The experience of 'Orbing' was quite disorienting, especially for those who have never traveled in such a manner. Faith and her Slayers looked around the room somewhat wearily while trying to blink and focus on the room and take in an awareness that was unique to Slayers.

Xander, on the other hand, had experienced the effect of 'Orbing' enough times to have little trouble shaking off the effect. The slight 'buzz' he received when entering the premises quickly dissipated as those Immortals responsible for causing it were gathered around the kitchen table.

Still, this particular 'buzz' was far more powerful than it had any right to be. The eyes of all the Immortals in the room quickly focused on him. Both of Xander's brows rose as he took in the pained expression on Duncan's face as he was bent over on his chair. For some reason, he was fairly sure that it wasn't the buzz that was responsible for his friend and mentor's discomfort.

Taking a quick glance around the room, Xander noticed that there was a new Immortal in the room. The man had hawk like features and a steady gaze, filled with a good deal of humor, as he took in the new arrivals.

Xander was quick to notice the man's smirk as he glanced down at the injured Immortal. It was a similar smirk to the one Adam was wearing, and the fact that Amanda was trying to cover a smile of her own didn't bode well for Duncan.

"What happened to Duncan?"

It was the newcomer who spoke. "This daft bastard scared the crap out of me."

Adam couldn't help but to snicker, and even Chris began to chuckle as he mentally recollected what happened. "I was dead asleep when he arrived in the same manner as you all just did." He sent a glare at man who was still prostrate in his chair. "When I 'felt' him, I acted. He got slightly injured." The newcomer easily shrugged off the glare Duncan threw his way at that comment.

Xander looked at him. "And you are?"

"My apologies Lad; Connor MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod." He glanced down once again to Duncan, who was trying to steady his breathing before looking back at the newcomers and nodding back as his kinsman. "Same clan, different vintage." Duncan looked up with a pained expression, about to say something. However, Connor beat him to it. "I'm the better looking one!"

Xander snorted. "And what exactly did you do that," he glanced back at the Slayers, who were staring on amused, yet retaining everything. With a shrug, he continued. "That Immortal healing hasn't healed him up?"

Connor smirked, Adam let out a bark of laughter. "I let me foot do the protesting of his intrusion."

Xander looked over at Chris, who held up his hands in surrender. "Hey, I wasn't going down there." With that, the kid sat down as the rest of them began laughing at Duncan's expense.

Amanda, after her own elegant chuckles, sent a mock glare over in Connor's direction.

"You better hope that he recovers soon, Darling."

In response, Connor's smirk only deepened before he diverted his attention back towards Xander and the Slayers behind him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lad. Duncan, Amanda, Adam, and even Joe have had nothing but great things to say about you." He tilted his head to the side as he studied the young girls. "Now, I've only been told a wee bit about this here problem you need help dealing with, but what are the Lasses doing here."

Xander had to suppress a groan. He could feel Faith and the rest of her Slayers tense up at the question. Though, Xander was somewhat amazed when neither Faith, nor her Slayers, came back with a scathing reply. He hadn't really spoken to, or about, her in quite a while. Apparently, he had missed out on quite a bit. He shook off the thought as he regarded the newly arrived Immortal.

Xander knew that the man didn't mean anything derogatory by the comment. Duncan and the rest held this man in quite high regards. Adam did as well; and that was saying quite a bit. The same comment had been directed at Buffy more than once. If there was one rule to live by, it was that appearances could be quite deceiving. Glancing back at the calm Slayers behind him, Faith gave him an almost imperceptible nod. Not that he wasn't planning on telling those present; they needed to know so they wouldn't step on each other's feet, but he was glad that the girls wouldn't feel as though he was betraying them and their secret.

"Connor, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. These girls," he glanced back to see Faith sending a subdued scowl in his direction. "Sorry, these women are far more than they appear." He cast a quick look at Duncan, before smirking back at Connor. "Perhaps a little demonstration would allay anyone's fears." He heard Faith's mumbling about him 'speaking all fancy now', but decided to ignore it.

As Connor warily moved from around the table and came out to the open area where Xander, and the girls, were standing, Xander glanced back at the younger girls. Looking inquiringly at one, she smiled and replied, 'Susan' to his unvoiced question. He sent her a smile and motioned her towards Connor.

Waving his hands in protest, the Scotsman declared, "I'm sorry, but there is no way that I am harming this here wee Lass."

Before Xander could reply that this wasn't a full spar, or that no one would be getting hurt, Susan had moved with a speed that was unnatural to those who had never seen a Slayer in action.

