"So Rupes, you think the kids'll be okay meeting up with the saucer-guys?" Ash asked seriously, "Especially since it'll be a mom and sister."
"Well, perhaps, but I don't remember Beth having a sister in this reality, do you?"
"Can't say that I have, but we never really talk the heart to heart stuff, just stuff."
"Ur, quite, but I'm hopeful that any hope for a real life, even is it means being a slayer again at the same time, will be a positive thing for her and her young man."
"Yeah, she has Pike alright, that ought to balance her, someone there who was there before during and after all this, gives ya perspective."
Buffy, Pike and Brandi watched as the manta ship set down at the substation, wary but hopeful, as Giles had managed to connect with them over the radio a few hours ago. The shock that an alternate of her mom, and a sister she'd never known had thrown her, but still she was hopeful.
The door cleared, and six armed humans stepped out and checked to make sure that the surrounding area held no hostiles, pretty much ignoring them except for the sixth one, dark of hair, in good shape but still Joyce Summers. A young girl also armed followed her a moment later. Joyce smiled at her and walked up to her. They both looked uncomfortable until Joyce simply opened her arms and embraced the hardened but still emotionally vulnerable Slayer.
"Oh my poor baby, are you okay?" the dark-haired version of her mother cried into her hair, Buffy embracing back, "My god it must have been horrible for you, baby. I know I'm not the same mom, but I'm here now."
Buffy and 'mom' slowly sank to their knees, the girl quietly sobbing 'momma' for what she lost and now might have found anew, the older woman for both the girl she worried about back at home and the new Buffy she now wanted to help as her own.
"I'm Major Beckett," the woman in charge of security introduced to the other two, "And this is Lt. Dawn Summers, sister of your friend in another dimension. Shall we start getting your stuff taken aboard while they get themselves together?" They nodded, and she smiled, "Great, Lieutenant, you're in charge of your family's security while we get his taken care of."
"A new sister…wow," Elizabeth 'Beth' Summers said, shaking her head while looking over at Dawn at the mess table they shared, "I always wondered what it would be like to have a sister…and the way mom looks, I mean your mom…"
"Call her mom, Buffy, I mean Beth," Dawn smiled, glad that she was being accepted by this other version of her sister that acted a lot like a more-personable Major Beckett, "If you want to stay with us, you're not a substitute, you're another daughter for her to take care of."
"If?"
"We won't force you to stay, sis, but we'd like you to, even just getting to know you."
"Thanks, I guess."
"Takes a lot to get used to huh?"
"Yeah, there were four of us left in our area after…everything that happened, and suddenly there being more in the world, and that we're going to another world, a bit much."
"So what's the deal with you and Pike? Married?"
"Um, all except the ceremony, and then there's, uh…"
"The other wife?" Dawn smiled with understanding, the other girl nodding uncertainly now that there seemed to be 'civilization' again, "Don't worry about, you're in the midst of similar situations…there's Hec and his two wives, and then the Commander and his three fiancées, of which I am one…and expecting."
"But I thought you were only—"
"Stop, we'll explain later how I came to be…older than I really am, and it wasn't like what you're about to think…and mom's accepting the odd situation, and loves Xander as a son, so it's okay, and I'm happy."
The blonde slayer looked at her new 'sister' and then smiled, "So how far along are you? What's it like?"
"Well…"
"Commander Harris, the ship's sealed, sir," Beckett reported in her military way, which Xander returned, knowing it might set a better tone and structure for the loosely-assembled group.
"Thank you, Major," he replied, then as she turned, held up a hand to remain, "A moment unless business is pressing…Rupert and I were discussing a trip to Europe in this thing to attempt access of some rather important relics. Are you familiar at all with British military protocols and considerations?"
"Well, Sir, this is a different world than my own, but if you need me to 'pinch a lorry' or direct you to the 'loo' I can get by, otherwise from a weapons perspective I haven't seen any difference from what I'm used to."
"Excellent, Major, I'm going to set us a course to New York, then London, so Mr. Giles will provide you with a rough outline of the facility and the dangers there. If, say, in an hour, you might call your Detail together, and please include Beth Summers, Mr. Hodges, Mr. Hooker and Mr. Pike. I'd suggest replacing yourself with Beth and direct both teams, with Mr. Giles and Ms. St.Clair as your specialists. If after your meeting you find this is not a good mix, your decision is final."
"If we run into trouble who'll act as SR team?"
I'll bring the Romanos with me if it comes to that."
"That'll work, Sir, shall Mr. Giles and I begin now?"
"Yes, thank you Major, and Major? Thank you for your work so far, it's good to have a professional in charge of security."
By two in the morning they were approaching the Big Apple. Alexander and Tara held bridge duty as the others had been extremely active since arrival in this world. They'd meditated for a couple of hours and were pretty much energized until the next night's sleep cycle.
"S-so are we going to stop in New York?" Tara asked as she looked at the darkened city, "Is there anything there we want?"
"Not that I can think of, Tare," he replied as Hec walked in carrying a tray with tea and condiments.
"I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd make myself useful," the former truck driver demurred.
"Tea's good, thank you, Hector," Xander nodded, "So, how're the kids doing?"
"Well they're kinda confused, but the idea of more kids to play with, and not worrying as much about winds and fires in the city are a plus."
"Yeah, how about you?"
"Well, it'll be a bit strange getting used to the noise and pollution again, but with the money we brought, if it matches, we'll be able to get a good start," the man pondered, "Well, I'm on kid duty tonight, so I'll let you two get back to work." Tara smiles as he left.
"What's with the smile, Tara?" Xander asked.
"Him."
"Oh?"
"H-He seemed to think we might be up to…a little more than work."
"Would that be so bad?" he asked, sitting down next to her at Dawn's usual station in order to fix his tea.
"Um, no," she replied shyly and very quietly, "I-I guess not."
"I'm glad you're comfortable with me, Tara," he added softly, getting a little closer, until he noticed her just starting to tense up, "I-I know this is a it sudden, and we're going to be parents, but, uh, at the first civilized world we find again…would you consider going dinner and dancing with me…please?"
"Y-y-es," she forced out quietly, "That would be nice."
"Tara," her co-parent quietly said, gently placing a hand lightly on her wrist, "I sense something not of the good happened between you and men in your past, I want you to know I'll never hurt you." She hesitantly looked up, eyes just a little watery and meeting his, "And besides, with beautiful eyes like yours I'd be too busy feeling important and happy to even be able to think."
"Thank you," she blushed, hesitantly turning her hand over and taking his lightly, "For everything." They shared a quiet smile, then eased apart and sipped tea as they plotted the course for London.