Princesses of War and Pieces.






King Xander gave the man in front of him a confused look. "Why are you talking to me about princess fans? I don't carry one of those anymore and I didn't really like carrying one before. They're annoying little things that keep getting lost."

"Sire, they're important to an upcoming visiting people."

"It's great they like them. The same as I married a Sanzo so he could carry them for me." He stared at the guy. "I don't care about fans. Well, unless I'm being hit by one, and then I complain to my spouse, but otherwise I don't care about fans! Really! They're annoying. I'm not going to carry one. Whoever wants to carry one, go for it. These new visitors, if they can't understand that, that's their difficulties, not mine. We're not the same people."

"Quit pissing the king off before he makes the rest of us miserable," Consort Genjo called from the hallway. "I don't need that today."

"Apparently we're getting visited by people who like fans as much as you do, Genjo."

Genjo stepped into the throne room, looking at the new majordomo. "My relatives?"

"No, Consort Genjo. Someone new. They appreciate fans. I was trying to explain that to the king."

"Who is he?" Xander asked with a point. "Is he their diplomat?"

"No, he's the majordomo you hired to replace the guy who tried the treason stuff," Goyjo said from behind his boss. He grinned and waved. "He's going to take the fan and hit you with it." He ducked Genjo's fan as he walked off.

"He's right," Xander quipped with a grin and a nod. "Really he is. I do not care about fans. If you like fans, great! If you don't like fans, great!" He smirked at the guy. "You can send letters ahead saying we don't mind them having battle fans. It's more than an acceptable weapon in this palace. Genjo proves that often."

"They prefer culturally meaningful fans, sire, not battle ones," he almost sighed. "Certain groups have ones that show their lineage or participation in the group."

Genjo snorted. "Great, it's the pussy-whipped cousins from down south coming," he complained. "They're just as uptight as my people, but it's all ceremonial. They wear a lot of makeup. They put on great shows of art. They consider strumming that off-key guitar to be peaceful. They don't meditate but that's about the only difference."

"Like those ladies that help your mom?" Xander asked him, looking confused.

"Yes, they're all from there because they're gentle and know how to dress her."

Xander nodded slowly. "Why are they coming here?"

"They want to set up peaceful relations, sire," the majordomo said patiently.

"I'm not against that but I'm not changing anything to suit anyone."

"Sire, we could make an effort," he said. Xander stared at him. "It's seen as diplomatic."

"We've barely stopped decorating the palace," he said dryly. Genjo was laughing. "They can be as frivolous as they want as long as they don't cause problems. I am not putting on makeup, carrying a fan, or anything like that. The military would never respect me. They barely listen to Genjo and only those he's beaten with his fan do usually. I'll never get back the respect." He stared at him. "Also, where did you come from?"

"Consort Genjo's people, to the south border, sire."

"Oh, okay. That's cool. Have you been told how I like to have things done around here?"

"Yes, sire."

"Including the flag codes and what goes on when I'm not here?"

"You have many diplomatic trips?"

"I tend to travel with the military if it's that important," Xander said dryly. "I always have." The guy looked like he was going to pass out. He looked at Genjo, who shrugged.

"I didn't hire him, Xander."

"Okay. Who hired him?"

"Sire!" one of the courtiers complained. "That's rude."

"Which is why you don't have a job either. I'm blunt, I know that." He looked at the guy. "We're one of the more lax castles. We have very little protocol. We don't throw huge parties. We listen to commoner problems at least twice a week and handle any problems that come up almost immediately. We work with our military to help protect the rest of the joined kingdoms, and we're pretty badass around here. We carry weapons, not fans. Outside my consort and he can use it to make everyone sorry." Genjo sat down on his throne. "Also, put the couches in here back, people," he called more loudly. "We like the visiting princesses to have a place to sit and talk to us. A lot of times they have very good ideas to solve problems."

"That's not how it's supposed to be!" the majordomo said frantically.

"Well, that's the way it is around here," Xander said bluntly, staring him down. "If you don't like it, tough. We'll give you some nice letters of recommendation as long as you haven't screwed up anything too much." He stared at him. "Now, are you going to actually argue with me about things I want in my own palace?" The man huffed off. He looked up, shaking his head. "Fuck it, I'm going to start naming people from out-kingdom so I don't get stupid people again," he yelled. "Knight Scott, would you like to hold an official position in my kingdom?" he asked since he was in the doorway.

"It's a long way to travel, King Xander, and I have a kid."

"Pity. If any of yours who are honorable and good at things want to come up here, let me know. We could use it." He glared at the courtiers who were pouting. "Get over it," he snapped.

"Sire, are you mirroring your surrogate's mood swings?" one asked with an idiot's smile.

"Kind of hard to do since mine was only inserted for the first time last night," Genjo said dryly. "If it doesn't take, his'll be used next month." He looked out there. "Hakkai, tell the housekeeper to please put things back where they're supposed to be before it irritates Xander even more."

"I've already noted he was complaining about that." He smiled at the courtiers then at his boss. "She's finding the couches he may have put into the barn."

"They were brand new couches," Xander said dryly. "We had to replace them after Dean and Sam got into that brawl with Gregory."

"Don't remind me," Genjo muttered, sipping the tea he was brought by the housekeeper. "The couches and other things that got changed?"

"The couches are in a storage room but crammed in there. I have no idea how he got them in there, Sires. The tapestries look nicely balanced but we had taken them down to clean. The one he ordered us to hide is coming out of the front hallway. We stopped him from cutting it up with his tiny belt dagger," she said blandly. "And we have no idea who hired him either, Sires. We thought the king had." Xander shook his head. "All right, we'll fix all that back. I'm to warn you we're having fish when they show up. They adore fish. One of their gods has a fish head. We'll have to serve fish with the heads and tails on."

"Make sure Sam's there so he won't be possessed by a fish," Genjo said blandly. "I never seem to be able to banish them from him."

"I've already suggested he show up since he's one of the better diplomats we have. We also need to hire two new cleaning maids. They seem to have left."

"Why did they leave?" Xander asked.

"I have no idea, Sire. You might ask one of the generals."

"Generals!" he bellowed. They came running in. "What the fuck happened that I wasn't told about!"

"The majordomo you hired...." one stared.

Genjo held up a hand. "No one we know hired him." They all groaned. "We just kicked him out. Please drown him in the moat to put him out of others' misery. Is there something he did to your people?"

"A few he tried to dismiss for being nasty, Sire."

"They're soldiers! They're not going to be pretty all the damn time!" Xander complained. "No! Fuck no!" The generals all flinched. "It goes back to the way it's supposed to be. You know I'd never do that. Have some damn Goddess-blessed sense!"

"We just mostly hid them," another of the generals said. "And the two maids he tried to dismiss for not being of his kind of people."

Xander growled. "Drown the bastard. I do not accept that sort of racist behavior." They all nodded and ran to fix it. He stared at the housekeeper, who smiled and patted him on the wrist before walking off laughing. "Find a new majordomo for me since you've known me since I was a kid and how the palace is supposed to run."

"Yes, Sire," she called back. "Later today I'll go looking."

"Thank you. Can I have some coffee?"

"None in the pantry, Sire. He threw it out because rulers only drank tea."

"Get. More. We all know I hate tea," he complained, looking at his spouse.

He smirked. "He was apparently from the kingdom of Sanzo, yes. Just a bit less uptight than most of ours. Not even my mother would redecorate without permission. Gregory, they'll bring the couches back in a few minutes."

He flopped down on the stairs. "That's fine." He looked up. "I heard shouting?" Xander growled. "You should probably calm down before your blood pressure ruptures your brain, Xander."

Xander flapped a hand with a grin. "It'll come down. Just let the stupid stop for a bit."

"We all hope it stops for a bit," Genjo said. People carried in the couches and arranged them nicely. That idiot man stomped back in to complain so Xander threw a dagger at him, making him scream as it hit his leg. "You were fired," Genjo said dryly. "Get out of this palace before we have you killed." He finished his tea. "Gloria, can we have a snack as well? It may calm Xander's temper down."

"Doubt it," Xander said dryly. "I hate people trying to screw with me on purpose." The man was still crying and wailing about the tiny injury. "I had worse than that as a child and didn't make that sort of noise. Shut the hell up." He looked over at the general stomping in. "Here, have a training toy." He pointed.

"Yes, sire, we can track him through the woods." He hauled him up and out to the jail then came back. "Sire, why are my soldiers moving things?"

"I have no idea since it's the people on staff here who're doing it now."

"They were moving furniture the other day, Sire. Someone took them of a work assignment."

Genjo pointed. "Same idiot's problem?"

"Oh, all right then." He nodded, giving them a smug look. "The boys will like having fun with him for making them lift couches and stuff." He looked around then at them. "You're missing a statue."

"I thought I was," he admitted, pointing. "That was up here because I stare at it when I'm thinking. So the mermaid one?" The general looked then nodded. "Any idea?" he called out.

"Back hallway to the gardens," one of the staff members moving couches said. "It's very heavy, Sire."

Xander grinned at the general, who sighed but nodded. "I'll have someone shift them around, Sire. Of course we have people who're in trouble."

"Thanks." He took his cup of coffee. "Thank you as well."

"Welcome, Sire. We had to grind from the hidden bags. We're getting more from the storage caverns in a bit."

"How much did he waste?" Genjo asked.

"He threw it down the watering well for the garden," she said. "Two bags worth." Xander moaned, shaking his head. "I've let the head housekeeper know, Sires. They'll make sure we have enough." She curtseyed and walked off with a grin for the general. She came back. "Sir Scott, do you need a room for a few days?" she asked with a smile. "And are you alone?"

"I'm being a messenger. I brought up the trade treaty." He held it up. She handed it to Xander and walked him off to find him a room to rest in.

Xander read it over, nodding before handing it to Genjo.

"I don't like that one clause," he admitted. He let the general see it. "Third clause in the second amendment."

"That sounds like King Stark's doing," the general said. "It's also a poor idea. The rest look reasonable."

"Then we'll talk to Sir Scott later once he's rested," he said, putting the scroll down on the table between the two thrones. "Go fix shit. You know how I run things," he said more quietly. "Find me reasonable nobles and diplomats. Help Gloria find me a real majordomo. Have one of the military protocol bitches show up to fill in please."

"Yes, Sire. One of mine is on crutches after a surgery. He can come fill in."

"I wanted him off his leg," Gregory warned. "Make sure he has a chair or maybe a desk in here." The general nodded and left. He looked at Xander. "It might keep him from carrying stacks of paper anyway."

Xander pointed. "There?" That got a nod. "Can one of you get the writing desk from the parlor we don't use and a decent chair with a footstool for that newly bare corner?" One of them nodded, going to fetch it for them."

"Why do we have bitches of protocol in a military?" Genjo asked.

"They do things like read charges at hearings and make sure the rule books are seen by all and followed. They're not the judges but they're the people that run all the stuffy things that aren't military maneuvers."

"So they're the majordomos of the military," Genjo said.

"Each general's unit has one," Xander said with a grin. "Some of them are more uptight than even your cousin, the one that's blind and refuses to talk to anyone he can't see." Genjo shuddered. "The one mentioned isn't bad and isn't that uptight but he's good at making sure that the military has what it needs for stores as well. He might do good with that job."

"I've already thought of him, Sire," Gloria said as she came back, curtseying again. "Sire, meat for dinner?"

"Usually," he agreed dryly. "If it was that idiot's idea, I don't eat too many things that aren't real food."

"He wanted fancier things. I pointed out you didn't eat that way. You were more simple. We did get a call from King Dean's people and he's on his way with his consort."

"Dean eats steaks and roasts too," Genjo said. "They're much alike. So is Castiel. Who I think eats less meat than any of us but me." He cleared up a sudden frown. "What about that mushroom dish? We haven't had it in a while."

"Not the season for them, Consort Genjo. We have a substitute but they're bitter this year for some reason." He nodded at that. "I'll make sure we start making it as soon as we get them back. There are mushrooms cooked with the roast tonight."

"Thank you."

Xander looked at him. "You eat more vegetables than even witches do."

He glared at him. "I was raised not to eat living things."

"I know, still weird."

"Yes, but it gets us closer to the Merciful Goddess," Genjo said blandly, scowling at him. Xander grinned back. "We should spar later to make sure you still remember how to use the hand weapons."

"If I must," he sighed. But he was grinning. He looked at Gloria. "That one protocol minister would be a great solution, yes."

"I'll talk to him tonight, Sire. His wife might like that." She heard a horse and looked out by leaning backwards a bit. "I see Princess Tony, Sire. And possibly his brother Prince Timothy." She straightened up to stare at them. "These new people coming?"

"Remember my mother's maids?" Genjo said with a grimace. She nodded slowly, looking upset. "Their people."

"Oh, dear. I'll make sure they have a nice closet and mirror." She walked off shaking her head. They had been quietly uptight the last time and had went behind everyone to fix things to their suiting.

Timothy walked in with Tony behind him shaking his head. "King Xander, can we talk?" Timothy asked politely.

"We often do, Tim." He grinned. "You know I'm not the formal, stick up the ass king. I am not from Castiel or Genjo's people." He ducked the swat at his head. "So what's up?"

"Two of your pouting soldiers came to sob on Abby," Tony said dryly, flopping down on a couch. "We're not sure why."

"We had a new majordomo who thought I was an uptight ass," Xander quipped, grinning at Tim. "Call and ask them if it was him, if so I've already ordered all the stupid things fixed. If it's something else, I'll fix it if I can."

"Thanks," Timothy said, going to the fire calling station. "Queen Abby." She ran to the fire, smiling at him. "If it was about something the majordomo attempt did, Xander's said it's fixed."

"One said it was his general's fault."

"Who are you?" a man sneered.

Tim looked at him. "Prince Timothy." The man backed up, bowing. "Consort Genjo?" he called. "Tony!" He looked at his stepmother, who cooed at him. "We know. Do I really have to meet those uptight princesses?"

"We've got some coming that're uptight in different ways," Genjo said as he came out. "Oh, look, the majordomo attempt has a friend."

"Who are you?" he sneered.

"The King's consort," he sneered back. The man lunged to hit him so Genjo slugged him into a wall. Xander came out to haul that guy off. "I can fight, Xander."

Xander grinned. "I could use some growling relief, Genjo. Go order something painted for me." He hauled the guy outside and to the practice arena where the soldiers were. "Did you miss one?"

"He has another retinue member," one of the generals said. "Have fun with him, Sire." His people were smart, they were getting out of the way.

Xander looked at him. "Which general screwed up enough that a few of our soldiers went to sob on Queen Abby's lap?"

That general groaned, shaking his head. "The newest one ordered no new marriages for six months to make sure everything was settled and because we might be switching people out to the south, Sire."

"You go talk to her." He pointed.

"Yes, Sire."

"Prince Timothy and Princess Tony are both here." The general groaned but went to talk to them and their stepmother. Most everyone liked Queen Abby but they thought she was a tiny bit weird.

Xander shoved the guy into the practice ring. "Good. Let's see what else you tried to fuck up in my kingdom." The man was still sneering and pulling out a gun. Xander dodged the attempt to shoot him and killed the guy. "Not any good, were you?" Another female voice screamed. Xander looked around. "If that's one of our people, I'm going to kill whoever just hurt her, boys. Go find out for me." They ran off to see what had happened. They brought back the body they had stabbed. "He raping someone?" Xander asked bluntly, staring at the body. He was half-undressed so it was a logical assumption.

"No, Sire, just trying to force her to service him. He didn't get to the point where he was using actual force, just sneering about her job. We've corrected that and gotten her to the head housekeeper so she can find somewhere safe to calm down."

"Good. I like that." Xander shrugged, kicking some sand on the bodies. "Bury 'em. Their friend in the jail can go with them when you guys treat him like a tracking exercise." They did that for him. Xander walked off shaking his head. "How many people did he have?"

"Four, Sire," one of the pages said. "One of the courtiers brought him in and hired him." Xander grimaced. "That one's ran for his life back to his estate to move."

"Good idea. Let me know who so we can send guards to make sure they didn't leave anything important. I really do have to find new nobles who aren't stupid."

"Sire," the page said with a wince. "Anytime you do that, they complain that they're not related to us."

Xander looked at him. "How would they know with the way my real father wenched around so much? The man fathered 318 kids! I'm sure he's got some in other places." He walked off. "Besides, nobles don't have to be blood related. They just have to be doing good things for the kingdom." He went to flop down on his throne, sighing in displeasure. He looked at Scott. "You sure you don't want a title here?"

"No. Thanks. Maybe for the daughter some day."

"I'm not against females in the military or nobility," Xander agreed. "They have to prove their worth like the rest do." He shrugged. "Bring her up if you want to."

Scott smiled, nodding some. "I'll see if her mother would like that, King Xander."

"We're not that formal," he reminded him. "It's just Xander unless I'm pissed at you." He gave him a pointed look. "We liked it, but one clause. It sounded like King Stark was drunk when he wrote it."

"I didn't read it. Not my job." Genjo handed it over, letting him read it. "That second point is all King Stark's idea," he admitted.

"We hated the third clause under that point," Xander said.

"Okay. We have a fire calling station set up now so I can tell them that." He went to do that. He came back ten minutes later. "The one they have on record doesn't have that clause." Xander snickered, nodding some. "Or one other one. They'll send up a new copy."

"Rest, have fun, train with ours if you want," Genjo said with a hand wave. "We need more sensible people who have ideas sometimes." Xander nodded. "Though it was nice that the palace's people all have good ideas on how to keep things stable."

"It is," Xander agreed. "We really have to do something nice for them this year." He looked at his spouse. "Beyond the yearly raise."

"That is good," he agreed. "We'll figure out something nice." Xander grinned and nodded, patting him on the hand. He looked at the two princesses and the prince. "You guys settled for a bit?" They all nodded. "Good, it's hearings day." He looked at the quiet military person who was in the corner. "Are we ready?"

"Only two requests to be heard, Sires," he said, looking up at them. "There was another one but she came in without any information on her idea and I know the king would want that. She'll be back soon with it." They nodded so he let in the first petitioners. It was much easier if they weren't all in there together, plus safer for the king and consort. The king wouldn't mind that sort of change to his routine.

***

Xander looked around that night at dinner, staring at the strange arrangement of the tables. "Were we cleaning again?" he asked the server.

"Yes, Sire. We separated out a table because they were going to be talking about things they're bringing to your attention. The other side has one for diplomats who want to settle out of the way and watch people but not be talked to." He pointed at them then smiled at the diplomats in residence. "The rest of them are usually seated by you but I know some of them aren't really liking people talking while they eat."

"That's a good idea if you guys don't mind it."

"No, Sire. It lets us send just one server to them so they don't have to be paranoid."

"That's a good idea," he agreed with a smile. "Thank whoever came up with it for me."

"I can do that, Sire." He went to tell the cook that. She came out to hand Xander dessert personally with a wink for him. He patted her back.

"Your people do eat together more often than we do," Timothy said from his seat. "We only eat as a group once a month because we get complaining."

"We have rules that dinner isn't for heavy subjects unless we're at war," Genjo told him, sipping his water. He grimaced. "That has to be from the well in the garden." He put it aside.

"It may have sucked from there," the cook said, sniffing the water. "Oh, that is. Sorry, Sire." She took it to get him a fresh glass. She brought it back. "Here, right from the pitcher in the cold chest, Sire." She walked off to talk to the maid that had pulled up water.

Genjo sipped and nodded. "That's good." He looked at Timothy. "Us eating in here once a week means they realize we're not too out of touch."

"It also lets minor concerns like some woman wondering if her marriage is going to be complained about talk about it where we can hear it as well as the higher nobles just in case." He looked at her. "I hate your future husband and I think you can do better but if you feel you must...we'll be lenient when you kill him for being an ass to you and your family." She blushed, ducking her head with a nod. He looked at another young woman who had been talking about her upcoming marriage. "I know you showed up to court someone. I have no idea who. Come talk to me about it." She hurried up to hiss in his ear, getting a nod. "Are you sure?"

"My parents are sure."

He sighed, staring at her. "I hate arranged marriages." She nodded. "I know you know that." She nodded again, giving him a hopeful look. "If you two can work it out, that's good, but I'd almost request your parents hire you a bodyguard. It's really not a good choice. There's so many better ones."

"My parents like his family."

He nodded, looking at his spouse then at her again. "Talk to me tomorrow in private. There's things you may not have heard." She nodded, going back to her family's side. He grimaced. Genjo leaned over so he hissed the guy's name in his ear.

Genjo looked at her then at him. "Are her parents trying to have her killed?" he asked quietly.

"Maybe."

"I'll compile a list?"

"Please get Hakkai to do that?"

"Hakkai, can you put together a list of eligible people we can marry off?" he asked him. "There's talk of someone doing some sort of event where they can get together to meet everyone at once."

"Of course. The cooks and maids would know," he agreed dryly from his seat. Xander came down to hiss in his ear. "Oh, god, the cannibal," he moaned, rubbing his forehead. The girl in question squeaked, staring at the king, who nodded quickly but stuffed his mouth. "We'll find a list for you, miss."

"Thank you, Master Hakkai," she said quietly. "I had no idea he was that bad." She glanced at his seat but he had stomped off already. She looked at her parents, who were scowling.

Goyjo walked over to haul the father into the hall to share some information with him. The dad came back in pale and grossed out. Goyjo went back to his seat, having to swat Goku to get him out of his plate. "I need the food too." Goku scowled but got seconds of his own.

Xander looked at his consort. "When those new diplomats show up, where are we putting them?"

He considered it. "My house would've been the perfect place," he agreed. "I am not living with a diplomat though. Much less the pack of them since they travel in packs of roaming uptightness." He thought then sighed. "There's two other small houses in the garden or there's the one on the other side of the garden that needs to be fixed. That one may be the best option. It's far enough away to be private and so they won't be bothered by anything but close enough to not look like you're trying to make them flee in horror."

