TRAINING….FINALLY!

Haliwell Manor: Noon

Xander arrived right at 12 the next morning/day. He was wearing clothes to train in and carried a gym bag that had his clothes for working in. His jackets full of weapons were hung over his bag. He knocked on the door and turned around to look at the California sky. He marveled at having both eyes again. He heard the door open, turning around to see Phoebe wearing form fitting shorts and a tight tank top. And he thought the scene before him was breathtaking. Phoebe beamed him another killer smile and led him into the family room where Leo was already waiting.

"Good you made it on time. We decided to break up your training in parts. First we'll start with an hour of meditating. Then I'll hand you off to Phoebe for 2 hours where you'll be doing warm up exercises. Whether it's running or weight lifting I'll let her decide. After that, we'll all have some lunch. Then from about 2-4 well do some more meditating. Probably less to start with, but once you are able to tap into your energy we may bring it up some more. After meditating you'll be going back to Phoebe who will then teach you different forms of martial arts and the use of different weapons, mostly sword technique since she doesn't know much more." This earned him a death glare from the Middle Sister before he continued. "Most of the martial arts you learn will be hand to hand combat. After you're done with that you can have a quick dinner here, shower and go to your shift at the bar. If you need any time off for any reason just let us know. This is going to take up a lot of your time and we want you to still have a life."

Xander gave him a self-deprecating grin, "Can't say that I have much else going on. Although I was hoping that you could teach me some magic, or perhaps potion making as well. I may not have had the best luck with it in the past, but I believe it may be a good weapon to have in the future. And I don't want to go around being inexperienced with such a powerful weapon. It would be just as insane to go around with a loaded gun and not know how to use it." Leo thought about it for a moment.

"I'd like to hold off on that for a while, until you are able to learn a good deal of meditation. Only because we don't know what affect the energy within you will do. As far as learning potions." Looking towards the kitchen for a moment he turned back to Xander with a small smile. "I think we could get Piper to help you with that. Though that would be more studying and learning how things react together. I'll let her talk it over with you." Xander nodded his acceptance and decided that patience was a virtue. When he looked back at Leo, he noticed that the man was seriously studying him, making Xander a little nervous.

"What?"

"There's something you need to know about magic. It's what's called The Three Fold Rule." Seeing Xander's confusion he went into more detail of just what the rule meant. After thinking back to Willow, he could only agree with what he was being told. A warning of what not to do. A rule, which he whole-heartedly agreed with.

Every morning he would arrive and do some meditating exercises with Leo. It took him weeks but he was amazed when he could actually begin to feel the energy that Leo had been referring to. While he enjoyed working out with Phoebe, and watching her work out, he was sure she was trying to kill him though exhaustion. He had never been so happy and relieved when their two hours of warming up would be over and it would time for lunch and more meditating, you wouldn't think that two hours was much. He also thought that he was in decent shape after working construction, and he was. But Phoebe must have been in unbelievable shape. He had never been so tired when he arrived at work. Not too tired to stop flirting with the female customers, but tired nonetheless. He would get back to his suite just in time to pass out. Back in Sunnydale he would wake way before his alarm, but now, that was a rare occurrence.

He found less and less time to answer Dawn, and Willow's e-mail. And even the few that Buffy sent. But he was glad to hear that things were progressing smoothly in Cleveland with only a few bumps along the way. He had kept his word and had not to tell them of the Charmed Ones until he was with them face-to-face. He figured that would be a long conversation. Not to mention he wanted to see the look on their faces when they saw him with two good eyes. That brought a smirk to his face. It also brought a frown to his face when he thought over how, with the exception of Dawn, and somewhat with Willow, no one had said anything about Anya. No one really made any mention of his eye, other than to remind him that he was handicap. It was a complete stranger to offer their condolences for all that he lost. When he never even received so much as a thank you for sacrificing himself, and his eye for another Slayer, or potential slayer at the time. He wasn't really bitter. There was no way he wouldn't have done it. It's just the way he is. He would still do it, even knowing that he would receive no recognition, or gratitude. Sure it would be nice, but that's never been why he did any of what he did.

After about a month of training he was coming along well. He was becoming quite good at flirting with Phoebe, and even felt them growing closer, though he couldn't seem to take the next step towards a relationship. Perhaps that was because of Anya…he just didn't know.

Through meditation he could, to a small extent, control his energy. He could use it to levitate objects near him. The complex the movement, the more concentration needed, the harder it was to accomplish. He could move multiple objects at once and control its path, but it exhausted him quickly. One thing he found came easier to him was to use his energy to form balls, much like the demon did. Leo had brought him to a secluded field with rocks and boulders surrounded by nature. He wasn't sure where Leo had orbed them, but it sure was beautiful. There he could test his energy balls without worry of destroying the house or hurting someone. While not extremely powerful they were coming along well.