Even with his experience as an Immortal warrior, Connor was completely taken by surprise. One moment, he was protesting the thought of even having to spar against such a young girl. The next moment, he was suddenly being held up above the girl's head, parallel to the floor. She had one hand wrapped around his belt, through his coat, while the other hand had him balanced on his back.

It was obvious that holding him up was little to no problem. The small girl didn't seem to be exerting herself at all. Even Leo, who had heard of Slayers, was in awe of the tiny slip of a girl. Xander's voice brought those in the room out of their musings.

Though, the smirk adorning Chris's face didn't waver one bit.

"Each of these girls, sorry, women here are Slayers. They are as strong, if not stronger than you are seeing. They are as fast, if not faster than you just saw. They have been mystically enhanced to be able to fight the monsters and demons we'll be facing. As far as I know, they can handle any weapon sent their way. And they have an instinctual knowledge of martial arts. You won't find better warriors to fight by your side."

With a smile he nodded as Susan, who lightly set the stunned man down on his feet.

With an awed expression, Connor took in the small girl who had just held him above her head with absolutely no effort on her part. Using what willpower he had available to him at that moment, he schooled his features into one of an impressed man. With a nod at each individual Slayer, an acknowledgement of being in the presence of another warrior, he went to take a seat.

Soon, introductions were made and secrets were spilled. It was an amazing story for the Slayers, all of whom were listening intently. Even though they were sworn to secrecy until Xander could visit, himself, and explain, they were still enraptured by the mere presence of those around them. The witches they were used to. However, Immortals were something new, not to mention Immortal Witches who were also Seers. They were also still somewhat in awe of being in the presence of an Angel, such as Leo. However, the fact that they were sitting in a room with 'people' who had been alive thousands upon thousands of years ago, was somewhat unsettling.

After a while of storytelling, and more chatter on what would be happening tomorrow, a small plan was beginning to form. Faith was glad to hear that Xander was planning on bringing Angel into the picture, and she could wholly agree about keeping the rest of Wolfram and Hart out of the picture. It might be nice to see the Fang Gang once again.

Now that the stories had been dished out, introductions made, and a good start was made for planning tomorrow's engagement, it was decided that, with the late hour, it would be best for all to turn in since everyone wanted to get an early start in the morning.

Before Faith could even take two steps, she felt an arm grasp her shoulder. Sending an enquiring glance at Vi, she noticed that the girl, along with the other Slayers, was sending inquiring glances between both her and Xander. With a defeated sigh, she relented and nodded at the younger woman. She definitely needed to talk to the guy.

Clearing her throat, she spoke out. "Hey, X?"

Looking over in her direction, he noticed that something troubling was on her mind. It was in her posture. The normally cool as a cucumber brunette was actually fidgeting. To Xander, it just didn't seem right.

The other girls moved to the side, separating themselves from their chosen leader. Xander looked between them for a moment before regarding Phoebe, whom he was about to go upstairs with.

After a few quick, conciliatory words from him and a peck on the cheek, she made her way upstairs after her sister. Amanda had said that she'd show her where his room was, and apparently the Immortal woman also wanted a few quick words with the Magic Trio, something that made Xander, and even Adam, groan. Duncan just shook his head while Connor's smirk never left.

Realizing that Xander and Faith needed some privacy, Adam gestured to the other Slayers and led them upstairs. Now, with everyone else retired, it was just Faith and Xander in the kitchen area.

Xander glanced around the empty room. He had a feeling that this particular chat was more suited for a private audience; he gestured for her to follow him, and brought her into the 'smoking room.'

Once both were inside the cozy room, it was just a matter of letting her gather her thoughts. Truth be told, there was quite a bit that they had to talk about. Things that were long overdue and most likely should have been discussed prior to the collapse of Sunnydale. The problem had been the lack of time. Then, after that, well, it just never happened.

She had never seemed to be comfortable around him. Not that he could blame her. He couldn't really imagine too many people being forced to work, or live, together that shared their history. While it was true that she shared a similar history with others in the group, theirs was a bit more personal. For both the good times, and the bad times, they never got any closure on the way things had turned out.

And that went for both of them.

Though it seemed, sitting here in this room, it would happen; at least for one of them.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Both occupants sat awkwardly in the room. Neither could help the slight fidgeting, a nervous habit they seemed to share. The quietness, the soft sounds of clothes rustling as they tried to move themselves into a more comfortable position in their chairs, that sound was almost deafening.

Here they were, both sitting in a private room without another soul to bother them, and doing something as seemingly simple as starting a conversation felt as though it was the hardest task in the world. Neither person was quite sure what to say, but Xander decided to get the ball rolling.

"So, you wanted to speak to me?"