Xander nodded. "We need to see what that one needs." He looked at someone, who groaned. "That house?" he asked him.

"Some work, Sire. I'll bring a list tomorrow when you tour it with me."

"Thank you." He smiled at his consort. "Thanks."

"Welcome. If they want to sit someone up here more permanently they can build a house outside town." He grimaced. "There's that nice set of lots near the orphanage's road. Far enough away that the kids won't bother them too often but close enough to the town."

"I was going to set up an area for diplomats," Xander said. "I have a few lots up north of us just outside of town, but that's near the forest, and there's another three lots that're good for those sort of houses. The orphanage might get bothered and I'd hate that." He ate a bite. "Map?" he called. One of the guards got him one from the walls in there. He waved the princesses, prince, and knight over. "What about here, here, here, and here for diplomatic houses?" he asked, looking at them.

"I didn't really pay attention to that," Scott said.

Tony pointed. "I like Genjo's idea of this area but you're right, they might hate being near the orphanage. Some people are like that and are horrified at orphans." He frowned. "Nice manor house?"

"Falling in wreck," Xander said. "I was thinking about breaking up that estate anyway."

"That's not a bad place," Genjo agreed, looking it over. "You have another wreck of a house here," he said with a point of his fan.

Xander nodded. "That's an inherited one and there's an heir, she's in the orphanage since it was that or her father's people would kill her to take out the rest of the family."

"That could cause later problems," Tim agreed. "Like Duke level?"

"She's a tiny little Duchess," Xander agreed. "She's eight." He grinned. "I introduced her to Amilisame and they were polite but not too friendly. Her being her lady in waiting would've solved a lot of problems for the kid."

"She adopted one of Dean's cousin's last daughters," Genjo said. "Her last letter said she's nice and likes to read too."

"That's good," Xander agreed. "My baby girl needs more friends." He grinned at Scott. "She so squealed about writing your daughter."

"I heard. Cassie squealed back about knowing an actual princess." He pointed. "This one's not too far away."

"It's a good twenty minutes," Genjo said. "By carriage. They might think that's a snub."

"Okay, so I'll break up this one, let these three lots," he said, circling them with a finger. "Be allowed to be built on for diplomatic things, and we'll look at the house across the garden for sudden visits." He accepted some ink and a pen to write that out. Including a note to leave that one estate alone because there was still an heir. He handed it to a guard, who took it to the council that argued with him a lot.

"Sire, that one estate you mentioned?" one of them called.

"Their daughter still lives." He sat down, looking at him. "I'd like her to keep doing that. I'm not going to take her family's history from her."

"That house is all but destroyed, Sire."

"Then when she's older, she can rebuild it if she wants or she can tear it down and build a new one. Did we put the things in there into storage?" The guard nodded. "Thank you. I'll be checking on her more often to make sure she's learning how to be a good woman as well as a good heir."

"We offered to bring her into our family, Sire," another noble said with a shrug. "She refused."

"Her nanny tried to kill her," Xander said bluntly. "She thinks someone's going to use her and she may be right in some cases. Not you, or your wife, but your brother's like that."

"He is," he agreed with a grimace at his wife. He looked at him again. "Have you introduced her to your daughter?"

"I have. They were polite." A few people smiled. "Amilisame picked up one of Dean's cousins recently."

"With any luck, that young woman will find a good home," another old dame of the old lines said. "Her mother was a good woman. Her father, we put up with."

Xander nodded. "I'm going to be giving her instruction in how to handle an estate too. She'll need it some day." They mostly nodded at that. "You know, there's three heirs out there, right?" A few frowned at him. He pointed at one person. "Her distant niece? Um...." He looked at Genjo then snapped his fingers. "Sir Reginald's last in the family as well. I remembered there were three."

"Reginald had family," that old dame said.

Xander shook his head. "The kid's from someone's first marriage and the family refused to take him in. He's a good kid most of the time."

"Bit slow," Genjo admitted. "But he can still handle things."

"Hmm. I should go look on their family." The old dame grimaced. "That is not right to do that." She stared at the slightly less older dame Xander had pointed out. "Your niece?"

"From a dalliance," she said with a grimace. "My actual niece accepted her into the family but we don't like her that much."

"That's not what you do to family," Xander said quietly, staring at her. "Even if they're your step-nieces." She glared at him. He stared back. "Yes, that means her inheritance is upheld." The old dame started to sob. He looked at the older dame. "Straight heirs always win out."

She nodded. "Yes they do, as you did." He nodded. "Thankfully you're not having many heirs, Sire."

"We're trying with our surrogate now," Genjo said dryly.

"We haven't seen the palace's surrogates," that old dame said.

"We picked one that's at the engineering school from King Steve's island kingdom," Xander said with a smile. "She's beautiful, smart, not related to anyone in this kingdom already. It's becoming a problem, really."

"We do need to arrange for our children to marry out of the kingdom," the older dame complained, looking at Tony, who grinned at her. "Could your nobles and ours get together to talk about such things?"

"Of course. They could use the same help," he agreed with a smile. "You could hold a whole convergence from all the kingdoms to work on those things. That way the children could meet each other and may actually have a preference."

She nodded, looking around. They all nodded. "We can do that."

"Hold it in Queen Buffy's kingdom," Genjo said. "She needs a spouse as well. Before her sister is forced to take over."

"Yes she could," that old dame agreed. "A good one, unlike some she's seen officially." She sipped her tea, getting back to dinner. They could plan all that easily enough.

Xander grinned at Genjo. "At least I don't have to go to that."

"No you don't. Sam might."

"Sam probably could if he wanted to."

"I need to go to that," Timothy said. "But I can't marry Buffy. I respect her but I'm first in line and she's a queen."

"You could use someone like our stepmother," Tony agreed with a grin for him.

"You can borrow our surrogate to write home so she can see if others want to come up here to marry in," Xander quipped. "King Steve said not to touch the upper level royals he has but the lesser nobles were open to marrying out country if they want."

Tony smiled. "They have some beautiful women. Your surrogate is one of the prettiest women I've ever met, and her mind is just as pretty and scary. She's like Princess Charlie with better hair."

"Ami met her," Xander said with a smile. "She said her hair's prettier than Charlie's and then got happy she was so smart because it meant her siblings would be great if she wanted to just be a healer. They so bonded over books and her horse." Tony grinned.

Genjo wiped his mouth then put his napkin back into his lap. "I heard the squeals from across the garden. They were very happy to help each other with homework." He looked at Xander. "I do find her mind stimulating. It's good to talk to her about things. She has a good mind for problem solving."

"She does," Xander agreed. "She's a good person to ask for suggestions. Even if she wasn't our surrogate she's a great addition to the castle."

"We have not met her yet," one of the council said.

"She's out working with the engineers," Genjo said with a point at the barn they were working in. "She's working on other things you can do with steam power like the showers."

"Interesting." They shared a look and decided they'd get to know her the next day. If she was that good, they'd try to name her the official engineer for the kingdom so she was close at hand for advising the king. He could use more normal advisors.

***

Queen Buffy looked at the people there for the 'unmarried person's meeting' and groaned mentally. It hadn't taken that long to get it set up once someone suggested it. Within two months everyone who was single and looking for a spouse was heading to this tiny duchy's castle near her kingdom. She knew most of them and they weren't her type, or really anything she wanted to have touch her. She looked at her advisor, who shrugged back slightly. She sighed and sat there fanning herself. "Can we open a window? It's dreadfully hot in here," she said quietly to the Sanzo princess next to her.

"It might mess up people's hair," another one said with a grimace.

Buffy looked at her. "Not with as stiff as most of the guys' hair is." They laughed. She got up and went to open a window then sat next to it, sighing in relief. She waved at one she knew, one of Genjo's cousins. "There's some air flow here if you need to rest," she offered.

"No, I'm fine. The robes we wear are nicely lightweight. Thank you though," he said, waving his closed fan around.

Buffy looked at the fan then at him. "Xander said some of the people like you but less religious are coming up soon for a diplomatic visit."

He grimaced. "I've heard about the frivolous people. They're not all that amusing to us but they do have their uses I suppose." He shook his head. "Some may find them suitable to marry."

Buffy looked at him. "I don't think I could stand someone who took longer to get dressed than I do." The man looked horrified but smiled and nodded once. "Is there anyone here that is ...nice enough?"

He looked then at her. "Not truthfully for my people. You just need a suitable consort, Queen Buffy."

"Yes, but my consort has to be able to keep up with me. Preferably by sparring so I stay in shape. There's always other threats coming."

"True," he agreed. "I'll go see if some of the ones in the outer room are more suitable." He went to do that. None of the ones in here were suitable to him but he knew he'd be arranged with someone soon enough. At least he might find someone he could speak to regularly. He nodded at a few, who nodded back. "Queen Buffy is looking for someone suitable to come talk to her."

A few of them looked at him. "We're not strong enough to meet up to what King John trained her to be as a queen," one of the dukes said dryly.

"She only expects some sparring."

They all nodded. "Others will be here tonight," the Duke said. "We made sure we can do this all week." A few were already pairing off to talk so that was nice. He looked at the priest again. "If you go into the left chamber, there's others from your kingdom, including a few who trained with nuns." He nodded, going that way. The Duke in charge shook his head. Finding Queen Buffy a true mate was one of the top goals he had to accomplish. As well as finding someone suitable for Prince Timothy, possibly Princess Samuel and Prince Don, and maybe even Prince Dawn if he was lucky. If not, they'd have to hold it again next year.

Xander walked in and pointed. "I've asked some from other kingdoms to come help. Also the warrior kingdom on the other side of the ocean sent some diplomats." He looked around, shaking his head at a few hopeful looks. "I'm still looking for nobles for my people," he said dryly. "Ones I'm not related to and who aren't greedy assholes." He looked at the Duke in charge. "Buffy?" He pointed. Xander looked. "Buffy, convergence meeting," he called.

"Thank you," she said, hurrying after him. She looked and pulled Dawn away from the thug she was talking to. "Not him, thank you."

"I'm not looking all that hard, Buffy. I'm not fully old enough to get hitched yet," Dawn said.

Xander grinned at her. "You're cute, but young."

She nodded. "It's a huge problem since most of the eligible ones are older than I am." She pushed her hair back over her shoulder. "Why are we having a convergence meeting?"

"We have new diplomats." He smiled. "They're from a warrior kingdom on the other side of Mac's ocean and Stella's people's islands." Buffy beamed and nodded. "I met with the king to see if I needed to start a treaty with him before I overthrew my stepfather," he said as they walked. "His wife had to battle to win his hand."

"Oooh," Buffy said. "Maybe they'd have someone worthy to help me."

"Maybe," Xander agreed. "There's always hope you find someone decent. We'd hate to marry you off to someone from Pelgar's people." She hit him on the arm with a scowl. He grinned. "They're worthy of your status."

"A lot of them are bigger assholes than your stepfather was." Dawn giggled, getting the door for them. "Hi, all. Thank you for the saving. There was no one to talk to and the rooms were stuffy." She sat down in her usual spot. Xander sat in his. Dawn pulled a chair over to sit behind her sister. "I'm sure most of you have met my little sister Dawn." A few waved at her. She smiled and waved back. She looked at Jethro. "I didn't see Timmy."

"He's hiding with Abby," he admitted. "He got into something that set off his allergies so he's sneezing on her." He looked at Alan, who came in last with the new diplomats. He didn't look pleased. "Xander, did you send some of your spoiled and annoying ones in there?"

"I did but I know they're not worthy. That's why I don't want them doing anything for my kingdom. They're like my stepfather was." He smiled. "King Elinius."

"Prince Xander," he said with a nod.

"King. I overthrew my stepfather years ago now."

"Good." He smirked at him. "Your people are cute."

"We're inbreeding too much," Xander said dryly. "So if you want some of your diplomats introduced, go right ahead. We could all use the new blood."

"I'll see if any are single and want to take a tribute home." He smirked.

Xander smirked back. "I doubt they'd be a tribute, King Elinius. We don't play that way here in the Joined Kingdoms."

"You can't defeat my army, boy."

Xander smiled. "Actually, there are ways. There always are. No army is immortal." He grinned a bit more brightly. "And you're forgetting that we're not the formal sort yours are. I took out my stepfather with a smoke grenade and a big rock." He stared at the impressed looking king. "But that's not why you're here I hope. I'd hate to have to mobilize everyone."

Abby came in and sat in Jethro's lap to hiss in his ear, getting a nod. She looked at the king, who was staring at her oddly. "I know I'm beautiful but eyes right," she sneered. He glared back. She threw something at him, making him yelp as it ate him.

"I never thought about imps that way," Dean said dryly, nodding. "Nice, Abby."

"Thank you, Dean." She kissed him on the forehead. "Your little brother's here." He looked back at Sam. "Adam."

"Did they get him free?" Dean demanded.

"We're not totally sure."

"Put him in a room. We can come talk to him in a few minutes." She smiled and nodded, strolling off.

Xander looked back, handing over his blessed knife. "Noticed you didn't have yours."

"Thanks," he agreed, putting it onto his belt. "With your leave, Alan?"

"Please make sure it's not another demonic event," he ordered.

Xander slid down something. "Holy water, Alan?" he suggested with a smile. He got a dirty look but drank it. That calmed others down. He looked at the king. "So, why did you decide to come to our merry marriage event?"

The king stared at Jethro. "He's mouthy."

"He's not mine. He's his own king. He's actually a very good king."

"Thank you," Xander said. He looked at that king again then at Alan. Who waved a hand. "So, why the showing up?" he asked, staying polite.

"We have news of a problem coming from a source on the other side of your people."

"Like my mate's battle in the west with the demons or something else?" Xander asked.

"Like from those people up north that use machines and are said to be weird?" Buffy asked.

"Them," King Elinius said, pushing back his gray, long braid. He glared at the imp he had killed then at Jethro. "Your daughter..."

"My wife," he corrected dryly. "Is quite protective of what's mine."

"That's a good thing," he decided. "We believe the people to the north have started a problem that they cannot handle."

"We'd be more than happy to help them handle problems," Alan said. "We have aid treaties with nearly everyone near us but they didn't want to be bothered at that time."

Xander looked over as King Steve of the islands came in. "King Steve." He smiled, getting up to shake his hand. "Welcome to our convergence of kings. Dawn, can he have your seat?" She handed it over and went to get another one for herself and the new guy. "Thank you," he said when she came back.

"I love moving chairs and it shows," Dawn quipped.

Steve sat down, staring at the new king, nodding at him. "Elinius."

"Steven." He stared at him. "You have treaties with these ones?"

"I do. They're very nice. Xander freed me and my kingdom from a sorceress when Queen Stella sent him."

"He does so well at that," Stella said with a smile for Xander, who grinned back. "What do we know of those people?"

"Very little," Buffy said. "I met a bard who said he was up there. They have ice dragons, a lot of machines, and some strange weapons. No demons though, which is a nice change."

Sam nodded. "A very nice change." He looked at that king. "Are their problems coming down here or should we go up there to help? I'm one of the people that they send on mass diplomatic events so I need to know where I need to start. And if I need cold weather gear."

King Elinius stared at him. "Why would they send you? And which one are you?"

"Princess Samuel, little brother of King Dean." The man gave him an odd look. "Name curse," he said dryly. "I'm sure you've heard."

"I had, but I hadn't remembered," he admitted.

"That's what makes me a prince," Dawn quipped. "Instead of a princess."

Jethro looked at her. "If you weren't so young, I'd be suggesting you for Tim."

"I'd kill him in bed," she said dryly, smirking at him. "He's a bit uptight, Uncle Jethro."

"He is," he agreed. "But he can handle things."

"Yeah but he's still uptight. I want someone who'll make me have fun sometimes, not just have kids and listen to people who need things."

"That's a lot of the job," Buffy told her. "I didn't realize that before Mom died." Stella patted her on the wrist. "I know, but she did it so much better than I did."

"Everyone thinks you're doing good," Sam told her with a smile. "The bards said that no one's said anything bad about how you're doing, even on your airhead days." She smiled back.

King Elinius looked at Alan. "How do you get things done?"

"If it's diplomatic, I sic Sam on it. If it's a threat, I sic Xander on it," he said dryly. "Then they come tell us how they handled it." Sam burst out laughing but nodded. "If it needs tact I send Sam and Genjo, because he has some sometimes. They're both strong enough to get themselves out of things and Xander would come save them if he had to. If it's something demonic, Sam, Dean, and Xander handle it with Castiel. If it's lesser demon related then Genjo's team handles it with those four. If it's something that needs researched, we inflict on my son and Sam. If it needs a lot of fighting, we have Queen Buffy as well as Kings Mac and Horatio with their families. We handle most things easily enough. Which one of you has the portal?"

Xander raised his hand. "Genjo." He looked at him. He was nodding as he wrote. "Who?"

"Aliens."

"Really?" Buffy asked. "I thought that was a myth."

Genjo looked up. "I have the other end of the charmed parchment back with Hakkai. He asked the witches in our kingdom to scry. It's aliens that came via a machine. We might have to ask someone like General Stark to break it."

Xander got up and went to look for someone he knew he had seen. "Hey, Knight Hawkeye?" he bellowed. He leaned out of a room. "Need you in the meeting about a huge problem up north." He nodded, saying something before following. "Here we go. He should know how to break things." Xander sat back down. Dawn sighed and gave him her seat and got another one. She also brought back King Elinius's wife and Consort Danny for King Steve. They had their own chairs. "We're hearing that there's a problem to the north with some machines bringing aliens."

Hawkeye blinked, reading what Genjo handed him. "Wow. That's weird." He considered it. "None of us have went up there but General Stark is a king with weapons and machines. He can probably help them break it so it won't work again." He considered it. "I need to call down there." He looked at the staring king, grinning at him. "King Elinius."

"I know of your people."

"Our joined people or just one people?" he asked. "We're still having a slight civil disagreement."

Xander looked down at him. "You guys know you're welcome to come visit. Please bring people to the merry marriage meeting as well."

"We have a few in there," Hawkeye admitted with a smile. "I could use one but I have one who is interested at home. And a former one."

Buffy stared at him. "You guys don't marry for life?"

"Supposedly. It can be broken since there's nothing more than a legal binding," he told her.

"Wow. I need one of those."

"Spike still wouldn't be acceptable," Alan said sarcastically. "Really, Buffy."

"I'm trying!" she complained. "Most of the nobles are kinda assholes."

Xander nodded. "Yup. Sorry." He shrugged. "See if King Steve's people have anyone. Find a commoner to date as long as he's decent to your people. Or a military person. Just not Spike."

King Steve looked at Xander then at her. "Most of mine don't want to marry out-country, sorry."

"That's fine. They're pretty but I have to stay at home or abdicate so my sister has to take it and who knows what'll try to marry her this time."

Dawn flipped her sister off. "I only get kidnaped because they want your attention, sister. Settle down and I'd have less stress in my life."

"You could take Sam," Buffy offered with a grin.

Dawn smirked back. "If he wants me to, I'm up for that because he has fun and is smart. I'm pretty sure if he thought I was hot, he could come talk to me too." She looked at Sam. Who smiled and shrugged back. "I'm very hot."

"You are," he agreed with a smile. "I'm still infertile."

"Means my sister can have spawn," she quipped back. "Instead of me pushing a few out. Because it looks kinda gross."

"It is," Genjo assured her. "We had to help with one once so we'd know how those things we gave up went. I was drunk for six months after that." Xander patted him on the wrist. "Thank you."

"Our surrogate will have Gregory with her," he said with a smile. "He's a healer, it's their job."

"Excellent," he agreed with a slight smile for where Gregory was sitting in a corner.

"Fuck you both for that thought," Princess Gregory shot back. "I don't deliver kids. There's healers specially for that and we're getting her one from my people. Thanks anyway, asshole."

Genjo smothered a smile. "Well, healers are taught that and you are the head healer in our kingdom until you marry, Princess Gregory."

"Don't look at me, I'm too young for him," Dawn quipped.

Gregory glared at her. "No you're not."

She waved a hand. "I am for another year and you'd have to teach me how much fun some things are because my mother wanted us to be chaste until we broke someone in after she gave us her permission."

Gregory looked at her. "We can find you a good tutor in that," he said. "Abby said she had one." Jethro nodded, smiling slightly. "We can find you one, Dawn."

"Cool. Thank you. I'd like that."

"I wouldn't," Buffy complained. "You're not allowed. Pity. Until I marry you're not getting in anyone's panties."

"Men don't wear panties from what I've been told," Genjo said dryly.

Hawkeye looked at him. "Does that mean you guys go commando under your robes? A few of us have wondered."

Genjo glared at him. "If I was married to you, you could check." He hit him with the fan, making the knight yelp. "Ask my spouse."

Xander looked down. "Yes, he does. Or sometimes a ceremonial thong." He flipped the chair backward and stood up to right it to avoid the fan hit. He grinned at his mate. "You told him to ask me."

"Shut up, Xander."

"Yes, dear." He blew a kiss. Then he looked at the holder of the parchment. "Anything new?"

"The aliens look human but are infected with something like a demon that's not." Hawkeye looked at him. "I don't understand."

"Like a possession?" Castiel asked.

"Or like they have something inside them?" Xander asked. The parchment and pen was handed down. He wrote that question. "They have something inhabiting them that looks like a worm thing. It's in their stomach and/or brains depending on the age." He let Castiel see it.

Sam snapped. "I've seen a myth on those. Of course, the book is in Stella's kingdom." He went to call, coming back with the notes copied from it being read to him. "Here we go." He handed them to Alan, who read it and sighed, handing it to Castiel and Xander.

Xander nodded. "If we kill the thing it can kill them. They're vulnerable like humans but have special armor and weapons. The thing in them lets them age slowly so they can be hundreds of years old." He handed it on, grimacing at Sam. "Any other information on them?"

"No. There's myths that they were down here at one point in time but just captured slaves and left. That was back when your people were building the towers."

"Did magic repel them?" Castiel asked.

"No notes given."

