I don't know what's wrong with me. I feel … fragile. I'm not supposed to be fragile. I'm Kennedy. I'm a Slayer. I'm the hard case Slayer who can handle anything. This isn't me. It can't be me.

But Xander Harris is looking at me with a goofy grin and I'm wearing his bathrobe and all I want to do right now is ask him to hug me again.

I'm going nuts. That has to be the only explanation. Willow Rosenberg dumps me and I go to pieces. I must be crazy.

"Breakfast heaven?" Xander asks me again as he pours me a cup of coffee.

"Hey, not all of us have that built-in Scooby knack for wordplay." I take a sip of the orange juice and sit down at the table. "You know, I have to admit I'm impressed. When you said you'd make me breakfast, I was expecting you to make a run for the Golden Arches. I didn't know you could cook!"

"Don't underestimate my many talents, Ken. You'd be amazed at what I can do." He begins heaping food on my plate. "Now not a word from you until you clean this plate off, young lady. There are Slayers in China who'd kill to have a nice spread like this set out for them, so you just sit there like a good girl and eat."

I'm surprised at how hungry I am once I actually start to eat. It seems like it's been forever since food tasted good to me, but once I start I don't have any problems at all eating everything on my plate, and two more servings besides.

After I finish, I start to get up to help him with the dishes, but he tells me to sit down and I surprise myself by doing so. I'm not used to having someone do things for me. I've always been the doer in every relationship I've ever had. The only one I ever listened to was my Watcher …

"So what have you been doing lately, Xander?" I hadn't seen him since he came back from Africa. Being painfully honest, I have to admit that I wouldn't have gone out of my way to see him before he came back. He was just Willow's friend … a goofy, good-natured guy, but still a GUY. I've never had any use for guys—in any capacity.

"Well, you know that not all of the new Slayers have signed on to join up at Camp Buffy. Robin and I have been putting together a support system for the girls who decide to stay away from Slayer Central. Woody gives them a mini-pack of Slayer lore-y goodness and I make sure their homes are built to withstand demons trying to break in and such. Trying to convince a Slayer to do something she doesn't want to do is an exercise in futility; Robbie and I just want to make sure that they have the tools they need to stay alive in case they change their minds."

"Wow. You know, that's a really good idea. Have you guys thought about offering them some hand to hand combat training?"

"Well, Woodsy had been planning on doing that, but there's only so much that a non-Slayer can teach a Chosen One." He kneels down at my side and takes my right hand between both of his own and gives me a puppy dog expression. "Please tell me that you're thinking about helping … I'll be forever grateful. You'll have my eternal love and devotion … and Twinkies!"

"With an offer like that, how could I refuse?" I love the way his hands feel as they squeeze my fingers. "I'm sure that I can talk Faith into taking over my classes for me for a few days … Oh crud!"

"What's wrong?"

"I need to call Faith and let her know I'm going to be late. We were supposed to spar for my class today."

"Oh? Was Jell-O involved by any chance?"

"In your dreams, Xander." Okay, sometimes it was in MY dreams. Faith is a hottie. Rumor to the contrary, though, I'd never known her to go out with anyone but Robin Wood.

Xander hands me his kitchen phone. "I'm going to brush my teeth, Ken. I can drop you off at Slayer Central if you like. I'm headed that way myself."

"I'd like that." I watch him as he goes, and then dial Faith's number.

"Yo, Xander. What's up, stud?"

"Faith, it's Kennedy." I'm surprised at the feeling that just went through me when I heard Faith call Xander "stud." Why am I feeling jealous?

"K? What are you doing calling me from Xander's phone? Is he okay?"

"He's fine. He's getting ready to take me back to the Compound. I needed to let you know that I was going to be late … and to see if you'd watch my morning class till I got there."

"Sure thing, K. Us Slayers gotta stick together. You want to grab a bite after?"

"Um, Xander already made me breakfast. I couldn't eat another bite."

"Oh yeah? Sounds to me like you've got quite a story to tell me, K. See you soon." She pauses. "Oh, and give Xander a kiss for me."

Surprisingly, kissing Xander Harris doesn't sound like that bad an idea to me right now…