The Golden Queen Series:
The Golden Queen
by Damia

Chapter Six

Allrelen, Earth and Balteiar

Allrelen....

Buffy paced back and forth across the carpeted floor of her huge bedroom later the next evening on Allrelen, arms folded nervously across her now silk covered chest. The weather had warmed up considerately in the last few days and she had resorted to wearing more summery clothing. Looking at herself across the room in a far mirror she had to nod her approval at her appearance. A floor length satan silver sarong with a split up the side that met at her hip showing off her entire leg and toned brown thigh and a high midriff, skin-moulding, green silk top that finished just below her breasts with thin cream straps. Finishing the outfit off with white slave sandals and letting her long curly hair run wild she had to admit she looked very exotic.

But as her sandalled feet tapped gently on the ground as she stopped in the middle of the room near the foot of the bed and let out a haggard breath.

“Buffy, get a grip girl, she’s be fine.” she whispered to herself quietly.

“Of course she will.” a firm voice floated in from the doorway. Buffy spun and found Afraya leaning on the doorframe, looking very professional in his crisp white uniform, watching her intently.

Her beautiful face formed a grateful smile as her dear friend pushed himself of the wall, walked over and gathered her in a warm hug. Buffy put her arms around his neck and hung on tightly.

“When did you get back?” Buffy asked, her voice muffled by his hair. Afraya chuckled, seeing how she was changing the topic of conversation.

“A few hours ago, Captian Asten wanted a debrief before I did anything.”

The Slayer nodded and pulled herself out of his arms far enough to look up at his smiling face. “And your family? Your parents? Are they all well?” she asked, as Afraya had just gotten back from a quick visit to Foltare to see the relatives that he hadn’t seen in years.

He chuckled again. “There all fine, and send you their regards. I’ve got three new nieces and nephews to buy for, so thats a plus.”

Buffy looked delighted, having meet Afraya’s family many times over the years that they had been friend. But looking at him, she just wished that he could have hurried up and have children of his own, he was so great with everybody else’s.

But then the smile vanished from Afraya’s face as he remembered how she had been when he first walked in the room.

“Sita’s there now, Evie. She’ll look after Nimi.” he whispered in her jewel studded ear. Buffy sighed in agreement and eased herself out of Afraya’s embrace and let him lead her over to the far window seat and gently push her down beside him.

She looked up into his kind, light blue face and grinned. “Have you come here to tell me i’m a overprotective, paranoid hypercondreact?” She said it lightly to take the sting out of her harsh words. But she didn’t need to because Afraya simply gave her a sympathetic little smile and gathered her hands in his.

“You a mother, Evie.” he told her lightly. “Honestly? I’d be acting differently if you weren’t acting this way.”

Buffy chucked. “It’s strange though, isn’t it? I never thought I’d get so attached to the girl.” She looked out the window, a far away look in her jade eyes. “I never even thought I’d like being a mother in the first place, but then she comes along and everything changes...” Tears gathered in her eyes. “...She means the world to me.” she whispered to no one as she continued to gaze at the evening Allrelen sunset that was now setting on the horizon.

She barely noticed Afraya giving her bare shoulder a warm squeeze. “We know that, Buffy. We *all* do, and were going to do our best to make sure she stays safe and secure with your friends on Earth.”

Buffy didn’t answer, but let her gaze fall to the Palace courtyard far below the window that they were seated at. There were people running around through the trees, laughing together in the evening breeze. Looking across the grass Buffy saw Nimisha’s best friend Asia walking slowly down the pathway with Thian, looking down at the ground deep in thought, but obviously listening to what the young man was explaining to her. Buffy grimaced as Asia’s head suddenly shot up and she looked at her friend in surprise, long blood red hair flying in the breeze to catch up with the sudden movements of her head. Buffy quickly tore her eyes away, not really wanting to see the girl’s reaction when Thian explained *all* the important details of her best friend’s sudden disappearance.

Lifting her head, she found Afraya watching her again. “Well?” she asked pointly, and Afraya chuckled. She had Semirritte’s tone down pat.

“The reason i’m here, Evie..,” and he said that in a tone that firmly told her that she should be paying attention to whatever he was saying.

“..is that the Elders have been picking up on something funny in the last few days and they wouldn’t have a clue what it means.” he shrugged and looked sheepishly at her. “Just thought you’d want to know.”

Buffy cocked her head and looked at her blue skinned friend oddly. “As in funny ‘ha ha’ or ‘weird’ funny?” she sounded generally concerned.

Afraya looked startled for a moment with her muddled sentence, learning years ago to completely dismiss any of the Slayer’s Earthly rumblings. But then he grinned, showing off pearly white teeth.

“The last one..I think.” he added quietly. “They *say*...” and Buffy grimaced at his tone of voice, knowing very well Afraya’s - and generally the population of higher society of the Alliance - views towards the Clairvoyants. In their opinions they just couldn’t be trusted.

“..that the balance is shifting, whatever that means.” He threw up his hands in frustration, got up and started to pace around her room while Buffy stayed where she was, looking at him warily.

“That’s all they said?” she asked him, annoyed. She actually liked the Talented woman that the Palace employed as their Clairvoyants, but sometimes they could be *so* frustrating.

