2 weeks after Xander left

Buffy stood in front of the yellow room. Both her and Hope had paint on there clothes. She looked to Hope. "I think we did a pretty damn good job if I do say so myself."

Hope stepped next to Buffy looking at the room and it's new color. "You know I have to admit I wasn't sure I was going to be feeling this color at first when you picked it out but I like it. It's an incredible improvement over the rhinoceros ass gray it used to be. I"m thinking I might paint mine."

Buffy put the paint brush down in the rinse off pan. She was cleaning both her and Hope's brushes."What color would you go with?"

"I think Pink. I know it's so girly and all but it's kind of my signature color."

"Well I owe you one so if you decide you want to I'll give you a hand."

She smiled. "I'll take you up on that." She crossed the room picking up her water bottle "So do you think Xander will like it?"

"Xander has never been afraid of change. I think he will like this. I think he will really really like it. The yellow is warm and comforting."

"Well it's awful nice of you to do this for him."

Buffy looked surprised. "Actually it was nice of you to help. I mean not too many ex girlfriends would be jumping at the idea of helping paint the room of the ex boyfriend."

Hope laughed and interrupted. "And even less would jump at the chance of helping the woman who stole him away"

"I wasn't going to say that but."

"It's okay Buffy. What's the point of being angry or vengeful. I mean clinging on to that crap doesn't benefit anyone. It would be a lot easier if you were a bitch or Xander was some kind of asshole but the truth is you are both good people and what happened wasn't really anyones fault."

"Thanks Hope. You could have made all of this difficult but handled it with grace and civility,"

"Well screw grace and civility. Some of the girls and I are going out to the new club. I"m thinking of ditching grace and civility for some bumping and grinding. Want to come with?"

"As fun as that sounds I promised Beck we could work on battle plans. He still not as good as Xander. He tries. It's not his fault."

"Maybe it's not that he's not as good. Maybe it's more along the lines he's not as good with you. He's not as good with you as you are working with Xander."

Buffy picked up the supplies and put them in the panting box. "Yeah I can't deny that." She bent down and picked up the box. "I have to drop these into the supply closet."

It seemed like Buffy was stepping away from the statement and Hope had to call her on it. "You know that is a good thing. I mean it's awesome that you have someone you can work so well with and it should just be an added bonus he's your boyfriend."

Buffy just kept carrying the box. "But loving someone like that makes you vulnerable. I mean you pour yourself in completely and than if something happens. If you let yourself fall so completely and honestly. If I lost him in a battle."

"You can't think like that."

Buffy opened the closet and stored the box. "Well it's a pointless argument now, one way or the other cause wanted to or not I fell in love with the big lug."

Hope just went to Buffy and wrapped her arms around her in a hug. "You both are going to be okay I promise."

A few minutes later Buffy was back standing in the doorway of the bedroom alone. She still had to move the furniture back in place. She just wanted a second to rest. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.

"Oh my God Buffy. The room looks amazing."

Buffy spun around finding Xander behind her. She wrapped her arms around him. "You really like it."

"Just when I thought I couldn't get anymore sunshine in my life you find a way to bring even more in."

"Every day with you Xander is like living in the sun,"

She opened her eyes and sighed. She was back to reality. The reality where the furniture needed moved back in, she still needed to discuss battle strategy with Beck and Xander was still gone.

12 weeks later

She laid in bed that morning dreading getting out of bed. She was hoping Xander would be back by today. It was his birthday today and the thing she wanted more than anything was to celebrate it with him. She knew the people that loved her would make every effort to keep her busy. They didn't want her to dwell. At times though it made it harder. She rolled over to the night stand and picked up a picture she had framed. It was from years ago but it was just a quick candid photo snapped of him. She picked the photo up and looked at him. "Happy Birthday Xander. I hope where ever you are good things are happening. She closed her eyes and went to the happy place. The place she could still be with him.

She carried a chocolate cake to the picnic bench in the court yard. Xander was wearing one of those doofy party hats but it only made him more adorable. "Happy Birthday Xander."

As Buffy set the cake down on the table Xander pulled her in to his lap. "Well this is all the present I want right here."

