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Time Turned Backwards	By : caliadragon Category: AtS/BtVS Crossovers > Slash - Male/Male Views: 6496 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own BtVS or AtS. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
From this part on Beta'd by Edi.
Chapter 8

Xander rolled over onto his back, whimpering softly. Across the room Doyle looked up and sighed sadly. Xander still had nightmares from the other timeline. When Doyle asked about them, Xander had told him they were nightmares he'd been having for a while. Changing the timeline wouldn't change his dreams.

It had only been two days since Xander had awakened Faith. She was out of hospital and living at Xander's with them. Doyle had thought that demon recuperating powers were intense and quick, but they were nothing on Slayer power.

Faith and Spike were currently arguing over the merits of swords versus axes. Doyle shook his head and turned his attention back to Xander. He frowned as he watched sweat form on the teen's brow. They all jumped when Xander started screaming, but it was Spike who reached him first. The blond vampire curled himself around Xander and ordered him to wake up.

They all felt his pain as he began to beg, "Willow! I love you, Willow! Don't do this, Willow! I love you! Please?" He screamed with pain for several minutes before Spike was able to help him surface from the dream. Spike was sickened by the fact that he was soothing Xander from his nightmares the way he used to soothe Dru.

Faith went into the rest room and returned with a cool cloth, which she handed to Spike, and they watched as he used the cloth on Xander and calmed his ragged breathing. Their hearts clenched at the pain and sorrow that shone so brightly in Xander's eyes. "Want to talk about it, luv?" spike asked softly. Xander shook his head and looked down.

Licking his lips, Xander sat up and sighed softly. He didn't want to talk about Willow or the pain she caused. He didn't want to think about the scars on his chest from where she had used magic to burn him. Xander didn't notice that he was unconsciously grimacing and rubbing his hand across his chest. He had a haunted look in his eyes as he focused on a memory only he could see.

Doyle reached out and caught Xander's hand. As he did Faith pulled his shirt up and whistled. Xander blushed and was glad that he was in his younger body. The only scars to be seen were the ones he had as a young man.

Shaking off the bad memories, he smiled sheepishly at the three. "Sorry."

"No big, Xan, we all have nightmares. Shit, you were in one of mine," Faith answered, and they both shivered at the memory of the dreamscape that Faith had been locked in until Xander arrived.

"Yeah, we all have them, no need to apologize. Actually you stopped me from having to listen to any more of their prattling on about the swords verses axes. It was getting bloody boring," Doyle said slyly.

Xander laughed as Faith and Spike groused. Doyle smiled smugly as he watched the haunted look leave Xander's eyes. Xander yawned and looked around. Someone had moved his clock again. "What time is it?" he asked.

Faith looked over her shoulder and read the clock that Spike had placed on the television. "Its about 8am," she answered.

"Shit! I'm going to be late!" Xander exclaimed as he shot to his feet and ran over to the closet. They watched as he ripped his t-shirt over his head and began to look for clean clothes. He yanked a pair of baggy cargo pants up over his hips as he looked at the shirts in his closet. "Spike, shouldn't you be asleep?" he called over his shoulder.

"Was havin' too much fun arguing." Xander's laughter made them all smile again. They were all watching as he searched through his closet. They could see faint scars on his back. Spike knew that they were from a belt being used as a whip. He had similar scars from his years as Angelus' childe. His Sire used to dip a belt in holy water when he punished him so that it would take longer for the wounds to heal.

"Where you headed, pet?" he asked to distract himself from his memories.

"I need to go meet with Bobby and the other contractors I've got lined up to start on the house," Xander answered as he tossed shirts right and left. When he got to one shirt he exclaimed, "What the hell was I thinking?" Then tossed the shirt over his shoulder.

"Is that shirt possessed?" Faith asked sarcastically. The shirt was purple with orange flowers.

