Disclaimer:

None of these characters are mine. All characters from Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Charmed are the property of Joss Whedon and Aaron Spelling, respectively. Xander's quote of a Cordelia statement comes from the BtVS episode from Season 2, "Killed by Death."

Summary:

Crossover between the Charmed and Buffy universes. Willow has to deal with the appearance of Dark Willow. Xander explains himself to Giles and the Scoobies. Phoebe and the boys arrive to tell Leo, Piper, and Paige about her premonition. Cole returns home with something for Phoebe. Paige asks Xander an important question.

Author's Note: Please read and review.

Chapter Nineteen – The Aftermath

Piper was in the Turner kitchen making tea. Willow had woken up and was a little shaken. As well she should be. Piper'd never seen anything like that. She looked at Paige and Leo. "Just what did we see?"

Leo put some more cookies he'd found on a platter and poured a couple glasses of milk for the children. He took a deep breath before he answered Piper. "Willow.. well, she's a dark witch... and very powerful it seems."

"She... doesn't seem evil. Well, maybe the dark one did, but as she is now? Is she like a split personality?"

"Not at all." The three of them jumped as they heard Mr. Giles speak. Giles had come to the kitchen to see what was going on. He had felt it his duty to make sure that they weren't a threat to the family. "Ah, tea, just what we need. Well, with a little added fortifier, that is."

They watched as he reached up into a cupboard and pulled out a bottle of brandy. He poured it into one of the cups before he put it back. "Just make sure Willow gets that one. Do her good."

Paige looked up at him. "Just what did happen?"

"Well, the dark magics have more control over Willow when she becomes emotional, passionate. As she was full of feelings of rage and vengeance, it was easier. The less rational she is, the more vulnerable she is to the darkness within her. It's not evil exactly, but the potential is great. Do you understand?" He smiled at them kindly, like a teacher carefully explaining a complicated concept.

"Well..." Paige started but was interrupted by the appearance of Phoebe and the boys who had just orbed in.

Giles looked at the new arrivals suspiciously as he poured out tea in the cups. "Knocking is a problem?"

"Wyatt seems to think he's above polite behavior." Wyatt cringed at the sound of his white lighter's voice. Now I'm going to get it, he thought. "Of course, it's not really his fault – I blame the family. Wyatt, I hope you're going to explain.."

"Now, you shut up! I'm sick and tired of..." Phoebe started when she was interrupted by Wyatt.

"Stop it, Aunt Pheebs. He's right, I made a promise and I broke it. I'm sorry, Xander."

Giles watched the interchange between Xander and the boy with interest. He obviously didn't care for the Halliwells much, but the look he gave the boys... Well, it was different for them. Xander knelt in front of the one he called Wyatt. Wyatt, for his part, was looking at Xander with a look that was part shame, part hope.

"Aunt Phoebe had a really bad vision and wanted to tell Mr. Turner what she saw. Me and Chris talked about it and agreed it was important. I'm sorry I broke my promise." Wyatt bowed his head. "Did you want to dunk me again?"

Giles started at that. Dunk? Again? "No, no, Wyatt. It sounds like you did the right thing. Good job."

Xander stood up and looked at the table. "Hey, Leo, looks like we'll need some more milk."

In the living room, Willow was sobbing into Buffy's chest. She felt so guilty. She'd turned into Dark Willow, again – and in front of her own children. What kind of mother was she? What was she going to do? How would she explain what had happened to Buffy and Ben? She looked up and just couldn't look in their eyes. They were sitting on the floor looking up at her.

Buffy was really scared. First mommy had changed into that... well, she wasn't sure what it was, but she didn't like it. Now, mommy was crying and crying and crying and wouldn't stop. All she really wanted was a hug, but mommy didn't even want to look at her. What was wrong? What had she done?

Ben was scared too. Daddy had said that mommy was just upset when she had changed. That everything would be okay. Ben wanted to believe daddy. He believed daddy when he said that mommy wouldn't hurt him, and he had gotten mommy back. What scared Ben though was that he sort of missed the dark mommy. There was something about her that made part of him excited. He didn't understand and that scared him. He wished mommy would look at him. He kept on looking at the front door, when would daddy get home? They really needed daddy.

