Title; A Childe Awakens, (BtVS)
 
Author; Phoenixheart79 aka Carl/theblondiebear
 
Rating; R overall, 18+ if you're british like me
 
Disclaimer; I do not own BtVS, that privilige goes
to Joss Whedon and M.E. I guess I own Sebastian, but
the rest I'm just borrowing. I promise to put them
back in the toy box when I'm done!
 
Distribution; (not that anyone will want it! LOL)
Please ask my permission before putting it anywhere
else than the places I do.
 
Feedback; Please! I write for me, but it's a boost
to know what people think of my work.

Author's Note; Hey guys, many apologies for the delay, I actually 
finished this chapter over a week ago but wasn't able to get online to 
get it beta'd or posted, sorry! The last two chapters are already in 
the pipeline, so it shouldn't be long! And then the sequel...or maybe 
a prequel?


Chapter 16

With a flash, the sword sliced through the totem. A blast of energy 
knocked Buffy to the ground and flashed through the mansion. The 
vampires faltered, the purple glow leaving their eyes in a tiny flash. 
The others seized their opportunity, rushing forwards with stakes and 
swords. In their moment of disorientation, another seven vampires were 
dusted. Bastian leapt up from Willow’s doppelganger, drawing a stake 
from a little pouch at the small of his back, ready to strike, when 
her leg swept out and slammed him to the ground. She pushed herself up 
from the floor and rushed over to Amy, who, like Buffy, had been 
knocked off her feet by the blast. She bundled the other vampire up in 
her arms. Amy looked into Willow’s eyes, who simply nodded. Amy raised 
her arm, twirled her fingers clockwise and dropped a small stone. As 
soon as it hit the floor, they vanished.

The remaining vampires huddled together in the centre of the room, 
surrounded by the two slayers and a great many potentials. One wrung 
his hands nervously. Willow slipped over to one of the heavy drapes 
and Buffy laid a hand on Spike’s arm. 

"You might want to seek cover." She said to him. He nodded and slipped 
to one side, sliding in between two pillars. Willow grabbed the drape 
and pulled it back. Sunlight flooded in and with screams of pain, the 
vampires erupted into a giant cloud of dust and ash. Willow let the 

drape fall back over the window and Spike stepped back into the centre 
of the room. 

"Is that it then? You have me watching outside and Bam! It all happens 
in here! You treating me like a child again!" Buffy turned and saw 
Dawn stood in the doorway, two of the potentials stood beside her. "I 
don’t see why we had to stay out there after dawn anyway, not like 
they were gonna take a morning stroll or anything."

"Well niblet," Spike answered, cutting Buffy’s response off, "It’s not 
unheard of or anything, you know. Speaking of which, the sun’s up now, 
how am I getting out of here?"

Dawn let out a sigh and turned, strolling out into the light. 
"Typical. One minute I’m okay to fight alongside in an earthy grave, 
the next she’s protecting me again." Buffy rolled her eyes and started 
after her, but Spike laid a hand on her arm, stopping her.

"Let her go love, she’ll be okay." Buffy looked at him skeptically. 
"Look," he continued, "she’s just mad ‘cos you left her out of the 
action is all. She’ll get over it."

Buffy let out a small sigh, then turned back to Bastian, handing the 
sword back to him. "Thanks, it’s a great weapon. Not sure if it’s ‘me’ 
though." Bastian smiled and took the weapon from Buffy. 

Sheathing it, he turned and started looking around. "We should get 
Spike out of here before the sun gets any higher, someone help me find 
a blanket or something for him."

The dust of battle settling, the survivors gathered up their fallen 
comrades and weapons, heading for the exit, Spike draped in a large 
blanket apparently left over from the days when Angel had occupied the 
mansion.

 

.

Elsewhere

Amy and Willow appeared in an abandoned warehouse on the edge of 
Sunnydale. Willow stood and started pacing, her brain already working 
on a plan of revenge for the Slayer. She turned to Amy. "Can you bring 
back the others? We will keep on attacking her, time is on our side." 
She smiled at her own small joke.

Wearily Amy stood. "I’ll try, but I’m exhausted. The totem drained me."

"Try." Willow said, turning away.

Amy sat cross-legged on the ground and began to once again recite the 
temporal fold spell. The air thickened and Willow turned, ready to 
greet the first of her returning warriors. She stopped at the sight 
before her. Amy was surrounded by a swirling red mist. With a roar the 
mist rushed inwards and entered Amy. Her eyes shot open, glowing red. 