"No, but I must have been when I bought it," Xander answered making the trio laugh. "I have to have a normal shirt in here somewhere." Finally with an 'aha', he found a navy blue shirt and pulled it on. He then turned his attention back to the three on the bed. "You guys want to come with me? You can tell them what you want done with your rooms."

"Our rooms?" Faith asked, surprised.

"Yeah, I just assumed you'd be moving in too. Did I overstep?" Xander asked anxiously.

"Nah, I was just surprised is all. Didn't think you'd want me there too," Faith answered quickly.

Xander smiled, pleased, "Hey this is a done deal. The past is just that: the past. We're working towards the future. New chances for everyone. You included. So are you all coming with me?" The three grinned at one another then jumped up and began to get dressed.

Twenty minutes later.....

Faith walked around the house looking at everything. She had already picked one of the upstairs rooms. She really liked the place and was glad that Xander had accepted her. She couldn't believe she was going to be living here.She loved the large, open feel of the place and the fact that it already felt like home.

Spike and Doyle were leaning against the wall. They had already seen and fallen in love with the place. They were amused by the fact that the contractors were all following Faith's every move. She was ignoring everyone but the two of them and Xander.

Spike had been impressed with Xander's negotiation skills and by the fact that he got them to agree to start work as soon as possible on both places. The three of them had waited at their new home while Xander had taken the four men over to the Mansion and set up what needed to be done.

There were several things that would have to wait until after Angel, actually Cordy, was consulted. They had decided it would be better to just work out of the Mansion instead of searching for a building. Within a few months everything would be ready at the Mansion and there was only a couple of weeks worth of repairs to be done at Xander's house. They were all excited and wanted to move in as soon as possible. They all wanted out of the basement of doom. Xander had already informed the contractors that they would be living in the house during the work. The men had said it wouldn't be a problem. They would be sure to get the bedrooms done first. They may have to shift around a bit during the work, but it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

After the four men left he turned his attention back to his roommates. They all grinned at him, but Spike was the first to speak. "When can we move in?" The other two looked at him eagerly. Xander grinned and looked at them for a moment before he pulled out his cell phone and began to make calls. He had already had the utilites turned on so that wasn't a problem. He called a cleaning service and arranged for them to come in while he took the others shopping for furniture and necessities. They would need to stop by Willy's so that Spike and Angel could have blood. After he was through with the cleaning service he called Joyce and Anya and set it up so that they could meet at a local furniture store. Xander thought it was a good thing for the others to come with him so he chose a place he knew Spike could come to as well.

After the cleaning service arrived they all left to shop. When they arrived at the furniture store Xander was glad to see that Dawn was with Joyce. He wanted to nurture the friendship that Spike and Dawn had had in the other timeline. It had been good for both of them.

Xander was eager to get everything done and out of the way before he left that evening for LA. Oz was there and he had a sense of dread. It was like he was running out of time. Time for what Xander had no idea. The rest of the morning and most of the evening was spent shopping and enjoying the company of his friends. When they were halfway through the furniture decisions Buffy, Willow and Tara arrived. They took one look at Faith and decided that they needed to take her shopping.

Xander had laughed evilly, handed his credit card to Buffy and thrown Faith to the wolves. Joyce, Anya and Dawn had all decided to stay with Xander and the two men. By the time it was for Xander to leave all, but his Suburbun were filled with shopping bags. Xander was a little unnerved by the feral looks on the girls faces when Faith and Spike laughingly told them about Xander's adventure getting dressed that morning. If he wasn't mistaken the girls would be going after him soon.

Before he left town, they all stopped by his basement apartment and packed up his and Spike's things, as well as the clothes that they had bought Faith. By six, Xander was on his way to LA, and Oz.

Xander checked the paper one more time and then looked at the building, confirming that he was at the right address. Scowling, he climbed out of his SUV and walked into the building. The place was a flop house and Xander worried about Oz living here. What condition would Oz be in? He really, really hoped that Oz would come back with him. Xander's nose wrinkled with disgust and he tried not to breathe to deeply as he made his way around the stinking drunk that had passed out at the base of the stairwell. The man smelled of vomit, whisky and piss. It was enough to make his stomach roll. It brought back too many memories of days spent cleaning up after his parents.

