"Hey," said Xander after Giles had shut the door.

"Hi," Buffy whispered.

Xander sat down next to her. "Buffy, I. . ." He sighed, then steeled his nerve.

"Buffy, I know that you think you made a mistake in kissing me. And I can live with that, I suppose. But Wills said you think I hate you. Buffy, I could never hate you!" he said. "I love you too much. I couldn't live with myself if you thought I hated you."

Buffy looked at him, eyes puffy and wide. "You. . . you think it was a mistake?"

"Wasn't it?"

"I. . . no! Xander, how could you think that?"

"You ran away!"

"You were disgusted!"

"I wasn't disgusted, I was shocked!"

"Shocked?" she asked. "Why would you be shocked?"

"Why would I be shocked? Gee, I don't know. The girl of my dreams, the most incredibly beautiful woman I've ever met runs out of a bar, cries on me, then kisses me and runs away. Where would the potential for shock come in there?"

"Xander, you have to believe it wasn't a mistake. When I heard what Willy said. . . about how you could have died. . . I couldn't handle it. And then you were so wonderful, holding me, it felt so. . . so right, and I had to kiss you."

"So, you don't regret it?"

"NO! Don't ever think that, Xander! I. . . I love you. And I know you don't feel like that towards me anymore, and I hope that we ca-- mmf!" She was abruptly cut off as Xander kissed her full on the lips.

"What was that?" she whispered, after the kiss broke.

"You said you love me," he whispered back, holding her close to him.

"I do," she said. "But that doesn't explain. . ."

"You know, for someone with great hearing, you don't listen very well," he said, grinning at her. "So you just, what, skipped over that 'girl of my dreams' part?"

"I. . . I must have missed it," she said, leaning her head into his chest, and chuckling a little.

He tilted her chin up towards him and looked her straight in the eyes. "You said you love me."

She nodded.

He leaned in and kissed her again, a long, passionate kiss, the kind they only talk about in books or movies, or bad fan fiction posted on the internet.

"I love you, too," he said. "I've loved you since I first set eyes on you and rammed straight into a metal railing."

He pulled her tight to him, a grin forming on his face again. She leaned into his chest, a contented smile playing out across her lips. Together, they leaned back in her bed and just lay there, holding each other, taking comfort in the other's closeness and warmth.

"I suppose we should let the others in," Xander said after a few minutes.

"Just hold me a little longer," said Buffy. "There's plenty of time for them. . . I want some time for us, right now."

Xander leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "As you wish."

* * * * *

"They seem to have quieted down," said Giles.

Willow nodded, her head leaning against Oz's shoulder. "Double suicide or making out?"

"Neither," said Oz. "Asleep, holding each other."

"Aww, that's sweet," said Willow, giving Oz a kiss. "But they're totally making out."

"Willow, I love you, but you're wrong."

"Am not. Wanna bet?"

Oz raised an eyebrow.

"C'mon, buster. 10 bucks says we charge in there right now, we find smoochies."

Oz nodded his head.

"Good lord, I must find some people my age," said Giles.

"Awww, we love you too, Giles," Willow said, leaning over and giving Giles a big hug.

"Thank you, Willow. I'm quite fond of all of you as well," said Giles. "Though lord knows I've tried not to be."

Willow grinned. "I think we should barge in on their quiet time don't you?"

"It's a moral imperative," said Oz.

Willow got up, and quietly moved to the door, putting her ear against it. "I don't hear anything," she whispered as Oz and Giles stood up.

Turning the knob slowly, Willow peeked her head into the room, then looked back frowning.

"Fine," she said, reaching into a pocket and pulling out some money with a pout on her face. "Go ahead and know my best friends better than I do."

Oz smiled, taking the money. "Just a lucky guess," he said. "Besides, now I can take my girlfriend to the movies."

Oz, Willow and Giles moved quietly into the room, all taking in the sight of Buffy sleeping in Xander's arms with a content smile on her face, a look mirrored on Xander's face.

