A/N: This is probably a bit cheesy. But I rewatched "Same Time, Same Place," and I just couldn't bear the thought of Willow never seeing that sign Xander worked so hard on to welcome her at the airport.

SLIGHT SPOILERS FOR SEASON SIX+. Takes place shortly after "Same Time, Same Place." Buffy and all related characters are copyright Joss Whedon, etc.

This is my first time writing these characters, so… I hope they're adequate.

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"He made you a sign, you know."

"He—what? He who?"

She moved all the way into the room, settling herself on the end of the bed. Red hair spread across a stack of pillows like blood coursing through veins—an image she couldn't yet stop associating with the witch.

"Xander. He made you a sign. With yellow crayon." She paused with a half-exasperated smile. "He was so proud of himself. You should have heard him going on about it. He saved the world with yellow crayon and his very own mouth."

"Oh." Willow dropped her eyes to the gashes in her stomach, still bandaged, still healing. Her punishment, for locking herself away. Buffy waited.

Then, hopefully, curiously: "What kind of sign?"

"Ask him," she suggested, standing up again. She could never be still these days, not with so much else she couldn't do weighing on her shoulders. "I'll bet he kept it."

"Can you—can you ask him for me?"

"Sorry, Will. I already know what kind of sign it is."

"No, I mean—" She gestured helplessly at her midsection. "I don't think I can get up right at the moment."

"Oh. Yeah. Be right back. Or—he will. Or something. I think he came in." Swiveling on one booted heel, she headed for the door, calling, "Xander?"

The witch in the bed occupied her imagination with possible signs. A bright yellow sun. A luminous I love you, Willow. Somehow, black veins kept blotting out the light.

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"Hey, Will. Got something to show you." He edged into the room with a self-conscious grin. The flimsy sign hid inadequately behind his back, adornment deliberately facing away from her. "Sorry it took so long. I had to go home and get it."

"Jeez, Xander. All that suspense, I nearly went veiny again just to find out what it said."

"Hey. Don't even joke about that. I like my limbs where they are."

"Sorry." She paused, then asked, "Can I see it?"

"No, I brought it all this way to tape it facing your wall. Oh, darn, I forgot the tape. Guess I'll have to show you after all." With a flourish that was foiled when he caught the edge of the paper in a hanging fold of his pants, he flipped the sign out and presented its message to Willow.

"I can't see it."

"What? Uh-oh. Did you suddenly go blind? Is there a demon? Or is this another of your wishy-spell thingies? Quick, do something before I vanish, too!"

"No, Xander, I—just can't see it." She smiled, and would have attempted a laugh but it hurt her stomach too much. "Its brilliance is blinding me."

"Oh, I see."

"Well I don't. Come here please."

He obligingly stepped closer as she craned her head to read the words without sitting up entirely.

The message was simple; and surprisingly, it didn't blur to black or crimson before her eyes. It said simply, WELCOME BACK WILLOW.

Then it blurred sunlit and transparent with tears touching her lashes. She blinked them away and beamed up into Xander's anxious face.

"Do you get it? I hoped you would get it. But I wasn't sure if you would get it."

"Xander, I get it." She let out a laugh that was half choked with crying. "I think you're going to need your tape after all."

"Why? You want the wordy-bit facing your wall? I knew it."

"Wordy-bit facing out, please."