AN: Sorry for the wait on this chapter. I got stuck on it and my actual novel was taking up time as well and Christmas and...I'm sure you get the idea. I'm still shocked at the positive response the monkey crack dream of mine has gotten. There's a lot of consequences in this chapter and any errors on the legalities Buffy and Xander face are mine. Not a lawyer. Anyway, hope you like this chapter. I now present for your consideration….Primal.
Xander spent the bus ride from the zoo being very quiet. Knowing what was happening had given him an edge in fighting the compulsions the hyena was engendering. It wasn't really bad yet, but he knew it would get worse, but every time he had tried to say something about his recent possession the others were either there or the hyena stopped him.
It was frustrating, he was fighting a losing battle and he couldn't even ask for help. He rubbed his temples.
"You ok, hon?" Buffy asked concern coloring her voice.
"Just a headache," Xander heard himself saying. Damnit, he needed to tell her about this so she could tell Giles. Damn, she smelled good. He couldn't wait until they were home where he could….no that was the hyena thinking.
"I'm sorry, I think I have some tylenol in my purse," she said as she went looking.
"Thanks," he said forcing the word out. The hyena had little use for language in general and politeness even less. He was disturbed that it was keeping him from talking about the possession and knew that the primal nature of the Hyena would slowly gain dominance as long as it stayed. He thought back to the first time and shuddered, it was only his attempted rape of Buffy that kept him from joining his pack in eating Principal Flutie, something he hoped he'd be able to stop.
"Here you go," Buffy said handing him two pills and a bottle of water.
"Thanks, I'm going to take a nap, haven't been sleeping well the last couple of nights," he said.
"Bad dreams?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'll be ok though," he said and closed his eyes. He wasn't actually sleepy at all, in fact he felt rather wired but he needed to think about what he was going to do. By the end of the bus trip he didn't have any answers but an uncomfortable desire to get close to Kyle, Rhonda, Tor and Heidi. They were pack, they were strong, they were safe.
As they got off the bus Xander started toward Kyle and the others, but Buffy caught his arm.
"Xander, don't. I know you're not happy with them, but you don't need to get into trouble over them," Buffy said.
"Yeah, they're jerks, but not worth a suspension," Jesse said and Xander nodded not trusting to speak and followed Buffy. He sniffed her hair again and closed his eyes as his imagination went places that he wasn't ready for it to go. He felt confusion from the Hyena though, she was here, in heat. Take her, it practically screamed at him. He mentally shook his head to try to clear his thoughts and the Hyena growled but retreated a bit allowing him to think.
"Mom's out of town right now, so movie night?" Buffy asked.
"Sure!" Willow and Owen said at the same time and Xander saw them smile at each other. Weak, both of them. No...Willow was anything but weak...she has power, it just hasn't manifested yet. He felt the Hyena snort in derision at the thought. For a wild animal it seemed to have a lot of opinions. He didn't remember that from the first time, but the first time it was in control, this time he was fighting it because he KNEW what it was and he had to protect his friends from it, especially Buffy. If he did what he did last time...he didn't know what her reaction would be but either it would freak her out and damage their relationship or she'd go along with it and he could smell that she was...he stopped the thought in its tracks because it made the Hyena want her more.
"I can't, not tonight. I have things to do," Xander said, fighting the desire to deride Willow and Owen. The Hyena hadn't passed judgement on Jesse yet. For Owen and Willow though it marked them as prey and one was NOT friends with t-bone.
"Oh...ok," Buffy said, sounding disappointed.
"Sorry," he said forcing himself to say it and walked off.
He tried to stay in, but as night fell he got restless, not to mention hungry. He swallowed hard at that remembering where that hunger had led him the first time. He shook his head again. It was getting harder to fight it. Truth was he was getting tired and the hyena wasn't. He left the house and soon found his pack. Kyle and he clasped hands while Heidi and Rhonda smelled him. Tor growled a bit at the attention Xander was getting, but Xander wasn't interesting in them. He already had his mate. However, there were appearances to keep and he growled back, a bit louder and Tor backed down. There was no doubt who was Alpha and Tor just put himself in the Omega slot by losing. Had he been weaker the pack would have torn him apart, but he was still an asset, not a liability. They then headed to the Bronze and Xander could smell her here even among all the other scents.
His stomach growled and he lead them in. He quickly saw Buffy. She was with Willow, Owen and Jessie. Willow and Owen were holding hands and Jessie was staring at Cordy. Pathetic. The thought sailed through Xander's brain before he could check it. He scratched his head as the Pack scanned the room for prey, but Xander's mind was on something else. Her scent even from here was intoxicating. He and the others moved as one through the crowd. He made his way to Buffy's table and the other's followed. They knew his intentions and they would protect their Alpha's while they were indisposed.
He sniffed her and wrinkled his nose. There was something fruity mixed into her real scent. She'd bathed. Not bad enough to be a turn off but still not pleasant. She still wasn't quite ready yet and he was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to sate this hunger yet. Xander winced. His control over the beast was definitely slipping. He needed to tell Buffy, now so she could tell Giles and he opened his mouth.
"You bathed," came out of his mouth instead of the cry for help he had intended. She looked puzzled.
"Yeah, at least once daily, sometimes four if I've gotten something icky on me," she said.
"What's wrong with you, Xander?" Willow asked as Owen raised an eyebrow and Jessie continued to watch Cordelia.
"Nothing's wrong with me, except that I'm starving," he said as he picked up a crosseint on the table, he sniffed it and made a face. "Not eating what food eats."
"I'm going to ask her to dance," Jessie said having Xander's arrival not registered yet.
"And why would she say yes?" Xander said, and fought to keep the hyena from saying worse.
"Xander? What do you mean why would she say yes?" Jessie said sounding a little hurt.
"You're trying too hard," Xander started swallowing the horrible things the hyena wanted to say to the weakling...no, he's not weak. He's my friend, my brother, not weak.
"Trying too hard?" Jessie asked.
"Yes, she's got the power, you have to make yourself desirable to her and then ignore her," Xander said managing to keep from really verbally eviscerating Jessie. He never considered that the hyena let him win that fight to hide. Then he overheard the rest of his pack making fun of a fat kid and found himself laughing which drew looks from everyone.
"I need to go. I will see you all later," he said.
Xander slept fitfully and finally just got up at about two am. He went out his window and soon found himself in one of the cemeteries. Buffy was there fighting a fledgling. He noticed that she was still dropping her shoulder though all the hyena noticed was her strength, her power, her smell. It was arousing. He watched her from a distance, almost like she was prey herself and followed her as she left the cemetery. He kept his distance and soon realized she wasn't going home. It didn't take him long to realize what her actual destination was. His house. He raced ahead and beat her there just barely. A small part of him wondered that he was able to beat her at all even if she wasn't moving as fast as she was truly capable of, she was still way faster than he was on his best days. He crawled back into his room and got into bed just as he heard her at his window. He could smell her and it was intoxicating.
He heard her land softly on the floor and felt her watching him. He just laid there until she spoke.
"I know you're awake, I've heard you sleep and your heart rate is way too fast for you to be asleep, in fact it's up a bit for you not to have just been pretending to sleep for longer than five minutes. Now sit up, we need to talk," she said.
"What about?" Xander asked, the hyena doing the talking.
"About how strangely you've been acting lately. You seem to be walking on eggshells around us all of the sudden," she said.
"And if I have?" he asked.
"I want to know what it's about, is there something bad about to happen that you haven't told us?" she asked sounding frustrated.
"No, nothing like that. It's more...personal. You really shouldn't be here, you know?" he said, making the end of his statement a question.
"Why you planning on taking advantage of the situation?" she asked coyly. It seemed that at sixteen Buffy was easily distracted. His Buffy wouldn't have been put off by such a weak ploy.
"Maybe," he said with a grin. The hyena could smell she was ready to mate and it wanted her.
"Maybe? So if I get into bed with you...you won't object?" she asked.
"Why would I object to having you in my bed? It leads to interesting possibilities," he replied, the hyena in full control. Xander screamed silently in his head for Buffy to leave, run anything but what she did do? Get into bed with him. Xander kissed her roughly as soon as she was under the covers.
