Buffy and Xander skied with Hans and Katrina the next day. They showed Xander the more extreme runs and then invited them to the chalet for the weekend. Hans explained there were several great areas that were only accessible from his home or by air. Xander accepted the invitation when Hans dropped them off at the hotel. Wrapping an arm around Buffy, they walked back to their room.
"You have been kind of quiet, Xan. What's up?"
Opening the door, he waited until they were inside to answer her. Pulling her over to the couch and onto his lap, he stared into her eyes. "We didn't use anything last night or this morning. I was so blown away. I didn't.."
Buffy put her fingers to his lips. "Ssh, it's okay, Xan. I can't have children and we were both checked out at work. I wouldn't have allowed it to go so far otherwise."
"What happened? I mean if you want to tell me." He held her close and kissed her neck.
"No, it's okay. I've had over a year to get used to it. I stopped having a period when I was twenty. At first, I thought it was stress because my mom was sick. She had a brain tumor. When I didn't start after three months, I went to the doctor. She said it was like nothing she had ever seen before. I didn't have anymore eggs."
"I'm sorry, Buffy."
She shrugged her shoulders remembering that time, as if it was yesterday. It was the real reason that she pulled away from Riley. She was trying to process that she would never have a child. Not that she necessarily wanted one but as a woman, it made her feel less of one. She finally talked to her mom, who helped her come to terms with it. "Do you still want to see me? I mean when the mission is over."
He tenderly caressed her cheek then leaned forward to kiss her. "You aren't getting rid of me that easy, tiger. When I find something worth keeping, I hold on tight. Babe, you are definitely worth keeping." He kissed the crystal tears that slid down her cheeks. Just as he was about to kiss her again, the phone rang. "Duty calls. We'll continue this later." Xander moved to retrieve his phone. "Yo."
Gibbons face appeared on the screen. "XXX, where's Summers?" Buffy moved over to sit in front of Xander. "You were right, good job. The reason they could never make anything stick on Cristoff was because he wasn't involved. Katrina Stephens is one, Katarina Stratosky. She is linked to some heavy hitters. She underwent extensive plastic surgery and no one ever connected the two. If she follows her old pattern, she will deliver the bomb personally. Seems our girl isn't much into trusting others. The only other thing we could find was that all her business and legal matters are done here in LA by a firm called, Wolfram and Hart." Buffy stiffened at the name. "Something the matter, Summers?"
Shaking her head with a wry smile. "Just a ghost from the past. I know someone that firm has made it their personal goal to wage war on. Someone from my past."
Gibbons caught what she was trying to tell him. "All right, at least we have a trail to follow if the bomb isn't at the chalet."
Thinking about the woman they were dealing with, Buffy gave her opinion. "I'll bet you a $1000, right now, it's not. She wouldn't leave something there that would blow apart her carefully put together persona. Plus, what would she do if some yahoo decides to try to bust her sweetie? No, my guess is she has it somewhere close and will pick it up when she is ready to deliver." Buffy paced the room while she tried to think of any other likely scenarios. "We can search the chalet this weekend but if we blow our cover then we lose her and the bomb. There has to be a better way. What if we plant listening in her bedroom and anywhere we can get to, then follow along. Maybe we can see something that a tracking device will work in as well. They talked about areas only accessible from the chalet or air. What do you say we take a copter ride after lunch, big guy?"
Xander nodded with a smile. He liked seeing her like this, her mind whirling with information and angles.
"Keep me in the loop." Gibbons hung up the phone.
They didn't find anything during their helicopter ride but noted a few areas that weren't visible from the air. Hans sent a car for them the next morning. It was pulling up to a large mansion perched in the foot of a tall peak on one side and a dense forest on the other. The house was built in the shape of an H. It sprawled majestically in front of them. Hans and Katrina stepped out to greet them and warmly ushered them inside.
The floors were polished marble tiles that formed a huge black and white spiral pattern. Above their heads, a huge chandelier hung from the vaulted ceilings. It looked like something out a movie.
"Wow, your house is beautiful," Buffy gushed.
"Thank you. It has been fully restored to its previous splendor." Hans kissed his mistresses hand.
She smiled at him lovingly but her eyes swept the house possessively. "Come, I will show you to your room, then on a short tour to keep you from getting lost. Many of out guests have in the past. Thankfully, all the restorations are complete and we no longer have to worry about anyone getting hurt in a construction area."
Buffy and Xander followed her up the stairs to a pair of tall double doors that opened into a room fit for royalty. After leaving their coats, they followed their hosts from one beautiful room to another. Buffy saw a door they hadn't gone through.
