The Future Is What We Make

BETA'D BY: Kris & James, two wonderful, fabulous beta's

(~ ~) indicates internal communication
(# # ) indicates different language being used

Chapter 6

Xander's eyes widened in sudden horror at the sight of the monstrous figures, especially as they dropped their pants.

//This time he dove deep inside himself, yelling for the other two to hurry. Hyena easily out racing them as they threw up a wall as fast as they could.//

Amy, taking extra precautions, gestured. Three heavy objects sailed through the air and struck Taryn, Lourdey and Jennes each in the head, staggering them as the hulking guards pounced on the furiously struggling Xander who began screaming as his arm was wrenched brutally behind his back.

//"Go on, I'll hold the rear," Soldier shouted to them, whirling around to face the Red Beast as it broke through the wall, charging across the field at them. He raised his gun and he began firing off shot after shot, cold rage filling him.//

//"No!" Xander screamed, tugging on Soldier's arm, "Together! We have to stick together! We are in this together," he pleaded.

//Soldier turned to look at the young man he had been part of for so long, "You are the one that we protect, that we teach, that we guard. As long as you live, we will always live," his hard face softened momentarily as he looked at Xander before recovering, "Hyena, get him out of here!" And he deliberately turned away from the boy's despairing screams of rage as Hyena bore him away.//

With a scream of fear and pain, Xander arched away from the huge finger that was brutally rammed into his body, feeling something tear and suddenly smelling blood.

//And with a howl of fury Soldier drew his knife and met the Red Beast head on, savagely ripping at a meaty flank, fighting grimly until finally he was left on the field, his eyes staring sightlessly up at the reddening sky, his throat torn open.//

Amy smiled in delight as the guard pulled his huge finger out, blood dripping from his finger onto Xander's ass.

//Xander and Hyena raced for safety as they threw up another wall behind them. Then Hyena skidded to a stop and whirled around, her teeth bared in fury, her eyes gleaming with savage bloodlust at the sight of the Red Beast crashing through the wall and racing towards them.//

//"No," Xander moaned softly, "Please not you, too, don't leave me!" He screamed at her. Her body began to double, quadruple in size until she was almost as large as the Red Beast gaining rapidly on them.//

//She turned her muzzle gently into Xander's hair, ~"Silence cub! You knew this day would come sometime. The two of us were only for your protection, to teach you, to guard you. This was never supposed to be permanent. Both Soldier and I accepted this a long time ago. Now you, too, must accept th Now Now go! Do not let our sacrifice be in vain,"~ she ordered and when Xander just stared up at her, she growled, ~"GO!"'/

The guard sawed his huge finger back and forth into the torn flesh, the scent of blood filling the air, arousing him, arousing them. And Amy looked on with relish at the flinching and moaning that came from Xander.

//She watched him retreat to safety before whirling and racing to meet the Red Beast, and with a clash of teeth they met. Dirt, grass, fur began to fly as they attacked. She ripped at the wounds Soldier made, grunting savagely as its flesh tore under her teeth before they broke apart. Both breathed heavily, their lips rolled up flashing deadly sharp teeth as they eyed one other before leaping to attack once again. Ripping, tearing at each other's flesh. Teeth flashing whitely until finally the Red Beast sped off in pursuit of Xander, leaving her panting on the ground, her breath coming slower and slower until she gazed sightlessly in the grass, her eyes glazing over.//

"Beg me to make them stop," she hissed to Xander, her eyes focusing on his dazed expression.

//Xander raced on with grim resolve, before he also stopped and turned to face the Red Beast. Live or die, he was done with running! And calmly, with icy courage he drew his sword and met the Red Beast. Throwing everything he had into the fight, everything he had learned from Hyena and Soldier, calling on all his experience in fighting demons in Sunnydale. Nothing existed for him but defeating the Red Beast...and he fought on.//

She frowned at the blankness in his eyes, stepping closer until she was suddenly awash with blood? She looked down at her hands dripping with green fluid in disbelief, ignoring the screaming around her, as she felt something flowing down her face.

…..Buffy continued chatting idly with the little old man as his wife looked for the Soul Anchoring spell, but she was feeling increasingly creeped out by the way he kept on touching her. She kept casually moving away, ignoring the disappointment in his eyes. Geeze, old people were just so creepy! She thought with a shudder, moving away again. Her eyes fell on the sword on the wall and gratefully she seized the distraction, any distraction away from the icky little man that was seriously wiggin' her out.

"Oooooh, what a beautiful sword," she exclaimeartiarting around the old man and taking the sword down.

"How much is it?" She ran her hand gently over the shining surface, almost unwilling to touch such a beautiful thing.

T'kla looked at the sword in puzzlement, who in the hell put that damn thing there before shrugging, well no use worrying, dinner was still drugged. He continued to question her, feeling as if he was making some progress.

Buffy practiced a few moves with the sword, marveling over the balance, the sheer perfection of the sword in her grip, boy, Angel would love to have this, she thought in wonder as she came to a stop.

She marveled at the silvery surface of the blade, her eyes caught and held by a gleaming figure in glowing, shining armor seen within its mirrorlike surface. Its head held high and proud, courage and strength in the eyes that gazed calmly back at her...nobility and power was literally radiating from the figure and with a slight sense of wonder, Buffy realized that the image was HER! She blinked and slowly smiled, seeing the figure smiling with her and slowly saluting her with it's glowing sword.

She was lost as she gazed upon her own image, her own eyes looked back at her, calm surety rested within those eyes.

Still smiling she turned the sword over and nearly threw it away at the horrible image on the opposite side of the blade. But she was frozen, her hands unable to move as she looked upon a rusted armored figure, plates of its armor missing in places revealing naked bloody holes in its side. Watching the creature in revulsion as it struggled to stand on a bed of filth, to raise it's head. Hair was missing in patches on the helmless head, revealing raw, bloody spots. But still the figure struggled to stand. There was nothing proud or noble about this figure, calmness and surety was missing as well as strength as it, trembling, tried to raise its sword. Slipping, sliding and sinking in the foulness, only grim determination kept it upright as it tried to find surer footing under the treacherous muck and slime sucking under its feet..

Bile rising in her throat, she shakily managed to turn the sword over, back to the glorious shining figure and sighed in relief. She stiffened, seeing for the first time the word etched on the sword...ILLUSION.

With trembling hands, she turned the sword over again to the image that filled her with revulsion and etched on this side of the mirrorlike surface was one word that resounded in her soul….TRUTH.

