Author: Lucinda

nothing worse than season 3 BtVS - may have some romance, mentions of violence.

main characters: Marie, Xander

fourteenth in the 'Such A Nice Girl' series.

developing Joyce/Logan and Xander/Marie, mention of past-tense Xander/Cordelia and Buffy/Angel, ongoing Willow/Oz.

disclaimer: I do not own any characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or X-Men the movie.

distribution: Twisting the Hellmouth, Paula - anyone else please ask first

note: post X-Men movie #1, Movie #2 did not happen. Start of season 3 for BtVS.

"Has the meditation and the big books been helping any?" Xander asked, dropping onto the couch in the Summers living room.

"Have, not has," Joyce called from the other side of the room, unpacking a large box. "You'd think that the schools would cover at least a little English…"

Marie giggled, looking at Xander. "I'm not sure. It feels like they've helped, but… I'd have to try to touch someone to make sure. I can feel my energy, aura… whatever you want to call it, but I don't know if I can keep it separate from someone else's. Apparently, mine doesn't have the sort of edge that it's supposed to. Oz hasn't said much, but I don' think he ever does, and Willow seems to be settlin' down a little, bein' less hyper."

"Energy has edges?" Xander blinked, and then decided not to worry about the details. "Whatever, if you think it's helping, I don't need to understand it."

Marie sighed, and leaned back. "I'm a bit nervous about startin' school. If my power acts up, if I hurt someone…"

"Is this one of those things where your emotions make a difference?" Xander asked, thinking about some of the things the Scoobies had discussed about magic and rituals.

"Yeah, why?" Marie was looking at him now, her eyes full of questions.

"So, you need to think of it in little steps. You said that you've got to the point where you know what's your energy and what's not, so the next step is little touches, like someone bumping your arm, or stumbling against someone, or stepping on their toes. You'd need to work your way up to bigger things, like… umm… holding hands, or kissing."

"I guess that makes sense…" Marie admitted, fidgeting slightly. "Do you… Would you be willing to help?"

"Of course," Xander insisted. "I told you, you're one of my girls. I can't think of anything… well, I'd certainly be willing to help you out by touching you."

Marie giggled, "Remember, this isn't a harem, and Ma… Joyce is right over there. Best watch where you touch."

"Of course," Xander nodded. "I didn't mean anything that would get me in trouble with your parents."

"My parents? But they're back in Mississippi…" Marie blinked.

"Maybe the people who brought you into this world are," Xander admitted. "But Joyce and Logan are your parents now, and they're both in Sunnydale and more than capable of making me very sorry for crossing any lines with their little girl."

She grinned, and glanced towards Joyce, "Yeah, they are my parents now. I've got someone watchin' out for me."

Xander reached out, letting his hand rest on her leg, feeling the warmth of her body beneath the jeans. He'd do anything in his power to help her, but he couldn't learn control for her. If she wanted to try, he'd be there.

For several moments, she looked at his hand without moving. Then, she tugged at the glove, freeing her hand to the air. It came to rest on her leg, near Xander's but not quite touching.

Her hand edged closer, until the heat of her skin brushed at him. Xander was watching her hand, feeling his heart hammering. There was maybe room for a penny between their fingers.

One finger twitched, brushing against his skin.

Marie gasped, flinching away. "Xander? Are you…"

"I'm okay!" He reached up, gripping her arm through the sleeve of her shirt. "I didn't… I mean, I felt your finger touch me, but I didn't feel anything weird. Nothing happened."

"Are you sure?" Her eyes gleamed with hope and tears. Her other hand, still enveloped in a glove, reached up, trembling before cupping his cheek. Marie's voice shook as much as her hand, "I don' want to hurt you."

"You didn't," Xander promised.

Slowly, her bare hand lifted towards his face. One finger touched his lip, salty and warm. "You don' have to do this."

Xander closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of her finger touching him. Her skin against his lip. A faint trace of sweat from being gloved.

His lip started to tingle, like the time that he'd got a tooth pulled at the dentist's office. A sort of prickly not-numbness where he did and didn't feel at the same time.

Marie squeaked and pulled her finger away, "Xander, I'm sorry!"

He didn't know why he felt out of breath. Xander reached out, catching her gloved hand in his own, acutely aware of the texture of fabric instead of skin. "It's okay, Marie. You didn't hurt me. I guess that you just aren't quite ready for more than a moment of contact. We'll have to work on it, that's all."

"Not right now. That's enough for now," she whispered, scooting a bit closer to him. "I don't want to hurt you."

"But there was a moment. And you didn't hurt me," Xander pointed out.

"More practice, you're sayin'. Tomorrow will be soon enough." Marie's eyes were bright, shining with emotions.

"I'll be right there for you the whole way. You can do this, Marie," Xander promised. He would be there for her through it all, Marie wouldn't have to face her problems alone.

End Nice Girl 14: Reaching Forward