CH.21

The next morning Ryan woke up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. When he opened his eyes he found that Willow had shifted from laying across him to her new position, she had somehow wrapped both her arms and legs around him.

Holding onto him like a squid would. Smiling at this he gently pried her limbs away and laid her down where he was sleeping. He watched her snuggle up to the chair that now had his scent on it and sighed.

After coming back to himself from the sight of her, he set off to find out who was awake and where he could get his girlfriend some food. When he walked into the small kitchen he found Xander and Giles drinking coffee. "So what demon do I have to skin to get some food around here?"

Seeing Xander frown he explained. "Not a lot of things to eat in a hell dimension I'm afraid but in this case, I was thinking more for what should we cook for the girls so that they don't start a riot when they wake up."

Seeing Giles chuckle when his answer dawned on him he replied. "Ah, yes, there's eggs and bacon in the fridge and there's a nice bakery down the road that sells some really nice scones."

Xander grabbed his jacket and was out the door saying. "Scone duty, on it." Before Ryan could even volunteer.

When he saw this he asked. "Giles, am I missing something or did Xander act really weird when I mentioned skinning demons."

Giles took a minute to think while Ryan was getting the stove ready. When Ryan went to the fridge he finally answered. "Xander is in a relationship with a vengeance . Her name is Anya or Anyanka if you go by her demon name. She was a witch before she was recruited to be a vengeance demon. He was probably thinking you might harm her."

Letting out a small chuckle Ryan shook his head while frying up the bacon. "He hasn't changed at all! Well, he won't have to worry so long as she's not a threat to Willow and the rest of you, I couldn't care less who she seeks vengeance on. As for the skinning demons thing, it was mostly a joke. I mean the only demons around in Quor'toth are banished old ones and their lesser kin. And most of those went into hiding when they caught my scent."

Sliding the back on onto a large plate with with paper towels on it he started with the eggs. Listening to Giles take on the changes that happened in the past few years.

By the time the food was done Xander had returned with a blonde woman holding a big box of scones. "Hello I'm Anya, Xander says your an all powerful being that likes to skin demons. I just wanted you to know that I don't really do any vengeance anymore. Please don't skin or eat me!"

Laughing at this Ryan asked her. "Do you eat?"

Anya looked scared. " N-not humans."

Laughing even harder now he told her. "No silly. Do you eat human food because if so help Giles and Xander set the table."

While they got to work he grabbed a tray of coffee mugs and headed to the living room. When he got there he set the tray down on the coffee table and took a mug to each of the girls saying. "Wakey wakey, here's your morning coffee and once your ready, the food is waiting in the dining room."

Watching them yawn and rouse themselves awake, he couldn't help but smile and thank Willow for her spell that brought him back. When they got done with their morning routines everyone sat down at the table to eat.

As they were finishing up he said. "So I was thinking, now that I'm back some things may be changing."

They all turned to him as he spoke. "I've decided to enroll in a lot off college courses and fast track some of my degrees. I'll still take the same courses you have Willow, if that's what you want. I also wanted to let you know that before I left I bought the frat house that had the demon snake it the basement and had it renovated so that we could stay in it if you guys wanted. It's free and we would all be together. Xander, I took the liberty of having your stuff moved out of your parents basement and moved into the dorm. I also had Lyndsey pick up your truck and my car and leave them in it's parking lot. You can scrap the junk you don't want and buy new stuff if you want but I'm also going to insist that you enroll in college for building design and construction safety and business classes. It'll still be paid for by me. Anya, you can join him for any classes you want a degree in. All of my properties are going to be remodeled and some rebuilt with the protection symbols engraved like I'd originally planed. Xander, when your all caught up on your studies again I'd like to start our projects. And Giles, you and Jenny will both be welcome to live in one of my houses. Pick one out together and I'll sign it over to you along with several million in cash to get your books up to date. I'll also sign over the magic shop to you if you want."

Nodding Giles replied. "That would be very much appreciated."

Standing up and heading into the kitchen with the dishes Ryan continued speaking a little louder. "I'll read Spike's mind after we get back from retrieving Jenny in a bit. If everyone wants to come to see her brought back I'd suggest they get dressed now. We leave in fifteen minutes."

They all scrambled to find their stuff while he cleaned the dishes and table. When he was done everyone was packed and ready. "Xander take your girlfriend and Buffy and go pick up our vehicles. I'll go with Willow and Giles and get the stuff we need from the magic shop. Though I could call her back without it, I highly doubt she'd thank me for it."

Turning to Giles he said." Bring some clothes for her because whatever she was buried in won't be intact by now."

By the time they all arrived at the cemetery, it was approaching noon. "Great, the sun is high. Today feels like the perfect day to resurrect someone don't you think?"

No one answered him, but they did look a little more cheery. When they got to her grave he told everyone to stand on one side. Then he raised a hand and telekinetically move the dirt covering the coffin to the other side. When they sent him questioning gazes he told them. "If you resurrect someone using their body as a focus, nine times out of ten they end up in said body."

Understanding how they all looked relieved that they didn't try this before or they may have screwed up big time. Ryan jumped down on top of the casket and said. "If you value your breakfast look away and hold your nose or you may lose it."