"What's that lead to?"
Hans brightened at the question. "That leads to the wine cellar. My great-grandfather was a connoisseur. Would you like to see?"
"Darling, it is all dusty. Buffy doesn't want to go down there."
"No, I would, I have never seen one before."
Katrina waited for them while Hans explained she was allergic to dust. She had to take pills everyday to keep from having a severe reaction. Buffy glanced at Xander with a huge smile. Her medicine bottle would be perfect; she wouldn't leave without it.
The next morning when they met for breakfast before skiing they were surprised to only see Hans at the table.
"Isn't Katrina joining us?" Buffy looked around for the other woman.
"No, she has some calls to make."
Buffy nodded then looked at Xander. "Honey, why don't you two go without me? I wouldn't mind a day just to lounge around. Maybe I'll borrow a book from the library and read. If Katrina finishes her calls before you return, we can visit."
Xander kissed her cheek. "If you're sure then I'm ready whenever you are, Hans."
After they left, Buffy went to the library and got a book then went to Katrina and Hans' bedroom. She remembered there was an attached study and hoped that was where the other woman was now. Knocking then opening the door she scanned the room, then listening carefully she heard the other woman making travel plans over the telephone. Moving quickly across the room into the bathroom, proceeded to open drawers until she found the medicine removing the label, and applied the device. Swiftly moving back to the door, she walked over to a small desk then knocked over something.
"Who is there?" Katrina called out from the study.
"Oh, Katrina, I'm sorry, I knocked over the paper box. I was going to leave you a note when I didn't see you in here. I hoped we could visit when you were through with your calls. I mean I love spending time with Xander but wouldn't mind a little girl-talk." A wide innocent smile spread across her face. She had changed into soft pastel colors and put her hair into a high tight ponytail making her look more like a teenager than a twenty-two year old woman.
"Of course dear, give me an hour and I will come and get you."
"Okie dokie, I'll just for read in my room until you are through."
Katrina shook her head watching Buffy leave. "What a vapid child. What would a man such as Xander Cage see in her?" She returned to the study to continue her arrangements for delivering the bomb to LA. She would take care of some other business with her lawyers while she was there. It was convenient the customer used the same lawyers.
Buffy made a show of going to her room but listened to Katrina's last phone few calls. She must have already called the buyer, damnit. The last call was to Wolfram and Hart confirming her appointment on Tuesday with someone named Lilah Morgan. That only gave them three days to find the buyer before he could get the bomb. Think Buffy, think what to do. Rushing to her room and grabbing her sat phone, moved into the bathroom.
"Come on, Gibbons, come on." His face came on the screen. "Look, don't talk, just listen." He nodded. "I need you to send an urgent telegram to me that my Mom is in the hospital and that Xander and I need to get back to LA, ASAP. I'll explain when we aren't in their house." She hung up the phone and slid it into her pocket then started to sing loudly while she washed her face.
Katrina knocked on the door and when no one answered suddenly became suspicious. She snooped in the drawers but found nothing out of the ordinary then heard loud singing coming from the bathroom. She laughed at herself for every imaging anything more.
Buffy walked out with a flushed face. There is no way this little girl is smart enough to be more than she seemed - a college student with a famous boyfriend.
"Hey, Katrina, did you already finish all your calls. I'm afraid I fell asleep." Buffy gave a small yawn for show. Walking down the stairs to a small salon, within thirty minutes a servant delivered a telegram. Katrina read the outside then handed it to Buffy. "For me? I've never received a telegram." Opening it, her face paled and tears formed in her eyes.
"What is it dear?" Katrina pulled the smaller girl into her arms.
"It's my mom. She's had a relapse. They found a tumor about a year ago and we thought everything was okay. I never should have left her to come so far away."
The older woman rocked her gently. "There, there, dear. I'm sure it will be all right. I will have your things packed then as soon as the men return the car will take you back to your hotel."
Katrina bundled Buffy into the waiting car kissing her cheek. "It will be all right dear, you will see."
Xander climbed in beside her after thanking their hosts. He pulled Buffy into his arms as the car took off. Buffy let her mind flow back to the moment she walked into the house to find her mother's body. She used all those hidden emotions now to help her through this. She tucked her head into his neck while tears flowed down her face. Thinking of her mother, she was suddenly hit with the last time she saw her and where - heaven.
When the car stopped, he stepped out then bent down to pick her up in his arms and strode across the front lobby. The concierge moved quickly in front of them to open the door to their room. "If there is anything that we can do, Mr. Cage, please let us know?"
