slayers have lived longer than any of the slayers before Buffy. There have been some exceptions… but not as many as under the old council."

Max nodded as she looked at Cindy, Logan, and Sketchy. "They had friends to back them up."

"Exactly. Which caused Giles to decide to put Willow and I in joint second in command of the Watchers Council. He mentored us, while all three of us decided on which of the old ways should be kept."

Max blinked. "So when you came to Seattle…"

"I was the only available watcher, and all the Slayers were elsewhere. Buffy is more in administrative these days, though she is still as strong as she used to be. And Faith sticks around to keep her on her toes."

Willow grinned at Xander. "You did forget something."

He stared at her. "Ah, sorry." He then looked back to the group. "Willow is also our head Witch. She came up with most of our more unique items that we use. That's it for our intros…"

Mole stared. "So when do we do the test?"

Willow stared right back. "Hold on buster, what about your introductions?"

Mole blinked.

Logan spoke up. "I'm Logan Cale. I'm Eyes Only. Max is the second transgenic I've met, and she's the leader of the transgenics in Terminal City. Alec has led several of them into the area of commerce. While they make money for the group as a whole, some like Max like to go out and earn too. Mole tends to do sand sculptures, which draw some crowds… but he's also a big help in several security areas. Cindy and Sketchy were co-workers at Jam Pony. Max still works there, while Cindy helps Alec with community relations. Sketchy works for a tabloid… but since he was the first in it to start writing about Terminal city, the paper has become the leader in stories on transgenics."

Mole spoke again. "So, now?"

Xander nodded. "Willow…"

"It's already set up. All we have to do is take some blood samples."