Disclaimer: All characters belong to their rightful owners...not me.
Author's Note: I have no idea where this is going, or where this is coming from. Let's just call this a 'concept piece' and leave it at that.
W&H Building, Los Angeles, California, USA, November 10th, 1998
Alexander Glorificus and his three favorite gals were greeted enthusiastically by Holland Manners as they entered the building. Glorificus in spite of being a way better person, still enjoyed some quality fawning and sucking up, and the others quietly smiled in indulgence.
"Holland! It's been too long! Did the girl in Rome send you my papers and stuff?"
"Yes she did, Glorificus—"
"Call me Glory, Holland. I have confidence in you and your branch."
"Thank you…Glory…and we've gone ahead and prepared the formation of your affairs here under the name of Glorious Properties and Investments, and purchased the Sunnydale house you requested. Oh, and we arranged memberships at the various spas, resorts and clubs within an hour's drive. And we've also tracked down the two waywards you asked us to check on for you."
Glory smiled, happy that all was working out; meeting Xander's friends for real and not just knowing them by memory would be hard enough without annoying things like details getting in the way.
"Oh?"
"Yes, it appears that young Ben decided to stick around Sunnydale instead of returning to UCLA. He is at the university, but has managed to start work as a nurse to cover his expenses. And Angelus seems to have somehow been returned to this plane, soul and all, tough we've only seen the blonde slayer, Buffy Summers, make contact. In the house needing only your signature to become yours."
Xander smiled a bit ferally, noting that the time was around four in the afternoon, "Any chance you'd have someone in Sunnydale to cast a disinvite spell at sundown?"
"We even have a team available to secure the vampire should you wish."
Xander and Annie smiled again, Glory rolling her eyes before speaking, "Holland, that would be delightful. Do you have furniture and everything ready to go in?"
"First thing in the morning, as per your approved selections based on floor plans and choices. And all of the landscapers and such are also ready to mobilize for you. We only need your signature."
"That's great, so in that case, arrange a suite for us somewhere in the area, and we'll head there in a couple of hours. And go ahead and have a team subdue the vampire and keep him in one place until we get there. Sometime tomorrow we'll deal with it. Try not to damage it too much; my husband can handle that." She gestured to Xander, who smiled. Glory continued, "So can they be done within the day?"
"Hmm, yes, but if you'd allow us two?"
Xander nodded, and touched the back of his wife's hand so he wouldn't interrupt her, "Make sure we have reservations for the extra time Mr. Manners, and it'll be fine."
Holland Manners nodded at Xander and the others, making sure of his politics in this group, and gestured for them to accompany him to deal with paperwork.
November 11th, 1998, 11:00 AM – The Mansion
The four VIPs stepped out of the limousine to find work underway at a feverish but professional pace. The bodyguard assigned by Wolfram & Hart until the new staff received orientation the next day, opened the doors of the house for them. Alexander went first to make sure it was safe for the women, who stepped in right behind regardless, his taking point their only concession.
The bodyguard stepped forward, and knowing they were going to check on the vampire, escorted them to the back, and then into an elevator to the second basement. The pool area was Greco-Roman in inspiration, with comfortable places to relax nearby. They walked through double doors at the end, and found Angel chained and gagged on the wall. Xander turned to a man that acted like a mage of some sort.
"Does it have its soul back, or is it feral?"
"An interesting choice of terms, Lord Alexander, but the soul has been restored. What do you want us to do with the vampire?"
Xander smiled, but didn't look at Angel, "Since it seems to be intact, put it in a box and set it under a tarp in the back of the pickup I asked for. I'll deal with it later this afternoon or tomorrow morning. But I don't want it to dust when the Wards are placed against vampires and such later today."
"Very good, sir. I'll see to it right away."
November 11th, 1998, 5:00 PM – The SHS Library
The Scooby Gang wondered why they'd all been called to the Library, and wondered if this were a sick joke by Snyder. Jenny, who had cast the spell to restore Angel's soul back in May, spoke first.
"Well, what do we want to do now? This is highly unusual."
Before anyone could answer, a man in a suit stepped through the doors as two others wheeled in a man-size crate and set it on the floor without saying a word. Giles was about to ask them about it when they simply ignored him and left.
"Who do you think sent it Giles?" Buffy asked as she walked up to it, "It feels, feels like there's a vampire in it but I can't tell for sure?"
A familiar voice a touch deeper and tinged very faintly with the hint of an accent, answered her as the doors parted.
"That's because I only send the best, 'cause I care," Xander responded as three almost identical women followed him in and looked around politely with faint smiles. "So, long time, no see, huh?"
Giles stepped forward and placed a hand to keep his slayer from moving forward immediately, "How did you get out of Hell?"
"In a far more interesting way than the vampire guy did," Xander smiled innocently, and pointed at the crate, "But don't worry, our guys managed to nab him and box him up securely. Figured you guys might want to be in on the unveiling."
"Angelus is in the box?" Giles asked, backing away. Faith, the new Slayer, readied a stake pulled from a boot.
"Nah, the lazy one…Angel."