"Every day I am with you Xander is a new present to me."

Buffy opened her eyes and was back in the cold lonely bed. She rolled over on her side clutching his pillow breathing in his scent just wanting him back.

2 months later

Angel was teaching the girls some meditation techniques. A lot of the girls found it ironic when he told them to find there breath and control the heart rate, considering he had neither. The truth was though he was good. Buffy had really taken to the classes lately and enjoyed the peace and serenity she could find in each class. The class bell rang and Angel rolled his eyes. It had broken the concentration. "I guess that is the hour. You girls have come a long way." He pulled himself up off the floor and looked at Buffy who was sitting in the class. "A word with you Buffy before you leave."

Dawn was at the other side of the room and immediately shot him a don't you dare look. "Actually Buffy we gotta move if we are going to meet Willow for lunch."

Buffy smirked at Dawn knowing exactly what she was doing. "It's okay Dawn. We will fine on time."

Angel just smiled at Dawn. "Good form Dawn. You are showing so much improvement. You should be proud of yourself."

Dawn just looked at Angel as she walked past it was a predatory look that says don't even think about hitting on my sister. Angel just looked at Buffy. "Your sister has gotten a lot more aggressive."

"She means well. So what is on your mind?"

Angel waited for the girls to leave. "So I have been meaning to ask you how you've been holding up?"

"God I wish everyone would stop treating me like I'm so fragile. I get it. I miss him but I am strong and I'm not going to roll over and die."

"I know how strong you are Buffy. Which is why I wanted to have this conversation with you. It's not an easy. For everything Xander said you know you have to start planning for the very realistic possibility that he might not be back."

Buffy turned her back on him. "We are done here." She started walking away but Angel just followed talking to the back of her head.

"This isn't about some ex boyfriend jealousy or wanting you to move on in favor of reconnecting with you. It's me looking at some one I care for and saying I don't want to see them hurt waiting on something that might never happen. You are young Buffy and it would kill me to watch you waiting for your life to begin and."

She spun around. "This isn't your choice Angel. I know you don't like Xander but this is pretty low. He's not here to defend himself so of course now is the time to attack."

"That isn't what I am doing Buffy. I am"

"You are what?" She stuck her finger in his chest poking him. "What are you going to possibly say to me? You going to tell me that he might not be back. That maybe I"m the fool waiting for ever on something that may never come to be. You don't think those fears are already in my head. You don't think I don't know that. The only thing stronger than those fears in my head is the faith I have in Xander. Xander said to me."

"I know what Xander said and I know he has the best intentions when he said it but."

"But nothing. I have faith in Xander. I will always have faith in him. It is that faith that is going to bring him back to me."

"But what if"

"Angel I want to call you a friend but if you ever want to talk to me again we will pretend this conversation never happened and you will never try this again."

"Buffy I."

"Dont' follow me." With that she walked away and went back to her room. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. She said a silent prayer to whomever was out there and listening. "Xander please come back to me"

3 months later

Buffy was with the A squad sitting in front of the school. They were on a training break and enjoying a lunch in the sun before going out for the daily run. Buffy had spent a lot of time in the last 3 months sitting on the school steps. She tried to be suave but everyone knew what she was doing. She would look to area where the portal opened. The area he walked through. She just kept hoping that she'd see that amazing white light. The portal would open and he would come though.

Buffy closed her eyes and in her head she saw the light. It was soft at first and than blinding. She would try to look away but couldn't From the light a figure could be seen. She got up running to him as he stepped out of the portal and in to his arms. "Oh God Xander I have missed you so much." She attacked him with kisses.

"You really didn't believe for a second I wouldn't be coming back to you. Come on Summers I love you."

She fought back the tears and could feel her heart racing. She could feel his warmth and could feel him. "I love you so much Xander. Never leave me again."

"Not a chance girl. This is where I belong. I'm giving you forever baby."

But she opened her eyes and she was back. It was so easy to dream because it was the safe place she could still be with him. It broke her heart all that much more when she had to come back.

