The Warriors

TITLE: The Warriors
AUTHOR: Willie J
EMAIL: dragonechilde@yahoo.com
PAIRINGS: Angel/Xander/Willow, Dawn/?/?
RATING: Eventual NC-17
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: BtVS S1-7, AtS 1-4
BETA'D BY:
SUMMARY: Xander and Angel come to an understanding in a bar

Chapter 1

Xander sat at the bar, twisting his shot glass around and around, wondering about his life, and how HE of all people got roped into driving Willow up to restore Angel's soul. His lips twisted wryly, the last place he would want to be is around Angelus/Angel. But he had to get away, at least for a while.

Buffy was still caught up in her Spike infatuation, Willow had slowly starting healing from Tara's death with the help of Kennedy. Everybody seemed to be happy and they all seemed to have someone to make them happy. He snorted, maybe he really should give gayhood a try, hey, it seemed to be working for Willow. A remembrance flashed through his mind and he shuddered back, and may NOT!

He sighed, well things seemed back to normal. He snorted, they were once again treating him like an outside, but at least he had Dawn for company now. Buffy was treating her like she was invisible and helpless too. He couldn't imagine just how much more fucked up his life could possibly get.

He felt a little warming tingle at the base of his spine, he sighed. Sheesh! I should have known not to even think something like that. Well at least it's not the burning hot pain, he had felt when they had arrived at the hotel, he thought shrugging. He didn't even turn around, when a body sat next to him at the bar, gazing into the mirror, seeing only his face and the other patrons behind him.

"So, Deadboy, you come here often," he said quietly, just wanting to get away.

"No, they sent me after you, or Willow sent me after you. By the way, Faith is going back with you," Angel said, quietly studying the boy, no the man, he corrected himself.

~Deep inside, Angelus stirred, smelling a familiar scent.~

Besides he had to get away, away from Cordy and Connor. The shock of seeing her pregnant, with Connor's child....his grandchild......he shook his head.

Angel winced as he felt Angelus stirring, glad to know that he was bound and wasn't able to get out. This time Willow had made his soul permanent.

Xander snorted, "Yeah, she would. Wouldn't want the ole helpless Zeppo to get killed or eaten by all the big nasties running around here, would we," Xander said with a bitter laugh.

"You know that's not true," Angel quietly protested, wondering what the hell had happened to make Xander get so bitter.

"I know it's not true, but it appears that Queen Buffy and the wickedly, Willow Witch seem to see me as a big, helpless dork, whose only function is to fix the house when it gets trashed," Xander said with a bitter twist to his lips, knowing that he was being unfair to at least Willow but not really caring right now. He tossed back his drink, motioning the bartender to bring him another.

~It was him! Angelus nearly howled in glee, gripping the bars of his cage, snarling when he couldn't get free. That fucking witch, he thought murderously, just wait 'til I get free again. The second thing I'm going to do is snap her neck and kill that damn slayer bitch!~

Angel was shocked. When did they start treating Xander like that, he wondered. While he didn't exactly like the bo.., the man, he knew Xander to be one of the most courageous people he had ever met and he said so aloud.

Feeling a warm rush at the grateful glance from Xander, he was struck by the rich beauty of Xander's eyes. How alive and reflective of his every mood--wondering why was he getting so caught up in Xander eyes?!.

"Deadboy," Xander said questioningly, wonderingly what the hell was wrong with Deadboy. He had an unusually non-brooding expression on his face. Xander smirked, Wow! I've made the Broodmeister change expressions.

Angel came back to himself with a slight start wondering why he was now becoming fascinated by Xander's lips.

~Tell him! Angelus yelled~

Angel winced again, thinking there was no way in hell was he going to tell Xander that! The boy would probably stake him right here and now.

"Xander, for what it's worth, I know that you're not the helpless Zeppo that they think you are, that you think they think you are. I may not have liked you much in the past--- I did wonder what the hell was wrong with you. But by the time I left, I had come to respect you. You were the only one in the bunch, it seemed, without any special abilities but you stayed and continued to fight," Angel said awkwardly, not used to praising the bo... the man. Maybe it was because he wasn't jealous of Xander anymore, maybe it was because.....he shook the thought away quickly.

Xander sat frozen, listening to Angel, wondering if it really was Angel saying something nice to him, about him!

"Yet, no matter how many times you were knocked down, you always got back up. That was what I respected about you and in an odd way, what I always admired about you," Angel finished quietly, staring down into his glass.

Xander felt a warm rush go through him. Wow! No one's ever said anything nice like that to me except Dawn. He cast a sidelong look at Angel, leaned over and gently bumped his shoulder against Angel, bringing Angel quickly out of his brooding.

Xander flashed him a quick smile, "Thanks man, whether you believe what you said or not, it was a nice gesture." Xander turned back to his drink, knocking it back swiftly and motioning for another.

Angel frowned seeing Xander knocking back drinks so fast, he sniffed and then smiled. Xander catching his smile and looked at his glass before smiling himself.

"Get real, Deadboy, I grew up with alcoholics, do you really think I'm going to start drinking, drowning my sorrows. I've seen where that gets you," he smirked raising his glass of rootbeer, quickly drinking it and gesturing for another. "I may sloosh a little when I start walking, but hey, if any fire demon come along, I'm your man!"

They returned to companionable silence, Angel casting surreptitious looks at Xander.

He suddenly said, "You never told them, did you?" Immediately regretting his words when he saw Xander stiffen.

"No," Xander said calmly, his insides churning.

"Why," Angel wanted to know, he needed to know.

"What would have been the point," Xander said, breathing a little faster as painful memories washed over him.

Angel looked down, needing to clear the air between them. This was a rare moment that there wasn't any animosity between them that they could, maybe, speak plainly.

He began slowly, carefully watching Xander for his reaction, "You know when Willow restored my soul this time, I was briefly a part of her."

