~PBiB : Multi-Boy Fic : Just Rewards~

Francis Alan Doyle leaned back in his lounge chair. Sunglasses perched on his nose, warm, golden light was beaming down on him, and a margarita was melting on the table beside him. From behind his shades, he watched as Cordy Chase rose dripping from the swimming pool in front of him. Cascades of water poured down her body as if it was caressing her flesh. Her generous curves were barely concealed by a small black bikini. Tossing her wet hair over her shoulder, she glanced over at Doyle with a little smile.

At the other end of the pool, Cordelia Chase, clad in a bright red bikini, made eyes at Xander Harris as she, too, pulled herself - dripping - from the clear, blue water. He was sitting at the poolside, dangling his legs into the pool as he sipped from a strawberry daquiri. He was wearing a Hawaiian print shirt that matched his beverage over a white muscle shirt and khaki shorts. Queen C didn't seem to mind, as she lay herself next to him on the tiled edge. Little rivulets ran down her sides and arms as she propped her chin on one hand.


Back at Doyle's side, Cordy frowned slightly. "Did you put on enough sunscreen, honey?"

The Irishman gave a crooked smile. "Don't remember, really. I wasn't paying too much attention."

Cordy made a small tsking sound, then looked up and gave a brisk nod. Immediately, a bevy of bikini-clad beauties swarmed to her side. Giggling and chattering away, they pulled off Doyle's shirt. One produced a bottle of Coppertone, and within moments, a dozen hands were gently massaging the lotion into his skin.

He sighed contentedly, resting his head in Cordy's lap as the women took care of him.

"And someone get him another margarita. This one's all slush by now," she ordered.

Back at the other side, Xander traced a hand down Cordelia's spine. He smiled as she broke out into goosebumps. Leanind down, he captured her lips in a sweet kiss. "Missed you," he murmured.

She just smiled.

Looking out over the water, he caught sight of him. That same guy. Every time he came here, that same guy was over on those chairs. With a Cordelia of his own. Brow furrowing in confusion, Xander decided to have his questions answered, once and for all. He stood abruptly, and meandered over to the other man's side of the resort. Xander took his time. After all, no need to hurry on such a beautiful day.

Stretching, Cordelia followed along.

"Hey," Xander offered, reaching the other man's side.

Doyle smiled, raising a hand to lift his shades out of the way, peering up at Xander. "Hey yourself. What can I do for you?"

"What do you know about this place?" he asked, seating himself on an empty lounge chair. As soon as he did, another group of scantily-dressed females came out of nowhere to offer tanning oil.

Doyle just chuckled. "What do you want to know?"

"Well, for one, how come there are two Cordelia's?"

The Irishman blinked. He looked up at his Cordy, then over to Xander's. "There are two Cordy's. Why didn't you tell me?" He looked up at his girl in reproach.

She just blinked at him, and gave him a look that said "Why should I tell you anything? Now shut up and let me rub more oil on you."

Xander chuckled. That was so like Cordelia. He looked back at the man, hwo had yet to introduce himself. "This is weird. I mean, I used to think this was just a dream, but if it were," he grinned widely, "then both Cordelia's would be paying attention to me Who are you, anyway?"

"Oh, that's right. We've never met before, have we?" Doyle looked chagrinned. "Call me Doyle. I used t'work with Cordy at Angel Investigations in L.A. That's how she and I met, through Angel."

"That's right! I remember now, you're the guy who gave her the visions," Xander exclaimed in realization.

Doyle nodded. "S'right."

"But wait," Xander thought aloud. "Aren't you dead?"

"Sure am. Bit of a run-in with some bastards, they didn't much care for us human-types. Scorched away my flesh, the whole shebang." He shrugged. "What of it?"

Xander's eyes widened. "Does this mean I'm...?" He swallowed hard.

Three voices laughed in reply.

"Oh, no! Not at all," Doyle started, as the twin brunettes continued unabated in their mirth.

"Then why am I here? This is heaven, righ?" Xander looked around, admiring the tropical weather, the crystalline water, the beautiful women... Paradise.

"Actually, it's not."

Xander looked sharply at Doyle. "What do you mean, it's not? You're dead, you're a good guy, therefore, heaven."

"It's not quite that easy, eh?" An expression of peace came down over his face.

Xander frowned. "Again with you being cryptic and not-helpful."

Doyle smiled. "Sorry. It's kind of like limbo, or a good kind of purgatory. A happy place to wait, before the big reward."

"And how long are you going to wait?"

"Until it's time for the others to come with me. Angel, the real Cordy... and I'm pretty sure that THEY'RE going to have to wait for their new crew. Gunn, Fred, Wesley... Maybe Connor." He shrugged. "But from here, I can see them, sometimes. I can feel them." Doyle's expression was serene again.

Xander nodded slowly. "But what does that have to do with me? I mean, I'm not dead, and the Sunnydale gang is in the middle of a huge, apocalyptic battle against the First Evil."

Doyle slipped his sunglasses back on. "Where are you, back in the so-called 'real' world?"

Xander blanched. "I'm in the hospital. Caleb just... he... I just lost my eye."

Doyle nodded soberly. "And where were you, the last time you found yourself in this place?"

"I... I think I'd just been knocked unconcious after a demon chick tried to bleed me over the Hellmouth."

"And before that?"

"I talked Willow out of destroying the world."

Doyle smiled. "See?"

Xander blinked. "No, actually I don't."

"You're a hero, Xander. The Powers have apparently decided to start rewarding you. Some joy to ease your way. Your life hasn't been easy, not by a long shot. And it may never get any easier. Likely, it'll only get harder. But no matter what happens, you'll have a place to go, to escape. To be free and be yourself, eh?"

Xander's brow furrowed. "But I'm not a hero," he argued. "Shouldn't Buffy have this place? Or Willow?"

"Someone who will go all the way, no matter what. You've proved that, Xander. You're that man. Someone to count on. Why is it so hard for you to believe?"

Cordy smiled a little sadly at Doyle's words, and reached down to brush the half-breed's hair out of his eyes.

Xander just shook his head. "I don't know... Is this really how it's supposed to be? What about the others? What about..." his voice dropped, "Anya?"

"When it's their time, they'll know. And they'll come. And they'll get their rewards. But for now," Doyle raised his margarita in toast. "For now, it's just us."

Xander looked over the water, realizing that the sunset was fast approaching. He squeezed Cordelia's hand, and lay back. For now, he was content to just be, to exist. Not having to feel the ache in his skull that told him he had no eye. Not having to think of funny pirate jokes to make Willow laugh, not having to think about how this was going to affect morale. He could rest for now.

His eyelids closed slowly as he pillowed his head in Cordelia's lap, sighing contentedly when she began to stroke his hair.

Just rest.



Heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things. May they always find their just rewards.


***I know, I know, why is Xander with Cordelia? Shouldn't it be Anya? Yes, I am a HUGE Xanya shipper, but I needed a telltale to carry the plot, so shut up. K? *grin*

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