Crown and Key: Chapter 12
by Kerythand Ginafae
Crown and Key
By Sandra and William Johnson
Chapter Twelve
Xander entered the living room as Lara put the finishing touches on the details of her dream. Lara looked up, a smile on her face again. “Xander..”
Xander tried to look happy, but still reeled from Lara’s put down of a few moments earlier. “Oh, hello Lara.” He was curt, but not too cool. That’s it. Harris. Don’t let her know how you feel.
Lara’s smile faded as she picked up on his true emotions. “Look, Xander, I’d like to apologize for what I said earlier. It was wrong of me to lead you on like that and then say what I said. You deserve better.”
Xander shrugged, “It’s alright Lara. I’m used to it by now. My luck with women has never been what you would call spectacular.”
“Oh, I find that hard to believe, a witty, attractive young man like yourself.”
Xander blushed at Lara’s compliments. “Seriously?”
“Seriously.” Lara said, her full lips parting in a sexy smile.
Xander blushed even deeper. “You’re not possessed, or anything, right?” he paused. “Cause I have this nasty history of attracting women who are somehow demonic.”
Lara threw her head back in uproarious laughter. “I admit I do have my dark side, but I’ve never gotten all horny---in the demonic sense of the word that is.”
Xander’s smile returned to its normal, relaxed state. He felt it only polite to change the subject at this point. “So, where’d the Hummer come from?”
Lara smiled again, “Well, I made a few calls, called in some favors. I’m a fairly well connected person. There are advantages to the Lady Croft deal.”
“I can see that.” Xander said as he noticed the sword on Lara’s back for the first time. “I guess the sword came with the car?”
“Actually, it was sent to me by a friend. Meant to be used against vampires.”
“ A friend who tends to, uh whistle a lot?” Xander asked with a smug grin.
“Precisely.” Lara replied.
“Vampires.” Xander sighed. “Well, we certainly have our share of those around here.” He took in Lara’s leather-clad form in one final glance, wondering if she was even slightly serious about staying the night. “Well, I’d better get going. Looks like tomorrow is going to be a busy day and I need my sleep.” And with that Xander began moving towards the door.
“Xander…” Lara said, her voice almost a whisper. Xander stopped and looked at her as she continued, “Does that offer of staying with you still stand?”
Xander, wary of their last conversation involving this topic, looked at her, “Yeah. The offer is still good. You’re welcome to the bed. I can spend the night on my couch. You can do with a good nights sleep too.”
Lara smiled sweetly and tossed a glance at the couch where the Slayer lay dozing lightly. “Well, Buffy’s couch is obviously pretty comfortable, especially compared to sleeping in tents and such, but it’s not a bed. As long as I won’t be an imposition, I think I’ll accept your invitation.” And she quickly wrote a note to Buffy explaining where she went before following Xander out the front door, “Besides, I think Buffy’s living room is going to be a bit drafty tonight”
“Don’t remind me. I’m the one who will have to fix that door tomorrow.”
Lara smiled, as she grabbed her guns, shoving them into her duffle bag. She threw on her new duster and stepped next to Xander, “You? You mean you’re a handyman as well as cute and witty?”
Xander blushed again, “Actually, I run my own construction company.”
“Really? Well, I must remember that! Never know when someone needs work done on her house.” And she smiled again as she led him out to her vehicle and they climbed in, heading off toward Xander’s home.
* * *
Buffy stretched as she awoke with a start. Everyone was safe and sound, for the moment. Idly, she picked up the piece of paper perched on the end table. A small smile spread across her lips as she read the words inscribed on it.
Buffy,
Seeing you napping made me realize how exhausted my English bones are in all this California sunshine. I didn’t want to wake you, and wouldn’t feel really comfortable taking your bed without asking. Xander, however, has offered to sleep on his couch for the evening. Where he sleeps and exactly how much sleep he’ll actually get are still debatable. We’ll bring breakfast in the morning. See you then.
Lara
“Well, what do you know!” Buffy remarked to herself. “Xander might actually get some from an actual always been human woman.”
“Did you say something, Buffy?” Giles said as he came down the stairs.
“What were you up to?” She replied, easily sidestepping his question.
“Oh, um, I was just checking on Willow and Dawn. They are both resting comfortably. Oz is on the floor in Willow’s room. He was pouring over some books on the History of Middle Earth, and the legends of King Arthur, and I guess he nodded off.”
“Have we found anything yet?”
Giles pushed his glasses up on his nose in his trademark move. “There are some things that have been confirmed. Buffy, we need to keep the crown away from Dawn.”
“Why? She’s not going all klepto again, is she?” Buffy said with a touch of worry in her eyes.
“No, no, nothing of the sort.” Giles reassured her. “The crown belonged to a woman named Morganna the Misbegotten.”
“We know all this all ready.”
“But you don’t know this; the power of the crown can only be harnessed by a woman with Slayer abilities.”
“It can only be used by me? Or Faith?”
“Who is quite alive and well, still resting in her jail cell.”
“Okay, so what does this have to do with Dawn?” Buffy said, the days trials taking its tolls on her exhausted body.
“Buffy, when you died, this last time that is, another Slayer was not called.”
“I know.” Buffy said. “Because Faith is still alive.”
“Yes and no.” Giles said. “Faith is still alive, but she is no longer the active Slayer. After the incident when she swapped souls with you, the Watcher’s Council cast a spell that rendered her calling obsolete until the time of her redemption.”
“Which is what?” Buffy asked. Giles sighed wearily. “Never mind that. Faith’s powers will return to her in full force once she is truly ready to serve her calling for good once more.” He sank down into the couch. “That’s beside the point. When you died the second time, a new slayer was called into service. She, however, has also been…deactivated, since your…return.”
Buffy began to catch on. “Who was it, Giles? Who did they call?”
“The Council informed me that Dawn was the new Slayer.”
Buffy’s face went white. “No.”
“I’m afraid it’s true, Buffy. Your sister is a Slayer; well, at least a potential Slayer now. She was created from you, after all.”
“Does she know?”
Giles shook his head. “Let’s keep it that way.” Buffy answered as she started for the stairs. “Buffy, there’s something else you should know.”
“What? That my sister is not only facing certain death in her immediate future, but the sky is also falling, right Chicken Little?”
“Lara was trained as a potential slayer as well.” Giles Spat out at once. “I trained her myself. We thought she would be the next called after India, but it was you. It took all of us by surprise, thus Merrik’s surprise trip to Los Angeles and your lack of preparation for the job from the start.”
“Thought I recognized a couple of her moves.” Buffy commented.
“She didn’t believe me about the vampires any more than you believed Merrik.” Giles remarked with his trademark lopsided grin. “Then, she met Blade.”
Buffy’s eyes widened, “That explains a lot. I was curious about her easy acceptance when we first met. Also explains her connections with Whistler.” She yawned out of sheer exhaustion. “Okay, so keep the crown away from Lara as well. Anything else I need before I fall into another dream haunted sleep?”
“Not that I can think of at the moment.”
Giles stifled a yawn, slipped his glasses from his face, and rubbed his eyes. His yawn triggered one in Buffy. “Then, let’s get Lara alone at some point tomorrow and fill her in on what’s going on. She’s old enough to handle it.” She smiled, then leaned over and gently hugged Giles, “Have I mentioned how happy I am you’re not in England right now?”
“Not in the last few weeks.”
Buffy smiled. “I am. And on that note, I sleep.” With heavy heart, the current and only active Slayer climbed the stairs to her room.



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