Xander tensed slightly on his stool, knowing from the way Angel was watching him, picking his words ever so carefully, that what he was going to say would somehow cause him pain. He braced himself, physically and mentally, hoping that he wouldn't lose his Willow.

"She knows, Xander, I know," Angel said quietly, sighing as he watch Xander flinch as if from a blow.

"What do you know," Xander said calmly, his hands were shaking, he placed them palms down on the counter, to still their treacherous shaking.

"We know that you lied to Buffy six years ago, that you told Buffy 'Willow said kick his ass'," Angel said carefully.

Xander slumped down, his body shaking in reaction, he knew it, he thought savagely, he was going to lose Willow over this! Barely aware that Angel was still talking as he began to prepare himself for Willow's fury.

Startled to feel a cold hand clasping his, he looked down then back up to Angel. Hardly believing the warmth and admiration he saw in Angel's eyes. He flushed and looked down.

"Xander, when Willow and I were merged for that brief time, I experienced everything she had every done.....," Angel hesitated, not really wanting to complete his sentence.

"And she experienced everything that had happened to you and Angelus," Xander said as he closed his eyes in despair. "So she knows," he half-whispered in dread, in shame, realizing what else Willow knew.

Angel nodded, smelling the shame and fear rolling off Xander, "She knows and she's waiting for you back at the hotel. She didn't want me anywhere near you, but she was too weak to stop me," Angel said, admiration in his tone for the raging witch threatening to kill him, to cut his balls off. The little fire-cracker had a very vivid imagination, she had even scared Angelus silent.

"I can imagine what she's going to say," Xander said, his head hanging low in shame. Jumping slightly at the feel of cold fingers grasping his face and turning it to face Angel's burning, angry eyes.

"You should have told them," Angel whispered furiously, almost shaking in reaction, "Yet you choose to carry this burden alone, feeling shame for something that wasn't your fault, that you had no control over." He was so angry at the boy, he wanted to kill something!

"Yeah, I could have imagine what Buffy would have said, especially when she finds out that I lied. Saying that the only reason why I lied was because I hated and was scared of Angelus," Xander spat out, wrenching his chin away from Angel's hard grip.

"Sure, I was scared of him, only a fool wouldn't have been. But I dealt, like I always do," Xander hissed, his eyes glittering with fury, "But she just couldn't understand that HE had to go, even if it meant killing you. I would have done anything for her and did, but was I willing to risk the world ending for her, for her love? Hell no!" Xander said angrily, he knew that Buffy would never understand.

There was love that accepted the good with the bad and dealt accordingly; and there was the Buffy love, blind love, the obsessive love that was willing to do anything for love, never seeing the cost of that blind belief, that love will save the fucking day!

Angel nodded soberly, he understood. "From my perspective, she should have stake Angelus, me. All the horror and pain that Angelus caused I could almost lay at her feet. If she had did her duty then....," again Angel faltered to a stop looking in Xander's eyes, seeing the pain deep in his eyes.

Xander nodded his head, his eyes never leaving Angel's, "Angelus would have never killed and hurt so many people." Xander said carefully, still avoiding the real issue. Angel looked away in shame, Xander sighed, knowing that the King of Brood was back.

"Deadboy," he said grasping Angel's shoulder and giving it a shake, "Deadboy, I accepted a long time ago that it wasn't you. I always separated the two of you. One was evil and liked to hurt people and the other was you, who people like to hurt, namely me," Xander said trying to get a smile out of Angel, feeling as if they were somehow closing a gap.

"Why are you trying to make a joke out of it," Angel snarled in frustration, "Is everything a joke with you," he said, instantly regretting his words, seeing Xander's face shut down.

"I'm sorry, I was out of line," Angel sighed, looking at the bent head. Reaching out a hand, covering Xander's remaining hand, feeling heat rush through him. "We both have our ways of coping, I brood and you make jokes to hide your feelings," he said quietly smiling when Xander head shot up in surprise at how well Angel read him. He slowly smiled, seeing the wryly amused look in Angel's eyes. And when did I become so focused on Angel's eyes, he thought confusedly, still staring at Angel.

~Tell him! Angelus screamed again, rattling the bars of his cage.

~Angel angrily yelled back, Shut up!~

They sat in companionable silence, deep in thought. Xander blinked knowing what he was about to say was going to ruin things.

"You know you need to make things right between you and Wesley," Xander said carefully.

"I know," Angel said staring ahead, his glass tilted to his mouth. A small smile twisted his mouth, "I've got bigger problems now," he said wryly.

"What's that," Xander said curiously, holding his glass.

Angel cast him a sidelong glance, "Cordy's pregnant by my son." Watching Xander choke on his rootbeer, made him feel a whole lot better.

Xander gasped and choked, trying to catch his breath. Wheezing, he turned narrowed eyes on Angel, "Deadboy, Angel, that is so NOT even funny." His eyes widen at the serious look on Angel's face. "Oh shit, you're not joking," he gasped out.

He shook his head in amazement, "Damn Deadboy and I thought my life was fucked up."

"Nope," Angel said. A short uneasy silence lay between them, broken this time by Angel.

"Does Buffy know what you are," he said without looking at Xander, staring straight ahead.

Xander's eyes narrowed, he slowly turned his head to look at Angel's profile, "What do you mean, does Buffy know what I am? Of course she knows, I'm Xander. I think being unsouled must have gotten to you, man," Xander said, trying to cover his unease with Xanderbabble. Stopping abruptly when Angel gave him a steady, level look. He dropped his eyes.

"The Powers-That-Be are still alive and well. While I was floating in the ether they showed me another warrior, not yet awaken to his full potential. They showed me you," Angel said quietly, his eyes intent. "Have you told Buffy and the others yet?"

"Nope," Xander said, lifting his glass to his lips, swallowing before he continued, "And I have no intention of telling her. Ever," his tone final.

"Why," Angel asked, totally confused. "I thought you were the one talking about being Mr. Helpless, the Zeppo. If Buffy knew....," he stopped at the slightly bitter look on Xander's face.

