`Sleep and quiet...just for a few minutes.'
Xander was so tired. He had worked all day and then went to Giles to help with the research. It would be unfair to let Giles do everything. Over the time Xander learned from the books and was quick to recognize a language or demon.
But now all he wanted to do was sleep. He couldn't allow it to happen that innocent people died because he wasn't feeling up to help...like the last time.
One evening he decided that it was time for a bit male bonding and invited
Giles and Oz to his apartment for a movie night. Willow and Buffy had taken
over the duty to patrol. But they couldn't help the teenagers that had died.
There were a few pieces that didn't fit together. He knew that they went to
the Bronze once every patrol so they couldn't have missed the danger.
Both his girls had changed. They now loved to be the best and liked to be admired.
Every time Xander came up with an idea they would dismiss it.
In the end they would do everything beside that what he said. Although he was
right on more than one occasion.
It was strange. He felt as if he didn't belong here any longer and something
was amiss.
Since Spike had left it was boring because Xander didn't have anyone to argue with. He and Spike had reached an understanding.
OK, he had Giles and Oz and Tara. And Angel who called him once a week. It was Angel who told him about Spike living with him and Faith coming out of prison.
Xan had spoken with Faith on the phone and they made their peace. He also advised her to trust the LA crew... including Wesley.
Despite that Xander had never felt so lonely in his life, although his parents were never there for him unless they wanted something. And then they would take it without questioning if he could afford it.
The rent for the basement had increased every month and as Xander decided he
couldn't take it anymore, he left.
His parents hadn't called once and neither Buffy nor Willow knew where he had
moved to.
Just Oz and Giles had been in his apartment and Tara knew the place because she helped him moving and buying furniture for it.
But there wasn't just a negative development in his life. He had gotten to know his three friends better. Now he could have a conversation with Giles about things both of them liked. Oz would talk about his music and regular things. But Tara wasn't so shy any more. She would start talking on her own and she liked to talk with Oz.
She once confessed that she was with Willow because she wasn't strong enough to break things of. When it was just the two of them she would talk about magic and things she read and about Oz.
He suspected she was in love with her...and he could see the way Oz looked at her.
Giles was a bit dejected because Ethan wasn't there. He had gotten a letter which said that Ethan was sorry and would be coming for him soon. That was two weeks ago.
Now all four of them were sitting there doing research and all of them were tired. Not just from the lack of sleep but from being alone and treated like nothing from Buffy and Willow.
*************
Angel and his crew had just gotten into the cars and started driving . In less than a three hours they would be in Sunnydale and help the others. With either the two girls or with the prophecy.
***************
Sirius was knocked down from the force of the shove.
As he looked up he saw a blond girl glaring at him, at the same time she seemed to stare at him.
Sev and Remus, both standing, helped him up and as he opened his mouth to excuse the collision he was bumped to the side.
Now the two girls were focused on Moony and Sev.
Their expression wasn't a pleasant one.
******************
The first thing Buffy saw as she looked down was `Oh god, is he sexy!'.
The next thing was that her slayer sense was calling to her that the two behind that man weren't entire human.
She pushed the man away and focused on the others.
`The one on the right is a werewolf, but the dark and greasy one feels evil. Let's see what they know and then I will take them to Giles. It is his responsibility after all!'
"What are you and what do you want?" she asked in a cold voice.
"We don't know what you mean." Answered Sev lowly.
This girls felt funny and Remus seemed to be distracted by something because he was sniffing the whole time. Siri on the other hand glared at the two because he hated being pushed around. Sev could only agree with him. He had seen the way the blond had looked at his Siri...he wouldn't stand by and allow it.
Just as the red head tried to say anything Remus went to Siri's side and began to speak quietly.
"You are the Slayer, right?"
Sev was astonished. THAT is the current Slayer?!
"Yeah, I am the Slayer and who are you three? I know that you are a werewolf, the greasy one feels evil but not as if he is evil just something on him. That one is an ordinary but sexy human." She commented on them.
Remus bent forward to whisper into Padfoot's ear.
"Let her think that! If she tries anything we have an advantage." Siri just nodded. Although he wasn't happy with her calling Sev greasy.
"We are from england and here because of a prophecy. We need help with it and the Hellmouth was mentioned in it. So here we are!"
