Chapter 17: Dating?
Later, Italian takeout consumed and a pregnancy test waiting in the master bath, Xander and Dawn were curled up on the sofa, watching "While You Were Out." They were mixing their cuisine and having baklava for dessert.
"That piece would look better if he used biscuit joints."
Dawn rolled her eyes. Sometimes watching home improvement shows with Xander was like watching fighting movies with Buffy.
Xander continued, "Of course that would take some time and with that carpentry load and Leslie buried in sewing world...sometimes those designers expect the impossible."
Dawn finished her pastry. She then brushed the crumbs into her paper napkin, slowly and meticulously. After every crumb was up and residing on the coffee table with the remains of their dinner, Dawn gathered her courage. She didn't want to push Xander, but she had to know.
"Xander."
Xander pulled his eye away from the tv.
"Did you mean what you told Detective Phillips? About the friends and the maybe more than friends?"
Xander gave Dawn his full attention. "Yes, Dawn. I think friendship is a very good foundation to build a relationship on. But why would you question the friends part?"
"I've just always felt like you and Willow were Buffy's friends. Like you weren't really mine."
Xander's arms tightened around Dawn. "I do think of you as my friend. I hope you think the same of me."
Dawn smiled and Xander marveled again at how her face lit up. But it quickly dimmed.
"The a...the more than friends part. You said if we both wanted it. I...I just wanted you to know that...that I do. Want it. Do...do you?" Her eyes dropped as she said the last.
Xander's hand went to her chin and brought her eyes back to his. He smiled tenderly as he said, "Yes. I think we need to take things slow, but yes, I do want."
"Does this mean we're dating?" asked Dawn.
"Dating? I guess we are."
Dawn's face lit again as she threw her arms around Xander. Xander returned her embrace before he raised her face to his and captured her lips. The first time he had consciously given her a real kiss.
She had the sweetest mouth and it wasn't just the honey. Xander delighted in each movement, every nibble to her soft lips, Dawn's eager participation. As his fingers twined in her long hair, Xander knew it was getting way too hot, way too fast.
He pulled back and grabbed Dawn's shoulders to move her away from him.
"Slow," Xander admonished gently.
Dawn grinned. "If you say so Xander."
The End
Later, Italian takeout consumed and a pregnancy test waiting in the master bath, Xander and Dawn were curled up on the sofa, watching "While You Were Out." They were mixing their cuisine and having baklava for dessert.
"That piece would look better if he used biscuit joints."
Dawn rolled her eyes. Sometimes watching home improvement shows with Xander was like watching fighting movies with Buffy.
Xander continued, "Of course that would take some time and with that carpentry load and Leslie buried in sewing world...sometimes those designers expect the impossible."
Dawn finished her pastry. She then brushed the crumbs into her paper napkin, slowly and meticulously. After every crumb was up and residing on the coffee table with the remains of their dinner, Dawn gathered her courage. She didn't want to push Xander, but she had to know.
"Xander."
Xander pulled his eye away from the tv.
"Did you mean what you told Detective Phillips? About the friends and the maybe more than friends?"
Xander gave Dawn his full attention. "Yes, Dawn. I think friendship is a very good foundation to build a relationship on. But why would you question the friends part?"
"I've just always felt like you and Willow were Buffy's friends. Like you weren't really mine."
Xander's arms tightened around Dawn. "I do think of you as my friend. I hope you think the same of me."
Dawn smiled and Xander marveled again at how her face lit up. But it quickly dimmed.
"The a...the more than friends part. You said if we both wanted it. I...I just wanted you to know that...that I do. Want it. Do...do you?" Her eyes dropped as she said the last.
Xander's hand went to her chin and brought her eyes back to his. He smiled tenderly as he said, "Yes. I think we need to take things slow, but yes, I do want."
"Does this mean we're dating?" asked Dawn.
"Dating? I guess we are."
Dawn's face lit again as she threw her arms around Xander. Xander returned her embrace before he raised her face to his and captured her lips. The first time he had consciously given her a real kiss.
She had the sweetest mouth and it wasn't just the honey. Xander delighted in each movement, every nibble to her soft lips, Dawn's eager participation. As his fingers twined in her long hair, Xander knew it was getting way too hot, way too fast.
He pulled back and grabbed Dawn's shoulders to move her away from him.
"Slow," Xander admonished gently.
Dawn grinned. "If you say so Xander."
The End
