Chapter Three

We didn't move until almost noon, luckily i didn't have any classes that day so it wasn't like I had anything else to do. I snuggled up closer to Xander and his arms tightened around me.

"A guy could get used to this." He whispered.

"Waking up along side a hottie?"

"I was going to say sleeping in a very comfy bed-"

I playfully punched him in the gut and we giggled. Then he stopped and brushed a loose piece of hair behind my ear.

"But I could get used to waking up beside you too!" He glanced at the clock behind me. "Don't you have classes you should be getting to?"

"Not today. i have the whole day to do nothing, wanna do it with me?"

His eyebrow raised slightly and I knew what he was thinking, but I made sure not to let on or say anything.

He laid on his back, "A whole day spent with you… hmmm. I think I could manage that."

I rested my head on his chest and relaxed into him as his arm wrapped around me. "What should we do?"

I propped up on one elbow and looked at him with a smirk, "I'm sure we could think of something." And with that I pressed my lips to his.

My fast movement startled him briefly and then he returned my kiss. He kissed like he was still new to it and I used my lips and tongue to direct him silently. I moved and straddled him which he clearly wasn't expecting, but fully enjoyed. He pushed himself upright and I moved my hands to his shirt and lifted it over his head.

I ran my hands over his bare chest and felt his body stifen and respond to my touch. His fingers slid under the bottom of my shirt… and a knock at my door startled me.

Xander sighed, "Can we ignore it?"

I smiled as I climbed down and headed toward the door. I was surprised when I saw Riley standing there.

"Hey, I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't wake me, what's up?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to get a bite to eat with me?"

Xander rustled behind me, probably fetching his shirt. Riley glanced around me and nodded.

"I see, sorry to interrupt you. I should go."

"Riley, I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

Riley smiled at me, "It's ok. I really just wanted to have an educational talk with someone, nothing more. Perhaps another time, you can even bring your boyfriend. Maybe Willow would enjoy it also."

Riley looked a bit disappointed, but did his best to look natural.

"Ok, another time than. Bye." I said as I waved to him quickly and closed the door.

"You didn't correct him when he called me your boyfriend." Xander said buttoning his jeans.

"Should I have."I shurgged, "He's the TA for my psych class and just wanted to plan a study group of sorts… I guess."

Xander sighed and sat down. "I've never done anything like this. The only other relationship I had I ruined myself. I don't know what I'm doing. I really like you… like really really like you, but feel free to chase that other guy down I won't hold it against you."

I snickered and walked over to him and sat on his lap. "I'm not going anywhere." I ran my fingers through his dark, thick hair. "I really like you too, Xander. I'd like to give this a try, boyfriend."

He beamed at me, "Don't you think this feels a bit like high school?"

"I didn't go to a normal high school myself… besides, how long ago was it that you were in high school?"

"Touche!" He nuzzled my neck and placed a gentle kiss there.

"How about some lunch? My treat!"

"I could use some food." Xander said with a smile.

i climbed off his lap and went to my dresser and pulled out some clothes. "Turn around so that I can get dressed."

He blushed and did as I asked. Turning my back I quickly got dressed certain that he was sneaking a peek at my bare back. I quickly got dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and a light sweater with my sneakers. By the time I was tying my shoes Xander was facing me with his hands in his pockets.

"Ready girlfriend?"

"Ready." I grabbed my keys and put them in my pocket and then grabbed some cash out of a lock box I had recently purchased.

I locked my door behind us and then laced my fingers through his as we walked down the hall.

A part of me wondered if Riley really was interested in me, or if he was in fact just creating a study group of sorts. I was very cute… alright, he was downright hot! I imagined that he knew what he was doing when he kissed a girl… and then some.

I quickly shook the thought from my head. I liked Xander, a lot. He was handsome, sweet, and most importantly made me laugh constantly. With all the sadness and loneliness in my life is was nice to have some constant laughter for a change.

"Where do you wanna go?" Xander asked.

I shrugged, "I'm still pretty new around here, so I don't know much. You pick."

"Okay. It's a nice day so we can walk, if that's cool with you."

"What? you don't want to ride on the back of my bike?" I teased him.

"Not really." He shook his head with a smile.

"You could drive it, if you wanted to." I had never let anyone other than Angel drive my bike, but I was willing to give Xander a chance.

"Thanks for that offer, but I think for now I'll pass."

We made our way outside and he led me into town. It wasn't far and we ended up in a sandwich shop. We ordered and took our food to a little table outside under the sun.

"So, Dee, tell me more about your time with Angel. Strange and self-loathing type he is…"

"That's true, but77777

he kind of has a reason to be self-loathing. Do you even know anything about his past?" I asked a bit too defensively.

"Not too much, honestly."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just a touchy subject. No one is going to nor willing to forgive Angelus' actions, and neither will Angel. But think of how much harder that is for him. Angelus is a part of him, all those actions and terrible things that Angelus did… Angel has to bear the burden for all of it; He carries it with him everyday, and he does his best to atone for all of it."

