It was a little after noon local time that the Capricorn One (formerly the Sunnydale Slider) reached the Oxford area, Giles then giving them street directions to the Watchers in London from there, finding Giles growing less animate as they closed on their destination. Pretty much most of the adults crowded the back of the bridge, looking out the view screen as they hoped for signs of human recovery. They made their way to the intersection next to the Watchers, noting that a single fireplace vented smoke into the sky.
"Any idea of who might still be around, Rupert?" Commander Harris asked, "I'm a bit reticent about the only people around being supernaturally connected."
"As am I Commander," the Watcher responded, "But the wards on the place, unless changed in the short time since my departure nearly twenty-two months ago, should only affect non-humans seeking uninvited entry."
"Do you think being from other dimensions would affect us?" Xander asked, noting a slight paling by Tara.
"Hmm, I can't see that it would matter, but we'll take it slow, I suppose," the British man responded, "Just in case something major was able to breach them and get inside."
"Very good, Rupert, Major Beckett…"
"Sir…"
"Prepare your teams, and included the crosses, stakes and holy water super soakers."
"Yessir, teams let's move and prepare to alight, Captain Summers designated Beta and Sergeant Hooker designated Delta. Frequency four, please."
"Professor Arturo, would you and the Bennishs mind remaining on he bridge for now on the secondary scanners, just in case."
"Not at all, Commander, not at all," the older and thinner man responded, turning to his two companions, "Conrad at tactical and Bennish at wide area scanners please."
"Ash, I'd like you to arm for vamps, and draw your shotgun from stores," Xander continued, "I want someone covering entry to the ship who's not afraid to fire."
"I think I can manage that Commander…" he smirked, nodded and left.
Beta Team, comprised of Captain Joyce, Captain Doyle and Slayer Beth, took point as they approached the main doors, Delta Team covering the flank away from the nearby ship. Major Beckett, Rupert Giles and Logan St. Clair waited at the steps as Doyle rang the bell several times and then backed up.
Minutes later, after seeing curtains part slightly on each level, an intercom activated next to the door.
"Uh, yes, please identify yourselves," the woman's voice asked, "And state the nature of your business here." Joyce moved up to the intercom.
"We're here from what used to be Los Angeles, and are escorting Watcher Giles and, er, Slayer Summers here," she replied, then stopped when realizing she had nothing to add.
"Is Rupert with you?" the voice asked, "If so have him speak up please."
"This is Rupert Giles," the Watcher addressed through the intercom, having been given the go-ahead from Major Beckett, "To whom am I speaking, if I may." They could hear locks being drawn back as the intercom replied.
"Please point your weapons aside as I am allowing entry," the voice replied, "And as to who I am, Rupert," the door opened, revealing a woman in her early forties, "Surely you remember your old friend Deirdre Page?"
"I-is it really you?" Rupert asked in amazement, "But how?"
"A certain demon was in possession of Thomas, and as I was dying, suddenly the demon was gone, and so it seemed most other people."
"And so you're here?"
"Where else to go after something like this, though there've only been two others I've spotted and they've since gone off some where," she added, "Oh, when you come in, be aware that the wards have a large number of demons trapped, for some reason they were able to get part of the way in before being held in place. I've been trying to get around to finishing them off, but I've developed a bit of a phobia about going out, so I don't want to get my clothes ruined from demon blood. If you and your soldiers wouldn't mind…"
"Uh," Rupert began, and turned to the Major, who nodded, "Perhaps that should be our first priority, Deirdre, a-and it's good to see you again." They hugged.
Caught by magics and by traps, the Security Detail eliminated four dozen demons of various types that must have thought the Watchers if anyone would have an answer to the strange departure of man. And with the oozing monsters, doubt evaporated about the supernatural in some dimensions. The group after an hour, finally reached Deirdre's apartment on the top floor.
"I-I must say again I'm amazed to find anyone left, Deirdre, though delighted," he said after outlining the ship situation and the plan for fighting a better world in which to live, "And I must compliment you on your ability to hold out."
"Well, if your Commander could make a little room for me?"
"You can share my bed if necessary, I mean I don't think there're any cabins left, but we can take turns, shifts, I-I—"
"I understand Rupert," she smiled back at his embarrassment, "but it has been a couple of years and we did do such things twenty-something years ago…"
"I-I—"
"We'll take turns, alright…"
"Er, thank you."
"Now, what do you plan to loot, old man, after all most of the protective wards are in place around the most dangerous things, and probably inside the vaults as well."
"I was thinking some of the more mundane items, actually, amulets warding against magic, reference books, rare diaries, that sort of thing."
"Ah, those are accessible, as my necklace is such, and the real library is the next room over. The special weapons are on the opposite side of the floor, as is armor and such. It would be best to grab two or three that seem very close to the sizes you want, and worry about fitting them later."
"Quite, thank you Dee," he said calling her by an old nickname, then noticed that manta ship passing by the large window, "I wonder where they're going…"
"To steal the crown jewels, then hit the Albert and Victoria…" Major Beckett answered his question as she entered the room, "He figured that since no one here is using them, he'd see about converting them over somewhere else."
"Is he planning any other excursions?" Giles asked.
"After he comes back, he plans for us to move the Council stuff on board the ship, then maybe make a pass at Amsterdam and Paris."
"What's there that he wants?" Deirdre asked.
"Tara seems to have a soft spot for the Impressionists and the Dutch Masters, so go figure," the Major smirked, "And figured that this might be the time to fill out his wine cellar."
"If he's turning pirate, why not the bloody Sistine Chapel?" Giles grimaced.
"I'll suggest it to him when he gets back, and since we'll mainly be in America, if there's anything here you want, this would be the time to get it as you're probably the closest thing to owners."
"Hmm, she does have a point, Rupert."
"You hung around Ethan Rayne too much."
"At least in this it comes in handy."
Two hours before they were due to slide out to the next world, the manta ship, heavily packed, cloaked and landed on Catalina Island, deciding to give everybody a breakfast off the ship as they were waking up from a night flight. Xander walked out with Tara to the end of a pier, watching some birds fly by
"Beautiful," he remarked.
"Yes it is," she smiled as she looked away.
"I meant you, but I agree," he smiled with a slight blush, "and you don't have to worry…" He gently held her hand.
"Thank you," she said shyly, then caught his latter words, "Worry about what?"
"You're human, the tests on Caprica said you were, though I suspect a hint of Elvish due to some of Dawn and Willow's costumes."
"How?"
"I noticed on the bridge when we landed in London. I had Giles do a spell in order to reassure you, Tara, and you're fine. Whoever told you different lied to you."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, and it wouldn't matter anyway, we love you the way you are, and it happens you are human." He smiled and gave her a reassuring side-hug she moved into, reveling in the friendly male contact as she contemplated life in general and that her babies weren't going to be cursed as demons.
Dawn and Willow smiled as they looked over and saw Tara accept a Xander hug, Beth Summers watching their reactions.
"Yes!" Dawn squealed, "He's broken through her shell, Willow."
"I know, now I managed to get out of her last night the fact that Xander asked her out to dinner and dancing, and she accepted."
"No way," Dawn smiled, "Cool!"
"Um, guys," Beth began, "Why are you so excited about this, I thought the three of you were already engaged and having babies." They smiled and spent some time explaining a little more about their situation with Xander.
"So you never…"
"Not yet," Willow affirmed, "But soon, and we wanted Tara to feel welcome, not scared, because if we're going to be one big family, we don't want to start off with Tara feeling alone." Buffy stared at them in amazement, and noted Giles and Deirdre walking down the beach tentatively holding hands.
"I think as weird as all of this is, you two are the greatest."