Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Buffy. Not me.

Author's note: For BananaBuffy, who made Calediles official.

Benefits

It was never pleasant, being shot in in the back with a crossbow, but it did have its benefits. Like having her arms wrapped around him as he hobbled back to her car, being closer to her than he had in weeks.

She had apologized over and over at the hospital, gripping his hand and looking distressed. He had valiantly joked about it, and hearing her surprised but relieved laughter had been another reward.

But by far the best gift was when they had kissed again, letting the bitterness and the guilt from the past weeks fall away.

He decided he should get shot more often.