Long Time Coming....

[scoobys_heart]

Xander never thought he would say this, much less ever think it, but as he walked down the streets of Sunnydale towards the local teenage hangout he couldn't help but take a nice big whiff of California air and say out loud, "It's good to be home." Cliche? Yes. True? We'll see

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[oddly_literal]

It seemed like a good day for the beach. Though really, every day seemed like a good day for the beach here, Anya wasn't complaining. Life was good. Gun toting crazies aside, she had friends here, and glenn, well, whatever glenn was, she still wasn't sure at this point.

Which was likely why she was so shocked when she heard that voice. When she saw him on the beach. "Xander?" she asked, her voice higher then normal, her towel and basket tumbling out of her arms onto the ground. "Is it really you?"

[scoobys_heart]

Xander spun around quickly at the familiar voice calling his name, since it was something he really hadn't expected what it being a demon dimension or something, but then it was Anya who was a former demon so maybe it wasn't so out of place, and almost lost his footing again.

He blinked as he looked into the sun and raised a hand to shade his eyes. "Anya? Is this where you high tailed it when you got outta Dodge? I though you couldn't make with the demony stuff anymore?" He looked around again and gave a whistle. "And I hear I thought demon dimensions were supposed to be all with the fire and torture. Definatly going to have to have a talk with Dead Boy about this when I get back..." There was no if. Buffy and Willow would find out what happened and save him. It was the order of the day after all. Though for once, he wished their take their time with the rescuing....this place was nice.

[oddly_literal]

It was like a punch to the stomach when she saw him face on, and when he spoke. Both eyes, that was the most obvious clue, but this Xander hadn't spent the past three years working construction. Didn't have those muscles she loved to run her hands over, those arms that would hold her so tightly.

Shaking her head, she picked up her basket, hoping he wouldn't see the way her face had fallen. "This isn't a hell dimension Xander. At least, they swear to me it's not, but I have my suspicions sometimes. Besides, i can't make with the demony stuff anymore. I'm human, just like you." Only so not like him.

[scoobys_heart]

Nope, defiantly not with the muscles. He had some sure from training with Buffy, but he was still a gawky teenager, all arms and legs. Though the ladies at the club hadn't seemed to mind and oh my god, so not going there. Bad memories!

Of course Xander saw it and was instantly confused. Why was Anya so upset to see him after she'd seemed happy a moment ago. Was it something eh said? Was he not supposed to mention the demon stuff anymore? After she'd gone on and on and on and on about it at prom, he though it was of the good. Apparently not. And hey...was she older? Like, Xander knew she was older then him but now she actually kinda looked it, though in that collage upperclassman girl hot kinda way.

He came over and immediately helped her picked up the stuff she'd dropped. "So, this place is safe? Well, you know safe being relative and all but no demons at all?" He breathed a sigh of relief. Being the demon magnet he was, he had every reason to be relieved. "Is this where you came when you ran from The Assention?"

[goldeneyedflash]

Bart was jogging down the beach, trying not to think about swimming, because, really, there was something wrong in swimming in water where stuff lived. The clothing box had graciously provided a Gotham Knights t-shirt to clash with the red shorts, but he didn't care. At least it wasn't the Stars. Sand was a nice change, though. Even if it did get everywhere. Though the guy up ahead didn't seem to like the view.

"I don't think we've got demons, actually," he said, as he slowed to a halt a safe distance from the new guy.

[scoobys_heart]

Despite the guy wearing clashing clothes, though given his clothes closet he couldn't really talk, and not exactly being secretive or anything, Xander still jumped from where he'd been examining the landscape and trying to remember if Giles had ever told him some thing that would be useful in this situation like "First thing you do when you find your in another dimension" or "list of demons that like beaches and not for the tans"

He was all arms and legs when he turned and gave the guy a look over, pretending he knew what it was he should be looking for in the first place. "No demons?" Xander asked, unable to hide the hopeful tone in his voice. He and demons had bad track records, especially with the him being alone with no Slayer. "You sure?"

[goldeneyedflash]

"None that this place hasn't turned human, as far as I know. But if you keep heading in that direction, you'll run into dino territory," Bart said, chuckling a little, then took a few steps closer. "Some people claim certain pieces of furniture are possessed, though."

He offered his hand, with a friendly smile. "I'm Bart, Bart Allen."

[scoobys_heart]

Dino territory? Maybe this was a dream realm then or maybe one of those alternate time reality things, like when Anya granted Cordy's wish...and man did he suddenly wished he'd paid more attention to when Giles was talking.

"No demons, dinosaurs and possessed furniture?" He laughed. "Oddly enough, doesn't sound as weird as my normal life so hey, whatta ya know." He stopped, considering the name. "Like the Flash? That's pretty cool!" He realized he possibly shouldn't have said that but it was already out now. To cover it, he took the guy's hand over zealously. "Xander Harris. So, any idea where exactly this place is?" Maybe if he learned more, something would trigger a memory of a Giles lecture that could help. It had never happened before but it was worth a shot!

