NOTE: This is a stand-alone story and has nothing to do with any of my established 'AU' series. This one was a pain in the ass since, while it worked well enough in my head, the translation to 'paper' was a bit problematic in spots. Still, here goes, and if it does works then all thanks to Jen, the bestest beta babe ever. (I may have to pay for the 'babe' bit, but I'm a slave to alliteration.)
*****
The naked blade caught the late afternoon sunlight
just right, and the tiny red-tinged glint pulled Xander's attention away
from the demon already falling lifeless at his feet. He stood shock
still, and could feel the razor sharp axe blade slice through the air beside
his ear, and heard the wet 'snick' as it found its target; a large demon
that stood poised behind him, its war-hammer raised over its head.
Xander nodded his thanks as Buffy levered
her axe blade out of the demon's neck, and together the two turned about
to tackle the last of the demons as it stood its ground before the still
unfinished altar. A second flash of red caught his eye, this time
it was Willow as she pushed past him, her hand already raised to cast the
potion that would seal the nascent Hellmouth the demons had been trying
to awake.
"Be careful-" he called automatically as he
swung at the demon-
It ducked under his blow, his axe glancing
uselessly off its armour, as it lunged towards Willow, its own scimitar
arcing through the air.
"WILLOW!"
Xander launched himself in a flying tackle,
his shoulder slamming painfully into Willow's side- he could feel something
give and prayed that he hadn't hurt her- just as the gathering dusk was
replaced with a brilliant eruption of pain as a wickedly curved dagger
was thrust into his side--
Xander shot bolt upright, his hands crawling
at his side, as his eyes darted about the room, desperate to find-
"WILLOW!"
Two arms engulfed him, pulling him into a
warm embrace as a soft voice whispered into his ear.
"It's okay. Xander, you're okay.
Shhhh, you're fine. Everything's okay, shhhh."
"Willow! She's-" he tried to push his
away out of the embrace. Willow! He needed to find-
"She's alright. Xander, listen to me,
Willow's alright," the arms pulled harder, and a firm hand cradled his
head against soft breasts. "She's fine. Everything's alright.
Xander? Please believe me. Everything's going to be alright."
"Alright?" he asked mechanically as he stopped
struggling. A faint scent of flowers had caught his attention.
It was familiar, comforting, and he knew that it meant he was safe.
"Yes, Xander. Everything's alright."
He surrendered to the embrace, and after a
long moment he whispered.
"Tara?"
"Xander?" she whispered back as she brushed
at his hair.
"It was the suicide wings and carnivore's
pizza, huh?" he asked impishly.
She laughed and released him with a playful
push.
"I always said you abused the power of the
pizza, Xander. Four kinds of hot sausage is three too many."
Xander looked around, comforted to find himself
in the Summers' family living room. They were on the couch, a light
blanket wrapped about his legs. It was early, the morning sun was
flooding the room, and the debris of the previous night's feast littered
the coffee table and floor. He was wearing his boxers and t-shirt,
while Tara was fully dressed in a pale pink peasant skirt and matching
top.
"In my defence, it was a large," he quipped,
favouring her with a smile.
His smile dimmed after a moment, and Tara
reached out to take his hand in hers.
"'Nother bad dream?" she asked, her eyes full
of concern.
"Huh? Naw, like I said, it was the pizza,"
he said with a carefree wave of his hand that didn't fool her for a moment.
"Nothing to worry about. Sorry if I frightened you. Scare Anya
all the time. I'm surprised she still sleeps with..." his face clouded
in confusion for a moment. He shook his head and looked at Tara.
"Don't even remember any of it, actually. Though..."
"What?" she prompted when he trailed off into
silence.
"Something seemed... I dunno... vivid, I guess.
Yeah, vivid," he laughed dismissively. "Don't remember any of it,
but, boy!, it sure was real." He shrugged carelessly. "Actually,
it was kinda like the time after we beat Adam, and the first Slayer got
into our heads. Remember?"
Tara nodded. "Willow said it was really...
real. Scary real."
"Yeah. Scary real," Xander tentatively
touched his side with his fingertips, frowning at the ghostly memory that
seemed to dance at the edge of his awareness.
"Xander?"
"Sorry. I dunno... I keep thinking it
should hurt, but it doesn't. I know," he said as he rose and started
cleaning up. "Doesn't make sense. But, hey! Guess that's
just the way my head works."
"It will make sense, Xander. I promise,"
said Tara softly as she watched Xander start to tidy up. "It's just
a bit confusing at first is all."
"Huh?" asked Xander, glancing at her, then
back at the mess. "Pass me that glass, please."
Tara picked up the glass and handed it over
to Xander who attempted to snare it between his little finger and the other
three glasses already in hand. He failed to get a good enough grip
and it slipped out of his grasp and smashed against the top of the coffee
table, flat warm soda and broken glass everywhere.
"Oh, I'm sorry-" Tara started to apologise.
"Don't worry, Tara," Xander replied automatically.
"If it's one thing Daddy knows, it's cleaning up after himself-"
Xander spun about to face Tara, his face ashen as the rest of
the glasses fell from nerveless fingers, and fell unnoticed to the floor
below.
"Tara?" he said in a hoarse whisper.
"Oh my God... Tara?"
"Xander," said Tara, desperate to reassure
him. "It's going to-"
A hand, shaking even as he fought to control
it, reached out and touched her hair. His eyes began to fill with
tears as he stared at her.
"We've missed you- we've all missed you so
much," he whispered as he brushed at her hair. "We- we named our
little girl 'Tara'. Just as soon as the doctor said we were having
a girl- didn't even have to talk about it-" he swallowed and choked back
a sob.
"You'd love her. S-she's eight now,
and she's got Willow's hair and- and her eyes," he took a halting
pace forward, pulling Tara into his arms as he fought to finish his words.
"Tara's so beautiful... oh God, my little girl's so beautiful.
She looks just like... just like her mom. Oh God, Tara, Willow...."
His strength sapped, Xander sank to his knees.
Tara knelt before him and took him in her arms as he wept.
"Xander-" she began, but then she stopped
and contented herself with just holding Xander.
There was no hurry, she thought as the bright
warm light engulfed them, and as the living room faded out of existence
around them.
They had all the time he needed.
end