Chapter 3

It was quiet around the dining room table as the occupants all tried to avoid the item that sat in the middle.

"Come on, Xander, take one for the team – be the man." Willow psychically said to Xander.

"Nu-uh, I don't have a death wish. Anyway, ladies first." Xander gave her an eyeing motion towards the object.

"Coward." Buffy put in.

"Why don't you then." Xander threw across "You're the Slayer. I'm sure with your super strength you'll get over it faster than any of us."

Buffy grumbled and looked away while mumbling to them "I still think it's a demon in disguise. Maybe I can just slay it or something."

Suddenly there was a sharp 'ding!' sound and Cordelia came in from another room. "Great, my cookies are done!" She put on her mittens and took the tray of cookies out of the oven and placed it on the table next to the cooling cake. She frowned when she saw that it was untouched.

"What? Nobody's started on the cake yet?" Everyone avoided her gaze. "Giles, you should take the first piece, since it's your home."

"What?" Giles said while Cordelia went rummaging for a knife. Meanwhile, everyone else let out a relieved sigh – for now, they were safe. "Um, it's fine Cordelia, I don't mind. Why don't we let… Faith eat it first? She was saying earlier how hungry she was that she could eat a cow, right Faith?"

The others nodded while Faith shot daggers at him with her eyes, mouthing the words 'traitor'. But if Giles was given with the choice of Faith's wrath and Cordelia's cooking, he would pick Faith every time.

"Don't be silly, Giles." Cordelia said as she came back with the biggest knife that he owned. The people who were leaning on the table quietly moved back. "You don't mind, right Faith?" Faith shook her head with an innocent smile.

"See." Cordelia said. "Now lets just…cut. up. the. cake" With every syllable, she hammered the knife unto the cake but it made only the tiniest bit of a dent before the knife broke. Cordelia harrumphed and declared "Well, never mind. We'll just get a stronger knife."

"Uh, Cordelia?" Giles started to say but she was already gone to search for another knife. Suddenly, everyone let out the breath that they unconsciously held.

"I say we get rid of it now and say squirrels took it." Xander said.

"Xander, that's not nice." Willow said, and mumbled "poor squirrels."

"I don't know. I still think it looks radioactive." Xander said while peering at it as if it was an alien object.

"At least we already know its corrosive – the pan's dissolving." Faith said.

"WHAT!" Giles tried to look at side Faith was pointing at, leaning over Xander who sat between them .

"Hey, hey, hey. Too close for comfort, buddy. Back up." Xander said while sliding his chair away and holding his hands up.

"Ok, I'm back." Cordelia said as she came in. Giles looked at what she was holding and gasped.

"Cordelia! That's the 'Dagger of Pienlae'! It was blessed by Tibetan monks 1500 years ago! You cannot be serious about using something extremely old and rare to cut up a cake!" Giles said, exasperated.

"What? It's not like you were using it. Sheesh, I can get you a new one, and better."

Just then, they heard the front door open noisily and Spike's voice calling them out. Everyone saw their escape chance and with relief, got out of their seats and rushed off to greet him, with Giles plucking the dagger out of Cordelia's hand on the way.

Spike parked the car in front of the house and turned off the engine. "Well, here we are – Hero Central." He looked over to Wesley and said "Come on, time to meet the gang."

They got out of the car and walked up to the front porch. Before going inside, Spike turned to Wesley and said "Oh, umm… you better stick close to me first. I haven't told 'em about you yet; they might be a little cautious."

Without another word to elaborate, Spike threw open the door and Wesley quickly followed behind him. "What – no greeting service? What's a bugger gotta do to get a 'welcome back' party?" Spike said to no one in general.

Suddenly, people started rushing out of another room; a blonde, a redhead, a brunette, another brunette, and an old guy… holding a dagger. Nice people, Wesley told himself.

"Spike, finally." Giles said as he came out. "I was beginning to think"

"Wesley!" Buffy shouted. Before Wesley could ask how she knew his name, all of them grabbed for a weapon and pointed them at him. Instantly he was scared and hid closer behind Spike's back.

"Whoa" Spike said "It's not"

"What is he doing here?" Buffy asked.

"Maybe he brainwashed Spike into bringing him here." said Willow.

"Wesley," Giles said "if you think you can just come in here and walk out intact, you've"

"Whoa, enough!" Spike said loudly. "Can a guy at least say something first before you start threatening him." His back was hurting where Wesley was gripping it tightly – the poor bugger was terrified – but he kept his composure.

"Spike? You mean you brought him here on purpose?" Xander asked.

"Yeah, but it's not what you think."

"I'm thinking that since he came into this house uninvited and doesn't look like he's had any real fight experience – he actually looks scared – and still uses his glasses that this is not this world's Wesley and is actually the Wesley that you brought back with you from that other universe that Giles threw you in." Dawn was just coming down the stairs when she heard the commotion and instantly put two and two together.

A short silence passed before Spike said "Ok, so it's exactly what you think."

"Spike. Is this the 'something else' that you were talking about?" Giles asked and Spike nodded. "You can't just bring him here! His presence could bloody well upset the cosmic balance now that we have two Wesleys!"

"Giles," Willow said, then eyed towards Wesley "we can't talk like he's not here." As if acknowledging his presence, Giles looked ashamed and calmed down.

"Look" Spike said, "I couldn't bloody well leave him there; that place was counting down for Armageddon like it was New Year's. Besides, I couldn't leave him to Angelus, no matter what universe."

They contemplated what he said and agreed that it was what they would have done too. Giles decided to start over and walked towards Wesley. "I'm sorry, Wesley. I've been under stress but it was no excuse. I hope you'll forgive me for my rude behaviour. I'm Giles."

Wesley was hesitant at first but finally came from behind Spike to shake Giles' offered hand. "Um, can I ask you a question?" Wesley asked.

"Of course, anything."

"Uh… what do you mean two Wesleys? And, universe?"

"Why, it's – don't you –" Giles looked at Spike and it dawned to him. "Excuse me, Wesley." he said. Giles turned to Spike and said, "You didn't tell him that you brought him from an alternate universe?"

"Didn't have time." Spike mumbled.

Giles didn't believe him because he knew Spike had plenty of chances to tell Wesley. He could put down good money right now that Spike completely forgot to inform Wesley of this little detail. He didn't want to keep the boy in the dark any longer so he turned back to him and said "Why don't we go the kitchen and I can at least get you up to date – you must be really confused." Giles was guiding Wesley to the kitchen when Willow's voice sounded suddenly.

"Um, Giles? How about the amulet?" She was holding it up as Spike had given it to her while Giles was talking to Wesley.

"Oh, of course." Giles said. Giles was conflicted as to what to do when Xander came to the rescue.

"No worries, G-man, I'll take care of ol' Wesley here. You just go do your Watcher thing."

"Yes, thank you, Xander. That's much appreciated. Well, let's get to work then." Giles, Willow, Buffy and Cordelia went to the living room to continue their research and that left Xander, Dawn, Spike and Wesley.

"Come on, Wesley" Xander said while swinging his arm across Wesley's shoulders and leading him towards the kitchen "let me tell you all the perks this world has to offer. Oh, can I call you Wes?" Wesley nodded. "Great, great. Xander, by the way, and this is Dawn." He said, pointing to her and she gave a little wave.

They entered the kitchen and sat down at the table. "Well Wes, this'll take some time so don't be afraid to make yourself comfortable; have a cookie. It all started with a Watcher named Wesley…"