"Ohh, that's so cute!" said Willow, moving to her desk.

"Yes. Well, I don't imagine Xander will be returning to my flat tonight. . . and it's rather late."

"Okay," said Willow. "G'nite Giles!"

"Good night," Giles said, exiting the room.

Willow took out a disposable camera and took a quick photo of the sleeping couple.

"Oz, look," said Willow, grinning from ear to ear. "They're so cute. And asleep. And it's only 11 o'clock. On a Saturday. They're pathetic! Aww!"

"Thanks for the love, Wills," Xander said without opening his eyes.

"Hey, you're not supposed to be awake," Willow said, forcing a frown.

"And we didn't tell you to come inside yet," said Buffy.

"But, I... we. . . with the quiet. . . and. . . suicide?"

"Suicide?" Xander asked, his eyes opening for the first time. "Will, what?"

"It was one of the options," said Oz.

"Yeah!" said Willow. "We were worried about your health. There was no sound, so we figured-"

"We?" asked Oz.

"Okay, *I* figured that you were either making out or had done the whole double suicide thing."

"I took asleep together," said Oz.

"So. . . so you guys are together, right?" Willow asked.

"Yep," said Buffy. "What can I say? I love the big lug."

"Yeah," said Xander. "And I figured that, well, since Cordy moved to LA, I should probably give up on her. . ."

"Hey!" yelled Buffy, smacking him on the chest.

Xander grinned at her. "Mmm. . . you're so cute when you're angry."

Buffy rolled her eyes at him and looked up, without moving from his arms.

"It's really only 11 o'clock?"

"Yup," said Willow.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Buffy asked, looking at Xander.

He looked at her. "I love the way you think. . . yeah," he said.

Looking at Willow and Oz, Buffy said. "You guys wanna patrol?"

Willow bugged her eyes out at them and threw her arms in the air, exasperated. "You mean to tell me that it took you guys this long to get together and to initiate a new relationship, your first date is going to be all 'Hey, let's go kill stuff?'"

They nodded.

Willow plopped down on her bed. "Romance really is dead," she said.

"Hey, I think it's romantic," said Xander. "Two young people in love, getting together to ward off the forces of evil to make the world safer for humankind, going home at the end of the night and falling asleep in each other's arms. How is that not romantic?"

"But. . . you're. . . and. . . Okay, fine, it's romantic, but I expect you two to have a real date at some point."

"Of course," said Buffy. "Many of them. But for now? We kill things. Yay."

"I swear," said Willow. "If you two weren't destined to be together, I'd beat you senseless."

"I don't think destiny had much to do with it, Will," said Xander, smiling at Buffy. "Just love."

"Psh," said Willow. "That's just cuz we didn't show you the books. And I was looking forward to meddling. I didn't get to meddle! I wanted to meddle!"

"Books?" Xander and Buffy asked together.

"Yeah," said Willow. "There are some prophecies talking about the White Knight and his Chosen One. Reference the word 'his' and a couple other things, and it's pretty much obvious you guys are supposed to be together. Although I could have told you that without some dumb books."

"Really?" Buffy asked.

"Yup. Oh, and that 'acting as One' thing that you have to do? You know, to kill the. . . demon thingy, during that ritual? That means the two to kill him have to be in love to do it, other wise it doesn't die, and the world kinda does."

"Wow," said Xander. "Good thing for the world we got it right, huh?"

"Sucks for the Fargath, though," said Buffy.

"Yeah, I was worried about its feelings while we kill it."

* * * * *

"Xan?" asked Buffy as they patrolled one of Sunnydale's many cemeteries holding hands.

"Yeah, Buff?"

"I'm gonna ask you a question."

Xander chuckled. "Okay."

"Do you love Willow?"

"Yup."

"Okay. Knew that one. More than me?"

"Nope. Not less, either. Different."

"How different?"

"Well. . . I love Willow. And, I love you. . . in fact, I'm *in* love with you. Have been pretty much since I saw you. But there's a bit more to it than that."

