Author: Steve711 - Steve Pantovich
E-mail Address: Steve711@concentric.net
Title: The Chronicles of Wanderer - Training Blues Series - A Cat's Tale.
Copyrighted : April 2001
Category: Crossover
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: A few, but who cares?
Keywords: X-Files/Highlander/Buffy the Vampire Slayer Crossover with a few guest
stars.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: All rights and properties owned by Joss Whedon, Warner
Bros. and Mutant Enemy, etc.
Highlander: All rights and properties owned by Rysher Entertainment.
The Legendary Adventures of Hercules/Xena: All rights and properties owned by
Renaissance and Flat Earth Productions.
The X-Files are owned by Chris Carter Productions, 20th Century Fox and 1013
Productions.
Gargoyles are owned Walt Disney Productions and Bene Vista Productions.
Agatha Harkness and the Town of New Salem is the Property of Marvel
Comics/Entertainment.
Summary: Ever wonder who the hell Duke is? Well you're about to find out. Don't
say I didn't warn you.
All disclaimers appear at the end of the story.
Any character whose names and descriptions are used are the property of their
original owners, and no copy right infringement is intended or meant.
No money can be made from this story. It can be distributed freely so
long as it is kept in its entirety, with all notices and copyright information
intact.
The characters Wanderer/Steven St. Wolf, Frank Iverson, Brother Aaron, Robert
McCallister, The Knights of the Order of the Grail, Randi Jessup, Brian Jessup
and this story are mine. Anyone wishing to use them, please contact me at my
e-mail address: Steve711@concentric.net
Comments and Criticisms are appreciated, please post to the above
referenced E-mail.
Author's Note's: When I started to write this story I decided to
change some things concerning the characters.
X-Files Mulder and Scully are married and Immortal - So Non-
Relationshippers beware.
Highlander: Richie Ryan shouldn't have died in the end of the fifth
season. So here he hasn't.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Buffy is an Immortal and this series splits from the
third season show, The Judge.
Author's Thanks:
I'd like to thank the people who helped me in writing this story. It took the
better part of four months to complete, but I think that it was worth it, but
they stuck with me, helping and encouraging me to complete it. They are:
Rebekah Sandell, Tim Knight, Mike Weyer, Timbo and Jack Canyon. Thank you all
for your time and input on this story.
In memory: I'd like to dedicate this story in memory of four great writers,
whose works have been a constant enjoyment and delight:
Gene Rodenberry, Don Pendelton, Mickey Spillane and Barry Sadler
I'd also like to thank all those great fan fiction writers out there, whose
stories I've enjoyed. They showed me that I could let my imagination run. (Where
it went I don't want to know :>))
Thanks and here's the Story. Enjoy.
15 March 1998
Sunnydale, CA - 20:00 PST
The middle aged woman walks to the front of her gallery and flips the open sign to closed. She sighs as she reaches for the lock with her key. Suddenly the door is jerked open and a fanged face walks into the gallery. "Hi there." He growls. "I usually like to talk to my dinner before I eat it."
"Get out of here vampire!" The woman demands, trying to sound tough.
The vampire grins and quickly moves forward and grabs her arm. The woman quickly moves back into the gallery. The vampire follows her. "I thought you can't enter a place unless you're invited?"
The vampire grins. "Those are homes. Not businesses. Thanks for not running. I hate fast food."
"You should have stuck with the Mickey D's asshole." A voice replies from behind the vampire.
He turns around and sees a small blond girl standing in the door way. He also sees the six foot, two inch man standing behind her. The vampire grins. "Oh goody. Thanksgiving's come early this year. I'm going to stuff myself tonight."
The girl smiles and takes two steps. The vampire smiles as the tasty morsel comes to him. His grin turns to shock as she turns the third step into a flying kick. "Oh Shi. . ." He manages to get out before his head is violently turned ninety degrees. As he goes flying, the girl lands into a modified horse stance. Right fist and leg out, left leg braced and left hand holding a wooden stake, ready to strike. The vampire looks up from the floor and hisses. "You are dead bitch!!" He screams out as he bull rushes her. The girl moves to the side, blocking with her right and stabbing forward with her left hand. The vampire freezes as the stake finds his heart and he disappears.
The girl turns to the woman. "Mom? Are you all right?"
Joyce Summers smiles. "I am now. Thanks for coming by to help me close up."
"Not a problem, Joyce." Steve replies grimly. "But I'm going to talk to some friends about getting you some protection for the store and the house."
"Thanks Steve." Joyce replies as Buffy hands her a glass of water. "What are you going to get?"
"Don't know, yet. But I'll find out tomorrow."
"Oh? And where are you going tomorrow?" Buffy asks.
"Just going to visit an old friend. She should be able to help me."
"She? Care to explain that one?" Buffy replies acidly.
Joyce's hand comes up to her mouth to hide her smile. < Poor Buffy, she really likes Steve. >
Steve grins. "I wouldn't worry, Buffy. Agatha Harkness is a witch that I know. I'm hoping she might help me with some protection spells and a few books for Jenny, Willow and Amy."
"And just how beautiful is this witch?" Buffy asks.
Steve grins wider. "Agatha is over seventy years old."
"So what?" Buffy replies, her foot tapping on the floor.
"Agatha isn't an Immortal." Steve replies. "She actually looks seventy years old."
"Why can't I come with you?" Buffy asks.
"You have school tomorrow." Joyce reminds her.
"But I can skip one day." Buffy whines. "My grades are up and Snider's not bothering me anymore."
"Well, I'll be gone more like three days." Steve adds in. "And there's that math test you're supposed to take day after tomorrow."
Buffy glares at Steve. "Fine!! But if I find out that you're seeing some super sexy witch that looks like Jenny, Willow or Amy, I'm going to cut it off." She then storms off. "Mom. I'll be waiting for you by the car!!"
Joyce sighs. "She really likes you Steve. Don't take it personally."
"I know, Joyce. She's afraid that I'll disappear on her."
"Will you?" Joyce asks.
Steve shakes his head. "No Joyce. I've never run out on anyone in my entire life, least of all my girlfriend. I'm in for the long haul."
Joyce gives Steve a quick peck on his cheek. "Good. Now help me lock the door and gate and I'll take Buffy home."
Joyce watches Buffy angrily watch the night as she drives her home. "What's wrong honey?"
"Steve. That lousy good for nothing won't tell me a thing about who he really works for."
"Honey." Joyce begins. "You've only known him for how long? Less than six weeks and you want him to tell you everything. Relationships don't work that way."
"And how do ‘relationships' work, Mother?" Buffy acidly asks.
"They take time honey. You can't expect to learn everything about Steve in less than six weeks. He's had years to build himself up and it might take you that long to learn everything about him."
"But he's so damned mysterious!" Buffy complains. "He sometimes gets phone calls while we're training and he walks out of the gym to take them."
"Buffy, he does work for the CIA. Did you ever think it was them calling and asking him to help them with something?"
"I don't care." Buffy mumbles. "I just want a nice, normal boyfriend. Not some James Bond type who goes flying off into danger every week."
Joyce smiles. "Honey, he cares for you. He'll never leave you."
"But does he love me?" Buffy wonders.
Joyce sighs. "Buffy, honey. You can't expect him to fall all over you. You know that he wouldn't be the man you could fall in love with if that happened."
Buffy sighs in turn. "I know. But I wish he would let me in."
"Buffy. He is letting you in. A little at a time. Please don't force your relationship to go any faster or you might scare him away."
Buffy looks at her Mother. "Since when are you so good at giving advice?"
"Since I realized that my daughter needed me to be her mom." Joyce replies with a smile.
Buffy hugs Joyce as they stop at a red light. "Thanks for understanding Mom."
March 16, 1998
Town of New Salem, Colorado - 1800 PST
Steve pulls into the diner parking lot and looks around as he gets out of his Blazer. He grimaces as everyone in and near the diner stares at him in open dislike. As he walks into the diner, everyone stops talking and eating and stares at him. < Sheesh, these people could give Mulder lessons in paranoia. > He sits down at the counter and picks up the menu. He looks at it as the waitress walks up to him. Steve studies the menu and grunts. "What's the daily special?"
"Nothing you'd like." The waitress surlily replies.
Steve looks up at her and grins. He notices her 5'6" height, incredibly long red hair and pale complexion. She just rolls her eyes and taps her pad. "I'm looking for someone." Steve tells her.
"The closest payphone is six miles outside of town. Dial 4-1-1 and you'll get your answer, bub." The young woman replies loudly. Several chairs are scraped back and several heavy set individuals walk up behind Steve. The waitress quickly walks away as a harsh voice barks out.
"We don't want your kind here!"
Steve turns around and grins at the large man as his coat falls open, exposing his handgun. The men don't back down as a tall, skinny man dressed in purple snickers. "That thing doesn't scare us, mortal."
Steve smiles and slowly pulls out Demon Slayer. The men quickly back away, sensing it's incredible power. "Oh Shit!!" The waitress cries out as she staggers even further back, her face ashen. "A freaking Sword of Destiny!!"
The men step back and mutter among themselves as Steve re-sheathes Demon Slayer. He looks over to the waitress. "I'm looking for an old friend. A mutual friend told me I could find her in this town."
"And who is this friend who sent you here?" The heavy set man asks.
"Niume." Steve replies as the patrons in the diner stare at him in complete shock.
"Who are you?!" The man dressed in purple demands.
Steve smiles. "My apologizes. My name is Steven St. Wolf, though most people call me the Wanderer."
The silence in the restaurant is deafening as an elderly man faints. The heavy set man looks Steve up and down and rumbles. "From the way the Hell Spawn throw your name around, I thought you'd be bigger."
Steve chuckles. "That's what everyone says. Sheesh, why do people expect? A giant?"
The heavyset man grins. "Your reputation is well know among us, Sir Steve. You are welcome in New Salem. May I send a runner for the person that you are looking for?"
"No. I'll go over there personally." Steve replies with a grin. "But you can send a runner to make sure that I can go and see her."
"Of course, Sir Steve. Who will you be seeing?"
"Mistress Harkness." Steve replies as the room goes silent again. The heavyset man gulps as Steve continues. "I have a personal message from Lady Niume. And I need some advice as well."
The entire room relaxes and the waitress brings Steve a cup of coffee while the man in purple rushes out to deliver the message. He smiles at her and she dimples as she puts down a cup of coffee in front of him. "If'n you want, Sir Steve, I get off at eight o'clock."
Steve loses his smile and coughs. "I'm sorry, but I'm seeing someone."
"Oh? Is she beautiful?" The waitress asks as she moves closer and leans down, showing her cleavage.
Steve coughs once more. < Buffy's going to kill me. > Most of the nearby women begin to laugh as the waitress moves in for the kill. Steve looks up at her eyes. "I'm sorry, but I promised her that I wouldn't talk to any beautiful witches."
The waitress laughs pleasantly, but the nearby men are grim. "What does this woman know about us?" The heavyset man demands.
"Nothing other than I'm going to see a witch."
"And why would she make you promise not to talk to any beautiful witches?"
Steve grins. "Because she knows that witches can be quite ‘fetching'. Since three of her friends are witches and quite beautiful."
The waitress grins. "And this woman doesn't care that they're witches? Why?"
"Because she's the Slayer." Steve replies. The waitress gulps and quickly turns away. The heavyset man sits down next to Steve.
"Why are these witches her friends? The Watchers have always had the Slayers hunt down any witches they could find."
"Not this Slayer or her Watcher. Two of the witches are her best friends and the third is her Watcher's lover and a mentor to her. She'll defend them to the death."
The heavyset man snorts in laughter. "Next thing you'll be telling us that she's also Immortal." Steve just smiles as the heavyset man blanches. "Gods above!! She's not?!" Steve just nods his head and smiles. The heavyset man gulps, worry clearly etched on his face.
"Buffy is a good person, sir. She doesn't kill indiscriminately."
"That is probably true, but the Watcher's Council has been hunting for New Salem for close to one hundred years. They wish to exterminate us completely."
"Why?" Steve asks.
"Because one hundred years ago, a Slayer was born among us and we refused to give her up. We knew that she was needed and we trained her, equipped her and helped her. She survived for twelve years without the aid of the Council and their Watchers."
"How was she killed?"
"The Council paid the Order of Teraka to kill her. They succeeded where hundreds of vampires and demons failed." The heavyset man replies, then holds out his hand. "By the way, my name is Joshua Patrick, Sir Steve."
"A pleasure, Joshua." Steve replies as he shakes Joshua's hand. The diner quickly goes back to it's normal self as the people accept Steve in their midst.
