Children Of The Stars
Chapter 3

Authors note
Sorry this has taken so long a combination of writers block and three reviews basically just killed this story I can take your simple average flame with a pinch of salt but this was a single, calm, collected reviewer. They not only went through my work with a fine tooth comb but was then kind enough to slate my whole ability as a storyteller and writer. As you can guess this didn't help much with the writers block.

Chapter 3

Buffy sat down in the opulent chair, just outside the window Dawn did the same thing, only without the chair. The other difference was that Buffy didn't shake half the reception room when she did it. 'Wow, Xander's mom can really do the guilt trip.' her younger sister said. 'I mean even I feel a little guilty.'

'It's something you pick up when your right.' Buffy slumped. 'It's my fault Dawnie. I got Xander involved in the first place, I led us to that psycho preacher...'

'You weren't fast enough. You didn't know what you were getting yourself into. It was a trap. Yeah it was.'

'Not helping.' Dawn poked her through the window 'hey!' Buffy cried back indigently

'I'm not trying to help you dodo, I'm trying to tell you something. We make mistakes. I think I've made a few.' Buffy ducked the huge, waving, hand. 'Mom always said learn from them and move on.'

'Mom never had to fight demons. MOM never had the lives of her friends on the line and most of all I don't think Mom would have boned a thricewise.' Buffy snarked back

Dawn pulled her arm back out. 'No, but she would have made mistakes. Remember that time you could read minds? What you found out about her and Giles?'

'EWW, I didn't get a visual but come on. Why did you have to bring that up?' Buffy never wanted to think about that. worst of all it put Giles in a position he never should be in. A father. With all the problems they'd been having recently she just couldn't think of him like that anymore.

'I sort of helps me, same with the whole you and Parker thing.'

'Okay! Okay! I get the point.' Then Buffy realised something 'So this is my fault too?'

'No...'

Buffy began pacing the room. 'Oh great, everything's my fault now. Bad choices and a terrible role model. What next, what happened to L.A?'

Dawn just reached in again and slapped Buffy hard across the face. 'You're still not listening. You learned from your mistake with Parker, I just made a bigger one.' There was a pause when she realised what she had said and started giggling.

Buffy quickly followed 'A... A "bigger" one?' she got out between fits of giggles. 'You did that on purpose.'

Dawn desperately shook her head. 'No... it was a big mistake though.' she sniffed and wiped her nose and then her eyes. It took Buffy a moment to figure out she had been crying at the same time. 'Seriously though it was. I would have made it anyway though because I didn't know any better. I've learnt now.'

'And I know not to go charging into the bad guys base without at least knowing what's in there. Dawnie, I'm...' Buffy was proud of her sister. She really was becoming an adult, a lot more of one than Buffy was at that age. She couldn't say it though, something inside her wasn't ready to say it. If she did she became the mother, a thing she could never be, her own mother was still a large part of her own life. Even in death. 'I'm glad to hear that 'cause if I see you and another giant making the beast with two backs...'

'Buffy! Have you seen a giant's teeth? They're worse than the British? I know it's not exactly easy to brush but come on!' They laughed again for a moment before looking at each other soberly. 'Buffy, I know I'm not supposed to but.' She left it hanging.

'But you want to spy on Xander and his family. See what's happening. So do I.'

'I could give you a lift?' She offered with a wince

Buffy placed both hands on her hips and stared Dawn down. 'Dawn Summers . I've told you before that spying though peoples windows is an invasion of privacy and should never be done.' She let a smile break through and hopped through the window. 'So just this once it's a case of do what I say not what I do. Come on.'

The two summers girls sneaked out of the front courtyard and around the back to where Xander's rooms were. Well they weren't really all Xander's rooms, the whole wing was supposed to be for boys and the Watchers when they came round. Only problem was most of the Watchers were based in Bath and nearby Westbury with Giles. Xander was the only Watcher in the whole Slayer Castle and that gave him the whole wing. Even so he spent most of his time in the upper rooms and the only way anyone could reach them was to climb the roof or if they happened to stand on the shoulders of a nearby giant.

'Budge over, I can't see.' Dawn whispered urgently.

'I can't, where are your shoulders? You're thinner that a twig.'

'At least, I've kept in shape.' she sniped back. 'Your ass is what's taking up all the room.'

'Oh now come on and be quiet.' Buffy pointed at the window and the five strangers walked in the room. The boy that looked amazingly like Xander stood to attention at the door while the girl started looking around the room.

Dawn ducked quickly before any of them had a chance to look out he window. 'Practice much?' Buffy couldn't help but ask.

'Shhh.'

'Nice place Xander has here.' The blond guy said. As far as Buffy could tell he was a very good friend of the family.

'Yes very spacious.' Troy replied

'Nice view's and I bet. I'm not just talking about he countryside.'

'Uncle Dillan.' Xander's sister said jokingly. 'I'd rather not know.'