"You've never kissed me like that before," she said when the kiss broke apart.
"You've never been in my bed before, do you want more?" he asked.
"Yes, so much more. I love you, Xander and I want to give you everything of me," she said.
If Xander hadn't been so horrified at what the hyena was about to do he'd have been annoyed at the cheesy line. It only proved she wasn't really ready for this, even though she thought she was.
Xander then started taking her clothes off slowly and kissed her one more time. The rest of the night was one that Xander would remember with equal measure of horror and joy.
Xander woke to a bright light in his face, and to something warm next to him. His head felt clearer than it had since the trip to the zoo and he picked up his unwanted mental passenger and he turned to find Buffy next to him, still naked and one leg over his. He winced as he remembered finally falling asleep as the sky started to grey with dawn. He looked at his clock and groaned. It was past eleven in the morning. They both were really late for school.
"Buffy?"
"Murrr?" she purred.
"Wake up, it's past eleven and we are REALLY late for school," Xander said, still surprised at how much he felt like himself. "And we need to talk about last night."
"What about last night?" she asked sleepily.
"I wasn't...in full control of my actions last night. I have to say I'm so sorry," he said.
"For what? Other than being a bit sore in all the RIGHT places I don't regret last night," she said.
"But I do," he said softly.
"You do? Was I not...good?" she asked, suddenly more alert and sounding hurt.
"That's not it at all, it was everything I dreamed of and more, but it wasn't ME making the decision. Remember you asked about how weird I've been acting?" he asked.
"Vaguely, you kinda distracted me," she said sounding concerned.
"There's a reason I've been acting weird. During the field trip I was possessed by a hyena spirit. I have been trying to tell you, Giles, anyone for a couple of days now, but it wouldn't let me," Xander said.
"Oh...Xander...had I known…" Buffy said.
"I don't blame you, I could never blame you for this. I wasn't strong enough," he said, hanging his head.
She hugged him and kissed his cheek, "My knight, always trying to protect me even from himself. You've told me now, so we go see Giles and then we research and fix you. I assume you got fixed the first time, right?"
"No, never did, Anya wanted kids and after I left her at...oaf!" he grunted as she hit him with a pillow.
She beat him with the pillow a couple of more times while they both laughed then she stopped and looked thoughtful. "You said the hyena was stopping you from talking about it, so why are you able to now?"
"Dunno, maybe you wore it out, God knows why I'm even awake right now after what you did to me last night," Xander said.
"I'd beat you some more if I didn't think that was a halfway serious answer," she said.
"And I'd deserve it, let's get dressed, we've got to talk to Giles."
Xander was surprised to find Jessie, Willow and Owen in the library when he and Buffy arrived. Willow and Owen were looking over a computer magazine and having a collective geekgasm while Jessie was reading a comic, Avengers #5 in which Thor and Hulk were fighting...again.
"Where have you two been all morning?" Willow asked looking up from the magazine.
"We both...overslept," Xander said and went over to the book cage and proceeded to lock himself in. "Where's Giles?"
"Overslept?" Willow asked unsure of whether to believe him or not.
"Why are you locking yourself into the book cage, bro?" Jessie asked as Buffy looked at Xander obviously worried.
"Cause it can hold a werewolf, it should be able to hold me if the hyena wakes up," Xander said matter of factly, forgetting that Owen was in the room. "In fact it did hold me last time, now that I think about it."
"Ummmm….what is going on, what hyena? And werewolves in the bookcase?" Owen asked.
"Damnit! Sorry man...I'm just used to everyone in this room knowing about the spooky side of the street. Short version, vampires are real along with other things that go bump in the night. Buffy kills them and we help...and get ourselves stupidly possesed by hyena spirits," Xander said, sounding annoyed.
"Sorry Owen, he's having a bad day," Buffy said.
"Bad week, Buffy, bad week, today actually hasn't been too bad," Xander corrected.
"It hasn't?" she asked smiling a little, obviously remembering how they began their day.
"No, I've been myself through most of it, now where is Giles so you guys can hit the books on how to get this thing out of me, and shouldn't you guys be in class right now?" Xander asked.
"Classes got canceled, some big emergency faculty meeting, that's where Giles is," Willow answered.
"Emergency meeting?" Xander asked and paled. "No...no...not again...they didn't...I should've….no….he was a dweeb, but not even Snyder would deserve that." Xander stumbled backwards into the books and slid down the shelf shaking his head in denial.
"Who's Snyder?" Owen asked looking confused.
"He's going to be Flutie's replacement," Xander answered flatly as he bent his head. He then started pounding the floor. "Damnit! Damnit! Damnit! I wasn't strong enough to stop it."
"Stop what? You're scaring me, Xander, what happened to Principal Flutie?" Buffy asked, in full Slayer.
"He's dead...the others...they ate him," Xander answered, he last words barely audible as tears started falling down his cheeks.
"Oh...my...God, are you sure Xander?" Buffy breathed.
"Poor Mr. Flutie…"Willow said looking stunned, causing a scream of anguish to erupt from Xander at his best friend's innocence take its first real hit in this reality.
"GET OUT OF ME! GET OUT! OUT! OUT YOU MANGY MUTT!" Xander screamed then everything went black.
The first thing Xander was aware of was the smell of grass and meat. Then he started to see stars in the sky and felt a breeze, it was warm and ruffled his hair. It was dark but he could see well enough that he didn't fear bumping into anything or tripping. He also saw the meat he was smelling, it was several zebra and Xander's stomach growled.
"They are there for the taking, shall we hunt?" he heard a voice say. He turned and saw himself, naked and shaggy looking.
"No, I want you out of my head," Xander said.
"Why? I make you strong. Strong enough to mate, strong enough to protect your pack. You asked for this," his primal self replied.
"No I didn't. I want nothing to do with you or the pack. They ate Principal Flutie and are a menace," Xander said.
"So stop me, if you are truly Alpha," the Primal Xander said.
"Stop you? How?" Xander asked.
"How else?" the primal leaped at Xander who reflexively threw him using the Primal's weight against him. The Primal rolled back to his feet and kicked at Xander who grabbed the Primal's foot, who responded by dropping quickly with a twist. The Primal grabbed Xander's ankles and pulled him down into the dust. As soon as the Primal let go of one of Xander's legs, he kicked the Primal savagely in the face and kicked up onto his feet just in time to get a stomach full of the Primal's head. The two of them went in a heap and the Primal straddled Xander and began to savagely beat his face.
"You are beaten, yield!" the Primal yelled. Xander responded by grabbing the Primal's fist and held it fast. The Primal tried to bring his other fist down and Xander caught that one as well.
"I will not yield," Xander said as he slowly fought his way to a sitting position and then headbutted the Primal right into the nose with a loud crack.
"AAAAARRRUUGUGGG!" the primal roared as his nose gushed blood. The Primal charged and began attacking with fists and feet. Xander expertly blocked each blow until the Primal crouched and swept Xander's legs out from under him.
Xander hit the ground with a groan and the Primal was on him again and started pounding Xander's face again. Xander once again caught both the Primal's fists.
"I can take a lot worse than this, yield," Xander said, his time in Africa serving him well in this situation.
"You haven't proven yourself!" the Primal roared.
"Yes I have," Xander said as he moved his grip up the Primal's arm and lifted him up just enough to allow Xander to jam a knee into the Primal's crotch. The Primal stopped fighting as the pain exploded in him. Xander kicked him off and rose back to his feet. He placed a good stomp on the Primal's jewels and then put a knee on the Primal's diaphragm.
"Yield," Xander said. The Primal nodded rapidly as his face grimaced in pain and a soft whine escaped the Primal's throat.
The Primal whimpered and Xander let go of his arm and the Primal walked into the darkness. Xander blinked and realized he was looking into Buffy's face and realized that his head was in her lap. His head hurt, but he knew the spirit was gone. He moaned and tried to sit up, but Buffy held him down.
"I'm fine, Buffy, can you let me up?"