There was no way he was starting off this awkward conversation. Let her be the one to get things rolling. And, as Faith's eyes snapped up and met his, she noticed the small smirk that adorned his face. It actually served to lighten her tense mood.

She let out a small chuckle as she nodded her head.

"Yea, but for the life of me, I have no idea how to start this."

He simply lifted an inquiring brow. He realized that she must have been feeling trapped by her own situation just a split second before she stood up from her seat and paced back and forth, just a few paces each way.

Sitting back in his own seat, he studied her as she attempted to gather her own thoughts and words. To him, it seemed as though as soon as her pacing had started, it came to a stop and she retook her previously occupied seat.

"Look, I guess the best way to do this is like removing a Band-Aid." Xander gave her a small smile, having used that expression once or twice himself. "I guess, what I really want to say…is that I'm sorry."

She looked up, perhaps expecting some sort of response. All she received was a level and unyielding stare in return.

"You know, I'm sorry, for, you know, trying to kill you and stuff."

Xander sat there just looking at her from her first declaration. Sure, he had somewhat been expecting this. He wasn't a fool, and there wasn't much else that they truly had to talk about. This entire 'nervous Faith' in front of him, while incredibly endearing, just didn't seem natural to him.

He almost let out a snort of amusement when she went on to explain just what she was sorry for. Something told him that this was much harder for her than even she had expected. The nervousness, and no small amount of trepidation, had worked its way into her voice. Again, it wasn't something he was used to, and it was in that moment he decided to cut her off.

"Well, I can't say I'm not happy to know you feel bad about that."

She looked up at him with wide eyes before catching the small smile. She sent a similar smile back at him before casting her gaze down at the table separating them.

"Yeah, well, I wanted to say something before." She shrugged. "I guess I just never felt right coming to you." She rolled her eyes at the situation. "It's not like you have to work with people who've tried to kill you all that often." She looked up sharply at Xander's snort.

He waved her off with a short flick of his wrist and a small chuckle.

"Please, when it comes to the Scoobs, I think that just about everyone has tried to kill, if not disable me at some point." He actually looked up, thoughtfully.

That statement could have had a bit more bite to it, had it not been for the smile on his face, and, if she wasn't mistaken, a sense of longing in his eyes as he thought back to those he hadn't seen in quite a long time.

"Yeah, right." Her tone was light. It was clear to him that she was curious, yet wouldn't press if he didn't wish to go down memory lane.

Well, he was the one to bring this up, not to mention it may go a ways to help allay any fears she had. And, truth be told, any ill will that he had harbored toward the dark haired bombshell sitting across from him had dissipated years ago.

With an actual smile, recollecting a past consisting of simpler times, yet still hard times stitched throughout, he shook his head.

"Yeah, really." He sighed as she shook her head.

"I bet it was never quite as personal, though."

He looked deeply into her eyes as he spoke.

"True, what we had was personal," he agreed. "But, so was what happened between the rest of us." He looked up thoughtfully. "You know, with the exception of Tara, and Joyce, I don't think there's been a female Scooby who hasn't got to me in some way."

While she didn't say anything, the look was still there.

"Let's see, not counting when the entire female population of Sunnydale was out for my body, or blood, we can start out with Cordy."

He still felt a sense of longing when thinking about the still comatose girl. As far as he knew, Leo had told him that Whitelighter healing wouldn't help. Though, the reasons given as to why it wouldn't help were vague and insisted that the cause was something even he couldn't undo.

"With Cordy," he shrugged, "and I guess Anya, too, the damage there was more mental than anything else." The lack of extreme heartache from mentioning his ex-fiancée's name almost made him smile. "Cordy and I always used to verbally spar. No big deal there. But, right after we had broken up, she decided to air all of my family's dirty laundry in front of the entire public." Xander shrugged while glancing down at the table. "I suppose it's not the worst thing in the world, but I can't tell you how much the things she said to me hurt."

Sitting back with a sigh, he continued. "Anya, well, no matter how much she may have hurt me; I hurt her far worse." He looked Faith in the eyes. "You know that she and I were going to be married, but I just couldn't go through with it, right?" Once she nodded he went on. "The reasons aren't important now, however, a while after that, I find that she and Spike were, well, you can guess what they were doing." He rolled his eyes at a memory that once would simply overwhelm him with pain, pity, guilt, and more anger than he figured he had any real right to feel. "Hell, 'The Trio' got it all on tape. I really hope it went up when SunnyD did."

Silence reigned throughout the room until Faith broke the proverbial ice once again.

"What about Dawn? I can't see her ever doing anything to you."

