The Future Is What We Make

TITLE: The Future is What We Make
AUTHOR: Willie J
EMAIL: wmj166@msn.com
ARCHIVE SITE(S): http://parrot.nearheralways.com/index.php, http://www.brain-insan.com/beyondcanon/, http://www.adult-fanfiction.org
PAIRINGS: Eventual A/X
RATING: R for now
DISCLAIMER: I make any claim to, nor hold any license to the original characters to this story. These characters are used for the sake and sole purpose of entertainment only. No profit shall be, nor will be gained from the writing found hereafter; nor shall any personal credit be taken as to the character designs, personalities or concepts stemming from the original characters used. All situations in the story below, unless otherwise stated, should not, in any way, have any bearing on the creator’s original work.FEEDBACK: Oh please send me feedback, privately or through the list
DISTRIBUTION: List Archives
SPOILERS:
BETA'D BY:
SUMMARY:

Prologue

They strolled through Xander's new home, whistling at the tasteful decoration and furnishing.

"Good Lord," Giles exclaimed, looking around, "I had no idea that Xander had such taste in furnishing. Considering his taste in clothing," stammering slightly.

"Damn," Buffy exclaimed, "I didn't know construction paid so well," running her hand over a beautiful patterned couch.

Anya frowned, "It doesn't. Where did Xander get the money to pay for this all," gesturing to the beautiful appointed room. "And why didn't he tell me he had so much money?" Growing upset that Xander had deceived her about his finances. She knew he didn't have this kind of money when they were engaged or she might have never unengaged them, she frowned, was 'unengaged' a word?.

"And if I may point out," Giles said, "Where is Xander? I know he said that he was running late and to let ourselves in, but this is ridiculous," he sputtered, taking off his glasses and polishing them furiously. Why he had to come all the way from England for this, he didn't know. These children apparently still needed him to watch over them. He sighed, putting his glasses back on.

"Stupid git," Spike snarled from his position well away from the windows, he was still smoking from making the mad dash inside and he was pissed. He eyed Buffy surreptitiously, smirking when she cast a sidelong glance at him, he had her archin' for it. Yeah, she would definitely meet him later that night.

Dawn giggled, "Well I think it's kinda neat. That you all think you know Xander but he's got this mysterious secret life that nobody knows anything about," she sighed wistfully and collapsed on the couch, chortling at the dumbfounded looks everyone was giving her.

"W...w..well, I agree with Dawn," Tara stuttered out, shrinking back slightly at Buffy glared at her.

"Xander?! Xander with a secret life," Buffy said laughingly, "Ha! Like Xander could actually keep a secret about anything. As soon as anything happens to him, Xander would have been running to either me or Wills," jerking a thumb at the silent Willow, "To tell us about it, to share it with him." Smirking, "Xander with a secret life, give me a break."

"What about me," Anya said annoyed at the way Buffy casually dismissed Xander and in afterthought how she dismissed her. "Xander has plenty of secrets that he hasn't told you, you know. Beside, the whole point of a secret is that YOU don't know about it." She ended crossly.

Spike looked at her curiously, not understanding her snort of derision, "The bint is right you know. The whelp has plenty of secrets. You don't know everything about the boy, you know. He's been keeping a whopper of a secret from all of you for the past several months now. I can smell it on him, I's just ain't figure it out yet and I can't scare it outta him either," he said angrily.

"What do you mean that Xander has a secret," Willow asked, glad that someone other than her had picked up on it.

"Just what I said, the boy's been keepin' secrets, smelling strange....different, and it's been drivin' me bleedin' crazy," Spike said explosively, pacing back and forth, making sure to avoid the deadly sunlight. "Whatever the secret is, it's in this bloody 'ouse!"

Buffy looked shocked, before her disbelieving laugh ranged out, "Oh you almost got me there! Like I said, if there was a secret then we would have known about it," she said smugly.

"Like we knew about this house of Xander's," Willow asked quietly, suddenly wanting to slap Buffy across the face! She blinked, shocked at the viciousness of her thought, but looking at the expression on Buffy's face she realized that she was almost looking at a stranger. Slowly realizing that Buffy had changed, had been changing over the years, no longer was she the best girlfriend or even friend, for that matter, that she had once knew.

The door opened before Buffy could let loose the scathing reply trembling on her lips and a voice sailed out sarcastically.