The hairs on the back of his neck quickly rise as a soft and sultry voice whispers. "My name is Mara O'Reilly." Steve turns around and the waitress is looking at him with an open smile. "Fear not, Sir Knight. I'll not make you break your word to your lady. Just know that I think her very lucky, indeed."
Steve grins. "I'm sure that will comfort me when she cuts off my manhood."
Mara laughs softly. It sounds like the tinkle of a mountain stream. "I'm sure that she has a much better use for that item." Steve blushes. "And he's shy? Oh Goddess, but you are a keeper." Mara mutters under her breath as she walks away shaking her head. Joshua laughs softly until a clicking cane is heard from the door.
Everyone turns to the door and sees the purple man standing there, holding the door open. An elderly lady stands in the doorway, her white hair tied back in a bun and a shawl over her shoulders. She looks at Steve and he feels his stomach lurch. < Oh Shit! The Lady came to me. > Steve quickly gets to his feet. "Mistress Harkness, a pleasure to see you again."
The woman glares at Steve. "I understand you have a message for me?" Steve nods and calmly reaches into his jacket pocket and takes our a thick envelope with a yellow wax seal on it. Miss Harkness, seeing the seal, smiles and takes the envelope and walks over to a nearby table. The two men sitting there, quickly pickup their dishes and leave. Mara quickly wipes down the table and stands nearby, patiently waiting. Agatha Harkness sits down as the purple man holds out the chair for her. She gives the entire diner a glance as the patrons watch her closely. All of them quickly turn back to their meals as she begins to open the envelope.
Steve quietly sits back down and turns to his cup of coffee. As he begins to drink from it, he pulls out a newspaper and begins to read it, patiently waiting to be called. After a few minutes, Joshua taps Steve's shoulder and he turns back. "Mistress Harkness wants to talk." Steve nods his head and puts his paper away and walks over to the table. He stands by the table as Harkness looked him over from head to toe.
She points to the chair opposite her and Steve sits down, waiting for her to begin. She leans in and stares into his eyes and nods her head when she's done appraising him. "So Niume tells me that you need my help. What do you need?"
Steve begins by telling her how he settled in Sunnydale and what was happening. "What happened last night confirmed it. The families of the people working with me need protection. And I don't know how to provide it. So I called Niume and she sent me that message and asked me to deliver it."
Agatha Harkness sighs and nods her head. < Such brave children. If more of humanity was like them, the world would be a better place. > "Of course I'll help you. Those poor children should have some piece of mind concerning their families. Why have you not convinced them to lay down their weapons and stop fighting? Let them become children again for a time."
"I wish that I could." Steve softly replies. "Every time I go out on patrol with them, my heart breaks. I know that Buffy doesn't have much choice in the matter, but her friends refuse to leave her or me now."
Agatha smiles. "You truly care for them. I can see that." She then turns to the diner at large. "You've all heard. Do any of you wish to aid him and his charges?"
Joshua stands away from the counter. "Yes Mistress Harkness." He replies with a smile. "My Gert just had a litter and I'll gladly give him two from it."
"And I still have one from my Isabelle's litter. I'll give him up." Mara replies with a smile. And several people in the crowd quickly give up another five more.
Steve turns to Agatha and asks. "Mistress Harkness, I do appreciate the generosity of Joshua and the rest, but what are you giving me?"
Agatha smiles. "Just wait and see Sir Steven."
A few minutes later, Joshua walks in with a pair of German Shepard puppies and puts them in a box next to Steve. He looks at them as they each stare back at him with intelligent eyes. Mara brings another box and puts in a small kitten. Several other people come by and also drop either a kitten or puppy in the boxes. After five kittens and five puppies are placed in the two boxes, Agatha holds up her hand. "That's enough. He doesn't need more. Three other people nod their heads and quietly take back their kittens and puppies.
Steve stares at the two boxes and pets the five dogs. "They're nice, Mistress Harkness, but how are they going to help protect my friends and their families?"
Agatha Harkness smiles as she asks Mara. "Is Isabelle in the back?"
"Yes, Mistress Harkness." Mara replies as she quickly leaves with a smile on her face. She quickly comes back and puts a multi-colored calico cat down on the floor nearby. Mara turns and smiles. "Now watch, Sir Knight." She turns back to the cat and commands. "Isabelle, please show your true form to this man."
The cat looks up at Mara and then to Steve and finally to Agatha, who nods her head. The cat stretches and in an instant, she's replaced by a full sized Saber Tooth Tiger. Steve stares in shock at the two hundred and fifty pound monster.
"Oh boy." Steve mutters under his breath. He looks back to Agatha. "How?"
"Very simple, young man. Isabella is a Guardian Spirit. She may look like an ordinary house cat, but she's anything but." Agatha replies with a smile.
"And the puppies become?" Steve asks in shock.
Agatha smiles. "Joshua, please bring in Gert."
Joshua smiles and brings back a black German Shepard. He places her near Isabella and orders. "Gert, please show this man what you can become."
Steve gulps as the German Shepard grows to three times her size. "A Dire Wolf?" Steve asks as Joshua nods his head. He turns back to Agatha. "Are all of them like that?"
"They are, Sir Steve." Agatha replies with an amused tone in her voice. "Each one of them will grow to become like Gert and Isabelle."
Steve looks at the box of kittens and puppies. "But if I take them this young, won't that cause problems?"
"No it won't. Agatha replies as she hands over a sheet of paper to him. "Have one of your young witches read this spell as the Guardians and your young friends make their choices."
"What does this do?" Steve asks.
"It links them together. The Guardians will then recognize them as their friends and companions." Agatha explains. "They will then guard their family members as well."
Steve gulps. "And how long do they live?"
"For as long as their companions do. They will be linked forever."
"What if the kids don't want to be ‘linked'? What if they decide to free their companions at some point in the future?"
"Then the companions will either remain out of loyalty and love or return here." Agatha replies. "If they return here, they will choose new companions."
"One of the kids is a werewolf. How will that affect them?"
Agatha smiles. "Not at all. Just make sure that he gets a cat."
"What about his girlfriend? She's a witch."
"You truly have an interesting group, Sir Knight." Mara replies with a smile.
"The young lady can choose which ever guardian she wants. None of them will be jealous of her beau." Agatha replies with a smile.
"All right." Steve replies softly and then raises his voice. "Thank you all for these gifts."
"You're quite welcome, Sir Steve." Joshua rumbles. "Is there anything else you need?"
"Yes, there is." Steve replies as he takes out a sheet of paper. "This is a list of books that we use for research and spellcasting. Is it possible for you to review it and add whatever you think is necessary? I would be more than happy to purchase any books that you recommend."
Agatha picks up the list and nods her head. She quickly writes down a list of books on the other side. She reads it over and nods her head. She looks over to an old man and he comes over. She gives him the list. "Peter, do you have extra copies of these in your shop?"
"Of course Mistress Harkness. But are you sure?"
"Niume says that Sir Steve may be trusted by us and his companions as well. The spells and information those books will provide will aid them in their battles."
"Then may I suggest some others? They should also be of aid to these young ones."
Agatha smiles. "Of course, Peter. Please feel free to add whatever you feel is necessary."
Before Peter can turn and leave, Steve pulls out an envelope full of cash from his coat pocket and hands it to Peter. Peter opens the envelope and promptly hands it back. "I don't want your money, Sir Steve. Knowing that you and your friends are out there, fighting and protecting humanity is enough for me."
"Then take it to cover the cost of replacing the books that you're giving me." Steve tells him. "I don't want you to suffer because you helped me."
Agatha nods her head towards Peter and he bows and leaves, taking the envelope with him. She turns back to Steve. "Will you spend the night with us while Peter gets the books together?"
"Thank you. If you would show me to a motel, I'll be happy to rent a room."
Agatha smiles. "We don't have a motel in this town. You'll guest at my home, Sir Steve."
"I thank you for your hospitality, Mistress Harkness. Would you allow me to buy you dinner?"
Agatha smiles. "Niume said that you were well raised. I'm glad to see that she was right. Now, while we wait for dinner, could you tell me of your adventures?"
"Certainly." Steve replies with a smile. While dinner is being prepared, Steve tells Agatha of his first few weeks in Sunnydale. Most of the people forget their meals and listen in as Steve describes their attacks on the vampire army raised by Angelus. Several of the people mutter in shock at the number of vampires destroyed by eighteen Immortals. When Steve tells them of Artemis and her choosing four of his young friends and blessing them, the entire diner lapses into shocked silence.
"Are any of these Amazons also Witches?" Agatha asks in wonder.
"Three of them are Witches." Steve confirms.
"And the fourth?" Mara asks as she puts down a pair of dinners in front of Steve and Agatha. The puppies and kittens eagerly sniff the air. Steve grins and cuts off several pieces of his meat loaf and puts them on the side to cool off.
"She's taken to being an Amazon with relish." Steve grins. "The vampires have mistaken her for the Slayer several times already."
Agatha chuckles. "The young woman seems to be enjoying herself."
"Very much so. To the bad fortune of her boyfriend." Steve replies with a smile as he begins to feed the puppies and then the kittens.
Agatha smiles. "You'll do well with them young man. They already trust you."
Steve grins as he pets the kittens and pups. "Brother Aaron says the same thing."
"The Immortal Monk? Is he still with Michael?" Agatha asks with a smile.
"Both of them run a monastery near San Diego."
"Good. I'm glad both are still alive. They risked their lives several times to save good witches from the more savage members of the Church."
"If you want, I'll be happy to get a message to them." Steve replies as one of the puppies, a jet black Shepard, climbs onto his lap. He looks down at the pup and the pup just pants and licks his hand.
"I think you've just been claimed, Sir Steve." Joshua replies with a smile. "That one's the best of Gert's litter."
"He looks like he'll be a big one when he grows up." Steve replies with a smile as the pup snuggles against him and growls at the rest of the puppies and kittens in the boxes. "Looks like I'm already private property."
"I think your lady is going to be jealous after all." Mara replies with a grin.
Steve grins and puts the dog back into the box. He immediately climbs back out and onto Steve's lap. "You won't be getting rid of him that easily." Joshua replies with a rumbling chuckle. "But I think the feelings are mutual." He adds as Steve begins to tickle the pup's belly.
Agatha smiles as she claps her hands. Several of the men get up and approach her. "Please take these young ones and care for them tonight. Mr. St. Wolf will be staying with me tonight and will be leaving tomorrow with them." Steve puts the puppy back into the box and pets him. Before the two men can pickup the boxes, the black Shepard pup jumps out and again climbs onto Steve's lap.
"Looks like I'm not going to be sleeping alone tonight. I hope Buffy forgives me." Steve comments with a soft laugh.
"I'm sure she will." Agatha replies with a slight smile as she gets up after finishing her meal. "Now please follow me and bring your new friend with you."
March 16, 1998
Home of Steve St. Wolf, Sunnydale, CA - 2130 PST
Xander grins as he and Cordelia house sit for Steve. Cordelia moans as Xander's hands begin to caress her in a very sensitive spot. "Oh Goddess." Cordelia mutters as she leans in and kisses him on his mouth. She quickly forces her tongue into Xander's mouth and begins to unbutton his shirt. As Xander's hands reach for her bra strap, a loud knocking is heard from the front door. Xander grimaces and Cordelia angrily gets up and heads to the front door. She quickly pulls it open and her angry reply is lost at the sight of the six foot eight inch giant standing in the door way. She stares at the dark haired giant and gulps.
"Where's St. Wolf?" The giant's deep voice demands.
"Away on business." Cordelia curtly replies as she shifts into a defensive posture. "What do you what?"
"Bastard bitches to the high heavens for this stuff and he's not here to take delivery of it? That man is a major pain in the ass." The giant replies sarcastically as he walks back to a large truck. "Tell me where to put it."
Cordelia and Xander stare at the truck and shake their heads in wonder. "Hey guy!" Xander calls out and the giant turns around and walks back.
"What is it, boy?"
"How do we know that Steve asked you to bring this stuff?"
The giant grins. "Good point. But that pain in the ass boy scout screamed for this stuff and I have other work to do. So I'll just leave it in the driveway. And if you have a problem, call Frank Iverson and tell him that Randolph is here with the shipment."
"We'll do that." Xander replies as he quickly closes the door. He turns and watches as Cordelia pulls out a Heckler and Koch G3 Battle rifle from one of the hidden wall lockers. "Keep an eye on him while I call Frank."
"Not a problem." Cordelia replies as she watches the giant from a side window.
Xander nods his head and reaches for the phone and quickly dials Frank's phone number. A sleepy woman answers. "Who is this?"
"I'm sorry, I must have dialed the wrong number." Xander quickly replies.
"Who are you looking for?"
"A friend of mine named Frank." Xander replies as he reaches for the hook to disconnect the phone.
