Brothers in Arms

Disclaimer: own nothing you recognize.

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Three months later:

With the Mayor defeated, the forces of the Hellmouth went into the same reclusion every time an enemy had been defeated. Few new events really occurred, with a few notable exceptions. Alan Finch, the new Mayor of Sunnydale, began a program dedicated to getting kids off the streets or out of bad situations, such as Faith. He gave her a job as a secretary, with absolutely no benefits. When Anya came to Willow with the proposition, due to her distance with Buffy over her treatment of them, and Xander's upheaval in wisdom and confidence, she never even gave the ex-demon the time of day and, due to Xander's backing of the witch, the girl lost all sexual interest that she had once had for the human.

Buffy did attempt to gain forgiveness from Xander but, after being hurt so many times, he had decided to completely sever his ties with her. She had completely decimated his feelings, not to mention his life, with her attitude before Gambit had come back, along with Jimmy and his new friend, Kate, and she kept on doing it, no matter how many times she tried to make things better. Giles had, upon learning of their pseudo-Slayerettes from Xander, insisted upon seeing Gambit's powers, along with hearing of Kate's misadventures. After a few test trials, Giles had accidentally destroyed the table by flinging one of his charged cards into the wooden structure. Buffy had just come in and, in one of her most brilliant moments of idiocy (paradoxes are fun), charged the mutant and systematically began to pound the living shit out of him. By the time they had calmed her down, Remy was down for the count, needing to get to a hospital for a concussion and several cracked ribs. Buffy had assumed that Gambit had betrayed them and that shehad 'saved' them so, she expected Xander's automatic forgiveness for what she had done, along with an apology that would make the U.S. Senate want him as their PR man. The look on her face when Giles had told her the truth was almost worth it.

Almost.

Remy got better quickly, what with being a superhuman guy, but not before Kate, Faith, Willow, and Oz (he and the rogue had bonded due to their mutual status as genetically altered beings, along with their love of music) had gotten a little bit of vengeance by placing a small card, barely charged by Remy, underneath her pillow. She burnt her hair completely, along with completely destroying her bedspread. No true harm done, her eyebrows grew back…eventually. Cordelia had a field day with that one, creating a rapidly humiliated Slayer which, to them, had long been in coming.

James had briefly returned to the Mother country, along with Wesley who, in an act of rebellion inspired by Xander's own rebellious function against the Slayer, quit the Council when they came to do Faith's Cruciamentum. M had listened to the Watcher's rendition of events and, after receiving substantial proof of the existence of the supernatural, had agreed with Bond's initial request toward discovering the other routes of supernatural existence within the world, such as the theory put forth by R that there may be demon underworlds. Bond had suggested, with the approval of Mr. Wyndam-Pryce, that he and the select demon hunters travel around the world, studying the existence of demons and discerning their main focal points or, more specifically, where their underground may exist. In other words, he, Xander, Kate, Remy, and Faith were all going on a road trip around the country, then Canada, then Mexico, then South America. Then, flights all over the world. In other words, Jimbo had conned the old lady into getting them a paid vacation around the Earth. They already knew where the chief areas for demons were, mostly where they were for humans but, it convinced M so, they were completely in the clear for it. They'd take a tour of America, Mexico, Britain, Russia, France, Spain, Africa (perhaps), and definitely Japan (Kate was a huge fan of Anime).

Willow and Oz had been tempted to accompany them but, the witch was going to UC Sunnydale, so they were going to stick around. The only reason why they were was because Willow refused to allow the Hellmouth to be in control of just Giles and Buffy. They needed someone to keep them down to Earth, though Giles should do better than that, but…faith was not something she had a lot of now.

Angel had been systematically disgusted by Buffy's complete display of inconsideration and selfishness, up to the point where he had seriously begun to question their relationship. The final straw had been with Remy. They were meant to help people, not jump to conclusions like morons. So, with that in mind, along with Xander's speech, he had decided to go away to LA.

So, everything had come to a head of some sorts. Xander and Faith were steadily dating, with no sexual encounters to speak of. Kate and Remy had begun a small relationship together, which had gotten off to a rocky start due to his hospitalization, no matter how temporary it was. James had had a one night stand with Anya, interestingly enough, so, the girl had transferred all her attention to Jimbo, much to his dismay. But, he had to admit, the girl knew what she was doing in the sack.

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Graduation:

"Say cheese," Wesley grinned as he held the camera.

The Scooby Gang was all gathered together, in the library, Giles stood up on the second level with Joyce and Buffy Summers hanging on his arms, Xander in the center of the group on the first level, his arms around Willow and Cordelia's waists, with Oz right next to the redhead, and Faith leering theatrically towards the cheerleader, who was meeting her game of chicken with ferocity. Sat at the new desk in the chair at the head, in front of Xander, was James with Kate to his left and Remy on his right, both with an arm around his back, Remy and Kate smooching the spy on his cheek. After a quick flash, the picture was taken, a memory for all left behind and all those to come.