"Well, well, well," Cordy's voice shot through the room, "Looks like the Scooby Gang rides again." Smirking, she waited for the reaction of the room to them, the L.A. crew.

"Angel," Buffy breathed, her eyes lighting up with sudden joy. Spike frowned, how like Peaches to show up all poofy like and try to steal his girl. Growling suddenly he stalked forward to stand at the oblivious Buffy's back, giving Angel an icy cold stare, warning him off.

Cordy straightened up, recognizing the look in Buffy's face. Oh hell no, you little bitch! she thought, I had to put up with Xander mooning and lusting after you during the entire time we were dating and I'll be DAMNED if I let you fuck up Angel, not when he's finally on the road to his redemption. Smirking at the possessive stanch that Spike had taken behind Buffy and the way he was glaring at Angel, it told her a lot. Be satisfied with the bleached wonder, at least he can't lose his soul, she thought angrily wanting to slap the shit out of Buffy.

Angel glanced quickly at Buffy, immediately recognizing the fact that Buffy had been having sex with Spike. He sniffed discreetly, seeing Spike smirk, his demon almost coming to the fore at the look of challenge on his Childe's face. He growled low in his throat, watching with satisfaction the quick look of fear on Spike's face before he stepped away from Buffy, conceding to his Sire.

Cordy eyed him warily, hoping that he wasn't going to fall for the Blond Bitch again. It just wouldn't be fair. He had so much going for him, so much to do, it just wouldn't be fair, she nearly wailed out loud. Her lips tightened, she would do whatever she had to do to make sure Angel and Buffy were never alone. Her decision made, she sidled closer to Angel, grabbing his arm and pinched him, HARD!

"Don't even think about going there," she hissed to a startled Angel. "You may think you've been to hell, Mister, but if I catch you sniffing around Buffy, I'll make what you experienced look like a goddamn picnic!"

For half a second, Angel eyes turned gold as he stared down at her. She remained unfazed, fiercely glaring at him as the others watched curiously, Buffy jealously.

Angel looked away, sighing, he knew what she was trying to do and it really wasn't necessary. He had came to the conclusion that he and Buffy were the past, what they had was over and there was no use trying to recapture old memories.

He looked at Spike and Spike looked at him warily, relaxing as he saw the subtle nod from his Sire. There would be no competing for Buffy. He sighed, knowing that he would have lost had it come to that.

Angel frowned slightly, sniffing the air. There was something here that was teasing his senses. Something dangerous and deadly, he almost recognized the smell.

"What the hell are you guys doing here," Buffy asked angrily stalking forward, trying to intimidate Cordy away from her Angel, her eyes narrowing when Cordy just smirked at her.

"Look girly, I don't know who the fuck you are, but you ain't gonna be bum rushing my girl, Cordy like that," Gunn said stepping forward menacing, followed closely by an obviously scared but determined Fred. Ain't nobody gonna be fucking with them, especially not this skinny-ass white bitch! She betta not make him open up his can of whoop ass.

Buffy faltered to a stop, seeing the angry black man standing at Cordy's side and the young scared woman.

She sneered slightly knowing that they were just human and no match for her Slayer strength and speed.

"Buffy!" Giles exclaimed out, shocked at the behavior of his Slayer, she looked at Cordy like she was going to attack her. "What's gotten into you," he asked, annoyed.

"Yeah, Buffy," Cordy drawled her name out, "Do tell Giles," her eyes flicked at the smirking Spike, "What's gotten into you," and back to the reddening face of an angry Buffy.

Willow, watching the exchange curiously suddenly widened her eyes, Buffy was sleeping with Spike! Oh my goodness, no not goodness! Oh this is so very NOT good! She babbled internally.

"Cordy," Giles said sternly, "You are not helping."

Gunn and Fred watched in astonishment as the normally imperious Cordy backed instantly down.

"Sorry, Giles," she muttered in apology, her eyes cast down.

"Buffy, I want an explanation. NOW!" Giles roared, turning to his Slayer waiting for her explain her behavior.

"Hey guys, I see you made it," Xander called cheerfully from the door carrying bags of groceries.

"Xander what the hell is going on," Buffy yelled, finally someone she could get angry at!

"Oh Xander, how good to see you, are you okay? I haven't seen you in quitehilehile due to my slaying and otherwise busy life," Xander said in a high falsetto voice. Dropping his voice back down, "Why Buffy I'm doing quite well. I'm okay, thank you very much for asking," Xander said sarcastically, rolling his eyes at her as he continued into the kitchen.

