FIC: Trinity's Child 15/?

[CDRERamius@xxxxxxx]

TITLE: Trinity's Child 15/?
AUTHOR: Tony McD
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 Buffy, Xander, 
Willow, and their child must face very different evils to save the world 
(again).
SPOILERS: None really. AU.
RATING: MA 15+ (Australian system)

Trinity's Child 15/?

Willow was half dozing in the hospital ward. On one side of her lay 
Giles. He was a mass of bandages, tubes and wires. Only the rhythmic beeping 
of the monitoring equipment telling the world that Giles still lived.
On the other side lay Buffy. The sedatives that they gave her would be 
wearing off soon. When they did, Buffy would have to face life without her 
mother. It was going to be the most terrible thing she had ever faced. But 
she would not face it alone. A familiar presence and a gentle hand on her 
shoulder told her that Xander had returned. He sat beside Willow, holding her 
hand between his.
"Any change?" Xander asked softly. Willow shook her head.
"How did the meeting go?" she asked him.
"Bad. They killed the two guys, but the ship lost nine people. But 
that's not all. It was the Watchers Council that did this. They managed to 
kill about three quarters of the Slayers Council. When we sent twelve teams 
to take the High Council down, they blew up the place. Twelve teams. One 
hundred and fifty six people. Dead. Because of me. If I hadn't interfered 
with..."
"Xander, don't blame yourself. You did the right thing. You saved 
Tina."
"Did I? She's dead, Will. I didn't stop her getting killed. I just 
delayed it. Now Buffy and Giles and hundreds of others are suffering because 
of me."
"Never regret doing the right thing. Evil triumphs when good people do 
nothing. You are a good man. A great man and an even better father."
"What kind of a father endangers the life of his child?"
"Xander. Spike came to see me just before you arrived. He told me that 
you asked him to protect Jenny. You're doing everything that you can. Even 
asking someone that you hate to protect your child. Our child. In his own 
way, Spike loves Jenny and won't let anything happen to her. You said so 
yourself a while back, remember?"
Xander slowly nodded. He was physically and emotionally wiped out. She 
was right, and so was Billy. He stood.
"Come on Will. We need to sleep. We can't help Buffy if we're dead on 
our feet." Together Xander and Willow climbed into the bed that Buffy lay 
sleeping in. They snuggled to the sleeping Slayer. Willow looked at Xander.
"What do we do now? About the Watchers Council?" she asked.
"The only thing we can do. Wait."
They lay their heads down and in moments, Trinity lay sleeping.

It the western night sky, sparks from the camp fire leapt up towards 
the heavens. Around it sat a group of Aboriginal elders.
"So. It has begun."
"Yes. What was foretold has come to pass. Much is still uncertain. 
Should they win, they still loose."
"They still must fight one more battle before it is over. The final 
battle."
"None of us will live to see it. But our people will. We are forever."

A gentle shaking woke Xander. Disorientated for a moment, he looked 
around. Willow and Buffy were still fast asleep. The medic spoke quietly, as 
not to disturb the sleeping women.
"Sir, you've got a phone call. It's your daughter."
Xander closed his eyes for a moment. He wished that someone else could 
be the one to tell her. But the only other two who should tell her were 
sleeping. Besides, he didn't want to burden them any further.
"Sir?" the medic asked, shaking Xander again. Opening his eyes again, 
Xander nodded.
"OK, where can I take it?"
"At the nurses station." the young medic told him. Xander gently rose 
and ran his hands over his face. He needed a shower and a shave. He looked at 
his watch, four hours sleep. Not nearly enough, but it would have to do. As 
he walked to the nurses station he gathered himself for the task ahead.

"Dad? What's wrong?" Jenny asked. She had a bad feeling ever since she 
was given the message to ring her parents.
"Jenny. I, um, it's about your grandma. The Watchers Council attacked 
the house. She's dead, honey. I'm sorry." Xander heard Jenny gasp. She began 
to cry.
"Mum? Grandpa?" she sobbed.
"Your mom's fine. They're both sleeping at the moment. You grandpa was 
hurt. He's in hospital." Xander stopped as the sound of Jenny breaking down 
came down the line. Xander closed his eyes, trying to block out his tears. 
His little girl was hurting and Xander wanted to hold her and make it better. 
But he couldn't. In the back ground he heard some noises and some people 
speaking.
"Uncle Xander?" Paul's voice asked.
"Yeah Paul."
"What happened?" Paul asked. Xander told him.
"Are the Watchers after Jenny?" Paul asked, his immediate concern was 
for his soulmate.
"They might. I've sent Spike and two others to help protect Jenny. 
They should be there in an hour or so. Do as they tell you, OK? We think that 
if you keep a low profile, you should be safer there than here. Look after my 
little girl." Xander told the young man.
"With my life." Paul said. There was a moment of silence.
"Uncle Xander?"
"Yeah Paul?"
"You're going to get them, aren't you?"
"They hurt my family, they'll die for it." Xander said coldly as his 
anger returned. "It's just a matter of time."