Title: From Here to Serenity
Author: Bastard Snow
Rating: PG-13

Summary: Buffy's fall through Glory's portal took her somewhere nobody had ever imagined. Now, it's up to Willow and Xander to get her back.

Disclaimer: I don't own either of these.

Author's Notes: Much, much thanks to Drake, without whom this story would not exist. Also, obviously, thanks to Joss Whedon for coming up with two universes that have nothing to do with each other. Makes it a challenge to make them have everything to do with each other.

Feedback: Yes, please!

"I'm… not sure I understand," admitted Giles. "What seems to be the problem?"

Willow sighed and went over what had happened one more time.

After a few more hours of discussion and warnings of caution from Anya – who had by far the most experience with magical portals – they had decided to open the portal once for practice, just to make sure everything was going right. They would, if they could, send a message through, should the portal happen upon Buffy, instructing her of what to look for, what they were planning. But mostly, they wanted to make sure Xander wouldn't get fried on the crossover.

It turned out to be a moot point.

When Willow chanted the incantations, she felt the magic flow through her. The spell was working. She could feel it in her bones. She knew that when she finished the last bit of spellwork, the portal would open and they would be able to find Buffy.

Concentrating entirely on the task at hand, Willow intoned the last few syllables, opened her eyes and… nothing. She sensed outward along the flow of the magic, attempting to figure out what was wrong with the spell.

Willow floated along the river of energy, at the same time focused on diagnosing the problem, and amazed at the complete rush she felt. She could feel herself getting closer to the goal, when the magic was suddenly diverted from its path. If she could only just reach out with her hand, she could finish the spell...

She collapsed backwards, feeling a definite buzz from the energy. She disturbed the energy circle, ending the spell. She didn't know precisely what had happened, but she knew what it felt like. Something – someone – was blocking the spell.

Giles looked confused. "It sounds like some sort of… interference on the other end. How could that be?"

Willow scrunched her nose up in frustration. "I don't know. But it seemed kinda like, like it was blocking any magic. Not like it was specific to me, or my spell."

"Interesting. And you've no idea what might have caused this?"

Willow shook her head. They both looked to Anya, who shrugged her ignorance. "It sounds like some sort of shield spell, but it would have to be awfully powerful," she said. "Either that, or it would be centered on Buffy. You did try to tailor it to her?"

Willow nodded. "Yeah, I even had a bit of her hair in the circle to bind it to her."

Giles frowned. "That should be more than sufficient. We shall have to investigate."

Anya picked up the telephone and dialed. "Chinese okay with everybody?" she asked. They nodded.

"Hi, Xander. It's research again…. Yes, he's got that glint in his eye."

Giles rolled his eyes while Willow snickered. "Anyway, can you pick up… no, Chinese tonight. Okay. Oh, do you think tonight we can…" Anya glanced at Willow and Giles, who had just forcefully buried themselves in a couple of books. "…have some fried rice?" she finished. Willow released a breath of relief. "Okay. I love you. Bye."

Anya looked at Willow until the witch looked back at her. "What?" Willow asked.

Anya smirked at her. "Pervert."

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Another couple of weeks passed, and though they found nothing that would have the effect Willow described, some progress was made. The side effects of the spell Willow had cast to help her locate Buffy in the first place wore off, and she was finally able to concentrate for hours on end. Despite that, they came up empty.

Willow tried the spell twice more, with the same result each time. Somehow, she was being blocked.

They called Angel, but neither he nor Wesley, nor somebody Angel referred to as 'the Host' were able to find anything in any of their books (or underworld contacts). It was very frustrating.

When they were all angry, and almost ready to give up, Tara suggested something that was extremely dangerous, but at the same time potentially very beneficial. They all agreed it was worth the risk, and Willow wasted no time in setting up the ritual.

On the night of a full moon, more than a month after she had found Buffy's location, Willow cast a spell and called on Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt and Protector of Young Women.

In a flurry of lights and a wave of power, a beautiful woman appeared, wearing nothing more than a toga, sandals, a short bow and a quiver of arrows. Her figure was… statuesque.

"Who are you who have dared to call upon me?" Artemis demanded. Her voice echoed in the chests the gathered Scoobies.

"We," Giles started. His voice caught in his throat, and he started again. "We humbly request your aide in the protection and return of one of your daughters. A hunter, a young woman, has been taken from this realm and we wish to return her."

"Why should I care for one simple girl?" Artemis asked, arrogantly.

"She's a Slayer," Giles informed her.

The Goddess dismissed him with a wave of her hand. "I have another."

"She's my sister," Dawn whispered.

"And how does this con…cern…" Artemis turned her head and her face blanked. "We thought you lost."

Dawn glanced at her friends, eyes wide with bewilderment. She gulped. "Um, no. I was here."