"Like what?"

"Well. . . it's like. I suppose that. . . I guess the best way to say it is that Willow's a part of me."

"And I'm not?"

"No. You're not a part of me, but you certainly own a part of me."

"Xander. . ."

"Not that part, Buffy," he said, tapping his chest. "This one."

"Awww," she said, giving him a kiss.

"See, Willow and I. . . we grew up together, and we've been best friends since like forever, seen each other through. . . well, everything that two friends can possibly go through. And Willow is responsible for getting me through a lot of it, and pretty much for shaping who I am. If I hadn't ever met Willow, I wouldn't be me. It's like. . . it's like she's a big part of everything inside me that's good. . . that makes me different from. . . well, from my father."

"Xander, you could never be your father. You're not like that."

"I know that, but I also know that if it hadn't been for Willow, I could very easily have ended up like that. Like I said. . . she's the good in me."

"Oh. So. . . then what am I?"

"You? You're my reason why."

"What do you mean?"

"It's like. . . here, sit down," he said, indicating a headstone that she quickly hopped up on. Facing her and taking both her hands in his, he continued. "You're the reason I do stuff. Not all this, fighting and whatever. I'd do that anyway. Knowing what I know, I couldn't not do it," he sighed. "It's like. . . did you ever see As Good As It Gets?"

Buffy looked at him skeptically. "No. . . never saw that one. Why?"

"Okay, the. . . main character, Jack Nicholson, he's got Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, okay? But he has these pills that make it not so bad, but he hates taking pills. So in this scene in a restaurant with Helen Hunt, he's being an ass, and she's gonna leave unless he gives her a compliment. So he tells her that. . . okay, there was this night where she came to his apartment and told him she will never sleep with him for various reasons that aren't important right now. So he tells her that the next morning, he started taking his pills, even though he hated them."

"She makes him want to take medicine? That's a compliment?"

"And that's basically what she said. But it is, and what she didn't see until he explained it, and I guess pretty much what I'm saying to you, is that the pills make him better. She makes him want to be a better man. And that's what you are to me. You're the reason I get up and go to work, and try to better myself. I look at you. . . and I see the dream my parents never got. I see the house, with a white picket fence, a big backyard, a 2- car garage, 2.3 kids and a dog. The kitchen table's messy and the kids are running around, screaming as I read the newspaper and you get ready to go to work. I see it all, Buffy, and you're the reason I want it. Because none of that means anything if I can't have it with you."

Buffy sat on the headstone, eyes wide and a couple of tears sliding down her cheeks. "I. . . Xan, I. . ."

"Shh," he said, moving in to embrace her, and gently wiping her tears away. "I love you, Buffy. You mean the world to me. Don't ever doubt that."

They stayed there for another minute, just holding each other, not saying anything.

"It's my turn now," Xander said.

"Turn for what?"

"You got your insecurities, it's only fair I've got mine," he said with a half smile.

"Okay. Shoot."

"Well," Xander said, "It's kind of. . . um. . ." he sighed.

"You ignored me for so long," he said. "Romantically anyway. I mean the only time you thought of me like that at all was when I put the whammy on all of Sunnydale, except Cordelia. And then. . . I mean, then I come back from my trip, and I've got these powers. . . and suddenly you're in love with me. It's like. . . I don't know. The timing seems a little convenient, you know? I guess. . .I mean, I don't really think. . . I just. . ."

"I know. It's okay, Xan. And for the record, your powers have absolutely nothing to do with why I love you. Let me ask you something. Who am I?"

"Uh. What?"

"Who am I? To you, who do you see me as?"

"You're Buffy. The girl who stole my heart."

Buffy grinned at that. "Okay. So I'm Buffy. Then who is the Slayer?"

"Um. . . you are?"

"Right. I am the Slayer. Would you still love me if I wasn't the Slayer?"

"Of course I would. You'd still be the girl I love, just without the extra- special nightlife which, believe me, I wouldn't miss."