"Why's he in the box, then, Xander," Jenny asked, "If he has his soul back, he's safe, isn't he?"
"All I know is what our contacts have told us, that he's been back about a month now, and that recently he's been acting less feral. Enough that his … mistress … doesn't keep him chained up. So when they got him, why take any chances? He's still a vampire."
Three feminine throats cleared, so after he rolled his eyes with a slight smile, he stepped to the side, "I've been informed I'm being less than proper, so I'll do a round of introductions: Watcher and Dr. Rupert Giles, Slayer Elizabeth "Buffy" Summers, Gallery and Antiquities Reseller Joyce Summers, Werewolf and Guitarist Daniel 'Oz' Osbourne, Computer Hacker and Best Friend since kindergarten Willow Rosenberg, 'Queen of the School' Cordelia Chase, Computer Teacher Jenny Calendar AKA Jana of the Kalderash, Dawn Summers who is obviously from her dress sense apprenticing to become Cordelia's successor AKA the Key, the newest Slayer, Faith LeHane, myself AKA Alexander Duncan Glorificus, Amanda Deifica Glorificus, Winfred Desiree Gloricifus, and Lara Anne Glorificus."
"Good Lord…"
"That would be me; they should each be addressed as Lady, if we're not going by familiar names, Dr. Giles."
"You know what I meant, Xander…"
"Right, G-Man, but I wanted you to believe it was me…thus with the annoying. Where was I?" he looked at his wife Glory, "Oh yeah, thanks Hon. Oh, Angel's in the crate. We don't want him in our new house, so we figured this is our housewarming present to you."
"But why's he in a box instead of just bringing him here?" Jenny asked.
"Daytime out, I don't like him, and I figured this balances out things between us. He IS a thing after all, so why have vamp dust all over the seats of the limo."
"Limo?" Cordelia asked, "How'd you get the crate in it?"
"Had it brought over in a truck…"
"Okay…" the girl nodded, question answered.
Buffy looked at Glory for a moment, then glared, "Aren't you the one that punched me the night of Acathla?"
"Sorry about that," Glory apologized, "I wasn't really used to being around mortals back then."
"Mortals?" Giles asked, "Are you not human?"
"That's difficult to give a straight answer to…" she replied, the others with her nodding, "Um, I used to be a goddess, but now all of us are demigods, with a boost of Primal thrown in to make it better."
"Good Heavens…" the Watcher intoned, but none but Faith really remained vigilant.
Xander chuckled, "Not that kind of goddess, the other kind, but she's wonderful now."
The former hell goddess beamed at her man, who continued, "So we're back, even if more time passed for us than you guys. In a few days we'll invite you all over for dinner and show off the much nicer mansion."
Willow stepped forward, "You're leaving already? But why?"
He smiled, opened his arms, and she rushed over and hugged him. The Glories smiled, knowing how much he cared for her, since they through him also felt that way. She backed up after a moment, and touched her forehead with her right hand.
"I could actually hear you…and them!"
"Wow, Wills, I didn't know our connection would open up so much. We might actually have to start practicing mental shielding."
"Y-you can read minds?" Giles ask in a mix of fascination and horror.
"Nah, just the four of us, though I only picked up the improved Willow connection when she emoted at me."
"Yeah, that's right," she realized, "I can't hear any of you now…"
"Good," Xander nodded, "We wouldn't want to overwhelm you, Wills."
Annie stepped forward and slowly approached Oz, who actually seemed to freeze in place and bare his neck to her. Buffy tensed but didn't do anything. Oz seemed to grow furry, and the former Primal placed her hand on his throat gently and he reverted before his clothes began to stretch or tear.
"You accept responsibility for all of 'em, pup?" Annie asked the slightly leaner-looking Oz, then looked at Rupert, "You take the direction from the old wolf over there?"
"Yeah."
"Who are we?"
"Alphas…grrrr…queens?"
"And Alexander to Us?"
"Alpha Mate."
"That's right, but none of us are animals. You are not an animal. You are Pack. You're our Beta in this group, but you take the old one's orders like ours."
"Yes."
"Great!" she responded happily, not quite as ditzy as pre-Xander Glorificus would have, "You're family now, Oz, so call on us if your pack needs us."
"Thank you?"
"No need for thanks, but it's nice," she replied as she smiled and looked over to the Slayer, "You can stand down now, Oh Mighty Warrior. Daniel is family…pack. That means you have our support and protection."
Xander smiled and put his fist to his ear as he mock-whispered to Willow, "It is the bond of water!"
The redhead and the three Glories all rolled their eyes, and Cordelia who'd actually once watched the movie on a flight to Italy, joined them, "Dork!"
Buffy and the others were too surprised and the remaining tension in the room faded away, and Joyce Summers smiled and leaned over to whisper to Jenny Calendar.
"Nice tight black stilsuits, not a bad thing…"
"Got that right, Mrs. S," Faith agreed with a smirk.
"Okay guys," Xander smiled as he joined his partners at the doors, "We'll see you later. But we don't really want to see the vampire, so keep him away from us or we might dust him. Bye for now, all."