Offspring Of A Former Life. by Voracity2

Offspring Of A Former Life.

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Tony sat down across from an agent he had once dated, smiling at her. "Maria."

"Tony. You needed a meeting?"

"I did. Have you heard anything about the Watchers Council?"

She looked that name up. "That they were blown up by extremists."

"No, not all of them." He put down the files he had pulled together. "Not extremists either." He smiled. "Saw that thing in LA?" She snorted but nodded. "That's the slayers."

"What?" He nodded, shoving the file over. She looked it over, grimacing. "That's.... who's this?"

He looked then smiled. "Willow's back with the Devon Coven because she's got a magic addiction. A lot of us are more interested in their male helper. He seems to be the prototype for the agents who want to help them."

She looked at him. "I don't know many who are that insane."

"You'd rather a group of teenage girls save everyone?"

"No," she admitted. She went back to reading. She was still unhappy. He shoved over one more folder. She looked it over then stared at him. "How does he know how to do that?"

"I don't know," he admitted with a smile. "No one knows or they're not talking. Especially if they're asked how they knew someone to ask."

"I can see that. Especially with your director."

Tony grinned, sipping his coffee. "That's a problem beyond all that," he said quietly. "Notice his dating list recently?"

"I did. Why?"

"Apparently he likes them a bit mean." Someone walked over and sat down. "Willow."

"Agent DiNozzo." She looked at the other one. "I have the feeling you're Agent Hill of SHIELD but we've barely hacked your system."

She smiled. "I am and admitting that can get you put in jail, Miss Rosenburg."

She shrugged. "I'd rather we make an agreement so Xander could come home and stop doing stupid things."

"Like taking out the demon gang that was trying to kill all the young slayers in Africa?" Tony asked. Willow glared at him. "Not like you did."

"It's wrong."

"It's what agents would do," Maria told her. "We simply pay them to do that. I don't think he's being paid as much as most agents are, and it seems like most of his checks are going to help upkeep the slayers he's helping protect."

"They don't need it."

"No one's going to send little kids into a battle, Rosenburg," Tony said bluntly. "I'm pretty sure a few of the girls would destroy everyone over that idea."

"I'm not saying that. They could come over here."

"Then who'd protect their people?" Tony asked.

"We can send older girls."

"You can't. None of them could handle desert or poor area living," Tony said bluntly. "I doubt many of the older girls could handle living in a place where you're doing good if you get one substantial meal a day." Willow slumped. "Thankfully he learned the last few skills he needed to so they're helped and protected."

"I guess. He still needs to come home before he's ruined or he gets ideas."

"I doubt he's going to get any more ideas than he already has," Agent Hill said dryly. "It seems he's got the right mindset already." She stared at her. "Though we would like to set up an aid pact between our two groups."

Willow nodded. "We could like that. Especially if we get people to take Xander's place." She stared at her. "He needs to come home. The girls need sense."

"You might want to put back all the stuff you stole from him," a young, bouncy goth girl said as she came over, smiling at her. "Miss Rosenburg, I'm Abby Scuito, and I'm going to kick your butt for trying to hack NCIS." She stared at her. "By the way, you're a few years out of date. We have alarms for the method you were using. I let you go to see where you were going while I hacked you underneath your hack. I put back all the money you stole from his accounts." She smiled at Tony, kissing him on the head. "The director is having multiple herds of cows about you not being in." She bounced off and came back with a large frozen drink, sitting down. She looked at the agent she didn't know. "SHIELD, huh? At least you guys do a lot of weird stuff too so you won't freak out at demons trying to end the world." She took a drink, staring at Willow. "For someone who's supposedly good, you do a lot of bad things."

"Me?" Willow complained loudly. "I'm not doing anything bad!"

"Yeah, sure," Abby said. "Of course you're not." She stared at her while she sipped her drink. "But I've talked to some of my people at the clubs I go to about him. He's being told about his inheritance." Willow groaned. "Thankfully he's robbed a few of the people he's had to handle. That way the girls had enough food. Then again, those sort had bothered the slayers." She took another drink and shifted to face Agent Hill. "Anyway." She smiled. "There's three slayers that the demon underground has said that Xander cannot get to because he can't leave the girls in Africa. They're all pretty young. The oldest one is the one that got acid attacked by her family for not being the girl they expected. He's picked her up earlier and he's working with her to make her the regional watcher but she's only fifteen. The next oldest is just about to womanhood."

Agent Hill made that note on the file. "I can have someone talk to him to see if we can help. That's too much work for one person. I know a few former agents who could do the job very well and we'll gladly introduce them to Mr. Giles." She looked at her. "You go to their clubs?"

"My favorite rave is at a demon club. They're all nicely peaceful and I barely get groped." She took a sip and grinned. "They're really sweet and we compare new tattoos when people get them."

"That's good. Can you find out anything about the past exploits? No one's talking about the Sunnydale years."

"One thing no one wants to ask about," Tony said. "That thing in the mall."

"We figured out where it came from, Tony." She smiled. "That's fine and I'm not going to hold it against him. Very few of us would. Outside your director." She pointed.

Willow looked at the huffy redhead and created a badger on her head out of her messy, rats nest of hair. "It looked like a wig," she said when the woman started to shriek and yank out her hair.

"Undo it," Hill ordered. "Before I arrest you." Willow huffed but undid it. "Thank you. DiNozzo, go handle her. You do have a way with women."

He grinned. "She only likes Gibbs."

"That's weird." He got up to distract her and get her help anyway. She looked at Abby. "Let me know." She handed over her card.

"I have your email bookmarked." She got up with a smirk and a wink at her then bounded off.

Agent Hill smiled at Willow. "Let's work on that aid pact." She took her back with her. "Director, this is Willow Rosenburg, of the new Council." She handed over the files.

"Better than we could find," he admitted, looking at her. "What are your people doing?"

"Making due," she said. "We need people to do Xander's job so he can come home and get back to normal Xander times." She crossed her arms over her chest. "We need more field watchers as well."

"We have a few former agents who can handle that. We'll talk about it after we debrief you." Willow blushed and ducked her head. "Not that way. You're not my type, Rosenburg. I like mine good and tougher than you." He walked her off. They had many subtle methods to interrogate young women. Including truth serum in her asked for water.

A few hours later, alarms were going off as demons rushed into the building. One of them picked up Willow and was yelling and ranting at her as he walked her out, mostly about 'how stupid can you be' and 'didn't you know not to drink truth serum yet'. Agent Hill looked at Fury once the demons were all gone. "No agents injured. Not a lot of damage. It was a nice extraction plan Harris did."

Fury smirked. "I'm liking that guy more and more." He went back to his office. "Set up a formal meeting with Mr. Giles about offering some of our agents to help them. Including in their armory. I doubt they have a lot of anything we'd consider a good idea."

"Guns don't seem to help."

"We can find a way around that." He went to reread that file. His people were looking up the others that were left so he could find any other former agents. The British government had to have put spies in there to control the chaos the Council had brought. If they hadn't, he'd have to make sure everyone who could've was retired so he never ran into the stupid people.

***

Xander walked past the shady guy that had helped him a few months back, waving up at him. "I ordered you lunch at the local café," he said quietly. "You look like you need it and I need privacy." The guy snorted but Xander looked up, bouncing something in his hand. "You don't want to be that close." The guy backed off into the shadows. "Keep going. Go eat. Please."

"It'll hit you."

"I'm not normal. No matter what the slayers say." He walked into the building and set the thing off by throwing it onto the floor as hard as he could. It went up. The building started to smoke. Xander shot a few of the demons. "You went after little, tiny girls. How very great you are," he sneered. "Even if they're slayers, they're *children* and real demons don't go after little kids." He walked out with a tiny bundle. A demon tried to run out so Xander shot him. "No, I don't think so." He sneered at them. "Anyone else?" The other demons were choking and trying not to die. A few made it outside. Xander got one. The shady guy got the other one. Xander walked the kid he found in there out and to a local demon bar that he trusted. He put her on to the bar and walked off. "I don't hurt kids. I'm not like they were."

The demon bartender stared at the child then started to call her people. A lot weren't answering. He finally got an old woman of the clan. She came in to get the child and raise her properly. The bartender stared at her. "What did he do?"

"They threatened the slayer that's six because she's a slayer. The Knight got a bit upset."

"He said he doesn't hurt kids, unlike them."

She nodded, humming some. "He never has." She walked the child off. "We'll make sure you don't get sick from whatever he used."

The bartender looked at the others. "Let me know? Maybe we can talk to the Dark Slayer and she can calm him down."

They nodded, calling around to their sources. When the bartender heard he called a former coworker who had went to America. They had to know others in the demon communities until one could tell that slayer.

