FIC: Trinity's Child 6/?

[CDRERamius@xxxxxxx]

TITLE: Trinity's Child 6/?
AUTHOR: Tony McD
EMAIL: cdreramius@xxxxxxx
DISCLAIMER: All characters belong to Joss Whendon, Mutant Enemy, WB and 
others. This is for fun, not profit.
SUMMARY: Sequel to Terra Australis Incognito. 17 years on and Buffy, Xander, 
Willow, and their child must face very different evils to save the world 
(again).
SPOILERS: None really. AU.
DISTRIBUTION: Anywhere is fine, just email me first.
RATING: MA 15+ (Australian system)

Trinity's Child 6/?

Xander acknowledged the salute of the sailor guarding the gangway of 
Creswell as the car entered the base. He looked up at the sky and saw the 
overcast sky. It would be nice if they got some rain as the land was getting 
a little brown, he thought to himself as the driver pulled up to the house.
He hadn't had the chance to put his bags down when he was almost 
knocked down and given a wet hug from behind. The masses of long, wet red 
hair descending over his face and the girlish cry of "Dad!" told Xander that 
it was Jenny. He turned around and hugged his daughter, despite her being 
dripping wet. He stepped back and had a good look at his little angel.
She stood there dripping wet in her swimmers that, it seemed to 
Xander, to be a natural part of the young girl. Jenny felt as much at home in 
the water as out of it and spent huge amounts of time in the pool or at the 
beach. Her smile reminded him of when she was 5 and that made Xander feel 
very old. My god, thought Xander, I've been a father for 17 years. It feels 
only like yesterday that I was 17.
The sound of heavy foot steps coming up the verandah stairs announced 
Paul's arrival from the beach. He smiled when he saw Xander standing in the 
lobby.
"Uncle Xander! Nice to see you. Excuse me." Paul said and, with an 
evil grin, yanked the back of Jenny's swimmers up and yelled "Wedgie!". With 
a startled cry she pulled them back into place and took off after the rapidly 
departing Paul who was laughing like a little kid. Xander watched as Jenny 
caught up with Paul and tackled him to the ground where they started a tickle 
fight. Smiling at the sight of the two teens in love, Xander picked up his 
bags and headed up to his room.

"Xander!" Willow yelled when she walked into the lounge room. They 
hugged and she kissed him deeply.
"Wow. Thanks Will." he said a little breathless at the kiss.
"Well, Buffy did say that half of her kiss was from you. I thought I 
had better return it in person." Willow said to her other soulmate. Xander 
gave her his goofy, lopsided smile.
"Remind me to get Buffy to pass on more of my kisses to you." he 
joked. Looking around he asked "where's the Buffster?"
"She's with Giles and her Mom. The National Parks guys are releasing a 
koala back into the bush and they're watching it."
"So why aren't you seeing the koala? You love the little things." 
Xander asked.
"We could feel that you had arrived and I had a choice. Stay and look 
at the cute little koala or come here and see my cute little Xander." she 
said.
"Thanks Will." he said.
"Hey, don't let it go to your head. It was a tough call and you'll 
notice that Buffy seems to have chosen the bundle of fur over you." she 
teased. Xander gave a half grump.
"Thanks again Will, you really know how to make a guy feel special. 
Anyway, how was Sunnydale?" he asked her.
"Great. Hellmouth is still dormant, the vamp numbers are lower, and 
you would hardly recognise the Bronze. It's gone all cyberpunk, futuristic 
type of thing."
"Cool. How's the Slayers Council?" he inquired.
"Really good. They've added a new library and are planning a memorial 
to all the fallen Slayers. Giles and the rest of the Council talked it over 
and they want the names of every Slayer to be displayed in this huge bronze 
wall thing. Kinda like the War memorial in Canberra." She informed Xander. 
Xander got a little sad and distant look in his eyes. Willow could guess that 
he was thinking of Maria.