Afraya’s expression mirrored her own. “They said to seek a higher opinion on the matter if you were displeased.” and he scratched the back of his head in a odd gesture. “But who is more physic than them is beyond me.” And as a final show of his frustration, the tall man brought his hand down firmly on Buffy bedside table, sending the crystal hairbrush that was sitting there innocently flying across the room where it smashed against the closed marble door.

Buffy frowned in displeasure. She had liked that hairbrush. She sighed, but without saying a word she effortlessly flicked her right hand and the shattered remains rose up from the ground and floated across the room towards her. Afraya watched silently, bland amusement edged on his face. Letting them rest in mid air in front of her face, she cocked her head and started the tiering task of scanning each separate piece for a match as she tried to fix them back together.

With out taking her eyes off the floating jig-saw she said calmly to her Second, “Tell Asten and the Council that I will be out for the rest of the evening, there as some people that I have to see.”

Afraya looked at her in confusion but when he finally clicked on to her meaning, he nitted his eyebrows.

“Sati and Jadis?” he asked, knowing Buffy would know instantly what he was talking about.

She didn’t answer at first, tenderly reaching out with a tendril of her mind to grasp a small jagged piece and fit it perfectly with another. But when she finally nodded her answer, Afraya whistled in awe.

The room was silent and Buffy turned her gaze. When the pieces of the smashed hairbrush obediently followed, she settled them down gently of a coffee table that was situated in the centre of the room and gracefully rose from her seat. Giving her appearance a quick glance in the mirror she turned and headed towards the door, Afraya right behind her. But as she opened the huge marble doors leading to the rest of her and her daughter’s elegant apartments, she faintly heard the man mutter behind her,

“Rather you than me, is all i’m saying.”

As her face was hidden from Afraya’s view, Buffy grinned.

It wasn’t hard for Buffy to make her appearance known as she quickly Ported into the Oracles abode from the Lounge of her apartments. She grinned as she remembered the trouble Angel and Doyle had gone to years before to meet with the Messengers in LA when Angel had turned Human and they were desperate for answers. When you were as Telekineticly strong as she was, Porting into the Other Plain was effortless. Not that she made a habit of seeking council from the two mystical beings - or Sati and Jadis - as they insisted the Slayer call them. As they had so scandalously told her when they had appeared on an evening over 16 years ago when the new Queen was six months pregnant with Nimisha, it just wasn’t proper for the Queen of the most respected State of the galaxy to treated like a Lower Being in front of The Powers.

Buffy had burst out laughing.

But, it had broken the tension that had been knife thick, and ever since then Buffy had made it her responsibility to go to The Oracles at least once every few months and report what was going on. Since they were not burdened with the disadvantage of not being able to Space travel on a whim, they usually told her what was happening in the far ends of the galaxy.

They had both been present at Nimisha’s birth - even if Buffy only found out that little fact five years later - and since that day both had seeked Nimisha’s company more than Buffy would have originally liked. But the girl got on wonderfully with the “White People” as she had called then countless times when she was little and Buffy had walked into her daughter’s room only to find the two messengers sitting crosslegged on the floor with the little girl who had chatted away happily in the innocent way on her’s not knowing - or not caring most likely - that they were the cause of her existence in the world when they had allowed her to be kept when the day was taken back.

Buffy didn’t have a clue why they had taken such a interest in her daughter, but as the years had gone by and Nimisha had grown into a adorable toddler, they had asked quiet firmly that the Princess come to them in their Plain once a week for “lessons”. They had also quite forcefully told her that what they would talk about was none of her business, and that it was in her advantage that she allow the meetings. So, against Buffy’s original wishes, Nimisha had been plucked instantly from her room one morning on her forth birthday - much to the horror of one of Nimisha’s nannies who had fainted dead away thinking that her little charge had learned to Port years before she was meant to - and only arrived back later that afternoon.

Buffy had been frantic. Imagining up horrible stories in her mind as to why the Oracles wanted to meet with the little child. But as Nimisha had suddenly arrived in front of her that evening, Buffy had seen the huge smile of her daughter’s face and all her worry had disappeared.

And so, as the years had gone by, and Nimisha blossomed into a mischief making six year old when she had finally learned to Port, and then a long legged 10 year old, and finally a graceful and beautiful 16 year old, the meetings had continued with the disappearing time and to Buffy and Afraya’s complete and utter surprise Nimisha’s powerful mind just continued to broaden and expand, the power that she held so protectively in her graceful gypsy-like head continued to get more and more powerful and every meeting passed. No one could explain it, but the simple truth was that the Oracles were helping the girl in their own way to reach into her own mind and discover hidden tunnels and advantages that everybody else thought was impossible.

No one knew why they were bothering to teach all their magick to a lowly human, but as Afraya had told Buffy years ago, maybe it had something to do with her Vampire Hybrid state that made her body react differently than everyone else’s to the energies and magick that was already screaming threw her blue veins.

But the ancient warnings of Dimeara were never far from anyone mind as the all quietly watched the girl mature with a ignorance of all the talks that were happening behind her back to do with her...

And that same warning was right up the top of Buffy’s conscious thoughts as she Ported into the white, mist infested room with the two majestic beings floating in front of her.

“Who dares come before....” The male started his impressive, intimidating speech to frighten people who came before them into a submissive tone.

But when he saw who their guest was he seemed to deflate back to his normal size, knowing that this was not the person to try a bully into *any* submissive nature.