"Frank's in the bathroom, give him a minute to get out." The husky voice replies.
"Okay." Xander replies as Frank comes on line.
"Who is this?" Frank demands.
"Frank, it's Xander. I'm at Steve's house with Cordy and some guy calling himself Randolph is here with a shipment."
"Attitude to the max, stands about six, eight, three hundred pounds, brunette hair and a scar on his jaw."
"That's the guy." Xander replies. "He said something about a shipment that Steve ordered."
"Yeah, he's on the up and up. Steve did order a bunch of stuff for you kids." Frank replies. "Anything else?"
"Just curious who the lady is." Xander replies with a smirk.
"Every read ‘The Elven Bard' series?" Frank asks.
"Yeah, Cassandra Hastings writes the series. Why?"
"You just talked to her." Frank replies with a laugh as he hangs up.
Xander shakes his head and grins as he remembers the picture from the back of one of the dust jackets.. < Lucky Dog. > He turns back to Cordelia. "He checks out."
Cordelia grins as she puts her battle rifle down. "All right."
Xander opens the door and walks out to the side of the truck. "Hey Dude! Frank told us everything is all right."
"About damn time you got your lazy ass out here." Randolph replies from behind Xander. Xander starts and quickly turns around, going into a defensive stance. Randolph looks him up and down and grunts in satisfaction. "You're learning, kid. Keep it up and you'll make the grade."
"How?!" Xander barks out.
Randolph grins. "Just been doing this for a while."
Xander shakes his head in disgust. "What is it with Steve and all of these pros? Where the Hell does he get them from?"
"I work with him occasionally." Randolph replies with a dry chuckle as he waves to the van and it begins to back up to the garage. When it's less than three feet from the door, the van stops. Randolph turns to Xander. "Well kid?"
"Yeah, right." Xander replies as he nods to Cordelia, who goes into the house and opens the garage door for Randolph and his three helpers. Xander looks over each man and shudders. < Oh fuck! These guys are just like the crew Steve got together a few weeks ago. > "What's in the boxes?"
Randolph looks up from the box that he's carrying. "Something that Steve ordered."
"You're not going to tell me, are you?" Xander asks.
Randolph looks up from the box he's picking up and grins. "Nope."
"Goddess, but these guys are as tight lipped as Steve is." Cordelia mutters as she watches the four men unload a large number of heavy boxes.
"We've all worked with St. Wolf." One of the men replies with a grin. "Are you his new girlfriend?"
Cordelia stares at the man and grins. "I wish. I've got Dweeb Boy here for a boyfriend."
"Hey!" Xander yells out as the four men all laugh.
Randolph chuckles evilly as he hands off a large box. "So the rumors are true? St. Wolf has found himself a girlfriend?"
"Yeah, they're true." Cordelia replies with a dazzling smile. "Why are you interested?"
"We've all got money in various betting pools." Randolph replies with an easy grin. "Care to tell us when they officially began dating?"
"So you can collect?" Xander asks with a laugh.
"The betting pool has been going for a long time, kid." Randolph replies with a laugh. "The money involved is enough to retire on."
Cordelia laughs softly. "February 27th at five o'clock."
"Thanks." Randolph replies as he angrily begins to throw the boxes at the garage.
"Let me guess." Xander mutters. "You bet on February 28th?"
"No." Randolph angrily mutters. "March 1st!"
Xander turns to Cordelia. "Ever wonder if anyone is betting anything on how long ‘We' last?" Cordelia glares at Xander as Randolph chuckles evilly.
"You kids should be all right."
They both turn back to a grinning Randolph and Cordelia demands. "Who died and made you Doctor Ruth?"
"Only my Psych degree from Harvard." Randolph replies with a smile.
"You graduated from Harvard?" Cordelia asks in shock.
"Yep." Randolph replies as he straightens his back and wipes his brow. "Class of 1927."
"You're an Immortal?" Xander replies softly.
"Nope." Randolph replies with a smile. "Just a little long lived." He looks over to the pile of boxes in the garage sits down on the tailgate. "That's it kids."
Xander and Cordelia gulp as they watch one of the men close the garage door. "What happens now?"
"We leave." Randolph replies with a chuckle as he reaches up and closes the truck's rear door and walks away to the front of the truck. Xander and Cordelia watch as the truck leaves in a cloud of dust.
March 16, 1998
Town of New Salem, Colorado - 2100 PST
Steve stares at the Victorian decor of Agatha's house and mutters. "Most of my clients would kill for some of these things."
Agatha looks up at him from her easy chair. "Oh? Why is that?"
"I sell antiques as a cover." Steve replies with a smile.
"You do?" Agatha asks with a smile. "Then maybe you can help us with another matter."
"What matter would that be?" Steve asks as he sits down across from her. The puppy snuggles into his lap immediately.
"Many of the people here wish to purchase more modern furnishings for their homes, but lack the hard money for such things. Can you take some of the old furniture and sell it for us?"
"Of course I can. But have you talked to Niume about this problem?"
"I have, but she can't help other than to offer my people work as witches for Merlin's Knights. I don't want them fighting and dying because we need a few modern conveniences."
"All right, I'll help. Could your people show me the things that they're willing to part with?"
"Of course. Would tomorrow morning be fine."
"Yes, it would. But how will I take the items? My car is large, but the books will take up a lot of room."
Agatha smiles. "Just chose the items that will bring in the most money and I'll arrange for their delivery."
"Very well then, Mistress Harkness. Anything else?"
"Yes." Agatha replies in an indulgent smile. "Some of the young men and women were noticing your car and want to know if you would allow them to try it?"
"Kids are the same every where." Steve replies with a chuckle. "But there is something you should know. My car would be considered a deadly weapon by any police officer or agency, if they knew it existed."
"May I ask why?"
Steve sighs. "I originally wanted to buy a car for transportation, but a friend of mine took me to this man who specialized in ‘special' cars for ‘special' people. He showed me this car, explained what he had done to it and I bought it. Some of the things he added to it make it very dangerous."
"What sort of things did he do to your car?" Agatha asks in curiosity.
"The car is armor plated, making it bullet proof to anything but an anti-tank missile. The glass will stop any bullet up to and including a fifty caliber, armor piercing. The engine is a four hundred and fifty cubic inch V-8 engine with a nitrous oxide boost built into it. The rear of the car has an oil and smoke release, as well as a machine gun located above the tail pipe. There is also a pair of machine guns located above the front headlights. The lights, both front and rear, will flash with high power halogen lights, blinding anyone who sees them. The front is reinforced steel and can drive through a brick wall without slowing the car down. Gas milage is not that great, but then, I don't care." Steve replies with a grin.
"An impressive vehicle." Agatha agrees with a smile. "But that will just wet their appetites all the more."
Steve grins. "Like I said, kids will be kids. And I will let them look in the car, but not drive it."
"Fair enough." Agatha replies as she watches Steve pet and cuddle the puppy. "Have you thought of a name for him yet?"
Steve grins. "How about Duke?"
"A name of royalty is not a fitting name for a guardian." Agatha replies with a smile. "The nobles might find it insulting."
"Actually, I'm naming him after the actor, John ‘Duke' Wayne."
"A good man, Mr. Wayne was." Agatha replies softly. "I once met him in the late 1950s. A true gentleman."
"I know. Every Immortal who knew him, hoped he was also one of us, but when he died of cancer, a lot of us mourned his passing."
"I think he'll like being called Duke." Agatha replies as the puppy yawns widely. "Time for bed. For the both of you."
Steve also yawns. "Good idea. Early to bed, early to work tomorrow."
Steve stares up at the ceiling as Duke cuddles next to him. < They gave me ten Guardians, but I only need nine. > Steve thinks to himself as he ticks off where the pets would go. < I keep Duke, Buffy, Joyce, Willow, Cordelia, Amy, Oz and Xander each get one. Giles and Jenny are sharing one. Who else can I give one to? > Steve's mouth splits into a smile as he reaches for his cell phone. He quickly dials a Washington D.C. number and a sleepy Dana Scully answers.
"Who is this? If it's you Mulder, I'm going to kill you."
Steve snickers. "Tell Fox to roll over a little more."
"Steve?" Dana mutters as she wakes up. "Are the kids all right?"
"They're fine. Can you and Mulder come over tomorrow? I need your input on something." Steve replies with a chuckle.
"What's going on?" Dana asks as Steve hears Mulder mumble in the background.
"Nothing much. Just want you and Mulder at my house to see something interesting."
"What is it?"
"You'll have to come over to find out." Steve replies with a laugh and hangs up. Duke looks at him with his head in an angle, wondering what was so funny. Steve looks down at the dog. "What?" Duke just continues to stare at him. Steve chuckles evilly. "I want to see Mulder's face when one of you changes in front of him and Dana." Duke just shakes his head and puts it on his paws. Steve watches as Duke closes his eyes.
17 March 1998
Town of New Salem - 0630 - PST
The next morning dawns bright and clear as Steve and Duke wake up. Steve opens his eyes and finds Duke staring at him over his paws as he rests on Steve's chest. "Good morning to you to." Steve replies as Duke's tongue licks his face. Steve chuckles. "I bet you want breakfast?"
Duke barks once and scampers off the bed as Steve gets up. Steve looks around and opens a door and finds the bathroom. He quickly does what he needs to do and gets out. Duke quietly watches as Steve gets dressed. When Steve's ready to leave, Duke jumps off the bed and joins him at the door.
Steve grins and opens the door. Duke immediately scampers down to the kitchen where Mara was making breakfast. Steve coughs and Mara turns and smiles at him. "Don't worry, Sir Knight, I'm not here to ravish you."
"Just breakfast?" Steve asks with a grin.
"Of course." Mara replies with an evil grin. "Mistress Harkness is a lovely lady and everyone in New Salem loves her. But her cooking is well known to be hazardous to everyone's health."
"Even Immortals?" Steve asks in surprise.
"Certain things may fall off if you don't watch what you eat." Mara replies with a giggle. "And I don't think having an angry Immortal Slayer coming after her would be good for her health."
"That paints a nice picture." Steve replies with a grin as Agatha walks in. He immediately rises from his chair and holds out her's. Agatha sits down as Steve pushes in the chair.
"Are you ready to look over the items?" Agatha asks.
"As soon as Duke and I finish breakfast, we'll look them over."
"Who's Duke?" Mara asks. Steve points to the puppy, who's gobbling down half of his bacon. Mara giggles. "A good name for him. He eats like a cowboy."
Steve chuckles. "I hope none of your people are planning on giving up something magical?"
"Of course not. But I will make sure that none of the items are charmed or cursed."
"Thank you." Steve replies as he digs into his scrambled eggs, home fries, bacon and toast. Duke whines as he eyes the last of the bacon. Steve just shakes his head and hand over half of it to him. Duke makes happy puppy noises as he bites into the bacon, chewing on it. "Gonna have to buy him a chew toy." Steve mutters to himself as Duke chews the bacon with his open mouth.
Mara laughs lightly. "He'll eat you out house and home."
"I hope he's house broken." Steve mutters. "Could you imagine me toilet training a Dire Wolf?"
"Yes, I can." Mara replies with a laugh. "The newspaper better be a big one."
Steve snickers. "I think Duke and I have an understanding."
"Oh? Do you now?" Mara asks as she watches Duke steal most of Steve's remaining bacon. Steve watches as the pup quickly gobbles up all of the bacon and licks his lips in satisfaction.
"Yeah." Steve replies while glaring at Duke, who's giving him a plaintive look with his eyes. "Now that's one dangerous dog. He'll get away with everything."
Mara laughs lightly as Steve puts his fork down and again glares at the puppy. Duke stares back and suddenly moves forward, licking Steve's nose. Steve continues to glare at Duke but breaks down and chuckles. "Definitely dangerous. I wonder what he'll do when Buffy's over?"
"Probably beg to be held." Mara replies with a laugh. "What will you do when you and your lady want to snuggle and you have him coming between you?"
"That's why they created dog houses." Steve replies with an evil grin while watching Duke. Duke glares back and struts forward and goes nose to nose with Steve. Steve lets out a low growl. Duke also growls but then licks Steve's nose. Steve just stares at the dog, finally realizing something. "You're a lot smarter then you look."
Mara laughs softly as she watches the Guardian drive Steve crazy. < Oh Goddess, but this is funny. >
Steve turns to his host. "Mistress Harkness. Is there something more that you should be telling me about these ‘Guardians'?"
Agatha smiles as she sips her tea. "Of course there is, Sir Steve. I was just curious as to when you would figure it out on your own."
"How intelligent are they?"
"As intelligent as any normal person. It all depends on who they chose to bond with."
