For Want of Something Done. by Voracity2

For Want of Something Done.

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TJ looked up from making dinner when Xander wandered over. "My brother said at least you're hot."

"I am smokin'," he said, taking a real kiss then smiled at him. "Your brother wouldn't know specialness if he spotted it because he never saw how special you are."

"I'm not."

"You are. You get me, that makes you special." He took another kiss. "Can I help make dinner?"

"It's nearly done. I'm just working on the vegetables for the grilled vegetable salad. I started when I heard you stop snoring." Xander smiled, nuzzling his neck. "Hmm, that's nice. Is Connor going to go 'ick' and run for the shower again?"

"Maybe. I'm pretty sure some day soon his hormones are going to pop up and go 'we only played, you're very sexual, just repressed'." TJ smothered a laugh but let Xander cuddle while he finished scorching the vegetables in the proper manner. Then he chopped them up a bit and put them onto plates. Connor came over scowling at him. "They will."

"They tried that. I don't let mine take over my life."

"Of course not but if you let them out to play you might find something beyond hunting." He hugged him. "I'm introducing you to the lady at the bookstore that Wesley said he was going to introduce you to."

"Everyone who's said that has died. I'll hate to miss you," Connor complained.

Xander smirked at him. "I'm not dying anytime soon, Connor. Only the good die young and I'm not exactly a paragon of virtue." He carried out plates for TJ. TJ pulled out the meat to let it rest while they settled in to eat that first course. Then they dug into the small loin. It was good. Connor moaned like it was sexual it was so good. It was good Connor at least loved something besides his weapons.

***

Connor came out of the airport, smiling and hugging Gunn. "You showed up to drive us home?"

"I had someone drive Harris' car over. Sorry, man, but you're in the wrong direction."

"Sure, I get that. Means I don't have to make dinner for everyone." He yawned. "Happy trip, guys. I've got half the city to drive." Gunn handed him the keys and ticket for short term parking. "Cool. Thanks, Gunn." He punched him on the arm and hiked off. He hoped his sunglasses were in the car. Otherwise he'd squint himself into a nap. Since there was no one he could call to come drive him... yeah, he'd have to fight off the nap he needed. The parking officer gave him a dirty look when he walked past yawning. "I know."

"Sir, you shouldn't be driving if you're that tired," the officer said firmly. "Driving while sleepy is nearly as bad as driving drunk and they can ticket you about that."

Xander looked at him. "Unfortunately I live in Calabasas." The officer winced. "I'll hit every single Starbucks on the way but I don't have someone who can drive me home safely. Or else I would."

"You could get a cheap hotel room for the night. There's a few cheap motels near the airport."

"Nothing around here is cheap but if I can't make it, I'll find one downtown. They're a bit cheaper on the outer edges, which is near my usual route. Thanks. I'll be okay." The officer was still scowling. "I've had to deal with battles while this tired. I can drive for an hour."

"At this time of day, it's closer to two, sir."

Xander paused to stare at him. "If I have to, I'll stop in West Hollywood. Thank you for worrying." The officer nodded and walked off. Xander found his car and got in, sighing as he found his sunglasses. He slid into them and started the car then put on his seatbelt.

Then something hit the parking garage hard enough to shake it.

Xander got out to look around, seeing a furry bellybutton. "Oh, charming." He looked back at the staring officer. "Is it eating things or people? Or is it trying to tear things down?" he called.

"Sir, do you know hunters?"

"I am a hunter." He closed his car door, pocketing his keys and walking over to look up next to the furry body. "Hey!" he shouted. "What the hell are you doing? Couldn't you wait twenty minutes for me to leave?" he demanded.

The demon blinked down at him. "I'm getting away from the dragons we have."

"The last time we had dragons I let a pair of ancient ones through a portal to straighten out Rosenburg. Has it been since then?"

The demon blinked at him. "Harris?"

"Just back from DC. Do we have more dragons?"

"My brother said they were chasing me."

"Let me come up to the roof," he sighed. He walked off, taking the officer with him. "Show me up there the easy way?"

"Elevator," he said with a point. Xander nodded, taking him with him. "Sir, I have kids."

"There won't be a fight," Xander said. "If there is, you can sound the alarm as you run to take shelter outside this freestanding building." The officer nodded, staying near the elevator. Xander walked over, looking around. "Where's the dragon?" he asked.

The demon pointed. "That's one there."

Xander squinted up at them. "That's a portal, yeah." He sighed and whistled, bringing a baby dragon. "Are you the only one?" he asked. It cried pitifully so he cuddled it. "It's a baby. Is your parent around? You're still pretty young too." The demon let out a peculiar sounding bellow. His big brother showed up. "It's a baby, I need an elder," Xander yelled. "Get your mom for me."

"Human," the older brother sneered.

Xander stared at him. "Don't make me tell your mom I shot you too." The brother huffed but headed off, coming back with his father. "Daknar." He waved. The adult landed beside his younger son. "We have a baby dragon that came through. Your younger one was worried it'd come for him thanks to some brotherly teasing."

The demon sniffed it. "That is a baby. I can fly and look at the portal. Show me, boys." The younger one flew up with him, pointing out the portal. "Hmm. That's still open." He flew back. "Let me hand over the baby, Harris."

"Please. Him being here would get him hurt by the same stupid ones that try to break into my house." He handed him over carefully. "There you go, baby. It'll be okay. He'll get you home."

"I will not harm you, infant. You're safe with me." He carried him up to the portal, handing him over to the warrior. "This one came through and scared my sons."

"Thank you. She is precious to us," the dragon said. He took the young one to sniff. "A human?"

"Harris." He pointed. "He works with the community to keep everyone safe."

"That is good of him. As far as I know this was the only one that came through because she was curious. We have no idea why the portal opened."

"It smells of magic." He flew down and came back with Xander riding on his shoulder. "Can you tell the magic?"

Xander touched it and nodded. "That's the coven. I can tell them nearly anywhere. The uptight bitch brigade," he told the dragon. "I'm glad he could get home to you. There's some truly stupid humans around here."

The dragon smiled. "She, human, but thank you for protecting her."

"She's young, innocent, and will hopefully do great things when she's old enough. She's peaceful and an infant so needs protected." He listened. "That's a weapon. Move." They moved and the dragon pulled away from the edge. Xander threw something at the portal and it shut. "Sorry," he called as he threw it. He patted the shoulder he was on. "Let me go yell at them." The demon landed him and flew off with his boys. Xander blocked the hunter from trying to hit them with another weapon by punching the idiot. "They're peaceful and helpful. They were helping since a portal opened up there and discharged a baby dragon." The hunter sneered, trying to shoot him but the officer pounced him. "Thanks." He pushed back his hair. "It's been a long day." He picked up the weapon to disarm, handing it over.

"Harris!" someone bellowed and Xander turned in time to move the officer away from the gunshot.

"Okay, I've had enough," he decided. He looked back. "I'm exhausted, I'm heading home, and if you don't like it, fuck yourself," he yelled back. "Preferably right up your nose since you're a dickhead already."

"Sir, please don't make me arrest you too," the officer said. That hunter got arrested by the backup he had called in.

Xander looked at him. "I'd never get a nap if you did that." He walked off shaking his head. Of course, one of the hunters had taken a sledgehammer to his car. He sighed. "Fuck it, I'm going to take a nap before I turn evil. Because I'm going to destroy a whole lot of people if I go evil and we can't afford to lose any hunters." He walked off. One tried to grab him but he stabbed the guy and walked over him. "Found one you guys missed," he said as he walked past the officers. "They can pay for my car they broke too."

"Sir," an officer started.

Xander stopped to stare at him. "I'm going to get a motel room and a nap before I turn evil, take over the city at the very least, and kill every single stupid hunter that the city holds. I'll leave the non-dumb ones but there's going to be a mass murder soon. Which do you want to deal with?"

"Please get a nap, sir. Which car is yours?"

"They took a sledgehammer to it," he said dryly. "Ask the guy on the roof. He was nagging me about needing a nap too." He walked off shaking his head. One of the motels around the airport had a shuttle and cheaper rooms.

***

Xander walked into a diner late that night, staring at the only hunter that had noticed him.

"Harris didn't do a thing about those demons," one of the stupid ones complained.

"Why would I? They're peaceful, helpful beings who only like to fly around," Xander said dryly, staring at him. "If you have a problem with me, you take it out on me in person. Don't hit my car. Don't try to hit my house. Don't try to shoot me from across a rooftop. Though I'm sure the LAPD love you guys for that." The hunter sneered and pulled a gun. "C'mon if you're coming," he encouraged. The guy shot at him and the bullet was stopped. Xander shrugged and stared at him. "Are you done being stupid?"

"We burned that new house of yours," another sneered.

"You burned my neighbor and I'm pretty sure someone wants to talk to you about that too."

"You'd kill us?" another demanded.

"Only the stupid ones. Unfortunately it seems to be epidemic again. How stupid are you!" he shouted at one. "You shot at the LAPD, one of the most brutally violent police departments in the nation. Are you seriously brain dead? If not, are you sure it's not coming? Their SWAT teams are some of the best in the country. You're damn lucky you've made it this long. As for those demons? Yes, they fly. Ooooh, so damn evil for being able to fly," he sneered. "They also helped since that portal opened thanks to the coven and spilled out a baby dragon. Did you want to fight that war too?" The hunter took a swing at him and Xander hit him back. "Sorry, I still need sleep. I'm still a bit evil." He kicked the guy around until he was begging for air and mercy. Xander sneered down at him. "Ya think you wanna keep doing that? Because I doubt it." He looked at the others. "The rest of you wanna be that stupid?" They all stared. He looked behind him. "Detective." He was wearing a badge around his neck on a lanyard, it showed what he was.

"Mr. Harris. We followed you."

Xander shrugged. "I don't give a damn."

"We can arrest you for beating him."

"Great. I could use the nap and meditation time." The detective huffed. "You want them, you have most of them. I'm pretty sure six of them in here had nothing to do with anything. They have brains they use. Even Cordelia thought they had sense."