And as the figure looked at her, Buffy realized in horror that the image wore her face!

Her eyes unseeing, she face herself for the first time and her body trembled, one hand clenched spastically on the silvery blade, bright red blood running along its surface. Both figures standing before her, one of the shining glorious armor and the other that filled her with disgust even as it dropped to one knee before painfully getting to it's feet.

Behind the shining figure she watched her past, every glorious thing that she had ever did, every act of defending, slaying and protecting against demons, all filling her with joy and a sense of satisfaction.

She turned to the foul disgusting creature, her lip curled in disgust as she met its eyes, recoiling at the pain, the shame in those dark eyes. And she watched every dirty deed she had every done, every act of defence become a sham meant only to impress Angel. The slaying, the protecting humans…but secretly the contempt she felt for them, every word that she thought was now shouted out 'Weak fools' 'Useless' 'Nothing'. Every underhanded thing she had done, filling her with shame. She faced her past with wide eyes, unable this time to look away from her mistakes, unable to twist them into something different.

She whirled to the shining figure standing with calm, purpose before her....every scene it showed her, the other showed her...showed her the truth of her action. She met its eyes, going deeper, deeper, finding nothing of substance, only the repeated scream of 'Angel' ricocheting around in its head, a yelling cacophony sending her to her knees and clutching at her head. It was empty of everything remotely human she realized in horror and she began scrambling away it. Whimpering as the figure's head tilted and it moved...towards her.

The other figure blocked it with a shaky arm and Buffy met its eyes: images of Willow, of Giles, her mother, Xander, Oz and Cordy laughing, having fun, fighting against the darkness...the friendship, the companionship she felt with them, the love for them resounding within its darkened gaze, a shouting, yelling din of joyous sounds that she crawled eagerly to it. Jerking back in alarm as the shining figure swung a blow to the beaten down figure and more of it's armor fell to the ground before it too fell.

Buffy clumsily got to her feet and charged at the shining figure, trying to beat it back from the downed figure, screaming 'No' with everything she had. Unaware that it had sunk to the ground, plates of its armor falling to the ground leaving empty patches of nothingness beneath.

She kept pounding on the figure, sobbing until her hands were gently seized. She looked up at the dark figure as it drew her to her feet. She touched the rusted armor gently, feeling it pulse softly under her hand and she met its dark gaze. Seeing the shame and pain that still darkened its eyes, as well as its grim determination as it raised its sword and saluted her before extending its rusty sword to her.

The shining figure laboriously climbed to its feet and also extended its shining sword to her as well.

As she looked at the two swords in her other selves hands, she saw the word TRUTH etched upon the rusted surface of one sword and ILLUSION on the other.

Leaving the decision in her hands, illusion or the truth.

And steeling herself, she seized the sword and opened herself to TRUTH. Crumbling, screaming to the darkened surface of her mind as all her hidden barriers disappeared, slamming her with the truth of her actions.

In that one agonizing moment of clarity, Buffy Summers died…and the last Guardian Slayer was born.

Blinking and coming back to herself, the walls of the shop wavered and disappeared. She looked down at the image in the sword, seeing the rusted armor figure painfully straighten and saluting her again, now on solid ground.

"For such a pretty young thing like you, my dear," she heard a harsh voice behind her say.

"I'm willing to let it go for a mere $100." T'kla said grandly, who the hell cared, it wasn't like she was going to be leaving the building anyway.

And with a sense of horror, Buffy realized that she been hearing that voice for some time, asking her questions about the ward stone, about the defenses of the hotel, how many fighters they had, and all the time believing it to be a little old man. Hearing screams, she whirled around and blinked at the sight of a Danzor Demon standing just behind her.

T'kla stepped back instinctively when the girl whirled around, the deadly speed coupled with the sword had made him highly nervous and for a minute he had forgotten she was still under his influence.

Stepping forward confidently, but still slightly unnerved as the girl's attention wandered over his shoulder. He glanced behind him, faintly smiling as those goody twoshoes were smacked in the head. He licked his lips, enthralled at the scene of the three guards with the struggling human.

And without looking back at Buffy he asked, "Can I wrap that for you?"

He was very surprised to hear her voice up close and personal as a savage pain flared in his chest. With wide eyes he looked down at the silvery sword buried in his chest and faintly heard her say, "Nah, why bother...I gotta use it now."

His eyes turning blank, he collapsed to the ground as Buffy vaulted over his body. She became a whirling dervish of destructive power as she attacked the demons attempting to rape Xander, slicing and dicing any protruding limb she could get.

Amy was stunned at the blood that splattered her, before quickly racing and calling for additional help, yelling in surprise as the building abruptlydderddered, raining debris down on everyone.

Tara appeared in the doorway with an unusually sane look in her eyes, "Amy, my dear," she began mildly enough, her eyes growing dangerously dark, "What have you been doing?"

Amy eyes narrowed and she began backing away in confusion, trying to keep her footing as the building shuddered again and again. What the hell was wrong with...., she screamed as a vicious bolt slammed into her.

"I asked you a question, bitch," Tara said quietly, "And I expect a prompt answer."

Amy staggered to her feet, ignoring the growing screams from behind her, "Tara?" she questioned, quickly raising a shield.

"Of course, Tara," oth other snapped, "Who did you think I am, Glinda the Good Witch?!"

"Well, actually I was kinda thinking of maybe Tara, the Insane Witch," Amy stammered, terrified suddenly of a sane Tara.

Tara looked at her coldly, "I've always been sane, you've only been dealing with the insane part of me."

Her eyes flickered, madness looking out at her and Amy realized with horror that Tara had multiple personalities and both almost equally insane.

She backed further away, insane Tara she could control but a sane insane Tara she didn't know.

And by this time it was too late for them all as a deadly figure stepped into the room.
…Angel strode furiously back into the hotel hours later from his fruitless search for Xander, hot rage simmering in his eyes sending everyone scrambling out of his path. So lost in his rage he didn't see the hope that briefly filled the waiting people.

They had lost them! They had fuckin' lost the scent! He had managed to lead the others and tracked the kidnappers for a good couple of blocks before the scent went in four separate directions which was impossible. But still they had chased the leads down only to be led in a wild goose chase right back to where they started.

And when he got his hands on the comedian that thought this was funny....grrr, his face rippled and shifted as even Angelus agreed. No one made a fool out of Angelus....no one.

He stalked into the lobby, snapping orders right and left, summoning fresh new people to continue the search.