"She would respect me more? She wouldn't dismiss me as useless? She would need me," Xander asked quietly, a raised brow raised in mocking inquiry.

Angel blinked, nodding slowly, realizing that would be exactly what Buffy would do. She would finally give him the respect that she automatically gave every other warrior. Doing what a Slayer did best, using whatever tools they had at hand, be it a weapon or another being.

"Yeah," Xander said quietly, his eyes steady on Angel, "That's exactly what she would do, treat me as someone worthwhile for once. Someone that she feels she can count on in a battle, someone she can respect." He looked away from the understanding in Angel's eyes and took a shuddering breath, his shoulders hunching forward.

"Like you're not already someone worthy of her respect. You've survived for over 20 years living on the Hellmouth with the only physical injury being a broken arm. She should have suspected something then, but neither she nor Giles ever did," Angel said quietly, his eyes intent before looking away.

~Deep inside his cage, Angelus listened intently finally understanding why he could never break the boy. The Warrior, he breath, his eyes alight. What a beautiful pair we would have made, he thought mournfully.~

Angel sighed hearing the thought.

They sat in silence for a while both thinking their own thoughts, Angel glanced up feeling the dawn approach and reluctantly told Xander they needed to get back.

With a nod of agreement, they were off. Angel glanced sideways at the boy, man walking beside him in companionable silence, his eyes flashing gold at a couple of demons thinking them easy prey, warning them off. Glancing around he met Xander's amused eyes, and sheepishly smiled knowing that Xander would be capable of handling the demons that came their way. They walked on in silence.

Angel glanced at Xander again and spoke, "For what it's worth, he did love you." Wincing at the angry look Xander shot his way.

Xander spoke tightly, "And for what it's worth, I don't give a fuck! I don't care how much a person claims to love you, rape is still rape in the human world." And he sped up his pace, wanting only to get back to Sunnydale.

~And Angelus howled, knowing he had lost his boy forever. Never to touch that beautiful gleaming skin, never to look down into the boy's deep brown eyes, to see the pain bloom. Despite what he had said to Wesley, Xander drew him like no other. The Slayer was like every other female he had met and fucked. But the boy, the boy shone with an inner light. Always getting hit, but never staying down, charging almost recklessly ahead. That was what first drew him to the boy. And when he had faced him down in the hospital, he knew he had found a worthy mate for himself. And now to lose him, never to touch him, it was too much for him~

Angel gasped at the pain Angelus was broadcasting, his sight wavering. Xander hearing the gasp behind him looked back, seeing Angel leaning against the side of the building, a look of pain etched on his face.

He took a couple of steps back, looking at Angel's downturned face, "Deadboy," he asked worriedly, "You okay."

"Yeah, just give me a minute," Angel said gasping under the barrage of pain. "It's just Angelus is upset about something and he's broadcasting his pain," he gasped out, bent over, groaning

Xander looked around worriedly, took a deep breath and stepped into Angel's personal space, crowding him back against the wall, his eyes eerily intent on Angel's confused expression. He touched Angel's face gently and closed his eyes, resting his forehead against Angel's.

Had anyone been looking at the curious scene, they probably had thought they were witnessing two lovers, locked in a passionate embrace, seeing Angel's arms steal around Xander's back, holding him closer. They wouldn't have seen Xander's glowing hands framing Angel's face, soothing the pain, soothing Angelus, who subside recognizing who was touching them.

Angel began purring under the warm, soothing waves washing over him. Feeling regret when Xander pulled his head back, who laughed softly at the purring vampire as he opened his eyes, meeting Angel's brown eyes, watching the smile grow in the grateful eyes.

His smile dying as he felt some sort of connection still between them, feeling a sort of heat rising in him and tried to step back. Meeting some resistance, he realized that Angel was embrac....no Angel was simply HOLDING him, that's all he was doing, Xander thought quickly, and pushed back harder against the arms around him, feeling them suddenly release him. He would have went tumbling to the ground had not Angel's quick reflexes pulled him back, flat against Angel. He froze, feeling heat burning in his cheeks, his hands trapped between their bodies, as his breath came out in little shudders, caressing Angel's face with each breath he exhaled. Watching with wide eyes as Angel slowly licked his lips.

His eyes widen, feeling a certain stirring against his leg. Almost collapsing in relief, knowing that it wasn't hi...., he squeaked and stood absolutely still, not knowing if running away screaming or just remaining motionless, would help the situation.

Angel cast a quick look at the frozen Xander and, "It's just a bodily reaction Xander, it doesn't mean anything," hoping that Xander would accept that explanation, feeling an overwhelming relief at the softening body pressed against him, gritting his teeth against a groan, not wanting to scare the boy. Feeling the shudder ripple through Xander, he almost groaned, wondering when did he start wanting Xander.

Xander stepped back, carefully keeping his eye on Angel, feeling Angel's arms loosen around him. They warily eyed one another, before turning and heading back to the Hyperion, each sneaking surreptitious looks at the other. Wondering what the other was thinking.

Or in Xander's case, Xanderbabble, I feel like I just left reality and entered into Willowland. When the hell did I start having these strange feelings for Angel and when the hell did I turn gay. I'm pretty positive this morning when I woke up that I was 100% straight. Did I get attacked by a GayDemon when I wasn't looking? Is there such a thing as a GayDemon? And is Angel gay? I definitely felt some movement down there and it wasn't me. I thought he was totally into females, maybe he's Bi.' His eyes nearly bugged out, Maybe I'm Bi. I was attacked by a Bi-Demon, he wailed to himself, a little whimpering noise coming from his throat.

"Xander," Angel said quietly, his attention focused on the strange noises coming from Xander, "You okay," he said worriedly, hoping that his actions didn't make the bo--Xander start, he smirked, having the wiggins.

