It wasn't the first time either Slayer had heard strange noises in Restfield cemetery. Laughter, however, was something of a rarity. They'd been circling the west side of the graveyard for an hour and a half now, and they hadn't seen so much as a squirrel. Both knew this was a terrific development deep in their hearts. They'd had this discussion out loud many times: We're winning. We're finally winning. We have lives now. No nightmares with cryptic messages involving impending doom. This was all good. <Five by five, one might say>, Buffy thought with some amusement. <We even went out with a bang, and now we're moving on>.

For the first 4 months after they'd defeated the First there was chaos in the demon world of Sunnydale. The Hellmouth, while technically not closed, was the equivalent of a dry well. The First had been the spring that fed it, and it was no more...for the time being. That left hundreds of vamps, M'Fashniks, Quellers, Zhes, dark Wiccan magic dealers, and various other forms of badness looking to head toward bloodier pastures. The gang could sense the mass exodus, and Buffy was determined to finish off what Xander had started and eradicate as much of the hellspawn as possible, this time for good. Like a general over the field of battle she engineered a nightly pincer movement, fanning out the Scoobies over the entire city, not to engage, just to move. Eventually this forced demons making a break for it ever closer to the sea, with nowhere else to go. Once they reached Docktown, the seedy underbelly of the Sunnydale waterfront, the group gathered together, thereby cutting off all means of escape. They then proceeded to slaughter every demon in their path, night after night.

Xander had invested in cell phones with what he called the walkie-talkie feature. Buffy smiled at the memory <Willow tried hard to get Xander to refer to the feature by it's proper technical term but he would never listen to her. Yeah, right>. Buffy could feel that he knew exactly what the technical term was, but infuriating Willow was something he couldn't resist doing. Once the lines of communication were established it became easy to track and destroy stragglers. Buffy would be kicking herself for the rest of her life for not utilizing all her friends fully on the battlefield previously. It was as if Xander's actions had finally woke her up to the abilities of these people. Plus, when everybody worked as a team...it was FUN! I mean, she'd always received a bit of therapeutic satisfaction by Slaying, but never the whimsical feelings that Faith had prior to her turn to the darkness. No, what got Buffy off so much was watching everyone kick ass on a deserted stretch of beach, leaving dust and demon blood in their wake...and knowing that they were ever closer to eradicating it from Sunnydale. Feeling the togetherness when they celebrated yet another successful night.

Xander and Willow actually Snoopy-danced on air one night (with a little magical help) after they'd worked together to herd no less than fifty demons onto the beach between the two of them, and then proceeded to kill them all. <Actually Willow killed 47 by herself, but Xand had staked 3 vamps with no help, and few other humans on this Earth are capable of doing that>, Buffy thought with pride. Faith brought a boom box one night, and after another successful romp the gang boogied to "We Are Family" for thirty minutes, looping the disco tune over and over. Buffy and Spike were bumping and grinding, of course, and Dawn and Willow were bumping hips.

It was simply the happiest time of Buffy's life, with one exception: Giles wasn't here to see it. Her Watcher had made all this possible: counseling them on how to handle dangerous situations and giving Buffy the confidence to know she could lead the group when necessary. Most importantly he had taught her to trust them. He recognized before anyone that what set Buffy apart was her awesome ability to inspire incredible courage and loyalty from those around her, and sadly he didn't lived to see her finally fully understand that. <Giles, I don't remember Heaven very well, but I hope you can see us. This is all for you>.

She'd finally opened up to the gang at his memorial service, and their shared grief was something to behold. They'd gathered around his picture and had a massive group hug--Spike, Angel, Wesley, Cordy, Oz, and every current Scooby, everyone who knew and loved him in Sunnydale. Tears flowed, and promises were made that they'd never leave each other again, and that they would destroy evil in Sunnydale without mercy, and they'd do so in the name of Rupert Giles.

Four months into Operation Finish Off (Xander has to give everything a goofy name) they had only managed to herd four vampires to their ambush, and they just sat and watched Buffy and Faith take care of them, almost effortlessly. One week later a decree from the Mayor of Sunnydale (he'd known Richard Wilkins well, and he agreed to Faith's demands out of sheer terror) renamed the 200 yard stretch of sand Rupert Giles Memorial Beach. You just had to live in Sunnydale to understand.

