*****

As Buffy looked Dawn in the eyes, quietly telling her, that it was her last gift to the world. Xander pushed past her. He smiled at her. "I have to go, Buff. I'm the Key guy. You could follow if you must, in your non-key guy status. But I still have to go." He quickly kissed her on the forehead. And smiled softly at Dawn.

He smiled down at Giles, Willow, Tara, Spike, and Anya. Then just let go. Everyone could the gentlest smile on his face, as he hit the vortex. And fell through it.

Willow wailed as Xander hit the ground. Her best friend had died, protecting Buffy, once again. Except this time, he wasn't just her White Knight. This night, he was the world's White Knight. Tara tried to hold Willow, as Willow somehow found the strength to crawl to her oldest friend. Now she was left alone. No Jesse, no Xander.... her past was gone.

Buffy fell to her knees, as Dawn tried to steady her. "He died for me....he told me once that it was his place to take mine....I never understood that till now."

Spike's eyes teared up, as he watched Xander's smiling body crash to earth. "If there were angels...that's what they would look like, Xander right now." Spike whispered, unknowing outloud.

Giles watched his son, maybe not in blood, but in heart, fall to the unforgiving earth. He also felt his heart break. The heart, and soul of the Scoobies was gone. He knew the truth, Xander had been the one who had held the group together through the hardest parts of this adventure through life.

Anya smiled. She knew that was how he wanted to go. He wanted to die helping. Not being something's 'butt monkey'. As tears rolled down her face, her smile shined. She kissed the ring that he had given to her. And as Spike picked her up. She asked to see Xander.

Spike looked at Anya like she was nuts. But begrudgingly walked over to Xander's battered shell. And placed Anya next to the husk that had held the spirit of the young man.

Anya smiled down at the body. And laid the ring on his chest. "This was your way of getting out of it." Anya managed to get out, before bawling onto Spike's chest.

"It's ok, Anya. He's in a better place." Spike stroked her hair.

She looked up. "Yes, but at least it was how he wanted to go."

Everyone, including Buffy, and Dawn, who had came down off the platform blinked in unison. "What?" Willow found her voice first.

"He wanted to die fighting. Not being saved by all of you. He wanted to go down a warrior. The Hyena and Soldier agreed. He talks in his sleep." Anya wiped the tears away. "And Giles, I need to quite working at the Magic Box. I need to find myself....without him. But first, to the hospital."

*
A week later

A green-eyed woman in a silver cape, her face hidden from the crying sky, walked to the grave of Alexander Harris. She smiled at the grave marker, as her hand brushed it. Then lifted her head to allow the rain to fall upon her face, and her hood fell off. Her hair was blond, but the three inches of brown roots proved to be the same color as the man, whose shell was buried under her feet.

"Dear brother, you shall arise, a new man. But yet not a man, and not a creature of the night. A creature of the light, you shall be called." She murmured to the grass. "And I promise you, I won't leave you again."

A brown hair man, with stormy aquamarine, and dark blue swirl eyes walked up to her. "Tairra, the ceremony is almost ready. We need to dig up the grave now. Or he'll have to dig his way out."

The silver robed woman looked back at the man. "Yes, Alexie must be spared that experience. At all cost. Thank you Rune." Tairra leaned up and kissed the man's cheek. Then walked off the grave, as two other men walked up, and started to dig with Rune.

Unknowingly by the gravediggers, a Big Bad was watching. He had heard Tairra statement about bringing back the man. And watched, and hoped. He missed Xander, but like hell that he'd admit it. But just looking at the Scoobies, it was proof what kind of impact Xander had made. It was like someone had taken the humor, and smile out of the group.

Then as the trio had hit the coffin, Tairra stepped down to the coffin with the help of Rune and the other men. Then untied the robe, and let it fall away. Rune jumped out of the grave, proving he wasn't human. And from the smell of him, Spike's guess was a vampire.

Then what sounded like Chinese music came from a small boom box, that Rune had moved by the open grave. And Tairra was in a silver kimono started to sing in a soft sweet soprano voice in Chinese. And started to cry over the grave. Her body danced in a motion that made Spike think of water, and just how it could just flow.

Then a flash of lighting. Tairra, singing the sweet, yet infectious tune, cut her arm with a knife that looked like something that Willow would use in her spells. And as the blood hit the coffin....the music and singing ended.