"Sorry, but you were having some kind of seizure, you were throwing yourself all over the cage and I was afraid you'd hurt yourself," she said as she let him sit up.
"Merci. Je t'amie," Xander said.
"Je t'amie aussi," Buffy replied, her accent getting better to Xander's ear. "Is it gone?" she asked, and he nodded. She looked into his eyes and nodded back and let him rise and he noticed for the first time that his shoulder felt much better than it had a few days ago. He and Buffy exited the cage just as Giles entered the library.
"I'm afraid something terrible has...Xander. I guess you already know what's happened then?" Giles said coldly.
"'Fraid so, Giles. I'm sorry. I was caught up in what happened to Lance and the rest of his crew so I wasn't able to warn you. I wasn't strong enough," Xander said and hung his head.
"Nope, no pity parties for you, Xander. You kicked it out of you, that isn't what a weak man does," Buffy said hugging him.
"Maybe you are right, but it's still too late to help Principal Flutie," Xander said softly.
"True, but we still have Lance and his crew to help, right? Now how'd we get this thing out of you guys last time?" Buffy asked.
"We reversed the spell at the hyena house, I think... they broke me out of the cage.." Xander said trying to remember.
"I'll get them there," Buffy said.
"Be careful, they are easily as strong as you are right now, and there are four of them," Xander said, his eyes unconsciously looking at her belly and wondering if what the spirit had smelled meant what he thought it did. He sighed, one problem at a time.
"They'll have to catch me first, not really looking to trade punches with them."
"So what do we need to set this straight?" Owen asked.
"Yeah, are there components or something?" Willow asked.
"I honestly don't remember, I was busy hunting with the pack at the time," Xander said frustrated, then snapped his fingers. "The zookeeper!"
"Of course, he knows alot about those hyenas he might know about the ritual," Jessie said.
"Right! He can help!" Willow said.
"He can help, but not willingly, he's the reason this happened in the first place," Xander said finally remembering.
"Oh...so what happened then?" Owen asked.
"Let me think….I know this...ugh!" Xander said, frustrated.
"You have to remember Xander," Willow said.
"I'm trying, it was nine years ago! Wait...the zookeeper put the spirits into himself, then he was...eaten by the actual hyenas," Xander said.
"Ewww…" Buffy said.
"There has to be a better way, Xander," Giles said.
"That's the way it happened before," Xander said.
"Maybe if you describe for me how you took back control?" Giles asked.
"Got nothing to lose I guess," Xander said.
"In the meantime, we need to find them no matter what the situation is," Buffy said, giving Xander a small peck on the cheek.
"Just be careful," he said again.
"Je t'amie," Buffy said.
Je t'amie aussi," Xander replied squeezing her hand and she left.
"Ok, so storytime kids!" Xander said clapping his hands with enthusiasm he didn't really feel.
"Yay! Uncle Xander is telling a story!" Jesse said in a faux kids voice.
The gang was in piles of books when Buffy came back into the library alone. She looked disturbed.
"Did you find them, Buffy?" Willow asked.
"Yes...hip deep in regurgitated Principal Flutie. I am not eating for a week," Buffy said sitting down.
"I think I speak for everyone when I say ewww…" Owen said.
"What did you do with them?" Jesse asked.
"Dropped them off at the school councilor's. Dunno know how much he can help, but.." she trailed and put her head in her hands. Xander came over and started rubbing her shoulders.
"Good boyfriend...gets biscuit," she purred.
"There's usually sugary goodness at research parties, Owen, sorry this one didn't have any," Xander said as he worked the Slayer's shoulders.
"So that's it then?" Willow asked.
"Pretty much, if the others are dehyenafied," Xander said.
"So why doesn't it feel like a win?" Owen asked.
"Cause it's really not, in all honestly we got our asses handed to us...I got our asses handed to us," Xander said.
"No more of that, you did your best," Buffy said.
"Buffy is quite right Xander, under the circumstances you did very well, you kept yourself from joining in the pack's...kill and stopped them. You have nothing to be ashamed of," GIles said.
"Maybe, look guys, love you all, but I think I need some me time. I'll see you at your house later, Buffy," Xander said, kissing her cheek.
"Ok...but we are talking about this," she said.
"Of course we are, I just need to get my thoughts in order first," Xander said.
With that he left the library and then the school, it wasn't even three yet but of course after what happened there would be no classes for the foreseeable future, probably the rest of the week. He set off for the public library. He needed to do research and he didn't want to be caught doing it.
He'd gotten about halfway there when he heard a voice.
"It's not your fault," Azrael said having appeared beside him.
"Which one, Principal Flutie or Buffy?" Xander asked bitterly.
"Neither, you were caught up in something beyond your control," Azrael said.
"Yeah, but I should've remembered, kept it from happening in the first place!" Xander shouted.
"And have what happen? The zookeeper get that power? Those kids being stuck with it? Things happen for reasons, Xander. You think you could just naturally get hit by a troll hammer and live? This event allows you to take the blows you take without ill effects. Otherwise you'd've been in the hospital and crippled by the time you got out of high school. As it is you are more capable of helping her," Azrael answered with exaggerated patience.
"Ok..so there's a silver lining, but what about what happened with Buffy. I failed at two things I'd swear I wouldn't let happen when I got back here in less than twenty four hours," Xander fumed.
"You refer to the night you spent with her?" the angel asked.
"What else would I be referring to! I wanted her first time to be special this time, not a disaster like it was last time and I didn't even do that right," Xander said.
"I daresay her first time was much better this time than last time. You didn't lose your soul, you didn't just ditch her, nor were you a bounce back from being ripped out of heaven. Seems to me it was the healthiest sexual experience she's ever had," Azrael said.
"Where does Riley fit into that?" Xander asked the ludicrous nature of the conversation seeping into his awareness. "Come to think about it why am I even debating my girlfriend's sex life from another reality with you?"
"You brought it up," the angel said.
"Ok, so why are you here anyway….wait, Principal Flutie?" Xander asked.
"Shepherding souls to heaven IS my job, Xander," Azrael answered.
"And you couldn't stop it?" Xander roared.
"It wasn't my job to prolong his life. It was his time, still I did what I could for him," the angel said, looking at the ground.
"Not your job?!" Xander screamed.
"No, we cannot interfere directly on Earth, to do so would give the enemy the kind of opening Lucifer gave us when he got you killed," Azrael said.
"Oh…" Xander said sheepishly.
"Anyway, I eased his suffering as much as possible," Azrael said.
"Small blessing," Xander said.
"Sometimes that is all we can grant," Azrael said.
"So, since you are here and talking to me, can you tell me?" Xander asked.
"Tell you what?" the angel asked.
"The hyena thought she was...ready to conceive when we slept together. Is she pregnant?" Xander asked.
"She wouldn't be this soon," Azrael said.
"What does that mean?" Xander asked his annoyance coming back.
"It means there hasn't been time for implantation to take place, provided there is a zygote to implant," the angel said.
"Can you give me a straight answer, am I or am I not going to be a father?" Xander asked.
"Well...just a moment," Azrael said sighing and closing his eyes, he was like that for several heartbeats then he said, "There is a zygote, which means you have an eighty percent chance of it taking and the Slayer being pregnant. I suppose congratulations are in order then," Azrael said.
"The timing could be better," Xander said as he changed directions and began walking to Buffy's house. They had a lot to talk about.
"I'm sure, but you have a good head on your shoulders, Xander. You can meet this test as you've met all you've encountered," Azrael said and vanished.
Xander saw that he had time before Dawn got out of school, they had shut the High School down but the elementary and junior high were still in session. Buffy wouldn't head home until after picking up Dawn so he went by a hobby store.
It didn't take him long to find what he was looking for and was soon paying for six blocks of wood and a decent knife for whittling.
"Not often I see someone your age buying wood and a knife and its not christmas. Birthday?" the shopkeeper asked.
"No, these are for me, I find it relaxing and I need to relax today. Did you hear what happened at the High School?"
"No, can't say I have, why?"
"Some wild animals got in and ate Principal Flutie," Xander said.
"Poor Bob, is he ok?" the shopkeeper asked.
