"Home?" Joyce asked, breaking the silence, "How can you be sure?"
"Well, it's October 31st, 1997 here, and we've been in this world for about an hour now…" the girl said, bracing herself, "And an hour ago local time is when we left, so…"
Harper chose to interject, "and we checked for people ou said were in certain places on your various jumps, Xan, and they all exist here, and so do the places."
"Have you been able to get anything from Sunnydale itself?"
"That Hellmouth thing seems to be here, and we've grabbed a bunch of information outta the city computers and such…you guys are enrolled in school, and everybody had records of being here."
"Okay…any way to get us to the Library, or at least call 'em up on the phone?"
Willow interjected herself at this point, looking to Alexander, "The hospital shows Giles just signed in for Wesley Wyndham-Pryce and Samuel Zabuto. Since none of our other selves seemed to have them around, and from what you've said about things happening over the next year…I'm pretty sure this is home, Xan."
"Okay, then. Let's see…Ash, what do we have for ground transportation?"
"Well, things that wouldn't attract too much attention?" the older man considered, "we have the green truck we picked up on Alaspin; on the outside it looks European and military, but twentieth century."
"How far to walk it?" Xander replied, only to get looks from the eager womenfolk. "Never mind…we'll take the truck. Anybody have plates for it?"
Dawn smiled, "I have the ones from the trucks we lost on Coruscant; kept them as mementoes."
"Okay, go get 'em please, and have Ash put 'em on," Xander told her. He looked around the group, "Hmm, for this one, let's go with the home crew, no babies, and … Rommie. We'll head straight for the hospital, make contact and see if we're home. If we are, we'll see about returning with the group for a reunion here where we can feel safe and show off the kids. I miss anything?"
No one voiced a problem, Kirk and Hunt especially satisfied with the abilities of their new friends to take care of themselves.
"Good, Jim you're in charge while I'm gone. Kevin please dig into our records and especially your own to see how best to fit everybody in; Maggie, you and Ash be prepped to bail us out if we need it. Great. We'll head out in ten minutes, people."
The returning Sunnydalers had been away for so long they realized after getting into the truck that it was a good thing it was Halloween; their general mode of dress could best be described as 'Jedi Big Game Hunter.' Once they left the woods and turned onto the road, it was only another fifteen minutes to the hospital. It had been a quiet drive, one of deep contemplation, as none knew for sure what would happen next.
Alexander parked the truck, Doyle jumping out to help the others out the back. Tara, Joyce, Dawn and Willow also made sure to leave their obvious weapons and gear in the security of the truck as had the two men, and the group as a unit made their way cautiously to the entrance of the busy Emergency Room.
A tired Rupert Giles looked up from his seat as the doors of the hospital opened and a few people wandered in. It took him a couple of seconds, but his mind adjusted as he began to realize the identities. He stood and began setting his coffee down as those with him also broke off their time-passing conversations to similarly take in the new arrivals.
Kendra and Faith zoomed by and in front of him as they spotted someone close they'd just thought lost. Faith broke the silence first.
"Tara? You back?"
"The young woman smiled, and moved toward her 'sisters,' "Yeah, I am. It took us long enough, b-but we managed to come back just after we left."
Giles looked thoughtful as the rest looked confused. He offered his hand to Xander as the girls exchanged hugs, "It's good to see you, Xander. Did she mean time travel?"
"Pretty much, though we've been dimension-skipping for almost a year and a half now, so it came as much of a surprise to us as you. Everything okay here?"
"Samuel and Wesley were both gravely injured while breaking the spell," the Watcher told them, "But they seem to be in stable condition for the moment. And you all?"
"We've had some moments, but currently good," Xander said, noting the almost-fatherly concern in the man's eyes. "Giles? I want you to know, I thought of you as the father I would have preferred to have."
"Well, uh, thank you, Xander, all of you are likewise in my affections."
"Good, because then I have to tell ya, that makes you a grandpa then."
"Good Lord, you, who?"
"Well, with the costumes and all, all three managed to dress as characters that happened to be in a delicate way, so all three."
"And Mrs. Summers allowed you to live?"
Xander laughed, as did Joyce and the other returnees, "Yes, Giles, because it wasn't our faults. So I'd like to present you to Tara, Willow and Dawn Harris, and later on, we want all of you to come back with us and meet your ten grandchildren."
"Good Lord…" the Watcher replied as Buffy came up the hall and overheard the last part with some shock. The girl pulled away from the still-human Liam and raced over to hug her sister and mother.
It was a fine Scooby Moment.
The night was one of amazement and revelation for those who hadn't made the trip and returned; getting on a spacecraft and meeting the characters they'd seen on television completely floored them. Reality of vampires and demons was one thing, television another one now shown true.
The babies and the setting left the group truly worn out, and Buffy in particular hovered close to her mother and sister as if to make sure they wouldn't disappear on her again soon.
Xander had had to leave part way into things in order to take a small shuttle and intercept the vampires out near Bakersfield who were going to eat the eloping kids from Xander's previous incredible car chase that had earned him the combined ire and admiration of the Clark County Sheriff's department. He was back soon enough to where he really had been missed and simply tired to feel greater attachment for the home to which they'd finally returned.
The morning of November 1st, 1997, saw the travelers for the first time only partially ready for the day ahead; previously this place and time had been the goal, but now they still needed to wait until 2:30 in the afternoon rolled around to see if all looping would stop.
The various task teams went about their business, making initial contacts for the acquisition of property, goods and services to establish permanent lodgings and the means for prosperous activity.
Tara was whisked away by Kendra and Faith, who wanted to hear everything about the trip from her point of view as they played with the babies. Dawn and Joyce had introduced Beth, Pike and Brandi to Buffy, and Xander had told them to go the beach and show off the kids, while Xander and Willow manned the fort and cooed over the remaining little ones.
Kendra and Faith were amazed at the idea that their 'big sis' was a mom and all, and had been to other worlds.
"And you're a Slayer now, too?" Faith asked as she shook her head in awe. "Wow, and you hooked up with a guy and two gals? That's wow."
Tara blushed slightly, but knew nothing mean was meant, "Yeah. A-and it's really okay, a-and I missed you two."
Kendra, but especially Faith, beamed at the declaration, the Boston gal hesitantly reaching out to pat her 'big sis' on the hand, looking serious all of a sudden, "We thought we lost you, Tare. But you were back … and with babies … so things are …"
"Better?" Tara asked hopefully as she reached over where the little ones were asleep in the mega-stroller.
Kendra smiled from where she was putting a hint of cane sugar into her strong mocha, "Oh definitely; and you are a Slayer wit' de babies. Such a thing."
Faith nodded, "And with so many of us, we'll keep 'em safe, sis, and spoil 'em rotten. It's what aunts are for, right Ken?"
"Oh yes," Kendra replied, smiling at the sleeping children, mesmerized at the thought of Slayers with families, especially the size of the one she now belonged to. "I can't tink of any ting more important."
Faith looked up at the clock, "Hey it's time for us to meet up with the others at the beach; let's go."