Buffy raised a hand. "Call mine, Sam. That sounds familiar. It's in the black library." He nodded, going to do that. She looked at Dawn. "If I fall in this battle, guess who has to wear the ugly gown."

Dawn stared at her. "If so, I'll handle it."

Buffy smiled. "Don promised to marry you off to half a military unit during the last one."

Dawn glared at her. "While that might be fun to break them all and make them beg, I'm not one who was poisoned that way, Buffy. Sorry but I only need one, not more than that. Maybe two if they're not good at it but seriously, just one would be fine." She looked at Hawkeye. "Do you guys have people my sister can flirt with and break in? She like them tough and dangerous. Spike used to drink blood and she nearly married him." She snapped and looked at Xander. "Willow's ghost is floating around our castle." Castiel stared at her. She nodded. "She tried to make Buffy marry Spike."

Xander snorted, shaking his head. "Dean does ghosts, Dawn. We can handle that."

"Thanks." She patted him on the arm. "You're nice."

He smirked back. "I'd make you beg, dear. You know that."

"Begging is better than the squealing you usually cause," Jethro complained. "Kept us up last time making some military guys squeal like Abby in the candy store."

Xander shrugged. "It was good."

Genjo nodded. "Kept us up too." He looked at Steve, who was smirking back. "Sanzo priests are usually celibate."

"I remember when you two visited." He looked at Xander. "How is she?"

"She's very happy and I've had to go nag all the engineers to eat," Xander said dryly. "Because they forget. Me and Prince Charlie's consort Ian have all brought out food to nag about eating before they pass out. But my council has decided she should be an official advisor. They're happy she knows nothing about demons."

Castiel laughed. "Your nobles council is a bit uptight," he agreed. They all heard the scream and he looked that way. "I'm not feeling any evil."

Xander pulled out things and headed out. "Oh, beloved, why are you bothering us?" he called. The two beings were upsetting some of the nobles and the knights from Hawkeye's people were fighting back. Xander threw something after pulling the pin, making those two choke and fall over. "Fuck this shit. People, let's get them to the convergence so we can question them." He hauled one. The knights hauled the other one. Xander dropped his beside Alan's seat. "They were being annoying." He sat back down. "Not the ones we're worried about but clearly a problem from somewhere," he said, staring at the visiting king. Who grimaced but waved a hand. "Yours?"

"My second son. He hasn't proved himself worthy."

Xander nodded. "Has your daughter?"

"She's a daughter."

"We have queens," Xander said, pointing at Buffy. "She rules. If I had been a girl I would still be ruling."

"They're still women."

Buffy glared at him. "Yes, that means we're more fantastic and we look better doing it," she said dryly.

He snorted. "I doubt you could even beat my wife."

She shrugged. "We can see. I haven't sparred today."

"Buffy, his wife is good," Xander said. "If it's the same one I saw when I was younger, she's very good. More than good enough to lead by herself."

She nodded. "Good, I could use a challenge. I haven't had one since John died." Dean looked at her as he came back to sit down again. "King Elinius has offered us the opportunity to spar with his wife."

Dean nodded. "That's fine. You're the best trained that Dad did so far. I learned more from the military and Xander's people than Dad." Sam nodded he had too. "Maybe it'll impress someone."

She nodded. "It might be nice if it weeded out the ones who want me to sit around and sew stuff," she said, looking at her sister.

"Don't look at me, I like weapons," Dawn quipped. "I've been learning weapons."

Xander smiled at her. "I sent you a few."

"I saw," she said, getting up to hug him. "Thank you, Xander."

"You're welcome, Dawn. It can only help you not get kidnaped again."

She laughed. "We all hope so." She sat down again, smiling at King Steve. "Thank you for helping the last time I got kidnaped to your people's lands."

"Welcome, Dawn." He stared at her. "Can't you stop that?"

"Please have my sister married off so they will," she said dryly. "And get Willow's ghost to quit since she summoned one of them."

"Welcome," Castiel said dryly.

"Thank you, Cas." She smiled at him. "Can we get the ghost out?"

"It's good to talk to her," Buffy said. "She can't cause any harm, Dawn."

Dawn sighed and rolled her eyes, staring at her sister. "Summoning a higher level demon to come seduce me so I'm not a pure princess isn't harm?" she asked bluntly. "Or summoning something to come kidnap me to sacrifice me isn't harm? Excuse you?" Buffy winced. "I don't care if she was your friend. She's causing harm. Mom would've been *way* pissed at that, Buffy. I'd like to live somewhere that's not that dangerous to me. So let me find a nice place to live without you and the nobles looking over my shoulder. Xander, can I have sanctuary?"

"Yup," he said. "Just don't cause us stress while you're being forced to take self defense lessons."

"Thank you, Merciful Goddess," she said, looking up. She looked at Genjo. "Can I train with Goku too please?"

He nodded. "Yes, you will be. You're too valuable to risk, Dawn."

"Thank you." She hugged his arm. "I'd hug Xander but I might turn into a bad girl." He smirked at her.

"Dawn!" Buffy complained. "Not the time for that."

"Shut up, Buffy." She stared at her. "I've already gotten free of the two demons she sent after me this time." Buffy slunk down in her seat.

"Got 'em," Sam quipped, shifting in his seat. "They were minor things and one was an incubus." Dawn shook her head with a sigh. "If you broke that would it help?"

Dawn looked at him, shrugging some. "Probably not." She got up to hiss in his ear.

"Dawn, that is a family only secret," Buffy said firmly.

"At least he's protective and if something comes we'll need someone beyond you." She looked at Sam. Who was staring at her. "How?"

"Fuck," he said, blinking at her. She smiled. "Why?"

"Them."

"Aw, shit." He hissed in Castiel's ear.

He looked at her. "You're starting self defense lessons tonight, Dawn." She hugged him. "Get off please. You bounce too much and Dean would get jealous." She sat back down. "We'll handle that," he told Dean. Genjo looked at him. "She needs a guard on the level that Gabriel was."

Genjo blinked a few times. "Why is that such a problem?"

Castiel hissed in his ear. "That one's after her."

Genjo blinked. He had barely read something that mentioned her name and if he remembered right that was a horrible prophecy. He hoped he was wrong but by the look on Castiel's face, he wasn't worrying enough. "Dawn, did you pack practical clothes so we can evacuate you?"

"Yes. I only packed two bags, one has a few dresses but the rest are jeans and t-shirts."

"Good," Xander said with a smile. "Though I knew. Moonlight," he told her.

"Crap."

"Yup." He smirked at Genjo. "Hakkai is at home."

"Goyjo's here flirting," he said, getting up. "Let me get him so he can take Dawn to safety." He left, going to find his guard. Nope, not around the princesses that liked to flirt with him. He went to the kitchen, where Goyjo liked to flirt with the working women. "Goyjo." He lifted his head from kissing a maid. "Get Dawn evacuated back to our castle. There's a hell goddess after her. We're working on her self defense."

"Why is there one of those even around?" he demanded, standing up.

"Not related to the other demons," he said bluntly. "Though I've heard that Willow of Rosenburg's ghost is floating around Queen Buffy's castle and keeps trying to get Dawn laid by incubi."

"Oh, fuck," he muttered. "She's clingy."

"She's young and asked to study self defense with Goku."

"Well, they're about the same age," he said dryly. "She packed?"

"Probably all but. She's in the meeting room." They walked that way, him shooting an incubus that was trying to get a noble daughter. "Incubi are not as fun as my spouse makes them seem," he told her. She walked off sniffling. "Dawn?"

She stood up and went with him, going to repack quickly. If things wrinkled it could be fixed later. She lifted her main bag and he grabbed the smaller pack that had books and a few things. Genjo stared at her. She smiled. "Things to do the necessary things and some research on this problem," she said, taking that bag from him. She looked at the groom. "Horses?" she asked dryly when he stared at her.

"You're leaving already, miss?"

"I'm Prince Dawn. Yes I am. Thank you." The groom hurried off. She followed, petting a few horses she knew. "Sorry, Coffin, Abby's still inside. Hi, Coffee." She petted Jethro's horse's nose. Her horse was brought. "Thanks." She tied things down and mounted with a push up from the groom. Goyjo shook his head but took his and they rode off together. Dawn looked at him. "Great timing," she decided, pointing at something. "The idiot Goddess' cranky knights." They went off the path, heading into the woods at his direction. "I'm not great at jumping," she warned. "But the horse knows how. Buffy wouldn't let me have those sort of lessons," she said at his dirty look. "I've snuck some and some self defense behind her back."

"Your sister needs her head rearranged."

"Yes she does. Her dating proves it." They had to jump a small stream. She glanced back and then at him, getting a head shake. "Are we cutting across mine?"

"Yup. I'm hoping they'll help."

"Me too. The military guys don't listen to Buffy all that often because she's not trained like them." He winced. "She's good enough thanks to King John." They rode on. She paused her horse by the border gateway. "We're being chased by cranky knights that belong to a hell goddess," she told the guard. He winced but nodded. "I'm going into hiding. Get us some help on the way?"

"Yes, Prince Dawn." He called to his superior. They could see the knights gaining. "They're chasing the prince."

"They belong to a hell goddess," Dawn quipped. "Help? A bit?"

"Go with your escort, Prince Dawn," he said. "Who are they?"

"Kinda psychotic knights who think I'm going to be a sacrifice so the hell goddess can only have my body, not my blood." The guards winced but nodded and the head one pointed. She rode on. Goyjo let her catch up. "They're going to block them a bit."

"Good idea," he agreed. "We can go over why later."

"I have a book with that," she quipped. "It's in the bag with my formal tiara in case my sister's next boyfriend eats her instead of just her blood."

"Eww!"

Dawn looked at him. "I heard about him drinking blood and her period, Goyjo. That's eww. Really."

He nodded. "Yup." They rode to the real guard post, him going in to call the palace. "Hakkai," he told the page. "Now. It's desperate."

"He's in the gardens," the page said, running off. Hakkai came running back alone.

"Dawn's being hunted by a hell goddess."

"Great!" he said sarcastically. She smiled and waved. "Why?"

"I've got a book."

"Fine."

"They have psychotic knights who're going to try to let the goddess only have my body, not my blood."

He blinked then nodded once. "How long?" he asked Goyjo.

"About ten hours hard riding going cross-country," he admitted.

"Good. We'll meet you at the border." He hung up.

Dawn took a snack from a guard. "Thank you." She kissed him on the cheek. "Goyjo?" He took a snack and some water too. "Any word on those knights?" she asked the guard.

"They got paused by the gate. A few got injured." Dawn winced, shaking her head with a sigh. "They'll heal, Prince Dawn. You're going to King Xander's?" She nodded, looking at Goyjo. Who nodded too while he chewed. "We have a map. There's a faster off-path way. Usually only healers use it in emergencies since it's such a poor ride." He let them see the map. "Go west then north across the road," he told Goyjo. He nodded. "We've changed your horses for fresh ones. We'll bring them up and trade back in a few days. Yours is throwing a shoe."

"Thank you."

"Thank you," Dawn agreed. "The convergence meeting with King Elinius in attendance was getting a bit heavy too. They're talking about the people to the very north."

The guard captain looked at her, looking confused. "The warrior king past Queen Stella's people?"

"Yes," she said with a nod. "Them. Buffy's going to spar with his wife to encourage her to take over since he thought women were worthless."

"Oh, Lord," he moaned, shaking his head with a sigh at the end. "All right. We'll handle it and I'll brief people at the palace about that problem coming up so they expect her to go handle it and you to handle things from hiding, Prince Dawn."

"Thank you." She hugged him. "We should go before we endanger you."

He nodded, taking them to the stables. Dawn checked her bags. The groom handed the second one over, getting a nod. "It dropped," the groom said.

"That's fine," Dawn said. "Nothing's real breakable. I just need to pad my crown's sharp and pointy parts." She did that and noticed something was missing. "Did the books fall out?" He looked alarmed. She went to find them, bringing it back. "Thank you, guys." They nodded. She mounted and tucked the books into the bag. They rode off following the map.

"Why would he take the book?" Goyjo asked.

"Because the nobles at the palace are confused about why we have a ghost in the palace and why people are after me." She pulled out the book to hand to him. "Page three."

He read while they rode, grimacing at what he saw. He looked at her. "That thing?" he asked, handing it back. She smiled and flipped some of her hair over her shoulder. "Fuck."

"Yup," she quipped. "That's why one wants to waste the blood and the other one wants to bleed me on an altar."

"Yeah," Goyjo agreed. "Fuck, so fucked."

"Not that it'll help," she said dryly, earning a short glare. She smiled. "I told Sam, he recognized it."

"Sam's like that," he agreed. "And so's Castiel." He sighed, thinking about it. "When?"

"By the third new moon of the new solar year. That's the last useable date. Though there may be others that could use it."

"Yeah," he decided. "Okay, we can help you learn how to protect yourself. We'll see if there's a way to protect you better. We have some big book nerds around the palace." He looked around. "That river should be here."

She pointed. "I can hear water." They rode that way and forded it over some slick rocks, but made it. The border was only a bit away and the guards were waiting. Dawn smiled and waved at a few of the guards. They nodded and let them through.

Goyjo pulled up in front of the guards to King Xander's kingdom. "Let us in. She's being chased."

"King's orders say papers," one of the guards said.

Dawn looked at him. "Why are you possessed? And are you working with Glorificus?"

The guard flinched and the demon stared at her, mouth open. "You're...."

"Fucked," she said bluntly. "So let us in. Xander said it's a good idea. I'll let Xander deal with you on his way home." They let her in and they rode off again.

Goyjo looked at her. "Was that wise?"

"Maybe not but we know that the average demons aren't working with her."

"Point, but be more subtle."

"I'm not saying her name again," Dawn assured him. "If she's awake and hears she'll come to see who's gossiping about her."

"Good idea," he decided. They ran into a regular military unit, who surrounded them and got them onto fresh horses.

"I need the bag, it has books," Dawn said, taking them to hitch to the new saddle. "Okay, let's go, guys." They rode them back to the palace. She patted the bag, making sure she had the books and her crown. With her luck, Buffy would die soon and leave her fighting the hell goddess on her own. When they finally got to the palace she could barely dismount she was so sore. Hakkai helped her down. "Thank you," she said with a wince. "I need more stamina." She sighed, leaning on the side of the horse. "Smaller bag has the book," she said quietly. "And my crown." He nodded, taking them with them to her room. Dawn collapsed on the bed with a groan, then dug out the book to hand over. "Page three."

He read it over, frowning at it. "That sucks," he said, looking at her. She nodded, waving a hand at her chest. "How?"

"Something about the queen's vow to the kingdom to protect them meant that she was the most protective place they could put me." She sat up with a wince. "Buffy didn't want anyone to know," she said quietly. "She thinks it'll put me in more trouble. But I think that I'm going to need some help protecting myself so someone's got to know to help me do that. She could die at any time and then I'd have to fight by myself."

Hakkai nodded. "It'd be hard to protect you from something this huge without knowing why," he agreed. He took the book with him "Rest tonight, Dawn. We'll be on guard tonight." She flopped backwards with a sigh, falling asleep pretty quickly. Hakkai went to the meeting in the kitchen. He saw the same demon that Genjo had mentioned seeing during the swearing and vowing at the power points. He stared at him. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here because there's two complications that we don't want either. That guard was one of mine keeping track of a problem and I've already recalled him so you don't have to get your panties in a twist."

"I'm telling Castiel and Xander," Hakkai said bluntly.

"That's fine. They're charming young men," he said with a smirk. "We make many bets on them sometimes."

"Are you here about Dawn?"

"No. Though I did realize why earlier when the minion noted she had power." He stared at him. "The point in the castle won't bother her. The one after her...it won't help her much but she'll need access to near it to do her portals." He waved a hand. "The problems they're discussing up country are stupidly annoying. They're the reason my people and Castiel's people joined up to fight on the same side once." He held out a book with a smug look. "He'll need that."

"Thank you." He took it. It tingled in his hand some but many things did. "Anything else to pass on when I call down there?"

"No. Though it's interesting...."

"They took my fiancee. They paid for it."

"Good. Those sort need to pay for their stupid times. That's why we didn't help them when they tried to take over the world." He stared at him. "Tell the king to call out for me please. Things are going to go spectacularly sideways if they go up to fight those aliens, or get that one king overthrown for his wife." He disappeared in a small flame.

Hakkai went into the kitchen, putting the books on the table. "Don't touch yet." He went to call down there. "Get King Xander," he ordered. "Now."

"I don't know who you are," the maid sneered.

"I'm Consort Genjo's personal guard." She huffed but walked off turning off the fire. He called the other one. "Go get Xander," he ordered to the guard. "We found out more about the problems they were talking about earlier thanks to a demon he met making a complaint." The guard ran off. Genjo strolled over. "It's a long rant. Transfer it to a private fireplace," he ordered.

"I'll call with him. Anyone else?"

"Castiel maybe. Maybe Sam."

"I can do that." He hung up and went to gather them into the meeting room, kicking Alan and Buffy out. "Sorry, learned new stuff. Hakkai looked pissed off." They didn't want to see that so they left quietly. He called back. "Okay, lay it on us." Hakkai told him about that meeting. Xander turned and kicked the wall.

Castiel blinked a few times. "I had heard a myth about that. It's where the stories of us being angelic and them being our cast out brothers came from," he said. Hakkai nodded once. "Which one was it?"

"The same one that Xander described," Hakkai said. "Oh, and the guard that was possessed was his minion. He was watching over the problems up there too. He's recalled him."

"Great," Genjo said dryly. "What was his name?"

"Crowley," Castiel said. The demon appeared looking smug. "That was not a summoning."

"I'll allow it this time because it's so damn important," he said, staring at Xander. He handed over two scrolls. "On our fights with those alien ones to make them leave. And on the poor prince's problems. Because we can't let her do that. She'll bring her realm here and I don't want to share accommodations." He stared at him. "We pity that prince but we'll help handle it with you because we don't want her either."

Buffy stomped in. "Stay away from my sister."

Crowley stared at her. "Queen Buffy, the slayers vow you took upon getting your crown allowed her to be guarded by you but we don't want to deal with her. You can't fight her since you can't take out her host body. It'll take damaging it greatly to make her change back and then killing it." She choked a tiny bit. "We don't want her to pull open a portal to pull her people here. Therefore you're getting help." He stared at her then at Xander, who nodded in a 'sure, whatever' way. He smirked. "Those aliens are annoying and think they're gods. We proved them wrong before. They can heal ones that aren't fully corrupted, just holding the baby ones. You can tell by the voice." He sighed, looking up then at him. "It's going to get nasty as hell, no pun intended."

"Why weren't you blocked by the request?" Xander asked.

"I'm not the usual sort of demon. Like Castiel's people aren't the usual sort of angel." He smirked as he disappeared.

Xander looked at his spouse. "We need to do some research."

"Sam has been since we finished that."

"Cool." He let them look over the scrolls by spreading them on the table. Buffy came to look too, groaning at what she saw. "Alan!" he bellowed. "You can come back now!"

Alan and Don walked in. "Who was it?" Don asked.

"Crowley," Buffy said. "We finally found out what his name was. We saw him at the healer's tent."

"We saw him before the vowing," Xander said.

Castiel nodded. "So did we." He pointed at something. "This is about those aliens."

"We can bring this to the others," Alan said. "They're all eating together anyway. General Stark is on his way up too." He looked at the other one, wincing. "Buffy?" he asked dryly.

"Something about the queen's vows meant that she had to come to us to protect, which I'm trying to do," she said firmly, glaring at Xander.

Xander stared at him. "She can't get into my palace without destroying it and if she tried that, my army's tougher than yours. Also, I'm going to teach her how to kick some ass herself so she's safer. The incubus that ghost keep sending can't get to her there. Neither can most of the other demons she's sent."

"That's the real Willow, not the demon that was infecting her," she said firmly.

Xander nodded. "Sure," he agreed. "I don't care. With all the shit I went through thanks to her, don't care." Buffy huffed again.

Alan looked at him then at her. "Buffy, I agree with Xander. I wouldn't have put up with her ghost either. Especially since she was responsible for your mother's death." Buffy huffed off. He looked at Xander. "Can she stay with you?"

"Of course. And when the visions of Buffy dying and leaving Dawn for six months, then coming back, come true, we'll handle it."

"I got that note set. It's a cluster screwing," Alan said bluntly. "Where did you have it?"

"Jethro's kingdom. Something around there or some herb Abby spreads around means visions come faster and easier." He shrugged. "At least we know in advance."

"True. We can prepare her people to be missing her for six months when she's out of commission." He walked off with his son. "Handle it, Xander, and we'll handle the aliens for a bit."

"Yup." He looked at his spouse, who shrugged. "We can do that. The boys are with her."

"Sure, they can handle it." The scrolls went with them to the dinner they were having. Most of them were quietly nibbling at a table in the back of the room. They sat down and food got passed down by Knight Thor. "Thank you, Thor."

"Welcome." He looked at the others.

"I don't eat living things," Genjo said quietly. "Can I have the broccoli?" They passed those to him. "Thank you." They dug in and ate quietly, watching the others try to find a connection that would lead to a marriage. He looked at Thor and his friends. "We need to add more people they don't know."

Thor nodded. "Some of ours are here," he agreed. "It's a needed thing for many peoples right now. How goes the problem up north?"

"We have information," he said, handing over that scroll after checking it.

Thor read it, nodding slowly. "Interesting." He let the others see it.

"How did we get this?" Horatio asked.

"You remember me noting the three figures we met during the plea?" Xander asked. Horatio grimaced. "The one that's not related to Castiel showed up in my castle and then down here." Stella moaned, shaking her head. "He said the last time this happened he and Castiel's family ended up having to work together. That's when the rumors started."

"Okay," Stella decided, taking the scroll to look over. She passed it onto Mac, who was glaring at it. "What now?"

