The Archer

Time-Set: Season Three; Before 'Amends.'

Disclaimer: Don't own, just borrowing.

Xander sat in his room, fingering something in his book bag. It had been nearly two weeks since the 'Fluke' had occurred, but everyone's anger was still going strong. Willow hated him, Cordelia hated him, Oz hated him, Buffy just plain ignored him, Giles echoed Buffy, and Xander didn't even bother thinking of Faith.

He was considering doing something that he hadn't done in two years, something he swore that he'd never do after what happened. He didn't want attention, he didn't want love. What he wanted was to be around someone. He hadn't truly been around someone ever since Oz and Cordelia caught him and Willow kissing.

Xander sighed as he gave into temptation. He picked up the phone and dialed in the number. He asked if the person he was looking for was there, and when the person on the other end said yes, Xander thanked him and hung up. He gathered up his supplies and walked out the door.

Xander looked down on the field in contempt. He had never expected to be back at this field in his life, particularly after he found out about the demon world. He got out his equipment and slung the bag over his shoulder, fingered the string a little, then walked out to it. But first, he checked the score board.

When Xander had quit, he was in second place. Now, nearly three years later, he was still in second place. He knew then, and he knew now, that his teacher would never allow herself to be beaten by the likes of him. Xander sighed, and walked out onto the field.

The second he took a step outside and the door slammed shut behind him, every eye turned to him. Immediately, everything began to stop. No one fired, no one reloaded, and no one could take their eyes off him. He sighed and silently walked over to his old teacher, ignoring all the eyes that followed him and all the whispering about him…and what happened.

As he walked forward, a clapping began in the back. He turned and saw that two of the archers had started clapping for him. Slowly, everyone there broke out into applause. Xander blushed and continued forward. As he reached her, she began to clap as well.

"My son has returned," she said.

"Hi, Dominique," said Xander.

"Hi, Alexander," answered the Archery Master, "It's been a while."

"More like an eternity from my point of view," said Xander.

"Well, you joined the good fight, so that makes sense."

"How did you know that?"

"Please. You can't expect to not get heard of when you fight alongside the Slayer. So, what are you doing here? I thought you said you'd never come back after that day."

"I did. Now, I'm not so sure."

"You going through a rough patch, aren't you?"

Xander didn't reply, but instead took a good look at his former teacher. She was a thirty-nine year old with green hair, a nose ring, and her entire left arm was encased in armor. She wore a chain mail shirt with a simple white shirt underneath. She had on tight white leather pants and black armor around her shins and feet. She hadn't changed much.

"Yeah," answered Xander.

"Well, Xander," she said, "I told you that day that I'll be here for you till one of us die. Code of the teacher."

"You were a good teacher, Dom."

"You were my best student. Have you done any more shooting?"

"No-well, I have used a crossbow."

"You never were any good with that. So, here to relearn?"

"Kill some time, more like. My friends are…preoccupied right now, so…"

"I get it. You just want to be with somebody. That's why you came here the first time."

"So, you up for a lesson?"

"…Sure, why not?"

Xander smiled as he and Dom loaded up their bows and took aim down the field.

"On three," said Dom, "One…two…THREE!"

Xander let his arrow fly from his bow and, to his complete surprise, landed just a few inches away from the center. Dom's arrow landed dead center.

"Better than the last time you were here," she commented.

"Yeah, but you're still better."

"Not by much. You sure you haven't been practicing?"

"Positive."

"Well, let's try this: we'll fire on three, but fire three shots in repeat succession. Deal?"

"Deal."

Xander loaded up another arrow and waited. On three, he let it fly, grabbed another one, let that one fly, then grabbed another one, and let that one fly. When he looked at the target, he found that each arrow had landed only a few inches apart. But, they all head to the target, until the third hit dead center.

"Nice, Xander. Very nice. Now, why don't you take out the four and aim dead center. I honestly think you've gotten better than the last time I saw you."

Xander smiled politely and took the arrow out.

By the time Dom was done with Xander, it was nearly nightfall. Xander took the last arrow out of the target and loaded it back into his quiver. Dom sat on the bench waiting for him and he sat down next to her.

"So," she began, "Why are you here?"

"Well, you remember I told you about Willow?"

"Yeah."

"Well…"

Twenty minutes later:

"…and now, Cordy hates me, Oz hates me, Willow is scared to be seen with me, Buffy completely ignores me, along with Giles and Faith."

