Three

Old Friends
Narrowly brushes the same years
Silently sharing the same fear

He sits on the edge of the bed in the dark, just watching her. She wakes with a start.

What is it?

I'm afraid. Our luck is running out. We won't survive this time.

I know. I'm afraid too. I'm so afraid.

He lays by her on the bed. He buries his face in the side of her neck and her arm sneaks around his bare chest. I never stopped loving you. He kisses the hollow of her throat where her pulse beats erratically. His hand is heavy on her stomach and she feels a hot, low, ache between her legs.

Xander, she whispers.

Willow wakes with a start.

***

"I think that was the best sleep I've had in months," Willow announced, joining Xander in the kitchen. He was making waffles and was standing there in just pajama bottoms. He had lent Willow his pajama top and she looked awfully cute in it, standing there, all long, bare, lean legs and plaid cotton.

Xander realized his thoughts were going to that very strange place again, and he smiled a little nervously. "Nice and quiet and uncrowded here at Casa Harris. Want coffee?"

"A whole bunch of hell yeah. Please."

"Still take 4 heaping teaspoons of sugar?"

"Actually, I'm down to three. Go me." Willow took the proffered mug from Xander's outstretched hand and took a sip. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Hey, for a bachelor you make a damn fine cup of coffee."

"Yeah, well for someone who is just a friend and gay to boot you look extremely sexy in my pajama top. And I didn't just say that out loud. Oh boy. Um… do a tabula rasa, Will, quick, before I choke on my own foot."

Willow was frowning at him, bewildered. She took a step closer.

"Willow," he said, softly, trying to apologize.

Then she was on him, arms around those strong shoulders, kissing him. And then he was lifting her up, sitting her on the counter, kissing her so hard he was afraid her neck would break. Except she was kissing him back, just as strongly, and her legs were winding around his waist, pulling him into her pliant body. He groaned, his hands in her hair, his mouth tasting hers, drowning in the sensation of how good this felt.

She tasted so good, felt so good, better than the stolen kisses in her room or in the factory from years ago, this was everything he assumed he would never have, and now that he had it he never wanted it to end. She was running her fingers down his bare back, making him shiver.

"What is happening?" he breathed into her mouth.

"Don't know, don't care, don't stop," she mumbled, her fingers latching onto the waistband of his pajama bottoms.

"You feel so good," he said, tasting the cool skin of her neck.

"Oh, God, the waffles," Willow said. "Xander, the waffles…"

Xander gasped and woke up, sitting bolt upright in his bed. Willow was standing in the doorway of his bedroom, a tentative smile on her face.

"Xander, I said I made waffles… you want some or not? You overslept."

Xander took a deep breath and rubbed his eyes.

"Jesus. That was hands down the strangest dream I think I ever had." He sat there, trying to get a grip on reality. The non-kissing reality. He took another deep breath and tried to get his body to calm down.

"I had a strange dream too! What was yours about?" Willow said, then stopped. Her smile faded, and she looked as uncomfortable as he felt.

"You know, I can't even remember now," he said, finding it hard to meet her eyes. "How bout yours?"

Willow looked down at her feet. "Nothing that interesting, actually," she said. "I better go, uh, get those waffles."

***

"We don't have to go back there today," Xander said after breakfast and a long, cold shower he took while Willow read a magazine. "It's Saturday. Don't we get weekends off from our fight against the ultimate evil?"

"It's okay, Xander. I feel much better now." She reached over and squeezed his hand. "Thanks."

"Anytime."

"Xander… in the dream I had, you were in it. And you said we wouldn't survive this time. And I said I knew."

"Hey, leave foreboding prophecy dreams to Buffy, will you?" he said, trying to make her smile. She just looked sadly at him.

"When the next showdown comes, I'm going to need to use everything I have. I might need your help."

"Of course, Will."

"It could get ugly."

"Are we talking veins and black eyes again? Because personally I thought that was kind of hot."

"Don't joke," she said, even though she was hiding a smile. "I want us to live. I mean, everyone in the world, everyone in Sunnydale... but especially us, you know? I'm not ready for it to be over. I used to want it to be over, so I could be with Tara again. And I feel so bad but I'm not ready…"

"Stop now before I bind and gag you," Xander cut her off. He pulled her up from the table. "We're going to go over to Buffys. You will be useful, and I will stand around until something needs fixing and perhaps mock Andrew a little. And then we will eat ice cream. And all will be right with the world."

Willow's frown of worry had disappeared. She shook her head in wonder. "You better stop being so awesome or I'm going to fall in love with you again," Willow said.

Xander rolled his eyes. "Puh-lease, like you ever stopped. Come on." He winked at her and took her hand as they left the apartment.