Buffy took the glass out of the cabinet and poured the milk that she had gotten in the refrigerator into it. She put her hands back upon the island and closed her eyes again. How could this be? How could in all the world could he come back to life? How was it possible?

"It's possible." Willow said from behind her, making Buffy jump a little out of her socks.

"Will, stop doing that. Get out of my thoughts!" Buffy yelled back at her best friend. She looked up and saw the redhead flinch at her screaming. "Sorry. It's just...well..."

"That you never expected to see him again. I know. He saved the world for you...for us." Willow paused, trying to comfort her friend in her newest troubles.

"I get that he saved the world for us crap, Willow. I was with him when he went up in flames. Something I never want to see ever, ever again. But what I don't get, is why he waited this long to come and see me."

"Maybe it's because he loves you." A man's voice in the door frame said. Xander Harris stood tall and handsome looking in the frame. His hair was now short, his five o'clock shadow had began to show, and the tall dark leather trenchcoat scaled his ladder length legs.

"Xander?" Buffy and Willow said in unison, amazed and extremely glad that he was here.

"Hello my ladies." He smiled and got them into one of his best friend bear hugs that he was famous for. "Miss me?"

"You have no clue." Buffy held tightly onto him, as his pharynx pleaded for oxygen.

"Buff, a little air, please."

"Oh, sorry. I'm just so glad to see you." She let him go and stared at him and his new look. "I'm loving the new look."

"Thanks. Had a new friend help me on the matters of appearance." Xander looked into the reflective toaster and wiped his hands over his slick hair and turned back to the girls. "So, I guess he finally showed up?"

"You knew?" Willow asked.

"Yeah, he contacted me first." Xander crossed his arms and leaned back on the stationary countertop. "It was funny. I was thinking that the First was back in action."

"How did he prove that it was really him?" The redhead persisted.

"Well, that's even funnier. He started to do this routine that..." Xander stopped when he remembered that the routine was their secret. Plus, it was when Anya was still around and he didn't want to open that can of worms again. "Well, let me just tell you that it's him, through and through. Although the hair, kind of threw me off just a little bit."

"Yeah, me too. I love that color on him."

"It's not bad. I guess he just got in line with the rest of us."

"Wait, he's not blond?" Buffy asked, taking a seat next to Willow on a stool.

"She hasn't seen him yet?" He asked referring to Willow.

"Nope. He's in the office with Giles and Andrew, if you wanted to see him."

"Already did. I'd rather spend my time with my two favorite girls."

"You're really sweet Xander, but that was corny."

"Thanks Buff." Xander leaned on the counter and clasped his hands together. "You wanna tell the Xan-man what the deal is?"

"Not you too. I just don't want to talk about it. Okay?"

"I don't think so. You are going to talk, Buffy. Now." Xander forced her as she let out a sigh of relief that her two best friends were there to listen to her rant. It kind of reminded her of Sunnydale and the high school days. Those days were simple compared to now, save the part of Angel and every single demon that made her and her family and friend's lives a living hell. It was time to talk.

Spike sat across from Rupert Giles, watcher at large and Andrew Wells, watcher in training. Wasn't this the picture of a happy family? He thought to himself. Giles took of his glasses for the three-hundredth time while Andrew sipped on his juice box that Willow had gotten from the kitchen for him. Silence was nerve wracking and Spike was glad that Xander had gotten here in time this time. They had sat up until the morning hours many nights in Morocco planning on his return and his announcement to Buffy that he was back. For good this time. He had hoped in the back of his mind that maybe they could have a go at it again. Not for the sex, or the feeling, but for love this time. Maybe they could start from the beginning: start at basic acquaintances and move up towards the best friends thing, like Angel had found with Cordelia. He admired his fellow vampire-with-a-soul for that. Yet, he lost her to the Powers before he could do or say anything about it. It was tough for him and yet he still went on living. He had to hand it to him though, he sure knew how to be brave for the others around him. He knew how to love a woman, he knew how to deal with the things that normal people would shudder at the sight of, and he knew that Angel and his sabbaticals were a good thing.

"So, have you given any thought on what you're going to do?" Giles snapped Spike out of his trance and deep thoughts that he wanted to stay deep. Spike looked up at the aging watcher and leaned forward wanting to spill his guts out to the proper English gentleman about his intentions and plans for the future ahead of him. But instead, he simply let out a heavy breath, or lack of one.

"Not really." He lied through his teeth.

Xander and Willow came back from the kitchen and sprawled out on the gigantic library tables, exhausted from the talk with Buffy about this whole ordeal. Spike, Giles and Andrew came out of the office, wondering what was said between the three friends.

"I. Am. So. Tired." Xander said in cut off words, his mouth open and drool slipping from his lips.

"Xander!" Giles took out his handkerchief and wiped the pool up off of his table.

"Sorry, Giles." Xander said, wiping the drool from his lower chin and sitting up. Willow let her head hang between her shoulders as Spike came up behind her.

"Hey, Red..." he started to whisper, "I think it's time for you to go to bed." Willow nodded her head in agreement as Spike picked her up in his arms, her head leaning on his shoulder lightly.

"Where's her room?"

"Second floor, third door on the left." Giles said as Spike went towards the staircase. Step by step, her head got heavier on his shoulder. It made him think about how this could be Buffy in his arms, sleeping on his shoulder. He shook his head as the second floor came into view. Each door on the floor was different. The first two were painted a shade of green, with different type knockers to adorn the frames. The second pair donned a French 1920s era hinges and décor. The third door on the left, however, was a bit modernized with a plain old door knob with the finest grain of oak embedded in it. Spike grasped his hand on the door knob and opened a new world to Willow he had never seen before. As the light flipped on, her bed, centered in the room, was the picture of a perfect pretty little girls' bedroom. It wasn't pink, like he had thought, but a pale yellow that enlarged the room to its fullest extent. Chinese dressers and armoires were placed along the wall with posters and enlarged photographs of important landmarks and glorious places. He moved towards the frilly lined bed and set her down, cradling her head, resting it upon the pillow. Slowly pulling the comforter down behind her back, he pulled her legs into the sheets and tugged them up above her shoulders. Brushing her red hair back behind her ears, he retreated his steps and flipped the switch off and let a deep breath out as he shut the door behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the blond hair run into her room, which was just two doors down.

"Buffy!" He skipped along. "Wait."

"Go away!" She hollered back, not wanting to do this tonight. He let her be and hovered over her door, running his hand down the crevasses of the solid oak door.

"I'm sorry." He whispered as he let her be. Walking back down the hallway, he didn't look back this time. He knew she wanted to be alone. He wasn't going to make that mistake again. As he trotted down the stairs, Buffy came out of her room and stared down the hallway where his smell still lingered. I missed you.