Title: Up Over Everything (3a/?)

Author: Brooke

Email: yabbadabbadome13@yahoo.com

Rating: R

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I wished I owned the two Xanders' from "The Replacement" though. Buffy and friends are owned by Joss, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, The UPN and whoever else has rights to the show.

Summary: Part 2 in my "Romeverse". Can the Buffy, Xander and Willow put personal issues aside to fight and survive against a growing evil – one that can strike too close to home?

Distribution: I don't know why anybody would want this, but if somebody does…sure.

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

Authors Note: Takes place in an AU season 1 where Buffy and Xander are best friends and Willow is the new girl as Sunnydale High. It is the beginning of their sophomore year and, as 15 and 16 year olds, hormones and feelings are taking center stage.

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"So what else has been going on? Who's dating who? Who's hooked on drugs? Who got expelled?" Buffy asked excitedly and bounced slightly in her seat on the bed. She had been released from the hospital two days ago and her parents had both insisted that she stay home a few days to rest. Not even Giles had expected her to patrol. Who was she to turn that down?

Willow bit her bottom lip and thought about the series of questions. "Well Jonathan Levinstien fell in the caf yesterday. He spilt his food all over Preston Curtis."

The Slayer watched her friend expectedly and waited for her to continue, but the redhead seemed done with the tale. "And?"

Willow looked slightly disappointed. "And…Cordelia laughed…well, not really a laugh so much as ignored the whole situation completely. But I think that if she were to have cared she would have found it very humorous."

Buffy smiled to match Willow's hopeful expression. "Ted Casablanca, you are not." Her friend shrugged and pulled her other leg onto the bed so that they were sitting cross-legged in front of each other.

"I'm not too much on the in crowd. I probably missed some things." Willow sounded slightly disappointed and Buffy jumped to quell any lingering feelings about not fitting in. All the good Willow felling that way got them last time was a possessed horny Xander.

"Well, its gotta be better than here." Buffy insisted. "Mom took time off work and makes me spend all day watching Lifetime. It's bonding in the worst form."

"And that's better than bio with French?" Willow quirked her brow and Buffy dropped her gaze. "Thought so. And plus, you got the TV in your room"

Buffy beamed, "Yeah, but the best part of that is that it pisses Dawn off."

"Makes almost being killed worth it, huh?"

"Definitely," Buffy agreed brightly, but then her expression melted into one of curiosity. "So, there's no big news on the school front…"

She trailed off and Willow nodded her agreement. "Oh!" she shouted suddenly, cutting off whatever Buffy seemed ready to say next. "That guy Oz, the one that Xander knows from the Dingoes…"

"Yeah. Oz." Buffy smiled crookedly at her friend's enthusiasm. "Who you're in luuuvvv with."

Willow blushed and rolled her eyes. "I'm not in luuuvvvv with anybody," she negated, rolling her eyes, "Unlike some people in this room." She smiled privately when Buffy frowned and stopped smiling. "But," she continued before the blonde could change the subject to the object of her affections, "he came into the library after Xander left to get the brai…cure," she caught herself, but saw Buffy's confusion at the slip. "He waited in there until we heard that you were ok…that was like all afternoon." She saw Buffy smile at her. "He was so cute, Buffy. He said that Xander told him that you had passed out and was all wondering if you were alright…"

"Again, another positive side affect of my near death experience." Buffy offered courteously.

"Well if it helps me get dates I'm all for you getting stabbed with poison thingies." Willow said, but let her tone convey the joke. She saw Buffy's eyes widen at the implied meaning of her statement.

"Waitwaitwait. Get dates? You got dates…with Oz?! You got dates with Oz?! I haven't even seen him react to anything – ever, and I've known him for, like, two years…"

"Just one date," Willow blushed. "And only after your dad dropped Xander off and we found out that you were alright. I think your survival had a lot to do with the date too, for future reference."

"Duly noted," Buffy was grinning from ear to ear.

"Ohohoh!" Willow sat up and slapped her hands on Buffy's knees. "We can double! Me and Oz…you and Xander! It'll be sooooo much fun…" She saw Buffy's gaze drop to the bead spread and her smile die. "Or not. I mean, if you don't want to…"

"No," Buffy shook her head. "It's just…I dunno. Dad drove Xan back to school and I know that was not of the good."