"You dare use that spell again, after you have failed so miserably in 
your duties to me?" a deep voice roared from Amy’s mouth, a voice that 
almost physically oozed pain and suffering. "No more! Never again will
you use this sorcery!"

The mist poured from Amy and she collapsed. The mist coalesced into a 
huge spectral demon that opened it’s arms wide, roared and swept 
towards Willow. Then it vanished and The Master stood before her.

"You have failed me, child. You held such promise, but now the slayer 
is stronger from her experiences and has a new ally. You have failed 
me." Her face contorted in anger, Willow stepped forward and swung a 
fist at The Master. She stumbled forward, caught off balance as her 
fist passed through his face like it wasn’t there. Recovering, she 
whirled on him.

"What are you?" 

The Master laughed, the sound full of scorn. "Foolish child, have you 
not figured it out yet? I am the First. It is a shame you failed in 
your task, had you succeeded, my birth into and domination of this 
world would have been assured."

Hatred suffusing her features, Willow stared at the creature that had 
revealed itself to her. She had heard of the First from the Master in 
her home. "You used me!" she bellowed. The First laughed.

"Of course I used you, had I told you the truth, that you were merely 
a pawn in my scheme, you would never have aided me."


"I will see you destroyed for this." Willow said, her voice low and 
menacing. Again the First laughed at her.

"I am eternal, young one. Without me, there would be no vampires or 
demons. I will exist long after the slayer has disposed of you."

Willow shook her head, "I swear, I will see you destroyed for what 
you have done to me." her voice was raising, the rage and anger 
rolling off her in almost palpable waves. "No one plays me!" The 
First shook it’s head and vanished, it’s laughter audible even after 
it had gone. Willow moved over to Amy and pulled her upright. The 
younger vampire opened her eyes and looked in Willow’s. 

"It’s done something, I can’t use the temporal fold spell. It’s 
blocked it somehow. The others are gone."

Willow sighed. "I will see this slayer dead and the First destroyed if 
it is the last thing I do."

Midday

With Spike settled in the basement of the building, the others were 
gathered in Xanders’ apartment, going over recent events when Willow, 
stood by the kitchenette table, staggered slightly. Immediately, 
Kennedy was by her side, with the others gathering around.

"Is everything okay?" Kennedy asked, holding Willow steady by the 
elbow. Willow nodded. "I-it was a message, from the First. It says we 
may have stopped my double but we will not stop it. There was 
something else, I felt something. I think it’s done something, 
something to Amy."

"It told you all that?" Dawn asked.

Willow shook her head, "No, the last part I more sensed. I think it 
did it at the same time it was talking to me. I think it’s stopped Amy 
from doing anymore temporal folds."


"Are you sure?" Bastian asked.

Willow sighed. "Not one hundred percent, but I’m pretty certain."

"That’s good enough for me." Buffy said. There were nods of agreement 
around the room. Bastian laid a hand on Willow’s other arm.

"You sure you’re okay?" Willow nodded in reply. Bastian turned and 
walked over to the couch, sitting back down next to Xander, 
tentatively laying a hand on the other man’s thigh. Almost 
imperceptibly, Xander tensed slightly. Gently Bastian began to remove 
his hand when another hand stopped his and Xander seemed to relax 
against his touch. Slowly he looked down and saw Xander’s hand lying 
on top of his own. A soft smile slid over his face. 

Willow looked to Buffy, tilting her head slightly in the direction of 
the two boys. Buffy nodded almost imperceptibly and stood up, picking 
up the three keys that Spike had ‘liberated’ from Willows’ 
doppelganger. She tossed them to Willow.

"Hey, Will, any of these the key we need to lock up my house?"

Grabbing the keys from the air, Willow turned each over in her palm, 
before settling on one and discarding the others, placing them back on 
the coffee table. She held out the chosen key to Buffy, who took it 
and turned it over in her hand, examining it closely. 

"You sure, Will?"

"Positive." Willow answered, nodding her head for emphasis.

"Okay," Buffy began, pocketing the key, "I spoke to the police and 
they say we’re okay to return home, so if you guys will help me sort 
out the weapons." She pointed to a number of the potentials. "You guys 
head on down to the basement with Willow. Me and the others will sort 
out the stuff we put in the bedroom." Quietly, she and Willow 
shepherded the girls away, leaving Bastian and Xander alone.

Bastian and Xander sat, quietly, for what felt like an eternity, 
Bastians’ hand on Xanders’ thigh, and Xanders’ hand resting atop it. 
After what seemed like an eternity of comfort, simply sitting there in 
each others presence, Bastian sighed and stood up, turning to face 
Xander.

