Disclaimer: I own none of the characters, wish I did, but be careful what
you wish for. Of course that's the whole point of this story.
Previous parts can be found at:
http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=134718
Dedication: Jonathan or White Werewolf to whom I owe a debt so great, it can never be repaid. So I am starting by dedicating this installment to him.
Rating: Pg-13 for now
Learning to be careful (4/?)
The morning after. A term usually reserved for that awkward: oh my God who, or often in my case what, did I sleep with stage the morning after sex. Except, in my situation, the awkward morning after wasn't following wild, animal sex. At least as long as we're talking in terms of things that actually happened and not things that went on in my head. Cause once we move into the realm of things that happened in my head, Buffy and I know each other in a biblical sense, in fact I think we know each other better than anyone in the whole freaking bible. But alas, my morning after is following a close encounter of the clothed and friendship wrecking kind with Buffy.
When I woke up at 5:30, for the fifth time since the "incident" I knew it was time to go. I grabbed my stuff and started towards the door. A good, cold (and I'm talking ice age type cold) shower would do me good. Do you think the damn powers that be could let that happen? OH NO! Because Xander Harris is the powers that be's BUTTMONKEY of fun.
"Xander, where you going?" Dawn called from the stairs. Come on, you couldn't just let me get out the damn door.
"I need a shower, clean clothes at home," I told her, turning to face the stairs. At least I've gotten better at thinking on my feet.
"But, we were going to watch Saturday morning cartoons," she whined, not in a really annoying way but in a neglected little sister way. And it was true, I did promise to get up early with her. When she saw I was wavering she broke out the pouty lips. Not quite at Buffy's level, but getting closer all the time.
"Does your boyfriend ever not cave to that?" I asked and tossed myself back down on the couch, despite the little voice screaming Danger, Danger Xander Harris.
"Usually," Dawn smiled as she settled in next to me. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again, damn Summers women and their lips.
So, we watched Bugs and Daffy beat the living shit out of each other for a while. I never noticed that before, but cartoons are almost more violent than my life. Boy is that saying something. And, okay, see there's a new use for ice cream I would never have thought of.
Joyce crept down the stairs, waving a quick hello before darting into the kitchen to start on breakfast. Well, at least I'd get a nice breakfast out of this mess. Yeah, go ahead and start laughing now, I did. Giles followed a few minutes later and joined Joyce in the kitchen. I think he had the tea on before he was even fully in the room.
Then, as about 50 hunters were shooting Daffy Duck, Buffy glided down the stairs. I looked up at her, more out of habit than anything else, I mean it wasn't like I wanted to see the disgust I was sure would be clear in her eyes. She looked away, wouldn't even meet my eyes. Shame is a place I used to live. The place I'm in now uses shame as a four star resort.
"Morning," she said generically and bolted to join Joyce and Giles in the kitchen. She returned in a microsecond. "Okay, so it's a living room morning," she sighed.
Buffy sat in the chair farthest from the couch and stared at the ground.
"You okay Buffy?" Dawn asked.
"Fine," she said without looking up.
"Hey, look at the time," I said. Yes, that might possibly be the smoothest line, I don't know, ever.
"But Mom's making breakfast," Dawn said. "Stay and eat."
"You know Dawn, if Xander wants to head out, it's fine," Buffy said to the floor. Dagger, heart, twist.
"But Buffy," Dawn started to protest.
"I'll stop by, take you out to lunch," I offered as a middle ground. Anything to get away and avoid this situation.
"Okay," she said a mix of disappointment and excitement in her voice. I pick up on such subtleties now.
I stood up, grabbed my bag of stuff and walked toward the door. I paused for a second next to Buffy's chair, but I couldn't bring myself to say anything to her. The overwhelming fear seemed to be the deciding factor. "I'll be back at noon Dawnie."
"Okay, see you then," she said brightly and waved to me. I forced a smile back and walked out the door. I closed the it and leaned my back on it. You know the phrase the guilt is weighing me down, well I never understood the meaning until now. My guilt was a physical thing now and it was making me sick.
It wasn't just about Buffy either. I mean, guilt about putting her and us in this position and jeopardizing our friendship, sure. Guilt about not being stronger or having more will power to keep the little slayer in check, of course. But, even more so, I felt guilty about Anya. In this dimension she may have left me a month or two ago, but in my reality, she had been my fiancée two days ago. I put the moves, horrible and unrequited moves, on Buffy one day after I found out about Anya leaving. What kind of a man am I? No wonder I can't have a lasting relationship with anyone. Now I don't have Anya and Buffy won't even look at me.