"You haven't talked to him since you've been home?" Willow questioned. "He didn't seem that bad when he got back to the library…sort of blissfully relieved and shaky."

"Really?" Buffy looked hopeful. "He called last night, but he didn't say much. I had no idea how to read him after that. It totally had to be the trauma or the fever breaking or something…"

Willow's brow furrowed while Buffy rambled through her train of thought. "It what?" she questioned and Buffy stopped talking and just looked at her.

"He didn't say anything?" she asked slowly and Willow shook her head.

"It was kinda hectic that afternoon," Willow confessed, but didn't elaborate. She and Giles decided that it was for the best to keep the fact that they had yet to hear from Angel after the mission under raps for the time being. Giles thought that it couldn't possibly help Buffy's condition and healing if she were up worrying about what might have happened to her vampire helper. And Willow had pointed out that it was better to not find out how Buffy would react as to not add Xander's feelings into the mix. Willow knew that any anxiousness that Buffy showed would likely upset Xander and therefore just make the situation more awkward than it already was, not that the blonde would react much at all. According to Buffy, Angel was the Webster's definition of flakey – he was probably fine and in some sort of hiding until the next crisis needed averting. But there was no need to tempt fate.  "What happened?"

Buffy blushed and looked at the bed again. "When I woke up…I kinda…I told him…ItoldhimthatIlovedhim," Buffy said quickly and not meeting her friend's eyes. "It just came out…and…Mom and Dad and Dawn they were all sitting right there and I couldn't take it back…" Willow was watching her with wide eyes while she tried to justify herself. "Not that I want to take it back, I just…I don't know." Buffy sighed and dropped back to lean against the headboard of her bed, "And then they took me away for more tests and stuff and when I got back Mom said that Dad had taken Xan back to school."

"Well," Willow was still in a slight state of shock, but trying to offer a tiny smile. "That doesn't mean that its bad…"

"Wills, you didn't see him when he got back," Buffy insisted. "If they hadn't given me that sedative to calm me down," she glossed over that fact and ignored Willow's shock. "I would've gone outside and started looking for fresh shallow graves."

"I honestly don't think Xander even noticed," Willow smiled more confidently. "He was almost giddy…"

"Giddy?" the Slayer raised one eyebrow.

"No," Willow denied immediately at Buffy's almost hurt tone. "Not giddy. You weren't there," she tried. "But not at all sad or…or scared or anything."

Buffy's slight half smile fell again, "But then when I talked to him again yesterday he didn't say anything about it. He was all quiet, and it's Xander," she argued. "He's never quiet…AND why hasn't he come over here?" She started talking before Willow could answer. "I'll tell you why. Daddy threatened him."

"Oh come on, Buff," Willow shook her head.

"He didn't even say it back," Buffy said with conviction. "I think I just have to not say it again and hope he didn't hear."

"I know that…" She was cut off by the sound of Buffy's phone ringing. "See," she smiled, "That's probably him." She almost couldn't fight the laugh while Buffy shut her eyes and took a few deep breaths before reaching over and scooping up the cordless phone on her night table.

"Hello?"

Willow snorted with effort while trying to control her laughter at Buffy's higher girlier voice, but the Slayer scowled at her and slapped her on the leg all while smiling into the receiver.

"Hey Xan," her grin was unadulterated. "Are you home yet?"

((Yep)) Xander returned a grin that she couldn't see. ((I went to practice today and everything, while you, on the other hand, are probably still in your pajamas.))

Buffy pouted, "I've got doctors orders."

((Your Slayer healing deal had you at 100 percent like twenty minutes after you woke up. Now you're just milking it, ya big faker.))

"Next time you get stabbed in the heart by the 500 pound hell beast, then." Buffy countered confidently. "I'll see if you show up in homeroom."

"It stabbed you in the shoulder," Willow commented after waiting a moment and Buffy glared at her. The redhead was just able to make out Xander's laughter over through the receiver, and Buffy glared at her even harder and slapped her on the knee.

"You're supposed to be on my side!" she reminded in a harsh whisper.

"But still you had a very bad reaction," Willow said again, loud enough for Xander to hear, also. "Very fatal battle wound."

"See?" Buffy smiled into the phone. "Fatal battle wound. A wound received protecting you, so I'll thank you not to belittle my duty."

((You're cute when you're being self-righteous))

Buffy could hear Xander grinning into the receiver and caught her own sappy grin when she noticed Willow staring at her. "I thought I was always cute," she challenged him, but Xander was never one to be short of a comeback.