"Where is your bitch anyway?" one sneered.

"The visions killed her," Xander said bluntly. "And if you say another word about Cordy I'll make sure you never say a word again." He stared at the guy until he put his hands up and backed off. "Now," he said with a clap and slight smirk. "I'm going to find a way home. Whoever burned out my neighbors, you have fun with this detective. Whoever shot at officers at LAX earlier, you guys have fun too. The rest of you, the smart ones, have a pretty night. I'm going to eat and have the rest of the sleep I need before I fully turn evil and start taking over." He walked off. The detective let him go. "If you want to arrest me for beating him, give me a few hours to nap please."

"He wasn't in custody and as long as he doesn't press charges, I don't care," the detective said. He motioned and SWAT officers came in. One of the officers was nice enough to get a cab for Xander when he started to call one. The detective looked at them. "I'm Detective Carmichals. We in the LAPD are really tired of the hunters acting up. Between all the ones trying Harris' old home and vault and the ones that tried in the last three days? I'm not sure even if the ones that have brains and sense are going to make it out of here."

"Some of us had nothing to do with that," the older hunter in the corner said. "I just showed up to see who was complaining about what this time. Some of us are smart enough to respect Harris and his ways. He's protected a lot of problems from coming for us by putting them in his vault instead." The detective smirked at him. "Some of us helped with the first. That one on the floor and his two cousins," he said, pointing at them. "Didn't. They ran from it."

"Hey!" one complained and tried to throw a knife at the older hunter. The detective had him knocked down before he could release the throw. "Ow."

"Good." He looked at the old hunter. "You have a great night. Any other stupid ones, send them to New York. They have more patience out there. We have to deal with airheads too often to have real patience."

"Most of them are in the midwest so feel sorry for St. Louis this week," he admitted. He got up and left. A few more followed him. One got arrested by the officers out there.

"You were in on the assault on the car in the parking garage," the officer said. "I doubt his insurance people will like that."

"Not with the way his last car got crushed by Rosenburg," the old guy quipped, heading for his pickup truck. He looked at the other hunters. "Peter?"

"He's got toast and coffee, he's going to sit there and enjoy it," that one said with a smile. "You know what he's like."

"Yup. Pity. Anyone breach the boy's gates?"

"One climbed over from a neighbor's house and managed to tag something with paint but police were there within minutes. His alarm system is good and the idjit was in the process of fighting off tentacles when they got there. Boy's already slightly evil sometimes."

"I don't blame him. Were the tentacles going to eat him?"

"No clue and I don't want to know honestly. Unlike Peter, I don't like seeing people in pain and misery." He got into his car and drove off. The old guy got into his truck and laughed until he could drive. The others could suffer for being idiots. Though he would share about the tentacles with Gunn in case someone there had to get in suddenly and the boy hadn't turned the system off yet.

***

Detective Carmichals showed up the next afternoon, looking around until Xander opened the door looking confused. "Mr. Harris, the LAPD is very worried about your vault."

"I've got it guarded heavily again. No one can break into it. The only way in is being me or being with me. I have beyond lethal measures again."

"Like that gas and the fish Agent Toliver mentioned?"

"I have some of that done too." He grinned. "It's really just an old fashioned library."

"Is there a way I can look, sir? That way they quit being anxious? They might even be able to talk to those hunters so they leave you alone."

"They hate me because I walked away from being a hunter with Buffy. Then Willow added onto it by calling me a traitor and other charming things."

"Still, maybe we can talk them out of their stupidity on their way to prison." Xander grinned. "Please? I can get a warrant."

"I can show you but no pictures." Detective Carmichal nodded, pulling off his body camera to put in his pocket. "It's out back in the guest house." He led him through the living room to the pool area.

"This is nice."

"Thank you. I've got a great water recycling system so I lose less than five gallons a day and it recycles into the watering system too." He smiled. "It works on water catchment system as well." He led him to the entry and held up a hand. "The pass is inside."

"You put it inside?"

"That way no one can break in and grab it. Only I can get in here without consequences." He walked in and came back a minute later. "Wrist." He held up his wrist for Xander to put the small bracelet on it. "Okay. You can come in." He led the way in. "The fish and gas system is in that outer area." He grinned. "It's very effective."

"I saw that when they broke in. The ME had laughing fit about the fish." He looked around the bigger open area. It had shelves everywhere and a work table. "Is this a work area or the other stuff?"

"Work area." He looked at him. "The bracelet won't get you into the actual vault but it'll let you near the doorway so you can look in. The system won't let anyone into the vault but me. It's got biometrics and other, more mystical, methods of telling me so even if I end up with more warped DNA it'll be fine." He led him over to the vault door, opening it by putting his hand on the door. It swung open and Xander let the detective see inside. "This is the least dangerous stuff. The extremely dangerous stuff is so hidden that even if you're standing near it you can't find it."

"Will you be putting whatever spouse you end up with in the system?"

"No, that'd be dangerous for them. Those same idiots might try to take him for it."

"Good. If you die will they fall?"

"No. I've left a coded and translated sealed letter for my heir to the library. She can't get in here and the only ones I'd consider putting in the system are the two brothers that nearly stayed thanks to the thing in DC. With what I've seen on their show they'd be able to handle it and could use the research. And my chosen heir would probably want to jump them a lot."

The detective nodded, looking up at the second floor as they walked back. Xander took back the bracelet and they walked outside. Xander smiled when he saw TJ lounging beside the pool. "You came back?" he said, grinning as he walked over to kiss him. "Thank you but I would've paid for the cab."

"Where's your car?" he asked, staring over the top of his sunglasses. "Is the detective looking guy here for a bad reason?"

"The same reason," the detective said with a smirk. "Those hunters."

"Shot at officers again," Xander quipped.

"Again?"

"Before I left back to DC, before we moved, they shot at officers who were helping us with a break-in," TJ said. "Including a Sheriff's deputy that wasn't there to do his job being part of the first break-in team."

"That's probably why it was covered up," the detective said. "Thank you, Mr. Harris."

"If you can convince them to leave me alone, I'd love that. It's dangerous for TJ and I'd hate to have to avenge him by taking them all out one way or another."

"Us too." He shook their hands and went back to the office to report. Agent Toliver was there looking smug. "He has a way for someone to get partially in. It's inside the vault."

"That figures," Agent Toliver said. "How is it?"

"A two story library and a vault area that's sealed off. The code bracelet won't let you in that at all. He won't give Hammond access so it doesn't endanger him, and his heir has to decode and translate the instructions to redo it."

"That's good," Agent Toliver agreed. "Very smart of him. Any other good news?"

"Hammond's back. He surprised Harris and had a question about the car."

"Poor guy. He'll be fussed over soon," his boss said. "Anything more protective?"

"We got told last night his security system has tentacles."

"That'd deter a lot of people," his boss agreed.

Agent Toliver nodded while laughing. "I saw the guy that they caught with them. They won't eat the guy but they'll definitely play with you. I heard it was playing catch when the officers responded to the attempted breach." He looked at the detective, smiling. "Is the house less white?"

"A lot. Someone's decorated in the few rooms I saw."

"Good. That'll make them happy boys." He stood up. "Harris has promised to send out more genie summoning kits and one for the apocalypse battle next year. We have no idea about either one." He left them alone to go tell his boss.

Detective Carmichals looked at his boss. "Can we convince the stupid among them to leave him alone?"

"I'd hope so. That way they don't try him when he gets out."

"What about the ones that shot at officers at his last house, sir?"

"There was?" He looked that up. "Oh, locked by IAB."

"He said one of the people breaking in before the shooting started was a deputy sheriff. I figured that's why we hadn't heard."

"Yup. We have the full security camera footage. The report from it said the guy did not identify himself and was not there as an officer. He's up on charges. That's good." He looked at the rest of the incident, nodding. "It has a note saying that a prosperous demon family, one that does money lending for the community, moved in. That's sweet and they could probably use that vault." He looked at his detective. "Go convince them and make sure they don't go to the old house."

"I can try, sir. I'll bring Detective Matra. She's persuasive in a way that makes you fear for your life."

"Good idea. She needs some evil time." He flapped a hand. "Go, have fun."

"Thanks." He left his boss to look up things. He knew, most of the unit knew, that their boss was some sort of eighth demon but he was a good guy so they appreciated him. "Matra, we're going to talk to those idiots."

"Let's have some fun," she said with an evil grin. "I could use the good girl fun." She followed him down to the cells. The guards down there were scared of her so she let him lead.

***

"What are you going to replace that car with?" TJ asked that night over dinner.

Xander shrugged. "I don't know. I'm waiting on the check from Delbert. He was groaning again. Not my fault but he was nearly crying."

"I doubt he'll turn it down. They beat your car nearly to death." Xander grinned. "Can they turn you down for someone wanting to kill you?"

"Not with the riders on my account." He smirked a tiny bit. "I pay huge amounts for all that though."

"Maybe we can pare it down soon."

"Not with a new one coming again next spring. That'll make more people hate me."

"Maybe they'll get used to it."

Xander stared at him. "I doubt it but I can hope so. I really hope so, TJ. Can we talk about happier things?"

"Can you afford a new car?" he teased with a grin.

"Yeah, I can do that. I got my self-set up trust fund all fixed. I'm getting this year's check early next month. I have money in the bank too. I was planning on getting another house to flip for the community."

TJ put a hand on his boyfriend's wrist. "Have you asked to see if there's a need?"

"I can probably sell it even without that."

"That'd be good. Are you sure?"

"I make them pretty, TJ. Plus safe. That's always a good thing. The other one I have going will be done in about a month. They're down to painting and finishing touches."

"Does your relator friend appreciate that?"

"Yeah, she gets a good commission for those."

"Cool." He snuck a kiss with a smile. "Can I see that one?"

"I thought you didn't want to buy a house," he teased.

"I don't but I wanted to see what your taste was like."