'It's a shame, the tall one's very attractive.' Buffy and Dawn looked at each other in mock horror. 'The blonde too.'

Tory sighed. 'Dillan. Please.'

Then a door opened. 'Dillan word of warning, Buffy could almost brake you in half and she's very protective of her sister. More importantly so am I.' It was Xander. 'I wouldn't be thinking that if I was you.'

'It is alright Xander.' Troy said seriously 'Dillan's always like that. He wouldn't do anything untoward.'

Then Athena spoke up again 'Xander, you do suit that you know.'

'Colonial battle dress? I don't know it feels kind of seventies.' Xander said with mock distaste. Buffy guessed that he was talking about the brown bomber jacket suit the others wore.

'The battle dress has been our uniform for well over two thousand yarns, Xander. It is not a statement on current colonial fashions.' The brother spoke. Buffy thought he was even more laconic than Oz.

'As the thirteenth tribe would say, "loosen up" Zac.' The girl joked

After along moment the boy answered 'No.'

Xander caught a glimpse of a shadow outside his window, you didn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out who it was. 'Alright, Dawn come on out where I can see you.'

Guiltily Dawn looked in, Buffy perched on her shoulder like a parrot. 'Urm... sorry.' Dawn waved.

Buffy had a completely different reaction. Jumping through the window she stormed right up to Xander. 'Alright I trust you know what your doing. God knows why but I don't and I want to know everything. Starting with where these guys came from and what they know about Twilight.'

'That's a long story...' Xander started only to be interrupted by Troy.

'And until the commander grants you clearance we can't tell you. All that we can say is that... "Twilight" is known to us. We have met before and we know what we are confronted by.'

'That's nice and all but Xander was about to tell me.' Buffy smiled sweetly before turning a death glare on him.

Actually, no I wasn't.' Xander admitted but knew they ware going to have to tell her sooner or later. 'Right, I'll get in touch with the commander to get the permission to tell you and everyone else. I mean everyone at the same time. I don't want to go over it it again.'

Buffy nodded. 'Right, the whole castle. Fine'

'No the whole gang. I'm going to have the witches portal Andrew and his group. Willow, Kennedy and the whole lot. Even Giles, Robin and Faith.'

'No, not those three.' Buffy said before following with; 'We need someone as back up.' A little too fast.

Xander sighed. 'This is big Buffy. Bigger than your issues with Giles and Faith.'

'You...'

'No.' Xander interrupted. This was it, he couldn't back down now. He only hoped by the end of this the bruises faded and he hadn't lost too many teeth. 'I've had enough. You're still bitter about what happened in Sunnydale that night, get over it. We're not going to apologise for any of it. Giles did what he thought was right, we all did. Not to sound all judgmental here but you weren't really doing the best job in the world.'

'That's not fair.' She shook her head. 'You knew what we were up against.'

Xander just looked at her, 'No we didn't. It's not the same here. With the First there was no research, with this guy there is research.'

'And your not telling us any Xander.' Dawn pointed out from the window.

'No, we're just not telling you about us.' Athena corrected Dawn. 'Ibis is extremely powerful, almost limitlessly so. There is one good thing, the Seraphs can step in and stop him if he harms an innocent or one who's life isn't given to him freely.'

'Right, that makes sense. Or not, Who the hell are the Seraphs?' Buffy asked

'Friends of humanity. They are perhaps even more powerful but only use their abilities on those that brake their rules. As for Iblis that is what he desired last time I encountered him.' Troy said, his face set like granite. 'My father was able to fight him and trick Iblis in to exposing himself for who and what he was. Physically we are not capable of stopping him...'

'But mystically he's been stopped before.' Xander added a plan forming. 'And we just happen to have one of the largest international groups of witches and warlocks at our disposal.'

'So that's why he want's to end magic.' Buffy said. 'He want's to stop the one thing that can stop him. He'd be invincible.'

'Hang on... Idea.' Dawn was practically hopping from foot to foot outside the window. 'It's not just that. Xander, your Father said Twilight, Iblis whoever, wanted people to worship him. Magic needs belief to work, he's trying to steal the faith people put in magic.'

'I though Earth's people didn't put faith in superstition anymore.' Zac supplied.

'Earth's people?' Buffy and Dawn said at the same time looking at Xander.

'Real subtle Bro.' Xander muttered as Athena slapped Zac in the arm.

Xander knew he would have to explain very fast and lose. 'A very long story that brings us back to the point. Get the group together and I'll explain.'

'Not before the cliff notes.' Buffy insisted but she looked uncertain. Xander just shook his head with a wry smile.

'When I do tell you Buffy, you'll find out exactly what we are saving the world for.'

Faith did not feel so good. It wasn't from the whole portal-ing over here with Giles, it was from being back in the Castle. In all honesty she should have known the truce between her and B wasn't going to last much past the First's attack. Still she did hope that with more than one other Slayer in the world and all that they'd been though the two of them might have at least been friends again.