Rune took her arm, and licked the cut. As the other two ripped open the coffin, the rain stopped. Xander looked like he did when he died, three months ago. The wind blew and tousled his hair. Spike looked in longing. Neither Buffy, nor Dru had ever invoked thoughs emotions in him. He wanted to see throughs chocolate brown eyes to open, and look at him with the longing that Tairra's held, as she stroked Xander's hair.

"Alexie, time to wake up, and see the world anew. Time to awake, little godling. Alexie, don't make me cry, I will. And it won't be pretty." Tairra's eyes teared with longing. Then almost as a whisper, she started to sing the song again.

In a flash, Xander's eyes popped open. He looked at her, and smiled. Then frowned. "Aren't I supposed to be dead?" Xander's voice was rough from non-use. And the fact that till that moment, he was dead.

"You were, then your real father let lose your true powers." Tairra cried into Xander's hair, while hugging him like there was no tomorrow.

Spike watched the touching reunion with tears in his eyes. Then raced off to tell the others of the amazing things he had saw.

*****
Part 2:

Spike ran into the Magic Box. "Buffy? Watcher? Red?" He yelled out, in a happy voice that was never used. Not after that night.

Dawn poked her head out. "Spike, what's wrong? Buffy, Willow, and Tara are out patrolling. Which is what I excepted you to be doing. And Giles is in the other room, reading some old textbook." Dawn walked fully out, into the doorway. With the back lighting, the worn look of her body was more obvious.

"Xander...Xander is alive!" Spike spit out, with a prize-winning grin.

"Spike, it's not nice to say stuff like that. Because either Buffy will start thinking you are trying to hurt us, or have gone around the bend like Drusilla. Whoever Drusilla is..." Dawn turned and walked back into the room.

Spike followed. "Damn, I saw it. Some bint in a kimono sung a weird Chinese song, and then cut herself. And after they opened up his grave, he woke up." Spike growled angrily. He excepted Buffy, Giles, and even Willow to be skeptical. But not his little bit, not Dawn.

Giles looked up from his book. "Who awoke?" Then started to get more books together.

"Xander, Alexander L. Harris. He woke up, he's alive." Spike spoke excitedly.

"Very funny Spike. Now tell us the real reason you are here. Do you need money? Do you need blood?" Giles took off his glasses and started to clean them. "Watcher...Giles, he's alive. I'd bet my unlife on it. I swear to you, on everything I hold dear, including Dawn's life." Spike pleaded with Giles.

"Ok, then why a kimono? That's a Japanese ceremonial dress. Not Chinese." Giles finally figured just to humor the chipped vampire.

"I don't know. I couldn't ready the bloody bint's mind." Spike rolled his eyes at the duo.

Still at the gravesite

Xander stood up with the help of Rune, and Tairra. "Dessie, where am I?" Xander's eyes still glazed with death. "I can't make out much. You are the only thing really clear."

"That's because I did the ceremony." Tairra explained, smiling at him. Rune walked to a maroon convertible, and pulled out some rags and a mixture. Then walked back to hand it to Tairra.

"What's going on?" Xander voice sounded curious, but there was no hint of fear in it.

"I'm wiping the death out of your eyes." Tairra dipped the rags in the mixture and slowly wiped Xander's eyes clean.

Xander slowly reopened his newly cleaned eye with wonder. "I'm truly alive."

"Yep, dear brother. And now your true power is unleashed upon the world. Ridding it of the wicked." Tairra strokes his cheek with an almost motherly act.

"Huh?" Xander looked at her like she was nuts.

"Ok, not all the wicked. Because some wickedness is fun, like eating the whip cream right out of the can." Tairra smiled a goofy grin.

"You are still weird, Dessie. So who is this?" Xander motioned to Rune with his head.

"This is Rune. He's a souled non-evil non-cursed vampire." Tairra explained as Rune helped Xander out of the grave.

"So you don't go grr on good guys?" Xander looked warily at Rune.

"Nope. I'm not really good at being a vampire. I kinda helped stake my sire. And then got myself a soul. Things we do when we are bored in Oklahoma." Rune smiled down at Xander.

Xander smiled back, with actual warmth. He knew that Rune had been the one who had protected Tairra while he could not. "So you all live in Oklahoma? Why? What's there?" Xander asked eager to find out where Tairra had ended up.

"There is a demon school. They teach all forms of demons how to be a productive member of society. And how to stay off the Slayer's hit list." Rune explained while Tairra walked behind the car to change. "That's also how I got my soul. There's an arch there. It lets you regain your soul. There is a blessing upon it by the Powers That Be."