“Oh. It’s you.” he said in a bored tone and casually turned and went back to his thrown were his sister Sati was watching with a amused expression on her golden face.

Buffy raised her eyebrows as a seat suddenly appeared before her and she gratefully lowered herself into it. “Love the welcome, Jadis. No wonder you guys get so many customers.”

Sati - the nicest of the pair by far - shot her brother a annoyed glance. “I keep telling his to be nicer to the visitors but he just continues to ignore me..as usual.” giving Jadis a pointed look to reinforce her meanings.

Buffy chuckled at the familiar bickering between the Messengers. By noticing that her little guest was nervous Sati turned to her and a frown of concern appeared on her beautiful cloudy face.

“What is the matter, Everynne? Your energies are confused.” Suddenly a thought came to her and her eyebrows shot up in alarm as she gripped the arm of her thrown so forcefully her form’s fingers turned white.

“It’s not Nimisha is it?” she whispered frightenedly and Jadis turned quickly in the Slayer’s direction and raised one eyebrow in a silent question, but he too looked worried suddenly.

Buffy shook her head quickly to reassure her two allies. But when the both seemingly breathed a sigh of relief she bristled, wondering not for the first time why they had always been so intent of her daughter’s welfare. But she quickly calmed herself down, it would never hurt for Nimisha to have more protectors, she would need as many as she could get.

“No, nothings wrong with Nimi. She was safe with Willow and Oz when I left, and I *know* they would never let anything happen to her.”

Sati nodded, a far away look appearing in her eyes. “Yes. The Witch and the Werewolf, quite a pair.” she murmured quietly to herself.

Buffy frowned and put her hands on her hips. “Have you two been snooping again?” They looked away guiltily and Buffy blew out a frustrated breath of air.

“Now look, you two...” she started, but Jadis cut her off.

“Okay, Everynne. We will abide your wishes..for now, by not looking in on your precious friends.” he cocked his head to the side. “But something tell me that you came to us for a completely different reason than to blow at us for peaking.” he raised his eyebrows in her direction.

Buffy sighed and let her head fall in her hands for a moment. But noticing that they were waiting for her to make the first move she slowly got up off the seat provided and started to pace, the sarong blowing behind her, her brown leg now visible.

Stopping, she turned and faced her friends. “Afraya has just come and told me that the Elders have noticed a change in the balance. I was just wondering if you have felt it as well.”

They looked at her for a minute, not speaking. “You are worried if this is to do with your daughter and the Vampire that is her father.” Sati suddenly said, but it was obviously not a question.

Buffy looked down, hating herself for forcing so many people to lie about that simply little issue.

“Does he find out?”

She said it quietly, still looking down at the floor that was swirling under her. But there was no answer to her desperate question so she timidly looked up only to be confronted by Sati’s gentle eyes.

“If it was written for the Worrier to discover then it shall be.” was all she would say on the matter.

“But, yes. The balance is indeed shifting.” Suddenly she got up from her thrown and floated down towards Buffy. Reaching her she lifted her hand and lay it gently on the Slayer’s smooth forehead, rubbing the flashing moon under her fingertips. Buffy smiled up into her friend’s glowing face.

“But only for the better, my friend. Only for the better, I assure you that.”

What has been done, has been undone. The future is changing..the balance is shifting...

Back in Sunnydale....

Sita Reijik was 27 years old and her family had been in service to the Tessionare’s for hundreds of years. Even so, she was born on her family estate - which was quiet modest compared to others in the area - on an island on the planet Chandras. As well as being Buffy’s personal bodyguard of sorts (which all Tessionare members were forced to have since the death of Simerritte years before) she was also one of the young Queen’s closest and most trusted friends which had made her a prime reason for being the person that Buffy had chosen to go to Earth a look out for her daughter. One 16 year old Nimisha, who Sita had known since the girl was a baby and both firmly considered each other family.

She remembered quite clearly the first meeting she had with the Alliance’s famous new Queen. It had been when Nimisha was seven months old and Afraya was taking both Tessionare’s on a well over due tour of Buffy’s planets. They had gone to Chandras first with it being a Paradise Station and one of the planets that First Families went to often. It was a perfect holiday destination with all the islands with their unique wild life and the swimming dolphins in the bays.

The 11 year old Sita had been sick with the flu on the day of the arrival and had been devastated that she couldn’t be with the rest of her family of seven older brothers and her mother and father when they showed the small family around the three main islands of Chandras. She had cried for hours when told that she would have to stay away for fear of the little seven month old princess catching any bugs off her.

But Sita remembered waking up late that night after all the celebrations had ended and everyone had gone to bed happily after drinking *far* too much during the endless parties. She had never considered herself *that* Telepathic, but as she silently got out of her small bed and crept down the deserted hallway and out the door, the feeling of raw loneliness and confusion seeped into her body that she cried out with the force of the blow. Not really knowing what she was doing or where to go, the lean, brown haired girl with big blue eyes found herself walking towards the docks, that at this time of the night were magnificent. She stopped, gazing for any sign of the source of the emotions that were pulsing through her sleep filled head.