Buffy stood there with her mouth hanging open in shock. While she had always been appreciative of Xander's quick wit and sarcastic remarks, she had never been the recipient.

The others looked at here with varying degrees of sympathy and smirks.

She shook herself and began to storm after him when Giles grabbed her arm. She whirled around angrily ready to pound whoever had grabbed her and realized it was Giles, glaring at her. She opened her mouth to defend herself when he shook her.

"Not one word," he growled, "Not. One. Word," he said, enunciating each word, shaking her. She lowered her eyes angrily, determined to get back at Xander for trying to make a fool out of her and fix that bitch, Cordy.

Giles ran his hand tiredly through his hair, not knowing what was going on. He had been shocked as everyone at Xander's sarcastic quip to Buffy, but she had it coming to her at her initial greeting. But he had grew angry at the sight of her stomping angrily after the boy, especially considering that they were in HIS house and was owed some respect as the host.

Xander came back out and looked nervously at the people staring curiously at him. He so hated being the center of attention, he like being in the background not in the foreground. Background was always someplace good to be, watching and observing. Now it seemed that he was the one that had to be in the foreground. He sighed, fiddling with the hem of his loose shirt.

The others watched the young man, shifting nervously under their combined stare. Cordy was a little shocked to see how big Xander had grown, not muscle big---but fat big.

She bit her lip and asked quietly, "So Xander, what was the all fire emergency that you had to have us here?" Preening a little under his grateful gaze.

"Yes, Xander," Willow asked quietly, "What's going on with you?" She too was a little worried about how big Xander had gotten, she frowned, he hadn't been this big a couple of months ago had he?

Xander sighed, running a hand through his hair, he could see both vampires sniffing the air, wondering at the strange scent in the room. Smirking slightly at the reactions they would have when they figured it out.

"Everybody have a seat, I'll be just a minute," Xander said as he walked over to a wall switch and flicking it. There was a slight whirling sound and darken glass slowly came down over the multitude of windows, allowing the vampires to sit with their humans.

Angel and Spike glanced at each other, astonished at the kind gesture, which was ruined when Xander said, "Deadboy and DJ, take a seat," smirking as they both rolled their eyes at him at the accursed nicknames.

"Okay, I can understand the Deadboy crack," said Gunn in some confusion, "But DJ? And I don't think anybody's thought to tell you who we are. I'm Gunn and this here beautiful girl is Fred," he said, pulling a blushing Fred closer to his side.

"Oh, DJ stands for Deadboy, Jr." Xander smiling, when Gunn started laughing, "I'm Xander by the way," he said extending his hand and havingfirmfirmly shaken by Gunn and then Fred.

"Alright," Spike drawled out, by his place next to Buffy, who was gazing hungrily at Angel, who seemed determined to avoid her gaze. "Enough with the chitchat, what the hell is going on, whelp?" He was angry, right pissed off at Buffy and at his Sire. As soon as his poofy Sire shows up, Buffy was creaming in her pants! And he knew that if he could smell her, Peaches could too.

Xander sat on the unoccupied loveseat, facing them. His leg jiggled nervously as he fiddled with a loose thread on his jeans. His mouth opened and closed several times.

Willow eyes darken in sympathy, knowing that Xander only behaved like this in extreme circumstances, when he was overwhelmingly nervous.

Xander took a deep breath, okay Harris, you can do this! These people are your friends. They're not going to kill you, just remember they are your friends, his eyes flicker to Gunn and Fred, at least some of them are your friends.

He took a another deep breath and let it out explosively, "'K, here it is, I'm just going to lay it out on the table and I'm not going to beat around the bush I'm just going to say what I have to say and hope everything works out 'cause once it's out in the open, there's no way to take it all back, so here it goes, right now, no beating around the bushes, no sirree bob-o, no bushes here, I'm just going to say what I have to say and hope for the best 'cause that's all anyone can hope for the best, right, 'cause it would be silly to hope for the worst now wouldn't it," he faltered to a stop, closing his eyes at the dazed looks on everyone's faces and took a deep breath again, aware that he was babbling, and hoping that he wouldn't hyperventilate from all the deep breaths he was taking.

"I'm not the Xander, you all know," he said baldly into the silence. He looked around at the puzzled faces and sighed, knowing that they didn't understand. He shivered, but they will soon.

"I'm a Xander from the future and I came back here six years ago to correct a mistake I made in the past," he ended abruptly.

