Disclaimers and General Information in first chapter.
Buffy lost herself in the moment, feeling the pleasant pressure of Xander's lips against hers. She closed her eyes, releasing a content sigh. But then she remembered who she was kissing.
Startled, Buffy pulled back, "What was that for?"
Xander smiled at her. "Can't a guy be happy to see his girlfriend?"
Buffy lifted her eyebrow, "Girlfriend?"
"Yea, girlfriend," Xander replied. He noticed Buffy seemed a bit confused. His worry came rushing back to the surface. "Are you sure you're ok?"
"I'm fine," Buffy rushed to assure him. She had no clue what was going on here, but she didn't want to concern anyone. She'd just have to get some answers from him later.
Joyce and Giles heard Xander's arrival and joined the two at the door. Giles offered his hand to Xander, who promptly shook it in greeting. Joyce leaned over and hugged him. "Xander," she said. "I hope you make sure she gets back in one piece."
"Of course," Xander responded with a grin. "We're patrolling. Now I can't say the same for our date tomorrow." Joyce laughed and leaned backwards, balancing her weight against Giles stiff form. Giles wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
Buffy was watching this with a great deal of interest. Stranger and stranger. "Um, we better get going," she grabbed Xander's arm and began to pull him out the door. She needed some answers and she needed them now.
"Bye!" Joyce called as Buffy pulled the door shut. The last thing Buffy heard was a squeal from Joyce and Giles' laughter. Buffy inwardly shuddered at the thought of them together. It wasn't that she was against it, but ewww.
Buffy turned left and began to follow the route she had become accustomed to over the years. She could feel Xander's eyes on her, but couldn't bring herself to look at him. When did she and Xander get together? Her mom and Giles? What the heck was going on?
"Ok, Buff," Xander broke the silence. "Spill it."
Startled, Buffy glanced at the familiar form beside her. "What do you mean?"
"Come on, this is me," Xander stopped and turned the Slayer to face him. "Something is bugging you and I want to know what."
Buffy stared at him for a moment. Figuring she had nothing to lose, she blurted out her question, "Xander, when did we start dating?"
Xander shot her a confused look. When she said nothing else, he answered. "Night of Spring Fling, sophomore year." Xander's mind raced, "Oh my god, I didn't forget some anniversary or something, did I?"
Buffy ignored his question and focused instead on the answer. "So I didn't reject you."
"What?" Xander was lost. Something was wrong with his girlfriend, but he didn't know what. "Of course you rejected me. But you changed your mind after the ordeal with the Master."
"When you saved my life," Buffy confirmed.
Xander nodded, "You could say that. I just couldn't let you die." Buffy looked away and began walking again. "Is something wrong? What's with the questions?"
"Huh?" Buffy's mind was reeling. "Oh, I must've hit my head or something. I seem to have forgotten some very important details here."
Xander reached over and felt the back of her head. Feeling nothing, his worry resurfaced once more, "Shouldn't you see a doctor?"
"No, I'm okay," Buffy noticed Xander's concern. She reached over and lightly touched his shoulder. "Really."
Xander relaxed a bit. "You sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Just bear with me if I ask some really stupid questions."
Xander wasn't happy with her reply, but he would get over it. Dating a Slayer wasn't easy. He had learned to deal with her stubbornness over the years. She'd talk when she was good and ready.
"And Mom and Giles?" Buffy hesitated to ask.
Xander quickly figured out what she was asking. "Oh, they married not long after the candy incident. Giles had been fired from the Council so he had nothing to lose." Xander laughed, "Boy, you were so ticked off at them. But you got over it pretty quick."
Buffy laughed and Xander felt a bit better. "Yea, I'm sure I was. But I got over it, right?"
"Yeeeesss," Xander drawled.
Buffy realized the questions were causing her "boyfriend" to be quite alarmed and made a decision. She would have to find out what was going on some other way. No more questions. "Ready to kick some demon booty?"