And there, sitting on the end of the wharf with her bare feet dangling of the end and gently splashing in the warm water, was a figure in a white muslin short sleaved dress, whose head was tilted upwards and was watching the stars with her blonde hair loose around her shoulders. Sita remembered silently walking up behind her in her night dress and pausing, not really knowing what to do next. But she must have made some sort of noise because the figure suddenly tensed her shoulders as if she expected someone to scold her for being out by herself. But when the girl had turned around to look at her follower, Sita gasped and her hand flew to her mouth as she suddenly recognised just who she was.

Almost unconsciously she had taken a step back. Not really knowing why, but it was if she felt she suddenly had to separate the distance between them. Buffy had noticed and a sad look had appeared in her eyes as she quickly made to get up and leave.

“I’m sorry.” Buffy had said. “I leave, I just didn’t think anyone would be here at this time of night.”

Sita had gaped at her. As if she couldn’t believe her ears that she was apologising. But as the Queen had slowly started to walk down the path, Sita remembered feeling incredibly guilty and called her back. The white figure stopped and turned around slowly, disbelief edged on her face.

But she had come back, and together the two girls of 19 and 11 had sat there for the remainder of the night until the sun had peeked on the horizon, just talking.

They had clicked.

It was the most obvious answer anyone could think of. But, as they sat there, they talked about everything and Buffy found herself telling this child all about Earth and the gang, about being The Slayer and all the burdens of the calling. And most importantly she told the child all about Angel, about the love that they had shared between them in the too short years when there was nothing to come between them or their love for each other. Sita had listened silently, soaking it all in in awe. Being the hopeless romantic that she was, she had tears in her eyes by the end of it, never having heard a story like it before in her whole life.

And in turn, the tom-boy told her Queen about her simple life of Chandras and her longing to get out into space, and about growing up with seven older brothers and how that made her so different than all the other girls in her peer groups. And as the sun has started to rise and the birds had started to sing they walked back to the imposing building where Buffy was staying, only to be confronted by a furious Afraya who had told them that he had been worried sick at where she had been. But Buffy had ignored him and gripping the girl’s hand firmly and walked her up the stairs and into the room that she was staying in. The sound of a baby crying had filled the air as they walked in and Buffy hurried over to a silver, laced crib only to lift out a small dark haired form in a white laced sleeper. Sita had slowly walked over to the nursing pair, not wanted to disrupt the beautiful picture that they made.

But, like everyone else it seemed, Sita had taken one look at the little face of her future Queen and had fallen completely in love with the girl. And when she had sat there stunned, when Buffy had laughed and put Nimisha in her arm, she had sworn silently to herself as the little bundle was lowered into her arms that she would protect these two scions for the rest of her life.

And that was exactly what Buffy had intended. Afraya had been trying to get her to choose a bodyguard for months but being the stubborn, strong Slayer that she was, she had told him quite forcefully that she had not meet anyone who had been worth the time of day. Anyone who was weaker than herself wasn’t really going to make much of a difference when crunch time came.

But this girl was different. She had noticed that instantly.

And so, when the Royal party had left Chandras two days later there was an extra member of the group. Sita could hardly contain her excitement when the Gate was opened for the party to leave for their next location. She had tried to hide it but Buffy had noticed, grinning down at the tall girl when she had wiped the giddy smile of her face to hug her teary mother and father, who on the other hand, where beside themselves with pride that another member of their family had been chosen for this privileged position.

And she had been with the Tessionare’s ever since. Growing up with Nimisha is some ways, even though the little girl mischievously called her Aunty Sita when the three of them were alone.

And now, here she was. Hugging a so different Nimisha since she had first meet her, in the middle of a the school grounds on the planet Earth. A place she had *never* been to before.

Nimisha’s arms were around her neck sobbed tears of joy. This was the last thing she had expected. But sensing that they better make this reunion snappy, Nimisha pulled out of Sita’s arms and stared up at her tanned face, green eyes sparkling.

“What in the world are *you* doing here?” was the first thing out of the girls mouth. Sita’s chuckled and released her.

“You know your mother better than anyone, Nimi. Did you really expect her to leave you with only two protectors while you were here..not” she added quickly. “that Miss Willow and Master Daniel couldn’t look after you by themselves, but Evie just thought it would be better if there were strength in numbers.” she spread her hands wide. “Your mother’s contacts saw that Sunnydale high was needing a new temp, so here I am!” she laughed. “The timing was perfect I must say.”

Nimisha just nodded, speechless, as she stared up at the figure who might as well have been her sister she knew her so well. Almost ever memory that Nimisha had collected over the years of her existence had somehow been intertwined with the tall female and she loved her even more for it. Time held a lot of memories for Nimisha, most of them good.

And it was at that thought that the teenager gasped and quickly looked down at her watch. Sita looked at her oddly.

“Oh, Shit!” Nimisha cried in dismay and she quickly looked up into her friend’s face to explain. “I’m meeting a friend..or a potential friend, in about three minutes in the cafe.” she told her, and Sita’s face fell. “It’s just that she was so sad, and I haven’t got many friends here yet...” she started but Sita cut her off.

“It’s fine, Nimi.” The tall woman told her, grinning as she reached down and gripped the girl’s arm to looked at the time on her watch. “How ‘bout I meet you at Willow’s house after school? That way it gives me a change to look around this little burg that mother of your’s talks about so often.”

Nimisha giggled. “It’s actually rather small.” she told her laughing. “A lot smaller than your home on Chandras.”

