Part 8:
"Xander's what? He's with who? And why didn't anyone bother to tell me last night? You could have at least called." Amy vented after Buffy and Dawn had gone through the events of the night before. The three of them were sitting at the conference table of the Magic Box, which was at the moment hidden underneath a humongous pile of books. Amy had been doing research overtime.
"Whoa there, boss lady." Buffy stopped Amy before she could continue her babbling. "I heard that there's this thing called air that humans need if they want to live. We didn't call you last night because we were still shocked ourselves. It's not everyday that a friend miraculously comes back to life."
"Well, there was that time when Angel came back from hell." Dawn added (not so) helpfully.
"I said friend, Dawn, not boyfriend."
"Could've fooled me with the way you were reacting to that pukefest with Drusilla."
"Look, Dawnie, I know I could have handled that situation better. If Spike hadn't pulled us out of there, I think all of us would have ended up killing each other. Even though he's. . . different, {and the winner of the 'understatement of the year' award is} I still think the old Xander is still in there somewhere, and we've got to find a way to bring him back out."
"But Buffy, he's with Drusilla." Amy cut in. "Non soul having, unchipped, psycho master vamp Drusilla. Are you sure we can trust him?"
"NO! It's Xander. We can trust him. I know it." Dawn rebutted emotionally.
"Amy is right, Dawnie. No matter how much I. . . we want to trust him, there is still a chance that he could be beyond our reach. We don't know where he's been this past six months. We don't even know whether he really is Xander. But I'm still going to try and get through to him. Let's just say I need closure, Aims. Besides, it's not as if we are going to involve him in something big like Dante or anything."
"Speaking of Dante," Amy said, "I couldn't find anything of significance regarding him in my research last night, but I think I may have remembered something important when we faced him the other night."
"Don't keep us in suspense, Aims." Dawn said sarcastically.
"While you and Spike were out and I was in that ring of fire, Buff, I could have sworn I heard Dante say something about us being friends with the White Knight."
"So you're thinking that this White Knight might be someone we know?"
"Yup. So any nominees?"
All three of them racked their brains trying to think of anyone that could possibly be the White Knight. None of them had any idea who this person could be.
"Hmm. Maybe it could be Ben Johnson." Buffy said.
"The cashier at the 7-11? Buffy, he's 75 years old. It's got to be Carl Malone." Dawn said dreamily.
"That football playing jock you have a crush on?" Amy asked. Dawn nodded sheepishly. "Dawn, just because you've probably had fantasies of him in a suit of armor, doesn't mean he's the White Knight."
"I've had fantasies of him in less that that."
"Dawn!" Buffy exclaimed, clutching her ears shut. "That's a whole lot more than what I needed to know!"
Amy let out a heavy sigh. "He could be anyone. Why don't you go to Willy's tonight, Buff, maybe he might know something."
Buffy shrugged. "Good idea Aims. Maybe I could invite Xander to come along. We could even go patrolling. It would be like old times. Give us a chance to talk."
Dawn slapped her forehead {My sister must be the biggest moron ever. She should be Buffy, the romance slayer.} "Great idea, Buff. Get him to open up by reminding him how screwed up our lives are. I'm sure he'll be talkative after you've patrolled the cemetery where all his loved ones are buried."
"What do you suggest, smarty-pants?" Buffy fired back.
"Number one; smarty-pants? How 'Happy Days' is that? Number two; why don't you and him spend a normal day together? Anything devoid of Hellmouthy-ness."
"Oh! I know!" Amy chimed in "The carnival's in town. Why don't you bring him there today?"
"What? I should just go up to his warehouse, knock on the door and ask him to the carnival?" Buffy asked sarcastically.
"Yes." Dawn and Amy chorused nonchalantly.
Buffy thought about it for a minute. {A normal day with an old friend. Granted that friend is supposed to be dead, but considering where we are, I'll take them as I get them.} "Alright, I might be crazy, but I'll do what you two say. But before you say anything, let me clarify that this is not a date. This is just two friends going out together to catch up on old times. Are we clear?"
"Crystal." Amy answered, puzzled.
"If you were any clearer, I'd see right through you." Dawn answered, trying to hold back a laugh. {I knew it! Buffy has feelings for Xander. About bloody time.}
"Good. Just so we have everything clear. Anyway, I might be out the whole day. So you stay here with Amy, Dawn. Spike should be here by sundown. He can take you guys to my house. You up for Dawn sittage tonight, Amy?"
"Sure, Buff."
"And before you complain about needing a sitter, Dawn, let me remind you that you did sneak out two nights in a row. And with Dante running around, I don't want you to be alone."
"I didn't say anything, Buff." Dawn answered way to sweetly. "I wouldn't want to get in the way of your 'non' date."
