"We don't have any children." Cordelia said softly and got up and walked out.
"I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?" auMcKay asked.
"There was a pregnancy. A drunk ran a red light. Now there's not. Excuse me." And Xander got up and raced after Cordelia. He found her on a balcony, kneeling down and holding herself. He wrapped his arms around her and she curled into him.
"That's a total of four babies that another me got to have. Why don't I get to have one?"
"Because someone else made a choice. In one reality, he got drunk and drove his truck thru a red light. In another, he made a different choice. And someday, it will be our turn."
"I was planning how to tell you. I imagined how you'd react. Would you faint? Would you cry happy tears? Would you kneel down and kiss my belly? Would you tell me you were scared, but happy? Any or all?"
"I would be scared, but happy. As for any of the other possibilities, I don't know, maybe pick you up and twirl you around."
"I hate the son of bitch, Xander. I hate him! I hate him! I hate him!" She screamed.
Xander held her tight as they mourned another child they'd never get to know. "So do I." He whispered into the night.
Later, just before they sent auMcKay back, he apologized to them.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know. Me and my big mouth, I just blurt things out without stopping to think."
"You didn't know." Xander told him. "Anyway, safe journey back."
"There was something else I wanted to ask you." auMcKay said. "There's a rumor that's never been confirmed, that you have some sort of psychic ability. That you can do something with your mind, kinda like Magic, if you believe in that kind of thing. I mean the SGC has proof of people who have telepathy and telekinesis and that Jonas guy could see the future for awhile."
Xander frowned, as far he knew, he didn't have any ability, so how could his aucounterpart, unless his aucounterpart did Magic? Maybe he should have Tara check him. "I don't do anything like that, sorry."
After auMcKay had left, Xander went to Elizabeth's office and requested leave, explaining auMcKay revelation and telling her, he and Cordelia needed to go home for a little while and see their family. She agreed and then gave them two weeks. They left for Earth the next morning.
"So, what's up?" Jack asked, once they were in his office.
"You know about the experiment McKay was doing, right?" Xander asked.
"Yeah, Carter was excited about it."
"Well, it didn't work so well. We were damaging another reality. They sent their McKay to get us to stop. While he was here, he mentioned something. Au me still works at the SGC, because he and his Cordy have twins, several months old. A boy, Jesse and a girl, Samantha."
Jack stared at him, understanding the ramifications of that statement.
"The pregnancy wasn't lost in that reality and it was twins." He said, flatly.
"Yeah. Elizabeth gave us two weeks off. We need a breather, Jack. We're going to go to Sunnydale, visit Kendra's grave, see our old gang, get our heads back on straight."
"I understand. I'm here if you need me."
"Jack, you're more of a father to me then Tony Harris ever was. I don't know what I'd do without you. You gave me hope, when I didn't have any. Thank you for that."
"You're welcome. Stay in touch, okay? We worry."
Kendra's grave was the first place they visited once they reached Sunnydale. Afterward, they went to Faith's apartment.
"Why didn't you guys call and say you were coming?"
"It was spur of the moment. We recently met a guy, who was able to tell us something about the pregnancy we lost. It was twins, like our counterparts in the past had. A girl and boy, also same as them. We needed some time off to deal with that news." Xander told her.
"Damn." Was all Faith could get out.
"Pretty much sums it up." Cordelia said.
"I need to go see Tara about something. I'll see you in bit." Xander said, leaving Cordelia in Faith's sympathetic hands.
Xander knocked on the apartment Tara and Willow shared. Willow opened the door.
"Xander, when did you get here?!" She exclaimed.
"Couple of hours ago. I need to see Tara about something."
"I'm here, Xander." Tara said. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes and no, but I'm here about the no part. I recently met someone who told me, I have an ability. He's not sure what kind. I was wondering if you could do an evaluation on me?"
"Sure, no problem. Let me get my supplies."
While waiting, Xander chatted with Willow. He was surprised to find, she was seeing a therapist.
"I decided you were right, Xander. I need to figure some things out and my therapist is helping me with that. Like the one you saw, helped you."
"I'm glad Willow. I want us to have a real friendship, not one based on misconceptions. I hope you can figure out what makes you so afraid."
"Me, too."
Tara's evaluation showed this Xander did have an ability, psychometry, the ability to touch something and gain information psychically. In his case, it was currently inactive. And unrelated to Magic.
"I can activate it for you if you want." Tara offered.
"You know, an ability like that might come in handy, at some point. Go ahead."
So Tara activated Xander's ability. In time, they would find out how useful it could be.
Xander and Cordelia spent a week with Willow and Tara, Faith, Joyce, Buffy and Dawn before returning to Colorado Springs and spending time with Sam, Jack, Daniel and Vala, Teal'C being off world at the time, with Jaffa Council business. Between their two families, they found a measure of peace, before returning to Atlantis, wondering what the next adventure or revelation would be.