The Goddess approached Dawn, head cocked to one side, and reached out to touch her. Dawn managed to stay put as Artemis traced her finger down the left side of her face and across her lips. Artemis circled Dawn, inspecting her form.

Artemis nodded with a certain amount of finality. "Yes. Yes, this will do. How did you come to inhabit this body?"

Giles coughed. "There were, um, some rather –"

"I was not speaking to you," said Artemis, her voice quiet, yet forceful. She turned back to Dawn and smiled graciously. "Child. How were you put in this form?"

"M-monks," stammered Dawn. She swallowed hard. "Glory was… was trying to –"

"Of course. We had wondered in passing… it is made clear." With a flourish of her toga, Artemis again stood in front of the gathered group. "You wish the return of my daughter, your friend, and this one's sister. You seek a noble goal, but I cannot aid you without receiving something in return."

"What would you have of us?" asked Tara.

"You seek one daughter. Release the other. Do not call me again until this is complete." She snapped her fingers and disappeared.

Anya turned on the lights in the Magic Box. She looked confused. "Release the other? What does that mean?"

Willow, Xander and Giles exchanged glances.

"It means," Xander grumbled, "that we're not going to be having any fun in the near future."

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Xander shut the door to his apartment behind him, and fell back against it. It had been an extremely rough day at the construction site.

The Boss – meaning the client – was on-site in the morning, and Xander was given the unenviable job of giving him a tour of the building, explaining various things his people were working on, and ensuring that the client not be knocked over the head with anything.

On the upside of it, Xander thought it meant that the real boss, his boss, had confidence in him. On the downside, it was annoying, and put Xander about an hour behind on his work, an hour Xander had to make up without pulling any overtime.

He sighed, pushed away from the door and trudged into the living room.

"Hi, sweetie," Anya chirped from her spot on the couch. She was reading some magazine or other, Xander was too tired to notice which. "Giles just called. He said he was able to convince the Council, and they were making all the upper level arrangements, but that somebody needed to actually go."

Xander flopped himself down on the couch and grunted. He rested his head in her lap, and she stroked his hair lovingly.

"He also said that it should be somebody she knows."

Xander grunted again.

"And that he called Willow, but her parents are having her and Tara over for an 'acceptance dinner.' What's an acceptance dinner? Is it something we should be doing to show our support of their lesbian relationship?"

Xander laughed and cleared his throat. "No. It's just a thing that… well, you'd have to know Willow's parents."

Anya accepted that with a kiss. "Well, anyway. Giles said that since he had to deal with the council, and since Willow had this thing with her parents, would you be able to go. He said it's happening Friday."

Xander groaned and flung his arm over his eyes.

"Do I have any uncles left?" he asked.

Anya nodded. "On your mother's side. Although I think you also have a grandmother."

Xander shook his head. "She's in Michigan, I'd need more than just a couple of days for that. You know, if any of my relatives actually die, I better have a new job."

Xander stretched out behind him, picked up the phone and dialed his boss's home number.

"Mitch. It's Xander. Yeah. Listen, I just got home, and I hate to do this, but I just found out my Uncle Rico died. I know we're pressed for… Thanks. It should only be a few… No, it was a car accident. Drunk driver… yeah, it does. Listen, thanks for… okay. I'll see you in a few days, Mitch. Bye."

Anya leaned over and kissed Xander's forehead.

He smiled at her. "I hate doing that. But, it has to be done, I suppose. I guess I should leave in the morning."

"Probably best," agreed Anya.

"I really, really don't want to do this."

"I'm sure there will be some sort of karmic reward," said Anya. "In fact…"

She leaned over and whispered in his ear. Xander closed his eyes, relaxed, and grinned.

----------

Xander cleared his throat.

"What are you doing here?"

Xander smiled. "Nice to see you, too."

Cordelia rolled her eyes, ran out from behind the counter of the Hyperion Hotel and pulled her so-ex-boyfriend into a hug. Then she smacked him on the arm. "Seriously, what are you doing here? I thought you guys were all gung-ho research finding Buffy."

"Well, we are," he said. "Or we were. We know where she is, now it's just a matter of getting her back. Is he in?"

"He who? Oh, him! Yeah. Oh my gosh, why? Is this like, some predestined, immortal lovers, heartbreak thing? Because if it is that's so ridiculous."

Xander laughed. "No, Cor, nothing like that. Just a little, um… errand I need to run that I was hoping to have his help on."

"You are asking Angel for help? Geez, this really must be serious."

Xander shook his head. "You have no idea."

Cordelia rolled her eyes at him. "I swear, you two are like little old women arguing over the last tube of concentrated OJ."

Xander paused to picture that in his mind. "Interestingly, I can actually see why you'd think that."

Cordelia laughed. "All right. Come on, I'll show you in."

She led him to Angel's office knocked on the door, and opened it without waiting for an answer.

Angel smiled up at her. "Hey. What's up?"

"Walk-in. He says he needs help," Cordelia told him."