"He was eaten, whatever did it didn't leave much," Xander said.
"Oh….that's terrible. So many terrible things happen in this town. The Mayor oughta do something about it," the shopkeeper complained.
"Sure that'll be the day," Xander said as he paid for the wood and knife.
"Who taught you?" the shopkeeper asked.
"My Grandfather," Xander lied. Truth was he was self taught with help from YouTube, but he couldn't say that to the shopkeeper.
"Good, its good for young folks to spend time with their elders," the shopkeeper said as he handed Xander his purchases.
Xander then left the store and went on to Buffy's house.
Xander sat on Buffy's front porch and examined one of the pieces of wood and nodded and took his knife to it and started shaving. He was soon lost in the work taking simple pleasure in the task, he soon found that the wood was wanting to be a dolphin, at least that is how he thought about it and he slowly worked the wood with his knife as the bent torpedo shape of a jumping dolphin took shape in his hands. He was absorbed in his work and was surprised when a shadow fell over him.
"Whatcha doing?" Dawn asked looking at him.
"Whittling," Xander said looking up at the ten year old.
"What's that?" she asked.
"A very old form of wood carving, this is going to be a dolphin at some point," Xander said holding up the wood.
"Neat! Can I have it when its done?" Dawn asked.
"No, but I can teach you to make your own," Xander said with a grin.
"Neat!" Dawn said and Xander looked up to see a grinning Slayer watching them.
"Hey Dawn Patrol, can you go into the house and get your homework done so I can talk to your sister?"
"Will you still be here when I'm done?"
"Yes," he said.
"Yay!" Dawn shouted gave him a exuberant hug and bounded up the stairs.
Buffy shook her head and sat next to Xander and examined his work.
"I didn't know you could do that," she said.
"I told you I'm a carpenter by trade," Xander said.
"Hearing it and seeing it are two different things."
"Yeah, I guess. This is a hobby, I find it relaxing, especially when the mini slayers have fried all of my nerves, or my principal gets eaten by fellow classmates," Xander said his tone darkening at the last.
"That was not your fault," Buffy said.
"Az said as much too. What have you told Dawn?" Xander asked.
"Nothing yet. How do you have a conversation with your little sister about your day at school when it includes that you overslept, woke up naked in the arms of your boyfriend after the most incredible night ever then to top it off the principal got eaten?" Buffy asked.
"Gently, but she needs to hear it from family before she hears about it at school, at least the part about Principal Flutie," Xander said.
"The whole truth or the wild animal story," Buffy asked.
"Just the cover story for her, its what she's going to hear, she doesn't need to know anything else at this point."
"You will be an amazing Dad, you know that?" Buffy said.
"Funny you should mention that cause we need to talk about last night," Xander said.
"Worried about that?" Buffy asked.
"The hyena knew you were..fertile," Xander said, opting for the fast pull method.
"Meaning that there's a chance…" Buffy trailed off in shock.
"More than a chance. I ran into Az this afternoon. I asked him about it and he checked and there is a zygote in you right now and there is an 80% chance that it will implant and you will be pregnant," Xander said.
Buffy started ahead processing what Xander had just told her. When she spoke she spoke softly and slowly, " So we are going to be parents?"
"According to the angel we are. I'm sorry," Xander said.
"No...this is just….wow," Buffy said.
"I know," Xander said, quietly.
"My mother is going to kill me," Buffy said.
"No she's not, if she goes up for anyone's murder it'll be mine," Xander said.
"What are we going to do?" Buffy asked.
"First we figure out who to tell first which I vote for your mother first, then Giles," Xander said.
"What about my Dad?" Buffy asked.
"What about him?" Xander asked not thinking.
"Well he needs to know too," Buffy said.
"If you think it's best, sure, but he won't care. The shlub didn't even show up for your mother's funeral," Xander said.
"He didn't?" Buffy said sounding hurt and shocked.
"Damnit...Me and my big mouth. I was hoping this time would be different and I wasn't planning on talking to you about this unless he went the way of the jerk here too," Xander said, shaking his head.
"Daddy is not involved in ANYTHING, not with Dawn? Not with me? Nothing?" Buffy asked sounding even more shocked at this news than her impending motherhood.
"Yes, I'm sorry, sweetheart. As I said I hope this time is different," Xander said putting an arm around her.
"I still want to tell him, maybe it'll make a difference," Buffy said hopefully.
"Maybe," Xander said, but he thought only after Mr. Gordo grows wings and dive bombs Snyder.
"Are you staying tonight?" Buffy asked.
"I can, but not in your bed, the Dawn has ears and as I remember you are especially noisy," Xander said as Buffy blushed.
There was fire everywhere and Xander's throat burned, he coughed through the smoke and screamed out for Buffy, Willow, anyone that he knew and didn't receive a response. He walked to the school and found it in ruins, in its place was a stone throne the size of a building. On it sat a dark angel. Xander didn't know how but he knew this was Lucifer.
Xander approached the throne slowly and attempted to stay out of sight, it wasn't easy as the area around what had been the school was barren. It wasn't long before he was as close as he could get without being seen. Then the dark angel spoke.
"Come forward Xander Harris, I know you are there, you can't harm me, so there is no need for sneaking about," Lucifer said from the throne. Xander took a moment to weigh the options and then stepped out into the sight of the Prince of Lies. He walked up to Lucifer boldly and crossed his arms once he got close enough that he was there but still could see the throne without craning his neck, there was no point in causing himself pain after all.
"What is this?" Xander asked.
"Oh come come, you're smarter than that, this is a dream," Lucifer replied.
"Is this the future? Shouldn't Buffy be dreaming this?" Xander asked.
"This is the image your subconscious provided, your greatest fear," Lucifer replied.
"So why am I having this dream?" Xander asked.
"Guilt, maybe, I wouldn't know I'm not a shrink," Lucifer said.
"Your a con man, of course you are a shrink," Xander replied.
"Ouch...that stings...shrinks are….so….shrinky. They make my skin crawl with their questions about your relationship with your mother, never had one, or your relationship with your Father, hate his guts, if he had any in the first place. Who needs the navel gazing?"
"Why are you here?" Xander asked his annoyance starting to get the best of his fear.
"Mostly just to watch you squirm. You're supposed to be dreaming a replay of last night right now and that's….just too good for you," Lucifer said.
"OOOOO the Prince of Darkness came to annoy me to death," Xander said rolling his eyes.
"Nah, just wanted a chat, sure you may have knocked up the slayer finally, doesn't mean you've won. This timeline you have embarked on saves just as many of my pawns as his, just wanted you noodle on that," Lucifer said.
"Who?" Xander asked.
"Oh...do you take me for a fool? Not telling that one my dear boy," Lucifer said.
"So I get to wake up now?" Xander asked.
"Oh no, now I get to play with your entrails," Lucifer said and was suddenly in front of Xander and stuck a clawed hand into Xander gut and Xander screamed.
Xander woke to Buffy shaking him and saw Dawn standing at the end of the couch rubbing her eyes.
"I'm awake….I'm awake," Xander said sounding groggy.
"You scared me, I couldn't get you awake," Buffy said hugging him which brought memories of the previous night causing his body to react, but Buffy didn't show she noticed.
"It was a pretty bad dream, or rather it was fine until the last part," Xander said.
"Tell me?"
"Kitchen, need coffee, since I have no intention of going back to sleep tonight. I might want to tell GIles, too," Xander said.
The three of them went into the kitchen and Xander caught sight of Dawn following and shook his head.
"I wanna hear it!" she whined.
"No, you have school tomorrow, we don't. Bed, now," Xander said.
"No fair," Dawn said.
"I don't have to say it do I?" Xander asked.
Dawn huffed and said, "Fine"
"Dawn?" Xander said stopping her.
"What?" Dawn asked not turning around.
"Sweet dreams," Xander said.
"Whatever," she replied as she went back upstairs.
"I really should've done that," Buffy said.
"You never were much of a disciplinarian besides, it's not your job to raise her," Xander said as he started the coffee.
"But it will be," Buffy said.