((No)) Xander denied. ((I said that I wish you were mute))

"You know what Xander," Buffy said eerily lightly. "I'm feeling a lot better. In fact, better enough to kick your…"

((I've been told that my presence is requested at your place tonight)) Xander interrupted Buffy's threat with a definite serious tone disguised by his levity. He could tell by Buffy's sudden intake of breath and the fact that he could hear Willow asking what was the matter, that the Slayer had no prior knowledge of it. ((Dad's been giving me the stink eye all week.)) She was still silent so he kept speaking out of need to break it. ((Your mom called and explained the whole situation…about the hospital…)) He trailed off. Buffy had only said *it* the once, and he knew it was true, it was just…it was soon, and the first time, in the more than friends manner, had been in front of her parents and about 30 hospital workers. And then, to top it off, right after she had said…*that*…she had kissed him.

Joyce and Hank, apparently didn't appreciate that at all. And as soon as the inevitable happened and Xander was able to escape the wrath of Buffy's parents, they had called his house and told his parents. He had never seen his mom look so disappointed. He would have thought that they called and told her that he was kicking puppies for fun…but his father. Needless to say, that the nicest and most encouraging comment about his new relationship with his best friend that Tony had to offer was a round-about threat that he would be out in the street if anybody tried to bring a baby into his home. That had prompted some serious denial and Buffy avoidance on Xander's part, until he realized that he had nobody to talk to.

Sure there was Willow, but he wanted his Buffy. Even if she did…love…have love for…him. They were friends. They were more. He loved her, too because it would be impossible not to.

"So it's family meeting time tonight?" Buffy said meekly and watched Willow's eyes go sympathetically wide before her. "Good times."

((Oh, for sure.)) Xander sounded skeptical, weary, and more than a little anxious. ((I foresee ass kickings, and not from the Slayer, in my future.))

"My dad's not home," Buffy said distractedly. Her eyes were pleading with Willow's for a reprieve that she knew deep down nobody could give her. Her mom had been nothing but nurturing all week. Making sure she was 100% better and never mentioning she awakening. But now, it seemed, that it may have been out of sight, but it was in no way out of mind. "I didn't…when I woke up I just…" she was stuttering and glancing at Willow, hinting silently that it would probably be easier to talk to him alone. Now that she was fully conscious grand declarations of eternal love and undying passion didn't seem so keen.

Willow nodded and scooped up her backpack after only a moment. "I'll call you," she sympathized for her friend. "Tell me how 'the meeting' goes." The Slayer nodded. "BYE XAN," Willow called out for him to hear. She giggled when after a moment she heard a loud shout in response and Buffy frowned and yanked the phone away from her ear suddenly. "G'luck," she whispered with a hopeful grin as she let herself out to the sound of Buffy yelling at Xander about her sensitive hearing.

((It's ok, Buff)) Xander said over the quiet click of Buffy's bedroom door on the other end of the phone. ((I…it's…))

Buffy relaxed and lay back against her pillows, shutting her eyes and trying to keep her heart from beating so fast. "I just saw you…the last thing I really remembered was watching your back…"

((Through my window?)) Xander asked to alleviate some of the tension.

"…running down the street," Buffy completed her previous statement dryly. "I'm just sorry, Xander," she added quietly.

((Why?)) He sounded genuinely surprised. ((I'm not…)) she paused…didn't even breathe and Xander gulped and hurried to continue. ((I haven't seen you all week. I'm glad you told me you loved me…gives me an excuse to come over and say 'what's up'.))

Buffy rolled her eyes and sighed. He always tried to be so funny. As if having a serious conversation would mark the end of his existence.

((Plus)) Xander added after a moment of listening to her breath quietly. He never thought that he would be so glad to hear such an ordinary sound, yet now, he found himself reluctant to even interrupt it. ((I love you too, you know.))

He spoke so quickly that Buffy barely caught what he had said. What he hadn't said when she declared the feeling for him in its most complete meaning. Barely heard him…yet, she did.

((I'll see you tonight, kay Buffy)) He said just as soon as she collected herself enough to respond with out making some sort of high pitched vowel sound.

She only managed a 'mmmhmmm' sound and heard him say it again. Slower this time and more deliberate.