***

One of the younger slayers walked into the house the next night. "Faith, you're wanted at the demon bar. He won't tell me why but he looked worried that you'll be really upset," she yelled. She went to the kitchen to get a drink. Buffy was in there giving her an odd look. "I don't know. It looked like an information drop sort of worried. He'd only talk to Faith." She got some tea and walked off. "No vamps tonight."

"Thank you. Put it on the board." She sipped her tea and went to find Faith. "Let me know what he wanted?"

"If I can. It might be personal, B."

"I get that. Just tell us if it's something important so we can figure out what the girls are going to handle." She sipped her tea. "Knife." Faith smirked but picked it up to put into her sheathe. The others got strapped on various parts of her. Then she walked out pulling on her jacket. Buffy went down to wait. It had to be bad. Demons didn't do things like that without a good reason and usually it was an apocalypse. When Faith came back she didn't look too upset. "A good apocalypse?"

"News sharing. There's a former clan of demons that went after the baby slayers Xander's protecting. Thankfully it got handled."

"By who?" she asked.

"They think X did it. He used some sort of poison gas grenade." She shrugged. "It saved the three youngest ones." Buffy slumped, staring at her. "He made sure the kid he spotted in there was safe. Said he didn't hurt kids, unlike those sorts." She sat down, putting her feet up on a table. "I called him on the way back. He blew it off and asked how a few of the girls were doing."

"We need to bring him home," Buffy said quietly.

"I doubt we'd be able to find someone who could handle the girls. Which was his point. That and he's a bit pissed off that people think the girls are toys." She smiled slightly. "He didn't get that messy."

"He still.... That's soldier stuff, not Xander stuff. Unless you think he's repossessed?"

"I think he got pissed off, the same as I would," Faith said, staring at her. "If I had the same stuff he did, I would've done that."

"How did he get those?"

"Who knows with Xander. He might've made them for all I know." She shrugged. "All I know is the girls are safe."

Buffy nodded. "We still need to give him a vacation before he goes cold and frosty. That's not who Xander is."

"Find someone to go to them."

"We have those new guys in training."

"They could probably spell him for a few days. I'm sure he'd like some beach time." Buffy nodded. "He probably won't come back here. The spoiled patrol would stress him out more and he'd have to beat them all."

"I think I'd like to see him spar against one of us."

"He might not stop with a few of them." Willow walked in with Kennedy holding her hand. "Hey."

"What happened? New apocalypse?"

"Xander heard that the three youngest slayers he's protecting were in danger so he took down a demon clan," Faith said. Kennedy looked horrified. Faith smirked. "Saved the kid he found in their hangout and handed her to a demon bar."

"How?" Willow moaned, sinking into a chair.

"Grenade," Buffy said. "They said some sort of poison gas grenade."

Willow huffed. "We need to bring Xander home."

"Sure, you go protect the girls and train them," Faith said. Willow glared at her. Faith stared back. "None of us are capable of handling their lives with them. I lived rough but that's beyond all that. Especially since he had to remove two from war zones." Buffy shuddered. She had talked to one of them. "Yeah, he could use a break, but there's no one to go yet. Maybe some of the agents."

Willow grimaced. "It'll take months."

Faith shrugged. "Then send one of them to train with the girls. That worked in the way past."

"That's not a bad idea," Buffy said. She straightened up instead of slumping. "We could send a few of the new watcher trainees out there for him to show them how to handle things, plus send the girls some extra stuff like food since Giles heard he's using a lot of his paycheck to support them when things get thin."

"Don't they had aid people or like charities?" Kennedy asked. "I've donated to them in the past."

"The youngest girl's family lives on fifteen dollars a month," Faith said. "I talked to X about what the girls could use for the holidays. Her daddy's working construction. That fifteen is about what our minimum wage is." Kennedy slumped into a chair, grimacing. "They could all use some stuff. The ones that had to be removed from the war zones could use some clothes. One's pregnant," she told Buffy. Who winced. "Not her idea."

"I heard that happens," Willow said quietly. "Is she going to keep it?" Faith shrugged. "We should talk to her."

"I have," Buffy said. "We chat a lot. She's not sure." She looked at Faith. "We can send food."

"You can't ship it overseas without permission," Willow said. "Plus there's all sorts of taxes."

"The coven could send it," Faith said. Willow brightened up and nodded. "Remember, they're low water at times. Drinkable water especially."

"They make special buckets that filter," Willow said. "I can look at those. Ooooh!" She smiled, shifting some. "There's a charity that you can buy part of an animal or a whole animal to send to poor villages. It gives them more food but also lets them sell off extras. They have all sorts of animals."

"We'd have to see what they could have," Faith said. "X should know." The others nodded. "We can suggest that. It can only help." Buffy got Giles to come help them plan things. He liked the idea of sending an agent for Xander to directly train too.

***

Xander looked over at the jeep coming toward him and his slayer. They were hunting for her womanhood hunt. Her village elders said she had to have one since she was a slayer. Xander could only watch and make sure nothing else got her. So who was this? He stood up when the jeep parked. "Do we know you?" he called in English then in the local dialect.

The guy got out of the jeep, walking over. "I'm Agent Grant Ward, Mr. Harris. Rupert Giles sent me to you to train to handle things." He smiled at the girl, bowing to her. "Hi."

Xander blinked. "Why?"

"Because SHIELD is helping the slayers by giving some agents to them as watchers so you don't have to be on three continents at once." The girl giggled, shaking her head. "I'm going to be one of the ones helping with field battles and apocalypse battles. He sent me to learn from you."

"Okay, I guess," Xander admitted. "Um... you brought your own supplies?"

"I did. I brought enough for a month and I can buy more at any village market we run into. I also brought her present from the senior girls and Willow." He got into the jeep and came out with a long box. "The senior slayers sent that to you for you becoming a full woman."

She blushed and ducked her head, looking inside her present. She moaned. "Xander!"

He looked and smiled. "That's like the slayer scythe. They finally got backup ones made that aren't mystical." He looked over the other things. "You'll use them well." She smiled, taking each one out to look over and test the edges. He looked at the young agent again. "Whose idea was it that we'd make a deal with SHIELD?"

"Rosenburg."

"I thought I cured that when your boss gave her truth serum."

"You may have, but we're not the sort to let little girls do what agents and military guys should."

Xander nodded. "That's why I jumped in too." He sat back down, waving a hand. "We're watching her do her adulthood hunt."

"That's wonderful. It's an important step." He smiled at her. "My father had me go hunt down a deer on my own to prove my adulthood." She giggled and said something to Xander, who shook his head but smiled. "Did she ask if I was here to get a warrior wife?"

"She did. He's not. Giles and his boss wanted him trained to take my place at apocalypse battles."

"Oh." She nodded. "He'll do fine. He's strong." She went back to babying her new weapons while Xander made them dinner. When it was fully dark and she was full, they faded into the brush to find something for her to prove her warrior womanhood.

***

Two days later, they were back at the safehouse for the slayers. Xander walked in. "Giles sent you girls a new trainee to bruise."

"If I could spar I'd love to bruise him," one quipped. Xander hugged her. "Thank you." The younger slayer came in. She stared. "Wow, Xander, when do I get one?"

"Buffy and Faith sent them for her," Xander said. "I'll see when the new weapons come." She smiled and nodded. The two younger ones that were there came running in to look over the weapons too. "Lessons," Xander reminded them. "You girls have to be smart and capable of thinking your way out of things." They pouted. "You can look and coo over them later." They pouted but went back out to their lessons with one's mother. Xander grinned. "This is Agent Ward," he told the other staring mother. "Giles sent him to be trained to take my place in battles with the main house."

She nodded at him. He smiled and bowed back. "I'll do what I can to learn how to protect all the slayers that need me to, ma'am."

She laughed. "You're too uptight." She patted him on the cheek. "New weapons?"

"Buffy and Faith sent ones for her womanhood." He made coffee and handed Ward some.

Ward sipped. "Not bad." He sent a text message. Then he put his necklace out back, waving the girls out of the way. "Willow said to put that somewhere clear enough."

"Give him a lot of room, girls. It's Willow moving it," Xander called. They got everything out of the way, including their lone chicken - they had seen Willow sending packages before. A large, loud crate appeared, smashing some of the fence on one side. Xander walked out to stare at it then at Ward, who shrugged. "Okay." He walked around it, finding the letter on top. He settled in to read it, then shook his head. "They decided the safehouse should be a farm."

The mother smiled and they pried off the boards. The new weapons were in there. So were bags of strange cloth that held boxes of things that might be food. Xander took them into the kitchen with Ward's help. The girls and their parents moved the animals out of the way and disassembled the crate to be reused. They could always use a large crate. The two African cows were nicely fat, and both girls. There were a few crates of chickens and one was a rooster. One was dead but they could have a good dinner. There were two boxes as well. "Xander, what are these?"