Xander smiled, "Like you need to ask." He tossed a stake in the air, catching it in its downward spiral. "Bring it on!"
As if on cue, three vampires crept out of the darkness from behind an ancient crypt. Assessing the challenge, Buffy glanced back at Xander. "You just had to jinx us, didn't you?"
Xander shrugged and lunged for the first demon. Grabbing the creep by his collar, he tossed him into a nearby headstone.
Buffy quickly occupied herself with the other two vampires. One, a scrawny male with stringy brown hair, was the first to attack. Buffy laughed at his weak attempt and shoved the stake deep into his heart. In a matter of seconds, he was dust.
"How pathetic was that," Buffy called over to Xander as she landed a kick into her second opponent's side.
Xander ducked to avoid being punched and followed up with a swift uppercut of his own. The vampire he was fighting fell backwards, but came back at him, fists flying. Xander's face stung when one of the punches hit their mark. Shaking it off, he raised his leg, kicking the demon in the chest and knocking him flat on the ground. Xander rolled his eyes and finished the creature off, driving the stake into his chest.
Dusting himself off, Xander stood up and looked over at his girlfriend. He briefly wondered if he should assist her, but decided to sit back and watch instead. She attacked her opponent, her limbs disappearing in a flurry of motion. Xander was in awe once more of her skill. She disposed of the vampire quickly, barely breaking a sweat.
Buffy noticed Xander staring at her. "What?" she asked with a smile.
Xander just shook his head. "It's just you." At Buffy's questioning glance, he continued. "Do you know just how beautiful you are to me at this very moment?"
Buffy glanced down and saw that her shirt was torn and there were twigs all over her clothes. She could only imagine what her hair looked like. "Yeah right," she groaned.
Xander reached over and brushed a smudge of dirt off her cheek. "I mean it," he said. "You're beautiful." He pulled her into his arms.
Buffy leaned into his embrace. This wasn't the Xander she was used to. Well, it was, but there was something more. Something she never noticed before. He was sweet and he handled himself well in the fight. Maybe she was dreaming. Buffy couldn't be sure. "Oh well," she thought. "If this is a dream, I might as well take advantage of it."
Xander gave Buffy a swift kiss. Noticing the exhaustion evident on her face, he decided to take her home. "Hey, time for you to get some sleep."
"Yeah, I am really tired," Buffy agreed. She snuggled closer to Xander as they walked back to her house. Once outside the front door, she turned to face her companion.
"Well, here we are," Xander commented.
"Uh huh," she sighed, struggling to keep her eyes open. Xander smiled slightly and leaned in, brushing his lips against hers.
"Go to bed," he told Buffy. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Promise?" Buffy asked.
"Promise." He replied. "We've got a date."
Buffy watched as Xander walked off into the night before letting herself into the house. Silently, she made her way to her room. In a matter of minutes, Buffy changed her clothes and snuggled deep under the covers. This world was so strange; it had to be a dream. She couldn't believe she was dating Xander. How did that one happen? Was it something deep in her subconscious? Who knew? She was too tired to think about it. For now, she just wanted to sleep. Closing her eyes, Buffy allowed herself to sink into the blissful abyss.
"Buffy!"
Buffy stirred and opened one of her eyes. Riley was hovering above her, wearing a goofy grin. "What?"
"Aren't we going out?" he asked her. "Don't tell me you forgot we have plans."
"What plans?" Buffy felt groggy as she struggled into a sitting position. She glanced around at the familiar surroundings. She reached down and rubbed the necklace she always wore, the cross Angel had given her.
"We're supposed to go pick up your mom at the hospital, remember?" Riley reminded her. "She is getting released today."
Buffy sighed, remembering the ordeal she had been through with her mother's tumor. She closed her eyes and thought about her dream. "Crazy," she thought. She opened her eyes and looked at Riley, "Lead the way, soldier boy."
Riley smiled and grabbed Buffy. Tossing her over his shoulder, he made his way to the door.