*****************************************

Another remarkable occurrence was the sense of direction they'd all achieved in their non-Slaying lives. Once it became clear that an end to serious demonic presence in Sunnydale was in sight, it was time to make some serious decisions. Typically (for them), they looked outward for answers to those questions first.

Willow had graduated Magna Cum Laude from UC Sunnydale with a rare triple major in Engineering, both mechanical and electrical, and architectural design. She loved the mathematical challenge of building things, combining what could realistically be achieved with an artistic touch. It did her good spiritually to attempt to build great things in Sunnydale rather than destroy them. If any town deserved a refurbishing it was this long-suffering hamlet of the Hellmouth. Her only problem at this point was her utter lack of simple mechanical capability. She could envision what she wanted down to the last detail; she could draw brilliantly conceived schematics and blueprints. Unfortunately she couldn't build a Play-Doh house without help. The mind was there, but the hands wouldn't respond. It was like Nureyev without feet, Shakespeare without the use of his hands or mouth to communicate his transcendent language. She'd been laughed at when her ideas were presented to leading architectural firms all over California. When they asked her exactly how she planned to make these grand ideas come to fruition, she couldn't give a satisfactory answer. She'd hoped to find a kinship with someone who could transform her thoughts into reality, but she'd had no luck.

Meanwhile, Xander was rapidly rising through the ranks within the Union, and had become a highly respected Master Carpenter/Foreman in 2 short years. While most older men and women would be intimidated by Xander's nearly phenomenal work ethic and uncanny nuts and bolts common sense, he also had a nearly priceless ability to communicate with anyone on any level. People weren't threatened by him and, yet, they worked harder for him than anyone else because they liked him. He just inspired loyalty in people. Xander gave all credit to Giles and Buffy for this. He'd already possessed these qualities, of course, but it took the Slayer and Watcher's leadership against the evils of the world for Xander to grasp his potential.

Then one day everything changed. Everything came together. Buffy was now totally lost in her reverie as she and Faith lazily patrolled in silence. It had been one week after Xander had defeated the First, in the Summers' kitchen. He'd called a meeting between the three primary Scoobies, and Willow had been drawing yet another schematic for a proposal she was working on. This time it was for the Sunnydale Museum of Modern Art. She had 3 cylindrical cardboard boxes of Lincoln Logs at her feet, and was for the thousandth time attempting to simulate what she'd envisioned. Yet again she was failing miserably when Xander and Buffy entered the kitchen, Xander's face serious and Buffy's etched with concern for him. Willow immediately echoed Buffy's look when she looked up from her futile log building attempts to observe her oldest friend's _expression. "Xander? Are you ok?"

His face changed to mild amusement when he observed Willow's amateurish construction attempts. He managed to avoid making a smart remark because he knew it was a sore subject for her. The fact that she could turn him into a platypus with the rising of her pinky finger was another factor in his decision to avoid mocking the redhead.

"Yeah, Will, I guess...the three of us have to talk." He put his hands on the table and breathed deeply, eyes closed. The two people closest to him on earth immediately reached out and took one of his hands in their own, knowing their Xander well enough to know when he was trying to hold back his emotions.

Buffy, especially, had learned to be in complete awe of his deep love for those he cared about. She could feel it in him now, and it had enhanced her relationships with those close to her, especially Spike. She had shared things emotionally and physically with William that dwarfed anything she'd done in the past. Angel had been a silly schoolgirl crush in comparison. Tapping into Xander's nearly boundless well of love and devotion had opened up new vistas for Buffy. She'd already had this potential inside her of course, but it had taken Xander in her life to realize her potential. Funny how those things work out.

"Guys, the Magic Box has been sold." Willow looked at him in surprise. "Already? It's only been a week." "Yeah, Will, but Buffy and I were practically giving it away. Once we heard half of it was left to each of us we just wanted to let it go. We wanted no part of a Magic Box with no Giles or Ahn."