"Me either. But the point is, you love me for me. And I love you for you. Xander, I don't care about your powers. Sure, they're fun for fighting demons, but that's not who I am, it's just what I do. The reason I love you is because of who you are, and not what can you do. You've always been there to support me when I needed it, and even when you didn't agree with me, you were still there to back me up. You make me laugh, Xander. I don't think you know how precious that is. You're so tender with me. . . you treat me like a girl, instead of like the Slayer. And you don't try to compete with me, you just accept me for who I am. Since you've come back, I've seen a side of you that's always been there, I've just never looked at it before. And I saw it, and I fell so hard in love with you, it scares me."

Xander pulled Buffy into a tight embrace. "I love you so much," he said.

"I am *so* going to kill you," Buffy said, suddenly.

Xander pulled away. "Um. . . what?"

"Not you," she said, pointing a thumb over her shoulder. "Him."

Xander looked behind Buffy to see a couple of vampires approaching.

"Them, actually."

Buffy hopped off the headstone and turned to face them.

"Okay, I'm in a really good mood right now," she said. "So, I'm going to give you a choice. Leave now, and don't come back. Or die."

The vampires laughed at her. "What makes you think you are a threat to us, little girl?"

"Oh, see, you shouldn't have said that," said Xander. "She doesn't like being called little."

Buffy's eyes narrowed.

"One girl, it matters not."

"Yeah," said Xander. "Okay. Stop me if you've heard this one before. 'In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the demons, vampires and forces of darkness...She is the Slayer. One girl in all the world with the strength and skill to defeat the forces of darkness, and stop the swell of their numbers.'"

"You've got that down good."

"What do you expect? I live with Giles."

The vampires froze, and looked at each other. "We can run?" asked the first.

"Not anymore," said Buffy, running up and kicking it in the head. "You called me little."

She punched the vampire in the chest, following up with kick to the knee that forced it to the ground. Grabbing her stake from the waistband of her jeans, she quickly plunged it into his chest, dusting him. Turning to face the other vampire, she and Xander were both confused as it turned to dust. Xander walked over next to Buffy.

"Well. . . that was just odd," he said.

They heard a rustling from the darkness, and Angel walked toward them, lowering a crossbow.

"And the fun begins," Xander said.

"Buffy," said Angel.

"Angel."

"Xander," said Xander.

Angel glared at him. Xander glared right back.

After about fifteen seconds of this, Buffy intervened. "Enough with the testosterone show."

Angel shook his head. "I need to talk to you."

"O- okay. . ."

"Not you," said Angel, pointing at Xander. "Him."

"How ominous," said Xander, sarcastically. "You gonna brood at me?"

"Can you be serious for one minute?"

"Fine. Drop the tortured hero act, and pretend you're human. Then I'll be serious."

"Look, I just need to talk to you. It's important."

"Fine," Xander said.

"Alone?"

Xander rolled his eyes. "Okay."

"Well are you coming?" Angel said, seeing that Xander wasn't moving.

"Look, gimme a second. Do that disappearing thing you're so good at, I'll catch up with you."

Angel looked at him for a second. "Fine. I'll be over here." With that, Angel turned and walked away, his duster sweeping across the ground.

Xander turned to Buffy, who looked confused.

"I guess I need to talk to him," said Xander.

Buffy looked up at him and nodded.

"You okay?" he asked.

Buffy swallowed, then nodded. "Yeah. It was just. . . a. . . surprise. Seeing him, I mean. I. . . wasn't ready for it."

Xander sighed. "You still love him." It was a statement, more than a question.

Buffy furrowed her brow, then nodded once. "Yes."

Xander shook his head and started to walk away. "Great. One encounter and I'm off to the back burner."

Buffy grabbed his hand and pulled him back to her. "No," she said. "Why would you think that?"

"It's Xander-luck. It's how my life goes."

Buffy took him by his head and forcing him to look in her eyes. "It's not how your life goes anymore. I. . . I do love him. I think a part of me always will. . . but I'm with you now. I love you. That's not going to change because he showed up again for one night."