"We've got to talk about Dawn's safety," Xander said. Buffy glared at him. "Which we'll be doing at my palace. Buffy, talk to Abby about that vision I had," he ordered with a point. "Right now. It's important." She looked at Abby, who moaned but hissed in her ear. Buffy burst out crying. "Yeah, so it's safer."

"It is," she said between sniffs. "She has her crown with her, Xander." She got up. "Let me go cry a bit then we'll handle things." She walked off sniffling.

Xander looked at Horatio and Mac, who were glaring at him. Xander pointed a hand at Abby. "He had a vision that she'd be temporarily dead," Abby said. "For about six months."

"Oh, damn," Mac muttered.

Xander nodded. "We didn't know why until I caught Dawn outside last night." He leaned his elbows on the table. "So we're protecting Dawn while helping you guys with that other problem." He grinned. "Good thing I'm so great."

"Ego," Horatio complained.

Xander smiled. "It's not bragging if it's true."

"Maybe," Mac said, giving him a look. "Maybe not every time."

"No one is great every time," Xander agreed. "Just a lot of the time when it matters most."

"Which is when it's most important," Genjo said. "And if he falls this time I'm going to kill his ass."

Xander blew a kiss. "You'll be fine, dear. Remember you'll have Sam to help."

"Uh-huh," he said dryly.

Buffy came back. "If he falls can you marry my sister? She shouldn't have sex anyway," Buffy told him.

Genjo looked at her, fingering his fan. She was just out of range. He handed it to the female knight. "Would you," he said politely. She swatted Buffy with it. "Thank you." He glared at her. "Dawn is much too lively for me. Thank you anyway."

"She can be like a mini, female Xander when she wants to be," Sam agreed.

"See, it'd fit perfectly," Buffy quipped. Genjo held out the fan again so she ducked this time. "Don't be mean to me. I'm being a good girl today. Really."

"You're not a little girl," Horatio told her, giving her a look. "Quit trying to be cute like one." She rolled her eyes. He looked at Xander. "You could be more serious too."

Xander looked at him. "Are you possessed again?" he asked, patting himself down. Castiel sighed but handed over a vial of holy water. Horatio glared. "You really should drink it, just in case, Horatio."

He took it to drink and did feel better. "Fine. Thank you, Xander."

"Welcome." He looked at Buffy. "When are you sparring with her?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"Okay." Xander nodded. "Let us know if you need a second? I have no idea how theirs go."

"I can do that." She dug in again, then sighed and looked at Xander. "Don't turn Dawn militant, Xander."

"I'm not. She's going to be the same girl only she'll be able to protect herself. It'll be like she was raised the kid of Dean and Castiel."

Dean looked down at him. "Don't give me bad ideas about our future kids or yours."

"Mine's going to be raised by their mom," Xander said dryly. "You can help me train him or her when they're older."

"Sure," he agreed. "We can handle that when they're older and your current one is nearly old enough to do more than learn from the guard teams."

"Sure," Xander agreed, smiling at him. "That's great actually. She could probably use it before she starts to like boys. With her luck, she'll draw ones like I used to."

"Used to?" Genjo asked dryly, staring at his spouse. "Really? When did that stop?"

"I quit going out with them when we got married, dear," he shot back sarcastically. "If you want I can pick up a few concubines from among them."

Genjo stared at him then sighed and shook his head. He couldn't really swat Xander for doing that. This time. "Please don't. I don't want to have to take out one that's really a demon one night after you've made him squeal enough to reveal his true form."

"I've only had one of those and that was before the poisoning the first time," Xander said with a shrug.

Genjo blinked a few times. "Why?"

"Well...he was cute and liked blow jobs, and giving blow jobs.... It was kinda fun that weekend but that last night he broke form and became a gorgon looking guy with teeth on his dick and in his ass. I'm not really into that. He pouted because he wasn't going to eat me, but I wasn't going to let him on top either with his dick teeth."

Genjo face-palmed and groaned, shaking his head. "I know of that creature," he moaned. He finally looked up, ignoring all the amused looks. "Why did he come onto you?"

"He heard I was fun. I don't know where he heard of me, but he told me he showed up because he heard I was fun and he wanted to get to me before someone killed me for being so fun. I ran into him a few weeks back and he pouted I was married but he said I still seemed like a lot of fun."

Genjo stared at him. "Did we take him out?"

"No," Sam said, shaking his head. "Not in the least. He was only flirting with Gregory. Gregory wasn't flirting back or I would've done more than noted I knew he wasn't a normal human." He ate a piece of meat with a grin for his brother's husband. "He was really polite and nice. I think that's why Gregory didn't flirt back." He looked at Horatio, who was scowling at Xander. "He flirted with Calleigh too."

"I'm having her married off," Horatio decided. "Today." He looked at Mac.

"Don's single," he offered. "Unless Danny's given up on his baby's mother since they're fighting again."

Stella nodded. "He has taken Don in. They're raising Lucy together. Horatio?"

"Too closely related," he admitted. "Gregory?" he called. He looked up, staring at him. "We need to introduce my prince around as well."

"We have a few that she might like," he admitted, coming over to talk to him. "We have a few that would remind her of her former boyfriend who killed himself but without all the warrior times."

"That would be pleasant. Thank you."

"Did you know the one flirting with you that Sam drove off wasn't human?" Stella asked.

Gregory looked at Sam. "Which one?"

"The one that said you were adorable," Sam said between bites.

Gregory sighed, shaking his head. "How do we know this?" He never used to have this problem. It had to be where James had died on him or from hanging around with Xander.

"He saw Xander before he was poisoned and he loved him well enough that he broke form," Sam said dryly.

Gregory looked at Xander, who grinned but shrugged. Then he looked at Sam. "Let me know next time by taking them out." He walked off. His friends would make things seem normal again. Before he beat the living shit out of Xander for doing things like that.

Stella looked at Horatio. "I'll work harder to introduce her."

"Thank you," he agreed. "She could use it before she turns into Xander or Gregory." She patted him on the hand. "Xander, are there more of those sort of stories?"

"Only two and one was supposedly a god," Xander admitted. "Not sure what type but he was hell in bed. Really not the best ever even though he thought he was."

"Could he have been like the one we were briefed on earlier?" Genjo asked dryly.

"Not sure," Xander admitted. "No clue. I barely remember him. Like I said, not that great at it." He drank some water and then nibbled on some food. "The other one I'm pretty sure he was a higher demon like the one that visited. I realized that later. He definitely wasn't a lower one like we'd take out. Though it did smell like he had rubbed an incubus on himself. I was desperate due to the poisoning. He wasn't bad, but wasn't notable."

Castiel looked at him then sighed and stuffed his mouth.

Dean looked at Xander. "Only you."

Xander grinned. "Me and Sam you mean?"

Sam nodded. "I remember him. He wasn't great at it." Dean gaped in horror at his little brother. "Not like I didn't get poisoned too, Dean." He stared at him. "Really."

"Oh, fuck," he muttered, rubbing his forehead. Castiel got him a beer and he leaned on his arm. King Dean didn't cuddle but he could lean affectionately on his consort for support. "Damn it." He looked at his brother. "Was he a higher level like Cas's people would take out?"

"He felt like the one that showed up earlier," he admitted. "But less powerful."

Xander nodded. "Yeah, but he didn't have the receding hairline that one had. He was still young and pretty."

Castiel looked at him then huffed. "We will have to find out who so we can make sure he can't come back."

Xander shook his head. "I wouldn't anyway. He was okay but nothing to note in my journal. And it's not like I got him pregnant."

"If you do that, we'd all remember it," Stella quipped. Genjo nodded while gulping his beer.

"If something like that could happen it'd be me or him," Sam reminded her. "Thank the Goddess I'm infertile from the poison."

Stella looked at Sam then at Xander then at Genjo. He looked back. "John did try to get him to marry Sam instead of me." She nodded, patting him on the hand. "We'll talk about this after we're out of public, boys." They nodded and went back to eating.

Dean looked at his little brother. "You ever do that again and I'm going to drown you in holy water," he vowed. "I really am and Cas will help me."

"I'm not sure if that would cure anything but it'd be worth a try," Cas said dryly, staring at Sam. "At least to save you from them coming back."

Xander shrugged. "He hasn't come back yet."

Sam shook his head. "I haven't seen him. If I do, I'll tell you guys so you can introduce yourselves."

"My brother would adore such talks," Thor admitted, shaking his head with a sigh. One of his people patted him on the arm. "Thank you."

"Welcome, Thor." He looked at Xander. "Prince Loki declared himself a chaos god."

Xander nodded. "I've met a few who thought they were but they couldn't even play pranks well enough to be a minion of chaos."

Sam nodded. "Definitely." He and Xander high-fived and grinned at each other then went back to eating.

Genjo stared at the trouble buddies then down at Stella. "He needs a new concubine," he told her. "That should help wear some of that chaotic urge out of him."

"I'll see if I can find one beyond Sam," she quipped. "Just in case Sam has to marry for the family."

Sam looked at her then shrugged. "Still infertile, Stella." He grinned. "Besides, I'm not Xander's concubine. We're just friends."

"Who get into a lot of trouble," Horatio said. "None of us stepped into that trap that released the genie," he said at Xander's pouty, hurt look.

"Point," Xander agreed. "Though I was only twelve. I'm just happy I talked him out of taking me as his newest concubine or taking his spot in the lamp. Because if I hadn't talked him out of it, he would've substituted and he could've taken my place. Then what would've happened?"

"Genies, by their natures, are sexual creatures of myth," Castiel said.

"So probably he would've taken your stepfather out with a dildo," Dean quipped, getting swatted by his consort.

"Funny thing is, every time the jackass put up a statue it was a naked one and every time someone broke the dick off it," Xander said dryly. "So someone has a huge collection of stone statue dicks to use."

Stella and Horatio both looked horrified but Abby burst out giggling and came up to hug him. "They broke it because they knew he exaggerated," she promised, going back to her seat.

"Him being killed by a stone representation would've been nicer," Alan said.

"It would've let the demons in permanently and nothing we could've done about it," Dean said.

"Never mind then," Mac agreed. He shook his head. "You guys are really warped sometimes."

"Just think, some day I'll be the elder king," Xander quipped with a smirk for him. "All of your heirs will be after me."

"If you survive that long," Genjo said dryly, staring at his consort. He really had to get Xander laid apparently.

"If we're still around nagging people, we'll ask someone to make him abdicate," Stella said with a smile for Xander. "Before you drive everyone in our families nuts."

"You say the sweetest things but by then Lucy will probably have the crown," he quipped with a smirk.

"I've got at least a decade left in me," Horatio told Mac.

"I maybe have fifteen," he agreed. "Danny would have another ten at least."

"Xander would be an old lech hitting on the young and pretty concubines," Dean quipped. "With Sammy helping since our country won't let an infertile person be king."

"Great!" Sam said with a smile. "Thanks, Dean."

Castiel looked at Dean. "We'll talk to our chosen surrogates when we get home. Like Xander's, the mothers can raise the properly since we're never at the castle."

Dean nodded as he chewed. That was a great idea.

"What about your half-brother?" Stella asked.

"The demon taint didn't fully leave," Dean sighed. "So he's not possessed but he's marked. It's not a good idea because the child can be used as a more powerful sacrifice."

"Why can't they have a proper battle for mates like we do," King Elinius's oldest son complained from their table. "All this is improper."

Buffy glared over there. "Because our people are different than yours culturally," she said bluntly. "I don't want to fight any of these people to be my consort and most of our people don't fight unless we have to. If we did, very few of us would have consorts. Frankly, I don't want to marry Dean, Sam, Xander, Genjo, or Castiel. Even if they weren't already married. They're not the consorts I need."

He sneered. "Your people are all frivolous."

Xander glared at him. "Sit down and shut up, you whiny little brat. You're a visitor, act like it." The man huffed and glared, getting up and pulling a sword. "Sure, let's do that." He pulled his and walked out there. "C'mon. I beat you when you were twelve and I was thirteen. I can damn well do it better now." The man lunged with a yell. Xander sidestepped his lunge and cut him on the back, making the room gasp as he drew a lot of blood. The son spun around to hit back and Xander parried a few times, getting a few minor cuts from the thinner sword that son used.

"Hold," King Elinius ordered. His son didn't back down. Xander stepped in to try to behead him, getting him on the throat but not more than a deep cut. "I said hold!"

Xander glared at him. "Your son started it, he should finish it." He glared at the younger man panting on the floor. He leaned down. "Real warriors and kings know when fighting is the right thing to do and when it's the wrong thing to do. I may have answered your challenge but you are not worthy of my blade and I should not pick on lesser men who believe they're princes. Nor were you right in challenging me in a crowded room. If I wasn't merciful I would end you. As your people say is right." The man whined.

"You will learn to behave better or I will claim you since I won the battle against you and I will sell you to someone I hate. Am I clear?" The man nodded, holding his throat. "Good." He straightened up. "Any healer that wants him can have him to fix up. I'm not going to go by their rules of honorable combat equaling death or the right to claim him, even if I should so nothing like this ever happens again.

"I believe he'll be a good enough example of that without being sold into marriage." He walked off, getting some more wine and a cloth to wipe down his blade with. He looked at all the staring people. "Go back to eating. The excitement's done with." They went back to gossiping with each other about that. He sat down and sipped some of his wine. "King Elinius, I look forward to seeing what sort of diplomats your other sons and daughters are. I'd hope they were more culturally aware." He saluted him with the wine glass then drank some more before putting it down so he could eat. Mac shuddered at that statement and the cold tone Xander had used.

Gregory stomped over. "Let me see the wounds, Xander."

"Nothing huge," he said, but let him see his arms. "Him?"

"Two healers are coming for him from the healing wing we set up before this began." They came in with a stretcher and carried the young warrior out. No one followed them. "I'm glad our people don't throw sons away for being dumb, we just make them sorry for it."

Xander grinned. "If we did, we'd have a lot fewer kids around."

"True, even mine would've when I was a little shit." He bandaged the last few and went back to his seat. He noticed the king was glaring at his wife. "Boys like that and Xander are what happens when men don't raise their children," he quipped loudly enough to be overheard. He saw King Steve wince. "No, I believe any children you have will be raised to be the right sort of being."

King Steve nodded. "Danny's daughter is very nice and very protective as well." He stuffed his mouth. He had trained with King Elinius and owed him some loyalty.

Gregory looked over. "Xander, are your going to let your surrogates do all the raising?"

"We're going to be very fond of them, like stepparents that the mother's no longer with. If she wants to marry then that's fine with us as long as he'll treat our heirs properly. We just know we'd be horrible around kids. I have little patience, Genjo meditates, and babies are needy. So we'll be fond uncle sorts until they're old enough to understand."

Alan sighed and looked up, saying a not so silent prayer of thanks. "We'll make sure all your future children are sane and capable," he promised.

"Thanks, Alan." He smiled. "Or whoever's still inhabiting you." The demon flew out and out of the room. He looked at Horatio. "I can get stronger holy water." It flew out too. And one out of Prince Don.

"Knew something was wrong with him," Buffy complained. "Don wasn't teasing me about my hair." A few people gave her odd looks. "I spent a year with him at the prince's academy. He did some of my training." She looked at Alan. "Were they here for a reason?"

"That higher one sent them to make sure he didn't need to send warriors to help Castiel deal with those ones up north's problems." Alan sipped some of his wine. "Why didn't the holy water work, Xander?"

"Difference between holy water and blessed water," Xander said. "I usually only carry blessed. Holy has to come from certain blessed wells."

"Oh. That makes more sense. Is there one near here?"

"I've sent someone to get some," Castiel said. "With some guards going with them to make sure no one tampers."

"Thank you, Castiel. You're a credit to your people and Dean's people both," Horatio said quietly. He finished his dinner. "I believe I'll go lay down before I see if I'm still infected." He left, going up to his suite.

Stella looked at the boys. "How do we stop that?"

"Like the one that showed up, they're not part of that wish," Xander said dryly. "These aren't minor things. The others would be like priests to these, Stella."

"Very few things can stop them but we can figure it out," Sam promised. "I've been looking." She nodded, getting back to her dinner.

"King Xander, we've heard your daughter is expecting," one of the women a few tables over said.

Xander choked, shaking his head. "She's eight! There's no way she can be expecting!" The woman pouted at him. "Beyond that, she's got healing gifts. She's going to train that before she's married."

"Yes, she is," Alan agreed firmly. "She's not allowed to marry until after her training's done."

"Is she still fostering with you?" another noble asked.

"For as long as she wants to," Alan agreed.

Xander smiled and nodded. "She switches back and forth. Which is fine with us. Alan's more set up to train her unique skills. With us she learns from a healer and Princess Gregory."

Queen Annabeth, of the Asclepian kingdom, smiled at them. She had taken over after King James had passed on of his tumor. "We'll welcome her when she's old enough, King Xander. Gregory's notes on her have said much of her multiple skills and her mind."

Xander beamed. "That's all due to her mother and Alan. He's had her since she was three and it was too dangerous right after I overthrew the jackass."

"Charlie is responsible for a lot of her education," Alan admitted. "He's done fantastic getting her to study by helping him with his math."

Queen Annabeth smiled and nodded. "You've raised two excellent thinkers and Prince Don is an exceptional prince, King Alan. I hope your future grandchildren live up to that standard."

"Me too but right now I'm just hoping to have grandchildren," he said dryly, staring at his sons.

"I'm not done with my education yet," Charlie said with a grin for his father. He had been told to come so his big brother would have to attend. "Get Don knocked up, Dad."

"Charlie!" Don complained.

"My mother swore to me that she had that spell," Genjo said dryly, cracking up Stella, making her shake her head. "You can ask her if you want to carry a grandchild, Charlie."

"Not this year, thanks. It'd get in the way of building things." He stuffed his mouth.

"If Ian knocks him up, at least Ian's hair will tame some of Charlie's," Gregory said, getting a glare from Ian and Charlie. He smirked back. "It would. Yours is a lot straighter than the Princess of Frizz there."

"It was humid," Charlie complained. "All curly hair frizzes in humidity."

"Amen to that," Stella complained, pushing back her own curls. "I have got to find something to help with that."

"Have you tried our oil yet?" King Steve asked. "It works on ours with curly hair and we have almost constant humidity."

"I should do that when I come in for a vacation soon," she said, smiling at him. "I could use some laying on the beach time."

"We have a beautiful one near the palace," he assured her with a smile.

She grinned. "I'll be taking you up on that next winter." He laughed but nodded.

"That's one thing I don't miss from King Mac's kingdom," Consort Danny agreed. "Snow. Though I'd rather have it than hurricanes." His consort gave him a dirty look. "Most of the time, blizzards don't destroy houses like hurricanes do. You can stay in the house during a blizzard as long as you can stay warm instead of evacuating into the hills."

"Point, but you bitch about the cold," Steve shot back then stuffed his mouth.

"Yeah, I can do that. I'm from where it gets cold." Steve rolled his eyes but they got back to eating too. They all looked when some woman across the hall squealed but it had been some other woman spilling soup on her good dress sort instead of a problem squeal.

"I know that there's not enough *great* mates," Xander called patiently. "Don't fight over them. Some of them only need a bit of working on to become good enough." A few of the guys pouted. "You do," he told one. He slunk down some.

Dean looked over. "For those hoping to elope before their parents can give permission, the priests from three different religions are in town," he noted. "That way you only have to justify yourself to the parents and maybe hold a renewal ceremony."

"For those marrying a Sanzo, it's a lot less formal," Xander quipped, not ducking the fan this time. He looked at his mate. "Mounting. Outfits." Then he stuffed his mouth with some meat.

"Point. It is much more reasonable and takes only three days instead of twenty," Genjo agreed. "Fewer clothing changes you'd be expected to preserve for your children to whine about being forced to wear. Or stored in the museum for certain of us." A few of the ones wanting Sanzo country people looked at their wanted one, who nodded back. "You have my blessing as long as they'll bring honor to your family."

"Ditto," Castiel said with a fork wave. "Since my parents did not send anyone higher in the family." Some people made plans to slip away that night to find those priests. It would ease some of the crowding going on. The duke hosting the event had decided that those who were barely of marriageable age could show up the last two days to give the others a better chance. So all the young, fanciful ones would be annoying them the last two days instead of the whole week long event. Most of the higher ups considered that a great thing and getting some of those who had chosen out of the way would give them some breathing room until the young ones got there.

Xander looked over. "Any in my kingdom, I will approve as long as they're not from our people. We'd like you to marry someone not of the family's lines please, people." A few nodded at that and one couple had to pout. Xander looked at them, pointing at the girl to come up to him. "Where are you from, dear?" he asked.

"I'm from King Horatio's people," she said shyly, smiling hopefully. "We just moved to yours."

"Are you related to the old lines?"

"I think so, King Xander. My mother said that she slept with your father but that was while she was carrying me."

"That's not how genetics works," Stella told her. "You're only related if he's in your lineage." She ate a bite of broccoli. The girl squealed, hugged Xander, and ran back to tell him that. They ran off just then before something could be said by anyone. Stella looked at Xander. "Your kingdom won't ever be as bad as that blocked off one," she said.

"Nearly. I have over a thousand cousins, Stella."

She winced. "Wow, thankfully you can't have kids with Genjo and your surrogate came from King Steve's people."

"True, King Arant never traveled there," Steve said dryly.

"Thankfully with the way he had to wench around," Danny said. "Did he get hit with the same thing, Xander?"

"No, he got hit with a different one and that was about five years before he died. The rest...it just runs in the family I guess." He grinned.

"Which is why his current concubine is taking this week to rest up," Genjo said dryly. "Because she really could use a nap. Both of them."

"Sorry, dear."

"Not your fault and I didn't get to beat John before he died for it," he said patiently. "I'm just glad I'm mostly celibate so I don't have to squeal that way." He stuffed his mouth.

Knight Thor looked at him. "You're a priest?" Genjo nodded as he chewed, moving his hair aside to show the special red dot on his forehead. "Ah!" Thor nodded. "It's good you could find an accommodating mate."