I walked home in a near stupor. I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings it was all a blur. The only I could think about was losing two women I loved in the span of two days. Only Xander Harris could manage that.
I don't really remember getting home, showering, and then falling asleep. Apparently I did since I woke up in my room at 11:45 AM, clean but with bed head. Some break that was, I wander home and can't even remember it.
Now, I get to wander back to the Summers house. Like I said, Power's that be's Buttmonkey of fun. I think they all got together and thought, how much hell could we put Xander Harris through before he snaps? One of these days they're going to hit my threshold. I feel there should be really cheesy horror movie music here, like (insert Dum, dun, dun music). If that ain't foreshadowing, I don't what is.
But lots of stuff happens before I snap so let's talk about that, much more interesting.
Okay, so I roll up to the Summers house coming out of my stupor a little bit. I'm thinking some now and realizing I can just grab Dawn and avoid the awkwardness until my guilt fades a little and I can apologize to Buffy. I knocked on the door. Some famous writer whose name Willow would know said something about the best laid plans of mice and men- or wait I know this give me a minute. Damnit where's Willow when you need her? Well you know what I'm trying to say? Me neither.
Buffy opened the door. That was basically what I was trying to get across in that jumbled mess above. Hey, I'm deep, doesn't mean I'm brilliant, so cut me some slack.
"Hey," she muttered. "Dawn's still in the shower."
"Oh," I muttered back. I stood there looking at the floor, she stood inside, also looking at the floor. It was a real nice moment. Guess you just had to be there. I could tell myself a million times the awkwardness between us would pass, but while I was enduring it, I really wanted to blow my brains out.
"Do you want to come in?" Buffy asked. The words came out like she was speaking with gravel in her mouth. And I should know. Let's just say Uncle Rory, Peppermint Snobs, and an episode of Double Dare when I was eight and leave it at that. Buttmonkey of fun, are we sensing a theme yet?
"Sure," I told her and shuffled in as if I was hauling a fifty-pound boulder on my back. Oh, guilt, how I love thee, a better workout than Taebo.
I nudged her as I passed through the doorway. Guilt or no guilt, I felt something electric in the touch. Damn body, always with the lust. She jumped away from me. Ah yes and let's not forget the shame. Guilt and shame, like PB&J.
I plopped down in a chair and waited for Dawn. Why do teenage girls need so much time to get ready? Can someone please answer that question for me? Please, anybody? I didn't think so.
"Xander," she sighed and sat down on the couch, still not looking at me.
"Buffy," I responded in the same tone. She was going for the talk already? Hurry up Dawn.
"I'm sorry."
Earth stopped rotating. Heart stopped beating. Lungs stopped breathing. Mind stopped functioning. After the thirty seconds it took me to recover I said to her, "You're sorry?"
"I know it's not enough. But, I just got so carried away."
"You got carried away?"
"Damnit Xander, you know this isn't easy for me to admit, can't you just let me get through my apology then be all upset."
"Upset?" I asked. Hearing my voice echo in my ears, I realized I was asking all my questions in a really strange voice. I hear shock can do that to people. "I mean, I'm not upset."
She raised her eyebrows at me.
"No I mean it. I was actually going to apologize to you," I said, feeling like the floodgates were open. "I felt guilty for not being able to keep myself in check."
Buffy laughed a little, still feeling strange. "You're a guy, and I hope that I could still have that affect on one," she laughed in a self- deprecating way that I recognized from my own use.
"Don't say that about yourself. Wait, you mean you're not mad?"
"No, not at all. Are you?" She was just as confused as I was.
"No," I told her. "Extremely confused, but not mad."
Buffy sighed again. "It was just, hearing you tell me I was driving you to the edge, I wanted to feel like a woman again. So, in selfish Buffy fashion, I took advantage of the situation. I wanted to feel attractive and loved and you made me feel that way. Then I realized what I was doing."
"You mean who," I said, a little more disappointed than I wanted to reveal.
"No," she said really quickly. "It's just, I don't ever want to use you Xander. I don't want to push you away too. And I know how sensitive you are now and I don't want to mess with your head and."
"I'm not going anywhere," I assured her. She smiled, suddenly self- conscious of her ramble.
"Xan," she said after a moment. "Why did you think I'd be mad at you?"