Willow sat up and wiped her eyes as Piper and the others re-entered the room with the tea. She smiled weakly at Xander. Xander smiled back at her and stepped forward to give her a big hug. As he stepped back out of the embrace, Willow gave him a teary smile. "And what do you have to say for yourself, mister?"

Xander chuckled and looked down at Ben and Buffy. Ben was very tense and wouldn't stop looking up at his mother, and little Buffy, well, she was trying very, very hard not to cry. "Well, first thing I have to say is hug your kids. They're scared and upset and look like they need a hug real bad."

Willow looked down into their eyes, and started to cry once again. "My poor little babies! Mommy's so sorry!" She grabbed them into her arms and pulled them to her. Ben and Buffy held onto and started to cry too.

Buffy looked into the eyes of her old high school friend. She smiled with tears forming in the corner of her eyes. "I don't know what's happened to you, Xander. But I like the changes."

Piper, meanwhile, began to pour the tea. She set the table for the children to have milk and cookies. Clearing her throat, she looked at all the people in the living room. It had been quite a day, and everyone needed to calm down. She took the cup with the brandy in it over to Willow. "Willow," she started, interrupting the weeping. "Why don't you have a cup of tea? And, you two, we have milk and cookies, okay?"

Willow accepted the cup of tea gratefully. Looking at her children, she nodded. "Why don't you two have some cookies? I think mommy needs to talk with these people."

The children kissed her and rushed over to the table. Ben took a seat so he could watch his mommy. He still wasn't sure of the new people. Mommy had changed when they were here. Maybe it was their fault. He needed to wait for daddy, so he could tell him. Daddy would know what to do.

The rest of them sat around the living room, drinking their tea. After Willow's first sip and the heat that seeped down her throat, she stared meaningfully at Giles. He was certainly the one who had slipped the brandy in her drink. "Well, Xander, why don't you tell us how long you've been back and where you've been?"

Leo started to open his mouth. He was going to explain why Xander hadn't contacted him. But Xander stopped him. "It's okay, Leo. I can explain for myself. You see, after I died, I found out that since I did such a good job of dying, that I would be given a special job. So, now I'm a white lighter.. an angel."

"Such a good job?" Buffy asked dumbfounded. "It didn't seem good to me, it seemed downright horrid. You shouldn't have done it. And, what's a white lighter? I mean, what do you do? And why are you with these people?"

Xander smiled. Now that was a much easier question. He sure didn't want to field the first one. "Well, like I said, I'm an angel. I heal people that have been hurt by evil, demonic evil. I also help witches. I give them guidance, and help train them. I'm with the Halliwells because I was assigned to young Wyatt and Chris over there."

Buffy frowned and Xander knew what she was going to ask next. It only made sense. "You said witches. Do all witches get these white lighters?"

Xander smiled and nodded. "Yes, Buffy, I knew you were going to ask this. I asked the other white lighters up There this when I was first told of my new duty. All witches do have white lighters. Willow would've had one, but she lived in Sunnydale. Hellmouths screw up things for the Elders and the White lighters. That's probably why she didn't have one when she was first starting out."

"And later?" Buffy demanded.

"Well, by then, she'd not only been practicing dark magic, she'd also... well, she..." Xander hesitated not wanting to bring it up.

"I'd killed Warren and tried to destroy the world. They probably didn't want a thing to do with me after that." Willow completed.

The Halliwell women gasped. She'd tried to destroy the world? But, she seemed so.. This was getting all out of control, Piper thought. Then she noticed Leo. He was smiling at Willow. What was going on?

"That's not so, Willow. It'd have been different if you had never expressed remorse for your actions. But, you did, that made all the difference to them. Ask your husband, you're not condemned for those actions. Not if you feel remorse." She smiled up at him.

"I know that, Mr. Wyatt. Cole has told me that. He also told me my actions that day meant the Elders would NEVER assign a white lighter to me. He said that they were very strict."