"Prophecy, huh. We will take you to my watcher and I will tell him to help you. But in return I want you" she pointed at Sirius" to go out with me!" she ended smugly.
Sirius looked horrified. Then the anger took over.
"Listen you stupid child we are not here to have fun! The defeat of the evil is our goal... and I am not interested!"
"I know you don't mean it. I think you are just shy, because nobody in
their right mind could resist me! I bet the girl you are with is ugly and..."
she couldn't finish her sentence because Siri lunged forward and backhanded
her.
Not that it was strong enough to knock Buffy out.
"BE QUITE YOU BITCH! I am in a happy relationship with two very loving persons. And just to your information they are standing just behind me!" he finished proudly.
Before Buffy could do or say anything Willow stepped in between.
"Buffy we are busy just tell them the address of the magic box and let the losers search it themselves. The others should be there! Now let`s go we have to go clubbing!"
The blond looked at her and named them the address. With that the two stalked away. Buffy tried to swing her hips seductive.
But Siri glowered after her. Suddenly there were arms around him and he leaned back. He needed the comfort and safety of their love.
"Wow I am impressed how we are just a few hours here and you have the ability to make little tramps fall for you and turn them down!" he heard Sev's voice in his ear.
As he turned to him he saw a bit worry in that dark eyes but also pride and happiness.
"She is not a nice human. I always thought she would worry about the safety of all people, but she just wants to take advantage of people. And I couldn't let her believe that my lovers were ugly. I am proud to belong to the two of you and will shout it from the rooftops!" with that he kissed both deeply.
*****************
Xander startled awake by the sound of the shop bell.
He was sure to have locked it.
He took a crossbow and crept closer to the door.
The others were in the kitchen making tea and sandwiches.
As he could take a look at the intruders he could see three man with sticks in their hand.
One of them looked at him and began to talk.
************
"Sorry to intrude but we met your slayer on the street and she told us to come here. There is a problem with a prophecy and..." before Remus could finish the sentence the boy standing in front of him took out a knife.
Remus knew with a shiver that it was silver.
"Giles! Would you please come into the shop? We have got visitors." The boy called without looking away from either of them.
They could see a slightly older man, a pretty blond girl and another boy with red hair. The boy went rigid and Remus knew that he was a werewolf. Just the other knew his condition too.
"Xander, who are these people?" the older man asked.
"They said that Buffy sent them and talked about a prophecy. The left one is a werewolf. The dark man has something evil on him but it seems it doesn't really belong to him. But it is the last one that feels funny. If you ask me they are warlocks or something like that."
Remus was impressed. The boy seemed to be a muggle but there was something beneath the surface. A predator.
And that he could tell they had magic in them... no the boy was everything but normal.
"What can we do for you? Oh sorry, I am Rupert Giles and Buffy's Watcher. The beautiful girl to my right is Tara McClay our white witch and the angry looking young man to her side is Daniel Osborne, called Oz. He is a werewolf. And the young man with the silver knife and crossbow is Alexander Harris. As you can see he has his own strength."
The introduction left the three men shocked. Never had they thought to talk to muggles like this.
Severus started with introducing them.
"We are from Hogwarts. It is a school for witches and wizards. To my left is Professor Remus Lupin, he is our Defence Against the Dark Arts (DADA) teacher and a werewolf. To my right is Sirius Black a man of many talents. I am Severus Snape, Potions Professor. We are here because our headmaster discovered of prophecy about the end of evil. The three of us were ordered to decode the prophecy. A part is done but then there is the other part where the Hellmouth is mentioned. So here we are. As we were walking around the town we ran into your Slayer and she gave us this address."
"You should know that your Slayer is nasty. She wanted to coerce me to go out with her otherwise she wouldn't give us your address. Only because the red head told her to hurry she gave it to us!" came Sirius interruption.
Xander took his weapons down. He knew they told the truth somehow. It could be the description of Buffy and Willow... but this man, Sirius Black seemed so familiar.
"Giles, I thought that Buffy and Willow were supposed to do research and not run around the town?!" Oz asked confused.
"Yes, they were supposed to do that! The two are so irresponsible and they get nastier any day!!! We wait for Angel and the others than we will deal with the brats... Now would you care to take a seat and show us this prophecy?" Giles was in his watcher role.
"Would you like a cup of tea?" Giles asked.
The others cleared away the weapons and sat down.
tbc