"Not for a few years, not promising we can help your mother, Buffy, but I won't give up on her. I would like her to see her grandkid grow up after all," Xander said as they waited for the coffee to brew.
"How do you think she'll take the news?" Buffy asked.
"You know her better than I do, Buff," Xander said.
"With everything else I've put her through she may not have much of a reaction," Buffy said. Xander kissed her forehead.
"However she reacts we'll make it, that's a promise," Xander said.
"Hey! I'm supposed to be comforting you over your nightmare!" Buffy said suddenly.
Xander chuckled, "Just talking to you helps. You've been one of my best friends for a long time after all."
"That's sweet," Buffy said, kissing him. She then continued. "Now spill."
"Just a second...Dawn, do I have to tell your mother that you didn't go to bed tonight?" Xander called out followed by an eep and the sound of hurried feet going upstairs.
"My aren't you two cozy," Xander heard a voice say as his eyes opened. When had he fallen asleep? Oh...yes, when Godzilla was still beating up Mothra for the third...or was it fourth time?
"Mrs. Summers?" he asked sleepily.
"Yes, and shouldn't you two be in school? It's past ten," she said.
"What?! Oh...no school today, Principal Flutie was eaten yesterday," Xander said and slowly became aware of nature's calling. He shifted slowly and Buffy stirred.
"Comfy," she murmured still half asleep.
"Buffy, your Mother's home and I have to use the restroom," he said.
"Huh? Wha...oh, morning Mom!" Buffy said coming to full awareness fast enough to make Xander envious.
"I'll be right back, if you'll excuse me ladies," Xander said and on his way to the restroom found a note on the bathroom door from Dawn. It basically read that she thought him and Buffy looked too cute on the couch and she had gotten herself off to school without waking them.
"Girl's a handful…" Xander said shaking his head at the precocious ten year old.
Once he was finished he went back downstairs to find Buffy and her mother waiting in silence. He yawned and thought, 'Its going to be one of THOSE days,'.
"So, Xander, Buffy wanted to wait to tell me about what happened to your Principal until you got back. So what happened?"
Xander sat back onto the couch and started telling Joyce about the last couple of days, leaving nothing out however he did gloss over SOME details even though what he DID say made Buffy blush. He even told her about his and Azrael's thoughts on Buffy's impending motherhood.
"I see, and the other students that were affected…" Joyce started and trailed off.
"Ate Principal Flutie. I'm sorry Mrs. Summers, I was hoping to be able to prevent these events, but I wasn't…." Xander started.
"Don't you say it, Xander," Buffy warned.
"Say what?" Xander asked.
"That you weren't strong enough, you are one of the strongest people I know and this wasn't under your control," Buffy said.
"Yes, Xander wasn't himself. However, Buffy you were in full control and this still happened," Joyce said reproaching her daughter.
"To be fair, Mrs. Summers it's probably just as well she didn't. The hyena wouldn't have taken no for an answer, at least I don't think it would've. Last time around she had to hit me with a desk in fact," Xander said.
"You think the spirit would have had you…" Joyce began to be interrupted by Xander.
"Yes, I do, whether or not I'd have been able to help her stop it...I don't know. I do know that this is better than that," Xander said.
"So you are convinced she's pregnant?" Joyce asked.
"Az is, or rather he's convinced there's a zygote. It should implant in a few days, a week at the outside, once that happens she'll be officially pregnant by medical definition," Xander said.
"You seem to know a lot about this," Joyce said.
"My only friends, with few exceptions, have been women. Also, the last four years I've been responsible for super-powered teenaged girls. Yeah, I did my homework," Xander said.
"I see, and now I'm going to be a grandmother due to supernatural shenanigans?"
"Pretty much," Xander said.
"What are your feelings about this Buffy?" Joyce asked.
"Scared, excited, scared. I don't want to give up this child though," Buffy said.
"Will you be able to do your job?" Joyce asked.
"Xander said what makes me the Slayer will protect the baby, but I'll have to be careful," Buffy said.
"What about you Xander?" Joyce asked.
"I don't want to terminate the pregnancy, for many reasons the first being is this is my child as much as Buffy's and I love it," Xander said eliciting an aww out of Buffy.
"Are you going to tell your father?" Joyce asked turning back to Buffy.
"I was planning on telling him. How do you think he'll take it?" Buffy asked.
"He won't be happy about it, and he'll be concerned about the type of example it sets for Dawn, even though she really only a couple of weeks….this stuff gets confusing," Joyce said.
"That wacky wacky Hellmouth, always the practical joker," Xander deadpanned.
"I'm beginning to see that. I mean last week weren't you almost eaten by a teacher that wanted to be in Buffy's current position?" Joyce asked.
"Don't remind me," Xander said then the three of them fell to silence. After a few minutes, Xander broke the silence. "Should we tell Mr. Summers about everything? It's going to be easier to explain everything if we take a family trip to a cemetery and let Buffy put on a show for him."
"Is that wise?" Joyce asked.
"It's the safest time, the baby is about as well protected as it can be right now, and he won't believe it if he doesn't see it," Xander said.
"And what about your parents, Xander?" Joyce asked.
"My….oh….shit...I forgot all about them. The school's going to notify them once the councilor figures it out, which won't be long. Not like we'll be taking an announcement out in the school paper or anything like that, but still, it IS a high school," Xander said, sounding sheepish.
"Did you not have a good relationship with them?" Joyce asked.
"The last time I saw them was at the abomination that was my almost-wedding. I assume they got out of Sunnydale before we collapsed the Hellmouth, but...well its a moot point at this point cause I know right where they are in the here and now," Xander said.
"You still didn't answer my question," Joyce said.
"I gotta tell them, better they find out from me than from the school," Xander said.
"That wasn't the question I was referring to," Joyce said.
Xander sighed. "That would be a no, I don't. They live their lives in a bottle, they fight all the time...they will make horrible grandparents. If I have a choice in the matter they won't have anything to with this or any child I father."
"That bad?" Buffy asked, taking his hand and squeezing it.
"It could be worse, the only time Dad ever hit me was when he was really drunk, and it never lasted long because he'd pass out inside of five minutes. Never seriously hurt me, " Xander said, oblivious to the looks of shock and sympathy coming from Joyce and Buffy and was equally surprised when Buffy wrapped him in a rib crushing hug.
Xander and Buffy conned Joyce out of a ride to the school after calling Giles and then Willow to get the gang together in about an hour. Joyce dropped them off at the school and they went to the library.
Xander perched on one of the big tables with his feet in one of the chairs, and Buffy took a seat next to him. "Ok, the talk with your mom went well, she's not happy but I think she understands," Xander said.
"I wouldn't be happy in her shoes," Buffy agreed, then asked, "So...what are we having?"
"Didn't ask," Xander said.
"You had a angel of heaven tell you that I was pregnant but didn't ask about whether it was a boy or girl?" Buffy asked incredulously.
"I had other things on my mind," Xander said defending himself.
"Like what?" Buffy asked.
"Like how incredibly sexy his or her mother is," Xander said leaning down.
"Oh really?" Buffy said leaning up to him. They began to kiss when they heard a loud throat clearing from the library door.
"Couldn't be five minutes later, could you G-Man?" Xander asked humor coloring his voice.
"If I had been, no telling what state I'd have found the two of you in," Giles said as he came over to where they were sitting. "Now why did you have to drag me down to this thrice damned place?"
"You might want to make yourself some tea, Giles," Xander said seriously.
"That is never a good sign," Giles said, but went into his office to do as Xander suggested.
"Bet you five bucks that he cleans his glasses throughout this conversation," Xander said to Buffy.
"Cleans his glasses? Why?" Buffy asked.
"Just watch," Xander said with a grin. Sure they were here to discuss a serious matter but that didn't mean he couldn't have a LITTLE fun with it. He got off the table and sat in a chair properly and took Buffy's hand. She smiled at him and he squeezed it gently.
"Now, I have my tea, which should keep me from having a coronary from whatever bad news you have for me. At least I know one thing its NOT," Giles said.
"What don't you think it is?" Xander asked, curious.