"Oh hell." Steve mutters, suddenly re-thinking about giving one to Xander. "And if the person they bond with tends to be a smart mouthed teenage boy who constantly makes jokes and pulls pranks?"
"Then the world is doomed." Mara replies with a laugh.
"Oh God help us all." Steve mutters. "I hope Cordelia can keep them in line."
"Who's Cordelia?" Mara asks with a smile.
"Xander's girlfriend." Steve replies with a grin. "She tends to keep him in line."
Mara laughs softly. "Goddess, but that's good. Is she a good at it?"
"Not really." Steve chuckles. "Xander has terminal smart mouth."
Agatha smiles. "He tends to keep your moods light. Especially during the worst of times."
"He does at that." Steve agrees. "That's why he's so important to us."
"Good." Agatha replies as she leads Steve out of her home. They quickly walk back to the diner and turn away from it just before they get there. "This is our school." Agatha replies as she leads Steve into the gymnasium. As they enter, Steve sees a large number of people standing around with a large number of items for him to look over.
"I should have taken that job on the Antiques Road Show." Steve mutters as everyone watches him. Steve smiles at them as he and Agatha walk over to a pair of chairs. Steve stands next to her as she sits down and he begins to look over the items being presented. He quickly goes through the items chosen. After about three hours, Steve sits back in his chair and takes a deep breath. "I think that's enough." He looks over the items he's chosen. "I think that I can get what you need with these items. How will you get them to me?"
Agatha hands Steve a sheet of paper. "This spell will call them to you where ever you are. Just draw a large circle, about thirty feet in diameter and you won't have any problems."
"Good." Steve replies as he stretches. "I'll check on the Guardians and then I'll be leaving."
"Don't worry. All of the books have been packed and will be placed into your car as soon as you get there. The Guardians are ready as well. When do you think we'll be able to order the items that we need?"
"Give me two to four weeks to sell these items and get the best prices possible." Steve replies as he looks at the items stacked in a neat pile. "I have several clients who will be drooling over some of these items."
"Good. When you've sold everything, I'll contact you with the list of items that we need."
"All right." Steve replies as they walk out of the gymnasium towards his car. "I'll arrange with Niume to have them delivered to you."
"Very good, Sir Steve." Agatha replies with a smile as they walk up to Steve's Blazer. A pile of boxes was sitting next to it and Steve gulped.
"You think that's enough books?"
"I believe that Peter gave you quite a few books that he normally won't part with. Please be careful with them."
"Of course we will." Steve replies as several of the teenagers stare at his car. "Kids will be kids."
"Can you let them look for a short while?" Agatha asks with a smile.
"Of course." Steve replies as he opens the door locks with his remote control. "Kids, you can look all you want, but please don't touch any of the buttons."
"Why?" A short red headed girl asks.
"Because you might accidentally set off the machine guns, or several bombs that are spread around the car."
"Goddess!" A tall, blond haired boy replies in disbelief. "Where did you get this car from?"
"A man who makes special cars for special people." Steve replies with a smile.
"You mean ‘Q'?" A dark haired beauty asks in shock.
"Sorry, I only work part time for the British Secret Service." Steve replies with a smile.
"I thought you were a Knight of the Grail?"
"Even Knights have to make a living." Steve replies with a smile.
"I thought you dealt in antiques?" Agatha asks as the teenagers look around the interior of Steve's car.
"Only as a cover for my real work." Steve replies with a grin. "The people that I help like the idea that I have a ‘real' job."
"Does Merlin know that you work for the British Secret Service?"
"He does. He doesn't have a problem with it so long as it doesn't interfere with any missions he gives me."
"Do you ever get any time off to relax and enjoy life?"
"Up until a month ago, hardly ever." Steve replies softly.
"What has changed?" Agatha asks.
"Just being with Buffy and her friends has helped quite a bit. Also feeling that I've finally found someplace to call home helped."
Agatha pats Steve on his cheek. "Yes, I can see that you want to live a ‘normal' life, but won't neglect your duties. Good."
"Time for me to leave." Steve replies as he looks at his watch.
Agatha nods her head and turns to the group of teenagers looking at Steve's car. "Please place the boxes in the car." The teenagers quickly pickup the boxes and put them in the car. Joshua walks up with the puppies and kittens and places them on the front seat.
"The young ones will ride in these carryalls. Will it be a long trip back?"
"About twelve hours." Steve replies.
"I'll put all of them to sleep while you drive." Joshua replies as he chants a quick spell. He looks up from the sleeping puppies and kittens and smiles. "That should make your trip easier. Just pet each one to wake them up."
"A lot easier. Thanks Joshua." Steve replies with a grin as he turns to Agatha. "I'll be leaving now, Mistress Harkness."
"Have a good trip, Sir Steve." Agatha replies as Steve climbs into his car and leaves. Agatha and Joshua watch him leave and Agatha turns to Joshua. "What do you think Joshua? Do you think our people will follow him when the time comes?"
"Without a doubt, Mistress. His name is well known to us and his stay here has firmed our respect for him. We'll follow him, don't doubt that."
"Thank you Joshua." Agatha replies as she turns and leaves. She turns back for a second and quietly whispers. "Good luck, Steven. Maggie was right about you."
March 17, 1998
Sunnydale, CA - 21:40 PST
Steve pulls up to his house and sees the lights are on and a rental car was parked in the driveway. He also sees Giles' aged Citrogen, Oz's van, and Cordelia's convertible. < Damn, everyone must be here. > Steve thinks to himself as he gets out of his car. He feels the familiar ‘Buzz' and watches as the side door opens and Buffy rushes out and into his arms. "Miss me?"
Buffy glares at him but doesn't let him go as she murmurs. "I was worried about you."
"Did Dana and Mulder make it in?" Steve asks as he lets Buffy down.
"Yeah, they did. What did you bring back?"
"A surprise for everyone." Steve replies with a grin as he walks into the house and sees that everyone was there, waiting. He grins as he sees Mulder sitting down on the couch. "Get up lazy bones, you have to help me unload my car."
"Dana and I flew out here and you want us to help you unload your car?" Mulder growls out. "Do you realize the mess we're in with Skinner over this?"
Steve grins. "Nope, but then I don't really care."
Mulder glares at him, but gets up and follows Steve back to his car. Buffy and the rest follow them and the car is quickly unloaded. The last package is the carryalls with the puppies and kittens. Steve personally carries them inside. Everyone watches as he reaches inside and feels around for a few seconds. Steve smiles as he pets each of the Guardians and they begin to wake up. Each of the young Guardians begin to strain at the mesh of the carryalls as they sense their future companions nearby.
"What's in the boxes?" Buffy asks as she tries to peek into the carryalls, but Steve pulls her back.
"None of your business." Steve replies with a grin. "Is Joyce here?"
"No. Mom's at home." Buffy replies.
"Can she come here?"
"Sure." Buffy replies as she walks over to the phone. She quickly calls her Mom. "She'll be here in five. What's up with the boxes?"
"I got us some more books." Steve replies with a grin as Giles, Jenny, Willow and Amy dive at the boxes spread across the floor. Buffy, Cordelia, Xander, Oz, Mulder, and Dana grin as they watch them begin to sputter in shock.
"My God!" Giles mutters as he picks up a large leather bound book. "Michelangelo's Demons and Monsters?!" He looks at Steve. "But this book was lost centuries ago. Where did you get it?"
"Don't worry about that one." Jenny mutters as she holds up a book of her own. "Where the hell did you get this copy of Circe's Spells and Charms? Every copy was supposed to have been destroyed three thousand years ago."
"Jenny?" Willow mutters, her hands shaky, he face white. "Please tell me that I'm not imagining this." Jenny, Giles and Amy rush over and stare at the book in question.
"A real copy of Wiccan Rituals, Spells and Wards in Celtic? How? The Church destroyed every copy that ever existed." Jenny mutters in disbelief.
Steve just sits back and enjoys the shocked looks on everyone's faces. < I think that Peter really gave me some interesting books. >
Giles, Jenny, Willow and Amy walk up to Steve. "Where did you get these books from Steve?" Giles demands, not believing what he was holding. "These books are so rare that even the Watcher's Council doesn't have copies."
"Here and there." Steve replies with a lop sided grin. "Glad you like them."
Giles shakes his head in disbelief and turns back to the boxes with Jenny, Willow and Amy. As he walks way, Giles mutters. "Damn bastard is not going to tell us anything. I hate that about him the most."
Steve begins to chuckle as a warm body squeezes in next to him. He turns to see a smiling Buffy lean in and hug him. "So, you want to tell me where you got those books from?"
"A nice old lady I know." Steve replies with a snicker. Buffy glares at him. "I told you before I left that I would be seeing someone to get some help for us. These books are just part of what she gave me."
"You mean that Harkness lady gave you all of those books?" Buffy asks in disbelief.
Jenny looks up from a book that she was looking at and stares at Steve, fear in her eyes. "Steve." She hoarsely whispers. "Did Buffy just say that you got these books from a woman named Harkness?"
"She did." Steve confirms as Jenny drops the book from her hands.
Jenny gulps. "Not Agatha Harkness?"
"Yep." Steve replies with a grin.
"But," Jenny sputters. "She's one of the most powerful witches in the world. How do you know her?"
"A mutual friend." Steve replies with a grin.
"Who could you possibly have in common with someone like her?"
"Someone we both know."
"You're not going to tell us are you?" Mulder asks.
"Nope." Steve replies with a grin.
"I just what to know one thing. Did you hurt her to get these books?" Jenny asks.
Steve's eyes turn hard as he glares at Jenny. "Jenny, we've known each other for close to six weeks. Do you think so little of me that I would hurt an old woman to get some books?"
Jenny gulps in fear, but quickly recovers. "No! Of course not! But these books are priceless. No one who knows what they are is going to give them up without a fight."
"If you must know, I gave Miss Harkness a list of books that we already had. She reviewed it and wrote down a list of books to be provided to me by her people. The people who owned them gave them to me. I offered them fifty thousand dollars and they refused to take the money at first. The people who gave me the books wanted to give them to me because it would help three young witches in their fight against the Darkness."
"These people. Who were they?"
"The people who live in a small town called New Salem."
"You're joking!?" Jenny hoarsely breathes. Then she looks into Steve's eyes. "Oh Shit! You're not joking. How?"
"Just drove into town and paid them a visit." Steve replies with an easy grin.
"Goddess." Jenny mutters. "My Grandfather warned me about you, but this?"
"What did your Grandfather say?" Giles asks.
"When the Wanderer is around, the rules get thrown out." Jenny replies.
"Jenny?" Willow calls over. "There's a bunch of glass bottles in this box. And a letter."
"What does the letter say?" Steve asks.
Willow opens the letter and reads from it. "‘We thought your witches could also use some supplies.' It's signed by someone named Mara."
Buffy angrily turns to Steve. "Who's Mara?" Before Steve could reply, Buffy adds in. "She had better not be some super sexy witch."
"I'm afraid she is." Steve replies as Buffy angrily stalks away before Steve can tell her. "But nothing happened."
"Like hell it didn't!" Buffy yells back as her Mother walks into the house. "Take me home!" Buffy orders as she stalks past her.
Joyce looks on in shock as Buffy slams the door behind her. She turns to Steve and asks. "What happened?"
Steve sighs. "I told her the truth."
"So was this Harkness woman young and sexy?" Joyce asks with a smile.
"No, Mara was." Steve replies.
"Who's Mara?"
"Miss Harkness' student."
"Nothing happened?"
"Of course nothing happened." Steve replies. "But Buffy doesn't see it that way."
Joyce smiles. "I'm sure. . ." Before she can finish her sentence, Buffy storms back into the house.
"If you think that I'm going to let you off easy, you're wrong." Buffy angrily tells Steve as she stands in the doorway, her arms crossed, her eyes glaring. "I want to know if you slept alone last night."
"I didn't." Steve replies with a grin. "Want to meet who I slept with last night?"
"You bastard! If that hussy shows up here, I'll kill her." Buffy angrily replies as Steve reaches down to the two boxes next to him and pulls something out.
"Actually, it was a he that I slept with." Steve replies with a smile.
"You're Gay!?" Buffy stammers out, not believing what she just heard.
"No, I'm not Gay." Steve replies with a grin as he holds up something. "Buffy, meet Duke. He slept with me last night."
Buffy and the rest stare in shock at the dark haired German Shepard puppy. Xander is the first to recover. "Well, at least you can say that Steve slept with a real dog last night." Buffy stares at him as everyone else starts to laugh, including her own Mother.
Buffy turns to Joyce, demanding. "Do you think that's funny?"
"I do." Joyce replies as she begins to laugh. "Oh honey, the look on your face was priceless."