"Are you sure of this?" he asked, worry on his face, "I don’t want you 
to feel like I’m rushing you or anything. I don’t want to scare you 
off or..." He faltered as Xander stood up and placed his hands on 
Bastians’ shoulders. 

"Look, I’d be lying if I said this was easy for me. It’s strange. It’s 
new. It’s kinda frightening. But I do know that I’ve faced countless 
demons, vampires, even best friends and there’s no way a little bit of 
fear of the unknown is going to stop me. Besides, you know me," he 
smiled "I’m a great one for rushing in where angels fear to tread."

Bastian smiled, relief flooding his features, when a scowl spread over 
them. "I can’t believe you’re using a line from Captain Kirk to seduce 
me. That’s just.....weird!" the scowl became a grin and he punched 
Xander lightly on the arm.

"Ow!" Xander said, holding his arm in mock pain, "Bully! Wait til I 
tell Buff you hurt me! She’s so gonna kick your ass."

Bastian held up his hands, "Wait, wait, what if I..." he paused for a 
moment, uncertain, then continued, "What if I kiss it better?"

Xander smiled and took step forward, smiling. "I think I might 
reconsider the tattling." Their lips met in a soft kiss. Bastian 
pulled back, looking into Xanders’ eyes, but for only a moment as 
Xander returned the kiss, deep and passionately this time. Bastian 
stepped closer, pressing their bodies together and wrapping his arms 
around the young man who had captured him so totally, as no demon ever 
had or could hope. Already, he could feel his heat rising and, much to 
his surprise and pleasure, an answering rise in...

"XANDER!"

The two boys almost fell down, so quickly did they jump away from each 
other. Xander looked to the doorway, Anya standing there.

"Anya..." He started.

"Don’t bother!" She said, turning and fleeing from the building, tears 
streaming down her cheeks.

"Oh man." Xander muttered. He stood in the doorway, wondering what to 
do, when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Come on, let’s go find her. There’s a lot to talk about, we should 
have spoken to her sooner."

Xander sighed. "I know Bastian, I know."

***********************************************************************

"I just think it's rather odd that a nation that prides itself on its 
virility should feel compelled to strap on forty pounds of protective 
gear just in order to play rugby."
 
"For God’s sake man, she’s 18. And you have the emotional maturity of 
a blueberry scone. Just have at it, would you, and stop fluttering 
about...."
 
"I used to be a highly respected Watcher, now I'm a wounded Dwarf with 
the mystical strength of a doily."
 


Chapter 17
 
Xander sat in the car, not speaking, his mind consumed by the dark 
thoughts flitting through it. How could he have let things with Anya 
reach this point? He should have talked to her long ago, but he’d 
always found an excuse, some reason to delay. Well, it had certainly 
turned round and bit him on the ass, hadn’t it? His thoughts were cut 
off as Bastian’s voice filtered through the veil of darkness that had 
been consuming his mind.

"You okay? You seem very distracted."

"Yeah, I guess." He took a breath, letting it out in a deep, rattling 
sigh. "I just can’t believe I let it reach this point. I should have 
talked to her long ago."

Bastian glanced over at him, before returning his gaze to the road. 
"Yes, you should have."

"Gee, thanks there Mr Moral Support."

"You should have, you know it, I know it, she know’s it. Hell, 
everyone knows it. But you didn’t. You’re human. We’re all human. We 
all make mistakes. Maybe I should have spoken to Anya before whatever 
this is between us started. I knew you two had been involved, but I 
never thought of talking to her."

"Why should you?" Xander asked.

"Because I should have realised she might still care for you. So you 
see, we’ve all made mistakes. So lets just find her and try and talk 
to her. After all, she’s human, so she’ll understand about mistakes. 
She’ll be hur...." He stopped talking as Xander drew his breath in 
horror.

"She’s human." He whispered, "But she used to be a demon. After the 
wedding fiasco, she was granted her powers back, but her anger wasn’t 
great enough. If her anger has overtaken her feelings now, she’ll get 
her powers back and have no qualms about using them."

Bastian pulled the car up sharp and turned to Xander. "Where? Where 
would she go for this?"

Xander shook his head. "Not here, not Earth. D’Hoffryn will take her 
to the demon plane. That’s what he did when he offered demonship to 
Willow."

"Willow was a demon?"

