"Buffy, wake up!"

"Leave me alone, Xander. I want to sleep," Buffy moaned.

"Xander?" the masculine voice definitely did not belong to Xander. Buffy opened her eyes and looked into Riley's angry ones.

"Riley," she started.

"You finally got it right, it only took you all night," Riley tried to mask the hurt in his voice.

"I'm sorry, I was dreaming and," Buffy tried to explain. She stopped mid-sentence, unable to go on. She just wanted to go back to sleep. Her dream was so wonderful. Buffy didn't understand why she kept dreaming about Xander, but now she didn't care. Reality and Riley were intrusions.

"Buffy!" Riley's voice invaded her thoughts. "You're not even listening to me!"

Buffy watched as Riley angrily pulled on his clothes. She felt guilty because, try as she might, she couldn't deny his accusation.

Riley glared at his girlfriend, "Look, until you decide you want to be with me, I'm going to stay away. Buffy, I love you, but I can't deal with all of the competition. I thought I had finally won after Angel, but now there's Xander too? I can't win."

"Competition over what?" Buffy asked.

Riley stopped just before reaching the door. Without turning, he replied, "Your heart."

Buffy heard the sadness in his voice. "Riley," she tried to explain, but it was too late. He had already left. Buffy sighed and let her head drop back onto her pillow. "Why is real life so hard?" she muttered as she attempted to sleep once more.





Buffy spent the day in a fog. She could vaguely recall her classes or lunch with Willow. Her mind remained focused on her dream and the intense desire to go back to sleep.

"Earth to Buffy, come in Buffy!" Willow's voice disrupted Buffy's daydream. Buffy shook her head slightly, clearing her head.

"Huh?" Buffy asked. "I'm sorry Will. I guess I'm a little distracted."

"A little? I've been trying to get your attention for the past ten minutes," Willow informed her.

"I'm sorry, what else can I say?"

"How about what's on your mind?"

"It's nothing," Buffy answered, a little too quickly. Willow just stared at her best friend. She knew something was going on, but she didn't want to press. Buffy sighed, knowing she needed to talk to someone. "Do you think things would be different if I never went away after I killed the Master?"

Willow was confused. "How do you mean?"

"What if I never went away? What if I stayed instead? What if I never got together with Angel?"

"Buffy, what's with the 'what ifs?'" Willow asked. "You and Angel are, were soul mates."

"Were we?" Buffy wondered. "Or was I just wanting the danger, the forbidden fruit?"

"I don't know," Willow replied. She thought for a moment. "Things probably wouldn't have been that different."

Buffy shook her head. "No, you're wrong. Things are totally different. Xander and I are engaged. My mom never got sick. She and Giles are married, making us a real family. Angel's gone thanks to Cordelia and you and Oz are still together."

The redhead laughed. "You've obviously put a lot of thought into this." Willow noticed Buffy's serious expression and stopped laughing. "Wait a minute. What do you mean ARE?"

Buffy looked at her best friend, tears gleaming in her eyes. "Will, I've been having this dream every night. It's so real; I'm beginning to get confused. I don't know what's real anymore."

Willow rushed over to Buffy and wrapped her in a hug. "Shh, it's okay," the witch tried to console her best friend. Buffy's sobs grew deeper and Willow's heart filled with sympathy. "Why don't you tell me all about it?"

Buffy sniffled and struggled to gain her composure. She took a deep breath and told Willow everything. She explained when the dreams began and how the lines were becoming fuzzy. The words spilled from her mouth, flowing like water. Willow was intrigued by Buffy's other world. It was pretty much the same, yet with a few major differences. She was still with Oz? Wow.

"Wow!" Willow commented out loud when Buffy finished. "So, you and Xander are engaged, huh?"

Buffy looked at Willow, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah. Kinda weird, huh?"

Willow nodded, "Uh-huh, but yet it seems perfect in some way."

"The thought of us together doesn't bother you?" Buffy asked, unsure if she wanted to hear the answer.

"Me?" Willow realized that Buffy was worried and rushed to assure her. "Buffy, you and Xander are my best friends. He has loved you for years. The thought that the two of you could find happiness together makes me happy."

"Really?"

"Really," Willow replied. "Look, I had a crush on Xander and that developed into that weird fling that we never talk about and it almost cost me the man I love, loved, and we should never have done that because..."

"Will, breathe," Buffy instructed the hyperventilating redhead.

Willow did as she was told. Calmer, she tried again, "I have had two loves in my life, Oz and Tara. Xander was a crush. We work best as friends." Willow smiled. "Besides, I'd rather see the two you together than see him with Anya."

Buffy shared her smile. "She is a little hard to stomach sometimes."

"Xander, let's go have sex," Willow mocked, mimicking Anya. "I want sex. Xander, give me some money. Let's have sex. Money, sex, money, sex and oh-my-god-what-about-Riley?"

Buffy was momentarily confused. "What do you mean?"

Willow looked at the Slayer. "What happens to Riley?"