Beck picked up his sandwich and walked over sitting next to Buffy on the steps.

"It's a beautiful day."

Buffy just smiled. "Yes it is. The sun is shining and the squad is killing it."

"Your sister and I are going to a concert in the park tonight."

Buffy patted Beck's knee. "You know if you told me 2 years ago that my sister would be dating Quentin Travers son I am pretty sure I would have come after you to slay you worse than any vampire you've ever seen but"

He laughed "But you didn't remember my father when you first met me and that helped a whole lot."

Buffy couldn't help but laughing knowing he was right. "Okay that part is true. If I had known I might not have been as accepting of you. I can see now though not only are you not your father you have earned your spot here. You make Dawn happy and she could do a lot worse than a guy like you."

"She makes me happy."

"Still though if you hurt her I will come after you with the fire you've never seen." Buffy again stole a glance over to the area of the portal where it opened.

"I promise I'm not going to hurt her." Beck looked at her. "You know because this is the spot Xander left from doesn't mean it's the same spot he'll return from. I mean the powers that be could open it any spot in the world. The likeliness of it even opening here again in the same spot."

"You think that's why I'm out here. It's a beautiful day and it's nice to be in the sun."

Beck laughed. "Is that why you have all your lunches out here. Is that why you train the girls out here. Is that why you started mowing the front lawn of the school."

Buffy opened her mouth to object but knew it was silly. She picked up her bottled water and took a sip. "I know it's silly. I know when he comes back it could be anywhere. I mean the world is a big place and for all I know he ends up in Ireland or Antarctica. I just."

Beck put his hands up. "I get it Buffy and if I were in your place I would do the same thing."

She just smiled at him. She appreciated that there was no judgement in his tone. There was no words of advice. He was just a friend offering support. Buffy stood up. "So concert in the park who's playing?"

"It's just a bunch of local bands, To be honest it's not much my thing but Dawn puts up with my horror movies."

Buffy covered her mouth if a mocking awe. "You mean to tell me all this time my little sister was lying. She wasn't really in to horror movies. Oh for shame little Dawnie."

Beck just laughed. "There is one other thing I wanted to touch base with you on."

"What's on your mind?"

"if the projections hold up. We are going to have 8 new slayers in the school by the end of August. Gunn and I have been having lunch and we came up with this idea. I told it to Giles and he thinks it could work. I got the go ahead from him but It would mean so much more if it had your stamp of approval."

"Well sell me on this idea."

"The problem around here lately is that we have so many people wanting to contribute but we haven't really put together enough squads or teams. Gunn and I kind of want to put together a traveling road show. So far it's a rough idea but Gunn wants in, Illyria is open to it I have more than enough girls. We are going to get a bus and take the adventure to the road."

"So you'd be leaving the school?"

"The school would always be our base of operations and the basic idea behind this is we have two teams maybe even three. Gunn and Spike might be team 1 where as Illyria and I could be team 2. If this works as well as I think it could we make a team 3 or even 4 in a few months. When team 1 leaves team 2 is back at the school relaxing getting some down time. It's a rotation schedule. That way we aren't getting burnt out."

Buffy bit her lip. "It's a good idea Beck and I'm all for it but until Xander comes back I kind of need you to be the man in the van."

Beck nodded. "Oh I completely get that. This is more just long term planning for the future. What I want is your blessing to get things ready so when Xander does return I can get the show on the road."

Buffy stood up and shook his hand. "I give you my blessing and tell you I think this idea could work out really well."

5 months later

Buffy was running down the hall and ducked in to the old library. Gathered around the large table were Angel, Spike, Giles, Willow, Hope, Beck, Faith, Andrew and Gunn. "Sorry everyone I know I am late. I apologize. There was an incident with one of the girls and an electrical situation in one of the rooms. It wasn't anything big but the wire was shorting out cause of a bad connection."

Giles looked on surprised. "And you repaired it yourself?"

Buffy took her usual spot at the table sitting next to Giles. "Don't act so surprised. I am very capable I will have you know."