Xander shook his head. "No, but back when Oz left her, in her pain she 
cast a spell that left me a demon-magnet, Giles blind, Buffy and Spike 
engaged. In response to the pain and suffering she caused others, 
D’Hoffryn offered to make her a vengeance demon. She turned him down."

"Oh. That’s good. So, how do we find them?"

Xander sighed again. "I have no idea. Maybe we could ask Will to...." 
he broke off, lost in thought for a minute. "Oh, oh! I’ve got an idea! 
D’Hoffryn gave Willow a... thing, a talisman! Said if she ever changed 
her mind to give him a chant. We can use that!" He pulled his cell 
phone out and pressed two, quick dialling Willow’s number. After what 
seemed like an eternity, a breathless Willow answered. "What’s up?"

"Will, have you still got that talisman D’Hoffryn gave you?"

"Kinda, I gave it to Dawn because she liked it so much." Xander gasped 
in shock and started to say something, but Willow cut him off. "It’s 
okay, I put a spell on it so that it could only be used by me. Why? 
What’s wrong."

Xander turned to Bastian and nodded. Bastian put the car in gear, 
turning around on the road and heading back the way they had come.

"It’s Anya Will, she saw me and Bastian...together."

Willow’s voice sounded strained when she answered "Oh no."

"Exactly. Will, she was really upset. I think she might go and get 
demonised again. And I don’t think she’ll forgive me this time if 
she is. Will, we need to use that talisman to reach D’Hoffryn 
before Anya is turned again." 

"You really think he’d take her back?"

"You didn’t see her Will. I think this on top of the wedding fiasco 
may be too much."

"Okay, I’ll ask Dawny for it, but it’s gonna be useless, I can’t 
use it or lift the spell on it."

Xander sat there for a minute. "Well, how about you talk me or 
Bastian through the spell to undo what you did."

There was a pause as Willow thought it through. "I don’t know 
Xander, it’s not exactly an easy spell."

"Yeah, but Will, you’re kick-ass good at this stuff, even when 
you’re only talking about it. I know you could talk us through 
it."

"Okay, we’ll try."

"Thanks Will, we’ll be with you in five minutes." He hung the 
phone up and looked at Bastian. "I hope we’re in time." 
Bastian smiled wearily before answering,

"Me too, me too. So, who’s Oz?"

 
Ten minutes later, they were gathered in the Summers living 
room, Willow perched on the sofa, a hand written book on her 
lap. Dawn dropped down beside her, looking over the red heads 
shoulder. 

"What is that book?"

Willow looked up. "It’s my book of shadows."

"Book of shadows?" Dawn asked, confusion in her voice as she 
leaned a little closer, trying to get a good look. Willow 
gently shoed her back, the younger girl protesting. "Hey, it’s 
in your writing! Is that your spell book?" 

Willow sighed, "It’s more than that Dawny, it’s like a journal 
of every spell I ever did."

"Really?" The teenager was leaning in again, trying to get a 
good look, "I’m surprised you kept it."

Willow gave her a pained look. "I didn’t, Tara did. I’m not 
sure why, some of the stuff in here she’d never touch. I just 
want to double check the spell I used, no point doing a counter 
spell if it won’t work."

"Oh." Dawn became quieter and sat back on the couch, Willow 
resumed her reading of the book. Xander glanced up from the 
floor where he and Bastian were preparing the circle Willow 
had said they would need. A book lay open on the floor between 
them. Willow nodded to herself and shut her book.

"Wait a minute Dawn, you can read ancient languages but don’t 
know what a Book of Shadows is?"

Dawn glared at him, "Did you?"

Xander looked down at the carpet and arranged some candles. 
"Well no, but then I don’t really need to when making window 
frames."

"And I do when reading ancient languages?" Bastian chuckled 
gently under his breath, causing both parties to glare at him. 
He held his hands up in Dawn’s direction, then turned to face 
Xander.

"Face it, she nailed you there." Xander looked despondent and 
Bastian couldn’t help but smile. "Tell you what, when this is 
over, I’ll give you lessons on how to argue with girls."

Xander looked up, hope gleaming in his eyes. "Really? You’re 
not just saying that?" Bastian nodded. "Wait a minute," 
Xander countered, "How do you know how to argue with women?"

"I had a twin sister, remember. I picked more than a few 
things up over the years, arguing with her. I got quite good 
at it eventually."

"Next you’ll be telling us you even won some of those 
arguments." Buffy’s voice was layered with sarcasm as she 
entered from the kitchen carrying a glass bowl filled with 
water, which she handed to Xander. Bastian smiled at her.