Tairra walked out from behind the car. "Yep, the two guys that helped was Locke and Gen. Locke is a Klepto demon. And Gen is a Drac demon. They are native to Siberia. But somehow he got stuck in America. Locke, on the other hand, grew up in Oklahoma."

"So where are they now?" Xander looked around.

"They had plane tickets back to Oklahoma. They don't want to stay. Locke misses Oklahoma, and Gen is kind of an agoraphobic. He has a fear of towns with too many people. Planes are ok. But he also misses the school." Tairra said putting her long hair into a bun.

Rune helped Xander into the car. "Where to Tairra?" Rune said as soon as Tairra climbed in.

"To the apartment, since Xander left it to me." Tairra snuggled close to Xander who snuggled back.

The drove off, more questions unanswered. But neither Tairra nor Xander seemed to care. And Rune was too busy driving to the apartment.

*****
Part 3:

"So my father is.... no way...." Xander exclaimed in almost falling off his couch.

"I'm afraid so. It's not everyday that you come back from the dead, and find out your real father was a War God." Tairra patted Xander's leg.

"Yeah, and finding out where my little sister ended up was a plus." Xander smiled.

"Hey! I'm not the little. And besides, I'm only legally your half sister. Different dads do that to people. But I can't complain. I love being half Succubus." Tairra beamed at her brother, while shaking her finger at him for the little part. "Besides, I'm five feet five inches. That's taller then a couple of the demons in my Psychology class. We have like three imps." She made the motion of three fingers and pushed it into Xander's face. "Three!"

"Very nice, Dessie. Now, no more caffeine for you!" Xander said, as Tairra started to sulk. Rune sat in the chair adjacent. And laughed at the antics of the two.

"Tairra Desire'e Lavelle Harris, no pouting!" Xander mock yelled at the pouting Tairra. Her eyes flashed, as she stood up.

"No calling out the full name!" Tairra pouted in a full out temper tantrum.

Xander, not being fazed by this, turned to Rune. "Does she do this often?"

"Only if you call her, her full name." Rune whispered back in a stage whisper. Which earned him a glare from Tairra.

Then Tairra stopped, and seemed to remember something. Then dropped down to the couch. "Sorry, Alexie. I just can't stand my full name, brings back some bad memories of home."

Xander gathered her up, and hugged her to his chest. "I understand, Dessie. Remember I was there." He joked, but even Rune could see the pain of the past haunting the two siblings.

Tairra let a tear slip down her cheek. Which Xander quickly caught. "Remember, no tears. I didn't let that bastard hurt you then. And like hell I'll allow him to hurt you now!"

Tairra looked up at Xander, tears shining in her eyes, "They aren't for me, Alexie. They are for you."

Xander held onto her like she was glass. "I love you, Tairra Desire'e."

"And I love you too, Alexander, My Alexie." Tairra hugged back.

Rune had tears in his eyes as he watched the touching scene. He knew this was the kind of healing both truly needed.

At the Magic Box

Buffy walked in, and dropped to one of the chairs. "That was a good day at work."

"And it gets better, Buff. I saw Xander get raised from the dead." Spike smiled at the trio that hand walked in.

"Very funny Spike." Buffy's voice got very cold. And her eyes went hard.

"Do I look like I'm bloody joking, Slayer." Spike spit out the word Slayer like it scalded his tongue.

Willow just looked like a broken toy. Tara was the only thing keeping her tied to this world. Because her other part of her main support was missing.

"Not possible Spike. Believe me. I looked up every resurrection spell. Unless he was raised into a zombie, he isn't coming back...wait maybe he was. Then we have to stop the person who did that to him!" Willow's eyes got very worried, but at least she had a will to do something...now.

Tara hung onto Willow, in fear that her beloved would slip back into the dark place in her mind. Tara quickly sent a quick pray for this new mission, to keep Willow busy.

*****
Part 4:

Tairra looked up at Xander like he was nuts. "Why do we have to tell them that you are alive. I mean, they didn't even try to bring you back to life. And it wasn't even that hard!" Tairra waved a hand like what she did was nothing.

"You brought me back from the dead, and it was nothing?" Xander blinked at her like she was the nutty one.

"I didn't bring you back. I just helped you find your body faster. You weren't truly dead. Your father won't allow that. He just wanted you to 'die' a warrior's death." Tairra used the bunny-ears in the correct areas. "Then he could bring forth your power. Why else would a soldier, and a henya picked to teach you different forms of fighting and killing?"

"Bad luck?" Xander's voice cracked at that. With a shrug, he picked up the keys to Rune's car.