He came out to look it over. "Bee hives." They got them out of the way and to the front of the house. There were flowers out there. The single sheep was a girl sheep and looked pregnant and fluffy. They could definitely handle that. Xander sighed, looking at the animals then at the mothers. "We need to decide who gets which one."

She nodded. "We can split that up." She handed the other mother the dead chicken's cage. She cooed and got to plucking with the slayers. Xander and Ward got the fences put back together. The neighbors were staring. She smiled and waved. "For the slayers. Most of them are going to the other girls who live in a more wild area." They nodded. "We got a few chickens."

"Tell us if you get extra eggs," one of the older women called. She nodded at her. "That's very nice."

Xander smiled. "They gave Amaya new weapons." That got a few laughs but they went inside to gossip. Xander called the other girls so the parents could arrange things. Before they got stolen. Or a local officer wanted a bribe to not confiscate them. Within an hour all the slayers were heading there to pick up their new gifts. Xander and Ward made sure they had appropriate food and water. When officers showed up, Xander went to talk to them. He paid the bribe and promised they were being removed by that weekend. They took a few eggs they had and left.

Xander and Ward shared a look then Xander got back to helping with dinner.

***

Eight months later, Grant Ward was back at SHIELD. He was a bit thinner, more muscled, and hungry. "Sir," he said, saluting the director.

Fury looked at him. "How was your training session?"

"A bit weird, but I learned a lot, sir. If I'm needed to help with a battle I can use everything from a stake up to artillery. I also learned some minor defusing bombs. I'd like to learn more of that actually."

"I can agree it's useful." Ward smiled. "What is the kid like up close and personal?"

"He's... he's fairly quiet. I expected someone like a zealot in a cult by what was in his file. He's nothing like that. Our profilers were very wrong on him. He's highly protective, very curious and learns things easily if he does them instead of being lectured about it. I taught him a few things I knew." He rubbed the back of his extra-long hair. He had it pulled back into a low ponytail. "He's a good man and the girls look up to him. He's an example that others are using because they're helping the slayers instead of letting them do it on their own. There's a lot of people who are going to protect the youngest slayers if Xander has to come back here for something. The missing eye doesn't make him any less effective in a battle. We had three, all with swords. They had to be beheaded. Two were higher demons with minions, so we got to shoot the minions at least." Fury blinked at him, looking confused. "He's not going to ask a young kid to handle a duty, even if she's got extra skills. When he decides the girls have passed into patrol readiness he lets them help or do patrols. Before then, they learn. He's made sure they get regular education as well."

"That's good."

"He told them repeatedly he wanted them to finish growing up, to have a normal family, and they'd last long enough to at least see their kids learn how to cook."

"It's an ideal I like," Fury agreed. He leaned back in his seat. "What else did you take from him?"

"He's still grieving for his former fiancee a little bit. I brought a letter from someone that told him she had left him things, and they had rescued it from Rosenburg. He got a bit quiet for a few days, took off on a solo hunt, then came back acting like normal. It took a few days for him to be fully normal but that's normal for grief I guess." Fury nodded once. "He's determined that he's going to do this until he can't do it anymore or it kills him. Because it's now his duty to help. He's like Special Forces for the slayers."

"Can he really do that?"

"Yes, sir. I followed him when he snuck off to go rescue one that had been kidnaped by a potential husband's family. He wasn't amused and told me I should be guarding the other girls there. He had a point because something did try but the pregnant one managed to handle it. I apologized and she patted me on the cheek and called me a dumbass. Then she reminded me Xander was over-protective like a big brother. I wasn't supposed to be. I told her I was and to consider me the same way. That way there was no flirting. She laughed and said she'd never flirt with me since I couldn't move there full time."

"Did you learn babbling from him?" Fury asked, trying not to smile.

"A tiny bit perhaps, sir." He cleared his throat. "He affected that rescue very effectively and only made a point of showing himself when the girl was safely back at the jeep I had. The family did a lot of wailing and whining but she's safely away from the potential husband. The girls are on good footing and the presents from the senior slayers was well liked. They split the animals between the girls so they each had some to help them. Their parents like them a lot."

"Presents?"

"They sent a few cows, some bee hives, a lot of chickens. Animals they can live off the products of and possibly sell the extras they don't need. Which will help everyone."

"That's reasonable I guess. Did you learn anything else about Harris?"

"Yes, sir, a lot. Including that I respect that guy who started doing all this insane stuff at sixteen without knowing how to fight back. He learned it all on the job."

Fury stared. "No military training?"

"He joked about a possession that gave him the memories of a PFC in the Army."

Fury shook his head with a sigh. "The weapons skills?"

"He taught himself, sir. He's fairly good."

"Landmines?"

"He's learned how to make his own and those gas grenades as well. One of his ex's showed him how to make the gas when he asked."

"Did you get to arrest any of his ex's?"

"No. I had no way of knowing who was on any list outside the Winter Soldier. Apparently they had similar targets in the past. Xander felt comfortable enough to offer him coffee." Fury gaped, staring at him. He nodded with a small grin. "He took out someone coming for one of the girls and dropped notes off about who they were working for. Xander offered him coffee. The other time he offered him a first aid kit because he had a few grazes. He said he'd heal and Xander joked about knowing people with that skill. So he gave him a muffin he had just baked and said 'thank you' like a nice boy."

"He... The Winter Soldier didn't try to kill you or him?"

"No, sir. He asked me if I was a watcher. I told him I wasn't, I was there to learn from Xander for later battles that the rest of the girls were going to have to go into. That no one should expect little girls to do it on their own, or big girls. He agreed, said he knew some who could but it wasn't right."

"Interesting. We don't know much on him."

"We didn't really chat, sir. Or Xander when I asked him. He didn't even know who he was. He smiled at him the next time they met in a market and patted him on the arm and said something I could not hear, getting an evil looking smirk for it then he fled the market."

"So probably information?"

"Could be, sir. I know he's taken out three problematic warlords."

"Not like I care as long as he's not touching handy allies."

"No, sir, not that I knew of."

"Good. Go get cleaned up." He looked him over. "Get a haircut, take a hot shower, get lunch and dinner. You have a week of leave."

"I'm going to Cleveland later. I have letters to deliver."

"Fine. Don't get into trouble." Ward nodded and left. Fury uploaded that talk into Harris' file. No one got that close to Harris. It was an interesting look at that person who may or may not be a problem some day.

***

Grant Ward staked the vampire coming up and walked around the falling dust to shoot the other one with his crossbow. The two girls patrolling stared at him. He smiled. "I just got back from watcher training in Africa. I have letters for a few of the girls."

"Buffy's on a date," one of them said.

"I can wait." He smiled. "When she's done she can meet me somewhere she feels safe."

"You can't kick her butt," the other said with a smile.

"You'd be shocked, ladies. Some of us were chosen because we're very good at kicking butt." They pouted. He heard a noise and looked back. "You're Spike."

"I am," he said, sniffing him. "Nummy's fine I smell."

"Mostly. He's a bit bummed. No recent dates." He turned to look at him. "He sent me with letters."

"That's fine. Smuffy's on a date but it won't take long. He's not her type."

"He's living?" one of the slayers joked.

"That too. Not dangerous at all." The girls laughed. "I don't hear any here." They walked off chatting. He stared at the young guy. "It's going to upset someone, isn't it?"

"I don't know. I didn't read them. I know he was hurt by Willow's stealing of what Anya left him. He went off on a fairly brutal solo hunt to work that out."

Spike nodded. "Sounds like him." He looked back. "Knew it wouldn't last long."

"He's an accountant and a groupie," Buffy said. "I don't know you. New childe, Spike?"

"Agent Grant Ward, Miss Summers. I was the agent training with Xander and I have letters."

She smiled. "Did the girls like the presents?"

"They did. The slayers split it up so each family got a few animals that they could handle. It's made a lot of difference. Their families can sell the extras and the girls are all eating better, which makes Xander happy." She bounced some and her smile got brighter. "Xander's also fine. He's got a slight concussion because someone military tried to get the same problem he and Amaya were taking out and knocked him on the head. We had a long talk and they backed them up instead. They were all very happy to have the lesson on how to handle higher level demons if they pop up. Xander has two soldiers there he's teaching about the demon manuals so they know what they need to know to handle it if a slayer's not available."

"That's good. He's training military guys?"

"He'll train anyone who wants to help," Ward said with a smile. "It means that the girls have their own backup from their native areas and militaries can handle things in places slayers aren't. There's only eight for the whole continent."

She nodded. "I guess that makes sense. I never thought about it."