"Now, I never said that. Although I did manage to hold my 
own."

Buffy snorted, "Yeah right." She looked over at Willow, 
"Ready?"

Willow nodded, "Yeah, as ready as I’ll ever be I think." 
she gestured to a chair, "Buffy, you sit over there." The 
Slayer sat down in the indicated chair as Willow continued, 
"Okay, Bastian, close the circle."

Bastian started reading from the book in Latin, grabbing a 
handful of salt and sprinkling it in a circle around the two 
men. As he did this, Xander started lighting candles in 
sequence, intoning words as he lit each one. "I call upon the 
element of Wind to be with us." He continued with Earth, Fire 
and Water. He finished lighting the last candle as Bastian 
finished the circle. Each candle flared and a spark of light 
leapt from each one to the circle of salt. From their landing 
spot, each point of light raced a complete circuit of the 
circle before fading away. Xander looked to Willow,

"Woah, that was intense." 

Willow smiled back at him, "It can get heady, be careful. 
Okay, Bastian, place the talisman in the water." Bastian 
gently lowered the talisman into the bowl of water Buffy had 
brought them. "Sprinkle some salt on it and Xander read the 
passage I’ve marked." The pair nodded, Bastian sprinkling 
salt over the bowl of water as Xander started intoning the 
words written in the book. Several times he paused, being 
careful of his pronunciation. Willow had explained to him that 
the words had to be said right with this spell, as it was very 
close to another spell that would do... something bad was all 
she had said. 

Xander finished speaking and Willow spoke softly, "Bastian, add 
the wormwood, Xander, light the last candle from the air candle." 
The two men did as they were told. "Now Xander, let two drops of 
wax fall into the bowl and read out the other section I marked 
for you."

Xander did as he was asked. A cloud of steam rushed up from the 
bowl and swirled around their heads, trapped within the circle. 
Slowly it dissipated, letting them look into the bowl. The water 
was gone, the talisman lying in the bottom of the bowl. Xander 
looked over at Willow, "The waters gone Will."

Willow smiled, "You did it! All you have to do now is close the 
circle. Snuff out the candles in reverse order, thanking the 
element. Then smudge away the salt in the opposite direction 
from which you cast it down."

 

 

A short while later, the bits and pieces from the spell cleared 
away, they sat around the living room, Willow and Kennedy curled 
together on one end of the couch, Buffy and Dawn sat next to them. 
Xander was sat in an armchair and Bastian stood behind them. Giles 
came down the stairs.

"The girls are kind of curious as to what’s happening. I told them 
not to worry about it. There was some protest about one of them being 
down here when the rest had to stay out of it, but I set Andrew on 
them. I mean, I asked Andrew to entertain them." He grimaced at his 
little slip.

Buffy looked over at him, grinning. "Giles, I asked you to keep them 
busy, not torture them. Okay Will, what now?"

Willow looked up from the petting Kennedy and herself had been 
involved in, "Sorry Buffy, what’s up?"

Buffy had to smile at the redheads distraction, "I dunno Will, throw a 
pretty girl at you and you lose all ability to concentrate and form 
conscious thought. You’re becoming shallow in your old age."

The wiccan blushed slightly, "I am not. And darn, I thought I’d got 
over the blushing thing." Kennedy ran a hand through her girlfriends 
hair,

"I dunno, I think it makes you look cute....er." She smiled at the 
redhead in her arms, then turned her head to Buffy, "You think I’m 
pretty?"

Buffy sat stunned, jaw working up and down for a moment. "I, uh, I um. 
Say, the chant Will, what’s the what with that?" 

Willow laughed gently as the blonde slayer blushed. "It’s okay Buff, I 
trust you. Yeah, the chant. I’m not one hundred percent how it works, 
whether it’s general or if the talisman is keyed to me. I think I 
should be involved somehow."

"You sure?" Buffy asked, clearly concerned.

"Yeah. Plus, I think I might have it figured. If we form a circle, 
holding hands with Bastian and Xander to either side of me as I hold 
the talisman and we all perform the chant together, it shouldn’t take 
much from each of us."

Buffy nodded as she took in what her friend was saying, "Okay, sounds 
like a plan to me. Lets do it." There was a chorus of agreements from 
around the room. 

Bastian leaned over and gently rubbed Xander’s shoulders. He felt the 
young man tense up and drew his hands back. "You know, we’ll save her. 
Don’t worry."

Xander sighed, "I know Bastian, I just can’t help feel guilty about 
all this. If only I’d handled it better, done something different."