"Yeah, I'm cool, I'm cool," Xander said hurriedly, trying to convince himself of his supreme coolness. Looking up, pathetically grateful to see the Hyperion so he could get the hell home and away from the disturbing feeling Angel was arou....NO! That being near Angel was 'causing', he turned the word over in his mind suspiciously, looking for some sort of hidden meaning.

Angel saw the relieved expression on Xander's face at the sight of the hotel and was equally grateful, wanting to get away from the disturbing images of a naked Xander running around in his head. He smiled wryly, he could feel Angelus sitting on his bed, eating popcorn, watching the images play in their shared consciousness.

He opened the door, allowing Xander to enter first. Grateful to see all their friends still downstairs. He was even pathetically grateful to see Cordy and Connor standing together.

Xander entered, wanting only to make a quick goodbye, but seeing the frown on Willow's face he knew he wasn't gonna get off that easy. Quickly saying a prayer that he could get out of here without making a bigger fool of himself than usual, he quickly extended his hand.

"Hi, you must be Gunn, I've heard a lot about you," shaking the confused Gunn's hand and quickly moving on to Fred, giving her the same rapid pace greeting.

Willow and Faith exchange amused glances, knowing that Xander was extremely uncomfortable at the rate of babble that was falling from his lips.

"Wes, dude, loving the dangerous Manly Man look you got going there," Xander said waving to a frowning Wesley.

"And you must be Lorne, loving the green man, green is my favorite color. Actually I'm really kinda partial to them all," he paused frowning before moving on.

"And you must be little Connor, but not so little. Please to meet cha and don't let the old Broodmeister," he said jerking his thumb back at Angel, "Get you down. When he gets out of hand, just roll up a newpaper and smack him on the head, saying 'Bad Vampire, Bad!' he'll get the message real quick."

Angel smirked at his son's dazed expression, POW! You've just been Xanderized.

Willow tensed up as Xander stood in front of Cordy, knowing the bad blood that existed between them, because of their indiscretion.

Xander took a deep breath, not really wanting to do this, feeling a bad vibe coming off her. But she's the last one to greet and I'm so outta of here, he assured himself.

"I'm sorry, no one's introduced us," he said smiling his most charming smile at the woman, watching her eyes widen, silently cheering YES! I still got the ole Xandercharm going! "My name's Xander by the way, I'm the escort service for the those two lovely ladies over there. So, what's your name," he ended, smiling at the silent woman.

He looked around feeling an odd sort of tension fill the room. Now what did I do wrong, he thought confusedly, glancing around to see everyone looking at him.

"Uhm, Xander," Willow said gently, wondering what was wrong with Xander's eyes, "It's Cordy."

"Cordy," Xander repeated looking around the room for her, "Where's she, I wanted to see her before we left," he said before looking back at Willow and drawing back slightly at the look in her eyes.

"Xander," Wesley said smoothly, an odd tenseness filling him, "You're standing in front of her."

Xander looked swiftly at the woman standing before him and then at the murderously glaring Connor standing next to her, "Well I know that you said that she was part demon now. But I thought that the only change was the color of her hair and since when does Cordy have purple skin, not that I'm saying purple looks ugly," he said hastily a her eyes narrowed.

He jumped back in fright as the woman growled and leaped at him. He ducked, barely avoiding the dangerous claws slashing at him. He kicked her dead in her stomach giving a hearty 'HA HA' at connecting, then feeling something slam into his back as he was attacked from behind.

Falling, rolling to the ground with the crazy looking woman on him, he tried to fight her off. Feeling her hands steal around his throat despite his best efforts, tightening brutally on his neck. Tear glittered in his eyes as the agonizing pain radiated from his throat. And he did the only thing he could, he screamed for help, and deep in his mind feeling/hearing the answer, ' I'm coming'----he passed out.

Willow had frozen for half a second when Cordy jumped at Xander, with a speed belying her obvious pregnancy and her eyes began narrowing to dangerously black slits. When Xander scored a hit on the woman and Connor hit him in the back...

Willow lost it---screaming, "Illuminati" and for the first time, the creature was revealed in her glory, strangling her Xander.

Angel heard Xander's scream for help and an answering reply as he leaped at the demon- Cordy?, throwing her from Xander. But not before she lashed at Xander, scoring his chest with her razor claws.

Faith leaped at Connor, beating him back from Xander and from Angel. And this time, she wasn't gonna pull her punches like last time. Gunn, Wesley and Fred tried to attack the demon but it quickly fought them off, throwing them about like matchsticks. Whirling back to it's primary target....Xander, until Willow stepped in it's path, her eyes a seeping darkness, and it finally stopped well away from the deadly witch.

"Silly child," she/it hissed, "Do you really think you can stop me?! I could destroy you so easily," she/it purred, sidling, still trying to get to Xander.

Angel pulled the unconscious Xander closer to him, watching the action with golden eyes, as Angelus raged inside.

~MINE! That stupid bitch touched my BOY, hut my boy! Let me out, I'll make her pay!~

Willow roared, magic flying from her fingers that the creature quickly blocked before it, too, gestured and Willow was flung back, falling to the floor. The demon laughed as Faith knocked Connor out and jumped forward to challenge it, yelling to Angel to get Xander out, before the demon backhanded her across the room.

As Willow got up, a dark look on her face, the room shaking ominously,. NO ONE was going to hurt her Xander and her body began to glow, crackling energy moving throughout the room.

There was a shimmer between Xander and the demon and a glowing armored figure leaped through with silent deadly grace. Crouching and slowly standing erect, a glowing sword held in it's hand. It faced the demon silently, glancing at Willow whose magic abruptly stopped leaving her limp, before facing the demon again.

"So, I see that you are awake after all," it said mockingly, "The master will have much fun, breaking you as well as him," gesturing to the unconscious Xander. The silent figure simply lifted it's sword higher in an unspoken challenge, making the demon lose it's cold malicious grin.

"Not tonight, dearie, but soon. You and the others will soon die facing the Master's wrath and there's nothing you can do to stop it," she yelled mockingly and disappeared.