I sighed. "I guess I was just afraid of the same thing. I felt the same need to feel close to someone and the way you acted last night, I thought I repulsed you and took advantage of you." Wow, that was one of the few times I've ever been totally upfront with her and my emotions. Okay, so I left out the whole Anya part but the rest of that was true.
"I never thought that, either of those things," she told me. She took my hand and we looked into each other's eyes. Understanding, relief, and compassion flowed between us.
"Ready to go," Dawn bounded down the steps. I smiled at Buffy, who smiled genuinely back at me.
"You bet Dawnster. Want to come Buff?" I asked.
She shook her head. "Promised Giles I'd drop by the Magic Box and research on our fear demon some more. He and mom headed over there earlier. Stop by after if you want."
"I'm supposed to meet the gang at the mall after lunch," Dawn interjected.
"I can drop you off," I told her.
"Cool," she smiled. We left the house.
Somewhere during our conversation the boulder of guilt was lightened. I still felt bad about Anya, but I knew in my heart her leaving was for the best. Didn't make it all right for me to have gone that far with Buffy on the heels of all that, but it would pass and besides I was the only one who'd ever know anyhow.
So, lightheartedness returns for Xander. Now, I know some of you may be thinking I got all worked up over nothing since Buff and I settled so quickly. Let me tell you, if you've never been in a position when you thought a friendship was lost, you don't know what those few short hours can be like. Especially when the other person is Buffy Summers. The minutes seem like hours, the hours go so slowly and still the sky is light. What, I like West Side Story and just cause I like West Side Story doesn't make me gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that at all. But I'm just sick of the stereotype that if you're a guy and you like a musical that makes you gay. NOT TRUE!
Anyhow, back to the saga of Xander Harris. So, Dawn and I enjoy a nice and pleasant afternoon lunch. I take her to Applebees and drop her at the mall. I decided after that to take up Buffy's offer and swing by the Magic Box. I walked in to see Joyce waiting on a customer. Since when does Giles keep the store open on the weekends? Money must really be tight.
I waved at her and she gestured to the back. I walked into the training room to find Buffy and Giles in the middle of what looked to be an in-depth meditation session. Neither noticed me so I left quickly, sensing my chance. I slipped quietly into the main floor and went over to Giles' desk. It was still there. WATCHER'S DIARY. I picked it up and slipped into the basement. Luckily for me, Joyce didn't notice or care about my disappearance.
I pulled a chair out and sat down. I took a deep breath. Here we go, moment of truth. So why was I so damned scared? I knew the answer inside, I just didn't want to admit it. I was scared I'd find things really were worse here and I needed to fix them, put them back the way they were. That might explain why I started reading earlier entries, things I was sure would be the same.
Giles writing was so funny. In the beginning it was all serious and professional. He said things like:
Today Miss Summers and Mr. Harris saved Miss Rosenburg from the demon Moloch. Moloch was freed from his binding and existed inside what is known as the Internet. I was forced to call on Miss Jenny Calendar for assistance in rebinding the demon. According to Miss Summers and Mister Harris' account, the demon was then trapped in a robot body it had built for itself and Miss Summers proceeded to destroy it.
I skipped ahead to an incident that happened the next year. Not one I'm particularly proud of, but it happened:
I think Xander has a death wish. He had the young witch Amy cast a love spell today. It worked on every woman except the one he wanted, Cordellia. If it hadn't been so bloody dangerous, it would have been quite humorous. However, Amy transformed Buffy into a rat in a fit of jealousy. If anything had happened to her I would have killed the boy myself. I know he means well, but sometimes I wonder how much longer before he will go too far. Luckily for him, Amy and I were able to reverse both spells before any serious damage was done. I don't suppose Willow or myself will be talking to him anytime soon, but I think he learned his lesson. Of course, this is the boy who dated an Inca Mummy and Praying Mantis, so I doubt we've seen the last of his poor decisions. I often wonder how many other watchers had to endure the dangers of their slayer's and friends personal lives.
Somewhere along the way poor Ole Giles just snapped and the sarcasm took over. Oh well, it makes for better writing.
I was snapped from my fine reading by the shouting of, "Xander, what the bloody hell are you doing?" from the bottom of the stairwell. I think that's the British version of "Lucy, you got some 'splaning to do!"
Gulp!
TBC
Lori Bush gave me a great saying: Feedback is like money for a professional author. Please leave me feedback. (However, money would also be graciously accepted.)