Buffy wandered over from the sofa, kneeling down in front of Xander 
and placing her hands on his knees, looking up into his face. "Hey, 
don’t worry Xander, we’ll get her out before anything happens, I 
promise."

"I hope so Buffy, I’ve caused her enough pain already, I don’t want to 
be the death of her."

"You won’t be, I promise." She turned to look back at Willow, "You 
ready?"

"As I’ll ever be. Lets do it." She handed out slips of paper to 
everyone present. Dawn looked down at it.

"What’s this?" 

"The chant." Willow answered, "We should try to be as in time with 
each other as possible."

Buffy walked up to Dawn. "You are not going in there."

Dawn put her hands on her hips, "You kept me out once today Buffy. Not 
again. Anya’s my friend too, I have to try and save her. Besides 
which, the only way you’ll stop me is by locking me up and we haven’t 
got time."

Buffy sighed, "Okay okay, you win. Everyone grab a weapon and lets get 
started."

The group formed a circle, holding hands with each other. "Okay, lets 
do this." Willow said and began reading the chant, again in Latin. The 
others joined in with her. As they chanted, the crystal talisman 
started to glow with a deep purple light, slowly getting brighter and 
brighter until it encompassed them all in a blinding flash.

The light dissipated and they stood in a shadowy realm, taking in the 
scene before them. Anya was knelt before the demon D’Hoffryn. Xander 
stepped forwards.

"Anya, stop! Please!"

D’Hoffryn looked up at the intruders, the anger on his features 
evident. "Leave now! This is non of your concern!"

Buffy took a step forward, hefting the battleaxe in her hand. "Not 
gonna happen. We came for our friend and we’re not leaving without 
her. You can let her go or we’ll take her, your choice."

Through it all, Anya remained silent, not even looking at the group. 
D’Hoffryn stepped around her, approaching the group. "You dare to 
interfere? It is because of you she is here!"

"And we’re going to make amends for that." Bastian said, stepping 
forward, facing down the towering demon, his sword hanging at his side 
in a loose yet firm grip. D’Hoffryn glared at him.

"Enough! Leave now or I will kill you all myself!"

"I doubt it." Dawn added, taking a step forward also. "We don’t 
abandon friends, no matter what we’ve done or how mad they are."

D’Hoffryn sighed, "Very well, have it your way." He raised a hand and 
a bolt of energy arced towards the group. Bastian lunged forwards, 
swinging his sword into the path of the blast. Energy ricocheted off 
in all directions. Dawn let out a cry and held a hand up to her 
scorched hair.

"Dammit, I’ll have to get a hair cut now!" 

Buffy charged forwards, ducking under a blow from D’Hoffryn and swung 
her axe in for a swipe at his stomach. At the last moment, his hand 
came down and deflected the blow. He grunted in pain as he was struck 
from behind by Xander. He spun around and knocked Buffy to the ground 
before grabbing Xander by the neck and lifting him from the ground.

"It’s because of you she is here! Leave her to her decisions, you are 
no longer in her life!" Slowly Xander was turning blue as his fingers 
scrabbled at the hands holding him.

"Put him down and I’ll kill you quick." 

The demon slackened his grip on Xander a little and turned in the 
direction of the voice. "Well, if it isn’t the other man." He looked 
up at Xander, "No wonder she wants you dead boy." 

Bastian took another step forward, watching Buffy from the corner of 
his eyes as she slowly circled behind D’Hoffryn. He hefted his sword a 
little, adjusting it slightly in his hand. "I said put him down. Now."

D’Hoffryn chuckled. "You really think that little toothpick will hurt 
me? Slayer, move another inch and I break the boys neck." Behind him, 
Buffy came to a halt, surprise on her features. "How did I know?" 
D’Hoffryn asked their question for them. "This is my realm, do you 
honestly think I am unaware of what happens here? Well, enough chit 
chat, on with the killing."

"D’Hoffryn, no."

Slowly the demon turned to face the voice. "Anyanka, I’m disappointed, 
I honestly thought you had changed, that your hatred of this little 
man would bring you back to me. You were always one of my best." He 
sighed, "Never mind, I’m tired of you changing your mind all the time, 
I’ll kill you as well."

"N-no." Xander managed to choke out. 

D’Hoffryn looked at him. "You wish to save her now, after all the pain 
and suffering you have caused her, to let her live in this agony." The 
demon smiled, "I think you might make a better demon than Anyank..." 
his sentence was cut off as Buffy lunged forwards, swinging the axe 
and taking D’Hoffryn’s head clean off. Purple blood spurted from the 
stump that was his neck, coating Xander. He fell to the ground with 
the corpse, it’s hands still wrapped around his throat. 