((Love you))

"You too," she whispered, holding the phone to her ear with both hands. She needed something solid to hold onto so that she wouldn't float away. Not the Slayer…the teenaged girl who was saying these things for the first time ever. Was feeling these things in real life and being overtaken by them. The first boy she had told that she loved, to his face and meant it seriously, and it was her best friend. She had never felt what Xander made her feel…and it made her shaky and nervous and a billion other things that made her stomach drop to somewhere down by her knees, but then flutter its way back up into place. "Bye." Buffy knew that her smile sounded as inane and frivolous as it looked, but she couldn't help it. She didn't care if he could hear it beaming through the receiver because she could hear his too.

((Bye)) Xander whispered before she heard a softer than usual click that signaled his hanging up the phone.

Buffy couldn't help the giggle that bubbled out of her when she lay the phone down by her side. She didn't care what her parents saw or thought of her relationship with Xander. She was in love…he was in love…with her. Xander loved her. She knew that before, but she was just hearing it in the past. Friend's loved friends. Now…now it was living and breathing and all hers, given only by him. Buffy was smiling from ear to ear and completely relaxed. As the Slayer she fought countless battles every night and she had won. Now, as an all American red-blooded teenager, she would have to take the fortitude of her alter ego and go to battle in her own home. Against parents.

But Buffy wasn't the least bit afraid.

~*~

Summer's House

6:30 PM

~*~

"I honestly expected this, but was hoping that you two would have more sense," Joyce was seated on the coffee table and was making a point to glance back and forth between her daughter and her young friend.

"Hormones are the great equalizer," Jane Harris spoke up from her seat on the  couch next to her son.

"Make you go stupid," Tony muttered while continuing to glare at Xander, and his wife sent him a panged look.

Buffy studied her hands folded in her lap and her mother's feet. When Xander and his parents had arrived she had made it a point to not smile or speak to him excessively. One of the reasons for that had been that both her mother and his were studiously watching them and it had been rather uncomfortable. They had been escorted into the living room, separated at all times by at least one mother, and instructed to sit. When they got the bright idea to share the couch for this ordeal Joyce had, oh so subtly, yanked her by the arm and sat her in the recliner to the right of the couch.

Xander's parents sat flanking him on either side while Joyce facilitated this thing as rationally as an irrational over-reactive parent could. Now they were 15 minutes into the "talk", or lecture, and Xander and Buffy had yet to even make eye contact.

"Is this 'thing' worth your friendship, Buffy," Joyce asked and grabbed Buffy's hand. That got Xander's attention and when he looked up to hear Buffy's answer he saw her staring pleadingly at her mother.

"Mom," she tried. "This seriously isn't this big a deal." The Slayer gave a slight grin that faltered almost immediately. "I mean, I've had a boyfriend before and it was never the end of…"

"Oh my God!" Jane exasperated and shook her head. "A boyfriend?!"

"Ma," Xander sighed and gave her a sideways glance. "Yeah." He looked between his parents, "Me and Buffy…we're…dating," he admitted in a nonchalant tone, "Or trying to, or whatever. It's not a big deal…"

"You two have sleepovers for Christ's sake!" his mother said disbelievingly. "I let you spend the night over here and…oh dear Lord! How long has this," she gestured between the two teens, "been going on?!"

Joyce looked at Buffy expectantly and the Slayer averted her eyes again. "A couple of months," she admitted quietly.

"Is this why you and Scott broke up?" her mother asked, but had her question overshadowed by a shocked sounding Jane.

"A COUPLE OF MONTHS?!" she shouted, "That couple of months wouldn't include the time I found Buffy waking up in your room would it?!"

Buffy looked up wide eyed and then tried to shake her head when she found her mother's gaze boring into her heatedly. "That's not what you think," she said quickly. "We're friend's mom. You let me sleep at Xander's and Xander sleep here…"

"Well you two had better believe that that stops here and now," Tony was sitting up in his seat and sending stony glares to both Buffy and Xander.

"I thought you guys were 'expecting this'?" Buffy repeated her mother's previous statement while trying not to sound to insolent.

Tony glared her silent and the Slayer turned her eyes back to her hands. "I can't believe you two were acting so irresponsibly right under our noses. Not only is it disrespectful but…" he stated incredulously.