"Buffy just glared at her. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go. . . prepare. . . for this non date." Buffy practically flew out of the Magic Box. {Oh my god, my hairs a mess. What am I going to wear? Make-up, make- up!}
Amy scratched her head in confusion. "Did I just miss something?"
Dawn could only offer a knowing smile.
Xander was awakened by the sound of knocking on his door. He turned around to look at his digital alarm clock, which was providing the only source of light in the dark warehouse. {12 noon? Who'd be bothering us at this time of day?}He stumbled towards the door in a sleep induced, shirtless state, and opened it carefully to make sure Drusilla was not exposed to the sun.
He was greeted by an angel.
No, it was better than an angel.
It was Buffy.
Her golden mane, which shined in the afternoon sky, was tied back in a ponytail. She was wearing a white floral dress, which managed to show off her ripe curves while still maintaining an innocent look, and a pair of high heeled shoes that accentuated her already shapely legs.
In short, she was beautiful.
For a moment, he felt sixteen again. {She's more beautiful today than she was the first day I met her.} "B. . . Buffy." he stuttered. The moment was lost however, when his memories finally decided to return to his head. "What do you want?" he spat out coldly.
"Hey Xand." Two thoughts were running through Buffy's head at the time. One was why she was feeling so shy towards Xander. After all, he was only an old friend. {Isn't he?} The second, more prominent one was. . .
{Damn, he looks hot bare chested.}
"I repeat, what do you want, Buffy? Decided to come and finish the job with Dru?"
"Look, Xander, I know we went off on the wrong foot yesterday, and I thought we could start over. What do you say, you, me and all the candy floss you can eat?" Buffy asked as she held out two carnival tickets. "I know you can't resist the sweet, flossy goodness."
Xander stood there, unsure whether he should go or not. On one hand, he didn't want to open his heart to anyone ever again, for fear of being hurt. The last person he had completely opened his heart to was. . . Her.
{On the other hand, this IS Buffy, asking me out. Hell must be freezing over.}
"What, Xander? Afraid 'mummy' won't let you out?"
{Damn. This woman always knew how to push my buttons. . . get your mind out of the gutter, Xand.} "Wait a minute while I get dressed."
Drusilla got out of the bed as her kitten left with the slayer. She had pretended to be asleep the whole time. She had to admit that this turn of events were unexpected. She did not foresee that her kitten's dark heart could be cracking under the pressure of the white light that resided within it.
{I hope that this does not interfere with our plans.}
"Xander's what? He's with who? And why didn't anyone bother to tell me last night? You could have at least called." Amy vented after Buffy and Dawn had gone through the events of the night before. The three of them were sitting at the conference table of the Magic Box, which was at the moment hidden underneath a humongous pile of books. Amy had been doing research overtime.
"Whoa there, boss lady." Buffy stopped Amy before she could continue her babbling. "I heard that there's this thing called air that humans need if they want to live. We didn't call you last night because we were still shocked ourselves. It's not everyday that a friend miraculously comes back to life."
"Well, there was that time when Angel came back from hell." Dawn added (not so) helpfully.
"I said friend, Dawn, not boyfriend."
"Could've fooled me with the way you were reacting to that pukefest with Drusilla."
"Look, Dawnie, I know I could have handled that situation better. If Spike hadn't pulled us out of there, I think all of us would have ended up killing each other. Even though he's. . . different, {and the winner of the 'understatement of the year' award is} I still think the old Xander is still in there somewhere, and we've got to find a way to bring him back out."
"But Buffy, he's with Drusilla." Amy cut in. "Non soul having, unchipped, psycho master vamp Drusilla. Are you sure we can trust him?"
"NO! It's Xander. We can trust him. I know it." Dawn rebutted emotionally.
"Amy is right, Dawnie. No matter how much I. . . we want to trust him, there is still a chance that he could be beyond our reach. We don't know where he's been this past six months. We don't even know whether he really is Xander. But I'm still going to try and get through to him. Let's just say I need closure, Aims. Besides, it's not as if we are going to involve him in something big like Dante or anything."
"Speaking of Dante," Amy said, "I couldn't find anything of significance regarding him in my research last night, but I think I may have remembered something important when we faced him the other night."
"Don't keep us in suspense, Aims." Dawn said sarcastically.
"While you and Spike were out and I was in that ring of fire, Buff, I could have sworn I heard Dante say something about us being friends with the White Knight."
"So you're thinking that this White Knight might be someone we know?"
"Yup. So any nominees?"
All three of them racked their brains trying to think of anyone that could possibly be the White Knight. None of them had any idea who this person could be.
"Hmm. Maybe it could be Ben Johnson." Buffy said.
"The cashier at the 7-11? Buffy, he's 75 years old. It's got to be Carl Malone." Dawn said dreamily.