"Buffy being with child," Giles said as both Buffy and Xander paled, he continued, "Because that is just ridiculous. Both of you are way too responsible to let something like that happen."
"I may have been responsible enough not to let that happen, but the hyena wasn't," Xander said sheepishly, opting for the fast band aid pull since the british man brought it up.
Giles laughed, "Good one, Xander. I'll probably need a laugh after you tell me what's happened. So has the Master risen or some other dire portent?"
"No...just that hyena spirits lack self-control," Xander said not believing that Buffy's dear Watcher was being so dense.
"Giles, Xander isn't joking, I am pregnant," Buffy said.
Giles dropped his cup and it shattered on the floor, "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"I'm pregnant, Giles. With Xander's baby," Buffy said with tears of pure emotion in her eyes.
Xander didn't really know what to expect from the gang, but the deer-in-the-headlights looks his two bestest buds of forever were giving him and Buffy wasn't it. Owen was enough of an unknown that it didn't bug him, but Jesse and Willow...shouldn't they be saying something? Buffy's hand tightened in his as the silence stretched out. It was starting to become uncomfortable.
"Uh...wow…." was the first word uttered in five minutes and they were from Willow. That seemed to crack the ice and there were a couple of chairs scraped across the floor.
"Xan-man, I would normally say, way to go, but I sense that somehow it would get me slapped," Jesse quipped, earning him a withering glare from the mother to be. "Discretion is the better part of valor?"
"Since when do you know anything about discretion?" Xander asked.
"Since Cordy kneed me, bad memory," Jesse said.
"Buffy! You are having a baby. Oh my god...oh my god...baby shower...hot water ….teenager….are you keeping it….what do you want me to do?" Willow exploded in a full on patented Willow babble attack, including jumping up and down.
"Breathe, Wills," Buffy said hugging her rapidly becoming best friend.
"Breathe, yes...breathing is good," Willow said.
"I want to say congratulations, but under the circumstances is that even appropriate?" Owen asked.
"I know what you mean, man. I'm excited, but scared...and there's Lucifer out there still. He went to great pains to ensure this didn't happen," Xander said.
"You think he'll do something?" Willow asked.
"Not overtly, that's how Xander came to be as he is in the first place," Giles said finally putting his glasses back on.
"There's more, Buffy isn't going to be able to fight effectively in a few months, I'm going to have to revise what I had planned as far as training goes, we'll start soon," Xander said.
"Hey, I'm pregnant, not crippled," Buffy said.
"Never said you were, but imagine trying to fight with a six pound bowling ball strapped to your belly," Xander said.
"Darn you and your logic," Buffy said a cute pout forming on her lips.
"Fortunately most of her pregnancy will be during the summer when its quieter on the undead front," Xander said.
"Are you...are you going to get married?" Willow asked.
"That was the plan, eventually, at least what I thought, but you mean now?" Buffy said.
"Then you guys wouldn't have to sneak around," Jesse said, sending Giles into a polishing frenzy.
"Jesse!" Willow screamed in indignation.
"Willow, he has a point...without going into detail...having sampled the goods I don't know how long I could go without more," Buffy said, looking into Xander's eyes.
"I'll have to do some research on it, but I'm sure we'll need parental consent of some kind," Xander said sighing.
"What's wrong?" Buffy asked.
"His parents," Willow and Jesse said at the same time.
"Have you told them?" Willow asked.
"Will you tell them?" Jesse asked at the same time.
"No, and I have to, it's going to be around the whole school in no time which means both Mrs. Summers and my defective parental units will be informed and I'd rather they hear it from me. Doesn't mean I'm looking forward to it," he said and Buffy wrapped her arms around his waist and he took comfort in her embrace.
"This could be bad…" Willow said.
"Yeah...Tony might go to jail this time," Jesse said.
"You don't think…" Buffy's question trailed off.
"I can take the old man now, Buffy, just don't want it to go that way," Xander said sadly and missed Giles's thoughtful look at the conversation.
"Are you sure you'll be ok?" she asked.
"I've got you and our baby. I've got Jesse and Willow. This isn't going to be pleasant but I'm going to survive it," Xander said and the foursome fell into a group hug. After a few moments Xander called out to Owen and Giles, "Come on you two, there's room for you in this sickening display of emotion, too!"
Buffy and Xander were walking towards Xander's house after the meeting. Xander had brought up letting Hank Summers in on Buffy's real life. Willow was enthusiastic, a bit too enthusiastic which Xander had to tone down when she started speculating on if Mr. and Mrs Summers might get back together and he didn't want Buffy's hopes raised too high on that score. He knew better than anyone other than future-Willow how much her parents' divorce had hurt Buffy and didn't want her going through that disappointment. Jesse and Owen had non-comments about the idea and Giles hated it, but in the end even agreed to help with the show and tell as Xander thought of it.
"Well here we are, Casa de Harris," Xander said glumly.
"I'm here for you, sweetheart," Buffy said.
"Je t'amie," Xander said.
"Je t'aime toujours," Buffy replied squeezing his hand.
"Your accent is getting better," he said. "Of course your average Parisian would look down his nose at it since it's african french," Xander said.
"I think it's pretty," Buffy said sniffing.
Xander let out a much needed chuckle, "As I said your average Parisian would disdain it, not that your average Parisian's opinion was worth the microvolts that created it," Xander said causing Buffy to laugh as well.
They went up to the door and Xander had to resist the urge to knock. He'd never used the front door as long as he lived here and after he moved out….he still never used the front door as he never visited. They found Tony passed out in his recliner and Jessica staring at the tv as Pat Sajak gave some suburbanite a new car. Neither noticed Xander's or Buffy's presence. Jessica lifted a tall glass with an amber liquid to her lips and drank deep. The smell of alcohol filled the room and Xander wondered if it was possible to get drunk off of fumes.
"Mom," Xander said. When she didn't respond he said it louder and she turned to him.
"Alexander, Willow? Did you dye your hair?" Jessica asked.
"This isn't Willow, Mom. This is Buffy Summers. She's my girlfriend and we have something important to tell you and Dad," Xander said.
"Well...you wake him up, and it better be important," she said.
"Fine…" Xander said and shook his father's shoulder who just grunted in the alcohol induced sleep he was in. "Dad!"
"Huh...wha…" Tony said blearily.
"Dad, wake up. I have someone for you to meet and something important to tell you," Xander said with exaggerated patience.
"You do?" Tony said slowly coming to awareness.
"Yes I do," Xander said doing his best at hiding his shame, sorry Buffy had to see this..this mess.
"He's brought..Betty wasn't it?" Jessica asked.
"Buffy, Mom," Xander said sighing.
"Ah...Boopie, that's right," Jessica said, so sloshed that...Xander sighed in frustration.
"So what's the big news, boy? You finally get the guts to drop out so you can support this family?" Tony asked and Xander closed his eyes and missed the fiery daggers Buffy was shooting Tony's way.
"No, Dad, but Buffy's...well...she's…" Xander started and his mouth went dry.
"I'm pregnant, Mr. and Mrs. Harris," Buffy said and Xander gave her a look of thanks.
"Huh? What was that?" Tony asked.
"I'm pregnant," Buffy said and Xander knew she was holding a tight leash on her temper.
"And what makes you think my good-for-nothing boy here is the father?" Tony asked.
"He's the only one I've ever been with, Mr. Harris," Buffy said.
Tony looked Buffy over like he was looking at a roast, "Don't believe it, not with you looking that good. Bet it was a football player and you thought Xander was an easy mark to help you out. Unfortunately for you, you picked a loser," Tony said, "Maybe you were afraid you couldn't hold a real man, I mean the boy's mother looked a lot like you when she was in high school and you see what happened to her."
"Dad…" Xander said his tone warning.
"At any rate, congratulations, boy. I knew this day would come. Just thought it would be with that Rosenberg girl and a bit sooner. Got something for you," Tony said and got up and wobbled into the den and came out a few minutes later as Buffy shot Xander a questioning look and Xander shrugged. He came out with a white envelope and handed it to Xander. "Now you're someone else's problem. You can pick up your things tomorrow, just be sure to beat the garbagemen. Now get out of my house," Tony said.
