"So there's a new slayer in town huh?" She asked as she tossed another grape into her mouth.

"Yeah."

"Oh, should I be jealous? I know how you like your woman rough boy toy."

He smiled softly and lifted his hand to run it gently against her cheek. It was a perfect day. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, birds were singing, kids were playing off in the distance. They both lay on their sides, heads propped on their elbows, on a canary yellow blanket on the lush green grass. A picnic basket was perched between them, overflowing with assorted foods and drinks. She wore a plain cotton dress speckled with little daises and no shoes. She never would have worn this in real life, but here she did. He thought she looked cute in it, she thought she looked like a Barbie doll.

"Only you," he replied.

She laughed and shook her head.

"What about Bug lady?" She said. "Or one of your little hyena sluts?"

He blushed and looked away. She laughed again and looked at the dress once more, pulling on it with her hand, showing her distaste.

"What have you got me in?" She asked. "I feel like I should be auditioning for Little House on the Prairie in this thing."

"I think you look nice," he said.

She laughed again and turned to lay on her back. She felt his eyes on her, felt him slowly scooting his way closer.

"So tell me about her," she said.

"Tell you about who?"

"Duh," she said sarcastically. "The new slayer. What's up with her?"

"I don't know really. There's not that much to tell."

"Nothing at all? No dirt, no embarrassing little secrets?"

"Oh she's got plenty of those," he replied. "But it'll probably be a cold day in hell before I ever find out any of them. She doesn't say much, and what she does say to me is usually and insult or 'shut up.' Not very social, seems like she's hiding from something too."

"Hiding from things isn't always bad," she put in.

"Really," he replied in a mocking tone. "Say's the girl who bowled into town with the vampire version of goat boy on her heels. Or did we forget about Kakistios?"

"Hey there boy toy, no hitting below the belt."

"Sorry," he said.

"Five by five," she replied. "You two get along though right? I mean she's not like the bitchtress is she?"

"No, she's nothing like Angela. I think she just uses some bitchiness to keep us at a distance. We patrol together, after much convincing on my part, and it goes along smoothly. Well, sometimes."

"You mean you didn't woo her with that ol' Harris charm yet?" She asked rolling back on her side to face him, a small grin on her lips.

He smiled in return and leaned closer to kiss her. She returned it for a few minutes before pushing him away, waving her finger back at forth at him.

"No peep show for the kiddies over there," she said.

"I guess the ol' charm still has a few kinks huh?"

"It worked on me."

"Yeah," he said laughing. "And how long did that take?"

"Oh, come off it Xander," she teased. "You knew I had it bad for you."

"You sure had a funny way of showing it," he replied. "I do recall that black eye from trying to kiss you that time Spike had us trapped in the factory."

"I was playing hard to get," she defended. "And besides, I didn't want our first kiss to be something done just because you thought we were going to die."

"I knew you'd get us out," he insisted.

"Sure you did. You just wanted one little taste before you kicked the bucket."

"Maybe," he admitted.

"I knew it," she smirked triumphant.

A frisbee landed between them and they both laughed and tossed it back to it's owner. She let him move closer again, and nuzzled her head against his chest as he rested his hand on the small of her back. She wanted to stay there forever, but knew she couldn't. It wasn't up to her.

"I have to go again," she said quietly.

"Already?" He mumbled.

"Yeah," she replied. "Sucks doesn't it?"

"Royally."

I have some advice first," she said moving her head to look him in the eye. "This new slayer, what's her name?"

"Buffy."

"What the hell were her parents thinking?" Faith blurted and Xander laughed in response. "This wall she has around her, don't let it shut you out. She's like I was in a way. Has this big responsibility weighing on her shoulders and can't carry the load by herself, but thinks she has to."

"You know it's hard for me to talk to anyone since you..."

"She's had it rough Xander. A lot rougher than you can imagine, so stand strong when she pushes and don't back down. Be there when she tells you she doesn't need you and in time that wall will crumble. Like mine did..."

She took his face in her hands and kissed him passionately.

"I have to go," she said breaking away from him.

"Please," he whispered moving his hand to her shoulders to try to keep her there. "Don't leave me."

She looked at the scars on his wrists and smiled up at him sadly.

"Take care of yourself Xander," she said quietly. "You're so cold now..."

He closed his eyes to ward off the tears, and was about to say that he could never be warm again without her. But when he opened them she was gone. He rolled onto his back, simultaneously cursing and sighing loudly. He lashed out at the picnic basket sending it's continents flying onto the grass. He screamed bitterly and cursed that these dreams could be so vivid. He looked up at the sky once more. It still remained untouched. A perfect day indeed. He just wished it was real.

***

He awoke with a start, and found himself still in her bed her bed, he slowly disentangled himself from Willow's arms. She was sleeping peacefully when he looked up to her and moved as slowly as he could trying not to wake her. He eased himself off the bed and reached for his pants and shirt on the floor. He checked on her one more time before edging toward the doors that led to the balcony. The doors creaked loudly when he opened them and he cursed, knowing that he'd woken her up.

"Where are you going?" She mumbled sleepily.

"Just out on the balcony," he replied. "Thought I'd see the sun come up."

She rubbed at her eyes and looked to the clock on her end table next to the bed.

"It doesn't rise for another hour," she said.

"Nothing wrong with getting and early start," he replied looking away.

"You dreamt about her again didn't you?"

He looked to the girl who'd been his friend as long as he could remember. Watched as she lifted the covers from the side of the bed where he'd slept, silently asking him to come back. He saw the concern on her face, the understanding. She already knew his answer, and he could never lie to her.

"Yeah," he said softly. "I did."

"Was it bad?"

"Not this time," he answered cautiously moving back toward her. "It was kind of nice actually."

"Oh," she said slightly relieved. She'd seen him deal with enough nightmares.

"She told me to be nicer to Buffy."

"Really?"

"Well, told me that she has her reasons for being like she is. I just have to be patient with her."

"Sounds like good advice."

"I guess it is."

"Are you going to come back to bed?" She asked almost shyly.

He moved to the side of the bed to crawl back in and resumed his earlier position, wrapping his arms around her waist. He felt her arms wind around him and her lips on the top his head. He was grateful for her calming presence. She'd always helped him when he needed it. Always.

"Willow?" He said quietly.

"Hmm?"

"You're my best friend."

She smiled warmly and lifted her hand to run it through his hair.

"I know."

***

He saw Buffy sitting at the big table when he entered the library for the Saturday training session. He figured that they should have received some kind of extra credit for spending so much time on campus. She had a big book in front of her but it didn't seem like she was paying much attention to it. He watched her for a moment and Faith's words ran through his mind. For the first time since he'd met her he could actually think of her as vulnerable. He doesn't know where the thought came from but it was there. The 'tough as nails' act was exactly that. An act. He made a silent vow to himself to do exactly as he was advised. She looked up to him and scowled and he just smiled and shook his head.

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing," he replied. "Hi."

"Hi," she said a little confused.

He sat down at the table and waited for Giles to come out of his office. He felt Buffy staring at him and he looked to her again. She was still scowling at him and he couldn't help but smile again. It's what she did, and he'd have to take it. A part of him wanted to know why, what had Faith meant exactly about sticking close to her despite her closed off behavior and secretiveness. But for now he thought it best to understand, though he really didn't. He must have still had the smile on his face because she started to look really exasperated at him and he scowled back to let her know that everything was the same. Still, she looked at him strangely.

"What?"