Previous parts can be found at:
http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=134718
Dedication: Jonathan or White Werewolf to whom I owe a debt so great, it can never be repaid. So I am starting by dedicating this installment to him.
Rating: Pg-13 for now
Learning to be careful (4/?)
The morning after. A term usually reserved for that awkward: oh my God who, or often in my case what, did I sleep with stage the morning after sex. Except, in my situation, the awkward morning after wasn't following wild, animal sex. At least as long as we're talking in terms of things that actually happened and not things that went on in my head. Cause once we move into the realm of things that happened in my head, Buffy and I know each other in a biblical sense, in fact I think we know each other better than anyone in the whole freaking bible. But alas, my morning after is following a close encounter of the clothed and friendship wrecking kind with Buffy.
When I woke up at 5:30, for the fifth time since the "incident" I knew it was time to go. I grabbed my stuff and started towards the door. A good, cold (and I'm talking ice age type cold) shower would do me good. Do you think the damn powers that be could let that happen? OH NO! Because Xander Harris is the powers that be's BUTTMONKEY of fun.
"Xander, where you going?" Dawn called from the stairs. Come on, you couldn't just let me get out the damn door.
"I need a shower, clean clothes at home," I told her, turning to face the stairs. At least I've gotten better at thinking on my feet.
"But, we were going to watch Saturday morning cartoons," she whined, not in a really annoying way but in a neglected little sister way. And it was true, I did promise to get up early with her. When she saw I was wavering she broke out the pouty lips. Not quite at Buffy's level, but getting closer all the time.
"Does your boyfriend ever not cave to that?" I asked and tossed myself back down on the couch, despite the little voice screaming Danger, Danger Xander Harris.
"Usually," Dawn smiled as she settled in next to me. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again, damn Summers women and their lips.
So, we watched Bugs and Daffy beat the living shit out of each other for a while. I never noticed that before, but cartoons are almost more violent than my life. Boy is that saying something. And, okay, see there's a new use for ice cream I would never have thought of.
Joyce crept down the stairs, waving a quick hello before darting into the kitchen to start on breakfast. Well, at least I'd get a nice breakfast out of this mess. Yeah, go ahead and start laughing now, I did. Giles followed a few minutes later and joined Joyce in the kitchen. I think he had the tea on before he was even fully in the room.
Then, as about 50 hunters were shooting Daffy Duck, Buffy glided down the stairs. I looked up at her, more out of habit than anything else, I mean it wasn't like I wanted to see the disgust I was sure would be clear in her eyes. She looked away, wouldn't even meet my eyes. Shame is a place I used to live. The place I'm in now uses shame as a four star resort.
"Morning," she said generically and bolted to join Joyce and Giles in the kitchen. She returned in a microsecond. "Okay, so it's a living room morning," she sighed.
Buffy sat in the chair farthest from the couch and stared at the ground.
"You okay Buffy?" Dawn asked.
"Fine," she said without looking up.
"Hey, look at the time," I said. Yes, that might possibly be the smoothest line, I don't know, ever.
"But Mom's making breakfast," Dawn said. "Stay and eat."
"You know Dawn, if Xander wants to head out, it's fine," Buffy said to the floor. Dagger, heart, twist.
"But Buffy," Dawn started to protest.
"I'll stop by, take you out to lunch," I offered as a middle ground. Anything to get away and avoid this situation.
"Okay," she said a mix of disappointment and excitement in her voice. I pick up on such subtleties now.
I stood up, grabbed my bag of stuff and walked toward the door. I paused for a second next to Buffy's chair, but I couldn't bring myself to say anything to her. The overwhelming fear seemed to be the deciding factor. "I'll be back at noon Dawnie."
"Okay, see you then," she said brightly and waved to me. I forced a smile back and walked out the door. I closed the it and leaned my back on it. You know the phrase the guilt is weighing me down, well I never understood the meaning until now. My guilt was a physical thing now and it was making me sick.
It wasn't just about Buffy either. I mean, guilt about putting her and us in this position and jeopardizing our friendship, sure. Guilt about not being stronger or having more will power to keep the little slayer in check, of course. But, even more so, I felt guilty about Anya. In this dimension she may have left me a month or two ago, but in my reality, she had been my fiancée two days ago. I put the moves, horrible and unrequited moves, on Buffy one day after I found out about Anya leaving. What kind of a man am I? No wonder I can't have a lasting relationship with anyone. Now I don't have Anya and Buffy won't even look at me.