Giles just smiled. "Since Buffy is here we can get started. I think Buffy has offered up the perfect transition for the first item on the agenda." Giles cleared his throat and took a quick sip of water. "It feels lately with the new girls and watchers coming in the school is bursting at the seems. We don't have to be as cramped as we are. We still have space that is unused. It's just a matter of getting the rooms finished."

Hope looked at Giles. "So what are you thinking? You want to put some of the girls to work again and finish everything off?"

Giles took off his glasses and wiped them off. "I was thinking that could be a possibility but I was thinking with out." He found the words difficult to say. He didn't want to hurt Buffy. "With out Xander here it might."

Hope cut him off. "I have several years dry wall experience. I can get this place ready if you give me the girls."

Buffy nodded in agreement. "I have A squad to lead but I"ll help Hope when I can. Let's get this place finished up and let's make it great."

Giles rubbed his eyes. "It's funny usually I am the one having to convince you girls to find ways to save money. I had a list of contractors lined up."

Buffy shook her head. "This is our school Giles. Do you know how many times I've been walking through the slayer lounge and I'll catch one of the girls pointing out something they had to do with putting it together. They are proud of the work they have done and I for one get it. You make a sign up sheet for volunteers and I promise you by days end you will have twice as many volunteers as you need."

Spike looked to them. "Are you girls taking to much though. I mean you are slaying at night then playing Handy Manny by day."

Willow voiced her concern. "I got agree Buffy. I don't want you girls stretching yourself to thin."

Buffy shook her head. "It's no different than high school. I had to manage 6 hours of school and a patrol every night."

Giles looked at Buffy. "Can you complete the entire school. Everything that is left with in 3 months?"

Buffy opened her mouth and knew it was a big job. She was reluctant to say yes. Hope could see this and wasn't about to back down from a challenge. "3 months this school will be completely. No more broken floors or holes in the wall. We will have it completely functional. I give you my word."

Giles nodded placing a check mark next to the first item on the agenda. "By the weeks end I would like the list of the girls who will be volunteering and we will look for a mid week start. In the spirit of goodwill I will be your first volunteer to sign up for help with the rebuild."

Buffy looked at Giles a little shocked. "You Giles?"

"Yes. I may be ignorant on the subject but I can learn and I'm sure I'll pick up what I need to know quite quickly."

Spike laughed. "Awwww bloody hell. You gotta sign me up for no other reason than this is an opportunity I am going to want to see."

Giles rolled his eyes "Moving on to the next item on the agenda. They discussed what was on the horizon. Gunn had confirmed that a demon klan would be doing a ritual sacrifice on the blood moon in July. If it wasn't stopped the hell mouth would open. Giles had already started assembling a team to work on that. Beck had now taken the idea he told Buffy and Giles about with the busses and the traveling slayer show to the road. For the most part it went with out an objection.

They worked all the way through the agenda till there was only one item left Giles looked to the yellow note pad. "The last thing I was hoping to discuss. Several months ago several of you brought the idea to me about an out door party. We could fire up the grill. It would be a bit of a mixer for some of the new watcher and slayers to meet. I think with the weather warning up if we are going to make this happen I think it's time we start to put it together." Giles quickly opened his date book looking through his calendar. "I am thinking the last Friday of next month."

As much as Buffy was looking forward to grilling out and spending time with her friends she wanted to hold back on it. After all it was partially Xander's idea and the idea of doing it with him still gone didm't seem right. "I don't know Giles. I think we need to wait. I mean especially with the school reconstruction. We have enough on our plate as it is. I say we table this and come back to it once the school is done."

Giles shook his head in disagreement. "Buffy I wouldn't have the same volunteers working the grill out as I do working the reconstruction."

Angel nodded in agreement. "I think Giles is right. These girls work hard and I think they've earned this."

Buffy opened her mouth to object but before she could say anything Giles put it to a vote. Almost of the hands were raised in favor of having it next month. The only hold out was Willow, She wasn't as much voting against the bbq as she was voting to support her friends. Willow could read Buffy well enough to know what she was thinking. Her poker face was good and could fool almost everyone at the table but Willow knew.