Sita mock frowned. “Damn, and I was hoping to do some shopping while I was here.”

Nimisha looked at her in surprise. “Afraya gave you some money?” remembering the Foltairian’s reaction to Willow, Buffy and her shopping trip yesterday.

Sita grinned mischievously. “Nimi, dear. It was part of the bargain.” she told her and Nimisha laughed.

But both seeing that the time was passing, Nimisha asked her friend, “Do you need the address?” Sita didn’t answer, but closed her eyes and Telepathically snatched the address from her young charges powerful mind. She had been quick but obviously not quick enough but Nimisha gasped in mock outrage and wiggled a finger up in Sita’s direction.

“Now that’s rude!” But the brunette only grinned, not sorry at all.

Seeing that she wasn’t going to get any type of apology for the rude invasion of her mind, Nimisha fake growled and shoved Sita in the direction of the school gates.

“Go, on. Get lost.” she told her laughing. “Some of us have school to attend, if you don’t mind.”

And, as she turned to wave at Sita’s form who was walking backwards down the street, watching her walk in the school building, Nimisha was still grinning when she turned the corner in the Cafeteria’s direction to keep her meeting with Karan.

And as the doors closed behind her she totally missed the retreating form of Jesse, who had been hiding in the bushes throughout the whole reunion , a determined look of his freckled face...

Nimisha took a hesitant sip of her Mountain Dew through the straw and then instantly scrunched up her nose at the fizzing sensation that was invading her mouth and the back of her throat.

Karan laughed and gently patted her new friend on her back who was coughing and sputtering, trying to help her breath more easily with the sudden discovery of Fizzy drink. They were sitting in a empty corner of the Cafeteria, that wasn’t very busy at that time of the day, where they had been for the past 15 minutes.

“I still can’t believe you have never had soft drink before, Nimisha.” Karan told her, stunned, as her dark haired friend finally got back in control of her body. The girl just snorted and quickly pushed the glass of green bubbling liquid away from her into the centre of the round table.

“Yeah, well. I think i’ll just pass on that discovery, thank you very much.” She was eyeing the glass warily and Karan giggled behind her hand. Looking up into her face, Nimisha saw how much fun she was having at introducing her to new types of food and she instantly decided that if it was worth having the charming, slight, blonde girl smile again, then Nimisha was all too willing.

If she had suddenly read her mind, Karan sighed happily and rested her chin in her fists, her elbows resting on the table.

“I can’t remember the last time I ever had this much fun in a cafeteria before, Nimisha..” but she suddenly scrunched up her nose. “We are going to have to find a shorter version of that name, my friend. It’s the most wonderful name i’ve ever heard but it too hard to say.”

Nimisha looked up at her in surprise. Her name had never had any complaints before, in fact, most viewed it a compliment to be named after such heroes of Allrelen’s legends. Nimisha started to bristle, but then remembered that Karan had no way of knowing what the true meaning of her name was.

“Well, people call me Nimi all the time, that’s a shortened version, I guess.”

But her friend still shook her blonde head, eyes cocked upwards as she was deep in thought. Suddenly she yelped and smiled in Nimisha’s direction.

“How about ‘Sasha?” Karan asked her, and Nimisha tilted her head, measuring it. She actually thought it was quite nice...and It wouldn’t be the first time people called her Sasha, her friend Asia did it all the time. She was actually quite surprised that Karan had picked the very name that her friends had sometimes used in private

Seeing how her friend wasn’t thrilled with the idea, Karan raised her eyebrows and told her, “We can only use Sasha when we are with a large group of people, if you want. Personally it would be a shame to call you anything else but Nimisha, it suits you so well.”

Nimisha smiled and nodded her agreement. But then she changed the conversation.

“The thing that I don’t get, Karan. Is that your such a lovely person, what in the *world* are you doing with a bitch like Maria?”

Karan’s smile flew off her mouth as her checks stained pink. She quickly started to look down at the table, but thinking against it, looked up into Nimisha’s huge, confused, green eyes. Seeing how she was waiting for her to talk, Karan shrugged her shoulder’s and nervously flicked her long blonde hair down her back.

“You might not believe it, Nimi. But she was pretty nice to begin with.” She looked sheepishly at her friend and desperately tried to explain her choice of friends. “I’m not really the most popular person in Sunnydale, Nimisha. My family moved here just over four years ago from Western Australia and I found it really hard to make friends, for some reason. Maria had been living in New York her whole life and when she moved to Sunnydale three years ago everyone just sort of swamped her.” the girl shrugged. “She just has the sort of affect on people. When she started paying attention to me I was stunned to say the least, but it was a way to make more friends, so I sort of just went along with it.”

Now the blonde girl just looked sad. “By the time I figured that she was a self-centred tramp no one else would have any thing to do with me.”

Nimisha looked at her new friend sadly. Remembering what Buffy had told her about Willow’s first reaction to her when she first moved to Sunnydale and had meet Cordelia first. But noticing that Karan was talking again, Nimisha cleared her thoughts and concentrated her the peite girl.

“It’s just the way it is, I guess. People think your contagious when you hang out with a girl like Maria Chase.”

Nimisha almost fell of her chair.

“Maria *Chase*!?” she practically screeched and a few people looked over in their direction.

Karan just looked at her oddly. “Yeah..” she said slowly. Not really fitting the pictures up together.

