Hey folks,

It's been a while since I posted some of this story, I know. Due to
computer problems some chapters of this story may not have made it to
the FFML. If you're missing a section the whole ball of wax is up at
http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=21498
Please R&R.



 "Must be the maid�s decade off," though Urd as Xander continued the
brief tour of the Harris home he�d been giving the goddesses. While the
d�cor of Xander�s home wasn�t terribly different from the way most
middle-class suburban homes across America looked, the carpet didn�t
seem to have been vacuumed in a dog�s age and Urd doubted if much else
in the house had had a good cleaning since the Regan administration.

"�and that pretty much concludes our tour of Ch�teau Harris," said
Xander as he led the goddesses into the kitchen. "On behalf of the
Harris clan we�d to thank you for visiting and remind you that tipping
your guide is allowed and encouraged."

"Thank you for showing us around, Xander," smiled Belldandy. "Your home
is very lovely."

"Yeah, if you�re that family from Married With Children," muttered Skuld
under her breath.

Urd quickly gave her sister a light smack to the back of the head. Skuld
whipped around and glared at her elder sister. Urd just smiled
innocently. The little goddess gave Urd a nasty look but kept silent.

"I know we�re all very tired but I think it would be best if we all had
a little something to eat before we go to bed," suggested Belldandy.

"Sounds good to me," nodded Xander. She then walked over to the
refrigerator, opened it and began rummaging around. "Let�s see�jar of
olives�expired milk. Whoa! 1991?! How did that happen?�uh, leftover
pizza�some blue stuff that I don�t think was blue last week�tub of
butter�some A-1 sauce�"

Xander turned back to the goddesses with a sheepish grin on her face.
"Let�s forget the fridge. Maybe I can show you my mom�s famous
call-to-the-Chinese-place recipe."

"Oh, there�s no need for that," assured Belldandy. "Just give me a few
minutes to look around the kitchen and I�m sure I�ll be able to find
something that will make a wonderful dinner."

"If you do be sure to let me know. I�d like to know where food like
that�s been hiding these last eighteen years," quipped Xander.

"And that�s our cue to exit," cut in Urd. "Come on, kids. Let�s leave
Belldandy to work her magic.

"Say, Xander, you guys cable?"

"It�s the 20th century," replied Xander. "People living in refrigerator
boxes have cable."

"True," grinned Urd as she headed toward the living room. "I wonder what
kind of Mexican TV they get in this burg. The soap operas from down
there are just so over the top."

"You know, sometimes I think whoever started calling TV �the idiot box�
was thinking of Urd when they came up with that," sighed Skuld.

Xander choose not to say anything

"Hey, Skuld, check it out! The Simpsons are on!"

"Oooohhh! I love the The Simpsons!" squealed Skuld who then dashed into
the living room.

Xander paused only to give a mental shrug before joining them.

~*~*~*~*~

Once The Simpsons ended Xander and the goddesses had watched the local
news in hopes that some story might provide a lead as to Mara�s plans.
Sadly, the news had proved to only be the usual Southern California
brand of murder and mayhem. With the news ended the three had resorted
to the honored American art of channel surfing.

*click*

"In market news today manufacturing titans Genom Enterprises and Kanzaki
Heavy Industries reported higher than expected earning for this
quarter."

*click*

"Agents Scully and Mulder, FBI."

*click*

"Our target is the battleship Nadesico!

*click*

"The year is 2259. The name of the place is Babylon 5."

*click*

"Ohmigod! They killed Kenny!

"You bastards!"

*click*

"Those who have laid eyes on a Gundam shall not live to tell about it."

"Ah, choices, choices," sighed Urd contentedly.

"Put it back on Babylon 5!" demanded Skuld. "I like that show!"

"You like B5?" asked Xander. "If you want, I can show you my B5
collecter plates later."

"You have the collecter plates?!" gasped Skuld. "I've been looking for
those for years!"

"The Alimighty save me from the sci-fi geeks," grumbled Urd.

It was then that Belldandy called "Everyone, dinner is ready!"

Xander and the goddesses quickly abandoned the couch and headed for the
kitchen. Once they entered the first thing they saw was Belldandy
standing over a large pot on the stove, stirring its contents lightly
and smiling. "The kitchen was a bit more�understocked than I expected.
So I was only able to come up with a simple soup. I hope that�s all
right with everyone," informed the goddess sweetly.

Xander took a deep whiff of the kitchen�s air. The smell of cooking meat
and vegetables immediately made her mouth start to water. "You made
something that smells that good from stuff in *this* kitchen?" said
Xander. "You really are a goddess. All hail Belldandy! Heaven�s answer
to Martha Steward."

Belldandy blushed slightly at the praise.

The dinner table was quickly set and the soup served which was eaten
with gusto by all. Xander proved herself a more than capable hostess by
recounting some of the adventures she and the other members of the
Scooby Gang had shared over the years.

"You�re exaggerating!" accused Skuld. "No way was that rat that big!"