The figure stalked over to Xander but Willow moved faster reaching Xander before it, her eyes hot, a silent warning. Angel lowered Xander gently to the ground and stepped forward also, a warning growl in his voice as his face changed, revealing the demon.

The figure stopped before reaching up and pushing back it hood.

"So, I see that you do care," Dawn said to Willow, whose mouth dropped open in shock.

"Dawn?!" Willow burst out, her eyes widening as she took in the armored figure.

"You were expecting, what, the Orkin Man?" Dawn smirked at the flabbergasted look on Willow's face, before crouching quickly to Xander's prone body.

"Keep an eye on the knucklehead over there," she ordered over her shoulder to Faith.

"Uhm, which knucklehead," Faith asked baffled by the way Dawn was acting.

"You have more than one?" Dawn paused, looking at her coolly, "I mean the boy, el Stupid-O."

She could vaguely hear muttering behind her as the large black man asked Wesley who the hell was she and Wesley's answering reply. Feeling her body tingle at the sound on Wesley's voice, she glanced curiously over at him, stiffening as she met his gaze, before turning confusedly back to the unconscious Xander.

Inspecting the wound carefully, she glanced at Angel then back down to the unconscious Xander, her eyes widening as she saw the thin golden string connecting the two. By the looks of the string, the bonding process had only just begun. She bit her lip uncertainly, glancing at the vampire, based on Xander's past history with the vampire, she didn't know if he would want to be permanently bond to the vampire or if it would be better to sever the bond now before it was too late. She dithered silently over the decision since Xander was unconscious and couldn't make it, she didn't know what to do and she wished Xander was awake to help her.

She examined his wounds, wondering why wasn't he conscious yet, just then noticing the poison seeping into his body and a forcefully "Fuck!" erupted from her lips.

"Dawn Summers!" Willow exclaimed, shocked at the language from the girl, and raging with curiosity over Dawn and did Buffy know where her little sister was? Did Buffy know what her little sister was? Better yet, did she know what Dawn was? Stay tuned for this and other exciting revelations, she thought wryly.

"Sorry Willow," Dawn said absently, there was no choice now. The bonding had to be completed or Xander was going to die. Swiftly making her decision, she stood up.

"We need to get him into a bed and the wounds washed out. I need to talk to you and Wesley," she quietly said to Angel, her eyes dark and serious.

Angel nodded without taking his eyes off Xander and carefully picked the boy up, alarmed at the limpness in the boy's body. Quickly striding up the stairs, bypassing several empty rooms, unconsciously choosing his room...his bed to place Xander gently in.

Dawn watched with curious raised brows, instinctively recognizing the room as the vampire's. She eyed Angel speculatively, well, well, well, looks like the Angel had already Choosen. She could only hoped that Xander would be as easy to convince.

She sighed, who was she kidding....Xander was going to freak BIG time...he was so not gonna like the fact that he was Bond to a male! She snickered silently, remembering the time Cesear had put the moves on him......she laughed for days about that, she loved to see Xander blush...his blush went all the way down to his knees!

She eyed Wesley, damn but she wished she looked older! She knew...she just knew there was no friggin' way that Wesley was gonna touch her, especially not with her looking even younger than his shirt. And what was up with the that ugly shirt? She thought Xander was the only male that got dressed in the dark. Sighing she turned her attention back to Angel, who was returning with a basin of soapy water in his hands. She saw with alarm Willow's hands begining to glow, belatedly recognizing the healing spell Willow was getting ready to cast....oh shit at Xander!

"Hold up there, Willow," she exclaimed grabbing Willow's hand and siphoning the magic off.

Willow looked at her hands bemusedly, shaking them as if that would make them work, bringing back the magic.

"What did you do," she whispered and lifted stunned eyes to the grim, unsmiling Dawn.

"Prevented you from dying," Dawn said grimly, pointing to the bed, "See your friend, the one getting the bedbath by the vampire? Well, he's had more than enough of your magic, especially when you're using it against him. Last time you almost killed him prematurely; this time, you fire ANY magic towards him and he will kill you........ and Willow, Xander is WAY stronger than you can ever imagine," Dawn said quietly, her words at odds with her youthful appearance.

"But...but I just want him to be better," Willow said, her eyes wide and beseeching. "Would he really have killed me," she whispered quietly, looking at Xander.

"Willow, he will get better; he has Angel taking care of him and Angel's not going let anything happen to Xander," Dawn said gently to her, her heart twisting at the look of pain on Willow's face. She knew how deep the bond was between the two and she wished she could make things better, but Willow had to understand just how dangerous Xander could be....would be.

"Willow, you need to listen to me carefully, your life will depend on this....if that magic had left your fingers in his direction, he would have obliterated you....between one beat of your heart and the next, you would have been dead. He would have mourned you for a time, just as we mourn all our friends that have passed, but you would still be dead....not vampire dead, but permanently, finally dead," Dawn said quietly, praying that Willow believed her because this time, there could be no second chances. Not for her, not for anyone. The stakes were too high at this moment, with the First and the Nameless acting in concert for the first time in ages.

Seeking to distract them, trying to weaken them before confronting them in head-to-head.......Idiots! Like that'll happen, she snorted silently to herself, glancing at Xander and the oblivious Angel. She had to make sure Xander was okay and she hoped to get back to her post in Sunnydale.

Willow stood frozen, Xander would have killed her?! Not my Xander, he loves me, she thought in protest.

~Like you loved him up on the bluff....the day you tried to kill him, destroy the world, her subconscious whispered coldly~

~But I was....I was......, Willow tried to protest~

~.....hurting and grieving, true; but in full control of your actions; but still you hurt Xander, you hurt Buffy, you hurt Giles and Dawn. Like you were the only person that had lost loved ones, that seen loved ones die in their arms, her subconscious said witheringly~

And Willow sank to the floor, one hand covering her mouth in distress and tears pouring from her eyes as she looked at the unconscious Xander. Oh Goddess, I'm so sorry Xander! And she broke down in cleansing tears, feeling the darkness rising....lifting from her soul.