With that, he opened the coffin up to find the rotting corpse of Jenny Calendar. Sending a wave of magic over her he removed the bugs and smell leaving the corpse mostly in tact.

"Poor Jenny." Shaking his head he looked to Willow saying. "Light the sage and hand it here then mix the Ollivander and sprig sap and pour it into the coffin on her.

With the sage in hand, he waved it over the body humming out loud. ""Osiris, keeper of the gate, master of all fate, hear us!

Before time and after, before knowing and nothing

Accept our offering, know our prayer.

Osiris, here lies the warrior of the people,

Let her cross over.

Osiris, let her cross over

Release her!"

After he started the face of black smoke appeared. "She was taken at her time. Leave her be, her judgment has been passed."

Ryan snarled." You know as well as I that fate is a fickle bitch, if you don't release her to me Osiris I will reach into your domain and take her myself. I won't leave her to the whims of those so-called gods to feed off of. She was killed by a vampire so she died a supernatural death! Release her now or suffer my wrath!"

The smoking head of Osiris yelled so be it!"

The head vanished and the now revived and whole Jenny Calendar sat bolt upright like she had a nightmare, gasping and choking for air.

Ignoring everyone's stares he helped her out of the coffin and hole. When they were out be waved a hand and re-buried the now empty coffin.

When she was out, Jenny reached forward and hugged Giles in an almost painful to watch embrace. Leaving them to it, the scoobies went back to the vehicles. Willow hugged him and gave him a special Willow kiss signaling her need for them to be alone. Laughing he told the scoobies. "We'll meet you back at Giles place later tonight."

With that they hopped in his car and raced to her dorm room. When the arrived she pulled him inside and attacked his clothes like they somehow offended her.

Later that evening, they both took a shower and headed to Giles place. On the way out Willow introduced him to a girl named Tara that she met in her Wiccan group a while back. "Hi, my names Ryan. I've been with Willow for a while but a spell was put on everyone that made them forget me!"

Shaking his hand Tara replied. "I'm T-Tara, W-Willow told you about m-me?"

Nodding he confirmed. "Some thing here and there. But she didn't tell me you were a natural born witch. Or that from what I can tell you can see people's auras. So what do you see when you look at mine?"

Tara smiled. "Yours l-looks like a tree o-or forest. It feels like nature and magic."

He smiled wider at this. " That's probably because of what I am. What do you sense from it? Do I feel good or evil?"

She shook her head. " It's like nature you don't feel good or bad, you just are. Though I can feel you did some powerful magic not to long ago. The darkness from it lingers a little but it's being whipped away by your natural aura."

Smiling he pointed out. " And your stuttering went away when you felt my nature. It's because your a natural pure earthen witch. You probably feel safe and secure and at home around me. I'll let you in on a little secret. You are the closest pure human I've ever met that could feel all that you did about me."

Tara blushed and Willow looked at her with a curious gaze as he continued. " If Willow approves of you, I wouldn't mind if you joined us for a few purification spells and ceremonies."

They both blushed and looked at each other knowing that those types of things were done naked most of the time. Willow looked at Tara after a few minutes and nodded her approval. Which sent both of them blushing all over again.

Taking her hand Tara followed with them to Giles house. When they got there, Xander and everyone was waiting outside. "I wouldn't go in there right now. Those two are getting reacquainted with each other if you know what- is that another girl? Man, where do you get that kind of mojo. Willows going to- Is Willow making out with her?"

Leaving the girls to play Ryan got out of the car saying. "No, she's not right now and that is Tara. Willow introduced me to her on the way here. She's an earthen witch and a natural-born one at that. She practices nature magic and I'd hoped to introduce her to the group together. She's teaching Willow a few ritual techniques right now. They should be done in a few minutes."

Ryan walked over to Buffy and Anya and asked. "How pissed do you think Spikes going to be when he finds out you don't need him to tell you about your commando problem?"

Buffy laughed. "I don't know but I'm sure going to enjoy kicking his sorry ass out of here. I'd stake him but the only thing he can hurt now is himself so there's really no point to it."

Anya butted in. "There's no point in killing defenseless demons is there? I mean, if say a demon who didn't hurt anyone in the last year was to-"

"Relax Anya, your Xander's girlfriend and besides I don't really kill many demons anymore. So long as you don't hurt anyone in the group I could care less what you do. You have to answer to Buffy if you go evil though."

Shaking his head he turned back to Buffy and asked her if she'd been by to visit her mother any other then to do laundry.

She frowned. " I'm trying to be more independent and grow up."

Ryan sighed. "Buffy, your mother raised you to be independent not to abandon her when you got the chance."

When she went to speak he raised two fingers and went on. "I'm sure your busy with school and all but just think, when you moved out she was suddenly alone for the first time since before she met your father. She probably misses you terribly. Take it from someone who can never see there family again. Life is precious so spend it with those that are precious to you. And on that note it seems Willows done."

Ryan walked back over to his car leaving Buffy to think on what he said. Willow and Tara were getting off of each other and out of the car. Smiling he joked. "So how does my Willow taste? Like a field of strawberries and cream yeah?"