"It's stupid," Joyce interrupted and stood. She stalked angrily across the room and frowned at her meek looking little girl. "Every teenager gets curious about the opposite sex…" Joyce let out a harsh breath, "But do you have any idea of the…" she stopped when she heard a muffled giggle and gulp from upstairs and turned her glare to face it. "GO TO YOUR ROOM DAWN. NOW!" The sound of footsteps thumping quickly down the hall preceded a door clicking, as quietly as possible, shut.

Joyce turned to face Buffy again and found her glaring angrily at the stairwell, but started speaking again, refocusing her on the real situation. "Are you and Xander…"

"Sexually…involved…" Jane completed unsurely and with a hint of dread when she realized that Joyce didn't want to even finish the thought. Both of the teens looked up wide-eyed and red, seemingly too shocked to react.

"You had better say 'no', boy," Tony's voice held a hint of threat.

"NO!" Buffy answered instead. "Mom…noooo. Way no. Eww no."

"Eww?" Xander asked and sounded slightly offended, and Buffy sent him a wide eyed plea to stop talking. "Right," he nodded tightly when he felt his parents and Buffy's mom glaring at him. "Eww. Ick..gross, bllaahh."

Joyce scowled at the boy but did manage to visibly relax some and shut her eyes to collect herself. "Buffy," she reproached her daughter and reclaimed her seat on the table across form her. "I…I can't tell you what to do…"

"The hell you can't. Alex, this stops…"

"Tony!" Jane cut him off with a commanding look. "She's right, we can't tell you two not to…date…"

"But I'm begging you to consider one thing Buffy," Joyce continued. She tilted her head to catch Buffy's eyes and when the Slayer refused to meet her halfway she reached out and touched her chin lightly to force her compliance. "Think about how this could affect yours and Xander's friendship. Just think about what it would be like if, God forbid, it didn't work out between you…"

"Your hormones are all over the place, and sometimes high school sweethearts work out," Jane was speaking softly and as comfortingly as Joyce, "…but sometimes they don't. We would all hate to see you two not be friends for the want of somebody to neck with."

"Neck?" Xander frowned at his mom and knit his brows together.

Buffy rolled her eyes, "We're not going to break up," she stated confidently and her mother looked at her incredulously. "And even if we did," the Slayer continued with less confidence, "we'd still be best friends." Buffy did look to Xander after she made that statement and he nodded vigorously at her, sending her a small reassuring and calmingly crooked grin.

"And you've talked this through and worked all of this out?" Tony exasperated bitterly and Xander's grin fell with a shudder at the harsh tone.

"No, dad," Xander tried to say calmly. "We didn't. We just know." He looked at his mother. "'Necking' isn't going to change the fact that Buffy's my best friend and always will be. I just…I…there's more now," he took a deep breath and glanced at Buffy before focusing on the edge of the table that Joyce was sitting on. If Buffy could announce her feelings in front of everybody, regardless of consequences, then by God, he could too. "I love her, now."

He looked up after he said that and found Buffy smiling softly at him…until Joyce leant forward and blocked his view of her. "You two don't even know what love is!"

"Part of growing up is learning it though, Mrs. Summers," Xander defied as lightly as possible. "If we, supposedly, don't know…we're going to learn," he gulped and darted his eyes around the room. "Together."

"This is ridiculous," Tony breathed. "If they want to do this then I say we let them. And when this blows up in their faces, because it will," he said confidently and directly to his son, "I say we let them cry it out until they can't anymore." He sat back on the couch and folded his arms across his chest. "And both of them will be crying," he muttered.

Xander rolled his eyes and looked at the floor. "Then just let us cry then," he mumbled under his breath.

"Fine," Joyce sighed and clapped her hands together. She stood up again and asked silently for support from Jane as she stood up and moved to the front of the coffee table. "If we can't tell you not to date and you won't listen to the reasoning…won't let us spare you the pain…" She took a deep breath and spoke with resolve, "The we *can* set some new ground rules for you two."

"Yes," Jane stood up and moved to Joyce's side.

"Because, God knows, that the sleepovers were getting a little old," Tony incensed tiredly while pinching the bride of his nose. Both Buffy and Xander looked away shyly when their mothers nodded in agreement.

"So that points settled," Jane said. "No matter what: studying, movie nights…anything. You are both to go to your own homes at the end of the night."

"And you both are forbidden to be in the others room without parental supervision," Joyce said.

"So you guys want to sit in the chair in the corner if we have a test to study for?" Buffy asked sarcastically.