"I let her pick out a lot of things for sellability and lack of my personal taste overshadowing the style of the house. She insisted."

"That's reasonable I guess. Can we go look anyway?"

"As long as we find a way there."

"There's cabs. We can do that." He smiled. "Eat. I slaved all day making the call for takeout." Xander dug in again. "What happens if something happened to that house?"

"Has it?"

"Someone at the airport hissed that I was there and I'd tell you that the house was wrong."

Xander called his realtor friend. "It's Xander." He put her on speaker. "How's that other house?"

"We stopped work on it, Xander."

"That's funny, I'm still sending them money. It hasn't been returned," he said dryly.

"They had two fire headed demons show up to scare the crew. We're not sure if it's still standing thanks to them."

"Meet me there tomorrow?"

"I have a full day tomorrow."

"Then send that contractor. He owes me some money and I know he's your uncle. We'll see what's going on."

"Is the community going to want it? Selling it means you'll have to tell the new owners that people came after you there."

"They didn't come after me, they were apparently trying to scare me off. But I'll check on that in the morning before I meet him there. Or I'd better have a check back. Sorry but I've been in a bad mood now for days. Then I heard this."

She sighed. "I'll let him know, Xander, but I'm not sure how things will happen."

"He cashed the checks. I assumed you or someone was making sure he was still doing the work since I've been in and out of town for the last month or so."

"The threats came last month," she said.

"Hmm. Then I'd really better be seeing it done or a check. Thanks, dear." He hung up and looked at TJ, who shrugged. "Lawyer. I need a lawyer." He called his to get a recommendation. They knew someone who could use the work. Xander and TJ went over there that night then Xander went to his office to call around to see what had happened. The work had been stopped about two weeks after they had started.

The ones responsible apologized for it but said they were scared it would bring more hunters. It got explained by someone on that side and they worked it out. Though they didn't know anyone who needed a nice house soon. Xander thanked them, hung up, and put the notice of the house going to sale in a few months on the demon community's bulletin board. He went back to the kitchen, taking his cup of soda from TJ. "Take my mind off it?"

"Definitely doable. Pool time?"

Xander hummed, sipping his soda as he walked out there. He stripped off and dove in. TJ followed, getting just as naked and diving in. They could play in the water. Xander needed more lighthearted fun in his life. If the only neighbor who could see into the yard shined a light on them a few times, TJ just waved with a grin and kissed Xander, making her huff and turn off the lights. No police showed up. She didn't storm over to yell and scream. Her homeowner's association wasn't going to do anything since he wasn't part of it, and they didn't have that rule anyway. So they were good to have fun and she could close the curtains.

***

TJ woke up the next morning, rolling over to put his chin on Xander's shoulder. "What are you doing this early in the morning?" he asked quietly.

"Looking at an auto selector site." He looked over and kissed him on the nose. "I have no idea what I want."

"Get something subtle that won't push anyone's nose into your pocketbook but something nice. One or two years old so you can say you got it cheaper when Gunn's people give you dirty looks for driving something shiny. Something a bit safe." He looked at the site then selected a category. "You want to make an impression. Go for an impression car. That way when we go clubbing people are drooling before they see how pretty we are." Xander grinned but looked those over. "Check out the Jags."

"I'd like to not spend a hundred grand on a car."

"Look at last year's F-type. It's pretty and fast, plus fashionable."

Xander grimaced but looked it over, tipping his head some. "Black or red?"

"Dark blue. That's more subtle. Light interiors so we can spot anything we drop." He played around with the options. "Way expensive."

"But you'll be able to find it cheaper used. Those were all pretty standard options." He looked up. "Look at Lincolns? I noticed you staring at those old guy cars."

"The ones who had made it or had money drove lincolns."

"They're old guy cars and people who have money drive beamers."

"Not in Sunnydale. We had a lot of middle class people." He looked at his boyfriend. "If we had a beamer in town it was a state employee in to harass someone."

"Hmm. Lincoln makes a nice SUV." He selected that one to let Xander look it over. "Sixty-five new with the options you wanted, so less used." Xander nodded slightly. "Drive that when you go see Gunn or have to haul a lot of swords. Or Buffy since that one comes with good floor mats." Xander grinned. "You have it, you can flaunt it a tiny bit."

"A jaguar is more than a tiny bit and they're getting a rep for being driven by evil masterminds thanks to the commercials."

"Babe, you could do that but you'd hate all the paperwork. The same as my mother does."

"Am I like your mom?"

"No, she's glamorous and wants power. You have power and you hate to buy clothes." Xander nodded, putting the tablet aside so he could flip over to cuddle his boyfriend. "We can look at those later today." Xander reached back to grab the ringing phone. "Who's that?"

"Your people." He let TJ have his phone.

"Why did the Secret Service call you to tell you to buy something security conscious because of me?"

"I'm wondering if we have listening devices, which would piss me off, or they're tapping my computers."

"Could be either with some of them. We can look for bugs later." He draped himself over Xander's chest, earning a tolerant smile. "Not turning you on?" Xander shifted so TJ could feel how turned on he was. "Hmm. That's nice. We need to play with that, Xander."

"I'm always happy to play with you." He took a kiss, moving under the covers to tease TJ until he begged. If someone was listening in they'd know he was very good to TJ.

TJ just moaned and let Xander do whatever he wanted. He was so spoiled.

***

Xander looked around his last project, looking at his realtor friend. "They only had eight rooms to do."

"They got threatened, Xander."

Xander walked out back and two fire headed demons showed up. Xander gave them an unimpressed look. "Guys, really?"

"This is near our refuge, human."

"I'm Harris."

The demons stared at him. "This will be a community house?" one asked more quietly.

"If at all possible. I always offer to the community first." He stared at them. "How long has it been since you scared off the workers?"

"Months," the other one admitted. "They were not working anyway."

"I noticed. All right, we're going to finish flipping this house. Do you guys need the name of the security company I use to put some protections around your refuge? I know you guys won't put magic ones around because it could warp the young."

"Please," one said. "We will leave this house be." Xander wrote it out on a stone he picked up. They took it and nodded at him before leaving.

Xander looked at his realtor. "Not like disclosing that there's a nursery refuge about two miles away is going to really affect resale."

She grimaced. "Maybe." They went back to look around. "I thought they did more than this."

"Me too, and they still cashed those checks," Xander said dryly, staring at her. "They haven't called back either and the last message I left said I'm calling my lawyer tomorrow."

"I understand why."

"Especially since they seem to make more than most of the construction people in the city," Xander said. She winced. "Two months of payments."

"I'll try to talk to him myself."

"Thanks." He walked around with TJ helping him make some decisions. "What is that?" he asked with a point at the kitchen.

"I think that was meant to be an interior grill," she said, consulting the plans. "Supposedly."

Xander looked at her, looking confused. "Why? We have an outdoor kitchen." She went to look and sighed, making notes. He looked at TJ. Who patted him on the arm. "They had granite in here too but it was weird colors."

"It's sitting in the dining room," TJ said with a point.

Xander nodded, calling someone. "Can you call your buddy the contractor to meet me up at my new project house please? Yeah, by the refuge. No, they abandoned it after making some questionable choices and cashing the checks. It needs to be finished. Maybe a month of work. Thanks." He hung up. "He's working nearby and can hopefully be here in a few minutes." They walked around making more notes on what had to get done to sell it.

When the contractor got there, TJ let him in. "Xander's and the realtor are out back calling the last guy that totally did stupid things," he said in greeting. He led the way out there. "Xander?" He looked over and held up a finger then went back to unreasonably not yelling at the guy. TJ smirked. "Let me show you some of the stuff they weren't supposed to do." He led the guy around.

"We can reapply the granite. That's popular around here," the contractor said.

Xander walked in. "My realtor friend didn't like the colors."

"It's a popular one, even if it's a bit ugly to people with sense," the contractor said, shaking his hand. "Mr. Harris, I've seen some of what they've done."

Xander winced. "Did they botch something?"

"They wanted to update something your crew didn't. Usually they do really good work. I have no idea who did this."

"Me either," Xander said. "He just told me he subcontracted this job to his brother. And still cashed the checks."

"Ow. How much work are we looking at? Is this going to be one of the safe homes you've been working on?"

"It is," Xander said. "There's a baby refuge about two miles that way so we've had a few demons show up to complain. That's their supposed reason for abandoning this but I've talked to them this morning. If the community doesn't like it or want it, then I'm open to selling it to normal people."

"That's great." He looked at the mess of the kitchen. "How big is the list?" The realtor handed it over. He nodded as he read it over. "Mostly reasonable. This one surface we've seen replaced a lot recently." He pointed. "Plus that granite's popular in the area."

"I thought it really hideous," the realtor complained.

"It is," the contractor said with a smile. "But it goes well as a pop of color."

"I did that in my kitchen," Xander agreed. "The island has an eye catching top and the rest coordinates."

"Granite?" the contractor asked.

"Caesar stone," he said with a grin. "The one that looks like cut marbles there and the sea salt finish on the rest."

"That's beautiful for accenting," he agreed, looking around. "What do you ideally want and at what budget?"

"If I can get the money back from that other group, it'll go up to half a mil for the reno budget."

"You can rebuild it totally for that." He looked at Xander. "Realistically, you can do all the things on your list tastefully at forty, maybe fifty."

"That I have on hand," he agreed. "Can it be done soon? It's been two months."

"I've got a job right now and one scheduled that'll take about a week, it's a new roof and outdoor redo."

"Two weeks or so is a good starting point," Xander said, looking at his realtor, who nodded. Xander grinned. "I do tend to pop in now and then. I had been in and out of town with problems so I didn't do it on the last one."

"That's reasonable. I'd expect that."

Xander smiled, shaking his hand. "Let's do the contract."

"Sure." He got one from his truck and came back to work on it while on the porch. It had a wall they could use to write on.

TJ smiled at the realtor. "Did he have anything else going on or in the planning stage?"