Physically he had never been in better shape. Where once he was out of breath trying to keep up with Phoebe, now he was able to easily keep stride and not be winded when they returned to the Manor. Every martial art form she threw at him, he was able to absorb like a sponge. Within the first three weeks he was more than a match for her in all the styles she had shown him, and he was quickly approaching her ability with the kendo sticks as well. He wondered if learning to meditate was helping him absorb all of these lessons. Learning to mix potions was by far the most difficult and complex procedures he had encountered. He had more than his fair share of potions blow up in his face. He also found that casting spells was difficult, until he began to concentrate on bringing out his energy as he was casting the spell. Before he knew it he was casting them like a Pro. As soon as that happened he was quickly warned about the 3 fold rule. One that he whole-heartedly agreed with.

He realized that drawing on his energy, like he did with spell casting, that he was able to move quicker, and felt stronger. It felt somewhat unnerving at times, but he kept it up nonetheless. One thing he simply couldn't accomplish was to find the Hyena, or the Soldier. If they were there, they were keeping away. It wasn't like before. He no longer had the strain of the mental barrier he never even realized he had. It just felt as though they were no longer there. However; he was almost positive that wasn't true. But until they decided to show themselves, there was nothing he could do.

Three months had passed since he had made these new friends. He hadn't felt so good in a long time. It surprised him that there was still no relationship between him and Phoebe. The flirting was still there, but it had become few, and far between. It was when Leo orbed in on their training session that he knew something was up. Leo had a sad and somewhat upset look in his eyes.

"I've been talking with the Elders. Recently those talks have been about you. They witnessed your new abilities and the energy that you are now able to tap into. And while it may feel powerful, it is only the tip of the iceberg that lies within you. According to some, it's even being muted now." He looked Xander straight in the eyes and saw him following along with this new information. "They won't tell me what they know, but after conferring with some oracles about you, I was told that your destiny lies in the journey ahead of you. They told me that you must depart soon in order reach even a fraction of your true potential." He could see the look in Xander's eyes begin to darken at that statement, so he continued. "While I don't like it. I know that they were serious. I know how you feel about others trying to dictate your actions." He saw the look begin to lighten. Showing a look of concern himself, he placed his hand firmly on Xander's shoulder. "I want you to know that you have become like family to me. And I am sure that can be said the same for everyone else here. If you want to stay no one will stop you. No one will force you out. And if you do decide to start your journey, you will always have a place with us."

Looking over at Phoebe he could see her tearing while nodding her head. He watched as she slowly made her way from the basement and could now hear her sobbing. He felt as though something had been taken from him and didn't know what to do. He looked over to Leo whose expression was one of compassion tinted with sadness. "I could really use some advice. I don't think I want to go. But I'm not sure if maybe I should."

In a low, soft tone he replied, "I think you should do as you know you should. I don't know what your destiny is. Or how, or where, this journey will take you. I know that I trust the source of the advice. If that helps as all."

"Yes Leo, it does help. And thank you. Not just for your advice, but for everything you said. I fell like I'm part of something here. A family. Thank you for all that you have done and for accepting me."

Leo looked up and took him into a fatherly embrace, "You are always welcome here. And this isn't goodbye, so much as a farewell for now. It may not feel different right now but I promise you. In time it will." With that the two men broke up and headed up the stairs and out of the basement.

Once Piper returned home and heard the news she decided to let him have him last night in San Francisco off. They had a good heart-felt conversation for about half an hour ending with both shedding some tears while saying goodbye. When Paige arrived she too had tears in her eyes at the news of him leaving. He became like the brother she had never had but always wanted. Even Chris seemed a little down at the news, while baby Wyatt cried himself to sleep.

Xander went up to Phoebe's room and knocked on the door. When he was told to come in he opened the door to see phoebe drying her eyes. He closed the door and sat next to her on the bed trying to think of something to say but nothing came to mind. He looked down upon her and looked into her eyes as she was looking up into his eyes as well. He was amazed even after shedding those tears she was still a thing of beauty in his eyes. Before he knew what was happening they were kissing. There was far more passion in that kiss than he had ever experienced before. Not with Cordelia, not even with Anya. This was the first time he could think of her name without feeling guilt and sorrow, but this wasn't the time to think about that. With much reluctance he broke off the kiss as she followed his movements.

They looked into each others eyes once again. It was a good thing he was already sitting, he was beginning to feel week. He looked to the floor for a second to try and gather some thoughts. "As much as I want to continue this, and I really do, I don't want you to do this because I'm leaving. I don't think I could live with myself knowing that I took advantage of you in such a way." When he looked back up she was smiling.

"I've wanted to do this since I first met you. That we haven't is a shame, but I've been wanting this for a while now." Her smile now turned into a smirk "So I think you should get back over here and kiss me." With that he leaned back down to share her embrace once again. He hugged her to his chest as if trying to physically become one. Their lips didn't break apart until breathing became an issue. And then it started up all over again. They let their passion take them wherever as it was meant to. Clothes started to get strewn across the floor and as Xander looked down upon her once again, he marveled at how every time he believed she couldn't look more beautiful she exceeded his wildest expectations. And with that Xander had one last thought before he lost himself in their shared passion, 'My journey better lead me back here really fucking quick.'