Buffy glares at everyone, but quickly stalks over to Steve. "What's going on?"
As Steve stops laughing and lets go of Duke, Duke scampers down. Buffy quickly reaches down and picks him up. She holds him up and glares at him from arm's length. Duke, tongue hanging out, looks at Buffy with wide eyes. Buffy just shakes her head in disbelief and begins to laugh herself. She quickly hugs Duke to herself and Duke begins to lick her face.
"Watch it Mutt." Steve jokingly warns. Buffy and Duke look at him. "That's *my* girlfriend."
Buffy giggles and sits down on Steve's lap. Duke snuggles between them. "All right, Mister! Spill. Why'd you get the doggie?"
"Actually, I got a bunch of dogs and cats. Enough for everyone." Steve replies as he reaches down and opens the carryalls. The puppies and kittens immediately run out and quickly choose their companions.
Willow giggles as she picks up a Collie puppy and hugs it to herself. Oz smiles as a brown calico kitten chooses him. Xander grins as a multi-colored calico chooses him. Cordelia sighs in appreciation as a regal Persian chooses her. Joyce smiles as a Labrador pup walks up to her and it's twin jumps into Buffy's lap. Buffy giggles as she picks up the pup and hugs it. Dana grins as an orange furred kitten jumps into her arms. Jenny bends down and scoops up the black kitten that had walked up to her and Giles. Amy coos as the final pup, a Shepard like Duke walks up to her and sits down in front of her. Amy sits down and begins to play with her stomach.
After a few minutes, Steve calls out. "Is everyone happy with their new friends?"
Giles looks up from Jenny's arms where Jenny was playing their new kitten. "It appears so, Steve, but how are they supposed to help us?"
Steve grins and untangles himself from Buffy, Duke and the now chosen Labrador pup. "Duke, please go forward." Duke barks happily and goes to the middle of the living room and sits down, waiting. "Now watch Duke." Steve comments as he asks. "Duke, please show them what you can become."
Duke barks happily twice and then a light flashes and in Duke's place was a massive wolf, standing five feet at the shoulder.
"Oh my. . ." Xander begins.
"Goddess!" Cordelia finishes as she stares at the huge wolf that had just been a puppy.
"Do all of them become like that?" Jenny asks in awe.
"Actually, only the pups become wolves. Jenny if you could put your kitten down and ask him to show what he can become?"
Jenny nods her head and puts down the black kitten. She quickly steps back and asks. "Please show us what you can become."
The kitten meows once and quickly changes into a black saber tooth tiger. The Slayer and her friends watch in awe as the tiger stretches itself to its full twelve foot length.
"Now that's a cat." Cordelia softly replies as the tiger exposes his six inch canine teeth and two inch claws.
"Honey, I love you, but I ain't cleaning that kitty's litter box." Xander adds in.
Cordelia glares at Xander but then begins to laugh. The laughter quickly spreads to the rest of the group. When everyone settles down, they all turn to Steve. "So what happens now?" Mulder asks.
Steve takes out a folded piece of paper and hands it to Jenny. "Jenny reads that and we're bonded to our new friends."
"Bonded? How?" Mulder asks.
"According to Miss Harkness, the spell will bind our new friends to us. For the rest of our lives."
"And why do we want this?" Mulder asks.
"Because then, they will protect us and our families. If the bond is ever broken, the Guardian will have the option of staying because it wants to. Not because it has to."
"What happens if they hurt our families?" Willow asks.
"They won't." Steve replies. "According to Miss Harkness, these Guardians have served her people for hundreds of years and there's never been a case where the Guardians have turned against their companions."
Giles nods his head in agreement. "Several of my books speak of these Guardians. But I never thought that I would have one protecting me."
"What will our families say when they see them change?" Xander replies.
"Hopefully, they'll think they were imagining it all." Steve replies.
"That sounds about normal for Sunnydale." Xander replies with a grin.
"I hope our families let us keep them." Amy replies. "My dad never let me get a pet."
"Tell him that you want to keep her to protect the house." Steve replies. "He should believe that."
"Yeah, he would." Amy replies in thought as she looks into the pup's eyes. "How do you like the name Blackie?"
The pup yelps in glee and begins to lick Amy's face.
"What are you going to name yours Will?" Xander asks as Willow cuddles with her pup.
"Is Lassie too stupid a name?" Willow asks as the pup begins to really lick her.
"I think she likes it, Will." Buffy replies as she holds up her white Labrador pup to herself. Buffy looks down at her and giggles. "I think I'll name you Sarah." The pup's tongue quickly begins to cover her face with a fresh series of licks.
"I think she likes being called Sarah." Steve replies with a grin. "What are you going name yours Cordelia?"
"Arial." Cordelia replies with a smile as she caresses her kitten. "Because she's so regal." Arial quickly snuggles against her and begins to purr. "How about yours Xander?"
Xander studies his kitten and the kitten studies him back. "Patches." Xander replies with a grin. "Because he looks like his fur is made of a lot of different colored patches." The kitten stares at Xander for a second and licks his nose once. Xander grins back and scratches his head.
"How about you Oz?" Steve asks.
"Harriet." Oz replies with a grin.
"Ozzie and Harriet?" Steve replies with a laugh.
"Yeah."
"You are a sick man, Oz." Steve replies with a grin.
"Thanks, I think."
"How about you Dana?" Buffy asks.
"Tigger." Dana replies with a smile. "What do you think Fox?"
"Tigger it is." Mulder replies with a grin. The kitten looks up at Mulder. "Be happy she didn't want Pooh, mouse trap." The kitten begins to play with Mulder's finger as Mulder grins.
"How about you Joyce?" Steve asks.
"I think he's a natural detective." Joyce replies as her pup noses around the living room. "So I think Sherlock is a good name." The pup looks up and wags his tail in agreement.
"How about you Giles? Jenny?" Willow asks.
Jenny grins. "You have to ask? I think he's a Salem."
"Hey!" Amy yells out with a grin. "I'm supposed to be Sabrina."
"I didn't see you claiming the name." Jenny replies with a grin.
Amy quickly relents with a laugh. "All right. But if you teach him to talk, I don't know you."
"Don't worry. I'm sure that I'll be too busy keeping him from using Giles' books as scratching posts."
"If that happens, then Jenny will find out how you'll look stuffed." Giles growls out with a grin. The kitten glares back at him and snuggles deeper into Jenny's bosom. "Oh bugger. I hope you're not planning on doing this when Jenny and I are sleeping together. The kitten sniffs the air and yawns in response. "Damn, but he's a cheeky one."
"There's one more thing you should know." Steve comments as Jenny begins to lift the paper and read the chant.
"What?" Buffy asks as she snuggles with Sarah and Duke.
"They're as intelligent as any normal person."
"Can they talk?" Willow asks.
"No, but they can understand what you say to them."
"Well, that puts them one up on you Xander." Cordelia replies with a grin as Xander goes.
"Hey!"
"When Jenny reads that spell." Steve comments, getting everyone back on track. "We'll all be bonded to our pets. Anyone have anymore questions?"
"Can they work with us?" Amy asks.
"Not unless they want to." Steve replies. "Please understand, I got them to protect your families and homes, not fight beside you. Every warrior needs to have a place to relax and know that they and their family is safe. You can't be jumping at every shadow for the rest of your lives."
"But they don't know who we are?" Buffy replies.
"Angelus knows who everyone of us is." Steve replies. "And I'll bet that he's sold or given that information to a lot of very nasty people."
Everyone thinks one that for a full minute. "Oh God!" Giles softly replies. "He would do that."
"My folks!" Willow whispers hoarsely. "My Dad told me that someone was watching the house."
"Looks like we got our friends in time." Steve replies softly. "If no one else has any questions, Jenny, please read the spell." No one asks anything as Jenny unfolds the paper and begins to read from it.
"We stand here, Mortal Companion and Guardian. From this day forward, we, Companions pledge to provide a home for our Guardian to live in and protect. This we swear." Everyone quickly repeats the simple oath and a glow surrounds everyone and quickly disappears.
"That was weird." Cordelia mutters as a voice adds in.
// I agree. //
"Who said that?" Cordelia mutters as she looks around.
"No one said anything Cordy." Xander replies.
// Arial did. // A voice replies in Xander's head. Xander looks around and Patches smacks him on his nose. Xander stares down as the same voice continues. // If you're too stupid to listen then I'll stop talking. //
"Hey, my cat just talked to me." Xander yells out.
Cordelia smacks Xander as she disgustingly replies. "Don't joke Xander. Steve said that they can't talk."
// Not out loud. // Arial replies with a purr. // But we can talk with our Companions. //
"Uh, Steve?" Cordelia asks as Arial looks into her eyes.
"What Cordelia?" Steve replies as he balances Buffy and two puppies on his lap. Buffy was giggling in glee at Steve's obvious discomfort.
"Our Guardians just talked to us."
"We didn't hear anything." Buffy replies as Sarah licks her face.
// Of course you didn't. // A voice tells Buffy. // Only our Companions can hear us. // Buffy looks at Steve in shock.
"Uh, honey? Sarah just talked to me."
"Oh?" Steve wonders and looks at Duke. "Is that why Miss Harkness was smiling when I left?"
// Of course it was. // Duke replies, his tongue hanging out. // We can talk to you mind to mind. //
"So why didn't you talk to me last night?"
// Because you were having too much fun putting one over on your friends Mulder and Dana. // Duke replies with a short bark.
"Are you going to say anything else?"
// Yeah, I want bacon for breakfast tomorrow. // Duke replies with his tongue hanging out. Steve laughs and picks up Duke under his shoulders.
"Watch it pup. You are not THAT tough."
// Want me to shit on your bed? // Duke asks with a short bark.
Steve glares at his dog and growls lowly. "Want me to toilet train you?" Duke begins to give short barks, sounding like laughter. Steve continues to glare as he orders. "Xander!" Xander stands up, looking at Steve. "Go find me the thickest, toughest newspaper that you can find. Sunday edition."
"Why?"
"Because I'm going to toilet train the pain in the ass here." Steve replies as he glares at Duke.
"Now that's going to be fun to watch." Xander mutters as Patches watches from his shoulder.
// That pup's asking for it. // Patches remarks with a laugh in Xander's mind. // Shitting on his Companion's bed? Oh please! //
"You can hear each other?"
// Of course. // Patches replies. // Especially when two of you are mated like you and Cordelia. //
"We are not married." Xander mutters to Patches as Cordelia stares at him. She arches her eyebrow.
"What did you just say dweeb boy?"
"Uhm, ah." Xander replies, trying not to put himself in any deeper.
// What he said was that he wasn't married to you. // Arial tells Cordelia with a mental snicker. // Though he doesn't mind mating with you. THAT he has no problems with. //
"Oh?" Cordelia replies as she stalks forward. "Xander, dear." Xander gulps at the sugary sweet sound of her voice. "What do you mean that we're not married?"
"But honey," Xander begins, trying not to hang himself. "We're together, not married."
// Right. You're mates. // Arial and Patches reply to Xander and Cordelia.
"We are NOT!" Xander and Cordelia reply at the same time as they glare at each other's Guardians.
"Xander, you had better control that mangy alley cat's mouth." Cordelia orders as Arial begins to whine loudly in laughter.
// Oh please! You love him. // Arial tells Cordelia as Xander glares at the two of them.
"I do not love him! I barely tolerate him!" Cordelia grinds out as she watches Xander's reaction.
// The lady loves you. // Patches tells Xander. Xander growls lowly at Patches. He then glares at Steve.
"Steve, weren't these things supposed to protect us?"
"They are, why?" Steve asks with a grin.
"Then why are they pissing off Cordy and me?"
// Maybe because you two are too stupid to see that you belong together. // Arial replies as Patches adds in.
// Arial's right. You two should have kittens together. // Patches replies as Xander and Cordelia stare at each other. // It'll be fun having other kittens to play with. //
< Looks like Xander and Cordelia got a pair of smart asses. > Steve thinks to himself as Xander and Cordelia stare in disbelief at the two kittens.
Willow begins to giggle as Xander and Cordelia glare at each other, their respective Guardians and everyone else in the room. "What's so funny, Willow?" Cordelia demands.
"Just you two when your Guardians told you the truth." Willow giggles even more now.
"And what is this ‘Truth'?" Cordelia demands.
"You two belong together." Willow replies with a satisfied smile. "Xander always liked you, even when we were in grade school."
"He did?" Cordelia replies in shock. She turns to Xander. "Give it up dweeb boy. Were you the one who left those flowers for me back in fifth grade?"
Xander glares at Willow. "Willow, we were never to speak of that."
Willow snickers as she hugs Lassie to herself. "Sorry Xander. We Amazons got to stick together."