"No," her mother looked directly into her eyes and matcher her flippant tone. "We want to be in the house if you guys are there together."

"And no shutting doors," Jane threw in.

"Ever," Tony added from beside Xander.

Buffy rolled her eyes this time. "So when's my chastity belt get here?"

"If you want to test me, Buffy…" Joyce watched with satisfaction as Buffy pouted and looked down at her hands again. "This is a big deal because we all know you two are already close."

"And we don't want you any closer," Tony added gravely and with a hint of warning in his voice. "I'm sure Hank would feel the same way, and that we'd both kick your…"

"Tony," Jane warned again and Xander's father stopped talking, but finished his intended statement with a stern glare. "If you two want to change, then things need to change," she said to the teens calmly…

~*~

"Good old fashioned change, huh?" Xander muttered and kicked some pebbles out of his way. He leant back against Joyce's Jeep and glanced back up to Buffy's house and saw the lights still on in the living room and shadows moving around inside. "Gotta love that," he said dryly and managed a wane grin at Buffy, who was staring reflectively at the ground between them.

She looked up shyly, her arms crossed over his chest, "In there I got the impression that it was worth it though."

Xander nodded, but his smile looked indignant. "Yeah. Totally worth having to not have you as my friend anymore. Really worth it."

Buffy gulped and looked down again. "I'm still your friend first, she corrected quietly. "Even if they won't acknowledge it, we're still going to be friends."

"I think that's a little difficult to pull what with us not being allowed to be in the same room together anymore…"

Buffy laughed slightly and uncrossed her arms. She took a cautious step forward and looked back to her house before reaching out and grabbing Xander's arm, pulling his hand free from his pants pocket and grasping it in her own. She smiled even brighter when she saw him glance at their joined hands and then raise his eyes to hers. "I was really surprised they let us come outside alone," she spoke reflectively. "You might try to jump me and knock me up in the driveway."

Xander laughed and tugged Buffy until she was standing flush against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Hmmm, just the Slayer. I think I'd need your consent for that." He took an unsteady breath and tried to laugh, "Last time I tried you tried to bash my skull in."

Buffy pouted warmly, trying to alleviate some of Xander's tension. It already spoke volumes that he was trying to joke about what had happened. It meant that he was trying to put it behind him like she had done. "If you'll kindly remember what you tried to touch, I think you'll agree that you were begging for that concussion."

"That's the attitude you give after I risk my life fighting a demon to save your life?" Xander pretended to look away hurt and sniffled for effect.

"I thought Angel helped…"

"He was there. He's always there, but he was expendable." Xander shrugged indifferently. He looked down and saw Buffy watching him and he hoped that she wouldn't press the Angel thing any further. The vampire had made himself scarce lately and. After the whole incident none of them had heard from him.

"Well the I guess you're my hero."

"You better believe it," Xander said proudly and puffed his chest out against Buffy. "And luckily it's been pretty quiet recently, while you were playing hooky…" Buffy stomped on his foot indigently and he was quick to retract his previous statement. "Recuperating."

"Better," Buffy smiled up at him slyly. "Angel's probably working double time to keep it that way." Xander just nodded, but Buffy slipped her arms up through his and wrapped them around his neck. She rose up on her tippy toes and pressed a chaste his to Xander's lips and he grinned. "I liked it," she whispered while dropping back to stand normally against him. "Not slaying and no demons…"

"Except for the demon that did this to you," Xander added reminiscently.

"Yeah, except for that one." Buffy nodded. "But I like this feeling like this again. Feeling normal…"

"You are normal," Xander countered immediately and with a heady conviction. Buffy looked up at him skeptically, but was halted by Xander kissing her. He pulled back with a quirky grin," Weird things just chase you around now."

"Weird things have been chasing me around for years," Buffy gave him a half smile. "I've known you, what? Fifteen years…"

"I resent that remark," Xander frowned, "Or possibly thank you."

"Don't know if I offended you or not?" she asked mock condescendingly.

"Yeah," Xander nodded. "I don't think like the insinuation that I 'follow' you."

"So weird, you're ok with?"

"I figure that its my thing." Xander shrugged. "You slay, I…"

"Weird?" Buffy quirked an eyebrow.