Xander nodded. "We will be leaving immediately. If you could have our bill ready?"
The concierge shook his head. "Mr. Cristoff has already taken care of that, sir. He said not to worry about anything but getting young Miss home to her mother." He closed the door softly behind him.
Xander lay Buffy gently on the bed and curled up behind her until her tears stopped. "I was fifteen years old when my life changed forever. A man named Merrick told me that I had a special destiny that I the chosen one. He trained me then died protecting me. My parents divorced and we moved to Sunnydale where my life changed even more. Another man named Giles helped me to accept my destiny. I found friends to share the burden with and I even found love. When I was 17, I gave myself to that love causing him to lose his soul. He did unspeakable things and I had no choice but to kill him. Somehow, he returned with his soul but we couldn't be together for fear he would become that monster again. I fought every night to protect the people I loved and those who didn't even know I existed. Last year, I had to fight a hell god to protect my sister. I won but it was too late to stop what she already started. I died to stop it and save Dawn but a month ago, my so-called friends brought me back here to this place. This place I thought was hell until you showed me there are still things to see, do and learn. My mother died only a month before I did; they tore me from her arms. I was remembering how I felt going from total peace and happiness to despair." Her voice was a soft but strong whisper while she told him all the darkness that was her life.
Xander turned her over to look in her face and saw the truth shining from her eyes. "What exactly was or is your destiny, Buffy? Help me to understand what you're telling me." He wiped the tears from her cheeks and tenderly caressed her lips.
"Do you believe in the supernatural? You know ghost, vampires, werewolves, that kind of stuff?" Her voice was hesitant and she didn't look him in the eye. Buffy only hoped he wouldn't think she was crazy.
"I believe in vamps, don't know about the rest. I have some step-cousins, Alonna and Gunn, they have a posse that hunts them in LA."
Buffy let out the breath she didn't know that she was holding. "Well believe me, all the rest are real too. The Chosen One is a Vampire Slayer. There is a whole spiel about it but in a nutshell, I have all of their strengths and none of their weaknesses."
He thought about what she said then kissed her nose. "What does all this have to do with our mission?"
Her breath hitched once more. "Well the friend, I said W&H was after. His name is Angel and he was the guy I didn't want to see me the night we met. There is something else though, Xan. He is... well, he is a vampire." She looked away expecting an explosion, disgust, anger but he just waited for her to finish. "He has a soul that some gypsies cursed him with. When we made love, he lost it because of a clause that he was never supposed to feel a moment of true happiness. That isn't important though, the main thing is I think we are going to need his help to get to W&H. We need to get inside to find the buyer then we can switch off people and snatch it from Katrina."
Xander laughed out loud and pulled her closer to him. "You are into this Mission Impossible stuff, babe. I don't have a problem working with your ex. The question is, do you? Buffy, are you still in love with him."
Buffy was quiet for a moment causing Xander's heart to squeeze in his chest. He knew they had only known each other a little over a month but he was falling fast for her; if he wasn't already gone. "Angel was such a big part of my world for so long. He was my first real love and my first lover. The problem was that when things got hard for him, he walked away. He said it was for me, so I could find someone to take me into the sun but he never asked me what I wanted. I spend most of my time at night, in the dark, patrolling. There was no reason for him not to be with me. He never even considered searching for a cure. Angel isn't good when it comes to tough decisions, especially if he was the one that had to do the hard work. I guess a part of me will always love him but I'm not in love with him. That is why I was so upset that night. It wasn't from seeing him with another woman, although I do have that, it was Cordelia. It was that I had to face the reality that out relationship was in the past, a memory."
Pulling him down to meet her lips in a sweet soft kiss, she said. "I like the way you make me feel, not just when we make love but when we are just together like now, just talking. Xan, I don't know where this, you and me is headed but I would like to find out."
Xander wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her head. "I'm not going anywhere, babe. I want to learn everything about you then help you create some new memories. Much as I would like to stay right here holding you, we better get packed up and on the road."
Cordelia was walking down the stairs when she screamed and grabbed her head. Angel rushed to her but couldn't get there before she hit the ground - hard. Picking her up, he carried her down to the lobby while everyone gathered around to check on the seer. Laying her on the round couch, Angel gently shook her. "Cordy, can you hear me?"
She groaned and her hands went up to rub her temples. "What the hell happened? They aren't supposed to hurt anymore, just you wait until I find that tin.."
Before she could continue her rant, Angel interrupted. "Do you want to tell us what you saw?"