"Not yet. He usually looks for a new house after he sells one." Her phone rang and she walked off answering it. "Hello." She smiled. "I can definitely show that family for you. What are they looking for?" She made notes for herself. "That's great. I know of six fully finished and one that's just now got a contractor since the last one crapped out. Sure. About an hour? That's fine. Thank you, Bill." He hung up. "I have a normal couple looking for a house that has six bedrooms," she said.

Xander looked at her, frowning some. "This has five. The one on the other end of my community just had a sign go up this morning. The pretty tan one with the german style."

"That is pretty. I'll look at it on the way back to the office. I'll talk to my uncle later, Xander." She shook everyone's hand and left.

"Did they have permits?" the contractor asked.

"They were supposed to. I started the paperwork for them when I bought the house."

"I can definitely check on that." He shook their hands again. "I'll let you know for sure the day I can start. We can make this one a great house to be safe in." He left, going to tell his crew they had another job coming. A few hated working on a possible future demon owned home but oh well. If they wanted to quit, he had plenty he could hire instead.

TJ looked at Xander. "This house could be really pretty."

Xander nodded. "That's what I thought." They walked off together, Xander making sure everything was locked up and the alarm system was activated. They got into the rental car and headed down to the city center. "I'm going to stop at the bank."

"That's fine. Are we going to the car dealership today?"

"I might, yeah. I hate renting cars."

"Me too. They're kind of junky after a few months of use." He patted Xander on the knee, getting a grin back. The drive to the bank was a longish one, but about normal for anything in LA if you didn't stay in your neighborhood. They went into the bank together, getting a bit of attention.

Xander smiled at the receptionist. "I need to talk to someone about my accounts please," he said quietly. "Just to settle what's where and all that."

"I can sign you in, sir. Name?"

"Harris. Xander Harris."

She nodded, making note of that and paging someone. They came out to greet them. "This is Mr. Harris doing a check, Mr. Hillers."

"Sure, we can do that. This way, Mr. Harris and Mr....."

"Hammond," he said, shaking his hand with a smile. "Xander's my boyfriend."

"That's great." They went into the office to look at Xander's accounts. "I see you have four total accounts with us," he said, frowning at something. "Your main one has a lock on it?"

"Against hackers. It shouldn't be a general one."

"Hmm." He looked at it. "Someone did try to breach it." He looked up. "So it was temporarily locked. We can work around that."

Xander nodded. They got things settled and his special draw account for the new contractor job was set up easily based on the contract. Most contractors liked doing things that way, that way the money came directly from the bank and couldn't bounce. They left, going to Xander's investment guy, who set up things better with the bank since they had almost been hacked too. They had turned that attempted hacking in to the government. Xander's car shopping budget was handed over to TJ's keeping since he had more pockets on him. Once it was all settled, Xander went to Gunn's hangout, going in there. "Hey," he said, shaking hands with one of the guys lounging around. "I need someone who can help me look at a few used cars. You guys know anyone who can?"

That gang member nodded. "My sister's great at it. I know you won't disrespect her."

"Nah, I'd never do that. TJ picked out what cars I'm looking at." The other guys all smirked at him. "He has great taste and he puts up with me anyway. Can we meet her somewhere to pick her up?"

"Yeah. I can have her meet you somewhere in about two hours."

"That'll probably work. I can take him to lunch first instead. Oh, we got the new house contracted for again. The old crew subcontracted and they left it a wreck." Gunn winced. "So probably a month or so. Up by the baby refuge."

"That's a good neighborhood," Gunn agreed as he walked in. "Looking for a new project?"

"Car looking."

"I heard, man. That sucked."

"Yup. TJ picked out a few I should look at but we know I know nothing about engines."

Gunn nodded with a grin. "We know."

"I'll call my sister to meet you in about two hours, Harris."

"Thanks. Let me know where. I've got my phone." He shook hands with him. "Later, guys." He left, going back to the car. "Two hours."

"That's a good amount of time for lunch," he agreed. He had slid over to drive. Xander buckled in and they drove off, going to a nice restaurant for an early light lunch. The valet sneered at the car. "It's a rental," TJ said dryly. The sneer didn't ease. It did when Xander got out of the car. They went in to get something light and easy and talk about things. TJ was certain Xander needed to have better clothes as well as a car. Xander liked his style but TJ was insistent that he at least get a few new shirts. They could do that later that night.

***

Atlantia, the young mechanic, walked into her big brother's hangout, shaking her head. "The hipper one has good taste but his boyfriend is so confused."

"Xander is often confused," her brother said. "He's goofy too."

She smiled. "That part was cute. Even TJ grinned at him being goofy and going into evil genius overlord sort of speeches." She settled on a couch. "He got a used Jag for the status ride and a slightly older navigator for the practical riding around in."

"Not bad choices," her brother agreed. "Pretty hip."

"Nice but a bit fussy. TJ was seriously into the features." Her brother nodded. "Who is he anyway?"

"You seen that lady that's running for Prez? Her youngest son."

"Really? Wow. Don't we bother her?"

"No. She seems to appreciate Xander. TJ said his grandmother was one of those but his mom seems to have sense."

"The one his dad was saying he died and he didn't?"

Her brother smiled and nodded. "They met that night. Lorne set him at TJ to save his butt."

"Lorne has good taste. They're cute together." Her brother nodded. "Also, he said to tell Gunn to tell him what the holiday list was."

"Gunn?" he yelled.

"Yeah?" He came in pulling on a jacket. "They get something useful?"

"The navigator will be. The Jag's just for pretty." Gunn rolled his eyes. "He wanted a holiday list?"

"He's the guy that donates all the toys."

"That's sweet of him." She smiled. "Both are dark blue. Xander insisted. Plus feeding me dinner."

"He's good that way," Gunn agreed. "He does for others. He could be a lot more stuck up. Thankfully he's brought TJ into that." He smirked. "Going on patrol."

"Be safe," Atlantia said with a wave. Her brother went with Gunn and she went home to eat her excellent dinner. TJ had great taste in food.

***

Xander looked up from frolicking in the pool when his phone went off. He climbed out to activate the security system, staring at it. "TJ, do you know this old lady?" he asked.

TJ came over to look. "That's my grandmother. You should probably let her in even if she will bitch." He grabbed a towel while Xander opened the gate from his phone, then he grabbed a towel too. They went inside, going to the kitchen for Xander to make sure they had things in there for snacks. TJ opened the door, staring at his grandmother as she got out of the hired car. "Grandmother." He kissed her cheek when she got closer.

"Is the fountain broken?"

"He patched it earlier this week now we have to seal it and then it'll be fully fixed. So by next week."

"I suppose those things happen when you move into a new house." She walked in and looked around, nodding. "Along with painting."

"The last owner had a huge fascination with the color white," Xander said as he came out of the kitchen with glasses of ice water. "I have add ins if you wanted lemon, limes, or tea mix."

"Thank you, young man." She looked him over.

He smirked. "There's tapes online of me stripping when I was younger if you're that interested," he snarked, making her smirk at him. "As for painting, we've agreed to leave this room mostly alone since we hardly ever use it. We're out by the pool if you'd like to join us."

"Of course." She followed them outside to the covered seats. "You actually run your pool with the current drought?"

"I have a low loss of water system installed. I only really lose some from evaporation. Plus I bought the initial trucks of water to fill it instead of using city water. The city water engineer praised me for the low flow and loss system I use on all the houses I've done." She nodded, sipping her water and putting it aside.

"If we didn't, we'd probably leave it empty," TJ agreed. "The drought is pretty bad."

Xander nodded. "It is. Higher in the state is better on that problem but down here it's miserable." He grinned at TJ. "The cabin in Tahoe sold to the second person that looked at it, and she wanted to redo a lot of things so I gave her credit to do some of that."

"That's great news," TJ agreed. "Are you going to pick up another house here in town?"

"Not right now. The local community's pretty saturated and no one's really thinking about moving. That new house might go to someone more normal, not sure yet. I haven't checked on the one who offered for it in the current shape. They wanted to be able to pick out all the finishes and would pay above what we have for the basic fixing. The contractor agreed it'd be fine and I signed with her late last night by computer. We'll get the official paperwork tomorrow sometime." TJ smiled at him. "So yeah, maybe no more flipping houses for a bit."

"You could use all that spare cash to finish fixing up around here," TJ's grandmother said, looking around. "The landscaping is a bit sparse."

"It's desert landscaping mostly with a few prettier bushes," Xander said. "I don't really like flowers or fussy landscaping anyway. The same as I left the other acre of land free to grow."

"We have two acres?" TJ asked, looking around. "Does the house take up a full acre?"

"Yeah, and we have almost three acres total. The house takes up just over an acre total, the stuff back here takes up the rest of that one. The driveway takes up about a quarter of one all told and the rest is the stuff that guy complains about."

TJ nodded. "That makes good sense." He looked around. "What about some evergreen things?"

"We're in Cali, TJ. Things grow year round out here." He smiled. "And evergreens take a lot more water. There's some desert versions and I've got one bush coming for that bare spot by the other pool."

"What about a christmas tree?" TJ's grandmother demanded.

Xander looked at her. "I tend to do a live tree that can be replanted at a tree farm. I didn't do more than that last year but we do decorate." He looked at TJ. "Did you want something other than that?"

"Party?" he asked.

"Not on your life," Xander said dryly, smiling at him. "You know I don't like people that much, dear."

"I know."

"There's a number of holiday parties I had planning on going to. I've already sent back the RSVP card on three of the ten. Those three are charity ones for kids."

TJ nodded. "Those are good things. The other ones?"

"Mostly just people who throw parties. I've been to their other parties. Another one from the neighbors on the right." He pointed.

TJ considered it. "Is that one person from the other neighborhood that complained about us being together and you being you going to be there?"

"Probably. I asked if she wanted us to be there knowing that she'd probably complain again. She's one that rolled her eyes at the lady the last time."

"Hmm. We can if you're comfortable with it," TJ decided.

Xander smiled. "I'm not uncomfortable with it but I don't want someone to make a scene about me being there."