Dawn knelt down and embraced the sobbing woman, stroking her back soothingly, "It's okay, Willow. It's okay, he forgave you and loves you. He still sees you as his Willow girl, his bestest friend," she said, drawing a quivering smile from Willow, "You just have to be more careful with your magic," she soothed the distraught girl.

She glanced over at Xander, seeing the poison cleansed from his system and sighed, it was time for the Talk. She patted Willow comfortingly before rising to her feet.

She stepped over to the oblivious Angel and touched his shoulder to get his attention, "Angel, Wesley we need to talk," Dawn said softly.

Angel looked up with a start, reluctantly pulling his attention away from the boy, "Uhm, I'm sorry...what did you say."

"I said we need to talk. Do you think you can pull yourself away from Xander's side and give me your attention for a few minutes, pretty please," she mock begged, making sure to give him her best Xander look, snickering audibly at the look of embarrassment on his face.

She sobered abruptly, here she was playing the fool while time was running out. She had to get Xander Awaken and in fighting form, and for that he needed to be Bonded.

"Sorry, just....," she waved an embarrassed hand before continuing, "We don't have much time for me to go into fine detail," she stated tersely, glancing from one male to the other, "I'll just give you the highlights of what's going on. The First," she nodded at Angel's suddenly grim face, "Is trying to open the Hellmouth all the way. Should it succeed then every last Hellmouth in existence will open, just like dominoes."

Angel's eyes narrowed in cold realization, "If every Hellmouth opened, releasing all the demons, the world would be swiftly overrun, with the demons becoming the dominant species," he stated quietly, watching her frown.

Dawn grimaced, "Unfortunately, it's a little worse than that," she began carefully, "All the Hellmouths are not really Hellmouths per se." She tried to figure out a way to explain what they were and suddenly brightened, "There are five pseudo Hellmouths, okay? These openings represent frozen moments in time, almost like alternate realities. Okay, now here's the tricky part...think of the world as a giant computer, with these moments acting like Restore Points in the computer; in case of an emergencies like the world ending, one of those points will open and that will become the new reality. This will allow the world, humans, to sorta restart itself, in a roundabout way. Allowing us to fix events where things went wrong."

"And if they all opened, these moments could be easily invaded leaving no way for us to start over," Wesley whispered quietly, his eyes narrowing in horror.

"Precisely," Dawn smiled approvingly, "Xander was placed in Sunnydale after the last Guardian died to safeguard this Hellmouth until I came, because this Hellmouth is like the linchpin to all the Hellmouths....if it opened, then they all go BOOM! and we won't be able to stop the demons from overrunning the place."

Willow gasped behind her, "Xander?! But he has no powers or anything like that," she said in near disbelief.

Dawn rolled her eyes witheringly at her, "Willow, if Xander wasn't what he is then every last one of you would have been dead a long time ago. Do you honestly think it was because of your superior skills at witchcraft or Buffy being Ms. SuperSlayer that you guys actually survived living on the Hellmouth?! Get a clue!" She shook her head, refocusing on the dumbfounded men, knowing her next words would cause an uproar.

So, choosing her words carefully, she began, "In the beginning there was Light separating Dark and HE said it was Good; HE created order from the chaos, HE created the Heavens and the Earth, HE created Man and Woman and gave them dominion over the creatures of the earth....."

Wesley looked at her in confusion, "Why are you trying to recite from the Bible, rather incorrectly I might add?"

Dawn could feel an unearthly wind beginning to rise, "Were you there?!" she said pointedly.

"Of course not," he said coolly, a look of annoyance on his face.

"I was, so shut up and let me finish," she snapped. She blew out an exasperated breath, ignoring their astonished gasps.

"Anyway, Lucifer aka the Morning Star, the Light Bearer blah blah. We just call him Rat Bastard and Dumbass," she grinned briefly, "He didn't like it that Man was given dominion over Earth and that technically," she stressed the word, "Technically we were supposed to obey you guys and stuff. So he got a little uppity with the Man in Command once too many time and got his ass kicked. Let me tell you, that was a nasty fight! Finally, we threw their sorry asses out; you shoulda heard them crying when they realized that HE was dead serious about not letting them back in," she looked away as she added, "I lost my sister, father and mother that day. My father and sister took Dumbass side and my mother died in battle fighting for humans. I heard later that they died also."

"So things settled down a bit with the earth filling up with you pushy little humans. Some of you were the cutest little things," she squealed, playfully pinching Wesley cheek, snickering as he jerked away in annoyance.

"Then Mr. Dumbass figured out how to create his own little fuckers, no offense Angel," she glance quickly at him, "And he somehow created those damn Hellholes, at least that was what we called them back then, and managed to push some of his demons and devils out. And the more that wiggle through managed to opened the Holes wider and wider until finally they were able to pour through in waves; they overran the world and destroyed it."

"Wait a minute," Angel injected, "You say the world was destroyed, but we're still here, so one of those Restarting things must have been used," Angel ended grimly, he was counting.

"Restore and yes the world was restarted again. This time some of us were dispatched and sent to guard the openings," she frowned, "The only problem was that HE didn't want us screwing things up down here, so we had to assume human form and with limitations....and then to better understand *why* we needed to guard the Hellmouths, we were given the concept of souls. Which, unfortunately gave us free choice and free will, making us a little like you humans," she said with a sigh.

"And Anda'makta, one of the Guardians, choose to listen to Luc's lies and opened his Gate.....and the world was again overrun and reduced to rubble," she concluded with a grim look. Her head tilted slightly, she could hear the wind picking up.

"What?!" This time all three of them cried out in alarm, they started counting too.

"Yep, Anda'makta listened, believing that he would have some sort of power over you humans....which he did get but just not in the way he was expecting---his power was to kill and destroy humans. And for his crime, he was punished....you recognized him as the Beast," Dawn said grimly.

