The fight in the library ceased as Xander fell to the ground unconscious. Most of the 'locals' were in a state bordering on shock, but were gathering themselves together, except for a Buffy that started to weep as realization that Angelus and Angel were both dead now really sank in. Tobas, Jana, and Sarai secured the area and cautiously made their way over to check on Xander and the others.
"J, Jenny is that you?" Rupert Giles asked, tired voice cracking with hope as he saw her turn from her task of setting Willow on the big study table as Tobas and Sarai did the same for Oz.
"Yes, Rupert," she smiled, tired from the exhaustion of casting so much magic even though they'd prepared in advance and rested, "It's been a long two years for me, but I hope I'm still welcome."
Sarai shooed her away from Willow and toward the Watcher, and the two Angelus-separated lovers embraced tenderly, the ache of parting beginning to heal with the contact.
"Two years?" he frowned as they pulled apart and they watched Kendra lay out the unconscious Xander on the table and the two strange companions treat all three youths as well as a minor cut on the Jamaican lass.
"Two years…time moves different in Ethshar, love. Xander was there four years before I dropped in." She let that sink in as they walked over and crouched next to Buffy, the Watcher talking to her as Jana checked the girl for actual physical harm.
"Buffy? Buffy, please look at me child," he lightly implored as he knelt on both knees and sat back next to her. The young girl looked completely lost, the momentary return of Angel ended so abruptly. She leaned into him and let it all out.
After about fifteen minutes, the Wizards and Sarai had managed to awaken their unconscious leader and his two Sunnydale friends, though it did use a fair amount of healing drought—head injuries being what they are. Buffy and the treated wounded were guided into their seats, Kendra still amazed that application of an ointment completely healed a rather painful though non-threatening wound in minutes. Sarai and Xander held each other tight as they sat next to each other at one end of the table. Giles and Jan at the other, Scoobies to one side and Ethsharites the other. Jana and Xander in spite of fatigue, cast spells to share language with their other-world friends so the 'locals' would also understand them.
"Hey guys," Xander said, "I'd ask how everybody is, but I think I already know. At the very least, tired and confused about us coming back?" He received general nods from all but Buffy, who was still very-teary though quiet.
"I'm going to guess, that after I heard Giles start to call my name, I got lucky when I passed out, and Angelus is over?"
Buffy looked up at her old friend as Giles softly replied, "You lost consciousness before you heard the rest of what I said?"
"Yeah…"
"The spell we cast re-cursed Angelus with the soul, so Angel was back."
"Ah. How long?"
"A few seconds…"
"So just before I passed out?"
"Indeed."
"Good, then it wasn't anybody's fault. May the gods allow the soul to rest in peace."
Buffy looked up as the others nodded in understanding, and gave him a questioning look.
"Hey, Buffy. You have a question?"
The girl nodded, and as she was sitting close to Giles, leaned into her mentor for support.
"Gods?"
"Yeah, in the world where I've been these last, oh, six years, gods are real, and more accessible than here. And though I didn't like him, I don't particularly want the soul to spend an eternity in hell because of the vampire."
"Oh. So you're back?" she asked, only slightly coming out of her absolute grief.
"Yeah, figured I show the little lady around the ol' hometown, go bowling, say 'hi' to all of you…that sort of thing."
"Oh."
"Yeah. Sorry about your feelings of losing Angel, Buffy."
"You are?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be concerned with your pain?"
"You never liked Angel, Xander…and why are you speaking funny?"
Xander looked at Giles, who after a moment nodded, "Much of your speech seems a great deal more formal, Xander, than we remember."
"Oh, okay. I guess I've gotten so used to speaking Ethsharitic and magic requires formal and precise structure." He sighed, "I don't have to care about Angel, Buffy, to care that you're hurt by his loss. When I was here last time we were friends, and I don't need to lie to friends. My wife, yes. But not friends.:"
Sarai elbowed him as Tobas lightly chuckled at the couple. Jana reached over and straightened Buffy's hair subconsciously but affectionately; she remembered how her abrupt separation from Rupert had felt after barely getting together again.
After a moment of silence, they realized Buffy was asleep, but they continued to talk. Willow yawned but smiled at her grown up friend.
"So you're, like 23 now, Xander?"
"Almost. They've been a great couple of years, but I'm hoping to do a better job of introducing decent bathrooms and toilet paper to the world when we get back."
"You're not leaving already, are you?" Willow responded, not wanting to believe he might just turn around and go. "You just got here."
"We'll check things out a little…you guys still have the other tapestry, right?" He smiled in relief when Giles told him it was still at this place. "Good, then we'll send a note through to let the others know we're alright, grab some burgers, go to a grocery store, and head back until morning."
Willow frowned, "Why would—oh, if you sleep there, you actually get to spend more time here and not waste it, right?"
Giles caught on, "Oh, Indeed. Since things move much faster their, it would seem only an hour or so here…um…"
Jana smiled, "Wanna see my place, Rupert? It's not quite morning yet."
"I would like nothing better, though it is incumbent that we get Buffy home to her mother and perhaps gather a few items, just in case something untoward interferes with us."
Xander smiled, "Good, and that reminds me, did you guys ever get around to telling Buffy's mom about the whole Slayer thing while I was in the other world?"
"Buffy told her earlier tonight, I believe. And though they had a fight, and the world was once more saved…" Giles sighed, and began slowly waking up the emotionally exhausted Slayer, "We need to get Buffy home and address any questions her mother might have…though I'm just too bloody tired right now to capture a vampire for proof."
"That's good, Giles, because I'll prove magic exists to her," the young man said looking over the older man's shoulder, "If that's alright with you, Mrs. Summers."
Sarai's eyes lit up as she assessed the woman and turned to Xander, "This is the woman you said you considered more of a mother than your own?"
"You do realize you're speaking in English, don't you, my wife?" Xander smiled as he looked slightly embarrassed at Joyce Summers, "Hello, Mrs. Summers."
"Hello Xander, I thought you were missing, though from your words it seems more complicated than that?" Joyce smiled politely as he stood and waved her over to where a carpet sat on the floor.
"Buffy explain anything to you about her crazy mixed up life?"
"Only about vampires and her being some kind of Slayer."
"If I prove magic to you, would you go a little easier on her?" he smiled wanly, "Because she didn't ask for it, and can't just give it up."
"If you can prove any of it, I'll…try. Though I'll want to know where you've been."
"Fair enough…and I'll even take you there as further proof. Now Giles will give you the whole 'World is older than' speech, but please sit next to me on the carpet."
She did, though with a little suspicion, "Are we going to meditate or—oh!"
The carpet rose slowly, and Xander by his will began guiding it around the room, Joyce's amazed look, of first confusion, then of joy, drew Buffy a little more out of the shell of despaired she'd started to spiral into. Watching Xander ease her mom into the real world in such a friendly manner meant they might just make it through all of this.
'Oh, Angel….'
