*Spoiler Alert*

This takes place after everyone finds out that Dawn is the key in season 5. Willow and Xander are together in this. As much as I ship Willow and Tara, she is non existent in this AU.

*Willow Point of View*

Dawn is the key! How? It feels like we've all known her forever. I mean, we have known her forever. We have so many memories about everything. Christmases and birthdays and Halloweens. I mean, how could it not be true?

It has to be true. I mean, it has to.

All of these thoughts and more were running through my head as I walked down the lonely street.

"It just doesn't make sense." I whispered to myself as I breathed in the cold air. "It doesn't make sense!"

"Talking about Dawn?"

I heard his voice before he reached me

.

"Yeah." I told Xander. "I just don't get it."

"I don't really either. It's just, it's Dawn. Our Dawnnie. How can she not be real?"

"She is real Xander." I said firmly, trying to make sense of it myself.

"Just because she's a key doesn't make her not a person."

"But doesn't it?"

"No Xander!" I almost scream at him. "She is real! Just because she's not quite human doesn't make her any different. I mean, she is still Dawn."

"Yeah, I know. It's just strange." he tells me. I can see how his brow is creased, and it makes sense, as he is definitely doing more thinking then usual.

"So, Wil. The night is still young. Should we go kill some vamps, or party hard at the Bronze, or party hard at the house?"

"Xander, no. I mean, I think I just want to go home and think for a little while."

"Suit yourself." he mutters before he grabs my hand and gives me a quick peck on the lips. Then he turns around and runs away.

"Imma be at the Bronze!" he yells, as he leaves.

I give him a quick smile, and then continue walking in the direction of our apartment. I then slightly quicken my pace as I realise it's night, and I shouldn't linger unless I want to become a vampire's 2am snack.

….

About ten minutes later, I reach the house. It's then I realize how thoroughly exhausted I am from the day's events. I slowly pull open the door, and begin to walk into the living room, when a huge wave of nausea hits me. I veer off my track and bolt to the left as fast as I can. I barely have time to fling open the bathroom door and lift up the toilet seat before all of my dinner comes up.

Great. On top of all of this, I have food poisoning. That is amazing.

"Harjem." I whisper as I wave my hand around my chest. A burst of green light appears and slowly sinks into my skin. That should help.

Then I force myself to get up, wipe off the toilet, and I stagger into the dimly lit bedroom.

I lower myself into the blankets, and let my body be cradled by their warmth.

"Why don't we carry blankets around with us everywhere?" I mutter as I drift off into a deep sleep. "Then we could feel this cozy wherever."

…

I suddenly jerk away and sprint as fast as possible into the bathroom.

"God!" I scream, between hurls. I hate this so much. I've always felt like throwing up was the worst of all the sicknesses. It's such a horrible feeling.

I suddenly then feel my hair being lifted up off my neck.

"You okay Wil?" I hear him say, as his breath tickles my skin.

"Yeah," I gasp, "just a little bug. No biggie. Nothing a few spells can't fix." I get up and flush the toilet, and then proceed to brush my teeth to get this horrible taste out of my mouth.

It's then that I notice Xander's reflection in the mirror. He hasn't stopped staring at me since I got up.

"Xander?" I ask as I spit

"Hmm?" he mutters

"Xander!" I say a bit more forcefully as I turn to face him. "Why are you staring?"

"I'm not." He tells me, looking away.

"Yeah. You are." I place my hands around his face and turn him to look at me. "What's up?"

"I just don't like to see you in pain Wil, you know that." He says, sheepishly.

"I know, but I'm not in pain. I'm fin-." My statement gets disproven just then by me again rushing to the toilet an emptying out the last remains of my stomach. I can feel Xander rubbing circles on my back.

"You know, maybe we should get you to a doctor." he tells me.

"Xander," I say, my head still in the toilet,"It's just a bug. People get sick. I don't need a doctor."

I pick up my head, and flush the toilet. I get up and wash my hands.

"Come on." I tell him, as I grab his wrist. "Let's go eat."

He gives me a grin and follows me out of the bathroom.

"You know, I wouldn't think you'd be hungry after that massive hurling." He tells me.

"You'd be surprised what the lack of food can do to a human body." I tell him.

"And plus, I've never been able to resist food you've made before."

"I never said anything about making breakfast." He tells me, with that giant lopsided smile.

"So your telling me that you couldn't whip up some waffles for your sick girlfriend?" I ask him, giving him the most pouty face I could muster.

"Fine." He tells me, as he walks into the kitchen, grinning all the way.