"Well, thankfully he's dead now," Wesley sighed, growing pale when Dawn shook her head.

"Angelus only destroyed the Anda'makta Beast's outer shell. That's was only way for him to be released from the form he was bound into," she said simply.

"You mean he played Angelus," Angel said gazing at her steadily, finally understanding the brilliant white light that Angelus saw when the Beast was destroyed. He took a deep, unnecessary breath comprehending the magnitude of the battle they were facing, he could feel Angelus grow still as he listened, feeling his chagrin at being played for a fool.

"Yep, Angelus got played like a piccolo. Angelus probably guessed that only the Knife would penetrate the Beast's hide and that's why it was allowed to fall into Angelus' hands, he knew what Angelus was planning. In that form he was bound by it's limitations, but now he's free."

"Shit!" Wesley said in helpless fury, he well remembered just how ineffectual their offense was against the Beast and now....


"When we were sent down, we were all Promised mates or companions to help us in our struggles. These mates and/or companions would allow us to become again what we were created for, allow us to effect our Change," she glanced at the unconscious Xander, "Xander and I are the only ones left unmated and it's Xander's job to fight him."

Angel felt a brief stab of grief, of loss at the thought of Xander with someone else----a feeling he ruthlessly suppressed. As if Xander could ever, would ever have anything to do with him! Though why now all of a sudden did he feel so...drawn to the boy. Even back in Sunnydale the boy's marked antagonism towards him would make him wild with rage.....made feel more alive than even being with Buffy, he paused at that thought. But I love Buffy, don't I, he thought in confusion. Xander was always an annoyance to him...but so were Cordy and Spike. Yet his response to Xander was vastly different than his response to Cordy and Spike.

"Xander?!" Willow gasped, "But why," she nearly wailed, she didn't want to anything to happen to Xander! NO ONE was gonna hurt Xander and she didn't give a damn if it was a God or a demon, her lips were pressed in a grim line.

"Because of hate....because Xander, although the youngest, was put in charge of us," Dawn said looking away, listening to the wind begin to shriek.

Angel frowned, his senses stirring, feeling some unknown force rushing towards them....and unconsciously moved closer to the bed.

"When Xander was put in charge Anda'makta was, at first happy....even though he thought the position was his, that he was to be in charge. Then quietly, Luc started whispering to him and he began listening, began believing his own hype, believing that he could do a better job, blah blah blah. When things were Restored, he was bound into that form," she paused.....

"And now he's coming for Xander."

A low vicious growl echoed through the room shocking the humans to the core, igniting every primal instinct at that deadly sound.

Running away sounded very good right now, Willow thought shakily, watching the look on Angel's face, it went waaaaay beyond his gameface.

"No," Angel repeated coldly, "Now, how do we stop him," only his eyes gave lie to his calm facade. They burned with the forces of Hell itself. Dawn nodded approvingly at what she saw, Good he will need that rage to protect himself.

Dawn raised a brow, " *You* can't stop him. The only way he can possibly be stopped is if Xander is Awake and that bitch knew what she was doing when she clawed Xander, poisoning him," Dawn spat out, she could faintly hear the wind rising, becoming audible to her.

"Now, Xander must be Bonded to his mate," she said simply.

Angel grunted softly and he gave a brief, regretful look at the long body laying in his bed, memorizing just how RIGHT the sight of Xander sprawled in his bed looked. Closing his eyes the better to savor, to hold on to that feeling of completeness for one endless, timeless moment and then he opened his eyes.....

And let go.....

The only thing that mattered now was that Xander lived. Why he felt this urge to be with, to be apart of Xander he didn't know but it was something he hadn't felt in a very long time. He finally recognized, too late, that it felt right in ways that loving Buffy never did.

"How much time do we have to find Xander's mate," he asked harshly, ignoring the look in Dawn's eyes. He suspected that she knew how he was beginning to feel about Xander, but he didn't need her sympathy or want her sympathy. While he was a warrior in for the PTB he was still a demon and he had no business wanting a being of Light....wanting Xander.

Her brow raised, "I would have thought you would have figured it out by now, Angel...can't you feel him?!" Her smiled widened slightly as Angel turned and looked first at Xander then at her as if he couldn't believe he heard her right, he was Xander's mate?!

His eyes narrowed suspiciously, "But he hates me or...at least dislikes me a lot," Angel protested but he wanted...he needed to believe her!

"Oh, he hates you alright, but he needs you too," Dawn assured him earnestly. "No, Angel you are mates," she said softly and chuckled at Angel's expression, despite the seriousness of the situation.

"But we gotta hurry 'cause he'll be here soon," she said urgently, hearing the eerie wind begin howling outside.

Willow and Wesley felt an unnamed dread slowly creeping up their spines, it was all they could do not to run, screaming out into that wind! Somehow they knew that was the way to madness....they ran out into that wind, they would die.

"What do I need to do," Angel yelled over the screaming wind, rattling the windowpanes. He could sense death approaching with the wind.

"Willow, you get downstairs and try to stall Anda'makta," Dawn screamed, feeling the protesting creaking from the hotel from the pressure being placed on it. "Do you think you can do it," she yelled to Willow.

"Yes," Willow screamed back, resolve hardening her face; if it cost her her life, she would stall like there was no tomorrow----and she knew that for her, that that was a very strong possibility. But she would find a way!

She staggered from the room, holding on to the walls for support as the hotel shook violently.

"What do you want me to do," Wesley screamed at Dawn, wondering at his role in all of this.

"Stay with me," Dawn yelled, and turning to Angel, "Hold him in front of you, facing each other."

Angel finally had Xander positioned like she ordered, struggling to maintain his balance as the shifting room made his footing extremely difficult.

She drew her sword and the screaming, howling outside increased as if it knew what she was going to do and sought to stop her. The hotel shook again under the stress, sending Wesley sprawling to the floor.