"That's why agents are learning from the Council," Spike said.

"It is," Ward agreed, still smiling. He pulled out the bundle of letters. "I believe one is yours."

She looked. She had a thin letter, but not as thin as Willow's. Faith had the thicker one. She wouldn't pout about that. "Is he really okay?"

"He's good. He'd like someone nice to date but otherwise he's good."

"No one that evil?" she guessed.

"He's had a few dates that were dangerous but not evil."

"Huh, that's weird for Xander." She shrugged and tucked the letters into her purse. "I'll deliver them. Which one are you?"

"Grant Ward."

"Cool." She shook his hand. "Are you being assigned here?"

"No, I'm on for battles and anything huge that pops up that your girls can't get to."

"That's good. I've met a few of the agents and they were kinda...uptight."

He smirked a tiny bit. "I just spent eight months in Africa."

"Xander's enough to loosen anyone's mind up," she said. "He did mine on occasion."

"We all like how Xander handles things. He's very good and very protective of the girls, like a proper brother. He even rescued one that got kidnaped by a potential husband."

Buffy shook her head. "I heard that can happen in other areas but I'm glad it's not here." She looked at Spike. "The two on patrol?" He pointed. "Great. Two here?" she asked, spotting the dust. Grant raised his hand. "Even better. Good crossbow work." She patted him on the hand. "I'll see you at the next battle, Grant." She walked off with Spike.

Grant went back to his hotel room to relax. No wonder Xander had stayed in Africa when he could've come home. He would've stayed away from 'friends' like that too. Or dumped them. How could you be so blind? He finished his reports for the director on what he had done while in Africa. He was sure someone wasn't going to be happy but it had helped a lot. It had helped the normal people too.

***

Xander looked around the dream plane he was in, then at the woman staring at him. "So, how's that side, Tara?"

"It's nice," she said. She walked forward. "You know, right?" He nodded. "How long have you known?"

"Since Willow tried to kill me."

"Oh." She frowned, looking down then at him. "Nothing in history is ever really done."

"I know. Is it time?" She morphed and attacked but he had a weapon on him. He always had a weapon on him and this time the dagger glowed as he sunk it into the not-Tara's body. "I guess it is." He woke himself up with a sigh, looking around his tent. This was a bad time to do this. He sat up, looking at himself. "That was a really mean trick and I'm going to get you back for it," he said quietly. "This is going to be a lot prettier now that we're older." He got up and packed, calling all his slayers on a conference calls. "I'm being recalled by Ward for a battle that's not exactly slayer related but he spotted something critical starting that needs to be stopped by stopping the demon." He listened. "That's where I am. I'm heading tonight. Yup, that way. I can do that. I'm about three hours from you, and I'll be there as soon as I can. Be safe and well, ladies. Remember what I taught you." He hung up and got up to pack. He found someone sitting on his hood. "That's interesting. Are you having weird dreams?"

"I don't dream."

"Huh. Then why show up right after I got a prophetic one?"

"Someone wants me to take you out."

"Probably the same people who are going to start an apocalypse battle if I don't go stop it?"

"Could be." He stared at him. "I have no idea what you are."

"Actually, I'm a normal guy who hopped in so a girl didn't have to do it on her own."

"Not really."

"There was a swim team thing with a coach that was turning the team into monsters so I joined to see why." The assassin stared at him. "Really." He smiled. "They were using mermaid essence."

"You're so weird," he complained.

"Yeah, but I gotta be me. And I've gotta go back to the US for a bit."

"I can't let you do that."

Xander snorted, smiling at him. "You're good but I'm a tiny bit unexpected."

"I've seen you training them."

"Yeah but that's not all I can do." He set off something. The Winter Soldier ducked. Xander threw something else on him, making him scream. "Demon snot." He shrugged and packed the jeep. The snot was dried fyarl snot, which was paralyzing. Xander finished packing and looked at him. Then around then back at him. "You're welcome to follow me but I won't leave you helpless."

"I can stop you. I've mined the jeep."

Xander leaned down. "Have you ever seen me fill it with gas?" he asked. The guy groaned. Xander smiled. "Magic, dude. I deal with it every single day." He looked at him. He pulled out a little tube. "Open your mouth. Break it and the gas will dissolve the snot. Just don't inhale it. It'll eat your lungs." He stuffed it into his mouth then got into the jeep and drove off. The explosives got left there thanks to the protections on it.

The Winter Soldier smirked. "That's good to know," he mumbled and snapped the tube with his teeth. The snot dissolved and once his hands could move he removed the tube to make sure the steam hit the crystals on his legs. He'd just have to follow him. It wasn't like he was going to use magic to get back to the US. Though he later found out he had used the demon underground to get back there without notice. He could follow along. The demons were scared of him, which was very sweet of them.

***

Back To The Modern Moment.

***

"All right, these people who have the very *wrong* idea need to go home now," Buffy decided, taking a swing at her bad guy.

"Unless we wake up the gods that they knocked out, we're it," Xander said. He glanced at her. She grimaced but nodded. "Up to you, Buffy."

"Not really. Can we do that?"

"Yup," Xander said, concentrating for a moment then spreading some blood from his arm on his sword as he sent up a prayer.

A man walked through the portal yawning. "What is this?" he demanded coolly. The battle came to a standstill. "I'm not this patient, especially when I wake up."

"I have that feeling too," Buffy said, looking at Xander.

Xander bowed, but kept staring at him. The god smirked at him for that. "Unc..."

"You're not his kid, quit that," he warned.

"Fine. Though you are my uncle." He pointed. "These are the ones that were trying to get your kids and attacked the village."

Ares stared at them. "Huh." He nodded once and his sword appeared in his hand. A few of the gods looked scared. "Who's everyone else?"

"These are some of the slayers and some agents who are training to work with them during huge emergencies," Tony said.

Ares stared at him then smirked. "Which one of you did they confuse?" Tony pointed at Xander. So did most everyone else.

"Why do we need him?" Willow demanded.

"Shut up, wench," Ares ordered.

"She's on our side, Lord Ares," Tony said. "She's been fighting that goddess."

Ares looked behind him then at the witch. "Stand down. Let the real gods do it." He took a swing at one of them and they all moved to gang up on him.

Xander shrugged, moving in to help. "Kinda my duty anyway," he quipped. "Hi, Auntie Demeter."

She looked at him, then groaned. "You."

He smiled. "Yup, me."

"Wondrous." She looked at the magic battle, picking up Willow and moving her. "Let me."

"Who the frilly heck are you?" Willow demanded. "Another one on their side?"

"Willow, that's Demeter," Tony called, wincing some.

Demeter smirked at the young witch. "You're not Hecate."

"I'm damn sure going to beat this jumped up thing," she sneered back.

Demeter stared at her. "You're either very nervy or very stupid." She knocked the girl out and stripped the magic from her. "I don't think you need that at the moment." She threw the magic at the idiot goddess, burning her up. "This is all rather nasty business."

Ares looked at her. "They're the ones that wanted the kids."

"I figured that out for myself." She blasted at the other gods. Little effect. Xander had to move out of the way. "Why are you fighting?" she demanded, hands on her hips.

Xander looked at her. "Because I work with this realm's slayers, Aunt Demeter. I'm their backup."

She looked. "Why is there more than one?"

"First Evil," Buffy quipped. "Had to happen. Can't be undone."

Demeter looked at Ares. Who shrugged. "I didn't do it."

"Little choice," Xander quipped. "And then a year later there was an invasion by a demon plane so they needed them all."

Ares rubbed his forehead with his free hand. "I'll talk to you later, nephew. And grandson."

"Sure," Tony quipped. A few people stared at him. "Cupid boinked my mom during an official orgy."

Xander waved a hand at Bucky. Ares looked then frowned. "What happened to him?" he muttered as he worked against one of the warriors. Xander shrugged. The assassin hit at him. "I'll fix it in a minute," he decided. "The battle first. My hands want to be stained by their blood." He smirked and moved in to fight better.

Buffy stared. "Wow." The guy she was fighting against tried to hit her but Xander blocked his blow with his axe then smacked him back. "Thanks, Xander."

"Welcome," he quipped. They kept fighting until the last few tried to run. Ares and Demeter took care of them. Xander panted, leaning down. "Good. Finally." He stood up, looking at them. "Thanks."

"Thanks for the summons," Ares said, staring at him.

Xander pointed. "We were all tired. It's been hours."

"That's a good reason." He walked over a severed arm to look at him. "Let me see your memories, Junior." Xander nodded. "I meant lower the shields."

"The hyena will try to attack you."

"I can handle her." He did bat at her and knock her cold for a few minutes so he could read the memories. "Damn." Xander snorted then started to laugh. Ares gave his head a nudge then shook his head. "You did good without any support. Where's the me from here?"

