TITLE: It Could Happen This Way
AUTHOR: Rick
E-MAIL: amulet@my-dejanews.com
SUMMARY: Somewhere, somehow it has to happen. Wouldn't it be nice if it happened like this, a series of moments between out two heroes.
DISCLAIMER: All Buffy characters belong to Joss Whedon and others.
IT COULD HAPPEN THIS WAY
It was very dark. Buffy was idly sitting on a tombstone, starring at the night. She understood nothing about her life anymore. It just didn't make any sense. The only person she talked to anymore was Spike. He wanted her to join the dark side with him. It was appealing, sometimes, but only for a short break. She's been there and done that during her so called bad days.
At the other side of the cemetery a single figure wondered through the markers and freshly dug graves. It was Xander. Even though Buffy was back he still made at least one visit a night to this cemetery. He figured out that this place provided twice as many vamps as any of the other graveyards. So he looked around for new vamps. Get them as they come out. Throw their ashes to the wind before they claim any booty. He was brave but not stupid. He never took on more than he could handle.
After dusting a newborne Xander noticed someone was starring at him. It was Buffy. She was both startled and puzzled by his presence. She addresses him.
"Xander, did you just dust a vamp?"
The boy answers a little self consciously.
"Yea, but it was just a newbee."
For the first time it dawned on Buffy that while she was dead Xander probably tried to take up the slack for her. She knows the others did too but her bet was that Xander took it very serious..
"Xander, can I ask you a question?"
Xander, trying to lighten things up a little, goes beside the slayer and puts his hand on her shoulder.
"Yes my child, and what deep insight and advice can I give to you on this wonderful evening?"
Buffy can't help but let off with a little laugh.
"While I was.you know.gone. Did you patrol in my place?"
"Yea, Buff, we all did."
"But you did it even more than the whole group did, didn't you?"
"Yea, I did but, I was very careful."
"Can I ask you why, Xander?"
"You mean why did I patrol?"
The Slayer nods but is not ready for his answer.
"You want the truth, Buffy?"
"Nothing but."
Xander gets very nervous as he responds. He thought of just saying something flip but decides to try to give her a very honest answer.
"Well, Buff.you.you know, you saved the world again and all. But, you also saved Dawn. When you did that I thought about two things. I wanted to make sure that nobody could say that you abandoned the world just to save your own sister .So I decided to do my best to make sure the evil was still under check. And then.Dawn needs to know that she shouldn't lose hope just because you were gone. That the rest of us can help keep her safe too."
Buffy is dumbfounded. She always knew Xander was there for her but she never quite realized how deep this whole thing was in him. How much of himself he gave.for her.
The Slayer can't help it. The tears started flowing down her cheeks.
"Oh, Xander."
Xander embraces her. The slayer allows herself to break down in her arms. He can feel her sobbing into his chest. It occurs to him that something is wrong with Buffy.
She stays that way for a good twenty minutes. Finally Xander decides he should walk her home.. He breaks their hug and takes her by the hand. They walk in silence to Xander's apartment. Buffy doesn't protest. He leads her into his bedroom and hands her a towel and some sweats. The slayer takes the clothes and heads to the bathroom off the master bedroom.
Buffy allows the water to wash the stress from her body. She was still unsure of herself but for a moment the underlying fear left her. For some reason she didn't feel so lost right now.
After she dries herslf she puts on the sweats. When she comes out Xander is turning down his bed. He has Buffy climb in and then he hands her a cup of warm milk. Buffy looks at Xander, not sure about what comes next. Xander speaks up.
"Buffy, this milk will make you feel better. Then you can get some sleep. I know something is bothering you very deeply.
AUTHOR: Rick
E-MAIL: amulet@my-dejanews.com
SUMMARY: Somewhere, somehow it has to happen. Wouldn't it be nice if it happened like this, a series of moments between out two heroes.
DISCLAIMER: All Buffy characters belong to Joss Whedon and others.
IT COULD HAPPEN THIS WAY
It was very dark. Buffy was idly sitting on a tombstone, starring at the night. She understood nothing about her life anymore. It just didn't make any sense. The only person she talked to anymore was Spike. He wanted her to join the dark side with him. It was appealing, sometimes, but only for a short break. She's been there and done that during her so called bad days.
At the other side of the cemetery a single figure wondered through the markers and freshly dug graves. It was Xander. Even though Buffy was back he still made at least one visit a night to this cemetery. He figured out that this place provided twice as many vamps as any of the other graveyards. So he looked around for new vamps. Get them as they come out. Throw their ashes to the wind before they claim any booty. He was brave but not stupid. He never took on more than he could handle.
After dusting a newborne Xander noticed someone was starring at him. It was Buffy. She was both startled and puzzled by his presence. She addresses him.
"Xander, did you just dust a vamp?"
The boy answers a little self consciously.
"Yea, but it was just a newbee."
For the first time it dawned on Buffy that while she was dead Xander probably tried to take up the slack for her. She knows the others did too but her bet was that Xander took it very serious..
"Xander, can I ask you a question?"
Xander, trying to lighten things up a little, goes beside the slayer and puts his hand on her shoulder.
"Yes my child, and what deep insight and advice can I give to you on this wonderful evening?"
Buffy can't help but let off with a little laugh.
"While I was.you know.gone. Did you patrol in my place?"
"Yea, Buff, we all did."
"But you did it even more than the whole group did, didn't you?"
"Yea, I did but, I was very careful."
"Can I ask you why, Xander?"
"You mean why did I patrol?"
The Slayer nods but is not ready for his answer.
"You want the truth, Buffy?"
"Nothing but."
Xander gets very nervous as he responds. He thought of just saying something flip but decides to try to give her a very honest answer.
"Well, Buff.you.you know, you saved the world again and all. But, you also saved Dawn. When you did that I thought about two things. I wanted to make sure that nobody could say that you abandoned the world just to save your own sister .So I decided to do my best to make sure the evil was still under check. And then.Dawn needs to know that she shouldn't lose hope just because you were gone. That the rest of us can help keep her safe too."
Buffy is dumbfounded. She always knew Xander was there for her but she never quite realized how deep this whole thing was in him. How much of himself he gave.for her.
The Slayer can't help it. The tears started flowing down her cheeks.
"Oh, Xander."
Xander embraces her. The slayer allows herself to break down in her arms. He can feel her sobbing into his chest. It occurs to him that something is wrong with Buffy.
She stays that way for a good twenty minutes. Finally Xander decides he should walk her home.. He breaks their hug and takes her by the hand. They walk in silence to Xander's apartment. Buffy doesn't protest. He leads her into his bedroom and hands her a towel and some sweats. The slayer takes the clothes and heads to the bathroom off the master bedroom.
Buffy allows the water to wash the stress from her body. She was still unsure of herself but for a moment the underlying fear left her. For some reason she didn't feel so lost right now.
After she dries herslf she puts on the sweats. When she comes out Xander is turning down his bed. He has Buffy climb in and then he hands her a cup of warm milk. Buffy looks at Xander, not sure about what comes next. Xander speaks up.
"Buffy, this milk will make you feel better. Then you can get some sleep. I know something is bothering you very deeply.