By David MycockWalking the Path 9/
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the vampire slayer or any other of the characters in this story they belong to Joss Whedon and whoever else created the characters used in this story. Any characters I created I own.
Pairing: Janna Kalderdash/Xander Harris
Summary: Set after the love spell episode. Xander begins to walk his own path after leaning of his true origins. This also has a twist from the love spell episode with Xander actually sleeping with Jenny during the spell and the reactions from the rest of the group.
Xander woke to find Janna watching him whilst he slept; she wore a small smile on her face as she rested against him.
"Morning" she said before leaning forward and kissing him
"Hey" he returned as he stretched "We need to have a talk, something strange happened last night while you were asleep" he told her
"What?" she asked suddenly concerned
"I woke up after a nightmare, after I went toilet I found myself drawn to the sword" he started as he recalled the previous night "I drew it and held it up so I could look at the blade, I felt drawn to the runes in it's centre and after a few seconds they began to glow brightly" he continued as Janna's face grew more concerned "After the light faded I felt something enter my mind, it was looking for information as to what I wanted the blade for" he informed her "It wasn't an evil presence but it was powerful, I think I was Vlad" he finished
"Why do you think that?" Janna asked in surprise as she caressed his face
"First the sword was forced by Vlad and imbued with magic by him so he would have a connection to it" Xander answered "Second he would be one of a small handful of people who would have the power to send his mind over such a long distance as I get the feeling he must be somewhere far from where we are" he added
Janna thought about her lover's answer and found she could find not point to argue with, if indeed Vlad had sensed Alex with the blade he must have also sensed why he wanted to use it which meant he was aware of the quest they would embark on once Angelus was dealt with.
"Did you get any idea as to how he felt about been located?" she asked
"Nothing like that, I was too surprised by the sudden intrusion" Xander replied "But I don't think he's a threat to us" he mused
"Why do you think that?" Janna asked even though she too did not think of Vlad Tepes as an enemy due to her upbringing but considering Alexander's life so far she expected him to be weary of Dracula until he had met him
"I can't say for sure but I think if he was a threat he would have arrived here to claim the sword as soon as he sensed me holding it" Xander explained to which Janna nodded in agreement
"Anything else?" she inquired
"Just one more thing" Xander replied as he remembered the voice that had woke him for a few seconds "After I laid back down and fell asleep again I was woken for a second or two by a voice" he told his lover "It was a woman's voice and it sounded concerned" he added
"What did this voice say?" Janna asked worried by this new event
"She told me "Be strong Alexander, Your time is coming and you must stand true to your path and not falter" and then the voice was gone" he repeated what the voice had told him
"Any idea who the voice belonged too?" Janna asked as she pressed herself against Alex without thinking as her worry grew
"No" Xander answered "But I get the feeling something bigger is going on, and someone or something is very interested in us" he added
"We'll have to be careful then" Janna said with a sigh "But for now we better get up as we have to matter Sarah and the others before we meet up with Buffy for what I am guessing will be an explosive meeting" she told him
"You're right" Xander agreed kissing Janna one more time before they both got up and got ready for the day ahead
Sarah was just serving Kendra and Mr Sabuto breakfast when Xander and Janna entered the kitchen; they sat down after exchanging pleasantries with the others
"So how do you think the meeting will go?" Kendra asked as she ate the meal Sarah had made
"Horrible" Janna answered "Buffy and Giles will become so angry they will hardly listen to a thing we have to say" she added
"The others will most likely follow their lead especially Willow" Xander spoke up "Oz may be the only one to actually think things through but he will discard what he comes up with just to keep Willow happy as he fears loosing her as was shown during the botched love spell" he continued as he rubbed his chin where Oz had hit him after learning what had happened
The others took a few minutes to take in the replies before they spoke up
"I hope you are wrong Xander" Mr Sabuto told him just stopping himself from calling him Mr Harris after remembering he had asked not to be called by that name "I really do hope Mr Giles has some sense left to realise what a mistake he is making" he added
"I wouldn't count on it" Xander shot back with certainty
"Is Buffy really that far gone just for the vampire?" Kendra asked
"I'm afraid so Kendra" Xander answered "When she came back at the beginning of the year she was still recovering from her short death" he began "She wanted Angel with a passion even going so far as to use me to make him jealous" he added "It was this event that made me see what Buffy was really like underneath" he continued
"What do you mean?" Kendra wondered
"Buffy is a selfish person Kendra, she told me how she used to be in L.A how she used people and while for a time it seemed as if she had changed it is now clear she hadn't changed a bit" he continued "Her relationship with Angel was the most important thing to her in Sunnydale, I think if it came down to a choice between us and him she would choose him" he said with a frown
"Why do you think that?" Mr Sabuto asked
"She has skipped many patrols just to run off to see Angel, abandoning her calling for her own ends" Xander informed them "I keep wondering how many people have died whilst she fooled around with a vampire" he added quietly
Kendra and Mr Sabuto shared a worried glance at this piece of information, it was clear Mr Giles had kept many details about events in Sunnydale quite
"The council has had no idea how much Miss Summer's relationship with the vampire has destroyed her dedication to her calling" Mr Sabuto said with an voice filled with distaste
"I'm surprised the council allowed the relationship progress" Janna commented
"They did not know the true nature of the relationship as Mr Giles decided not to put it in his report" Mr Sabuto admitted "I had some idea about it's true nature after Kendra returned from her first visit to Sunnydale" he added
"Why didn't you report it?" Sarah asked
"Kendra was sure that Buffy would not allow the relationship to interfere with her calling" Mr Sabuto answered with a grim smile
Kendra looked very disappointed as the answer was given, it was clear to the others that she was still shocked by finding out how wrong she was about her sister slayer
"It isn't your fault how things turned out Kendra, none of us knew how things would turn out" Xander tried to make her realise she was not at fault
"I agree" Janna spoke "Buffy made her decision Kendra not you and so only she is guilty of the repercussions of that decision" she added
Silence met Janna's statement as the African slayer looked deep within herself and found she agreed with the brunette woman, Buffy had brought things to this moment and all the repercussions that would follow would be on her head alone.
The library was quite as Buffy and the others awaited the arrival of Xander Harris and Jenny Calendar, Buffy seemed sure they had decided to apologies for their actions and also to hand over the retranslated soul curse as well.
The others were not so convinced of the motives of their former friends, but for now they decided to let the blond slayer dream of been close to having her boyfriend back. The doors suddenly opened to allow Xander and Janna to enter, they were followed by another woman who only Willow recognised as Xander's mother seen as Xander had never brought Cordelia home to meet his parents due to fear of what his step father might do.
"Who's that?" Oz asked
"That's Xander's mother" Willow informed the others with a confused frown
"What's she doing here?" Buffy demanded
"I have no idea" Willow answered as her former friend sat down opposite them
"Why did you ask for this meeting Xander?" Giles asked with a frown
"To try one last time to get you people to see what idiots you are been allowing Angelus to run loose" Xander answered
"Give us the soul curse and he'll be stopped instantly" Buffy cut in
"We told you we are not risking anyone's life or soul just to make you happy" Janna shot back making Buffy angry
"How dare you" Buffy started before she was cut off as the doors to the library opened again to admit Kendra and Mr Sabuto which shocked Buffy into silence and the others to stare in amazement at the arrivul of the second slayer
"What" Giles started as he stood feeling suddenly uneasy "What are you doing here?" he asked
"We are here to do the job you will not" Kendra answered "To destroy Angelus" she added with a feral smile directed at her sister slayer who suddenly looked pale