He snorted. "You forget already?" He rolled his eyes as a smirk came on his face. "I don't even want to know how many bolts of electricity she shocked me with when Buffy asked me to take her to safety." He shook his head. "Granted, the situation was a bit extreme, but that frickin' hurt."

Faith smirked at him. "Not to mention you were bested by a teeny bopper."

The smirk went off her face at the righteous glare he sent her way. After a moment, he simply shook his head at that entire deranged situation. Really now, what were any of them thinking?

"What about B? She always seemed to be on the 'We have to keep Xander safe' kick."

He snorted in response. "Let's just ignore any of the mental injuries here; nothing says keeping someone safe like a frying pan to the head."

Faith scrunched up her face in confusion. "I heard someone tell that story once. Wasn't B not in her right mind?"

He sent her a soft smile. "Yeah, well, neither were you, Faith."

She looked at him oddly in the following silent moments.

"What about Red?" She saw his incredulous look. "Uh-uh, ending the world does not count. It has to be personal."

Once again, he found himself snorting. "I guess no one told you just how that little apocalypse was averted?"

She shrugged. "Only bits and pieces; no one really likes to talk about that time. There were just too many bad memories." She looked thoughtful. "Though, I do remember hearing that you had a starring role." She ended with a small smile, one in which he returned, though his eyes looked to be a million miles away.

As his eyes came back to the here and now, he gave her another soft smile.

"You know, that situation with her, and the situation with you, are a lot more alike than you would think." They stared at each other for a moment, her disbelief at that statement clear in her eyes, before he continued. "I went to her, when no one else could stop her, and I simply stood in her way." His entire body gave a slight shudder at the memory. "I stood in her way, and simply told her how much I cared; that she had always been, and always would be my friend. No, she's my sister, and will always be."

A few tears escaped his eyes as he recalled the past in such a vivid recollection. The feeling of the magic coursing into him; the sense of despair that he, once again, would not reach someone important to him. But worse of all, was the utter pain etched into the entire being of someone he cared more for than his own life. Even in her dark visage of hate and anger, he couldn't help but focus on the eruption of all the pain and hurt that was emanating from 'his Willow.'

He carried on his conversation, his voice barely above a whisper, while he paid no mind to the tears flowing down his face. This was the first, perhaps the only, time he would allow himself to relive this in such a way.

"She may as well have had her hands wrapped around my throat with her magics. If she was going to end the world, destroy all life on the planet, well, then she was going to start with me." He took a deep breath before continuing. "I started talking about the past, as she continually told me to 'shut up' and the vise-like grip around my throat tightened a little more. I thank whatever Goddess was listening that she heard me in the end."

Taking notice of the tears, he finally wiped his face dry before looking back at a wide-eyed Faith.

"She may have not have physically held her hands around my throat, but one of the main differences there, was that with her, I was able to get through to her. Even with her eyes, blacker than coal, I could see that I was finally getting through to her."

Faith suddenly found herself not able to look him in the eyes.

"I've seen your eyes, you know. Both then and now," he noted.

She glanced back at him, not quite sure if she wanted to hear this.

"They were full of confusion, anger, betrayal, and so many other emotions that I'm still not able to place them all." He shrugged. "It's amazing what you begin to realize when you have the time to think about the past. But Faith," he paused, making sure to meet her eyes now, "I don't see that crazed, lost look anymore. I haven't since you got back the first time."

She didn't know quite what to say. Of all the things she thought would be brought about from this discussion, this certainly wasn't it.

"So, so, we're cool then?"

He sent her a small smile. "5 x 5, Faith. You know, honestly, I think we were cool around the time you turned yourself into the authorities and decided to actually stay inside." Seeing her confused, if not somewhat amused expression, he continued. "You and I both know that you, or any Slayer, could have gotten out of there without too much trouble; especially, if you really didn't want to be there." She just shrugged again, though the beginnings of a genuine smile began to spread across her face.

"So yes, Faith, we're definitely 'cool.' In fact, as Dawn has had nothing but surprisingly good things to say about you and 'Your Slayers,' I really look forward to working with you."

He had to smile at the broad and dazzling smile she was sending his way. It really looked good on her.

"As much as I'm enjoying this little chat, it's getting late, and I suddenly feel extremely drained."

"Not to mention that you have a hot chick waiting for you upstairs."

"Right, and let's now forget that."

"It's a shame you're so tired."

"Eh, I'll make do. Hey, I can already feel a second wind coming on."

As they made their way upstairs, the thought suddenly struck him that he now had Faith, Phoebe, and not to mention Amanda, all under one roof. He wasn't sure if he was truly cursed, or blessed.

He just hoped it wasn't an omen.