Rune looked at him like he was nuts. "Lex, piece of news, I don't even let Tairra drive my car."

"That's cause she sucks at driving." Xander figured it had to run in the Lavelle genes, because none of the women on his mom's side could drive well.

"That's besides the point." Rune smiled at Xander with a grin that showed that he figured him a friend.

"I have to go and make sure Willow is ok. She might not have talked to me much. But I still love her. Jesse, Wills, and you were my family." Xander stroked Tairra's cheek. She leaned into the touch.

"I'm sorry about Jesse, Alexie. We read that you were the one to stake him. God, I'm so sorry, Alexie." At the mention of Jesse, Tairra teared up.

"It's ok. It just hurts that Wills wants to act like he never existed. Or at least that's how it feels." Xander wiped Tairra's and his tears away.

"But he was your boyfriend." Tairra pulled Xander down to the couch. And wrapped her body around his, as a comfort.

"Did you know that no one knows I'm gay. I dated only girls after his death. And I only was intrigued by the energy that radiated off Buffy. But Jesse thought it was I trying to making him jealous. He wanted to make me just as jealous. So he went with Darla. I just rooted for him to show I wasn't jealous. It's my fault. If I wouldn't have been trying to find out more about Buffy. He'd still be alive." Xander cried on Tairra's shoulder. As Rune watched in vain, the pain that poured off Xander.

"We should go. I want to see these people's faces when Lex walks in. Freak them out." Rune wanted to stop all the pain he saw.

Xander and Tairra got up, and wiped their faces. Tairra ran to the bathroom, and washed her face. Xander, on the other hand, walked to the kitchen and washed his face in the sink there. Then, they all met back in the living room.

"Then we are off." Xander grabbed the apartment keys, and motioned with head for them to leave.

At the Magic Box

Giles stood reading a zombie book, as Buffy tried for the eighth time to mediated. Tara and Willow were both sitting at the table with the rest of Giles' books on zombies. Dawn watched over Spike, who was fuming that they didn't believe him.

"Little bit, why would I lie about this?" Spike looked Dawn deep in the eyes.

"Why would someone bring back Xander? The answers to both are, I don't know. I just believe you. Then have Xander still be dead. It was bad enough losing mom. And then almost losing Buffy. Xander took her place." Dawn teared up, as Spike held her.

Then the door opened. Everyone looked to the door, as Xander, Tairra and Rune walked in. Dawn looked teenage lust at Rune and Xander. Xander, in his tight dark blue T-shirt, and tight black jeans, and Rune, in his white button and khakis, made even the witches give them a second look.

"What have you done to Xander!" Willow then realized this must have been the girl and guy Spike had seen.

"Oh, you are so not Aurora." Tairra smirked at Willow.

Then a flash of anger flared in Willow's eyes. "I am so!" Then as the anger died down, realization dawned. "Desire'e?"

Rune rolled his eyes at Tairra. "Doesn't anyone call you by your first name, Tairra? And what is this Aurora thing" Tairra and Tara looked over at Rune. Tara just looked at him funny.

While, Tairra giggled. "I never liked my first name. And we used to play Sleeping Beauty growing up."

Then a look of confusion overwhelmed the group, with the exception of Tairra, Willow, Xander, and Rune.

"Nevermind..." Tairra rolled her eyes at the group.

"Tairra, are you a witch?" Willow sounded excited.

"Nope. And yes, I was the one who brought Alexie back." Tairra shook her head at Willow. Then decked her.

Willow recoiled at the blow. And raised a hand to her face. "What was that for?" As Giles held Buffy back from retaliating.

"That was for not helping Alexie. He could have woken up in the coffin! You didn't even try to bring him back. Hell, he would have been back quicker if you would have just tried!" Tairra glared at Willow. "He's your best friend, Willow. And just like Jesse, you acted like he didn't exist!"

Tara got up. "No, she's been devastated since Xander's death."

Xander tried to get in-between Tairra and Willow. But Rune held him back. "This is their fight."

"This is so dumb! I'm alive! You should be grateful for at least that." Xander yelled to everyone.

Spike looked happily at Xander. Dawn smiled with tears shining in her eyes. Buffy, on the hand, glared at Xander.

"You aren't Xander anymore." Buffy spit out dripping with hatred at him.

"Buff, you are nuts. Of course it's me. It's the good old Xandman!" Xander looked at Buffy like he didn't know her anymore.

Giles rubbed the bridge of his nose, under the glasses, without letting Buffy go. "Xander, how did you come back?"

