Protectors au:

"So McKay finally made it. He's been fussing over the Mirror since he got here. Says his instruments are showing a temporal variance, whatever that means." Jack told Xander, the next time he called.

"Means time isn't matching up. I coulda told him that. Jesse came from 2012. He was born in 2004. Abigail is technically older than him. Also, as of the night he got here, the full moon was two weeks away for him and one week away for us."

"I'll pass that on to McKay. It'll be fun to watch his head nearly explode from the 'withholding of information' as he calls it."

"Well, it isn't like I knew it was anything more than something to fascinate Giles and Willow. Giles still thinks the giant praying mantis lady that wanted to have sex with virgin males and then eat them is fascinating. I just think it's ew."

"I agree. And I thought the shapeshifting aliens were weird."

"Yeah. Jesse's still trying to repress."

"Scientists. They're all the same. I don't need to know the break down of how something explodes. I just need to how to make it explode or stop it exploding."

"So totally agree."

"Sometimes I wonder if Hammond was right."

"About what?"

"He thought you and I might be related."

"I wouldn't mind. Uncle Jack. Besides, you remind me of Uncle Rory. He likes blowing things up too."

"It is fun, isn't it?"

"Totally and completely."

The Brave au:

"So Giles, have anything yet? Because I'm pretty sure, Cordy's on the verge of eviscerating you."

"My diagnostic spells indicate we may be out of temporal alignment with wherever Jesse is. I may need to try to sync the alignment."

"Jesse's in another time? How far?"

"A few years in the past, I believe. I am getting closer, Xander. I will figure this out. Also, I am sorry for my carelessness."

"Giles, we'll forgive you when we have him back in our arms, you know that. But you do have a tendency to be careless with Magic, no matter how much you lecture others on not being careless. Eyghon, letting Willow study by herself, not investigating the soul curse, this Mirror. I could go on."

"No, that is unnecessary. You are correct. I will never forgive myself if we are unable to retrieve him."

"Neither will we. Hence the, feeding you to a Marnak demon."

The Protectors au:

"I think it's time to make our move. The kids spend most of the day in the backyard. Alone. The parents are in the house. By the time they realize they're gone, we'll be long gone."

"You think we should try snatching both kids?"

"As long as we have the opportunity? Why not. Double the potential reward, because they may have differing levels of abilities. And studying two, will help us learn more faster."

"Makes sense. I'm in."

"Then let's get ready."

Also in the Protectors au:

"You can turn into a werewolf too?"

"Kinda. Daddy's says, I look like a cross between him and mommy, just like I do as a person. I have daddy's eyes and mommy's ears."

"I'm a Protector, like my mommy and daddy. I'm super strong and jump really high and smell and hear good."

"I can smell and hear good, too."

Later that afternoon Giles called to speak to Xander.

"Xander, I believe I've figured out what a Blessing from a god means."

"Let me call everyone and we can meet at mine and Cordy's and you can tell everyone at the same time."

"I shall be there momentarily."

Once everyone was assembled:

"So what does a Blessing from a god mean, Giles?"

"A Blessing is bestowed when a human does something extraordinary, something believed impossible and without the help of a god. A Blessing could include anything from the gift of knowledge or wisdom to help in a time of need or the fulfilment of a dream."

"So other me did something people would think was impossible and the gods Blessed him for it?"

"To acknowledge what he had accomplished, yes."

"And his Blessing manifested when his Cordy was in danger. When he needed a way to protect her. To protect the woman he loves." Xander said, looking at his Cordy, who smiled softly back at him.

They were discussing the Blessing and hypothesizing on what other Xander may have done to earn it, when Xander, the Pack and Faith's heads all snapped up. They heard Abigail's voice say, "get your hands off my brother, you big meany!" Which had them racing for the backyard, the rest of the group right behind them. They arrived just in time see Abigail stomp her little foot down on the foot of a man holding her. They could clearly hear the sound of bones snapping as the man yelled. He really should have known better than to put his hands a child that could bench press more than he could. Abigail followed her foot stomp up by turning around and shoving the man away from her. He flew more then ten feet back and hit a tree. Hard. It would later be discovered he had two broken vertebra. The Pack could also hear the explosive release of breathe from his lungs as his body tried to remember how to breathe.

The man holding Jesse froze. He'd theoretically known what a Protector was capable of, but to see it himself. And this was a child, what might the adults be capable of? He suddenly wondered and was afraid. And then, he knew terror. The boy he'd grabbed suddenly wasn't a boy anymore. He now looked like some kinda of dog. He abruptly let go as the dog-thing released a rippling growl and turned on him. He found himself on his back, staring at a mouth full of teeth. And then he heard the little girl say, "Jesse you can't eat him. We don't eat people, even bad people. We're not monsters." He looked up and saw the girl put her hand on the dog-things head and then a naked little boy was standing over him.

Jesse immediately put his hands in front of himself and ran and hid behind Cordy. "I'm not supposed to be naked in front of people." He said.

"Oh, in this instance I think we can forgive it." Xander said. "You two did good." As Cordy herded Jesse into the house.