Xander glares at Willow. "Damn it, Willow. You promised never to tell her that."
Willow smiles. "And why not? She loves you Xander. She gave up being ‘popular' so she could be with you. She should know how you feel about her."
Xander gulps as Cordelia watches him. She grins and grabs him around the waist. "We are definitely taking the weekend off."
"Oh?" Steve asks with a grin. "I thought that you two were scheduled for patrol this weekend?"
"We were." Cordelia replies calmly. "But if you don't give us the weekend off, I'm going to bitch about it for a month."
"Sheesh." Steve mutters as the rest laugh. "And I thought Marc was a tough nut."
"Who's Marc?" Buffy asks sweetly.
"Just an old friend." Steve replies with a smile as Buffy adjusts herself on his lap. He wraps his hands around her waist as she holds onto Duke and Sarah.
"How good of a friend is he?" Buffy asks, prying.
"I've worked with Marc for almost thirteen years." Steve replies. "And we've been through some pretty hairy stuff together."
"Nice guy?" Buffy asks with a grin.
"Only if we live in a fantasy world." Steve replies with a grin.
"A real hardcase?" Xander asks with a grin as he watches Buffy bothering Steve. < Man, I wonder if Cordy will give a lap dance like that? >
"Imagine a Marine Drill Sargent crossed with your worst nightmare of a Principal. And Snyder should be considered a wuss." Steve replies with a grin.
"Oh damn." Xander mutters imagining the being that Steve described. "Could you make this guy anymore scary?"
Duke watches his new companion and the girl called Buffy and looks over to her companion, Sarah. // Do you think that they'll mate with each other? //
// Give it time, Duke. // Sarah replies with a mental chuckle as she snuggles into Buffy's lap. // Besides, it's going to be fun watching them make fools of themselves before they finally commit. //
Duke also mentally laughs. // What fools these mortals be. //
// They're not mortals. // Sarah chides. // They're Immortals, and in love. But they're taking it slow. She's been badly hurt by her first love and he still misses his wife. //
// I know. I can feel the pain in his heart. But it's healing. And the more that Buffy wiggles around on his lap, the faster it heals. // Duke adds in with a snicker.
As Steve begins to laugh at the pained expression on Xander's face, his cell phone rings and a familiar voice asks. "Did you look over you shipment?"
< Speaking of the Devil. > Steve thinks to himself with a grin. "What shipment?"
"Your friends didn't tell you?" Marc replies as he looks down at a piece of paper in front of him. "A young man named Xander accepted a shipment for you yesterday. By the way, where were you yesterday?"
"Visiting Agatha Harkness. She gave me a few things that I needed for the kiddies." Steve replies with a grin as Buffy and her friends glare at him.
"Very good." Marc replies with a snicker. "I trust that the Lady is in fine health?"
"Very fine. And she has a rather lovely student who needs a good man." Steve replies with an evil grin as Buffy glares at him. "Doesn't Silas need a good woman in his life?" Buffy stares at Steve in shock and then begins to giggle uncontrollably as she realizes what he was doing.
"He does, doesn't he?" Marc replies in thought. "How will we set them up?"
"Very simple. Mistress Harkness gave me a commission to sell a large number of antiques for her people. Have Silas deliver the items she has requested that I purchase for the townspeople."
"You have planned this out, haven't you?" Marc asks with an evil laugh.
"I still owe Silas for setting me up with his cousin. Bastard didn't warn me that she was a nun." Buffy begins to glare at Steve, but it quickly turns to another giggle marathon as she hears the word ‘nun'. "So, are we in agreement then? Silas gets his."
"But of course, old friend. I'm sure that Lady Niume will help as well." Marc replies with a laugh as he helps plot the downfall of one of his best Knights.
"Anything else, Marc?" Steve asks with a laugh as Buffy grins at him in envy.
"No, that is all for tonight. Check out the shipment and have some fun with your Lady." Marc replies as he hangs up the phone.
Steve sighs as he glares at a giggling Buffy. "What's so funny?"
"You, honey." Buffy replies with another giggle fit. "Setting up that Silas guy like that. That was evil."
Steve grins. "Silas pulled a joke on me. Let's just say that it was very embarrassing and I feel that anything I do to him will only be partial repayment."
"Dish it, Steve." Buffy demands as she jumps up and down on Steve's lap.
Steve grins and quickly kisses her. "Sorry honey. The only way you'll ever find out what Silas did is on our wedding night and after you swear several very holy vows and allow me to place several spells on you that will prevent you from telling anyone what I tell you."
Buffy glares at Steve, not believing what she just heard. "You wouldn't!"
Steve grins evilly. "Gotcha!"
Buffy glares at Steve's grin and goes nose to nose with him. "You ever set me up like that again, honey. And I will beat your ass on the practice mats."
"Is that a promise?" Steve asks with a grin.
Buffy grins and kisses Steve on his lips. "You betcha."
Giles clears his throat as Steve and Buffy break apart. "What about those boxes that came for you?"
"Oh yeah." Steve replies with a grin as he gets up from his chair.
A startled Buffy yells out. "Watch it! You almost made me drop the doggies."
Steve grins. "Sorry, Buffy. Now, let's see what Marc sent me."
"Great. Now we have to help him unpack more boxes." Mulder mutters under his breath.
"I'm sure you'll find these items more interesting." Steve replies with an evil grin as he leads the entire group to the garage. In the garage, Steve looks over the large number of boxes and checks them against a piece of paper that Xander gives him from the top of the box. He looks up and grins. "Looks like they filled my order completely."
"What did you order?" Willow asks.
"A few odds and ends." Steve replies with a slow smile as he reaches for one of the boxes and quickly pulls it open. Everyone watches as Steve easily rips the box open and pulls out a large object. He turns around and pulls back the charging handle and looks up the barrel of the Heckler and Koch G3 battle rifle. He nods his head and puts the rifle down and quickly checks the eleven matching rifles. As he puts down the last rifle, he looks around him at the very scared faces and asks. "Is there a problem?"
"Well, yeah." Buffy remarks. "What's with all of the guns?"
"I ordered a few weapons to help us protect the town."
"What is a few?" A shocked Dana Scully replies as she realizes what the other boxes held.
Steve picks up the manifest and reads it off.
Twelve Heckler and Koch G3 Battle Rifles,
Twelve M-16 Carbines, three of which have M-203 Grenade Launchers
attached.
Six M-14s, Paratrooper configuration
Six Galil Battle Rifles
Six Dae Woo K2 Carbines
Six AK-47
Carbines
Six Steyr AUG Carbines
Six SA80 Carbines
Two M-60 Machine Guns
Two Stoner Machine Guns
Twenty
Four Glock 21s,
Twelve Glock 26s
Twelve Glock 30s
Twelve Glock 18s
A dozen Uzi Submachine guns,
A dozen
Heckler and Koch MP5 Submachine guns
Six Desert Eagles in Fifty Caliber with 44 Magnum conversion kits,
Six
Devastator 12 Gauge Shotguns
Six Ithaca ‘Shorty' 12 Gauge Shotguns
Six LAAW rockets
Two AWP Sniper Rifles in
7.62 millimeter, NATO
Two Barrett M-82 Sniper Rifles in Fifty Caliber
Two M21 Sniper Rifles in 7.62 millimeter,
NATO
A dozen bullet proof vests, plus accessories
Various styles of holster for each handgun
Ten Extra
Magazines for each gun
Ten thousand rounds of enchanted silver ammo, 45 caliber
Ten thousand rounds of enchanted
silver ammo, 7.62mm NATO
Ten thousand rounds of enchanted silver ammo, 5.56mm NATO
Ten thousand rounds of enchanted
silver ammo, 9mm
Five thousand rounds of enchanted silver ammo, 7.62 Russian
Five thousand rounds of enchanted
silver ammo, Fifty caliber AE
Five thousand rounds of enchanted silver ammo, 44 Magnum
Five thousand rounds of
enchanted silver ammo, Twelve Gauge Slug and Shot.
Three thousand rounds of enchanted silver ammo, Fifty caliber
HMG
Twenty thousand rounds of military ball, 45 caliber
Twenty thousand rounds of military ball, 9mm NATO
Twenty thousand rounds of military ball, 5.56mm NATO
Twenty thousand rounds of military ball, 7.62mm NATO
Twenty
thousand rounds of military ball, 7.62mm Russian
Ten thousand rounds of Silver Tip Hollow Point, 44 Magnum
Ten
thousand rounds of Hollow Point, Fifty caliber AE
Twenty thousand rounds of various 12 Gauge shells
Four thousand
rounds of various styles of grenades for the M203
Two cases of flash bang grenades
Five cases of high explosive
grenades
One case of Claymore Landmines
And twenty pounds of C-4 plastique explosives in the handy one pound
blocks.
After Steve finishes reading the list, he looks up at his friends and grins evilly when he sees their shocked faces. Steve looks over to Duke, who's now sniffing the boxes that are taking up most of the space of the two car garage. < Anything interesting? > Steve asks.
Duke stares at his companion. // Not really. But everyone else is shocked beyond words. They're wondering if you're really nuts. //
< That's all? > Steve asks with a grin as he turns to his friends. "Who wants to help me check this stuff out?"
"Ahh, Steve? Honey?" Buffy begins as she looks around at the massive arsenal of weapons in the garage. "Why did you get all of this stuff?"
"Because I play to win. By any means possible that doesn't involve innocent lives." Steve replies with a grin as everyone stares at him.
"May I ask about those ‘enchanted' silver bullets?" Giles asks quietly.
"Sure." Steve replies as he reaches for a blue colored ammunition box and removes a silver fifty caliber bullet and hands it to Giles. Giles stares down at the bullet and promptly drops it in shock.
"My God!" Giles utters in shock as he stares at the bullet.
"What is it, Giles?" Buffy asks, suddenly afraid.
"That, that thing." Giles mutters as he stares at the bullet on the floor. Steve picks it up and holds it to the light. Everyone stares as they watch the light play off the bullet and they see the mystical symbols etched into the silver.
"Goddess!" Jenny mutters as she reads the spell that had been put on the bullet. "Talk about overkill." Jenny whispers as she turns to Steve. "Where, in the name of the Goddess, did you get this thing from?"
Steve leans back and grins. "From some friends of mine."
"That's all you're going to say?" Giles demands.
"It is, for now." Steve replies as Buffy moves to protect her family and friends. Steve sighs and looks over his new charges. "Please understand this. I can't violate some secrets that I've been entrusted with. Even for you and your friends, Buffy."
Buffy looks over to Giles who nods his head in agreement. She turns back to Steve. "All right. We'll wait. But I want to know why Giles and Jenny are scared of that bullet."
"The silver bullets that I just got have a spell laser etched into each bullet. The spell is what's called a ‘Demon Killer'. Each bullet, when fired into the head or heart of a demon will almost instantly kill it. Even vampires."
"Oh Shit!" Xander mutters as he takes in the large amount of ammunition in the garage. "How did you get some many bullets?"
Steve grins. "Just filled out the right forms." < And yelled at Marc. > He then spots Mulder and Dana staring at the boxes in concern. "Mulder? Dana? What's wrong?"
Mulder and Dana shake their heads in disbelief at the arsenal stacked in front of them. "Where did you get this stuff from?" Mulder asks.
"Like I said, from some friends of mine." Steve replies neutrally.
"We'll be right back." Mulder replies as he and Dana walk away and quietly talk with each other. In the living room, Mulder turns to Dana. "What do you want to do?"
Dana looks back into the garage area and shakes her head. "I can't believe that I'm saying this, but Steve is right. This town is dangerous and the kids need an edge. And Steve is giving it to them."
"Dana," Mulder quietly whispers. "He's got enough weapons in there to start a small war."
"I know, Fox. But I can see the worry in Steve's eyes. He cares for these kids. If giving them these weapons will help them live long lives, I can live with it."
"What are Dana and Mulder talking about?" Buffy asks Steve as she looks around the packed garage.
"Whether or not they're going to arrest me." Steve replies softly.
"But they're our friends!" Buffy exclaims.
"They're also Federal Agents." Steve replies quietly. "But they also know the truth about this town, so I'm not too worried about them."
"Good." Buffy mutters as she watches Dana and Mulder talk quietly.
"So we're agreed then." Dana replies. "We don't arrest Steve for having that arsenal, but we make sure that the kids get the proper training on those guns."
"All right. But this would have been a nice bust." Mulder replies with an easy grin as they walk back into the garage.
Everyone watches the pair closely as Tigger jumps onto Dana's shoulder and lays down comfortably. Dana smiles as she pets the small orange kitten and quietly tells Steve. "Steve, Fox and I have decided that we won't arrest you for having these weapons. But we want to know one thing. Who is going to teach the kids how to use these weapons?"