Buffy snorted in agreement. "Yeah, he said that they were worse than the Watchers' Council. That's saying a lot."

"He was NOT exaggerating." Xander spat out. "They are a royal pain in the ass. I don't know if they were ever human, but, if they were, it was so long ago they don't remember it. They're not interested in people. Not at all."

Leo's eyes opened wide at this. He started sputtering as he tried to speak. "Xander, you shouldn't talk that way. They DO care about people. They're there to make sure evil doesn't win."

"Ha!" Xander responded. "Witches are there so evil doesn't win. Slayers are there. Champions are there. Elders just send the messages. And, another thing, they aren't interested in humanity so much as winning the game."

Leo couldn't believe what he was hearing. If this was his attitude, why did the Elders let him come down as a white lighter? It didn't make sense at all. He was about to open his mouth to refute Xander when the door opened and everything changed.

Cole. Willow thought in relief. He's home. He's--- Cole's face was a mass of bruises and there was blood everywhere. His clothes were torn and he was favoring his right side. Willow rushed to him. Behind her, she could hear the children running towards him too. "Daddy! Daddy!" The children were crying.

Cole smiled into his wife's eyes. He winced as she embraced him, two additional pair of arms grasped him around the legs. He took his wife's face between his hands and kissed her thoroughly. He was so grateful it was her and not Dark Willow. Dark Willow was exciting, no doubt about it, but he wouldn't trade this Willow for the dark one for all the power in the world. Willow was warm and loving and tender and made him feel as if he belonged somewhere. As if he was a cherished and important person. No, he could never give this woman up. He wiped her tears away, she had started to weep silently as soon as she saw his injuries. "I'm alright, baby. I'm alright. A few broken ribs, some bruises, and some cuts. But, nothing I won't survive."

"You could've been killed, Cole."

"I'm sure. Good thing I have such a good constitution, demonic though it may be."

"Daddy!" "Daddy!" the children cried from his feet.

Cole dropped to his knees and grabbed his two children in a bear hug. "Daddy's fine. Daddy's fine. I hear you had a fun day, too?"

"Mommy went all funny, daddy. I didn't like it. It was scary." Buffy grabbed hold of her daddy's neck. She didn't want to let go. She would never let go. He was here, so everything was okay again. So he had to stay, he had to.

Ben needed to talk to his daddy. Alone. He really needed to talk to him. He pulled at his daddy's sleeve. "Daddy. Daddy. Please, daddy."

Piper and Leo shook their heads in wonder. Poor Cole was really being pulled every which way. Willow was hovering above him wringing her hands. She was looking at Cole with love and concern. And, who could blame her? Piper looked at Cole. He'd been through the wringer.

Phoebe was watching the children with a pang in her heart. Who could tell? In a different future, these children, this house, that ring on his finger... They could all have been mine. Could I have made it work? It hurt terribly to think that she had made a mistake. The children were all over him. The little boy was all worked up about something, and the little girl... She was holding onto Cole as if he might vanish.

Cole carefully extracted himself from his children and went and sat on the couch. Willow sat next to him. She was examining his cuts and bruises. He swept her hand away gently. "Ben, calm down. What is it?"

"I need to talk to you. Alone. 'S important." Ben was looking at him earnestly and very seriously. Ben was his mommy's 'little man,' if he thought it was important... Well, Cole had learned to always treat the children's concerns seriously.

Cole nodded. "Yes, yes. Can it wait a little bit, though? Daddy needs to get cleaned up. Okay?"

Ben nodded, he took Buffy's hand and led her away. Cole started up the stairs, followed closely by Willow. Cole knew there was no way he was going to get rid of her. He would have to let her have her way. Damn, he was hot enough to kill. Barnaby was going to suffer, one way or the other.

The others watched them disappear upstairs. Piper looked around the room. "Well," she clapped her hands. "How about I make dinner?"

Buffy and Giles exchanged a look. Xander smiled at her. "That sounds great, Piper. I'm sure Willow would appreciate that."

Leo approached Xander. "You shouldn't talk that way about the Elders."