"Sedated," Xander said.

"Wonderful," Demeter said, coming over to read them as well. "Oh dear," she sighed. She looked around at the slayers. "That needs to be fixed."

"Please don't let it call them until they're at least officially women?" Xander asked quietly.

"I saw the ones you've been protecting. That's a good idea. I'll see if I can do that." She patted him on the cheek. "Did no one talk to you about rash decisions? Or that witch?"

"No. Why would they?"

"Something I saw about rescuing her with a whole lot of demons?" Ares asked dryly.

"If we can prove he did it, he's going to jail," Fury sneered. "You're a danger to the US."

Xander looked at him. "No, just to idiots. You gave a person truth serum. Did you know how that would react to her? Or her magic? Really, we were saving you from your own arrogance then."

Fury smirked. "That's good to know. I think I have a cell just for you."

"Before you try I can be back in Africa and you'll never find me."

"Junior, go fix the village so you don't have to get into that pissing match," Ares said. He looked at Fury. "Shut up. I wear the leather better too." Fury glared at him. "You're not a God of War, mortal."

"I say we let him visit the village," Xander said with a tiny grin.

Demeter looked at him. "Your mother would probably scream."

"We need to fix that one anyway," he said, pointing at where his new buddy was trying to get away without notice.

Ares summoned him over, laying a hand on his head. "What the hell did they do to you?" he muttered. "Demeter." She put her hand on his head. Ares froze him when he tried to move again. They shared a look. "Kid, bring him to the village. It'll help." Xander nodded. He looked over. "Grandkid?"

"I'm an agent." He pointed at his director, who was stomping over.

Ares looked at her. "Wow, I didn't know any of you were still alive." She sneered at him. "Leave my grandson alone, witch. You're not even worthy of the one Demeter made normal for a bit." He gave them a shove and Xander nicely grabbed Fury on the way. Ares watched then felt where they went. "He'll be fine," he said, turning to look at the pissed off supernatural being. Then he blasted her back into a tree. "Pity you're too pathetic to help protect everyone." He looked at Tony.

"I'm hoping for a memory spell," he admitted.

"I can knock you out," Ares offered.

Tony grinned. "Then I'd never get another date again. I've had way too many concussions."

Ares walked over, staring at him. "Why?"

"The job."

Ares read his memories then smirked. "We'll talk later. When not everyone can see." He and Demeter left, going back to that village. Xander was looking at the wreckage. "Free the temple so Hestia quits complaining for once in centuries," he ordered.

"I will. We paused to check on Mom."

"I'm sure she was thrilled." He looked then at the kid. "Have fun."

Xander looked back at the portal. "Few weeks," he called, waving. "Tell my girls." The portal closed. He got to work clearing the temple. A few old people came out to watch him work but he was used to that.

Ares and Demeter went to Bacchus' temple, finding the party already going and everyone enjoying debauching and tainting the new acolyte. "Dionysus' grandson is clearing the temple. He said a few weeks."

"We can make sure it's time. The other one?"

"I'll give him to someone who can unscrew what they did." He walked off. Things were definitely getting weird again.

***

Xander finally got to the door of the temple and opened it. "It's open," he called in and then went to get some water from the well.

Hestia walked out with a broom. "That was rude, young man."

Xander sipped then smiled at her. "I only promised to clear to the door." She glared. He grinned. "What?"

"Still rude."

"I have to go home to deal with Willow."

She came down to touch his forehead then groaned and shook her head. "We'll see if we can wake up Hecate on your world." She walked off to go back to cleaning. "Can you weed the garden?"

"I did two days ago when I wanted something to eat. There's nothing but weeds." She stared at him then at the garden. It suddenly had growing food. "Sure, I could use lunch in exchange for sitting and weeding." He walked over the small fence and sat down among things to weed while nibbling on raw carrots and tomatoes.

Hestia came over to look at him. "When was the last time you ate?"

"Few days before the battle. I've had a few handfuls of that chewing grass." He nibbled on the new tomato. Then he smiled. "It's good."

"Eat your fill, Xander." She went back inside. She heard a crossbow go off and looked out there. "Nice shot."

"I learned a lot in Africa," he said with a smile. "Including how to live like this. Want me to put the entrails in the compost?"

"Please. Make some stew. It'll last you longer and the well is good." She went back inside shaking her head. Another of her boys showed up. She stared at him. "You poor baby," she said quietly. "Want a hug?"

He stared at her. "I don't do hugs."

She huffed. "What's happened to the sweet boy who used to play pranks?"

"He grew up, joined the military, and then fell off a train." She stared then pulled him closer to hug him. He went stiff. "Must you?"

"Yes I must. Go help Xander make stew and weed the garden, Janus."

He sighed but nodded, going out there. "Stew?"

"I killed a fox."

"Great. I'll skin, you weed." Xander nodded, handing him some of the veggies then going back to weeding. "You recognized it."

"Of course. You kinda shined but it was muted like something was wrong."

"Mind control."

"That sucks. Willow tries that now and then on me to make me her version of normal."

James looked at him. "Don't tell me that, I'll take out the witch."

Xander smirked a tiny bit. "Ask me the next time she changes me into something."

The assassin shook his head. "Where did you put the asshole in leather?"

"Bacchus' temple." He smiled. "Mom wanted to meet him and talk about what I've been doing."

"I probably don't want to know."

"I could use that sort of vacation," Xander said. "It's been a while."

"You have two hands."

"Doesn't mean I have enough arm muscles to soothe my bad stamina problem." His former playmate stared at him. "My almost wife, who was a former vengeance demon, wanted six and seven a night at least. So construction, then patrol, then her."

"No wonder you never sleep and eat. The three days I tracked you, you didn't do either."

Xander shrugged. "Yeah, that happens sometimes. The eight girls need me and I'm only one guy."

"What about that geek you were training?"

"He's a handling it guy for the surly one I gave to Mom to play with."

"Damn." He got back to working on the stew. "Where are you bunking?"

"In the tent I set up." James looked at him. "It's open and all mine."

"You probably could've asked."

"I'm not going to do that to an elder. If I didn't know better before, I certainly learned asking for help is a bad thing in Africa," he said quietly.

"I can go kill someone for you."

"They went down with the hellmouth when it sucked itself in."

James winced, shaking his head. "You're screwed up."

"All chaos isn't good or bad."

"Yeah, keep yapping. Watch me go talk to that witch for you."

"They're the only friends I have."

"You can make better ones." Xander shot him a dirty look but they went back to working for Hestia.

***

Two weeks later, Xander got the portal to reopen. He walked out with James, who was still having headaches. Buffy hopped up since they were in the house. Xander shrugged. "Hestia's temple was unsealed and it's all good." He grabbed his bag. "Am I going back to the girls in Africa or one of the other ones?"

"Demeter did manage to uncall everyone who was under sixteen until they turned that age," Buffy said. "We called the girls on your phone. They all said thank you and they could protect themselves until they were called. The one you were training to be a regional watcher has a boyfriend." Xander smiled. "You knew?"

"Yeah. She's not all that sneaky. He came for dinner after doing a tiny bit of work around the house." He leaned against a wall. "Beyond that...."

"If SHIELD finds you, you're in trouble," Willow said, smirking some.

"That's great. Did they get you for embezzlement yet?" She flinched away from him. Xander stared at her. "I can still go be the regional watcher. Or just an interested bystander that trains if Giles is tired of all this."

Giles cleared his throat from the hallway. "I am not but it would be a good idea if you had their director reappear."

"Mom's going to let him go tomorrow." He smiled and hugged him. "By the way, this is James. We grew up together."

"Are you like him and a kid of chaos?" Buffy asked.

"No. Kid of a few high priests." She nodded, shaking his hand. "I probably should hide too. I can get you back to Europe, Xander."

"I haven't been there." He looked at Giles.

"There's three issues that need handled that way but they need subtle work, not your usual one."

"You haven't heard about very much I've done," Xander said.

"No, I asked some of the people at the demon bar the slayers go to, and they gave me the name of someone to call. We had a *charming* chat about your last few years." Xander stared at him. "Not exactly subtle but it's good that everyone knows to avoid the girls, even now. The whole demon community celebrated that the children would be spared until they were older." Xander smiled. "However, some of what you handled made me reach for the very rotgut case of scotch. I couldn't even drink the good stuff, Xander. You are a bit...overzealous."

"They're kids!"

"I know. Why did you feel the need to take out the higher demons?"

"One picked on me about Anya. The other one kept trying to talk me into vowing to him as a slave. I got tired of him."

"I heard." He stared at him. Then at Bucky. "Can you try to help him stay out of trouble and notice?"

"I can try."