Dawn maintained her footing effortlessly and concentrated, feeling the connections with her fellow Guardians, Keys and Warriors. Smiling at their rejoicing in Xander's Binding ceremony, the love coming through the link drawing tears to her eyes.....

And she plunged her sword through Xander's heart, through Angel's undead heart....hearing them both howl in pure agony. She held on with desperate strength as they writhed on the impalement of her sword.

"Keep holding him," she screamed at the shocked Angel, pulling her sword out, and saw the beginning rage glittering in his eyes as he jerked his attention to her, a snarl of rage twisting his features.

"Remember the Beast?! The earthly form must be shred to release us," she screamed at him sensing he was about to attack......

Her words ringing in the shattering silence.....the wind had stopped.

She looked around, casting about with her senses.....he was here.

"Dawn, what have you done," Xander husked out, raising his head from Angel's shoulder and locking eyes with Angel for one brief moment before his arms were flung to the sides, his head thrown back, hanging limply in Angel's arms.....

And he SCREAMED....

His body seemed to glow from the inside, white light pouring from his mouth, his eyes, his ears....any opening the light could find. Tiny pinpricks of light began shooting out from even his pores.

Angel threw a panicky look to Dawn, trying desperately to hold the writhing body in his arms, "What do I do," he yelled above Xander's screaming as the light began to intensify.

"Just hold him, you'll know when to let go. Anda'makta is here and I need to help buy us some time," Dawn yelled over her shoulder, grabbing Wesley and dragging him from the room, just as Xander's body became a white, heatless flame in Angel's arms.

"Don't look at them," she yelled to the fascinated Watcher, wrenching his head from the glowing figures.

"But why?! They're so beautiful," Wesley breathed, feeling an awful compulsion to turn and look.

"It's dangerous for mortals to gaze upon a Warrior Change," Dawn held his face firmly, "Mortals have died from it, been driven mad or gone blind......now let's move!" She could hear the screams and yells from below as they raced down the hall to the stairs, before she came to an abrupt halt, sweeping an arm out preventing Wesley from rushing heedlessly down the stairs. Her eyes narrowing on the coldly beautiful man, effortlessly holding Gunn in the air.

"Dawn, my little Key, how are you," he man said pleasantly. "How long has it been since we seen each other?"

Wesley frowned, this was what had everyone spooked, this slender man?! He gave a wondering look at the man, seeing the long black hair trailing over a blue clad narrow shoulders, from the man's profile he looked like an extraordinarily beautiful, graceful man. And sure he was obviously strong, but why was....

Then he gasped softly as the--thing turned cold pitiless eyes on them....and he knew that he was faced with an ancient evil.

"Don't look at him for long," Dawn cautioned him quietly, before sauntering coolly down the stairs. Remembering all the lessons Xander tried to teach her.....silently chanting Attitude, Attitude, Attitude.

"Andy, how the hell are you doing? You're looking just as great as ever----NOT!" She smirked, knowing her insouciance would drive him crazy----it was the only weapon she had to keep him off balanced, she hoped.

He frowned, "Why must you and Alexander call me by that ridiculous name? I would have thought you, at least would show some dignity, remember who you are," he shook his head sadly, disturbing locks of ebony hair, still holding the struggling Gunn. "But I see that Alexander has corrupted you far too well," and he casually tossed Gunn over his shoulder.

Wesley winced at the audible crack as Gunn hit the wall, his arm bent at an unnatural angle. He glanced around for the others, blinking as he looked up and saw them dangling from the ceiling. He swallowed, how in the hell was Xander of all people supposed to defeat this creature?!

Dawn followed his eyes, tsking, tsking, "You see, that's why no one ever invites you anywhere. You just don't know how to have fun," she snapped at him, bravado covering her fear. She knew she was no match for him, all she could do was buy Xander enough time to complete his Change, her death was assured. She cast a regretful glance at the oblivious Wesley, man was I looking forward to getting better acquainted with him; she shrugged, she had no time to waste on regrets.

"But, my dear, I am having fun," he said calmly, a look of cruel amusement on his face as he gestured, laughing as Faith flew through the air screaming, hitting the wall with a sickening thud.

She drew her sword calmly, "You realize that there's no way I'm letting you past me, right?"

Anda'makta laughed and shook his head in amusement as he drew his sword, "My precious Dawn.....as if you can stop me!"

And they leaped forward simultaneously, swords flashing, glowing with every blow.

At first, Wesley reveled in watching Dawn's deadly dance, each blow sure and direct, driving the thing back with every strike. Weaving an almost impenetrable pattern in the air, each blow connecting with hard brutal force. Her deadly attack seemed to keep the creature off balance....then something seem to change and Anda'makta stopped moving, standing still as he parried her increasingly desperate strokes with contemptuous ease. He could only watch in sick horror as Anda'makta began to press his attack, easily bypassing Dawns blocks, scoring thin red lines again and again....her face, her arms, her chest began taking on the appearance of a fine wire mesh. He watched as Dawn grew increasingly weaker, her blows losing their strength, their focus; and realized that Anda'makta had been only playing with her, cutting her deliberately, like a cat with a mouse, he thought in horror.

Dawn could feel every little cut draining her, weakening her further. Waking Xander had taken too much of her strength and power, maintaining the barrier across the stairs weakening her even more. She knew that he was only playing with her and finally, her breath ragged, she dropped to her knees, weakly glaring at the smiling Anda'makta.

"We would have had so much fun," he murmured softly, trailing a sharp fingernail over her face, slicing open her cheek. "Oh well," he shrugged, raising his sword. His smile widening at the helpless fury on her face, laughing he brought the sword down on her unprotected neck.

And the sound of steel hitting steel echoed in the hotel.

"What?! No happy cries of joy for your little brother," Xander said mockingly, "Bro, where's the love? Damn man, but our family is fucked up, oh but I forgot, you are damned." He smiled wickedly and punched Anda'makta in the face, watching with extreme satisfaction as he slammed into a wall.