If he had to, he was gonna rip this town apart to find his Xander! And at that thought he was startled out of his mad rage...when had he started thinking of Xander as *his*? Even Angelus was silent on his end, equally surprised at the hot possessive rage that filled each of them at the thought of someone taking what belonged to them.

Which, Angel thought wryly, was sure to come as a surprise to Xander that he was now considered a possession by a demon.

"I take it that you didn't find him," Riley said with admirable calm, not even flinching at the savage look Angel gave him.

"Does it fn' n' look like I found him," Angel spat out before he physically stopped himself, trying to control the rage that surged through him, trying to force away the rage of Angelus' heated fury at the loss of their human.

Everyone began to back away from Angel with wide wary eyes, they had never seen him quite like this! They had had plenty of other losses, some even worse than this and he had never really took it personally other than brooding a lot. But now...now they could see the rage in his eyes that made them all draw back in fear and in dread.

Angel fought savagely to control his churning emotions, feeling himself spiraling out of control under the impotent rage....no enemy to rend, mangle and kill...no release to the tension, the fears that filled him, tightening...circling....tighter...tighter. No outlet...no release until he threw back his head and howled, a sound filled with bloodlust and fury, freezing everyone in their tracks as that terrifying cry touched off every primal urge to flee.

Angel took a deep, unneeded breath before slowly releasing it as he looked around at the people nervously clutching weapons as they stared at him with fearful eyes. He looked up at the top of the stairs and met Spike's unreadable eyes before he turned away.

His eyes remained gold as he looked at Riley and Wesley, "I apologize. What have you found?" He crossed the lobby to where they were gathered around a map.

"So far nothing," Riley admitted quietly, standing at attention. "Without a scent trail or Willow awake we're working blind. Our magic users keep trying to find him but everything they do slides away and so obviously magic is involved. But we've managed to narrow the area down to this locale," Riley said pointing to a specific area., "Wesley indicates that Wolfram and Hart maintainsuilduilding in this area."

Angel hissed, his face rippling, shifting as both soul and demon fought for control, until finally the soul won and his face settled back into its human guise.

"Then that's where he'll be," Angel said quietly, rage underscoring his words. He whirled around saying loudly to the people gathered at the door, "Change in plans..," his voice was interrupted by a wild howl of grief, of loss, of rage coming from upstairs.

As one, the magic users stdowndownstairs blinked, their eyes bleeding to black as they turned to look up the stairs.

"Too late," Riley said softly as he and the rest of the former Sunnydalers crossed the lobby and stood at the foot of the stairs.

The hotel shook, then shuddered briefly, while the lights flickered with a strobelike effect before settling as Angel and Wesley looked around in puzzlement at the group gathered at the foot of the stairs.

And their attention was jerked to the top of the stairs as a smooth, cold voice floated down to them.

"I will need volunteers," Willow said quietly as she descended the stairs, her eyes black as veins began creeping up her face.

Six men and three women stepped forward with pale faces, "We are at your service, my Lady," one said quietly.

Wesley grabbed Angel's arm, stopping his forward motion, "DON'T!" he hissed violently keeping a watchful eye on her. "Don't attract her attention until she wishes to speak with you."

Angel looked down startled, "It's just Willow," he protested softly.

"Not quite," Wesley said dryly, "Now, she's a lot more than 'just' Willow." He shivered as those dead eyes rested on him and Angel thoughtfully before dismissing them.

Angel stepped back once Willow released his eyes, "What the hell?" he muttered shaken.

Willow's head tilted, "I will need only four of you and I will not be able to change you back," she said softly in regret.

At that a low sigh passed among the people, before Riley stepped forward, "How much time do you have, my Lady," he asked briskly, his face paling as she directed her attention to him. But shakily he withstood her look, almost collapsing in relief at the brief approving smile on her face.

"I have less than an hour," Willow said softly, "So we must hurry to get to him. They have shields up that block my attempts to remove him from the building. But there is another way."

"We are ready," one of the volunteers softly said.

Willow looked at them and chose carefully. With icy detachment, she threw her magic at the four volunteers, watching as they fell screaming to the floor writhing in the grip of her magic while people began backing away.

The volunteers bodies were distorted, pulled and stretched into a new form. Swelling, bulking larger as their fingers shortened and nails lengthened into claws. Screaming, then roars filled the lobby as the change was finally completed.

Rising unsteadily to all fours, the creatures looked at Willow with gleaming white eyes, then to Andrew as he walked forward and stood in front of them. In acquiesce, they bowed their massive heads to Andrew.

"Jonathan, Andrew, Marcus, Sarah and Juno, I will send you ahead. You will put up a shield around Wolfram and Hart so that nothing of magic nature can leave," she stared at them before switching to Andrew and the beastly creatures at his back. "Anything that tries to leave through regular methods…kill it." Her words were cold and direct as they acknowledged her words and disappeared.

Just then one of Angel's people ran through the double doors breathlessly, not noticing the gathering crowd at the stairs in his excitement.

"Angel, I saw her," he said breathlessly, bending over and trying to catch his breath.

"Saw who," Angel said distractedly, watching Willow issue her orders with cold precision.

"Buffy," was the simple reply and Angel's attention as well as Willow's was now focused on the man.

"Where?" Angel growled, he had a extremely bad feeling that he was not going to like the answer.

"I saw her going into Wolfram & Hart about three days ago," he said, then yelped as his neck was seized in a ruthless grip and he was raised in the air. He looked down into hot yellow eyes, seeing death flickering in those eyes.

"And you waited until now to tell me," Angel growled, his hand tightening around the hapless man's neck.

"Angel, stop it!" Wesley was struggling to get Angel to release the man, "You sent him to Santa Monica three days ago, remember." He watched as reason returned to the burning yellow eyes, sighing as the man was lowered to the ground, gasping and gagging for breath.

"She betrayed us," Willow said quietly as she drifted closer.

"We need to leave now," Willow turned with a swirl of black and green clothing, halting abruptly at the sight of the children standing behind her.

Spike nearly gasped at the sight of her, she was magnificent! More beautiful than his Dark Princess, he thought in wonder. Feeling the children shuddering, clutching at his legs he looked down in confusion. They had been begging to go downstairs when the first howling began, redoubling their pleas as a second howling scream sounded in the hotel. He had finally given in at the third time screaming and howling started, growing curious himself.

Now, they wouldn't release their deathgrip on his legs. He frowned, smelling their fear as they looked at Willow.