"I'll come if you get sucked into them again," Xander said. James hit him on the arm. "Still."

"I'll see if we can remove them." He stared at him. "I'm still killing your last few ex's."

"Leave Randy, he was good at it."

"Hell no. He's running chemical weapons."

"Never mind. Introduce me to others I might like?"

"Definitely. I know a few I haven't killed yet." Buffy whined a tiny sound. He smirked at her.

"Sure. I can't meet too many of them in the middle of nowhere."

"No more picking up guys down there."

"I picked up that nice guy at the college. He was studying mythology."

"I think he's contacted us for an internship," Giles admitted. He sipped his tea. "He seems pleasant."

"Has a tiny bit of a temper but never toward me," Xander said.

James looked at him then shook his head. "No." Xander rolled his eyes. "Let's go find you a place to rest and eat for the next few days."

"He can stay here and I'm sure we can find a cot for you," Buffy said. "As long as you don't hit on the girls."

Willow looked at Buffy then at Xander. "You haven't even asked about Kennedy."

"I knew she was living. The paramedics were talking about how to straighten out her neck before it set that way." Willow glared. "Beyond that, why would I care, Willow. I'm tired of the put downs. Especially from someone who was supposed to be my best friend." She hopped up and stomped off.

"Way to make peace," Buffy quipped.

"Not my job to make peace. It's hers for all the shit she's put me through," Xander said. "Because it's never stopped. That's why half the girls in the house would never respect me even with all I've done. I don't think it's healthy for anyone to put ourselves through that."

"It's not," Giles agreed quietly. "I think it's a mature decision but they'll have to learn to work with you."

Xander shrugged. "Let Grant do my battle things. I'll handle external things so we don't have these problems. I think it's wiser."

"It may be," Giles agreed. "Though it will not heal anything."

Xander stared at him. "Are they interested in it?"

"They do not understand yet."

"Some of them never will," Xander quipped. "I learned that from the queen of 'my reality is the only right one'." He shook his head. "Let me go find a spot to nap and a cheeseburger. We didn't make lunch today since we were coming back." He looked at Buffy. "My phone?"

"Charged, back in there. Your axe is sharpened and back in there. Though we stole all the chocolate granola bars and half the explosives. We had moles."

"Sure. I can make more." He grinned and walked off with James.

Buffy looked at Giles. "He's colder."

"He's learned it's protective." He stared at her. "They're your slayers."

"I'll talk to them about some of the stuff we found out he's done." Giles handed over his notepad. She went to talk to the girls and Willow.

***

Director Fury came out of the portal the next day, staring at the people on his bridge. "I'm back."

"Sir, are you all right?" Agent Hill asked. "You look well rested so I'm guessing they didn't torture you."

"I learned a lot about the kid and others." He smirked at her. "It's fine and he's not on our radar. He's handling things so we don't have to." She nodded at that. "Take him off our radar."

"What about the Winter Soldier?" she asked.

"I'm not sure. I heard that they worked on his memories. Otherwise, no idea."

"We'll watch it, sir, but we need to do the mandatory reviews. I'll have you escorted to the infirmary."

"That's fine. Walk with me, Hill."

She followed him with a guard. "You do look well rested."

"Let's call it infinity serum and leave it there." She stared at him. He smirked. He felt so much better after being tainted by Bacchus' influence. The leather felt even more right now and he was fit for duty if he had to step into a battle if something bad was coming this way.

***

Xander looked up as James came in from the balcony of the hotel room. "You look like someone fed you prunes."

"Who is the one they were looking for?"

"Went to the middle ages." He smiled. "They got raised by some demon and witch hunters." James rolled his eyes, walking off. "Interestingly enough, they do have offspring around to this day somewhere as far as I can tell."

"So it was a doomed thing?" Xander nodded. "You knew?"

"Had a really good idea. Visions suck." He grinned. "By the way, if I grab my head and suddenly collapse, then just let me have it and ask me what I saw so I can have you take notes. I'm not very good at writing it down afterward due to the migraine."

James stared at him. "Really?"

Xander nodded, touching his eyepatch. "Yup."

"Can they fix that loose wire in your brain?"

"No. It got woken up when my eye got popped."

"That really does suck and you probably shouldn't be doing things like driving."

"Can't really help it. Someone's gotta do it. Not like I have a driver."

"No, unfortunately you don't. Maybe we can find you a boyfriend who drives? Or a girlfriend who drives?"

"My last girlfriend tried to dress me up and sacrifice me."

"Did I shoot her?" James asked.

"No idea. I kicked her ass as I escaped."

"I'll have to go back to make sure she's gone. Before she takes someone more innocent and less able to save themselves." Xander shot him a dirty look. "Did he hear about you taking out the warlord?"

"Nope."

"The pirates?"

"I told them about that. I got nagged about taking out the chaos sorcerer behind them."

"Not those."

"Probably not." He looked at him. "How did you hear about that?"

James smirked. "Contacts."

Xander rolled his eyes but settled in. "I should probably nap."

"Probably."

"Think someone's going to come to pounce one of us?"

"Nope. Fury's back from what I've heard. Being more badass than usual."

"So he had fun at the temple of Bacchus." Xander smirked a tiny bit. "I knew my mom would enjoy talking to him."

James snorted, shaking his head. "That's nearly evil."

"It helps sometimes. And gets me many interesting dates that I can hit up for weapons when I need them."

James stared at him. "I'll introduce you to some I need to take out. That way you can benefit before I kill them."

Xander rolled his eye. "If you must. I'd rather have a living one around who'll want repeated bouts of sex."

"Might help since you actually sleep and eat when you're having regular sex."

"I've got that stamina problem."

"I've seen."

He stared at him. "Were you watching me?"

"Yup. Especially after someone tried to pay me to take you out." He smirked. "Sleep before I knock you out."

"Fine. Fussy." He flipped onto his side so he could rest. He missed seeing James sneak over to knock him out. Then James got himself a beer and sat down to watch the city. He needed to make sure the end of humanity didn't come without him realizing.

***

Xander walked into the first village and smiled when his slayer-to-be screamed his name, lunging over to hug him. He hugged her back. "Hi. Did you think I had disappeared?"

"Buffy said she wasn't sure how long you'd be gone. That you had went to another realm?"

"Kinda. They needed some help." He pushed her back to look at her. "What happened to your cheek?"

"A boy but I pushed him down a ravine." She smiled. "I'm not weak and no man will hit me."

"Good. No one in a relationship should ever beat another." He nodded. "So, five years?"

"Six. Just over six." She grinned.

Xander tweaked her nose. "You still need to practice and learn."

"I know." She walked him back to her parents, who smiled and hugged him. "He said I'm still supposed to train."

Xander nodded. "It'll mean less intense training later."

"That's reasonable, Xander." The mother patted him on the hand. "Are you well? You look tired."

"The scary one with the mask introduced me to a woman I could appreciate but she's cranky and doesn't want to help me do my job." She swatted him but smiled. "How is your regular education going?"

"Well enough."

"She's a girl. Does she need it?" an older woman demanded.

"Yes, ma'am. She'll be a slayer again when she's sixteen." She huffed. "We managed to uncall them until they're sixteen and fully women. That'll give them two years to reach adulthood while making sure they can finish their training. Until then, we still expect the girls to go to regular school and to learn more things over the years she now has safer. Because things can still happen." The old woman huffed. "Things have come for pre-called slayers in the past. That's why I'm a watcher. They blew up the old Council." The old woman pouted. "Sorry but she's got time to learn it easier instead of cramming it all down her throat, plus she's got time to play and be a girl."

"She could marry," the old woman said.

"She can, but having children will bring problems," Xander agreed. "As long as she takes precautions then she's more than free to have as normal of a life as she can. All slayers should have as normal of a life as they can. It's the way the new Council works. The slayers are young women who need a life, but they need to know how to protect themselves if things happen. Some have fully retired because they needed more normal life than their duties would give. One's studying to be a doctor." The old woman shook her head. "She'll be the woman she wants to grow into. Now she has time to do that as long as nothing happens. We've trained her how to protect herself if it does and no one can help her."

"She's a girl. She should not fight. They removed the calling," she said.

"No, they didn't," Xander said. "They moved it back so she had time to be a *girl*. It'll come back when she's sixteen. We unfortunately couldn't fully uncall them so it's just one girl at a time. Well, fortunately we couldn't because it's too much work and too much hell for one girl to handle, even with helpers." The woman stomped off. Xander shrugged, looking at the mother.

"She's mad. She wanted her second son to marry her some year."

Xander shrugged. "If that's what your daughter wants, that's up to her. I'll be there to make sure he knows to treat her well or else I'm going to kill him for her." He smiled. The mother laughed and swatted at him but nodded. "It's what brothers do."