No such luck

It wasn't much after the blonde had moved in that the friction between them kicked off. Faith soon decided it would be best to get out of there before Buffy kicked her out on her ass.

After bit of drifting Giles approached her with a sort of job. She was the one best qualified for it so Faith though why not. She was something like a Slayer's councillor, any time one of them started going the way she did. Giles called her in to give "A Talk". If the girl listened the first time things were fine and Faith kept an eye on them for a bit, but if they didn't listen. Well, then Faith's own brand of counselling was used.

It worked out pretty well and it kept her out of trouble. Also kept her out of boyfriends, well more accurately boyfriends out of her. But these days that whole thing was getting dull. After Robin, that ended badly, there was something missing.

'Faith, are you alright?' Giles tapped her on the shoulder, snapping her out of the revere.

'Just trying not to face that hurricane Buffy that's just coming around the corner.' The eldest Slayer did just that and tensed quickly

'Giles, Faith. What took you so long?' The tiny woman gave them both a flat look

'Believe it or not B the world don't revolve around you. There other things going on out there.' Faith smiled sweetly inwardly cringing at how easily that had come out. They were so used to tearing chunks out of each other it was automatic now.

'Actually, there isn't.' Xander came from another direction. He was dressed in some sort of tan uniform, a big black pistol strapped to a thigh holster. In one hand he had old style brown bomber jacket.

'Nice outfit Xander. Though you were going for the all black look this season?'

'And is that gold?' Giles pointed to a chain and a star like thing on Xander's collar.

'Don't worry about it. It's a good thing you took you time. The Commander's on his way down and he's almost here. Come on.'

'What Commander?' Giles asked Xander just grinned in response and headed off.

'What's going on B?'

'Xander said he'll tell all of us when this "Commander" said he could. And before you ask I have no idea what Commander or why he suddenly stared wearing that uniform.' She followed him. 'He's been acting weird since his family turned up.'

'His family? I thought they died during the last year in Sunnydale.' Giles mentioned.

'He never did talk much about them. Come to think of it neither did Red.' Faith supplied.

'They were his adoptive family, I don't know how it worked out but they weren't the best.' Buffy explained. 'These guys are his natural family.' She finished as they entered the massive main hall.

It was filled with Slayers of all ages. Faith recognised a few of the Watchers, from the looks of things just about everyone was there. Then she saw Xander at the far end. There was a raised little stage which fitted the idea that this room was used for telling everyone what was happening.

Up there Xander was recognisable by the eye patch but not much more. Four others were dressed in the same tan suit he was, bomber jackets and all. One of them was an odd one out with mid length sandy blond hair. The other three Had to be his family. The tall one with faintly greying hair had to be the dad. Then there was what looked to be a little sister and a younger brother, about the same age as each other. All but the girl had the same length hair, just above the shoulder. Her's was pitch black and long enough to sit on.

'All right everyone listen up.' Xander stepped forward. 'Hey everyone.' Faith could hear him but most people were too busy talking amongst themselves. Xander just rolled his eyes and brought what looked like a huge watch up to his mouth. It acted like a megaphone. 'HELLO!'

That got everyone's attention, Faith gloated at the look from most people. 'Thank you,' Xander continued, lowering his watch. 'Now we've got a long story to get through and I'm not going to be the one doing it. The man you're about to meet is called Commander Adama. He's older than he looks and used to people listening to him. Also, he's my great-grandfather so I hope you have a little respect for him.' The look Xander gave the hall with his one eye told every he meant it. 'Good, thank you. Commander your up.'

Xander stepped to one side and then something impossible happened. At first Faith thought her ears were playing tricks on her. It was like someone was playing a low note on a high pitched instrument. She only heard it faintly, but it was there. Then she saw it. It looked like a cheesy and cheap transporter effect but instead of happening on TV it was right there. This man just appeared.

Faith had been around invisibility before, the odd spell here and there. They Usually came with a flash or some sort of sparkly thing, nothing like that happened though. This impressive looking man just was was there between one moment and the next. That's when she blinked, instead of seeing what had happened she saw the man standing there. He was tall and a bit on the heavy side but that wasn't what was shocking.

The man wore a blue suit like the others up there but with silver threading. A long cape down his back and a large jewel in the hollow of his neck. His longish white hair looked very much like the solid beard he wore.

In all the man looked very much like the images of God you saw. He smiled warmly, completing the image of a friendly grandfather and the holiest of holy at the same time 'Greetings my brothers and sisters of the thirteenth tribe. All though this is only a very small number I speak to today it is a start. The start of the very last stage in our journey to unite mankind. I am Commander Adama and this is the most historic meeting in this worlds history.

'This is the last bastion of mankind in the heavens, you are it's protectors and guardians. Now you learn that you have not just been saving Earth but every planet where mankind exists.'

End Chapter 3