She glared at him, still angry for leaving their bed the other night. Even though he returned the next night, they still hadn't slept together since then. She could tell he was distracted and bet it had to do with her - Buffy. "Fine, forget about my pain and that I could have broken my neck on the stairs." Everyone sighed as she her voice got sharper and higher. "It was strange, I didn't see any demons, only an explosion, three X's and lots of tattoos. Normally they are more detailed. This one was just weird and painful." Cordelia didn't tell them that she saw Buffy in her vision again. The three X's were written across Buffy's chest. Cordy only hoped that meant the freakazoid slayer was finally dead for good. Three strikes you're out, dead. There was no reason to tell Angel about that part, it would only hurt him. She had done the right thing not telling him about her return, especially since she was already dead again. Cordelia patted herself on the back for being such a thoughtful lover.
Fred watched the now blonde seer closely, she couldn't help but feel that Cordy wasn't saying something. Maybe it was just woman's intuition but she was beginning to see through the other woman's act. She didn't like what she saw. When she first came back, she thought Cordelia was so beautiful, kind and giving. Now, she saw how she bossed everyone around, her temper tantrums and conceit. Fred had a bad feeling about the vision. Wesley still hadn't heard from Mr. Giles.
The phone started ringing in Wesley's office, he moved quickly to catch it before the person calling hung up. "Hello. Ah, Mr. Giles, thank you for calling." He got up and closed his office door then proceeded to explain the situation regarding Fred and the information she found on Buffy. Wesley leaned back in his chair while the color drained from his face as Giles explained the complete story. "Thank you, Mr. Giles. Yes, I will try to break the news to him. Willow was sentenced to five years with the coven then the total removal of all knowledge of the supernatural. She knew that Buffy could come back wrong and did the spell anyway. I guess the only saving grace for her was not knowing the full repercussions. Thank you for your assistance." Hanging up the phone, Wesley sighed heavily, as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. "Well Wesley, ole chap, this won't get any easier."
He headed back out into the lobby probably to shatter his good friend's fragile world. "Angel, I need to tell you something that was brought to my attention, but I was unable to confirm it until just now." His eyes swept over Fred's face giving her a slight nod. A soft 'oh' escaped her lips. "It is in regards to.." Wesley watched Angel's face with confusion when he saw wonder cross the vampire's face.
"Buffy." Angel said her name like a caress or a prayer.
"Yes, it has to do with Buffy. Angel, are you listening to me?" A voice was heard behind Wesley causing him to turn and stare.
"Hello, Angel, Wesley, it's good to see you both looking so well."
Wesley couldn't stop himself from taking in the sight of the woman in front of him. Buffy stood in the entrance to the Hyperion, the sunlight behind her made the gold of her hair and skin glow. She wore low-slung brown leather pants that little no one in doubt she was very much a woman. A cream silk sweater hugged her upper body, not quite reaching the top of her pants. When she walked down the steps from the front door, everyone could see glimpses of a tanned, toned stomach. Her hair hung in soft waves down her back. A soft graced her petal pink lips.
Fred, Gunn and Lorne walked out of the kitchen and watched in wide-eyed wonder at the beautiful woman that walked across the lobby. "Who is that?" Gunn couldn't take his eyes off her. Lorne saw her aura without hearing her sing a note.
"That is Buffy Summers," Fred supplied.
A large man with a shaved entered the hotel and moved quickly to Buffy's side, she smiled up at him as he gave her a wink.
Gunn straightened up when he saw the man then started towards the couple. "X, is that you?"
Xander looked up to see his step-cousin walking across the lobby. A huge smile spread across his face, he hurried to meet him and pulled the smaller man into a big bear hug. "Gunn, my man, what are you doing here?"
Gunn grinned at him. "That was my question for you."
Looking over at Buffy, then back to his cousin. "We need to talk with your boss-man about some stuff. How's my beautiful girl, Lona?"
Gunn's face fell. "She's dead, vamps got her."
Xander's face grew solemn from the news, Buffy slipped her hand into his then squeezed it to let him know she understood. "I'm sorry, bro, why didn't you come and get me? I would have helped."
"Hell no, you are all the family that I have left. I didn't want you involved in this, guess that didn't work too well." He looked over at Buffy. He couldn't believe this itty-bitty woman was a slayer. From the few times Angel had talked about her, Gunn still expected an Amazon.
"Gunn, this is Buffy Summers. I don't know if you two ever met?" He turned to Buffy who smiled at them both.