Giles closed out the meeting and Buffy ran her hands through her hair letting out a deep breath. Willow waited till everyone left and then moved down her spot at the table sitting in Giles spot next to Buffy. "I'm sorry about the BBQ,"

Buffy shrugged. "It's okay. I just."

"I know what you are thinking."

"Maybe this is a good thing. You know Xander and food. He might be late for a lot of things but food isn't one of them."

Willow just laughed. "God maybe we should have fired up the grill months ago."

Xander had been walking for what felt like days. At one point he was at the edge of Sunnydale .The all too familiar Welcome to Sunnydale sign was hanging in place. He kept walking past it his feet on the hard pavement. Till there was no payment just a dirty road. The more he walked the more things seemed to fade to white. He shook his head he was hot and sweaty and hungry and everything on him hurt. The powers that be had to have a better way to do this. This was his penance though. If he had to walk for days or weeks till his feet bled he would walk. As long as it brought him back to his old life. As long as it brought him back to early morning hot chocolates with Dawn or stealing Andrew's comic books or arguments with Willow about who the most powerful Powderpuff girl truly was. The best motivation that kept one foot in front of the other was her. He'd be willing to march straight in to hell and back 100 times over if it meant he could hold her in his arms again.

He wondered if this never ending walking was Cordy's gift for the Willow smooches all those years ago. So he walked in to the nothingness again. He just kept moving one foot in front of the other. He didn't have a good conception of time because there was no change. There was no sun or moon to tell him how much time had passed. His cramping muscles in his legs were the only measure of time he had. It went from sharp pain to stabbing pain to my legs are on fire pain to the I can't feel my legs pain.

Still he walked. Finally out of exhaustion his legs stopped. He tried with everything he had but his body would give no more. He tensed like a statue and felt to the ground. He just needed a moment to rest. He closed his eyes and needed to sleep. Just a few minutes and he would be okay.

When he closed his eyes he saw her face. He remembered his words to her. He remembered the promise and he remembered telling her no matter what it took he would find his way back to her. He took a deep breath and fought the need to sleep. His legs hurt to much to walk so he'd crawl if that is what it took. With his eyes closed he pulled himself up and started pulling his body on the ground. "I'm coming home baby. I"m coming back to you."

"Who the hell is baby?"

The voice was the first sound he heard in days. He opened his eyes and rolled over on his back. Gone was the complete white. There was sky above him. Hard concrete underneath him and an overweight construction worker standing next to him. Xander laughed out loud hysterical to see anyone at this point. "I am back." He just laughed and held his sighed.

The construction worker stood over him concerned. "You alright buddy? You look like hell."

Xander tried to pull himself up but could barely speak. The worker ran to the side of the truck and poured him water out of the truck cooler. He quickly handed it to Xander. "Do you need an ambulance pal."

Xander quickly gulped down the water. It felt amazing and did wonders for him. "More please." The worker went back and this time brought back 3 cups. Xander drank it down eagerly. Slowly he pulled himself up and looked around his surroundings. "Thank you very much. For the ambulance I will be fine but thank you for your concern."

"I'm thinking someone had a hell of a night drinking. I want to party with you some time pal."

Xander just laughed and looked up and around. He was still trying to figure things out. He looked at the overweight man. "Can you tell me where I am?'

"Corner of 5th street and 1st Ave."

Xander shook his head. "No I mean the city?"

The worker laughed and shook his head. "Now I really want to party with you. You are in LA pal. The land where dreams come true."

Xander rubbed his temples. "Okay so I'm in LA." He started thinking. Normally he would have the Hyperion but with Angel in Cleveland now that wasn't an option. Who the hell did he know in LA that could…"Caritas"

The worker looked at him. "Huh?"

"The club Caritas any idea where I can find it?"

"Wow shouldn't you give your liver a rest."