Xander and Buffy were walking down the street with three garbage bags full of Xander's stuff. It was mostly clothes but he saved his savings and his comic book collection. He was wondering just how much Zeke at the comic book store would give him for a few of the issues. How was he going to do this, he was limited in the number of hours he could work school or no school not that any construction company would hire him without a high school diploma. Then there was the question of where to stay and damnit...his eyes seemed to be going bad everything was blurry.
"Xander!" Buffy shouted.
"Huh? Oh, Buff, sorry I was thinking," Xander said and his voice sounded strange to him.
"Are you ok? No, you aren't nor should you be after what that bastard just did," Buffy said her anger at Tony burning in her words.
"I should've expected this, honey. I'll be fine, really. I've got the family that matters to me in you, our baby and the gang and your mom I hope," Xander said as she hugged him.
As Xander finished the thought Joyce's SUV came up the street and pulled over with Dawn hanging her head out of the back window.
"Hi Xander! What's up with the trash bags?" Dawn asked cheerfully.
"Xander got kicked out from his parents house," Buffy said, Xander hearing the anger in her voice and alarm bells started going off in his head.
"Oh….Xander I'm so sorry. You're welcome to stay with us," Joyce said her voice full of sympathy.
"Why did they kick you out?" Dawn asked.
"Because you are going to be an Aunt, short stuff," Xander said running his hand through his hair.
"I am?" Dawn asked.
"Don't play dumb, I know you were listening in last night after my nightmare," Xander said to his all but official sister-in-law.
"Couldn't hear a thing, you guys can be quiet when you want to be," Dawn replied.
"Load up kids, we can talk about this on the way home," Joyce said.
"Yes, Mrs. Summers," Xander said and he and Buffy loaded his stuff in the back of the SUV and Dawn moved up to the front passenger seat letting Xander and Buffy have the back to themselves.
"So what's in the envelope that...your dad gave you," Buffy asked censoring herself for Dawn's benefit.
"So I don't understand, how am I going to be an Aunt?" Dawn asked.
"The normal way kiddo, your sister has a baby," Xander said, sounding tired even to himself, and he handed Buffy the envelope not really wanting to deal with anything to do with his parents at the moment.
"Buffy is having a baby?" Dawn asked.
"Yup," Xander said.
"How'd that happen?" she asked.
"My fault," Xander said.
"I guess I'm going to have the birds and bees talk with Dawn now, aren't I?" Joyce asked.
"Xander, you need to see this," Buffy said after she looked at the contents of the envelope.
"Sweetie, I'm sorry but I'm really not interested in anything to do with him at the moment," Xander said.
"I get that, totally and I'd let you not think about him, but this is kinda important," Buffy said.
That got Xander's curiosity up and he took the offered paper and his eyes went wide.
"Do you...I mean this is…" Xander stammered.
"The answer is yes, Xander, I will marry you," Buffy said grinning.
"What did you say?" Joyce asked.
"Buffy and Xander...sitting in a tree...K-I-S-S-I-N-G…" Dawn started singing.
The next few days were surreal by even Xander's standards, Joyce had been surprisingly easy to convince to sign off on the consent for Buffy and Xander to marry and he'd basically moved into the Summer's house. He still refrained from sleeping in Buffy's bed, which really was too small for long term use like that anyway. Buffy was annoyed by that but Joyce approved of the discretion. School had been canceled for the whole week so Xander spent his days doing minor repairs around the house. It had yet to be damaged in the battle against evil though so there wasn't much to do, so he settled on doing a full inspection of the house.
"Ok, Mrs. S, just finished looking things over. Overall the house is very sound and considering the abuse it'll go through over the years that is a good thing. The pipes in the basement are showing some age and it'll be cheaper to go ahead and get them replaced. I'd do it myself, but I don't know anything about plumbing and you need it done by a professional," Xander said as he came up from the basement.
"You wouldn't happen to know anyone would you?" Joyce asked.
"I'll have to look in the phone book to know who's currently in business, my mental rolodex is both four years out of date and five years….is there even a phrase for having information that is too early?" Xander said causing Joyce to chuckle.
"You really didn't have to do all of this Xander," Joyce said.
"Yes I did, you took me in when you've got every reason to want to send me running to the hills. I appreciate it," Xander said.
"You're welcome, and please start calling me Joyce. You are the father of my first grandchild after all," Joyce said.
"I'll think about it, its just….I'll think about it," Xander said and headed into the living room when the front door opened admitting Buffy, Dawn and another ten year old that looked familiar to Xander.
"Hi, sweetie, how's the house look to you since you insisted," Buffy asked.
"I gave a full report to your Mom, save what is now a minor plumbing issue in the basement its in really good shape," Xander said and gave Buffy a hug and kiss.
"Get a room!" Dawn said grinning.
"Is this your Dad?" the girl that came in with them asked confused.
"No, this is Xander. He's Buffy fleecancee," Dawn said.
"It's fiancee, Dawn," Xander corrected.
"Fiancee? Oh...how romantic!" the girl gushed.
"Not really, trust me, I wanted to do romantic, getting a yes without having proposed after being thrown out of your house is NOT romantic," Xander said.
"Hey, sweetie, we do things backward you know?" Buffy said chuckling.
"What do you mean?" Xander asked.
"Remember you told me I was pregnant?" Buffy said.
"What...oh...you're right...we did kinda reverse roles there. Maybe I'm really a seahorse," Xander quipped.
"Why would you be a seahorse?" Buffy asked.
"Because male seahorses are the one that get pregnant. Weirder things have happened in this town," Xander said.
"Xan...maybe you shouldn't joke about that," Buffy said seriously.
"What's the...umm...on second thought you are quite right, shouldn't tempt fate," Xander said.
"Anyway, as you see we have a guest for dinner," Buffy said.
"I see that. Who's your friend Dawn?" Xander asked.
"This is Janice," Dawn said.
Then it clicked in Xander's mind, he hadn't seen Janice often but now that he had a name he could see it. "Nice to meet you, Janice. Now if you ladies will excuse me I'm going to get cleaned up before dinner."
"Ok, Xander. Are we still working on my dolphin tonight?" Dawn asked.
"I'll be working on my dolphin you are working on your dog, remember," Xander said from the stairs.
"Had to try," Dawn said, and Xander started up the stairs.
"How'd your sister land such a hunk?" Janice asked.
"Just lucky, I guess," Dawn said and Xander shook his head and went on upstairs.
Later that night Xander and Buffy were on patrol, she didn't seem to be armed, but she had a stake on her. Xander was using what looked like a walking stick, but was actually a spear. Buffy had been dubious about it when he had started making it. The limb that he had started with wasn't even straight but her, her mother and Dawn had been in awe of how quickly he'd straightened it using the grill as a source of fire. He then had sharpened and hardened the tip in the fire. She still had her doubts but she felt better that he was armed. She was still worried about his shoulder, but he assured her it was fine. It had been a slow night and they were spending as much time kissing as walking.
"Aww… Ain't that sweet...I just can't kill them," a voice said during one of their pauses.
"Oh you can't? Why would that be?" Buffy asked.
"Do you think he's heard of you yet?" Xander asked.
"Why would they have heard of me? I haven't been in town that long," Buffy asked.
"Point, well it would be rude not to introduce ourselves, dear," Xander responded.
"Hi! I'm Buffy, I'll be your Slayer tonight," Buffy said.
"I'm Xander, I'm the comedy relief," Xander said.
"Huh?" the vampire said.
"I hate the dumb ones," Xander said and took three quick strides forward and before Buffy could tell him to be careful the vampire burst into dust leaving the Slayer dumbfounded.
"Wow…" Buffy said.
"Oh, sorry, did you want that one?" Xander asked.
"I saw it...but how?" Buffy asked.
"Most vampires don't really know how to fight," Xander said.
"They don't?" Buffy asked.
"Nope, they know how to play with their food. Its like with a domestic cat, they have hunting instincts, but it also takes experience to make them actually dangerous. Most vampires are like house cats in that respect. Especially on the hellmouth. Their food doesn't fight back, they don't NEED the instincts they have so they are easy to surprise for someone properly trained. I wouldn't want to try this with someone like the Master or Spike, they've been around long enough to get the experience they need to counter a spear," Xander said.