With another shudder of distaste he walked up the stairs and headed for Oz's apartment. As he raised his hand to knock he could hear movement inside the apartment and suddenly the door was flung open. Xander was shocked and saddened by the site before him. "Xander?" Oz asked, shaken.

Xander gave him a tender smile, then lifted the smaller man into his arms and just held on. As he held Oz he could feel just how thin his friend had become.It angered and worried him. Without puting Oz back onto his feet he walked into the apartment and kicked the door shut behind him.

He gently set his friend back onto his feet and looked around him. Again he felt disgust and anger fill him. What had happened to his friend? The apartment was clean, but was bare of any life. It was dank and smelled. You could sense the despair in it. When he looked back over at Oz, some of his concern must have shown in his eyes because Oz looked away.

Oz had never been big by any means, but now he was skin and bones. His skin was grey and his eyes were dull and lifeless. It scared the hell out of Xander. "I've come to take you home," Xander said calmly. After seeing Oz, he didn't care what he had to do; Oz was coming with him.

Oz looked back at his friend in shock. Home? After what he had done to Willow and Tara Xander wanted him to come home? Oz squeezed his eyes closed and wondered what god had blessed him with this gift.

Minutes later Oz found himself cradled in Xander's arms and he felt at peace for the first time in months. The despair and hopelessness were bleeding away and he knew he was where he needed to be.
Xander placed the last bag in the back of his SUV and breathed a sigh of relief. Oz was already settled in the front seat and the apartment manager had been given the keys. Xander was wishing there was some way he could get Oz's van back to him. Oz had had to sell it so that he was able to rent a place that he could be caged during the full moon.

Xander knew how much the van had meant to Oz and felt bad that it was gone. Shaking his head at his regrets Xander climbed into the vehicle and started it. "I have to make two stops before we head back to Sunnydale. I need to stop at the magic store here in town and pick up some ingredients for a couple of spells, then stop by the Hyperion and visit Angel and the Fang Gang." Oz nodded and closed his eyes as he leaned back against the seat.

He was unaware of falling asleep or of the fact that they reached the magic store. Xander was careful to be quiet and lock the doors to protect Oz as he picked up his supplies. While he was there he picked up a spell book that the woman had found for him and a book to record his spells. He was glad to find one that was a copy of the one he had in the future.

Though he really didn't want to disturb Oz, he knew that he would be a some time in the hotel. Gently so as not to startle his friend, Xander reached over and shook Oz awake. Oz opened his eyes and looked at Xander in confusion for a moment. "Xan?"

"We're here," Xander told him softly, and motioned towards the hotel. Oz sat up straighter and took stock of the new smells in the car. He realized that Xander must have already stopped at the magic store and picked up his supplies. Oz covered a yawn and they both climbed out of the truck. Xander stopped long enough to grab three bags before locking his car and following Oz into the hotel.

They both paused and had to stifle a laugh as they heard Cordy yelling at Angel, "What do you mean Xander already picked the color scheme? I want to have a say in it! Have you seen the way he dresses? I'm going to be living there too."

Angel looked over in relief when he sensed Xander and Oz enter the lobby. He was stunned by the sight of Oz. The young werewolf looked as though he were extremely ill. He resisted the urge to laugh as Cordy spun and turned her wrath on Xander.

Before she could start to yell at him, Xander lifted a hand. "Relax Cordy, I brought color samples and carpet swatches." Cordy squealed in delight and Xander resisted the urge to laugh. She was acting as though he had given her a shopping trip to Tiffany's.

All humor fled from her face as she looked Oz over. "What the hell have you done to yourself, Oz? You look like shit." Oz burst into laughter. It was good to see that some things never changed.

tbc
- 7
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Time Turned Backwards