Xander smiled "Thanks for your help pal I think I can take it from here." His first stop was at a local newsstand. He picked up a newspaper and looked at the date. He didn't want to have that awkward conversation asking what day month or year it was. He scanned the top of the news paper and smirked. "6 months it's only been 6 months." The clerk at the stand snapped at him telling him it wasn't a library and either buy it or move on. Xander smiled and took off with a new found energy. It took some work and asking around but Xander was finally able to find the address of Cartias . With no money or phone he had to walk once again the 6 miles to the club. He was definitely human again and had the leg pains to back it up. When he finally found the club it was a great relief. He grabbed the door handle pulling the door open only to find it locked. Xander looked at the hours of operation and saw the club wouldn't be open for at least another 3 hours. He slid down the door and groaned. "Come on can't you cut me one break."

Just than his break walked around the corner. Lorne turned the corner whistling a tune, He was wearing a mustard colored suit with a purple undershirt and matching Fedora. He had dark sunglasses on and Starbucks in his other hand. Lorne practically dropped the coffee seeing Xander leaning tired and beat against his doorframe. "Oh my God sweetie what the hell happened to you."

Xander struggled to pull himself up but fell on his butt with exhaustion. Lorne grabbed Xander's arm and helped him to his feet. "What are you doing here?"

Xander smiled. "Well you know went out for a walk. You told me I should stop by some time if I'm ever in LA."

Lorne quickly pulled out his keys and unlocked the front door to the club. "Well let me give you the tour."

"You got a bite to eat."

"I can't cook but I can order a delicious pizza."

"Sounds great."

"I'm assuming there is a phone call you want to make to a certain slayer."

Xander smirked walking in to the club. He pulled himself up to a barstool. Lorne quickly dashed behind the bar looking for any possible food Xander could eat. Most of it was demon chow. He couldn't see Xander enjoying fried kitten tails. "Actually Lorne I was kind of hoping to talk to someone else at the school."

"You got that devious look in your eye. Should I be asking you to sing."

Xander laughed. "I am just trying to make a big entrance. A phone call is weak."

Lorne groaned. "I will get the pizza ordered for you. Unfortunately all I have to offer till then is a box of Twinkies." He tossed it on the counter. "Ugh who eats these things?'

Xander looked at the box as if it was the holy grail. "Oh thank you SAM."

Lorne looked confused as Xander ripped the box opened and shoved a whole twinkie in to his mouth. He groaned enjoying the spongey cream cakey goodness. "Who the hell is Sam?'

Xander muttered through a mouth full of Twinkie. "It's a long story."

Lorne took out his cell phone dialing Ray's pizza. "I'm going to order you a pie with everything on it than you are going to give me every detail of that long story." Xander nodded "Can I?" He pointed to the phone on the other side of the bar. Lorne nodded while placing the order. Xander grabbed the phone and quickly dialed the one person he knew could get him home the fastest. The phone rang forever and ever than dumped through voice mail. Xander groaned. "Come on be there for me." He dialed again and once again it went to voice mail. He sucked in a deep breath hung up the phone. He looked at the ceiling. "Come on I know I owe you for so much already. Just one more time. Help me out." Xander dialed the number again. It rang and rang and rang and finally.

"Hello?"

"Oh God Willow you have no idea how glad I am to hear your voice."

"Xa Xa Xander." The next sound that could be heard was the phone dropping. She quickly scooped it up. "Where the hell are you?"

"You and Lorne are the only one that knows I am back. I was going to take the first flight I could get to get back but I don't have my wallet or license or even money for a ticket. I was hoping you could find a way to get it to me."

She practically cried feeling tears of joy having her friend back. "I have to tell Buffy. She is going to."

"No no no no no. This is our secret. I want to surprise her. Do you think you can help me out. Get me a flight and maybe."

Willow cut him off. "I think we can do better than a flight. Where are you?"

"I'm at Caritas with Lorne. What do you have in mind?'

"Just hold tight Xander. I'm bringing ya home I promise." Just like that the line went dead. Lorne hung up his phone at the same time.

Lorne looked at Xander "Pizza is on the way. Should be at least half an hour though so I think that's a good place to start your long story."

Xander grabbed another twinkie "Isn't there some rule about your bartender serving you a drink as he listens to your sob story,"

"What's your poison?"

"Don't suppose you have any chocolate milk."