“She’s *Cordelia’s* cousin!?” Nimisha asked her in disbelief, and Karan’s look changed to one of surprise.

“How in the world did you know that?” the blonde girl asked, eyebrows raised in a stunned question.

Nimisha startled, noticing for the first time that she had walked herself into a *very* unwanted trap.

“Oh!” she said nervously. “Cordelia’s sort of a old friend of a family member, that’s all.” She tried to say it casually, waving it off. But Karan suddenly figured out what she was talking about.

“Your Aunt Willow! That’s right, Maria always talks about the two of them.”

Now it was Nimisha’s turn to be surprised. Karan noticed and grimaced a apology. “Maria *hates* Miss Rosenburg, Nimi. And I’m meaning with a firery vengeance as well. But Maria idolises her cousin just as much as she hates your Aunty. That’s probably why she has taken such a dislike to you so suddenly.”

Nimisha didn’t really give a damn about that, there was nothing that the popular girl could do to her, but she was still deeply troubled at why Maria hated Willow so much.

Seeing her new friend’s question even before she voiced it, Karan continued, “It’s just that when ever Maria used to come down from New York on Family outings to visit Cordy and her family, the girl was never there. Always off with these strange new friends that she seemed to have acquired so suddenly. Maria was fiercely mad at her for that, and when she discovered that Miss Rosenberg - who just happened to be one of her teacher’s - was one of the people who, she thought, had taken Cordelia away from her..” she shrugged again, “you can picture her reaction to *that* one.”

Nimisha grimaced and Karan carried on, “And when she discovered that Cordy had moved to LA and was living in some cheap hotel with some dark-looking, scary, detective guy - well, that’s what we were told anyway - she blamed Miss Willow for that one as well, even though everyone knows it had nothing to do with Miss Rosenburg.”

Nimisha sighed. What a mess, she thought.

“Oh, of course it didn’t.” Nimisha found herself mumbling quietly to herself. “It’s her father’s mess if he didn’t pay his taxes...and Angel is in no way scary.” she added, sticking up for her father.

Karan looked at her oddly, wondering just how much her friend actually knew about the whole situation but Nimisha just quickly changed the topic of conversation.

“Well, Karan.” she said to the girl as the reached over and gathered her hands in her’s. “If you want, I’ll be your friend.”

The girl looked up at her in surprise and quickly tried to release her hands from Nimisha’s. But the half vampire’s grip was unbreakable. “It’s not gonna do your social calendar any good if your seen hanging out with me, Nimi.” she warned her, but Nimisha only laughed.

“Believe me, i’ve got a big enough social circle back home.” she laughed when Karan looked startled. “It will be good to be down around the middle of the pack for a change.”

Karan managed a little smile, but her eyes will sparkling. But they opened even wider when her new friend told her, “And you never know. Since Alex Matthews seems to have taken such a shine to me, people might start to see you for the kind, lovely, *sweet* person that you really are if Alex can.”

“Alex?..” the girl sputtered, going bright red, and Nimisha laughed. She had already sensed that the blonde girl had feelings for the tall footballer, she had noticed yesterday at the mall and earlier this morning that her eyes seemed to follow him everywhere.

Leaning over, she gave Karan’s hands a quick squeeze. “And then you will never have to have anything else to do with that two-faced, Aunty hating, bleach blonde bitch ever again!” she told her happily.

Karan looked shocked with her description of the school beauty for a moment, but then seeing that her new friend was serious...she smiled back.

Later that evening...

“And then she tells me that Maria hates you because you dared be friends with Cordelia!” Nimisha practically screeched as she reached out with her mind from her seat at the kitchen table, opened the top cupboard doors and got out four large white plates that they would be using for dinner that evening that was almost ready.

Just about to reply to Nimisha’s outburst, Willow turned from where she had been mixing something on the stove, saw the pile of floating plates coming slowly towards her and yelped in surprise.

Nimisha grimaced when Willow went back against the bench, her hand on her heart in surprise.

“Oops.” she girl said meekly, as Sita burst out laughing from where she quickly reached out with *her* mind and collected the plates which, when they reached her, she gathered in her hands and quickly finished setting the table, which she had insisted on doing, much to Willow’s apparent horror, who had been brought up to think that visitors did nothing but sit down and let the food come to them.

Oz poked his head out of the pantry, where he had been desperately looking for the Tomato sauce, and raised his eyebrows in amusement at Willow’s yelp but followed the floating plates with his eyes.

Recovering herself, Willow quickly reached over and patted the top of Nimisha’s hair which she had done up in two long side plaits that fell down her back.

“It’s alright, Nimi.” Willow called over her shoulder as she went back to the spicy flavoured pot on top of the stove. “Just not used to flying objects around the house..well not when their not done by me, anyway.” she added laughing.

“And as for that little cow, Maria Chase,” she added in a disliking tone. “You’d do well to ignore her, kiddo. She’s bad news.” she brought the wooden spoon that she had been mixing the hot food with and took a hesitant taste. Scrunching her nose she reached over for the salt bottle which she sprinkled some in.

But Nimisha only frowned. “But that doesn’t explain why she hates you so much, Will.” She was surprised to find that she was fiercely protective of her mother’s closest friend. She had held such an important part in her mother’s life she didn’t know what she would do if anything happened to her on her clock.