Angel flipped closed the file he was working on and set it aside. "Sure, send him in." He rose from his chair to greet the new customer.

Cordelia stepped out of the way and Xander walked into Angel's office. Angel looked at him, then at Cordelia, then back at Xander. "The world isn't ending, is it?"

Xander shook his head. "Got that dealt with, thanks."

"And we're sure this isn't one of the signs of the apocalypse?" he asked, retaking his seat.

Xander sat down in the chair across from Angel. "Ha. Ha. Ha. Believe me when I say I do not want to be here, but I like my head being attached to my shoulders more than I like my pride."

"What do you need?" Angel asked.

Xander glanced down at his hands. "There's no easy way to say this, so I'll just do it. Angel… I need you to go to prison with me."

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The sun was exceptionally bright. She'd been outside, plenty of times, during the year and a half in prison. They had exercise in the yard every day. That was outside, too. Technically.

But now she was outside for real, and somehow, the sun was just… it was brighter.

Faith had absolutely no idea what was going on.

They'd come last night and told her. She was being released early. About ten years early, minimum, by her estimation. She'd confessed to her crimes, and after some negotiations and discussions with the district attorney, she'd pled guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter (two to four years), one count of murder 2 (fifteen to life).

Her sentence had been reduced by the judge because of the coma she'd been in, and because she'd confessed. She was to be a guest of the state for between fifteen and twenty years. And now, here she was, less than two years later, a free woman. She wondered what gave.

Faith looked across the street, squinting – it really was brighter on the outside – and saw a familiar vehicle. She smiled. Of course he'd be here for her. He was the one person she could really count on. Faith strolled across the street, walked around the car and slid into the passenger side. She turned and –

"What the hell are you doing here?" she asked.

Xander nodded. "Seems to be the only greeting I get these days. Say hi, Angel."

"Hello, Faith," said Angel, his voice muffled by the blanket on top of him. Xander put the car in gear and pulled u-turn, putting their backs to the sun.

Faith was still bewildered. "What the hell –"

"It's on the up-and-up, Faith," Angel assured her as he drew himself out from under the blanket. "There were some strings pulled, but it's real. You're free."

Faith squinted. "So what the hell's he doin' here?"

"I'll let Xander explain."

"Gee, thanks." He rapped his fingers on the steering wheel a few times, then cleared his throat. "There was a, um… a portal, thing. This hellbitch was trying to sacrifice Dawn and Buffy –"

"Dawn?" Faith asked. "Why her?"

Xander waved her question off. "Not important to the story. Anyway, Buffy was, you know, saving her, and the uh… the portal wouldn't close without um. Without blood. So, uh, so Buffy uh… she jumped. You know, into it."

Faith's eyes flew wide open. "Is she, you know…"

Xander shook his head. "No. Just off in another dimension somewhere. We're working on getting her back."

"What's that got to do with me?" Faith asked.

"We've run into some problems in the whole 'getting her back' scheme. So we kind of called upon a Goddess to help us out a bit."

"A goddess," Faith deadpanned.

Xander nodded. "Yeah. Artemis. Willow kind of… invoked her. Or something. All I know is she showed up. Anyway, she said she'd help us, but not for free. You're the price."

"Me?" Faith asked.

Angel explained. "Artemis is the Goddess of the Hunt, and Protector of Young Women. She apparently has some interest in Slayers. She wanted you free."

"So the only reason you got me out of jail is so you can get your precious B back. Wonderful. Pull the car over, I'll walk."

Xander shook his head. "No, I don't think so. None of us were exactly in favor of getting you out, but now that you are, we're gonna make the best of it."

"Really know how to make a girl feel special," Faith muttered.

"Is there any particular reason we should have wanted to get you out?"

"Screw you," she barked

"Guys –" Angel tried.

"No, I'm serious. What possible reason could we have? You woke up from your coma and did nothing but make our lives hell. You stole Buffy's body, slept with her boyfriend, assaulted her mom and sister. Before that, you tried to kill all of us, even me. I mean, come on, nobody tries to kill me. Half the time they don't even realize I'm there. You must really have hated us. So if you've got a reason why we should have done anything for you, I'd love to hear it."

Faith said nothing, and the three of them sat there in a ridiculously awkward silence.

Xander and Faith continued to glare back and forth for the twenty minutes it took to get to the freeway, where they ground to a slow crawl. Xander glanced over at Faith, who was gazing out of the window. He took a deep breath.

"It wasn't all your fault."

Faith looked at him questioningly.

Xander swallowed and continued. "The things that happened the first time. It wasn't all your fault. I mean, you made your choices and everything, but we kind of made them easy for you to make. We didn't… anyway, sorry. It's not enough, but sorry."

Faith stared at Xander for a moment. She opened her mouth to say something, but instead turned back to the window to look at the sunset. She stayed silent for the rest of the trip.

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End Chapter 5