Lucifer watched from the doorway as Xander put the day's group of children to bed. In Xander's time here he had put literally millions of children to bed and seen thousands ascend to Heaven.

Xanderland had become more elaborate over time, Xander was now capable of creating and holding several detailed illusions at the same time. And he'd increased the number of children in each group. On any given day, over five hundred children could be seen laughing and playing inside Xanderland.

The number of Xander's helpers had increased over time too. The original helpers had called in their entire tribe and they drew lots to see which would serve each day. Xander had taken to calling them the Sidhe, after the legends they resembled. The helpers bore the name with pride, their own name lost in antiquity.

Xander smiled when he saw Lucifer waiting for him, but he waited until all the children had entered the sleeping room before he closed the door for the day.

Lucifer pulled Xander into the throne room and closed the door, "How would you like to take a little trip?" He asked.

Xander brightened, "Are we going to go see Cordy again? It's been a while."

Lucifer laughed, "It's been about a week, Xander."

Xander shook his head, "I'm never going to get used to the time change. So, if we're not going to go see Cordy and the gang, where are we going?"

Lucifer shrugged, "It's been twenty years above, Xander. I thought maybe it was time for you to see the others again."

***

Since Lucifer had gained his soul and been granted free will, they had taken many trips to the world above. He had been worried at first that Xander's death would come about even though Christ had told them that God was pleased with Xander and his work.

Father Maguire was kind enough to be polite when he pointed out that Lucifer had free will and as such could interfere directly in the course of Xander's life.

Lucifer had looked shocked for a moment, then started laughing. Bowing to the priest he said, "Thank you, Father, for not pointing out the fact that I'm an idiot. Well, Xander, would you like to go back to the world above for a visit? I'm sure that Ms. Chase and the others would love to see you."

Xander immediately said yes. Lucifer had told him how worried Cordy and the others were about him, even Spike. While he had trouble believing that the Blonde Menace felt anything for him but contempt, seeing them would be a lot of fun.

To say that Cordelia was happy to see him was an understatement, but she recovered from her shock quickly. Smacking Xander on the shoulder she said, "That's for scaring me half to death Xander Harris."

Xander just grinned and kissed her cheek, "I missed you too, Cordy."

The others were equally pleased with his, albeit temporary, reappearance. Of course it was Spike that managed to cast a pall over the hilarity of the day.

"So, whelp, you going to go see the Slayer and rub it in a bit?"

"Rub what in, Spike?" Xander asked, totally confused.

"Why, that you haven't been popping up every other day to make her life a living Hell, not that she doesn't deserve it, but it would be funny to see her face."

Xander shook his head, "I have no idea what you're talking about, Spike. This is the first time I've been back since I left."

Lucifer cleared his throat, "I think I can shed some light on the subject, such as it were. Before Anyanka left Sunnydale, she informed the Watcher that since you'd been given to me alive, you would have the ability to move between realms at will. And that is possible, but you'd been slated to die, so..."

"But, who's been making Buffy think that I've been coming back?"

"Anyanka. And she's been having a great deal of fun making them scatter to the winds trying to find you."

Xander frowned at Lucifer, but his lips kept twitching. He finally gave in and started to laugh. "I can see it now. Buffy will attack anything that moves, Giles will try polish a hole in his glasses and Willow will get completely flustered. Damn, I wish I could see their faces."

Angel, being Angel, had to put his two cents in. "Xander, don't you think they've been punished enough? You're obviously alive and happy, didn't everything work out for the best?"

Xander nodded, "True. But I still haven't gotten over the whole Star Trek episode."

Wesley grimaced, "I'm sure. Wrath of Khan wasn't it?"

Xander grinned at Wesley, "I'm impressed." Seeing the looks on the other's faces, Xander explained. "Wrath of Khan, the second Star Trek movie, Spock died to save the others, the whole, 'the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.'"

Gunn nodded, "That movie was freaky. I still gets the heebs thinking about those worms." Xander and Wesley had both shuddered thinking about that particular scene. "Next one was cool, though, really put a spin on it." The three men started talking about the movies, each one agreeing that Star Trek four was the best, at least until the Generations movie came out.

Lucifer finally became impatient, "What happened in three?"

Wesley smirked, "The Search for Spock. They find Spock alive, but he has lost his memories. His friends disobey orders, steal a ship and do anything they have to because they want their friend back. To them, the needs of the one are far more important than the needs of the many."

"Well, the needs of this one says that I need to go shopping! Come on, Xander, you and Lucifer can go with me." Cordy said, knowing that no one, not even the Devil himself, would dare to get between her and a shopping spree.