"So I shouldn't get overconfident?" Buffy asked.
"Pretty much, you never know when you are dealing with an experienced vampire," Xander said.
"So what was with the macho display?" Buffy asked crossing her arms.
"Not a display, a well executed attack. The spear gives me reach, so he wasn't going to be able to get a grip on me. I was also with a partner to back me up if necessary, so no unnecessary risk taken," Xander said.
"And if he grabbed the spear?" Buffy asked, still not convinced.
"I'd have dropped it and hid behind you. I don't take stupid risks, and that goes double now." Xander said, the last serious and he touched her belly.
"Good, I want this baby to know his or her father," Buffy said kissing him.
The next day Xander and Dawn were sitting on the front porch whittling. The sister of the Slayer had her tongue sticking out in concentration and to Xander's eye looked adorable. She was also getting the basics down pretty good and she was very careful with the knife and hadn't cut herself yet. He was still watching her close though as she worked, watching for when the knife would need sharpening as Dawn still had a tendency to miss the ideal time to sharpen. He was letting her do the sharpening of her blade but always checked it first. In the meantime his dolphin was coming along, he figured he was about halfway done with it.
Xander checked his watch and saw that it was almost time then saw an unfamiliar car pull up to the house. A man about Joyce's age got out and came up to the house. Dawn looked up and sat the knife down with the blade still out and was about to jump up when Xander stopped her..
"Dawn, what do we do with knives when we are done working?" Xander said.
"Oh...oops...sorry Xander," Dawn said and picked the knife up and carefully closed it and handed it to Xander.
"Better," Xander said with a smile.
Dawn then turned and ran to the man screaming "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!"
Xander felt some butterflies in his stomach as the man's identity had been confirmed by the ten year old. Xander really didn't know what to expect from Hank Summers but that the man was obviously glad to see Dawn wasn't it, not based on how he'd acted toward both of them for so long. For now though, Xander thought it would be best to reserve judgement on him for Buffy's sake. This meeting would be difficult enough without Xander throwing baggage from the future at Hank Summers.
Dawn and Hank walked up the walkway to the porch and Xander stood up and put his hand out and said, "Mr. Summers, I presume. I'm Alexander Harris, but everyone calls me Xander,"
"Xander, Buffy's told me nothing about you beyond that you exist," Hank said taking Xander's hand and giving it a firm shake.
"That was actually my idea, Mr. Summers. We have alot to tell you and I wanted you to be able to form your own opinion without being colored by any influence," Xander said then looked at Dawn, "Dawn, go tell your sister your father is here."
"Ok!" Dawn said and bounded into the house.
"Shall we go in?" Hank prompted.
"Of course," Xander said and led the way inside stopping only to pick up the soon to be dolphin and whatever Dawn was working on as she wouldn't tell him.
After the introductions and pleasantries came the critical part of the day, the revealing of Buffy's pregnancy and what Xander had taken to calling Show and Tell. Xander really hoped that this went better than when they told his parents, it sure couldn't go worse. Still Xander found himself wanting to be accepted by Hank Summers. The man was very different than he'd pictured in his minds eye. How had this obviously loving father gone from having time to drop everything because his oldest daughter had news to the man that wouldn't even provide financial help after Joyce died?
It just didn't add up and Xander found himself confused. Its not like even after the Show and Tell Xander could ask him about it because whatever took him out of his daughters lives obviously hadn't happened yet. Xander knew people could change over the years, but this seemed a bit drastic, especially for a man of Hank Summer's age. Was it a midlife crisis or what.
Xander's thoughts were interrupted by Buffy's return with the one hundred pound weight. She held it easily and Xander was amused by the look on her father's face. Hank seemed somewhere between stunned and disbelieving. Buffy gave the weight a bit of a baton twirl, not fast and in complete control.
"This is the first bit I needed to show you Daddy," Buffy said as she continued the display of strength. "As you can see, I'm stronger than your average girl."
"That's not possible, it's made out of styrofoam or something. Bit of a joke on your old man, heh?" Hank said sounding like a man who was grasping for any other explanation than the truth. Xander found it hard to blame him. He'd had a similar moment himself a bit over nine years earlier, or again as soon as two months ago. This time travel stuff was enough to give him a headache.
"Its not styrofoam, Dad. Let me set this down and you try to lift it, ok?" Buffy said. She carefully set the weight down on the floor and it made the expected thunk as she let go of it just above the floor. Hank eyed the weight for a moment then bent down to pick it up. To his credit he was able to lift it off the floor, but at the same time it was obvious that he wasn't going to come close to performing a similar feat of strength as his tiny daughter.
Hank sat the weight down and sat down on the couch and asked, "How?"
"You want to take that one Giles?" Buffy asked her watcher.
"Of course," Giles said as he polished his glasses, "Mr. Summers, the world as you know it…" Giles gave it to Hank Summers as he'd given it to the Scoobies on the day Jesse died the first time around, and once again with modifications just a few months ago.
"Ok, Xander, your turn," Buffy said turning to him once Giles finished.
"Ok, sweetheart," Xander said as he took Buffy's hand, the first open display of affection they'd shown since her dad arrived, he then continued. "Mr. Summers, first you need to know that Buffy is pregnant. No home pregnancy test will confirm it yet, as the hormones haven't had a chance to build to a detectable but its true. The child is mine, and I wish that this had occured later after we were married and in our twenties. Unfortunately we live on a Hellmouth, and things happen here…" Xander launched into his whole story and finished with the story of the hyena and Xander found himself glad they had gotten Mr. Summer's promise not to interrupt, there were several times Xander could tell he was fighting to keep that promise. Xander left nothing out, while glossing over the actually conception of Buffy and his child.
"Any questions?" Buffy asked once Xander finished.
"So...Buffy is pregnant?" he asked.
"I am, Dad. I'm sorry, I know you wanted better for me, but now that it is coming, I want to keep it," Buffy said, squeezing Xander's hand.
"And how do you feel about Xander?" he asked.
"I love him Daddy, he's funny, sweet and I don't have to hide anything from him cause he knows it all. Most of all he understands," she said.
"And what about you, Mr. McFly?" Mr. Summers asked directing the question to Xander.
"Good one, Mr. Summers. Honestly, I've loved your daughter since the first time I was sixteen. I went into the lair of a very dangerous vampire to save her and I succeeded in doing so. I've cheered her up when she was down, helped with her calling in anyway I could. I've also called her out when she wasn't thinking clearly. We've hurt each other, comforted each other. We're family in every way that matters and I knew that before the Angel of Death told me that we should've been together all along. She's the most amazing woman I will ever know even when she's stubborn," Xander said.
"That was quite lovely dear, but you COULD'VE left the last part out," Buffy said with a chuckle.
"Je t'amie," Xander said.
"Je t'amie," Buffy responded.
"What are your intentions?" Hank asked.
"Well, my parents threw me out with written permission to marry Buffy. I'd like to actually do that. It was in the plan anyway all this does is move it up four or five years," Xander said.
"I see, and you believe all of this, Joyce?" Hank asked.
"Xander got himself put in the hospital a couple of months ago protecting me. I've seen these things, and killed one myself," Joyce said.
"Ok…" Hank said and fell silent.
"I want you to see what we've been talking about, Daddy," Buffy said.
"What do you mean?" Hank asked.
"You probably haven't noticed, Mr. Summers but Sunnydale has over twice the number of cemeteries a town this size and age has any right to have. The vampires and the Hellmouth are the reason for that. Every night there are at least one or two fledglings rising. Its not safe, but you'll be with Buffy and me and we can keep you safe long enough to get inside," Xander said.
"No...no that won't be necessary. I've seen enough. Just seeing Buffy do what she did with that weight...there is no way that she could do that unless what you have told me is true," Hank said.
"Oh...Daddy!" Buffy said and went over to her father and the two embraced.
"Just promise me you'll be careful," Hank said as he embraced Buffy.