"I know, I'm sorry."

"No, don't be. You only asked about my time with Angel and I snapped at you. I'm sorry."

"So, how did you meet Angel?"

"I had just returned from London where I officially finished my training with the watcher's council there. They had offically also determined I wasn't a 'potential' and sent me on my way with some cash and my things and a plane ticket back to the states. I was stalking the alley ways in LA at night, literally looking for a fight. I happened to come across a vamp trying to feed on a poor young woman

"I fought him, but he had friends lurking in the shadows and I was quickly out numbered. Angel came to my rescue and when one of the vamps got a good hit in he accidentally changed… you know.. went all vampy. I was really confused but tried to fight him. He pinned me and assured me that he wouldn't hurt me."

I paused and took a sip of my water, "He brought me back to where he was staying after I told him I had no where to go. We talked and he told me just about everything."

"You didn't think that he would just go vamp and kill you once he had you back at his place?"

"There was something in his eyes that made me trust him. And I'm glad I did. We became fast friends."

Xander nodded as he swallowed his bite of food. "Did you two ever… you know?"

I snickered, "Did we ever have sex?"

He blushed and nodded, "You don't have to answer that if you don't want to."

"The answer is no. Our relationship is strictly a friendship. Nothing more."

He looked relieved, I could even see his shoulder slump down a bit with the relief. "Good to know."

"Would it have really mattered if I did?" I asked curiously.

Xander shurgged, "I guess not to me, but Buffy might have issues with that."

I nodded, "I can understand that. I know that Angel and Buffy still really love eachother. I have no intentions of that sort with Angel."

"Good to know." Xander said just before finishing off his sandwich. "Thanks by the way for lunch."

"No, thank you. This sandwich is delicious! Now I know where to go to get a good sandwich." I smiled at him as I took another bite.

Xander and I had ended up walking around and talking and then eventually we went our separate ways. I returned to my room to finish a paper I had due the next day.

I found it difficult to work on my paper and ended up staring at the clock most of the time. At some point I fell asleep. When I awoke it was in the middle of the night, so I got up and changed into pjs and went back to bed.

My paper was technically done, so I just left it alone. Deciding that with out a final edit the teacher would just have to be happy with what I turned in. I knew it would be fine, but academically I tried to be perfect.

I woke up fully refreshed and grabbed my things to take a shower. Less than forty minutes later I was knocking on Buffy's door. I was surprised when Willow answered.

"Ummm, hi."

"Hey!" Willow said ushering me inside.

I looked around the room and was confused, "Why is your stuff in here Willow?"

"Oh, yeah, so Buffy's roommate was actually a demon and her dad… I guess… came and got her. So, now Buffy and I are roommates! Isn't that awesome!"

"I'm gonna pretend that all of that made sense and just congratulate you on being together!"

Buffy shrugged, "You get used to it."

"What?"

"The stuff not making sense."

"Oh," I replied.

Willow smirked at me. "I saw you with Xander! Are you two, like, together now?"

I felt my cheeks burn slightly, "Yes."

Willow squealed, "That's so cute! You two are cute together."

"Thanks."

"And you're so much nicer than Cordelia!" Willow added.

Right, I had forgotten that Angel had told me Cordelia and Xander had once been together. Although, he didn't tell me what happened to them.

Willow was gathering her books and getting ready to leave, but Buffy was sitting on her bed, clearly not going anywhere soon.

"Do you have any classes before psych with us?" Willow asked.

I shook my head, "No, my lit class was delayed today."

Willow shrugged, "Okay, I guess I'll see you both later."

I nodded, "Alright, have fun."

Willow left and Buffy eyed me like she had things to say to me.

"I didn't get a chance to talk to you after the whole phone call thing." Buffy said sitting up straighter.

I stiffened, still not clear on what Angel had actually told her. "I guess not."

"I'm not mad, if that's what you think."

I nodded and sat down across from her on Willow's bed. "I never meant to decieve you… any of you. Angel just didn't want me to tell you."

"I get that. But what I don't get is you."

"I'm sorry?" I asked, confused.

"Who are you really?" She paused and moved to the edge of her bed, planting her feet on the floor across from me.

Aside from Angel and Xander I had never told anyone else my whole story. "What did Angel tell you?"

"Not much. He said I could trust you and that you could help me. He didn't exactly go into any details."

I fidgeted, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry, I'm not trying to sound all bossy or anything. I do trust you based on Angel's word, but I'd much rather trust you… for you. Does that even make any sense?" She shook her head.

"You get used to things not making sense, right?" I replied quoting her.

She snickered and nodded, "Right."

"So, you wanna know my story?"

"Yes, if you don't mind."

I took a deep breath, "Okay. Ummm...well, when I was fourteen I witnessed my mother's murder, she was killed by a vampire. At that time I thought I was loosing my mind. I couldn't… wouldn't believe that vampires existed."

"I'm so sorry." Buffy said with sadness and concern.