"Something like that," he grinned and hugged her a little tighter for a moment. "We all have our things," Xander insisted. "We just  gotta accept that its who we are." He saw Buffy about to respond and quickly added, "And that people'll love us no matter what deadly quirks we have." Xander beamed brightly, "And by the way, I only recognize your quirk as deadly."

"Thank you," Buffy said dryly.

"And by people loving you, I meant me."

"Good save."

"I thought so." Xander leant down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "See, I'm getting the hang of this boyfriend thing."

Buffy grinned up at him impishly and pulled his face down to hers. She kissed him tentatively until she felt him respond  and she removed her hand from his chin to grasp his shoulder, kissing deeply and in their own world…

"GET IN THE CAR BOY!" Tony's voice boomed into the dark night and Xander pulled away and shoved Buffy back quickly while clearing his throat.

"Come inside, Buffy." Joyce beckoned and the Slayer nodded sheepishly.

"So I'll see you tomorrow?" Xander tried to ask normally, as if the parents weren't all staring at them.

"Yep," Buffy tried chipperly. "In school and everything."

"Yay for school," Xander smiled, but then it fell when he realized what he had said. "Bye."

"Yeah." Buffy was already heading up to her front door quickly while Xander turned on a heel and beat a hasty retreat to his father's car. "Oh!" Buffy whirled around and Xander stopped , his hand on the door handle. "Um…call when you get in?"

"Yeah," Xander nodded in understanding. "As soon as."

The Slayer smiled, "Night."

"G'night Buff." Xander smiled at her and she nodded again, understanding what he didn't feel was right to say again at that moment, but accepting it all the same.

"Inside Buffy," Joyce's shrill call bulldozed the moment. "Now."

Buffy would patrol now, willingly, if it would get her out of it. The Slayer cringed and shuffled back through her front door, shutting it behind her and wishing that she was still outside.

~*~

"You did good, man,' Whistler clapped Angel on the shoulder. "You saved her. She'll go down in history as one of the few who survived a Vardilus…and aren't brain dead or anything." The balance demon beamed, "And that because of you."

"Right," Angel said dryly and peered through the gap in the gauzy living room curtain of the Summers house. He could see Buffy sitting on the couch now, Joyce pacing in front of her and gesturing wildly with he arms. "I save her so she and the boy can place kissy face. That's worth it."

Whistler rolled his eyes. "You saved her because you love her, Angel. I don't like it, but there it is." The vampire looked at the ground, "Now what she does she'll have to deal with, but its right noble of you to help anyway, ya'know?"

Angel nodded. "Now all I have to do is be on the look out for that little prick's men…"

"Most of Xander's friends are of the female persuasion, man," the demon followed Angel's line of vision with narrowed eyes. He could just faintly make out Joyce's muffled voice from their position in the yard and he didn't notice the souled vampire's glare. "Man, Mommy Dearest is laying into her. Some get well soon…"

"I meant Jesse," Angel bit out and turned away from the house. "He's a slippery little rat," he said over his shoulder as a message for his companion to follow. "He ran after Xander and never came back."

"Why would he come back if he knew you were waiting to kick his ass?" The other demon asked skeptically.

"He doesn't want to fight because he knows he'll lose."

"That is why people usually run," Whistler deadpanned.

"And that's why I find them." Angel growled slightly, "And kill them."

"Never look for me, man."

"This is serious," Angel turned but kept walking ahead. "He's out to get her…"

"I've got news for you Angel," Whistler matched his tone. "She's the Slayer. Lots of things that go bump in the night are out to get her here. Not just some sociopath little green vampire. There's demons and orders and sects whose sole purpose is to see that little girl in the ground." The vampire watched his measure steps and Whistler sighed. "If you're going to save her you've got to widen your scope. Take off the blinders. There's more than Jesse…and there's more than her boyfriend."

"Yeah," Angel looked at him sideways. "I know the Master's up to something. Sent his men to help…why?"

Whistler rolled his eyes, "I'm sure you'll be on the case until you find out, and then go rushing in head long and fancy free to save the day."

"It's what I do," Angel said quietly.

"What you do for her," the balance demon said out loud, but not necessarily to his walking partner. "So, where are we headed now?" he changed the subject. "I'm not paying for the cheer-you-up meal this time. You know that for someone who can't taste you eat like a friggin horse…"

Angel's impression of a smile close resembled a closed lipped facial twitch. "There're things after him now too," he said austerely. "We're going to make sure Xander gets in safe."

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The End Part 3a