"He helps with demon battles too," he agreed once he swallowed. Xander nodded. "It was a good choice. He lets me be myself and only makes me listen to people having problems with him. And sometimes sends me to check on the orphanages if I've pissed him off again." Xander grinned while chewing.

Knight Thor shook his head. "Your kind usually have a retinue."

"At home guarding Dawn," Xander quipped with a smile for him. "He's got three guards he fights demons with."

"Huh." He nodded. "I met Hakkai. He seemed pleasant and well learned."

"He is," Genjo said. "We often have to stop Goku and Goyjo from tussling and fighting because they both need to grow the fuck up some days." Thor burst out laughing but patted him on the shoulder. "The only problem we have is thanks to Xander's poisoning he needs more sex than the average military troop. We've worked most of that out."

"I change them out every two years with thanks and a reward," Xander said dryly. "Mostly for putting up with me."

"They squeal," Genjo told him, cracking up Stella and Abby. Abby came over to hug him then went back to her seat. "He needs a few more if you know someone who wants to spend two years squealing."

"I shall ask," Thor agreed. "Do you have a preference?" he asked Xander.

"Living, not demonic? Otherwise, it's all good." Thor smiled but nodded he'd suggest to some people. "Hopefully not from my own people or my own bloodlines, which is a problem I run into now and then. My father sired over three hundred children and we suspect more that weren't noted."

Thor stared, mouth open. "Oh, dear."

"Oh yeah," Xander said with a nod. "I'm not into incest so yeah, that's become a challenge. We're centrally located so he traveled easily to wench too."

Thor nodded. "I can see why. Perhaps you'll find a new one this weekend as well." The doors slammed open. "There's Generals Stark and Rogers," he announced.

Knight Hawkeye waved. "We're over here, guys." They came over to see what was going on. Castiel handed down the scroll to them after making sure which one it was.

General Stark looked at it, frowning. "They're doing what?"

"Exactly, they're doing what," Xander agreed dryly. "We only know a bit about machines. You're supposed to be the best at breaking them."

"Yeah, I can do that," he decided, frowning as he read. "This artifact?"

Castiel looked then groaned. "The damn idiot changed them?" Dean quipped, handing it down.

"Yes," Castiel said impatiently. "Some day soon I'll be beating him to death."

"More demons?" General Rogers asked.

"Well outside all the problems we had," Xander told him. "These are true ones, higher ones, and outside all those problems. They won't be causing any problems because there's special ways of killing them all, and Sam knows most of them. That artifact is handled," he said, taking it back.

"We saw someone of that description stomping around," Stark told him.

"Great. You have to hurt her enough to go back to her host body then kill it," Xander said.

"Charming. If we find her we can do that."

"She's killed at least sixty people so far," Genjo told him quietly.

"Even better reason for her to go," Stark said, looking over that chart. "I've seen that ring thing somewhere."

"We need to break it so they quit coming," Xander told him. "You break things for a living."

"I design for a living but part of that is breaking down others," he admitted. He looked up and around. "Any of them here?"

"Not that we've seen," Stella said. "If so we would've questioned them. We don't even have a peace treaty with them but according to some older scrolls the reason that Castiel's people used to be considered angels came from fighting them the first time."

"My people were setting up towers and doing magic back then," Xander quipped. "Way far back in history."

"Do we know the time period?" General Stark sneered.

Xander glared back. "History hasn't mattered to me that way. Ask Sam," he said with a point. "I had other things I had to study instead." The general backed down for now. Someone screamed and Xander stood up. "What was that?" he yelled.

"Zombie!" some girl shouted and ran.

Xander ran out to go check. "Healers!" he bellowed. "Not a zombie, just a really injured person, looks like a duel!" They came running to get their new patient. Xander walked back in, going to someone to stare at her. "Your younger son, the one with the floppy hair, apparently got into a duel. He's pretty cut up and he'll probably scar but we don't know with who yet." She got up and ran off sobbing. He looked at the father.

"No clue, Sire."

"Okay. Let us know. This is so you don't have to duel over people. There's plenty to go around." He went back to his seat, staring at the young girl cowering in the corner. "He wasn't a zombie, he was just really cut up. Next time, yell for healers, they can tell that stuff." She nodded, coming out to calm down. Xander sat back down, sighing as he ate a bite of chicken. "So stupid to duel."

Genjo nodded. "Especially over someone at these sort of events."

"Unless he was protecting himself," Jethro agreed. "Or someone who needed it."

"In that case, we like him," Xander agreed. "He did good. If he was fighting a duel over someone he wanted, that's stupid."

"It is," Jethro agreed. "I'm hoping he was protecting someone." He looked at Abby, who went to check for him. His two sons walked in and sat down. "What happened?" he asked.

Timothy looked at him. "That one, someone propositioned him and he got huffy."

"Not demonic," Tony agreed. "Just drunk. The kid overreacted and pulled a sword against a guy who teaches nobles how to fence." Jethro shook his head with a sigh. "We broke it up and sent him to the healers upstairs."

Xander grinned. "We had some girl scream 'zombie' and run off when she saw him."

Tony nodded. "We heard, we were only outside." Abby came back bouncing and happy. "We're pretty sure they'll both live."

"The healers say so too," she agreed. She sat down. "There's warriors outside," she said loudly enough to be heard. "King Elinius, I think they're yours."

"I hope they're peaceful," Alan said. He looked at the other end of the table. Xander waved a hand a bit before eating another piece of chicken. "Xander, something you wanted to share with the table?" he asked dryly.

"No, not right now. Though, can I have the green stuff that's not broccoli and even Genjo won't eat, Mac?" He held out a hand for the bowl. It got passed down to him. "Thanks. For some reason I'm craving salady stuff." He glared at Sam.

"Sorry, but that wasn't part of my hypnotism when you had the nightmare vision," Sam quipped. "I didn't do a thing about your bad eating habits, Xander."

"Fine." He dug in, eating a few spoonfuls of it. That took care of the craving and the need, plus he had something very vinegary in case someone burst in so he could throw it at them while pulling out bigger weapons.

King Elinius's guards did stomp in but went right to him to hiss in his ear. The king grimaced but nodded. The guard left. "Excuse me," King Elinius said. "My daughter just showed up." He got up to leave, glaring at his wife again.

"If she's here to join the event, that's fine with us," King Alan said. King Elinius glared but went out to deal with his offspring.

Danny kicked his mate. "Go help," he ordered. "They know you. If it's a problem, you can handle it like you're Xander's big brother."

Steve nodded, going to check on things. "Can I help?" he asked politely.

"My daughter is being uppity," King Elinius said with a grimace. "She thinks she can lead men."

"I've seen many fine queens who could. Including Queen Abby. She may seem sweet but she's hell if it's needed. Her military listens to her."

"Ours don't," he said bluntly. He walked outside. "What are you doing?" His daughter shot him in the head.

"Taking over," she said bluntly. "Because we find you not worthy." She stared at the other one. "Steven?"

"Yes," he agreed, smiling at her. "Catherine."

She smiled back. "Why are you here?"

"I escorted some of my people up here for this meet, greet, and hopefully marry event." He came closer. "We would like peace here. There's a truce. Your father brought us information about a problem."

"I've heard," she admitted. "We simply couldn't stand him being in charge any longer. We will be peaceful." The guards with her nodded. "Is my stepmother here?"

"And two of your brothers, though one's in the healers' wing. He got smart mouthed and challenged someone so King Xander took him nearly out."

"Did he do it properly?"

"He said he'd be a fine example and he wouldn't claim anyone to marry them off. He wasn't that sort of king. Unlike his stepfather."

"I've heard," she admitted, dismounting.

"Your mother is proving the superiority of your women in the morning against Queen Buffy."

"That's an odd name."

"I believe it's the shortened version of her name," he said, staring at her. "If you're here to cause problems, we will have to protest."

She smiled and patted his cheek. "I'm not going to cause any problems, Steven."

"Good. My consort's inside."

"Is she nice?"

"Danny? Sometimes he is. Mostly he's mouthy."

She smirked at him. "No proper wife?"

"Surrogates."

"Oh, I see."

"He has a daughter from his previous relationship."

"Ah. So that's good then." She walked in next to him. She stared at her stepmother. "Don't worry, he won't be a problem for you or my brothers any longer. The other wives are all at home safely stored until things settle down." She looked at her other brother, who stood up and pulled his sword. "We will meet in the morning on the field of combat. That way you can prove the superiority of the male blood." He sneered.

"There is no bloodshed in this event," King Alan ordered firmly. "She has properly challenged you and if you try her now I'm siccing Xander on you as well." The brother stepped back and nodded. "I'm sure she can be peaceful tonight and not bother others outside her family." He stared at her.

"Of course I will. I think this is a charming practice and should be included in some of ours instead of just combat. It's a sad fact that warrior wives aren't the best mothers." She sat down, staring at her brother. "Just past dawn?"

"Dawn here is at cock's crow," Stella said, glaring at her. "We have people practicing then but they can defer." She looked down at Mac, who nodded. Dean nodded too. "The warriors in for practice at that time will let you have it."

She nodded. "Thank you...."

"Queen Stella."

"Thank you, Queen Stella. My mother's half-sister is from your people. They said your parents are quite wise."

"And stubborn," Mac agreed. "As are most of us."

"That can sometimes make the best rulers," Catherine said dryly, smiling at him. "I mean no onus against any of you but my father was unworthy with the way he treated his family. The other twenty-seven of his children agreed on how to handle things and I came out on top. Now I challenge the heir."

"You'll get your challenge," he sneered. He glared at Steve. "I know you were flirting with her before."

Steve stared at him. "I can whip your ass without breaking a sweat, boy. Sit down." The brother snarled. Xander's gun cocking was loud in the silent hall. "I have it, Xander."

"I'm sure you do but him baiting you won't make his challenge any easier with his future wounds," Xander said dryly. "This event is under a treaty of peace and it will stay that way," he noted to the future queen. "I don't rightly care who rules your people. I visited once and your father was a jackass. Then again, so were all his wives and most of you kids." She laughed but nodded. "Frankly, I don't care, we don't care, and you're just entertainment right now. I don't want to take you out like I did your little brother."

"If he lost, he wasn't worthy," she said bluntly. "Do you want to claim him now?"

"We don't go on that principle here, Princess," Gregory said dryly. She glared at him. He stared back. "Our princesses are stronger anyway. That's why there's a name curse."

"You are one hell of a princess," Tony agreed. "So am I."

"I was too," Xander agreed. "Now I'm nothing less than a splendid king." He stared at her. "Don't even think about using that to jump higher this way."

She waved a hand. "I don't have time for that."

"Ever," Xander assured her with an evil smirk. "I can easily send some of our problems your way. I'm sure you'd love the demons."

"Demons?" she snorted.

Xander looked at Castiel, who went to rub over one mark on a wall with a sigh. Yup, demons. "Don't touch a single Joined Kingdom person," he warned. "This wannabe queen thinks you're not real."

The demons stared at her, one drooling. "She's pretty. We can go visit them."

"Xander!" Steve complained.

Xander grinned. "If they're strong enough to handle them then they're probably going to be friendly enough." He stared at her.

"We thought them myths," she said. "Huh. I'll have to learn how to deal with them."

"Guns, blessed silver, some bullets," Genjo said. "Demons begone before I have to get up." They fled. "Castiel?" He redrew the figure. Genjo looked at the princess. "Don't give me more work."

"I would not. That is not why I'm here." He smirked and she nodded slightly back. They could have a truce for now. "I know some about that problem up north. They were handling the problem but they got overrun. They've used that ring device for many years and have mostly fought off the problems it brought. They have some very weird allies."

"We love allies," Jethro told her. "Even weird ones."

"Excellent. I'll have someone summon our diplomat to them." She looked at her guard, who nodded.

"He can use our fire calling systems," Steve said, leading him to one and tossing in the powder before stepping back. "Call out a name who'd be near a fireplace or a location."

The guard said the name of their palace, getting a scared guard. "Queen Catherine asks that the diplomat to those ring people show up where we are. They're having problems and the kings here are willing to help them." The guard nodded slowly. "She has properly taken out her father, though not in ritual combat. Her brother and she do ritual combat in the morning." He looked at Steve. Then at the fire. "We'll call back tomorrow."

"Granted," the higher guard walking up behind the scared one said. "How did she take him out?"

"Shot him."

"Pity."

"He was causing stress anyway," Steve said. "And one of his sons is in the healers' wing for being an idiot."

The guard looked at him. "I remember you." Steve smiled. "We will handle that and any diplomatic needs we will have. Thank you. Tell us how the combat went." Steve hung up and nodded, taking the guard back. The head guard on the other side went to tell others. It wasn't an honorable taking out but King Elinius had things on him that enhanced him.

***

Buffy looked at the queen the next morning. "If you'd like to postpone or cancel our sparring that's fine," she said quietly. "You've got to be under great stress with all this." The woman glared at her. Buffy shrugged. "I wouldn't want to make your life any harder than it already may be. I'm not that sort of queen." She sat down near her. "You have much to deal with for the next few months. A funeral, a coronation of someone, resettling the order of power in your kingdom. I remember when my mother died and I had to do all that. It took nearly a year for me to get everything settled and out of the traditional mourning rituals."

The other queen swallowed. "I can spar against you without doing that and it would be a great stress relief."

Buffy smiled and nodded. "If you want. This afternoon instead? Give people time to make sure they don't think I'm hitting on your daughter?"

"One of his other wives is her mother," she said. "But that would be fine, Queen Buffy."

She smiled and patted her on the wrist. "It'll be okay. We women are strong. That's why we're women instead of Xander." That queen smiled slightly but nodded. "Is that son yours?"

"Both sons with us are mine," she sighed. "I don't know where the one went wrong."

"He's too young," Buffy said. "He doesn't think about anything but what he already knows. I was like that once. He'll hopefully grow out of it." The other queen nodded. "Does she have to kill him?"

"If he gives up, it's cowardice," she sighed. She stiffened up when others joined them in the viewing box. "You don't have to."

Xander patted her on the shoulder. "My stepfather had been a warlord, that's why I came to your husband once to see if I should start a treaty with him." He looked at her. "I found him a huge asshole then. He didn't get much better but hopefully this one won't be as bad. Though, we did have to remove the artifacts from his body when he got up and tried to walk off as a zombie this morning," he said more quietly.

"He had things to keep him strong," she said quietly. Xander handed over a small wooden box. She looked then at him. "The one in his hair?"

"Broken. As was the necklace, though the pieces are in there," he said quietly. "The anklet he wore is still whole. The bracelet's still whole. The ring's still whole but the stone's loose." She nodded. "I hope however this ends brings peace to your people and more happiness. I remember you guys being all but miserable when I visited as a youth."

"Sometimes it was. Not always," she admitted. Her stepdaughter came out onto the field and bowed to her, getting nodded back at. She sighed.

"I challenge my half-brother for the throne," Catherine announced. "I have won against our father and his enhanced nature. Including when he tried to revive from the dead." She looked at her brother. "If you wish the throne, go through me." She pulled her sword.

"I will as you're female and therefore not a true heir," he noted, looking pissed off.

"Things change," Catherine reminded him. "Sometimes queens are better at being rulers. As some around here prove." She waved a hand. "They obviously care more for their people than our father did us." He sneered and came closer, pulling his sword. "Do you accept my challenge?"

"I am," he agreed, lunging at her as was proper. She ducked and kicked him, and the fight was on. Back and forth, a few injuries each. She finally got him down and hesitated. Then she sighed. "I would rather not kill you," she announced. "You could be useful and a good diplomat. You could be good in our ruling class doing things like training others. We have many siblings that could do so. I know showing mercy makes me look weak, but I won't kill you unless you demand."

"That means you have no honor," he spat, making himself stand up. "Real rulers have honor and you just lost yours."

"For not wanting to waste a resource?" she asked. "Does the one that spills water have no honor?" He glared but nodded. "If you so wish." She pulled her dagger out and put her sword up. "Charge me again and I will do as you request." He charged but they were stopped by a bright light.

"Where is my key!" the blonde woman demanded as she stomped into the arena. "I know it's here!"

"Aw fuck," Genjo muttered. "People, get her! She's a hell goddess possessing a body and you have to kill the host!" The guards and others fired on the goddess while Catherine got her brother free and shoved him out of the way to help take her on. She got swatted into a wall but got back up. He ran at her and she ripped off his head, making his mother wince but cry.

Catherine shot her with the same gun that got her father, making the goddess stare at her and advance. "My sister will follow and avenge me," she vowed. "So you still won't win, demon."

The knights showed up, it was a bit early for some of them, and dove in to help. Thor's hammer hit her a few times before her form wobbled and she ran off.

Xander hopped down, going to check the son then walk over to them. "Thank you, Knights." He looked at Catherine. "Healers?" he asked.

She nodded. "I need not more than bandages. If I cannot survive I have not truly won."

"Gregory, she wants bandages," he called. The healers ran in to gather the body and take her. Xander stopped one. "He showed honor, treat him with respect," he ordered. "He tried to help the problem that interrupted their honorable combat."

The healer nodded. "Of course we will, King Xander. He earned all due respect." They gathered him and his head, carrying him off with a shroud already in place. Catherine followed, limping along with help from the limping healer.

Xander looked at the knights. "The crazy hell goddess," he explained.

Knight Thor nodded. "She is a tough enemy. It will take much damage to make her change back. It is a good fight to win before she destroys us all."

"I'm wondering if we can send her up to that other problem and let her go through their ring device," General Stark said. "Let her try up there against their enemy."

Xander grinned. "I like that idea. It's appropriately mean and yet effective. Even better than the time I covered some people with flaming thrown shit." He walked off to follow the healers.

General Stark looked at the others. "That's mean of him." They nodded, leaving as well.

Buffy helped the crying queen up. "Come on, I know where the healers are. We can sit vigil. It's usual for our people to sit vigil and visit the body to mourn before the burial." She helped her out and up to the healer's room, getting pointed out. "We're sitting vigil."

"That's fine, Queen Buffy," one said. "It's honorable." They let her into that cold room and left them alone.

Buffy came out to get chairs and brought them back in, letting the queen sit while she stood with her. She nodded when Catherine came in.

Catherine walked over, touching his head that had been casually sewn on. "I wish it hadn't come to this, Brother," she said quietly. "There's no honor in wasting those who have futures that are good for their people. I will watch over your children to make sure they do not turn into Father." She kissed him on the forehead, looking at her stepmother. "We are going to make sure the evils of our father's reign are not copied," she said quietly. "You and all the mothers are free now and your children are still our siblings. We have all vowed that no matter who won we would make things equal again as it was in our earlier days, without the clauses of fealty and ownership." She leaned down to hug her. "You are still as my mother and I did not want to kill him."

"I know, Catherine. We will see how it goes now. I would hate to fight you for the crown."

Catherine smiled. "You were mighty at my age and still have much of that. I hope we don't have to have that fight either." She nodded at Buffy then left them to sit there and stare at the body. It was weird to her but she understood why people did that. She found Steve and his consort in the garden, nodding at Danny then at Steve. "We have pledged that things will go back to the better days, with changes for the bad parts."

"Good," he agreed, staring at her. "This is my consort Danny."

"Pleasure," she said, shaking his hand. "At one time I courted Steve as a proper warrior mate."

Danny nodded, smiling at her. "I'm sure it was hot with how strong he is." She laughed but nodded, sitting with them. "So now what?"

"Now, we go home soon to do the necessary things. I should leave tonight. Steve, will you have a noon meal with me?"

"Sure," he agreed, not looking at his consort. Who just waved a hand at them to go while rolling his eyes.

Danny went to find Stella and the others. "She's leaving soon to go home. She and Steve, her ex, are having lunch."

Stella smiled at him. "At least you're not the jealous sort."

"Nah. If he screws her without me knowing I'm gonna make his life a living hell." He smirked. "I learned how from Princess Aiden."

Mac burst out laughing but nodded. "She was very good at it, yes." They went in to eat, letting the others talk about how things went. The other queen had agreed she'd come spar with Buffy in a few months since they had to leave soon so they could get the bodies home for proper funerals before they decayed too far. Buffy gave her a map of where she lived. So it'd be all right, and the marriages made were going well so far. A few might be protested but the kids could justify themselves to their parents.

Now they only had to handle the problem up north.

***

Xander and Genjo made it back to the palace, Genjo dropping off a list to the new majordomo, who was the guy from the military with the bad leg. "Those ones snuck off and married," he said quietly.

"That's effective. Are they holding it again?" he asked, smiling at him.

"Every year. Next year Dawn can go if she survives."

The majordomo nodded. "She is young and perky, Sire."

Xander looked at him. "Problems?"

"No. She's settled in to defense lessons easily enough. She's still girlish but her people would be horrified if she turned into a true warrior."

"If her sister dies and she takes over, she'll have to take the same protection vows," Xander said dryly. "Including the Slayer Protector of the Kingdom parts."

"We're working on weapons," Goyjo said as he walked into the throne room. "She's pretty good with weapons but hits like Goku when he's got the flu." Xander nodded at that. "Anything good happen?"

"King Elinius got overthrown by a daughter," Xander said with a smile. "And half of his protection set was broken."

"Okay," Goyjo said. "Barely heard about him."

"Huge warrior assholes," Xander said bluntly. "All nineteen of his wives had to beat people for his hand. They used to hold yearly marriage contests for the top people in the kingdom to find a new wife, and if they didn't want who won they could pick none of them and make them go through it again the next year."

"Charming," the guard said.

"He had twenty-seven kids," Genjo said. "Over half were daughters. One of his sons, the elder one and heir, died when the goddess in question showed up to interrupt his ritual combat with his sister to try to overthrow her. She ripped off his head. It took a concentrated effort to get her to start to shift back to her male host body."

Goyjo winced but nodded. "Good to know about our enemy."

"Catherine's a bit stiff and formal," Xander said. "But she'll manage it. She nearly fought for King Steve's hand."