I nodded, "I ran away. All I really left behind was my step dad and he clearly didn't come looking for me. I started researching vampires and apparently that led the Watcher's council to me. They took me in and trained me. They had me study as well. I soaked everything and pushed myself."

"Why did the Watcher's take you in?"

"They thought that I was a potential."

"A potential?"

It was at that moment that I knew her Watcher, Giles, had failed to fully train her.

"There are potentials all across the world, they essentially wait until the current Slayer dies and then one of them receives the Slayer powers. While they usually house hundreds across the world, there are still thousands of potentials that are unknown. They mistook me for one of those potentials."

"How do they know you aren't one?"

I shrugged, "I really don't know. Hell, for all I know I am one, but that doesn't matter. After I was in London and they made the arrangements for me to return to the states with some money and my things I went straight to LA."

"Where you met Angel?"

"Yes."

"Did you and he... " She looked down at her hands in her lap.

"No. We are just friends, nothing ever happened between us."

She sighed with relief, "Not that it really matters, we aren't together."

"You both still care about each other and that's what matters." I paused, "is there anything else you want to know?"

She shook her head, "No, just tell him to move on."

"What?"

"We aren't together anymore, tell him to move on. We both need to. If that means he wants to move on with you… Than that's fine. I'll be happy for the both of you."

"Buffy, I'm with Xander."

"I know, I'm just saying. He thinks very highly of you, chances are he does have stronger feelings for you."

"I appreciate your blessings, but I promise you they aren't needed… and won't be needed… ever!"

She sighed, "Good, because honestly it would be really hard to look at you knowing you were with him."

"Good to know!" I stood up. "Now how about some food?"

"Yes! Let's go."

Together Buffy and I headed to the cafeteria… of sorts, and got us some food. We ate and talked about Oz's show that night with his band Dingoes Ate my Baby. She invited me to come along with the others and by the time we were headed to psych class I felt that we were actually friends.

Oz and his band were actually pretty good. Xander and I danced a few dances and wound up in a corner on a couch making out.

"We should really take this back to my room," I said pulling away for some air.

He smirked, "Really?"

i nodded, "and we shouldn't get interrupted this time either."

"Then let's go!" He said, standing up and helping me to my feet. "Never thought I'd say this: but I really wish you had your bike this time."

"Really? Why?"

"We'd get to your room a lot faster!"

I laughed as we made our way outside after saying good night to the others. Xander and I quickly made our way to my dorm room.

"So, Oz has a gig in LA, you going to join him?" Xander asked.

i was surprised by his question, "Why would I go with him? I'm not in the band."

Xander shurgged, "Thought you might wanna see Angel."

I snickered, "I do miss Angel, I mean he is the first friend I've made since…" I paused and took a deep breath. "No, Xander I'm not going with. I intend to stay here with you."

Just as we reached my dorm's building my phone went off.

"Angel?" I answered quickly, thinking he had terrible timing.

"No, it's Buffy. Meet me at my room please, we have an issue."

"Ok, I'm on my way."

I hung up and looked at Xander. "Buffy needs me."

Xander nodded solemnly, "Okay."

I started to head toward the other building. "Are you coming?"

Xander shook his head, "No, not this time. Think I'm gonna go home and take a very cold shower."

I giggled, "Okay," I reached for him and kissed him lightly. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

He nodded and turned and walked away.

I felt bad for him but Buffy needed me and if she needed me than it was probably vampire related. I knew she didn't ask for help lightly, so I made my way quickly to her room.

I walked into the room after a quick knock. "What's up?" I saw Oz dabbing at Willow's neck. "Oh my God, Willow! What happened?" I asked moving toward her to see how bad it was.

"Harmony." Buffy said matter-of-factly.

"And Harmony is…?"

"Someone we used to go to school with."

"And what? She contract rabies and bite Willow?"

"Sort of," Oz replied. "She's a vampire now."

"And she has a boyfriend who won't be happy with us." Willow added.

"Ok, well, in case you all forgot, Buffy is the Vampire Slayer, so vampires aren't exactly anything new. So, what's the problem?"

"We don't know who her boyfriend is and that makes us all a bit nervous." Buffy added.

"Ok, so we patrol the area tonight, see if we find anything."

Buffy nodded and together we left Willow and Oz in the dorm room and headed outside.

"You're better at this than me." Buffy said quietly.

"What do you mean?" I asked keeping my voice low and looking around. My hand gripped the stake hidden up my sleeve.

"You're better trained to handle this than I am."

"But you're the slayer, you were born for this."

"I guess, but you've had more training."

"What about Giles?" I asked.

"Let's just say that I was more concerned with being a normal teenager than being a slayer."

"I won't say I understand that, becuase honestly I don't. You were given a great gift to help people… to help the world. You're so far from normal. It would be better if you would just accept that and deal with it. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh."

She nodded, "Harsh, yeah. But I know you're right."

"If you need help in anything just ask."

"I'll keep that in mind, thanks."

After two hours of patroling we only came across a stray vampire, recently turned, and he had no information on Harmony and her mysterious boyfriend. We finally decided to call it quits.