"Ya g'nna bring Daddy home," Mikey was brave enough to quiver out, looking up at her, tears running from his big woeful eyes.

"Yes," Willow breathed softly, a look of regret on her face, "Go upstairs with Spike and we will bring Daddy home."

Joce sniffled and wiped her nose with the back of her hand as tears fell ceaselessly down her face, "Bye bye Aunty Widdow, tell Mama that we be good for daddy, ‘kay?" And releasing her grip on Spike's leg, she grabbed her brother and headed up the stairs looking sadly over her shoulders to Willow.

Wesley eyes shot to Riley who nodded with pained eyes.

Spike looked up at the children disappearing then in disbelief at Willow who stalked past him.

"Dying," he managed to whisper and Willow paused.

"It is difficult to maintain this level of energy of magic without paying an extremely high price," she said quietly without looking at him.

She had been aware of Spike's interest in her and another time or place she would have been tempted to return his interest, but she had been with Oz. The thought of her Oz had her feeling a fresh stab a grief so strong it nearly brought her to knees. She felt cool arms supporting her until she was able to stand on her own.

And without a backwards look she strode out of the hotel, drawing the people after her....and an eldritch wind began to blow.

At Wolfram & Hart the seers jerked upright with screams of terror, bringing every being within earshot racing to the room.

Lilah and Lindsay looked irritably at the smirking Gavin, for once in accord with each other---he had to go.

They detested him when he had first came onto their turf, under Linwood Murrow's sponsorship, they really came to loathe him as he brown-nosed his way to a position in Holland Manners' camp. Everyone kept their heads down in the wake of the storm that followed that move.

Gavin was the one that was directly responsible for recruiting both Amy and Tara, a fact that Holland never failed to throw at them rubbing it in their face just how well his little protégé was succeeding. And now the smirking asshole had just landed another coup!

Gritting their teeth under the coldly amused eyes of Holland they extended their hands and congratulated the little bastard.

"Oh, but this is nothing compared to what you've done in the *past*," Gavin tried to look suitably modest, well aware of the hatred in Lilah and Lindsay's eyes. "I'm sure that you'll pull off something soon too," he said with feigned encouragement.

Lindsay met Lilah's eyes, his message was clear: tonight Gavin dies.

Gavin smirked reading the look on their faces and made a mental note to spruce up his precautions tonight.

A secretary came to the door with a worried look on his face, "Mr. Manners, sir, we seem to be experiencing some difficulty in exiting the building, Sir."

Holland sighed, "And why are you bringing this to my attention? What ever it is call maintenance and have them fix it!"

"Sir, there seems to be a barrier preventing anything magical from exiting the building and when people physically exit the building they are viciously attacked by some ....
creatures," the secretary said stiffly. He was pushed rudely aside as three seers and five witches entered the boardroom.

Holland was startled, he didn't summon them, "What is the meaning of this," he asked coldly, regarding them with haughty eyes.

"As per our contract we are merely here to provide you warning that this building will, perhaps, be destroyed. Someone has foolishly upset the balance and death approaches," the seer announce with quiet eerie calmness.

The room grew still as they could feel a...darkness winging towards them.

"Well, then stop it," Holland commanded icily, his eyes hard as he stared at the witches. He had no time for this, that's what they were getting paid to do.

The witches shook their heads, "You do not understand....even were we foolish enough to combine our powers, we cannot stop the coming destruction. If you listen you can hear it coming."

Lilah blinked as she listened and a cold shiver raced down her spine at the sound of an unearthly, howling wind.

"What the hell did we do," Lindsay burst out, shoving himself to his feet, "We've been operating business as usual, so wha' t'fuck is goin' on," and in his stress his midwestern roots slipped in his voice.

The seers glanced around, their eyes turning white before one by one, their eyes rested on Gavin, who squirmed uneasily in his chair.

"He has caused the chain of events to unfold that has led to this," the female seer stated softly, with cold finality.

"Me?! I didn't do anything like that," Gavin jumped up in strident protest.

Lindsay and Lilah slowly began to smile, now the little fucker's gonna get it!

A male seer looked at him with white eyes, "Yes, it is you that has caused this. There is something that you done that has angered the coming darkness."

And at that the building was rocked with a tremendous blast, throwing them all to the floor with screams of terror.


Angel stood in open mouthed awe as the magic users fired blast after blast at the building, shaking it, rocking it on its lofty foundation.

He joined in the attack as Wolfram and Hart's security forces as well as their mercenaries poured out of the building, crossing the barrier.

Willow stepped up, gazing at the building until she finally located Xander unmistakable presence. With darkness bleeding down her face, she gestured and the sky was ripped open as bolt after bolt of lightening slammed into the building, each bolt guided and directed by Willow and Jonathan, burrowing deeper, following the path of its brethen until a bolt finally breeched the shield keeping them out...and they poured through.

Angel saw Willow disappearing into the building and sprinted after her, yelling for a couple of people to follow. Wherever Willow went, he was going to be right behind her.

Hitting the stairs, they raced after Willow coming to a final stop a few feet from her as they watched Amy backing away with fear on her face from Tara...and since when did Tara become so bad, Angel thought in confusion as he stepped into the room.

Willow gestured, and both Amy and Tara were slammed up against the wall as she ran to the boiling knot of fighting and screaming taking place in the center of the room. Blood was spraying everywhere and she blinked as a severed arm came flying past her face.

She saw a naked black haired demon leaping on a hulking demon's back, viciously shredding the skin until he reached a spine and yanked. She saw a silvery blond demon jumping on top of another huge demon, teeth and claws bared, and then she lost sight of it.

Angel ducked as a huge demon came flying past him, it's face shredded into ribbons.
Flashing among the knot of fighting demons, he kept seeing a silvery flash of a blade falling with ruthless efficiency. Whoever was swinging that blade had to be good since every time the blade came down, a scream could be heard.

Jumping into the fray, he and the others attacked the hulking demons from behind. The demons never stood a chance after that. Attacked from the rear, attacked from behind and the sides, they were cattle just waiting to be slaughtered.

And then it was finally over.

They stood triumphant among the gory remains of the demon flesh littering the floor in pieces of flesh and pools of blood.

Angel blinked and began growling seeing bloody, bruised looking Buffy standing with a sword in front of naked wounded Xander and he started forward.

"Angel, if you go near her, she *will* kill you," Willow's voice came calmly from behind him, "As well as those others," she said gesturing to the three demons standing off to the side.