Having a finally taste from the spoon and this time satisfied with the result, Willow poured the contents into a large bowl and left it on the side of the bench as she went to the cupboard to get something else.

“Nimi, she’s a spoilt, ungrateful little shit of a student.” Willow told her absent best friend’s daughter. “I’m touched that your concerned, Nimi. But if the little bitch chooses to hate me for things that I have nothing to do with, than it’s her own stupid fault.” she suddenly grinned and turned in Nimisha’s direction. “Just remember, i’m the teacher, so if she somehow thinks that she is going to make my life a living hell, then I can do it right back at her. And i’ll assure you this, mine’ll hurt *a lot* more than that little cow’s...grab that bowl would you, Nimi?” Willow added unconsisouly, and Nimisha Ported the bowl that had been sitting on the end of the bench into the middle of the table.

But Nimisha still suddenly perked up with that notion, grinning so mischievously at Willow that the Witch was surprise just how gyspy-like the girl could look when she wanted to.

“Don’t you get any ideas in that head of yours, Nimi.” Sita suddenly spoke up, wiggling a finger in her charges direction. “Your here to act as undetected as possible and I will *not* be the one that tells your mother that you burnt your mind out cat fighting with some dumb blonde.”

Nimisha scrunched up her nose in protest but seeing that Sita was indeed serious, she sighed and nodded her head.

“How is Buffy, Sita?” Willow asked, being told who Sita was hours earlier and just why she was here. She had to give herself snaps at the way she was reacting to all these strange Human looking Aliens in her house the last few days. But she had to remember, where Buffy went, strangest usually followed not too far behind.

Nimisha raised her eyebrows in Sita’s direction also, she too wondering how her darling mother was handling without her.

Sita grinned. “She was a worried wreak when I left Allrelen. Came back through the Gate earlier crying her eyes out, scaring the living hell out of the Officers that were on watch.” she laughed. “Afraya managed to calm her down, but he too practically dragged me back though the gate to Earth, sensing that it was going to be the only way to get her motivated again.” she shrugged. “But he was scheduled for some leave and I think he was heading back to Foltare to see his family so he didn’t want to leave her a nervous wreak while he was gone.”

Willow frowned. “Why would Buffy be so worried about Nimi?” she asked Sita.

Sita just looked at her in surprise. Leaning forward in Willow’s direction she asked her quietly, “You do know why Nimisha is staying with you, I hope?”

Willow frowned but nodded her head. “Of course we do, Buffy explained it all to us yesterday.”

Sita nodded her head as both Willow and Oz walked over and took seats around the table.

“Good. Because you guys have to know just how important it is that Nimisha is kept safe and away from the Vanquishers.” she sighed in regret. “We have just recently discovered that they know that your off Allrelen, Nimi.” she told the girl who eyes widened at the thought.

“But they would *never* think that you were sent here so that’s a relief.”

But now Willow looked startled. “But is it possible that they will find out where she is?” Almost unconsisouly she placed her hand on the dark haired girl’s knee in support.

Sita is shrugged. “They might, though it is highly unlikely.” she tried to explain. “They dont have the recourses we do, and if our contacts are right, they don’t have any Star Gates. So that means that even if they *do* find out the Nimi is here with you on Earth it would take them years to get here and do anything about it.”

All conversations were put on hold as the timer of the oven went off and dinner was served. But as they all talked happily around the table, laughing together as stories were shared and explanations were given Nimisha sat there quietly, eating her dinner slowly. No one else seemed to notice, but the girl couldn’t shake of the feeling of unease and nervousness. It was almost as if there was something happening somewhere that held great importance.

Something that would involved her.....

Meanwhile on Balteiar....

Ash was panting, out of breath, as he sprinted at full Vampiric speed down the now deserted corridor and into the tower. Trying to keep to the shadows he quickly crouched his cat-like legs and, at a run, leaped straight over the tall balcony that separated the main palace from the rest of the Court’s apartments.

He sailed through the air, like a mythical being from old Vampiric legends, silent like the bat that he was. When he landed on the other side he landed like a huge cat, bending his strong legs to absorb the impacted.

He stayed like that for a minute, getting his bearings. Then he straightened, scanning the view for the possible threat that could destroy the entire plan that his mother and he had worked so hard on in the last couple of days.

Then suddenly there was a movement to his right, behind a curtained window. Ash spun but visibly relaxed when the door silently opened and a dark head poked out. It was Nasyian Jamaz, Ash’s childhood friend. Spying the Prince, Nasyian’s eyes opened impossibly wide and, quickly looking if anyone could see them, he silently beckoned him over.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Nasyian hissed furiously at his childhood playmate. “Do you have any idea how many people are looking for you?”

Ash sighed, pushing past the shorter Vampire and stepping into his bedroom. Only then did Nasyian notice that his friends hands were shaking. Looking up into the Prince’s dark face, Nasyian asked in a panicked voice,

“What the hell’s the matter?” But Ash only ignored him. “Don’t worry about it, did you do what I asked?” he asked him firmly. Nasyian frowned with the change of conversation but quickly jogged over to his top of the range computer that was placed on his desk. Quickly pushing the chair backwards, he took a seat and started to type furiously. Ash followed him and watched over his shoulder.