"He's hot and all but not my type," Goyjo said bluntly. "No breasts, Xander." Xander grinned, leaving them alone. "Dawn's resting. She wore herself out earlier complaining about her own weakness to the horses she was grooming."

"That's fine. We can talk to her in the morning after breakfast."

Genjo lit up a cigarette, looking at his friend and guard. "It's going to get nasty with that bitch," he said. "She's fully too strong for anything. My banishing gun, the scroll, all of it." He handed over the two scrolls. "The other problem, which was suggested that we send her up to take them out."

Goyjo looked over the one on Dawn, grimacing. "Wow, that's going to be nasty."

"Very," he agreed. "If so...."

"Goku and Dawn are going to visit and seek sanctuary." He looked up. "Those crazy ass knights as she called them? Tried to get us on the way here. Twice. They got stopped by her people's guards, barely. A lot of them had swords and bows but seemed even farther behind than we are. They apparently want to bleed her so the one after her can't get her blood."

"Interesting." They walked off together. "No gossiping and if you're possessed I'm going to take you out myself," he noted. "We've run into some semi-helpful higher demons." He looked at him.

The majordomo smiled. "He's safely in bed resting since his foot surgery got an infection. We know about Dawn. You're right, there's no good, safe way to beat that goddess but those people up north have stronger weapons than guns." He faded out.

Genjo looked at Goyjo. "Didn't set off my senses, Hakkai's senses, none of it," he admitted.

"Or mine. They're apparently Castiel's evil cousins."

"I saw that. Great." They went out to their house. Genjo paused to stare. "She fell asleep on Goku's book teaching him some history."

"If she doesn't mind I don't care," he admitted, going up to his own room.

Goyjo glanced in Goku's room. He was on the floor so Dawn could sprawl sideways across his bed. He went to his own room, going to rest for the busy day tomorrow. They hadn't had this much to do in a few years.

***

Xander was outside at midnight, staring up. "Crowley," he said dryly.

The demon appeared. "Usually it takes more work to summon me," he said sarcastically as he formed. "But this time it might be amusing."

"It will be if you don't get your people out of my palace," Xander warned, staring at him. "We've had enough problems and my people don't need to be paranoid."

"You can't enforce that."

Xander grinned, pulling something out of the case he held. "Sam found it in their archive," he said with a smirk, holding up the blade. "Get your people out of my kingdom. I'm thankful for the help and all, but I do not need paranoid people and we've had way too many problems with demons thanks to my stepfather and from John when he was alive."

"That's the Blade," he noted. "Where was that hidden?"

"In Sam's part of the archive. His mom left it for him."

Crowley nodded. "That's interesting."

"And Sam can use it. I had him check. He and Dean can both use it."

"It would taint them to do so."

"So can Adam probably and the last demonic power struggle got him possessed and marked."

"Oh, I hadn't heard about that one." He considered it. "We're trying to guard her."

"We're taking her with us to the north. They have stronger weapons."

"Actually not a bad plan," he agreed. "I can make it more subtle."

"I've had crying maids and housekeepers. I don't want to do that to my people."

"No, I wouldn't either. Where are your stepfather's remains?"

"Burned." He grinned. "The demons freed him and made him try to fight me. I beheaded him and then we burned the whole lot. The demon's remains? They're all enshrined somewhere pretty damn safe even from you guys. We didn't need more of their type either."

"That one was lower level than I am, boy."

Xander smirked. "So? Between mine and Dean's kingdoms we deal with demons all too often in all forms. Including the one that Sam and I screwed who was like you only a bit lesser."

"I heard that," he admitted, giving him a look.

"Neither one of us remember his name, he wasn't that good at it," Xander said dryly. "And hey, if I have to, we have a trapped genie here because I tripped into his jar when I was twelve."

Crowley shuddered but nodded. "That's nearly an evil thought."

"Thank you," Xander quipped with a smile. "I thought it might be fun as well."

"Which chaos god did you vow to?" Crowley asked casually. "I can't tell."

"I was born near the portal. Very near the portal. It loves me."

Crowley shuddered but nodded. This hunter had balls he had to admire so he'd let him do what he wanted to do and do what he needed to behind his back if the boy didn't handle it. "That makes much sense. I will withdraw my people so they don't upset anyone but we will be making sure that blonde bitch can't take over."

"If she tries, I'm going to have to step in and pull up some of my ancestors."

The ghost of Gabriel, Castiel's brother, appeared, shaking his head. "Sweetie, just don't." He smirked at Crowley. "Elizabeth said hi too."

He stared at him. "I remember her. She was sweet."

"She redid all the protections," Gabriel said with a smug look. Crowley rolled his eyes but nodded.

"And she set them to go on with her blood," Xander agreed. "With mine mixed in. So I guess I'll be helping protect this kingdom forever, huh?" Crowley stared at him. Xander looked smug. "I may not have excelled in any of the usual fields but I did have to do a lot of research about demon things thanks to John. He so nicely cursed us, but that was after my stepfather vowed. We can actually get into the old tower now. Should I go searching?"

"There's knowledge in there that's been lost forever on purpose," Gabriel warned. "It could be more dangerous or unleash a demonic virus since it's locked up in there."

"We saw," Xander assured him. "It's been resealed and put next to the portal so they *really* have to want to get to it."

"We can access that room," Crowley told him.

"Yes but not the bubble around it without multiple sacrifices. That's why my father tortured centaurs for nearly a decade, so he could have his chosen spawn born in there, then he forgot which mother was the sacrifice and which was his spawn." Crowley shuddered. "I, however, can get up close to the portal and pet the kraken tentacles that pop out now and then." He grinned. "The vessel's inside the portal but sealed in a way that nothing in there can open it. Even if it explodes."

Crowley stared at him. "You have many ideas."

"Yes I do. That makes me a great king and protector."

"Not all of them are useful," Gabriel warned. "You shouldn't bring her up there."

"The blonde bitch or the other one?"

"The other one. They've been overrun. They think they're gods and might try to take some of the queens for their own sort of queen. Poor Stella," Gabriel sighed. Xander winced but nodded. "Other than that, Dawn shouldn't go but that would solve Buffy dying for six months and coming back thanks to the ghost."

"Can we banish her?" Xander demanded.

"No. She's one of his now," he said with a point at the demon.

"The babbling, redheaded, idiot? Yes. Queen Buffy was missing her and wished she had her friend back. A minor wish demon heard so she's floating around causing problems there instead of for me. You can trap her too. That temple should hold her quite nicely."

Xander nodded once. "We can do that. Thanks."

"Can you put that up?" Gabriel said with a point at the blade.

Xander put it back into the box. "It's only half the blade. It was split width-wise and the other half is with Sam."

"Let me go hit on Sam," Gabriel said with a wink. He faded out.

Crowley looked at Xander. "That's interesting."

"He died trying to help us with the last demon power struggle."

"That was rather annoying," Crowley agreed. "I will withdraw my people to a less noted area so that one can be watched over more subtly. We'd hate for people to panic and start spreading curses at us. Castiel's too damn nice to handle things on his own." He faded out. His demons got recalled and moved to a new area that was farther away and not possessing anyone of note. One got banished almost immediately by a young witch who was mad about her father. The rest...they could handle it and that witch got noted to the local coven. Though the white witch up there nearly blinded him and she seemed to see him even though he was invisible. She looked right at him and it made his soul shake for some reason. He would be avoiding that one.

Xander jogged down the stairs, still holding onto the box. It'd go in his personal safe. He turned on the fire calling station and couldn't get Mac or Horatio but got one of Horatio's kids. "That problem up north we just got briefed about, they want some of the females for their own kind. I've heard they're going specifically after Stella. I got a feeling that they might go after Calleigh too. Not too many natural blondes up there."

"Shit," Eric said. "I'll warn 'em. They're nearly here and Stella's overnighting here with Mac. Thank you, Xander."

"Just let them know, Eric. If they get her, I'm not sure we can free her from the possession their type uses."

"Demons?"

"No, little alien worms that take you over."

"That's so weird and if it was anyone but you," he muttered, hanging up. He went to meet the heads of both families as they rode in. He could see banners so they were only in town. He walked down to meet them at the courtyard as they rode in. "Xander called. Whatever those alien worm things are they want Stella as a queen and possibly Calleigh."

Mac looked at Horatio. "Your kids just bring such joy too," he said dryly.

"Better warned than kidnaped and having to be saved from an alien worm thing," Stella complained, pushing her hair back as she dismounted.

"He said he's not sure if they can save people from them," Eric said.

"No, we're not yet," she agreed. "I'll definitely resist more than I would've Xander's stepfather." They went inside to talk and rest. Stella and Mac would leave the next day. Stella did call to talk to Xander about how and what he knew. The source creeped her out but if even the demons didn't want her taken over she must be doing something right to be a threat to them, that would've made her a bigger threat to them.

Or maybe they just wanted her because she was pretty. Who knew with aliens and demons.

***

Sam blinked awake when someone sat on his bed, sitting up to stare at the former teasing boyfriend sort. "We never slept together," Gabriel said dryly.

"You were still a teasing boyfriend sort without the sex," he said blandly. "And too easy to fluster at times too." He stared at him. "Nice to see you too."

"Watch out for that blade, Sammy. It'll take you over and make you kill."

"That's why it was split."

"Might not help," he admitted with a grin. "Take it from me, okay?"

"I can do that. Did Xander set down some rules with Crowley?"

"Yup. Thankfully."

"Good." He shifted closer. "So why the visit? Just the warning?"

"Xander vowed he was going to get into the old towers and pull out something to beat that bitch."

"We went with Elizabeth right before they captured her the first time. There's things up there that could help."

"Wonderful. Still dangerous."

"Sometimes you gotta."

"Sam, too dangerous," he said bluntly.

Sam grinned. "I'll let him know. Anything else from on high?"

"Have Tara protected. The blonde bitch will try to take out that purity because she's sucking sanity and knowledge out of people. Getting Tara would be a huge problem."

"Got it. I'll call the witches in a minute."

"Thanks. Can you maybe try to be a bit safer?"

"I do what I can, you know that."

"I do." He patted him on the knee. "If I were alive I'd be suggesting a roll in the hay. Unfortunately we can't do that anymore." He faded out.

Sam got up and went to call the witches and the palace. "Is one of Genjo's guards up?" he asked. The guard went to get one. He looked at the witch. "Guard Tara from the blonde bitch. She's sucking sanity and knowledge and would come right for the source of purity and power she represents."

"What blonde bitch?" the witch demanded.

Genjo himself showed up. "I was meditating. New things?"

"The blade can warp Xander or I and make us kill." Genjo grimaced. "Even split. The blonde bitch is going to come right for Tara to suck her mind out. She's done it to others to get knowledge and sanity according to Gabriel. Also, he said the stuff in the tower's too damn dangerous for this problem."

"Okay," Genjo said. "Tara needs to go into hiding somewhere safe," he ordered the witch on the other portal. "Today." The witch grimaced. "She's a hell goddess."

"Oh!" She grimaced. "Is there a witch involved?"

"Has some power, can't use it," Genjo said bluntly. "Tell Tara?"

"I will. What hell goddess is this?"

"If you say her name, she shows up," Sam admitted. "Dawn's got a book."

"Great," the witch complained.

"It has to do with an artifact," Genjo said.

"Even better. Yes, dear Tara can go into hiding somewhere safer. I'll make sure of it." She hung up and changed back, smirking at the witches. "That's handy." Then she was blown out of the room by the bomb.

Tara looked then at the other witches. "I learned some things from Xander when I was there. Goku thought explosives were a good thing for women to learn." The witches nodded and bundled her up, taking her out of the country and somewhere safer with King Dean's people hopefully. A few of the coven packed up that house quickly and took it with them while she was stunned. She hadn't changed back to her host body though.

Genjo went up to tell Xander about that, getting a nod. "That blade can warp you," he reminded him.

"I don't have the urge to kill, Genjo, nor will it infect me. There's some of us that are protected by other things. Like our vows to the protection of the kingdom. The blood bindings are absolute." Genjo shuddered but nodded. "So some day I'll be the new castle ghost." He shrugged, staring at him. "It's in the grenade safe," he said quietly.

"I can get it if I need to."

"It would taint you horribly, Genjo, and you are a priest. Your special scroll would disavow you." He got up to get a book off his desk, handing it over. "That's on the blade."

He glanced through it, grimacing. "It won't protect you, Xander. It can taint those vows."

"And the ones that happened when I was born?"

Genjo stared at him. "Fuck, I forgot about those."

Xander nodded. "Yup. At least I bypassed the ability to taint another generation because she wasn't born anywhere near here or vowed to anyone at birth." He sat down again, staring at his spouse. "You go have fun in your afterlife and I'll be watching over you when you come back around."

"You're not dying first, Xander. Stop it."

Xander smiled. "I know. I got that vision too. Can you maybe not take on the seven armed demon by yourself this time? I really hate that vision."

"Definitely not something I intend to do anyway."

"Yeah but you did. It nearly killed Goku so you stomped in to take it out. Goku broke his special limiter and all hell broke loose out by those old temples some year in a few from now."

Genjo swallowed but nodded. "Do you have that written down?"

"I gave it to Hakkai. He looked upset and nodded he'd put it up for you."

"Thanks for the warning," he said dryly.

"Warning you beforehand means that they can change things drastically, dear." He stared at him. "Which means they could move it up or back or change which one they send for defeating them."

Genjo Sanzo stared at his mate. "Everyone thinks you're a warrior, not a scholar."

Xander smiled. "I am. Warriors have to know as much as we can about certain subjects." He shrugged. "The visions are a value added bit of hell."

"I..." He cleared his throat. "Can it be defeated?"

"If I blood bind us to the protections, yup. It'd hold us steady enough for a few hours."

"All right," he decided. "I need to look into that."

"If you do that, you're going to be joining me in ghost duty, Genjo. Not going to that nice place where you rest before your recycle."

"That sounds boring anyway," he noted.

"It'd also mean yearly screwing on the wards here."

Genjo winced. "That could be bad."

"For all that're linked in."

"That would be really bad," he decided. "I'll look into that. If you see that demon, let us know first?"

"Of course."

"Thank you." He reached over to pat him on the head. "No more secrets like that, Xander."

"Go ask Hakkai, I give all those to him."

"I'm going to do that now." He took the book with him and went to wake Hakkai up by stomping into his room and slamming his room door. "You're hiding things from me."

"Yes I am," he agreed, staring at him. "Because it could get them killed if I don't."

"I don't care. If we know we can find a way around it beforehand."

"Fine." He got up and led him to their library, pulling down two books that looked normal but both had hidden areas. He pulled out three scrolls. "Two visions and one with how the blood binding would affect things since he knew you'd think about it." He handed them over.

"No other visions?"

"Two, both about Goku."

"Now." He held out a hand and got handed them. "Any others?"

"Not yet."

"Thank you." He went to his room to read those over. It was painful, and it hurt his chest, but he had to handle that. They were his friends. He saved the blood binding one for last. He knew it'd be smutty at least in part. The Merciful Goddess would hate that knowledge getting out probably but if it saved his friends he may do just that when it was necessary.

***

Buffy and a few others walked into the kingdom up north's palace, nodding at the guards. It had been a long few weeks of figuring out who was going and how. "I'm Queen Buffy, this is Prince Don and Princess Samuel. We're in on a diplomatic visit." The guards went to tell someone. They had sent the traditional warning ahead of them but it had probably only gotten there last night. The others of their party stomped in, getting the snow off their boots. "General Stark," she said with a nod. He hadn't traveled with their party but Knight Thor was with him and so was General Rogers. They had agreed that this had to be stopped. Knight Widow was watching her people for her, at her command for her palace to behave. That way they could see what female knights were like.

A courtier walked out. "Queen Buffy?"

She smiled and held out a hand. "Yes. I am." He shook her hand properly. "We thought it was time to come introduce the Joined Kingdoms below you and to see if there were any treaties we wanted to form. This is Generals Stark and Rogers, plus Knight Thor from their people a bit south of us but we've been working with them a lot recently and they're good diplomats for the most part. Knight Thor is also a Prince."

"That's charming of you. We got your notice last night, ma'am. Our kings are avoiding doing heavy things right now if you'd like to introduce yourselves."

"Please." She followed him and the others followed her. She smiled at the very pretty boy on the throne, nodding at his queen. "I'm Queen Buffy. Greetings from the Joined Kingdoms."

The king sat up. "We've heard of you."

"We've seen more than a few of your people down there pretending to be bards so we came up to introduce ourselves. That way you knew more than bardic rumors."

He snorted. "We are Gods, Queen Buffy."

"I'm the Slayer Protector of the Kingdom of Sunnydale," she said with a small shrug. "This is Prince Thor and Princess Samuel. Prince Don and Knight Generals Rogers and Stark." She pointed at them. "We've been working with the knights on a few various treaties recently and they're very nice people so I thought I should introduce them at the same time before more rumors came up."

The king/God stared at her. "You are most odd."

She smiled. "It comes from being me and learning how to hunt demons."

"Demons aren't real," he told her.

She laughed but shook her head. "I'd have brought some to prove it but it's considered rude to have your new friend's people invaded by evil things."

Sam nodded. "My kingdom deals with many of them yearly, as do a few others."

Buffy nodded. "Unfortunately true."

The king/God stared at her. "So you came to introduce your little group?"

She smiled and nodded. "And see if there's anything we'd like to propose treaties for on either side. Sam's one of our group's main diplomats. Don's one of the senior princes."

"Interesting. We don't need much."

She smiled. "Including fruit?"

"We do grow some in greenhouses, young lady."

"We have contacts with some of the tropical islands," Steve Rogers said. "They're very nice people."

The god/king blinked but nodded. "That is interesting and we were wondering about your peoples." He looked at the knight general who was looking around. "It is a wondrous sight, yes."

Stark smirked at him, not mentioning the clearly newly applied gold leaf to nearly every single surface. "I was wondering if you beveled your mirrors to bring in the extra sunlight or if it was just positioning. We have one for that but ours are specially bevel cut instead of just plain mirrors."

The king/god blinked at him. "I haven't paid any attention to it. I'd have to ask."

General Stark smiled. "That'd be nice. It's always good to meet other engineers and creators."

"Interesting. We didn't know many down there did that."

"We have a whole school that's slowly updating us all," Buffy quipped. "Don's brother is one of them."

"Well. Very interesting." He looked at his queen, who nodded. He looked at them again. "Yes, we can probably talk about trade treaties later, over dinner?"

"Of course," Buffy said with a smile. "If that's how your people do it, we're not against that at all. Formal dinner or just eating?"

"Formal for now," he said.

She smiled. "Good thing I packed extra then." She smiled at Don, who smirked back. She smiled at him. "We're at an inn in the town. Let us know when you want us back up here." She curtseyed and they left together.

The king leaned back, considering things. "They are quite odd. Yet strong willed. We did not know that they had recaptured science."

His queen patted him on the wrist. "We will handle it, Amun."

"Yes, we shall." He went to look up what they knew about those sort.

Outside, General Rogers smiled at the groom holding his horse's nose. "Thank you, Soldier."

The guy looked at him. "General Rogers, will you be riding back singly later?"

"Probably," Buffy said. "We have a carriage but it's too big." She winked at him but rode off. "Let me go get official looking."

General Rogers looked at him. "Our people have some strange rumors about yours. I'd like to sit down and talk to people about some of the myths we've heard. Are there story tellers or bards in the local village?"

"Two or three," he said with a smile. "Things are a bit tense since we're in deep winter."

"A bit of a story eases those nerves," Steve agreed, patting him on the shoulder. Right over his rank insignia. He stared at him for a second then rode off.

Stark shook his head. "That man has got to get out more," he muttered as he rode off.

Prince Thor smiled and nodded at the guard. "I'm Prince Thor, Knight to General Rogers."

"Well met, Prince Thor. Are your people from the lands of Asgard?"

"I am." He smirked slightly. "It is quite the beautiful kingdom."

"I've heard of that. Perhaps our people can share stories with you as well?"

"I would adore that," he agreed. "Stories are a good way to get to know people." He rode off with Don and Sam. Don had clearly fostered under King Mac's people with the way he handled things. Princess Samuel was not only sneaky enough to get into a palace but tough enough to raid it with some help. It was an interesting mix in one person but he didn't need a male wife. His Jane would be his only wife.

The guard went to tell his commander. They were both hidden rebellion members and it was interesting who showed up there.

The note waiting on their team when they got back was worrying but they could handle it.

***

Stella woke up, looking around the room she was in. It wasn't her room. It wasn't a room in any palace she knew about, or any noble house, and she knew most of them in the nearby kingdoms. She looked at herself then sighed. She was redressed in flimsy, gauzy, annoying clothes. She looked at her breasts, no support. "Yeah, that's not going to work," she decided. She stood up, looking around her room. At least she found her bra and put it on, feeling more comfortable. Her neck quit hurting at least. Then guards came in. "What the hell do you think you're doing kidnaping me?" she demanded.

"You're wanted by the King."

"I don't give a damn!" she said. "I have a king in my life. Thanks anyway. Now, let me go!"

"No," the guard said, grabbing her by the arm. Thankfully Mac had taught her some skills. He wouldn't let his wife be vulnerable. She kicked them both around. Another guard came rushing in and she grabbed one's knife to stab that new one.

"No thank you," she sneered. "I already have a king and he's damn good at it." She looked around. The window led to somewhere very far down. The hallway had other guards. Then she heard a whistle and spotted Sam, who pointed at a nearby window. Underneath her window didn't have a place to land so she'd have to move rooms. She nodded and waved, sneaking out of the room and over to that one. It had a woman who was knocked out. She was pretty but young. She heard the grappling hook hit and made sure it caught.

"Sam," she hissed and pointed. He nodded and waved. She shook her head, making sleeping hand motions with her hands under her head. He nodded again and waved then looked around. Stella looked at the young woman, then tore the sheets to bind her to Stella's back. She was climbing down when guards found her. They tried to cut the rope but Sam shot them and they fell out the window. One knocked into Stella but she held on and slid down a tiny bit. Sam helped her when she was near enough, handing the woman off to the waiting helper. "She's knocked out heavily."