"It is." She looked at her daughter. "Get your books." Xander grinned. "We like that she studies."

"All girls need education. It means they're more than a child bearing machine."

"They are," the mother agreed. "I agree it's a good idea." She smiled when her daughter came out. She sat next to Xander, who helped her with her studies. "There's a school nearby." Xander looked at her. "It's too far to commute."

"If you want her in a regular school, we can pay for tuition and what she needs."

"I'll talk to my husband about that." She looked back when someone went running past them. "The Head of the Village," she said quietly.

Xander smiled at him, getting up to shake his hand. "Elder."

"Watcher."

"Xander, please."

"She's not a slayer."

"No, not the case." The elder scowled. "We've managed to ease the calling for any of the girls under sixteen. That way they have time to be girls, more time to learn what they need to learn. When they're sixteen, it'll come back."

"I see. Why?"

"Because no child should have the worry of protecting their whole village and themselves. She's too young."

"She is," he agreed, relaxing. "She'll be sixteen?"

"As far as I was told, yes. We managed to warp the spell. All the girls in Africa but one is under that age. This gives them time to play, to learn, to learn more that could save them."

"Schooling?" he asked.

"Yes. All slayers must learn to read, to do math, all that. An uneducated slayer is without an important weapon. A sword is good but if you can't think and figure out things then you're weaker. You'll fall faster and none of us want that."

"No, we do not." He looked at the girl then at him. "Others should share her books."

"If she wants to study with some of the other children in the village, I'm all for that. Every child should have at least the basics of education. If they can't read and count, then they get cheated at the market. They can't learn new things that can make lives better."

"I had not considered that. Does she have more books?"

"I think she left them to one of the younger girls but I can call Giles tonight and ask him to send more. It's not that hard to do."

The elder nodded. "The boys could use it."

"Girls do the shopping," Xander said with a smile. "They'll get cheated if they don't know how to read and count."

The elder smirked. "It is not our usual way but I can see that point." He spotted a truck. "Do you know of them?"

Xander turned to look, frowning. "I think I went out with her once. We're not attached though. She thought my duty was boring." He looked at the elder. "Let me go talk to her. She's not particularly nice."

"A real man can cure that."

"My people don't believe in curing a woman's moods that way. That's her job. I'm there to enjoy them." He smiled. "Which is why I'll be making sure her future spouse treats her well or I'll dismember him and shove him in a small hole."

The elder laughed. "That's a proper relative's idea."

Xander walked over to meet his one-time date. "You're way out of your usual area."

"Come along, Xander. We should leave."

"I'm here with one of my future slayers. I'm not going anywhere."

She glared. "I said you are." She pulled a gun. "You're coming with me. We fit very well and I am not going to be disappointed."

Xander walked closer, letting the gun rest against his stomach. "Then shoot me. If you do, you'll never get happy from me again but if you want to be that bitchy, go ahead." She sniffled. He kissed her and took the gun. "Thanks, I needed a new one." He put the gun into his waistband. "You hated my duty. I'm still not giving it up for you. They still need me. I'm sorry but I'm not giving up the slayers for a life living around your pool."

She huffed and pouted. "But we're hot together. It's good. Others respect me more because I have you."

He stared at her. "If you want to stay and help me train the future slayers, we can talk about that."

"No!" She sneered at the villagers then at him. "That's not my way of life."

"It's mine. I'm not giving up my important duty for anyone, even someone I like a lot. My duty and my life is helping my slayers. A wife would help me with that and I'd help her with her life goals at the same time. You're not willing to help me with mine."

"No, I won't." She stared at him. "I'll have to take you out. They'll expect it." Xander shrugged. "You don't care?" she demanded.

"I don't think you'll manage it." She shrieked and lunged at him, trying to get the gun. He flipped her over and knocked her out with a punch to the jaw then handcuffed her to her jeep. "We'll see who comes to pick you up. I'm sure there will be." He walked off shaking his head. "She's still not willing to help me with my duty so she's not meant for me." His slayer hugged him. He smiled and cuddled her back. "She's mean but not my sort of mean." She laughed and went back to her books. He grinned at the elder, pulling out his phone. "Let me call someone to see who's nearby." He called Grant first. "Is anyone around here? One of my dates decided I'd be hers even if I didn't want to and tried to attack me. No, the one you didn't meet, Grant."

"Hi, Grant," his slayer called next to the phone.

"Yup. He said hi back." She smiled and told her elder about him. "We're with her village. That's fine. She's handcuffed to her jeep. Thanks, man." He hung up and sat down again, going over the lessons. "He'll see if another agent is nearby so they can pick her up." His slayer laughed. He shrugged. "It happens when you're me."

"I've heard." She patted him on the hand and got back to learning. Xander motioned a few kids over and helped them learn this same lesson. They needed to learn their alphabet first but he could help with that. The elders walked off shaking their heads. Xander was very strange to them but he had handled it like a real man would.

***

Xander made it to the next slayer in time to hear her screaming and rushed to help her. "What's going on? Oh, shit!" he said, backing out. "Okay. Um... shouldn't the women of the village be around you?"

She snorted. "They hate me. You know that."

"I have very little idea of what to do to help you."

"I don't care! Just let me yell at you!"

"Okay." He went to the jeep to grab his medical kit then came in with his phone to his ear. "Giles, me. Amaya's in labor. What the hell do I do?" He listened. "I don't know, have Willow look it up!" he demanded. "Or someone! I don't have google here." He listened. "Fine. Thanks." He hung up. "He's drinking but congratulated you on the new baby. He hopes it's happy." He called Grant. "Help, Amaya's in labor. What do I do? I don't have google to look it up, Grant." He nodded. "Sure, if you're somewhere with docs. Please?" He looked at her. "Hi, I'm Watcher Xander Harris. One of my slayers is in labor. No, she got captured in a war zone," he said more quietly. "Please. Screaming a lot. How do I find out if she's dilated?" He grimaced and looked at her. "The doctor says I have to look at the baby."

"I don't care!" she complained.

"Can I give her something for the pain?" He read off what he had and gave her a shot of what they said to give her. Then he looked quickly. "I see hair. I'm hoping it's hair. Okay, so all I have to do is catch.... I can do that. How do I tie it off?" He nodded at those instructions. "Okay. Sure. Thank you. Can you tell Grant to send me a medical text on this? I grew up reading Willow's mom's textbooks with her. I'm really good at stitching and things. It might help. Thanks." He hung up and looked at her. "Let me wash my hands so the baby comes out to clean stuff." He got a clean draping sheet from the kit he'd use for surgery then washed his hands carefully. He came back to help her guide the baby out, prompting her to breathe every few minutes, and to push the rest. Finally, the baby came out and screamed. He sighed in relief. "Oh, thank you, Goddess Hera," he mumbled. She let out a hysterical sounding laugh. He put the baby on her stomach and found his clamps to do what the doctor had told him to. "Okay, we clamp this far up," he said, using his fingers to measure. "Then higher. Then chop between." He cut the cord and sighed again. "All right, now all you have is the afterbirth." He leaned on the bed while she checked the baby over. "Are you okay?"

"I'm never doing this again and if I find a husband he can adopt." They shared a smile. "I could use cleaned up."

"Might as well wait for the rest of the birth stuff to come out." He held up the end of the umbilical cord. "The stuff this is attached to has to come out." She grimaced but got up to go to the bathroom. Xander got handed the baby. He took her to clean up and put a blanket around her. He found something on her and winced. Amaya came back, leaning on his arm. He held up the baby so she could see her back. She slumped. "She'll last even longer than Buffy has and you will," he said quietly. She nodded, leaning on his arm. "Curl up with her. I'll clean up the bed. Did the other stuff come out?" She nodded. "Do I need to bury it or anything?"

"It's in the outhouse and I wasn't going to dig it out." She blinked at him. "We need to go back to the safehouse." He nodded. "Tonight?"

"Once you're able to travel." She nodded, swallowing. He got her some broth that she had made up and changed the bed so she could rest. Then he tucked them in together.

Xander walked outside, seeing the staring. "She's given birth to a future slayer," he told one. The woman stared. "They're both healthy as far as I can tell."

"She should not have had the baby."

"Not much choice there, was there?" he asked dryly. "Not like anyone in her family helped rescue her." The woman flinched away from him. "They didn't help her when she was taken. Family doesn't do that." He looked at the village priest. "Can we bless the baby later?"

"Of course, Xander. Are you taking her back to the safehouse?"

"Soon. Once she's able to travel." The old man nodded, going to check on her. Xander sat down on the hood his jeep to call in. "Giles, me. Update on Amaya's baby. She's born. She seems healthy. She's got the mole," he said more quietly. Amaya yelled so he hopped up to help her, taking the priest away from her. "What's wrong?"