Buffy lost herself in the moment, feeling the pleasant pressure of Xander's lips against hers. She closed her eyes, releasing a content sigh. But then she remembered who she was kissing.
Startled, Buffy pulled back, "What was that for?"
Xander smiled at her. "Can't a guy be happy to see his girlfriend?"
Buffy lifted her eyebrow, "Girlfriend?"
"Yea, girlfriend," Xander replied. He noticed Buffy seemed a bit confused. His worry came rushing back to the surface. "Are you sure you're ok?"
"I'm fine," Buffy rushed to assure him. She had no clue what was going on here, but she didn't want to concern anyone. She'd just have to get some answers from him later.
Joyce and Giles heard Xander's arrival and joined the two at the door. Giles offered his hand to Xander, who promptly shook it in greeting. Joyce leaned over and hugged him. "Xander," she said. "I hope you make sure she gets back in one piece."
"Of course," Xander responded with a grin. "We're patrolling. Now I can't say the same for our date tomorrow." Joyce laughed and leaned backwards, balancing her weight against Giles stiff form. Giles wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head.
Buffy was watching this with a great deal of interest. Stranger and stranger. "Um, we better get going," she grabbed Xander's arm and began to pull him out the door. She needed some answers and she needed them now.
"Bye!" Joyce called as Buffy pulled the door shut. The last thing Buffy heard was a squeal from Joyce and Giles' laughter. Buffy inwardly shuddered at the thought of them together. It wasn't that she was against it, but ewww.
Buffy turned left and began to follow the route she had become accustomed to over the years. She could feel Xander's eyes on her, but couldn't bring herself to look at him. When did she and Xander get together? Her mom and Giles? What the heck was going on?
"Ok, Buff," Xander broke the silence. "Spill it."
Startled, Buffy glanced at the familiar form beside her. "What do you mean?"
"Come on, this is me," Xander stopped and turned the Slayer to face him. "Something is bugging you and I want to know what."
Buffy stared at him for a moment. Figuring she had nothing to lose, she blurted out her question, "Xander, when did we start dating?"
Xander shot her a confused look. When she said nothing else, he answered. "Night of Spring Fling, sophomore year." Xander's mind raced, "Oh my god, I didn't forget some anniversary or something, did I?"
Buffy ignored his question and focused instead on the answer. "So I didn't reject you."
"What?" Xander was lost. Something was wrong with his girlfriend, but he didn't know what. "Of course you rejected me. But you changed your mind after the ordeal with the Master."
"When you saved my life," Buffy confirmed.
Xander nodded, "You could say that. I just couldn't let you die." Buffy looked away and began walking again. "Is something wrong? What's with the questions?"
"Huh?" Buffy's mind was reeling. "Oh, I must've hit my head or something. I seem to have forgotten some very important details here."
Xander reached over and felt the back of her head. Feeling nothing, his worry resurfaced once more, "Shouldn't you see a doctor?"
"No, I'm okay," Buffy noticed Xander's concern. She reached over and lightly touched his shoulder. "Really."
Xander relaxed a bit. "You sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Just bear with me if I ask some really stupid questions."
Xander wasn't happy with her reply, but he would get over it. Dating a Slayer wasn't easy. He had learned to deal with her stubbornness over the years. She'd talk when she was good and ready.
"And Mom and Giles?" Buffy hesitated to ask.
Xander quickly figured out what she was asking. "Oh, they married not long after the candy incident. Giles had been fired from the Council so he had nothing to lose." Xander laughed, "Boy, you were so ticked off at them. But you got over it pretty quick."
Buffy laughed and Xander felt a bit better. "Yea, I'm sure I was. But I got over it, right?"
"Yeeeesss," Xander drawled.
Buffy realized the questions were causing her "boyfriend" to be quite alarmed and made a decision. She would have to find out what was going on some other way. No more questions. "Ready to kick some demon booty?"