"Xander and I will." Steve replies as a shocked Xander stares at him.
"You can't be serious." Cordelia exclaims. "Dweeb boy can't tie his shoe laces straight. How do you expect him to teach us how to use guns?"
Steve grins and tosses one of the G3s to Xander and Xander catches it and instantly racks the charging handle back and locks it open. He quickly checks the chamber for any bullets, when he doesn't see one, he lets the slide close on an empty chamber. He quickly stands at attention, holding the rifle at port arms. "Soldier boy strikes again." Buffy mutters as Cordelia stares at Xander, open mouthed.
"Oh Goddess. But he looks good!" She mutters as Xander stands stiffly at attention.
"Down girl." Willow replies with a giggle. "You may scare him away."
All of the women laugh at Cordelia's shocked look, but quickly settle down as she turns her glare to them. She quickly turns back to Steve. "I definitely want this weekend off!"
Steve just shakes his head and mutters. "Gods, why do I always get the pains in the ass?"
"Because they love you, honey." Buffy replies with a giggle.
Cordelia continues to glare at Steve until he relents. "All right. I'll give you two the weekend off." Steve replies with a grin.
Cordelia nods her head in acceptance and orders Xander. "Xander, put that gun down right now. You're coming with me."
"Where are we going?" Xander asks, suspicious.
"To the Motor Lodge." Cordelia replies as she grabs his ass, leading Xander off and taking their Guardians with them.
Everyone watches the pair go. Joyce is the first to recover and ask. "Are they going to. . .?"
"Uh huh." Everyone replies with straight faces just before they begin to laugh loudly.
"I don't find that funny." Joyce primly replies, realizing that Xander and Cordelia deserved a weekend to themselves.
"Joyce, Xander and Cordelia are old enough to make their own decisions." Steve replies honestly. "I'm glad that they have each other."
"And why is that, Steve?" Joyce asks.
"Because Xander's home life is a mess." Willow replies. "His Mom and Dad don't even realize that he exists, most of the time. And the few times that his Dad does remember that he has a son, Xander becomes the target of his abuse."
"Oh God." Joyce replies. "Can't anything be done?"
"Right now, no. But Xander does consider us his family, Joyce." Steve replies softly. "He thinks of Giles as the Father that he should have had and you as the Mother that wants him. The rest of us are his brothers and sisters."
"And what does he consider Cordelia?"
"The woman that loves him. He sometimes still can't believe that she chose him." Willow replies with a smile.
Joyce just stares at her daughter's friends and feels a warmth coming from them. She grins as Sherlock whines to be picked up and held. She quickly picks up the pup and holds him to herself and Buffy gives her a hug. "Don't worry, Mom. I'm sure that you'll get used to the idea."
Joyce snorts back a laugh. "And I was thinking that I should have had more kids. Now I have six."
"Six very adult children." Steve adds in as he holds Buffy's hand.
"I know." Joyce softly replies. "God help me. But I worry about all of you every night."
Buffy breaks away from Steve and hugs her Mom. "We know, Mom. But we have to do this."
Joyce returns Buffy's hug. "I know honey. But I'll still worry."
"That's what a Mom is for." Willow replies as she also gets a hug from Joyce. "To be the rock that we all stand on and the shelter that protects us from the trials of life."
Joyce sniffles as she looks at her grown up ‘children' and realizes that she had a very special relationship with her daughter's friends. She nods stiffly and picks up Sherlock and walks back to the living room to wait for Buffy and Willow.
Buffy turns to Steve and asks. "What happens now?"
"I'm calling a construction crew that I know to expand the basement and build a pool in the backyard. Think that we should have some barbeques this summer?"
"Yeah!" Buffy screams out in glee. "A pool would be great!"
"Aren't you renting this house?" Willow asks.
"Not as of last Monday. When Buffy agreed to become my student, I bought the house." Steve replies with a smile as he looks down on Buffy's smiling face.
"What are you going to do?" Buffy asks with a smile.
"I'm going to extend the basement and build a false wall into the side of it."
"Why?" Amy asks.
Steve looks over the boxes of guns and ammunition. "Where else are we going to hold all of this stuff?"
Everyone grins and nods their heads. "Who are you going to call in?" Oz asks.
"Remember the company that fixed the gym after our fight?" Everyone nods their heads. "I'll call them tomorrow and have their boss come out and give me an estimate for all of the work. I hope that my neighbors don't mind the noise."
"I'm sure they won't mind, honey." Buffy replies with a smile as everyone walks out of the garage area.
Joyce watches everyone walk out and smiles as the children were walking and talking excitedly about the pool was going to be built. "Is there anything else, Steve?"
"No Joyce, I'm going to have a construction company do some work over the next few days. I'm going to install a pool and extend the basement to hold the weapons that I've just got in."
"Sounds like a major project." Joyce replies as Sherlock snuggles in her arms. < How much money does Steve have? >
// Why don't you ask him? // Sherlock replies.
Joyce raises her eyebrows and nods her head. < Good idea Sherlock. > "Steve?" Joyce asks.
"Yes, Joyce?"
"Where are you getting all of the money for this?"
"I have over sixty million dollars in the bank." Steve replies to a shocked Joyce.
"How did you make so much money?"
"Found a few bits of treasure over the years. Sold it to people who wanted it and made a few bucks."
"And it totaled out to sixty million?"
"Well, no." Steve replies with a smile. "I invested a lot of my money and it grew."
"So you can afford to do all of this work?"
"I can." Steve simply replies. "Buffy, take your Mom home. We have an early day tomorrow. Meet me by the shop at seven o'clock."
"All right, Steve." Buffy replies with a smile as everyone leaves.
Steve watches them go to their respective cars and he turns to his house guests. "Do you want your old room?"
"We do." Mulder replies as he looks at Dana. "But we want to know who the hell provided you the arsenal?"
"My friends in an organization that I work with occasionally."
"Are you going to tell us?" Dana asks.
Steve sighs and realizes that Mulder and Dana needed to know. He nods his head and walks back to his couch. Dana and Mulder sit down across from him, Tigger on Dana's lap. "It all began about thirteen years ago. I had just been given Demon Slayer and a man walks up to me and tells me that there was a demon hunting people in a small town in Oklahoma."
"Not Gravesend?" Mulder asks in shock as he remembers a case still being whispered around the Violent Crimes Task Force.
"Yeah, that was the town." Steve nods his head as he recalls the memories. "Eighteen people dead, most of them kids and the Bureau was hunting a human being. The man told me that I was the only man who could take out the demon before it could destroy the town."
"You went? Just because this guy told you to?" Dana asks in disbelief.
Steve grins ruefully. "I had just saved a Dragon's life and was carrying a magic sword given to me by another Dragon. Of course I believed him. Fragnar told me what Demon Slayer was and it's history. If it had been a mortal or Immortal who told me, I wouldn't have believed it."
"Yeah, I can see what you mean." Mulder replies with a grin. "Having a Dragon tell you would be different. What did you do?"
"I went and killed the demon. Some moronic kids playing devil worshipers, had called up a third circle demon and it ate all of them. Then it went after the rest of the town."
"A third circle demon?" Dana asks.
"The demons in hell are divided up into nine levels. With nine being the least powerful and one being the most powerful. Satan is the most powerful demon of all, so he rules."
"Oh God." Dana mutters. "What happened to the souls of the kids who called up the demon?"
"Don't know, but I do know they faced God and he gave them his justice." Steve replies quietly. "After I killed the demon, the man came back with two other Immortals and they asked that I join their organization. After I met with their leaders, I decided to join up. They've called me up for several missions and I've helped a lot of people over the years. When I had a breakdown, eight years ago, they helped me through it."
"Who are they?" Dana asks.
"I need your word that you won't tell the kids or Giles and Jenny." Steve replies.
Mulder and Dana look at each other. "Okay."
"I serve the Knightly Order of the Grail as a Knight Lieutenant." Steve replies to a completely shocked Mulder and Scully.
"But the ‘Order' is only a myth." Mulder replies in shock as Dana adds in.
"What does Frank have to do with this?"
"We're not a myth, Mulder. Dana, Frank is a Knight Lieutenant in the Order and my partner. The Order helped him get started and Frank is happy working with them."
"The legends say that the Order has the Grail. Do you have it? The actual Grail?" Mulder whispers in awe.
"We do." Steve replies. "I've drunk from it myself, when I was accepted into the Order. As has Frank."
"What does the Grail do to an Immortal?" Mulder asks in wonder.
"It prevents us from being possessed by any demonic forces. It's also cured two Dark Quickenings that I know of. For the mortals who drink from it. The cup cures any diseases that they might have and extends their life spans to about three, maybe four hundred years."
"Oh shit." Mulder mutters. "And why don't you want the kids to know this?"
"Because they'll want to join. And the life expectancy for any active member of the Order is not that long. I've been to too many funerals over the last thirteen years to want Buffy's friends exposed to them and their missions."
"Why not?" Dana replies.
"Because, for all of the danger that they face here, it's nothing compared to some of the things I've faced with the Order."
"How could it be more dangerous than vampires?" Dana asks in shock.
"Dana, I've faced demons from every level of hell. Compared to most of them, vampires are nothing. I've fought terrorists who have tried to destroy the world and had to kill them. Do you think that I want those kids exposed to that?"
"No, we don't." Dana replies softly. "You do care for them, don't you?"
Steve grimaces. "I do."
"What about Buffy?" Mulder asks with a grin.
Steve glares at Mulder's grinning face and sighs. "We get along."
Dana giggles. "From the way she acted earlier when you talked about that young witch, I think it's a little more than that."
"And from the way she was sitting on your lap." Mulder adds in.
Steve sighs in exasperation. "All right. We're dating."
"How long did it take?" Dana asks.
"Joyce set us up about three weeks ago." Steve replies with a grin. "She found out about Buffy being Immortal that same night."
"What happened?" Mulder asks.
"Some nutcase tried to kill her and Joyce. I killed him, but he had already stabbed Buffy with a machete."
"Oh God!" Dana mutters. "What did Joyce do?"
"After things settled down and she saw that Buffy was healing, I had to explain everything to her about Immortality and Slaying."
"That must have been fun." Mulder replies with a grin, imagining the scene.
"It was." Steve replies with a grin. "Cordelia, Xander and Oz brought in a vampire for Joyce to look at and Cordelia killed it right in front of her. That was what made Joyce believe everything that we were telling her. She went to bed after that and I stayed there for the night. The next morning, Buffy, Giles, Jenny and I finished explaining everything. Since then, Joyce has become everyone's surrogate Mother."
"Doesn't she worry more about the kids now that she knows what they do?" Dana asks.
"She does, but she knows that Buffy and I will be taking the most risks."
"Good." Dana replies softly as she gets up. "What's on for tomorrow?"
"I get a bunch of stuff delivered at the warehouse." Steve replies with a grin looking directly at Mulder. "I'm going to need some help moving it around."
Mulder quickly loses his grin and groans. "Oh, my aching back!" Mulder replies in fake pain.
"I'm sure that Dana will be relieving you of some of your weight." Steve replies with a grin.
"How?" Mulder asks.
"When she sees the antiques I'm getting in, I'm sure she'll want a few of them." Steve replies with a grin. "And I think she'll really lighten your wallet then."
"Oh no, she's not." Mulder mutters as Dana glares at him.
"Oh? What about our anniversary? It's coming up." Dana asks sweetly.
"But honey, I was going to take you to the Plaza for the weekend." Mulder moans.
Dana's eyebrows raise and she grins. "That's not a present for me, Mulder. That's a present for you."
"Damn, but she knows me." Mulder quickly mutters with an easy grin.
Steve also grins. "How about I provide you two a ride home for free?"
Dana smiles. "Don't bother. We came here on one of Frank's planes. When you called, I called him in the morning and he gave us a Lear Jet to use for the trip."
"Good, then you can take a bunch of stuff home with you." Steve replies with a smile.
"If Dana breaks us, I'm going to kick your ass." Mulder grouses good naturedly.
"I'm sure she'll like some of the things we've got coming in." Steve replies with a mysterious grin.
"How much stuff and how is it coming?" Mulder asks.
"A lot and it's being teleported here from New Salem." Steve tells a shocked Mulder.
"Teleported? How?" Dana asks.
"Very easily." Steve replies with a smile as he gets up and stretches. "Now it's time for bed. We have an early day tomorrow."
March 17, 1998
Rosenberg Residence, Sunnydale, CA - 23:30 PST
Willow quietly walks into her home and grins as Lassie snuggles into her sweater. "You're all mine." Willow smiles down at the dog.