"Point. Up to you. I can tag along if you want."

"That's a great thing. You make some of those boring parties fun. Usually I hang out in a corner watching people act weird or dumb." He looked at his phone when it beeped, opening the side gate. "The lady who can look at the pool area," he said quietly. He smiled at her. "Hi, welcome to our home."

She stared at Xander. "It's indecent how you two run around semi clothed, young man."

Xander stared at her. "It's not like we have kids who are here or can look in here. I'm twenty-five, ma'am. I'm in my naked fun years. If there were kids who could look in I might take that into consideration but you don't have kids and only your house looks into our yard."

TJ looked at her, staring over the top edge of his sunglasses. "Are you more huffy about him being naked and frolicking or because I'm a guy?"

"I have no problem with you two being together, young man, but I didn't want to see it when I'm trying to sleep!"

"We can frolic during the daytime," Xander offered with a smile.

"Good! Do so! At least leave me decent sleep hours! Your lights flash a bit you know." She left with a sniff of distaste.

Xander looked at TJ, who shrugged. "We can frolic in the daytime?"

"Sure, we can do that."

"Don't stop on my account," TJ's grandmother quipped, sipping her water.

Xander grinned at her. "If TJ wants to have sex in front of you, he's a big boy and he can ask me to debauch him thoroughly and loudly." She choked and spluttered.

"I don't mind an audience sometimes," TJ admitted, smirking at his boyfriend. "But not in front of my family, Xander."

"Sure, I get that." He sipped his own water.

"Not his family as well?" she asked her grandson.

"His family aren't anywhere that I can find them to berate them for being dicks," he said bluntly, staring at her. "Thankfully."

Xander nodded. "I'm hoping that if they got eaten by a vampire, that one enjoyed his drunk times from them." He took another drink and put the glass down.

"What about your last client?" TJ asked. "I know you were working late last night."

"I got it done and I let them know they could pick it up. I haven't heard anything yet and their request didn't say to bring it to them. If I don't hear from them today I'll try to call again in the morning." TJ nodded. "It was a private residence being warded."

"I'd guess that'd be a good thing," she said dryly.

"He's a bit worried that something will break in," Xander said with a shrug. "Also some fire wards and warnings to add to his security system."

"That's great fun," she said, looking at her grandson again. "Are you hanging out here all winter?"

"I haven't decided yet," TJ admitted, looking at Xander, who shrugged.

"I leave that up to you. We are dating but I'm not that clingy," Xander quipped. "I don't have leash rights."

"True, we're not like that," TJ agreed. "Am I needed back home more often? I fly back about once a month."

"I thought your club might need more delicate handling as it's become popular."

TJ shook his head. "I'm not sure if I'm not selling my portion to my co-owners and maybe opening one out here instead. It's a lot less stress out here in some ways."

"We have more shallow people," Xander said. "But they like to club more than out in DC probably. It seems to be a career out here."

TJ nodded. "We've seen that."

His grandmother shook her head. "That's a bad thing. Don't they work?"

"For some, that is their work," Xander said. "Even if they have mundane jobs, being seen among the right sort gives them a leg up at work."

"It's like politics light but it's about money instead of influence," TJ told her. "The ones with the most money in the younger years spend a lot of time clubbing to be seen."

"Some don't," Xander said. "But they also have sense and usually realize they'll have to someday take over. There's even heiresses that don't wear trashy clothes and carry around purse dogs." TJ laughed, grinning at him. "Seriously! I met one at the store. No purse dog, a real outfit that covered her ass and boobs. She went to Stanford, it was on her keychain sticking out of her purse and I pointed out it was sticking out in case it got stolen. She just smiled and thanked me politely."

"Wow. We need more of those," TJ said.

His grandmother looked at him. "In the old days you would've been married off to one of those."

"I'm sure many were but in those days, Mom wouldn't have been in politics either."

"True." She sipped her water. "This is a pretty area, boys."

"Thank you," Xander said.

"You didn't put his name on the house?"

"He's not ready to co-own with me," Xander said, staring at her. "We're not even ready for a shared pet yet."

"That's reasonable I suppose. What happens if you break up?"

"I have the feeling we'll be the friendly sort even if we do," Xander said with a shrug. "I still like most of my true exes, though not all my one night stands. I still talk to a great many of them." She stared at him. He smiled. "I'm not innocent by any means and like most people that do dangerous things I play hard whenever I need to. Even if we break up, TJ knows he's always welcome in my house unless we break up for something like abuse."

"Good. He could use that stability."

"Grams," TJ warned.

"You could."

Xander nodded. "Everyone could use stability in their lives. It what makes us free to have fun without worrying so much," he said. "If I give that to TJ I'm happy to do it. He does that with me and I know it doesn't worry him any."

She nodded. "That's a very prosaic viewpoint. Very realistic of you as well." She finished her water. "Are we having dinner in?"

"I planned on doing burgers," Xander admitted, looking at TJ again. He got a shrug back. "We can add on another burger if you wanted to join us for that."

"I can do that. Let me go rest so you two can have more fun. It was a very long flight." She got up and TJ showed her to a guest room. It was pretty, well decorated but simplistic. Clearly the first guest in it since the bed was still decorated with pillows like the decorator had done it. She took a quick shower and laid down for a bit. She'd see how well this young man did with her grandson. Maybe he'd be worthy. Her daughter thought so.

Xander kissed TJ when he came back, smiling at him. "At least she hasn't tried to produce a shovel yet."

He poked Xander on the arm. "No shovels needed, Xander. I'm my own man and I can make my own decisions."

"I know you can. You're greatly sexy when you do."

TJ smirked. "You're very see through."

"So I am. I like myself this way. Don't you?"

"A lot." He pounced this time. He never got to spoil Xander the way Xander spoiled him but this time it'd wear out some of the stress his grandmother was causing.

***

Buffy showed up a few days later, giving the older lady that answered the door a strange look. "Isn't Xander at home?" she asked.

"He's out in his work area. TJ, do you know this young chippie?"

TJ came out of the family room. "Hey, Buffy. This is my grandmother."

"Oh, hi." She waved. TJ let her in. "I need to warn Xander."

"More hunters?" he asked.

"Worse."

"Battle?"

"Worse." She winced. "It's a Willow issue."

"Oh, dear." He led her out to the work area, knocking on the door until Xander came out to answer it. "She said Willow's done something." He walked off.

"She's a bit of fluffy nothingness," his grandmother complained, taking a drink.

"That's the senior slayer, Grandmother. I doubt that. Occasionally an airhead but she's got a lot of strength in all meanings of the word." She grimaced. "You get to know people like that when you're around Xander." He walked off.

Xander looked at Buffy. "I'd let you in but the security system will eat you. Literally. What's she done this time?"

She winced, looking down then at him again. "She found your parents." She stepped back quickly.

Xander just stared at her. "What?"

"She found your parents."

"They're alive? That's weird." He leaned on the doorway.

"She's told them that you made money before you were eighteen."

"That doesn't mean they're entitled to it but of course they'll try." She nodded, wincing again. "I'm not mad at you but if you see the redheaded bitch, can you stake her a tiny bit?"

"She's human. You know I can't hurt humans, Xander. I'll ask Connor though. She showed up last night."

"No, I want her out of LA. She's a menace to the community."

"The city council sort for the demon community ordered her to leave and she just snorted."

Xander nodded, walking off. "Give me a second to get something from the vault." She shuddered but waited while he came out with a pretty little bottle. He grinned. "I have a few potions that will make sure she's not a problem."

"Will it kill her?"

"Kill the magic."

"That might be okay. I hate losing friends, Xander," she said quietly.

He nodded. "I know." He walked off with her. "Let me put on clothes." He walked inside, handing TJ the bottle. "Don't open that."

"Okay, I won't. Is it a potion?"

"Yeah. Rosenburg found my parents."

"Oh, shit," TJ muttered, looking at Buffy. "How bad?"

"She told them he made money before he was eighteen."

"So a lawsuit to get their drunken paws on his money," TJ said. She nodded. "Are they in town?"

"I didn't ask. The community's council thingy showed up to try to drive Willow out of the city. They consider her a menace."

"Us too," TJ quipped. Xander came out pulling on a t-shirt over his usual hunting jeans, so TJ handed back the bottle, taking a kiss. "Don't get too hurt?" he asked, staring at him.

"If at all possible." He smiled and took a second kiss. "Relax. I've got it. If anyone you don't know shows up, my mother looks almost exactly like me, we only talk to lawyers we know, and anyone with the community tell them to call my cellphone." TJ nodded. Xander took his keys to the Navigator and walked out with Buffy beside him. "I've done more protection wards on this one since I figured I'd be taking it to battles," he said as he got in.

"That's sensible." She had to hop to get into her seat but did and buckled up. Xander drove off, being a good driver. Much better than she was at it. They went to the demon community house, parking outside and going in. Buffy followed to see how he handled it.

Xander walked through the crowd, putting the bottle on the table in front of the council. "Permission to use that on the redheaded menace we all face?" he asked with a grin.

The head of the council picked up the bottle to look at it through the light. "That's nicely done, Xander. You have a good hand with potions." She put it back down. "Isn't that drastic?"

"She's causing harm on purpose to me and the LA team. Frankly, if I have to see my blood parents I'll probably need bail money."

The head of the council nodded at that. "I can see why with that information. We know she is causing problems."

"I can solve some of that but it won't solve the hacking or anything else. Though that does tell me who had tried to hack into my accounts recently. We turned that hacking into the government." She smiled and stood up to pat him on the head. "What is my damage limit?"

"Don't need bail money. It will look bad on you. We will help." The demons in there all nodded. "We were sending an emissary to Gunn to talk about her."

"I can call him," Buffy said. "Because I like being her friend but not the Willow she is now. She's kinda creepy and bad." She called. "Gunn, me. We need you and Connor at the Community House." She listened. "What do you mean you're being held hostage by Willow? Um..." She looked at the head of the community.