"My father, my real father Wills, was a war god!" Xander said with a giddy tone. "That's why I never really got hurt. But to unleash my true potential I had to die a warrior's death. But I didn't know this till Dessie brought me back. That's why I was almost obsessed with it."

Tairra nodded. "His soul had trouble to find its way back to his body. But if any of you cared enough to try any resurrection spell, he would have plopped back into his body like he did with me. Except, I had to do it for you. Think what would have happened if I wasn't around." Tairra glared at everyone, with the exception of Rune and Xander.

Giles looked defeated. Buffy dropped her fighting stance, and started to quietly cry. Dawn buried her head in Spike's chest. As Spike closed his eyes, in an effort to hold back the tears. Willow and Tara looked guilty, and also quietly cried.

Xander looked at the defeated look at the group. "I'm sorry. Dessie was right. I shouldn't have let you have known I was alive again. It hurt you all too much." He dropped his head in defeat. And walked out.

*****
Part 5:

As Xander walked out, He lifted his head to the moon. "I wish they would have left me dead. Less would have to suffer."

A black haired, brown-eyed man in studded black leather laughed. "Not likely, Alexander." Then pushed off the wall he was leaning against.

"Name isn't Alexander. It's Xander." Xander glared at the strange man.

"How about I just call you son?" The man smiled, showing a row of perfect, white teeth.

"So you are the war god that got my mom pregnant, then walked out on her. Then left my sister and I to a drunken bastard, who loved to beat us. And through all that I've been through, you dare show your face now?!" Xander got pissed. If he had had powers back in the beginning, Jesse wouldn't have died. He could have helped out with slaying. And not felt like an outcast. Yet here he was, an outcast again.

"I'm sorry, Xander. I couldn't help you. But you don't realize that your human 'non-powers', that you call them, saved your friends in a million ways. You could laugh in the face of danger, and kept thoughs people alive with humor. And Jesse was destined to die. You can't stop the Fates. They always get you in the end." The war god exclaimed with a hint of sorrow in his voice.

"Why should you care now? Now that I have died a warrior's death, I'm worthy enough?" Xander spit out with disgust.

"No! It was never like that. I watched, and wished that I could meet you. You always made me proud. But I was locked away. A wizard's spell went wrong, and instead of calling upon me, it closed me off from interfering with the mortal world. And either call me Dad, or Aries." Aries looked helpless for the first time in his existence.

"Ok, Aries..." Xander nodded.

Aries winced. "I knew you were going to say that."

"Then why give me the option?" Xander looked at him suspiciously.

"I had hoped that my stubbornness hadn't been transferred totally to you." Aries smiled softly. "Of anyone, or anything that I ever helped create, you are my pride and joy."

"So I guess I kind of screwed the pooch on this one." Xander shrugged. "No problem, I screw up all the time. Could never get anything right." As he looked down in shame.

"Never say that!" Aries grabbed Xander's face, and forced him to meet him eye to eye. "You make me proud. Everything you've ever done, I was proud to call you my son. From the moment you said your first word, till the time you took a thrashing for Tairra, who begged you tell the truth and let her get beat. And when you staked your first vampire. Or the time you stood up to Angelus all thoughs times. You made me proud. And the greatest thing you did was sacrifice yourself for your friends, and if they don't understand. Then they weren't worth your sacrifice. And then, forget them. Follow the path you've made for yourself." Then on an after-note Aries let go of Xander's chin. "I can finally meet you because of Tairra. She called upon me accidentally. She was trying to call upon an image of you, to see how you were. And got me."

"I bet she was pleased..." Xander smiled. So his father truly did love him. He had more then just Willow and Tairra as family.

"Actually it was more she started to throw heavy objects my way. It's one of the advantages she got from her father, the incubus. But I have to admit that when your mother has affairs, they are with not the usual types. First a god," Aries blows on his nails and buff them on his leather vest, "and then an incubus."

"So what now? What do I do?" Xander looked confused up at his father.

"We go to a bar. A very special bar..." Aries put his arm over his son's shoulders and disappears.

*****
Part 6:

As Xander and Ares got to their destination, Xander gasped. It was filled with every type of demons.

"Welcome to Caritas," a green, horned demon greeted them. Then made a motion to a bartender.

"We need you to read his aura, or whatever you do." Ares smirked as a drink was handed to him.

"The drink is complementary. We don't get many gods here. And he needs to sing for me." The Host smiled at Xander.

"What can I sing...Can I sing?" Xander muttered to himself.

