Amy chewed on her thumbnail as she watched the clock hand move agonisingly slowly. A mug of tea was set on the table beside her and she looked up at the old woman with a shy smile.

"Their flight landed an hour ago," Rory's gran told her, "They'll be here soon."

"Thanks, Mrs Williams," Amy smiled at her, relieved that she didn't mind that Amy had arrived over an hour before Rory was due so she could be here when he arrived.

She hated that she only saw her best friend for a few weeks a year and wanted to make sure she spent every moment she could with him.

Finally she heard a car pull up and Amy jumped out her seat, taking a moment to fix herself, before she headed out to greet her best friend.

The Rory who climbed out the car was not the same Rory she'd seen last summer. He'd grown for one thing and no longer looked as gangly as he had, there was also a difference in the way he held himself but the smile that touched his face when he saw her was still her Rory.

Without a word she ran across the drive and threw her arms around him in a tight embrace. His arms wrapped around her and he squeezed her tightly.

"It's so good to see you," he breathed in her ear.

A cough me made them part and Amy winced seeing his gran standing there.

"Let me say hello to my grandson," the old woman scolded with a smile on her face.

Sheepishly Amy let Rory go before turning to his mum and step-dad to say hello to them as well.

x

Rory smiled as Amy wrapped her arms around his holding onto him as they headed into the house. She had changed in the past eleven months. Always pretty Amy was definitely no longer a child having developed in every area that made him want to stare at her even more.

"Where's Mels?" he asked.

Amy shrugged, "She said she'd be here after you had some time to settle in."

"In other words," Rory laughed, "She's doing something she doesn't want us to know about."

Reaching the house Rory slipped from Amy's grip and took his other bag from Nick, heading up to his room smiling that Amy followed him. She took a seat on his bed watching him unpack.

"So," she said, "Have you any stories to tell me?"

Rory hesitated, how could he tell her for the past few months he'd been helping the mythical Slayer fight vampires, monsters and demons?

"Sunnydale is pretty boring," he lied, amazed how proficient he'd become at it since becoming one of the 'Scooby Gang' as Willow named them, "Buffy joining us was the most interesting thing to happen."

Finished his packing he was surprised to find Amy hugging him again.

"What is this for?" he asked confused but enjoying the hug.

Amy held him tighter, "I'm sorry about Jesse," she told him, "I know he was your friend and I didn't get to hug you at the time."

Rory closed his eyes resting in her embrace. Amy always surprised him and trying to comfort him for the loss of his friend several months ago was something he hadn't expected.

"Thanks," he whispered, pulling back and desperately wanting to kiss her but he knew that would result in losing her.

Thankfully his mother called them down for dinner where Mels arrived in typical fashion just as dessert was being served.

Rory hugged her tightly happy to see her as well, chuckling when she punched his arm before she took her seat and joined in the conversation as though she'd been there the full time.

"So everything is quiet?" Rory asked incredulously.

"Incredibly yes," Xander replied, "Giles is concerned so with Buffy visiting her dad he's patrolling with Angel. When I saw him yesterday though he told me they've seen nothing."

"That's good," Rory told him, "It sounds like with the Master gone Sunnydale is safe."

"We'll see," Xander chuckled, "I'm surprised you're able to talk. No Amy?"

Rory smiled slightly, "She had a family party today she was dragged to. She'll be here in about an hour or so."

"How is the 'old country' anyway?" Xander asked, "Are you having tea and scones?"

Rory rolled his eyes at his friend, "You know I don't drink tea."

"Got to go," Xander said suddenly, "Parents are home and I don't want to get caught. I can hide the bill when it comes in but if they catch me on the phone to England I am dead."

Rory laughed, "Then I'll see you in a few weeks."

When Xander hung up Rory leaned back on his bed and thought back to the few weeks between the end of school and his return home.

Buffy had left for LA the day after school ended to visit her father for the summer, Giles had then gathered the rest of them to bury the bones of the Master in a ceremony he'd found which he hoped would ensure the creature was gone for good.

Even by Sunnydale standards it was one of the oddest nights he'd spent with his friends.

The door to his room suddenly burst open and Amy stood there looking at him annoyed that he wasn't ready.

"Are you wanting to go to the movies or not?" she demanded.

Pulling on his shoes and grabbing his jacket Rory followed her out of the room, happy to spend any and all time with her he could.

The three weeks Rory spent in Leadworth went far too fast.

He saw Amy every day in one way or another and Mels most days as well. Sometimes they went to the movies but most days they just wandered around the village laughing and telling stories. Occasionally they would meet up with others from school where Rory would be teased about his American accent which always made him laugh since he was the English guy in Sunnydale.

Unfortunately it was suddenly time to pack once more.

x

Amy sat cross-legged on his bed watching Rory pack the stash of chocolate he was taking back with him along with his clothes in his bags.

"You could help?" he noted as Amy tapped a bar of chocolate off her knee.

She smiled at him, "Nope. It means you're ready to leave sooner."

With a sigh he sat on the bed beside her, "I'm going anyway. We both know it and there's nothing we can do about it."

Wrapping her arms around him Amy rested her head on his shoulder, "I don't want you to leave. I miss you too much."

Pulling her close Rory slid his hand into her hair, "I miss you every day but we've no choice Amy. My mum..." he sighed trailing off as he felt Amy's tears soak his shirt, "Don't, please."

Pulling back she wiped her eyes, "I'm sorry. I promised Mels I wouldn't do this to you."

A small smile touched Rory's lips at the thought, "Mels?"

"She knows how much you hate me being upset," Amy explained trying to stop herself crying.

"I do," he hugged her close again; "At least we can still talk every week."

She cuddled into him and Rory wished he could tell her everything he did in Sunnydale with his friends. But he couldn't because that would worry her.

Instead Rory kissed her forehead, "Maybe one day you can visit and then you can all meet because that would be great fun."

Amy laughed and pushed his shoulder a smile blossoming on her face, "You have to finish packing. I don't want your mum to blame me for you not being ready."

x

Mels hugged Rory tightly.

There had been no teasing since she'd arrived with Amy to say goodbye which Rory thought was a miracle in itself.

"You know," Mels murmured in his ear, "You could tell her how you feel before you leave this time."

Rory pulled back from her hug in surprise.

"Please," Mels laughed at him, "I've known you both since we were seven and you might not think it but I notice things."

Rory glanced over to where Amy was talking to his mum and Nick, "If by some miracle she felt the same way it's not fair on either of us. I don't live here."

Mels squeezed him again, "You're an idiot," she told him before releasing him to let Amy take her place.

Rory held onto Amy wishing he could do as Mels advised and tell her exactly how he felt but he knew he couldn't.

"Honey," his mum said, "It's time we go."

Rory pulled back from Amy seeing tears in her eyes as he blinked back his own.

"I will call you as soon as I get home," he said before adding at the look from his mother, "Once it's a good time for you."

"You better," Amy told him before her arms went round him once more.

Finally Rory extricated himself from her embrace and climbed into the car. Amy and Mels stood with his gran and he waved goodbye to them until the car turned the corner leaving them behind.