"Let the humans handle it," Xander suggested. "That way maybe she learns. And if she does something to them they will keep her this time. She's presently facing charges anyway so she's violating her bail."

The councilors looked at each other. "We have members among the local police."

"Do we have someone in SWAT?" Xander asked.

"Bit extreme, Xander, and there's kids there," Buffy warned. "They're at the shelter."

"SWAT teams have special protections," he told her.

"Still, they could hurt Gunn's people. Can we do it?"

"I can do it," he assured her with a smile. "With some of Gunn's people." She sighed in relief and nodded. He looked at the Councilors, who all nodded. "I can do that."

"Take the potion in case you need it, Harris," one said quietly. "She embarrasses them as well."

Xander nodded. "I can do that too." He looked at Buffy.

"I'm staying here," she said, holding up a hand. "Faith's somewhere. I can't reach her by phone. I tried when I hung up."

"Okay." He left, going to Gunn's people. He rolled up next to a few of them and rolled down the window. "Earnest," he said.

"Don't call me that!" he complained, glaring at Xander.

"Sorry, E-Boy, Willow has Gunn and part of the shelter hostage."

"Excuse me?" he demanded, drawing attention. "That batty witch has what?"

"Gunn and parts of the shelter hostage. We're not sure how many. Yet. The community wanted her taken out of the way but not killed. She's embarrassing them too."

"She needs a swift kick."

"Yeah, and I have a potion that'll stop that shit. I need some help though."

"You got it." He called out, heading for the coffee shop they were hearing problems at today. "Guys, Harris is here. The redhead has the shelter hostage." The gang members got up and paid for their stuff then went to join him in the car. A few had to sit in the trunk area but that was all right. They got there and found officers. "Guys, this is a shelter we run and protect," E-Boy said.

Xander got out and nodded at one. "She's a witch and a magic addict."

"She's on bail and violating it," that officer said.

"Good, you can have her back once we've freed the shelter."

"We're LAPD, sir."

"She's got magic. She's on bail for turning an officer into a puppy. The community is embarrassed by her. They want her back in jail but not with magic."

"Can you?"

"I have a potion for that." He smiled. "These are Gunn's people."

"We're aware," another one said. "We can help." They got what they needed, one of the gang holding onto the potion. They moved in with the gang members in front to get the shelter residents out of harm's way. Xander went right for the main area of the shelter they were probably near. They were in the dining hall and people were lining up outside. Xander pointed and an officer went to guard those ones and get them out of the way of thrown spells. The gang got with Xander and he nodded. They walked in and found Willow arguing with Faith.

"I don't care, it's still wrong!" Faith shouted. "You're hurting people! You know that's against the rules!"

"You're one to speak," Willow sneered.

"Oh, no, that's my job," Xander sneered. She threw a spell at him and his protections held. He stared at her. She huffed and threw more. He hit her, knocking her into a wall. She screamed and came up with full magic to hit him. It hurt him, he grunted in pain, but the potion hit her before she could try a second hit. She shrieked and held her stomach as it leached out her magic. Xander rubbed his chest, sighing as he looked at Faith. "You got free?"

"I got back ten minutes ago. B's text had a 911 code."

"Yeah, she was."

"I can tell." She looked at the officers. "I didn't help her."

"We were watching when you got here, Miss Lehane. We know that," one assured her. "We watch over the group in case someone tries to use them as a more traditional gang, and so we know when we're about to have huge problems."

"We tell you guys now," Gunn said, letting Xander untie him. "I promise we do."

"Two gun running gangs from South America tried to get a few of your people to help them," one of the officers said. "They said no but we're worried since you guys aren't meant to fight that sort."

"That's fine. We don't do too much that's wrong," Gunn said, standing up. They got the rest of the hostages free. "Thanks, guys, and Faith." She smirked.

"Lunch line is lined up," one of the guys called. The helpers went to work on that with Faith's help since she wasn't in trouble.

Xander walked over to the officers. "The potion will keep her magic from her for six weeks. She's got an extreme addiction to her magic. The coven she was working with was supposed to help her deal with that and has apparently made it worse. Her parents are shrinks who travel a ton."

"We can put her in for help, sir. I'm not sure if a rehab center will help with that sort of thing."

"No but a damn good spanking might," one of the gang said. "She thinks she's the Goddess and it's her way or wrong. She tried to correct an older lady who's been cooking since she was ten about how to make southern food."

"Willow can bake but not fry or things," Xander said. "The last I knew she could do simple things that would keep her fed while her parents traveled for months." He looked back at that guy. "She tried to tell Mama Celeste how to cook?"

"Worse, Nanny Abraham."

"Oooh." Xander winced. "She's lucky she wasn't beaten."

"She did but Willow tried to magic her. Thankfully she had on a protection. By the way, thanks."

"Welcome. Be damned if I want her to do it to anyone." He looked at the officers. "The community tried to have her banished earlier. They're really embarrassed by her."

"We can keep her this time. She violated her bail." They picked Willow up. "Any physical problems we'll have to have her treated for?"

"It just detoxed all her magic from her," Xander said. "I'm told that's like coming down from any street drug."

"Got it. We can handle that." They walked her off telling her her rights.

Xander sat down, looking up at Gunn. "You're going to the ER, white boy." Gunn smirked. "Don't think I don't realize you're in a lot of pain. Don't make me tell TJ to nag."

"His grandmother's in. She thinks scotch goes with breakfast."

Gunn nodded. "Charming."

"No, charming was Willow tried to hack my accounts and told my parents where I am."

"If we see 'em, we'll warn you," Gunn quipped. "Guys, get Xander to an ER."

"Can they actually handle that?" Xander asked. "I was going to the healer down by the Community House."

"That'll work too." They took Xander's keys and drove him down there. It was sweet of them. Gunn looked around. "Anyone need a healer or a doc?" he asked. They shook their heads. "Okay, let's get back to the normal stuff while we calm down. Let's hope she won't be back." They opened the door for the lunch line group. "Sorry, people. Had a bit of a witch problem today. LAPD has her well in claw for now." He let them come in to get food.

***

TJ came down to the healer's office, staring at his mate, who was obediently behaving. "A huge problem?"

"He'll have some pain surges for the next few days," the healer said, smiling at him. "He took a full blast of black magic to the chest. His protections held, mostly, but they were meant to take on something the power of a witch or a sorcerer, not a Goddess. So he'll have some pain. He has a bruise. I don't want him to drive just in case he gets wobbly. He nearly passed out earlier when the pain overwhelmed him for a moment. Baby him for the next two days?"

"Any meds I need to make sure he takes?"

"No. We have drained it, TJ. You're a good man." She patted him and left them to get Xander home.

Xander looked at him. "It held through the first two then I made her mad. She's in custody."

"Good! Before I have to beat her myself." Xander smiled. "C'mon, I cabbed so I could drive you home. We can have dinner in bed tonight." He helped Xander out to the navigator.

"Can we lock the bar tonight so we don't have to listen to her sing?" Xander asked quietly once TJ got in to drive.

"Yeah, I can cut her off tonight, Xander. It's not a problem. You need to rest." Xander nodded, tipping his seat back. TJ drove them home, settling Xander into bed for now. He went to talk to his grandmother. "Grams, he needs quiet tonight. Whatever she hit him with caused a lot of pain but no damage."

"I can give you two privacy." She finished her drink.

"You were signing loudly enough last night that you interrupted us having sex."

She smirked. "Then it clearly wasn't good enough."

"I nearly had a heart attack, it was great, you were loud. And off-key." He stared at her. "Thanks." He walked off to make them dinner. His grandmother's could go with her wherever she ended up tonight, as long as it wasn't his piano room again. He had locked her out of it after the first time she had tried to play it on him.

***

The next morning, Xander, who hadn't been able to sleep, and TJ, who had just gotten to sleep, were listening to his grandmother being a horrible guest. TJ groaned so Xander took his phone and found a contact to send a message to. "TJ's mother, can you please recall your loudly singing, overly drunk mother so TJ and I can get some sleep? I'm recovering from an injury." He sent it with a thirty second recording of her noise.

TJ blinked at Xander. "Who did you send a message to?"

"Your mom. Asking her to please recall her."

"I'm about to kick her out," TJ agreed. He cuddled, taking his phone to read the message. He sent his own as well. His mother sent back one saying she'd make up some need for her to come back to DC and for them to rest. "Do you need to work today?"

"I need to finish that set," Xander admitted then he yawned. "It's due in two days. I gave myself an extra day, I usually do."

"Good. We can rest for another three hours then." They both drifted off to the noise she was making. They missed the officers showing up to tell her to shut up thanks to the nearest neighbor. The officer woke TJ up by opening the door. TJ glared at him. "She's my grandmother and my mother wants her back in DC. Can you make her go? He needs to rest and I haven't gotten any sleep either."

"We could ticket her for the noise."

"I asked her to keep it down last night, that's why she got so loudly drunk," TJ said. "Good luck with that."

"I hate drunks," Xander said, blinking at the officer. "I grew up with drunks. I left that when I was seventeen, I've had nothing but nightmares thanks to her. I may love TJ but she's not going to make me give him up. Can you call her a cab too?"

"I can do that, sir." The officer walked off. "Ma'am, your in-law said he's tired, he's in pain, and you're being asked to leave." She huffed. "Your grandson said you're wanted back in DC anyway. Your choice is to go or to get a ticket and an overnight in the drunk tank. Since that'll mean seeing a judge tomorrow at ten am and it's barely eight right now do you really want to have all day as our guest?"

"I don't believe the nerve of him."

"Ma'am, they both know what you were trying to do and the in-law said that not even you're enough to make him give up his boyfriend," the other officer said. "Up to you which one you want to do. We'd get a break to fill out the forms to arrest you. Or you can call a cab."

She sneered and got another drink. "I'm allowed here. This is my grandson's house."