"Believe me, you can't beat out Angel with worst singing voice. Even if you tried." The Host, who introduced himself as Lorne, patted Xander on the back. Then motioned for the bartender to get Xander a drink. As the bartender walked over, Lorne whispered something in another language. In which the demon nodded and went to get something.

"Angel, as in a souled vampire that has too much time to brood?" Xander asked afraid of the answer.

"I see that you've noticed that too." Lorne nodded.

"He used to date one of my friends." Xander smiled. "Then lost his soul, and his non-souled version is way too into leather."

"Actually for some it's a turn on." Lorne said with a straight face.

"I like my men less bulkier." Xander stared off into space thinking of Spike. Then shook his head to chase the image out of his brain.

"Some guy caught your fancy...well, when you sing, don't think of him. It will interfere with my reading." Lorne smirked at a star struck Xander.

"Ok, but what will I sing?" Xander was then handed a book with all the songs.

"I'm personally partial to Patti LaBelle." Lorne added as Xander flipped past the page.

"I'm thinking Jennie C. Riley, and her song 'Harper Valley PTA'. " Xander pointed to a song that seemed lonely to Lorne.

"Jennie C. Riley, it is then." Lorne showed Xander the stage, and introduced him as Alexander LaVelle. Which is what Xander's new license said. Sometimes it was good to have a sister, whose friends liked to hack into government stuff.

Xander had a better voice then most would believe. But it wasn't award winning. As he got down from the stage a couple of demons clapped. Xander just shook it off as politeness.

"Sweetcakes, you have some major trouble coming up. A demon is going to stop you from living a semi-normal life. Or at least your idea of normal. In easier terms, he's going to try to take over the world. And only four people can stop him. And one of them is you. You are the main character in this little adventure of the multiple apocalypses. It's going to be hard. But you'll have two men and a woman keeping your back." Lorne said dead serious. Then mumbled into Xander's ear something about a hot blond in his future.

"So my son will be in trouble?" Ares looked distrubed by that.

"Only if he doesn't work with the other three. And the Slayer will be no help on this. This demon could care less about her. He wants Alexander's powers. The woman's connection to the Powers That Be. And the two other men's powers." Lorne looked confused. "I totally don't understand this."

*****
Part 7:

As Lorne had finished his reading, both men thanked him. And blinked out of the bar, as if they never existed. Just as Angel Investigation walked in.

Back at the Magic Box

Xander and Ares showed in the middle the Magic Box. Tairra immediately hit Ares and Spike walked over to Xander, and poked him in the ribs. As if to make sure he was real.

"Spike, do you mind, that tickles." Xander batted Spike's hand away.

Tairra let go of Ares, and smiled at the two. "Aww, aren't they cute?!" Which made Xander and Spike jump apart. Which made Xander to turn red and Spike would have too, if not for the fact that he was dead.

"What in bleeding hell are you babbling about, ya stupid bint?" Spike glared at her.

"What he said!" Xander added.

"Are you calling me stupid, Alexie?" Tairra put on the puppy dog eyes. As Xander relented, Spike threw his hands in the air.

"You act like she's your bleeding chit." Spike shook his head. Inside, he made a pray that it wasn't true.

"In a way, Spike, she is. That's what little sisters are supposed to do to their older brother." Willow walked up to Xander. "I hope you can forgive me, Xander. I know Desire'e doesn't. But I just hope you don't hate me for giving up." Willow looked as if she needed a hug.

And that was what Xander did. He pulled Willow into a hug. "Of course I can forgive you Willow. I never blamed you. I never blamed any of you." He held his arm out to Buffy, as if beckoning her to the hug.

Buffy threw herself into his arms. "We missed you, Xander."

As the hug ended, Giles walked up and shook his hand. "Xander, I hope you are planning to stay this time."

Xander smirked. "G-man, I can't leave my friends defenseless."

Spike smirked at Xander. "How are we defenseless? And how are you going to help?"

Ares walked over to Xander, and whispered in his ear. Xander smirked and flicked his wrists. His outfit then matched his father.

"This is how I can help. Spike, I'm part god. This is my father, Ares." Everyone gasped at the introduction, with the exception of Tairra. Ares' was gasping like a fish at the father part.

"I guess I can't convince you to move to Oklahoma with us," Rune pouted.

"You already said it was boring. In Hellmouth, it's never boring. I might have moved there before this all happened, but now I can't leave. A bad guy is going to show up. And I need to find a woman with a connection to The Powers That Be."

Tairra winced. "Well, I guess I can't leave then too. I am a direct connect to them. I'm their most powerful seer."