Buffy sighed and shrugged. "I don't know. He and I have been having problems. Besides, it's not like there is anything going on between Xander and me. Right now, we're barely even friends."

"Of course you're friends," Willow argued.

"Yes, we're friends," Buffy agreed. "But we're not as close as we used to be. I know it's my fault and I'm trying to fix it. We're getting there, but there's still a long way to go."

"He still loves you," Willow stated.

"You think so?" Buffy asked quietly. "He seems to love Anya."

Willow couldn't totally disagree. "I think he does love Anya in some way." Buffy's heart plummeted. "But Xander's love for you is and always has been greater."

Buffy offered Willow a hesitant smile. "Honestly?"

Willow smiled back. "Yes, honestly. His love for you has overshadowed every relationship he has ever had." Willow paused. "Just ask Cordelia."

"No," Buffy argued. "You broke up that relationship."

Willow groaned. "Yes, but you cracked that foundation long before I used the sledgehammer."

Buffy laughed and Willow joined in. "Come on you crazy witch. Let's get to the Magic Box before Giles kills me."

"Race ya!" Willow cried, taking off.

Buffy stared in disbelief as Willow's bobbing head got further away. "Hey! No fair!" she raced after her friend. "Cheater!"




The bell jangled as Buffy entered the magic shop. Willow sat at the table. Buffy glared at the witch, who promptly stuck her tongue out in retort. Buffy was going to comment on Willow's cheating ways when Giles decided to interrupt.

"Buffy, you're late."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Relax, Giles. Willow and I were talking. We got caught up in the moment, you know, girltalk?"

"Yes, well, do try to be on time," Giles replied.

"Will do, chief," Buffy said with a mock salute.

Giles looked at his Slayer, annoyed. Deciding to ignore her comment, he chose another angle. "How's your mother?"

Buffy and Willow laughed, both remembering Buffy's dream world. Startled, Giles asked, "Did I say something funny?"

Buffy tried to be serious. "Mom's fine, Giles. She's home resting but she should be back to her insane schedule in no time."

"Good," Giles appeared to be lost in thought. Buffy assumed his thoughts were on her mother.

"Ready to train?" Buffy asked her watcher.

"Oh yes," Giles mumbled. "Xander's waiting for you in the back."

"I thought he had to work," Buffy mused, heart racing at the mention of his name.

Anya chose that moment to make her entrance, smoothing her shirt and fixing her hair. "He got off early and came to see me so we could have sex."

"Wow, Anya. That's not as blunt as usual," Buffy grinded her teeth. "Color me impressed."

Willow could see the fire in the Slayer's eyes. "Buffy," she warned.

Buffy turned and regarded her friend. She offered an innocent smile. "What?" she asked. "I'm just going to train with Xander." She moved toward the back. "And I'll make him pay for banging his slut in MY training room," Buffy muttered under her breath.

"Poor Xander," Willow murmured as she reached for one of Giles' books. She wanted to see if anything supernatural was causing Buffy's dreams. She had a theory, but didn't want to mention anything quite yet.

Buffy stormed into the back room, slamming the door. Startled, Xander dropped one of the pads.

"Buffster, what's up?" Xander was nervous. He could tell Buffy was mad. Before he knew it, he was knocked flat on his back and the Slayer was sitting on his chest. She glared at him, vengeance in her eyes.

"Buffy...my dearest friend," Xander began. When Buffy didn't make a move, he continued. "Slayer of my heart, light of my life, girl who can kick my butt with both hands tied behind her back and a broken leg..." Buffy smiled. Xander sighed with relief, but it was short-lived.

"Do I need to put up a sign that says 'No Sex Zone?'" Buffy smiled and pulled Xander to his feet. "Now, let's train."

"Oh god!"



"Thanks for walking me home, Xander," Buffy looked over at her friend. They had just finished patrol and she was tired. The night had been confusing. Buffy didn't know how to act around Xander anymore. She was acting like a schoolgirl, getting tongue-tied and all red. God, she was an idiot! At least she didn't have to deal with Riley right now.

"Well, it's the least I could do," Xander replied. He walked her up to the door. He caught a brief glimpse of his reflection in the window. "So, wonder how long this one'll last?"

Buffy leaned over and gently touched Xander's swollen eye. "I'm sorry. I've already said that a million times," Buffy sighed. "It's not my fault anyway."

"Oh right, like that vampire just threw me into your fist," Xander argued. Buffy just glared at him. "All right, he did," Xander finally admitted. "But I could've taken him."

"You did." Buffy reminded him.

"Oh yeah," Xander remembered. "So, same time tomorrow?"

Buffy smiled. "Yeah, I'll beat the crap out of you and then we patrol." She waited a few seconds before continuing. "Xander?"

Xander, halfway down the walk, turned and regarded Buffy. "Yeah?"

"Just you and me, tomorrow?"

Xander smiled. "Sure. Just you and me." At the sidewalk, he turned once more and saw Buffy watching his departure. "Night Buffy!"

"Night Xand," Buffy whispered and turned to go inside.