Xander groaned. "Oooh! Well, you'll learn I have hard time guarding my feelings. If they really care, why do they either wait too long or screw in your lives too much? Listen, I'll change my mind when they show some real feelings. For God's sake, the demons know more about humanity than they do."

Paige and Leo gasped in shock. "Look at it this way, the demons have more contact with humanity, whether from killing or tormenting. The Elders' only contact is via the white lighters. Who has more contact?"

Paige and Leo shrugged in defeat. Leo decided to try a second question. "Why is Ben insistent on talking with his dad? He seemed really intense."

Xander chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, well, he's his mom's little man. That's what she calls him. He feels that he's in charge when dad's not here. He's supposed to take care of her. So, when he feels there's something his dad should know, he wants to talk. Cole's different than you guys. He never treats Ben like he's just a kid. He values and respects Ben's thoughts and opinions. You guys could learn a lot watching Willow and Cole."

Leo cringed. He was glad Piper was in the kitchen. Phoebe was glaring at Xander.

"Xander," the British man started. "Do you remember a discussion we had with Cordelia about tact?"

"Yeah! Cordelia said 'tact is just not saying true stuff.' Like Cordy, I think I'll pass."

Paige moved forward. "Xander, still, could you try to be nicer? We're going to have to live with you orbing in and out of the manor. It'd be nice to get along. Or would you like Piper to blow you up one day?"

Xander laughed. "Okay, okay. I guess so, it's just really pisses me off what you guys did or didn't do for those kids."

Paige nodded her head, a deep sadness stabbing at her heart. "I agree, I really do. But don't you think Leo and Piper are beating each other up about that?"

Xander looked at her, she was really the only one he kind of liked. "Okay, Paige. I'll try. But, you'll have to keep me honest."

Buffy came up and grabbed Xander's arm. "Xan, listen, I'm sorry about what happened. We should... I should have stopped..."

"No! Buffy, damn it! It was my choice. Please don't disrespect my decision. I thought about what I was going to do for two days. I knew what was going to happen. Will all of you stop feeling guilty over my decision? I mean, it's okay if Angel feels guilty, hell, he feels guilty over everything!"

"Buffy's right, Xander." Giles put in. "We shouldn't have allowed it. We..."

"No." Cole and Willow had re-entered the room. Ben rushed up. Cole looked down tenderly. "In a minute, Ben. You go wait in Dad's study."

Ben rushed off, happily. He could tell daddy. Daddy would know what to do.

Everyone looked at Cole. He was still walking tenderly, and still had bruises on his face. However, he was dressed casually in a charcoal sweater and a pair of jeans. Phoebe had to suppress a sigh. She'd forgotten just how good Cole looked in a nice pair of jeans. She shook her head to dispel the thought.

"As I was going to say, Xander's right. He knew what was going to happen. He knew what the result would be. He made a decision. What makes mortals so valuable to demons? Buffy? Giles?"

"They're mortal."

Cole chuckled at the ignorance. "So are pigs, cows, and all animals. Why do you think human blood is so valuable to demons, vampires, and the like? What makes Xander's death so valuable?"

Paige looked at Xander. He'd done something, no, he'd let someone... Oh my God! Could it be? "F-free will. That's what makes humans different. They have the right to choose good from evil."

Cole beamed at Paige. "Paige, I'm impressed. Have you been taking intelligence pills?"

Paige frowned at Cole. "You know, Cole, I'm glad you haven't changed. I've been trying to like you. Remarks like that remind me why I didn't." She turned to Xander. "What did you do? What did you let them do to you?"

Xander groaned he really hadn't wanted to talk about it. "It's a long story. I'd really rather not talk about it."

"Anyway," Cole continued. "Xander made the decision. Don't denigrate him by telling him he was wrong. He made a sacrifice for a reason. I, for one, was very moved and impressed by his actions." And, with that, Cole turned and headed for his study and Ben.

"Sacrifice?" Leo asked in confusion. "What kind of sacrifice?"

"Okay, guys. I've started dinner!" Piper smiled, striding into the living room. Looking at all the tense faces, she turned around quickly. "What? What did I say?"

"I repeat, Xander. What sacrifice?"