Bastian bent down and prised the fingers from around Xander’s neck. 
"That was bloody stupid, why did you do that? You know he could take 
you apart."

Xander looked into his eyes, "I had to, you know that. After all I 
did, I had to give something back. To save her." Bastian nodded, he 
understood.

Anya knelt beside him. "You came here to save me?" Xander only nodded. 
"Why? After all you’ve done, why?"

Xander sat up, aided by Bastian, catching his breath, "I had to Anya, 
after all I did to you. How could I not? I did some terrible things 
and I know sorry isn’t enough, but I had to do something. I couldn’t 
just let you go back to how you were, that would have been worse than 
if I’d married you. Things would have gone wrong and it would have 
been so, so much worse." A tear rolled down Anya’s cheek as he 
continued. "But that is all gone and I can’t let you suffer because of 
me anymore."

"I’ll always suffer Xander."

He sighed gently, "I know and for that I truly, truly am sorry. But 
this pain, this horrible thing, is so much less than it could, would 
have been. I’m sorry."

"So am I." Anya looked to Bastian. "I should have stayed clear away 
from Xander, but it..." He trailed off before trying again, "We just 
clicked. I’m so sorry that I - we - hurt you, we didn’t mean to. I 
don’t really know what else I can say to you, except the pain will 
heal, you just have to give it time. Embracing the darkness never 
helps, as people here can attest to." Behind him, Willow nodded in 
agreement.


The tears flowed freely down Anya’s face now, "It just hurts so much. 
After everything that happened and then we were getting along again 
and then I saw you two."

"I can see them to." Dawn chipped in, smiling. Buffy gave her a ‘not 
now’ look and she sighed.

"I know Anya, I’ve been there in the past. You just have to let it 
flow over you. If you give in, it’ll consume you. And you’re too sweet 
a person for that to happen to you." Xander said as Bastian helped him 
to his feet. He reached down to help Anya stand, "Lets get out of 
here, it’s not really the place for chatting."

Anya nodded, wiping the tears from her face. "Do you still have the 
talisman?" Willow handed it to her. "Okay, everyone hold hands." The 
group gathered together and Anya dropped the talisman, crushing it 
under foot. A flash of energy traced up her leg and spread through 
them all. In a blink, they were back in the Summer’s living room.

Silently Anya turned and left. Xander started after her, but stopped 
as he felt a hand on his arm. "Let her go." Willow said, "She’s gonna 
need time to adjust." 

***********************************************************************

Chapter 18


Two days had passed since the incident with D’Hoffryn and there had 
been little contact with Anya. Willow had seen her on the street that 
morning, she wasn’t exactly a ball of sunshine, but she seemed to have 
gotten over the crush, kill, destroy phase.

"It’ll just take time, like you said." Willow told Xander later that 
day as they sat in the living room, "Don’t let it eat you up. She’ll 
be fine."

"I know Will. I just feel so guilty." Bastian came up behind Xander 
and lay his hands on Xanders’ shoulder. Gently he started rubbing 
them. Xander let out a soft sigh. "Thanks."

Bastian smiled, "No trouble. I know it’s hard, but Anya’s dealing, now 
it’s your turn." 

"Yeah, I know, deal with it. It’s harder than it sounds, you know."

"I know. And you know I do." Bastian said softly. They were interrupted 
by the sharp ringing of the phone.

"I’ll get it." Willow said, hopping up from her chair. Idly she 
grabbed the phone, "Hello, Summer’s residence." She listened quietly 
as whoever was on the other end of the phone talked to her, "Yeah, 
he’s here." Cupping her hand over the receiver she looked over, 
"Bastian, it’s for you. Someone from the UK. Called himself DC Llyod." 

Bastian pulled away from Xander and headed over to Willow to get the 
phone, talking as he went, "He’s the detective investigating Liz’s 
case." Willow mouthed an ‘Oh’ and handed the receiver over. "Hello, DC 
Lloyd? Yes, yes. Staying with friends. Is there any news?" Bastian 
listened intently to the Detective Constable over the phone. "That’s 
good news." he said slowly. "Thank you, I’ll be there." 

As he turned back to Willow and Xander, Buffy came down the stairs, 
"Say, who was on the phone?"

"The DC investigating my sisters’ case. They’ve arrested someone. The 
pre-trial hearings being held in four days. I need to arrange a flight 
home right away."