"We can make sure she's not infested," the guy said. "Take her with you, Princess Sam."

"I can do that." He helped her onto the back of his horse and rode them off, going to the local village. If the local king threw up a fit they had protection.

Buffy handed Stella a dress she had brought, getting a sigh of relief. "Might not fit, sorry. I don't have the boobs you do."

"It happens and you don't have to worry about men staring at you." She slid behind a screen to put on the dress, coming out to toss out the fancy clothes. They went into the fireplace. She sighed as she sat down. "When did he take me?"

"Apparently when we were traveling," Buffy said. "We just heard he had you earlier from one of the guards." She looked her over. "Do you have anything on your stomach?"

Stella looked then shook her head. "Why would I?"

"That's where they insert the baby snakes," Buffy said. "The adult ones nestle in your brain but change your voice."

"I hope I don't have one of those," she said, patting her neck. Sam looked at the back of her neck and shook his head. "Thank you, Genjo's Merciful Goddess," she muttered. "Can I sneak home so they don't find out?"

"It might be really hard," Sam said. "Unless we send someone with you and it'll still look odd. So you can hide here for a few days." She nodded. "The others know we rescued you." She patted him on the arm. "Want some water?"

"Please. Can we have the demons eat them?"

Sam grinned. "Don't tempt me." She laughed but relaxed.

Buffy hugged her. "If they ask I'm going to say you're my lady in waiting because I'm horrible at girl things."

Stella nodded. "You certainly are with your hair, dear." Buffy grinned but swatted her on the arm and they relaxed, talking about what had happened. Mac was going to be so livid. Stella looked at Sam. "Is Xander on his way?"

"No. We're being subtle," Sam said dryly, smiling at her.

"That'll work. If they come, hand me a sword, Sam."

"Or a gun," he offered, handing her one. She smiled, checking it over before tucking it into her pocket. Yeah, they could handle this.

***

Buffy smiled at the meeting the next morning. "Good morning," she said as she walked in. "I'm so amazed by the snow here. We only have tiny bits of snow, nothing that deep. I've never seen snow that cushy." She sat down, smiling at the queen staring at her. "I dressed warmly, did I make a faux pas?"

"No," the queen said. "You're just more lively than we're used to."

Buffy smiled. "I get it from my mother. She was perky too." The king came in looking grumpy. "I was telling your wife I've never seen snow so deep and cushy. We only get a foot of snow at the most in my kingdom."

"It's a pain," he admitted. "But handy for some things, like footprints. Someone tried to break into the palace last night."

Buffy nodded. "I'm sorry to hear that but it wasn't me or my people. Why would knights and princes break into anywhere? We're not thieves. I have plenty of jewels and statues. Actually I have way too many. A lot of them don't look good on me and just sit in the vault."

The queen blinked. "You don't wear your jewels?"

"For special events. Not every day. We have a ball for our founding anniversary coming up and I'll wear an outrageously heavy amount then because it's expected for me to wear the founder's set and it's hugely heavy. It also doesn't look that good on me with my coloring but it's expected. Most days I'm in usual clothes and I take time to learn with the guard unit around me plus get into things around the palace that I need to. I'm learning how to garden too. My mother had a good hand with it and I'm letting our gardens go to hell because I can barely keep plants alive."

The queen shook her head. "I have servants for that."

"So do I but it's still my job to oversee the gardens and the heritage plants. My grandmother planted roses that I need to learn how to make sure they don't die. My great-grandmother planted some around a fountain we have to keep up. It's my job, my family planted them. I let the gardeners do the rest, including the bushes that are cut into cute shapes."

"Huh," the queen said. "Your mother gardened?"

"Yes, and decorated. She helped a lot of royal families decorate their new houses and helped people pick artwork. She was really great at that stuff. I'm so-so at it but I don't have the artistic eye my mother did. My sister doesn't either. She's just started her training. Hopefully she'll find someone she wants to marry and not have kids with. I don't need nieces and nephews and they'd creep me out."

The king shook his head. "Your sister didn't come with you?"

"No. She's seventeen and resting with Xander's people right now."

"Interesting."

"I trust him not to hurt her and to make sure she learns how to get guys off her. She's young but cute."

The king nodded. "That's a good age to find what you want in life to tie yourself to." He smiled at her. "None of the others with you?"

"I believe the knights were going to practice with yours. Knight General Rogers is a huge tactician and he's sparred with most of the soldiers in all the other kingdoms so he knows what they do best if something huge happens like another demon war. That one was really nasty. I was still in training. Xander got out of a sick bed to come help with his people. Most of us joined in that battle to stop the demons."

"There was a true battle?"

"Thousands of demons, a few militaries helping, some of us who were there fighting with Consort Genjo and his friends. Shitload of demons. My first battle," she admitted. "Not my last unfortunately since we have way too many problems from them." General Rogers walked in and hissed in her ear. She looked up at him. "Why?"

"I don't know." He looked at the king and queen. "Would you have any idea why her sister is being escorted up here?"

"What about Xander's people?" she demanded.

"Xander's people are fighting a real problem," he admitted. "They called. This king had his people try to attack them." The king looked smug. "You've already lost six hundred people and Xander's already on his way up here after her." He looked at Buffy, who stood up and walked off with him. "We don't know what's going on," he said quietly.

"I do and we need to break the asshole problem," she decided. "Can he?"

"Yes. He can and has." He smirked a tiny bit. "Let me introduce you."

"Please." She paused to grab her weapons and followed him. She nodded at the leaders. "Hi, how can I help?"

"Who're you?" the head of the rebellion asked.

"Queen Buffy, Slayer Protector of the Kingdom of Sunnydale. Trained to hunt demons by King John." She smirked slightly. "Not quite the airhead everyone thinks I am." General Stark looked at her. "I'm nice, not stupid," she reminded him. "Even if you do like to think I'm just sweet. Now, why my sister?"

"They really want her." The general over the rebellion looked at her. "They think they can use her to take over the other ones."

"Xander's called in treaties to get help from other militaries," Sam said from his seat in the corner. "They're going to pause and gather more on the way. Dawn should be fine. That other matter will stop whatever thing that they try to implant." Buffy relaxed but nodded. "And hey, if we must, she'll summon the bitch, Buffy."

Buffy looked at him. "I'd hate for the nice people here to have to face that, Sam."

"Me too, but it'd help."

"Point." She sighed. "We need to handle this. Rogers?"

"How big is he coming with?"

"There's a huge amount that could come," Sam said with a smile. "Every single treaty has a mutual aid pact. Between Xander and us is Alan's kingdom, Dean's kingdom, that tiny kingdom, the mountain tribes...." He paused for thought. "He could probably summon Mac's to get Stella and they'd be not that far behind. Xander's military is about half the country really if he calls up the reserves. Plus the nearby nobles that would be horrified and would want to take over new areas so they're away from Xander having higher expectations than his stepfather had."

"We'd like not to be taken over," the other general noted.

"Xander's not like that," Buffy said with a smile. "His nobles...because they're mad that Xander has higher standards than the drunken warlord." She looked over. "How soon for each?"

"Dawn will be here tonight. They're in a single carriage with two guards. The military...."

"Two days," Rogers said. "Maybe."

"Xander's military can have advanced troops from his castle to ours in a day and a half," Stella said. "Usual riding in a carriage is just under four days with overnight stops. The old warlord mentality made sure they're stunning in their speed and reaction time. Including breeding special, faster horses for forward troops to use. Otherwise DeMal would've used them as hunting training."

Buffy nodded, looking at Rogers. "At that time table, they'll be here by dawn," he said. "Are we sure?"

"Yeah," Sam said with a smile, waving the parchment he had. "Xander's advance teams lit out after Dawn as soon as they rode off. He defended the castle with half the troops and they're coming with them. It took them an hour to defeat the six hundred member troop he sent and burn them." He let Rogers have the parchment.

"That's neat," the rebellion's general said. "How do you do that?"

"Magic," Sam said with a smile. "It's secure between the two parchments."

"Huh," he said as he nodded. "We thought magic was a myth."

"No, not likely," Buffy said dryly. "It annoys some of us greatly though." They settled in to make plans. With that army coming, they had a lot of backup. It might even be enough.

***

Dawn was hauled out of the carriage kicking and screaming. "Let me the fuck go!" she shouted and kicked one of the guys when the other one hauled her off her feet. She bit the other guy and made him scream then hit her. She hit him back. "I may be a prince but I'll be damned!" A few more guards came out to grab her. "No!" She fought them off, trying to get back into the carriage to lock herself in. One of them grabbed her by the hair, another by the ankle. She kicked that one and some of her hair ripped out. "Oh, shit," she muttered. "That's going to be nasty." She ran off for the town.

Glorificus appeared. "I felt my Key bleed," she sneered. "Where is it?" The guards attacked her and she threw them aside like they were bugs. "Puny mortals. I'm a goddess. Don't get in my way." The king came out and attacked her and died for it. She sneered. "You," she sneered, stomping on the snake. "You're not worthy either." She stomped off after her key.

Dawn ran into a temple. "Go! Now!" she shouted. "The Goddess is coming!" She grabbed a priest. "Go now!" She was starting to glow thanks to Glory being too near. "Go now!" They ran off, gathering a few precious things on the way. She ran down to their safe area and locked herself in, praying to Genjo's Goddess. She seemed nice enough and might answer if she could. The door was ripped off and Dawn suddenly disappeared, staring at the witch helping her. "Tara! Go! You have to go! She'll take you out too!"

She smiled, patting Dawn on the cheek. "You're not up there."

"She can get here!"

"I know. Go." She pointed. "A holy circle. It'll mute your magical signature." Dawn ran that way and Tara went to go hide. She knew she might die if that goddess got hold of her. Dawn was in more danger and the holy circle should protect her. Tara sent up prayers to her own goddess for help. This was so bad.

***

Xander's army stomped into the town and he wasn't that far behind them since he was riding singly. They had the town locked down when he rode in. "People, there's civilians, protect them. There's Joined Kingdom rulers up here so work with them when you find them. The idiots in charge have things in them that are taking them over. They're tiny snakes. Kill any you see. Don't let them infect you because we can't save you."

The generals nodded and attacked the palace. Their ahead team of Sam and Buffy showed up to help. Stella came out when Mac's people arrived, taking control of them. Buffy's military was with the rest of Xander's and Mac's so she went to work with them. They took out the palace and found the ring device. A few of them went over to blow it up, including Buffy and two of her generals. They could handle it.

General Stark looked. "If I break it for good, they can't get back," he called.

"We know how to fix it," the general in charge of the locals said.

Xander looked at Sam. "Glorificus," he called. "We have your key, they took her across the realms." The goddess heard and stomped back, shoving mortals out of her way. She had lost track of the key thanks to shielding magic. It had to be here. "Now," he called. They broke it and cut the entry.

The general in charge looked at Xander. "What's she going to do?"

"Destroy things," Xander said with a smirk. "She's really good at it too. Plus she's an actual hell goddess. She won't put up with the 'I'm a god' crap they give. Plus, hey, saving Dawn."

The generals shared a look and the local one ordered the portal device unbroken. They managed it and the army rushed over to help. The main problems were already in ruins.

Xander looked at his military leaders. "Go search the town for any hidden ones. Don't be mean, don't upset the townspeople, don't be assholes," he ordered loudly. "Stella, take yours with them." She nodded, going to do that. He looked at Rogers. He smirked at his dirty look his way. "My stepfather basically trained every single military in the Joined Kingdoms when he had them hostage." The other generals all nodded. "Mine still cross train with all theirs in case mine need it to help theirs. Yours are welcome to join in when you want."

"We can do that once we get home," Steve said.

Sam set up the portable fire calling station, calling Buffy's people first. "It's Princess Samuel," he said when they answered and the guy was sniffling. "Queen Buffy is not dead but she's leading her army against an enemy that thought they were gods." The minister nodded. "Dawn's being protected from a full hell goddess."

"Why didn't we know this before!" he demanded.

"Because some of you would've given Dawn to those crazy knights who're after her to kill her so the hell goddess can't get her blood," Xander said, leaning into view. "We have visions that were given over that Buffy would be gone, considered dead, for about six months. We're hoping that now that'll take less time and the hell goddess who's after Dawn is over there too." He smirked a tiny bit. "We told the ones who should know."

"Where is Princess Dawn?"

"Safe," Sam said. "With the covens we work with protecting her for now."

"The life candle went out."

"The ring device sends you to another realm," Xander said. "It's probably that. We'll know soon if she's still alive and we'll let you know but I'm pretty sure she is since the vision said she'd be coming back in six months."

The minister nodded. "I'll tell the others, King Xander. Bring back our queen when you can please."

"Of course." He let Sam hang up and sighed, looking at him. "They still treat her like an airhead."

"She likes some of that," Sam admitted. "It lets her have some free time you don't get to have."

"Point. Maybe I should be an airhead."

"We already know you're not," Rogers said with a smirk and a wave.

Xander nodded. "Could be but most people still don't see the warrior." He looked at the returning generals. "That all of them?"

"First batch, Sire." The local people took them to check and free if possible. "Are we leaving people here to guard them?"

"Until they're safe, yes. Check anyone coming in or out." They nodded and went to set up guards. He looked at Stella as she came back. "Mac's about a day behind us. Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I woke up and fought off the guards until Sam helped me get out with someone else." Xander held up a bag, making her smirk. "He sent me clothes?"

"No, I picked you up something when we heard you had been kidnaped. I know you're picky and the shirt might still be a bit skimpy for you." She nodded, taking it to change. She had been in the same dress for a day and a half. She came out in the ruffled, showy shirt that looked like a vest and riding pants plus her boots. She swatted him. He grinned. "I had Gloria, the head housekeeper, pick it out. But you look hot. I'd kidnap you for a concubine if you ever want to leave Mac."

She swatted him again but was smiling. "Thank you, Xander."

"Welcome, dear. Teach my daughter to be an ice princess please."

"I can." She let her generals see her and one swallowed hard. "I can stab you," she reminded him. "I'm not against that."

"Yes, Queen Stella. We're aware and have control," that general said. One of them gave over his spare cloak so she wouldn't get cold. "It's just that we don't see you being so girlish looking very often." She laughed but went to talk to the others. He looked at his fellow generals, one of whom patted him on the arm.

Xander pointed. "City patrol." They went to do that so they could quit staring at Stella.

General Stark looked. "The blonde bitch is coming back," he shouted.

"Shut the gate once she's in," the local geeks called back. "It'll atomize her." He waited and did that. When he reopened it she wasn't there any longer.

"Damn, we need to do that to certain demons," Xander quipped, looking at Sam.

"Hell yes."

Mac's team showed up sweaty, lathered, but madder than hell about their queen being taken. Xander pointed. "Stella, Mac's here," he yelled. She ran out to pounce him to calm him down. Their military guarded those two kissing. Xander smiled at a general. "She's okay. Buffy made sure."

"That's good," that general agreed. "We've spread people out on the roads to make sure they don't have people out there coming to avenge them."

"I layered ones around town," Xander told him. "So that'll work with ours."

"Good, King Xander. The rest?"

"Some are over there," Xander said with a point at the ring. "Some are here." He spotted something slithering. "Snake!" Sam found it and stomped on it until it squished.

Tara came out of the shadows with Dawn.

Sam stared at her. "That's not Tara," he noted.

"I noticed, she stinks," Dawn complained, getting free. "Thank you for the ride."

"If you touch one of those snakes, they'll mostly scream," she said. "I came in a non-threatening form so you wouldn't freak out."

"The crazy goddess got eaten by the ring," Sam said dryly. Dawn squealed and hugged him then found the prisoners. She touched one of the snakes that was being removed. It screamed, making her clap her hand over her ears. The others with them screamed and a few exploded. The few they hadn't caught yet were helped.

Dawn shrugged at one dirty look. "I was told it'd make them identify themselves, not that they'd explode. Sorry."

"It's okay," one of the soldiers agreed. "It happens. At least they're free."

Dawn went back to where Sam and Xander were. She looked at one of the soldiers. "Can one of you maybe hit on my sister? She really needs someone good and she likes them dangerous enough to spar with her. Anything's better than her last one but if you're nice and want to see her be pretty outside of sparring, *please* hit on my sister. And hey, we have less snow and warmer summers than you guys do up here."

"If we find one that likes her that way we'll gladly let them go with her," the general said.

"Thank you. Our people won't mind as long as they're not blood drinkers like the last one." Sam swatted her. "He was! And he was tough enough for her and all that but not good enough for the queen. If she was just a lady it probably would've been okay I guess."

"She's really a queen?" one of the soldiers asked.

Xander smirked and nodded. "She is. She's the queen of the Kingdom of Sunnydale."

"But she's cutesy."

"Yeah," Sam agreed with a smile. "It makes her happy."

"Wow. Ours are always grumpy."

"We try really hard not to be too grumpy," Xander quipped. "By the way I'm King Xander, this is Princess Samuel, that's Queen Stella and her husband King Mac. The generals can introduce themselves and work with your people to handle the safety of the people until you have it yourselves." He pointed. "That's Knight Generals Stark and Rogers with Knight Thor."

The local general stared at him. "We should be okay."

Xander smirked. "Feel lucky I'm not taking tribute and hostages thanks to them attacking my people. We were nice when we took them out and burned the remains so they weren't used by any demons. We kept any identifying marks on their armor and their armor to bring back. It'll be here tomorrow."

"Thank you," that general said. "How many?"

"Six hundred or so."

That local general winced, looking at his top people. They nodded back. The general looked at him. "They all fell?" Xander nodded once. "I understand."

"We treated them like the warriors they were," Xander said. "With honor and respect."

"Thank you." They shook hands. "You're not too bad for being so young."

"My stepfather was a warlord," he said dryly. "I do the things he wasn't so I'm better at it."

The general smiled a bit but nodded. "That makes sense." Dawn squealed and turned to slap someone then kicked him in the balls. "Don't touch the princess," he called.

"Prince," Sam said. "There's a naming curse on the Joined Kingdoms. Any first born princess will die."

"Ah! That explains that." Sam grinned but nodded. "So you're a princess."

"I am. My brother's the king now. His consort is nagging. Again."

"Cas likes to nag his Dean," Xander quipped, smirking at him. "We all enjoy watching that show."

Stella laughed as she nodded. "Yup, we do." Mac cuddled her. His horse was trying to move but Mac glared at it and it stopped. "Calm down, Mac. I'm okay. I was escaping when I saw Sam helping. I even burned the pretty, flimsy thing they put me into." He looked at her current outfit. "Xander's housekeeper picked me out something."

"That's sweet of her." He was trying not to stare at the very girlish shirt. She poked him but got hugged again so he calmed back down.

Xander grinned at Sam, who shrugged back. They could handle this. And Genjo would be a bitch when he got back.

***

Genjo walked into Buffy's kingdom a few days later, nodding at the staring nobles. "We have news. The generals up north sent back a preliminary report with a fast messenger. Your queen does live. She's still in that other realm fighting the things that tried to attack my palace." A few nodded. "She does live though." He handed over something. "That's one of those pictures that they took of a battle."

A few sighed. "So she is still fine and protecting us all." Genjo nodded. "That's good." The nobles council shared a look. Then looked at the life candle that wasn't lit. Dawn's was lit, the color of the wax was clear. Buffy's was cloudy wax and not lit. Genjo handed over a sketch. "What's this?"

"The thing that let her go to that realm with some of their people. You step through and you're there. Somehow they dial to another realm and go. They've been doing it for years but got overrun by the snake things possessing people." He felt the air changing and pulled something out of his bag, putting it down and taking off the lid. Willow's ghost screamed as it sucked her in. She fought but he just waved with an evil smirk. "You deserve a lot worse, Willow. You hurt way too many people this time." She was still fighting but it finished sucking her in. He put the lid on it and handed it to Hakkai, who sealed it as he walked off. "We know Queen Buffy liked to talk to her but hell no. She's dangerous. She was summoning demons to kill Prince Dawn."

"Speaking of, is she all right?" one of the nobles demanded. "We've only heard she was in hiding."

"She's with Lady Tara and the coven. They're sitting on a holy point to mask her presence until we can take out those knights," Goyjo said. "Even the highest of high demons can't get to her there, and a few came to tell us what was going on so we could help her. They didn't want that blonde bitch to get Dawn either."

"That's great news," one of the nobles agreed. "When will we be getting one of them back?"

Dawn walked in when Genjo pointed. "Me?" She looked at them. "We've arranged to have three new Sanzo guards in to help me and Goku's going to keep going over my training for a bit." They smiled and nodded. "I know my sister's fine. I saw over there. There's a whole bunch of military guys who have honor and she can flirt with. They were shocked she was actually a queen but a few are flirting back and their generals have agreed that if she finds one that's suitable to her life she can bring him back."

"After a few months with her, they might just send one anyway," Goku said with a grin for Dawn. "It'd make her less grumpy."

Dawn punched him on the arm with a grin. "Hopefully she won't try to bring one back for me."

"Some day you'll have to marry," one of the nobles told her.

"I'm kinda hoping I can flirt with and snare one of the knights from that one kingdom," she said with a smile. "Honorable, hot as hell, real men who can do smutty things, fun things, and help me if and when my sister dies for real."

Knight Widow came out of the throne room, nodding at her. "There's a few that are suitable but too old for you."

"Well, maybe if you find a suitable one, you can introduce us?" Dawn asked, smiling at her.

"If I find one suitable I'll definitely do that. The Joined Kingdoms need more warriors. That may also save your sister some work."

"Buffy knew you'd do good until I could come back," Dawn said. "Did you have many problems?" She looked from the knight to the nobles.

"Not many," Knight Widow admitted. "A few wondered why I was sitting in but it was explained why when Xander's kingdom was attacked."