TJ walked out wearing only his boxer briefs. "Sorry, Grams, but it's Xander's house. I'm not ready to own anything with him, much less a full house. We're not even ready for fish yet." She stomped off in a huff. "I'll tell Mom to expect your call for a ride from the airport." She threw something at him. "Never mind."

"She just threw a vase that has an imp trapped in it," Xander called. "Make sure it doesn't follow you home to cause problems."

"That's a great reason," the second officer said, grabbing her to cuff her. TJ got her bag packed quickly and handed it to them with a smile. "Thank you, sir. For the records, I'll need your names."

"I'm TJ Hammond and that's my boyfriend Xander Harris. He was injured yesterday fighting with Rosenburg."

"We've heard about her. Good luck, sir, and at least he's not an animal. The witches that tried to get her free turned some of the prison officers into lizards and cats."

Xander came out to look at him. "There's a group in town that can demagic them," he said. "Let me get you their address and phone number." He went to his office and came back with a set of notes and that information. "That'll help too."

"Thank you, sir." They left, going back to the station with her. "So drunk she threw a vase at us when the owner asked for her to leave for the drunken behavior and it contained an imp."

The booking sergeant nodded. "Sounds like a good idea to me." He did the forms and took her through the system. He recognized that name, someone would be after her eventually. Though being an alcoholic was fashionable in some circles so he guessed it wasn't the scandal it had been during the Kennedy or Clinton eras.

***

A few hours later in DC, TJ's brother got an email from an address he didn't recognize but it was about his grandmother and had 'lapd' in the address. He opened it to see the booking photos and sheets. "Aw, damn it, TJ," he complained. He carried his laptop into his mother's office, letting her see it.

She nodded. "She had been causing stress on purpose. They both asked me to recall her to DC this morning. Then she made an ass out of herself by assaulting an officer who the neighbors had called to tell her to shut up." She showed him the full file. He rolled his eyes. "I wouldn't want her there either."

"People drink, he should get used to that," he complained.

"He's too used to it, and TJ hardly ever drinks around him thanks to his parents being drunks." She stared at her son. "You're judgmental and I like him with Xander. Xander actually supports TJ and gets him to do things to help him. Xander's not political, though he has threatened to start it if people don't leave him alone." Her first born son grimaced. "He's a nice young man and I appreciate Xander. My mother needs her head put back on straight." She played that clip of her mother singing off key at eight in the morning.

"That's loud."

"He's far enough away from the neighbors that they could hold a college frat party in the house and they wouldn't hear. If they could hear her...."

"Point. Still, he had her arrested."

"She had herself arrested by throwing a vase at the officers."

"Oh. Who do you want me to send to bail her out?"

"I'm not. She'll quietly get herself free and come home to behave again. Hopefully with a full apology to the boys."

"Fine. Should I send her a plane ticket?"

"TJ wrote once he got up. He had one sent over for her. It's waiting with her suitcase."

"Charming." He walked off shaking his head. He called their campaign's media person to let them know. She had a good laugh about TJ taking out the old harridan as she called her. So maybe it wouldn't look too badly on their mother.

***

Xander walked down to the gateway, staring at the lawyer waiting out there. "I don't think you're going to come into my residence," he said bluntly. "My protections would stop you from entering anyway. So what do you want, Wolfram and Hart lawyer?"

The man blinked at him. "You know of us?"

"I'm the same Xander that used to hunt beside Buffy in Sunnydale." The man blinked a few times. "I also fought your higher up's invasion ideas." He stared at him. "You're not crossing my gates."

"It won't obligate you, sir." He smiled.

Xander smirked. "Watch me destroy you with my wards, dude. Spit it the fuck out."

"Your parents have hired me."

"Good luck making them pay."

"They want what's rightfully theirs."

"There's no rightfully theirs."

"You came up with that idea under their roof as a minor."

"Yeah, not likely. I put out the first genie kit after I left. Sorry."

"I... You put out what?"

Xander smirked. "Go look me up." He stared at him. "Beyond that, my parents aren't getting a damn cent from me. Even if I paid them off to go the fuck away, I'd have them killed and eaten. Frankly, they're embarrassing the human race."

"You're not fully human," the lawyer sneered.

"I am fully human. I got exposed to mermaid taint in high school. If you don't believe me, ask Slayer Summers." The man blinked a few times, backing up. "Yeah, I'm *that* Xander." He smirked. "You have a better day before I hire a few dozen lawyers to come stomp on you like you're a fun toy."

"You put out that kit that made someone eat that mayor."

"Yup, I am that guy. That's how I fight apocalypse battles now. Now, you're taking me from my paying job. You have a great day somewhere else. And remember, don't come near the hunters. We get pissy about that." He closed the gate and walked off.

"I can make them settle for very little," he called after him.

"Unless you want me to have you eaten too, I'd flee in terror before I become the greatest evil ever told."

"I don't want to have to screw that mood out of you, Xander," TJ complained from the front door. "Just have someone eat the lawyer. That's all he's good for."

Xander took a kiss with a grin. "Actually, he's worth twenty grand from the FBI." He smiled. TJ looked up their number to call, sending the agent he talked to a picture of the guy from the gate camera. They found him that afternoon by chasing his car. TJ had the nice reward money within a few hours because they had found a few others that had been part of that law firm meeting with that first one.

***

"God damn it," TJ complained loudly.

"God bless you," Xander chirped from his office.

"I didn't sneeze," TJ complained, heading that way.

"It's to get the demons out of your head when they fly in during sneezes. I figured it'd send the ones that just took up residence too."

TJ gave him an odd look then sighed and shook his head. "That wasn't why I was swearing, Xander. I locked my music room from the inside and I can't get in. I didn't think about that when I was locking it away from Grams."

Xander dug out the key ring in the desk to toss over. "I had one made so I could sneak in and stalk you if you were hiding from my manly desires." He smiled.

"I might hide from the goofy moments but not from sex." He went to unlock the door then brought the keys back. "Thanks." He took a kiss.

"Welcome. My client's coming in about thirty minutes."

"That's fine. I'll be down there." He went back down there.

Xander finished pulling together his research and working on the outline of the template he'd need. His client was shady and would probably try to kill him instead of paying him but oh well. He had that problem fixed as well. That's why he was more picky about who he did wards and protections for. Sure, he could be evil sometimes but he wasn't a criminal.

***

TJ went home for a few weeks and nearly sighed in pleasure when he got off the plane. He went to his mother's office, ignoring his glaring brother. "I'm back."

"I can tell. You look tanned and happy." She kissed him on the cheek. "How is it going?"

"We're good together but I got home and it was like a weight came off me." He looked around then at her.

"You got that from your father."

"Great," he said dryly.

"Settling down drives some people nuts, TJ. I'm sure Xander knows that too."

"He's told me even if we break up for anything less than abuse I'd still be welcome back. A lot of people don't understand him so he doesn't really go out around people."

"Which means you can't ogle the others," she said.

"I didn't want that part of the heritage."

"Hmm. It's been eight months since you met him." He blinked, frowning some. She smiled and nodded. "That's longer than your father has ever held out. He couldn't go five months."

"That's good then, but I don't feel cooped up. When I'm there, sometimes I'm bored. I keep dragging him out of the house. He'd never been to a real zoo before. Just a short time at the one in Sunnydale for a class trip that got him possessed."

"Parents like his are like that." She fussed with his hair, making him frown and duck away. She laughed. "You're good to him, TJ, and I'm pretty sure he knows you've got at least a wandering eye. The fact that it doesn't feel constricting while you're there is a better sign."

"I know, but it's still weird. I'm not sure I can imagine years."

"So don't. Imagine a single year, which is in four months."

"That I can see."

"Some people plan for decades. Some people plan for weeks or months. Like sobriety, at first you count days then you count months."

"Yeah, I get that." He looked around then at her. "Sorry about Grams."

"I would've had her thrown out before then. She said she was blatantly trying to break you two up and she'll probably try again when we have dinner."

"She thinks I'm looking bad on you?"

"She's always thought you should do the more politically correct thing and have a trophy spouse that you play around on with your boyfriends."

"Xander can't be a trophy spouse. He works too much."

She nodded. "That happens at times. Does he let you take him out to play?"

"Sometimes he even suggests it because he's bored."

"That's wonderful."

"Thanks. Did you have these things with Dad?"

"A few times I wondered why I hadn't caved his skull in but by then it was too late, the wedding was already planned and mostly paid for." She grimaced, staring at him. He burst out laughing. "Seriously. The first time he cheated on me was six days before the wedding. He called it his last bachelor fling. I bought a shotgun and registered it then blatantly put it beside the bed once we got back from the honeymoon. He lasted four months." She rolled her eyes. "He wasn't the right one for me. We all knew that. You know when you've found one."

"How?"

"If you had to be stranded somewhere, would you want him with you?"

He considered it. "He gets bored and bouncy then has to do physical things. Plus he'd make sure we survived. I guess I would."

"If it was a fully stocked house in paradise but it was just you and one person?"

"I...." He considered it then shrugged. "I might. Yeah. He's ...there's some things that drive me nuts."

"That's love, my son. It happens to all of us." She smiled. "Don't listen to your father or grandmother. Be happy. I'm happy if you're a happy son."

"I'm a mostly happy son. His parents tried something in public and Xander sent them packing with a few snide words in their direction. The party we were at was most amused."

"They know about parents like that too. They happen all too often at our levels."

"Point. Thanks, Mom. Dinner tomorrow?"

"Dinner tonight?" she suggested with a smile.

"I was going to go out clubbing tonight."

"Your ex, the one that hid you like you were a dirty secret, got outed. He's looking to take you out so you can't talk about you two." He grimaced. "One of your friends called me to tell me he's been asking about you so he can remind you not to talk about your relationship."

"He's the sort of guy to drug me too," he said. She nodded. "Sure, dinner tonight." He smiled. "And maybe I'll think about selling the loft."

She smiled. "You could get something slightly nicer."

"For what my loft is worth I could almost buy up the street from Xander's house. That way I had my own area to chill out and relax in."