"And if he decided to stay?"

Buffy pulled him into a kiss, then said, "Then he'd have to deal. I love you, Xander Harris. When I'm with you, I feel more complete than I ever did with him. There's no pain with you, just happy." She smiled at him, and he melted inside. "Go talk to him. I'm going to go back to my room. I'll be waiting for you."

He leaned down and kissed her. "I love you."

"I know."

"Can I dust him?"

She glared at him.

"Aww," he said, smiling. "No fun."

"Play nice," she said.

"'Kay," he said. "Go home. I'll go talk to Deadboy."

She kissed him again. "Bye."

Xander watched her walk off into the night. "Yeah, I got it bad," he said to himself, then turned to follow Angel.

Xander walked through the cemetery for a few minutes, wondering where Angel went.

"What kind of game do you think you're playing?" Angel said, appearing next to him from nowhere. To Xander's credit, he didn't react, just continued walking.

"I said stop the tortured hero act. Play human or I walk."

"Fine," Angel said, stopping next to a crypt. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I'm finally getting my life on track, is what I'm doing. Why do you care? You left, remember?" Xander said.

"I left because that's what she needed. And she doesn't need some idiot chasing her around because he can use her pain to get in her pants."

Angel never saw the punch coming, but his head flew backwards and into the wall of the crypt, causing it to crack. He looked up to see Xander standing over him, rage in his eyes.

"Don't you fucking talk like you know what's happening," Xander said. "You lost that right the second you walked away. You don't get a say in her life anymore."

"And I bet you're just jumping for joy at that."

"You're goddamn right I am."

"You're happy that I hurt her, so you could get a shot, because you never would have otherwise."

Xander kicked out at Angel's ribs, but Angel rolled away and hopped up to his feet.

"You complete ass," Xander said. "Do you really think that low of me? Do you really think I wanted her to get hurt? I've loved Buffy since the moment I laid eyes on her. Everything I've done since I met her was to keep her from pain, a large portion of which was your fault, Angelus."

"Don't you dare call me that, boy."

"Speaking of Angelus. . . it's an interesting thing, your curse. One moment of true happiness. Odd, don't you think, that your happiness didn't come when you kissed her, or when she told you she loved you. It was sex. You weren't truly happy until you got her in bed, and you talk to me about wanting to get in her pants?"

"Been rehashing old victories?" Angel growled. "Because I gotta say, bragging, making the old ex look bad. . . it's a great way to guilt someone into being with you, or don't you think I know what you told her?"

"She asked me what happened in the hospital, dipshit."

"I'm not talking about the hospital," Angel said. "I mean the Master's cave. You figured if you bragged to Buffy about how you forced the vampire to lead you to her, you'd finally have a shot."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. You had her call me to try to prove you were better than me. To show her it was you who saved her life. Well, bravo, good job. You got what you wanted."

"Buffy called you?"

"Earlier today. You know that."

"First I've heard of it," Xander said, smiling. "You taking me to the Master's cave? I only ever told Willow about that. Buffy must have realized your cowardice all on her own."

"I don't believe you."

"And oddly enough, I don't care. Ask her yourself if you want."

"Don't think I won't."

"I really don't care. Do what you want. I just think it's funny."

"You think this is a joke?"

"No, I think YOU are a joke. You come here, acting all big and bad, pretending you care what happens to her. You're just afraid of being replaced."

"You could never replace me."

"And I wouldn't want to. I've got my own place in her heart, and let me tell you, it's a lot sunnier. And please notice how you didn't deny not caring."

"This isn't over," Angel said.

"Anytime you wanna rumble, I'm here. I'll even let you live through it."

"Big words. But can you back them up?"

Xander stomped one foot on the ground, causing his shield to glow white. "I can take you anytime."

"Watch your back, punk. If you hurt her, I'll kill you."

Angel turned away and stalked off, leaving behind very angry Xander.

----------

End Chapter 10