"Oddly enough I do. Keenor Demons love the stuff." He reached under the counter and poured a tall glass from the milk bottle. He pushed the glass in front of Xander. "One milk for one story."

"It started 6 months ago with this demon named Whistler." Xander went through the story of the never ending walk. The worlds ugliest dentist office and bitchiest receptionist the clouds and powers that be. He gave every detail even the details about how Cordy had the powers that be shaking in there boots in fear. At one point Lorne almost fell back and off his barstool laughing. He told him about the long walk home and how it brought him here to his bar.

Lorne just listened to every word in absolute awe. Xander finished the story just as he was finishing the last of his milk. He was finally starting to feel like his true old self again. Lorne grabbed the glass and rinsed it out. "It's so hard to believe that our old Cordy is now working as a herald to the great great beyond. I'd say I'm surprised but I always knew that girl was wired for great things."

"Yeah but by great things I thought maybe a congress woman hell maybe even the first woman president of the United States. Wouldn't of thought the girl in that cheerleading uniform all those years later would be working for." Just then there was a knock at the front door.

Lorne just smiled taking out his wallet. "That would be the pizza." He crossed the room and opened the door. "You aren't the pizza delivery guy."

Willow quickly ran in to the open bar and scanned the room finding Xander tackling him in a hug. "Xander you are back." She buried her face in to his shoulder dampening his shoulder with her tears. She could feel him and this was him. "And your power is."

Xander laughed. "Gone. I'm back to just good old Xander Harris." He wrapped his arms around her hugging her. "You have no idea how much I missed you. How much I missed all of you." Just than Lorne came walking in with the pizza in hand.

Lorne looked at Xander. "Your order got here before mine did."

Xander just laughed. "That is Willow Rosenberg for you master of the impossible."

Willow shook her head. "After your return I think you might the new champion of that."

Xander stepped back and sat on the stool. "So you teleported here I am assuming." Willow nodded. "I thought that took a whole lot of power."

"It does but I am getting better. Plus with the school I can tap in to the coven it's kind of a shared energy thing. I told Hope what I would be doing?"

"So Hope knows I'm back?"

"No. She trusts me. It was one of those no questions asked situations."

Xander nodded "Got enough juice to get us back."

Lorne looked disappointed they had to leave so soon. "But the pizza?"

Xander went to Lorne and hugged him. "Thank you for everything. Pizza is nice but."

Lorne smiled. "You got to get back to the girl. Go get her champ." He patted his shoulder.

Xander stepped back and looked at Lorne. "Until our next adventure."

Willow smiled "Two to beam up Scotty."

The school play ground looked amazing. They had decorated with Tiki torches and christmas lights. The pa system had music playing and there were party games spread every where. Buffy stood in front of the grill loading up the charcoal. On the table next to her was enough food to feed a large army. The grill itself was practically as long as a table. She closed her eyes and couldn't help but think this was wrong. Xander should be the grill master. He should be the one with the kiss the cook apron and silly hat. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"You really don't think I'm going to let you cook all of this."

She just smirked. "Right cause only the might Xander Harris is master of the grill."

"Hey we all have our talents. You can kill a hell of a vampire but I can grill one amazing burger."

"It should be you."

"So you going to let me do it."

"I wish I could."

"Why can't you?"

"Cause in a second I"m going to half to open my eyes and everything will be back to the way it is. You'll be gone and I'll be alone and I just want you for a few more seconds. I just want you for."

Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She heard his voice. She wasn't imaging it. "Open your eyes Buffy."

Buffy felt her knees shake and wobble and slowly turned around to find him standing right there. "Xander? Is it you? I mean is this real?" She tried to keep the tears in check.

He reached up pressing his palm to her cheek. He just wanted to touch her. He wanted her embrace. God how he missed it. "It's 100 percent real. I love you and I'm never leaving your side ever again."

She lunged at him kissing him deeply. She let the tears flow and the play ground suddenly realized what was going on. Xander was back and while everyone cheered the kiss and embrace to Buffy and Xander they were the only two that mattered to each other right now.

She wiped the tears from her eyes and pressed forehead to his. "I knew you'd come back to me."