Unlike Angel, she saw the way Buffy was eyeing him as if he was a danger to Xander.

Angel snarled, "After all this time of chasing me around, I don't think so," and confidently he started forward, jumping back in alarm at the swing Buffy took at him.

"What the hell is your problem, Buffy!" he yelled furiously, "We have to get Xander the hell out of here, you understand you crazy fool!"

"Xander, you....not friends---danger," Bublinblinked and managed to rasp out. She was almost at the end of her rope, she hurt so damn bad that all she wanted to do was just lay down and never get up again. But she couldn't...at least not until she knew Xander was safe---then she could rest.

"What the hell is she talking about," Angel growled, pacing back and forth. He noticed how Buffy kept her eyes on him, any time he got too close she would swing at him.

"Let me try," Willow said quietly, easing forward.

"Buffy, do you know me," Willow asked softly, making sure she was out of sword range.

Buffy's head tilted to the side as she swayed, "Willow, Xander," her brow furrowed as she fought through the exhaustion, the pain clouding her mind.

"Friends?" she looked questioningly at Willow, blinking at the darkness on Willow's face. "Different Willow?"

"Yes, a little different Willow," Willow whispered easing closer, "Xander's hurt, we need to get him back to the hotel."

"Not hurt him anymore," Buffy asked, tears of exhaustion rolling down her heavily bruised face. She was barely recognizable with her hair matted, her body filthy, covered with blood and gore.

"Not hurt him anymore," Willow agreed and Buffy stood aside.

Willow gestured and the manacles fell off of Xander's wrists and ankles.

"Hurt bad," Buffy said softly, looking down at Xander, she swayed and nearly collasped.

"Angel, grab her," Willow said shortly as she examined Xander, motioning a man forward to pick up Xander.

Getting to her feet, she stalked over to the furiously struggling figures of Tara and Amy, releasing them.

Angel grabbed Buffy roughly in his arms, realizing that without Xander to guard he could approach her. He tried to pry her fingers from the sword, stopping his movements when she began to struggle away from him.

"NO!" Buffy struggled not to give up the sword, scared that if she released it she would revert back to that other Buffy.

"Fine," Angel spat out, yanking her into his arms, "Kept your damn sword."

"Truth," Buffy sighed, holding the sword against her chest.

He motioned the man with Xander to get to safety while he waited for Willow. He ignored the Jaztar demons and hoped that they would ignore them as well.

Tara and Amy fell to the floor with screams of pains, as Willow quickly figured which one was the more powerful witch.

Reaching down, she seizeda bya by her hair and yanked her head back, looking into Tara's very sane eyes.

Angel caught his breath, for as long as he had known the blond witch she had always been insane, often as bad as Drusilla.

Tara looked up into the darkness in Willows eyes, "You know that if you kill me while in the grips of magic, there's no return from the darkness," she smiled knowing the girl was too much of a goody two shoes to do anything to her.

Willow cocked her head and said pleasantly, "Funny enough, I really don've ave a shit."

Tara's eyes widened and fire poured out of her mouth as Willow cooked her from the inside out.

Amy whimpered and tried to scramble away, stopped by Taryn's foot on her arm.

"Going somewhere," he purred, wrenching her head back.

"She's mine," Willow hissed at him.

"We have a much larger claim against her than you," Lourdey snarled, "Take your friend and go, rest assured that this," he swiped at Amy's leg with a razor claws, "Will not die easily."

Angel's head tilted, hearing rapid footsteps approaching, "Willow, we have to leave NOW!" he ordered, and was very surprised as she agreed and jogged after him.

They made it back to the hotel, carrying back their wounded and dead. No one was left behind for Wolfram and Hart to play with.

The hotel was eerily silent as the returning party of warriors staggered into the hotel and the wounded Xander was immediately carried upstairs to his bedroom, as Angel followed along still carrying Buffy.

He immediately went to her room and dumped her distastefully on her bed, before whirling around and dashing for Xander’s bedroom. He was extremely surprised to see Buffy dart past him into Xander’s room, still carrying that damn sword.

“Get her out of her,” he growled to a couple of people standing around watching as the healers began doing their job.

“Stop!” Willow said sharply as the people started for Buffy. “Angel, you don’t understand what’s happening to Buffy, I don’t understand what’s happening to her….but right now as long as Xander is hurt, she will kill anyone that comes between her and Xander.”

Angel looked at Willow like she was crazy, maybe she was, he thought eyeing the darkness bleeding from her eyes. Then he took a look at Buffy, a filthy, wounded, liberally covered in blood and gore….he took a long hard look at her, at the way she eyed every on ton that entered the room with cold precision, and he knew that she was silently marking the best way to disable them.

He was shaken and puzzled by the change in her and setting the enigma of Buffy aside, he switched to something….something that he hoped he would get an answer to that he would be able to understand.

“Why aren’t you healing him,” he said abruptly, gesturing to Willow who stood away from the bed as the healers worked on Xander.

“She is death,” came the quiet reply from Buffy.

Angel looked at her coldly, remembering that she was the one that had betrayed them all. “Excuse me?! I don’t remember asking you to speak, you are here only because it would be too much work to toss your ass out the window!”

“She’s right,” Willow said sadly, her eyes leaking oily black tears, “I can only bring him death, the price I pay for this magic fin finding him and seeking revenge is high. But I would pay that price again.”

Angel turned cold, pitiless eyes to Buffy, “What the hell were you doing at Wolfram and Hart anyway?”

Buffy looked away, “I…I didn’t know where I was. I thought I was in a store, a magic store,” she whispered.

“A store?! While Xander's was being hurt, tortured you imagined you were shopping,” Angel's voice rose progressively louder.

“The Slayer is quite correct, she was unaware of her surroundings as she sought to purchase a gift for someone. A Danzor demon was trying to retrieve information from her,” came a cold voice from the doorway.

Angel whirled around, Willow lifted her head…her hands sparkling with deadly magic as Buffy moved between the demons and Xander.

“Peace, we mean no harm. We merely wished to repay the boy for giving us our freedom and possibly our lives,” Lourdey said calmly, regarding Buffy with little emotion in his wide eyes.

“Your magic is useless against us,” Taryn said coolly to Willow. "The glingling gave us our freedom in his sweat and tears, we can do no less than to heal his wounds as best as we can, perhaps then your healers can continue with their work.”

Alyssa sat back frustrated, “He’s right Willow, something in Xander keeps blocking our efforts to heal him. Every time we think we got one fixed it comes apart and he’s bleeding again.”