"Oh, that’s good." Willow said smiling, "Not that you’re going home of 
course, that they caught him."

"Relax Will," Buffy said, "we get you." She turned to Bastian, "She’s 
right though, it is good news."

"Willow, can I use your computer?" Bastian asked, turning to face 
Willow, "It’ll be easier and quicker to book online."

Willow smiled and walked into the dining room, "Sure, lets get you 
flying home, see the guy in chains."

A few hours later Bastian came back from his rented flat, a suitcase 
in one hand and a travel bag slung over one shouder. He was also 
carrying a long brown package marked ‘fragile - handle with care.’ and 
‘T.J Military Antiques, Nottingham, UK’ on it. Bastian set it down and 
started to explain off the confused glances that greeted the package.

"My sword. Got a friend owns a military antiques shop in Nottingham. 
By packagaing it up like that, it avoids too many questions."

"Ah." Buffy said, nodding her head in understanding. "Say, Willow, 
Dawn, Kennedy. Lets go sit in the sun."

"But I don’t feel like sitting outside." Dawn protested, but Willow 
grabbed an arm and dragged her in the direction of the backyard.

"Come on Dawny."

Bastian had to laugh, "Far from subtle, aren’t they?"

Xander smiled, "Somehow, I doubt the word subtle is in Buffy’s 
vocabulary and Dawn’s really taking after her, no matter how much they 
protest. But hey, quiet time now, no matter the lack of subtlety." He 
patted the sofa beside him, "Take a seat." 

Bastian shook his head, "Nah, I’d never get it on the plane."

Xander had to laugh at the terrible joke, even as Bastian sat down 
next to him. He gently punched the Slayer on the arm, "That was, most 
possibly, one of the worst jokes I’ve ever heard. And believe me, I’ve 
heard a few. Hell, I’ve probably told most of them."

Beside him, Bastian grinned, "Somehow I find that very hard to 
believe."

"Believe what you want, it’s the truth."

"And they say the truth is Elvis is dead. I don’t buy that either." 
Bastian said, shaking his head. 

Xander groaned, holding up his hands in submission, "I surrender, I 
surrender. You are the king of bad jokes. I bow in awe and respectful 
worship. Now how do I get you to stop before you send me insane."

Bastian grinned, "Ah, but you can’t, I have Slayer stamina, I can keep 
this up long after you’ve slipped into a coma. The joys of...." His 
words were cut off as Xander leaned in and kissed him, long and 
passionately, their lips seeming to melt together. After what seemed 
like an eternity of pleasure, they parted, each taking deep breaths. 
"Well, okay, there is one way of shutting me up after all." He smiled 
and leaned back in, kissing Xander again, even more passionately this 
time. Long and hard they kissed, trying their best to climb inside one 
another, to be one in the short time they had left.

Finally they pulled apart again and Xander looked deep into Bastians’ 
eyes. "I wish you didn’t have to go."

Bastian took a deep breath and let it out in a rattling sigh, "You 
know, part of me, a huge part in fact, wants nothing more than to stay 
here and sweep you off your feet."

"I think you already have." Xander butted in, causing Bastian to grin.

"But I have to go." he continued, "This, this bastard killed Liz and I 
will see his punishment through to the end. It’s the least I can do 
for her. I might not have been able to save her, but I can watch what 
happens and tell her."

Xander looked at him, sympathy in his eyes, "I know Bastian, I do. I 
just, this is gonna sound selfish, but I’ve only just found you, hell 
myself as well and now you have to leave. Seems the hellmouth dating 
service’s track record of not one happily ever after is in no danger 
of been challenged just yet."

Bastian brushed a hand softly over Xander’s cheek, caressing every 
inch of it, as if he were trying to memorize exactly how it felt. 
"Hey, who said anything about this being over. I will see you again, I 
just have to see this through. Besides," he added, smiling, "I owe you 
those arguing with girls lessons. Can’t go back on my word, can I?"

Xander smiled, "What time’s your flight leave?"

"Eight thirty am. Why?"

"Just wanted to know." Xander said, leaning in and kissing him again, 
then pulling back, "The basement’s more private, you know."



Authors Note: That’s it folks, the end of "A Childe Awakens". But fear 
not, the saga will continue, the sequel The Undiscovered Country 
(working title, subject to change) is already in the planning stage! 
It may be a little while as I actually have some *gasp* research to do 
for it, but hey, that’s what the internet is for!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this, my first complete story.

Carl