"I saw that rat bite a Buick in half," countered Xander. "And it would
have done the same to Willow if Buffy and I hadn�t stopped it with that
battle ax."

Urd shook her head in disgust. "Xander�s not kidding, Skuld. Rats can
get that big if they�re under the influence of a rat demon like Xander
was talking about."

"Really?" said the little goddess. "Gross!"

"Actually, the rat demon wasn�t all that gross," recalled Xander. "Not
in comparison to that cockroach demon we fought last year anyway. Now
that was gross!"

"Perhaps we should find something more pleasant to discuss than demons,"
suggested Belldandy.

"Hey, I know!" exclaimed Urd. "I�ll share a few stories about the times
I spent hanging out with the Beatles! Those are always a crowd-pleaser!"

"I don�t know what crowd those stories would please, but it sure isn�t
this one," muttered Skuld.

"Oh really?" snorted Urd. "Who�s the one who wouldn�t shut up for a week
about meeting the guy who played Scotty on Star Trek?"

"His name is James Doohan!" blasted the young goddess.

"I knew that," smirked Urd. "I was just seeing if I could get you to cop
to be a Trekkie."

"The term these days is Trekker!" howled Skuld as she slammed her fist
on the table.

"Geek," mocked the elder goddess.

Skuld again gave her sister the Look of Death.

It was then that Belldandy said "Xander, is something wrong?"

Urd and Skuld turned from glaring at each other to see that Xander,
instead of looking at them, was staring glassy-eyed at her soup. Once
she noticed the goddesses staring at her Xander snapped back to
attention. "Uh, sorry about that. I was off in the Twilight Zone for a
second."

"Xander, if something is bothering you please feel free to tell us,"
said Belldandy. "I know we only met a few hours ago but if we can help
we�ll do so in anyway we can."

Xander was silent for a moment. "Yeah, I know would, Belldandy" she said
after a moment. "I still remember what you did for me back at the
library.

It�s just�all that talking about I did about stuff I did with the
others, it made me start thinking about what happened all over again."

"I know you couldn�t perceive it, but I could see the condition she was
in and I can assure you that, given the circumstances, Willow is holding
extremely well," said Belldandy."

"My little sister doesn�t lie, kiddo," added Urd. "I saw her as we were
getting out of the van and she�s hanging in there."

"Actually, it�s not Willow I�m freaking about," replied Xander. "She�s
tougher than even she gives herself credit for. I�m sure she�ll be okay
with being a shrub for a little while."

"You and her are really close, huh?" asked Urd.

At that Xander smiled. "We�ve been friends since I can remember. The
Dynamic Duo of Sunnydale, Xander and Willow, that was what people called
us. Well, that�s what I called us. Will kinda asked me to stop doing it
once we hit junior high."

For a second Xander�s eyes again fell to the soup in front of her. She
picked up her spoon and swished it idly in the soup for a few moments.
"You know, while I was eating this I remembered something. Freshmen
year, before Buffy came to town and we found out that Sunnydale was
Hell�s �Welcome� mat, I came down with the case of the flu from, well,
hell. I was in bed for eight days getting over it. My folks were always
busy with stuff so everyday after school Will would come by with a
thermos of soup for me and tell what was going at school. She even put
little oyster crackers in the soup. How cool was that? Of course, she
also brought me my homework everyday but I forgave her for that."

"How very sweet," said Belldandy. "You�re very lucky to have a friend
like her."

"Don�t I know it," nodded Xander. "I wish I�d have told her that more
often before�tonight.

Belldandy took one of Xander�s hands and gave it a squeeze. "I�m sure
she knows. The people we love know what�s in out hearts more often than
we suspect. The love and friendship between you two is clearly something
that doesn�t need mere words to find expression."

Xander smiled. "Thanks again, Belldandy. Ever think of hosting your own
talk show? Oparh�s got nothing on you."

"Pardon my prying, but if it wasn�t Willow you�re so worried about then
who is it?" asked Urd. "Her boyfriend seems to be handling the situation
pretty well."

"Oz is a sturdy guy," said Xander. "He�ll be okay. The person I�m
worried about is Buffy."

"Buffy? Come on, she�s the Slayer," said Skuld.

"Exactly," nodded Xander. "Getting smacked around by nasty demons is
part of the Slayer job description. Buffy knows that. But having demons
lay some nasty mojo down on your friends�She�s going to have a tough
time with that. She�s going to blame herself."

Xander chewed her lips for a moment and then stood. "Maybe I should give
her a call�"

"It may not be my place to say this, but I don�t think that�s a good
idea," interrupted Belldandy. "It�s rather late and as Mr. Giles said we
all really do need some sleep. She might be sleeping right now. And no
matter what happens tomorrow, I�m certain that it would be in everyone�s
best interests to have a Slayer who�s ready and well rested."