Willow looked at Angel, then at Buffy standing tensely in front of Xander, and sighed.

Angel’s eyes were narrowed on the three demons, before he stepped aside. Only Buffy stubbornly refused to move, her eyes narrow and cold.

Willow gestured…..she was extremly surprised as Buffy twisted and blocked her magic with the sword.

“No, they hurt Xander too,” Buffy hissed, her eyes enraged.

“We were under Amy’s control at the time, we could not resist her command nor could we stop ourselves, or our actions. We gave him as much aid as we could, numbing his body to lessen the pain,” Jennes exped qed quietly.

“You raped him,” Angel breathed, his eyes turning gold.

“We had no choice,” Taryn gritted out, his eyes burning cold in rage, “We did not even have the choice to die, vampire!”

Angel was shocked out of his rage at that statement. Especially, knowing how proud Jaztar demons were, to have their right to die taken from them, forced to do as someone commanded...he hoped that Amy paid a l a long time and he exchanged a tight smile with the three demons.

Buffy listened with a cold set face before she stepped reluctantly aside and allowed the three demons to begin healing Xander.

Willow’s blinked slowly as they licked at each wound on Xander’s body, seeing the minute signs of healing taking place.

//Xander fought on grimly, his breath ragged in his throat, his arms trembling with weariness but still he stood defiant and unbroken. He and the Red Beast stood eying each other and Xander knew, despite the numerous wounds on the creature's body, that when they came together again, he was going down. He was to exhausted to fight any longer.

He nearly moaned in despair as he saw something snaking toward him from behind the Red Beast and in a futile gesture of defense he raised his sword higher. Then the Red Beast roared in pain, in fury as chains slammed into its body, pulling it away as Xander watched in opened mouthed wonder as more and more chains slammed through the Red Beast.

10…20…28…he lcouncount of the number of chains that swarmed over the Red Beast, yanking it viciously on its back as it bellowed its rage, blood seeping from the many entrance wounds the chains made in his body. The chains slowly parted, clearing a space on its heaving red belly as a huge chain came snaking out of the distance slowly, raising high into the air.

Xander’s eyes widened before he turned and sprinted away as the huge thick chain came down hard on the belly of the Red Beast, splitting it into two pieces and the bellow of the beast shook the air around him, sending him crashing to his knees.

Shakily, he climbed to his feet and slowly turned around, watching with wide eyes as the chains snaked towards him….no where left to run…to hide and he raised his sword in a pitiful defense. Undulating slowly the chains slid softly against him, brushing like the tail of curious cat…endlessly touching him, caressing him as he turned in a circle, laughing at the playfulins.ins. Until he looked up, up against the clearing sky at the huge towering chain as it came swiftly down, scattering the other chains and he cried out, raising his arms defensively. Lowering his arms slowly he shakily patted the chain, as it chain coiled protectively around him, once…twice…three times before retreating, the smaller chains trailing in its wake.//

Alyssa watched with incredulous eyes as Xander began to heal under the ministrations of the demons. Her soft sigh was echoed by all as they watched the angry redness retreat, the wounds close.

Willow slipped away, silent and unnoticed, saved by one pair of eyes, her mission complete. Her child was in safe hands, now it was time for her to let go…she could feel the magic consuming her, becoming darker the longer she stayed. Lingering was no longer an option, after freeing Xander to turn around and kill him…she smiled sadly as she walked out the doors.

Buffy regarded the space where Willow had stood, thinking…Xander needed Willow as much as Willow needed him, for balance—for control. And she needed them so that she would never forget who and what she was.

Blinking she regarded Xander’s children, peering through the door, her ears tuned in to Alyssa worried voice.

“Why won’t he wake up,” she demanded angrily, her eyes flashing with fear. She hated losing her patients, taking it as a personal affront.

“He sleeps, he rests and heals,” Jennes spoke quietly, “Human minds are fragile things, we have found. When he has healed, he will wake.”

“No,” Buffy said softly staring at the children, “Willow will die if he sleeps any longer.”

Riley looked at her coldly, sneering, “And you have a solution to waking him?”

“Yes,” Buffy said, darting forward she seized Joce, hissing to her, “Scream.”

Everyone yelled and charged at Buffy, freezing abruptly as Buffy held her sword to Joce's throat.

Joce shuddered in terror and her piercing shriek ripped through the air.

At that piercing cry, Xander's eyes opened, ~“Stop.”~

Willow stopped in midcast, “Xander?!” she said turning around, her eyes widening at hearing his voice.

Xander rolled out of bed and lurched to his feet, swaying as he stumbled to the window and gazed down at Willow.

~“Don’t leave me,”~ Xander pressed his forehead against the window.

“If I stay, I will kill you,” Willow said, looking up at the figure in the window. “I can’t control the magic anymore, Xander, it wants to control me and I'm not strong enough to resist.”

~"Willow, listen to me,"~ Xander said desperately, ~"You are stronger than you know, I can help you! Just don't leave us,"~ he said brokenly, tears running down his face.

"I'm not that strong, Xander....goodbye." With that she turned her back to him.
cas casting a shield around her, she summoned every destructive power she had and let it loose within the shield.

“NO,” Xander whispered again and he stumbled. Angel was there to brace him, easing him back against his chest.

“NO!” Xander screamed, his eyes became a luminous gray as he clenched his hands. Tendons stood out in his neck as if he was straining against impossible odds.

And the outside world lit up and the hotel shuddered violently.

At Xander’s second 'No', Buffy had set Joce down, quickly snatching Mikey she bundled them into a corner, crouching down and shielding them with her body, covering their screaming faces.

Inside the hotel, people…demons, were screaming in terror as windows shattered and the hotel shook, throwing them to their knees.

Angel braced himself and he had time to yell for everyone to close their eyes before the painful light flared outside. Only when he was no longer seeing afterimages, did he cautiouslyn hin his eyes to find Xander slumped in his arms, nose and eyes bleeding.

Carefully he laid the young man gently on the bed, before he turned cold raging eyes on Buffy, expecting to see Joce dead or hurt. He watched in confusion as Buffy slowly rose from her crouching position, revealing the two terrified children.

“You knew,” Angel said accusingly to Buffy, who looked away, “How?”

“Because she is now a Guardian,” Lourdey said quietly and bowed, “Greetings Lady Guardian, it has been a long time since one such as you have walked the earth.”

Buffy looked uncertain as she hesitantlyurneurned his bow, “I'm not what you think,” she whispered in the quiet that followed his statement.