"What the hell are you talking about, Xander, we don't have time for any of your stupid jokes,uffyuffy said coldly, still furious at him over his sarcastic remark to her.

"Xander what are you talking about and what mistake did you make six years," Willow said in quiet confusion.

"In my timeline, I did something. And it resulted in almost world-endingish, a lot of people died, a lot of good people died horribly because of me," Xander said quietly, his head held down.

Angel and Spike exchanged glances, the boy was telling the truth. They focused all their attention on him.

"Xander, I sure that you didn't mean to do it," Giles smiled kindly at the distraught boy, his smile faltering as Xander looked up, tears in his eyes.

"They killed you, man, they killed you and I couldn't do anything to stop them. You told me to run and get Willow, Oz and Cordy to safety and I ran and left you there. I could hear you screaming, oh god help me I just left you there!" Xander whispered, his eyes wide in remembered horror before burying his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking.

Frightened, Willow knew he was crying, and instinctively she started for him.

"Xander, I don't know what kind of game your playing, but it stops RIGHT NOW!" Buffy roared furiously at him.

"Buffy," Angel began watching worriedly as Willow rushed to Xander pulling the sobbing boy, no man, into her shoulders.

"Pet," Spike began, glaring at his Sire when they both spoke at the same time. They exchanged long glances before Spike looked away.

"Buffy, he's telling the truth," Angel said quietly.

"W...wha....," ," Giles stuttered, his eyes wide behind his glasses.

"What do you mean, he's telling the truth, he's Xander. He's not some mumbo-jumbo Xander from the future," Buffy snorted.

"Buffy, his scent never changed," Angel said quietly, still watching Xander, the scent still teasing at his nose.

"Bullshit!" Buffy yelled springing to her feet, "There's no such thing as time travel!" She started angrily towards Xander, when Willow looked up her eyes narrowing at the aggressive stanch Buffy had taken.

Buffy was taken aback by the look in Willow's eyes and tried to laugh it off, "Come on now people, this is Xander we're talking about. What could he have possibly have done to almost cause the world to end, I mean this is Xander, okay?" Buffy said gesturing to him.

Cordy made her way over to the pair on the couch and crouched down, "Xander, Xander honey, come on, it's me and Willow. Two of your favorite girls," she said smiling, happy when Xander looked up with a wobbly smile, she stroked his arm.

"Xander, sweetie, can you tell us what you did that almost cause the world to end," Willow said quietly, holding him tightly to her, rubbing his back.

"I told someone the truth," he said quietly, his breath hitching slightly as he pulled away and sat up, his eyes redden from tears. He saw Angel watching him worriedly and gave him a small reassuring smile. They all nearly fell over when they saw that small gesture, Xander's hatred of Angel was legendary. It was like knowing the sky was blue during the daytime.

"So you told someone the truth," Buffy sneered, shaken slightly to see Xander smile at Angel and mean it, "Like that'll cause the world to end," she scoffed. "I'm telling you, time travel don't exist, he's making it all up."

"Like vampires and demons don't exist," came a cool, smooth voice to their right. Buffy jumped up in a defensive position, her eyes widening at the sheer beauty of the three men before her. My god, who the hell are they and where have they been all my life, she thought licking her lips.

Angel and Spike simply froze. Too late, they had recognized the scent, knowing that they were going to die along with everyone in the room.

Angel's eyes narrowed thoughtfully on Xander, how had the boy survived living here with them and it was all four that he now recognized as living here.

Anya's was frozen in terror as she stared at the three, recognizing them for what they were. Her eyes swung to Xander, sitting calmly on the couch.

Willow, Cordy, Fred, Tara and Dawn looked at the men goggled eyed. They previously thought Angel and Spike were gorgeous but these men totally left Angel and Spike in the dust.

Gunn and Giles looked curiously at the drooling women. Giles looked at Willow and Tara, but I thought they were gay, was his confused thought.

Gunn stood up flexing slightly, touching Fred on the arm, startling her as she turned and look up at him.

"Oh," she said, blushing.

"Yeah, 'Oh'," Gunn said staring down at her before looking back at the men, gliding across the floor.

"The boy is telling the truth," said the tallest one as he sat close, next to Xander. They watched as the blond stood behind Xander behind the couch and the third stood at the arm of the couch. Clearly indicating that Xander was under their proton.
on.