Both the girls blushed at his comments and Xander's mouth hanging open. As they past him Willow smirked. "Why Xander your drooling! Is something wrong."

Xander mumbled."Huh? What?"

Everyone laughed at his expression and watched him collect his hormones and dignity back into himself.

Walking up to Tara he gave her a deep kiss. "Yup, Willows been here." He turned back to his girlfriend and gave Willow a deep kiss that she returned with gusto. When they were done he turned to see everyone blushing deeply and Anya grabbing Xander for their own make out session.

Laughing he went on saying. "Yeah, Tara was here as well."

With everyone thoroughly embarrassed and a little horny, he introduced Tara to the scoobies and them to her. "Tara meet, Buffy, Xander and Anya. Buffy, Xander and Anya meet Tara. She's a friend of Willows and a new friend of mine that Willow introduced me to on the way here. Tara these are Willow and my friends were called the Scooby gang for some reason, no one really explained it to me but thats what we are. Oh, hey Giles and Jenny are done. And should be getting dressed now. Spike seems to have interrupted their fun time. Let's head up and get him out of their hair."

When everyone got to the door all it took was a single knock and a perturbed Giles answered. "I figured it would take you longer Giles. I'm sure Jenny hasn't lost her touch. Perhaps it's the pest in your bathroom that's causing problems. Well don't worry we're here to retrieve him and give you two some piece of mind." With that Ryan ignored Giles angry and hopeful expressions.

Heading for the bathroom, he found Spike chained up in the tub. "Well are you here to-"

"Silence" Ryan whispered and removed Spikes mouth.

He heard everyone arrive behind him. "Oh, dear god. I would've paid you to do that weeks ago!" Gile frantically spoke.

Smiling Ryan reminded him. "I wasn't here weeks ago because this would've never happened."

Leaning forward, Ryan looked into Spike's eyes and began reading his mind. It was a jumbled mess of emotions and feelings at first. Then when he got to the memories he started with the most recent and watched them on rewind at a fast pace. When he got to what he was looking for he slowed it down.

Seeing a group of army men and cells surrounded by electrical fields. Soon enough he watched Spike's escape. When he was done he stood up and told them. " The facility is under a frat house near the college campus. Their rounding up demons and anything they can get their hands on and experimenting on them. I think their using it as a way to find the best parts of certain demons and creating a Frankenstein super soldier. As for the chip in this idiots head, it's a test to see if they can control the demons impulses and make them docile enough to control. The project is probably in lab 3-14. That's all he heard and all I could get off his chaotic mind."

He waved his hand to disintegrate the chains telling Spike. "Seeing as how they don't want you dead, you can leave now. Your mouth will reform in an hour now piss off."

Spike stood up and went to punch him when Buffy caught his hand saying. "Spike, in this entire world there are only a handful of beings who could hit him and live and you aren't one of them. Consider this me saving your life."

With that, she showed him the door and told him to leave. When everyone was back in the living room Ryan spoke again. "If all of you are up for it I'd like to read your mind and find out who the soldiers are because I'm pretty sure there students like you."

When everyone accented he told them. "Just think about who you know and your school life."

When he was done reading their minds he sighed and sat down. Seeing this Willow took her usual spot and asked."What's wrong baby?"

Sighing one last time he began. " The soldiers are members of the Lowell house fraternity. One of them is Riley, the guy Buffy has a crush on. And the leader is yours and Buffy's teacher, professor Maggie Walsh."

The group took this in as Buffy looked heart broken. Seeing this Xander spoke up. "There's still some hope. From what I've seen, Walsh isn't the type to tell her subordinates everything she's doing and in a military institution, scientists run pretty much everything except for safety protocols. So he most likely doesn't know."

Buffy gave him a hopeful look. Seeing this Ryan asked. "How do you know?"

Xander smiled."Well when the PTB or whoever erased you they gave us fake memories and one of those was the Halloween magic night thing. So instead of being Nick Fury I ended up as a soldier guy. Though both of those memories are saying that I'm right on this."

"Huh." Was all Ryan could say to that. Turning back to Buffy he told her. "We'll follow your lead on whatever you want to do. I've had Lyndsey enroll me into your classes with Walsh. He's has everything settled and is expanding on my projects now by the time winter break hits he should be ready to put enchantments on the properties to keep evil out so you need to inform your mother that she can stay at one of my places while Xander and his crew rebuild your house from the ground up and Lyndsey enchants everything from the cement to the shingles as it's laid out."

Buffy got up and went to make some calls. Before she could leave the room he told her. "If you want, both you and your mom can stay in LA until the house is done. It shouldn't take them long to tear it down and rebuild a safer one. You could spend spring break in LA and your mom can come back to a new safe home. It would give you some bonding time and it's my treat. Not to mention you have several million in the bank now."

She smiled and exhaled a breathe she didn't know she was holding. "That actually sounds like a plan." She left the room with a little pep in her step now.

Seeing this, Ryan turned to Giles." The magic shop is in your name now. I told Lyndsey to fill out the paperwork as my lawyer. He's got everything waiting for you there."

With that he held Willow close and she Tara as they left to do some 'Purification rituals'.