Jennes frowned, “You bear the sword, and it can only be used by a Guardian.”

Buffy tried to back away from everyone's disbelieving eyes hitting the wall behind her in panic, shaking her head frantica “No “No, I’m not! I’ve made too many mistato bto be one of those,” she said with tears in her eyes.

Angel looked between the demons and Buffy, “Will someone please tell me what the hell a goddamn Guardian is, before I really begin to get upset,” he growled, his eyes turning a liquid gold.

Taryn turned and regarded Buffy with cold, narrowed eyes, “Foolish child, do you think it is an honor to be a Guardian? Perhaps in time, it will become an honorable title for you to bear but you are new to your duties, and you may yet still fail. However, you may be stronger than you think to have successfully resisted a Danzor demon for three days," he admitted grudgingly.

Lourdey looked at her seriously, "You walk a most difficult path, child, it would have been perhaps better for you to have chosen death."

Buffy looked away, "I couldn't," she whispered.

"Then there may be hope for you yet," Taryn stated with a raised brow.

Lourdey looked at Angel, "A Guardian is a Slayer that failed or somehow betrayed their calling. If they have not strayed too far off their path, then sometimes they are offered another chance, a redemption. There have been many Slayers in the past that have strayed and were offered this Sword. My people's memory is long, to date there have only been two Slayers to have survived," he pointed to Buffy, "She is one of them."

Angel looked at Lourdey with some astonishment, "Um...how many Slayer were offered the chance," he said slowly.

Jennes blinked, "I believe Buffy Summers makes the total about...351," his words fell in an empty pool of silence as everyone in the room tried to grasp the fact that so many Slayers had died.

"Why ain't we heard about this before," Spike said with a growl standing in the doorway. Mikey ran to him with a cry of relief, and was sweep into Spike's arms.

Taryn looked amused, "The Watcher's Council feared the reaction of the demon community if such news was circulated, they believed that the demons would lose their fear of a Slayer if they knew that they could be...swayed from their path," he said sardonically.

Willow appeared silently to the side of Spike, and for the moment ignoring Mikey's glad cry of 'Auny Widdow', "You said that you would see to Amy, yet you are here...why?" she growled out.

The three demons glanced among each other, before Jennes spoke, a clear note of amusement in his voice, "Because she was....suitably punished."

At that all three demons began chuckling as they told of Amy's 'punishment'.

.....as they picked themselves up from the floor of the boardroom, Holland flinched slightly at the sight of Mr. Wolfram and Mr. Hart standing in the doorway.

"Most unusual to began remodeling a room while still conducting business, wouldn't you say, Mr. Hart," Mr. Wolfram murmured as he smoothly walked into the room.

"Indeed, yes, Mr. Wolfram," Mr. Hart said coldly as he glided to a seat at the head of the table.

Mr. Hart steepled his fingers, "It was brought to our attention that you have a young male here named Alexander Harris, please bring him to us." The quiet request was clearly an order as Holland nervously gestured for his underlings to find the man. There was cold silence in the boardroom as they waited.

Lindsay exchanged a slightly puzzled glance at Lilah who shrugged, she didn't know what the hell was going on either.

The people returned shortly with a protesting, bleeding Amy and three furious Jaztar demons.

"We demand the witch as punishment for breaking the treaty with our people," Lourdey said coldly in full demonic form. His eyes were glowing with a luminous light of rage.

"You demand," Mr. Wolfram said softly, his eyes hard and cold.

"Yessss," Taryn hissed viciously, "We demand recompense, her life will do nicely," he shot a venomous look at Amy that she returned with interest.

She was supremely confident that they would not willingly hand her over to the Jaztar. Afterall, she thought with cold pride, she was one of their most powerful witches except for Tara, but that had already been taken care of.

Gavin and Holland paled, the crazy fool broke the treaty?! They exchanged disbelieving looks with each other, before Gavin's lips tightened as he noticed Holland subtly trying to distance himself.

Lindsay raised his brow, hiding his sudden horrified amusement behind a cough, seeing Lilah do the same.

Mr. Wolfram's attention snapped to them, "Is there a problem with your throats...if so I'm sure it can be easily remedied."

Lilah and Lindsay sobered abruptly, reading the dark promise in Mr. Wolfram's unnerving reptilian eyes.

"No sir, no problem at all, sir," they chorused hastily, shaking at attracting Mr. Wolfram's attention.

Mr. Wolfram switched his attention back to Amy's haughty face, "Wolfram and Hart has been in existence for far longer than you imagine, our treaty with Jaztar demons has existed for almost as long as we have *been* in business. Explain to us why you violated our treaty," he said with exquisite politeness.

Amy preened under his regard and strutted closer, sneering at Lilah and Lindsay, sure in her ability to explain everything so that it wasn't her fault.

"I gave them a direct order, a reasonable order and they failed to comply," she said reasonably, "So I threw powdered Dumkin root on them, which did NOT," she said virtuously, "Actually, break the treaty, since Dumkin root is a natural substance."

"But it is made with magic so you have made us technically in violation of the treaty," Mr. Hart said with icy softness.

Amy shivered, "Well, they should've raped Xander Harris when I ordered them to. As it was I had to force them with Dumkin root to do it and then get those stupid guards to do it right," she sulked, not noticing the fear that swept across Gavin's face, "Besides they are the ones that let Angel and the other's escape with Xander!"

"Manners, who is this child's sponsor," Mr. Wolfram said with eerie stillness.

And without an ounce of hesitation, Holland threw Gavin and Linwood to the wolves, "Gavin Parks is her sponsor as Linwood Gavin's sponsor."

"I must protest and I'm quite sure that everyone in this building will back up my contention that Gavin Parks has been working under your direct guidance for the past three years. I also believe that you said that I was incapable of handling such a promising young mind and that you were making an Executive Decision," Linwood said coolly, inwardly crowing with delight. His eyes sparkled with malicious joy at the fleeting look of fear and chagrin on Holland's face.

Mr. Hart said without inflen, \n, "Holland, Parks please stand."

Shaking in fear, Holland and Gavin complied while Amy looked on in bored confusion.

Without a word, both senior partners stood and faced the front of the boardroom, standing six feet apart from each other.

Slowly, a huge dark seething, roiling cloud formed before them.