"That football playing jock you have a crush on?" Amy asked. Dawn nodded sheepishly. "Dawn, just because you've probably had fantasies of him in a suit of armor, doesn't mean he's the White Knight."
"I've had fantasies of him in less that that."
"Dawn!" Buffy exclaimed, clutching her ears shut. "That's a whole lot more than what I needed to know!"
Amy let out a heavy sigh. "He could be anyone. Why don't you go to Willy's tonight, Buff, maybe he might know something."
Buffy shrugged. "Good idea Aims. Maybe I could invite Xander to come along. We could even go patrolling. It would be like old times. Give us a chance to talk."
Dawn slapped her forehead {My sister must be the biggest moron ever. She should be Buffy, the romance slayer.} "Great idea, Buff. Get him to open up by reminding him how screwed up our lives are. I'm sure he'll be talkative after you've patrolled the cemetery where all his loved ones are buried."
"What do you suggest, smarty-pants?" Buffy fired back.
"Number one; smarty-pants? How 'Happy Days' is that? Number two; why don't you and him spend a normal day together? Anything devoid of Hellmouthy-ness."
"Oh! I know!" Amy chimed in "The carnival's in town. Why don't you bring him there today?"
"What? I should just go up to his warehouse, knock on the door and ask him to the carnival?" Buffy asked sarcastically.
"Yes." Dawn and Amy chorused nonchalantly.
Buffy thought about it for a minute. {A normal day with an old friend. Granted that friend is supposed to be dead, but considering where we are, I'll take them as I get them.} "Alright, I might be crazy, but I'll do what you two say. But before you say anything, let me clarify that this is not a date. This is just two friends going out together to catch up on old times. Are we clear?"
"Crystal." Amy answered, puzzled.
"If you were any clearer, I'd see right through you." Dawn answered, trying to hold back a laugh. {I knew it! Buffy has feelings for Xander. About bloody time.}
"Good. Just so we have everything clear. Anyway, I might be out the whole day. So you stay here with Amy, Dawn. Spike should be here by sundown. He can take you guys to my house. You up for Dawn sittage tonight, Amy?"
"Sure, Buff."
"And before you complain about needing a sitter, Dawn, let me remind you that you did sneak out two nights in a row. And with Dante running around, I don't want you to be alone."
"I didn't say anything, Buff." Dawn answered way to sweetly. "I wouldn't want to get in the way of your 'non' date."
"Buffy just glared at her. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go. . . prepare. . . for this non date." Buffy practically flew out of the Magic Box. {Oh my god, my hairs a mess. What am I going to wear? Make-up, make- up!}
Amy scratched her head in confusion. "Did I just miss something?"
Dawn could only offer a knowing smile.
Xander was awakened by the sound of knocking on his door. He turned around to look at his digital alarm clock, which was providing the only source of light in the dark warehouse. {12 noon? Who'd be bothering us at this time of day?}He stumbled towards the door in a sleep induced, shirtless state, and opened it carefully to make sure Drusilla was not exposed to the sun.
He was greeted by an angel.
No, it was better than an angel.
It was Buffy.
Her golden mane, which shined in the afternoon sky, was tied back in a ponytail. She was wearing a white floral dress, which managed to show off her ripe curves while still maintaining an innocent look, and a pair of high heeled shoes that accentuated her already shapely legs.
In short, she was beautiful.
For a moment, he felt sixteen again. {She's more beautiful today than she was the first day I met her.} "B. . . Buffy." he stuttered. The moment was lost however, when his memories finally decided to return to his head. "What do you want?" he spat out coldly.
"Hey Xand." Two thoughts were running through Buffy's head at the time. One was why she was feeling so shy towards Xander. After all, he was only an old friend. {Isn't he?} The second, more prominent one was. . .
{Damn, he looks hot bare chested.}
"I repeat, what do you want, Buffy? Decided to come and finish the job with Dru?"
"Look, Xander, I know we went off on the wrong foot yesterday, and I thought we could start over. What do you say, you, me and all the candy floss you can eat?" Buffy asked as she held out two carnival tickets. "I know you can't resist the sweet, flossy goodness."
Xander stood there, unsure whether he should go or not. On one hand, he didn't want to open his heart to anyone ever again, for fear of being hurt. The last person he had completely opened his heart to was. . . Her.
{On the other hand, this IS Buffy, asking me out. Hell must be freezing over.}
"What, Xander? Afraid 'mummy' won't let you out?"
{Damn. This woman always knew how to push my buttons. . . get your mind out of the gutter, Xand.} "Wait a minute while I get dressed."
Drusilla got out of the bed as her kitten left with the slayer. She had pretended to be asleep the whole time. She had to admit that this turn of events were unexpected. She did not foresee that her kitten's dark heart could be cracking under the pressure of the white light that resided within it.
{I hope that this does not interfere with our plans.}