"I startled her waking her up," the priest said.

"You poked me on the breast!" Amaya complained.

Xander stared at him. "Hasn't she been harmed enough by the evil men can do?" The priest huffed off. "We'll have her blessed on the way to the safehouse." She nodded, relaxing again. "Rest. I've got your safety." She nodded, letting herself fall back to sleep. Xander sent a text message to Giles about that, then called the other girls on the same call. "It's me. There's good news. Amaya had a healthy baby girl." The girls all sent their well wishes. "We'll be moving to the safehouse in a few days, when she's strong enough to travel. Of course you can as your parents say. You know you're always welcome at my house, even if I'm no longer a watcher."

He grinned. "Good girl. Since she's lowest of all of you, we'll stop in on the way if you can't come see her. We'll need someone to bless the baby. That's great, Sia, thank you." He took the fussy baby to hold. She calmed down. "It's all right. No, she's a bit fussy. We'll see you ladies soon. I need to figure out how to do diapers." He hung up and looked at the baby. "You'll need one soon." He looked at what he had and used his towel. It was mostly clean. They could wash it. It'd do for now. They'd worry about her mom eating and the baby eating from mom later. All that came later.

***

Xander pulled into the nearest slayer's village and parked, getting out and walking around to help Amaya and the baby out. "Here we are. She should be somewhere here." He walked her into the village. The elders all stared in horror. "What? Did something happen to her?"

"No. She's not a slayer," one said.

"She'll be a slayer again when she's sixteen. We managed to give them a childhood." They all groaned but nodded. "Is the local priest here? We need to bless Slayer Amaya's baby."

"He's talking with her parents," one of them said with a point.

"Thank you," Amaya said, smiling at them. "I know some day she'll do great things as a slayer. Once she's had time to grow up." They walked that way. Xander had told her about what had been said before. They walked into the mini slayer's house to find the priest screaming at her about not being fit. Xander cleared his throat. Amaya smiled, handing the baby over. "Hold her please?" She looked at the priest. "They managed to save her childhood by pushing it back until she was sixteen. She's not unfit to be a slayer. She never will be because she knows the duty is bad and it hurts at times but it's necessary." The priest huffed off. "I suppose he won't bless my child." She sat down and took the baby back. "Thank you for holding her." She looked at that weird, smiling, happily sleeping lump of flesh she had helped create and carry. "How do I do motherly things?" she asked that one.

She patted her on the hand. "Most of it comes naturally. We can talk."

"Maybe you know why baby butts look like demon slime?" Xander asked. She laughed but nodded. The ladies sat together to go over how to care for a baby. They all spotted the mole but said nothing about it. They knew what it meant and they'd help her learn how to be a slayer as well if they were around. Xander nodded, getting up when the father came in. "We're heading back to the secondary safehouse." He shook his hand. "I corrected their thinking."

"What happened?"

"We managed to warp the calling so that the girls would be called sometime in their sixteenth year, when they're officially women. That way they could have a childhood. They had time to learn, to play, to grow up."

"That's sensible and kind. It still bothers others."

Xander nodded. "We had to ask some higher powers after a battle."

"The one you snuck off for?" Xander nodded. "That's reasonable I guess." He sat down and looked at the baby. "Amaya, you had her?"

"I did. She's the one I was carrying who would not stop kicking." She let him see the baby. "I was hoping to have her blessed where one of my future sisters could witness it and be her godmother." She smiled. "The village where I was had a priest that wanted me to nurse while he watched. This one was screaming like an old wife."

The father smiled. "There's a young priest. We can ask him." Xander nodded at that. "Why not the safehouse in town?"

"There's been a higher demon move in recently and I'm not sure why," Xander admitted. "I'd like to look that over first." That got a mass nod. Someone knocked so he looked. "It's the elders and the priest." The mother got up to let them in and sat back down. "Is my jeep in someone's way?" he asked.

"No," the head female of the village said. "Why was her calling suspended?"

"Because of her age."

"She's young, but she could handle it."

"Would you send a child into a battle?" Xander asked.

"Mine were not called."

"If it was your daughter?"

"I would have to. It's her duty."

"Her duty is to survive as long as possible while protecting people. She can do that easier as a full grown woman instead of as a child. She has a lot to learn before I would've allowed her on patrol. Now she has time to learn it before something attacks her for her gifts. They'll come back when she's sixteen. The only one that was exempted had a growth that was killing her in her stomach."

"Cancer?" the priest asked. Xander nodded. "How was the calling warped?"

"The battle I had to go help with involved some who thought they were gods." The priest moaned and shook his head. "Some of the higher beings were on the side of the slayers, most were not. Buffy and Willow asked one of the higher beings on their side to do that. That way they could have the time to be children."

"The Council usually doesn't care."

"That's the old Council. They got blown up," Xander said bluntly. Then he grinned. "Which is why I'm a watcher now instead of just backing up the slayers. The ones she saw in the dreams killed them and a lot of the future slayers. They're lucky they were too far away to get to. The new Council's way is to train the girls at home, let them protect their own people. We figure there's a reason for the way the girls are spread at birth and we're not going to correct it unless we have to remove a girl because she's being abused."

"Like me," Amaya said.

"Yes, like you." He patted her hair. She scowled. He smirked. "You have tangles."

"I've barely had the energy for a bath."

"You can do that tonight and I'll watch her." She smiled and nodded. He looked at the priest again. "Unfortunately her family didn't go to rescue her when a war broke out near her. I did. Then they attacked her because of it. So we helped her. That's when we remove future slayers from their homes and their people. If they want to go to the main house to learn there, then we don't mind but we know that most of the girls want to protect their own peoples."

The priest nodded. "That's sensible and kind." He looked at the future slayer. "So it was not her doing?"

"No. It was Demeter's doing." The priest flinched, staring at him. Xander nodded. "Totally nasty battle in Washington, DC." He smiled. "She showed up near the end and helped us with the ones who thought they were Gods."

"Oh, dear." He crossed himself. Xander nodded, sitting back down. "I will gladly bless the child tonight, Slayer Amaya. Is she in good health?"

"She's in excellent health and some day she'll have my job," she said quietly.

"I'm sure you'll make sure she lasts as long as she can."

"Yes, we will be," Amaya said. "If I fall, I'll expect Xander to take her in and raise her for me. If one of the other girls is married by then and wants her instead, they could talk about it." He nodded, getting what he needed to bless her. Xander gave the family money for dinner that night, so it was a good night. But they still ended up taking the girls with them. Another girl in the village had been born with the mole. She was three and bouncy but her mother had cried until the priest had talked to her. Xander had went to talk to her too but the mother was ill and said it was better if she was raised a true slayer. So now they had three slayers in the jeep with him and the baby.

***

Xander got to the farm and found James there staring at the cows that had appeared. "Wow, you unpacked."

"Someone had to before they starved." He looked down then at Xander. "Training time?"

"Villages are upset because the girls won't be slayers again until they're sixteen. Her mother's ill," he said with a point at the newest one. "Amaya had Coranda the other day." James stared at the baby, who fussed but settled down with some patting by her mom. "Everyone, find a bed. We'll figure out a crib for the baby later. When we go get some supplies and handle the animals." The girls looked out back and went to milk the cows and goats. Xander looked at James. "Anything good going on?"

"Your ex is an idiot but she's gone," he said in Spanish. Xander grinned at him for that. "She really came up to try to force you?"

"Yup."

"Idiot."

"Yup." Xander smiled and patted him on the arm. "Anything on that demon lord that moved in?"

"He wanted to claim the area and take out the slayers. I already burned him out and made him run home to his mommy's tail." Xander smiled. "I managed to have everything in that safehouse packed before he tried to retaliate by setting it on fire."

"Thank you."

"Welcome." He looked out back at the loud, frantic mooing. "What's going on?"

Xander looked then shot at something. "Predator. I'll up the fences tomorrow once we get supplies." James shook his head but walked off. "Are you coming with?"

"I'll stay and lounge. The locals consider me an evil spirit," he said with a mean grin.

"They considered me a witch a few times," Xander admitted. "They learned better when I shot the one who tried to burn me." He got to work on dinner, taking the milk to put into the icebox. The girls all settled in to eat, talk, play board games he had, and then go to bed. Xander collapsed onto the couch. His bed was taken up by Amaya. They'd figure it out later. The same as they'd figure out what to do with the new knowledge they had from their former lives. Because something would probably need to be straightened out, at least in the elder slayer's mind. Buffy was already throwing fits about the reborn thing and Xander really wanted to avoid that for as long as possible. So, he and James could hide here in Africa with his girls and their new cows. At least until the next apocalypse.

The End.

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