Xander nodded, "And two men who will tempt a demon with their power." Giles, Spike, and Rune looked at each other in confusion. "And I know one of them is blond."

Spike walked over and put a hand on Xander's shoulder. "I guess you're stuck with me, mate." As he took his other hand, and dragged it through his bleached locks.

"Well Blondie, nice to have you on the team." Xander patted Spike on the back.

Rune looked at Giles. "I have no clue if he means me or you. I have the speed and strength. But you have the intelligence."

Giles took off his glasses and started to wipe them. "I would assume then we will be forced to wait and watch for anything unusual to happen."

"G-man, waiting for something unusual to happen is like waiting for the light to change. It always happens." Xander leaned on one of the counters.

"Please, Xander refrain from called G-man." Giles then placed the newly cleaned glasses back on.

Tairra looked at her watch. "5, 4, 3, 2, 1. We should have something evil here by now."

Everyone looked at her like she was nuts, except Xander. "She's got a point. We've had what, 3 minutes without an apocalypse?"

Spike laughed at Xander. "Xander's got a point."

The group; Tairra, Rune, and Ares included, did a collective blink at Spike.

Spike shrugged and looked all the dumbfounded faces. "What, can't I call a bloke by his name?"

"Yes, but Spike, you've never called Xander by his given name...ever." Giles took off his glasses and started to clean them again.

"Well, I'm off. People to scare, money to steal...I mean borrow." Spike growled out, as Dawn glared at him about stealing.

"If you don't want to go back to the crypt, you can crash with Tairra, Rune, and me." Xander tossed Spike a key. "You're invited."

"Why?" Spike looked confused.

"Because we have to take care of each other." Xander smiled softly at Spike. That could have made his long dead heart start to beat again.

Then there was a knock at the door. Giles walked to get it, and in walked in a man with short brown hair, and piercing green eyes.

"D, took your damned time getting here." Rune smirked at him.

"Would have helped if Tairra gave better directions. You're just lucky I remember that Sunnydale was an hour from LA" The mysterious D responded.

Spike blinked and growled at the stranger. "Did you bring Peaches with you?"

The man only known as D, at this moment to the Scoobies, blinked. "You're the asshole who tortured Angel!" And pulled Tairra behind him. Then took a fighting stance.

"You know Angel?" Then it dawned on Buffy, who he was. "Aren't you Doyle something?"

"I go by D now. I almost died, and was saved by the PTB to protect Tairra...And why am I telling you this? Wait, you're Angel's ex girlfriend, Bunny something."

"Its Buffy!" Buffy glared at him.

Xander walked up to Doyle. "Thank you for protecting Tairra for me." Then glared as Spike tried to stop him. "I want this stand off to stop. Mr. Doyle isn't going to hurt you, Spike. Mr. Doyle, Spike won't hurt you. And I ask the same from you."

"Aye, I promise not to attack Spike. But if he comes at me, I will defend myself." Doyle nodded.

"Wait, D, didn't you give your powers to the chick in LA? She got all the headaches and broken dream like visions, right?" Tairra perked up.

"Aye, Desire'e." Doyle looked over at the nutty bottled blond.

"We should call them, and get her here. I could help with the pain." Tairra rolled her eyes at the reluctant Doyle.

"Remember, I'm dead to them." Doyle shook his head.

"Then we bring you back. Hell, bringing you back would be easier then bringing back Alexie." Tairra pouted.

"Don't do that Desire'e. You know I say no to the pout." Which made Tairra turn on the pout more, the quiver and all.

"Ok, have someone call Angel, and get Cordelia down here." Doyle relented. In which Tairra's pout disappeared, as if it was never there. And like she didn't know how.

*****
Part 8:

Cordelia picked up the phone. "Hello, Angel Investigations. We help the hopeless."

"Hi Cordelia. It's Willow." Willow sounded nervous on the phone. Cordelia tightened her grip on the phone, waiting for the bad news.

"What's wrong Willow? Do you need to talk to Angel?" Cordelia tried to keep the frightened tone out of her voice, to no avile.

"No, it's nothing bad, Cordelia. Actually it's really good news." Willow waved Spike away from the phone.

"What kind of good news?" Cordelia sounded suspicious.

"The good kind!" Willow giggled.

"Ok, what is it?" Cordelia relented.

"You have to come to Sunnydale to get it. It has to be seen more then told. Cause you won't believe me over the phone." Willow rolled her eyes at the phone.