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Xander grinned widely as he tossed his last bag into the RV, grateful to be finally released from his hometown. Willow, Oz, Cordelia, and, surprisingly, Angel were there to see him off, the latter out in the night air. Giles had already paid his respects, interestingly in the form of cash, as had Wesley, who had stutteringly asked him to give his blessings to the crew. Buffy was nowhere to be seen but, it wasn't odd. She had finally understood things from his point of view and had decided to just leave it be.

The young man turned his attention firstly to his former girlfriend, who was glaring at him. He wasn't surprised…not until she clutched onto him and began to devour his lips. Faith, still enthralled in the ecstasy of their chicken, decided to let it go. After a moment, Cordelia drew back and stared into his eyes.

"…Treat her well."

With that, she turned away and climbed into her new car, intent on driving back home. The graduates, and Angel, all stared after her as she drove away, amazed at the display. Oz recovered first, completely in character, and came up to him. The two shook hands.

"Take care of her, Oz," Xander said to his friend, "She deserves the best."

"It's not me," Oz muttered, towards where only he could hear, "But, I won't leave her."

Xander nodded in understanding and backed away, while Oz walked back over to where the vampire and witch were standing. Willow came up next, a smile on her face. Without hesitation, the first time in months, the two embraced as brother and sister, what they once were.

"…Be safe," she kissed him on the cheek, and didn't feel any bit of spark as she pulled away, "I love you."

"…I love you, too."

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"You gonna miss this place," Faith asked, her hand around her boy's neck as the two leaned against the window, looking out into the night.

"Yeah, but, I'll get over it," he grinned as Faith pouted at him, "Look at all that I have to keep me busy."

James smiled as he looked on at them, then grimaced as he noticed a shape behind the RV. A blonde girl, running after the camper, shouting her head off. He smiled and was about to leave her in the dust but, he just couldn't do it. They deserved a chance to get everything good again. He groaned as he pulled over onto the sidewalk, hoping to any force that this wouldn't take long. Needless to say, he was not over her attack on Gambit, who was asleep with Kate in the back, thank God.

"What's up," Xander asked, "Why're we slowing down?"

"Buffy's behind us," James answered back.

Xander sighed and took a moment to think. Did he really want to have one last confrontation with her? Or did he just want to let things stand? He turned his attention to Faith, to get her opinion. She shrugged, letting him know that the choice was all his. He sighed again and stood up.

"If I'm not back in five minutes," he told James, "Run like Hell."

He walked up to the door and gently opened it, then stepped down to the ground. He slowly turned his gaze upon the petite Slayer, who was standing a few yards back, letting him make the first move. He came forward, taking as much time as he could, and paused just a few feet before meeting her.

"…Hi," she muttered to him, "Y-you passed by and…"

"You wanted to talk," Xander confirmed.

"…I don't want to leave things the way they were," she said, rubbing her arm and looking down at the ground.

"I know how you feel," the young man said back.

"…How did things ever get this way," Buffy asked.

"…Angelus," Xander responded, "You let him get under your skin and into your head. You were afraid of being alone, so you pushed us away to keep us alive. Don't get it, don't wanna."

"You've been talking to Willow," it wasn't a question.

"And Angel," she cringed at the mention of her former, "We're all pretty much in agreement."

"I don't get a say in what's wrong with me," she questioned his logic.

"If you'd actually think about what's wrong with you, then yes, you would. Besides, you came up with the concept, bottle blonde."

Ordinarily, Buffy would be shocked and outraged at his comment but, after all she had put him through, she was…more understanding. At least when it came to his point of view.

"…You're right," she walked forward slowly, and Xander did not back away, "I just…don't want to leave things this way."

Xander agreed with her, for once. He didn't want to leave their relationship like it was. Slowly, he opened his arms and braced himself, knowing that within a few seconds, they were going to be impacted by a petite Slayer, fully backed by her strength.

He wasn't disappointed.

"…I love you, Xander," Buffy whispered as she cried into his chest, "Please, don't leave me."

"Buffy, I'm already going," he told her, "I'm not going to leave my friends for you."

"…No, you wouldn't," Buffy said as she pulled away, "You're not that kind of man."

He smiled at her and gently cupped both her cheeks and pulled her into him. He planted a small kiss upon her forehead, then slowly backed away, allowing her a moment to remember the feel of it.

"I always loved you, Buffy. And I always will."

He turned away and walked back down the street.

"…Be safe," she wished him as he rode off into the rough night.