Coming out of their lustful daze the girls returned to their seats, still eyeing the three surrounding Xander.

"Well, well, well," Buffy smirked, "Looks like Willow ain't the only one trying an 'alternative lifestyle', huh Xander." She was jealous that Xander had these three beautiful men, when all she had was Spike!

"For your information, I'm not gay!" Xander said angrily trying to get off the couch, but restrained by three hands, holding him easily. He huffed and crossed his arms, his shirt billowing up slightly.

Cordy's blinked, her eyes narrowing. Totally not wanting to believe what she had seen under Xander's shirt.

"Xander, who did you tell the truth to," Dawn asked softly, trying to keep her eyes off of Xander's men.

"Buffy," Xander muttered, his head down as he fiddled with the hem of his shirt. A hand covered his in support and he flashed a grateful smile arynaryn, straightening up.

"Buffy," Giles asked in puzzlement.

"What did you tell Buffy," Cordy said quietly.

"I told her the truth, that Willow was going to do the restoration spell," Xander said clearly, leaving a stunned silence, before the room exploded.

"You fucking little bastard, you told me Willow said 'kick his ass'." Buffy screamed in rage. Stalking toward Xander, intending to hurt him.

Angel snarled in fury, his eyes a burning liquid gold.

"I spent 500 years in hell because you lied," he hissed getting to his feet.

Lourdey vaulted over the couch, standing protectively in front of Xander as Jennes flowed around the other side.

Buffy sneered and attempted to move them out of her way. Suddenly there were two swords at her throat and she froze not daring to move.

Angel froze likewise, seeing the deadly warning in Taryn's eyes as he stood up protectively.

All three began to growl, enraged at the thought of someone attempting to hurt Xander, nails lengthening into razor sharp talon, their hair stirring, lashing angrily.

"Uhm, guys, a little help here," Buffy squeaked out, carefully not moving, "Spike, Giles, Cordy, somebody," her voice rising in panic as she saw the demonic faces over the swords. They were still beautiful, but now deadly.

"Xander, why," Willow whispered, she knew how much Xander loved Buffy and probably still did.

Xander sighed and looked away, "Ease up guys," he said softly, hearing the terrible growl die down and the guys settle themselves around him.

The three demons eyes were cold and ruthless as they glanced around the room.

Xandeokedoked back at Buffy who was glaring at him angrily and he smiled sadly, "You have no idea how much I loved you? I would have done anything for you, no matter the cost," he said quietly.

"You little jealous bastard, that's what it was wasn't it, you were jealous of me and Angel, how much we meant to each other, how much we love each other, weren't you?" She stepped back and laughed enjoying the look of pain on his face. "You lied all because you couldn't get me, couldn't have me, didn't you, DIDN'T YOU!" She screamed at him watching him pale.

"Hold on a minute," Cordy said into the charged silence, "You earlier that 'they killed Giles' and then you said that you told Buffy the truth that Willow was restoring Angel's soul. So that meant that you lied to Buffy in THIS timeline, right?" Xander nodded silently.

"So what happened in your future, the one that you left, the one that you said was world-end...." she broke off with a gasp.

Xander looked down, silent.

Giles immediately grasped the implications, "It opened, didn't it," he said with admirable calm, considering that in the other future he had died, quite horribly it seemed.

Xander nodded, his eyes on his hands.

"Xander, what happened," Willow asked quietly.

Xander shrugged, "When I finally got there, they were still fighting. I could see Buffy holding back , waiting for the spell to kick in. I saw Spike bop Dru on the head and drag her out. I managed to get Giles out of the mansion. What else happened in the mansion, I don't know," he took a trembling breath before continuing, "All I do know is that Buffy and Angel disappeared that day, Giles was eaten by the demons, I ran and got Willow, Oz and Cordy out of the hospital before it was overrun. Willow was able to cast a spell that protected almost every house in Sunnydale but it left her almost dead. Between me and Oz we managed to get on a radio station warning everyone to get indoors and stay there. But some of the people didn't listen, thinking it was a prank. It was too chancy for all four of leave, so me and Oz picked Cordy to get out of town."

He shook from the memories of that dark time, before continuing hoarsely, "After a while, things started settling down a little and we behaved like good little happy meals, taking every precaution we knew. Then Faith arrived, the new Slayer and somewhat restored a balance in the town."

They leaned closer, listening in fascinated horror at Xander's grim tale of his future, a future he had prevented by lying.....