I walked home in a near stupor. I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings it was all a blur. The only I could think about was losing two women I loved in the span of two days. Only Xander Harris could manage that.
I don't really remember getting home, showering, and then falling asleep. Apparently I did since I woke up in my room at 11:45 AM, clean but with bed head. Some break that was, I wander home and can't even remember it.
Now, I get to wander back to the Summers house. Like I said, Power's that be's Buttmonkey of fun. I think they all got together and thought, how much hell could we put Xander Harris through before he snaps? One of these days they're going to hit my threshold. I feel there should be really cheesy horror movie music here, like (insert Dum, dun, dun music). If that ain't foreshadowing, I don't what is.
But lots of stuff happens before I snap so let's talk about that, much more interesting.
Okay, so I roll up to the Summers house coming out of my stupor a little bit. I'm thinking some now and realizing I can just grab Dawn and avoid the awkwardness until my guilt fades a little and I can apologize to Buffy. I knocked on the door. Some famous writer whose name Willow would know said something about the best laid plans of mice and men- or wait I know this give me a minute. Damnit where's Willow when you need her? Well you know what I'm trying to say? Me neither.
Buffy opened the door. That was basically what I was trying to get across in that jumbled mess above. Hey, I'm deep, doesn't mean I'm brilliant, so cut me some slack.
"Hey," she muttered. "Dawn's still in the shower."
"Oh," I muttered back. I stood there looking at the floor, she stood inside, also looking at the floor. It was a real nice moment. Guess you just had to be there. I could tell myself a million times the awkwardness between us would pass, but while I was enduring it, I really wanted to blow my brains out.
"Do you want to come in?" Buffy asked. The words came out like she was speaking with gravel in her mouth. And I should know. Let's just say Uncle Rory, Peppermint Snobs, and an episode of Double Dare when I was eight and leave it at that. Buttmonkey of fun, are we sensing a theme yet?
"Sure," I told her and shuffled in as if I was hauling a fifty-pound boulder on my back. Oh, guilt, how I love thee, a better workout than Taebo.
I nudged her as I passed through the doorway. Guilt or no guilt, I felt something electric in the touch. Damn body, always with the lust. She jumped away from me. Ah yes and let's not forget the shame. Guilt and shame, like PB&J.
I plopped down in a chair and waited for Dawn. Why do teenage girls need so much time to get ready? Can someone please answer that question for me? Please, anybody? I didn't think so.
"Xander," she sighed and sat down on the couch, still not looking at me.
"Buffy," I responded in the same tone. She was going for the talk already? Hurry up Dawn.
"I'm sorry."
Earth stopped rotating. Heart stopped beating. Lungs stopped breathing. Mind stopped functioning. After the thirty seconds it took me to recover I said to her, "You're sorry?"
"I know it's not enough. But, I just got so carried away."
"You got carried away?"
"Damnit Xander, you know this isn't easy for me to admit, can't you just let me get through my apology then be all upset."
"Upset?" I asked. Hearing my voice echo in my ears, I realized I was asking all my questions in a really strange voice. I hear shock can do that to people. "I mean, I'm not upset."
She raised her eyebrows at me.
"No I mean it. I was actually going to apologize to you," I said, feeling like the floodgates were open. "I felt guilty for not being able to keep myself in check."
Buffy laughed a little, still feeling strange. "You're a guy, and I hope that I could still have that affect on one," she laughed in a self- deprecating way that I recognized from my own use.
"Don't say that about yourself. Wait, you mean you're not mad?"
"No, not at all. Are you?" She was just as confused as I was.
"No," I told her. "Extremely confused, but not mad."
Buffy sighed again. "It was just, hearing you tell me I was driving you to the edge, I wanted to feel like a woman again. So, in selfish Buffy fashion, I took advantage of the situation. I wanted to feel attractive and loved and you made me feel that way. Then I realized what I was doing."
"You mean who," I said, a little more disappointed than I wanted to reveal.
"No," she said really quickly. "It's just, I don't ever want to use you Xander. I don't want to push you away too. And I know how sensitive you are now and I don't want to mess with your head and."
"I'm not going anywhere," I assured her. She smiled, suddenly self- conscious of her ramble.
"Xan," she said after a moment. "Why did you think I'd be mad at you?"