"Sounds like you've been through Hell, along with your friends. I don't know, Xander. This Buffy seems a little bit self-absorbed. Speaking as a neutral party, and you know that I don't spare feelings, I honestly think that you brought a lot of this on yourself. You verbally assault Buffy, cheat on Cordelia with Willow, and get alienated by your friends because you can't fight. However, speaking neutrally, I also have to point out that you have done quite a few note-worthy things that deserve respect; respect that, to be perfectly honest, you will never receive."

Xander frowned slightly, but he knew that she was right. Dom was not only a master archer, but she also had several degrees in psychology and human relations. It felt better to talk about it.

"Dom, I know that things haven't been great in Sunnydale, especially now. I know that you have plans to leave sometime, but…I want you to know that, when I was growing up, my mother basically treated me like my dad treated me. You, Dom…you were my mother. For years, you were the one who raised me. You taught me ethics, you taught me honor. Your Code of the Archer. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be who I am."

There were a few tears in her eyes.

"Xander," she said, "I never married, never had a boyfriend, I've never had a child. I never thought that I'd ever get to have one. But, on the day that we met, all those years ago, I just knew that you were mine. You became my son that day, and nothing can ever take that away."

The two hugged each other, both letting their tears come to the fore. Xander had known this woman for years, almost as long as he had known Willow. It was so powerful, seeing her again. It brought back so many memories. As the two let go of each other, Xander could tell that she wanted to say something else.

"Xander, when you said that I have plans to leave, you have no idea how right you were."

"What do you mean," asked Xander. He wasn't liking where this was going.

"Well…I was here tonight practicing for what I'm about to experience. Xander, I'm going to Asia tomorrow. I've been given an opportunity to participate in a very difficult course. An Archery Master in Mongolia has created a brand new kind of meditation technique, along with a very difficult training area. I'll be there for two years, at the very least."

Xander smiled at her.

"Wow, Dom! I'm so happy for you."

He hugged her again, then looked in her eyes.

"I know that I might not ever see you again, but I want you to know that I feel good for you. I love you, with all my heart, and I wish you the best on your journey."

"Thanks, Xander. Speaking of which, I need to get home. If I don't, I might not ever get all my stuff together."

"What are you bringing?"

"Well…nothing. I'm actually just planning on wearing my armor to the airport. I'll be given new clothes when I get there."

"What about airport security?"

"I'll explain what I'm doing, and they'll let me pass…I hope."

"And your stuff?"

"That's what I was going to take care of tonight. I'm selling it on Ebay. I figure it will all be sold by the time I arrive, considering that I'm taking my laptop tomorrow. I'll sell it while I'm in China."

"Why are you selling it all? I mean, your house is all paid for, you don't have electricity. Do you really have any taxes to pay?"

"I still pay taxes on my house, but aside from that, I don't really know. I don't own the land, I share it with a hermit billionaire who enjoys my lifestyle. All he wants in return for my living there is to keep him safe if someone comes for him and his money, poor guy. He's a miser, and he won't let me help him."

"But…why sell it?"

"I can't own anything when I get there. It's part of the test."

"Well…I'll miss you, Dominique."

"Me also, Alexander."

They hugged again and gathered anything they left, then walked out of the field together. Once they were outside, Dom stopped and turned to him. She took off her quiver holder and bow and placed them on the ground.

"Xander," she said, "I want you to take these."

"What," he asked, shocked, "Why?"

"When I get there, I can't own anything. It's part of the process. Aside from that, it's tradition. Once a teacher passes on or, in this case, leaves and may never be seen again, it is tradition for that teacher to pass on their longbow and quiver. May they help you in the time to come."

She looked as though she was about to leave, but then turned back to him.

"Also," she said as she took off her necklace, "I want you to have this."

She handed him the necklace. On it were two crystals and a key. Xander didn't know what they were for.

"The two stones are magic stones," she said.

"But, you hate magic."

"Yes, that's true. When I turned to God, I renounced magic in all its forms. But, when my mother died, she passed on these crystals to me. I couldn't, and wouldn't, dare to send them away. The one of the left creates fire, and the one of the right creates ice-fire, kind of like cold fire."

"Wow. That'd be handy against a vampire."

"Yes, I thought of that."

"But…no. The key…"

"Yes, Xander. You're eighteen, legally an adult. You can get out of that Hell your parents put you through and make a new life for yourself. Xander, if you don't take it, then I'll be forced to sell it on Ebay…and I don't want to give it to some jerk who'd turn it into some harem!"

"…Alright, Dom. But when you get back, if you get back, you come right there. You hear?"

"Yes, Sir. I assure you."

The two hugged once more, then Xander watched as his mother walked away to her home. Wait…

"How will you get into your house," shouted Xander.