3.
As Xander and Buffy walk along they end up looking in each others eyes every chance they get. At the tree outside Buffy's house, Xander pushes Buffy against the tree outside her house and kisses her deeply. Buffy melts into the kiss and wraps her legs around his waist and her arms around her neck.
Joyce walks outside as she sees Buffy and Xander approach the house. She is happy to see her holding hands with Xander. That's good, she's moved on from Angel. He was so creepy, I never liked him. He was too old for her. What Joyce sees next sort of surprises her as Buffy and Xander kiss next to the tree. She is happy for her daughter, but has to show some motherly concern.
Xander is shocked out of the kiss by a voice clearing cough. He turns in shock to see a good-naturedly stern Joyce Summers looking at them. "Hello you two love-birds, mind coming into the house before you give the neighborhood a show?" Buffy blushes as she releases Xander and holds his hand with a look of love that warms Joyce's heart. It does look like love, Joyce thinks, I'm so glad she's found someone her own age. Joyce escorts the two of them into the house.
"So, Xander, when did this start between you and my daughter." Joyce begins to interrogate Xander as they sit in the kitchen, Buffy sitting on Xander's lap, playing with his hair. "Well, Mrs. Summers, she's had a bad break-up as you know, and Cordelia and I recently broke up." Xander starts to explain, modifying the tale to keep any mention of a love spell out of his explanation. "We were alone in the library, and we were comforting each other and as we were crying on each others shoulders, she told me she loved me. We started kissing, and here we are." Xander is watching Buffy's mom carefully to see if she believes him. "Buffy wanted to have a stay in night watching movies for Valentine's Day and I accepted." Joyce takes this with a grain of salt until she looks at her daughter and sees the light of utter love on her face and she melts. Look at her, she loves him so. How can I tear them apart when I've never seen Buffy this happy in years? I'll need to keep an eye on this just in case. Joyce smiles, "OK, Xander, welcome to our house, but I warn you right now…" Joyce drops her voice dangerously, "hurt my daughter, and you won't have to wait for her to kill you. Got that young man?" "Mrs. Summers, if I hurt your daughter," Xander replies with all honesty, "you won't have to kill me, I'll do it myself." Joyce smiles broadly. "Good, now that that's settled, who wants pizza?" Buffy drops her tense posture and giggles, "Mom, do you always have to scare my boyfriends like that." "Mother's prerogative sweetheart, now hush, he's got my seal of approval." Joyce teases Buffy, "In fact I'd rather you were with Xander anyhow. Now where's that Domino's menu?"
After Buffy and Xander finish a meal of an extra-large meatza feast pizza, Joyce prepares to leave. "Where are you going mom?" Joyce smiles to herself, "You're not the only one who has plans tonight. My assistant at the gallery wanted to take me out tonight, and I accepted. Be good you two, and don't do anything I wouldn't do." Buffy was thinking of being smart-aleck by asking what her mom wouldn't do, but thought better of it. Joyce kisses both her daughter and hugs Xander before she leaves for her date.
Unnoticed by Joyce, Angelus is waiting in the shadows and sees Buffy holding onto Xander like a life-preserver. What the hell?She's supposed to be a quivering mass of fear after I sent her those dead flowers not hanging off that useless gnat Xander. I think its time to teach little Miss Summers a lesson.
Buffy tenses as she looks in the shadows and sees her ex-boyfriend lurking by a tree. "Buffy, what is..." Xander starts to say until he sees what Buffy sees. "Oh hell...that figures. I think he needs to be dusted right now." Buffy nods at Xander. "I think I've got a plan how to do that Buffy, you interested?" Buffy smiles as they both enter into the house to make plans.
After dark, Angelus creeps into the Summers house. I've been sitting there in that tree for hours watching the Slayer cuddling with her new boyfriend, and she's finally left. If I kill Harris, she'll really be devastated. Poor, poor Buffy... Angelus creeps up to the couch in the living room in the shadows. "Say goodbye, Xander." Angelus growls as he leans to bite Xander's neck.
"Goodbye, Angelus." Xander says coldly from behind the murderous vampire before the wooden stake pierces his heart and he dusts. Couch-Xander falls to the floor, a dummy. "Asshole, burn in hell." Xander says as he wipes the stake on his shirt.
Buffy come out from behind the door, and looks at Xander. "It's over, then?" Xander nods and smiles before he collapses in the chair. Buffy bounces over to Xander and sits in his lap. "My hero." The blonde-haired girl kisses her beau on the lips deeply as a slight breeze blows what was once Angelus, the Scourge of Europe away.