Without taking his eyes off the flashing screen Nasyian told Ash, “The shields should be down for just over three minutes, no shorter and no longer.” He sighed. “It should give you plenty of time to get in and actavate the Gate.” He suddenly paused and looked up into his friends face. “Are you going to tell me what this is all about now?” he asked in a frustrated voice.

Ash just chuckled. “Not on your life, Nass. What you don’t know, won’t get you killed.” Ignoring his friends suddenly dropping mouth as the boy sputtered for an answer, Ash quickly strode over to the window and peered out through a gap in the curtain. Without turning back in his friend’s direction, Ash went suddenly quiet. “Just never forget how much this means to me, Nassy.” he told him, using his childhood name for his friend.

But the boy quickly put his hands up in front of him. “Don’t you go thanking me, Ash. I didn’t do a thing. It was all you mother, that woman’s *amazing*.”

Ash just looked down at the ground. “Yeah, I know.” An awkward silence filled the air before Ash suddenly jumped up and ran towards the door. Nasyian looked around, panicked, as if he suddenly expected someone to barge through the door and shoot him on the spot for helping the Prince with his crazy mission...what ever it was.

Ash was almost at the door when he suddenly turned back to his computer-hacking friend and gripped him forcefully by his lower shoulders.

“Don’t say a word about this, Nass. If you do, I promise you that they’ll kill you.” His silver eyes softened. “And I don’t know what i’ll do if that was because of me. Your my best friend, Nass. Please look after yourself.”

Nasyian looked down at the ground. “Am I ever going to see you again?” he said quietly and Ash grimaced.

“I don’t know.” he couldn’t lie to him. But Nasyian quickly looked up into his friend’s face, suddenly very wise.

“I’ll look after her for you, Ash.” he shrugged. “It’s the least I can do.” Ash smiled down at him and gently patted his shoulder.

“Thanks mate.” Then quickly checking both directions of the hallway, he slipped out of the room and moulded with the shadows.

And Nasyian Jamaz looked sadly down at the ground, trying to keep the tears from spilling from his silver eyes...

Ash ran, stopping only to glance around corners to make sure no one could see him or was following. Silently waiting for three soldiers to pass around the corner, Ash quickly ducked out of view and hurried into the now shield-free Gate room. The huge, cold room was empty of any life save his own as the tall teenager quickly jogged over to the Transceiver and quickly started to enter the code for the chosen planet that his mother and he had finally decided to send him. It was in the outer rings of the Alliance, so there was little to no chance of Methos finding him when he finally figured out that he had used the only Gate the Vanquisher’s had in their hands to excape Balteiar.

In fact, the Alliance didn’t even know they had this Gate, having stolen it from a extinct planet over a thousand years ago. It was one of their most guarded secrets.

But just as Ash had entered the sixth of the seven symbols every door flew open and lights from every direction dissented on his stunned form.

Ash froze. The room was impossibly silent as over a hundred soldiers all cocked their lasers together and drew them on him.

There was no a single movement in the room until one figure stepped out from behind others. Methos was smug, that was obvious from the first second Ash had caught a glimpse of his face. He took his time walking over to his disheartened son who was standing in the centre of the room.

A lone figure surrounded in misery.

“Ash, my son. What in the world are you doing?” The question was full of sarcasm. Ash hung his head, wanting and waiting to die.

Methos walked to stand in front of him. But seeing that his son wasn’t going to bother looking into his face, Methos quickly brought his hand out and gripped his chin in an iron grip.

“Look into the face of your murderer, my boy.” Methos growled evilly. “Do you really think you could get away with it? Did you really think I wouldn’t notice that my bitch of a wife was lying to me?”

Ash’s heart froze.

His eyes opened wide as he stared up into the face of the man he hated more than life.

“Mother..” he whispered desperately...hoping....

“What?” Methos sneered. “Do you possible think that I would let *her* get away with it?” he brought his face down inches away from his heir’s. “What I did to her was only the beginning, my boy. She is going to suffer for eternity...”

Every singe cell in Ash’s body screamed as he felt his heart break...

Mama...

The only person who had ever cared for him....who had ever loved him...was dead because of him....

“NO!” Ash screamed. Using speed he didn’t even know he possessed, Ash tore his face out of Methos grip and he seemed to fly as he desperately lunged with his hand and forcefully brought it down on an unknown seventh symbol on the Transceiver for the Gate that completed the transaction.

The gate swooshed and the blue wall of water flew out of it as gun fire and blue laser’s filled the air. Ash crouched and leaped cat-like over the heads of his father and most of the nearby soldiers. He landed hard and rolled to a stop, but still the weapons sort him out, as he struggled towards the Wall of blue that would save his life.

Pain shot through his body and he cried out as a blue laser pierced through his upper right thigh. He stumbled, but still carried on.

And then he was there, standing before the Gate. And, without spearing another thought, he turned and fell back into the mist that would carry him away, the sound of yells and gunfire filling the room.

And the last thing he saw was his father’s face as he made a desperate last ditch effort to grab his son, his eyes impossibly fill with hate and fury. Ash made no retaliation, only stared to remember the face of the man who killed his beloved mother so when the day came that he would kill him in return, he would know it wherever he went.

And then the mist carried him away as he started to spin, his world falling apart. He screamed, but they were unforgiving, snatching and pulling at his body and mind as he flew away from darkness...

His father’s fury ringing in his ears....

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