Xander hesitated for a few seconds. "Yeah, I guess you�re right. And if
Buffy is having a problem her mom is there. Joyce may not be a Slayer,
but she�s really strong in her own right. You know she once whacked
Spike, one of the nastiest vamps ever to hit Sunnydale, in the head with
a ax. It�s just a shame she didn�t take that psycho�s head off."

"That�s it," muttered Urd. "All this angst is givin� me a headache."
There was then a small �pop� sound and Urd vanished. However someone
else instantly took her place.

The second Urd vanished a small figure about a foot and a half high
appeared on the table in front of Xander. The figure was female, sported
red boots, a white dress-like garment with a very short skirt and a
large red bow on the chest, long, white silk gloves and a golden tiara.
Her hair (or more accurately a cheap-looking wig) was blonde and pulled
back into two very long ponytails and two meatball-like buns. The figure
also happened to look just like Urd.

"In the name of the Moon, I order you to cheer up!" shouted the
mini-Urd.

Xander�s Jaw promptly fell the floor.

Belldandy looked surprised for a moment then smiled.

Skuld sighed and smacked her forehead. "Great. Urd�s dressed up like one
of those silly lookin� magical girls from Azabu again. And she�s not
even drunk this time."

"You heard Sailor Urd! Smile or something, will ya?" called a small
voice from the floor beside Xander. The teen glanced down to see another
mini Urd, this one dressed in the red a yellow uniform wore by Sunnydale
High cheerleaders.

"Gimme an S! Gimme an M! Gimme an I! Gimme an L! Gimme an E! What�s that
spell? Smile! Smile! Smile!" crowed the mini-Urd as she waved a set of
pom-poms.

"Cripes," muttered Skuld. "Urd couldn�t be laying it on any thicker if
she had a trowel."

"Hush, Skuld," whispered Belldandy as she leaned closer to her sister.
"Urd�s antics may be a bit�excessive, even for her, but she�s trying to
keep Xander�s mind off what�s happened to his friends. If he starts to
dwell on things he might have an emotional breakdown worse than what
happened at the library."

Skuld cast a quick look at the two mini-Urds before giving a small nod
of understanding.

Just then two more mini-Urds literally danced by. One was dressed in a
stylish tuxedo while the other had on a elegant looking evening gown.
The two were dancing what Xander vaguely recognized as an old Fred
Astaire and Ginger Rogers routine. And doing a good job of it as well.

"You shouldn�t worry," advised the Urd in the Tuxedo. "We�ll find out
what Mara is up to a put a stop to it in no time."

"And once we�ve stopped her we�ll force her to turn you and Willow back
to normal," added the Urd in the dress.

Xander remained blank-faced for a moment. She then let forth a might
laugh and then kept laughing until tears rolled down her face.

"Heh, thanks, Urd," said Xander (once she�d managed to get control of
herself again) to the goddess who had by then reassembled herself. "I so
needed a laugh right about now."

The goddess smiled. "No problem, Xander. Dr. Urd says that laughter is
always good medicine."

"Just don�t take any love potions �Dr. Urd� might try to pass off on
you," snickered Skuld. "They�re 100% malpractice."

Urd glared at her little sister.

"As entertaining as that was we all really should get to bed now," said
Belldandy. "We�ll need every bit of strength we can get for whatever
tomorrow holds."

"Yeah, that little song and dance cost me the last, and I mean very
last, of my power," agreed Urd. "I�m ready to saw some logs. So who�s
sleeping where?"

"There are only two bedrooms in the whole house," said Xander. "My room
and my folks room. And I guess someone could sleep on the living room
couch if they don�t mind a couple springs jabbing them in the back all
night."

"How about Urd and Skuld taking your parents� room, you stay in your
room and I�ll use the couch," suggested Belldandy. "I�m sure it�s not as
uncomfortable as it sounds."

"No way am I sharing a bed with Urd again!" yelled Skuld. "I remember
how it was last time. She hogs the covers, rolls around all night and
snores like you wouldn�t believe!"

"I don�t snore, you brat!" snapped Urd.

"A chainsaw cutting though a redwood isn�t a loud as you!" retorted
Skuld. "I�d rather share a room with Xander than you!"

"Which makes me feel oh so wanted," said Xander

"Skuld�" began Belldandy.

Skuld blinked for a second before realizing what she�d just said. "Uh,
sorry, Xander. I didn�t mean it like that."

"It�s cool," assured Xander as she waved off the little goddess�
comment. "I�ve got an idea on how we can handle this. Why don�t Urd and
Belldandy take my folks room. Skuld can have my bed. I�ll get my
sleeping bag out of the basement and crash on the floor of my room. Is
that okay with everyone?"

"I don�t know about making you sleep on the floor of your own home�"
said Belldandy.

"Hey, it�s okay. You�re not only guests but goddesses too. So you get
the five star treatment."

"I like someone who knows how to treat a goddess," grinned Urd. "Thanks,
kiddo."

"Well, if Xander is sure it�s all right�I suppose we should all be
getting to bed then," said Belldandy.

After a few brief �goodnights� the four headed off to sleep.


Skyrocket
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