[fangyandgrr]

Spike paused at the familiar voice, changing his direction and emerging from the trees behind Xander. Yep, that was the back of Harris's head, all right. "Not going to find many demons round this place, unless you count the possessed jukebox. Me, I think it could be a Xanagos demon livin' in there, but what do I know?" He chuckled and added, "Welcome to the Island, Harris. You're gonna hate it here. I know I do." It was just too obvious that the bloke had just popped in to even bother asking.

[scoobys_heart]

Xander whirled around quickly at that voice, quickly back away and scrabbling for anything he could use as a weapon. Given that the last time he'd seen Spike the vampire had kidnapped him and Willow and caused Cordy to get impaled (Xander blamed himself immensly for that but that didn't still didn't let him pin some of it on Spike) it was a justifiable reaction to Xander.

"Hey! Back off Blondie! If this is some trick to get to Buffy it won't work. She doesn't even know I'm home yet anyway, so whatever your planning won't work!" His back was suddenly against a tree and he glanced up to see if he could possibly get up in the branches if he had too. In his panic, he completely missed Spike's friendly tone...or it was just too foreign a concept that the blond vampire would be friendly to the donut boy that his brain just missed it completely.

[fangyandgrr]

Spike held his hands up in a gesture of peace, arching an eyebrow as Xander wigged. "Deep breaths, mate. Even if I wanted to hurt you, and believe me, the temptation is growing already, I'm de-vamped, here. See?" He nodded his head toward the overhead sun with a wry smirk. "Not even a tendril of smoke."

[scoobys_heart]

Xander blinked wide eyed at the vampire, before his gaze darted between him and the sun. He did this for a few moments before his brain registered that Spike wasn't making with the barbecue. Then his fear turned to shock. He couldn't believe it. "How did you...?" He shook his head quickly and began backing up again. "Uh huh, this is some kind of magic isn't it? Wait till Giles finds out, he'll stop you and send you back to your sewer stalking ways." How he kept his voice conident he had no idea as his hand again tried to find purchase on the tree.

[needsarobin]

"Hi," Tim said to the somewhat frantic looking individual on the beach, glad he hadn't changed into his suit before heading out. Those introductions were more awkward and Tim's geek sense told him that he was much better off not freaking this one out any more than was necessary.

Even if there was a tiny bit of fanboy glee in the back of his head.

Tim waited for the boy to turn, hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans, head tilted to the side. The shadows from the trees slanted across his face and threw his eyes into the dark. It was not coincidental.

[scoobys_heart]

Tim's geek sense was right, thought if he had showed up in his Robin suit, Xander would have gone more with the dream realm over a demon dimension and that was a whole other set of Giles lectures for him to try and remember. Though he did remember Cordy wearing that pink strappy top thing that day and...

As it was, Xander turned quickly and raised an eyebrow at the guy in front of him, he certainly didn't look like a demon but then that wasn't exactly saying anything, before saying carefully, "Uh hi. Did you just see anything...weird, like," he shrugged, "I don't know, the way back to Sunnydale?" The guy looked like a smart kid maybe he could help Xander out, cuse right now, he could use all the help he could get!

[needsarobin]

"Judging by the position of the stars, the general climate and past experience...Sunnydale is north east and entirely unreachable from here. You're stuck. We all are and no, we don't know why." He stepped forward and held out a hand, "I'm Tim. Welcome to the island."

[scoobys_heart]

It was like listening to Willow only shorter, darker and male. Xander cocked his head and gave an 'uh huh' sound. "Right okay. So we're on an island no one can get off yet you can tell where Sunnydale is by the stars?" He blinked as he tried to process this. It wasn't that odd by his standards, god how he still couldn't get used to that, but it was up there. "Soooo...no going home?" That meant no parents and no dead end jobs. But it also meant not Buffy and Willow. Xander couldn't help the hurt that crept onto his face. "No one's made with the magics or even the boats?"

[scooby_rebel]

Faith spotted him on her run and pulled up short. He had both eyes so that told her a lot. Plus he was looking awfully young and...gangly. Not the Xan she left behind.

"Yo, Harris. What up?" she asked, jutting her chin up in greeting. "You just get here?"

[scoobys_heart]

Xander's eye grew wide. No one had really know what had become of Faith after everything was said and done after the Assention, they all just assumed she was on the run. He gulped a bit and took a step back, not really wanting to be anywhere near the rough and tumble Slayer. Where was Buff when he needed her? Demons he could handle, well relatively. Faith, not so much. "Uh yeah, I guess." He answered to appease her as he waited for his brain to catch up.

[scooby_rebel]

"It's wicked hot today," she said, a little distracted as she watched his face. In an effort to make peace with one of the few people who got just how batshit she could be, Faith held up her hands in a gesture of surrender. "Take it easy, my man. You just landed on the Island of Misfit Toys. Swear I won't get all prison yard on you," she smiled. Not entirely friendly, but that was just Faith.

[scoobys_heart]

Misfit Toys. Well that was defiantly an accurate description of the two them, of their whole gang. And she seemed...off. Distracted. Calmer. Crazy, but less...in a, he hated to say it, grown up way?

He had to say something, vice them just looking at each other. "Prison? Is that where you ended up?" He asked, hoping not to sound as terrified as he felt.