"Hello Gunn, I've heard a lot about you and I'm glad we finally get to meet. I just wish it wasn't like this." They shook hands while Gunn looked her over. He couldn't stop himself from letting his eyes drink her in the sight of her, damn she was beautiful. He looked at his cousin closely, noticing for the first time how happy he seemed. Gunn didn't care if Angel had some prior clam on this slayer. If she made X that happy, he wasn't going to let the vampire ruin it. Angel was his friend but blood, that came first.
"Buffy." His voice caressed her name once more. "Is it really you? But, when, I mean how, why?" Angel stumbled over his questions, wanting nothing more than to take her in his arms and never let her go.
She turned back to Angel with a small smile on her lips. "If I answer those in order, it was over a month ago, Willow and the others did a spell and I'm not sure. Angel, I'd like you to meet my partner, Xander Cage."
Angel looked at the man beside her. It was the man from the parking lot. "You, why did you lie to me? The woman I saw was Buffy." He started to advance on Xander, who just looked the other man over.
When Angel was almost to Xander, Buffy put her hand out, palm up and punched out. Angel flew backwards to land against the far wall in a heap. "We don't have time for this crap. We need some information that you have and we need it now. Angel, I will talk to you afterwards in private. Are we clear here?" Buffy stared at both men then included everyone else in the room. Four heads nodded as one but the fifth one was slowly rising from the couch.
"I don't know who you think you are Buffy Summers but this isn't Sunnydale. We don't jump when Miss Saves the World says so." Cordelia walked over to look down her nose at Buffy. She wasn't going to let this happen, no way.
Buffy smiled while she choked back the laugh that was trying to bubble out of her mouth. Her hair was unattractive before but now it is just plain ugly. "Hello, Cordelia. It's nice to see you too. In case you missed the first part of out program, let me bring you up to speed. Do you need me to talk slower or are you able to keep up?"
Several snickers and one loud snort were heard from the others. Cordelia turned to glare at them hatefully then she turned back to Buffy. "There isn't anything you can say or do that I can't keep up with Buffy, just try me." Her hands went to her hips and she glared at the girl she blamed everything that ever went wrong in her life.
"That's nice then I won't have to repeat myself." Buffy walked past her to take a seat on the couch Cordy just vacated.
"It's good to see you, Buffy. I have always wanted to apologize for my behavior as your Watcher and thank you for firing me. It was the best thing that could have happened to me. How can we help you and Mr. X, was it?" Wesley asked her politely.
Buffy giggled at the 'Mr. X' comment. "Please, Wesley, call him X or Xander. Mr. X sounds like something from a porno movie." Wesley nodded with a grin. "I guess that we should get the intros over then get down to business. This is Xander Cage and like I said before we're partners and need some intel, you may have. I've already met Gunn, so why don't you introduce us to the other two?"
Fred was slowly moving closer so that she could get a better look at Buffy. Lorne walked over to introduce himself. Xander moved in front of Buffy until she put a hand on his hip. Two people noticed an intimate gesture immediately. Angel's heart fell when he saw the intimacy between Buffy and Xander. Cordelia cheered to see Buffy with a new man, now she wouldn't be able to cause trouble between her and Angel.
"It's okay, Xan, he's friendly."
Xander moved out of the way to sit beside her on the couch. Buffy put her hand out in greeting and Lorne clasped it between his two large green ones. He smiled down at her. "Wow sweat pea, your aura is so strong, I don't ever need to hear you sing."
Buffy's eyes must have shown her confusion so Lorne went on to explain his gift. "Must make your head spin reading so many people. I know my Slayer dreams always made me feel like I'd been on a roller coaster whenever I woke up. It's nice to meet you, Lorne, but please I don't want to know whatever you saw. I've been down that road before and would rather see it when it happens."
His red eyes studied her for a little while then widened. "Sure thing, sweet potato, greatest part of life is the experience of living it. You ever need anything you come and see me at Caritas." Buffy smiled and nodded.
"Oh for goodness sakes, can we over this love fest, please? What the hell do you want, Buffy?" Cordy demanded and her friends turned to look at her with confusion on their faces. This was not the Cordy they knew, her voice mean and spiteful.
"If you would sit down and shut up, I'll tell you." Buffy replied in a bored voice.
Before the blonde seer could say anything else, Angel's voice was heard behind her. "That's enough, Cordy!" His quiet voice left no room for doubt. "Buffy, go ahead, we are 'all' listening." His eyes never left her face, the need to touch her was almost more than he could stand. She is here, alive. Why didn't she let me know? Why did she leave that night?