"Xander Harris was here and has since escaped with the help of Angel. The treaty with the Jaztar was broken by the witch Amy also while in the custody of the witch Amy, Xander Harris was forcibly raped by order of the witch using the three Jaztar serving us, then possibly again by additional guards. She is sponsored by Gavin Parks who in turn is sponsored by Holland Manners," Wolfram stated calmly and waited for the response, which was not long in coming.

From out of the roil a thick barbed tentacle shot out and punched through Amy's stomach, lifting her screaming and kicking into the dark roiling mist, pulling her further in until only her feet were dangling outside the dark mist, furiously kicking. The cloud contracted and her legs were neatly dropped to the carpeted floor.

Gavin's nerve broke and he turned, running for the door. Behind him another barbed tentacle shot out of the darkness, slammed through the back of his head and pulled him into the dark maw of the cloud.

Lindsay and Lilah sat frozen, trying desperately not to attract any attention. Lindsay sniffed, then sniffed again as he smelled something foul in the air. He discretely turned his head and nudged Lilah as he spotted a brown stain darkening the seat of Holland Manners light tan pants.

The darkness slowly imploded into a small spot as Mr. Wolfram and Mr. Hart turned to face their employees, with little emotion.

Holland breathed a sigh of relief at his narrow escape and turned, his face flushing red at the clear looks of amusement on his subordinates' faces.

"What are you laughing at? Get back to work, all of you!" he snapped angrily as he pulled a chair in front of him, hiding the spreading wet stain on the front of his trousers.

He gritted his teeth, he was going to fire them all by the end of the day.

Behind him, darkness exploded and another barbed tentacle shot out.

Holland looked down in disbelief, seeing the red stain spreading on his shirt and the barbed hook sticking out of his chest. He had time for a final shout of 'NO!' before he was yanked into the maw of the darkness and it closed.

"Mr. Murrow, as Manners has been chosen to serve our other partners in a more....personal way," Mr. Hart smiled and everyone shuddered at the malevolence in that simple gesture, "I believe that you are next in line for the position."

Mr. Wolfram looked at the coolly composed Jaztar demons, "You and your people are released from the treaty on a technicality. Perhaps, we will be able to negotiate a new treaty."

"Perhaps," Taryn nodded before turning and leaving. But thinking 'Perhaps not!'...as far as he was concerned there would be NO new treaty. It would only bring to to their remaining people to be aligned with such filth...he spat on the floor. Better to die in honor than serving Wolfram and Hart.


...."Now we will return to our people, our debt repaid to the boy," Jennes said quietly and with brief nods of their heads they stalked out.

After hearing the events at Wolfram and Hart, Willow was satisfied that retribution had been well paid.

Willow looked coldly Buffy, "What were you attempting to purchase in your 'magic store'," she demanded to know.

Buffy shivered under Willow's icy contempt, "I..I...was looking for...Soul...Anchor...
spell. It was supposed to make Angel's soul permanent."

A twisted smile was on Willow's face as she said, "And you probably thought that Angel would be so grateful that he would kick us out of the hotel. You and your true love, your precious Angel would live happily ever after."

Buffy swallowed and raised her head, meeting Willow's furious eyes with shaky courage, "Yes," was her half-whispered reply.

Willow's eyes turned dark and murky before she turned to Angel. And he screamed in pain as she blasted him against the wall, "Well, this is your lucky day, Buffy! Congratulations Angel your soul is now permtly tly bound, no more of that pesky I'm-gonna-lose-my-soul-if-I-have-sex problem."

And Buffy closed her eyes in pain, before opening them, "Thank you, Willow."

She knew Angel wouldn't even touch her with a 90 foot pole if he could avoid it, and seeing the malicious anger in Willow's eyes, she knew that was exactly what the Witch intended.

"Go take a bath, the stench of you is making me ill," Willow said quietly, her eyes unforgiving as she regarded Buffy.

Buffy looked at her, ignoring Angel as he climbed to his feet, "You will guard him," she questioned softly.

Willow's eyes soften slightly, "Forever," she replied.

Buffy nodded her head and left the bedroom, carefully ignoring the looks of contempt and derision directed her way. She had chosen this path and perhaps, with time, she wouldn't have to walk it alone.

Angel stood up carefully, "Next time warn me when you're gonna do something like that," he said ruefully.

Willow gave him a brief smile before she directed her attention back to Xander, "When will he wake," she asked Alyssa.

Alyssa shook her head, "He has to heal, mend from the inside now. He has to heal his spirit before he wakes. And how long that will take, I have no idea."

And the weeks passed slowly as they waited for Xander to awaken.

//Xander gazed out over the ruined landscape with sad eyes, everywhere the Red Beast had traveled the land had been torn apart. With a sigh Xander began trudging wearily back and forth, rebuilding his tiny fortress, making it thicker and stronger. He worked diligently on the heart of the fortress, laying thick mortar blocks that would protect the bodies of the Soldier and Hyena. As he wiped the sweat from his eyes, he blinked as a gray mist began forming within the room. And with every brick that was set in place, the gently seething mist grew. The room was halfway completed when he fetched the bodies of his friends and placed them gently on the stone floor, laughing softly as the mist curled around his ankles like a playful puppy.

Brick by brick he continued the room, watching as the mist grew larger and curled delicately around the bodies of his friends, until at last he was finished, leaving a half-wall in place. He rested contentedly on the floor inside his fortress, watching as the mist grew and flowed gently over the wall to seethe at his feet.

Slowly standing erect, he watched as the mist bunched softly against his knees, gently nudging him forward. And with many backward looks, he walked the hallways until he finally realized that the gray mist was filling the corridors of his fortress. He found himself soon to be navigating his way around in a soft gray cocoon until he was directed to his room by gentle currents of pressure and laid down. And in closing his eyes, he slept.

The gray mist flowed outside the fortress covering the ruined landscape. The misty cloud seethed gently over the entire landscape, cocooning everything in a soft gray cloud fog for some time beforaduaadually retreating, revealing a slowly mending landscape//

Leisurely, Xander swam to full consciousness and opened his bleary eyes to regard his room. Sensing a presence in his room, he turned his head and slowly blinked, "Deadboy?!" Then feeling an overwhelming urge, "I gotta go pee!"

At those first rusty words, Angel had shot to his feet looking at Xander with incredulous eyes. They had all been taking shifts, watching over him, talking to him, keeping him abreast of what was happening in the hotel. Each person, hoping and praying that they would be there for his first words.

Somehow, Angel thought wryly, as he scooped Xander up in his arms, he just never thought 'I gotta go pee' would be Xander's first words.