"Ok, I'll talk to Angel, Gunn, and Wesley. But I don't know what we are going to do with Fred. She's a hermit." Cordelia motioned to the group to come over.

"See ya then. Bye, Cordelia."

"Wait...Bye Willow," as Cordelia heard the buzz of disconnection and slowly hung up. Then looked over at the guys. "Willow needs us to come down to Sunnydale. Something about good news. She said it wouldn't come out right over the phone. Whatever that means. She was very persistent. So I say, as much as I don't want to go, that we should." After a lot of arguing, and packing, they were on their way the next day.

On the other hand, Willow placed the phone down, and looked at the crew. "They'll be here tomorrow, hopefully."

Xander and Spike rolled their eyes in unison. "Bloody fantastic, Peaches and crew can come up and have a family reunion." Spike growled out.

"Could be worse." Tairra smirked.

Rune held his head in his hands. "She just had to say that, didn't she," He whined.

"Aye, she did." Doyle groaned.

"What's wrong with that? She's right." Buffy looked confused.

"Everytime someone says that, it does, Buffy." Xander answered for Doyle and Rune.

"They have a point, Buffy. It does." Willow looked around sheepishly.

Then a sound of high pitched music flooded the room, and everyone in the room jumped a little. As Tairra looked sheepishly at her cell phone. And picked it up.

"Hello?" She answered, half not wanting to know who. Then got excited. "Tari?! Gods, it's been forever since I talked to you. I know it's only been only been one night! But...but...it's you! And I always talk you."

Rune and Doyle made a silent sob, as Tairra giggled over the phone. "That's her best gal pal, Tari. She's a werewolf." Rune told the confused group. "They are the scariest things to get together in the same room. Believe me, I live with them." Doyle shuddered at that.

"Why do you live with them?" Xander had the 'Older Brother' look in his eyes.

Tairra look up from her conversation over the phone. "Cause Tari and I needed a strong man to keep us safe...And cause he's gay."

Rune rolled his eyes. "I'm bi."

"Gay!"

"Bi!" Rune took the phone from Tairra's hand and looked her dead straight in the eye. "I am bisexual. I like guys and women."

Tairra raised an eyebrow, and took the phone from him. "Then why have you never hit on a girl the whole time I've known you?"

"I've never hit on a guy infront of you either." Rune reminded.

Doyle burst out laughing.

"What?" Rune glared at Doyle.

"You hit on me the first time you met me. And Tairra was in my arms at the time." Doyle pointed out.

The 'Older Brother' glare shifted to Doyle. "What? I was doing my job, and protecting the seer."

"Besides, Tari was getting to the good news bout Zadi." Then got back on the cell phone. "He got it?!" And squealed.

"Got what?" Giles said, while cleaning his glasses.

Tairra ignored the group, as she giggled and talked adamantly with 'Tari' for 3 more minutes before exchanging good-byes in German. And hung up.

Tairra looked over at Xander and giggled. "What would you say if I told you, you never had to worry about money again?"

Xander smiled. "Thank you. And what was that phone conversation about?"

"You are now have about 10 million dollars in several bank accounts. All under your name, Alexander LaVelle." Tairra bowed.

"How?" was a collective question.

"Zadi is a computer demons in a way. His body is mostly electrical. He has a solid form, but would rather be in his less restrictive body." Tairra smiled. "Tari and I had rented Swordfish...mostly for Hugh Jackman without a shirt, but then we decided to find out if it was real. If we could find money like that. With the government, we figured it would be some trouble, not because of the firewalls, but the disorder. Zadi had a hell of a time trying to find anything in the mess. But he did it. And he all he wants for his trouble is a ton of chocolate. I don't think that's too much, do you?" Tairra smiled.

"Chocolate, that's it?" Xander blinked. The whole room was dumbfounded.

"He's a huge chocolate fanatic. That's the only reason he goes into his solid form." Tairra laughs.

"So when you go back, I'll send chocolate with you." Xander nodded.

"Cool, I'll call him tomorrow and tell him. He'll be so happy." Tairra, then looked at the clock. "I think for the UV impaired, that we go home now."

Everyone glanced at the clock. Rune looked dumbfounded, and Spike nodded. "I knew there was a reason my skin was itching."

Rune looked at him, then threw his hands in the air. "Did all vampires but me get an internal clock?! I swear that's so unfair."

Tairra rolled her eyes at him. "Rune, deal." Then took Doyle's hand and dragged him out to the car.

"I take that as our cue to leave." Xander took Spike's hand and walked out. With a pouting Rune following.

*****