Title: Deathwish (5/6)

Author: Brooke

Email: yabbadabbadome13@yahoo.com

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I might someday though. It's a goal of mine. Buffy and friends are owned by Joss, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, UPN, and whoever else has rights to the show.

Summary: Adventures in slaying

Spoilers: I'm not good with eppy titles, but it's pretty much just some stuff I borrowed from season 5.

Distribution: My fic is your fic. Just let me know.

Feedback: Definitely!! Tell me if it sucked or if you liked it. Whatever. Just write back!

Authors Note: … indicate thoughts. Happy reading all!

--Buffy

            We are both crying. I have never seen Xander cry before.

            "I don't want you to die either." I whisper. "Then live." came his reply in a shaky voice. His grip tightening even more on my shoulder. He sounded like a frightened child; I hated myself for doing that to him. I would do anything to never hear his voice sound like that again.

"I can try" I said shakily as I laid my head back down on his shoulder.

It felt so good to not hold back anymore, to drop my hard front, to just be me; a whimpering mess and all and still have unconditional love. Love that makes me glad that I'm alive to receive it.

Xander kisses the top of my head and said softly yet sternly, "There's no try about it. I won't let you fail."

I can't think of anything to say to that. The silence in the darkened room was astounding as we both sat quietly.

Suddenly I just had this feeling, it bubbled up as if from no where, and it threatened to make me burst into tears yet again. But this time they would be different tears, joyous tears at my new revelation. I lean further into the crook between his shoulder and his neck and whisper what I was feeling, the only thing I could say. "I love you Xander."

--Xander

            My heart skipped a beat and my breath hitched in my chest. "I love you too, Buffy."

            I closed my eyes and sighed smiling. If I could feel the left side of my body and my face wasn't a giant bruise I would have been in heaven. But I have to admit, this is pretty damn close.

            I felt Buffy slide away from me and watch as she moved to lay on her side. She winced as she shifted her broken arm.

            "We're going to the hospital at dawn." I state. She nods in agreement.

            Neither one of us wants to go back out there tonight.

            I move to lay beside her so that we are facing each other. I move my arm to encircle her small waist, and am mindful of her arm as I pull Buffy as close I could to myself. Ahh, one of the few drawbacks to being 3 dimensional, I laughed to myself. I would never let her go. It feels good that she knows that now, and has not yet made a move to protest.

            I listen and watch as her breath slows to a regular pace. I watch her drift to sleep as I feel myself sink into the most content slumber I have had in what feels like years.