Buffy closed her eyes and sighed with relief that this was over. Then she opened them again in concern. "That's not bad news. There's a 'but' here somewhere, no?"

"Yeah, Buff, there's a 'but'." Xander absently began playing with the Lincoln Logs as he spoke. "As we all know, Anya was a great lover of money." They all shared a smile at that one. "What I never realized until now were the things she'd done to take care of us if something...happened. Anya had a life insurance policy, paid up in full. I am the sole beneficiary." Buffy stared at him, saying nothing but sensing something.

"Xand...how much?"

He hesitated, but not to tease them, just to calm himself. "When you factor in her life insurance along with her half of the Magic Box, I received a check today in the amount of 1.2 million dollars, after taxes were paid. The policy was for 2 million." It seemed there was no air in the room. He didn't think Willow's skin could get much lighter, but she actually paled from this news.

"My God, Xander...Xander, you're a well off man. I'm not going to say rich, but you're awfully close. Buffy had slumped back into her chair, staring straight ahead.

"Xand, I understand your need to tell us, but why a special meeting? Are you going to Vegas or something?"

"Not exactly. I'm here to tell you that we're splitting it. The three of us. The original Scoobies. You guys have been with me for all these years, right from the get-go. This money isn't just mine; it's ours. $400,000.00 apiece. I have checks with me made out to you." He absently handed them out to his two best friends, while returning to his focus on the Lincoln Logs.

Simultaneously, both his girls began to speak. "Xander, you can't do this."

"Yes I can. If there's one area where Slayers and Wiccans don't rule me it's this money. I do what I choose with it, and I choose to give it to the two people who mean more to me than anyone else alive." Yet again tears were threatening to slip down the beautiful faces of his friends as he just kept toiling away on his Logs.

Finally Willow spoke, "Xander Harris, it goes against my better judgment to do this, but I'm going to keep this money because it's you, and I won't be able to talk you out of it." She leaned into him to kiss his cheek, and recoiled in shock. "Xander, what have you done?!!"

He jumped slightly in his chair. "What do you mean, what have I done? I shared the money because I love you guys and---"

"Yeah, yeah, great, but the logs. What have you done with the Lincoln Logs?"

He seemed taken aback. "Will, I was just building what you designed. You've got it all written on this blueprint. I was just fooling around."

"Xander, no construction firm I've spoken to has been able to do this. In fact, they tell me it isn't logistically possible." "Sure it is. There are a few little things that are tough, but they're doable if you reinforce the foundation in the pillars outside the atrium...." He sensed Buffy looking back and forth between them, with a goofy grin on her face. "What?"

The Slayer shook her head. "My two best friends may be the dumbest people on the planet. Let me spell it out for you...woman with a genius for design and engineering. Man with a genius for making things like that work just by looking at them. Combined, they now have $800,000 to invest in a business in their pockets. Hellooo?" Xander and Willow stared at each other, and slowly began to smile.

On that very day HarrisBerg Construction and Development was born. They were the perfect team immediately, handling their own specialties separately while working together intimately in the business arena. They became the busiest firm on the Western seaboard because Willow was able to come up with fabulous designs, and Xander could underbid competitors because of his ruthless efficiency. Getting his friends from his old crew away from their former boss was easy. They met Xander and Willow, and just knew this was going places. In a boardroom with prospective clients Will and Xand spoke telepathically, working together to anticipate and eliminate problems before executives could bring them up. In truth, no competitors had a chance. Willow and Xander had been an unbeatable team for 18 years. It was a Sunnydale thing...you just had to live there to understand.

********************************************

Back in the present, Faith interrupted Buffy's thoughts. "B?"

"Yeah, Faith?"

"We need to talk."

Buffy couldn't help but smile. <Every really interesting conversation I've ever had usually begins with those four words.> "Ok, Faith, what's up?"

"It's about Xander and me."

Buffy's eyes narrowed. "You and Xander? What about you and Xander?"

"Ok, you know I hate this hearts and flowers crap, but I gotta say it this way because I don't know any other way to say it. I'm in love with him."

- End Chapter Two -