"Did you pay the taxes on it?" his brother asked from the doorway. "We've been told someone put a foreclosure paper on the doorway."

"I doubt that. I didn't have a loan or HOA dues." He left, going to his place to straighten that out. His mother's lawyer went with him to the bank to prove to them he hadn't taken out any sort of loan through them. High priced lawyers helped everything.

***

Xander looked at the people who came up to him at the restaurant they had chosen. Not that Xander was going to be paying for their lunches. They had their new lawyer with them. Xander stared at him. "At least you're not Wolfram and Hart like the last guy," he said dryly.

"I heard they got turned in by you."

"My boyfriend actually." He grinned. "He was most happy to help with that so they couldn't do another invasion." They sat down across from him. "You called this meeting."

"No legal representative today?" the lawyer asked.

Xander laughed. "I don't need one for this." The lawyer smirked. "Because they have not a legal leg to stand on."

"You were living with them when you made that first kit."

"No I wasn't. For that matter I didn't really live with them in a meaningful way for about two years before then. I slept at other places because of their drinking problem." The lawyer grimaced. "They can't prove I was ever there. The only things that came to their address for me was my medical card and any DHHR paperwork that may have been sent. The rest of it was sent to my rented PO Box. I rented it when I was sixteen."

"They won't allow you to do that."

"Sunnydale was a small town," Xander told him. "Everyone knew about their drinking problems. For that matter, state law didn't often apply in Sunnydale thanks to the old mayor." He grinned. "He didn't see a problem with it. Told the postal worker bluntly that I was probably ordering nudie magazines that I didn't want my drunk of a father or uncle to steal. Considering at that point in time he had nine DUI's that they did nothing about beyond probation they all knew about my family. My uncle had thirteen before they finally made him quit driving the ambulance. Mostly while driving the ambulance."

The lawyer winced. "That seems wrong."

"Welcome to Sunnydale's legal system," Xander said, getting comfortable. "Second, even if I had made money while underage, they are not legally entitled to any of it."

"They have a signed contract."

"Which would be illegal," Xander said. "Secondly, not even close. I never signed a single thing in my name for them." The lawyer presented it. Xander pulled out something to let him see the signature. "I faked theirs often enough to know that my father signed both of those. Not like they signed school paperwork or the paperwork I needed for after school jobs."

He compared the two signatures. "Hmm, that is similar. When did you sign this?" Xander flipped it over to point at the date. "I see it was signed later that year."

Xander nodded. "It was, yes." He smiled. "By the way, I've already moved from that apartment. That way they can't bother the current residents. They tried a few times even though their last lawyer found my current address somehow."

"They could've wanted a chat with their long lost son."

"Their son doesn't want a thing to do with them," Xander said bluntly. "I probably never will. Why would I want to be associated with such addicted people?"

"Your boyfriend drinks."

"Not around me. A few in the club and he's mostly sober by the time we get home. He knows how I feel about that and why."

"You owe us," his mother sneered.

"I owe you nothing. Ever."

"We raised you. We didn't have to."

"Yet you tried to sell me a few times," Xander said dryly.

"You can't prove that," she smirked.

"Unlike you, I know the value of keeping paperwork from government agencies. I've kept every single paper any agency sent at you about the whole family. That's how you found that sudden bit of paperwork for your medical cards that would've meant you lost it. I didn't want to have to deal with you when you got unhappy. I might've actually fought back. Of course I was eight so nothing would've happened to me if I had picked up that baseball bat that used to sit by the doorway." His father flinched. "Yeah, I'm the one who hid it from you before you used it on her again. Hmm, what a son I was." He looked at the lawyer again.

"We have a request to get the originals of those."

"You can have copies. You won't be getting any originals."

"That won't be good enough."

"Then take me to court. I'm not paying their court costs. Or them." He shrugged and smiled. "Beyond that, you have to have a judge to unlock CPS records first." The lawyer grimaced. "Or the Social Security records. Or the FBI records." The lawyer flinched, staring at him. "They tried to sell me to Armenians once. I have no idea who they were but agents in tacky suits showed up a few days later."

"That was a joke," his father complained. "They knew that."

"Yeah," Xander snorted. "They wouldn't pay the price you wanted them to. I heard you negotiating with them. We taped it. Willow gave it to the FBI. Pity she's now got an addiction."

"So do you," his mother sneered. "Plus unsuitable things like a boyfriend."

"I don't care what you think about my love life, Mother. You weren't asked for an opinion on it. Because I don't care about your opinion. I survived and escaped. Have fun with your life, because I don't care. You're not getting into mine. I'm not paying you off to go away. I'm considering this blackmail."

"That's such a dirty word," the lawyer said. "We prefer proper compensation."

"For being drunk and trying to kill me? I can give them proper compensation." The lawyer's eyes went wide and he scooted back unconsciously. Xander smiled, making himself look relaxed again. "I'll be damned if they're going to try this. You can get a judge. I still won't be paying them."

"Those kits don't work," his mother sneered.

"They do if you follow the instructions. You can't measure, but then again you never could cook. It does take those sort of skills and precision in how you draw the marks. It's a picky art. Almost everyone who's bought one has managed it. If you didn't that's all on you." He stood up. "You guys have a great day. I've had enough. I can't stand that alcohol stink that they're sweating out." He walked off.

"We'll see you in court, Mr. Harris," the lawyer called.

Xander turned and waved with a smile. "You do that." He walked off considering how evil he wanted to be. This was when he missed Cordy. She would've stopped him at a subtle level of evil. Instead he'd have to have some sense of evilness. He spotted a pap and walked over to them. "Which one are you with?" he asked politely.

"I'm not doing anything wrong."

Xander held up a hand. "I'm Xander Harris." The man winced. "And I don't care about you guys unless it's a battle. Then all I ask is you be respectful of any being's injuries on our side and make me look hot if you catch me. No, I have parents who just showed up wanting money."

The photographer put his camera down. "So why come to us?"

"I have them on tape negotiating to sell me when I was eight to some Armenians."

"Um.... Lawyer?"

"I have three." He smiled. "Theirs is a slimy dick and the last one had been Wolfram and Hart before TJ turned them in."

"Jeez. Huh. Um... the TMZ guy is a lawyer and a sleezeball."

Xander smiled. "Think he'd like that?"

"Does your boyfriend know? He might mind all that coming out."

"He's back at home and I don't have anyone to tell me I'm going too evil." He grinned his best good boy grin. "But it won't look like more than me discrediting them for being huge drunken assholes. His grandmother might even laugh her drunken ass off. He suggested I subtly get them away from me."

"Let me call their office to see if they can verify things and put them out there to help you, Mr. Harris. Is there another battle coming?"

"There's always a battle coming next year," Xander said dryly. "Or if Rosenburg gets her magic back before she handles the addiction. Again."

"We heard."

"I felt it. She hit me with black magic. I feel really sorry for her jailmates when she gets it back if she hasn't gotten it under control."

"Us too. I don't think they deserve her even if they're mass murderers," the photog said dryly. Xander nodded he agreed. He pulled out his phone to call. "Hey, I just got walked up to by Mr. Harris, who has drunk parents that just showed up with empty wallets. He's got papers and tapes. Including something that the FBI had to listen to. Yeah, that guy. He's here."

"And all that's at home in the magic vault. There's copies in the bank's safety deposit box so if they have it magiced it won't work," Xander said. Then he chuckled. "They tried that once already. "Pity about the rest of the Wolfram and Hart people."

The photog shivered. "I don't feel much sympathy for them with what they did but that's kinda evil, sir."

"Thank you. The one who would've told me to quit being so evil died before the battle in Sunnydale of her visions. I miss her."

The photog nodded. "I can do that. Can you show them?"

"Of course I can." He grinned. "I'm going home with a quick stop for milk actually. I'm sure he realizes where I live." He walked off.

"Yeah, he knows. Thanks, Mr. Harris."

"Welcome, guys. Thank you." He smirked back before getting into his navigator and driving off.

"He's in full evil mode, man," the photographer complained quietly. "They've totally made him miss the good guy side. Thanks." He hung up and went back to stalking celebrities. He had missed a few but that was fine. There were a lot of them out here today. It was a pretty day for beach sitting and shopping.

***

Gunn called up Xander the next day. "Cordelia would be really upset with how evil you went and Buffy's nearly crying, man. What did you do?"

"My parents wanted paid." Xander smiled at his speaker phone. "They're not happy I'm sure."

"Still too evil, Xander."

"But fun."

"Uh-huh."

"No one's here to tell me I'm too evil. I miss Cordy nagging me about evil."

"I can send someone to take her place," Gunn said. "That way you don't do it again. Oh, and we have realived people."

Xander looked at the phone again. "Are we sure it's them?"

"It's Wes, Xander."

"Oh, charming. The PTB?"

"Yes."

"Buffy tell him to tell them to stick it?"

"Twice now."

"Good. I'd feel the same thing."

"Got it. You coming in soon to help with the necessary winter shopping?"

"Can I just send money?"

"No. Money's great and all but you need out of the house anyway and TJ ordered me to find a way. Come help the kids."

"Yeah, I can be there tomorrow."

"Thanks." He hung up.

Xander got back to work, finishing the new protection necklace he was doing. If it worked for him he'd make one for Gunn's people and Buffy against Willow. He finally sighed and looked at his computer, which was loaded to his sales page at Amazon. He had six new genie kits being offered. He stared then burst out laughing. His parents had bought one of the old ones used. The new six had been sold out already. He decided to put out another three and set up the kits to be mailed out.

The first six were automatically mailed once they were paid for. He had an assistant in a small office that did that. She was protected when she was in there. She was probably the only being that drew demons worse than he did. She wrote back after dinner that she had sent out the other three he had couriered over. That was good and his bank account was more than healthy. Two of those kits worth would go to Gunn's people. They needed it a lot.
Though he found out his parents' lawyer had filed to lock his main account so they could go over that lawsuit. He took it out of another account instead and told his lawyers so they could counter that. They were happy to counter that actually.

***

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