After the War of the Six, the Watchers Council and the Slayers Council 
both had a slayer each. The slayer under the control of the Watchers Council, 
Trisha, died a few months later. The next three slayers called were also 
under the control of the Watchers Council. In a testament to the training 
methods employed by the Watchers Council, together these three girls lasted 
just 4 years.
The next Slayer to be called was a young, vibrant Mexican girl named 
Maria. Her watcher was from the Slayers Council. As fate would have it, her 
watcher was Paul's father. Possessed with boundless optimism and a school 
girl crush on Xander, she was one of the best Slayers ever. For ten years she 
and her watcher travelled the world, fighting vampires and the forces of 
darkness where ever it raised its head. Then came that fateful day.
Maria and her watcher had responded to a call from Angel. Dark 
portents and a massive increase in demon activity had forced Angel to ask for 
help. Buffy wasn't able to go herself due to an injury she received fighting 
a Gilli demon. Instead Maria, her watcher, and 2 American teams went to LA to 
aid Angel and Cordelia. Their fate was determined by human events across the 
Pacific Ocean.
Civil unrest in China had weakened the Communist hold on power. In an 
effort to hold onto power, they ordered the invasion of Taiwan. The US sent 
its fleet and Air Force to defend its fellow democracy and stopped the 
invasion. The Chinese government, in what can only be described as a moment 
of madness, resorted to nuclear weapons. One of which was targeted on LA.
Six million died in the nuclear fires of LA. Maria, Angel, Cordelia, 
all of them perished in the flash that destroyed the city. The American and 
Russian retaliation was swift as it was massive. Modern China had ceased to 
exist. All told over one billion Chinese had died because of one moment of 
human madness. Even today, millions around the world still suffer for that 
moment of madness.
After Maria, the next Slayer called was an English girl under the 
control of the Watchers Council. For the last 3 years she has survived 
despite the Watchers Council.

"I know Xander. We miss them too." Willow said, snapping Xander from 
his thoughts.
"Yeah. I know. But I've got something else to tell you." 
"What?" she asked.
"They want me to go to England to asses the new British team 6." he 
told her.
"What? When?" Willow asked.
"I've got to go to Canberra after Boxing Day and I'll be back on the 
30th. I'll then fly out from Sydney either late on the 1st or the 2nd."
"But, how long will you be gone?" Willow asked, a little upset.
"A month, maybe two. It depends." he said with a little shrug.
"But..." Willow started however Xander stopped her.
"I'll be OK. The Watchers Council have had 17 years to do something to 
us and they haven't. I don't think they will try to start to do something 
about it now." he told her, trying to calm her down.
"Yeah, but we haven't had much 'us' time. I mean Buffy was on the 
other side of the country for a few weeks, then I went to Sunnydale, and now 
you're going to England. I miss our 'us' time, Xander. Not to mention the 
fact that Jenny and Paul leave on the 2nd to go on their little overseas 
adventure." 
"I don't like it either, Will. But we still have from now until Boxing 
day and I'll be back for New Years. I'll tell you what. How about the three 
of us go to Sydney with Jenny and Paul for New Years on the harbour?" he 
offered.
"Xander, there will be 2 or 3 million people there, remember? You 
know, the whole New Years and the start of the new republic? I'm not all that 
keen to get stuck in that big a crowd."
Xander could see her point. Not only would midnight mark the start of 
the new year, it would mark the start of the republic. At midnight President 
Peter Cosgrove and his Vice President Kathy Freeman would take their oaths of 
office. It would be the biggest party in Australian history.
"We'll talk to Buffy and sort something out." he suggested.
"Alright, but she isn't going to like this." said Willow.
She was right.

It was just after 2 am. Xander was doing his impersonation of duelling 
chainsaws in his room. Giles and Joyce lay in their bed, blissfully asleep. 
Spike had fallen asleep on the sofa watching late night horror movies. Jenny 
had snuck into Paul's room and the two of them lay naked in each others arms, 
dreaming of each other. A similar sight was found in Willow and Buffy's room. 
Here, Buffy dreamed.
It was bright and sunny in the down stairs dining room. Buffy warmed 
herself by the large window overlooking the College. A dark haired figure 
joined her. The reflection in the window was of a face not seen for a long 
time.
"Quite a nice setup you've got going here B."
"It's home. I like it here. I feel safe."
"Too bad, B. We're Slayers. We aren't meant to be safe. Look around 
while you can because one day soon this will be nothing but a memory."
"You can't hurt me. You've been dead since before Jenny was born."
"True, but it doesn't mean I can't feel sorry for her. And you."
"What do you mean?"
The dark hair girl faced Buffy. A chill went down her spine as she 
stared at the black eyes of the lost Slayer.
"The one thing about death I've learnt is that one day, no matter who 
you are, death will come for you."