Genjo grimaced. "I had to be protected but they were not happy with our military when they stomped them." Hakkai came back. "She gone?"

"Going to that one temple with the waiting priest," he agreed. "Even if she gets free she won't be going much of anywhere." The nobles sighed.

Genjo looked at them. "Buffy missed her friend to talk to."

"I think it was a disaster waiting to happen," Dawn said. "She kept summoning incubus to try to take me. That's not how I wanted to break myself in," she said sarcastically.

The nobles stared at her then nodded as a group. The lead one looked at the knight. "If you do find someone, please do introduce them. We know there's not many in the kingdoms that are worthy of Dawn. Or our queen."

"Buffy was at that marriage event but she was more taken up with the problems the convergence had to deal with," Genjo said. "First that warlord king, then the problems we had to deal with. Then the warlord king's daughter taking him out to take over because he was a jackass."

"I got to leave early to bring Dawn back to our castle," Goyjo said happily. "I was barely getting any play from anyone but a few maids, who thankfully weren't marriage minded."

"Buffy basically opened up a window and rested beside the breeze," Dawn agreed. "A few of the lower Sanzo courtiers brought people to talk to her."

"She was the goal of the event," Genjo agreed. "Her and Timothy. The rest were a nice thing for everyone."

"They're holding it again next year?" Dawn asked. Genjo nodded. "That's nice then. If Buffy can't hook a nice military guy maybe she'll meet someone next year. Especially since she's demanded I remain pure and without kids even if I do find someone to marry."

"Sucks to be you," Genjo said dryly, shooting her a look.

She smirked back. "I'm going to teach your stepdaughter to squeal and pounce you."

Genjo shuddered. "Don't remind me she's going to reach that age in a few years. Please don't."

"Thankfully, she likes to go to Abby and Stella to talk about bras and stuff." She grinned. "I can just imagine her asking you about bras."

"I've never worn one. She'd have to ask Goyjo since he's taken so many off," he shot back, giving her a dirty look. She just smiled. He groaned. "Now I remember why they told us to give up women. You're all slightly evil."

"Thanks. That's the sweetest thing anyone's said to me in weeks," Dawn quipped. "I'd hug but I don't want hit with the fan again." Goyjo turned around to cough so he didn't burst out laughing.

"Prince Dawn, please don't ruin our peace treaties," one of the nobles begged.

"He's not the pouty princess," Dawn said dryly, staring at him. "He can shoot back. He's a big boy. He can take some picking on from me. Really."

"It's fine," Genjo said dryly. "You can marry her off to one of my celibate cousins."

"I'd so pounce and make them give that shit up," Dawn said, staring at him. "Because I'll need the dick once I start getting it and since your people have viewed wedding nights I'd get some then."

"There's ways around that," he said smugly. "Plenty have used theatrics."

"Hello, virgin. It'd be noticeable."

"Oh." He grimaced. "Point."

"So yeah, starting that motor would mean *huge* amounts would be wanted as I figured that stuff out." She patted him on the arm. "It's okay. Some of your uptight cousins are pretty but not worthy of a real woman. Personally, some of them seem to only worship the holy dildo they had to give up. It's sitting on their altars staring at them, daring them to break and take it back."

Genjo burst out laughing and nodding. "That one traditional statue does look like a dildo, yes. I wouldn't doubt some had tried that. Or the ritual candles."

"Eww, wax residue," she said.

"True," he agreed. "Or so I've heard." He stared at her. She smiled back. "Fine. You should ask Stella about how to be a strong queen for when your sister dies from dating."

"Did you get to see the nice outfit Xander picked up for Stella to change into?" she asked. "It's pretty girlish. Ruffles, nice neckline. Made Mac jealous as hell so he was hoarding her." Genjo shivered. "Xander quipped it was his anniversary present to them since they've been together for nearly thirty years. Even the generals were staring at Stella in awe of being girlish."

Genjo shook his head with a sigh. "Now I see her in Abby's favorite dress." He rubbed his forehead. "You give bad mental images, Dawn."

"You're welcome." She smiled at him. "Xander bribed me with a new tiara if I made you blushy." He was definitely blushing.

Goyjo nodded. "You got him good," he agreed. "Nice job, Dawn." She hugged him and went to talk to the knight so she learned how to be a stronger queen when it was her turn. Because her sister was probably going to die from dating sometime soon.

Genjo looked at his helper. "Don't help her."

He grinned. "She's cute and mouthy. She's like a kid between me and Hakkai."

Genjo sighed and walked off. "I'm going back to the inn to get drunk," he noted as he walked off shaking his head. "Don't get us up too early in the morning."

"Of course not," one of the nobles said, giving Goyjo an odd look. "How did you do that?"

"I've known him for years," he said dryly. "He needed time to break the control again." He strolled off. "We'll be here for another day."

"That's fine. I'll send for you if Prince Dawn needs you."

Goku smirked and waved. "No, I'm staying with her guards. She needs the self defense work. I'll be working with her guards and her."

"That's fine," one of the guards in the room said. "Once they're headed home we can move you up here."

"Thanks," Goku said happily. "It'll be nice to not have to smell Goyjo farting all night. That guy really needs gut help." He walked off. "Let me go taunt Genjo. It'll help Xander when he gets home and is stressed from the battles."

The guard shared a look with the knight in residence. She was smiling. "He's young and perky like the prince," Knight Widow said dryly. Dawn giggled but nodded.

The nobles went to figure out how to deal with this. It was very odd and Dawn was considered too perky to stand most of the time already. They thought everyone in the Sanzo kingdom was uptight and straightlaced. Those guards and the consort proved that stereotype very wrong.

***

Xander sighed as he dismounted finally, stretching his back before removing his saddle to hand off. "He deserves some treatment. He's been a good boy this trip."

"Yes, Sire," the stable master said, leading his horse off. "The others are inside waiting."

"Thanks." He went into Jethro's castle, nodding at the courtiers staring at him. "Yeah, we're on our way back," he noted, heading for the meeting room. He leaned in. "Want me before my bath or after?" he asked dryly.

"Before," Alan ordered. Xander came in and sat down, leaving the door open. One of the pages closed it. Alan opened a window because Xander was a sweaty, dusty mess. "You injured, Xander?"

"No. I'm good. The minor one from the assault at the castle has already healed." He shifted to cross his feet, accepting a hug from Abby. "I gave Stella that outfit you helped me pick out for their anniversary," he said with a smile for her. "Mac really enjoyed it and her generals stared so hard at her for looking girlish again." She giggled. He looked at Alan again. "We're all on our way back. Their rightful ruling council is back in charge, and it's much like that one kingdom's," he said with a nod for Knight Widow since she was there. "Your prince and generals are heading home via Mac's kingdom. They're traveling with them." He looked at Alan again, tossing down a thick bunch of scrolls. "From Sam."

Alan took it to look over. "This is interesting." He looked up. "That problem they had?"

"We managed to use the hell goddess after Prince Dawn to help their military take down their enemies with the snakes in them. She thought they were worthless posers basically and destroyed a lot of them. Queen Buffy and the military people she went with did the rest and she came back already." Alan nodded, looking happier. "We had six injures and one death. They had infected a guard without anyone realizing. Probably when Sam was off helping rescue Stella. When the snake things died, he went with his but we didn't know he was infected so we didn't know to treat him until he suddenly keeled over with a scream."

"Why did it scream?" Jethro asked.

"Something about the reason the hellgoddess wanted Dawnie made all the snakes scream and die after she touched one at the suggestion of the demon that got her back up to us from her hiding spot. All she has to worry about now is those knights."

"Is Buffy well?" King Alan asked.

"Yes. She's limping a bit but is complaining about the knots in her hair again." Alan smothered a smile, nodding once. "King Mac's troops are already on their way home with their rulers. Your's is probably nearly home by now. I rode this way alone but mine is on the way home. We paused on the way out to talk to those mountain tribes about what had happened and they know to come to us if they hear of another takeover attempt up there. Their lead general, O'Neill, said that they have three other enemies they're working on.

"Two through that ring thing to other realms that they were learning from and trading with. Apparently one's a religious sect that's trying to make everyone convert to survive them visiting and the other's a slightly demonic or something species that eats people." Alan grimaced, huffing a tiny little sound. "So they've been fighting them and they told us how to figure out if we have one of them here. Last page of the notes. O'Neill told all the generals at once so it's well spread and we all took notes."

"Good," Jethro agreed, taking that to look over. His military was second to Xander's in strength and size. "That's gross."

"Yeah, it is," Xander agreed. "They nearly let General Stark stay up there for a bit since he's machine happy in the same way my daughter's horse happy. He and their geeks were all babbling happily about all sorts of things that even Charlie wouldn't understand. Two of the engineers with my people right now traveled with us just in case they had done something to General Stark. They said they had no idea what they were talking about." He grinned. "They're applying to go study up there."

"That might be nice," Alan decided. "Anything good come of it?"

"Buffy looted a pretty necklace. There's over two hundred military guys up there she's flirting with, and they're all *decent* ones for the most part." He smiled. "And she thinks she really likes one or two of them to possibly bring home as their ambassador until she can knock them into bed. Though she probably won't get the second-in-command guy she was crushing hard on."

Alan stared at him. "She's seriously picking up a war-bride husband?" he asked dryly.

"Quite likely she's just picking up a war-bride bed warmer to give her heirs. I'm not sure though. She might be able to be trapped into marriage. She really *adored* their general. He's about Jethro's age, not as growly, cracks bad jokes, and is like what I'd be at eighty without Genjo."

Alan smiled. "Is he single?"

"Widowed."

"Huh. Well, if she manages it...."

"She was talking up our lack of snow. They have compacted snow so deep they can use it to forge roads. They built on top of the packed snow layers in their capitol city like we do the rock layer beneath the dirt." Alan smiled but nodded. "Buffy and a few of the junior officers were out throwing snowballs for target practice and to relieve stress."

"Wow," Jethro said dryly. "So she may have found a source of men she could actually stand? That we'd all stand?"

"Yes," Xander said with a smile. "I can even stand them and they listen when you talk about stuff you know. We debated, politely even, about a possible method of protecting the new palace when they get it built. I had some ideas about entryways and they had others but agreed some of mine were pretty darn good, especially during the rebuilding."

"We destroyed their palace?" Alan asked.

"Their ring was in the basement part."

"Oh."

"My team got there first and raided it for anything special then they tore it down when I and the rest got there with the other militaries. Then Mac got there about six hours after me."

Alan nodded once. "Were you mean?"

"No, and they agreed I had no choice but to not take prisoners when they attacked my castle, and that it was nice I saved anything identifying so they could make notes to their families."

Alan nodded. "They attacked your palace?"

"To get Dawn." He smiled at Abby. "She managed to get herself free of the idiots pulling her from the carriage but one pulled some hair out and that's when that hell goddess got up there to hunt for her. Then the coven had her moved specially onto a holy spot that would hide her from the idiot hell goddess. She showed back up later with one of those higher level demons who told her she could destroy those snake things."

"That's good," Abby agreed. "Did they redress her? Stella fire called that first night and complained about them redressing her."

"Yeah, their queen wore flimsy, pretty things and a lot of makeup and jewelry," he said dryly. "Stella complained that they had redressed her at all and had removed her bra so she woke up with a backache." Abby giggled. "Seriously, really flimsy, almost see-through stuff and sandals. Their home realm is like a jungle."

She shook her head. "Poor Stella."

"Yup. Thankfully Sam helped her get out before they could infect her. She burned the flimsy clothes before even Mac could see them."

"I'm sure he's got something like that for her at home," Abby said, patting his hand. "I'd hug you again but you're nasty."

"I rode most of the night since I was up anyway," he said dryly. "Alan told me to do this before bathing. I'm going to go dirty up one of the bathrooms before I go home."

"Good. The housekeeper has been complaining she doesn't have anything to do with Timmy down south and Tony in Alan's kingdom with Don." She looked at Alan. "So can we agree to make a treaty with these new ones?"

"Already handled," Alan said, handing it to her. "They apparently did it since Sam and everyone was up there."

Xander nodded with a grin. "Sam suggested that so he didn't have to find that heavy of a cloak again for a while. The general laughed and said it was easier down south on his knees too. He's an old warrior general."

"Huh," Jethro said with a nod, taking the treaty to look over. "They don't want you to come help them again?"

"My boys were being bad so I made them strip in the middle of the town and run six laps around the city square for being drunkenly stupid while on duty. The general was *amused* but not happy. He told me that was mean with how much snow and ice they had."

Jethro shook his head but he was smiling. "I'd have done that and then told Buffy to spank 'em." He handed the treaty to Horatio, who was standing in for Mac. "We can work out who'd go up to help if they wanted it."

Horatio nodded. "Mac's people might be ideal with Dean and Alan's," he agreed. "They're all used to colder climates." He read it over, nodding at the points. "That's very nice. Did they contract with the knights?" he asked, handing it to their knight in residence.

"They did. They took home one for fruit and trading geeks," Xander said with a nod for Knight Widow.

"Stark would like that," she agreed blandly, reading it over. "Hmm. Nice terms, nothing drastic, just a 'we'll come if you need us to' and a clause saying they don't have to send pretend bards anymore."

"We had a few of those," Horatio told her. "They'd show up with stories of noble warriors with some ice dragons."

"Saw three," Xander said. "They are bulletproof by the way." He smiled at Horatio and the knight, who moaned. "One tried to nest in the remains of the palace. The other two were smaller and coming to see what was going on. One tried to pick up Buffy but she slugged it on the nose and Mac got her free with a few of those military guys. Stella tried to shoot it, which woke me up, and it bounced. Sam called up a bit of fire and they sent a ball of flaming pitch at it so it fled."

Alan stared at him. "You were asleep?"

"I had been up for three days, Alan. Even I need a rest sometimes."

"Point. Are you all right? You look pale under the road dirt."

"No, it's been almost a week since I had any *fun*." He stared at him. "I'm going to do that once I get home."

"Genjo's in Buffy's kingdom," Knight Widow noted.

"Thank you. I'll meet him on the road. He's like most Sanzo priests, celibate, so he'll complain about someone's noise."

She shook her head. "Then why did you marry him?"

"It was proposed after my coronation. It was really him or John offered me Sam. I knew I'd end up in a political one and we could stand each other. Sometimes political marriages are more fun. Mac and Stella's is. Steve and Danny's is. Mine's...he's a bit uptight but we get along well and we understand each other. We can work together. He's nice enough when he's not got the fan out. I wouldn't mind if he pounced me now and then but I'm realistic about most things. Otherwise I'd be blowing through concubines while being at the same 'please marry them' events Timmy and Buffy have to go to."

She shook her head. "That's a sad fate."

"Nah, it's like we're friends instead of married. Even if we were married in the passionate sense I'd still have to have concubines thanks to those poisonings. It's great he doesn't mind that."

"He just picks on how loud they get," Abby agreed happily. "So do we when we hear it."

"It's them or an incubus again," Xander said dryly, staring at her. "Because they can suck some of the poison's remains out."

"That's bad though," she said.

"I know."

"And kinda kinky," she added.

He grinned. "Yes it can be if they do more than touch your hand." She swatted him on the hand again but was smiling. He grinned at the knight. "It works for us."

"It clearly does." She looked at the treaty, handing it on to the others. "Now what?"

"Now we go home, we clean up, we make sure no one ruined the castle on us," Xander said. "Because some of my nobles might've tried to. Or tried to get the crown jewels I've hidden in a crypt." Abby laughed. "They don't want to dig someone up to get them either." He looked at her, smiling some. "Did you enjoy that trip?"

"No," she admitted. "I did not. Though your woods with the beasts was very odd."

"Yeah but that's a good thing. It keeps down some other problems."

"Hopefully." She frowned. "Have you made peace with the centaurs?"

"They don't bother us a lot. If there's a huge problem they send a messenger, usually one of the maidens they have with them to help them with things they can't do with their hooves. I gave them the reason they were mad at the kingdom and they enjoyed him for a few years to get back for all the bad things he did to them. I'm hoping we're at a neutral truce state."

"That's nice of you," she agreed. "They have maidens?"

"Can't push a plow and plant seedlings with hooves," Abby said with a smile. "They're nice to them."

"That's nice. Do they...." Knight Widow waved a hand.

Xander shrugged. "Never asked. If so that's their business until something happens. I've only had to go rescue one princess from them," he said, looking down the table at Pelgar's seat then at her again. "And she went back to them of her own free will because they were nice, gentle souls who appreciated her more than her father and wouldn't try to marry her off." Alan moaned, rubbing his head. "Her choice and I made her fire call her people before she went back there. 'Cause I wasn't dealing with that. I've only seen her once and she was pregnant but I didn't ask by who."

Horatio shook his head. "Please keep those things in your kingdom, Xander."

"Mine and Buffy's. She's got a herd down there by the former Rosenburg border."

"I heard about them," Knight Widow asked. "And dragons."

"A few," Xander said. "Mostly they're going to be nesting and stuff. They're almost extinct." He shrugged a bit. "Most of us only shoo them off unless they're attacking things. My kingdom has a form to fill out for reimbursement if a dragon or a troll steals a farm animal."

She squeezed her eyes shut then sighed but nodded and reopened them to look at him. "Your kingdom is very weird."

"You're more than welcome to come to our palace for a long visit to see how we handle things," he said with a smile. "It'd give me someone new to talk to since Tony moved up to Alan's kingdom. We have a nice group of princesses that sought sanctuary there. Including Healer Gregory."

She smiled. "I find him fascinating but childish at times."

"He does that so no one gets close to him," Abby said. "He was hurt before. That's why he no longer dates, he just hires an inn girl every now and then."

Knight Widow nodded. "I can see how useful that was in keeping him single." She looked at the door then at them. "Who's out there?"

Xander sniffed. "I smell incense so probably Genjo. Dear, you can join us. We're down to the chatty part of the talk," he called.

Goyjo leaned in. "He'll be right back. We're keeping him from the maid that threw coffee at him on purpose and stomped off screaming about his nastiness."

"I'm the one that needs the bath," Xander complained. "Was she all right?"

"I'm not so sure she's not demon born," Goyjo admitted. "She's got the draw of a succuba but she's not setting off anyone's senses."

"Well, an incubus can knock up a human woman," Xander said. Goyjo nodded once and closed the door. "Let me go check on my cranky princess. Need me for more?" They all shook their heads. "Then I'll see you later." He got up and went up to the room the housekeeper had for him and his spouse, going to the bathroom. "I need it more so you're sharing," he said, stripping off his shirt.

"You are filthy," Genjo said, getting out of his way. Xander climbed in once he was naked, moaning in pleasure. "Thank you for that noise."

"Warm, soft things." He smiled. "How was your trip?"

"I captured the ghost."

"Cool."

"Yours?"

"Just back by less than an hour. I rode all night."

"Ah." He handed over the sponge, letting Xander clean off all the dirt. "We should talk about those wards."

"The only way it can be changed is if someone of the blood takes over."

"What happens if they die out?"

"I'll still be floating around there," Xander said dryly. "Or they will when they take the vows. That's one problem that I foresaw so I came up with the idea to link me in."

"Ah." He stared at him. "That was brave yet stupid and I would've liked to have known that before, Xander," he said quietly.

"It was necessary."

"If Elizabeth was still here, is she one that would've had to rejoin you each year?"

"No. She was the power that cast that spell."

"That's fine. I'd worry about her sanity if she was." Xander splashed him and went back to his bathing. "Here, let me," he said, shifting to get Xander's back for him. "How long since you've had a bath?"

"Probably four days."

"Hmm." He scrubbed harder. "I saw your mount when we got in. He was getting the same bathing."

"He could probably use it. He probably sweated under his wraps for warmth and to protect him from the snow and ice."

"Probably," Genjo agreed, finishing up. "I'm not doing your ass."

Xander grinned. "That's fine. I can do that when you go to get clean water."

Genjo reached around Xander to let the water out and turned on the overhead faucet, letting it drench them to rinse them off and rinse the dirt out of the tub. "You have fun with that." He got out to dry off and put on clean clothes. Thankfully Hakkai had thought to bring Xander a change of clothes with them. Xander came out much cleaner and dripping so he handed over the towel. Xander dried himself off then pinned his mate against the bedpost. "What are you doing?" he asked quietly.

He kissed him. "The yearly kiss." He smirked a tiny bit. "You looked upset." He went back to getting redressed.

Someone knocked and a maid came in. "The meeting adjourned, King Xander and Consort Genjo. Are you staying tonight?"

"We should get home," Xander admitted. "If we leave soon we can reach that nice inn that does that roast lamb dish." He looked at his mate.

Who stared at him. "It might be a good idea," he agreed quietly, knowing why his mate was suggesting it. He needed some rutting badly.

The maid touched Xander's arm, sucking some of it from him. She smiled. "Queen Abby said you have to appear at dinner since you're clean, King Xander." She strolled off.

"I like that Abby used to be from Dean's kingdom so she knows about demons," he said dryly. Genjo swatted him but looked amused. "It helped. It's been a week."

Genjo looked at him, shivering some. "You need to release that before someone dies in your bed."

"I will later. So staying?"

"I wouldn't upset Abby, she'll try to kick my ass," Genjo said. The maid came back with tea for him, coffee for Xander, and a note from Jethro. "We rinsed out the tub."

She went to look then smiled at them. "The housekeeper will be pleased to actually clean something dirty instead of things she's cleaned every day for no reason." She skipped off to tell her. The housekeeper complained but was happier.

Xander read the letter, smiling at the note from Jethro about working on a military trade agreement. "We can stay." He let Genjo read it.

"That's fine." They walked out with their drinks, going back downstairs to talk to the others who were staying. Which was nearly everyone. Genjo smiled at Abby. "Thank you for sending those special ones at him," he said quietly. "It did help."

"I figured it would." She bounced off to check on dinner's preparations.

Xander grinned at him then at Horatio, settling in to tease him about becoming a father at his age. Horatio picked back about them needing a few more kids. It was a good meeting and dinner.

The End.