***

Xander took a deep breath, trying to settle his nerves. Just the thought of seeing the Scoobies again tied him in knots, but he knew it had to be done sometime. "Yeah, it's time. But can we see Cordy and the kids after?" Xander shook his head, "It's hard to believe that she's living with Wesley and Gunn, and they have all those kids. It's a good thing Angel bought that hotel, or they wouldn't have enough room for all of them. Besides, I need to get more T-shirts, those K.I.S.S. ones I got for the guys are getting really faded. We can't have the Knights In Satan's Service running around looking shabby."

Lucifer grinned, the stunning Ms. Chase had taken to motherhood like a duck to water. Besides having several children of her own, she and her husbands had adopted many more. Spike complained constantly about the noise, but he could often be seen helping with homework on school nights. And when Cordy's daughters started dating, both he and Angel made sure that their dates knew that there would be severe repercussions if any improprieties occurred. "Of course, it is always a pleasure to see Cordy. I should probably make sure I have plenty of money with me. I'm sure the two of you will find a sale that you just can't miss." Lucifer said genially, secretly enjoying their shopping trips.

Xander just grinned, "Do you know what Cordy tells Wesley and Gunn every time they have something to say about her shopping sprees?"

"No, what?"

Xander started laughing, "The Devil made me do it."

***

Giles took more aspirin, trying to still the headache pounding behind his eyes. He was older now, still in good shape, but the last twenty years had been difficult for all of them. Sightings of Xander had occurred on a regular basis the first year he'd been gone and they'd gone a little insane trying to find him. Giles was happy they never had, giving him to Lucifer was bad enough, but then having to kill him because of what he'd become was unthinkable.

Then any and all sightings had stopped. Anya had appeared one day and informed them that it hadn't been Xander at all, but her. She had regained her powers and was getting her own vengeance for their treatment of her boyfriend. It was a relief and a sorrow at the same time.

Buffy had gotten colder and more remote every year. At forty, she was the longest living Slayer in history. Giles would like to believe that he'd had something to do with her success, but he knew it had little to do with him and more to do with Buffy's refusal to let anything, or anyone, stand in her way.

Willow, kind, sweet Willow had changed the most. She hadn't had the concentration to perform spells since their betrayal. Tara was hurt by what they had done, but she stayed by Willow's side and was invaluable to the group now.

Willow, while unable to do magic, was still the best researcher Giles had ever seen. She had designed a computer data base and entered every demonic reference and prophecy she could find. Research into various demons now took minutes instead of days or weeks. But Giles would gladly give it all up to have things return to the way they had been.

Giles was surprised when the girls arrived without warning. He laughed to himself, after all this time, he still considered them to be children.

"Giles, what did you want?" Buffy said without preamble.

"What do you mean, Buffy? I didn't call you." Giles said.

Tara frowned, "We had a message on our machine saying you needed to see us right away, Giles."

Giles shook his head, "I left no such message."

The candles on the table suddenly burst into bright blue flame, startling all of them. The flames grew larger and larger until they almost touched the ceiling. Willow ran for the extinguisher, but it wasn't needed.

Giles took one hesitant step forward and then another. Soon he was practically running across the room to hug Xander tightly, ignoring the man standing behind him. "You're back. Thank Heavens."

Xander returned the hug and patted Giles on the back. "Just for a short visit, G-Man. I'm not staying."

Xander looked over Giles' shoulder and smiled at Willow. "Hey, Wills. How ya doing?"

"Xander, is that really you?" She whispered.

Xander looked down at himself and then back at his oldest friend, "Yep. It's me." Xander smiled at the woman standing next to Willow, "Hi Tara, it's nice to see you again."

"Xander. I'm sorry I wasn't here to help you when you needed me. I hope you can forgive me."

Xander shrugged, "There's nothing to forgive you for. You wouldn't have been able to do anything."

Buffy wanted to be happy to see her old friend, but she wasn't. The guilt over her actions twenty years before still haunted her and seeing him again just brought it all back. "What are you doing here, Xander?"

"Buffy, still as charming as ever, I see. Well, we just stopped by to say hi and so I can tell you that I forgive you. Everything worked out the way it was supposed to, so no harm, no foul. I'm fine. I'm even happy."

"That's nice, Xander. Really." Buffy said snidely. "But don't you think you could have done this twenty years ago when maybe it would have done some good?"

Xander sighed, Buffy hadn't changed at all. "It's been twenty years for you, Buffy. But it's been a lot longer for me and I've been a little busy. Besides, I wasn't ready to forgive you until now."

Lucifer put his hand on Xander's shoulder, giving it a little squeeze. He nodded, "It's time for me to go, guys."

Willow started crying, "But you just got here, and I missed you. You can't leave now."

Xander smiled and gave Willow a hug, "Sorry, Wills. Gotta go."

Xander moved back to Lucifer's side, and Giles said, "Xander? Will we see you again?"

Xander smiled sadly, knowing that he'd be seeing his friends again sooner they thought. "Yeah, G-Man, you will."

The End

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