// Of course I am. // Lassie replies. // But what will your parents say? //
"I'll break the news to them, later on." Willow quietly replies as she tries to sneak past her Mom and Dad.
"What news are you talking about, honey?" Ira Rosenberg asks as he walks up behind his daughter. Willow starts and turns around, gulping for air.
"Dad?! What are you doing sneaking up on me?" Willow gasps out as she turns around, trying to hide Lassie.
Ira sees the pup and smiles softly. "Where did you find him?"
"A friend gave her to me." Willow replies softly, hoping her Dad wouldn't be angry.
Ira leans in and sees Lassie's large brown eyes and smiles. "She's a beauty." Ira replies as he sighs. "But your Mother doesn't want you to have any pets. She's afraid that they'll mess up the furniture."
"But Lassie won't mess up the furniture." Willow replies softly. "She's very smart."
"Who won't mess up the furniture?" Sheila Rosenberg asks as she walks up to her husband and daughter.
"Willow has a puppy." Ira tells his wife.
Sheila looks at Willow and asks. "What have I said about bringing animals home?"
"That they'll make a mess of the house." Willow softly replies as Lassie tells her.
// Show me where the bathroom is. //
< Why? >
// You'll see. // Lassie replies with a mental chuckle.
"What are you going to do with the dog now?" Sheila asks.
"Show her where the bathroom is." Willow replies with a grin as her shocked parents follow her to the first floor bathroom. Willow opens the door and lets Lassie down and watches in glee as Lassie quickly jumps up onto the toilet and quickly uses it. Sheila and Ira watch in fascination as the pup uses the toilet and then flushes it with her paws.
"Now that is a housebroken pet." Sheila mutters under her breath.
"Can I keep her?" Willow innocently asks as she beams. < You were great! >
// Thanks. // Lassie replies with a laugh. // That should convince them. //
Sheila looks at Ira who shrugs. "If she's that well trained, we should keep her."
"But we've never had a dog." Sheila replies. "And why should we?"
"Because I want her." Willow tells her Mother and Father.
"Willow, you're young and don't understand the responsibility that a dog brings with it?" Sheila replies.
// What fantasy world is your Mom living in? Doesn't she know what you do at night? // Lassie asks.
< Mom and Dad don't know about us, about me. > Willow silently replies. < And I don't want them to. >
// All right. // Lassie replies as she climbs down from the toilet. // But I will change to protect them. //
< I never thought anything else. > Willow replies as her Father and Mother talk to each other. Willow quietly walks over to the couch. Lassie follows her and jumps into her lap as Willow sits down.
Ira watches as Willow sits down with the pup and quietly tells Sheila. "Let her have the dog, Sheila."
"But she'll use the dog as a crutch." Sheila replies. "I don't want her to become closed off from society."
Ira glares at his wife. "Sheila! She's our daughter, not a damn test subject for one of your psych journals! That dog is well trained and Willow obviously cares for her."
"But what about the furniture? The carpets?" Sheila asks.
Ira sighs. "I'm sure that Willow will clean up after the dog if there are any accidents."
"But Ira," Sheila whines. "I've never liked dogs."
"Willow does." Ira replies. "She's wanted one since she could walk and talk. Let her have this one."
"All right, but I want to know who gave her the dog." Sheila replies as she turns back to her daughter and the pup in her lap.
Willow watches as her parents argue over her new friend. < I hope that they agree to let me keep you. >
// So do I. // Lassie replies with a dry chuckle. // Here they come. //
Willow looks up, hopeful. She sees her Dad smiling and nodding his head. She relaxes as her Mother glares at the dog. "Willow," Sheila begins. "I want to know where you got this dog from."
"A friend of mine named Steve St. Wolf." Willow replies.
"And who is this young man?" Sheila asks, not liking that her daughter got a present from someone she didn't know.
"He's Buffy's boyfriend." Willow replies. "He got a pet for everyone, including Buffy and her Mom."
"Why did he do that?" Sheila asks.
"Because he's a nice guy." Willow replies.
"How old is he?" Sheila asks.
"Twenty four." Willow weakly replies as her Mother blows up.
"And he's dating a seventeen year old girl? What does Buffy's Mother have to say about him?"
"She set them up for their first date." Willow replies with a smile. "She likes Steve and thinks that he's a good boyfriend for Buffy."
"Is Buffy's Mother insane?" Sheila demands, not liking the implications.
"She is not!" Willow barks back. "She loves Buffy and wants her to be happy! And Steve makes her happy!"
"But he's seven years older than her!" Sheila replies.
"Dad is ten years older than you are, Mother!" Willow replies icily. Before Sheila can reply, Willow continues. "Steve is the nicest, sweetest guy that she's ever known. And she loves him!"
"But she's only seventeen!" Sheila argues. "I don't find that acceptable."
Willow sighs. "Buffy will be eighteen in less than a year. Her Mom realizes that she needs to have a good man in her life."
"And how does this ‘man' plan on supporting her?" Sheila asks sarcastically.
"Steve sells antiques at Lawrence Antiques." Willow replies with a grin.
"That's no job for a young man." Ira replies in reproach. "He should be working at a job that has more of a future."
"Steve doesn't need to worry about money." Willow replies
"If he's going to provide for your friend Buffy, then he should worry about his future."
Willow sighs. "He's worth over sixty million dollars."
Sheila looks at Ira who asks. "Does Buffy's Mother know about the money?"
"She found out earlier tonight." Willow replies.
"How long has Buffy been dating this young man?" Ira asks.
"Six weeks." Willow replies angrily, not liking where her parents were going with the questions.
Ira sighs in resignation. "And how does he treat you?"
"Like I'm his younger sister." Willow replies evenly, getting very angry with her parents. "He's also become a big brother to Xander."
"Xander needs a big brother." Ira softly replies, knowing what Xander's home life was like. "Why did he get you this pup?"
"Because Lassie would protect the house." Willow softly replies with a smile as Lassie eagerly yelps.
Ira shakes his head in disbelief, liking the dog's spunky attitude. "Keep the pup, but I'm going to meet this young man."
"Why?" Willow demands.
"I want to meet him." Ira replies. "If he's a good man, I won't have a problem with him. But if he's using your friend Buffy, then I'll do what her Father should be doing."
// Did he just threaten Steve? // Lassie asks in shock.
< He did. > Willow mentally replies.
March 17, 1998
Connor/Madison Residence, Sunnydale, CA - 23:35 PST
Amy walks into her home and her Dad calls out from the living room. "Amy? Is that you?"
"Yeah, Dad. It's me. What's up?"
"Where did you go?"
Amy sighs. < Dad's great, but all of this attention is a bit much. > "I was with the girls, Dad."
"Anything interesting happen?" Mike Connors asks as Amy sits down across from him. He sees the puppy and looks at it. He sighs. "Where did you get the puppy from?"
"From a friend of mine name Steve." Amy replies with a giggle as Blackie licks her chin. "I want to keep her."
"A dog is a lot of responsibility."
"I'll take care of Blackie." Amy replies. < And she'll protect the family. >
// Of course I will. // Blackie replies with a lick.
Amy's Dad sighs in resignation and nods his head. "Blackie's your responsibility, Amy. But I'm sure that your sisters will also want to help."
"Cindy and Terri will like Blackie." Amy replies with a grin as she gets up to leave.
"Before you go. One question."
Amy sits back down. "Sure, Dad. What is it?"
"Who's this Steve? Is he your boyfriend?"
Amy giggles. "I wish." Her Father frowns, Amy quickly explains. "He's Buffy's boyfriend."
"And why did he give you this pup?"
"Because he thought I would like to have one. Steve has Blackie's brother, Duke."
"All right, get some sleep, Amy." Her Father orders as he grins at Blackie's antics. "I'll add some puppy chow to the shopping list tomorrow."
"Thanks Dad." Amy replies with grins as she quickly gets up and goes to her bedroom.
March 17, 1998
Green Residence, Sunnydale, CA - 23:34 PST
Oz calmly walks into his house and puts Harriet down on the couch and plops down next to her. < So what do you think about the house? >
// Cool. // Harriet simply replies as Oz's Mother walks into the room. She looks down at the kitten and cocks an eyebrow at Oz in question. Oz nods his head and replies.
"Gift."
Oz's Mom smiles as the kitten curls up next to her son. "Cool." She replies and walks away.
March 17, 1998
Giles/Calendar Residence, Sunnydale, CA - 23:39 PST
Giles opens the door to the apartment that he shared with his lover, Jenny, and moves into the living room proper. Jenny quickly follows him inside and lets their new companion down onto the ground. Salem immediately looks around and quickly lays claim to the pillow located on the edge of the couch. The Guardian jumps up and lays down. Jenny giggles and Giles just grins as they walk up to him and Jenny asks. < Comfortable? >
// Yes, very. // Salem replies with a contented purr.
< We need to know something. >
// What? // Salem asks.
< What do we feed you? > Jenny asks.
// Regular cat food is fine. I don't need much. But please get a variety. //
< Of course. > Giles replies with a grin. "Shall we go to bed?"
"Of course, Rupert." Jenny replies with a smile as she turns to enter the bedroom.
// Keep it down in there. // Salem tells them with a laugh in his ‘voice'.
"Never fear." Giles replies with a grin as he wraps his arm around Jenny's waist as he leads her off to the bedroom.
Salem looks around the comfortable living room and yawns. // I think I'll like living here. //
March 17, 1998
Summers Residence, Sunnydale, CA - 23:39 PST
Buffy and Joyce walk into their home and both giggle as they put their pets down. Sherlock and Sarah quickly run around the living room, sniffing. "Oh honey, your face was priceless when Steve admitted that he spent the night with someone."
Buffy continues to giggle. "I can't believe that I got that jealous. But I'm going to get even with him for pulling that joke on me."
"How?" Joyce replies with a laugh. "He did it perfectly."
"I'll figure something out." Buffy replies with confidence. "Sooner or later, I will get even."
March 17, 1998
Sunnydale Motor Lodge, Sunnydale, CA - 23:59 PST
Cordelia sighs in appreciation and hugs Xander to herself. "You were great." She murmurs into his ear as Xander continues to kiss her on her neck.
"I love you." Xander replies softly as Cordelia stiffens.
She relaxes and pulls Xander away from her neck and kisses him deeply. "I love you, too." Cordelia replies softly, gazing directly into his eyes.
// I think I'm going to puke. // Patches replies in disgust as Arial counters.
// You two are disgusting. If you were any more sweet, you'd be diabetics. //
// All though Cordelia's moaning was loud enough to scare away any vampires in the area. // Patches adds in with a mental laugh.
// Xander was just as bad. //
// But not as loud. //
// True. // Arial replies with a snicker. // But Xander had more depth and duration. I'll give him a 9.4. //
// And I'll give Cordelia a 9.8 for volume. //
Cordelia looks at Xander. "We will have to get even with Steve for those two."
"And I have just the plan." Xander replies with a grin. "But it'll take a little while to do it."
"Revenge is best served cold." Cordelia replies with a grin as she snuggles into Xander's arms.
March 18, 1998
St. Wolf Residence, Sunnydale, CA - 00:03 PST
Duke watches as Steve turns down his bed and gets ready to get some sleep. // You should tell them. // Duke tells Steve.
< You know that I can't tell them right now. > Steve replies as Duke sits down next to Steve.
// All right. But if you don't tell them soon. I will. // Duke replies.
< You will not! > Steve orders. < You and the others know who I serve and why I can't tell them, yet. >
// They should know. Especially Buffy. Sarah tells me that she's worried about you hurting her friends. //
< Duke. You have complete access to my mind. Do you think that I would allow any of these kids to come to harm? >
Duke stares at Steve for a second and quietly replies. // No, you won't. But they'll need to know that you serve Merlin, Niume and the Order soon. //
< I know. But right now, they can't find out. >
// Understood, Steve. Sarah and the rest will keep your secrets. But we don't like it. //
< Don't like it. But live with it. > Steve replies as he turns off the light in the room and leans back. Duke moves in and grabs some space on the other pillow.
// Don't forget. I want bacon tomorrow for breakfast. //
< Not a problem. But I'll get you some regular dog food tomorrow. >
// Not the cheap stuff I hope. // Duke replies with a shudder.
< I'll buy several different bags and split it up with the rest. That way all of you will get a chance to find out which ones you want. I'll make sure that the kids do the same thing with the kittens. >
// Thanks. // Duke replies as he turns around and quickly goes to sleep.
March 18, 1998
St. Wolf Residence, Sunnydale, CA - 06:00 PST
Steve reaches over for the alarm clock and hits the snooze button. He tries to go back to sleep, but an incessant voice tells him. // I want bacon. Now! //
Steve rolls over and groans loudly. < Oh G