Xander smiled, "Like you need to ask." He tossed a stake in the air, catching it in its downward spiral. "Bring it on!"
As if on cue, three vampires crept out of the darkness from behind an ancient crypt. Assessing the challenge, Buffy glanced back at Xander. "You just had to jinx us, didn't you?"
Xander shrugged and lunged for the first demon. Grabbing the creep by his collar, he tossed him into a nearby headstone.
Buffy quickly occupied herself with the other two vampires. One, a scrawny male with stringy brown hair, was the first to attack. Buffy laughed at his weak attempt and shoved the stake deep into his heart. In a matter of seconds, he was dust.
"How pathetic was that," Buffy called over to Xander as she landed a kick into her second opponent's side.
Xander ducked to avoid being punched and followed up with a swift uppercut of his own. The vampire he was fighting fell backwards, but came back at him, fists flying. Xander's face stung when one of the punches hit their mark. Shaking it off, he raised his leg, kicking the demon in the chest and knocking him flat on the ground. Xander rolled his eyes and finished the creature off, driving the stake into his chest.
Dusting himself off, Xander stood up and looked over at his girlfriend. He briefly wondered if he should assist her, but decided to sit back and watch instead. She attacked her opponent, her limbs disappearing in a flurry of motion. Xander was in awe once more of her skill. She disposed of the vampire quickly, barely breaking a sweat.
Buffy noticed Xander staring at her. "What?" she asked with a smile.
Xander just shook his head. "It's just you." At Buffy's questioning glance, he continued. "Do you know just how beautiful you are to me at this very moment?"
Buffy glanced down and saw that her shirt was torn and there were twigs all over her clothes. She could only imagine what her hair looked like. "Yeah right," she groaned.
Xander reached over and brushed a smudge of dirt off her cheek. "I mean it," he said. "You're beautiful." He pulled her into his arms.
Buffy leaned into his embrace. This wasn't the Xander she was used to. Well, it was, but there was something more. Something she never noticed before. He was sweet and he handled himself well in the fight. Maybe she was dreaming. Buffy couldn't be sure. "Oh well," she thought. "If this is a dream, I might as well take advantage of it."
Xander gave Buffy a swift kiss. Noticing the exhaustion evident on her face, he decided to take her home. "Hey, time for you to get some sleep."
"Yeah, I am really tired," Buffy agreed. She snuggled closer to Xander as they walked back to her house. Once outside the front door, she turned to face her companion.
"Well, here we are," Xander commented.
"Uh huh," she sighed, struggling to keep her eyes open. Xander smiled slightly and leaned in, brushing his lips against hers.
"Go to bed," he told Buffy. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Promise?" Buffy asked.
"Promise." He replied. "We've got a date."
Buffy watched as Xander walked off into the night before letting herself into the house. Silently, she made her way to her room. In a matter of minutes, Buffy changed her clothes and snuggled deep under the covers. This world was so strange; it had to be a dream. She couldn't believe she was dating Xander. How did that one happen? Was it something deep in her subconscious? Who knew? She was too tired to think about it. For now, she just wanted to sleep. Closing her eyes, Buffy allowed herself to sink into the blissful abyss.
"Buffy!"
Buffy stirred and opened one of her eyes. Riley was hovering above her, wearing a goofy grin. "What?"
"Aren't we going out?" he asked her. "Don't tell me you forgot we have plans."
"What plans?" Buffy felt groggy as she struggled into a sitting position. She glanced around at the familiar surroundings. She reached down and rubbed the necklace she always wore, the cross Angel had given her.
"We're supposed to go pick up your mom at the hospital, remember?" Riley reminded her. "She is getting released today."
Buffy sighed, remembering the ordeal she had been through with her mother's tumor. She closed her eyes and thought about her dream. "Crazy," she thought. She opened her eyes and looked at Riley, "Lead the way, soldier boy."
Riley smiled and grabbed Buffy. Tossing her over his shoulder, he made his way to the door.