I sighed. "I guess I was just afraid of the same thing. I felt the same need to feel close to someone and the way you acted last night, I thought I repulsed you and took advantage of you." Wow, that was one of the few times I've ever been totally upfront with her and my emotions. Okay, so I left out the whole Anya part but the rest of that was true.
"I never thought that, either of those things," she told me. She took my hand and we looked into each other's eyes. Understanding, relief, and compassion flowed between us.
"Ready to go," Dawn bounded down the steps. I smiled at Buffy, who smiled genuinely back at me.
"You bet Dawnster. Want to come Buff?" I asked.
She shook her head. "Promised Giles I'd drop by the Magic Box and research on our fear demon some more. He and mom headed over there earlier. Stop by after if you want."
"I'm supposed to meet the gang at the mall after lunch," Dawn interjected.
"I can drop you off," I told her.
"Cool," she smiled. We left the house.
Somewhere during our conversation the boulder of guilt was lightened. I still felt bad about Anya, but I knew in my heart her leaving was for the best. Didn't make it all right for me to have gone that far with Buffy on the heels of all that, but it would pass and besides I was the only one who'd ever know anyhow.
So, lightheartedness returns for Xander. Now, I know some of you may be thinking I got all worked up over nothing since Buff and I settled so quickly. Let me tell you, if you've never been in a position when you thought a friendship was lost, you don't know what those few short hours can be like. Especially when the other person is Buffy Summers. The minutes seem like hours, the hours go so slowly and still the sky is light. What, I like West Side Story and just cause I like West Side Story doesn't make me gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that at all. But I'm just sick of the stereotype that if you're a guy and you like a musical that makes you gay. NOT TRUE!
Anyhow, back to the saga of Xander Harris. So, Dawn and I enjoy a nice and pleasant afternoon lunch. I take her to Applebees and drop her at the mall. I decided after that to take up Buffy's offer and swing by the Magic Box. I walked in to see Joyce waiting on a customer. Since when does Giles keep the store open on the weekends? Money must really be tight.
I waved at her and she gestured to the back. I walked into the training room to find Buffy and Giles in the middle of what looked to be an in-depth meditation session. Neither noticed me so I left quickly, sensing my chance. I slipped quietly into the main floor and went over to Giles' desk. It was still there. WATCHER'S DIARY. I picked it up and slipped into the basement. Luckily for me, Joyce didn't notice or care about my disappearance.
I pulled a chair out and sat down. I took a deep breath. Here we go, moment of truth. So why was I so damned scared? I knew the answer inside, I just didn't want to admit it. I was scared I'd find things really were worse here and I needed to fix them, put them back the way they were. That might explain why I started reading earlier entries, things I was sure would be the same.
Giles writing was so funny. In the beginning it was all serious and professional. He said things like:
Today Miss Summers and Mr. Harris saved Miss Rosenburg from the demon Moloch. Moloch was freed from his binding and existed inside what is known as the Internet. I was forced to call on Miss Jenny Calendar for assistance in rebinding the demon. According to Miss Summers and Mister Harris' account, the demon was then trapped in a robot body it had built for itself and Miss Summers proceeded to destroy it.
I skipped ahead to an incident that happened the next year. Not one I'm particularly proud of, but it happened:
I think Xander has a death wish. He had the young witch Amy cast a love spell today. It worked on every woman except the one he wanted, Cordellia. If it hadn't been so bloody dangerous, it would have been quite humorous. However, Amy transformed Buffy into a rat in a fit of jealousy. If anything had happened to her I would have killed the boy myself. I know he means well, but sometimes I wonder how much longer before he will go too far. Luckily for him, Amy and I were able to reverse both spells before any serious damage was done. I don't suppose Willow or myself will be talking to him anytime soon, but I think he learned his lesson. Of course, this is the boy who dated an Inca Mummy and Praying Mantis, so I doubt we've seen the last of his poor decisions. I often wonder how many other watchers had to endure the dangers of their slayer's and friends personal lives.
Somewhere along the way poor Ole Giles just snapped and the sarcasm took over. Oh well, it makes for better writing.
I was snapped from my fine reading by the shouting of, "Xander, what the bloody hell are you doing?" from the bottom of the stairwell. I think that's the British version of "Lucy, you got some 'splaning to do!"
Gulp!
TBC
Lori Bush gave me a great saying: Feedback is like money for a professional author. Please leave me feedback. (However, money would also be graciously accepted.)